cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Can a genome change its (hot)spots

A new study by Jeffreys et al. shows that the rate of recombination in recombination hotspots in humans is not constant through time. This observation adds weight to the idea that hotspots are transient on evolutionary timescales. However, questions remain as to what controls their evolution and how these rapid changes influence broad-scale rates of recombination.
Monocyte Mobilization, Activation Markers, and Unique Macrophage Populations in the Brain: Observations from SIV Infected Monkeys Are Informative with Regard to Pathogenic Mechanisms of HIV Infection in Humans

Non-human primate models of AIDS and neuroAIDS have been useful to study AIDS in humans in general and neuroAIDS in particular. Important information concerning target cells of infection, mechanisms of immune activation and pathology and cell traffic has been made in non-human primate models. To date observations in SIV infected monkey models have predicted or paralleled monocyte/macrophage biology with HIV infection and neuroAIDS. In this brief review we discuss a CD8+ T lymphocyte depletion model of rapid AIDS which results in a high incidence of SIV encephalitis. Specifically we review recent observations we have made using this model concerning monocyte turnover, monocyte/macrophage activation, macrophage derived biomarkers of disease and novel therapeutic approaches to AIDS and CNS pathology. Importantly, all observations made in the rapid model of AIDS discussed here are important and relevant to HIV infection of humans, even in the current era of anti-retroviral therapy that maintains HIV in plasma below the limit of detection.
Children’s Attendance Rates and Quality of Teacher-Child Interactions in At-Risk Preschool Classrooms: Contribution to Children’s Expressive Language Growth

The present research examines whether children’s daily attendance rates would be predictive of gains in expressive language within the context of high-quality preschool classrooms. The quality of preschool classrooms was assessed by measuring the quality of the teacher’s interactions with the children in his or her classroom. Hierarchical linear models, nesting children within classroom, were used to examine children’s growth in expressive language in two independent samples (n = 129 children in 14 classrooms; n = 160 children in 46 classrooms). Results showed positive relations between daily attendance and language gains for children enrolled in higher quality preschool classrooms. Findings suggest that at-risk children who are rarely absent from high-quality preschool classrooms show accelerated expressive language growth, thus indicating that preschool attendance is an important factor to consider in future research and policy decisions.
Ex vivo renal repair: technical tips, when, and why

Ex vivo renal artery repair combined with cold perfusion protection is an operative technique for managing complex renal artery lesions. Most diseases of the renal artery are proximal, and typically treated either medically, by endovascular means, or surgically. When surgery of the main renal artery is required, it can typically be performed with warm renal ischemia times of 45 minutes, and can lead to direct renal nephron damage. In this setting, the ex vivo technique with cold perfusion can allow for lengthy reconstructive times of several hours without any measurable harm to renal function. The technique can be performed with low morbidity and mortality, an excellent rate of renal salvage, and preservation of renal function.
k-Hyponormality and n-Contractivity for Agler-Type Shifts

s of KOTAC Volume 10(2008), 10–10 k-hyponormality and n-contractivity for Agler-type shifts George Exner Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA 17837, USA exner@bucknell.edu The well-known Bran-Halmos condition for subnormality of Hilbert space operators gives rise to the classes of k-hyponormal operators, k = 1, 2, · · · . The Agler-Embry condition for subnormality of a contraction uses the n-contractive classes, n =, 1, 2, · · · . The comparative study of these classes has been fruitful: for example, if a contraction is khyponormal it is 2k-contractive. We consider some back-step extensions of Agler model weighted shifts for which an n-contractivity condition guarantees (in some cases, is equivalent to) a k-hyponormality one. Elements of the study include the Berger measure of a subnormal shift and orthogonal polynomials.
Cytoplasmic control of protein synthesis in rat liver

Abstract An in vitro system is described which reflects the in vivo changes induced by partial hepatectomy. Using lysosome-free microsomes, [14C]aminoacyl-tRNA and limiting transfer factor concentrations, it has been shown that the initial rate of amino acid incorporation into protein in regenerating microsomes is approximately twice that of normal. Treatment of normal microsomes with thiols or excess GTP raises their activity to that of regenerating microsomes. Disulfide, on the other hand, reduces the activity of normal microsomes by 50 %. These and further data are discussed in the context of a redox control mechanism for protein synthesis in the rat liver.
Meal size and intermeal interval both regulate schedule-induced water intake in rats

The present studies examined the effects of intermeal interval and pellet magnitude on the development and maintenance of schedule-induced polydipsia using a between-subjects design as contrasted with earlier investigations, which have exclusively employed within-subject procedures. In Experiment 1, pellets were delivered on one of six fixed-time schedules (20, 40, 60, 120,180, and 240 sec) to different groups of rats. Although the typical bitonic function relating water intake to intermeal interval was obtained, the function showed a wide plateau ranging from 60 to 180 sec. Experiment 2 demonstrated that both intermeal interval and pellet magnitude regulate schedule-induced polydipsia. While small-magnitude pellets could support drinking only at relatively short intermeal intervals, increasing pellet magnitude to medium or large resulted in drinking at progressively longer intermeal intervals. Indeed, we observed drinking on a fixed-time 720-sec schedule with large-magnitude pellets. These findings are derivable from the opponent-process theory of acquired motivation.
Community response to a municipal waste incinerator: NIMBY or neighbor?

