cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Co-Expression of Lens Fiber Connexins Modifies Hemi-Gap-Junctional Channel Behavior

Lens fiber cells contain two gap junction proteins (Cx56 and Cx45.6 in the chicken). Biochemical studies have suggested that these two proteins can form heteromeric connexons. To investigate the biophysical properties of heteromeric lens connexons, Cx56 was co-expressed with Cx45.6 (or its mouse counterpart, Cx50) in Xenopus oocytes. Whole-cell and single-channel currents were measured in single oocytes by conventional two-microelectrode voltage-clamp and patch clamp techniques, respectively. Injection of Cx56 cRNA induced a slowly activating, nonselective cation current that activated on depolarization to potentials higher than -10 mV. In contrast, little or no hemichannel current was induced by injection of Cx50 or Cx45.6 cRNA. Co-expression of Cx56 with Cx45.6 or Cx50 led to a shift in the threshold for activation to -40 or -70 mV, respectively. It also slowed the rate of deactivation of the hemichannel currents. Moreover, an increase in the unitary conductance, steady state probability of hemichannel opening and mean open times at negative potentials, was observed in (Cx56 + Cx45.6) cRNA-injected oocytes compared with Cx56 cRNA-injected oocytes. These results indicate that co-expression of lens fiber connexins gives rise to novel channels that may be explained by the formation of heteromeric hemichannels that contain both connexins.
Rethinking the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index: the impact of area should be increased.

Summary Background The Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) is the most frequently used clinical severity scale in clinical trials. Drug approval often depends on a 75% improvement in the baseline PASI score, also known as a PASI 75 or Delta PASI 75. This benchmark may be an overly stringent way to determine the success of psoriasis treatments as Delta PASIs appear to under-represent true clinical improvement. This discrepancy may relate to the way numerical values are assigned to the degree of body surface area (BSA) involvement. Objectives To assess whether altering the BSA component of the PASI formula so that it is weighted more heavily will result in a calculated change in psoriasis severity that more closely reflects patient assessment of improvement. Models developed included the Psoriasis Log-based Area and Severity Index (PLASI), which assigns values to the BSA score based on a linear scale using logarithms to define the intervals, and the Psoriasis Exact Area and Severity Index (PEASI), which uses the actual BSA as the multiplicative factor in the area score. Methods Data were abstracted retrospectively from two clinical trials involving psoriasis treatments that used the PASI. The same trained psoriasis graders were involved in both trials. In these trials, baseline and end-point PASI worksheets were completed that included the actual clinician-estimated BSA involvement (0–100%) for each of the four areas (head, upper extremities, trunk and lower extremities). In one of the trials, patients were asked to assess the percentage improvement in their psoriasis at the end of the treatment window. PASIs and Delta PASIs were recalculated based on the new models and all scoring systems were validated by analysing their relationship to patients' self-assessments. Results Clinical improvements under the new grading systems translated into greater percentage changes than calculated using the Delta PASI formula. Specifically, the Delta PASI 50 translated to a Delta PLASI 57·2 and Delta PEASI 61·1; Delta PASI 75 was equivalent to Delta PLASI 85·7 and Delta PEASI 91·7. Importantly, Delta PASI tended to be systematically lower than patients' self-assessment, while Delta PLASI and Delta PEASI better matched patients' self-assessments using a best-fit model. Conclusions These results suggest that the Delta PASI underestimates percentage improvement when compared with measures of patient's self-assessment, while Delta PLASI and Delta PEASI correlate better. Prospective studies will have to be performed to confirm these relationships, but weighting BSA more heavily in the severity score may result in a more accurate reflection of clinical status.
Molecular mechanisms of dominant negative activity by nuclear hormone receptors.

Human hereditary syndromes have been divided into three major classes according to Mendelian inheritance patterns-autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, and X-linked recessive. However, recent advances in molecular biology have shed deeper insight into the nature of some of these syndromes as specific gene mutations and the functional consequences of these mutations have been described. Often, mutations are transmitted via the germ line. However, in the development of certain tumors, somatic mutation or a somatic mutation coupled with an inherited defective allele (i.e. tumor suppressor genes such as retinoblastoma or ~53) is required. Such genetic mutations can be categorized with respect to their function-gain of function (resulting in either increased normal function or acquisition of novel function), loss of function, or dominant negative activity. The latter term refers to the ability of the product of the mutant allele to interfere directly with wild type protein function (1). Examples of each of these types of mutations exist within the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily, a class of ligand-regulatable transcription factors that includes the steroid hormone, vitamin D, retinoic acid, and thyroid hormone receptors (TRs). These receptors all contain a central DNA-binding domain with two zinc finger motifs and a carboxyterminal ligand binding domain (LBD) which is important for ligand binding as well as homoand/or heterodimerization with other nuclear proteins. Several examples of gain of function mutations have occurred due to chromosomal rearrangements within the genes encoding for retinoic acid receptor (RAR) isoforms, resulting in novel fusion proteins. In acute promyelocytic leukemia, PML-RAR fusion proteins formed between a myeloid gene product of unknown function, PML, and RARcY disrupt subnuclear organization in the nucleus, perhaps by redirecting retinoid X
Sources of calcium in egg activation: A review and hypothesis

