cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Examining the link between neighborhood context and parental messages to their adolescent children about violence.

Abstract Purpose Living in violent neighborhoods has been shown to alter adolescent's social cognitions and increase aggressive behavior. A similar process may also occur for parents and result in parental support of aggressive behavior. This research examines the influence of perceived neighborhood violence and neighborhood collective efficacy on parental attitudes toward violence and the messages they give their adolescent children about how to resolve interpersonal conflict. Method Data were collected from 143 African American parents and their adolescent children recruited from three inner-city middle schools to participate in a parenting intervention. Models were fit using structural equation modeling in Mplus. Results Contrary to expectations, exposure to neighborhood violence was not predictive of either aggressive attitudes or conflict solutions for parents or adolescents. Rather, a mixed effect was found for neighborhood collective efficacy, with higher perceived neighborhood collective efficacy related to less violent attitudes for adolescents but not for parents. Collective efficacy also predicted the messages that parents gave their adolescents about interpersonal conflict, with higher collective efficacy related to messages that were less supportive of violence. Conclusion Parent and adolescent perception of neighborhood collective efficacy influences the messages that adolescents receive about interpersonal conflict resolution. This suggests that for parents living in violent neighborhoods, their appraisal of the neighborhood is more important in shaping conflict resolution messages than their own experiences with violence. Parent- and family-based programs to prevent youth violence need to address neighborhood factors that influence the messages adolescents receive about how to resolve conflict.
Information and resource referral center project

The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Blindness and Low Vision at Mississippi State University (MSU) has developed software for a rehabilitation database system. The database includes the most current national resources on blindness and visual impairments to assist persons in locating resources to further their own rehabilitative efforts, or on behalf of someone else who may need information. In addition, users can also obtain information about professional development training programs, current Washington, DC legislative liaisons, and national resources and research data related to blindness and visual impairments. Materials requested are disseminated by mail or fax in regular print, large print, on audio tape, or in braille.
The Impact of Instructor Decision Authority and Verbal and Nonverbal Immediacy on Korean Student Satisfaction in the US and South Korea

This study compared Korean students in South Korea and Korean students in the US regarding their perceptions of instructor decision authority and verbal and nonverbal immediacy. Korean students reported higher instructor decision authority and lower levels of instructor verbal and nonverbal immediacy in Korean classrooms than in US classrooms. Verbal immediacy was positively related to the satisfaction of Korean students in the US, whereas it was not significantly related to the satisfaction of Korean students in Korea. Korean students studying in the US indicated lower satisfaction when their perceived levels of instructor decision authority were lower than their expected levels of instructor decision authority, compared to when their perceived levels were higher than their expected levels.
Hepatoprotective mechanisms of Yan-gan-wan.

Abstract Background and aims: A herbal prescription, Yan-gan-wan (YGW), has been known to offer hepatoprotective effects in Asian countries for years. This study investigated its mechanisms of action. Methods: The effects of YGW on CCl4 induced liver damage were tested in mice and cultured hepatocytes. Microarray analysis screened genes affected by YGW. YGWs effects on the expression of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2E1 and other isozymes were determined. YGWs effects on TNFα expression and NF-κB activation in Kupffer cells (KC), and TNFα promoter activity in RAW264.7 cells, were also assessed. Results: Administration of YGW reduced the plasma ALT, centrilobular necrosis, neutrophilic infiltration, and TNFα mRNA in the livers of mice acutely given CCl4. The in vivo herb treatment reduced ALT release and necrosis of isolated hepatocytes directly exposed to CCl4. Microarray analysis demonstrated marked reductions in CYP4A10 and 4A14 by YGW but no changes in other CYP isozymes as confirmed by immunoblot analysis. The herb treatment suppressed LPS-stimulated TNFα release in vivo and by cultured KC. Direct addition of the aqueous herb extract suppressed NF-κB activation by KC and TNFα promoter activity in RAW cells under LPS stimulation. This activity to suppress TNFα expression was largely separated into gel filtration fractions with the molecular size of 102–107 Da. YGW also attenuated liver fibrosis induced by chronic treatment of CCl4 or porcine serum. Conclusions: The protective effects of YGW on CCl4 hepatotoxicity are due in part to inhibition of KC NF-κB activation and TNFα expression by small water soluble molecules, and may also be related to suppressed hepatic expression of CYP4A10 and 4A14 that are considered as alternative prooxidant cytochromes.
Economic policies and demand for money: evidence from Canada

This study identifies Canadian fiscal and monetary policy regime changes that could influence the services of money. It is argued that if these policy regime changes were not incorporated in the estimation of demand for real balances, the resulting estimate would be biased and unstable. Using Canadian monthly data for the January 1975 to June 2001 period, the paper estimates a standard demand-for-money (M1) function with and without these policy regime changes. It was found the demand for money in Canada is stable over the short- and long-run periods when these policy regime changes are incorporated and the estimated coefficients have correct signs.
Guest Editors' Introduction: Artificial Intelligence for Homeland Security