Abstract The USA generates an average of 362 800 mt of municipal waste a day. Presently, most solid waste is sent to sanitary landfills, but landfill disposal has become a less preferred disposal option. Increasingly, local jurisdictions are turning to waste incineration as a disposal option; one of the most serious impediments to waste incineration is citizen opposition. This study examines pre-operational attitudes toward a municipal waste incinerator located in Charlotte, NC, USA. We found that respondents have a more positive reaction to incineration than landfilling, although despite this positive reaction to incineration the respondents were still wary of living near a waste incinerator. We also found that almost two-thirds of the respondents did not know that an incinerator was being built in the area. Furthermore, it was discovered that the respondents had a surprisingly low level of opposition to the location of the incinerator.
Diurnal Regulation of MTP and Plasma Triglyceride by CLOCK Is Mediated by SHP

Summary We examined the role of clock genes in the diurnal regulation of plasma triglyceride-rich apolipoprotein B-lipoproteins and their biosynthetic chaperone, microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP). Clock mt/mt mice showed sustained hypertriglyceridemia and high MTP expression. CLOCK knockdown activated MTP promoter and reduced small heterodimer partner ( SHP , NROB2). CLOCK upregulated SHP by binding to its E box. SHP suppressed MTP expression by binding to the HNF4α/LRH-1 at the MTP promoter. Cyclic expression of MTP after serum shock was abrogated by siCLOCK and siSHP. Plasma triglyceride and MTP showed reduced diurnal variations in Shp −/− mice. Whereas peaks and nadirs in SHP expression were inversely correlated with those of MTP, these changes were reduced in Clock mt/mt mice. Expression of Shp abrogated hypertriglyceridemia in Clock mt/mt mice. Together, these studies describe a role of Clock/Shp in the diurnal regulation of MTP and plasma triglyceride and indicate that disruptions in circadian regulation might cause hyperlipidemia.
Unique Measurement and Modeling of Total Phase Noise in RF Receiver

Radio frequency (RF) receivers are common in many modern communications and radar systems, and they suffer from many performance degradation factors due to hardware limitations. Among all performance degradation contributors, phase noise and time jitter are particularly troublesome since they cause random errors which are difficult to compensate. The local oscillator in the receiver front end is a major contributor of phase noise, while the analog-to-digital converter (ADC) introduces time jitter. It is desired to know the accumulated effect of individual phase noise sources and time jitter. The total effect of all phase noise and jitter can be represented by an accumulated phase noise term at the ADC's output, called total phase noise (TPN) in this brief. The focus of this work is on measuring and modeling TPN in the RF receiver by applying optimization techniques. In contrast to traditional phase noise measurement that typically requires a high-quality tunable downconverter, a digital approach using the data captured directly by the RF receiver is proposed. In addition, iterative optimization-based TPN spectral model fitting and statistic modeling are introduced. The model is examined using the measured TPN. It is confirmed that the RF receiver TPN can be viewed as a wide-sense stationary zero-mean Gaussian process with certain spectral profile.
Toxoplasma gondii resides in a vacuole that avoids fusion with host cell endocytic and exocytic vesicular trafficking pathways.

Toxoplasma gondii actively penetrates its vertebrate host cell to establish a nonfusigenic compartment called the parasitophorous vacuole (PV) that has previously been characterized primarily in phagocytic cells. To determine the fate of this unique compartment in nonphagocytic cells, we examined the trafficking of host cell proteins and lipids in Toxoplasma-infected fibroblasts using quantitative immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy. Toxoplasma-containing vacuoles remained segregated from all levels of the endocytic pathway, as shown by the absence of delivery of transferrin receptors, mannose phosphate receptors, and the lysosomal-associated protein LAMP1 to the vacuole. The PV was also inaccessible to lipids (DiIC16, and GM1) that were internalized from the plasma membrane via the endocytic system. In contrast, vacuoles containing dead parasites or zymosan sequentially acquired both endosomal and lysosomal protein markers and host lipids, reflecting the competency of fibroblasts to process phagocytic vacuoles. The mature PV often lies adjacent to the host cell Golgi, suggesting that it may intersect with vesicles from the exocytic pathway. Despite this proximity, the PV was inaccessible to nitrobenzadiazole-labeled sphingolipids exported from the Golgi and did not contain the host protein markers AP1 or beta-COP. Our results demonstrate that Toxoplasma resides in a compartment that excludes delivery of protein and lipid components from the host cell endocytic and exocytic pathways.
A Comparative Assessment of Flue Gas Treatment Processes Part II—Environmental and Cost Comparison

