cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantitative Study of the Chiral Organization of the Phage Genome Induced by the Packaging Motor

Molecular motors that translocate DNA are ubiquitous in nature. During morphogenesis of double-stranded DNA bacteriophages, a molecular motor drives the viral genome inside a protein capsid. Several models have been proposed for the three-dimensional geometry of the packaged genome, but very little is known of the signature of the molecular packaging motor. For instance, biophysical experiments show that in some systems, DNA rotates during the packaging reaction, but most current biophysical models fail to incorporate this property. Furthermore, studies including rotation mechanisms have reached contradictory conclusions. In this study, we compare the geometrical signatures imposed by different possible mechanisms for the packaging motors: rotation, revolution, and rotation with revolution. We used a previously proposed kinetic Monte Carlo model of the motor, combined with Brownian dynamics simulations of DNA to simulate deterministic and stochastic motor models. We find that rotation is necessary for the accumulation of DNA writhe and for the chiral organization of the genome. We observe that although in the initial steps of the packaging reaction, the torsional strain of the genome is released by rotation of the molecule, in the later stages, it is released by the accumulation of writhe. We suggest that the molecular motor plays a key role in determining the final structure of the encapsidated genome in bacteriophages.
Chapter 40 – Order Diptera

The order Diptera, the ‘true’ or two-winged flies, is among the most speciose insect orders, containing nearly 160,000 described species globally. At least 30 families occur primarily or exclusively in aquatic habitats, including familiar groups such as black flies, midges, mosquitoes, and horse flies. Their diversity in species richness, structure, life habits, and economic significance is associated with remarkable habitat use, both terrestrial and aquatic. In this chapter we discuss only Diptera associated with waterbodies, including coastal marine, saline and estuarine waters, lakes of all depths, ponds and marshes, cold and hot springs, seepages and groundwater zones, stagnant ground-pools, plant-held waters, saturated wood, and streams of every current velocity. We review the general biology of aquatic Diptera, including their structure, life cycles, reproduction and behavior, and provide a synopsis of collection, rearing, and preservation techniques.
The IGNITE Trial: Participant Recruitment Lessons Prior to SARS-CoV-2

Abstract Full and diverse participant enrollment is critical to the success and generalizability of all large-scale Phase III trials. Recruitment of sufficient participants is among the most significant challenges for many studies. The novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic has further changed and challenged the landscape for clinical trial execution, including screening and randomization. The Investigating Gains in Neurocognition in an Intervention Trial of Exercise (IGNITE) study has been designed as the most comprehensive test of aerobic exercise effects on cognition and brain health. Here we assess recruitment into IGNITE prior to the increased infection rates in the United States, and examine new challenges and opportunities for recruitment with a goal of informing the remaining required recruitment as infection containment procedures are lifted. The results may assist the design and implementation of recruitment for future exercise studies, and outline opportunities for study design that are flexible in the face of emerging threats.
Automated Device for Uncapping Multiple-Size Bioanalytical Sample Tubes Designed to Reduce Technician Strain and Increase Productivity:

Technicians in a commercial laboratory manually uncap up to 700 sample tubes daily in preparation for bioanalytical testing. Manually twisting off sample tube caps not only is a time-consuming task, but also poses increased risk for muscle fatigue and repetitive-motion injuries. An automated device capable of uncapping sample tubes at a rate faster than the current workflow would be valuable for minimizing strain on technicians' hands and saving time. Although several commercial sample tube-uncapping products exist, they are not always usable for a workload that uses a mix of tube sizes and specific workflow. A functioning uncapping device was developed that can semi-automatically uncap sample tubes with three different heights and diameters and was compatible with the workflow in a commercial laboratory setting. Under limited testing, the average success rate with uncapping each of the three sample tube sizes or a mix of them was 90% or more, more than three times faster than manual uncapping, and met standard acceptance criteria using mass spectrometry. Our device with its current performance is still a prototype, requiring further development. It showed promise for ergonomic benefit to the laboratory technicians, however, reducing the necessity to manually unscrew caps.
Category-sensitive actions in interaction

This article is concerned with how social categories (e.g., wife, mother, sister, tenant, guest) become visible through the actions that individuals perform in social interaction. Using audio and v...
Errata to “Quantifying Tremor in Essential Tremor Using Inertial Sensors Validation of an Algorithm”

In the above article [1] , the following disclosures should have appeared. Dietrich Haubenberger is now employed by Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc., San Diego, CA 92130, USA. James McNames is an employee of APDM, Portland, OR 97201, USA, a company that may have a commercial interest in the results of this research and technology. This potential conflict of interest has been reviewed and managed by OHSU.
SiO2/SiC supports with tailored thermal conductivity to reveal the effect of surface temperature on Ru-catalyzed CO2 methanation

