cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of centromere function in Saccharomyces cerevisiae using synthetic centromere mutants.

We constructed Saccharomyces cerevisiae centromere DNA mutants by annealing and ligating synthetic oligonucleotides, a novel approach to centromere DNA mutagenesis that allowed us to change only one structural parameter at a time. Using this method, we confirmed that CDE I, II, and III alone are sufficient for centromere function and that A+T-rich sequences in CDE II play important roles in mitosis and meiosis. Analysis of mutants also showed that a bend in the centromere DNA could be important for proper mitotic and meiotic chromosome segregation. In addition we demonstrated that the wild-type orientation of the CDE III sequence, but not the CDE I sequence, is critical for wild-type mitotic segregation. Surprisingly, we found that one mutant centromere affected the segregation of plasmids and chromosomes differently. The implications of these results for centromere function and chromosome structure are discussed.
Open-Label Study of Clarithromycin in Patients with Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease

Objective The macrolide family of antibiotics (erythromycin, clarithromycin, and others), have both antimicrobial and immunomodulatory effects. This study explored the effect of clarithromycin on the clinical course of patients with undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD) in a 12-week open-label study. Methods The diagnosis of UCTD was based on symptoms/signs of connective tissue disease, and the presence of 1 or more positive autoimmune disease tests, but with insufficient criteria to make a definitive diagnosis. Screening and monthly follow-up visits over 12 weeks included the following: history and physical examination; concurrent medications; the 68/66 tender/swollen joint count; visual analog scores 0 to 100 mm for patient and physician global assessment of disease activity, and patient pain; antinuclear antibody panel, rheumatoid factor, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and blood chemistry. Results Seven patients with rheumatic disease were treated with clarithromycin; 6 of 7 had symptomatic relief. Two subjects treated empirically before the decision to perform an open-label study responded favorably. Four of 5 patients who completed the prospective open-label study had mean maximal improvements from baseline of 78, 75, and 79% in patient pain, patient global, and investigator global assessments, respectively. Pain relief occurred as early as 1 week. Drug withdrawal with rechallenge in 2 patients resulted in flare followed by recapture of symptomatic relief. Conclusions Clarithromycin, a macrolide antibiotic, led to clinical improvement in patients with UCTD. Efficacy and safety data support further investigation of macrolide antibiotic use as a primary or adjunctive treatment in various connective tissue diseases.
Detection of total microcystin in fish tissues based on lemieux oxidation, and recovery of 2-methyl-3-methoxy-4-phenylbutanoic acid (MMPB) by solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC/MS).

Microcystins (MCs) are widespread cyanobacterial toxins in freshwater systems, and have been linked to both acute and chronic health effects. A growing number of studies suggest that MC can bioaccumulate in food webs. Although, several methods (i.e. ELISA, LC-MS) have been developed for analysis of MC in water, extraction (for subsequent analysis) of the toxin from biological matrices (i.e. animal tissues) is impeded owing to covalent binding of toxins and active sites of their cellular targets, i.e. protein phosphatases. As an alternative approach, chromatographic methods for analysis of a unique marker, 2-methyl-3-methoxy-4-phenylbutanoic acid (MMPB), the product of the Lemieux oxidation of MCs, have been previously developed, and shown to measure total (bound and unbound) MC. Application, however, has been limited by poor recovery of the analyte. An improved recovery method is proposed – specifically the use of solid-phase microextraction (SPME). The MMPB analogue, 4-phenylbutanoic acid (4PB), and oxid...
Letter by Mehta Oza and Raman Regarding Article, “Ischemic Preconditioning for Prevention of Contrast Medium–Induced Nephropathy: Randomized Pilot RenPro Trial (Renal Protection Trial)”

To the Editor: We read with great interest the work of Er et al1 on the impact of ischemic preconditioning on patients receiving iodinated contrast for invasive angiography. We were struck by the 40% incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in the control group versus 12% in the group randomized to receive ischemic preconditioning. The authors refer to the Mehran risk score2 as justification for the higher rate. Analysis of their data in Table 1 reveals that 44% and …
Beam-phasing multiple-fiber amplifiers using a fiber phase conjugate mirror

Phasing of two-channel cw master oscillator/power amplifier beams using an SBS phase conjugate mirror has been demonstrated. The phasing was achieved for a two-channel master oscillator/power amplifier system, which used a single-frequency Nd:YAG master oscillator, two parallel fiber amplifiers, and a fiber phase conjugate mirror in a double-pass configuration. The successful phasing of two cw amplifier beams with a fiber phase conjugate mirror greatly enhances the prospects for phasing of multiple laser amplifiers without complex servo-loop control systems.
Cultural Health Care or Child Abuse? The Southeast Asian Practice of Cao gio