The developmental status, projected costs, and environmental effects of 14 flue gas treatment processes are compared on a common basis in two consecutive issues of JAPCA. Part I summarized the background and study basis and Part II compares environmental impact and relative costs. Each process is assumed to be associated with a grass roots installation that includes a modern 800 MW power plant burning Illinois No. 6 coal. Also considered is the effectiveness of these processes to control particulate matter, NOx, trace inorganics, and polyorganic matter. The processes are divided into those operating once-through (Limestone, Lime, Limestone and Lime, Dual-Alkali), and with regeneration (Magnesia, Wellman-Lord, Citrate, Aqueous Carbonate, IFP-Catalytic Inc., Copper-Dry Bed, and Carbon-Dry Bed). Also analyzed are NOx control processes that are compatible with scrubbers or dry processes, and include the Exxon Thermal DeNOx, Ozone NO Oxidation, and Copper and Carbon-Dry Bed.
Regulative or constitutive behaviors: culture and identity in human interaction

The term 'social signal' implies that one person emits a signal that another picks up, and that the signal regulates some sort of socially appropriate behavior. Taking examples from my recent research on culture and identity both in human-human and human-agent interaction, I will try to problematize the notion of a "social signal" by demonstrating the many cases where there is no signal independently or prior to the people who use it, and where the exchange of signals constitutes rule-making, as opposed to following it.
Adaptive Fault Tolerance for Scalable Cluster Computing in Space

Future missions of deep-space exploration face the challenge of building more capable autonomous spacecraft and planetary rovers. Given the communication latencies and bandwidth limitations for such missions, the need for increased autonomy becomes mandatory, along with the requirement for enhanced on-board computational capabilities while in deep-space or time-critical situations. This will result in dramatic changes in the way missions are conducted and supported by on-board computing systems. Specifically, the traditional approach of relying exclusively on radiation-hardened hardware and modular redundancy will not be able to deliver the required computational power. As a consequence, such systems are expected to include high-capability low-power components based on emerging commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) multi-core technology. In this paper we describe the design of a generic framework for introspection that supports runtime monitoring and analysis of program execution as well as a feedback-oriented recovery from faults. Our focus is on providing flexible software fault tolerance matched to the requirements and properties of applications by exploiting knowledge that is either contained in an application knowledge base, provided by users, or automatically derived from specifications. A prototype implementation is currently in progress at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, targeting a cluster of cell broadband engines.
Knowledge discovery and data mining in pavement inverse analysis

Abstract This paper describes the use of data mining tools for predicting the non-linear layer moduli of asphalt road pavement structures based on the deflection profiles obtained from non-destructive deflection testing. The deflected shape of the pavement under vehicular loading is predominantly a function of the thickness of the pavement layers, the moduli of individual layers, and the magnitude of the load. The process of inverse analysis, more commonly referred to as ‘backcalculation’, is used to estimate the elastic (Young's) moduli of individual pavement layers based upon surface deflections. A comprehensive synthetic database of pavement response solutions was generated using an advanced non-linear pavement finite-element program. To overcome the limitations associated with conventional pavement moduli backcalculation, data mining tools such as support vector machines, neural networks, decision trees, and meta-algorithms like bagging were used to conduct asphalt pavement inverse analysis. The resul...
Mechanisms of ligand discrimination by heme proteins.

Several classes of heme proteins have been identified whose primary role is to sense and transport one of the three gaseous ligands: O2, NO, or CO. A common feature shared by all of these proteins is the need to not only recognize its target ligand, but also discriminate against other heme ligands of similar size and shape. This review describes the mechanisms that each class of heme protein sensor and transporter utilizes to promote this discrimination. The common factors utilized in the recognition of each ligand are discussed.
Inhibition of the bovine-heart mitochondrial F1-ATPase by cationic dyes and amphipathic peptides.

