cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transduction Mechanisms in Pacinian Corpuscles

Since their detection by Lehman in 1741 (cited by Pallie, et al., 1970), a wealth of information has been obtained on the Pacinian corpuscle, its morphology, chemistry, physiology and the role that it plays in tactile perception. While ostensibly acting as the substrate for the P channel of the somatosensory system (Verrillo, 1966, and Bolanowski and Verrillo, 1982), the corpuscle is also found in the mesentery of cat where it is possible to manipulate them directly. This accessibility has made the corpuscle prototypical for the understanding of mechanotransduction, especially in reference to non-ciliated mechanoreceptors. The relationship among the stimulus, receptor potential and the neural impulse that it generates has been defined, but the actual mechanism underlying transduction and its neural locus are still unknown. The present report focuses on the form of the receptor-potential’s intensity characteristic and the possible neural structures producing it.
Designing a solar powered jacket for the day hiker: Application of the apparel design framework and functional, expressive, and aesthetic (FEA) consumer needs model

Solar powered garments are potentially useful to a range of individuals from the recreational outdoor market to those in the safety industry, such as the military. However, only a few apparel products exist in the marketplace today. Research is needed on the functionality of flexible solar cells to understand how to integrate them into apparel in an expressive and aesthetic manner. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to design a solar powered garment using the FEA model and apparel design framework (Lamb & Kallal, 1992). The Lamb and Kallal (1992) apparel design framework with FEA consumer needs model was effective in guiding the process for designing and testing a solar-powered jacket. The design decision-making process was challenging due to balancing user needs with functional needs of electronic components. Findings may be useful for designers of wearable solar products for other markets and for designers of all types of wearable electronics.
Ambiguous splice sites distinguish circRNA and linear splicing in the human genome.

Motivation Identification of splice sites is critical to gene annotation and to determine which sequences control circRNA biogenesis. Full-length RNA transcripts could in principle complete annotations of introns and exons in genomes without external ontologies, i.e., ab initio. However, whether it is possible to reconstruct genomic positions where splicing occurs from full-length transcripts, even if sampled in the absence of noise, depends on the genome sequence composition. If it is not, there exist provable limits on the use of RNA-Seq to define splice locations (linear or circular) in the genome. Results We provide a formal definition of splice site ambiguity due to the genomic sequence by introducing equivalent junction, which is the set of local genomic positions resulting in the same RNA sequence when joined through RNA splicing. We show that equivalent junctions are prevalent in diverse eukaryotic genomes and occur in 88.64% and 78.64% of annotated human splice sites in linear and circRNA junctions, respectively. The observed fractions of equivalent junctions and the frequency of many individual motifs are statistically significant when compared against the null distribution computed via simulation or closed-form. The frequency of equivalent junctions establishes a fundamental limit on the possibility of ab initio reconstruction of RNA transcripts without appealing to the ontology of "GT-AG" boundaries defining introns. Said differently, completely ab initio is impossible in the vast majority of splice sites in annotated circRNAs and linear transcripts. Availability and implementation Two python scripts generating an equivalent junction sequence per junction are available at: https://github.com/salzmanlab/Equivalent-Junctions. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Development, Public Participation, and Cultural War

Aiming for emancipating humans from inequality and poverty, the concept of development has evolved to better define criteria for a higher quality of life in larger populations. Development scholars and practitioners consider people’s democratic participation in decision-making as a vital element in supporting equality and sustainability of projects. Nonetheless, in practice, due to imbalances in power relations, stratifications in community and different perceived benefits by stakeholders based on their cultural differences, participatory approaches are often deficient in achieving inclusivity and/or cohesion. After the presidential election in 2016 and the widening and deepening of the cultural gaps (“wars”) between different social groups, finding democratic approaches to negotiate meanings and addressing discriminatory behaviors is vital for sustaining both justice and economic productivity in the United States. Through case-study research, this paper investigates how Community Cultural Development (CCD) approaches, as an increasingly growing community-building strategy, can influence collaborative and inclusive processes in communities where social disparity hinders decision making and implementation of development projects.
Association of peripheral artery disease with in-hospital outcomes after endovascular transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Objectives The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of peripheral artery disease (PAD) and its association with in-hospital outcomes after endovascular transcatheter aortic valve replacement (EV-TAVR). Background TAVR is an established treatment for patients at prohibitive, high, or intermediate surgical risk. PAD is a significant comorbidity in the determination of surgical risk. However, data on association of PAD with outcomes after EV-TAVR are limited. Methods Patients in the National Inpatient Sample who underwent EV-TAVR between January 1, 2012 and September 30, 2015 were evaluated. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Results A total of 51,685 patients underwent EV-TAVR during the study period. Of these, 12,740 (24.6%) had a coexisting diagnosis of PAD. The adjusted odds for in-hospital mortality [OR 1.08 (95% CI 0.83-1.41)], permanent pacemaker implantation [OR 0.98 (0.85-1.14)], conversion to open aortic valve replacement [OR 1.05 (0.49-2.26)], or acute myocardial infarction [OR 1.31(0.99-1.71)] were not different in patients with versus without PAD. However, patients with PAD had greater adjusted odds of vascular complications [OR 1.80 (1.50-2.16)], major bleeding [OR 1.20 (1.09-1.34)], acute kidney injury (AKI) [OR 1.19 (1.05-1.36)], cardiac complications [aOR 1.21 (1.01-1.44)], and stroke [OR 1.39(1.10-1.75)] compared with patients without PAD. Length of stay (LOS) was significantly longer for patients with PAD [7.23 (0.14) days vs. 7.11 (0.1) days, p Conclusion Of patients undergoing EV-TAVR, ~25% have coexisting PAD. PAD was not associated with increased risk of in-hospital mortality but was associated with higher risk of vascular complications, major bleeding, AKI, stroke, cardiac complications, and longer LOS.
New synthetic methodology for ring expansion of n-sized conjugated cycloalkenones into homoallylic n+3 lactones: 3-step synthesis of fragrant phoracantholide ☆

