cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Discrimination between Closely Related Cellular Metabolites by the SAM-I Riboswitch.

The SAM-I riboswitch is a cis-acting element of genetic control found in bacterial mRNAs that specifically binds S-adenosylmethionine (SAM). We previously determined the 2.9-A X-ray crystal structure of the effector-binding domain of this RNA element, revealing details of RNA–ligand recognition. To improve this structure, variations were made to the RNA sequence to alter lattice contacts, resulting in a 0.5-A improvement in crystallographic resolution and allowing for a more accurate refinement of the crystallographic model. The basis for SAM specificity was addressed by a structural analysis of the RNA complexed to S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) and sinefungin and by measuring the affinity of SAM and SAH for a series of mutants using isothermal titration calorimetry. These data illustrate the importance of two universally conserved base pairs in the RNA that form electrostatic interactions with the positively charged sulfonium group of SAM, thereby providing a basis for discrimination between SAM and SAH.
A fast convergent rate preserving discontinuous Galerkin framework for rate-independent plasticity problems

Abstract In this paper a finite element framework based on the incomplete interior penalty Galerkin formulation, a non-symmetric discontinuous Galerkin method, is consistently formulated for modeling plasticity problems with small deformation. Because of its pure displacement-based framework, this proposed discontinuous Galerkin method is possibly able to completely preserve numerical integration algorithms efficiently developed in the traditional continuous Galerkin framework. Besides stresses on element interior quadrature points, stresses on element surface quadrature points are also required to return on yielding surfaces in this discontinuous Galerkin framework, which is able to provide more accurate material yielding profiles than the continuous Galerkin framework. The performance of the proposed discontinuous Galerkin framework has been evaluated in detail for J 2 and pressure-dependent plasticities using perfect plasticity, plasticity with hardening, and associative and non-associative material models. Quadratic convergent rates compatible to the tradition continuous Galerkin method for modeling plasticity problems have been achieved within a large penalty range in a nodal-based discontinuous Galerkin implementation.
Introduction to facial flaps.

Nonmelanoma skin cancers are the most common human malignancy. 13,16,19 In the United States, more than 1 million cases of skin cancer were expected to occur in 2000. Racial pigmentary characteristics and cumulative sun exposure are the most important factors in identifying the patient at risk for skin cancer. 1,12,17,24 The face is the most common location for nonmelanoma skin cancer. 23 The dermatologic surgeon treating skin cancer must be proficient in tumor extirpation and surgical reconstruction of a wide variety of facial defects. Many methods may be used to treat skin cancers of the face, including destruction by various techniques, chemotherapy (topical and rarely systemic), photodynamic therapy, radiation therapy, surgical excision, and Mohs' micrographic surgery. Surgical excision perhaps is the most widely used method of skin cancer treatment. When treating skin cancer surgically, the goal is curative, but conservative, surgical resection.
Cis regulatory module discovery in immune cell development

Transcriptional regulatory mechanisms are mediated by a set of transcription factors (TFs), which bind to a specific region (motifs or transcription factor binding sites, TFBS), on the target gene(s) leading to gene expression. Eukaryotic regulatory motifs, referred to as cis regulatory modules (CRMs), tend to co-occur near the regulated gene's transcription start site and provide the building blocks to transcriptional regulatory networks that model the relevant TF-TFBS interactions. Here, we study IL-12 stimulated transcriptional regulators in STAT4 mediated T helper 1 (Th1) cell development by focusing on the identification of TFBS and CRMs using a set of Stat4 ChIP-on-chip target genes. A region containing 2000 bases of Mus musculus sequences with the Stat4 binding site, derived from the ChIP-on-chip data, has been characterized for enrichment of other motifs and, thus CRMs. We find two such motifs, (NF-κB and PPARγ/RXR) being enriched in the Stat4 binding sequences compared to neighboring background sequences and sets of random sequences of equal size. Furthermore, these predicted CRMs were observed to be associated with biologically relevant target genes in the ChIP-on-chip data set by meaningful gene ontology annotations. These analyses will lead to a better understanding of transcriptional regulatory networks in IL-12 stimulated Stat4 mediated Th1 cell differentiation.
Individual differences in cognitive flexibility.