Abstract The high exothermicity of the CO2 methanation reaction and management of the heat produced at the nanoscale could undermine this technology from reaching its full potential. Here, we developed an elegant strategy to study and address heat effects by tailoring the thermal conductivity of silica-coated silicon carbide (SiO2/SiC) through careful oxidation of the SiC scaffold. This process slowly grows a SiO2 layer with a thermal conductivity two orders of magnitude lower than the SiC core, while keeping other support properties constant. Decreasing the thermal conductivity by 110 W m−1 K−1 caused the methane selectivity to drop by approximately 22 % for the corresponding Ru-based catalysts. A good agreement was found between experimental results and a computational model combining thermodynamics, reaction kinetics, and heat transport principles. Stability tests showed that Ru supported on SiO2/SiC calcined for 1 h retained 88 % selectivity for 100 h at a space velocity of 33000 h−1.
Women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and the COVID-19 Freeze

During the COVID-19 freeze prohibiting large group meetings, many women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints face unique burdens, as well as the common burdens. Although not universally true, women in the Latter-day Saint community are more likely than men to bear the responsibility for procuring and preparing food and other necessities, as well as home schooling. Women who do not have the network created by paid work may suffer loneliness and isolation more than others. More importantly, LDS women face barriers to religious observance. Women’s experience in religion is a significant issue. More than half of the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are female; more than half of the adult females are single; and approximately 80% of active single members (in certain age groups) are female. Although the inability to interact with others, attend meetings, and participate in religious activities affects everyone, women may have a different relationship with established worship communities than do men. Beyond the social and support services that arise in typical church activities, other adjustments in core religiosity may affect women. Notwithstanding the self-directed worship concept, female members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints may, in quarantine, experience particular hardships in their religious observance because they lack a community of hands-on support and interactive learners. A particular poignant issue is weekly access to the ordinance of the sacrament. Because Sacrament Meetings are unavailable, the Church has allowed priesthood holders to conduct the administration of the sacrament in their homes. This fills the gap for many, but not all female members. Previously, a woman who could attend meetings and the temple by herself is now tied to the religious behavior of a man. The most obvious quarantine challenge for single women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is to find a priesthood holder to administer the sacrament every week. Issues also arise for women with a priesthood holder in the house. If their priesthood holder lacks the discipline, desire, and motivation to make sacrament worship a central part of the day, women are directly impacted by such decisions. Congregation leaders are not going to question whether she indeed has access to the sacrament, and she is unlikely to involve them and try to explain. In more extreme circumstances, some men may use their role in the family in destructive ways, such as withholding administering the sacrament or using the schedule of when the sacrament will be available as a means to exert control or for manipulation. A woman, in addition, may know the priesthood holder in her home is not worthy. Notwithstanding the lock down on group meetings and activities, various options are available to create a space for women to participate in religious practices without having to rely on individual priesthood holders.
Communication-Adaptive Stochastic Gradient Methods for Distributed Learning

This paper targets developing algorithms for solving distributed learning problems in a communication-efficient fashion, by generalizing the recent method of lazily aggregated gradient (LAG) to deal with stochastic gradient — justifying the name of the new method LASG. While LAG is effective at reducing communication without sacrificing the rate of convergence, we show it only works with deterministic gradients. We introduce new rules and analysis for LASG that are tailored for stochastic gradients, so it effectively saves downloads, uploads, or both for distributed stochastic gradient descent. LASG achieves impressive empirical performance — it typically saves total communication by an order of magnitude. LASG can be used together with gradient quantization to bring more savings.
Internal Mammary Artery Atherosclerosis: Use of Optical Coherence Tomography to Characterize Lesions and Guide Intervention

A 59-year-old man with prior coronary artery bypass surgery underwent cardiac catheterization for worsening angina. Angiogram showed severe native coronary artery disease with 2 patent vein grafts. However, a left internal mammary artery graft to the left anterior descending artery was found to
Weather pioneers : the Signal Corps station at Pikes Peak

At 14,110 feet, the weather station atop Pikes Peak, Colorado, was the highest in the world in 1873. Young men trained by the Signal Corps took turns living year-round on the isolated mountain, where they endured loneliness, primitive living conditions, lack of financial support and appreciation, and deteriorating health. Most did so with dedication and good humor. Some suffered frostbitten hands, feet and ears when they became lost on the snowy mountain trail; others were jolted by lightning strikes. One man eventually died; another, evidently unsuited to the solitary life, went mad. Although weather records had been kept by private individuals and some universities since the early 1800s both here and abroad, a full U.S. weather reporting service had to await development and expansion of the electric telegraph. Both farmers and coastal shippers pressed the U.S. Congress to establish a weather prediction facility. By 1870 a network of such stations was in place. By late summer of 1873, workmen had finished the crude two-room station at the top of Pikes Peak. A telegraph line snaked through brush, trees, and boulders to the lofty summit. When daily logs and research records were completed, some of the Pikes Peak weather men amused themselves by writing tall tales, expanding on their already unusual adventures. Americans loved their stories and seldom disavowed the truth of sea monsters in Pikes Peak lakes, plagues of mountain rats, and mysterious volcanic eruptions. Their problems with governmental bureaucracy were at once humorous and sad. With fortitude and imagination these early meteorologists laid the groundwork for today's sophisticated science of data-gathering satellites and computer models.
土壌に施用した Promecarb のトウモロコシ植物体内における分布および代謝