Abstract Under the influence of Lewis acidic boron trifluoride–diethyl etherate, epoxides are activated sufficiently to undergo rapid nucleophilic opening by ketone enolate ions at −78°C, forming useful γ-lactols. Application of this protocol to n +3 ring expansion features one-flask, multicomponent, sequential reactions.
Climate and disturbance influence self-sustaining stand dynamics of aspen (Populus tremuloides) near its range margin.

Species that are primarily seral may form stable (self-sustaining) communities under certain disturbance regimes or environmental conditions, yet such populations may also be particularly vulnerable to ecological change. Aspen (Populus spp.) are generally considered seral throughout the Northern Hemisphere, including P. tremuloides, the most widely distributed tree species in North America. Recent declines in aspen populations have occurred, especially along drought-sensitive margins of its range and where fire exclusion and herbivory have promoted community transition. However, aspen also forms stable stands, and examination of the mechanisms that influence persistence can offer conservation insights, especially where populations are vulnerable to changing climate or altered disturbance dynamics. We sampled tree age and stand characteristics of isolated aspen forests in the arid Great Basin (USA) to determine if (1) aspen communities are more fire-dependent and seral or fire-independent and stable; (2) ungulate browsing inhibits aspen stability; and (3) temporal patterns of vegetative reproduction (i.e., ramet establishment or "suckering") are correlated with climate. Aspen size and age class densities strongly fit negative exponential distributions, whether grouped geographically or by functional type, suggesting landscape-scale persistence. Continuous age distributions and high proportions of recruitment-sized to overstory trees suggest stability at stand scales, with exceptions including stands with higher browsing pressure. Few stands had evidence of fire, and relationships between dead tree size and variability in live tree size suggest a lack of fire dependency. Several 5-yr averaged climate variables and one sea surface temperature index were correlated with aspen ramet establishment densities over time, with strongest relationships occurring ~5 yr prior to establishment year, often followed by inverse relationships ~1 yr after. Indeed, aspen establishment density for a recent 41-yr period was reliably reconstructed using antecedent climate conditions derived from a single drought index. Temporally synchronized aspen ramet establishment across the study region may be due to climate-driven storage of nonstructural carbohydrate reserves in clonal root systems later used for regeneration. Complex regeneration dynamics of these self-sustaining aspen stands, especially sensitivity to climate variability, suggest they may serve as harbingers of ecological change in the arid Great Basin and in other aspen populations near their range margin.
Unfinished Revolution: The Muslim Press in Russia

This paper traces the growth of the Muslim press in Russia, its consolidation, and its survival during the Soviet Period, followed by its revival in the early 1990s. Although by no means comprehens...
Relationship Between Basal Plane Dislocation Distribution and Local Basal Plane Bending in PVT-Grown 4H-SiC Crystals

The inhomogeneous distributions of basal plane dislocations (BPDs) in PVT-grown 4H-SiC crystal boule due to internal stresses cause lattice plane bending, which strongly affect SiC-based device fabrication. The relationship between BPDs and local basal plane bending in 6-inch 4H-SiC substrates has been investigated. Synchrotron monochromatic beam x-ray topography (SMBXT) imaging shows black and white contrast of BPDs with Burgers vectors of opposite signs based on the principle of ray tracing. We have evaluated the net difference of BPDs with black and white contrast along both [11$$ \bar{2}$$0] and [1$$ \bar{1}$$00] radial directions on the Si face across multiple 6-inch diameter 4H-SiC substrates sliced from the same and different boules and predicted the nature (concave/convex) and amount of bending of the basal plane in these wafers. Line scans of 0008 reflection using high resolution x-ray diffractometry (HRXRD) has been carried out along the two directions to verify the nature of bending in these wafers. Results show quite different bending behavior along [11$$ \bar{2} $$0] and [1$$ \bar{1}$$00] directions, indicating that the Si face of 6-inch substrates creates non-isotropic bending on the basal plane. These observations are correlated quite well with net BPD density analysis. The physical shapes of the wafers were also measured to be not flat due to the surface effect. Quantitative analysis of the degree of basal plane bending based on the SMBXT data was carried out and found to be correlating well with the measured tilt angle from HRXRD. Existence of a high stress center was observed in one of the 6-inch wafers resulting in severe bending which is associated with both large bending angles and abrupt changes in lattice constants a and c.
TrafficChain: A Blockchain-Based Secure and Privacy-Preserving Traffic Map