I s it better to be flexible, or persistent? A colleague once said that the secret to success in science is perseveration (no, not mere perseverence—that wouldn’t get you very far at all). Yet we all believe that the highest levels of cognitive function are associated with extreme flexibility—the ability to juggle many things at once and not get hung up on just one. Indeed, this ability to juggle the many demands of being a scientist are seemingly even more important these days than perseverating on one important deep problem. Clearly, these two poles of flexibility and perseverence (aka stability) both have benefits and costs (even in the world beyond the ivory tower), and it would make sense that, at a population level, individuals might be differentially distributed across this spectrum to cover our collective bases (1). Samanez-Larkin et al. (2) provide an important advance in understanding the biological basis for these individual differences, leveraging the powerful technique of dopamine (DA) receptor availability measurements under radioligand positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. This technique is uniquely important for understanding the function of DA (and other neuromodulators) in humans, by virtue of being able to noninvasively assess both DA receptor availability and differences in DA levels, across different brain areas. Interestingly, they found that individual differences in cognitive flexibility were predicted by baseline DA D2/D3 receptor availability in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), parietal cortex, and thalamus, whereas amphetamineinduced DA release in the anterior striatum additionally predicted individual differences (and partially mediated the cortical and thalamic effects). Interpreting these results requires wading into a complex sea of countervailing effects of dopamine and dopamine receptors across the striatum and PFC, as nicely reviewed by Cools and D’Esposito (3). Broadly speaking, consistent with a variety of data, D1 receptors in the PFC are associated with greater stability, whereas D2 receptors promote flexibility. However, the opposite pattern seems to hold in the striatum: D1 receptors promote flexibility, and D2 promotes stability. Furthermore, in the striatum, DA activation of D2 receptors has an overall inhibitory effect, whereas it is excitatory on D1. Putting this all together, we see that Samanez-Larkin et al. (2) bowled a perfect strike: they found D2 baseline availability effects on flexibility in PFC but not in the striatum, whereas they found increased DA levels in the striatum associated with greater flexibility, which would presumably lead to greater D1 receptor activation. If someone ever figures out a way to image D1 receptor availability using PET, then one would predict the opposite pattern, in which flexibility is associated with greater D1 baseline availability effects in striatum and lower levels of D1 availability in the PFC. As emphasized by Cools and D’Esposito (3), these opposing dynamics in PFC versus striatum provide a nice opportunity for the commonly seen U-shaped
Neurophysiological Evidence of Corollary Discharge Function During Vocalization in Psychotic Patients and Their Nonpsychotic First-Degree Relatives

Predictions about sensations resulting from motor acts are instantiated through neural mechanisms such as the corollary discharge. With each action, the corollary discharge provides an unconscious comparison between predicted and actual sensations resulting from the action; closer matches result in greater suppression of sensation. This mechanism is disrupted in schizophrenia (SZ) and may contribute to, or reflect a failure to, distinguish self- from externally generated experiences, a hallmark of psychosis. We asked whether disruption is specific to SZ or is seen in other psychotic illnesses and in first-degree relatives of psychotic patients. Corollary discharge function was assessed in SZ patients (n = 30), schizoaffective (SA) patients (n = 19), bipolar patients with a history of psychosis (BPP; n = 39), nonpsychotic relatives of SZ (n = 30), SA (n = 23), and BPP (n = 50) patients, and healthy controls (n = 43). The N1 component of the event-related potential, reflecting auditory cortical responses to sounds, was elicited by speech sound onset as subjects talked and later when they listened to a recording of those sounds. N1 was suppressed during talking compared to N1 during listening, consistent with the suppressive action of the corollary discharge mechanism. Suppression was significantly reduced in SZ and BPP patients, with a similar trend in the smaller SA group. Patient groups did not differ, and unaffected relatives did not differ from controls or probands. The failure to monitor sensations resulting from self-generated actions, implicating corollary discharge dysfunction, may be a common feature across affective and nonaffective psychosis. Data from unaffected family members do not indicate that this is a marker of psychosis risk.
A “Perversion” of Choice Sex Work Offers Just Enough in Chicago's Urban Ghetto

In an apartment building on Chicago's Southside, fifty of the seventy-five residents are sex workers. Our study uses in-depth interviews and participant observation of Chicago's sex work economy to argue that sex work is one constituent part of an overall low-wage, off-the-books economy of resource exchange among individuals in a bounded geographic setting. To an outsider, the decision to be a sex worker seems irrational; in this article we argue that specific localized conditions invert this decision and render it entirely rational. For the men and women in our study, sex work acts as a short-term solution that "satisfices" the demands of persistent poverty and instability, and it provides a meaningful option in the quest for a job that provides autonomy and personal fulfillment.
Evolutionary insights into the unique electromotility motor of mammalian outer hair cells

Prestin (SLC26A5) is the molecular motor responsible for cochlear amplification by mammalian cochlea outer hair cells and has the unique combined properties of energy-independent motility, voltage sensitivity, and speed of cellular shape change. The ion transporter capability, typical of SLC26A members, was exchanged for electromotility function and is a newly derived feature of the therian cochlea. A putative minimal essential motif for the electromotility motor (meEM) was identified through the amalgamation of comparative genomic, evolution, and structural diversification approaches. Comparisons were done among nonmammalian vertebrates, eutherian mammalian species, and the opossum and platypus. The opossum and platypus SLC26A5 proteins were comparable to the eutherian consensus sequence. Suggested from the point-accepted mutation analysis, the meEM motif spans all the transmembrane segments and represented residues 66–503. Within the eutherian clade, the meEM was highly conserved with a substitution frequency of only 39/7497 (0.5%) residues, compared with 5.7% in SLC26A4 and 12.8% in SLC26A6 genes. Clade-specific substitutions were not observed and there was no sequence correlation with low or high hearing frequency specialists. We were able to identify that within the highly conserved meEM motif two regions, which are unique to all therian species, appear to be the most derived features in the SLC26A5 peptide.
Microspecimen Tensile Tests of A533-B Steel

