cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Signatures of a second heavy neutral vector boson in e+e- annihilation.

Some grand unification models predict the existence of a second massive neutral vector boson which couples to fermions in much the same way as the well-known Z boson in the standard model of electroweak interactions. Among the possibilities, e/sup +/e/sup -/ annihilations at high energies may provide a means of observing the effects of this particle. We analyze the process e/sup +/e/sup -/..-->..ff-bar in the contest of a SU(2) x U(1) x U(1) theory with a view to study the anomalies in the angular distribution of the differential cross section. Two models are worked out as illustrations and low-energy predictions compared with current data from SLAC and DESY.
A Note on Canonical Forms for Matrix Congruence

Abstract Canonical forms for matrix congruence for general matrices are exhibited as an easy consequence of results presented in a recent paper by R. C. Thompson on pencils of symmetric and skew symmetric matrices. We also show how to exhibit standard equivalence class representatives in the orbits of the semiorthogonal groups acting naturally on skew symmetric forms.
Direct ultrashort-pulse intensity and phase retrieval by frequency-resolved optical gating and a computational neural network

Ultrashort-laser-pulse retrieval in frequency-resolved optical gating has previously required an iterative algorithm. Here, however, we show that a computational neural network can directly and rapidly recover the intensity and phase of a pulse.
Micromechanical model of rough contact between rock blocks with application to wave propagation

The relationship between effective stiffness of rough contacts of rock blocks and transmission of plane waves is well known. Effective stiffness of a rough contact may be related to the force-deformation behavior of the asperity contacts and the statistical description of rock joint surface topography through micromechanical methods. In this paper, a micromechanical methodology for computing the overall rock contact effective stiffness is utilized along with the imperfectly bonded interface model to investigate how transmitted and reflected wave amplitudes are affected by the incident wave frequency, rock joint closure and the existing rock joint normal stress conditions. As a result, expressions for reflected and transmitted wave amplitudes as well as group time delay of the wave-packets are obtained and parametrically evaluated.
Loss of heterozygosity involving the APC gene in oral squamous cell carcinomas

The tumor suppressor gene adenomatous polyposis coli has been shown to be altered in colon and esophageal cancers. Because of similar causes of oral and esophageal cancers, we investigated allelic deletion of the adenomatous polyposis coli gene in oral cancers by examining tumor cells of persons normally heterozygous at a polymorphic restriction site in adenomatous polyposis coli. Deoxyribonucleic acid was extracted from 20 formalin-fixed microdissected sections and one fresh specimen of oral squamous cell carcinomas and amplified with the use of the polymerase chain reaction. The amplified deoxyribonucleic acid was digested with Rsa I, subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and examined for loss of heterozygosity in adenomatous polyposis coli alleles. Samples from nine persons were homozygous for the adenomatous polyposis coli restriction site in both tumor and normal tissues and thus were uninformative. Three of the 12 samples from heterozygous persons showed loss of one adenomatous polyposis coli allele in tumor tissues. The loss of an adenomatous polyposis coli gene allele in 25% of the carcinomas examined suggests that inactivation of adenomatous polyposis coli or another neighboring gene on chromosome 5q may be involved in carcinogenesis in the oral cavity.
Thinning populations and population thinners: The historical demography of Native Americans

Dobyns, Henry F. Their Number Become Thinned: Native American Populations Dynamics in Eastern North America. Native American Historic Demography Series paper. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 1983. xxi + 378 pp. including 29 tables, 4 figures, 2 maps, bibliography, and index. $29.95 cloth, $14.95 paper.
Determination of moisture content of in-shell peanuts by parallel-plate impedance measurements in cylindrical sample holder

This paper describes a method to determine the moisture content of in-shell peanuts with a parallel-plate electrode system fitted inside a cylinder by using impedance measurements made on the system. Two parallel-plate electrodes were mounted inside a cylinder, made of acrylic material, and the space between the plates was filled with in-shell peanuts (80–100 g). The impedance measurements were made on the parallel-plate system at 1 and 9 MHz, and the average moisture content (MC) of the peanut pods (in-shell peanuts) was determined from a semi-empirical equation. The calculated MC values were compared with standard oven-determined values and were within 1% of the standard oven values for 90% of the samples tested in the moisture range between 6% and 19%. Two parallel-plate sensors with different plate separations and peanuts from the 2004 and 2005 harvests, were used in these measurements. The method, being rapid and nondestructive, is suitable for the development of a practical instrument for measurement of moisture content in in-shell peanuts.
Fgf8 expression in the Tbx1 domain causes skeletal abnormalities and modifies the aortic arch but not the outflow tract phenotype of Tbx1 mutants.