A careful reanalysis of the literature indicates that the initial mechanism of activation in sea urchin eggs is remarkably similar to the mechanism established in medaka eggs: i.e., sea urchin eggs are activated by a qualitatively and quantitatively similar calcium explosion; one which is propagated in a wave sustained by the calcium-stimulated release of calcium from internal sources. These sources are probably in the endoplasmic reticulum. An exhaustive survey of the literature reveals that a wide variety of other activating eggs in the vertebrate line also exhibit secretory waves which are propagated at about 10 μm/sec, and can thus be assumed to reflect the same basic mechanism. Activating protostome eggs on the other hand do not exhibit such waves. This and other systematic differences from deuterostomes suggest that unlike deuterostome eggs, protostome eggs are primarily activated by calcium ions which enter the cytosol from the medium, and do so in response to depolarization of the egg's plasma membrane.
Bioactivation and mode of action of the oxadiazine indoxacarb in insects

Abstract DPX-MP062 (indoxacarb) is a novel oxadiazine insecticide which has good field activity against a number of pest Lepidoptera, as well as certain Homoptera and Coleoptera. Indoxacarb (discovered and developed by E.I. DuPont and Co.) is a 75%S : 25%R mixture of enantiomers at the chiral bicyclic carbon; DPX-JW062 is the corresponding racemic compound. Several species of lepidopteran larvae can rapidly metabolize 14 C-JW062 to 14 C-DCJW (for N-decarbomethoxyllated JW062) after ingestion, and more slowly after topical treatment; this conversion is correlated with the appearance of neurotoxic symptoms. Several sucking insects are also capable of absorbing and bioactivating indoxacarb after either dermal or oral administration, but do so much more slowly than the Lepidoptera. DCJW is a highly potent, voltage-dependent blocker of Na + -dependent compound action potentials when tested in a Manduca sexta larval abdominal motoneuron preparation; DPX-JW062 was much less potent in this regard. When larvae were poisoned in vivo, onset of paralysis and block of central nervous system action potentials was more rapid with DCJW than with DPX-JW062; onset of neurotoxic symptoms leads to a rapid and irreversible halt in feeding. The S-enantiomer of DCJW is active both in the motoneuron preparation in vitro and in lepidopteran larvae in vivo; however S-DPX-JW062 is active in vivo only, while the R-enantiomers of DCJW and DPX-MP062 are inactive in both. Thus, activation of the parent oxadiazines to the S-enantiomers of the N -decarbomethoxyllated metabolites, which are powerful sodium channel blockers, is the toxic mechanism of action in Lepidoptera and apparently for other pest insects as well; however, the rate of bioactivation is a critical factor in determining the speed and ultimate toxicity of this compound in different insect species. Indoxacarb's inherent activity against Lepidoptera is comparable to the most potent insecticides ever commercialized.
A study at 10 medical centers of the safety and efficacy of 48 flexible sigmoidoscopies and 8 colonoscopies during pregnancy with follow-up of fetal outcome and with comparison to control groups

To analyze the risks versus benefits of flexible sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy to the pregnant female and fetus, we conducted a multiyear, retrospective study at 10 hospitals of 46 patients undergoing 48 sigmoidoscopies and 8 patients undergoing 8 colonoscopies during pregnancy. Sigmoidoscopy controls included two study control groups and the average American pregnancy outcomes. Sigmoidoscopy indications included hematochezia in 28, diarrhea in 10, abdominal pain in 4, and other in 3. Thirteen patients were in the first trimester of pregnancy, 18 were in the second trimester, and 15 were in the third trimester. Twenty-seven patients had a lesion diagnosed by sigmoidoscopy, including reactivated or newly diagnosed inflammatory bowel disease, bleeding internal hemorrhoids, and other colitidies. Twenty-two of 29 patients with rectal bleeding had a significant lesion identified by sigmoidoscopy. Sigmoidoscopy was significantly more frequently diagnostic for hematochezia than for other indications (p < 0.03, χ2). No endoscopic complications occurred to the pregnant patients. Excluding 4 voluntary abortions and 1 unknown pregnancy outcome, 38 (93%) of 41 pregnant females delivered healthy babies (study control rate=93%; NS, Fisher's exact test). Mean live-born infant Apgar scores were 8.2 ± 1.5 (SD) at 1 min and 9.0 ± 0.2 at 5 min (control mean Apgar scores: 8.1 ± 1.7 at 1 min and 8.8 ± 1.0 at 5 min; NS, Student'st test). Three high-risk pregnancies ended with fetal demise at 8, 9, or 12 weeks after sigmoidoscopy, from causes unrelated to sigmoidoscopy. No fetal cardiac abnormalities were detected by fetal cardiac monitoring during two sigmoidoscopies. Eight pregnant females underwent colonoscopy, without complications. Pregnancy outcomes included six healthy babies delivered at full term, one voluntary abortion, and one fetal demise in a high-risk pregnancy 4 months after colonoscopy from causes unrelated to colonoscopy. This study suggests that sigmoidoscopy does not induce labor or result in congenital malformations, that sigmoidoscopy is not contraindicated during pregnancy, and that sigmoidoscopy may be beneficial in pregnant patients with significant lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Colonoscopy during pregnancy should be considered for life-threatening lower gastrointestinal bleeding or when the only alternative is surgery.
Materializing Sikh pasts1