Although the immigration of Southeast Asians more than doubled over the past 20 years, much misunderstanding still persists regarding traditional, culture-bound health practices used by Vietnamese, Cambodian and Laotian families. The research presented in this paper explains one such traditional practice, that of cao gio. Cao gio, a dermabrasion therapy, is used extensively by many Southeast Asian women to treat a variety of illnesses. Health care providers do not appreciate this practice, however, to the extent that it is claimed to be a form of child abuse in some of the literature reviewed. A better understanding of the practice by those involved in the primary care of Southeast Asian families is not only necessary, but essential to avoid the mislabeling and misinterpretation of cultural, traditional health practices as child abuse. Lack of awareness of Southeast Asian cultural practices is quite significant, even though the United States experienced three major waves of Southeast Asian immigration during the past 20 years (Takeuchi, & Young, 1994). Over the past decade, the number of Southeast Asian immigrants and refugees to the United States has increased 108% or by more than 1 million individuals (Fong, & Mokuau, 1994; Frank-Stromborg, 1991; Ja, & Aoki, 1993; Tran, 1991; U.S. Census Bureau, 1998). Yet, despite this, Southeast Asian individuals are poorly understood, and the literature reveals little about what health, illness and treatment constitute for these different cultures (Boston, 1992; Buchwald, Panwala, & Hooton, 1992). The ethnic groups that comprise Southeast Asians, formerly known as the Indochinese, include individuals from Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos (Catanzaro, & Moser, 1982; Chung, & Kagawa-Singer, 1993). The majority of these individuals are refugees who fled their countries due to political persecution (Toole, & Waldman, 1993). This paper describes the findings of a phenomenological research study completed among 19 Southeast Asian women regarding beliefs about health and health practices. The women discussed the practice of cao gio (phonetically pronounced as gow yaw) and its importance, effectiveness and significance to their cultures. The discussion relates the study findings to the debate and issues surrounding child abuse, the consequences of misreporting, as well as the consequences of cultural ignorance in the provision of health care to those of different cultural practices and beliefs, particularly those of Southeast Asian ethnicity.
Predicting Performance: A Comparison of University Supervisors' Predictions and Teacher Candidates' Scores on a Teaching Performance Assessment.

The implementation of teaching performance assessments has prompted a range of concerns. Some educators question whether these assessments provide information beyond what university supervisors gai...
Polyethylene glycol induced mouse model of retinal degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of irreversible blindness. This study was done to characterize dry AMD-like changes in mouse retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and retina after polyethylene glycol (PEG) treatment. We injected male C57BL/6 mice subretinally with PBS, 0.025, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 mg of PEG-400 and the animals were sacrificed on day 5. Eyes were harvested and processed for histological analysis. In all other experiments 0.5 mg PEG was injected and animals were sacrificed on days 1, 3, 5 or 14. Paraffin, 5 μm and plastic, 1 μm and 80 nm sections were used for further analysis. Subretinal injection of 0.5 mg PEG induced a 32% reduction of outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness, 61% decrease of photoreceptor outer and inner segment length, 49% decrease of nuclear density in the ONL and 31% increase of RPE cell density by day 5 after injection. The maximum level of TUNEL positive nuclei in the ONL (6.8 + 1.99%) was detected at day 5 after PEG injection and co-localized with Casp3act. Histological signs of apoptosis were observed in the ONL by light or electron microscopy. Degeneration of RPE cells was found in PEG injected eyes. Gene expression data identified several genes reported to be involved in human AMD. C3, Cfi, Serping1, Mmp9, Htra1 and Lpl were up-regulated in PEG injected eyes compared to PBS controls. PEG leads to morphological and gene expression changes in RPE and retina consistent with dry AMD. This model will be useful to investigate dry AMD pathogenesis and treatment.
Short term 22Na+ and 42K+ uptake in intact, mid‐vegetative plants

Spergularia marina (L.) Griseb. is. a rapidly growing, annual, coastal halophyte. Because of its small size, it is suitable for isotope studies of ion transport well beyond the seedling stage. The purpose of this report is to establish the similarities and differences between 22Na+ and 42K+ uptake in S. marina and in more commonly used mesophytic crop species. Vegetative plants were used 18 days after transfer to solution culture. Plants were grown either on Na+-free medium or on 0.2 × sea water. 22Na+ uptake was linear with time for several hours. The rate was relatively insensitive to external concentration between 1 and 180 mol Na+ m−3, particularly in Na+-free plants. Transport to the shoot accounted for 40 to 70% of the total uptake, dependent on salinity but largely independent of time. 42K+ uptake decreased with increasing salinity in Na+-free plants and increased in 0.2 × sea water plants. Both uptake and transport to the shoot were non-linear with time, upward concavity suggesting recovery from a manipulative and/or osmotic injury. Steady state root contents were compared with predicted contents based on cortical cell electrical potentials using the Nernst equation. Reasonable agreement was found in all cases except Na+ content of 0.2 × sea water plants, in which active efflux was indicated. Uptake studies conducted in the presence of chemical modifiers (dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, dinitrophenol and fusicoccin) showed responses of 42K+ uptake as expected from studies on agronomic species, and implied the presence of a similar active uptake here despite the appearance of equilibrium. Active Na+ uptake was suggested at low Na+ levels. We conclude that S. marina is a promising experimental system combining the rapid nutrient acquisition strategy of agionomically important annuals with a high degree of salt tolerance.
EFFECTS OF ALTERED SOCIAL STRUCTURE ON ADRENAL WEIGHTS AND MORPHOLOGY IN POPULATIONS OF WOODCHUCKS (MARMOTA MONAX).