Fgf8 and Tbx1 have been shown to interact in patterning the aortic arch, and both genes are required in formation and growth of the outflow tract of the heart. However, the nature of the interaction of the two genes is unclear. We have utilized a novel Tbx1Fgf8 allele which drives Fgf8 expression in Tbx1-positive cells and an inducible Cre-LoxP recombination system to address the role of Fgf8 in Tbx1 positive cells in modulating cardiovascular development. Results support a requirement of Fgf8 in Tbx1 expressing cells to finely control patterning of the aortic arch and great arteries specifically during the pharyngeal arch artery remodeling process and indicate that the endoderm is the most likely site of this interaction. Furthermore, our data suggest that Fgf8 and Tbx1 play independent roles in regulating outflow tract development. This finding is clinically relevant since TBX1 is the candidate for DGS/VCFS, characterized clinically by variable expressivity and reduced penetrance of cardiovascular defects; Fgf8 gene variants may provide molecular clues to this variability.
RADDACL: A Recursive Algorithm for Clustering and Density Discovery on Non-linearly Separable Data

In the realm of unsupervised classification, clustering algorithms have presented themselves as being inefficient in the detection of non-linearly separable or non-spherically shaped based clusters, without utilizing complex implementations or computational expense. In clustering algorithm advancements, excellent results are produced with complex concepts and implementations. Another current downfalls is that very advanced clustering algorithms proved to be computationally expensive methods. This paper presents a recursive clustering algorithm that is simple to conceptualize and implement, without sacrificing the ability to cluster the presented information. The algorithm has proven its worthiness in experiments to date. This paper explains the algorithm, named RADDACL (Recursive Algorithm for Density Discovery and CLustering), its origin, explanation and inspiration, along with preliminary testing results. With the simplicity of conceptualization and implementation, RADDACL is a prime algorithm for introduction to several topics in Computer Science education (and related fields) such as recursion, knowledge discovery, and clustering.
Silver-incorporated bicrystalline (anatase/brookite) TiO2 microspheres for CO2 photoreduction with water in the presence of methanol

Abstract Ag nanoparticles deposited on porous TiO2 microspheres with controllable Ag valence and TiO2 crystal phase were prepared through a sequential hydrothermal, ultrasonic spray pyrolysis and in situ photoreduction process. The crystal phase of TiO2, i.e., pure anatase (A), an anatase-rich anatase/brookite mixture (AB), or a brookite-rich anatase/brookite mixture (BA), was controlled by varying the hydrothermal reaction environment. The as-prepared Ag/TiO2 was dominated by the Ag(I) species, while Ag(0) was the major Ag species upon in situ photoreduction of the as-prepared Ag(I)/TiO2. The Ag/TiO2 composites were applied as photocatalysts for CO2 reduction with H2O, using methanol as a hole scavenger under UV–vis irradiation. Simultaneous production of hydrogen (H2) and carbon-containing fuels (CO, CH4) was observed. The CH4 and H2 production rates by Ag(0)/TiO2 exhibited a two-fold enhancement compared with Ag(I)/TiO2. The Ag(0)/TiO2 catalysts using TiO2(AB) as the support demonstrated 50% higher activity than using TiO2(A) as the support and more than three times higher activity than using TiO2(BA) and TiO2(P25) as the supports. In addition, the novel in situ photoreduction method of producing Ag(0) nanoparticles was superior to conventional ex situ photo-deposition and wet-impregnation methods, as evidenced by one order of magnitude higher activity of the catalysts prepared by the novel method. The superb activity of the Ag(0)/Ti(AB) catalysts was ascribed to their large surface area, small and well-dispersed Ag(0) nanoparticles, and an enhanced interfacial charge transfer between the anatase and brookite nanocrystals.
Fully Unsupervised Learning of Camera Link Models for Tracking Humans Across Nonoverlapping Cameras

A multiple-camera tracking system that tracks humans across cameras with nonoverlapping views is proposed in this paper. The systematically estimated camera link model, including transition time distribution, brightness transfer function, region mapping matrix, region matching weights, and feature fusion weights, is utilized to facilitate consistently labeling the tracked humans. The system is divided into two stages: in the training stage, based on an unsupervised scheme, we formulate the estimation of the camera link model as an optimization problem, in which temporal features, holistic color features, region color features, and region texture features are jointly considered. The deterministic annealing is applied to effectively search the optimal model solutions. The unsupervised learning scheme tolerates the presence of outliers in the training data well. In the testing stage, the systematic integration of multiple cues from the above features enables us to perform an effective reidentification. The camera link model can be continuously updated during tracking in the testing stage to adapt the changes of the environment. Several simulations and comparative studies demonstrate the superiority of our proposed estimation method to the others. Moreover, the complete system has been tested in a small-scale real-world camera network scenario.
Collocating CPU-only jobs with GPU-assisted jobs on GPU-assisted HPC

In recent years, GPU has evolved rapidly and exhibited great potential in accelerating scientific applications. Massive GPU-assisted HPC systems have been deployed. However, as a heterogeneous system, GPU-assisted HPC is harder to be programmed and utilized than conventional CPU-only system. Statistics of the Keene land system indicate that the effective utilization rate of computational resources is only about 40% when the system runs in normal condition with enough jobs in its queue. Our theoretical model shows that the lack of overlap between CPU/GPU computation is a major obstacle in the efficient utilization of heterogeneous system. In this paper, we evaluate the possibility of collocating CPU-only job with GPU-assisted job on the same node to increase overlap between CPU/GPU computation, thus achieving better utilization. Several performance compromising factors, such as resource isolation, CPU load, and GPU memory demands, are studied based on workload from popular MPI/CUDA benchmarks. The results indicate that, when those factors are managed properly, the collocated CPU-only job can efficiently scavenge the underutilized CPU resource without affecting the performance of both collocated jobs. Based on this insight, an experimental system with collocation-aware job scheduler and resource manager is proposed. With our experiment workload pool of mixed CPU and GPU jobs, the system demonstrates 15% gain in throughput and 10% gain in both CPU and GPU utilization.
An unusual cyclopropenyl complex. The formation and structure of [Pt{C3(C6H5)3}{P(C6H5)3}2] [PF6] · C6H6

