cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An approach to the site-selective diversification of apoptolidin A with peptide-based catalysts

We report the application of peptide-based catalysts to the site-selective modification of apoptolidin A (1), an agent that displays remarkable selectivity for inducing apoptosis in E1A-transformed cell lines. Key to the approach was the development of an assay suitable for the screening of dozens of catalysts in parallel reactions that could be conducted using only microgram quantities of the starting material. Employing this assay, catalysts (e.g., 11 and ent-11) were identified that afforded unique product distributions, distinct from the product mixtures produced when a simple catalyst (N,N-dimethyl-4-aminopyridine (10)) was employed. Preparative reactions were then carried out with the preferred catalysts so that unique, homogeneous apoptolidin analogues could be isolated and characterized. From these studies, three new apoptolidin analogues were obtained (12-14), each differing from the other in either the location of acyl group substituents or the number of acetate groups appended to the natural product scaffold. Biological evaluation of the new apoptolidin analogues was then conducted using growth inhibition assays based on the H292 human lung carcinoma cell line. The new analogues exhibited activities comparable to apoptolidin A.
Some direct tests of concept identification models

Models of concept identification which are derived from assumptions about the underlying cognitive process can be tested directly by means of noncontingent reinforcement sequences and constraints on the set of stimuli. Some examples of such direct tests are presented in this paper.
The Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Transfer Infrastructure

The Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) has been active for approximately 15 years as of this writing. SDSS continues to produce large amounts of data, effectively daily. SDSS needs an effective system for data transfer and management that can operate essentially free of human intervention. In 2008, with the commencement of the third phase of SDSS, SDSS-III, new needs and opportunities motivated a fresh look at the data transfer infrastructure. We have constructed and are releasing a Python package, transfer, that contains all the automation needed for daily data transfer operations. This package has been tested and used successfully for several years. Significant portions of this code will continue to be used as SDSS transitions to its fourth phase, SDSS-IV.
Unventilated indoor coal-fired stoves in Guizhou province, China: reduction of arsenic exposure through behavior changes resulting from mitigation and health education in populations with arsenicosis.

We the report results of a coordinated mitigation effort aimed at reducing arsenic (As) exposure in three counties of Guizhou province, China. Mitigation occurred in 2005 and encompassed 21 villages with 47,000 inhabitants, who were exposed to high levels of As in their diet through consumption of As-contaminated chili peppers and corn dried over unventilated stoves that burned coal containing high levels of As. The coal was mined by villagers from local pits. Inhalation of air that contained high levels of As contributed to approximately 25% of the daily As intake of 6–9 mg. Before mitigation, a baseline survey of 45,364 residents in 2004 identified more than 2,800 individuals with arsenicosis. The survey also found that many residents were aware of the health effects of As in general but lacked in-depth understanding of the link between coal use and arsenicosis. Consequently, an overwhelming majority (> 95%) continued to use high-As coal. This survey provided the basis for a health education campaign that promoted lifestyle changes coupled with the shutting down of local coal pits and the installation of 10,000 new stoves with chimneys for ventilation. The cost of the mitigation was about 4 million Yuan RMB (US$500,000) and was financed mostly by the government. A postmitigation response survey in 2005 found that > 85% of the residents now associate the use of coal with arsenicosis; > 90% correctly learned to operate the new ventilated stoves; and > 90% dry corn and chili peppers outdoors in the sun. Urinary As concentrations in the region decreased from 0.198 ± 0.300 mg/L (n = 144) in 2004 to 0.049 ± 0.009 mg/L (n = 50) in 2005 in individuals with arsenicosis (p < 0.01), which is consistent with the behavior changes.
Rosiglitazone Abrogates Bleomycin-Induced Scleroderma and Blocks Profibrotic Responses Through Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-γ

The nuclear hormone receptor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ, originally identified as a key mediator of adipogenesis, is expressed widely and implicated in diverse biological responses. Both natural and synthetic agonists of PPAR-γ abrogated the stimulation of collagen synthesis and myofibroblast differentiation induced by transforming growth factor (TGF)-β in vitro. To characterize the role of PPAR-γ in the fibrotic process in vivo, the synthetic agonist rosiglitazone was used in a mouse model of scleroderma. Rosiglitazone attenuated bleomycin-induced skin inflammation and dermal fibrosis as well as subcutaneous lipoatrophy and counteracted the up-regulation of collagen gene expression and myofibroblast accumulation in the lesioned skin. Rosiglitazone treatment reduced the induction of the early-immediate transcription factor Egr-1 in situ without also blocking the activation of Smad2/3. In both explanted fibroblasts and skin organ cultures, rosiglitazone prevented the stimulation of collagen gene transcription and cell migration elicited by TGF-β. Rosiglitazone-driven adipogenic differentiation of both fibroblasts and preadipocytes was abrogated in the presence of TGF-β; this effect was accompanied by the concomitant down-regulation of cellular PPAR-γ mRNA expression. Collectively, these results indicate that rosiglitazone treatment attenuates inflammation, dermal fibrosis, and subcutaneous lipoatrophy via PPAR-γ in a mouse model of scleroderma and suggest that pharmacological PPAR-γ ligands, widely used as insulin sensitizers in the treatment of type-2 diabetes mellitus, may be potential therapies for scleroderma.
Photoperiodism in Ostrinia nubilalis: a new protocol for the analysis of the role of the circadian system.