14C-Promecarb を容器内土壌の表層1インチの間に施用し, トウモロコシを播種した. 成育に従い放射能は根より吸収され, 茎葉に分布した. 90日の試験期間中, 本剤はイソチモールおよびその他数種の未確認有機溶媒可溶性物質に代謝された.
Visualization of geometrical transformations in,projections with elevations

This paper describes how 3-D views, drawn by AutoCAD, can be helpful in visualization of geometrical transformations in projections with elevations. Example of solving tasks for the intersection between a line and a plane by using the method of auxiliary projection is given.
The Unexamined Life in the Era of Big Data: Toward a UDAAP for Data

Data has become the currency of the internet. A user can receive valuable services by providing nothing more than the credentials they wish to use with the web site. But the companies that provide these services are valued in the millions and sometimes billions of dollars. Users generally understand that they are agreeing to allow the web site to show them advertisements, but are unaware of that some sites make money by selling data that the user generates by interacting with the site. Despite “do not track” features, companies gather their personal information on their users, sometimes without the user’s knowledge. Surveys show that consumers enjoy the benefits that come from online tracking, but are uncomfortable when they are tracked without their knowledge. But the benefits of big data go far beyond advertising and are too great to ignore. Therefore, the challenge in creating rules to regulate the exchange of data for services online lies in balancing the benefits of data against the privacy interests of consumers.This paper reviews the benefits and risks created by the analytical power that big data can provide, current methods of collection and use, and the legal framework currently in place. It then draws upon regulations developed in the banking industry to suggest risk based, disclosure oriented regulatory guidelines for this new online “currency.”
FAB: enterprise storage systems on a shoestring

A Federated Array of Bricks (FAB) is a logical disk system that provides the reliability and performance of enterprise-class disk arrays, at a fraction of the cost and with better scalability. The unit of deployment in FAB is a brick, a small rack-mounted storage appliance built from commodity components including disks, a CPU, NVRAM, and network cards. Bricks federate themselves in a completely decentralized manner to provide users with a set of logical volumes. This paper motivates FAB and introduces our data replication algorithm based on majority-voting. We argue that majority voting is practical for ultra-reliable, high-throughput storage systems like FAB, and present several techniques that improve both the performance and space overhead of our protocol.
The extendability of matchings in strongly regular graphs

A graph $G$ of even order $v$ is called $t$-extendable if it contains a perfect matching, $t k/2$), where $\lambda$ is the number of common neighbors of any two adjacent vertices and $\mu$ is the number of common neighbors of any two non-adjacent vertices. Our results are close to being best possible as there are strongly regular graphs of valency $k$ that are not $\lceil k/2\rceil $-extendable. We show that the extendability of many strongly regular graphs of valency $k$ is at least $\lceil k/2 \rceil -1$ and we conjecture that this is true for all primitive strongly regular graphs. We obtain similar results for strongly regular graphs of odd order.
Scapular Winging: A Great Masquerader of Shoulder Disorders: AAOS Exhibit Selection.

Background The incidence of scapular winging is unclear, but it may be more common than previously thought. It can be difficult to diagnose because the presenting complaint and physical examination may direct the practitioner toward more common shoulder and neck conditions. Ongoing scapular dysfunction may result in inappropriate or failed surgery. Our goals were to (1) describe the common misdiagnoses (instability, labral abnormality, impingement, and cervical spine disease), the clinical scenarios and examination findings leading to diagnostic difficulty, the definitive treatment options available, and the clinical outcomes and complications; and (2) review the important aspects of the patient history, physical examination of the scapula, and associated studies necessary to make the correct diagnosis of scapular winging. Methods We reviewed the literature relative to, and our own experience with, the treatment of scapular winging and identified a series of patients with this condition who were initially misdiagnosed with other shoulder or spine abnormalities. In our literature search, only nine clinical studies reported on a series of patients with scapular winging that was initially misdiagnosed or had a delay in diagnosis (n = 53 patients). We examined these cases for presenting or preexisting diagnoses and for surgical procedures that had been performed before the diagnosis of scapular winging. Results For patients ultimately diagnosed with scapular winging, initial presentations and diagnoses included rotator cuff disorders (20%), glenohumeral instability (8%), peripheral nerve disorders (6%), cervical spine disease (6%), acromioclavicular disorders (6%), thoracic outlet syndrome (4%), and unknown or unspecified (41%). The most common surgical procedures performed before definitive scapular winging treatment were rotator cuff (22%), instability (22%), nerve (14%), acromioclavicular (12%), cervical spine (5%), and thoracic outlet (4%) procedures. Conclusions Clinically, scapular winging often mimics more common shoulder abnormalities and can result in unnecessary or unsuccessful surgical procedures. Diagnosis can be readily achieved with simple physical examination and specific provocative maneuvers in conjunction with electromyography and nerve conduction studies. Prompt diagnosis and recognition can avoid substantial shoulder dysfunction.
Treating temperature-sensitivity effects of pressure-sensitive paint measurements

While pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) is evolving into a viable alternative to conventional pressure taps for surface pressure measurements, the inherent temperature-sensitivity of the coating’s fluorescence intensity is a prominent drawback. Unless the PSP is applied to a temporally and spatially isothermal surface, this inherent temperature-sensitivity effect severely limits the accuracy of the two-dimensional pressure distribution obtained from the coating. In this study, the pressure- and temperature-sensitivity effects of three commonly used PSPs and two temperature-sensitive paints (TSPs) are evaluated over pressure and temperature ranges found in many compressible flow experiments. In addition, four PSP data reduction methods are compared by applying PSP to a transverse jet-in-crossflow experiment. Each data reduction method encompasses a different degree of temperature correction. Conventional pressure tap measurements are used to evaluate the accuracy of each method.
Mineralization of organic compounds at low concentrations by filamentous fungi

The mineralization of low concentrations of phenol and glucose by Penicillium sp., Fusarium oxysporum , and Rhizoctonia sp. was measured in liquid culture. At concentrations of TO to 500 ng per ml, the rate constant of mineralization of phenol by Penicillium sp. decreased with a lowering of the initial substrate concentration. The lower the inoculum density, the lower was the maximum rate of mineralization of 3 g of phenol ml −1 and the longer the acclimation period. The curves of mineralization of phenol by Penicillium sp. and of low of glucose by F. oxysporum and Rhizoctonia sp. were usually fitted best by the logistic and not the first-order model of the Monod family of kinetic m logistic model also provided the best fit to data depicting mineralization of phenol by Penicillium sp. inoculated into sterile sand. The parameters estimated by the logistic model, however, were not always consistent with the measurements. Thus, this form of the logistic model derived from the Monod equation, originally developed for bacteria, may not be appropriate for describing the biodegradation of organic compounds by filamentous fungi.
Molecular cytogenetic aspects of hematological malignancies: clinical implications.

The field of molecular cytogenetics has had a great impact on many aspects of medical and basic sciences. During the past 30 years, the application of molecular cytogenetic methodologies has resulted in remarkable advances in the field of cancer genetics and cytogenetics. These advances have led to the establishment of chromosome patterns as diagnostic and prognostic indexes in an array of acute and chronic leukemias and lymphomas, as key information in BMT, and as guides for the localization of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes that are apparently responsible for the development of neoplastic states. With such information, the physician is in a more favorable position to devise therapy, appraise diagnosis, and plan follow-up.
Extinction of near-limit premixed flames in microgravity

The extinction characteristics of near-limit premixed flames were studied both experimentally and numerically under microgravity conditions in the opposed-jet counterflow configuration. The study assessed the synergistic effects of heat loss and strain rate on flame extinction and their implications on the existence of fundamental flammability limits. An experimental methodology was established appropriate for extinction studies of near-limit, weakly strained, premixed flames in microgravity. A novel approach was developed for the accurate determination of the mixture composition and the determination of extinction conditions. Experiments were conducted for CH 4 /air and C 3 H 8 /air mixtures, in order to assess Le number effects. Global extinction, strain rates were determined for large nozzle separation distances, in order to minimize upstream heat losses. The numerical simulations of the experiments were conduced along the stagnationstreamline and included the use of detailed descripion of chemical kinetics, molecular transport, and different models of thermal radiation. The original one-dimensional PREMIX and stagnation flow codes were modified to allow for one-pint continuation, so that turning point, extinction behavior could be calculated. The numerical results showed that for Le Le 4 /air flames was found to be minor. The experimental data are also in good agreement with the simulations.
Geometric probability approach to the characterization and analysis of microcracking in rocks