The bovine heart mitochondrial F1-ATPase is inhibited by a number of amphiphilic cations. The order of effectiveness of non-peptidyl inhibitors examined as assessed by the concentration estimated to produce 50% inhibition (I0.5) of the enzyme at pH 8.0 is: dequalinium (8 microM), rhodamine 6G (10 microM), malachite green (14 microM), rosaniline (15 microM) greater than acridine orange (180 microM) greater than rhodamine 123 (270 microM) greater than rhodamine B (475 microM), coriphosphine (480 microM) greater than safranin O (1140 microM) greater than pyronin Y (1650 microM) greater than Nile blue A (greater than 2000 microM). The ATPase activity was also inhibited by the following cationic, amphiphilic peptides: the bee venom peptide, melittin; a synthetic peptide corresponding to the presence of yeast cytochrome oxidase subunit IV (WT), and amphiphilic, synthetic peptides which have been shown (Roise, D., Franziska, T., Horvath, S.J., Tomich, J.M., Richards, J.H., Allison, D.S. and Schatz, G. (1988) EMBO J. 7, 649-653) to function in mitochondrial import when attached to dihydrofolate reductase (delta 11.12, Syn-A2, and Syn-C). The order of effectiveness of the peptide inhibitors as assessed by I0.5 values is: Syn-A2 (40 nM), Syn-C (54 nM) greater than melittin (5 microM) greater than WT (16 microM) greater than delta 11,12 (29 microM). Rhodamines B and 123, dequalinium, melittin, and Syn-A2 showed noncompetitive inhibition, whereas each of the other inhibitors examined (rhodamine 6G, rosaniline, malachite green, coriphosphine, acridine orange, and-Syn-C) showed mixed inhibition. Replots of slopes and intercepts from Lineweaver-Burk plots obtained for dequalinium were hyperbolic indicating partial inhibition. With the exception of Syn-C, for which the slope replot was hyperbolic and the intercept replot was parabolic, steady-state kinetic analyses indicated that inhibition by the other inhibitors was complete. The inhibition constants obtained by steady-state kinetic analyses were in agreement with the I0.5 values estimated for each inhibitor examined. Rhodamine 6G, rosaniline, dequalinium, melittin, Syn-A2, and Syn-C were observed to protect F1 against inactivation by the aziridinium of quinacrine mustard in accord with their experimentally determined I0.5 values.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Expanding NAFTA: Economic effects of accession of Chile and other major South American nations

Abstract We use a specially constructed version of the Brown-Deardorff-Stern (BDS) Computational General Equilibrium (CGE) Model of World Production and Trade to estimate the potential economic effects of expanding the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to include Chile, Argentina, Colombia, and Brazil. Five liberalization scenarios were performed. The first scenario considered the NAFTA as the base case. In four subsequent scenarios, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, and Brazil were added seriatim to the NAFTA. The results strongly suggest that each country added to the NAFTA will gain and that countries already in the trade bloc also gain as the bloc grows. Except for Chile, there are positive effects from economies of scale across most sectors of the economies. At a sectoral level, there are sizable impacts on bilateral trade flows but comparatively small impacts on sectoral outputs, with the exception again of Chile's, whose nonferrous metals sector exhibits a strong specialization effect.
Orchiopexy: Experiences at two centers

The results of two series of patients undergoing orchiopexy procedures at different medical centers using different surgical approaches were analyzed. Satisfactory results were obtained in 89 and 91 per cent of patients, and there was no significant difference between centers in the results obtained. The results were further analyzed with respect to the age of the patient at surgery, prior treatment with human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), and postoperative hospitalization. These were found to have no significant bearing on the outcome of the procedure. Orchiopexy, if meticulously performed according to recognized surgical principles, continues to be an operation of considerable merit in the treatment of cryptorchism.
Continence-preserving anatomic radical retropubic prostatectomy.

Abstract Introduction. Urinary continence, especially in regard to the time required to regain urinary control after radical prostatectomy, remains a significant complication of the procedure. Technical Considerations. The “no touch” or “avoidance” surgical principles that are the basis for continence-preserving radical prostatectomy primarily focus on the preservation of the following components of the external striated urethral sphincteric complex: the entire circumferential musculature of the rhabdosphincter, the fascial investments (the pubourethral ligaments anterolaterally and median fibrous raphe posteriorly), and the innervation of both the rhabdosphincter by way of the intrapelvic branch of the pudendal nerve (somatic) and the mucosal and smooth muscle components by way of the urethral branch of the inferior hypogastric plexus (autonomic). Conclusions. The clinical impact of preserving the external striated urethral sphincter, its innervation, and its fascial attachments by performing a continence-preserving anatomic retropubic prostatectomy is a shorter time to achieve urinary continence.
Optimal time-of-use electricity pricing using game theory

Typical user demands of electricity vary throughout the day, which increases the cost to utility companies and decreases the stability of the power system. Time-of-use (TOU) pricing has been proposed as a demand-side management (DSM) method to influence user demands. In this paper, we describe a new approach of optimal TOU pricing strategy based on game theory (GT-TOU). We propose models for costs due to the fluctuating user demands to the utility companies, as well as the user satisfaction measurement because of the difference between the demand and actual load. We design utility functions for the company and the user, and obtain the Nash equilibrium using backward induction and iterative methods. Numerical example shows that our method is effective in leveling the user demand by setting optimal TOU prices, in potentially increasing the profit of the utility companies and ensuring overall user benefit.
Perpetration of physical assault against dating partners, peers, and siblings among a locally representative sample of high school students in Boston, massachusetts

