cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
FIP3-endosome-dependent formation of the secondary ingression mediates ESCRT-III recruitment during cytokinesis

During cytokinesis, the intercellular bridge connecting the mother and daughter cell is thinned by a process called secondary ingression before it is eventually severed in an ESCRT-III-dependent manner. Prekeris and colleagues report that FIP3-positive endosomes deliver p50RhoGAP and SCAMP2/3 proteins to the intercellular bridge, which promote actin depolymerization to decrease the bridge diameter and allow ESCRT-III binding.
Tutorial on content protection

Devising effective Content Protection mechanisms and building satisfactory Digital Rights Management systems have been top priorities for the Publishing and Entertainment Industries in recent years. In this tutorial, we focus on protection tools and standards for entertainment content. We analyze the challenges of content protection systems, ranging from legal aspects and business models to cryptographic techniques. We discuss current technology licensing practices, describe state-of-the-art broadcast encryption mechanisms and forensic approaches, and present content protection standards such as 4C and AACS.
Inverse Method for Estimating the Spatial Variability of Soil Particle Size Distribution from Observed Soil Moisture

Soil particle size distribution (PSD) (i.e., clay, silt, sand, and rock contents) information is one of critical factors for understanding water cycle since it affects almost all of water cycle processes, e.g., drainage, runoff, soil moisture, evaporation, and evapotranspiration. With information about soil PSD, we can estimate almost all soil hydraulic properties (e.g., saturated soil moisture, field capacity, wilting point, residual soil moisture, saturated hydraulic conductivity, pore-size distribution index, and bubbling capillary pressure) based on published empirical relationships. Therefore, a regional or global soil PSD database is essential for studying water cycle regionally or globally. At the present stage, three soil geographic databases are commonly used, i.e., the Soil Survey Geographic database, the State Soil Geographic database, and the National Soil Geographic database. Those soil data are map unit based and associated with great uncertainty. Ground soil surveys are a way to reduce this...
Formation and fate of oxidized mercury in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere

Mercury contamination affects many aquatic ecosystems. Measurements of mercury concentrations in air of stratospheric origin suggest that mercury is oxidized in the stratosphere and subsequently lost to the troposphere, most likely following attachment to stratospheric particles.
CHARACTERISTICS OF TYROSINE PHENOL‐LYASE FROM AEROMONAS PHENOLOGENES ATCC 29063

Tyrosine phenol-lyase catalyzes the conversion of L-tyrosine to phenol, pyruvate, and ammonia. The activation energy for the reaction was calculated to be 13,000 calories per mole. The heavy metal Cu++ was found to result in a mixed type of inhibition (Ki 0.20 mM). The addition of mercaptoethanol was found to reverse the inhibition by Cu++. Competitive inhibition was found with the amino acids L-alanine (Ki18 mM) and L-phenylalanine (Ki 4.4 mM). Phenol, an end product of the tyrosine phenol-lyase reaction, was also found to inhibit enzyme activity (Ki 50 mM). Tyrosine phenol lyase catalyzed the formation of pyruvate from L-tyrosine methyl ester, S-methyl-L-cysteine, and L-serine but at rates lower than with L-tyrosine. Km values for L-tyrosine methyl ester, S-methyl-L-cysteine, and L-serine were found to be 0.37 mM, 0.40 mM, and 1.2 mM, respectively. The reverse reaction by which L-tyrosine is produced from phenol, pyruvate, and ammonia was demonstrated. The pH optimum for the reverse reaction was found to be 9.0 and the Km for phenol 5.0 mM.
More than a conversation: using cogenerative dialogues in the professional development of high school chemistry teachers

This paper focuses on content-based and pedagogical instructors’ use of cogenerative dialogues to improve instructional practice and to evaluate program effectiveness in a professional development program for high school chemistry teachers. We share our research findings from using cogenerative dialogues as an evaluative tool for general assessment of various program-related issues. We discuss how engaging students in cogenerative dialogues improved teaching and learning in chemistry and chemistry education courses. This research provides insights and direction for improving content-based professional development programs for science teachers and the learning experiences of high school science students. Cogenerative dialogue has the potential to expand evaluation methodologies that will position participants more centrally in not only the collection of data, but also the analysis of these data to catalyze transformative practices in educational programs.
Exposure to p,p′-DDE or dieldrin during the reproductive season alters hepatic CYP expression in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)