Miniature tensile specimens of A533-B steel were tested as part of the ASTM Cross-Comparison Exercise on Determination of Material Properties Through the Use of Miniature Mechanical Testing Techniques. The microspecimens are 3 mm long with a test section ∼0.3 mm square. Thin slices were cut from the supplied block of material by wire EDM and the microspecimens were machined from the slices with a benchtop CNC mill. Specimens were cut so that the tensile axes were in three orthogonal directions to investigate the anisotropy of the steel block. A total of 47 microspecimens were pulled in a small test machine with an air bearing to reduce friction in the moving grip. Strain was measured directly on the specimen with a laser-based interferometric technique that used two tiny reflective indentations as gage markers. The entire stress-strain curve was recorded. In addition, five macrospecimens with cross-sections 3.2 mm square were tested in a conventional test machine using foil strain gages. The coefficient of variation (ratio of standard deviation to mean value) of the microspecimen tests is on the order of 5% for both the yield and ultimate stresses. This sample block of A533-B steel is slightly anisotropic with regard to yield stress, but not ultimate stress. The yield stress - on the order of 440 MPa - and the ultimate stress - on the order of 600 MPa - are consistent with other results. The microspecimens showed yield and ultimate stresses approximately 5% lower than those measured on the macrospecimens.
Dopaminergic modulation of early signs of excitotoxicity in visualized rat neostriatal neurons.

Cell swelling induced by activation of excitatory amino acid receptors is presumably the first step in a toxic cascade that may ultimately lead to cell death. Previously we showed that bath application of N-methyl-Daspartate (NMDA) or kainate (KA) produces swelling of neostriatal cells. The present experiments examined modulation of NMDA and KA-induced cell swelling by dopamine (DA) and its receptor agonists. Nomarski optics and infra-red videomicroscopy were utilized to visualize neostriatal medium-sized neurons in thick slices from rat pups (12‐18 postnatal days). Increase in somatic cross-sectional area served as the indicator of swelling induced by bath application of glutamate receptor agonists. NMDA induced cell swelling in a dose-dependent manner. Activation of DA receptors in the absence of NMDA did not produce swelling. DA and the D1 receptor agonist SKF 38393, increased the magnitude of swelling produced by NMDA. This effect was reduced in the presence of the D1 receptor antagonist, SCH 23390. In contrast, activation of D2 receptors by quinpirole decreased the magnitude of NMDA-induced cell swelling. DA slightly attenuated cell swelling induced by activation of KA receptors. Quinpirole produced a significant concentration-dependent reduction in KA-induced swelling while SKF38393 increased KA-induced swelling, but only at a low concentration of KA. Together, these results provide additional support for the hypothesis that the direction of DA modulation depends on the glutamate receptor subtype, as well as the DA receptor subtype activated. One possible consequence of these observations is that endogenous DA may be an important contributing factor in the mechanisms of cell death in Huntington’s disease.
Examining the role of information systems in operational workforce control

Scholars predicted that information systems (IS) could influence the way employees' activities and outcomes are managed. Some forecasted an environment whereby knowledge workers are bifurcated into groups of 'routine technicians' and 'thinkers'. The latter would have more authority, but be fewer in number. These precepts ran counter to prevailing managerial orthodoxy  participative management  and have since been largely overlooked. Consequently, little is known about how IS influences managerial control of employee activities and outcomes. This study explores Ouchi's framework of control modes and game theory to build propositions which describe how IS can influence managerial approaches, given the increased visibility of employee activities and outcomes resulting from IS. Researchers studied a large manufacturing firm experiencing this phenomena before, during, and after the implementation of a new IS system intended to provide improved visibility. Results illuminate how managerial control can change with IS, providing important implications for scholars and practitioners.
Social Indifference Curves and Aggregate Demand

Suppose that the government maximizes a fixed social welfare function through the use of policy instruments. These instruments may be classical lump sum transfers of wealth or such second-best instruments as commodity taxes, income taxes, etc. Then under certain conditions the aggregate demand behavior for this economy will appear as though it were generated by a single representative consumer.
Unexpected physical phenomena indicated by FDTD modeling of the Sigma-60 deep hyperthermia applicator

We investigate the numerical convergence properties of two-dimensional (2-D) and three-dimensional (3-D) finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) models of the BSD-2000 Sigma-60 annular phased array used for deep hyperthermia. The FDTD modeling data indicate unexpected physical phenomena for the case of Sigma-60 excitation of an elliptical tissue phantom embedded in a circular water bolus. These phenomena include: (1) high-Q energy storage; (2) electromagnetic (EM) mode flipping within the water bolus/phantom; and (3) whispering-gallery transmission of energy to the opposite side of the phantom relative to the exciting dipole pair. We conclude that these phenomena substantially impact the FDTD numerical modeling of this system, and further conclude that the whispering-gallery effect can impact clinical applications of the Sigma-60.
Depression symptoms and cognitive control of emotion cues: A functional magnetic resonance imaging study