Intelligent Connected Vehicles (ICVs) can provide smart, safe, and efficient transportation services and have attracted intensive attention recently. Obtaining timely and accurate traffic information is one of the most important problems in transportation systems, which would allow people to select fast routes and avoid congestions, thus saving their travel time on the road. Currently, the most popular ways to obtain traffic information is to inquire navigation agents, e.g., Apple map, and Google map. However, these navigation agents are essentially centralized systems, which are vulnerable to service congestions, a single point of failure, and attacks. Furthermore, users' privacy gets compromised as the agents can know their home and work addresses and hence their identities, track them in real-time, etc. In this paper, we propose TrafficChain, a secure and privacy-preserving decentralized traffic information collection system on the blockchain, by taking advantage of fog/edge computing infrastructure. In particular, we employ a two-layer blockchain architecture in TrafficChain to improve system efficiency, design a privacy-preserving scheme to protect users' identities and travel traces, and devise LSTM based deep learning mechanisms that can defend against Byzantine attacks and Sybil attacks in our system. Furthermore, an incentive mechanism is designed to motivate users to participate in the system. Simulation results show that TrafficChain works very efficiently and is resilient to both Byzantine attacks and Sybil attacks.
OB/GYN Providers' Knowledge of Racial and Ethnic Reproductive Health Disparities.

Abstract Objective This study explores OB/GYN providers' knowledge about published health and healthcare disparities in women's reproductive health. Method We collected demographic and health disparities knowledge information from OB/GYN providers who were members of ACOG District IV using an online survey (n = 483). We examined differences across groups using statistical tests and regression analyses in a structural equation modeling approach. Results Receiving disparities education was positively associated with higher self-reported disparities knowledge and disparities quiz performance (p Conclusions Differences in levels of knowledge of racial/ethnic disparities in health and healthcare outcomes among OB/GYN providers varied across race/ethnicity, practice context, and whether providers had received formal disparities education. Future research should explore these differences at a population level and develop interventions to improve health disparities education among OB/GYN providers.
Protracted renal clearance of fentanyl in persons with opioid use disorder.

Abstract Introduction The illicit opioid supply in the U.S. is increasingly adulterated with fentanyl. As such, persons with opioid use disorder (OUD) may be regularly exposed to fentanyl, however, the pharmacokinetics of repeated fentanyl exposure are not well understood. The current study aimed to quantify renal clearance of fentanyl in OUD patients presenting to residential treatment. Methods Participants (N = 12) who presented to a 28-day residential treatment program were enrolled if they tested positive for fentanyl at intake. Urine samples were collected every 2–3 days and were quantitatively tested for fentanyl, norfentanyl, and creatinine via liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC–MS). Fentanyl clearance was defined as the time since last illicit opioid use and the median time between last positive and first negative fentanyl urine screen. Results Participants had a mean and standard deviation (SD) age of 28.9 (11.0), were 67 % male, and 83 % white. The mean (SD) time for fentanyl and norfentanyl clearance was 7.3 (4.9) and 13.3 (6.9) days, respectively. One participant continued to test positive for fentanyl for 19 days and norfentanyl for 26 days following their last use, and left treatment without testing negative for norfentanyl. Conclusion Fentanyl clearance in persons with OUD is considerably longer than the typical 2–4 day clearance of other short-acting opioids. The findings of this study might explain recent reports of difficulty in buprenorphine inductions for persons who use fentanyl, and point to a need to better understand the pharmacokinetics of fentanyl in the context of opioid withdrawal in persons who regularly use fentanyl.
The Anatomic Feasibility of a Functional Chimeric Flap in Complex Abdominal Wall Reconstruction.

Background Dynamic and functional abdominal wall reconstruction (FAWR) remains a complex challenge. The ideal flap should have a minimal donor-site morbidity and cover a large surface area with motor and sensory capabilities. The goal was to investigate the feasibility of using a free chimeric flap with anterolateral thigh (ALT) and rectus femoris (RF) components pedicled only on the motor nerve branch. Methods Ten fresh cadavers were dissected with a designed chimeric thigh flap including ALT and RF flaps. Anterolateral thigh was designed and raised with the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve integrated, and the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery was preserved. Rectus femoris was elevated and the common pedicle was dissected up to the femoral origin. Accompanying motor nerve branches were carefully dissected to their femoral origin. Results Twenty RF flaps were dissected and 9 were harvested as a true chimeric flap with ALT. The mean number of neurovascular bundles associated with RF flap was 2.11 ± 0.47, and the mean primary motor nerve average length was 9.40 ± 2.42 cm. The common vascular bundle in all 9 chimeric flaps was ligated, and the flap was rotated toward the abdomen pedicled only by primary motor nerve of the RF muscle. Nerve length was adequate for reach up to xiphoid area in all 20 flaps. Conclusions This study demonstrates the feasibility of the chimeric ALT/RF muscle free flap pedicled only by the motor nerve branch, with adequate flap rotation. Even with the limitations in a live patient, this flap would be an excellent option for FAWR in the right patient.
Structural and spectroscopic characterization of an Fe(VI) bis(imido) complex