Largemouth bass (LMB) in Central Florida living on sites with high levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) have exhibited poor reproductive success and altered steroid profiles. The mechanism underlying these changes is unknown, however changes in the rate of steroid metabolism could alter steroid homeostasis. Members of the CYP2 and CYP3A families play a significant role in the metabolism of many xenobiotics and endogenous compounds, including sex steroids. Therefore, the goal of this study was to identify members of the CYP2 and CYP3A families in LMB and characterize the effects of OCP exposure on their expression. Full-length clones of two CYP3A isoforms were obtained from LMB liver, CYP3A68 and 3A69, which exhibited significant sequence divergence. Full-length clones for CYP2N14 and CYP2P11 were also obtained from LMB liver. Steady-state mRNA levels of each of these CYPs increased in both sexes between early reproductive phase (December) and peak reproductive phase (March). Expression of CYP3A68 and CYP2P11 was sexually dimorphic during peak reproductive phase with 2-fold higher expression in females and males, respectively. Foodborne exposure to 46 ppm p,p′-DDE or 0.8 ppm dieldrin for 30 days did not have a significant effect on expression of CYPs. However, 4 months exposure to p,p′-DDE induced CYP3A68 and 3A69 expression in both sexes, while dieldrin produced weak induction of CYP3A68 and suppressed CYP3A69 expression in females, but had no effect on males. Neither p,p′-DDE nor dieldrin significantly altered the expression of CYP2P11 or CYP2N14. This work demonstrates that there are significant changes in CYP expression that occur during LMB reproduction which can be modified by exposure to OCPs.
Moving beyond Colorblindness in Early Childhood Classrooms.

Countering the position that colorblindness is desirable for teachers and children, this article encourages early childhood education teachers to engage in conversations about race and racism with young children. We discuss why the early childhood years are important for interrupting racism and make suggestions for helping children develop tools for addressing it. Annotated examples of children’s drawings about racism from a second grade classroom are shared to demonstrate that young children are not colorblind and that they think about and experience racism in their daily lives. We conclude that it is both an educational and ethical necessity to address racism with young children.
Magnetic diffusion in high-Tc superconductors

Abstract An equation for nonlinear magnetic diffusion is derived for high-temperature (high- T c ) superconductors by using the power law for the electric field/current density relationship in the flux creep regime. Limitation of the Bean's critical-state model in a transient experiment is discussed. Some experimental evidence for magnetic diffusion in high- T c superconductors is provided. Effects of dissipation and heating on magnetic diffusion are discussed.
Effects of acute dilutional hyponatremia on acid-base changes and electrolyte concentrations in rats with bilateral renal pedicle ligation

Objective—To describe the effects of increasing the extracellular fluid (ECF) volume by approximately 20% on acid-base changes and electrolyte concentrations in anesthetized rats. Animals—18 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. Procedures—Rats were assigned to a control group (n = 6 rats) and a treatment group (12). All rats were anesthetized, and instrumentation and bilateral renal pedicle ligation were performed. The treatment group was infused IV with sterile water throughout a 30-minute period. Acid-base variables and concentrations of electrolytes, lactate, albumin, phosphorus, and hemoglobin were measured before (baseline) and 30 and 60 minutes after onset of infusion. Anion gap, strong ion difference, strong ion gap, and contributions of sodium, chloride, albumin, phosphorus, and lactate concentrations to base excess were calculated at each time point. Results—Infusion of sterile water led to an increase in ECF volume of approximately 18%. This had no effect on acid-base balance, compared with that in c...
Lectins as probes of the spermatozoon surface.

Studies involving the use of lectins to probe the spermatozoon surface are reviewed, with particular emphasis on mammalian spermatozoa and their various transformations during maturation, capacitation, and the acrosome reaction. Although the numbers of lectin binding sites on spermatozoa are generally comparable to those of many somatic cells, the distribution of most lectins thus far studied is highly restricted to certain domains of the cell surface. These domains are often related to specific underlying morphological entities such as the acrosome, postacrosomal region, mitochondria associated with the middle piece, and so on. Changes in the patterns of lectin binding have been noted during sperm maturation in the epididymis, during capacitation, and after the acrosome reaction, and, in some instances, these studies contribute to the understanding of mechanisms that may mediate these transformations. This is particularly true of situations where lectin labeling or binding studies have been used in conju...
Residual Monte Carlo high-order solver for Moment-Based Accelerated Thermal Radiative Transfer equations

In this article we explore the possibility of replacing Standard Monte Carlo (SMC) transport sweeps within a Moment-Based Accelerated Thermal Radiative Transfer (TRT) algorithm with a Residual Monte Carlo (RMC) formulation. Previous Moment-Based Accelerated TRT implementations have encountered trouble when stochastic noise from SMC transport sweeps accumulates over several iterations and pollutes the low-order system. With RMC we hope to significantly lower the build-up of statistical error at a much lower cost. First, we display encouraging results for a zero-dimensional test problem. Then, we demonstrate that we can achieve a lower degree of error in two one-dimensional test problems by employing an RMC transport sweep with multiple orders of magnitude fewer particles per sweep. We find that by reformulating the high-order problem, we can compute more accurate solutions at a fraction of the cost.
Transpalatopharyngeal approach to clivus-craniocervical chordomas