Abstract Addition of (C3Ph3)(PF6) in CH2Cl2 to a benzene solution of Pt(C2H4)(PPh3)2 gives [Pt(C3Ph3)(PPh3)2] [PF6] which is shown by X-ray diffraction to be a complex containing a localized cyclopropenyl ring system.
Porosity and Its Effect on the Digestibility of Dilute Sulfuric Acid Pretreated Corn Stover

Enzyme accessibility has been proposed as a limiting factor in the enzymatic conversion of the cellulose in biomass to glucose. Prior work has shown a strong correlation between porosity, measured as the change in the volume of pores accessible to a cellulase-sized molecule, and the initial digestibility of biomass pretreated by various methods. The goal of this work was to determine if porosity was one of the factors governing the overall enzymatic digestibility of the cellulose in dilute acid pretreated biomass. The porosity of wet pretreated corn stover was determined using the methods of solute exclusion and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) thermoporometry. The solute exclusion method identified differences in the accessible pore volume of the pretreated samples compared to untreated corn stover; however, only very small differences in porosity were observed among samples pretreated with a range of severities, giving ethanol yields from 70 to 96%. No correlation was found between the volume accessible to an enzyme-sized molecule (diameter estimated to be 51 A) and the digestibility of the cellulose in dilute acid pretreated corn stover. 1H NMR thermoporometry was used to measure the amount of water in pores ranging from 20 to 200 A. As was the case for the solute exclusion method, a difference was observed in the pore volume of untreated and acid pretreated corn stover, but no significant differences in pore volume were measured for the different pretreated samples.
Chronic granulocytic leukemia: recent information on pathogenesis, diagnosis, and disease monitoring.

Current evidence strongly implicates the chromosome translocation t(9;22)(q34;ql1.2) as the cause of chronic granulocytic leukemia. Therefore, identification of this genetic abnormality through either cytogenetic or molecular methods has become a requirement for diagnosis. Intense investigation of the mechanism by which t(9;22) transforms normal hematopoietic progenitors into malignant cells is ongoing. Recent advances in molecular diagnostic methods have allowed refined qualitative and quantitative methods of detecting t(9;22), which are useful for monitoring response status and detecting minimal residual disease. The current understanding of the pathogenesis of chronic granulocytic leukemia and the application of new diagnostic methods are discussed.
cAMP-induced differentiation of human neuronal progenitor cells is mediated by nuclear fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 (FGFR1)

Activation of cAMP signaling pathway and its transcriptional factor cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CREB) and coactivator are key determinants of neuronal differentiation and plasticity. We show that nuclear fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 (FGFR1) mediates cAMP-induced neuronal differentiation and regulates CREB and CREB binding protein (CBP) function in alpha-internexin-expressing human neuronal progenitor cells (HNPC). In proliferating HNPC, FGFR1 was associated with the cytoplasm and plasma membrane. Treatment with dB-cAMP induced nuclear accumulation of FGFR1 and caused neuronal differentiation, accompanied by outgrowth of neurites expressing MAP2 and neuron-specific neurofilament-L protein and enolase. HNPC transfected with nuclear/cytoplasmic FGFR1 or non-membrane FGFR1(SP-/NLS), engineered to accumulate exclusively in the cell nucleus, underwent neuronal differentiation in the absence of cAMP stimulation. In contrast, FGFR1/R4, with highly hydrophobic transmembrane domain of FGFR4, was membrane associated, did not enter the nucleus and failed to induce neuronal differentiation. Transfection of tyrosine kinase-deleted dominant negative receptor mutants, cytoplasmic/nuclear FGFR1(TK-) or nuclear FGFR1(SP-/NLS)(TK-), prevented cAMP-induced neurite outgrowth. Nuclear FGFR1 localized in speckle-like domains rich in phosphorylated histone 3 and splicing factors, regions known for active RNA transcription and processing, and activated the neurofilament-L gene promoter. FGFR1(SP-/NLS) transactivated CRE, up-regulated phosphorylation and transcriptional activity of CREB and stimulated the activity of CBP several-fold. Thus, cAMP-induced nuclear accumulation of FGFR1 provides a signal that triggers molecular events leading to neuronal differentiation.
A Study of Local Government Website Inclusiveness: The Gap Between E-government Concept and Practice