A 12-hr dark period, at a temperature high enough to permit time measurement to occur, is necessary for maximal induction of larval diapause in the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis. In the present study, induction of diapause only occurred in a periodic environment. This was in the form of certain (1) light-dark (LD) cycles at a constant temperature; (2) thermo periods in constant darkness (DD), but not constant illumination (LL); and (3) LD cycles with concurrent thermoperiods. A light-break experiment protocol, in which the pulses systematically scan the cold and warm phases of a thermoperiod in DD, is discussed as a way of helping clarify how seasonal time measurement is effected in Ostrinia.
TRINITY: A Practical Transmitter Cooperation Framework to Handle Heterogeneous User Profiles in Wireless Networks

To handle increased capacity demands, sophisticated MIMO-based transmission strategies, based on transmitter cooperation, have emerged. However, different types of users' channels (e.g., static vs mobile, stable vs dynamic channels) that make up today's enterprises, require different MIMO transmission strategies. With the wrong strategy, a user could even see a degradation in performance. Our overarching goal is to design and implement a framework, TRINITY, that can simultaneously cater to a heterogeneous mix of users, by intelligently combining a plurality of MIMO transmission strategies wherein the transmitters at different nodes can cooperate to deliver significant performance gains. Three key challenges that we address in building TRINITY are: (i) how to categorize users into channel profiles such that a single transmission strategy caters to the users of a profile, (ii) how to combine strategies to communicate with users of different profiles simultaneously, and (iii) what is the granularity of transmitter cooperation needed to balance efficiency with complexity. We implement and evaluate TRINITY on our WARP radio testbed. Our extensive experiments show that TRINITY's intelligent combining of transmission strategies improves the total network rate by 50%-150%, satisfies the QoS requirements of thrice as many users, and improves PSNR for video traffic by 10 dB compared to individual transmission strategies.
In vivo strain in the humerus of pigeons (Columba livia) during flight

Longitudinal and principal strain recordings were made in vivo at three sites (dorsal, anterior, and ventral) on the humeral midshaft of pigeons executing five modes of free flight: Take-off, level flight, landing, vertical ascent, and near-vertical descent. Strains were also recorded while the birds flew carrying weights that were 33%, 50%, or 100% of their body weight. The relative distribution of strain measured at the three surface midshaft sites and across the bone's cortex was found to be similar for all flight modes. Principal strains recorded in the dorsal and ventral humerus indicated considerable torsion produced by aerodynamic loading of the wing surface posterior to the bone. Measured torsional shear strains (maximum: 2,700–4,150 μ e during level flight) were 1.5 times greater than longitudinal strains. In addition to torsion, the humerus is also subjected to significant dorsoventral bending owing to lift forces acting on the wing during the downstroke. Analysis of the cross-sectional distribution of longitudinal strains at the humeral midshaft cortex shows that the orientation of bending shifts in a regular manner during the downstroke, indicating that the wing generates progressively more thurst (vs. lift) later in the downstroke. This shift is less during take-off and vertical ascent when greater lift is required. Peak principal and longitudinal strains increased by an average of only 50% from landing to vertical ascending flight and take-off (e.g., dorsal humerus: −1,503 to −2,329 μ e) and did not exceed −2,600 μ epsiv; at any site, even when the birds flew carrying twice their body weight. Strains recorded when birds flew at two times their body weight (100% BW load) were similar in magnitude to those recorded during vertical ascent and take-off and likely represent those developed during maximal performance. Strains developed within the midshaft were maximal in the anterodorsal and posteroventral cortices, not at the dorsal, ventral, and anterior sites at which strain was recorded. Consequently, maximum strains experienced by the bone are probably 20–25% greater than those recorded (ca. 3,200 μ e), indicating a safety factor of about 3.5 for compressive strain failure. The much higher shear strains, however, indicate a lower safety factor (1.9), in which the bone's torsional strength is its most critical design feature. Finally, the magnitude and distribution of strains developed in the humerus of pigeons are generally similar to those recorded in the humerus of large fruit-eating bats during flight. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Light Scattering from Deterministic and Random Media with Semi-Soft Boundaries

A three-dimensional multi-Gaussian function is adopted for modeling of a spherically-symmetric scatterer with semi-soft boundary, i.e. such that has continuous and adjustable drop in the index of refraction.
Harmonic wavelet packet transform for on-line system health diagnosis

This paper presents a new approach to on-line health diagnosis of mechanical systems, based on the wavelet packet transform. Specifically, signals acquired from vibration sensors are decomposed into sub-bands by means of the discrete harmonic wavelet packet transform (DHWPT). Based on the Fisher linear discriminant criterion, features in the selected sub-bands are then used as inputs to three classifiers ( Nearest Neighbor rule-based and two Neural Network -based), for system health condition assessment. Experimental results have confirmed that, comparing to the conventional approach where statistical parameters from raw signals are used, the presented approach enabled higher signal-to-noise ratio for more effective and intelligent use of the sensory information, thus leading to more accurate system health diagnosis.
Effects of extraocular muscle surgery on 15 patients with oculo-cutaneous albinism (OCA) and infantile nystagmus syndrome (INS).