The transoral-transpalatopharyngeal approach to the ventral clivus and upper cervical spine is now well established. The primary indication for its use in craniocervical chordomas is an extradural mass from the midclivus down to the level of C3 and laterally for 2 cm to either side of the midline. The procedure may be combined with a lateral rhinotomy, maxillary dropdown procedure, mandibular split with midline glossotomy, and transphenoidal approach. In my experience with 48 patients with craniocervical chordomas (1985 through 2001), this approach was used in 18 patients. It may be used as a primary procedure or as a staged second procedure for radical resection of the lesion. Reconstruction of the intradural resection of tumor is made with a dural closure that is reinforced with fascia, fat, and tissue glue. The integrity is maintained with lumbar subarachnoid drainage.
Lifetime-based photoacoustic probe activation modeled by a dual methylene blue-lysine conjugate

Activatable photoacoustic probes have a promising future due to their ability to provide high-resolution, high-penetration depth information on enzyme activity in vivo. Spectral identification methods, however, suffer from heterogeneous optical properties and wavelength-dependent light attenuation in tissue, thereby limiting the effective suppression of background noise signal. Our approach is predicated on probing the excited-state lifetime of a dual-labeled methylene blue (MB) probe that changes its lifetime from short to long upon cleavage. Recently, we have reported on the ability of our system to probe the long triplet lifetime of free MB monomers in solution and to differentiate between monomers and dimers based on their lifetime contrast. Here we introduce an improvement to our system that significantly increases the system sensitivity to fast changes, and reduces the minimum resolvable lifetime down to a few nanoseconds. We applied this method to probe the excited-state lifetime of a covalently coupled dual methylene blue-lysine conjugate (MB2K) in a mixed MB/MB2K solution. Preliminary results show that a stable dimeric bond is formed between the chromophores within the conjugate, and that this conjugate is statically quenched. Examination of the transient absorption of MB2K reveals it does not exhibit a triplet excited-state lifetime, suggesting that it undergoes a fast deexcitation process directly from the singlet state. Finally, we demonstrate how the transient photoacoustic lifetime signal can be used to selectively detect the presence of MB monomers while improving background noise suppression by differentiating the lifetime of free MB dye with other absorbing structures.
Argumentation and risk communication about genetic testing: Challenges for healthcare consumers and implications for computer systems

As genetic testing for the presence of potentially health-affecting mutations becomes available for more genetic conditions, many people will soon be faced with the decision of whether or not to have a genetic test. Making an informed decision requires an understanding and evaluation of the arguments for and against having the test. As a case in point, this paper considers argumentation involving the decision of whether to have a BRCA gene test, one of the first commercially available genetic tests. First, argumentation in a five-page patient brochure from a for-profit company that provides BRCA gene testing, is analyzed. Next, for comparison, argumentation on BRCA testing in materials for healthcare consumers written by a not-for-profit health plan and a government organization, is analyzed. In view of the challenges identified by considering these examples, this article discusses how argumentation-oriented computer systems may be able to help the healthcare consumer to make informed decisions about genetic testing.
Alkylation and dealkylation of benzene and its homologs in presence of aluminosilicates

1. The catalytic treatment of a mixture of benzene, xylenes, and other polymethylbenzenes in presence of synthetic aluminosilicates is accompanied by dealkylation reactions and alkyl-transfer reactions leading to the formation of toluene in appreciable amount. The extent to which each of these reactions participitates in the process is found to be directly related to the value of the applied pressure. 2. The use of an elevated pressure is of decisive importance for maximum formation of toluene. With increase in pressure the yield of toluene increases, attaining a maximum in the range 10–20 atm. The optimum conditions for the reaction were determined. 3. The predominant reaction resulting in the formation of toluene at elevated pressure is demethylation of xylenes and polymethylbenzenes with simultaneous methylation of benzene. A small part is played in the formation of toluene by the migration of methyl groups of xylenes with formation also of trimethylbenzenes. The readiness with which methyl groups are eliminated tends to increase as their number in the benzene nucleus increases. 4. In the reaction of coupled alkylation and dealkylation in a mixture of benzene and o-xylene, isomeric transformation of o-xylene into the meta and para isomers occurs.
Costimulatory pathways mediate monocyte-dependent lymphocyte apoptosis in HIV.

Abstract Examination of annexin V binding, an indicator of early apoptosis, on lymphocytes from HIV + people immediately after isolation showed that both CD4 + and CD8 + T cells were apoptotic, whereas B cell apoptosis was induced mainly after incubation. CD8 + T cell apoptosis correlated with fewer CD4 + T cells, but not the level of viremia. To determine potential mechanisms for apoptosis, we examined FasL expression, which was dramatically elevated on CD14 + monocytes; however, antibody to FasL did not reproducibly inhibit apoptosis. Rather, CD8 + T cell apoptosis was caused by antigen-presenting cells because removal of monocytes or addition of antibodies to CD80 and CD86 reduced apoptosis. B cell apoptosis also involved costimulatory signals delivered by T cells but not monocytes. A unique CD8 bright CD28 dim T cell population died after costimulation by monocytes. Because this population was increased in patients with undetectable viremia, abnormal antigen-presenting cells may contribute to continued CD8 + T cell exhaustion by inducing apoptosis.
New Developments in Poland's Emigration-The EU Factor

Abstract In this paper, we seek to better understand who the “typical” recent Polish emigrants are, why they have emigrated, and the major implications of the recent wave of emigration for Poland and EU business environment. To do so, we examine the composition of Polish emigrants by gender, education, occupation, region, and country of destination-with a particular focus on permanent emigration. We then identify and assess the impact of the economic conditions and policies most relevant to emigration changes, both on Poland and the EU. The major conclusion of this paper is that while the West European fears of Polishand other East European immigrationare understandable, they are not well supported by economic theories or current Polish labor mobility trends.
Increased gelsolin expression and retarded collagen lattice contraction with smooth muscle cells from Crohn's diseased intestine.