This study examines the concept of electronic government e-government inclusiveness and evaluates the inclusiveness of local e-government websites. Inclusiveness sets e-government apart from other types of websites e.g. commercial or organizational sites that only serve exclusive market segments. An evaluation for inclusiveness of 101 local government websites from Mississippi an underdeveloped area by many health and social metrics revealed 1 a high frequency of issues that prevent inclusive service on average each site had 291.83 issues, 2 high variability in terms of number of issues range = [2, 3171], and 3 widespread absence of websites 87 of the 188 municipalities and county seats did not have discoverable websites. These results suggest there is a need for more inclusiveness, but the allocation of resources to accomplish this may not be feasible. To address this, two strategic options are presented to information technology IT policy-makers who seek to leverage e-government for development: an idealistic approach with traditional IT investment for future returns and a pragmatic one that resembles an entrepreneurial IT start-up venture. The study contributes in three ways: we identify the concept and criteria of e-government inclusiveness; develop an automated, software-based, and replicable evaluation method that can be used by local governments to improve a website's inclusiveness; and present strategic options for using e-government to promote social and economic development.
Utilization of variably spaced promoter-like elements by the bacterial RNA polymerase holoenzyme during early elongation

The bacterial RNA polymeras holoenzyme consists of a catalytic core enzyme in complex with a sigma factor that is required for promoter-specific transcription initiation. During initiation, members of the sigma(70) family of sigma factors contact two conserved promoter elements, the -10 and -35 elements, which are separated by approximately 17 base pairs (bp). sigma(70) family members contain four flexibly linked domains. Two of these domains, sigma(2) and sigma(4), contain determinants for interactions with the promoter -10 and -35 elements respectively. sigma(2) and sigma(4) also contain core-binding determinants. When bound to core the inter-domain distance between sigma(2) and sigma(4) matches the distance between promoter elements separated by approximately 17 bp. Prior work indicates that during early elongation the nascent RNA-assisted displacement of sigma(4) from core can enable the holoenzyme to adopt a configuration in which sigma(2) and sigma(4) are bound to 'promoter-like' DNA elements separated by a single base pair. Here we demonstrate that holoenzyme can also adopt configurations in which sigma(2) and sigma(4) are bound to 'promoter-like' DNA elements separated by 0, 2 or 3 bp. Thus, our findings suggest that displacement of sigma(4) from core enables the RNA polymerase holoenzyme to adopt a broad range of 'elongation-specific' configurations.
From the Jar to the World Wide Web: Designing a Public Digital Library for the Human Brain

The development of the Digital Brain Library (DBL), envisaged as a permanent archive that describes the spectrum of normal brain maturation, aging and neurological disease, is described. The DBL is composed of individual brain atlases, constructed by the combined techniques of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computer-controlled microscopy to show the brain at multiple levels of resolution, in 2-D and 3-D. The archive contains quantitative parameters that are linked to the results of neuropsychological and attitudinal tests as well as biographical records obtained from the individuals who donated the brain to the collection. Data exploration is supported by statistical tools and web technologies that maximize the utilization of the collection at different levels of expertise.
Live cell analysis of aquaporin-4 M1/M23 interactions and regulated orthogonal array assembly in glial cells

Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) can assemble into supramolecular aggregates called orthogonal arrays of particles (OAPs). In cells expressing single AQP4 isoforms, we found previously that OAP formation by AQP4-M23 requires N terminus interactions just downstream of Met-23 and that the inability of AQP4-M1 to form OAPs involves blocking by residues upstream of Met-23. Here, we studied M1/M23 interactions and regulated OAP assembly by nanometer-resolution tracking of quantum dot-labeled AQP4 in live cells expressing differentially tagged AQP4 isoforms and in primary glial cell cultures in which native AQP4 was labeled with a monoclonal recombinant neuromyelitis optica autoantibody. OAP assembly was assessed independently by Blue Native gel electrophoresis. We found that OAPs in native glial cells could be reproduced in transfected cells expressing equal amounts of AQP4-M1 and -M23. Mutants of M23 that do not themselves form OAPs, including M23-F26Q and M23-G28P, were able to fully co-associate with native M23 to form large immobile OAPs. Analysis of a palmitoylation-null M1 mutant (C13A/C17A) indicated palmitoylation-dependent OAP assembly only in the presence of M23, with increased M1 palmitoylation causing progressive OAP disruption. Differential regulation of OAP assembly by palmitoylation, calcium elevation, and protein kinase C activation was found in primary glial cell cultures. We conclude that M1 and M23 co-assemble in AQP4 OAPs and that specific signaling events can regulate OAP assembly in glial cells.
Differentiation and Distribution of Cordyline Viruses 1–4 in Hawaiian ti Plants (Cordyline fruticosa L.)

Common green ti plants (Cordyline fruticosa L.) in Hawaii can be infected by four recently characterized closteroviruses that are tentative members of the proposed genus Velarivirus. In this study, a reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay developed to detect and distinguish Cordyline virus 1 (CoV-1), CoV-2, CoV-3, and CoV-4 was used to determine: (i) the distribution of these viruses in Hawaii; and (ii) if they are involved in the etiology of ti ringspot disease. One hundred and thirty-seven common green ti plants with and without ti ringspot symptoms were sampled from 43 sites on five of the Hawaiian Islands and underwent the RT-PCR assay. Eleven ornamental ti varieties were also sampled and assayed. Based on this survey, it appears none of the CoVs are involved in the etiology of ti ringspot. The observation of a non-uniform geographic distribution of the CoVs in common green ti, combined with the presence of CoVs in seed-derived ornamental varieties, suggests active vector transmission. Eight herbarium specimens collected between 1903 and 2003 from plants on the island of Oahu also underwent the RT-PCR assay. Amplifiable RNA was isolated from accessions collected in 1985 or later, however only the 2003 accession was found to harbor CoVs.
Quantum Chemical Investigations of Reactive Intermediates. Carbocations and Alkyl Radicals