High-valent iron species are key intermediates in oxidative biological processes, but hexavalent complexes apart from the ferrate ion are exceedingly rare. Here, we report the synthesis and structural and spectroscopic characterization of a stable Fe(VI) complex (3) prepared by facile one-electron oxidation of an Fe(V) bis(imido) (2). Single-crystal x-ray diffraction of 2 and 3 revealed four-coordinate Fe centers with an unusual “seesaw” geometry. 57Fe Mossbauer, x-ray photoelectron, x-ray absorption, and electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) spectroscopies, supported by electronic structure calculations, support a low-spin (S = 1/2) d3 Fe(V) configuration in 2 and a diamagnetic (S = 0) d2 Fe(VI) configuration in 3. Their shared seesaw geometry is electronically dictated by a balance of Fe-imido σ- and π-bonding interactions.
The quantification and potential impact of dark current on treatments with an MR-guided radiotherapy (MRgRT) system.

Purpose Dark current radiation produced during linac beam-hold has the potential to lead to unplanned dose delivered to the patient. With the increased usage of motion management and step-and-shoot IMRT deliveries for MR-guided systems leading to increased beam-hold time, it is necessary to consider the impact of dark current radiation on patient treatments. Methods The relative dose rate due to dark current for the ViewRay MRIdian linac was measured longitudinally over 15 months (June 2018-August 2019). Ion chamber measurements were acquired with the linac in the beam-hold state and the beam-on state, with the ratio representing the relative dark current dose rate. The potential contribution of the dark current dose to the overall prescription was retrospectively analyzed for 972 fractions from 83 patients over the same time period. The amount of time spent in the beam-hold state was combined with the monthly measured relative dark current dose rate to estimate the dark current dose contribution. Results The relative dark current dose rate compared to the beam-on dose rate was 0.12% ± 0.027%. In a near worst-case estimation, the dark current dose contribution accounted for 0.90% ± 0.67% of the prescription dose across all fractions (3.61% maximum). Gantry and MLC motion between segments accounted for 87% of the dark current contribution, with the remaining 13% attributable to gating during segment delivery. The largest dark current contributions were associated with plans delivering a small dose per treatment segment. Conclusions The dark current associated with new clinical treatment units should be considered prior to treatment delivery to ensure it will not lead to dosimetric inaccuracies. For the MRIdian linac system investigated in this work, the contribution from dark current remained relatively low, though users should be cognizant of the larger potential dosimetric contribution for plans with small doses per segment.
Use of white cell count, age, and presence of other injuries in stratifying risk of intracranial injury in pediatric trauma.

The Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) Head Injury/Trauma Algorithm is a well-validated decision rule used to identify patients at low risk of clinically important traumatic brain injuries who may not need head CT. In adult patients with mild head trauma, elevated serum glucose and white cell count (WCC) have been associated with abnormal head CT findings. Currently, glucose or WCC is not considered in pediatric patients. The objective of this study was to determine if elevations in glucose or WCC could be used as additional tools to risk-stratify pediatric trauma patients for intracranial injury (ICI). Data were abstracted from the Maryland Trauma Registry and from electronic medical records for patients at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center from 2017 to 2020. We evaluated 145 encounters that met the inclusion criteria. There were 33 cases of ICI on CT. In addition to higher median glucose and WCC, we found that patients with ICI had a younger median age and were less likely to have other clinically significant injuries than patients without ICI. Following multiple logistic regression analysis, WCC (OR 1.113, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.21), younger age (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.8 to 0.98), and absence of other injuries (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.73) were found to be associated with risk of ICI. The area under the curve for our model was 0.79. When used with the PECARN algorithm, our model could help determine which patients may avoid head CT or undergo a shorter observation period.
Competition, Diversity and Quality

Abstract We study competition over populations (audiences, workers, students, etc.) Understanding how institutions, businesses and technologies offer solutions to diverse populations is increasingly important. We hypothesize a closed-form relationship among the amount of competition, population diversity and quality of solutions offered to populations. Typical homogeneous competition (e.g., in Supply–Demand–Price systems) becomes the special case of competition over populations with infinitesimal diversity, while competition over diverse populations leads to Competition–Diversity–Quality tradeoffs. We formulate this as a conservation-law for competitive systems and demonstrate that quality for population members is a periodic function of competition and diversity there. We consider the competition among movies, restaurants, schools, workers and countries (in world-wide trade).
The analysis of epigenomic evolution