Objects and sites related to the Sikh Gurus, heroes and martyrs are ubiquitous in Punjab and beyond. As objects of memory, they function to represent the past and participate in a larger narration of that past as history. This paper examines exemplary cases of Sikh historical objects and sites and considers their role as lieux de memoire, as theorized by Pierre Nora, to commemorate the Guru and the relationships that constitute the community around him. Narration constitutes the animating principle for these objects, making them both like and unlike other kinds of material religious traditions generally known as ‘relics’. The early Buddhist tradition is provided for productive contrast, to suggest a parallel case of a narrative frame that determines the historical meanings of the material aspect of religious practices and ideologies.
Vapor-phase photodecomposition of aldrin and dieldrin.

A special reactor was constructed to study the vapor-phase photodecomposition of pesticides by ultraviolet (UV) light. The reactor was designed in such a way that wall reactions would be minimized and could be distinguished from actual vaporphase transformations. The vapor-phase photodecomposition of the insecticides aldrin and dieldrin were studied with this reactor. Irradiation of aldrin vapor with UV light resulted in the formation of photoaldrin and dieldrin. Irradiation of either photoaldrin or dieldrin vapor resulted in a single photoproduct, photodieldrin, which was resistant to further photolysis. Hence, irradiation of aldrin vapor ultimately produced photodieldrin by way of two separate pathways: a photoisomerization followed by photooxidation and a photooxidation followed by photoisomerization.
Mitoxantrone permeability in MDCKII cells is influenced by active influx transport

Mitoxantrone (MXR) is a prototypical substrate for the ABCG2 (bcrp1) efflux transporter and is often used as a positive control in bcrp-mediated transport studies. This study examined processes involved in the cellular accumulation and directional transport of MXR using an in vitro wild-type (WT) and bcrp1-transfected (bcrp1) MDCKII cell model. Compared to 37 degrees C, incubation at 4 degrees C increased MXR accumulation in bcrp1 cells and unexpectedly decreased MXR accumulation in WT MDCKII cells. [3H]-MXR accumulation was concentration dependent in both WT and bcrp1 cells, exhibiting the characteristics of saturable active influx. At tracer concentrations, there was no difference in MXR directional flux between WT and bcrp1 MDCKII cell monolayers, and the A-to-B (apical-to-basolateral) flux was greater than the B-to-A flux in both cell types. However at higher concentration (20 microM), [3H]-MXR directional flux from A to B decreased and B to A increased, revealing the expected efflux process. Therefore, the orientation of the MXR directional flux process is concentration dependent and only at higher concentrations could the difference between WT and bcrp1 MDCKII cells be distinguished. Taken together, these data show that there is a saturable influx transport system on the apical membrane MDCKII cells that is responsible for the active influx of MXR. This is the first report of an active influx transport system for MXR. The expression of the putative MXR influx transporter in selected cell types could lead to misleading results in drug transport assays that screen for bcrp activity. Moreover, the downregulation of the influx transport system could be a heretofore unrecognized mechanism of MXR resistance in tumor cells.
Pulsar receivers and data processing

The rapid variabilty of pulsar signals and the dispersive nature of the interstellar medium introduce a number of problems which are not inherent in other radio-astronomical observations. These problems are discussed and some of the techniques currently being used to cope with them are described.
The physician as ambivalent Samaritan: will internists resuscitate victims of out-of-hospital emergencies?

To determine how internists would respond to out-of-hospital emergency medical situations, we surveyed internal medicine residents and attending physicians at urban academic medical centers regarding their willingness to help in five such scenarios. For those scenarios in which they were reluctant to help, they were asked why. Knowledge of Good Samaritan statutes was also assessed. Respondents were most likely to give aid, including mouth-to-mouth resuscitation if necessary, in scenarios involving a man complaining of chest pain in a restaurant (69%) and a call for help on an airplane (54%), and least likely to help a disheveled man lying on the sidewalk (2%). The most common reasons for not helping were a reluctance to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, feeling that it was not one’s responsibility to help, and concern about infectious disease. Knowledge of New York’s Good Samaritan law was not associated with willingness to help.
Conformations of the d-glucarolactones and d-glucaric acid in solution