Purpose The purpose of this report is to characterize the clinical and electrophysiological effects of extraocular muscle surgery in 15 patients with oculo-cutaneous albinism (OCA) and infantile nystagmus syndrome (INS). Our hypothesis is that surgery on the extraocular muscles of patients with OCA and INS changes their nystagmus and their visual function. Design Interventional, prospective, cohort, noncomparative case series. Methods All 15 patients had surgery on all four virgin horizontal recti; three for strabismus alone, three for nystagmus alone, five for an eccentric gaze null zone alone, and four for an eccentric gaze null zone plus strabismus. All patients have been followed for at least six months. All 15 patients had the subjective outcome measure of pre- and postoperative binocular best optically corrected acuity (BBOCA). Objective outcome measures included anomalous head posture (AHP) in nine patients, eye movement recording measures of expanded nystagmus acuity function (NAFX) in 10 patients, null zone position (NUZP) and null zone width (NUZW) in 10 patients, and foveation time (FOV) in nine patients. Results The results are summarized as follows; BBOCA increased 0.1 LogMar or greater in 14 of 15 patients. In those operated on for an AHP with or without associated strabismus the AHP improved significantly ( P P Conclusions This report adds to the evidence that surgery on the extraocular muscles in patients with INS has independent neurologic and visual results.
Intensity dynamics in a waveguide array laser

The intensity dynamics of a ve-emitter laser array subject to a linearly decreasing injection current are examined numerically. We have matched the results of the numerical model to an experi- mental AlGaAs quantum-dot array laser and have achieved the same robust oscillatory power output with a nearly phase shift between emitters that was observed in experiments. Due to the linearly decreas- ing injection current, the output power of the waveg- uide decreases as a function of waveguide number. For injection currents ranging from 380 to 500 mA, the oscillatory behavior persists with only a slight change in phase dierence. However, the fundamental fre- quency of oscillation increases with injection current, and higher harmonics as well as some ve-element array operating in the oscillatory regime with an uneven injection current. The application of Winful's model to such a device produces results which are consistent with experimental results from an AlGaAs quantum-dot array operating in the same regime. Of particular interest is the frequency of oscillation, as a potential uses of this sort of array is as an all-optical GHz oscillator for pho- tonic integrated circuits. The model of the array dynamics involves the coupling of the optical eld to the carrier density dynamics. This model is derived from a simplication of Maxwell's wave equation where a TE mode, the slowly varying envelope
Incorporation and use of modified nucleotides in aqueous DNA computing

The concept of aqueous computing involves the use of large numbers of initially identical molecules to serve as memory registers in a fluid environment. Here, we test a new approach to aqueous computing where modified nucleotides are used to "write" on double-stranded DNA molecules to establish the logical values of true or false for a set of clauses. We introduce an implementation scenario where binding proteins specific to each modification can be used to selectively isolate DNA fragments with these modified nucleotides. In addition, we present initial results showing successful incorporation and detection of modifications. We have successfully labeled DNA fragments with four modifications, specifically Alexa Fluor-488, BODIPY-FL, biotin, and digoxigenin using polymerase chain reaction. The first two produce fluorescent molecules that can be distinguished by their color. We have confirmed that binding proteins or antibodies to these four modifications are specific and do not detect the other modifications. We have also successfully separated the DNAs labeled with Alexa Fluor and biotin using binding proteins. We present attempts at rebinding these modified molecules to a second binding protein; the equivalent of applying more than one clause to a set of values. We have found some challenges with this approach that likely can be resolved with further work. As there are millions of molecules with corresponding binding proteins, this approach has the potential to yield unlimited computing power as compared with other aqueous computing methods.
Automated Web Service Composition Using Genetic Programming

Automated web service composition can largely reduce human efforts in business integration. We present an approach to fully automate web service composition without workflow or knowing the semantic meaning of atomic web service. The experiment results show that the accuracy of our composition method using Genetic Programming (GP), in terms of the number of times an expected composition that can be derived versus the total number of runs, can be over 90%. Based on the traditional GP used in web service composition, our algorithm achieved improvements in three aspects: 1. We do black-box testing on each individual in each population. The success rate of tests is taken into account by the fitness function of GP so that the convergence rate can be faster; 2. We comply with services knowledge rules such as service dependency graph (SDG) when generating individual web service compositions in each population to improve the convergence process and population quality; 3. We choose cross-over or mutation operation based on the parent individuals' input and output analysis instead of by probability as typically done in related work. In this way, GP can generate better children even under the same parents.
The Serial Murderer's Motivations: An Interdisciplinary Review:

A serial killer is defined as an individual who murders two or more victims over an extended period of time, ranging from days to years, with the crimes often being sexually motivated. Although the...
Regional cultures, persistence and change: a case study of the Mormon Culture Region

Abstract There are at least two gaps in the literature on culture regions: (1) little research on regions other than the South, and (2) a lack of examination of regional distinctiveness across time. In addition, existing research provides contradictory conclusions regarding the perpetuation of culture regions; some results suggest modernization forces are obliterating regional distinctiveness, while other studies point to the endurance of differences. Making use of data reflecting 24 socioeconomic characteristics across the period 1950–1990, we find that the Mormon Culture Region (MCR) remained distinct from the United States as a whole, and was even more distinct in 1990 than in 1950. We believe our socioeconomic indicators represent important dimensions of regions, and are linked to the subjective identities that tend to be the focal point in analyses of culture regions. Additional research on other regions is needed to fully explain regional differences, as well as to adequately interpret results obtained when regional indicators are incorporated into empirical social research.
Growth centre transplantation to replace mandibular condyles

Malocclusion and disharmony of facial growth are the usual results of injury to the mandibular condyle in children. Early replacement of the condyle with a skeletal growth centre such as the costochondral junction is postulated as one approach to management of such problems. This paper describes the results of such transplantations in ten growing children where there had been either ankylosis or excision of the condyle. Long term follow-up evaluation shows lack of uniformity in the subsequent growth of the transplants. Nevertheless, significant growth of the transplants is demonstrated in some of the patients. The data lends support to the principle that bony growth centres are in part responsible for the growth and maturation of the facial skeleton.
Successful Educational Strategies and the Pyramid of Occupational Therapy Learning

This article provides further examination of research results described in the article called: "A Study of Successful Educational Strategies in Three Entry-Level Graduate Programs." It aims to relate these study results to the literature. This report will also present an educational model, called the Pyramid of Occupational Therapy Learning, which was developed by the investigator. This pyramid is intended to be a guiding frame for graduate entry-level instruction in occupational therapy. It illustrates the importance of four areas in the education of occupational therapists. These areas are: (a) student-teacher commitment, trust, and communication, (b) medical/scientific knowledge, (c) holistic O.T. theories of human performance, and (d) application of O.T. theory to patient cases. Educators are encouraged to consider these factors when designing or refining their O.T. curricula.
Buddhist Epistemology: The Study of Pramana

Epistemology – the study of the nature and scope of knowledge – has been an integral topic in Indian and Tibetan Buddhist scholastic communities for the past 1500 years. This article provides an overview of the Buddhist epistemological tradition, emphasizing the central role that the concept of pram?ṇa plays in Indian theories of knowledge. After elucidating the two pram?ṇas accepted by the Buddhist epistemological tradition, the article concludes by discussing the relationship between Buddhist epistemology and Buddhist soteriology.
Characterization of chloride efflux from GT1–7 neurons: lack of effect of ethanol on GABAA response

Abstract The purpose of this study of GT1–7 neurons was to partially characterize basal Cl − transport and GABA A mediated Cl − efflux and to test the effect of ethanol on a GABA A receptor that lacks a γ subunit. We measured GABA A function and Cl − transport with 36 Cl − . Our results show that basal 36 Cl − efflux varied with temperature at 4°C, 23°C, and 37°C. At 23°C, DIDS, an inhibitor of anion exchange, reduced basal 36 Cl − efflux maximally by 79.6% with an IC 50 of 42.1 μM, whereas bumetanide, an inhibitor of (Na–K–Cl) cotransport, had no effect on basal 36 Cl − efflux at concentrations up to 150 μM. At 4°C, muscimol, a GABA A receptor agonist, stimulated 36 Cl − efflux with an EC 50 of 1.47 μM. Bicuculline, a GABA A receptor antagonist, completely reversed the effect of 20 μM muscimol with an IC 50 of 6.08 μM. Ethanol, at concentrations up to 87 mM (0.4% (w/v)), had no effect on muscimol-induced 36 Cl − efflux at 4°C or at 32°C. Our results indicate that stimulation of GABA A receptors causes an efflux of Cl − from GT1–7 neurons. This finding is consistent with the concept that stimulation of GABA A receptors produces depolarization of the plasma membrane, increase in cytosolic [Ca 2+ ], and GnRH release. Our results represent the first description of chloride transport in GT1–7 neurons and suggest the presence of a Cl − exchange, but not (Na–K–Cl), transporter mechanism. Furthermore, the lack of an effect of ethanol observed in this study is consistent with the idea that a γ 2L subunit may be necessary for the effects of low concentrations of ethanol at GABA A receptors.
Differential Contributions of NADPH-Cytochrome P450 Oxidoreductase FAD Binding Site Residues to Flavin Binding and Catalysis

