cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Minimum switching space vector modulation of the Z-source inverter

This paper proposes the minimum switching space vector modulation (MSSVM) scheme for the Z-source inverter, which uses nonconstant modulation depth and boost factor to reduce the average V-A stress on the passives in the Z-network and the number of switching events, thus significantly reducing the converter loss compared to existing constant boost modulation schemes. The average V-A stress on the passives is analyzed. The validity of the MSSVM algorithms and the efficiency improvement are verified by experiment.
Building Information Modeling data interoperability for Cloud-based collaboration: Limitations and opportunities:

Collaboration within Building Information Modeling process is mainly based on the manual transfer of document files in either vendor-specific formats or neutral format using Industry Foundation Cla...
Kilo-Pixel miniaturized thermal imagers based on advanced thermoelectrics

This work presents a novel focal plane module architecture based on kilo-pixel arrays able to image from UV to far-infrared scenes. The focal plane arrays are integrated with custom-made, chopper-stabilized read-out integrated circuits into sub-assembly modules to be mounted on the optical telescope of the instrument.
Src homology 2 domains enhance tyrosine phosphorylation in vivo by protecting binding sites in their target proteins from dephosphorylation

Phosphotyrosine (pTyr)-dependent signaling is critical for many cellular processes. It is highly dynamic, as signal output depends not only on phosphorylation and dephosphorylation rates but also on the rates of binding and dissociation of effectors containing phosphotyrosine-dependent binding modules such as Src homology 2 (SH2) and phosphotyrosine-binding (PTB) domains. Previous in vitro studies suggested that binding of SH2 and PTB domains can enhance protein phosphorylation by protecting the sites bound by these domains from phosphatase-mediated dephosphorylation. To test whether this occurs in vivo, we used the binding of growth factor receptor bound 2 (GRB2) to phosphorylated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) as a model system. We analyzed the effects of SH2 domain overexpression on protein tyrosine phosphorylation by quantitative Western and far-Western blotting, mass spectrometry, and computational modeling. We found that SH2 overexpression results in a significant, dose-dependent increase in EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation, particularly of sites corresponding to the binding specificity of the overexpressed SH2 domain. Computational models using experimentally determined EGFR phosphorylation and dephosphorylation rates, and pTyr–EGFR and GRB2 concentrations, recapitulated the experimental findings. Surprisingly, both modeling and biochemical analyses suggested that SH2 domain overexpression does not result in a major decrease in the number of unbound phosphorylated SH2 domain–binding sites. Our results suggest that signaling via SH2 domain binding is buffered over a relatively wide range of effector concentrations and that SH2 domain proteins with overlapping binding specificities are unlikely to compete with one another for phosphosites in vivo.
Cancer Prevention and Detection: Application Across the Cancer Trajectory

Oncology nurses have many opportunities to implement cancer prevention and early detection recommendations across the cancer trajectory. Understanding the principles that guide the recommendations is important to providing comprehensive oncology care; many readily available resources can assist oncology nurses with this education. Guidelines for the prevention and early detection of malignancy are based on a comprehensive cancer risk assessment that includes past medical history, lifestyle factors, family history, and, in some cases, genetic testing. .
A Comprehensive Review of the Physiology of Hemostasis and Antithrombotic Agents

Tremendous strides have been made in the development of antithrombotic agents. The strategies of these developments aim at interrupting platelet activity, inactivating thrombin, inhibiting thrombin...
The GABAA Receptor α2 Subunit Activates a Neuronal TLR4 Signal in the Ventral Tegmental Area that Regulates Alcohol and Nicotine Abuse.

Alcoholism initiates with episodes of excessive alcohol drinking, known as binge drinking, which is one form of excessive drinking (NIAAA Newsletter, 2004) that is related to impulsivity and anxiety (Ducci et al., 2007; Edenberg et al., 2004) and is also predictive of smoking status. The predisposition of non-alcohol exposed subjects to initiate binge drinking is controlled by neuroimmune signaling that includes an innately activated neuronal Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signal. This signal also regulates cognitive impulsivity, a heritable trait that defines drug abuse initiation. However, the mechanism of signal activation, its function in dopaminergic (TH+) neurons within the reward circuitry implicated in drug-seeking behavior [viz. the ventral tegmental area (VTA)], and its contribution to nicotine co-abuse are still poorly understood. We report that the γ-aminobutyric acidA receptor (GABAAR) α2 subunit activates the TLR4 signal in neurons, culminating in the activation (phosphorylation/nuclear translocation) of cyclic AMP response element binding (CREB) but not NF-kB transcription factors and the upregulation of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). The signal is activated through α2/TLR4 interaction, as evidenced by co-immunoprecipitation, and it is present in the VTA from drug-untreated alcohol-preferring P rats. VTA infusion of neurotropic herpes simplex virus (HSV) vectors for α2 (pHSVsiLA2) or TLR4 (pHSVsiTLR4) but not scrambled (pHSVsiNC) siRNA inhibits signal activation and both binge alcohol drinking and nicotine sensitization, suggesting that the α2-activated TLR4 signal contributes to the regulation of both alcohol and nicotine abuse.
Consequences of Implementing a "Better" Blood Culture System.