Using high-level quantum chemical ab initio calculations employing large basis sets and including effects of electron correlation, various small carbocations and alkyl radicals are studied. Equilibrium structures, relative stabilities, harmonic frequencies and potential energy surfaces are determined and, where available, compared to experimental data. The importance of computational methods as a tool complementing experimental approaches for studying short-lived reactive intermediates is stressed.
In memory of Professor Steven J. Wickler 17 May 1952 – 26 May 2007

Dr Steven John Wickler, age 55, passed away peacefully at home on 26 May 2007 from a brain tumor. Graduate of the University of California, Riverside (Biology), the University of Michigan (Ph.D.) and the University of California, Davis (DVM), he served as the University Veterinarian, Director of Lab
Challenges of small form factor 0402 and 0201 die side capacitor assembly process on high density interconnect flip chip substrate

This paper summarizes all the challenges in enabling the low cost high volume manufacturing (HVM) process to attach "ultra mini" 0201/0402 die side capacitors (DSC) onto a small form factor high density interconnect (HDI) flip chip substrate. The key focus areas are on the optimum DSC pad design, stencil design, paste printing, capacitor terminal control and component pickup accuracy.
Learning with Blocks: Composite Likelihood and Contrastive Divergence

Composite likelihood methods provide a wide spectrum of computationally efficient techniques for statistical tasks such as parameter estimation and model selection. In this paper, we present a formal connection between the optimization of composite likelihoods and the well-known contrastive divergence algorithm. In particular, we show that composite likelihoods can be stochastically optimized by performing a variant of contrastive divergence with random-scan blocked Gibbs sampling. By using higher-order composite likelihoods, our proposed learning framework makes it possible to trade off computation time for increased accuracy. Furthermore, one can choose composite likelihood blocks that match the model’s dependence structure, making the optimization of higher-order composite likelihoods computationally efficient. We empirically analyze the performance of blocked contrastive divergence on various models, including visible Boltzmann machines, conditional random fields, and exponential random graph models, and we demonstrate that using higher-order blocks improves both the accuracy of parameter estimates and the rate of convergence.
Intraspecific resource partitioning by an opportunistic strategist, inland silverside Menidia beryllina

Summary Seasonal variation in prey consumption and food resource overlap was evident in an inland water body for mature male, mature female and immature inland silverside (Menidia beryllina). During the first growth phase marked by intensive somatic growth by immature inland silverside, few adults were present in the population (28% of total catch), thus minimizing intraspecific competition for food resources between juvenile and adult inland silverside. During the second growth phase by adults, few juvenile inland silverside were present (0% of total catch) in the population, again minimizing intraspecific competition for food resources between juvenile and adult inland silverside. A divergence in food resource overlap was observed when mature male, mature female and immature inland silverside were present in the population. These population-level demographic responses to energy acquisition are likely necessary to maximize individual growth of mature male, mature female and immature inland silverside.
Optimal Multi-Stage Planning of Power Distribution Systems

This paper presents a completelydynamic mixed-integer model to solve the optimal sizing, timing, and location of distribution substation and feeder expansion problems simultaneously. The objective function of the model represents the present worth of costs of investment, energy, and demand losses of the system which takes place throughout the planning time horizon. It is minimized subject to the Kirchhoff's current law, power capacity limits, and logical constraints by using a standard mathematical programming system. The developed model allows to include the explicit constraints of radiality and voltage drop in its formulation.
A 16×16 ka band aperture-coupled microstrip planar array

This paper presents a corporate-fed 16x16 aperture-coupled microstrip antenna array operating at 35 GHz. The design consists of two stacked substrate layers separated by a common ground plane. This paper shows the basic geometry of a single-element, aperture-coupled microstrip antenna. The microstrip antenna elements are printed on the upper antenna substrate, whereas the feed network is printed on the lower feed substrate. Electrically small, rectangular apertures in the ground plane couple the antenna elements to the feed network.
Epidermal growth factor receptor–stimulated intestinal epithelial cell migration requires phospholipase C activity

Abstract Background & Aims: Ulceration of intestinal mucosa is rapidly followed by enterocyte migration via restitution. The aim of this study was to investigate signaling mechanisms of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor–stimulated monolayer restitution in a mouse intestinal epithelial cell line. Methods: EGF-stimulated cell migration was determined using a wound model in the presence of agonists and/or antagonists of tyrosine kinase, phospholipase C, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, or protein kinase C. The tyrosine phosphorylation state of the EGF receptor, phosphatidylinositol phospholipase C γ1 (PLCγ1), focal adhesion kinase, and cellular lysates was determined by immunodetection. Results: EGF stimulated cell migration twofold at 4, 8, and 24 hours. Inhibition of EGF receptor tyrosine kinase activity, phospholipase C, or phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase attenuated EGF-induced intestinal cell migration. Pretreatment of cells with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, known to down-regulate protein kinase C expression, blocked EGF-induced cell migration. Increased tyrosine phosphorylation of the EGF receptor and PLCγ1 was detected within 5 minutes after wounding. Conclusions: EGF-stimulated intestinal cell migration requires intact EGF receptor tyrosine kinase, phospholipase, and protein kinase C activities. PLCγ1 may be a key regulatory molecule in the initial EGF receptor signal transduction pathway of EGF-stimulated cell migration. GASTROENTEROLOGY 1998;114:493-502
Inhibition of opioid release in the rat spinal cord by serotonin 5-HT1A receptors