In the post-9/11 world, information technology is an indispensable part of making our nation safer. Critical national security missions in the context of various data and technical domain challenges could benefit from establishing an intelligence and security informatics research discipline. Just as biomedical informatics addresses information management issues in biological and medical applications, ISI would address such issues for intelligence and security applications.The knowledge discovery from databases methodology shows promise in addressing unique ISI challenges. KDD has already proved successful in other information-intensive, knowledge-critical domains including business, engineering, biology, and medicine.This article is part of a special issue on Homeland Security.
Hair cell development

Neurobiologists have been challenged by the desire to understand how the highly specialized ultrastructure of the sensory hair cells of the ear develops, how patterns of phenotypically distinct hair cells are formed and regenerate, and how their specific neural connections are formed. Recent research has addressed some of these challenges at the level of cell and molecular biology, focusing on cell proliferation in hair cell epithelia, the mechanisms that control hair cell differentiation, and the developmental interdependencies between hair cells and neurons. The initial identification of some of the homeobox genes and growth factors that are involved in hair cell development has occurred during the past year.
A Case Study of Early Development in Smith-Magenis Syndrome

The aim of this article is to provide an in-depth description of early development in a young child With Smith-Magenis syndrome (SMS). SMS is a multisystem, neurodevelopmental genetic disorder associated With mental retardation that predisposes individuals to a distinct pattern of maladaptive behaviors and other neuropsychological impairments. While there is some research describing outcomes for individuals With SMS in middle childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood, very feW descriptions of early development are available in the literature.
Terrain Mapping With MMW Radar: An Approach Using Sensor Fusion And Knowledge-Based Heuristics

In this note we describe an architecture that integrates low-level processing of MMW radar data; intermediate-level processing based on contextual heuristics; and high-level processing driven by domain knowledge. The overall system objectives are to identify roadlike structures in the illuminated scene; and to match them to a world knowledge model to complete the estimated view of local terrain. The proposed system has applications in autonomous vehicle navigation and emer-gency landing situations.
Prostaglandin E2 Type 1 Receptors Contribute to Neuronal Apoptosis after Transient Forebrain Ischemia

Cyclooxygenase-2-derived prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) contributes to excitotoxic and ischemic neuronal cell death by engaging neuronal PGE2 type 1 receptors (EP1R). Our previous studies have shown that EP1R signaling resulted in disturbances of intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis and suppression of the pro-survival protein kinase AKT. The aim of this study was to investigate whether these pathophysiological mechanism have a role in the neuronal cell death after transient forebrain ischemia. Mice were subjected to ischemia/reperfusion by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion. Hippocampal cornu ammonis area 1 (CA1) neuronal cell death was determined 5 days after reperfusion. Animals treated with the EP1R antagonist SC51089 or EP1R-deficient mice (EP1−/−) showed significantly less neuronal injury as compared to vehicle-treated wild-type controls. Benefits of EP1R blockage were still evident 14 days after injury. Better neuronal survival was correlated with reduced neuronal caspase-3 activity and decreased nuclear translocation of the apoptosis-inducing factor . Neuroprotection could be reverted by intracerebroventricular administration of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitor LY294002 and was not further increased by the calcineurin inhibitor FK506. These data implicate EP1R in postischemic neuronal apoptosis possibly by facilitating AKT inhibition.
Conformation and chirality in liquid crystals

High helical twisting powerchiral additives are required for an expanding variety of liquid crystal displays and devices. Molecular conformation plays a critical role in determining the helical twisting power, HTP, of chiral additives. We studied additives based on an isosorbide benzoate ester core. Molecular modeling revealed two low energy states with very different conformations for this core The ultra-violet absorption and NMR spectra show two stable isosorbide conformers These spectra reveal how the relative populations of these two conformations change with temperature and how this is related to the helical twisting power. Conformation changes can explain many of the observed anomalous responses of HPT to temperature.
Modeling of Fields Produced by Currents on Power Supply Wiring

Measurements of local fields produced by simulated sources of conducted noise show good correlation with data from three theoretical models: a) an electric dipole, b) a magnetic dipole, and c) a parallel wire transmission line, depending upon the configuration of the source and its ?ground.? The significance of the ?common-mode? current below about 2 MHz is demonstrated.
Simulating Boundary Layer Transition With Low-Reynolds-Number k–ε Turbulence Models: Part 2—An Approach to Improving the Predictions

An approach for improving the prediction of boundary layer transition with k−e type low-Reynolds-number turbulence models is developed and tested. A modification is proposed that limits the production term in the turbulent kinetic energy equation and is based on a simple stability criterion and correlated to the free-stream turbulence level
Buffered time-wavelength cross-connects: Architectures and performance evaluation