Abstract Microcrack statistical data required for the modelling of thermophysical properties and failure behavior of rocks have been obtained by a geometric probability approach and by direct measurement on plane sections. A comparison of the two shows that the former is efficient and provides reasonably accurate data on microcrack surface area and its orientational variation. Methods are outlined by which theoretical predictions on stress-induced anisotropy and energetic balance can be compared with quantitative electron microscopy data. The preliminary analysis shows that stress-induced anisotropy predicted by the ‘sliding crack’ model agrees with the stereological data. Energetic considerations indicate that inelastic energy in gabbro samples deformed at pressures above 250 MPa cannot be solely dissipated by tensile microcracking. Plastic energy taken up by kinking instability (involving a plastic strain of several per cents) or frictional dissipation (involving shear slip of several microns) can explain the observations.
Dynamic simulation of a shallow-jetting fluidized-bed coal combustor

Abstract The dynamic characteristics of a shallow-jetting fluidized-bed coal combustor were simulated. The model considered the combustor to consist of three distinct phases, i.e., jet, bubble and emulsion phases. The model took into account the effects of lateral solids mixing, jetting, air flow rate, feeder size and particle density on the combustor behavior. The simulation results revealed that in a two-phase model incorporating grid representation, the bubble behavior is not the controlling factor governing the performance of the combustor. Instead, its behavior is influenced profoundly by the grid behavior, e.g., jet height and jet-to-emulsion mass transfer rate, which are strongly affected by the operating velocity. The results also indicated that enlargement of the feeder area is an effective method in reducing the lateral concentration distribution in the bed.
On the false alarm of planar K-function when analyzing urban crime distributed along streets

Many social and economic activities, especially those in urban areas, are subject to location restrictions imposed by existing street networks. To analyze the spatial patterns of these urban activities, the restrictions imposed by the street networks need to be taken into account. K-function is a method commonly used for general point pattern analysis as well as crime pattern study. However, applying the planar K-function to analyze the spatial autocorrelation patterns of urban activities that are typically distributed along streets could result in false alarm problems. Depending on the nature of the urban street networks and the distribution of the urban activities, either positive or negative false alarm might be introduced. Acknowledging that many urban crimes are typically distributed along streets, this paper compares the traditional planar K-function with a network K-function for crime pattern analysis. The patterns of vehicle thefts in San Antonio, Texas are examined as a case study.
The electromagnetic microbarograph and its performance

At the Ninth Annual Meeting of the Eastern Section of the Seismological Society of America held at Fordham University, April 30 and May 1, 1934, the following resolution was passed: “RESOLVED, That the Eastern Section of the Seismological Society of America, cognizant of the importance of increasing our knowledge of the nature and causes of microseisms, urges the development of suitable recording instruments and the continuances of studies of this phenomenon, and that the Section urges the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey and the Jesuit Seismological Association to set up necessary instruments for recording microseisms at the Hawaiian Islands and at Saint Louis University, respectively.”
The effects of cell assembly compression on the performance of carbon electrochemical double-layer capacitor electrodes

Abstract Our previous work concluded that the application of force altered the physical structure of the activated carbon electrodes, which resulted in a decrease in the accessible surface area and a displacement of the electrolyte. In this work, the response that different carbon material electrodes exhibit to an applied force was evaluated. Activated carbon powders possess different porous structures, which would exhibit different behaviors when subjected to an applied force and after the release of that force. Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used to characterize the response behaviors of the different carbons. Furthermore, a porosimetry analysis was conducted on the carbon material of the electrode before and after the application of force. It was concluded that the application of force shifted the pore distribution toward overall smaller pores through a compression of the porous structure of the carbon. This resulted in a decrease in the more easily accessible surface area, which was exhibited as a decrease in the capacitance values as calculated from the cyclic voltammetry data. There was no longer sufficient time to access the now smaller powers at the given time scale of the cyclic voltammetry analysis, which negatively impacted the formation of the double layer.
Thermal Analysis for the proto-VIPRAM00 chip

Thermal analysis has been essential in designing reliable ICs. This becomes even more critical when multiple thin dies are stacked together to form a 3D integration. This paper presents our work on thermal modeling, analysis, and simulations on the first 2D prototype of Vertically Integrated PRAM (proto-VIPRAM00) chip. We proposed a sub-circuit-block level thermal simulation approach using Fourier heat flow model, where one CAM cell in proto-VIPRAM00 is used as a unit heat source. This approach significantly reduces the simulation time and computing resources while providing efficient and accurate thermal/temperature simulations in both 2D and 3D IC scenarios.
Creating and sustaining a strategic partnership: A model for human resource development

Human resource development (HRD) leaders have been challenged to become strategic business partners in order to link people, strategy, and performance. In spite of a critical need, there has not been an empirically testable systemic framework that pulls together the wide variety of strategic imperatives that have been suggested. This article presents a conceptual model identifying the essential system elements that provide a framework for how HRD might create and then sustain its full leadership potential as a strategic partner.
A specific and sensitive fluorometric assay for tryptophan oxygenase.