Abstract The conformations of d -glucaric acid ( 1 ), d -glucaro-1,4-lactone ( 2 ), d -glucaro-6,3-lactone ( 3 ), and d -glucaro-1,4:6,3-dilactone ( 4 ) in solution were investigated by 1 H-n.m.r. and 13 C-p.F.t., n.m.r. spectroscopy. The solvents used were deuterium oxide, methanol- d 4 , and dimethyl sulfoxide- d 6 , and praseodymium chloride was employed as a lanthanide shift-reagent. For 2 , it was found that the conformational equilibrium 3 E ( d ) E 3 ( d ) exists in solution, and that the OH-5 group tends to occupy the position over the lactone ring in the favored E 3 ( d ), gg conformation. The n.m.r. data for 3 indicated that the conformational equilibrium is shifted in favor of the 4 E ( d ) E 4 ( d ), gt conformation in solution. The dienvelope conformation 3 E : E 4 ( d ) was found to be the favored conformation of 4 . For 1 , a conformational equilibrium between one planar, zigzag form and two sickle forms was indicated by the n.m.r. data observed. 13 C-N.m.r. spectroscopy proved to be a convenient method for monitoring the lactonization of 1 , and the hydrolysis of its lactones. Lactones other than 2 – 4 were not found in solutions prepared from 1 – 4 , either during their mutarotation or after equilibration at 30°.
A Note on the Reflection of Low-Frequency Equatorial Rossby Waves from Realistic Western Boundaries

Abstract The analytic theory of Cane and Gent on the reflection of low-frequency equatorial waves from arbitrary boundaries is applied to the reflection of long Rossby waves from realistic approximations to the western boundaries of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans. The results show that low-frequency (annual period or longer), first meridional mode, first baroclinic mode reflection is close to that of straight north–south boundary in all three basins. However, increasing the frequency, meridional mode number, and/or vertical mode number causes drastic changes in the energy flux reflection coefficients. Corresponding to the general slope and complexity of the coastline, the effects are greatest for the Pacific Ocean and least for the Indian Ocean.
MANIFESTATIONS OF THE ICU SYNDROME IN CHILDREN

The ICU Syndrome, manifested by anxiety, depression, hallucinations, and delirium, has been reported to occur in children but has not been well documented. The purpose of this study was to determine factors associated with the development of ICU Syndrome in children. Forty-three children between the ages of 6 and 17 years were studied, 18 in ICU and 25 on general wards. The Hospital Observed Behavior Scale (HOBS) was developed to describe acute adverse psychological reactions in four areas: anxiety, depression, delirium, and withdrawal. The Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents (DICA) was administered to each subject and the DICA-P to each subject's parent to elicit any pre-existing psychopathology. Additional data collected included demographics, diagnosis, prognosis, previous admissions, duration of parental visitation (PV), amount of sleep, and medications. Good interrater reliability was found for the HOBS (r=0,63, p< 0.000001). Sixteen subjects demonstrated behavior clinically consistent with the ICU Syndrome, 11 ICU and 5 ward subjects. The mean HOBS scores were statistically different for those with and without the ICU Syndrome (9.3 ± 4.1 vs. 3.9 ± 3.6; p< 0.0005). Factors positively correlated with the mean HOBS were pre-existing anxiety disorder and race (black); negatively correlated was PV (p < 0.10). We conclude that the ICU Syndrome may be reliably diagnosed using HOBS and that it may occur in patients in both ICU and ward settings.
Local and Extra-Local Orientations in the Metropolis

The debate over the “community question” has generated several perspectives on the sources of ties to the territorial community in modern society. This paper attempts to empirically assess the utility of each model for predicting the number of ties to the local community and extra-local area, using data on voluntary association memberships in Seattle. Results indicate that the “community of limited liability” perspective is most accurate in predicting the importance of social, economic, and temporal investments for local memberships, and social position for extra-local memberships.
Special issue on sensor network applications [Scanning the Issue]

This special issue highlights the state-of-the-art enabling technologies which are critical to sensor networking and explores today?s application areas as well as expected future developments.
Use of rapid gas-flow modulation for improved performance in inductively coupled plasma time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Modulation of the central-channel gas flow rate is explored as a means to operate the ICP as a switched source in order to achieve optimal performance for a greater range of elements and to alleviate certain isobaric overlaps. By rapidly switching between low and high central-channel flow rates, hot and cold plasma conditions are produced in an alternating fashion. Limits of detection with this modulation strategy are similar to those obtained under steady-state hot and cold plasma conditions. Because both plasma conditions are produced in a single analysis, this modulation technique should be particularly useful for multielemental analyses that employ transient sampling methods such as chromatography, flow injection, electrothermal vaporization, and laser ablation.
Case-Managed Reentry and Employment: Lessons from the Opportunity to Succeed Program:

The Opportunity to Succeed (OPTS) program was designed to reduce substance abuse relapse and criminal recidivism by providing comprehensive, case-managed reentry services to felony offenders who had drug offense histories. This article describes how a process and impact evaluation of the multisite OPTS program illuminates the importance of employment and related services for returning prisoners. The process component documented high levels of employment service utilization and referrals. The impact component—which utilized an experimental design—found that compared to probation and parole clients under routine supervision, OPTS clients had significantly higher levels of full-time employment during the first year after prison release. In turn, high levels of employment were associated with reductions in self-reported commission of person and property crimes, as well as reductions in drug dealing during a one-year follow-up period. The article highlights the evaluation findings and discusses challenges that...
Career‐Guidance Programs: Needs and Activities of ASCE Sections/Branches