Few studies have examined associations between depressive symptoms and alterations in neural systems that subserve cognitive control. Cognitive control was assessed with an exogenous cueing task using happy, sad, and neutral facial expressions as cues among women with mild to moderate symptoms of depression and a non-depressed control group while functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) measured brain activity. Amygdala and medial/orbital prefrontal cortex (PFC) response to valid emotion cues did not differ as a function of depression symptoms. However, significant depression group differences were observed when task demands required cognitive control. Participants with elevated depression symptoms showed weaker activation in right and left lateral PFC and parietal regions when shifting attentional focus away from invalid emotion cues. No depression group differences were observed for invalid non-emotional cues. Findings suggest that mild to moderate depression symptoms are associated with altered function in brain regions that mediate cognitive control of emotional information.
Quorum‐sensing autoinducer molecules produced by members of a multispecies biofilm promote horizontal gene transfer to Vibrio cholerae

Vibrio cholerae, the causative agent of cholera and a natural inhabitant of aquatic environments, regulates numerous behaviors using a quorum-sensing (QS) system conserved among many members of the marine genus Vibrio. The Vibrio QS response is mediated by two extracellular autoinducer (AI) molecules: CAI-I, which is produced only by Vibrios, and AI-2, which is produced by many bacteria. In marine biofilms on chitinous surfaces, QS-proficient V. cholerae become naturally competent to take up extracellular DNA. Because the direct role of AIs in this environmental behavior had not been determined, we sought to define the contribution of CAI-1 and AI-2 in controlling transcription of the competence gene, comEA, and in DNA uptake. In this study we demonstrated that comEA transcription and the horizontal acquisition of DNA by V. cholerae are induced in response to purified CAI-1 and AI-2, and also by autoinducers derived from other Vibrios co-cultured with V. cholerae within a mixed-species biofilm. These results suggest that autoinducer communication within a consortium may promote DNA exchange among Vibrios, perhaps contributing to the evolution of these bacterial pathogens.
Replacing the Factor VIII C1 Domain with a Second C2 Domain Reduces Factor VIII Stability and Affinity for Factor IXa

Factor VIII (FVIII) consists of a heavy chain (A1(a1)A2(a2)B domains) and light chain ((a3)A3C1C2 domains). To gain insights into a role of the FVIII C domains, we eliminated the C1 domain by replacing it with the homologous C2 domain. FVIII stability of the mutant (FVIIIC2C2) as measured by thermal decay at 55 °C of FVIII activity was markedly reduced (∼11-fold), whereas the decay rate of FVIIIa due to A2 subunit dissociation was similar to WT FVIIIa. The binding affinity of FVIIIC2C2 for phospholipid membranes as measured by fluorescence resonance energy transfer was modestly lower (∼2.8-fold) than that for WT FVIII. Among several anti-FVIII antibodies tested (anti-C1 (GMA8011), anti-C2 (ESH4 and ESH8), and anti-A3 (2D2) antibody), only ESH4 inhibited membrane binding of both WT FVIII and FVIIIC2C2. FVIIIa cofactor activity measured in the presence of each of the above antibodies was examined by FXa generation assays. The activity of WT FVIIIa was inhibited by both GMA8011 and ESH4, whereas the activity of FVIIIC2C2 was inhibited by both the anti-C2 antibodies, ESH4 and ESH8. Interestingly, factor IXa (FIXa) binding affinity for WT FVIIIa was significantly reduced in the presence of GMA8011 (∼10-fold), whereas the anti-C2 antibodies reduced FIXa binding affinity of FVIIIC2C2 variant (∼4-fold). Together, the reduced stability plus impaired FIXa interaction of FVIIIC2C2 suggest that the C1 domain resides in close proximity to FIXa in the FXase complex and contributes a critical role to FVIII structure and function. Background: FVIII possesses a duplicated C domain designated C1 and C2. Results: Replacing the C1 domain with C2 reduces FVIII stability and the affinity of FVIIIa for FIXa. Conclusion: The C1 domain likely contributes to FIXa binding and forms a stable interface with the A3 domain. Significance: The FVIII C1 domain is critical to FVIII structure and function.
Analysis of far-field patterns of microdisk resonators by the finite-difference time-domain method

The far-field patterns of microdisk resonators are analyzed by using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method and the near-to-far field transformation. A brief summary of FDTD and details of the transformation in the cylindrical coordinate system are presented. Using FDTD, the wavelengths and Q values of the resonant modes are calculated from an impulse excitation. The steady-state field solutions are calculated from sinusoidal sources. The far-field patterns of an ideal microdisk are presented.
Epidemiology of pneumococcal serotype 6A and 6C among invasive and carriage isolates from Alaska, 1986-2009.