An all-optical approach to reduce the speed mismatch between electronic sources and high-speed wavelength channels is to time-division multiplex low-capacity circuits onto each wavelength. In such a Time-Wavelength-Switched Network (TWSN), the optical crossconnects (OXCs) are configured to switch time-wavelength-slots within the network. The OXCs can be deployed with a bank of fiber delay lines (FDLs) to improve the connection slot scheduling and decrease the connection blocking probability. In this paper, we consider the two broad scenarios of sharing a bank of FDLs: shared per output link (SPL) and shared per crossconnect (SPC). We present several OXC architectures and develop graph formulations that can be used to optimally solve the scheduling problem. We also incorporate wavelength conversion and feedback in these architectures and study the impact of various FDL configurations on a crossconnect's performance. Results using numerical simulations show that the FDL configuration does in fact affect the performance of the OXC. We also evaluate the performance of an OXC equipped with an FDL bank for both the SPL and SPC scenarios by considering sparse wavelength converters (limited number of full range wavelength converters). Results show that using sparse converters along with FDLs could provide significant benefits.
Calmodulin is required for vasopressin-stimulated increase in cyclic AMP production in inner medullary collecting duct.

Calmodulin plays a critical role in regulation of renal collecting duct water permeability by vasopressin. However, specific targets for calmodulin action have not been thoroughly addressed. In the present study, we investigated whether Ca +2 /calmodulin regulates adenylyl cyclase activity in the renal inner medullary collecting duct. Rat inner medullary collecting duct suspensions were incubated in the presence or absence of 0.1 nM vasopressin and the calmodulin inhibitors, monodansylcadaverine, W-7, and trifluoperazine followed by measurement of cAMP. Vasopressinstimulated cAMP elevation was significantly attenuated in the presence of calmodulin inhibitors. Analysis of transglutaminase 2 knockout mice confirmed that these compounds were not acting through inhibition of transglutaminase 2 activity. Calmodulin inhibitors also blocked both cholera toxin- and forskolin-stimulated cAMP accumulation. In isolated perfused tubules, W-7 reversibly blocked vasopressin-stimulated urea permeability, a process that requires a rise in intracellular cAMP, but does not appear to involve protein trafficking to the apical plasma membrane. These results suggest that calmodulin is required for vasopressin-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity in intact inner medullary collecting duct. RT-PCR, immunoblotting, and immunohistochemistry revealed the presence of the calmodulin-sensitive adenylyl cyclase type 3 in rat collecting duct, an isoform previously not known to be expressed in collecting duct. Long-term treatment of Brattleboro rats with a vasopressin analog markedly decreased adenylyl cyclase type 3 protein abundance, providing an explanation for long-term downregulation of vasopressin response in collecting duct. These studies demonstrate the importance of calmodulin in the regulation of collecting duct adenylyl cyclase activity and transport function.
Silicon heterocyclic compounds I. Ring size effect in ring closure by hydrosilation

Abstract The hydrosilation reaction has been utilized for the synthesis of silicon heterocyclic compounds. The effect of n upon the ease of ring formation from compounds of the formula CH 2 CH(CH 2 ) n SiMe 2 H ( n = 0–6) has been investigated with chloroplatinic acid as a catalyst. No ring closure occurred when silacyclopropane and silacyclobutane were the expected products ( n = 0 and 1). When n = 2, only 1,1-dimethyl-1-silacyclopentane (46.3%) was obtained. With n = 3, two isomers, 1,1,2-trimethyl-1-silacyclopentane and 1,1-dimethyl-1-silacyclohexane were found (58.1%) in a 9/1 ratio. When n = 4, 1,1-dimethyl-1-silacycloheptane and its isomer, 1,1,2-trimethyl-1-silacyclohexane were obtained (69.8%) in about a 1/1 ratio. When n = 5, 1,1-dimethyl-1-silacyclooctane and its isomer 1,1,2-trimethyl-1-silacycloheptane were also observed (16.4%) in about a 1/1 ratio but the yield was only one fourth that of the previous one. With n = 6, only 1,1,2-trimethyl-1-silacyclooctane (2.4%) was obtained. A mechanism explaining the findings is discussed.
Three-year Follow-Up of Children with In-Utero Exposure to Crack/Cocaine 1330

Cocaine abuse is a major public health problem. We followed prospectively a group of children exposed in utero to crack/cocaine (DG) and a SES matched control group (CG) since birth. Data was collected on maternal drug use, obstetrical, medical and psychosocial histories. Urine toxicologies were obtained prenatally and at birth. The infants were seen every 6 mos for somatic and neurobehavioral evaluations. Results at age 3 yrs are presented including somatic and neurological findings, Bayley Scales of Infant Development 2 and Behavior Rating Scale (BRS). The study group consisted of 116 children- 65 D(39% male and 61% female) and 51 C (65% male and 35% female) of Hispanic and African-American background. SES was similar for both groups. In the DG 27% and in the CG 6% were in foster care. Weight and height were similar. However, head circumference was significantly smaller in the DG(52± 30% vs 65± 28%). There were significantly more suspicious to abnormal neurological findings in DG consisting of abnormalities in tone, fine and gross motor coordination and developmental delays (p≥.001). The MDI and PDI were significantly lower in the D G (84.5± 13.6 vs 93.5± 13.8, p≥.001; 92.9±18.7 vs 101.4±18.5, p≥.02). The number of scores ≤ 85 were significantly higher in the DG(p≥.01). The BRS showed significant differences in the total score(p≥.02) and subscores in motor quality (p≥.02) and emotional/regulation(p≥.05) factors with C group scoring better. The language and motor coordination items were mostly affected. Significantly more D G children were referred for early intervention because of behavior and developmental problems. The Peabody Vocabulary Test (PVT) was administered to mothers of both groups and scores were similar. The MDI and PDI scores correlated with the PVT. The neurological exam correlated with the MDI, early intervention, BHR, and foster care. There was no relationshipsbetween prenatal drug use, obstetrical and neonatal complications and gestational age to outcome variables.
What was the question? fMRI and inference in psychophysiology.