In April 1991, ASCE adopted a policy statement encouraging career-guidance activities among its members. It was perceived by the Society that programs are needed that describe the challenges and rewards of a civil engineering career to prospective engineering students. In addition, activities that encourage and promote the study of mathematics and science at all levels are believed to be required. Recently, ASCE has been quite active in developing career-guidance information. Numerous sections and branches are also involved in career-guidance activities. Comprehensive programs have been developed, which include middle- and high-school visitations, involvement with career days, development of slides and videos showing local projects, and participation in various elementary-school/community-college activities. It was found that students are not only interested in specific engineering job characteristics. Questions often asked include salary, benefits, working conditions, engineering lifestyle, and interference with home life. The education of high-school teachers concerning civil engineering was also determined to be an important aspect and benefit of career-guidance programs.
Portability and the national energy software center

The software portability problem is examined from the viewpoint of experience gained in the operation of a software exchange and information center. First, the factors contributing to the program interchange to date are identified, then major problem areas remaining are noted. The import of the development of programming language and documentation standards is noted, and the program packaging procedures and dissemination practices employed by the Center to facilitate successful software transport are described. Organization, or installation, dependencies of the computing environment, often hidden from the program author, and data interchange complexities are seen as today's primary issues with dedicated processors and network communications offering an alternative solution.
Is the Association of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale Scores and Acute Magnetic Resonance Imaging Stroke Volume Equal for Patients With Right- and Left-Hemisphere Ischemic Stroke?

Background and Purpose— The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) is an established measure of neurological impairment; however, it can award more points for tests of presumed left-hemisphere function, such as language, than for tests of right-hemisphere function, such as neglect. This difference may be important if a low NIHSS score is used to exclude patients with right-hemisphere stroke from clinical trials or established treatments. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the relationship between acute NIHSS score and acute stroke volume as determined by acute diffusion- and perfusion-weighted MRI (DWI and PWI) differs between right- and left-sided stroke. Methods— This was a retrospective study of 153 patients with acute stroke seen at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center between January 1995 and March 2000 who underwent an MRI examination and NIHSS within 24 hours of stroke onset. NIHSS score was recorded prospectively by the admitting stroke fellow at the time of acute present...
Determination of ethalfluralin in canola seed, meal, and refined oil by capillary gas chromatography with mass selective detection.

Ethalfluralin is a herbicide that is effective for weed control on a wide variety of crops, including canola. A method is described for the determination of ethalfluralin residues in canola seed, meal, and refined oil. Residues are extracted from canola sample matrixes with acetonitrile. An aliquot of the extract is diluted with water and purified by C18 solid-phase extraction prior to analysis by capillary gas chromatography with mass selective detection. For all three sample matrixes, the method has a validated limit of quantitation of 0.02 μg/g and a limit of detection of 0.006 μg/g. Recoveries averaged 96 ± 7% for canola seed, 87 ± 6% for canola meal, and 89 ± 5% for refined oil. In a magnitude-of-residue study, canola seed from field plots that had been treated with ethalfluralin at one to three times the maximum label rate for weed control were found to contain no detectable residue of the herbicide. Keywords: Ethalfluralin; dinitroaniline; residues; canola; GC/MSD
Immunogenicity and ability of variable loop-deleted human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope glycoproteins to elicit neutralizing antibodies.

Abstract It has been extremely difficult to elicit broadly cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies (Nabs) against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). In this study, we compared the immunogenic properties of the wild-type and variable loop-deleted HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins. Mice were immunized with recombinant vaccinia viruses expressing either the wild-type or the variable loop-deleted (V1–2, V3, V4, and V1–3) HIV-1DH12 gp160s. The animals were subsequently boosted with respective recombinant gp120s. All envelope constructs elicited similar levels of gp120-binding antibodies when analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). However, the highest neutralizing activity was observed in sera from animals immunized with the wild-type envelope protein, followed by those immunized with ΔV4 and ΔV1–2. No neutralizing activity was detected in sera from animals immunized with ΔV3 or ΔV1–3. To identify immunogenic epitopes, ELISA was performed with overlapping 15-mer peptides that cover the entire length of gp120. For the wild-type gp120, the immunogenic epitopes mapped primarily to the variable loops V1–2 and to the conserved regions C1 and C5. When they were plotted onto known coordinates of gp120 core crystal structure, the epitopes in the conserved regions mapped predominantly to the inner domain of the protein. By immunizing with variable loop-deleted envelopes, the immune responses could be redirected to other regions of the protein. However, the newly targeted epitopes were neither on the exposed surface of the protein nor on the receptor binding regions. Interestingly, the removal of the V3 loop resulted in loss of immunoreactivity for both V3 and V1/V2 loops, suggesting structural interaction between the two regions. Our results suggest that obtaining broadly reactive Nabs may not be achieved simply by deleting the variable loops of gp120. However, the observation that the immune responses could be redirected by altering the protein composition might allow us to explore alternative strategies for modifying the antigenic properties of HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein.
Biotechnology is not compatible with sustainable agriculture