We investigated serotype 6A/6C invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) incidence, genetic diversity, and carriage before and after 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) introduction in Alaska. IPD cases (1986–2009) were identified through population-based laboratory surveillance. Isolates were initially serotyped by conventional methods, and 6C isolates were differentiated from 6A by polymerase chain reaction. Among invasive and carriage isolates initially typed as 6A, 35% and 50% were identified as 6C, respectively. IPD rates caused by serotype 6A or 6C among children <5 years did not change from the pre- to post-PCV7 period (P = 0.71 and P = 0.09, respectively). Multilocus sequence typing of IPD isolates revealed 28 sequence types. The proportion of serotype 6A carriage isolates decreased from 7.4% pre-PCV7 to 1.8% (P < 0.001) during 2008–2009; the proportion of serotype 6C carriage isolates increased from 3.0% to 8.4% (P = 0.004) among children <5 years. Continued surveillance is warranted to monitor changes in serotype distribution and prevalence.
B-spline finite elements and their efficiency in solving relativistic mean field equations

A finite element method using B-splines is presented and compared with a conventional finite element method of Lagrangian type. The efficiency of both methods has been investigated at the example of a coupled nonlinear system of Dirac eigenvalue equations and inhomogeneous Klein-Gordon equations which describe a nuclear system in the framework of relativistic mean field theory. Although FEM has been applied with great success in nuclear RMF recently, a well known problem is the appearance of spurious solutions in the spectra of the Dirac equation. The question whether B-splines lead to a reduction of spurious solutions is analyzed. Numerical expenses, precision and behavior of convergence are compared for both methods in view of their use in large scale computation on FEM grids with more dimensions. A B-spline version of the object oriented C++ code for spherical nuclei has been used for this investigation.
Constructible falsity and inexact predicates

In 1949 Nelson [5] proposed a constructive logic in which falsity is conceived in a fashion analogous to that for intuitionistic truth. The predicate calculus N (for strong negation) was characterized by the usual axioms and rules for positive intuitionistic connectives (see Kleene [4, p. 82, la–7 and 9–12]), with the additional axiom schemata for strong negation: A ⊃ (¬A ⊃ B), Nelson's paper showed that N may be interpreted with concepts for constructive truth ( P -realizability) and falsity ( N -realizability). The paper also gave mappings between the intuitionistic and strong negation systems of arithmetic. These mappings are easily adapted to pure predicate calculus. One shows that intuitionistic predicate calculus I is a subsystem of N by reading the intuitionistic negation of A as A ⊃ B & ¬B in N . It is possible to map N into a subsystem of I using the definition of A′ in [5, p. 19] changing only the definition of (¬A)′ for atomic A to A ⊃ B & ¬B.
Costs of care for persons with opioid dependence in commercial integrated health systems.

When used in general medical practices, buprenorphine is an effective treatment for opioid dependence, yet little is known about how use of buprenorphine affects the utilization and cost of health care in commercial health systems. The objective of this retrospective cohort study was to examine how buprenorphine affects patterns of medical care, addiction medicine services, and costs from the health system perspective. Individuals with two or more opioid-dependence diagnoses per year, in two large health systems (System A: n = 1836; System B: n = 4204) over the time span 2007–2008 were included. Propensity scores were used to help adjust for group differences. Patients receiving buprenorphine plus addiction counseling had significantly lower total health care costs than patients with little or no addiction treatment (mean health care costs with buprenorphine treatment = $13,578; vs. mean health care costs with no addiction treatment = $31,055; p < .0001), while those receiving buprenorphine plus addiction counseling and those with addiction counseling only did not differ significantly in total health care costs (mean costs with counseling only: $17,017; p = .5897). In comparison to patients receiving buprenorphine plus counseling, those with little or no addiction treatment had significantly greater use of primary care (p < .001), other medical visits (p = .001), and emergency services (p = .020). Patients with counseling only (compared to patients with buprenorphine plus counseling) used less inpatient detoxification (p < .001), and had significantly more PC visits (p = .001), other medical visits (p = .005), and mental health visits (p = .002). Buprenorphine is a viable alternative to other treatment approaches for opioid dependence in commercial integrated health systems, with total costs of health care similar to abstinence-based counseling. Patients with buprenorphine plus counseling had reduced use of general medical services compared to the alternatives.
Osteoclasts express high levels of pp60c-src in association with intracellular membranes

Deletion of the c-src gene in transgenic mice by homologous recombination leads to osteopetrosis, a skeletal defect characterized by markedly deficient bone resorption (Soriano, P., C. Montgomery, R. Geske, and A. Bradley. 1991. Cell. 64:693-702), demonstrating a critical functional role of pp60c-src in osteoclast activity. Since decreased bone resorption could result from a defect either within the osteoclast or within other cells present in its environment, indirectly affecting osteoclast functions, we determined which cell(s) in bone expressed high levels of pp60c-src Measuring pp60c-src protein and kinase activities in osteoclasts and immunolocalizing pp60c-src in bone, we find that expression of pp60c-src is nearly as high in osteoclasts as in brain and platelets. In contrast, other bone cells contain only very low levels of the protein. In addition, expression of the c-src gene product increases when bone marrow cells are induced to express an osteoclast-like phenotype by 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D3, further suggesting that high expression of pp60c-src is part of the osteoclast phenotype. Three other src-like kinases, c-fyn, c-yes, and c-lyn, are also expressed in osteoclasts at ratios to pp60c-src similar to what is found in platelets. These src-related proteins do not, however, compensate for the absence of pp60c-src in the src- mice, thereby suggesting that pp60c-src may have a specific function in osteoclasts. Although further work is necessary to elucidate what the critical role of pp60c-src in osteoclasts is, our observation that the protein is associated mostly with the membranes of intracellular organelles suggests the possibility that this role might be at least in part related to the targeting or fusion of membrane vesicles.
JOHN LIPSKI, A history of Afro-Hispanic language: Five centuries, five continents