While the investigation of the epigenome becomes increasingly important, still little is known about the long-term evolution of epigenetic marks and systematic investigation strategies are still withstanding. Here, we systematically demonstrate the transfer of classic phylogenetic methods such as maximum likelihood based on substitution models, parsimony, and distance-based to interval-scaled epigenetic data (available at Github). Using a great apes blood data set, we demonstrate that DNA methylation is evolutionarily conserved at the level of individual CpGs in promotors, enhancers and genic regions. Our analysis also reveals that this epigenomic conservation is significantly correlated with its transcription factor binding density. Binding sites for transcription factors involved in neuron differentiation and components of AP-1 evolve at a significantly higher rate at methylation than at nucleotide level. Moreover, our models suggest an accelerated epigenomic evolution at binding sites of BRCA1, CBX2, and factors of the polycomb repressor 2 complex in humans. For most genomic regions, the methylation-based reconstruction of phylogenetic trees is at par with sequence-based reconstruction. Most strikingly, phylogenetic reconstruction using methylation rates in enhancer regions was ineffective independently of the chosen model. We identify a set of phylogenetically uninformative CpG sites enriching in enhancers controlling immune-related genes.
Justice Frankfurter's Contextual Marketplace

Justice Frankfurter is not known for foundational First Amendment opinions, like his mentors, Justices Holmes and Brandeis. He also is not known for helping to lay the groundwork for the modern First Amendment, like his rivals and contemporaries on the Court, Justices Black and Douglas. His lengthy, complex, and nuanced free-expression opinions, however, provide an alternative theoretical framework for how the marketplace of ideas can be conceptualized in the networked era. Drawing from his opinions, this article examines the historical development of marketplace theory, contending the theory has never had a monolithic meaning, and analyzes Justice Frankfurter’s First Amendment opinions, ultimately constructing the contextual marketplace. The contextual approach provides a more inclusive, malleable, and protective foundation for the marketplace in the twenty-first century, finding substantial support from Justices Holmes’s and Brandeis’s writings, modern Supreme Court decisions, and legal scholarship.
School Safety Among Sexual and Gender Minority Adolescents: Implications for Eating and Weight Control Behaviors.

BACKGROUND Unhealthy weight control and disordered eating behaviors are prevalent among adolescents who identify as a gender and/or sexual minority (SGM). The current study examined how perceptions of school safety contribute to reduced negative weight control and eating behaviors across adolescents with diverse sexual and gender identities. METHODS Data on perceptions of school safety, as well as negative weight control and disordered eating behaviors (ie, binge eating, eating to cope), were drawn from a large national sample of SGM secondary school students (ie, grades 7-12; N = 17,112; LGBTQ National Teen Survey). RESULTS Differences in negative weight control and disordered eating behaviors emerged as a function of gender identity and sexual orientation. School safety was significantly associated with fewer negative weight control behaviors (B = -0.30, p < .001), reduced binge eating (B = -0.19, p < .001), and less eating to cope (B = -0.21, p < .001). Despite slight variation in the strength of these associations, the protective effects of school safety were significant across sexual and gender identities. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that efforts to support feelings of school safety among SGM students are likely to have positive implications for eating and weight-related behaviors, and emphasize the need for interventions to promote climates of safety and inclusion within the school setting.
Resonant Degenerate Four-Wave Mixing at the Defect Energy Levels of 2D Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Perovskite Crystals

Two-dimensional organic-inorganic lead halide perovskites are generating great interest due to their optoelectronic characteristics such as high solar energy conversion efficiency and a tunable direct band gap in the visible regime. However, the presence of defect states within the two-dimensional crystal structure can affect these properties, resulting in changes to their band gap emission as well as the emergence of nonlinear optical phenomena. Here, we have investigated the effects of the presence of defect states on the nonlinear optical phenomena of the 2D hybrid perovskite (BA)2(MA)2Pb3Br10. When two pulses, one narrowband pump pulse centered at 800 nm and one supercontinuum pulse with bandwidth from 800-1100 nm, are incident on a perovskite flake, degenerate four-wave mixing (FWM) occurs, with peaks corresponding to the energy levels of the defect states present within the crystal. The longer carrier lifetime of the defect state, in comparison to that of virtual transitions that take place in nonresonant FWM processes, allows for a larger population of electrons to be excited by the second pump photon, resulting in increased FWM signal at the defect energy levels. The quenching of the two-photon luminescence as flake thickness increases is also observed and attributed to the increased presence of defects within the flake at larger thicknesses. This technique shows the potential of detecting defect energy levels in crystals using FWM for a variety of optoelectronic applications.
Identification of E6AP/UBE3A as a ubiquitin-protein ligase that catalyzes encephalomyocarditis virus 3C protease ubiquitylation (952.1)