Biotechnology increases commercialization of food production, which competes with food for home use. Most people in the world grow their own food, and are more secure without the mediation of the market. To the extent that biotechnology enhances market competitiveness, world food security will decrease. This instability will result in a greater gap between rich and poor, increasing poverty of women and children, less ability and incentive to protect the environment, and greater need for militarization to maintain order. Therefore, biotechnology should be discouraged. An active program to protect and strengthen local food production and to decrease reliance on industrial agriculture should be promoted.
Reuse of Post-Consumer E-Waste for Low Cost Micropower Distribution

A novel medium voltage distribution system to electrify rural areas in developing nations using post consumer resources is presented in this paper. Using transformers repurposed from discarded microwave ovens to form a medium voltage micro grid, power may be distributed over an area of a few square kilometers while interconnecting a wide variety of generation sources and storage at a fraction of the cost of traditional systems. Microwave oven transformers (MOTs) are systematically characterized for optimal performance in these cases and construction guidelines are provided. A candidate distribution system using MOTs was constructed to deliver power from a small wind turbine to a small building at a horticulture field station. Results from this demonstration project are provided.
Neuroimaging and Neurobiological Models of Depression

We review the data from structural neuroimaging studies (computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging) related to depressive disorders. In addition, we review the relevant functional neuroimaging research, including studies of normal emotional processing, studies of the functional neuroanatomy of major depression, and neurochemical neuroimaging studies of depression. Finally, we discuss existing neurobiological models of depression and offer modifications based upon the body of neuroimaging research we have presented.
Orbital-occupancy versus charge ordering and the strength of electron correlations in electron-doped CaMnO3.

The structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of mixed-valence compounds are believed to be governed by strong electron correlations. Here we report benchmark density-functional calculations in the spin-polarized generalized-gradient approximation (GGA) for the ground-state properties of doped ${\mathrm{CaMnO}}_{3}$. We find excellent agreement with all available data, while inclusion of strong correlations in the $\mathrm{GGA}+\mathrm{U}$ scheme impairs this agreement. We demonstrate that formal oxidation states reflect only orbital occupancies, not charge transfer, and resolve outstanding controversies about charge ordering.
Analog Capacitor Integration Challenges

This paper discusses the challenges of making a MIM capacitor using a standard back end of line metal stack and a single additional mask. This required development of a capacitor dielectric would also serve as an antireflective coating for patterning 0.25 m metal interconnect lines or smaller. The paper also focuses on the characteristics of the analog capacitors. By improving this dual purpose oxide/SiON/oxide sandwich dielectric layer with special reflectivity properties, this novel integration forms a capacitor which possesses a combination of good voltage linearity or voltage coefficient, low dispersive behavior and hysteresis, and finally excellent matching with low leakage.
CAWDOR: Compiler Assisted Worm Defense

This paper explores how much the source code analysis can assist worm defense system. Previously-proposed worm defense systems have used disparate mechanisms to detect worms, analyze exploits, verify alerts, and apply mitigations. Furthermore, previous systems have not offered predictability, i.e. it is not possible to verify, in advance, that the defense system will never generate a mitigation that breaks the program. This paper describes a program transformation technique that makes collaborative worm defense systems easy to build, predictable and fast-responsive. Our transformation provides a single building block that can be used to perform worm detection, exploit analysis, alert verification, and mitigation application. In fact, our transformation makes most of these tasks trivial. Furthermore, software vendors and users can test, in advance, that the defense system will very unlikely apply a mitigation that breaks their software. Mitigations are vulnerability-specific not exploit-specific. Finally, our system can respond extremely quickly to a new worm. The exploit analysis becomes trivial so sentinel hosts can issue an alert the instant they detect a worm. We have implemented a prototype of our system based on the Jones and Kelly program transformation for memory safety. During normal operation, our system incurs only 5% overhead. We take advantage of static analysis to develop several optimizations and make the Jones and Kelly approach to memory safety efficient and practical.
A Performance Study of Loss Detection/Recovery in Real-world TCP Implementations

TCP is the dominant transport protocol used in the Internet and its performance fundamentally governs the performance of Internet applications. It is well-known that packet losses can adversely affect the connection duration of TCP connections - however, what is not fully understood is how well does the TCP design deal with losses. In this paper, we systematically evaluate the impact of design parameters associated with TCP's loss detection/recovery mechanisms on the performance of real-world TCP connections. For this, we rely on an analysis tool that partially emulates the sender-side TCP implementations of 5 prominent OSes for passively analyzing the traces of TCP connections. Our study conducts passive analysis of more than 2.8 million real Internet TCP connections. We find that the recommended as well as widely-implemented settings of TCP parameters are not optimal for a significant fraction of Internet connections.
Pseudolymphoma masquerading as colonic malignancy.