Abstract Data from adrenal weights and morphology of adrenals taken from two differentially trapped populations of woodchucks collected by live trapping over a 4-year period are related to changes occurring in the structures of the populations. Although three times as many animals were removed from one area as from the other, the population densities of the two areas remained the same. With removal of animals, the percentage of young increased, and there was considerable movement into the heavily trapped area. Associated with these changes in the age composition of the population was a general decrease in adrenal weight and cortical mass. It is hypothesized that the changes in the age composition of the populations resulted in decreased levels of social pressure. The decreased adrenal weights and cortical masses are believed to indicate lower levels of adrenal secretory activity and are therefore regarded as reflecting changes in levels of social pressure within the populations.
Local IL-4 expression in the lung reduces pulmonary influenza-virus-specific secondary cytotoxic T cell responses.

We studied the effect of lung-specific IL-4 expression on the T cell response during primary and secondary heterologous infection with influenza virus by using transgenic mice that express IL-4 under a lung-specific promoter. Subsequent to primary infection with a type A/H1N1 influenza virus these transgenic mice exhibited similar local recruitment of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells and only slightly decreased virus-specific CTL activity. However, during secondary challenge with a heterologous influenza virus, the local infiltration with virus-specific, MHC class I-restricted CD8(+) T cells was significantly decreased compared to that of nontransgenic littermates. The ability of IL-4 transgenic mice to clear the heterologous infection was delayed but not abrogated. This was associated with a faster virus-neutralizing antibody response in IL-4 transgenic mice and with their ability to mount significant Th1 responses even in the presence of increased local IL-4 expression. Our observations demonstrate a negative regulatory effect of IL-4 on memory Tc1/CD8(+) T cells, but are also consistent with complementary mechanisms important for virus clearance such as virus-neutralizing antibodies. The reduction of memory CTL in the presence of IL-4 might have consequences for understanding the course of influenza infection in situations where T(H)2 immunity is increased.
The drive for meaning in William James' analysis of religious experience

Now that we have looked at the characteristics of mystical experience, we are ready to discuss the assumption made in this paper that mystical experience can be translated into an understanding of “integration” or the drive for meaning which Fingarette pursues in a much more analytic fashion. Reviewing the conversion process as an “integration” process we have seen that for the sick-souled, beset with the meaninglessness or melancholy which paralyzes his will, his own awareness of wrong in his situation prevents him from opening up to larger views of reality. But, as James has described, at the same time as the subject is attending so strongly to his own sense of worthlessness, “all the while the forces of mere organic ripening within him are going on towards their own prefigured result, and his conscious strainings are letting loose subconscious allies behind the scenes, which in their way work toward rearrangements.” Yet the “rearrangements” can only come about by obeying the command of Chaung-Tse: “Cease striving.” The result is self-transformation in “reconciling, unifying states.” There is achieved “a supersensuous meaning to the ordinary outward data of consciousness; facts already objectively before us fall into a new expressiveness and make a new connection with our active life.”
Music Is My Life: Louis Armstrong, Autobiography, and American Jazz

Had Louis Armstrong ended his career in 1930, the greatness of his recordings from the 1920s would have earned him a place as one of the founding fathers of jazz and among the most innovative soloi...
Performance optimization on a supercomputer with cTuning and the PGI compiler

In this paper we show a machine learning based implementation of autotuning, built with the cTuning CC framework. We implemented the PGI compiler in the cTuning CC framework, plugged in a few additional benchmarks and tested it on a Cray XT5m supercomputer. The main contribution of the present paper consists in combining existing autotuning techniques and using them with the PGI production compiler. Although not ready for production workflows yet, our results are encouraging.
Does bevacizumab improve survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer treated with chemotherapy

Does bevacizumab improve survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer treated with chemotherapy?
Perceived Effectiveness of E-Government and its Usage in City Governments: Survey Evidence from Information Technology Directors

This article examines the perceived effectiveness of e-government by Information Technology (IT) directors in local governments in the United States. Most of the existing empirical research has examined the level of adoption of e-government; it does not focus on what is the overall effectiveness of e-government for city governments as this study does. This is accomplished through a survey of IT directors exploring their perceptions of e-government to determine whether this is related to the overall usage of e-government in cities. Websites were the most effective service channel for getting information; the telephone was the most effective service channel for solving a problem; while in person at a government office was most effective service channel for citizensâ€™ to access city services. E-government usage was positively related to managerial effectiveness, having a champion of e-government, and perceived effectiveness of citizen access to online information.
Which Functional Assessments Predict Long-term Wear After Total Hip Arthroplasty?