Abstract fMRI research has spent its first generation determining areas of high activation in the brain during various psychological tasks. The technique has proved exceedingly useful for asking where is the brain active during these tasks. This paper investigates the utility of asking the question “where is the brain active” and provides the reader with a useful analogy to simplify the logic and decisions being made when doing fMRI research. Rationales are considered for asking both the questions: “where is the brain active” and “how does the brain work?”
The Search for "Balance" in a Literature-Rich Curriculum.

(1999). The search for “balance” in a literature‐rich curriculum. Theory Into Practice: Vol. 38, Expanding the Worlds of Children's Literature, pp. 130-137.
Computational energy estimation tools for machining operations during preliminary design

The aim of this paper is to develop computational machining energy estimation tools during the early design stage of product development. In the preliminary or embodiment design, a product's shape and materials are determined. At this stage, it is crucial for a designer to be able to compare alternative designs and materials based on many different criteria, such as cost, functionality, energy, etc. Automated tools for estimating energy consumption that could later be used to integrate with CAD/CAM systems are in demand. This study presents computational tools for estimating the energy consumption of machining operations during the early design phase. The computational tools utilize a preliminary computer representation of a product (CAD model), its material and candidate machining operations to automatically analyse and estimate a range of energy consumption during machining operations. Detailed steps for computing turning and milling energy consumption are presented. Case studies of both parts and assem...
The Role of Cytokines in the Formation of the Schistosome Egg Granuloma

Schistosomiasis mansoni is a helminth-induced disease infecting over 120 million people in the tropics. Morbidity and mortality are caused by parasite eggs that evoke in the liver and intestines of infected persons, T cell-mediated granulomatous inflammation and irreversible fibrosis. In the murine model granulomatous inflammation is induced by CD4+ T helper lymphocytes. This short review summarizes recent observations that implicate a variety of lymphokines and cytokines as mediators of the granulomatous inflammatory response. Mediator production was examined in splenocyte as well as granuloma cell cultures of infected or egg granuloma-bearing mice. In the synchronous pulmonary granuloma model generated around i.v. injected eggs in naive mice IL-1 mRNA expression and IL-1 production were detectable within the first 4 days of granuloma growth. After 4-6 days TNF-alpha mRNA message appeared and cytokine production was observed. With the aging of the granuloma, production of both cytokines diminished. Thus, these cytokines are considered to be the primary recruiters of cellular aggregation in granuloma growth. The role of TNF-alpha in granuloma formation was also confirmed in infected mice. Whereas treatment of animals with anti-TNF-alpha antiserum diminished hepatic granuloma size, repeated injection of murine rTNF-alpha into chronically-infected mice enhanced the downmodulated granuloma response. With the administration of specific anti-lymphokine mAbs and recombinant murine lymphokines, as well as serial assays of lymphokine production by splenic, granuloma lymphocytes of infected mice, the role of INF-gamma, IL-2 and IL-4 was delineated. Interferon-gamma was found to be produced very early at the inception of the liver granulomatous response. By the time granulomas reached maximal size (8 wks post infection) production declined. Concurrently IL-2, IL-4 production peaked with maximal granuloma growth and declined with the onset of the immune modulation of the inflammation. Whereas these latter lymphokines appear to play a proinflammatory role, IFN-gamma when administered in large doses diminished granulomatous inflammation, plays a regulatory role in the maintenance of the granulomatous response. The T helper cell population of the granulomas may also influence the lymphokine profile of the developing granuloma. So far precursor type TH0, and TH2 subset of helper cells have been cloned from liver granulomas. The former secreted both IL-2, IL-4 and IFN-gamma lymphokines and adoptively transferred the granulomatous response.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
The Impact of Protective Measures for Female Workers

Policies designed to protect female workers have controversial effects on labor market outcomes, both in theory and in practice. The analysis uses repeated cross‐sections of household survey data for Taiwan to estimate the impact of working‐hours restrictions and maternity benefits. Differential coverage across industrial sectors and demographic groups provides a unique opportunity to identify the impact of both policies in a single natural experiment framework. While working‐hours restrictions have a negative impact on women's actual hours worked and employment, maternity benefits increase these labor inputs, implying that women value the opportunity to return to jobs they might otherwise have to leave.
Measuring effects of an affective-based nutrition education intervention