Abstract A spectrophotofluorometric assay was used to measure tryptophan oxygenase activity in several species. The fluorescent assay depends on the conversion of the product of the reaction, N-formyl- l -kynurenine, to anthranilate by means of the coupling enzymes kynurenine formamidase and kynureninase. These enzymes are easily obtained from l -tryptophan-induced N. crassa; and the product, anthranilate, is readily separated by organic extraction from other tryptophan catabolites and easily identified fluorometrically. With this assay, tryptophan oxygenase has been demonstrated in vitro for the first time in N. crassa.
Reactive metabolites of desipramine and clomipramine: The kinetics of formation and reactivity with DNA.

Abstract Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), along with phenothyazines and some industrial chemicals, are shown to react with enzymes that exhibit peroxidase activity. These reactions result in the formation of reactive intermediates having unpaired electrons. The peroxidase oxidation and reactivity of two TCAs, desipramine and clomipramine, were investigated. As a model of peroxidase, horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was employed. The products of the peroxidase catalyzed oxidation of desipramine and clomipramine were identified as N-dealkylated compounds iminodibenzyl and 3-chloroiminodibenzyl using the GC/MS technique. Both drugs formed broad UV/vis absorption spectra in the presence of HRP and H2O2, indicating the formation of a radical cations—reactive intermediate of the oxidation reaction. The dynamics of the formation of the desipramine intermediate was studied using UV/vis spectroscopy. The extinction coefficient was measured for the reactive intermediate, 7.80 × 103 M−1 cm−1, as well as the apparent Michaelis–Menten and catalytic constants, 4.4 mM and 2.3 s−1, respectively. Both desipramine and clomipramine degraded DNA in the presence of HRP/H2O2, as was revealed by agarose gel electrophoresis and PCI extraction. Manipulating the kinetic parameters of drug’s radical formation and determining the extent of degradation to biomolecules could be potentially used for designing effective agents exhibiting specific reactivity.
Abstract A18: p53 regulates epithelial-mesenchymal transition through microRNAs targeting ZEB1 and ZEB2

Abstract p53 suppresses tumor progression and metastasis. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a key process in tumor progression and metastasis. The transcription factors ZEB1 and ZEB2 promote EMT. Here we show that p53 suppresses EMT by repressing expression of ZEB1 and ZEB2. By profiling 92 primary hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) and 9 HCC cell lines, we found that p53 upregulates microRNAs including miR-200 and miR-192 family members. The miR-200 family members transactivated by p53 then repress ZEB1/2 expression. p53-regulated miR-192 family members also repress ZEB2 expression. Inhibition or over-expression of the microRNAs affects p53-regulated EMT by altering ZEB1 and ZEB2 expression. Our findings indicate that p53 can regulate EMT, and that p53-regulated microRNAs are critical mediators of p53-regulated EMT. Citation Format: Taewan Kim, Tae Jin Lee, Young-Jun Jeon, Pascal Pineau, Anne Dejean, Carlo Maria Croce. p53 regulates epithelial-mesenchymal transition through microRNAs targeting ZEB1 and ZEB2 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Noncoding RNAs and Cancer; 2012 Jan 8-11; Miami Beach, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(2 Suppl):Abstract nr A18.
Immunopathology of X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome

The immunopathogenesis of 25 kindreds affecting 100 males with the X-linked lymphoprolif erative syndrome (XT P) is being studied comprehensively by our registry and laboratory group. XLP is a combined variable immune deficiency with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) induced phenotypes of: (1) fatal infectious mononucleosis (IM), (2) chronic IM progressive to malignant lymphoma, (3) acute IM progressive to acquired agammaglobulinemia or (4) malignant lymphoma. Cytogenetic studies of peripheral blood lymphocytes from 15 surviving males and 21 carrier females reveal random karyotype errors in several kindreds. Often polyclonal Ig or selective IgM increases and lymphocytosis with plasmacytoid forms typifies the IM phenotypes. Weakly reactive EBV-specific antibodies are found and anti-EB nuclear antigen is lacking. Antibodies to EBV are paradoxically elevated in female carriers. Initially all lymphoid tissues show immunoblastic proliferation with plasma cell differentiation and focal to extensive necrosis. Thymus gland and other lymphoid organs become depleted in T cell regions and Hassall’s corpuscles may become destroyed. Multinucleated giant cells may be seen destroying the corpuscles or calcified corpuscles are found. The lymphoid infiltrates and lesions resemble graft-versus-host response in the fatal IM phenotype. Extensive necrosis in lymph nodes and deficient Ig secretion of B-cells characterize acquired agammaglobulinemia phenotypes. The malignant lymphomas span the spectrum of B cell differentiation with most being immunoblastic sarcomas. One case probably was monoclonal thus far, others are being studied. EBV DNA hybridization of tissues from 7 patients with fatal IM revealed 1 to 20 EBV genome equivalents per cell. The patients lacked appropriate EBV antibody responses. Our studies of XLP support the hypothesis that immune deficiency the EBV permits chronic and fatal lymphoproliferative diseases in XLP following EBV infections. Owing to this knowledge, rational bases for prevention by genetic counseling and by providing high titer gammaglobulin and antiviral therapy is being attempted.
Darwin, Dogs and DNA: Freshman Writing About Biology