Background There is a paucity of literature concerning functional assessment at long-term followup of THAs in general and in young patients specifically. Functional data may be useful in determining differences in the performance of various implants and surgical techniques in THA.
A three-dimensional multispectral fluorescence optical tomography imaging system for small animals based on a conical mirror design

We have developed a three dimensional (3D) multispectral fluorescence optical tomography small animal imaging system with an innovative geometry using a truncated conical mirror, allowing simultaneous viewing of the entire surface of the animal by an EMCCD camera. A conical mirror collects photons approximately three times more efficiently than a flat mirror. An x-y mirror scanning system makes it possible to scan a collimated excitation laser beam to any location on the mouse surface. A pattern of structured light incident on the small animal surface is used to extract the surface geometry for reconstruction. A finite element based algorithm is applied to model photon propagation in the turbid media and a preconditioned conjugate gradient (PCG) method is used to solve the large linear system matrix. The reconstruction algorithm and the system feasibility are evaluated by phantom experiments. These experiments show that multispectral measurements improve the spatial resolution of reconstructed images. Finally, an in vivo imaging study of a xenograft tumor in a mouse shows good correlation of the reconstructed image with the location of the fluorescence probe as determined by subsequent optical imaging of cryosections of the mouse.
On the content saturation of the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory scales.

Since the scales in the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory do not have good factorial validity and good discriminant validity, Jackson's (1970) theory of personality scale development would predict that most of the items in each of these scales would have low content saturation. The present study empirically tested this prediction and found strong support for it. Implications of the results were discussed.
The effect of tonicity and hypertonic solutions on microvascular permeability.

Abstract Background. The effect of hypertonic saline (HS) on microvascular permeability is unclear. We hypothesized that varying degrees of tonicity and HS solutions alter microvascular fluid flux across the endothelium. Methods. Hydraulic permeability (Lp) is a measure of water flow across the endothelial barrier. Lp was measured in cannulated rat mesenteric venules using the modified Landis micro-occlusion technique. The effect of tonicity was tested by measuring Lp after successive perfusions with Ringers' solutions of varying sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations (85, 135, 185, and 235 mM) (n = 6). Additional venules were perfused with control Ringers' ([NaCl] = 135 mM) and measures of Lp were obtained after subsequent perfusions with 7% NaCl followed by 7% NaCl with 6% dextran (n = 6). Results. Tonicity had a significant dose-dependent effect on Lp (P Conclusions. We conclude that (1) tonicity influences microvascular permeability, (2) HS increases microvascular permeability, and (3) the addition of dextran to HS greatly attenuates this response. These findings suggest an important role for tonicity and a possible deleterious effect of HS in modulating microvascular permeability as well as the benefit of dextran with HS for maintaining intravascular volume.
Fully Mature but Not Fully Legitimate: A Different Perspective on the State of Entrepreneurship Education*

This article seeks to demonstrate that the field of entrepreneurship/small business can be characterized as fully mature, a view contrasting one proposed by Kuratko. Evidence of the achievement of full maturity and marginal legitimacy is given based on benchmarks in the development of the field. In addition, this article adds additional support to the concept of partial legitimacy on which Katz and Kuratko agree. Building from these analyses, a theoretical life cycle model for the growth of disciplines in general is offered, using entrepreneurship as the example. The major consequence of entrepreneurship's full maturity is identified as the growing centrality of the business-school based discipline of entrepreneurship in relation to the emerging entrepreneurship efforts across campuses, and the implication of this centrality for the discipline of entrepreneurship is discussed.
Kripke & the existential complaint

L'A. propose une nouvelle interpretation de la theorie de S.A. Kirpke, theorie selon laquelle la verite est a la fois contingente et a priori, en refusant le recours a la forme conditionnelle et a la free logic pour repondre a l'objection d'ordre existentiel qui lui est opposee
Neonatal phenobarbital imprinting of hepatic microsomal enzymes in adult rats: Modulation by neonatal testosterone presence☆

Abstract The influence of neonatal androgen status on the ability of neonatally administered phenobarbital (PB) to program increases in adult rat hepatic microsomal enzyme activities was investigated. Male and female rat pups were injected with 30 mg/kg PB or 0.9% saline on Days 1 to 5 postpartum. Males were further divided into either neonatally castrated or sham-operated groups. Females were subdivided into groups receiving either 0.5 mg testosterone propionate or 50 μl corn oil on Days 1, 3, and 5 postpartum. Various hepatic microsomal cytochrome P -450 system and glucuronyltransferase activities were determined at 140 days of age. Our results indicate that PB imprints both males and females. P -450 reductase, ethoxycoumarin O -deethylase, and testosterone glucuronyltransferase activities were increased to a greater degree in females than in males. These same activities were increased by neonatal PB to a greater degree in castrated males compared to sham-operated males and were increased to a lesser degree in neonatally testosterone-treated females compared to female corn oil controls. It therefore appears that neonatal testosterone presence not only alters the patterns of enzyme activity but also diminishes the response of certain activities to PB programming.
Energy storage and utilization in relation to gametogenesis in Argopecten irradians concentricus (Say)