Abstract Background: Blood cultures (BCx) are the gold standard for diagnosing blood stream infections. However, contamination remains a challenge and can increase cost, hospital days, and unnecess...
CREATING DOMAIN MAPPINGS

Consider being given a mapping ' : S d 1 1 1 ! onto @, with @ the (d 1)-dimensional smooth boundary surface for a bounded open simply-connected region in R d , d � 2. We consider the problem of constructing an extension � : Bd 1 1 ! onto with Bd the open unit ball in R d . The mapping is also required to be continuously differentiable with a non-singular Jacobian matrix at all points. We discuss ways of obtaining initial guesses for such a mappingand of then improving it by an iteration method.
The Effect of Homogeneous Isotropic Turbulence on the Settling of Heavy Particles

The experiments were performed in a horizontal wind tunnel, and a grid was used both to induce the turbulent and to inject the water droplets. The water droplets were injected through an array of atomizers embedded in the grid that produced a polydispersed spray uniformly distributed along the central portion of the tunnel. The turbulent Weber number for the droplets was always very small, so the droplets behave as heavy spherical particles throughout the experiments.
Resolution of high order WENO schemes and Navier-Stokes simulation of the Rayleigh-Taylor instability problem

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the numerical resolution of high order weighted essentially non-oscillatory (WENO) finite-difference schemes and the application of them to perform resolved computations on compressible Navier–Stokes equations for the problem of Rayleigh–Taylor instability. Resolved solutions of the Rayleigh–Taylor instability problem, which contain small scales reliably driven by physical rather than numerical viscosities, are shown. The small-scale structures in the resolved solutions should be reliable as they are driven by physical rather than numerical viscosities. Rayleigh–Taylor instability happens on an interface between fluids with different densities when acceleration is directed from the heavy fluid to the light fluid. When Navier–Stokes equations with high Reynolds numbers are solved, central difference approximations of comparable orders of accuracy to approximate the second derivative viscous terms are used.
Why are {101¯2} twins profuse in magnesium?

Abstract We show that { 10 1 ¯ 2 } twinning in magnesium acts as an effective sink of basal dislocations without loss of mobility. The lattice dislocation decomposes into the b 0 / 0 BP dislocation recently identified by the present authors, and a residual dislocation. The b 0 / 0 BP dislocation in turn spontaneously decomposes into a Burgers vector content of the basal-prismatic facet related disclination dipole, f 0 BP , plus an associated number of twinning disconnections. The residual dislocation lies on the basal-prismatic facet and thus remains glissile should the twin boundary move forward or recede back. Importantly, the basal-prismatic facet absorbs any twinning disconnection gliding on one side of the twin boundary and releases another one to other side, thereby enabling the twin boundary to progress through a forest of basal dislocations with no apparent decrease in mobility or loss of coherency. This mechanism explains why { 10 1 ¯ 2 } twinning is profuse in hexagonal close-packed metals as slip induces the interfacial atomic structure to change favorably for twin propagation.
End-user development at scale: real-world experience with product development for a large and engaged user community

Google SketchUp is a 3D modeling tool that anyone can learn to use, and they do so in unprecedented numbers for an application of its type. Its populist position in the often esoteric world of 3D modeling has in no small part been enabled by the shared wants, needs and contributions of a large, vocal and committed user base. Unlike many more insularly built software applications, SketchUp's development team cultivated this community of active user contributors in tandem with the software engineering effort right from the very earliest releases. Initially, this community grew in user forums and was concerned primarily with user-to-user training and troubleshooting. However, in recent years the SketchUp team has been experimenting with deeper end-user development in other areas of our product. In this talk, I will share experiences and some success metrics in three specific project areas. First, Google's "Your World in 3D" initiative, which is attempting to crowd-source the construction of a 3D model of every building in the world. Second, I will describe the design and implementation of SketchUp's Ruby API and its use by the user community to extend SketchUp with powerful but specialized plugins. And finally, I will share experiences and success (and failure!) metrics around our team's continued involvement in community cultivation through forums for the design, specification and prioritization of new feature development in the SketchUp client.
Learning Based Approaches to Engine Mapping and Calibration Optimization

In this chapter we consider a class of optimization problems arising in the process of automotive engine mapping and calibration. Fast optimization algorithms applicable to high fidelity simulation models or experimental engines can reduce the time, effort and costs required for calibration. Our approach to these problems is based on iterations between local model identification and calibration parameter (set-points and actuator settings) improvements based on the learned surrogate model. Several approaches to algorithm implementation are considered. In the first approach, the surrogate model is defined in a linear incremental form and its identification reduces to Jacobian Learning. Then quadratic programming is applied to adjust the calibration parameters. In the second approach, we consider a predictor-corrector algorithm that estimates the change in the minimizer based on changing operating conditions before correcting it. Case studies are described that illustrate the applications of algorithms.
Kann man aus einem Würfel ein Tetraeder machen

Ist es moglich, einen Wurfel durch endlich viele Ebenen zu zerschneiden und aus den sich daraus ergebenden polyedrischen Stucken ein regelmasiges Tetraeder mit demselben Volumen zusammenzusetzen?
The Continuum of Drought in Southwestern North America

AbstractDrought has severe consequences for humans and their environment, yet we have a limited understanding of the drivers of drought across the full range of time scales on which it occurs. Here...
Over Half of Family Medicine Residency Program Directors Report Use of Telehealth Services.