John Lipski, A history of Afro-Hispanic language: Five centuries, five continents. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005. x, 363. Hb. $110.In the most comprehensive volume to date, John Lipski, one of the top scholars on Afro-Hispanic language varieties, traces the history of African–Iberian linguistic contact from its origins with the importation of black African slaves to Portugal and Spain to the present-day situation of these varieties. The book can be divided into two parts: chapters 1–5 contain the introduction and a detailed review of the data, while chapters 6–9 examine how the data bear on the likelihood of the independent formation of a Spanish-based creole in the Caribbean. In chapter 1 Lipski details the first significant African–Iberian contacts, with sections on the different phases of colonization and slavery, tracing the Portuguese expansion in Africa and Asia, the role of the Spanish, the ascent of Dutch and English in the colonization scene, and the slave trade. He focuses on African slavery in South America, noting that there were fewer blacks than whites until the 19th century, when the big plantations came into their own. At this time, we find a disproportionate number of blacks to whites in some areas of the Caribbean and Latin America.
The Relation of Poor Emotional Awareness and Externalizing Behavior Among Children With ADHD

Objective: Children with ADHD often demonstrate poor emotional self-awareness and higher levels of externalizing behavior problems relative to unaffected children. This study examined the relation of deficient emotional self-awareness to externalizing behavior problems in children with ADHD, and the role of emotional reactivity in this relationship. Method: Fifty-one 8- to 12-year-old children with ADHD and their parents completed measures of the children’s emotional and behavioral functioning, as well as a diagnostic structured interview. Results: Logistic regression suggested that more impaired emotional self-awareness was strongly associated with the diagnosis of a comorbid externalizing disorder. Hierarchical regression analyses strongly supported the relation of poor emotional awareness to reactivity-driven externalizing behavior, but not to proactive externalizing behavior. These effects were evident across reporters. Conclusion: This study suggested that poor emotional self-awareness is significant...
Design and progress report for compact cryocooled sapphire oscillator "VCSO"

We report on the development of a compact cryocooled sapphire oscillator "VCSO", designed for operational frequency and timing systems or metrology applications requiring a higher-performance replacement for ultra-stable quartz oscillators. The VCSO matches a new stirling cryocooler requiring only 160 Watts input power with an improved version of the thermo-mechanically compensated silver/sapphire resonator previously developed for the 40K CSO. We describe details of the sapphire resonator electrical and mechanical design, report on analysis of a crossover circuit that, together with an inexpensive 100 MHz quartz clean-up oscillator, reduces bright-line vibration-induced phase noise spikes by 40 dB or more, and report on cryogenic and vibration tests on a candidate cryocooler
Formation of lateral root meristems is a two-stage process.

In both radish and Arabidopsis, lateral root initiation involves a series of rapid divisions in pericycle cells located on the xylem radius of the root. In Arabidopsis, the number of pericycle cells that divide to form a primordium was estimated to be about 11. To determine the stage at which primordia are able to function as root meristems, primordia of different stages were excised and cultured without added hormones. Under these conditions, primordia that consist of 2 cell layers fail to develop while primordia that consist of at least 3–5 cell layers develop as lateral roots. We hypothesize that meristem formation is a two-step process involving an initial period during which a population of rapidly dividing, approximately isodiametric cells that constitutes the primordium is formed, and a subsequent stage during which meristem organization takes place within the primordium.
High-temperature stability of δ′-ZrO

Abstract We investigate phase stability in the Zr–O system from first principles, focusing in particular on the finite temperature stability of the newly discovered δ ′ -ZrO phase. We present a first-principles phase diagram of the Zr–O binary that accounts for both configurational and vibrational excitations. Phonon calculations within the quasi-harmonic approximation predict that δ ′ -ZrO is stable to at least 1500 K. Quasi-harmonic phonon calculations also predict an α- to β -ZrO 2 transition temperature of 1440 K. Stiff Zr–O bonds are responsible for a low vibrational entropy in the δ ′ -ZrO phase compared to competing oxides in the Zr–O binary, resulting in a reduction in its stability relative to ZrO1/2 and ZrO2 with increasing temperature. The calculated thermodynamic properties are relevant to understanding oxidation mechanisms of Zr-based alloys.
Implications of vagrant Southeastern vireos and warblers in California