Transfer of reducing equivalents from NADPH to the cytochromes P450 is mediated by NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase, which contains stoichiometric amounts of tightly bound FMN and FAD. Hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions between FAD and amino acid residues in the FAD binding site of the reductase serve to regulate both flavin binding and reactivity. The precise orientation of key residues (Arg454, Tyr456, Cys472, Gly488, Thr491, and Trp677) has been defined by x-ray crystallography (Wang, M., Roberts, D. L., Paschke, R., Shea, T. M., Masters, B. S., Kim, J.-J. P. (1997) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 94, 8411–8416). The current study examines the relative contributions of these residues to FAD binding and catalysis by site-directed mutagenesis and kinetic analysis. Mutation of either Tyr456, which makes van der Waals contact with the FAD isoalloxazine ring and also hydrogen-bonds to the ribityl 4′-hydroxyl, or Arg454, which bonds to the FAD pyrophosphate, decreases the affinity for FAD 8000- and 25,000-fold, respectively, with corresponding decreases in cytochrome creductase activity. In contrast, substitution of Thr491, which also interacts with the pyrophosphate grouping, had a relatively modest effect on both FAD binding (100-fold decrease) and catalytic activity (2-fold decrease), while the G488L mutant exhibited, respectively, 800- and 50-fold decreases in FAD binding and catalytic activity. Enzymic activity of each of these mutants could be restored by addition of FAD. Kinetic properties and the FMN content of these mutants were not affected by these substitutions, with the exception of a 3-fold increase in Y456SKmcyt c and a 70% decrease in R454E FMN content, suggesting that the FMN- and FAD-binding domains are largely, but not completely, independent. Even though Trp677 is stacked against the re-face of FAD, suggesting an important role in FAD binding, deletion of both Trp677 and the carboxyl-terminal Ser678decreased catalytic activity 50-fold without affecting FAD content.
A straw shows which way the wind blows: ranking potentially popular items from early votes

Prediction of popular items in online content sharing systems has recently attracted a lot of attention due to the tremendous need of users and its commercial values. Different from previous works that make prediction by fitting a popularity growth model, we tackle this problem by exploiting the latent conforming and maverick personalities of those who vote to assess the quality of on-line items. We argue that the former personality prompts a user to cast her vote conforming to the majority of the service community while on the contrary the later personality makes her vote different from the community. We thus propose a Conformer-Maverick (CM) model to simulate the voting process and use it to rank top-k potentially popular items based on the early votes they received. Through an extensive experimental evaluation, we validate our ideas and find that our proposed CM model achieves better performance than baseline solutions, especially for smaller k.
Chapter 11 Pharmacologic modification of materials

Abstract Several approaches have been used to develop biomaterials with pharmacologic activity for use in cardiovascular medicine. These approaches depend upon whether the active agent is to be: (i) released slowly from the device; or (ii) retained in bound form indefinitely. The approaches also depend upon whether the pharmacologic activity of the agent is designed to modulate local: (i) coagulation; (ii) platelet function; or (iii) cell function in the vessel.
Expressive Communication Strengths of Adults With Severe to Profound Intellectual Disabilities as Reported by Group Home Staff

This study documents the communication strengths of 14 adults who resided in community group-home settings through the use of staff informant reports. These participants had as many as 12 different...
Faculty development to support curriculum change and ensure the future vitality of dental education.

For meaningful curriculum change to occur in dental schools, faculty must go through a process of new skills development that will prepare them to teach differently and to assess students differently than they have before. Curriculum change and the faculty development process must have the support of the dental school’s leadership and become a core value of the school’s culture.
Noise adaptive matrix edge field analysis of small sized heterogeneous onion layered textures for characterizing human embryonic stem cell nuclei

We present a methodology for characterizing small size heterogeneous textures that are hard to analyze in general due to the paucity of pixels and textural heterogeneity. The methodology overcomes the limitation for a large class of heterogeneous textures that exhibit onion layer type textural variation, where we may assume that within a layer the behavior is homogeneous, but may vary from layer to layer. The shape of the onion layers is data dependent; radial symmetry is not required. We use an energy functional approach for simultaneous smoothing and segmentation that relies on two key innovations: a matrix edge field, and adaptive weighting of the measurements relative to the smoothing process model. The matrix edge function adaptively and implicitly modulates the shape, size, and orientation of smoothing neighborhoods over different regions of the texture. It thus provides directional information on the texture that is not available in the more conventional scalar edge field based approaches. The adaptive measurement weighting varies the weighting between the measurements at each pixel. Image based analysis of human embryonic stem cells is the motivating application for this new approach, and we show how the features extracted using this approach can be used to automate the classification of pluripotent vs. differentiated stem cell nuclei based on confocal images of fluorescent GFP-labeled chromatin.
Separation factors for hydrogen isotopes on nickel and platinum during electrolysis