The case of a patient with a constricting lesion of the hepatic flexure is presented. Radiographic and endoscopic findings in this patient could not conclusively distinguish a benign from a malignant process. The patient eventually underwent operation, at which time hemicolectomy and ileotransverse colostomy were performed. The final pathologic diagnosis of the resected lesion was pseudolymphoma. The definition and significance of this diagnosis are discussed.
Determinants of diners ' variety seeking intentions

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to identify diners ' fundamental reasons for seeking variety in their choice of a restaurant and to understand their variety-seeking intentions from the perspective of personality characteristics. Design/methodology/approach – An online survey was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire and 309 usable responses were collected. To test the hypothesized relationships, structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed. A multiple group analysis was also conducted to test the moderating effects of personality characteristics. Findings – The results suggested that diners ' desired values are more critical than prior dining experiences in determining variety seeking intentions. Further, satisfaction and desired hedonic/utilitarian values differently affect variety seeking intentions across high and low allocentric personality groups. Practical implications – Regarding personality types, satisfaction and desired values were found to have a significant impact on var...
The Online Citizen: Is Social Media Changing Citizens’ Beliefs About Democratic Values?

Social media websites are rapidly changing the way that Americans live and communicate with one another. Social media sites encourage individuals to constantly share information about one’s self (and constantly seek information about others) that would have been private in the past. This experience can alter how an individual views the world in ways that political scientists have not been able to fully capture. In a cross-sectional survey of the American public I find a strong correlation between the use of Facebook and personal blogs and support for civil liberties. Individuals who spend more time self-publicizing on the Internet seem to value freedom of expression more, but also value the right to privacy less than individuals who use social media less often. This pattern suggests that technology may be altering American attitudes on basic democratic values and highlights the need for dynamic research designs that account for the causal effect Internet use may have on individual political development.
Optimization Study of the Ames 0.5 Two-Stage Light Gas Gun

There is a need for more faithful simulation of space debris impacts on various space vehicles. Space debris impact velocities can range up to 14 km/sec and conventional two-stage light gas guns with moderately heavy saboted projectiles are limited to launch velocities of 7-8 km/sec. Any increases obtained in the launch velocities will result in more faithful simulations of debris impacts. It would also be valuable to reduce the maximum gun and projectile base pressures and the gun barrel erosion rate. In this paper, the results of a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) study designed to optimize the performance of the NASA Ames 0.5' gun by systematically varying seven gun operating parameters are reported. Particularly beneficial effects were predicted to occur if (1) the piston mass was decreased together with the powder mass and the hydrogen fill pressure and (2) the pump tube length was decreased. The optimum set of changes in gun operating conditions were predicted to produce an increase in muzzle velocity of 0.7-1.0 km/sec, simultaneously with a substantial decrease in gun erosion. Preliminary experimental data have validated the code predictions. Velocities of up to 8.2 km/sec with a 0.475 cm diameter saboted aluminum sphere have been obtained, along with large reductions in gun erosion rates.
Enhanced novelty-induced corticosterone spike and upregulated serotonin 5-HT1A and cannabinoid CB1 receptors in adolescent BTBR mice

Summary Hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis responses to change and social challenges during adolescence can influence mental health and behavior into adulthood. To examine how HPA tone in adolescence may contribute to psychopathology, we challenged male adolescent (5 weeks) and adult (16 weeks) BTBR T+tf/J (BTBR) and 129S1/SvImJ (129S) mice with novelty in sociability tests. In prior studies these strains had exaggerated or altered HPA stress responses and low sociability relative to C57BL/6J mice in adulthood. In adolescence these strains already exhibited similar or worse sociability deficits than adults or age-matched C57 mice. Yet BTBR adolescents were less hyperactive and buried fewer marbles than adults. Novelty-induced corticosterone (CORT) spikes in adolescent BTBR were double adult levels, and higher than 129S or C57 mice at either age. Due to their established role in HPA feedback, we hypothesized that hippocampal Gαi/o-coupled serotonin 5-HT1A and cannabioid CB1 receptor function might be upregulated in BTBR mice. Adolescent BTBR mice had higher hippocampal 5-HT1A density as measured by [3H] 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino) tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) binding than C57 mice, and adult BTBR 8-OH-DPAT-stimulated GTPγS binding was higher than in either C57 or 129S mice in this region. Further, BTBR hippocampal CB1 density measured by [3H]CP55,940 binding was 15–20% higher than in C57. CP55,940-stimulated GTPγS binding in adult BTBR dentate gyrus was 30% higher then 129S (p
Developing Competitive Strategies for Buyer-Supplier Negotiations