Objectives To assess the co-occurrence of past-month physical assault of a dating partner and violence against peers and siblings among a locally representative sample of high school students and to explore correlates of dating violence (DV) perpetration. Design Cross-sectional survey design. Setting Twenty-two public high schools in Boston, Massachusetts. Participants A sample of urban high school students (n = 1398) who participated in the Boston Youth Survey, implemented January through April of 2008. Main Outcomes Measures Self-reported physical DV in the month before the survey, defined as pushing, shoving, slapping, hitting, punching, kicking, or choking a dating partner 1 or more times. Results Among the respondents, 18.7%, 41.2%, and 31.2% of students reported past-month perpetration of physical DV, peer violence, and sibling violence, respectively. Among violence perpetrators, the perpetration of DV only was rare (7.9%). Controlling for age and school, the association between sibling violence and DV was strong for boys (adjusted prevalence ratio, 3.81; 95% confidence interval, 2.07-6.99) and for girls (1.83; 1.44-2.31), and the association between peer violence and DV perpetration was strong for boys (5.13; 3.15-8.35) and for girls (2.57; 1.87-3.52). Dating violence perpetration was also associated with substance use, knife carrying, delinquency, and exposure to community violence. Conclusions Adolescents who perpetrated physical DV were also likely to have perpetrated peer and/or sibling violence. Dating violence is likely one of many co-occurring adolescent problem behaviors, including sibling and peer violence perpetration, substance use, weapon carrying, and academic problems.
MGD: Definition Versus Dry Eye Disease, Risk Factors

Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is defined as any functional disorder of the meibomian glands. While MGD is commonly associated with lipid tear deficiency, patients with MGD may also be asymptomatic and/or may have normal tear film parameters. Although there are no standardized diagnostic criteria for the disease, epidemiologic studies have revealed that MGD is very common, especially in Asian populations. Risk factors for MGD include both ocular and systemic conditions. Ocular conditions specifically found to associate with MGD include contact lens wear and the use of glaucoma medications. Systemically, older age, lower androgen levels, rosacea, and Sjogren’s syndrome have all been associated with disease.
SYNAPTIC ORGANIZATION OF THE UNIGLOMERULAR PROJECTION NEURONS OF THE ANTENNAL LOBE OF THE MOTH MANDUCA SEXTA : A LASER SCANNING CONFOCAL AND ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC STUDY

The detailed branching pattern and synaptic organization of the uniglomerular projection neurons of the antennal lobe, the first processing center of the olfactory pathway, of the moth Manduca sexta were studied with laser scanning confocal microscopy and a technique combining laser scanning confocal microscopy and electron microscopy. Uniglomerular projection neurons, identified electrophysiologically or morphologically, were stained intracellularly with neurobiotin or biocytin. Brains containing the injected neurons were treated with streptavidin-immunogold to label the injected material for electron microscopy and with Cy3-streptavidin to lable the neurons with fluorescence for laser scanning confocal microscopy, and then embedded in Epon. Labeled neurons were imaged and reconstructed with laser scanning confocal microscopy (based on the retained fluorescence of the labeled neuron in the Epon block), and thin sections were cut at selected optical levels for correlation of light microscopic data and electron microscopic detail. Each neuron had a cell body in one of the three cell-body clusters of the antennal lobe, a primary neurite that extended across the coarse neuropil at the center of the antennal lobe and then formed a dense tuft of processes within a single glomerulus, and an axon that emanated from the primary neurite and projected from the antennal lobe via the antenno-cerebral tract to the lateral horn of the ipsilateral protocerebrum and, collaterally, to the calyces of the mushroom body. In the electron microscope, the fine dendritic branches in the apical zones of the glomeruli, where sensory axons terminate, were found to receive many input synapses. In deeper layers across the glomeruli, the processes participated in both input and output synapses, and at the bases of the glomeruli, the most proximal, thickest branches formed output synapses. In both of the protocerebral areas in which axonal branches terminated, those branches formed exclusively output synapses. Our findings indicate that, in addition to conveying olfactory information to the protocerebrum, uniglomerular projection neurons in the antennal lobes of M. sexta participate in local intraglomerular synaptic circuitry. J. Comp. Neurol. 379:2-20, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Asymptotic periodicity of trajectories of an interval

We consider dynamical systems generated by continuous mappings of an interval I into itself. We prove that the trajectory of an interval J ⊂ I is asymptotically periodic if and only if J contains an asymptotically periodic point.
ERGONOMIC DATABASE FOR VISUAL DISPLAYS AND VDUs

This paper will survey the current data and knowledge in the human factors/ergonomics literature pertaining to the design and evaluation of visual displays and visual display units (VDUs). The discussion will be broken into several critical areas of current concern and activity. For each such area, existing data and knowledge will be generally summarized, data gaps will be indicated, current activity in research will be defined, and future problems or requirements will be suggested. Much of the discussion will pertain to activities within the United States, although some technological developments from other countries will be noted. In addition, since much of the emphasis on VDUs emanates from European countries, these driving considerations will also be described.
Electronic Publishing: Economic Issues in a time of Transition