Abstract Background: Little is known about the adoption of telehealth services among family medicine residency programs. Introduction: Using the 2015 Council of Academic Family Medicine Educational...
Management of Traumatic Splenic Injuries

Any acute trauma in a patient warrants a thorough history and physical examination following initial assessment and stabilization as required. In particular, history of blunt abdominal trauma should prompt concerns for splenic injury, with motor vehicle collisions (MVC) often identified as the most common cause of injury. Splenic injury can be managed both operatively and non-operatively based on injury severity and patients’ physiologic response to trauma. Vitals, physical examination findings, and imaging can help guide management. Exploratory laparotomy is typically necessary in hemodynamically unstable patients and/or in patients suspected of having severe splenic injury. Non-operative management can include angioembolization and requires careful monitoring of patients for changes in vital signs. Regardless of management strategy, counseling on sports/activity restrictions and patient follow-up are vital.
Can educational speech intervention improve visitors' hand hygiene compliance?

Summary Background Hand hygiene, a simple and low-cost measure, remains the leading intervention for reducing the burden related to healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). While many interventions have been tested to improve staff hand hygiene compliance, hospital visitors continue to have low compliance rates, which increases the risk of HAIs and resistant organisms' transmission into hospitals and out to the community. Aim To assess the effectiveness of educational speech intervention (ESI) for increasing hand hygiene compliance rate among hospital visitors. Methods This interventional study was conducted from March to June 2019 in an inpatient unit of a large academic hospital. Visitor hand hygiene compliance was observed before and after implementation of ESI. The purpose of providing ESI to the visitors in the intervention phase was to remind them about the importance of hand hygiene and the proper method for cleaning hands. Post-intervention data were collected using the survey questionnaires. Unpaired t-test compared the hand hygiene compliance rate before and after the intervention. Findings Baseline hand hygiene compliance rate was 9.73% while hand hygiene compliance rate post-intervention increased to 87.06% (P Conclusion The ESI substantially increased visitors' hand hygiene compliance rate. Further studies are warranted to assess the sustainability of ESI and address other barriers to visitors' hand hygiene compliance.
Business as usual: macrolichen community response to the resilience of spruce–fir forests to beetle disturbance in northwestern Colorado

Over the past few decades, spruce beetles (Dendroctonus rufipennis Kirby) have drastically altered spruce–fir forests in western North America. Past research has shown that forest conditions (i.e.,...
1733-P: Phosphoproteomic Analysis of Insulin Action Using Human IPS-Derived Myoblasts Reveals Important Interactions between Differences Based on Insulin Sensitivity and Sex

To identify disease-specific indicators associated with insulin resistance by using human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) as a “disease-in-a-dish” model, iPSCs were derived from 20 nondiabetic individuals, with 10 each in the most insulin resistant (IR) or insulin sensitive (IS) quintiles as determined using SSPG measurements. Half of each group was male and half female. Given that muscle is the first site of insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes, iPSCs were differentiated into myoblasts, and global phosphoproteomics was performed without/with insulin stimulation to determine the full spectrum of signaling. Analysis of phosphoproteome revealed altered serine/threonine phosphorylation of the insulin-regulated sites on IRS2, Akt1, mTOR, RPS6 in the IR iPSC-myoblasts indicating defects related to insulin resistance. Unexpectedly, hierarchical clustering of the phosphosites (FDR 5 compared to females) belonged to mRNA splicing pathway and included many targets of mTOR. In contrast, some of the top up-regulated phosphosites in the females included LMNB1 S23, SKP2 S64, MARCKS S167 (p 5 compared to males) belonged to cell cycle pathways. These findings indicate that iPSC-derived myoblasts provide a potent approach to understanding differences in phosphorylation networks. These studies have also uncovered previously unrecognized differences in signaling between males and females, which may play a major role in the pathogenesis of disease. Disclosure N. Haider: None. J. Lebastchi: None. T.M. Batista: None. J. Knowles: None. H. Pan: None. J. Dreyfuss: None. C. Kahn: Advisory Panel; Self; ERX Pharmaceuticals, Kaleido Biosciences. Consultant; Self; AntriaBio, Flagship Pioneering, Sana-Cobalt.
The Neuroscience of Socioeconomic Inequality

A burgeoning literature has recently begun investigating the links between socioeconomic inequality and the developing brain. This work suggests widespread disparities in both brain structure and function that begin as early as the first year of life. Here we review disparities in neural structure that have been reported in both cortical and subcortical gray matter, as well as in white matter. Disparities in brain function have also been reported, particularly in circuits that support language, memory, executive functioning, and emotion processing. We additionally review recent work investigating the mechanisms that underlie socioeconomic disparities in brain development. Taken together, this work has the potential to identify important targets for intervention in policy and practice.
The Effects of Oil Windfalls on Political Corruption: Evidence from Brazil