ABsTRAc.-An unprecedented influx of vagrant vireos and wood-warblers into California occurred in the spring and summer of 1992. The seven species involved (White-eyed Vireo [Vireo griseus], Yellow-throated Vireo [V. flavifrons], Northern Parula [Parula americana], Yellowthroated Warbler [Dendroica dominica], Worm-eating Warbler [Helmitheros vermivorus], Kentucky Warbler [Oporornis formosus], and Hooded Warbler [Wilsonia citrina]) all breed primarily in the southeastern United States, suggesting a common factor for the influx. Furthermore, all seven species have been recorded in California with increasing frequency over the past two decades, suggesting a common trend in the populations of these species. We examined five hypotheses that could explain the increasing number of California records of these species: (1) observer bias, (2) pesticide-caused misorientation, (3) shifts in winter range, (4) anomalous weather conditions (including global warming and El Ninlo-Southern Oscillation), and (5) range expansions into the western United States and/or dramatic population increases in the southeastern United States. We found little or no support for the first three hypotheses. Anomalous weather conditions probably accounted for the magnitude of the 1992 influx, but the final hypothesis is needed to explain the overall trend. Although available data are not sufficient to distinguish between summer distributional shifts and population increases within the "normal" breeding ranges of these species, the possibility of westward range expansion is intriguing. Received 15 March 1996, accepted 25 June 1996.
Reasons behind Failure of Qanats in the 20th Century

Qanats are renewable water supply systems that have sustained human settlement in arid areas such as Iran. By their very nature, Qanats have encouraged sustainable water use for millennia. However, the socio-economic changes in the 20 th century introduced other water harvesting methods such as deep wells whose immediate advantages caused Qanats to be laid aside even though the application of these new methods alone could not contribute to achieving sustainable water resources. By developing the Causal Loop Diagrams of the problem, this study focuses on the interaction dynamics of Qanats and deep wells to explore the physical and socio-economical reasons of Qanats failure in the 20 th century.
A Simulation Model of Drum-Buffer-Rope for Production Planning and Control at a Naval Aviation Depot

This paper describes a SLAM II- FORTRAN simulation model of Drum- buffer-rope (DBR) as a production planning and control methodology at the engine component division of a Naval Aviation Depot. The model represents all of the functional areas of remanufacturing facility (a total of 27 shops) required for the repair/overhaul of an aviation component, as well as DBR for production planning and control. The model allows for experimentation in a variety of areas, including setting buffer sizes, buffer management techniques, input/output control, and capacity management. The model experiments indicate that DBR is an extremely robust method of production planning and control and that DBR leads to better performance to schedule, lower work-in- process inventory and improved use of present resources.
PET Imaging Toward Individualized Management of Urologic and Gynecologic Malignancies

Advances in the understanding of cellular and molecular basis of tumor progression have spurred interest in the development of new targeted agents that are changing the therapeutic management of patients with cancer. In parallel to progression in the therapeutic area, new PET radiopharmaceuticals are being developed to guide the use of such targeted therapies. This article aims to give an overview on the role of PET imaging in the individualized management of patients affected by urologic and gynecologic malignancies, focusing on the most promising targets for therapies and for molecular imaging using PET.
Regional anesthesia, time to hospital discharge, and in-hospital mortality: a propensity score matched analysis.

Background and Objectives The anesthetic technique used during surgery can affect postoperative length of stay and outcomes, even after controlling for other clinically important factors. This study evaluated the impact of regional anesthesia (RA) compared with general anesthesia (GA) on the amount of time between leaving the operating room and hospital discharge and the odds of in-hospital mortality. Methods Surgical patients admitted after surgery, who received RA, were matched to patients who received GA by propensity score in a 1:4 ratio. We measured the association between anesthetic technique and time to hospital discharge using Kaplan-Meier methods. In-hospital mortality was analyzed using a generalized estimating equation logistic regression model. Results A total of 5870 inpatient surgical cases were analyzed; 1174 cases received RA and 4696 cases received GA. The median time to hospital discharge among patients who received RA was 67.6 hours compared with 71.9 hours among patients who received GA (P Conclusions The study data provide evidence that median time to discharge is shorter when RA is used instead of GA, controlling for other clinically important factors. Additionally, RA use during surgery was associated with a decrease in in-hospital mortality. When an appropriate option, RA may facilitate faster hospital discharge and improve patient outcomes.
High Voltage Plume Measurements and Internal Probing of the BHT-1000 Hall Thruster

This paper presents results from experiments performed on the one-kilowatt BHT-1000 Hall thruster. Plume measurements were taken at various discharge voltages to study the effects on plume divergence angle. Current density profiles were determined using a Faraday probe previously developed at MIT. Plume measurements were made at several different radii from the exit plane to ensure testing was done outside of both the near-field jet region and the far-field region that is typically dominated by collisions. Divergence angles were determined at all discharge voltages tested. In addition to plume testing, internal probing of the thruster was performed using a set of axially distributed Langmuir probes placed along the discharge channel. Plasma parameters were determined at various discharge voltages and compared to the full Particle In Cell (PIC) model of the BHT-1000 previously developed. Plume testing results indicated that discharge voltage had no significant effect on plume divergence. However, increased discharge oscillations tended to increase the divergence angle. Internal probing results have shown some agreement with the simulation, particularly at lower discharge voltages.
SafeDrive: An autonomous driver safety application in aware cities