We describe a successful interdepartmental program at a major research-oriented university that melds freshman writing with freshman biology to the significant benefit of both disciplines. Extensive, repeated feedback on individual student writing projects from two instructors, one a humanities professor, one a biology professor, appears to work synergistically so that learning by the students is significantly enhanced. Particulars derived from five years of experience with intensive, student-centered strategy are included.
Catalytic activity of anti-ground state antibodies, antibody subunits, and human autoantibodies.

Catalytic antibodies may be produced over the natural course of antibody-affinity maturation by placement of chemically reactive residues in antibody-active sites by somatic hypermutation or V-D-J-gene rearrangement. This hypothesis has received support from recent observations on the chemical reactivity of antibodies to vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), DNA, and steroid-and dinitrophenyl-esters. Recent studies reveal that monoclonal antibodies raised against the ground state of VIP can accelerate the cleavage of peptide bonds. The light-chain (L-chain) subunit of human autoantibodies display increased hydrolytic rate and diminished VIP-binding affinity compared to the parent antibody, consistent with increased turnover owing to weaker binding of the substrate ground state. These observations reveal an essential limitation of catalytic antibodies, i.e., large turnover rates may be associated with diminished substrate specificity. The hydrolysis of VIP by IgG purified by affinity chromatography from asthma patients and nonasthmatic controls was compared. IgG from the majority of asthma patients displayed VIP-hydrolyzing activity. Vmax values for IgG from asthmatics tended to be higher than those from the nonasthmatic group. In principle, catalysis by antibodies may be an important mediator of immunological defense, regulation, and autoimmune dysfunction. The verification of these possibilities will require studies that utilize efficient assays of antibody catalysis during experimental immunization and autoimmune disease, as well as mechanistic investigation of catalysis by antibodies and their subunits.
The price effects of secondary offerings of senior securities and warrants

Abstract We examine the abnormal price reactions for the securities of firms whose senior securities and warrants are sold in secondary offerings during the period 1965–1986. In our sample, secondary offers by insiders reveal adverse information about firm value while trades by other investors do not. This evidence is consistent with the hypothesis that secondary offers are made by informed traders with superior information about a firm's value and by investors who trade for liquidity reasons alone. No evidence in support of the price pressure hypothesis is found.
Responsibility for necessities

It is commonly held that no one can be morally responsible for a necessary truth. In this paper, I will provide various examples that cast doubt on this idea. I also show that one popular argument for the incompatibility of moral responsibility and determinism (van Inwagen’s Direct Argument) fails given my examples.
GEOMETRIC MORPHOMETRICS OF THE SKULL ROOF OF STEREOSPONDYLS (AMPHIBIA: TEMNOSPONDYLI)

Abstract: Geometric morphometric analysis using relative warps is applied to the skull roof of 62 species of stereospondyls and their closest outgroups (i.e. basal archegosauriforms) from among temnospondyl amphibians. Twenty-one landmarks and five taxonomic groups are used for comparisons. Their skull evolution is quantified in a morphospace defined by two relative warps axes. The majority of groups show poor concordance between morphological and phylogenetic distances. The only exception is represented by Yates and Warren's study of stereospondyl relationships, in which concordance is high. Only basal archegosauriforms and rhinesuchids show significant overlap in morphospace, although this might be due to low sample sizes. Regression of estimated mean disparity against taxon sample size shows that species within both the trematosauroid and the rhytidostean groups are more widely dispersed in morphospace than species belonging to any of the remaining stereospondyl groups. Stereospondyl skull evolution was characterized by divergence between major clades and convergence within those clades. Changes in patterns of morphospace occupation through time agree with the hypothesis of an ‘explosive’ radiation in the early Early Triassic, after the extinction of basal archegosauriforms at the end of the Permian.
Activation of methaemoglobin peroxidase by inositol hexaphosphate.

THE effects of organic phosphates such as ATP, 2,3-DPG, and inositol hexaphosphate (IHP) on the properties of reduced haemoglobin have been recognised for several years and have been the subject of intense investigation1–3 Perutz has recently suggested that at least one of these molecules, IHP, may also interact with methaemoglobin4, 5. He concludes on the basis of optical and near infrared difference spectra that at acid pH, IHP should cause methaemoglobin to change conformation from its normal oxyhaemoglobin-like structure to a deoxyhaemoglobin-like structure. Furthermore, he contends that this change in conformation should be accompanied by an increase in the percentage of high-spin iron (III).
Export Performance, Labor Standards and Institutions: Evidence from a Dynamic Panel Data Model

I investigate the role of labor standards in international trade. While the literature has used many different measures of labor standards, I use two: the rate of work injuries and the rate of strikes and lockouts — allowing me to construct both measures for 112 countries from 1980 until 2004. This allows dynamic panel data methods to be used in estimation. Three measures of the quality of institutions are also used for the same period: the number of years the chief executive is in office, the concentration of a country’s legislature measured by the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index, and whether the legislature is controlled by a party representing a special interest. The results show that countries with better labor standards and institutions do trade more — their exports to GDP ratio is higher.
Teaching medical interviewing to patients: the other side of the encounter.