Author(s): Baragwanath Vogel, Kathryn | Advisor(s): Saiegh, Sebastian | Abstract: Oil royalties provide a substantial and volatile inflow of non tax-payer money to municipal coffers, creating dynamic incentives for politicians in office. Resource windfalls change politicians’ budget constraints, generate difficulties for voters to distinguish politicians’ integrity, and create incentives for corruptible candidates to enter politics, changing the pool of candidates. Using a formal model with moral hazard and adverse selection, I show how resource windfalls generate the endogenous entry of worst candidates into politics, which generates cycles in corruption and reelection patterns. In Brazil, where offshore royalties are determined and allocated exogenously, oil inflows create strong opportunities for corruption. I find strong effects of oil windfalls on corruption. On average, a one standard deviation increase in oil royalties produces a 29% increase in corruption. The effects of windfalls on corruption are larger after elections during booms and lower during busts. Furthermore, oil royalties lead to a reelection cycle: when the price of oil is expected to be higher, incumbents are reelected more often than when the price of oil is expected to fall, independent of economic and individual level variables. I show that endogenous entry of worse candidates during booms is likely the cause of these corruption and reelection cycles, as predicted by the theory. Taken together, these results point to a strong effect of oil royalties on local level political equilibria.
Protective Factors to the Wellbeing of Undocumented Latinx Immigrants in the United States: A Socio-Ecological Approach

Undocumented immigrants often experience multiple chronic stressors that over time can increase health risk. This qualitative study used data from 7 focus groups and 15 key informant interviews to ...
Crossing Academic Boundaries for Diagnostic Safety: 10 Complex Challenges and Potential Solutions From Clinical Perspectives and High-Reliability Organizing Principles:

ObjectiveWe apply the high-reliability organization (HRO) paradigm to the diagnostic process, outlining challenges to enacting HRO principles in diagnosis and offering solutions for how diagnostic ...
Socio-technical multi-criteria evaluation of long-term spent nuclear fuel management strategies: A framework and method

In the absence of a federal geologic repository or consolidated, interim storage in the United States, commercial spent fuel will remain stranded at some 75 sites across the country. Currently, these include 18 “orphaned sites” where spent fuel has been left at decommissioned reactor sites. In this context, local communities living close to decommissioned nuclear power plants are increasingly concerned about this legacy of nuclear power production and are seeking alternative strategies to move the spent fuel away from those sites. In this paper, we present a framework and method for the socio-technical multi-criteria evaluation (STMCE) of spent fuel management strategies. The STMCE approach consists of (i) a multi-criteria evaluation that provides an ordinal ranking of alternatives based on a list of criterion measurements; and (ii) a social impact analysis that provides an outranking of options based on the assessment of their impact on concerned social actors. STMCE can handle quantitative, qualitative or both types of information. It can also integrate stochastic uncertainty on criteria measurements and fuzzy uncertainty on assessments of social impacts. We conducted an application of the STMCE method using data from the decommissioned San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) in California. This example intends to facilitate the preparation of stakeholder engagement activities on spent fuel management using the STMCE approach. The STMCE method provides an effective way to compare spent fuel management strategies and support the search for compromise solutions. We conclude by discussing the potential impact that such an approach could have on the management of commercial spent fuel in the United States.
An investigation of pore cracking in titanium welds

Two welded Ti-6A1- 4V pressure vessels leaked prematurely in service. The leaks were caused by cracks emanating from weld porosity. The cracks originated during fabrication, with subsequent growth in serv-ice leading to the formation of the leak paths. Pore cracking is thought to be caused by a mechanism that involves both sustained- load and cyclic contributions, with the former being the more prominent. It is shown that the tendency for cracking is influenced by pore position and that pore size is not a deciding factor in that regard. The factors that govern pore cracking are discussed, and the possible role of inter-stitial embrittlement is assessed.
Preferences for Prophylactic Oral Antibiotic Use in Dermatologic Surgery: A Multicenter Discrete Choice Experiment.

Background Antibiotics are often prescribed after dermatologic surgery for infection prophylaxis, but patient preferences about prophylactic antibiotics are not well understood. Objective To understand patient preferences about taking antibiotics to prevent surgical site infection (SSI) relative to antibiotic efficacy and antibiotic-associated adverse drug reactions. Materials and methods Multi-center, prospective discrete choice experiment (DCE). Results Three hundred thirty-eight respondents completed the survey and DCE. 54.8% of respondents preferred to take an antibiotic if it reduced the SSI rate from 5% to 2.5% and if the risk of adverse drug reactions was low (1% risk gastrointestinal upset, 0.5% risk itchy skin rash, 0.01% risk emergency department visit). Even if an antibiotic could eliminate SSI risk (0% risk SSI) and had a low adverse drug reaction profile, 26.7% of respondents prefer not to take prophylactic oral antibiotics. Conclusion Risk-benefit thresholds for taking antibiotics to prevent SSI vary widely. Clinical trials are needed to better characterize the effectiveness and risks of oral antibiotic SSI prophylaxis to guide decision-making. Future studies should also evaluate whether shared decision-making can improve the patient experience.
Improving Bankruptcy Sales by Raising the Bar: Imposing a Preliminary Injunction Standard for Objections to Section 363 Sales