Commercially available wearables and apps that convert mobile devices into data collection hubs can be used to implement smart applications in aware cities. In this paper, we consider wearable devices on various human users as a networked cluster of computing power and information source in an Internet-of-People architecture. Applications can be developed to perform computation on this data and gain group level aggregate inferences and provide feedback. We propose "SafeDrive", an autonomous transportation application, that estimates mental fatigue of a driver using brain sensors, predicts collision probability by fusing car parameters with driver mental state, and issues feedback just in time to avoid accidents. However, significant challenges exist with respect to ensuring safety, accurate context computation and real-time operation, and sustainability, resource efficiency. In this regard, we present the "HumaNet" framework that consists of a middleware installed in mobile devices for developing aware cities applications. HumaNet applies model-based requirements checking approach for off-line analysis and optimization of a given application. Further, it applies context-based requirements checking to decide how to use different types of computation resources to satisfy safety and sustainability requirements in run-time.
The Signaling Phospholipid PIP3 Functions As a Ligand Hormone For Nuclear Receptors

The existence of nuclear, non-membrane pools of signaling phosphoinositides (PIPs) was reported over two decades ago. Consistent with these early reports, lipid-modifying enzymes responsible for ph...
Strategic Thinking on Watermelon and Muskmelon Industrial Development Under the New Situation

Aiming at the current situation of watermelon and muskmelon industry development in China,the major issues existed in the industry itself were systematically analyzed.In addition,around the system construction of production system,processing circulation system,and comprehensive service network,the strategic direction and task of the melon industry development in the future were illuminated.Moreover,the safeguard measures to promote the industry sustainable development from improving the laws and regulations,constructing the innovation mechanism and enhancing the basic infrastructure were presented.
Thermal Inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes in Chicken Gravy.

Heat resistance of Listeria monocytogenes strains V7 and Scott A in chicken gravy and changes in heat resistance during refrigerated storage were studied. After chicken gravy was made, it was cooled to 40°C, inoculated with 105 CFU L. monocytogenes per ml of gravy, and then stored at 7°C for 10 d. Gravy was heated at 50, 55, 60, and 65°C immediately after inoculation and after 1, 3, 5, and 10 d of refrigerated storage. The D values for strains Scott A and V7 in gravy heated at 50°C at day 0 were 119 and 195 min and at day 10 they were 115 and 119 min, respectively, whereas at 65°C comparable values at day 0 were 0.48 and 0.19 min and at day 10 they were 0.014 and 0.007 min. Heat resistance (expressed as D values) was greater at day 0 than at the end of refrigerated storage. The z values ranged from 3.41 to 6.10°C and were highest at the early stages of chill storage and then decreased at the later stages. Strain V7 was more heat resistant than Scott A at 50°C. Strain Scott A always had a higher z value than did strain V7 at the same storage interval. A heat treatment greater than the 4-D process recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture was required to inactivate the large numbers of L. monocytogenes that developed in chicken gravy during refrigerated storage.
The Evolvement of National Identity: A Never-Ending Process

Political socialization of youth can have a significant effect on the formation of national identity. In some homogenous countries, national identity has not been a widely studied phenomenon, while in other cosmopolitan, multi-cultural, and conflicted places, such as Israel, it is a “more common political socialization theme” (Sapiro, 2004, p. 6). It should be noted that national identity is not static and has multiple dimensions and presentations over time. It is the notion of immutable national identity that posits a constant analysis and examination of its construct and processes. In communities where national identity is complicated by socio-political realities, political socialization, top-down model, or trickle-up model, it has a powerful effect on the processes (Muldoon, McLaughlin, & Trew, 2007). McGlynn, Niens, Cairns, and Hewstone (2004) discussed the political socialization approach of integrated schools other than the Catholic- and Protestant-segregated educational structure. This attempt is to forge an alternative national identity, and to reconcile and build a united collective narrative in Northern Ireland. Also, in conflicted regions, national identity has significant implications to individuals and groups, as it is a shield of resistance to the occupier/oppressor whereby individuals have an agency within such constructs (Habashi, 2008). In Palestine, for example, national identity is at the forefront of a collective narrative that challenges Israeli military occupation and is a reflection of Palestinian youth’s ecological interaction, as they form political agency within the local/global political reality. While Palestinian youth may hold allegiance to different political ideologies for liberating Palestine, their political socialization lays the foundation for the formation of national identity as Palestinian. Indeed, there is a dialectic interface between youth political socialization and national identity. It is this interlacing that provides insight, as a 12-year-old female journal participant from a city described national identity as a form of unity of the Palestinian people, “safety and love can be achieved in unity among our people.” This chapter analyzes the formation and nuances of national identity as it is related to political socialization.