Abstract This paper describes an affective-based nutrition education program that promotes improvement of attitudes about nutrition and health as a means of improving dietary behavior. The content emphasized calcium, iron, and folacin—nutrients of particular concern for women during childbearing years. Evaluation instrumentation included a nutrition knowledge test, 2 attitude scales, and a food frequency form. These instruments measured improvement in knowledge in a group of 23 women presented with the nutrition intervention. An uninstructed group of 22 women showed no significant change in these attributes over the 3-month intervention period, thus demonstrating the stability of the instrumentation.
Discrimination and diversity: Market and non-market settings

This paper analyzes discrimination in light of two possibilities (1) that variety has a positive marginal value and (2) that it is less costly to deal with more homogeneous inputs. In market settings it explains the anomaly that firms practicing discrimination in hiring may survive in a competitive environment. In non-market settings it explains the minority separatism practiced under the name of “multiculturalism” on college campuses. Curriculum reforms in the direction of more ethnic, racial and religious “exclusivity” may be understood as attempts to change the constraints within which individuals of diverse cultural backgrounds, brought together into intimate contact, may maximize their utilities.
Lagomorph IgG hinge region: Allotype associated amino acid sequence variations☆

Abstract Amino acid composition and amino terminal sequence analyses of peptic and tryptic peptides of the Cγ hinge region for domestic rabbit, cottontail rabbit and hare IgG are compared. The failure to detect the group d (d11 and d12) allotypes in cottontail rabbits and hares can be attributed to additional variability in amino acid sequences that correspond to the variability between d11 and d12 noted in domestic rabbits. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the Cγ genes of present day lagomorphs arose from a common ancestral gene through a series of point mutations.
Mathematical modeling of the extractables release from multi-layered plastic films used in drug product containers

The release of extractables from multi-layered plastic films such as those used in containers for liquid drug products has been investigated. Targeted extractables were chosen from the film's extractable profile, as elucidated by a controlled extraction study. The total available pool of targeted extractables was ascertained via exhaustive sequential extraction of the film and the film layer responsible for the target extractables was established. This information, along with the film's structure, was used to produce a mathematical migration model for each of these targets. The film was fashioned into pouches, filled with a simulating solvent and the release of the targeted extractables to the pouches' contents was measured. The measured and modeled concentrations were found to be very similar, establishing the model's ability to effectively mimic the experimental system. This result suggests that mathematical modeling, which is widely used in the food industry to assess the safety of food packaging, may be applicable to packaged pharmaceutical products. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41223.
Optimizing weld quality of a friction stir welded aluminum alloy

Abstract A series of welds were completed at various processing parameters for a threaded tool in butt friction stir welded (FSWed) panels of AA 2219-T87 to determine the optimal welding parameters. The panels were sectioned transversely along the entire panel and characterized by tensile tests, hardness, and macrostructure imaging. High speed data acquisition collected the force data during the welds. X-ray diffraction was used to interpret the qualitative amount of equilibrium 2nd phases present. Variations in the mechanical properties were correlated with volumetric defects and metallurgical changes in the precipitate state. An optimal parameter window was chosen based on the UTS, hardness, changes in the weld forces, and the presence of volumetric defects. Guidelines were developed for future production welding of precipitation hardened aluminum alloys.
Engineering the Endothelin A and B Receptors using a Soluble Template for Structural Analysis and Small Molecule Screening

With almost 1000 unique G Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCR's) mapped in the human genome, and an estimated 40% of current marketed drugs targeting these proteins, there is little question that it worthwhile to develop new methods to more efficiently screen for small molecule agonists and antagonists. One such group of GPCRs, the endothelin receptors, is home to one of the most potent vasoconstrictors, the Endothelin A receptor (ETA) which is an excellent target for selective antagonists for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension. We have developed a method for screening selective antagonists which target intracellular domains of ETA and ETB using a soluble template (to mimic a region of the transmembrane domains of ETA and ETB) fused to the IC3 loop and Carboxyl terminus of ETA and ETB. Additionally, we have generated a structural model of the ETA Carboxyl terminus (Residues 373-427) from NMR data both in solution and in the presence of DPC micelles. We hope that with these tools we can soon identify and develop targeted inhibitors of vasoconstriction through high throughput screening and rational design.
Lateral Frontal Lobe Seizures

On the basis of cytoarchitectural and functional studies, the frontal lobe can be subdivided into the primary motor cortex, premotor cortex, prefrontal cortex, and the limbic and paralimbic cortices. However, we are still a long way from clearly identifying individual frontal lobe epilepsies. Instead, we are limited to a discussion of frontal lobe seizures arising from various regions of the frontal lobe. Supplementary motor area epilepsy and perirolandic epilepsy have been quite well defined, in contrast to syndromes involving other regions of the frontal lobe. Recent technological advances in neuroimaging, electroencephalography, magnetoencephalography and detailed videotape analysis of seizure semiology may enable us to delineate these frontal lobe syndromes with better accuracy, thereby improving outcome after epilepsy surgery.
The inhibitory role of DOC-2/DAB2 in growth factor receptor-mediated signal cascade. DOC-2/DAB2-mediated inhibition of ERK phosphorylation via binding to Grb2.