In response to persistent claims that objections to bankruptcy sales cause wasteful, unnecessary and inappropriate delays, this article concludes that bankruptcy courts should adopt a preliminary injunction standard for evaluating such objections. Employing a strict, clear and uniform standard would reduce the opportunity for strategic objectors to engage in dilatory measures, but should not bias creditors with “legitimate” objections. Applying a preliminary injunction standard would help to ensure that creditors receive an appropriate amount of procedural protection for their legitimate claims, while at the same time preventing parties-in-interest from engaging in rent-seeking behavior by making strategic objections to bankruptcy sales.
Toward design technology in 2020: trends, issues, and challenges [VLSI design]

VLSI design does not stand alone. The challenges and opportunities for the design community are driven and shaped by larger forces, from semiconductor technology evolution through product trends, and ultimately to large scale societal forces which are far beyond the control of designers. To understand the requirements for design, then, we first need to examine the larger environment in which we operate. Predictions are notoriously inaccurate, but I attempt to outline the global issues and technological trends that shape what designers must do. In my presentation, I risk some prognostications about the specific trends and challenges in the VLSI design field over the next 20 years, in hope that I retire long before anyone thinks to check my predictions.
Topological insulators: Theory & concepts

The spin-orbit interaction in condensed matter [1] is a key ingredient of contemporary approaches to spintronics [2,3]. These approaches have primarily focused on the “interior” bulk electronic states of semiconductors and metals with parabolic energy-momentum dispersion. Early theoretical work however showed that in narrow band gap semiconductor heterostructures (derived from (Pb, Sn)Te and (Hg, Cd)Te), the spin-orbit interaction can lead to helical two dimensional (2D) interface states with a massless (linear) Dirac dispersion [4]. Over the past 5 years or so, we have witnessed a rebirth of these concepts in the more contemporary context of “topological insulators,” driven by the recognition of deep and fundamental connections between surface or edge states and topological invariants [5,6]. In their 2D realization, topological insulators exhibit spin-polarized one-dimensional (1D) edge states [7], while the three-dimensional (3D) versions are characterized by 2D surface states with a spin-textured Dirac cone dispersion [8]. The inherent spin-texture of these electronic states provides a natural route toward “topological spintronics” by generating an efficient spin-transfer torque [9,10].
Models of Interaction with Video Information

A crucial issue for research in video information retrieval (VIR) is the relationship between the tasks which VIR is supposed to support, and the techniques of representation, matching, display and navigation within the VIR system which are most appropriate for responding to those tasks. Within a general model of information retrieval as support for user interaction with information objects, this paper discusses how different tasks might imply the use of different techniques, and in particular, different modes of interaction, for “optimal” VIR within the different task environments. This analysis suggests that there will be no universally applicable VIR techniques, and that really effective VIR systems will necessarily be tailored to specific task environments. This in turn suggests that an important research agenda in VIR will be detailed task analyses, with concomitant specification of functionalities required to support people in accomplishment of their tasks.
Childhood Parental Inputs and the Labor Market Success of Children

We examine the effect of parental inputs on children's labor market outcome measured by the individual fixed effect in the wage equation and the education level obtained. We explicitly control for parental ability and child care time along with parental education, family disruption, childbearing, income, age at birth and race/ethnicity. We use the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, the American Time Use Survey and the American Heritage Time Use Survey. We find intergenerational immobility of education and ability in the labor market. Divorce adversely affects the educational attainment of children and child care time provided by parents does not enhance labor market outcomes of children. Boys are affected by parental age at birth.
Sulfadiazine anuria: Its relief by ureteropyelostomy

Abstract A case of sulfadiazine anuria is reported in which the establishment of urinary drainage by ureteral catheterization having failed in our hands, for technical reasons, the life of the moribund patient was saved by unilateral ureteropyelostomy. The restoration of isolateral renal function was immediate. When anuria occurs during sulfonamide therapy and conservative non-instrumental and instrumental treatment is fruitless within forty-eight hours, surgical drainage of at least one kidney should be instituted without delay. This offers the remaining hope for saving the patient's life, for, with the return to unilateral renal function uremia disappears, and at a suitable subsequent time—preferably within seven to ten days—cystoscopic efforts to unblock the opposite upper urinary channels can be made. If the unilateral operation fails to promote free urinary drainage within twelve to twenty-four hours, promptly and surgically drain the opposite kidney.
The transcriptional regulator PecS from Pectobacterium atrosepticum senses both oxidants and ligands (LB233)