Intestinal smooth muscle cells (SMC) produce the fibrotic tissue, strictures, that characterize Crohn's disease. These SMC change their phenotype from a contractile muscle form to an inflammation-responsive form that migrates and synthesizes a collagen matrix. It is postulated that the inflammatory responsive SMC form associates differently with its surrounding collagen matrix compared to the normal SMC form. SMC derived from Crohn's diseased and uninvolved bowel were sustained in cell culture. Cultured SMC incorporated in collagen lattices have the capacity to reduce the size of that lattice, referred to as lattice contraction. At day 2, Crohn's SMC-populated collagen lattices were reduced to 21% of their initial area, while non-Crohn's SMC collagen lattices were reduced to 8%. Crohn's SMC demonstrate retarded lattice contraction compared to non-Crohn's SMC. When grown in monolayer culture, Crohn's-derived SMC cover 30% more area than non-Crohn's SMC. By Western blot analysis Crohn's SMC express more gelsolin, an actin-binding protein found elevated in cells exhibiting increased cell motility. Was the increased expression of gelsolin related to retarded collagen lattice contraction? Intracellular levels of gelsolin were elevated by the electroporation of plasma gelsolin protein into suspended non-Crohn's SMC. When incorporated in collagen lattices, gelsolin loaded cells showed retarded lattice contraction compared to SMC loaded with albumin. Crohn's SMC show increased expression of gelsolin, which may be associated with a diminished capacity to reorganize collagen fiber bundles. It is suggested that increased concentrations of gelsolin in Crohn's SMC is consistent with enhanced cell migration as a consequence of the inflammatory state of Crohn's diseased intestine. J. Cell. Physiol. 182:303–309, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
3D modeling of branching structures for anatomical instruction

Branching tubular structures are prevalent in many different organic and synthetic settings. From trees and vegetation in nature, to vascular structures throughout human and animal biology, these structures are always candidates for new methods of graphical and visual expression. We present a modeling tool for the creation and interactive modification of these structures. Parameters such as thickness and position of branching structures can be modified, while geometric constraints ensure that the resulting mesh will have an accurate anatomical structure by not having inconsistent geometry. We apply this method to the creation of accurate representations of the different types of retinal cells in the human eye. This method allows a user to quickly produce anatomically accurate structures with low polygon counts that are suitable for rendering at interactive rates on commodity computers and mobile devices. We develop an algorithm for easy construction of 3D branching surfaces.Constraints are defined which provide limits on useful input.Our algorithm is demonstrated constructing nerve cells of the human retina.
Monte Carlo Calculations of Energy Partitioning and Isotope Effects in Reactions of Fluorine Atoms with H2, HD, and D2

A total of 16 000 three‐dimensional classical trajectories on an optimized semiempirical potential energy surface were computed for collisions of F atoms with H2, HD, and D2. Analysis of the reactive trajectories indicates general agreement with results of infrared chemiluminescence and chemical laser studies with respect to the partitioning of the available energy among the translational, rotational, and vibrational degrees of freedom in the reaction products. Of particular interest is the calculated effect of reactant rotation on the reaction cross sections for all the isotropic systems, and on the intramolecular isotope effect in the reaction of F with HD. These phenomena have not as yet been seen experimentally.
Effects of aging and plane strain constraint on the ductility of an aluminum alloy

Abstract Deformation and fracture behavior under uniaxial loading and under plane strain were investigated for Al 2024 alloy in the underaged, peak-aged and overaged conditions. It was found that the plane strain ductility is always lower than the corresponding uniaxial tensile ductility for all the three aging conditions, the maximum plane strain sensitivity being associated with the overaged condition. On the basis of fractographic analysis, it is suggested that this is most probably a consequence of enhanced void initiation, growth and coalescence processes which are promoted by overaging-induced incoherent precipitates and the large hydrostatic tensile component associated with plane strain constraint.
Combined immunocytochemical staining and image analysis for the study of lymphocyte specificity and function in situ