Neurotransmitter receptors that inhibit the release of opioid peptides in the spinal cord may play an important role in modulating pain. Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter in bulbospinal descending pathways, and 5-HT1 receptors have been shown to inhibit synaptic transmission. Our goal was to determine whether 5-HT1A receptors inhibit opioid release in the spinal cord. Opioid release was evoked from rat spinal cord slices by electrically stimulating one dorsal horn, and measured in situ through the internalization of μ-opioid receptors in dorsal horn neurons. Stimulation with 1000 square pulses at 500 Hz produced internalization in 60% of the μ-opioid receptor neurons in the stimulated dorsal horn, but not in the contralateral one. The selective 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-hydroxy-2-dipropylaminotetralin (8-OH-DPAT) inhibited the evoked μ-opioid receptor internalization by about 50%, with an approximate IC50 of 50 nM. The effect of 8-OH-DPAT was attributed to inhibition of opioid release and not of the receptor internalization process, because 8-OH-DPAT did not inhibit the internalization induced by incubating the slices with a μ-opioid receptor agonist (endomorphin-2, 100 nM). The selective 5-HT1A receptor antagonist WAY100135 (10 μM) blocked the inhibition produced by 1 μM 8-OH-DPAT. These results show that 5-HT1A receptors inhibit opioid release in the spinal dorsal horn, probably from a subpopulation of enkephalin-containing presynaptic terminals. Therefore, 5-HT1A receptors likely decrease the analgesia produced by endogenously released opioids.
Robots with Bad Accents: Living with Synthetic Speech

Synthetic speech technologies have a profound impact on how we think about and interact with computers. This text discusses parts I and II of the “Make Language Project,” a trilogy on the cultural fallout of machine generated speech as a conduit for reconsidering prejudices in synthetic speech production and humanoid robot design.
Environmental quality and recreation demand in a caribbean coral reef

A study of reef attributes and scuba diver behavior in Roatan, Honduras, shows that marine environmental quality, measured as percent live coral cover, is a significant predictor of dive site visitation. Regression analysis shows that the reef quality is an economic “good”; while transit time from the resort to the dive site is an economic “bad. “ The regression results support a simple utility maximization model that demonstrates how coral reef degradation can reduce diver welfare and harm local economies.
An exponential separation between the matching principle and the pigeonhole principle

The combinatorial matching principle states that there is no perfect matching on an odd number of vertices. This principle generalizes the pigeonhole principle, which states that for a fixed bipartition of the vertices, there is no perfect matching between them. Therefore, it follows from recent lower bounds for the pigeonhole principle that the matching principle requires exponential-size bounded-depth Frege proofs. M. Ajtai (1990) previously showed that the matching principle does not have polynomial-size bounded-depth Frege proofs even with the pigeonhole principle as an axiom schema. His proof utilizes nonstandard model theory and is nonconstructive. We improve Ajtai's lower bound from barely superpolynomial to exponential, and eliminate the nonstandard model theory. Our lower bound is also related to the inherent complexity of particular search classes. In particular, oracle separations between the complexity classes PPA and PPAD and between PPA and PPP follow from our techniques. >
The effects of load on system and lower-body joint kinetics during jump squats

To investigate the effects of different loads on system and lower-body kinetics during jump squats, 12 resistance-trained men performed jumps under different loading conditions: 0%, 12%, 27%, 42%, 56%, 71%, and 85% of 1-repetition maximum (1-RM). System power output was calculated as the product of the vertical component of the ground reaction force and the vertical velocity of the bar during its ascent. Joint power output was calculated during bar ascent for the hip, knee, and ankle joints, and was also summed across the joints. System power output and joint power at knee and ankle joints were maximized at 0% 1-RM (p < 0.001) and followed the linear trends (p < 0.001) caused by power output decreasing as the load increased. Power output at the hip was maximized at 42% 1-RM (p = 0.016) and followed a quadratic trend (p = 0.030). Summed joint power could be predicted from system power (p < 0.05), while system power could predict power at the knee and ankle joints under some of the loading conditions. Power at the hip could not be predicted from system power. System power during loaded jumps reflects the power at the knee and ankle, while power at the hip does not correspond to system power.
Configuraciones e historia: Jaspers y Voegelin

El siglo XX planteo a los filosofos la demanda de una filosofia de la historia. Los historiadores que concibieron historias universales con el fin de entender la crisis de la civilizacion occidental fueronestudiosos tales como Arnold Toynbee, Pitirim Sorokin, Christopher Dawson, Lewis Mumford y William McNeilP. Los grandes filosofos que respondieron a semejante demanda, Martin Heidegger, Karl Jaspersy Eric Voegelin. Este texto propone una comparacion entre los dos ultimos. Al igual que Heidegger, ambos comprendieron la historia enun sentido ontologico.
Molecular profiling of hepatocellular carcinomas developing spontaneously in acyl-CoA oxidase deficient mice: comparison with liver tumors induced in wild-type mice by a peroxisome proliferator and a genotoxic carcinogen