Pectobacterium atrosepticum (erstwhile Erwinia carotovora) is one of the top phytopathogens, responsible for soft rot in potato. The pathogenicity of this bacterium is mainly characterized by secretion of cell wall degrading enzymes, for instance pectinases, cellulases and proteases. It has been shown that PecS, a ligand-responsive MarR family transcription factor, controls expression of the pectinase genes as well as global virulence in the related bacterium E. chrysanthemi (now D. dadantii). PecS specifically binds to the promoter region of PecS and PecM genes leading to repression of both. PecM is responsible for effluxing blue pigment i.e., indigoidine, which is instrumental in neutralizing ROS, produced by the plant as a defense mechanism. By EMSA we show that P. atrosepticum PecS binds to the intergenic region of PecS and PecM with Kd = 1.0 ± 0.1 nM. We speculate that oxidants can attenuate DNA binding by disulfide bond formation between redox-active cysteines at the dimer interface in PecS, as evid...
Molecular-Beam, Laser-RF, Double Resonance Studies of Calcium Monohalide Radicals

The molecular-beam, laser-rf, double-resonance technique has been described [1–3] a number of times. In essence, the occurrence of a radiofrequency (rf) transition in the electronic ground state of the molecule under study is detected by an increase in the laser-induced fluorescence of the molecular beam when the rf is on resonance. The technique makes it possible to measure small energy splittings (normally spin-rotational or hyperfine) in the electronic ground state of a molecule to an absolute precision of 1 kHz. The sensitivity of the technique is high because even a very small increase in fluorescence can be easily seen if the rf is swept repeatedly and digital data-handling techniques are used. The technique is useful for ionic [4] as well as for neutral atoms and molecules.
Sleep-related modification of atrioventricular block: from first-degree to second-degree, Mobitz type II

A 46-year-old man was evaluated for alcohol dependence and abuse of cannabis and benzodiazepines. He reportedly consumed up to 20 units of alcohol per day, as well as clonazepam up to 3 mg per day for insomnia. The patient underwent ambulatory polysomnographic (A-PSG) examination on the same day of the visit. An electrocardiogram revealed a second-degree atrioventricular (AV) block, Mobitz type II, whichwas present continuously during all sleep stages, without modification from non-rapid eyemovement (NREM) to rapid eye movement (REM) sleep (Fig. 1). Conversely, during the awake period, a first-degree atrioventricular block was observed, whichwas confirmed by a diurnal 12-lead electrocardiogram (Fig. 2). A-PSG showed a sleep pattern characterized by a single sleep cycle (Fig. 3, hypnogram), absence of N3, and reduced REM sleep (17.4%; total sleep time = 233 minutes, sleep efficiency = 85%, sleep latency = 29 minutes, wake after sleep onset = 14 minutes). PSG showed no snoring, apnea, hypopnea, or other sleep-related breathing disorder. Toxicologic test results were negative for substances of abuse other than benzodiazepines, and blood ethanol was undetectable. Blood and urine test results were unremarkable. The patient did not complain of physical symptoms that would require cardiological examination, was not under any medical treatments, and did not take other drugs except benzodiazepines. 2. Image analysis
Surface patterns of tetragonal phase FePt thin films from Pt@Fe2O3 core-shell nanoparticles using combined Langmuir-Blodgett and soft lithographic techniques

OAK B204 We present the fabrication of micron-sized patterns of FePt thin films from Pt{at}Fe2O3 core-shell nanoparticles. In a typical procedure, Pt@Fe2O3 core-shell nanoparticles were spread and formed a Langmuir film using water as the subphase. This film was lifted onto polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) stamps with micron-sized patterns of lines, dots and wells, and transferred onto silicon wafers using microcontact printing (u-CP). The patterns of Pt@Fe2O3 core-shell nanoparticles were converted into face-centered tetragonal phase FePt alloy at enhanced temperatures in the presence of 5% hydrogen. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer were used to characterize the patterns and the properties of the final FePt alloy films.
Serum zinc in the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

Previous studies show significantly decreased levels of zinc transporter 1 (ZnT-1) in the brain of subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) but significantly increased ZnT-1 in late stage AD (LAD). However, the reason for the apparent dichotomy is unclear. Based on in vivo studies that show animals provided a zinc (Zn) deficient diet demonstrate decreased brain ZnT-1, we used inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to quantify serum Zn levels from 18 living mild to moderate AD patients (9 men, 9 women), 19 MCI patients (9 men, 10 women) and 16 age-matched normal control (NC) subjects (9 men, 7 women). Zinc levels for all subjects were not significantly different between any of the three subject groups. However, there was a statistically significant decrease of serum Zn (11.7 ± 0.5 μM) in men with MCI compared to women with MCI (13.7 ± 0.6 μM) and NC men (13.9 ± 0.6 μM). Serum Zn levels in probable AD patients were comparable to those in NC subjects. Overall, these data suggest a significant decrease of serum Zn in men with MCI may explain the loss of ZnT-1 observed in previous studies and suggest there may be more pronounced sex differences in MCI than were previously recognized.
Hepatosplenic schistosomiasis mansoni and japonica compared in mice each infected with one pair of worms