The 3C proteases of encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) and hepatitis A virus (HAV) are rapidly degraded by the ubiquitin-26S protease system, which limits the 3C protease concentration that develops in infected cells. We have discovered that at least one UbcH7-dependent ubiquitylation pathway is important for EMCV replication success determination. To identify the UbcH7-dependent E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase(s) involved in tagging the 3C proteases for destruction, we developed a protein purification scheme that begins with mouse cell lysate and ends with a ubiquitin-UbcH7 affinity column. Analysis by mass spectroscopy of the proteins eluted from this column revealed the presence of four E3s, one of which is the HECT E3 E6AP/UBE3. The ability of this E3 to recognize the EMCV 3C protease as a substrate was confirmed using reconstituted mixtures containing purified E6AP. The major product of these reactions was monoubiquitylated 3C protease rather than polyubiquitylated conjugates. Whether this accurately refl...
Intercultural Communication: An Application to Group Work

Interdisciplinary literature on intercultural communication is critically reviewed as a source of evidence-based strategies for group counselors dedicated to enhancing effective intercultural communication within and between groups. We discuss the Association for Specialists in Group Work’s Multicultural and Social Justice Competence Principles for Group Workers on intercultural communication and expand understanding of these principles. Using practical examples grounded by interdisciplinary literature, we discuss the dynamics of intercultural communication and implications for the practice of group work.
Work in progress - ethics instruction for the workplace

Ethics has long been a part of engineering education and practice. Thus, engineering educators have adopted various strategies for teaching ethics, including the use of various codes of ethics promulgated by professional organizations. Additionally, case studies have been used to introduce the subtleties and complexities of engineering ethics within engineering projects. This paper describes another approach to engineering ethics instruction, one that can be used in lieu of, or in conjunction with, other common ethics instruction scenarios. The approach focuses on various aspects of ethics important to young engineers as they enter industry, e.g., "workplace ethics". The materials developed cover a variety of practical subjects important for a new engineer to know when entering the engineering workplace. The teaching materials are based on the experiences of a group of practicing engineers.
P.I. envelopes of classical simple Lie superalgebras

Let g be a classical simple Lie superalgebra. We describe the prime ideals P in the enveloping algebra U(g) such that U(g)/P satisfies a polynomial identity. If the factor algebra U(g)/P is not artinian, then it is an order in a matrix algebra over K(z).
Purification and characterization of protocatechuate 2,3-dioxygenase from Bacillus macerans: a new extradiol catecholic dioxygenase.

Protocatechuate 2,3-dioxygenase (2,3-PCD) from Bacillus macerans JJ1b has been purified to homogeneity for the first time. The enzyme catalyzes proximal extradiol ring cleavage of protocatechuate (PCA) with the attendant incorporation of both atoms of oxygen from O2. The holoenzyme has a mass of 143 +/- 7 kDa as determined by ultracentrifugation and other techniques. It is composed of four apparently identical subunits with M(r)s of 35,500, each containing one iron atom. Mossbauer spectroscopy of 57Fe-enriched enzyme showed that the irons are indistinguishable and are high spin (S = 2) Fe2+ in both the uncomplexed and substrate-bound enzyme. However, the quadrupole splitting, delta EQ, and isomer shift, delta, of the Mossbauer spectrum changed from delta EQ = 2.57 mm/s and delta = 1.29 mm/s to delta EQ = 2.73 mm/s and delta = 1.19 mm/s upon PCA binding to the enzyme, showing that the iron environment is altered when substrate is present. The enzyme was also found to bind variable and substoichiometric amounts of Mn2+, but this metal could be removed without loss of activity or stability. The inherently electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)-silent Fe2+ of the enzyme reversibly bound nitric oxide to produce an EPR-active species (g = 4.11, 3.95; S = 3/2). The specific activity of the enzyme was found to be correlated with the amount of the S = 3/2 species formed, showing that activity is dependent on Fe2+. Anaerobic addition of substrates to the enzyme-nitric oxide complex significantly altered the EPR spectrum, suggesting that substrates bind to or near the iron. The enzyme was inactivated by reagents that oxidize the Fe2+, such as H2O2 and K3FE(CN)6; full activity was restored after reduction of the iron by ascorbate. Steady-state kinetic data were found to be consistent with an ordered bi-uni mechanism in which the organic substrate must add to 2,3-PCD before O2. The enzyme has the broadest substrate range of any of the well-studied catecholic dioxygenases. All substrates have vicinal hydroxyl groups on the aromatic ring except 4-NH2-3-hydroxybenzoate. This is the first substrate lacking vicinal hydroxyl groups reported for catecholic extradiol dioxygenases. 2,3-PCD is the final member of the PCA dioxygenase family to be purified. It is compared with other members of this family as well as other catecholic dioxygenases.
Superfluidity and mean-field energy loops: Hysteretic behavior in Bose-Einstein condensates

We present a theory of hysteretic phenomena in Bose gases, using superfluidity in one-dimensional rings and in optical lattices as primary examples. Through this study we are able to give a physical interpretation of swallow-tail loops recently found by many authors in the mean-field energy structure of trapped atomic gases. These loops are a generic sign of hysteresis, and in the present context are an indication of superfluidity. We have also calculated the rate of decay of metastable current-carrying states due to quantum fluctuations.
A Portable, Object-Based Parallel Library and Layered Framework for Real-Time Radar Signal Processing