By using cDNA microarrays, we studied the expression profiles of 26 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) developing spontaneously in peroxisomal fatty acyl-CoA oxidase null (AOX-/-) mice. The development of liver tumors in AOX-/- mice is due to sustained activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) by the unmetabolized substrates of AOX, which serve as natural PPARalpha ligands. We then compared the AOX-/- liver tumor expression profiles with those induced by ciprofibrate, a non-genotoxic peroxisome proliferator, or by the genotoxic carcinogen diethylnitrosamine (DENA) to discern differences in gene expression patterns that may predict or distinguish PPARalpha-mediated liver tumors from genotoxically derived tumors. Our results show that HCCs developing in AOX-/- mice share a number of deregulated (up- or down-regulated) genes with ciprofibrate-induced liver tumors. The overall commonality of expression between AOX-/- and ciprofibrate-induced liver tumors but not with DENA-induced tumors strongly implicates the activation of PPARalpha and PPARalpha-regulated genes in liver, including those participating in lipid catabolism, as key factors in the development of HCC in AOX-/- and in ciprofibrate-treated mice. Northern blot analysis confirmed the differential expression of some of the genes identified in the present study, and also some genes identified previously as PPARalpha regulated, such as CD36, lymphocyte antigen 6 complex locus (Ly-6D), and C3f. We found a panel of 12 genes upregulated in all three classes of liver tumors, namely AOX-/-, ciprofibrate-induced and DENA-induced. These include an uncharacterized RIKEN cDNA, lipocalin 2, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 1, Ly-6D and CD63 among others. In conclusion, these results identify distinguishing features between non-genotoxic and genotoxic carcinogen derived liver tumors as well as genes that are upregulated in both types and suggest that RIKEN cDNA, Ly-6D and lipocalin 2 in particular appear to be desirable molecular markers for further study in liver carcinogenesis and progression.
Metal directed stereoselective synthesis of 3-(1'-hydroxyethyl)-2-azetidinones from ethyl 3-hydroxybutyrate

Abstract The enolate-imine condensation of the lithio dianion 8 of ethyl 3-hydroxybutyrate 7 with N -anisylcinnamylideneimine was studied in the presence of a variety of metal salts and organometallic reagents. Addition of tert -butyl magnesium chloride to the reaction mixture produced the rel (1′R,3 R , 4 S)-3-(1′hydroxyethyl)-2-azetidinone 9, whereas the addition of triethylborane gave solely the rel (1′R,3 R ,4 R ) derivative 10.
Encyclopedia of bacterial gene circuits whose presence or absence correlate with pathogenicity – a large-scale system analysis of decoded bacterial genomes

Bacterial infections comprise a global health challenge as the incidences of antibiotic resistance increase. Pathogenic potential of bacteria has been shown to be context dependent, varying in response to environment and even within the strains of the same genus. We used the KEGG repository and extensive literature searches to identify among the 2527 bacterial genomes in the literature those implicated as pathogenic to the host, including those which show pathogenicity in a context dependent manner. Using data on the gene contents of these genomes, we identified sets of genes highly abundant in pathogenic but relatively absent in commensal strains and vice versa. In addition, we carried out genome comparison within a genus for the seventeen largest genera in our genome collection. We projected the resultant lists of ortholog genes onto KEGG bacterial pathways to identify clusters and circuits, which can be linked to either pathogenicity or synergy. Gene circuits relatively abundant in nonpathogenic bacteria often mediated biosynthesis of antibiotics. Other synergy-linked circuits reduced drug-induced toxicity. Pathogen-abundant gene circuits included modules in one-carbon folate, two-component system, type-3 secretion system, and peptidoglycan biosynthesis. Antibiotics-resistant bacterial strains possessed genes modulating phagocytosis, vesicle trafficking, cytoskeletal reorganization, and regulation of the inflammatory response. Our study also identified bacterial genera containing a circuit, elements of which were previously linked to Alzheimers disease. Present study produces for the first time, a signature, in the form of a robust list of gene circuitry whose presence or absence could potentially define the pathogenicity of a microbiome. Extensive literature search substantiated a bulk majority of the commensal and pathogenic circuitry in our predicted list. Scanning microbiome libraries for these circuitry motifs will provide further insights into the complex and context dependent pathogenicity of bacteria.
'I couldn't have known': accountability, foreseeability and counterfactual denials of responsibility.

This article explores situational determinants and psychological consequences of 'counterfactual excuse-making'--denying responsibility by declaring 'I couldn't have known...'. Participants who were made accountable for a stock investment decision that resulted in an outcome caused by unforeseeable circumstances were particularly likely to generate counterfactual excuses and, as a result, to deny responsibility for the outcome of their choices and minimize their perceptions of control over the decision process. The article discusses the implications of these findings for structuring accountability reporting relationships in business and, more generally, stresses the benefits of counterfactual denials of responsibility for maintaining self-esteem and a desired self-identity.
Translational attenuation control of ermSF, an inducible resistance determinant encoding rRNA N-methyltransferase from Streptomyces fradiae.