Abstract The severity of hepatosplenic schistosomiasis mansoni and japonica was compared in mice each infected with only one pair of worms. 8, 10 and 12 weeks after exposure the mice infected with S. japonicum had a greater fall in body weight, and increase in liver weight, spleen weight and portal pressure than those infected with S. mansoni . In addition they had a fall in haematocrit and serum albumin concentration and a much greater rise in serum globulin concentration. Egg counts revealed that animals with one pair of S. japonicum had almost 10 times as many eggs in their livers as those with one pair of S. mansoni . Under uniform conditions in the murine host, therefore, schistosomiasis japonica is unquestionably a more severe disease than schistosomiasis mansoni, and the primary factor in its greater virulence appears to be the greater egg production of S. japonicum .
Effects of Dyadic Participation and Awareness of Being Monitored on Facial Action during Exposure to Humor

The effects of humor on facial action were studied in a 2 × 3 design (N = 53)—exposure to a comedy or informational audiotape and solitary participation with awareness of being videotaped, or solitary participation without awareness of being videotaped, or dyadic participation with awareness of being videotaped. Means for full-face smiles were higher for solitary subjects aware of being videotaped and those in dyads. Means for sad eyes and mouth were higher for subjects aware of being videotaped in both the humor and information conditions.
Ordered differential fields

Abstract We introduce the abstract notion of an ordered differential field and show that some of the basic asymptotic growth properties of differentiable functions can be discussed within this setting. However, in order to ensure that log x → ∞ as x → ∞, we have to assume that the field of constants is archimedean.
Mood and Attitude Predict Pain Outcomes Following Arthroscopic Knee Surgery

Background Decreased pain represents a clinically important outcome following arthroscopic knee surgery. However, little is known about preoperative mood and attitudinal factors and their potential relationship with pain outcomes.
COMT genotype, gender and cognition in community-dwelling, older adults.

Abstract A common polymorphism (Val158Met) in the gene encoding for the catechol- O -methyltransferase (COMT) enzyme has been associated with differences in prefrontal cognitive function in schizophrenic patients and healthy adults. While several studies indicate that the Met allele is associated with better performance on measures of executive function, working memory and verbal fluency, results have been inconsistent. Furthermore, fewer studies have investigated this relationship in older adults, a group known to experience impairments in prefrontal cognitive functions. Additionally, findings vary according to the gender distribution of study participants. We examined whether COMT genotype interacted with gender to impact cognition in a cohort of 163 healthy, older adults. Memory, verbal ability and areas of prefrontal cognitive function, including attention, speed-of-processing, and executive function, were assessed. We found no significant association between COMT genotype and any cognitive measure. However, gender interacted with COMT genotype to impact cognitive performance. Males homozygous for the Val allele performed better than both the Val/Met and Met/Met groups on measures of delayed recall. Heterozygous women performed better than their homozygous counterparts on the measure of verbal ability. These findings suggest that gender may be an important variable in consideration of the impact of COMT on cognition. Further, when gender is taken into consideration, any negative impact of COMT genotype may extend to cognitive domains other than those associated with prefrontal regions.
ASSIMILATION OF NATURAL BENTHIC SUBSTRATES BY TWO SPECIES OF TADPOLES

Larval anurans are known for having diverse diets, but there have been relatively few studies examining their assimilation of natural foods or how they cope with variation in available resources. In our study, we estimated assimilation of food resources of two species of larval anurans that were presented with benthic substrates from a set of natural ponds. Assimilation was measured during a week-long experiment during which we renewed substrates and collected feces daily. Larvae of wood frogs (Rana sylvatica) and spring peepers (Pseudacris crucifer) were given benthic substrates from ponds shaded by deciduous forest vegetation as well as from unshaded ponds. We measured organic content in the foregut of tadpoles and from their feces. Estimates of assimilation efficiency were lower than those reported for tadpoles consuming artificial food. Both species experienced reduced assimilation efficiency on closed canopy food resources, but did not differ in their abilities to assimilate organic matter from eithe...
Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and steel factor induce phosphorylation of both unique and overlapping signal transduction intermediates in a human factor-dependent hematopoietic cell line.

Steel factor (SF), the ligand for the proto-oncogene c-kit, acts synergistically with GM-CSF or IL-3 to support the growth of normal human hematopoietic progenitor cell. We examined the effect of SF on GM-CSF or IL-3 induced proliferation of a human factor-dependent cell line, MO7. SF supported MO7 cell proliferation as well as IL-3 or GM-CSF alone, and its addition dramatically enhanced (three-to sixfold) maximal GM-CSF or IL-3 stimulated proliferation. SF did not increase the number of affinity of cell surface GM-CSF receptors. We examined several early events of signal tranduction in an effort to elucidate the biochemical mechanisms of synergy of these factors. Since each of these three cytokines is believed to function in part through activation of a tyrosine kinse, we examined their effects on cellular phosphotyrosine containing proteins. Each cytokine induced rapid, transient, and concentration dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of a number of substrates. For GM-CSF and IL-3, these phosphoproteins were indistinguishable (150, 125, 106, 93, 80, 79, 73, 44, 42, and 36 kDa), while SF induced major or minor tyrosine phosphorylation of 205, 140–150, 116, 106, 90, 90, 80, 79, 73, 44, 42, 39, 36, 32 kDa phosphoproteins. Two other signal tranduction intermediates known to be phosphorylated and activated by GM-CSF and IL-3, the 70–75 kDa Raf-1 kinase, and p42 mitogen-activated protein kinase-2 (MAPK) were also phosphorylated by SF. Combinations of GM-CSF or IL-3 with SF did not further increase the phosphorylation of Raf-1 or p42 MAPK when compared to any of the factors alone. In contrast SF, but not GM-CSF or IL-3, induced tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipase C-γ (PLC-γ). These results indicate that SF and GM-CSF/IL-3 have partially overlapping effects on early signal tranducing events, as well as striking differences, such as tyrosine phophorylation of PLC-γ. This cell line should provide a useful model system to investigate the complicated process of hematopoietic growth factor synergy. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Mass spectrometry of lipid molecules