When a nickel cathode is used during electrolysis, the separation factor {gamma} of D{sub 2}O/T{sub 2}O is measured and found to be 2. When a platinum cathode is used, the value of {gamma} is found to also be 2. This value is the same as the value that was measured and reported in an earlier paper that dealt with the use of a palladium cathode. A mathematical model that predicts the tritium concentration in the electrolysis cell finds the predictions to be in agreement with the measured values of tritium concentration in the cell. Excess tritium concentration is observed in the recombined off-gases in the case of the nickel cathode. 3 refs., 2 figs., 2 tabs.
The state of the Beowulf manuscript 1882—1983

There is a lingering notion among Beowulf scholars, despite Chauncey Tinker's effort to dispel it eighty years ago, that the Beowulf manuscript is slowly but inexorably crumbling away in its modern home in the British Library. The gloomy news for a general audience is that the manuscript, ‘charred at the edges by the fire’ that decimated the Cotton Library in 1731, ‘continues to deteriorate year by year’. A scholarly audience gets the same impression from Norman Davis, who gives us a reproduction of an old transliteration beside new photographs of the manuscript. He says, ‘Zupitza's transliteration … has permanent value as a record of what he could see in the manuscript in 1880–2’, a comment that certainly implies that Zupitza was able to see more in the manuscript a century ago than we can see today. In fact, with the aid of modern artificial lighting, notably fibre-optic and ultra-violet light, we can see far more in the manuscript today than Zupitza was able to see in 1882.
Mcl-1 Integrates the Opposing Actions of Signaling Pathways That Mediate Survival and Apoptosis

Mcl-1 is a member of the Bcl2-related protein family that is a critical mediator of cell survival. Exposure of cells to stress causes inhibition of Mcl-1 mRNA translation and rapid destruction of Mcl-1 protein by proteasomal degradation mediated by a phosphodegron created by glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) phosphorylation of Mcl-1. Here we demonstrate that prior phosphorylation of Mcl-1 by the c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) is essential for Mcl-1 phosphorylation by GSK3. Stress-induced Mcl-1 degradation therefore requires the coordinated activity of JNK and GSK3. Together, these data establish that Mcl-1 functions as a site of signal integration between the proapoptotic activity of JNK and the prosurvival activity of the AKT pathway that inhibits GSK3.
Three-dimensional computed tomography of the pulmonary veins.

Computed tomography can be used to create highquality three-dimensional images. An example of a con uent left pulmonary vein in a patient with idiopathic paroxysmal atrial  brillation is shown in the  gure. The common trunk (arrows) and individual branches (arrowheads) are clearly seen. Thus, three-dimensional computed tomography of the heart may be useful for visualizing the pulmonary veins in patients with atrial  brillation undergoing catheter ablation to isolate the pulmonary veins.
Functional Test and Speed/Power Sorting of the IBM POWER6 and Z10 Processors

The 5 GHz IBM POWER6 processor (P6) and newest Z10 4.4 GHz processor utilized a custom combination of structural and functional testing delivering improved test costs and accelerated SPQL learning over previous IBM processor generations.
Topical Yunnan Baiyao administration as an adjunctive therapy for bleeding complications in adolescents with advanced cancer.

Yunnan Baiyao (White Medicine from Yunnan, YNB) is a Chinese herbal medicinal powder used to stop bleeding and improve circulation in traumatic injuries. We describe the use of YNB in adolescents with cancer as an adjunct to uncontrolled bleeding in the palliative care setting. Through a retrospective chart review of all patients receiving integrative medicine consultations at the Integrative Therapies Program at Columbia University from January 1, 2007 to January 31, 2012, we describe the outcome of patients treated with YNB for management of uncontrolled bleeding. Four patients were identified who received topical YNB for uncontrolled bleeding; patients included two males and two females with diagnoses of solid tumors (n = 3) and Burkitt’s lymphoma (n = 1). Mean age was 15.5 years (range 15–17). Fifty percent had life-threatening bleeding from the tumor site and 50 % experienced uncontrollable epistaxis. All patients received preceding therapy with packed red blood cells and platelet transfusions, topical thrombin, and oral aminocaproic acid. Two patients used YNB in the inpatient setting, and all four patients used YNB as outpatients. In all patients, bleeding control improved with the addition of YNB to conventional hemostatic interventions. Two patients using YNB in their home reported control of bleeding episodes. There were no adverse events reported. YNB may be an efficacious agent for uncontrolled bleeding in conjunction with conventional hemostatic agents in adolescents with advanced cancer. It is well accepted by patients. YNB may be especially valuable in the outpatient setting to prevent the recurrence of hemorrhage.
The echo area of small rectangular plates with linear slots

The echo area of rectangular plates on the order of 1\lambda \times 1\lambda in size and smaller with linear slots is discussed. Approximations are given which allow one to explain qualitatively the experimental results given. A \frac{1}{2} \lambda \times 1\lambda plate is considered both analytically and experimentally and by choosing the proper length slot or a slot with the proper reactive loading the echo area has been reduced by more than 8 db from the solid plate return.
MEMS tomographic imaging system simulation