Immunocytochemical staining methods were combined with computer-aided image analysis to quantitate relative intracytoplasmic and cell membrane products within single lymphoid cells. Lymphoid cells fixed to microscope slides were immunocytochemically stained and the densities of immunocytochemical stains for individual lymphoid cells were determined on video-camera-captured microscopic images to quantitate synthesized and fully assembled antibody molecules detected by an anti-idiotypic antibody. Similarly, expression of a lymphoid cell membrane molecule, Ly-1, was comparatively quantitated in individual lymphoid cells. Densitometric analysis of tissue sections was utilized to measure tissue areas and quantitate cell nuclei in tissues. Two-color immunocytochemical staining and sequential image analyzer-determined locations of individual cells in tissues allowed unambiguous identification of doubly stained cells in their native tissue environment. This analysis was applied to the in situ identification of antibody forming cells producing the CRIc idiotype of the BALB/c anti-arsonate response and a determination of the mu chain usage by those individual cells. Applications of combined immunocytochemistry and computerized image analysis to studies of in vivo immunologic functions are discussed.
Embedded Imagers: Detecting, Localizing, and Recognizing Objects and Events in Natural Habitats

Imaging sensors, or “imagers,” embedded in the natural environment enable remote collection of large quantities of data, thus easing the design and deployment of sensing systems in a variety of application domains. Yet, the data collected from such imagers are difficult to interpret due to a variety of “nuisance factors” in the data formation process, such as illumination, vantage point, partial occlusions, etc. These are especially severe in natural environments, where the objects of interest (e.g., plants, animals) have evolved to blend with their habitat, exhibit complex variability in shape and appearance, and perform rapid motions against dynamic backgrounds with rapid illumination changes. We describe three applications that exemplify these problems and the solutions we developed. First, we show how temporal oversampling can simplify the analysis of a slow process such as the avian nesting cycle. Then, we show how to overcome temporal undersampling in order to detect birds at a feeder station. Finally, we show how to exploit temporal consistency to reliably detect pollinators as they visit flowers in the field.
Driver's Speed Reduction Behavior at Highway-Rail Intersections

Speed data as a component of driver behavior were measured at two sites where four-quadrant gates are under consideration. Previous research work assumed a constant speed approach for vehicles approaching and crossing a highway-rail intersection with four-quadrant gates. Video data collection techniques were used to statistically test whether vehicle speeds were constant or reduced on approach. The findings were that drivers do reduce their speed on approach to highway-rail intersections, which requires adjusting four-quadrant-gate timing to avoid vehicle entrapment.
Undocumented and unprotected immigrant women and children in harm's way

The status of undocumented immigrants and current immigration legislative proposals are the subject of heated debate with both political and economic implications often overshadowing the needs of undocumented victims of abuse. This article will focus on the plight of undocumented women and children who are victims of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse perpetrated by their spouse or parent who is a citizen of the United States (by birth or naturalization). We will review the magnitude of this problem, provide a brief history of current legal protections and the potential for the U-Visa as a tool for obtaining citizenship for these victims, note the particular barriers to reporting abuse and seeking help for undocumented battered women, and suggest both nursing practices and broader advocacy to aid on overcoming the significant obstacles to accessing services faced by this vulnerable population. Although men are also victims of similar abuses and circumstance, this article will focus on victimized women and children.
Simulation in Neurosurgery: A Review of Computer-Based Simulation Environments and Their Surgical Applications

BACKGROUND: Computer-based surgical simulators create a no-risk virtual environment where surgeons can develop and refine skills through harmless repetition. These applications may be of particular benefit to neurosurgeons, as the vulnerability of nervous tissue limits the margin for error. The rapid progression of computer-processing capabilities in recent years has led to the development of more sophisticated and realistic neurosurgery simulators. OBJECTIVE: To catalogue the most salient of these advances and characterize our current effort to create a spine surgery simulator. METHODS: An extensive search of the databases Ovid-MEDLINE, PubMed, and Google Scholar was conducted. Search terms included, but were not limited to: neurosurgery combined with simulation, virtual reality, haptics, and 3-dimensional imaging. RESULTS: A survey of the literature reveals that surgical simulators are evolving from platforms used for preoperative planning and anatomic education into programs that aim to simulate essential components of key neurosurgical procedures. This evolution is predicated upon the advancement of 3 main components of simulation: graphics/ volume rendering, model behavior/tissue deformation, and haptic feedback. CONCLUSION: The computational burden created by the integration of these complex components often limits the fluidity of real-time interactive simulators. Although haptic interfaces have become increasingly sophisticated, the production of realistic tactile sensory feedback remains a formidable and costly challenge. The rate of future progress may be contingent upon international collaboration between research groups and the establishment of common simulation platforms. Given current limitations, the most potential for growth lies in the innovative design of models that expand the procedural applications of neurosurgery simulation environments.
Computational study of the conformational structures of saccharides in solution based on J couplings and the "fast sugar structure prediction software".