A seasonal cycle of growth and energy storage prior to gonad development followed by utilization of pre-stored reserves for gametogenesis was observed in Argopecten irradians concentricus (Say) collected from the Anclote Estuary near Tarpon Springs, Florida. Somatic growth occurred in spring as adductor muscle, mantle, and digestive gland body components increased in dry weight and protein content. Reserve energy was stored in the digestive gland as lipid and in the adductor muscle, the primary energy storage site, as glycogen and protein. Gametogenesis in summer was associated with an increase in gonad dry weight and lipid and protein contents and took place at the expense of the previously stored energy reserves. Digestive gland lipid utilization was associated with initiation of the oocyte growth phase. Decrease in adductor muscle glycogen content was significantly correlated with increase in oocyte diameter during cytoplasmic growth and vitellogenesis. Adductor muscle protein was utilized to meet maintenance demands during the later gametogenic stages and spawning. After spawning in autumn, energy reserves were depleted, possibly contributing to the high mortality characteristic of post-spawn scallops of this subspecies.
Abstract Art Preferences and Temperament Traits: A Study in the Psychology of Aesthetics

Summary The investigators factor-analyzed abstract art preferences and correlated art factors with traits on the Guilford-Zimmerman Temperament Survey. Factors were derived from preference ratings on the “Abstract Art Test” developed by Knapp and Green in a previous study. Two of the three multiple loading factors were “non-geometric” or expressionistic; one was “geometric,” rationalistic. Only 2 of the 30 correlations with the GZTS scales were significant at the .10 level, and these could have been due to chance. There is support for dichotomizing abstract art types into “geometric” and “non-geometric” but little support for the role of temperament in aesthetic preference.
Oxygen diffusive shunts under conditions of heterogeneous oxygen delivery

Abstract Oxygen transport to a given site of tissue from capillaries closest to this site and from more distant capillaries is analyzed under conditions of heterogeneous flow. The analysis is based on a more general solution of the capillary-tissue oxygen transport problem obtained by the author (Popel, 1978) . The results of calculations indicate that the oxygen tension in a region poorly supplied by the closest capillaries can be significantly increased due to oxygen diffusion from more distant capillaries.
Postcolonialism and Globalization in Education

In this short article, the author explores the complex relationship between globalization and postcolonialism. He argues that the contemporary processes of globalization are often described in ahistorical terms, whereas much of recent literature on postcolonialism is reduced largely to apolitical analyses of literary texts, disconnected from issues of current and shifting configurations of power. The author argues for the need to understand global processes in education historically and suggests that intellectual postcolonial resources of postcolonialism can be most helpful, but only if postcolonialism is viewed as a political intervention.
Methods of training deaf children to comprehend the passive voice.

Four variations of programmed filmstrips were shown to deaf children to improve comprehension of the passive voice. The design included two training strategies that treated the passive voice either...
P3-S3.01 Anal Pap smear screening among drug users living with HIV in Miami, Florida

Background Human papillomavirus (HPV) is associated with anal cancer. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and cocaine use are associated with increased risk for HPV infection and associated diseases, but little is known about anal dysplasia among HIV-infected drug users. The objective of our study was to assess the rate of abnormal anal Pap smears among drug users living with HIV in Miami, Florida. Methods Project HOPE (Hospital is an Opportunity for Prevention and Engagement) is a two-site study conducted in Miami and Atlanta to evaluate the efficacy of a brief prevention intervention for HIV-positive crack cocaine users recruited from two inner-city hospitals during their inpatient stays. At the Miami site, anal Pap smears from women and men (n=46) were collected. Results The study population was 95% Black, the mean age was 47, 63% were female (29/46), 35% heterosexual males (16/46) and 2% men who have sex with men (MSM) (1/46). Approximately half of the participants did not complete high school, 50% were on antiretroviral therapy and 50% had been diagnosed with HIV for more than 14 years. The median CD4 cell count was 198. Overall 69.5% (32/46) of anal Pap smears were abnormal; 69% of women (20/29) and 70.5% of men (12/17) had abnormal Pap smear. Conclusions These preliminary data suggest that abnormal anal Pap smears are common in drug users living with HIV in Miami and highlight the need for further studies on prevention and screening of anal dysplasia and cancer in this population.
Flat plate FCG experimental system for material studies