This chapter is an annotated case study of the cost, to the American Physical Society, of publishing its scientific journals: The Physical Review, Physical Review Letters, and Reviews of Modern Physics. It also reports on the revenues available to cover these costs and on the resulting prices charged to subscribers.
A Functional Ubiquitin-Specific Protease Embedded in the Large Tegument Protein (ORF64) of Murine Gammaherpesvirus 68 Is Active during the Course of Infection

All herpesviruses contain a ubiquitin (Ub)-specific cysteine protease domain embedded within their large tegument protein, based on homology with the corresponding sequences of UL36 from herpes simplex virus type 1 and M48 from murine cytomegalovirus. This type of activity has yet to be demonstrated for cells infected with a gammaherpesvirus. By activity-based profiling, we show that the large tegument protein of murine gammaherpesvirus (MHV-68) ORF64 (273 kDa) is a functional deubiquitinating protease, as assessed by tandem mass spectrometry of adducts in extracts from MHV-68-infected cells that had been labeled with ubiquitin vinylmethylester, a ubiquitin-based active site-directed probe. The recombinantly expressed amino-terminal segment of ORF64 displays deubiquitinating activity toward Ub C-terminal 7-amido-4-methylcoumarin in vitro. The findings reported here for MHV-68 ORF64 extend those made for the alpha- and betaherpesvirus families and are consistent with an important, conserved enzymatic function of the tegument protein.
The settling velocity and shape distortion of drops in a uniform electric field

We theoretically and experimentally investigate the settling velocity and deformation of a leaky dielectric liquid drop in a second leaky dielectric liquid subject to a uniform electric field, E. Both shape distortion and charge convection, when coupled with the asymmetric velocity profiles, will produce a net drag and a shift in the settling speed. Perturbation methods for small shape distortion and small charge convection are used to solve the problem. Corrections to the settling velocity from both contributions are combined linearly at the lowest order, and show a dependence on the drop size. The shape distortion due to charge convection is known to be asymmetric. Experiments are performed to measure the settling velocity and deformation of phenylmethylsiloxane-dimethylsiloxane (PMM) drops in castor oil. The experimental results are in qualitative agreement with the theory: the symmetric and asymmetric deformations and the change in settling velocity are all proportional to E 2 , as predicted, and the settling speed shows the correct trends with drop size. Quantitative agreement is lacking, presumably due to the imprecision of the fluid properties, but the theory can fit all the data with reasonable choices for these properties.
Feasibility of metronomic maintenance chemotherapy following high-dose chemotherapy for malignant central nervous system tumors.

Background Children less than 5 years of age with malignant central nervous system (CNS) tumors, continue to have a high rate of morbidity and mortality following administration of conventional therapy. In an attempt to avoid the neurologic sequelae associated with craniospinal radiation, strategies such as high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) followed by peripheral stem cell rescue have been used successfully. Metronomic chemotherapy has also been reported as a potential new treatment strategy in solid tumors, particularly in adults. Procedure A retrospective chart analysis was performed on 10 patients less than 5 years of age with CNS tumors treated with metronomic chemotherapy shortly after HDCT as part of their clinical care. Results Metronomic chemotherapy was associated with minimal toxicity and all patients maintained a good quality of life. At the time of this report, all 10 patients are alive. Two patients have relapsed, and the remaining eight, including six patients with metastatic disease, continue to have stable clinical and radiographic disease at a mean of 20 months from the time of diagnosis. Conclusions Metronomic chemotherapy in this patient population is feasible and shows encouraging preliminary results, especially in patients with metastatic disease who have not received craniospinal radiation. Further investigation of this strategy in newly diagnosed patients with CNS tumors is warranted. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2008;50:970–975. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Differences in gene expression profiles between individual islets from case #6213

Materials and methods We chose an AAB+ donor pancreas (#6213) with insulin and glucagon staining islets that had already been the focus of studies by other nPOD investigators due to HLA hyper-expression and virus presence (by IHC, ISH and PCR). Human pancreas cryo-sections were shipped from the nPOD tissue bank. Slides were fixed, dried, and consecutive sections of each islet captured. Tissue was collected from a total of eight individual islets and RNA was immediately extracted from the tissue and stored at -80C. The quantity and integrity (RIN number) of total RNA was determined. RNA was amplified and Affymetrix Human Gene 2.0 ST arrays were used to obtain expression profiles.
Motherhood, health status, and health care

This study examines the impact of multiple roles and stressors on women of childbearing age, and compares the health status of women with and without children and their ability to access health care. Motherhood has many complex interactions with income level, availability of health insurance, and available social and income support. A cumulative burden of multiple stressors (eg, being poor, uninsured, less educated, employed full-time, or being a single mother) relates to worse health status, levels of depression, and opportunities for obtaining health care. Multiple stressors seem to have a stronger effect on mothers than on nonmothers. Research should focus on identifying vulnerable groups and combinations of stressors for women both with and without children, and how to mitigate adverse impacts on physical and mental health.
The Third Editorial Phase A Story of a Worker Bee