This article reports on the implementation of J coupling calculations in our recently developed Fast Sugar Structure Prediction Software (FSPS). The FSPS combines a smart and exhaustive algorithm to search through conformational space with the calculation of different experimental nuclear magnetic resonance observables to establish the conformation of saccharides in solution. Using our algorithm in combination with NMR data, we investigate the solution structure of three simple disaccharides (methyl α-sophoroside, methyl α-laminarabioside, and methyl α-cellobioside) and one complex bacterial polysaccharide (Shigella flexneri 5a).
Electroconductance oscillations and quantum interference in ballistic nanostructures.

We report theoretical studies of a quantum-interference phenomenon in ballistic nanometer-size constrictions analogous to the electrostatic Aharonov-Bohm effect. Modulating an applied-potential step [ital V][sub [ital T]] in one of the branches of a multiply connected system allows the observation of conductance oscillations, even in the absence of magnetic fields, as they are produced by quantum interference between voltage-shifted states in the different branches. Electric depopulation of subbands can also be seen at larger [ital V][sub [ital T]]. We show that these aperiodic oscillations are strong for realistic structural parameters, robust against increasing temperature, and compare well with the expected phase changes in a simple single-channel model.
Low temperature acclimation of photosynthetic capacity and leaf morphology in the context of phloem loading type

Carbon export from leaf mesophyll to sugar-transporting phloem occurs via either an apoplastic (across the cell membrane) or symplastic (through plasmodesmatal cell wall openings) pathway. Herbaceous apoplastic loaders generally exhibit an up-regulation of photosynthetic capacity in response to growth at lower temperature. However, acclimation of photosynthesis to temperature by symplastically loading species, whose geographic distribution is particularly strong in tropical and subtropical areas, has not been characterized. Photosynthetic and leaf anatomical acclimation to lower temperature was explored in two symplastic (Verbascum phoeniceum, Cucurbita pepo) and two apoplastic (Helianthus annuus, Spinacia oleracea) loaders, representing summer- and winter-active life histories for each loading type. Regardless of phloem loading type, the two summer-active species, C. pepo and H. annuus, exhibited neither foliar anatomical nor photosynthetic acclimation when grown under low temperature compared to moderate temperature. In contrast, and again irrespective of phloem loading type, the two winter-active mesophytes, V. phoeniceum and S. oleracea, exhibited both a greater number of palisade cell layers (and thus thicker leaves) and significantly higher maximal capacities of photosynthetic electron transport, as well as, in the case of V. phoeniceum, a greater foliar vein density in response to cool temperatures compared to growth at moderate temperature. It is therefore noteworthy that symplastic phloem loading per se does not prevent acclimation of intrinsic photosynthetic capacity to cooler growth temperatures. Given the vagaries of weather and climate, understanding the basis of plant acclimation to, and tolerance of, low temperature is critical to maintaining and increasing plant productivity for food, fuel, and fiber to meet the growing demands of a burgeoning human population.
A book about zero is reviewed

Who discovered zero? The historians and archeologists have been debating about zero. The mathematical conception of zero was present in a spiritual form about 12,000 B.C. in India. The zero is a tr...
Towards Reconfigurable Optical Metamaterials: Colloidal Nanoparticle Self-Assembly and Self-Alignment in Liquid Crystals

We explore the nanoscale colloidal self-assembly and self-alignment in liquid crystals. We use model particles with controlled shapes and sizes, including quantum dots and rods and metal nanoparticles in the form of spheres, rods, and polygonal platelets. To study these composites on the scales ranging from nanometers to millimeters and to motivate their use in metamaterial fabrication, we utilize optical microscopies, freeze-fracture transmission electron microscopy, and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy. We discuss the long-range alignment and assembly of anisotropic nanoparticles imposed by the orientational elasticity of liquid crystals, showing that these composites provide a powerful platform for self-assembly of metamaterials.
Symmetry-based 3-D reconstruction from perspective images

Symmetry is an important geometric cue for 3-D reconstruction from perspective images. In this paper, we introduce a unified theoretical framework for extracting poses and structures of 2-D symmetric patterns in space from calibrated images. The framework uniformly encompasses all three fundamental types of symmetry, i.e., reflective, rotational, and translational, based on a systematic study of the homography groups in image induced by the symmetry groups in space. We claim that if a planar object admits rich enough symmetry, no 3-D geometric information is lost through perspective imaging. Based on two fundamental principles that utilize common spatial relations among symmetric objects, we have developed a prototype system which can automatically extract and segment multiple 2-D symmetric patterns present in a single perspective image. The result of such a segmentation is a hierarchy of new geometric primitives, called symmetry cells and complexes, whose 3-D structures and poses are fully recovered. Finally, we propose a new symmetry-based matching technique, which can effectively establish correspondences among the extracted symmetry cells across multiple images. We demonstrate the application of the proposed algorithms on image segmentation, matching, and 3-D reconstruction with extensive experimental results. The algorithms and systems are more accurate and easier to implement than existing point-or line-based methods.
All in the Family: A Portrait of a Nuclear Receptor Co-Activator Complex

In this issue of Molecular Cell, Yi et al. (2015) use biochemical assays and cryo-EM to determine the molecular architecture of an estrogen receptor (ERα) co-activator complex bound to DNA.
New piezoelectric transducers for internal strain measurement