The mechanisms of mass spectrometric fragmentation and their applications to the elucidation of structure of lipids related to fatty acids are reviewed. The mechanism of fragmentation of saturated fatty acids and the mass spectrometric determination of the position of the double bond in unsaturated esters are emphasized. The use of pyrolysis-mass spectrometry for locating double bonds is introduced. Patterns of fragmentation of wax esters and glycerides are also given.
A simple solution to the oxazole problem in virginiamycin M

Abstract By first silylating at C5, 2-methyl-1,3-oxazole-4-carboxylic acid may readily be metallated and alkylated at the ring methyl group.
Correlation of earthquake source parameters inferred from dynamic rupture simulations

[1] We analyzed 315 dynamic strike-slip rupture models computed up to 5.0 Hz to get a quantitative understanding of the correlation and amplitude distributions of parameters describing the earthquake source, such as slip and rupture velocity. To account for the epistemic uncertainty of the problem, we constructed a database of dynamic ruptures computed by ourselves and other authors. This database contains ruptures computed using different models of initial stress, peak stress, and critical slip-weakening distance. Using the set of computed ruptures, we constructed probability density functions (pdfs) for the amplitude distributions of the source parameters and for the correlation between the source parameters. We tried to extract parameter pairs that showed a small variability in the spatial correlation given the large epistemic uncertainty in the input. We only analyzed the areas on the fault with subshear propagation speed. The principal findings are as follows: (1) Final slip amplitude does not show correlation with the local rupture velocity. (2) Final slip amplitude correlates well with risetime. (3) Rupture velocity correlates well with peak slip rate and the duration of the impulsive part of the slip rate function. (4) The pdf of rupture velocity, risetime, and peak slip rate depends on the distance from the nucleation zone. (5) Fracture energy is not the single controlling factor for the rupture velocity; the slope of the linear slip-weakening curve has a significant effect on the rupture velocity. (6) The crack length (length that is slipping at a given time) decreases with the distance from the nucleation zone.
Open-Loop Shaping of a 4K MEMS with Fourier-Domain Pre-Compensation

We describe a computationally efficient Fourier-domain algorithm for influence function compensation and an improved voltage-phase calibration technique that together enable precise open-loop shaping of a 64x64 MEMS deformable mirror.
Momentum, Reversal, and the Trading Behaviors of Institutions

We identify two types of momenta in stock returns - one due to total returns and one due to firm-specific residual returns. Despite similar performances over the first year, these momentum portfolios perform dramatically differently beyond year one. Total-return momentum reverses strongly; residual momentum continues for years. This complexity in return momentum challenges the current theories of momentum. We propose that both momenta are consequences of agency issues in the money management industry and provide empirical support for this economic rationale of momentum in returns. Incentives induce institutions to chase total returns and to underreact to firm-specific news.
Influence of Morphine and Naloxone on Endothelin and its Receptors in Newborn Piglet Brain Vascular Endothelial Cells: Clinical Implications in Neonatal Care

The present study examines the hypothesis that morphine exposure alters newborn brain vascular endothelial cell production of endothelin (ET)-1, as well as the mRNA expression of its receptors. Newborn piglet vascular endothelial cells were treated with morphine (100 ng/mL media), naloxone (100 ng/mL media), or drug-free media (control) for 6, 24, 48, and 96 h. Media was analyzed for ET-1 and big ET-1 levels and the cells were assessed for ETA and ETB receptor mRNA expression. Morphine exposure progressively increased ET-1 production from 6 to 96 h with concurrent reductions in big ET-1 levels starting at 24 h to almost undetectable levels by 96 h. Whereas ETA receptor mRNA expression increased 2-fold at 6 h and 4-fold at 96 h, ETB receptor mRNA expression remained unchanged. Naloxone exposure caused significant decreases in ET-1 levels, whereas an opposite effect was noted in big ET-1 levels, which increased from 6 through 96 h. Naloxone caused a progressive decrease in ETA receptor mRNA expression at 6 h through 96 h and a 2-fold increase in ETB receptor mRNA expression at 48 and 96 h. Increased ET-1 and its receptors in response to morphine may suggest altered cerebrovascular perfusion and brain metabolism in the immature piglet brain.