We have developed an object-based, layered framework and associated library in C for real-time radar applications. Object classes allow us to reuse code modules, and a layered framework enhances the portability of applications. The framework is divided into a machine-dependent kernel layer, a mathematical library layer, and an application layer. We meet performance requirements by highly optimizing the kernel layer, and by performing allocations and preparations for data transfers during a set-up time. Our initial application employs a space-time adaptive processing (STAP) algorithm and requires throughput on the order of 20 Gflop/s (sustained), with 1 s latency. We present performance results for a key portion of the STAP algorithm and discuss future work.
Using AM-FM image modeling technique in mammograms

This paper represents preliminary results for a full study that tries to answer the following question, how well AM-FM modeling technique will behave when applied to mammograms. Our results thus far show that the AM-FM modeling technique yields good results when the images used are mammogram The AM-FM modeling technique consists of three main steps. The first step is applied in this paper, which is, passing the image under study through a bank of Gabor filters. These filters are band pass filters. We used 40 filters arranged as eight rays with 5 filters per ray. Each with has its angle with different center frequencies. The conducted experiments show that by adding up the filtered image from all the filters in the bank, the original image can be observed. This means that Gabor filter banks can work for mammograms and the future work will concentrate on applying the suitable AM-FM modeling technique to detect the region of interest on mammograms.
Current concepts of herpesvirus infection in the woman

Abstract A review of the more recent experimental and clinical developments concerning infection of the female genital tract by herpesvirus type II is presented. Particular attention is paid to problems in pregnancy, relationship of this virus infection to cervical cancer, and the therapy of herpesvirus infections.
Concentration and chemical status of arsenic in the blood of pregnant hamsters during critical embryogenesis: 1. Subchronic exposure to arsenate utilizing constant rate administration

We have determined the concentration, availability, and chemical status of radiolabeled arsenic in the blood of pregnant hamsters at the beginning (morning of Day 8) and the end (morning of Day 9) of the critical period of embryogenesis. Hamster dams were exposed to teratogenic doses of arsenate by means of osmotic minipumps implanted on the morning of Day 6 of the gestation period. Whole blood arsenic concentrations were the same for 48 and 72 hr postimplant. The arsenic concentration of plasma equaled that of red cells. Plasma arsenic was not bound to macromolecules and had the same chemical status 48 and 72 hr postimplant. Arsenate was the dominant form (67% of the total). However, the presence of dimethylarsinic acid and arsenite indicates that the pentavalent species was metabolized. Red cell arsenic was bound to macromolecules in the cell sap. Seventy percent of red cell sap arsenic was dialyzable 48 hr postimplant, but only 56% 72 hr postimplant. Arsenate was the dominant dialyzable red cell species on Day 8 and arsenite was the major dialyzable form on Day 9. Our findings demonstrate a relationship between the maternal blood concentration and chemical status of arsenic and the presence of malformations resulting from a constant rate exposure of pregnant hamsters to arsenate via the osmotic minipump.
Primary malignant melanoma in an ovarian dermoid cyst.

Departments of Pathology and Obstetrics and Gynecology, The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, New York, New York M E L A N 0 M A s are among the rarest malignant tumors arising in ovarian dermoid cysts. MarcialRojas and Ramirez de Avellanol accepted only the earlier cases of Amanns and Otkens as primary melanomas and reported a malignant melanoma associated with junctional changes in the surrounding skin epithelium of the dermoid cyst, convincing evidence that the tumor was primary in the dermoid. Subsequently, Bruning4 reported a melanoma with findings suggesting origin in a dermoid. We are reporting another melanoma which clearly was primary in an ovarian dermoid cyst.
2-(Hydroxy-meth-yl)pyridinium chloride.

In the title molecular salt, C6H8NO+·Cl−, the packing is consolidated by N—H⋯Cl and O—H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds, resulting in the formation of [010] chains of alternating cations and anions.
Applying Generic Schema Management to Bioinformatics

 Data translation—translating data from one format to another  Schema evolution—coping with applications that have revised data format requirements  Cataloging—offering raw and processed data in a format that other scientists can understand  Schema integration—offering database access through a common schema that is mapped to heterogeneous databases  Provenance analysis—describing all the transformations that have led to a given data product
Canonical representation of conditionally specified multivariate discrete distributions

Most work on conditionally specified distributions has focused on approaches that operate on the probability space, and the constraints on the probability space often make the study of their properties challenging. We propose decomposing both the joint and conditional discrete distributions into characterizing sets of canonical interactions, and we prove that certain interactions of a joint distribution are shared with its conditional distributions. This invariance opens the door for checking the compatibility between conditional distributions involving the same set of variables. We formulate necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence and uniqueness of discrete conditional models, and we show how a joint distribution can be easily computed from the pool of interactions collected from the conditional distributions. Hence, the methods can be used to calculate the exact distribution of a Gibbs sampler. Furthermore, issues such as how near compatibility can be reconciled are also discussed. Using mixed parametrization, we show that the proposed approach is based on the canonical parameters, while the conventional approaches are based on the mean parameters. Our advantage is partly due to the invariance that holds only for the canonical parameters.
Space-and-time variability of the meridional heat transport in the north atlantic