Abstract The new strain transducers presented in this paper consist of one or more piezoelectric elements, preferably quartz crystals, inside a cylindrical metal housing. The sensors are easily mounted into a small borehole of the desired depth by prestressing them with a nut. This allows longitudinal or transverse strains inside machine structures or tools to be measured. Examples are presented where the measured strain in the sensor is related to an external force or pressure acting on the structure. The sensors can be used at temperatures up to 400 °C.
Negative Heritage: The Place of Conflict in World Heritage

The degree to which the World Heritage List reflects the diversity of heritage types has been a matter of recent discussions. The World Heritage Committee itself has identified geographical and typ...
Children's Perceptions of “Goodness” and “Badness” in Sibling Roles

Perceptions of “goodness” and “badness” in sibling roles were investigated in a cross- sectional study of second-born children aged 5–13 years. The study focused on changes in descriptions of these sibling role concepts as a function of age of child, sex of child, sibling status of child, and age-spacing between siblings. Results indicated that a “good” sibling was perceived in different terms than a “bad” sibling, and these descriptions varied with increasing age. Sex of sibling and degree of age-spacing between siblings produced markedly different perceptions of the role concepts. Results are discussed in relation to the degree of a child's ex perience with an older sibling.
Differential effects of cranial radiation on growth hormone response to arginine and insulin infusion

The growth hormone responses to arginine infusion and to insulin-induced hypoglycemia were studied in 13 patients with neoplastic disease after treatment with radiation and chemotherapy. Patients who received intensive cranial radiation (>2,400 rads) had no response to either arginine or insulin; those who received moderate cranial radiation (≤2,400 rads) had GH response to arginine but not to insulin; patients receiving no cranial radiation responded to both arginine and insulin. These data support the hypothesis that GH secretion in response to arginine infusion has a different mechanism in contrast to the response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia and that the latter is more vulnerable to cranial radiation.
Inhibition of a thrombin anion-binding exosite-2 mutant by the glycosaminoglycan-dependent serpins protein C inhibitor and heparin cofactor II

Antithrombin (ATIII), heparin cofactor II (HCII) and protein C inhibitor (PCI; also named plasminogen activator inhibitor-3) are serine protease inhibitors (serpins) whose thrombin inhibition activity is accelerated in the presence of glycosaminoglycans. We compared the inhibition properties of PCI and HCII to ATIII using R93A/R97A/R101A thrombin, an anion-binding exosite-2 (exosite-2) mutant that has greatly reduced heparin-binding properties. Heparin-enhanced PCI inhibition of R93A/R97A/R101A thrombin was only approximately 2-fold compared to 40-fold enhancement with wild-type recombinant thrombin. Thrombomodulin (TM) (with or without the chondroitin sulfate moiety) accelerated PCI inhibition of both wild-type and R93A/R97A/R101A thrombins. HCII achieved the same maximum activity in the presence of heparin with both wild-type and R93A/R97A/R101A thrombins; however, the optimum heparin concentration was 20 times greater than the reaction with wild-type thrombin, indicative of a decrease in heparin affinity. Dermatan sulfate (DSO4)-catalyzed HCII thrombin inhibition was unchanged in R93A/R97A/R101A thrombin compared to wild-type recombinant thrombin. These results suggest that PCI is similar to ATIII and depends upon ternary complex formation with heparin and these specific thrombin exosite-2 residues to accelerate thrombin inhibition. In contrast, HCII does not require Arg(93), Arg(97) and Arg(101) of thrombin exosite-2 and further supports the hypothesis that HCII uses an allosteric process following glycosaminoglycan binding to inhibit thrombin.
Pacific-North America Plate Tectonics of the Neogene Southwestern United States: An Update

We use updated rotations within the Pacific-Antarctica-Africa-North America plate circuit to calculate Pacific-North America plate reconstructions for times since chron 13 (33 Ma). The direction of motion of the Pacific plate relative to stable North America was fairly steady between chrons 13 and 4, and then changed and moved in a more northerly direction from chron 4 to the present (8 Ma to the present). No Pliocene changes in Pacific-North America plate motion are resolvable in these data, suggesting that Pliocene changes in deformation style along the boundary were not driven by changes in plate motion. However, the chron 4 change in Pacific-North America plate motion appears to correlate very closely to a change in direction of extension documented between the Sierra Nevada and the Colorado Plateau. Our best solution for the displacement with respect to stable North America of a point on the Pacific plate that is now near the Mendocino triple junction is that from 30 to 12 Ma the point was displaced along an azimuth of ∼N60°W at rate of ∼33 mm/yr; from 12 Ma to about 8 Ma the azimuth of displacement was about the same as previously, but the rate was faster (∼52 mm/yr); and since 8 Ma the point was displaced along an azimuth of N37°W at a rate of ∼52 mm/yr. We compare plate-circuit reconstructions of the edge of the Pacific plate to continental deformation reconstructions of North American tectonic elements across the Basin and Range province and elsewhere in order to evaluate the relationship of this deformation to the plate motions. The oceanic displacements correspond remarkably well to the continental reconstructions where deformations of the latter have been quantified along a path across the Colorado Plateau and central California. They also supply strong constraints for the deformation budgets of regions to the north and south, in Cascadia and northern Mexico, respectively. We examine slab-window formation and evolution in a detailed re-analysis of the spreading geometry of the post-Farallon microplates, from 28 to 19 Ma. Development of the slab window seems linked to early Miocene volcanism and deformation in the Mojave Desert, although detailed correlations await clarification of early Miocene reconstructions of the Tehachapi Mountains. We then trace the post-20 Ma motion of the Mendocino slab window edge beneath the Sierran-Great Valley block and find that it drifted steadily north, then stalled just north of Sutter Buttes at ∼4 Ma.
Mechanisms of translational regulation by a human eIF5-mimic protein