This describes a simulation architecture used to simulate an ultra-narrowband radar tomographic imaging (UNBRaTI) system. The work is being performed at Rochester Institute of Technology. This lays the groundwork for an effort to develop a systems level approach for the simulation and analysis of an UNBRaTI system using traditional radio frequency (RF) components as well as micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS)-based components. The utility of the approach is its ability to apply sound systems engineering principles and techniques to compare and contrast traditional RF components with MEMS-based components and their effects on system level performance. The simulation has been architected for ease of scalability in order to analyze basic to complex system configurations.
C5B-7 AND C5B-8 PRECURSORS OF THE MEMBRANE ATTACK COMPLEX (C5B-9) ARE EFFECTIVE KILLERS OF E. COLI J5 DURING SERUM INCUBATION

The finding that C9-deficient sera (C9D) can kill serum sensitive strains of Gram-negative bacteria by us and other investigators, questions the role of C9 in the membrane attack complex as necessary for cell death. In these studies we have demonstrated that C5b-8 complexes generated on E. coli J5 during incubation in C9-depleted and C9-neutralized sera are effective in killing Gram-negative bacteria. In the same study, we extended our investigations to show that the deposition of C5b-7 complexes (from C8-deficient [C8D], C8 depleted and C8-neutralized sera) is also effective in killing Gram-negative bacteria. In all cases, these studies demonstrated that when E. coli J5 was incubated with C8D, C9D and pooled normal human serum [PNHS], deposited C5b-9 complexes from PNHS produced more killing than C5b-7 or C5b-8 complexes alone. These experiments clearly demonstrated that C5b-7 and C5b-8 complexes are bactericidal and that multimeric C9 within C5b-9 is not an absolute requirement for inner membrane damage and cell death of Gram-negative bacteria.
Meaningful change in measures of gait variability in older adults

Abstract Objectives Gait variability is an important indicator of impaired mobility in older adults; however, little is known about the meaning of change in gait variability over time. This study estimated clinically meaningful change in measures of gait variability using both distribution- and anchor-based approaches. Design Community-based observational cohort study. Setting Bronx County and the research center at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Participants Of 1148 participants in the Einstein Aging Study, 241 had quantitative gait assessments in two consecutive years between 2001 and 2005. Measurements Gait variables were collected using a 12-foot instrumented walkway as participants walked at their normal walking speed. Gait variability was defined as the within-person standard deviation (SD) across steps in two 12-foot walks. Distribution-based meaningful change estimates used Cohen's effect size (0.2 for small and 0.5 for moderate effects). Anchor-based estimates were obtained using dichotomous and ordinal self-reported walking ability ratings as anchors. Results Distribution-based estimates for small and substantial changes of variability measures were: stance time 0.005 and 0.014 s; swing time 0.003 and 0.009 s; step length 0.24 and 0.61 cm; and step width 0.03 and 0.08 cm. Among those reporting no change in walking ability, measures of gait variability were stable over 1 year. Among those reporting a decline in walking, stance time and swing time variability increased. Among those reporting an improvement in walking, only step length variability improved. Conclusion Preliminary criteria for meaningful change are 0.01 s for stance time and swing time variability and 0.25 cm for step length variability. These estimates may identify important changes over time in both clinical settings and research studies.
Numerical approximation of a thermally driven interface using finite elements

A two-dimensional finite element model for dendritic solidification has been developed that is based on the direct solution of the energy equation over a fixed mesh. The model tracks the position of the sharp solid–liquid interface using a set of marker points placed on the interface. The simulations require calculation of the temperature gradients on both sides of the interface in the direction normal to it; at the interface the heat flux is discontinuous due to the release of latent heat during the solidification (melting) process. Two ways to calculate the temperature gradients at the interface, evaluating their interpolants at Gauss points, were proposed. Using known one- and two-dimensional solutions to stable solidification problems (the Stefan problem), it was shown that the method converges with second-order accuracy. When applied to the unstable solidification of a crystal into an undercooled liquid, it was found that the numerical solution is extremely sensitive to the mesh size and the type of approximation used to calculate the temperature gradients at the interface, i.e. different approximations and different meshes can yield different solutions. The cause of these difficulties is examined, the effect of different types of interpolation on the simulations is investigated, and the necessary criteria to ensure converged solutions are established. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Changes in patterns of scaphoid and lunate motion during functional arcs of wrist motion induced by ligament division.