A description of the content and policies of The Counseling Psychologist during the editorship of Gerald L. Stone (1991-1996) is presented. Accompanying the description and relevant data is a story about the editing experience. Finally, comments about the relationship of TCP and larger social issues are discussed.
Synthesis and dielectric properties of novel high-K polymer composites containing in-situ formed silver nanoparticles for embedded capacitor applications

Dielectric properties of in-situ formed silver (Ag) incorporated carbon black (CB)/polymer composites were studied. In-situ formed Ag nanoparticles in the Ag/CB/epoxy composites increased the dielectric constant (K) value and decreased the dissipation factor (Df). The remarkably increased dielectric constant of the nanocomposite is due to the piling of charges at the extended interface of the interfacial polarization-based composites. The reduced dielectric loss might be due to the Coulomb blockade effect of the contained Ag nanoparticles, the well-known quantum effect of metal nanoparticles. The size, size distribution and loading level of metal nanoparticles in the nanocomposite were found to have significant influences on the dielectric properties of the nanocomposite system.
Thermal conductivity enhancement of electrically insulating syndiotactic poly(styrene) matrix for diphasic conductive polymer composites

In co-continuous conductive polymer composites (CPCs) designed for heat generation by the Joule effect, thermal conductivity k m of the electrically insulating matrix is the limiting factor to obtain good heat dissipation. To prevent the establishment of non-desirable high temperature gradient in heating elements, it is necessary to enhance the thermal conductivity of the composite, k c , independently from its electrical conductivity, a (already optimized). Several adequate fillers for this purpose have been selected, boron nitride (BN), talc (Mg 3 Si 4 O 10 (OH) 2 ), aluminum nitride (AlN) and aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 ) particles, and their impact on thermal properties and syndiotactic polystyrene phase transition temperatures have been studies. Lewis and Nielson, Cheng and Vachon, Agari and Uno models were used to predict the evolution of thermal conductivity with filler content and were found to describe correctly thermal conductivity of CPCs after the determination of Φ m the maximum packing fraction, A =f(D/l) the shape factor, C 1 and C 2 parameters function of respectively modifications of crystals and ability of the filler particles to associate into chains. These models show that whatever the filler and unlike electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity does not go through a sharp insulator/conductor (percolation threshold). Only BN shows a real exponential increase of conductivity over 20% v/v filler. Consequently, in best conditions introducing 30% v/v of BN allows the thermal conductivity to be multiplied by six. BN particles were also found to shift the CPCs glass transition temperature (T g ), the non-isothermal crystallization temperature (T c,n ) and the melting temperature T m .
Influence of Residual Monomer on Cracking in Ceramics Fabricated by Stereolithography

The conventional build methods for polymeric stereolithography intentionally leave small regions of uncured monomer. We show that for ceramic stereolithography, these regions of uncured monomer are associated with macrocracking during heating. The cracking is caused by strains arising from the thermal polymerization of residual monomer while heating. Cracking can be avoided by changing the build style to eliminate the residual monomer.
Long-Term Outcomes of Physician Peer Teaching

Research conducted in 10 cities assessed long-term pediatric asthma outcomes from a peer teaching intervention for physicians to improve their asthma-related clinical and counseling skills. Hypotheses were better outcomes for patients, symptom reduction, less health care use, and enhanced view of the physician. Peers trained 53 intervention group pediatricians (seeing 418 patients); 48 pediatricians (seeing 452 patients) were controls. Patients provided baseline and 2-year follow-up data, collected by telephone interview and from medical records. Intent-to-treat analyses used Poisson regression and general estimation equations. Treatment physicians' patients gave them higher performance ratings ( P = .02). Patients had fewer sleep disruptions from asthma symptoms ( P = .03). Those with baseline health care use had fewer ED visits ( P = .005), hospitalizations (P = .03), and urgent office visits (P = .001), and they made fewer phone calls to the doctor's office (P = .02). Treatment physicians spent no more...
Conductive polymer "molecular wires" for neuro-robotic interfaces

Direct electrical communication between living nervous systems and external devices would allow a wide variety of clinical and engineering applications. This neuro-robotic interface has not yet been fully achieved because existing interface systems cannot establish sufficiently close contact between neurons and communicating electrodes. We present here the synthesis and testing of a new class of conductive polymer that can be used to coat metal electrodes and achieve the necessary close contact. The polymer coatings can be made to incorporate biological adhesion proteins to maximize biocompatibility. Neurons extracted from mouse and rat brains were able to attach to the coatings, survive beyond five days, and grow out long, communicating processes. These new polymer films offer the potential for a new level of communication between robotic devices and the nervous system and may eventually make a high-bandwidth interface a reality.
The effect of UV irradiation and photochemotherapy (PUVA) on histamine weal and flare in human skin.