The translation factor eIF5 is an important partner of eIF2, directly modulating its function in several critical steps. First, eIF5 binds eIF2/GTP/Met-tRNA(i)(Met) ternary complex (TC), promoting its recruitment to 40S ribosomal subunits. Secondly, its GTPase activating function promotes eIF2 dissociation for ribosomal subunit joining. Finally, eIF5 GDP dissociation inhibition (GDI) activity can antagonize eIF2 reactivation by competing with the eIF2 guanine exchange factor (GEF), eIF2B. The C-terminal domain (CTD) of eIF5, a W2-type HEAT domain, mediates its interaction with eIF2. Here, we characterize a related human protein containing MA3- and W2-type HEAT domains, previously termed BZW2 and renamed here as eIF5-mimic protein 1 (5MP1). Human 5MP1 interacts with eIF2 and eIF3 and inhibits general and gene-specific translation in mammalian systems. We further test whether 5MP1 is a mimic or competitor of the GEF catalytic subunit eIF2Be or eIF5, using yeast as a model. Our results suggest that 5MP1 interacts with yeast eIF2 and promotes TC formation, but inhibits TC binding to the ribosome. Moreover, 5MP1 is not a GEF but a weak GDI for yeast eIF2. We propose that 5MP1 is a partial mimic and competitor of eIF5, interfering with the key steps by which eIF5 regulates eIF2 function.
CASE STUDY: A DISADVANTAGED COMPETITOR IN A DECLINING INDUSTRY; MARKETING STRATEGIES AND NEEDS SEGMENTATION

The disadvantaged competitor in a declining industry is exemplified by the small, private liberal arts college. Thus, marketing successes among such colleges are the exception — and worth examining. The author concludes from an informal study that those who succeed do so by using a “focus” strategy and by employing unusual efforts to involve in the buying process others beyond the conventional purchaser. Examples are offered of how other organizations who market “against the odds” might apply parallel approaches.
Secretion of breast gross cystic disease fluid proteins by T47D breast cancer cells in culture — modulation by steroid hormones

The effect of steroid hormones on modulating the secretion rates of three human breast gross cystic disease fluid proteins (GCDFP-15, GCDFP-24, and GCDFP-44) by T47D breast carcinoma cells in tissue culture was evaluated. Androgens (dihydrotestosterone or fluoxymesterone) were capable of stimulating the secretion rates for all three GCDFP's while showing a minimal trend toward slowing the growth rate of T47D cells. This is the first study which shows that androgens can specifically stimulate all three of the major breast GCDFP's concomitantly. Progesterone, and three synthetic progestins, all showed inhibition of the growth rate of T47D cells while causing enhancement of the secretion of GCDFP-15 and GCDFP-44, and only minimal effect on the secretion rate of GCDFP-24. Estradiol was essentially neutral to the growth rate of the T47D cells in our test system. Estradiol did cause a mild enhancement of GCDFP-44 secretion rate, with no appreciable effect on GCDFP-15 or GCDFP-24 secretion rates. These findings suggest that an androgenic stimulus may be involved in the secretion of GCDFP's associated with breast gross cystic disease.
Considering linguistic input in a bilingual situation: implications for acquisition.

One aspect of linguistic input that may vary in bilingual speech communities is the use of overregularization (e.g., catched). In an earlier study, typically developing bilingual Spanish/English-speaking children were noted to use overregularizations in an elicited production task, accept these forms in a grammaticality judgment task, and reject standard irregular forms (e.g., caught) at surprising rates in favor of the overregularization (P. F. Jacobson, 2002). Purpose This study examined the extent to which bilingual adult speakers reported hearing and using overregularized forms. Method Thirty Spanish/English-speaking adults who worked in settings with bilingual children served as informants. The stimuli included 15 regular and 15 irregular verbs—each as a correct irregular form and as an overregularization (e.g., caught and catched) or as a correct regular form and as an irregularization (e.g., helped and holp). Employing a modified grammaticality judgment task, the informants were instructed to state...