Abstract DOC-2/DAB2 (differentially expressed in ovariancarcinoma-2/disabled2) appears to be a potential tumor suppressor gene with a growth inhibitory effect on several cancer types. Previously, we have shown that DOC-2/DAB2 suppresses protein kinase C-induced AP-1 activation, which is modulated by serine 24 phosphorylation in the N terminus of DOC-2/DAB2. However, the functional impact of the C terminus of DOC-2/DAB2, containing three proline-rich domains, has not been explored. In this study, we examined this functional role in modulating signaling mediated by peptide growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase, particularly because it involves the interaction with Grb2. Using sequence-specific peptides, we found that the second proline-rich domain of DOC-2/DAB2 is the key binding site to Grb2 in the presence of growth factors. Such elevated binding interrupts the binding between SOS and Grb2, which consequently suppresses downstream ERK phosphorylation. Reduced ERK phosphorylation was restored when the binding between DOC-2/DAB2 and Grb2 was interrupted by a specific peptide or by increasing the expression of Grb2. Furthermore, the C terminus of the DOC-2/DAB2 construct can inhibit the AP-1 activity elicited by growth factors. We conclude that DOC-2/DAB2, a potent negative regulator, can suppress ERK activation by interrupting the binding between Grb2 and SOS that is elicited by peptide growth factors. This study further illustrates that DOC-2/DAB2 has multiple effects on the RAS-mediated signal cascades active in cancer cells.
Nicotinic acid reduction of plasma volume loss after thermal trauma

Intravenous administration of nicotinic acid to the anesthetized dog prior to thermal trauma reduced plasma loss at 10 minutes after burn from 7 milliliters per kilogram to less than 2 millimeters per kilogram. During the next 50 minutes plasma loss was the same in treated and untreated animals. An additional dose of nicotinic acid 30 minutes after burn prevented this further loss.
Archaeomagnetism and archaeoclimatic ‘forecast’?

IT has been suggested1 that the semipermanent pattern of depressions of tropospheric pressure in the north polar regions may be associated with areas of high magnetic field intensity in Canada and Siberia. The physical reasons for the correlation are obscure, because contrary to earlier suggestions, field lines near the magnetic pole are not linked to the interior of the magneto tail2. Nevertheless, the hypothesis, as an empirical principle, is of wide interest in that it would not only organise archaeoclimatic data but it would also form a basis for long term forecasting of general circulation changes.
A review of the South-East Asian Nasutitermitinae (Isoptera: Termidae), with descriptions of one new genus and a new species and including a key to the genera

This paper describes Snootitermes leuserensis, gen. et sp. nov. (collected from the Leuser Ecosystem, Sumatra), Hirtitermes brabazoni sp. nov. (collected from north Sulawesi) and the major soldier ...
COMMENTS ON WHITE'S PAPER

From a general standpoint, three approaches are postulated for reducing spatial externalities: (1) Pigouvian tax on emittees, (2) damage suits, (3) zoning. Why not a fourth, which is to internalize the externality by creating a market for it? With internalization one may not get a reduction per se in emissions; that is, firms (cities) merely have to pay for the resource. An article by H. Mohring and J. Boyd in Economica (Nov. 1971) shows that in comparison to the Pigouvian tax, the internal~zation approach (or asset utilization, as they call it, after Frank Knight's example of :highways) can yield superior results. A generalization of spatial externalities must consider all approaches, or at least be consistent with all. Turning to the model, I think the damage function leaves out a very important step that yields many significant problems later on. As equation (1) is written, there is an implicit assumption that choosing pollution reduction inputs has no impact on the relative price of inputs used to produce final goods (or the relative price of the final goods themselves). Pollution control cannot be viewed realistically in a vacuum. Clearly, my choice of more x and less y will have a strong impact on resource allocation, through real factor input and output decisions (via the price system). Similarly, to argue that society wishes to minimizes the social costs of abatement plus recycled damage is fine (see equation(2)), but we cannot view abatement costs without considering the indirect effects on real inputs and final products. As presently specified, the trivial solution of zero production is the optimal choice ! To show the effect of the omission in equations (1) and (2),* consider a firm that produces a primary product (Y~), whose production results in a residual product (YR). YR is either recovered as a useful by-product (Yb) or emitted as a waste (Y~). Assume YR is some fixed proportion (k) of Y~, where 0 < k < 1. Now
Simultaneous determination of subunit and complex structures of symmetric homo-oligomers from ambiguous NMR data