We analyze the space-and-time variability of the meridional heat transport in the North Atlantic. The contribution of various mechanisms to the integral meridional heat transport (MHT) is estimated. The key role played by the drift transport of the Tropical Atlantic in the formation of the meridional oceanic heat transport is confirmed. On the basis of the general analysis of estimations obtained by various authors according to the data accumulated for 1870–2008 and the results of numerical analyses based on the data of NCEP/NCAR reanalysis, we show that the long-term average meridional drift heat (mass) transport attains its maximum values equal to (1.6 ± 0.1) PW [(17.4 ± 1.5) Sv] in the vicinity of 12.5°N in the Tropical Atlantic. The contribution of the heat transport caused by the horizontal Sverdrup circulation to the integral meridional heat transport is maximum in the vicinity of 30° N. On the average, it is equal to ∼ 40%. In the Subtropical Atlantic, the meridional heat transport varies with a period of ∼ 50–70 yr. The minimum value of the integral meridional heat transport was attained in the mid-1960s and its maximum value was at attained at the beginning of the 1990s. The location of the center of Azores pressure maximum makes it possible to conclude that the intensification of the total meridional heat transport in the Subtropical Atlantic on these time scales is accompanied by the displacement of the center of the North Subtropical anticyclonic gyre in the southwest direction.
Coalition theory: a veto players’ approach

Coalition theories have produced arguments about the importance of party positions for participation in government coalitions, but have not connected the existing government institutions (in particular agenda setting) with the coalition government that will be formed. This article presents a veto players’ approach to coalition formation, which pushes the logic of non-cooperative game-theoretic models one step further: we argue that policy positions play a significant role in coalition formation because governments in parliamentary systems control the agenda of the policymaking process. As a result, the institutions that regulate this policymaking process affect coalition formation. In particular, positional advantages that a government may have (central policy position of formateur, fewer parties, and small policy distances among coalition partners) will become more necessary as a government has fewer institutional agenda setting advantages at its disposal. The empirical tests presented in this paper corroborate these expectations by explicitly accounting for the conditional effects of policy positions and institutional agenda setting rules on one another in a set of multilevel logit models.
Death-defying apoptotic caspases in thrombopoiesis

In this issue of Blood , White et al provide compelling evidence that the intrinsic apoptotic caspase cascade, while required for megakaryocyte and platelet death under pathophysiologic conditions, is dispensable for normal platelet formation and function.[1][1] Apoptosis is an intrinsically wired
Regulation of food intake in monkeys: response to caloric dilution.

Abstract Ability to regulate level of energy intake was studied in adult rhesus monkeys ( Macaca mulatta ) using calorically diluted diets. Twenty-four hour access to a complete liquid diet was provided via leakproof gravity feeders. The addition of water provided 4 caloric concentrations over the range of 0.5 to 1.35 kcal/ml. Average caloric intake per kg body weight was 84 ± 0.7 kcal/kg (mean ± SE). Seven of the eight monkeys maintained a constant caloric intake by adjusting oral intake in response to randomly ordered but sustained changes in caloric density. One monkey ingested a significantly higher caloric load while receiving the highest density diet. Rates of compensation for dilution following each diet change varied widely, occurring over periods of 3 days to 2 weeks. It was concluded that individual monkeys vary significantly in the rat of adjustment to caloric dilution, and thus long term studies must be used in studying controls of feeding in monkeys.
Is glucosamine an effective treatment for osteoarthritic pain

Glucosamine shows promise, but studies had flaws that render much of the data inconclusive.
Large Quantum Gravity Effects: Unforeseen Limitations of the Classical Theory

Three-dimensional gravity coupled to Maxwell (or Klein-Gordon) fields is exactly soluble under the assumption of axisymmetry. The solution is used to probe several quantum gravity issues. In particular, it is found that if there is an electromagnetic wave of Planckian frequency even with such low amplitude that the curvature of the classical solution is small, the uncertainty in the quantum metric can be very large. More generally, the quantum fluctuations in the geometry are large unless the number and frequency of photons satisfy the inequality $N(\ensuremath{\Elzxh}G\ensuremath{\omega}{)}^{2}\ensuremath{\ll}1$. Results hold also for a sector of the four-dimensional theory (consisting of Einstein-Rosen gravitational waves).
Philosophical Bridges for IMC: Grounding the Practice

This essay focuses on Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) and the theoretical foundation that explains why an organization should embrace IMC rather than how to do so. The essay discusses the tension between theory and action that can be bridged in a way that does not subordinate one to the other. In seeking the mean between theory and action, IMC is examined within a framework of an enlarged mentality and the use of four philosophical bridges, including the Aristotelian, Phenomenological, Narrative, and Dialogic.