Magnetic flux compression generators (FCGs) driven by high explosives can produce extremely high magnetic fields that are useful in accelerating metal liners and sample materials to high velocities to study their properties. For material studies requiring extremely high energy and applied pressures, explosive FCGs can far surpass the typical performance of capacitor based systems. Flat plate generators (FPGs) are useful in many flux compression applications. They are well suited for doing material studies in planar geometries, and they enable the use of certain diagnostic techniques, most notably flash X-ray radiography, which would be difficult if not impossible to utilize in coaxial geometries. Typical flat-plate generators have rather slow-rising output currents. This can cause loads to deform significantly before the highest rate of current gain from the generator can be reached. Shearer et al. at LLNL overcame this handicap by developing a version of FPG that used a flat plate armature and contoured stator. A rectangular block of high explosive (HE) is lit by a row of detonators placed across the width of the HE at a select location along the length of the generator. As the HE burns, the armature takes a characteristic shape determined by the line initiation location. At the appropriate time, the armature first contacts the stator near the input end, then continues to expand into a shape resembling the contoured stator. At late time, the armature contacts the stator at a shallow 1 to 2 degree phasing angle, which rapidly sweeps flux into the load, resulting in a fast current rise time. We have constructed a similar type generator for our present experimental work. It is capable of delivering 20 MA of current with a 2 to 4 μs exponential rise time into suitable loads. This paper describes the design of LLNL's flat-plate FCG, along with results of modeling and simulation performed for its development. Experiments have been carried out using the FPG with seed currents ranging from 0.75 to 1.6 MA using capacitor banks, and up to 2 MA using a helical FCG. Accurate measurements of input and output currents have been made and performance agrees remarkably well with MHD simulations. Challenges faced with calibrating diagnostics and fielding these types of experiments will also be discussed.
Fichtner receives 2011 Keiiti Aki Young Scientist Award: Citation

Andreas Fichtner received the 2011 Keiiti Aki Young Scientist Award at the 2011 AGU Fall Meeting, held 5–9 December in San Francisco, Calif. The award recognizes the scientific accomplishments of a young scientist who makes outstanding contributions to the advancement of seismology.
Multilayer real-time video image stabilization

In many camera-based robotics applications, stabilizing video images in real-time is often critical for successful performance. In particular vision-based navigation, localization and tracking tasks cannot be performed reliably when landmarks are blurry, poorly focused or disappear from the camera view due to strong vibrations. Thus a reliable video image stabilization system would be invaluable for these applications. This paper presents a real-time video image stabilization system (VISS) primarily developed for aerial robots. Its unique architecture combines four independent stabilization layers. Layer 1 detects vibrations via an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and performs external counter-movements with a motorized gimbal. Layer 2 damps vibrations by using mechanical devices. The internal optical image stabilization of the camera represents Layer 3, while Layer 4 filters remaining vibrations using software. VISS is low-cost and robust. It has been implemented on a “Photoship One” gimbal, using GUMBOT hardware for processing Sparkfun-IMU data (Layer 1). Lord Mount vibration isolators damp vibrations (Layer 2). Video images of Panasonic's Lumix DMCTZ5 camera are optically stabilized with Panasonic's “Mega O.I.S.” technique (Layer 3) and digitally stabilized with “Deshaker” software (Layer 4). VISS significantly improved the stability of shaky video images in a series of experiments.
Salt Sensitivity, Pulse Pressure, and Death in Normal and Hypertensive Humans

Although factors such as age, blood pressure, and its responsiveness to changes in sodium balance and extracellular fluid volume status (salt sensitivity) are associated with an increased risk of end-organ disease and cardiovascular events in hypertensive subjects, no such relationship with mortality has been demonstrated for salt sensitivity in normotensive subjects. We conducted long-term follow-up of 430 normal and 278 hypertensive subjects in whom assessment of salt sensitivity of blood pressure was performed as long as 27 years ago. We ascertained the status of 596 subjects (85% of the total population), 123 (21%) of whom had died. The following initial measurements were significantly (P 25 years when initially studied were found to have a cumulative mortality similar to that of hypertensive subjects, whereas salt-resistant normotensive subjects had increased survival ( P
MOUSE RETINOID X RECEPTOR CONTAINS A SEPARABLE LIGAND-BINDING AND TRANSACTIVATION DOMAIN IN ITS E REGION

Steroid, thyroid, and retinoid hormones exert their biological functions by interacting with their cognate nuclear receptors. Upon binding receptors, hormones induce a protease-resistant structural change in the receptor ligand-binding domain and subsequently activate the receptors. Utilizing partial proteolysis, we have been able to delineate a region in the mouse retinoid X receptor beta (mRXR beta) required for ligand binding. A separable activation domain within the mRXR beta E region has been identified. The activation domain, which is 21 amino acids in length, is located at the extreme C terminus of mRXR beta. This domain is not required for ligand binding since removal of this sequence neither eliminates the ligand-induced, protease-resistant conformational change nor alters the ligand-enhanced DNA binding. Furthermore, deletion of this activation domain converts the receptor into a transcriptional silencer. Finally, a further truncation of 9 amino acids (for a total of 30 amino acids) from the C terminus results in a mutant which does not undergo the protease-resistant conformational change and cannot bind DNA as a homodimer. Nevertheless, this mutant is still able to form a heterodimer with the thyroid hormone receptor. Therefore, homodimerization and heterodimerization can be distinguished by this nine-amino-acid sequence.
Effects of wave exposure, temperature and epibiont fouling on byssal thread production and growth in the blue mussel, Mytilus edulis, in the Gulf of Maine