Abstract An inducible resistance determinant, ermSF, from the tylosin producer Streptomyces fradiae NRRL 2338 has been cloned, sequenced, and shown to confer inducible macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B resistance when transferred to Streptomyces griseofuscus NRRL 23916. From mapping studies with S1 nuclease to locate the site of transcription initiation, the ermSF message contains a 385-nucleotide 5' leader sequence upstream from the 960-nucleotide major open reading frame that encodes the resistance determinant. On the basis of the potential secondary structure that the ermSF leader can assume, a translational attenuation model similar to that for ermC is proposed. The model is supported by mutational analysis involving deletions in the proposed attenuator. By analysis with restriction endonucleases, ermSF is indistinguishable from the tlrA gene described by Birmingham et al. (V. A. Birmingham, K. L. Cox, J. L. Larson, S. E. Fishman, C. L. Hershberger, and E. T. Seno, Mol. Gen. Genet. 204:532-539, 1986) which comprises one of at least three genes from S. fradiae that can confer tylosin resistance when subcloned into S. griseofuscus. When tested for inducibility, ermSF appears to be strongly induced by erythromycin, but not by tylosin.
Development of the synthetic aperture microwave radiometer, ESTAR

Ten years ago, the synthetic aperture radiometer (ESTAR) published its first image. Since then, ESTAR has successfully demonstrated the potential of aperture synthesis for microwave remote sensing. This paper summarizes the status of the instrument and presents a modern image for comparison with the "initial results" published ten years ago.
Beliefs About Wife Beating: An Exploratory Study With Lebanese Students

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in understanding the sociocultural contexts and risk factors for domestic violence in the Arab world. This study provides an analysis of the religious, legal, and familial contexts of domestic violence in Lebanon and assesses contemporary attitudes toward women and wife beating in a sample of 206 Lebanese university students. Gender, patriarchal attitudes, religion, childhood experiences with family violence, and mother’s employment status were investigated as predictors of attitudes toward wife beating. Consistent with feminist theories of wife abuse, gender and attitudes toward women’s roles emerged as the strongest predictors of beliefs about wife beating.
Prescription-Acquired Acetaminophen Use and the Risk of Asthma in Adults: A Case-Control Study

Background:Studies have examined the association between acetaminophen use and asthma; however, their interpretation is limited by several methodologic issues.Objective:To investigate the association between recent and chronic prescription-acquired acetaminophen use and asthma.Methods:This retrospective case-control study used a 10% random sample of the IMS LifeLink commercial claims data from 1997 to 2009. Cases had to have at least 1 incident claim of asthma; 3:1 controls matched on age, sex, and region were randomly chosen. Acetaminophen exposure, dose, and duration were measured in the 7- and 30-day (recent) and the 1-year (chronic) look-back periods. Multivariable conditional logistic regression was used to estimate the risk of asthma associated with acetaminophen use adjusted for comorbidities, other drugs increasing asthma risk, and health system factors.Results:There were 28,892 cases and 86,676 controls, with mean age of 42.8 years; 37.7% were mates, and 22.6% of cases and 18.2% of controls had a...
Comparative studies of luminescence in copepods and other pelagic marine animals

A comparative study of the following luminous copepods was undertaken: Metridia lucens, M. longa, M. princeps, Pleuromamma robusta, P. xiphias, Heterorhabdus norvegicus, H. robustus, Heterostylites longicornis, Lucicutia grandis, Hemirhabdus grimaldii, Disseta palumboi, Euaugaptilus magnus and Centraugaptilus horridus . Flashes produced by electrical stimulation (a.c. or condenser shocks) and mechanical stimulation were recorded photoelectrically. Flashes lasted from 2 to 37 sec. Latencies of some species (Metridiidae), following electrical stimulation, were very short, 7–9 msec. Intensities ranged from 0·02 × 10 –5 to 14·4 × 10 –5 μ W/s cm 2 of receptor surface at 15 cm distance (0.0045 × 10 –2 to 3·24 × 10 –2 μ W/Cm 2 at 1 cm) (10–20°C). Luminous glands of Metridiidae, Lucicutiidae and Augaptilidae are autofluorescent; the location of the luminous glands in these families and in Heterorhabdidae is described. Two kinds of glandular cells (types 1 and 2) occur in the luminescent areas. The cells are large saccular structures containing granular or homogeneous material, and are distinguished by staining peculiarities. Cell types 1 and 2 open through common pores, and may be the source of luminous reactants. Some measurements of luminescence in other pelagic animals are presented, for comparison with copepods, viz. Aequorea macrodactyla, Aeginura grimaldii (Hydromedusae), Periphylla periphylla (Scyphomedusa), Meganyctiphanes norvegica and Acanthephyra pelagica (Crustacea), Myctophum punctatum (Teleostei). Our present knowledge regarding luminescence among copepods is reviewed.
CIP4 is required for the hypertrophic growth of neonatal cardiac myocytes

Background CIP4 is a scaffold protein that regulates membrane deformation and tubulation, organization of the actin cytoskeleton, endocytosis of growth factor receptors, and vesicle trafficking. Although expressed in the heart, CIP4 has not been studied with regards to its potential function in cardiac myocytes.