cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Art, engineering, and invention

In this paper I describe my dissertation-in-progress, Art, Engineering, and Invention. This research draws upon a triad of practice, evidence, and theory to contribute to the understandings of how the practices of art and engineering can resolve into an interdisciplinary practice of creating innovative technological art and technological artifacts.
The Model United Nations: A Strategy for Enhancing Global Business Education

Abstract This article presents a rationale and a step-by-step approach to incorporating Model United Nations (MUN) simulations into undergraduate business education. MUN is an effective mechanism for providing undergraduate business students with the international and multi-cultural experiences theyneedto function in a globalbusiness environment. Moreover, through participation in MUNs, students develop and enhance personal and technical skills, including written and oral communications, research, caucusing, negotiating, and consensus building.
Podcasting Communities and Second Language Pronunciation

Abstract: Although often neglected in language classrooms, second language phonology is a crucial element in language learning because it is often the most salient feature in the speech of a foreigner. As instructors, we must decide how to emphasize pronunciation and what techniques to use. This article discusses a collaborative pod-casting project in an undergraduate Spanish phonetics class. Students worked in small groups to create and maintain their own podcast channel on which they uploaded recordings for group member feedback. Each recording focused on particular aspects of Spanish pronunciation, using tongue twisters, short readings, and personal reflection on students' own pronunciation. Both attitudes and pronunciation abilities were assessed before and after the project, and both were found to improve. The benefits of podcasting projects to improve language skills are discussed from an empirical as well as a pedagogical perspective.
Biochemical and immunochemical characterization of 125I-labeled cuticle components of Haemonchus contortus.

Abstract Live Haemonchus contortus developmental stages were radioiodinated and then subjected to a stepwise extraction procedure consisting of a buffer extract (with or without detergent) to solubilize putative surface-associated antigenic macromolecules, followed by a detergent/β-mercaptoethanol (BME) extract to solubilize putative cuticle collagen proteins. A buffer-extracted iodinated 100-kDa protein was present in the free-living, infective L3(2M) stage. This labeled protein was released during in vitro exsheathment of L3(2M) and was not present in the ecdysed second molt (2M) cuticle. In addition to the 100-kDa protein, exsheathment fluid contained a 70-kDa labeled protein that was not extracted from iodinated L3(2M) with either detergent or BME. The data suggest that these proteins are components of the specialized ring portion of the 2M cuticle that is enzymatically ruptured during ecdysis. The L3(2M) and the exsheathed third-stage larvae (L3) contained 3 labeled, BME-extracted, collagenase-sensitive proteins of 108, 88 and 53 kDa. In contrast, four detergent-extracted, collagenase-insensitive, iodinated proteins (143, 81, 58 and 30 kDa) were present in adult H. contortus . The 143-kDa protein was both glycosylated and immunogenic. All 4 adult cuticle proteins were released from the cuticle surface into culture fluids. Furthermore, a cysteine protease was secreted by adults which apparently hydrolyzed the released 81-, 58- and 30-kDa surface proteins.
Cell growth inhibition by prostaglandin A2 results in elevated expression of gadd153 mRNA.

Abstract Treatment of Hela cells with prostaglandin A 2 (PGA 2 ) resulted in a marked inhibition of cell proliferation which was associated with a significant induction of gadd153 mRNA, a member of a novel class of genes associated with g rowth a rrest and D NA d amage. Induction of gadd153 mRNA was specific to prostaglandins capable of arresting cell growth and was dose-dependent with the maximum effect seen at 36 μ M PGA 2 . Induction was rapid, occurring within 2–4 h and reaching a maximum by 8 h. These effects were reversible as removal of PGA 2 resulted in a rapid decline in gadd153 mRNA levels coincident with resumption of cell growth. PGA 2 induction of gadd153 mRNA was completely prevented by the presence of actinomycin D at a concentration sufficient to block transcription and was partially inhibited (50%) by the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide. The presence of the protein kinase inhibitor 2-aminopurine decreased the PGA 2 induction of gadd153 mRNA by greater than 90%, suggesting that cellular kinases play a role in the induction of gadd153 by PGA 2 . Thus PGA 2 -mediated growth arrest provides a useful model to further define the role of gadd153 in the negative control of cell growth.
Women and Sexuality in Muslim Societies: Pinar Ilkkaracan, editor

Book reviewed in this article: Deconstructing Images of “The Turkish Woman”: Zehra F. Arat, editor
A study of ocular morphogenesis in the rat using (3H)thymidine autoradiography: evidence for thymidine recycling in the developing retina.