Abstract Blue mussels ( Mytilus edulis ) need a strong byssal attachment to remain anchored on wave swept shores. Byssogenesis and mussel growth can be affected by abiotic factors, as well as by biotic interactions. Using short- and long-term field deployments of artificially-fouled mussels in coastal New Hampshire, we determined the effects of wave exposure, temperature and epibiont cover on the number and attachment strength of byssal threads produced and on mussel growth. In a factorial experiment, more byssal threads were produced by epibiont-covered mussels located at sheltered sites during summer. With each additional byssal thread that a mussel produced, its total attachment strength to the substrate increased by 3.8%. Furthermore, attachment strength increased by 6.7% when mussels were artificially fouled and by 17.1% during winter. Mussel growth was higher during summer at high wave exposure sites, presumably due to a seasonal increase in nutrients. Epibiont cover had no influence on mussel growth. Our results indicate that wave exposure, temperature, and epibionts influence byssal thread production, whereas wave exposure and temperature affect mussel growth. This study incorporates several different factors simultaneously in a series of field experiments which affect mussel byssal thread production, growth and survival and have an important implication for their population dynamics.
Current and future applications for membrane processes in the dairy industry

Abstract Technological advances related to the development of new membranes, improvements in process engineering and better understanding of the functionality of milk constituents have extended the range of membrane separation processes to cover the entire compositional spectrum of milk. Advanced membrane processes allow the recovery and purification of valuable milk constituents and have become an integral part of an increasing number of dairy processes. Current applications are aimed at enhancing the manifestation of desired functional properties of milk proteins, fractionating caseins and whey proteins, enhancing the microbial quality of dairy fluids, upgrading the quality of low-quality whey, and standardizing milk. Combinations of membrane processes with traditional milk-processing practices are being used to enhance the quality attributes of various dairy products.
Auxin Biosynthesis and Metabolism

Auxins function at the intersection between environmental and developmental cues and the response pathways that they trigger (Fig. 1). Auxin levels vary dramatically throughout the body and life of the plant, forming gradients that are a central component of its action (4, 5, 14, 20, 34). Accordingly, plants have evolved intricate regulatory networks with considerable redundancy and adaptive plasticity to maintain auxin levels in response to changing environmental and developmental conditions. We refer to this phenomenon as auxin homeostasis; specifically the biosynthesis, inactivation, transport, and inter-conversion pathways that regulate and maintain auxin levels.
Neuroeconomics and adolescent substance abuse: individual differences in neural networks and delay discounting.

Objective Many adolescents with substance use problems show poor response to evidence-based treatments. Treatment outcome has been associated with individual differences in impulsive decision making as reflected by delay discounting (DD) rates (preference for immediate rewards). Adolescents with higher rates of DD were expected to show greater neural activation in brain regions mediating impulsive/habitual behavioral choices and less activation in regions mediating reflective/executive behavioral choices. Method Thirty adolescents being treated for substance abuse completed a DD task optimized to balance choices of immediate versus delayed rewards, and a control condition accounted for activation during magnitude valuation. A group independent component analysis on functional magnetic resonance imaging time courses identified neural networks engaged during DD. Network activity was correlated with individual differences in discounting rate. Results Higher discounting rates were associated with diminished engagement of an executive attention control network involving the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, inferior parietal cortex, cingulate cortex, and precuneus. Higher discounting rates also were associated with less deactivation in a "bottom-up" reward valuation network involving the amygdala, hippocampus, insula, and ventromedial prefrontal cortex. These 2 networks were significantly negatively correlated. Conclusions Results support relations between competing executive and reward valuation neural networks and temporal decision making, an important, potentially modifiable risk factor relevant for the prevention and treatment of adolescent substance abuse. Clinical trial registration information—The Neuroeconomics of Behavioral Therapies for Adolescent Substance Abuse, http://clinicaltrials.gov/, NCT01093898.
Incorporating decision-theoretic planning in a robot architecture

Abstract The goal of robotics research is to design a robot to fulfill a variety of tasks in the real world. Inherent in the real world is a high degree of uncertainty about the robot’s behavior and about the world. We introduce a robot task architecture, DTRC, that generates plans with actions that incorporate costs and uncertain effects, and states that yield rewards. The use of a decision-theoretic planner in a robot task architecture is demonstrated on the mobile robot domain of miniature golf. The miniature golf domain shows the application of decision-theoretic planning in an inherently uncertain domain, and demonstrates that by using decision-theoretic planning as the reasoning method in a robot task architecture, accommodation for uncertain information plays a direct role in the reasoning process.
Apollo 12 spinels as petrogenetic indicators