Summary It is recognized that ultraviolet light has a beneficial effect in various inflammatory disorders of the skin. We have used histamine weal and flare as a model testing the effect of ultraviolet light on vascular response. No difference in weal and flare reaction following intradermal injection of 0·01-10·0 μg of hisiamine was found between covered and exposed skin following UV radiation or photochemotherapy (PUVA).
Converging Evidence: Attitudes, Achievements, and Instruction in the Later Years of FLES.

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to document and evaluate the sixth year of a typical 75-minute per week FLES (Foreign Language Learning in the Elementary School) program in Japanese as a Foreign Language (JFL). We also sought to contribute generally to the much needed research base on FLES, in particular concerning student achievement and attitudes in the later elementary years. In this article we present results from several data sources to paint a comprehensive picture of the program and of a stable cohort of fourth- and fifth-grade children who have been studying Japanese in elementary school for a six-year period. To this end, we provide the results of attitude surveys of children, teachers, and administrators; data on parental support for their children's learning of Japanese; proficiency ratings on an end-of-year prochievement interview; a comparison of the ratings of the cohort of students over a six-year period; and student self-assessment of their performance in Japanese. Against this backdrop, we turn to classroom instruction and, through systematic observation of classes over a seven-month period, we show how classroom instruction influences the children's later independent performance on measures of proficiency. Finally, we argue that this study of converging sources of evidence provides a sound model of FLES program assessment and leads to a number of implications and recommendations concerning FLES classes. These implications and recommendations may be applicable to other programs and ultimately will lead to critical issues that will have an impact on the future of FLES in the United States.
Radionuclide imaging of soft tissue neoplasms.

Two classes of radiopharmaceuticals may be used for imaging tumors of the musculoskeletal system. The first is comprised of soft tissue or tumor-specific agents such as gallium-67, bleomycin, and radionuclide-labeled antibodies, which may be useful for detecting and localizing these tumors. The other class of tracer is comprised of those with avidity for bone. The 99m Tc-labeled-phosphate skeletal imaging compounds have been found to localize in a variety of soft tissue lesions, including benign and malignant tumors. In 1972, Enneking began to include bone scans in the preoperative evaluation of soft tissue masses. Later, he and his associates reported that these scans were useful in planning operative treatment of sarcomas by detecting involvement of bone by the tumors. Nearly all malignant soft tissue tumors take up bone-seeking radiopharmaceuticals, and bone involvement was indicated in two-thirds of the scans we reviewed. About half of benign soft tissue lesions had normal scans, but the other half showed uptake within the lesion and a few also showed bone involvement. Careful, thorough imaging technique is essential to proper evaluation. Multiple, high-resolution static gamma camera images in different projections are necessary to adequately demonstrate the presence or absence of soft tissue abnormality and to define the precise relationship of the tumor to the adjacent bone.
A phase space approach to imaging from limited data

The optical instrument function is used as the basis to develop optical system theory for imaging applications. The detection of optical signals is conveniently described as the overlap integral of the Wigner distribution functions of instrument and optical signal. Based on this framework various optical imaging systems, including plenoptic cameras, phase-retrieval algorithms, and Shack-Hartman sensors are shown to acquire information about a domain in phase-space, with finite extension and finite resolution. It is demonstrated how phase space optics can be used both to analyze imaging systems, as well as for designing methods for image reconstruction.
Testing a General Theory of Drug Abuse and other Deviant Adaptations

I present an outline of the current state of an evolving general theory of deviant behavior, particularly as it applies to the explanation of the onset and continuity or change in level of involvem...
Environmental risk perception from visual cues: the psychophysics of tornado risk perception

Lay judgments of environmental risks are central to both immediate decisions (e.g., taking shelter from a storm) and long-term ones (e.g., building in locations subject to storm surges). Using methods from quantitative psychology, we provide a general approach to studying lay perceptions of environmental risks. As a first application of these methods, we investigate a setting where lay decisions have not taken full advantage of advances in natural science understanding: tornado forecasts in the US and Canada. Because official forecasts are imperfect, members of the public must often evaluate the risks on their own, by checking environmental cues (such as cloud formations) before deciding whether to take protective action. We study lay perceptions of cloud formations, demonstrating an approach that could be applied to other environmental judgments. We use signal detection theory to analyse how well people can distinguish tornadic from non-tornadic clouds, and multidimensional scaling to determine how people make these judgments. We find that participants (N = 400 recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk) have heuristics that generally serve them well, helping participants to separate tornadic from non-tornadic clouds, but which also lead them to misjudge the tornado risk of certain cloud types. The signal detection task revealed confusion regarding shelf clouds, mammatus clouds, and clouds with upper- and mid-level tornadic features, which the multidimensional scaling task suggested was the result of participants focusing on the darkness of the weather scene and the ease of discerning its features. We recommend procedures for training (e.g., for storm spotters) and communications (e.g., tornado warnings) that will reduce systematic misclassifications of tornadicity arising from observers' reliance on otherwise useful heuristics.