Using differential game theory, a model is developed to analyze the dynamics accompanying buyer-supplier negotiations. Two cases are examined: the first supposes that the players bargain cooperatively and try to reach Pareto-optimal solutions; the second assumes a noncooperative atmosphere and seeks out Nash equilibria. Although the latter are not necessarily efficient, they do provide a measure of stability, and hence may be considered a conservative strategy. In either case, the buyer and supplier are bargaining over n issues with a view toward minimizing their individual costs. These costs are represented by a linear combination of the terminal offer or bid, and the cumulative losses incurred during the negotiating process. In the analysis, closed form solutions are obtained for a variety of structural and behavioral assumptions. For certain Nash equilibria it is shown that agreement is reached on all issues simultaneously. The results can be used to evaluate the performance of different strategies, as well as check for suboptimality.
Plasmoids as magnetic flux ropes

A magnetic flux rope model is developed and used to determine whether the principal axis analysis (PAA) of magnetometer signatures from a single satellite pass is sufficient to obtain the magnetic topology of plasmoids. The model is also used to determine if plasmoid observations are best explained by the flux rope, closed loop, or large-amplitude wave picture. It was found that the principal axis directions is highly dependent on the satellite trajectory through the structure and, therefore, the PAA of magnetometer data from a single satellite pass is insufficient to differentiate between magnetic closed loop and flux rope models. Results also indicate that the flux rope model of plasmoid formation is well suited to unify the observations of various magnetic structures observed by ISEE 3.
Parallel multi-time step integration on a transputer system

An algorithm which allows different nodes of the finite element mesh to be integrated with different time steps is presented for second order finite element systems. The implementation of this algorithm on a system of transputer processors is discussed and a numerical example is used to evaluate the efficiency of the algorithm.
Ventilatory behavior and metabolism in two strains of obese rats

This study examined differences in metabolism and ventilatory responsiveness in the Zucker (Z) and Koletsky (K) rat which each carry a different recessive mutation of the leptin receptor gene. The Null hypothesis was that the obese (homozygous) rats from the strains would not differ among the variables assessed. Male and female rats of obese and lean phenotypes were studied, with 5-6 animals in each group. Animals of the same age were assessed for ventilation and metabolism by whole-body plethysmography and the open circuit method. During quiet wakefulness, each animal was exposed to 5 min presentations of: room air; 10% O(2)/bal N(2); 100% O(2); room air, and 7% O(2)/93% O(2). Differences in metabolism, independent of phenotype included: K Z females and Z>K for males; CO(2) production in obese K K often for every challenge (P<0.001). A higher f and VE in Z compared with K rats was present in both genders, and persisted with each challenge. In conclusion, obese rats from these two strains do not breathe the same, even when age, weight, body mass index, and diet are alike. We conclude that that factors other than fat accumulation contribute to the expression of respiratory control and ventilation in obesity in the rat.
A deterministic fault-tolerant and deadlock-free routing protocol in 2-D meshes based on odd-even turn model

We propose a deterministic fault-tolerant and deadlock-free routing protocol in 2-dimensional (2-D) meshes based on dimension-order routing and the recently proposed odd-even turn model. The proposed protocol, called extended X-Y routing, does not use any virtual channels by prohibiting certain locations of faults and destinations. Faults are contained in a set of disjointed rectangular regions called faulty blocks. The number of faults to be tolerated is unbounded as long as nodes outside faulty blocks are connected in the mesh network. The extended X-Y routing can also be used under a special convex fault region called orthogonal faulty block, which can be derived from a given faulty block by activating some nonfaulty nodes in the block. Extensions to partial adaptive routing, traffic- and adaptivity-balanced using virtual networks, and routing without constraints using virtual channels and virtual networks are also discussed.
Isolation of mitotic apparatus containing vesicles with calcium sequestration activity

We present the first report of isolate mitotic apparatus with vesicular calcium sequestration. Phase-contrast, differential interference contrast and polarized light microscopy as well as transmission and scanning electron microscopic examinations revealed structures comparable to mitotic apparatus in vivo. Numerous membrane-bound vesicles which retained their osmotic activity were present throughout. Microtubules, yolk, ribosomes and condensed chromatin were also present. The protein composition of mitotic apparatus was not dramatically altered by treatment with 0.5% Triton X-100, even though vesicles were destroyed and yolk was extracted. Calcium sequestration was demonstrated with ATP-dependent accumulation of 45Ca by mitotic apparatus whose vesicles were left intact. Compared with controls for which no nucleotide was added, accumulation by mitotic apparatus with intact vesicles was enhanced to 184% when it was present. When ATP was supplemented with the divalent ionophore A23187, the calcium retention level was comparable to that of the control to which no nucleotide was added. Finally, the calcium accumulation by mitotic apparatus treated with either of the nonhydrolyzable ATP analogs AMPPCP or AMPPNP resulted in calcium retention levels similar to those of controls. The solubilization of vesicles with Triton X-100 abolished calcium accumulation in the presence or absence of any of the above additives. Resolution of vesicles on sucrose step gradients after 45Ca-oxalate loading with ATP or AMPPCP indicates that a specific vesicular fraction sequesters 45Ca.