Purpose To determine the in vitro motion of the scaphoid and lunate during wrist circumduction and wrist dart-throw motions and to see how these motions change after the ligamentous stabilizers of the scaphoid and lunate are sectioned in a manner simulating scapholunate instability. Methods Twenty-one fresh-frozen cadaver forearms were moved through a dart-throw motion and a circumduction motion using a wrist joint simulator. Scaphoid and lunate motion were measured with the wrist ligaments intact and after sectioning of the scapholunate interosseous ligament, the scaphotrapezium ligament, and the radioscaphocapitate ligament. Results In the intact wrist the scaphoid and lunate moved more during circumduction than during the dart-throw motion. With ligamentous sectioning the scaphoid flexed more and the lunate extended more during both the circumduction and dart-throw motions. During the circumduction motion both before and after sectioning the global motion of the scaphoid was greater than that of the lunate. After sectioning the scaphoid motion increased and the lunate motion decreased. Conclusions The scaphoid and lunate motions were observed to change remarkably after ligamentous sectioning. The observed changes in carpal motion correlate with the clinical observation that after ligamentous injury arthritic changes occur in the radioscaphoid joint and not in the radiolunate joint. Analysis of the injured wrist in positions that combine flexion-extension and radial-ulnar deviation may allow noninvasive diagnosis of specific wrist ligament injuries.
A highly integrated millimeter-wave active antenna array using BCB and silicon substrate

A simple and inexpensive packaging scheme is implemented in the design of an active antenna array module. The package consists of etched wells in a silicon wafer in which the components of the module are placed. A benzocyclobutene (BCB) film covers the components and serves as a substrate for interconnections. Prefabricated metallic bumps on the components are used for connection through the BCB film, eliminating the need for wire bonds. Aluminum coating of the silicon wafer isolates the lossy substrate from the millimeter-wave circuitry. This packaging process is applied to form an array of four cavity-backed patch antennas and then integrate it with a down-converter. The resulting active antenna array down-converts a 39-GHz received signal. The only off-wafer interconnects are for the 16-GHz local-oscillator input and a 7-GHz IF output. The effect of the packaging on the down-converter is described and important design features are noted. A detailed loss analysis is conducted based on measurements of the array performance.
Influence of the Growth Medium on the Proteinase System of Streptococcus lactis No. 3

Abstract The influence of the nitrogen source on the activity of the membrane and intracelluar proteinase of Streptococcus lactis No. 3 was examined. Data support the hypothesis that the membrane proteinase degrades proteins only to peptides, while the intracellular enzyme hydrolyzes peptides to amino acids.
Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase 1 and vascular aging.

VSMCs (vascular smooth muscle cells) play critical roles in arterial remodelling with aging, hypertension and atherosclerosis. VSMCs exist in diverse phenotypes and exhibit phenotypic plasticity, e.g. changing from a quiescent/contractile phenotype to an active myofibroblast-like, often called 'synthetic', phenotype. Synthetic VSMCs are able to proliferate, migrate and secrete ECM (extracellular matrix) proteinases and ECM proteins. In addition, they produce pro-inflammatory molecules, providing an inflammatory microenvironment for leucocyte penetration, accumulation and activation. The aging VSMCs have also shown changes in cellular phenotype, responsiveness to contracting and relaxing mediators, replicating potential, matrix synthesis, inflammatory mediators and intracellular signalling. VSMC dysfunction plays a key role in age-associated vascular remodelling. Cyclic nucleotide PDEs (phosphodiesterases), by catalysing cyclic nucleotide hydrolysis, play a critical role in regulating the amplitude, duration and compartmentalization of cyclic nucleotide signalling. Abnormal alterations of PDEs and subsequent changes in cyclic nucleotide homoeostasis have been implicated in a number of different diseases. In the study published in the latest issue of Clinical Science, Bautista Nino and colleagues have shown that, in cultured senescent human VSMCs, PDE1A and PDE1C mRNA levels are significantly up-regulated and inhibition of PDE1 activity with vinpocetine reduced cellular senescent makers in senescent VSMCs. Moreover, in the premature aging mice with genomic instability (Ercc1(d/-)), impaired aortic ring relaxation in response to SNP (sodium nitroprusside), an NO (nitric oxide) donor, was also largely improved by vinpocetine. More interestingly, using data from human GWAS (genome-wide association studies), it has been found that PDE1A single nucleotide polymorphisms is significantly associated with diastolic blood pressure and carotid intima-media thickening, two hallmarks of human vascular dysfunction in aging. These findings establish a strong relationship between PDE1 expression regulation and vascular abnormalities in aging.
Electropolymerized Polythiophenes Bearing Pendant Nitroxide Radicals

We report a facile way to synthesize polythiophenes carrying pendant 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyl-1-oxyl (TEMPO) radicals, here called PTATs, by electropolymerization in boron trifluoride diethyl etherate (BFEE). The spacing between the TEMPO radical and the polythiophene backbone is varied by an alkyl spacer (n = 2, 4, 6), and the electronic and electrochemical properties are examined using UV–vis spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Film morphologies are also studied via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), which show that the longer octyl chain placed between thiophene and TEMPO effectively suppresses aggregation. The highest conductivity and electroactivity are observed for n = 4 and n = 6, respectively. Such morphology differences provide an opportunity to better understand the charge transport and energy storage properties in electronic materials.