Abstract Objectives This paper describes the development and pilot testing of a communication skills curriculum based on medical student curriculum and modified for use with patients. Methods Six key concepts from our introductory medical education communication skills curriculum were identified. The core knowledge and skills related to these concepts were reorganized into six modules, including presentation materials, handouts and active learning components. The curriculum was pilot tested with three independent groups of non-medical participants, representing a broad cross-section of the community. Results Participants reported a high level of satisfaction; over 80% found the program helpful for learning new information and skills, and 92% for working with their physicians. Over 90% would recommend the program to others. Participant self-assessments revealed the greatest change in knowledge of medical interviewing. Skill changes were greatest in expressing emotion and efficiently telling the medical story. The pilot tests also highlighted the importance of other issues related to recruitment and health literacy. Conclusions This project demonstrates that key concepts underlying doctor–patient communications can be simplified and repackaged for use from the patient's perspective. Practice implications Similar curricula can empower patients from all walks of life to better communicate with their health care providers and enhance their healthcare experience.
Applying Capital Budgeting Techniques to Mergers

The most important capital budgeting decision a firm may make is a merger or acquisition. Yet the literature in finance provides little coverage of the topic. Mergers are frequently analyzed on the basis of the exchange rate determination and the impact on earnings per share. Though this topic is covered in the latter part of the article, the main emphasis is on the capital budgeting aspects of a merger analysis. Thus, the key metric to be considered is free cash flow and not earnings per share. Also, the article considers the importance of residual value or the value of the target firm after the traditional 5 or 10 years of cash flow or earnings analysis. By ignoring residual value, as over 50% of Fortune 500 companies do, it is implicitly being assigned a value of zero. This neglect may substantially understate the true value of the target. The article also points out the fallacy of considering relative price/earnings (P/E) ratios on postmerger EPS.
Atomization of carbon containing species in the inductively coupled plasma

A sample introduction system was designed to enable measurable continuous flows of carbonaceous vapors and other gases into the 1.0 kW inductively coupled plasma. A monochromatic imaging spectrometer CCD-system provided spatially resolved carbon atomic emission signals. The carbon signals from pairs of separately introduced samples with equal elemental but different molecular composition, were compared to decide whether local dissociation equilibrium exists in the plasma. The results largely support this hypothesis. Further, the degree of carbon atomization, at an O/C ratio above unity, was found to be approximately 50%, in agreement with previous work.
Characterization and expression of the recombination activating genes ( rag1 and rag2 ) of zebrafish

The closely linked recombination activating genes, rag1 and rag2, encode components of the recombinase involved in V(D)J recombination of the immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor genes. These genes are expressed together exclusively in immature lymphocytes and are useful markers for following the development of lymphoid tissues. We cloned the rag locus of the zebrafish Danio rerio and sequenced the open reading frames of the rag1 and rag2 genes. Although the gene organization is similar to that in other species, the rag1 gene is unusual in possessing two introns within the coding region. In another teleost, the rainbow trout, the rag1 gene is interrupted by a single intron. Introns are not present in the rag1 gene of any other species examined to date. Expression of both rag1 and rag2 begins late in embryonic development, on day 4, by northern RNA blot analysis. Expression of rag1 was detected in the adult zebrafish thymus, pronephros, mesonephros, and ovary. This pattern of expression is consistent with previous histological studies of adult teleosts, which implicate the kidney as the major site of hematopoiesis and the thymus as the major lymphocyte-containing organ.
The “Frog” and the “Pond”: A Team Based Perspective on Social Comparison Theory

Using social comparison theory and employing a “frog-pond” perspective, we argue that social comparisons in the workplace are dependent on relative individual performance, relative team performance, and the availability of external information. We argue that relative individual performance positively impacts employees’ self-evaluations and this relationship is further influenced by relative team performance such that the greatest evaluations will occur when individual and team performance are both high. Additionally, using the literature on upward and downward social comparisons, we argue that employees with relatively high individual performance will utilize external information for social comparisons when it is available, whereas those with relatively low individual performance will disregard external information and instead concentrate on individual and team performance. We examine our hypotheses through utilizing an in-box exercise with a sample of 322 participants.