Texturally, the two hundred basic igneous rock fragments we have examined from soil samples 12001, 12032, 12033, 12037 and 12070 fall in a smoothly continuous sequence from vitrophyres through variolitic and subophitic basalts to coarse equigranular gabbros exhibiting cumulate texture. Spinel compositional data from a variety of these fragments, and from four NASA Apollo 12 crystalline rocks are consistent with the textural suggestion that most of this variety has resulted from differentiation that followed extrusion onto the lunar surface. As in earlier studies, spinels from all rock types indicate a complete solid solution between aluminous chromite and ulvospinel. Early crystallizing spinels are Mg and Cr rich, and are often enclosed wholly or in part by olivine and pigeonite phenocrysts. Ulvospinel occurs as overgrowths over chromite, and as discrete anhedral interstitial grains. On plots of Ti/(Cr + Al + 2Ti) vs. Fe/(Fe + Mn + Mg), spinels from the finer grained basalts fall on nearly identical curves formed essentially of two straight line segments with strongly different slope. Compositional variation in early chromites is largely in Fe/Mg reflecting the change in the melt's composition caused by the early crystallization of olivine and pigeonite. Later spinels show variation dominated by the substitution of Ti + (Mg, Fe) for 2 (Cr + Al). Spinels in the coarse gabbros fall on straight lines parallel to, and generally more Mg-rich than the portions of the curves for the fine grained basalts where Ti/Cr is the dominant variation. The results are consistent with the idea that the coarse cumulate gabbros have formed by early crystallization from a flow whose surface, and near-surface layers are represented by the vitrophyres and fine grained basalts, respectively.
An improved protein decoy set for testing energy functions for protein structure prediction.

We have improved the original Rosetta centroid/backbone decoy set by increasing the number of proteins and frequency of near native models and by building on sidechains and minimizing clashes. The new set consists of 1,400 model structures for 78 different and diverse protein targets and provides a challenging set for the testing and evaluation of scoring functions. We evaluated the extent to which a variety of all-atom energy functions could identify the native and close-to-native structures in the new decoy sets. Of various implicit solvent models, we found that a solvent-accessible surface area-based solvation provided the best enrichment and discrimination of close-to-native decoys. The combination of this solvation treatment with Lennard Jones terms and the original Rosetta energy provided better enrichment and discrimination than any of the individual terms. The results also highlight the differences in accuracy of NMR and X-ray crystal structures: a large energy gap was observed between native and non-native conformations for X-ray structures but not for NMR structures.
Decreasing delay times in a wine export process

The international wine industry has grown rapidly in recent years, particularly in the area surrounding Mendoza, Argentina. Alta Vista, a winery near the city of Mendoza, produces two million bottles of wine annually, approximately half of which are exported to be sold internationally. The export process is complex; initiating a sale, evaluating inventory, designing and producing appropriate labels, applying the labels, packing the wine into a container, and shipping the wine through multiple ports to every corner of the world. Due to the large number of stakeholders involved and the importance of a timely delivery, wineries, such as Alta Vista, must work diligently to avoid delays within this process. The focus of this work is to identify the stages of the export process which cause the greatest delays for Alta Vista and to recommend procedures to minimize similar delays in the future. Peaks in demand and bottlenecks in the export order process were identified using graphical techniques, time series analysis, domain knowledge, and supplied data. One of the most significant causes of delay was during the label customization stage. Labels are customized for each order based on the language, type of bottle used, distributor, and changing government regulations; hence, a unique label must be designed, approved, and printed for each order being processed. Recommendations include operational and administrative improvements were made to Alta Vista to maximize the efficiency of their export process.
The WWOX Tumor Suppressor Is Essential for Postnatal Survival and Normal Bone Metabolism

The WW domain-containing oxidoreductase (WWOX) gene encodes a tumor suppressor. We have previously shown that targeted ablation of the Wwox gene in mouse increases the incidence of spontaneous and chemically induced tumors. To investigate WWOX function in vivo, we examined Wwox-deficient (Wwox-/-) mice for phenotypical abnormalities. Wwox-/- mice are significantly reduced in size, die at the age of 2-3 weeks, and suffer a metabolic disorder that affects the skeleton. Wwox-/- mice exhibit a delay in bone formation from a cell autonomous defect in differentiation beginning at the mineralization stage shown in calvarial osteoblasts ex vivo and supported by significantly decreased bone formation parameters in Wwox-/- mice by microcomputed tomography analyses. Wwox-/- mice develop metabolic bone disease, as a consequence of reduced serum calcium, hypoproteinuria, and hypoglycemia leading to increased osteoclast activity and bone resorption. Interestingly, we find WWOX physically associates with RUNX2, the principal transcriptional regulator of osteoblast differentiation, and on osteocalcin chromatin. We show WWOX functionally suppresses RUNX2 transactivation ability in osteoblasts. In breast cancer MDA-MB-242 cells that lack endogenous WWOX protein, restoration of WWOX expression inhibited Runx2 and RUNX2 target genes related to metastasis. Affymetrix mRNA profiling revealed common gene targets in multiple tissues. In Wwox-/- mice, genes related to nucleosome assembly and cell growth genes were down-regulated, and negative regulators of skeletal metabolism exhibited increased expression. Our results demonstrate an essential requirement for the WWOX tumor suppressor in postnatal survival, growth, and metabolism and suggest a central role for WWOX in regulation of bone tissue formation.