Determining the structures of symmetric homo-oligomers provides critical insights into their roles in numerous vital cellular processes. Structure determination by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy typically pieces together a structure based primarily on interatomic distance restraints, but for symmetric homo-oligomers each restraint may involve atoms in the same subunit or in different subunits, as the different homo-oligomeric "copies" of each atom are indistinguishable without special experimental approaches. This paper presents a novel method that simultaneously determines the structure of the individual subunits and their arrangement into a complex structure, so as to best satisfy the distance restraints under a consistent (but partial) disambiguation. Recognizing that there are likely to be multiple good solutions to this complex problem, our method provides a guarantee of completeness to within a user-specified resolution, generating representative backbone structures for the secondary structure elements, such that any structure that satisfies sufficiently many experimental restraints is sufficiently close to a representative. Our method employs a branch-and-bound algorithm to search a configuration space representation of the subunit and complex structure, identifying regions containing the structures that are most consistent with the data. We apply our method to three test cases with experimental data and demonstrate that it can handle the difficult configuration space search problem and substantial ambiguity, effectively pruning the configuration spaces and characterizing the actual diversity of structures supported by the data.
REPETITIVE LUTEINIZING HORMONE ELEVATIONS IN SERUM OF NORMAL MEN

ABSTRACT Serum luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were determined every 15 minutes, between 6:00 a. m. and 6:00 p. m., in four normally active men. Each subject demonstrated a repetitive pattern of abrupt elevations throughout the day. Twenty-one elevations were found during the total of 48 hours of monitoring. In the four volunteers, ratios of the highest to lowest levels of gonadotropin during the 12 hours ranged from 2.1–2.9. Individual or averaged concentrations of LH may not completely characterize pituitary-gonadal relationships.
Heterodimerization of Calcium Sensing Receptors with Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors in Neurons

Calcium sensing (CaR) and Group I metabotropic glutamate receptors exhibit overlapping expression patterns in brain, and share common signal transduction pathways. To determine whether CaR and Group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) (mGluR1α and mGluR5) can form heterodimers, we immunoprecipitated CaR from bovine brain and observed co-precipitation of mGluR1α. CaR and mGluR1α co-localize in hippocampal and cerebellar neurons, but are expressed separately in other brain regions. In vitro transfection studies in HEK-293 cells established the specificity and disulfide-linked nature of the CaR:mGluR1α (CaR:mGluR5) interactions. CaR:mGluR1α (CaR:mGluR5) heterodimers exhibit altered trafficking via Homer 1c when compared with CaR:CaR homodimers. CaR becomes sensitive to glutamate-mediated internalization when present in CaR:mGluR1α heterodimers. These results demonstrate cross-family covalent heterodimerization of CaR with Group I mGluRs, and increase the potential role(s) for CaR in modulating neuronal function.
How Teachers Confirm the Authorship of Facilitated Communication: A Portfolio Approach

Facilitated communication has been characterized as an alternative to speech that involves providing physical and emotional support to individuals with severe communication impairments as they type...
Finite element analysis of magnetohydrodynamic pipe flow

Abstract This paper deals with magnetohydrodynamic flows in pipes with arbitrary cross-section and arbitrary wall conductivities under the influence of a transverse magnetic field. The equations studied are of considerable practical interest since they model induction flow meters, electromagnetic pumps, magnetic propulsion devices and generators and have application in medicine, in power generation and in nuclear reactor technology. We are primarily interested in the questions of existence, uniqueness and finite element approximation of solutions to the equations of steady-state magnetohydrodynamics with arbitrary boundary conditions which describe this phenomenon. We derive error estimates for the approximate solution and show that one obtains optimal accuracy when using the finite element method to construct approximate solutions. We illustrate these results with some numerical experiments.
Delivering Quality and Value in the Classroom: The Use of Problem-Based Learning in Retail Merchandising Courses

In today's rapidly changing environment, universities are increasingly being held more accountable for delivering quality and value to their external stakeholders (i.e., students and industry partners). As retail merchandising educators, we face the challenge of delivering state-of-the-art knowledge and capstone experiences to students in order to prepare them for the obstacles they will face upon entering the workforce. While traditional methods of instruction limit our ability to meet this challenge, the problem-based learning method offers educators an opportunity to improve students' skills in many critical areas identified by the industry (i.e., problem solving, critical thinking, research, teamwork, verbal/written communication skills). This paper examines one university's experience designing and conducting a senior-level retail merchandising course using the problem-based learning method. Student and industry partner perceptions and comments are used to advocate implementing the problem-based lear...
Crystal Structure of the F27G AIM2 PYD Mutant and Similarities of its Self-association to DED/DED Interactions

Absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) is a cytoplasmic double-stranded DNA sensor involved in innate immunity. It uses its C-terminal HIN domain for recognizing double-stranded DNA and its N-terminal pyrin domain (PYD) for eliciting downstream effects through recruitment and activation of apoptosis-associated Speck-like protein containing CARD (ASC). ASC in turn recruits caspase-1 and/or caspase-11 to form the AIM2 inflammasome. The activated caspases process proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 and induce the inflammatory form of cell death pyroptosis. Here we show that AIM PYD (AIM2 PYD ) self-oligomerizes. We notice significant sequence homology of AIM2 PYD with the hydrophobic patches of death effector domain (DED)-containing proteins and confirm that mutations on these residues disrupt AIM2 PYD self-association. The crystal structure at 1.82 A resolution of such a mutant, F27G of AIM2 PYD , shows the canonical six-helix (H1–H6) bundle fold in the death domain superfamily. In contrast to the wild-type AIM2 PYD structure crystallized in fusion with thelarge maltose-binding protein tag, the H2–H3 region of the AIM2 PYD F27G is well defined with low B-factors. Structural analysis shows that the conserved hydrophobic patches engage in a type I interaction that has been observed in DED/DED and other death domain superfamily interactions. While previous mutagenesis studies of PYDs point to the involvement of charged interactions, our results reveal the importance of hydrophobic interactions in the same interfaces. These centrally localized hydrophobic residues within fairly charged patches may form the hot spots in AIM2 PYD
THERMAL DECOMPOSITION OF METHANOL ADSORBED ON Al 2 O 3

The kinetic behavior of CH 3 OH adsorbed on A1 2 O 3 powder was studied by a thermal desorption method combined with a deuterium tracer technique in an ultra high vacuum system. CH 3 OH is desorbed at lew temperatures. Near 500°K and higher, H 2 CO, H 2 O, and CH 3 OCH 3 become significant. Above 700°K, CO is predominant. H 2 is desorbed around the same temperature as H 2 CO and CO. CO 2 is very small.
The Sequence Context and Methylation Dependence of DNA Drug Binding

The ability of molecules to bind DNA plays an important role in many biological processes including, transcription, regulation, replication, and repair. Understanding the factors that influence binding affinity is therefore essential to our understanding of DNA. In this study the effects of sequence context and binding-site methylation on the binding affinity and conformation of DNA dodecamers are explored. The Cre binding site (ACGT) was studied in its methylated and native forms with a number of different flanking sequences chosen to test the predictive power of a previously published dinucleotide scale, wherein certain dinucleotides were said to have an affinity for either the BI or BII DNA conformation. 31P-NMR was used to test the true conformational state of each phosphorous in the dodecamers, and it was found that the scale could not accurately predict the real conformation of DNA. Importantly, the conformation of the binding site, the central tetrad which was not changed, varied significantly based on the sequence context. Thus more complex relationships than dinucleotides, such as longer-range translational conformation effects, are shown to affect the DNA conformation. Fluorescence titration with the DNA intercalator 7-Aminoactinomycin D was performed to determine the KD of each of the dodecamers and provide biological context to our conformation results. Excellent binding affinities were seen in the ACAC, ACAG, and GGCC sequences, while weaker binding was observed for GGAG sequences. The effects of methylation on binding affinity and conformation demonstrated that methylation effects are modulated by sequence context.
Superconductivity in Alkaline Earth-Substituted La2CuO4-y

La2CuO4-y ceramics containing a few percent of Ca2+, Sr2+, and Ba2+ ions have been prepared. Resistivity and susceptibility measurements exhibit superconductive onsets (as in earlier Ba2+-containing samples). The onset temperature La2CuO4-y with Sr2+ is higher and its superconductivity-induced diamagnetism larger than that found with Ba2+ and Ca2+. This is proof that the electronic change resulting from alkaline earthdoping, rather than the size effect, is responsible for superconductivity. The ionic radius of Sr2+ is close to that of La3+ for which it presumably substitutes.
Stable boundary-layer scaling regimes : The sheba data

Turbulent and mean meteorological data collected at five levels on a 20-m tower over the Arctic pack ice during the Surface Heat Budget of the Arctic Ocean experiment (SHEBA) are analyzed to examine different regimes of the stable boundary layer (SBL). Eleven months of measurements during SHEBA cover a wide range of stability conditions, from the weakly unstable regime to very stable stratification. Scaling arguments and our analysis show that the SBL can be classified into four major regimes: (i) surface-layer scaling regime (weakly stable case), (ii) transition regime, (iii) turbulent Ekman layer, and (iv) intermittently turbulent Ekman layer (supercritical stable regime). These four regimes may be considered as the basic states of the traditional SBL. Sometimes these regimes, especially the last two, can be markedly perturbed by gravity waves, detached elevated turbulence (‘upside down SBL’), and inertial oscillations. Traditional Monin–Obukhov similarity theory works well in the weakly stable regime. In the transition regime, Businger–Dyer formulations work if scaling variables are re-defined in terms of local fluxes, although stability function estimates expressed in these terms include more scatter compared to the surface-layer scaling. As stability increases, the near-surface turbulence is affected by the turning effects of the Coriolis force (the turbulent Ekman layer). In this regime, the surface layer, where the turbulence is continuous, may be very shallow (< 5 m). Turbulent transfer near the critical Richardson number is characterized by small but still significant heat flux and negligible stress. The supercritical stable regime, where the Richardson number exceeds a critical value, is associated with collapsed turbulence and the strong influence of the earth’s rotation even near the surface. In the limit of very strong stability, the stress is no longer a primary scaling parameter.