With the use of light microscopic autoradiography, the incorporation and subsequent distribution of [3H]thymidine within the retinas of sequentially staged rat embryos was studied during the period when large numbers of cells become necrotic and were resorbed within the optic rudiment. In the 48 hr following injection of isotope on embryonic Day 11, the number of grains overlying the dorsal, nondegenerate portion of the retina decreased to a low level, whereas ventrally, where the retina becomes intensely necrotic, the grain counts remained at much greater levels. The results indicate that thymidine may be recycled within normally degenerate regions of the embryonic retina.
Qualitative robustness in time series

Abstract We consider robust operations in time series. We present a definition and subsequent qualitative analysis of robustness. We also present meaningful definitions of performance criteria, such as the breakdown point and the sensitivity of robust operations. We present some specific classes of robust operations, and we discuss and analyze their properties. Finally, we fully analyze a particular class of robust predictors and interpolators, for a linearly contaminated class of stationary stochastic processes.
Iron Deficiency Anemia Alters Lead Distribution in Rats † 682

Background: Lead is bound mainly to intracellular protein. Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) may alter red cell protein content and affect blood lead levels. Objective: To determine the effect of IDA on whole blood lead (WBL) levels for an equivalent body burden of lead. Methods: 12 weanling rats were divided into 2 groups receiving either a normal diet (50 PPM iron) or a low iron diet (<5 PPM) otherwise equivalent. After 4 weeks, rats were weighed, jugular veins accessed, and baseline spun hematocrit (Hct) and WBL measured by stable isotope dilution-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Lead acetate (5 mg/kg body weight) was administered intravenously, and rats continued on their respective diets for 7 days to allow for lead tissue distribution, then sacrificed for tissue lead measurement. Results: Hct's were different: iron replete 47± 5% SD; iron deficient 29± 3% (p= 0.0001). Baseline WBL's were not different: iron replete 0.23 ± 0.18μg/dl SD; iron deficient 0.11 ± 0.07 μg/dl (p=0.2). WBL and tissue lead levels 7 days after lead injection are provided below.Table Conclusion: Although tissue levels were not different, IDA altered lead distribution such that increased lead was found in blood. Blood levels in IDA may represent different tissue burdens than in iron repletion. Possible explanations include increased RBC lead binding protein or changes in RBC membrane transport of lead.
The epidemiology of logging injuries in the northwest

Logging is among the most hazardous forms of employment. However, a comprehensive review of severe logging injuries and their outcome has apparently not been previously undertaken. In the present study we review 51 consecutive injured loggers requiring transfer to a regional Level I trauma center. The average age was 34 years and the mode of injury in 67% was being struck by a falling or rolling log. Orthopedic intervention was required most frequently (49%), with neurologic injury in 43%. Two patients died (4%), both secondary to severe head injury, and both survived less than 24 hours. Importantly, while most severely injured patients survived, they required long hospitalizations and had a 58% permanent disability, with more than half of these being brain or spinal cord related. Although the overall number of workers involved in logging is small, the young average age, the work years lost, and the high risk of permanent disability support continued strong efforts to improve overall safety. Particularly, the high incidence of head injury argues strongly for improved and increased use of safety helmets, which may significantly impact the mortality and morbidity of logging accidents.
Characterization of microsomal membranes by negative staining technique

Abstract A study was made of the structure of membrane material from various fractions of homogenates of rat and beef liver. Several types of membrane structure were observed by use of the negative staining technique (phosphotungstate). Cellular organelles were isolated and various structures were found to be characteristic of the different isolated fractions; the structures are reproducible under conditions described. These fractions were also studied by standard embedding and sectioning techniques, as well as by enzymatic assays and chemical analyses to verify the presence of high concentrations of each membrane type. Membranes of the rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum show a fine granularity (about 30 A) on the surface and the smooth membranes tend to repel the phosphotungstic acid and show large areas with no discernible structure. These membranes have been compared with membranes from the Golgi, lysosomal, and mitochondrial fractions.
Efficient techniques for the simulation of computer communications networks

The statistical nature of Monte Carlo techniques presents significant computational problems in the simulation of computer communications networks. A variety of techniques has been developed over the years to improve the computational efficiency of simulation models of general queuing networks, some of which have been applied to communication networks. The authors review the status of efficiency-enhancing techniques as they relate to the simulation of computer communications networks, present some novel approaches, and suggest promising areas for future research. >
Broiler Litter Fertilization and Cropping System Impacts on Soil Properties

Understanding the eff ects of management practices on soil properties is necessary because soil properties are directly related to the capacity of soil to function. Soil physical, chemical and biological properties were determined aft er 3 yr in three cropping sequences [continuous cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) (CCC), cotton-corn (Zea mays L.)-cotton (CMC), and corncotton-cotton (MCC) each at four broiler litter fertilization rates (0, 4.5, 9, and 13.4 Mg ha –1 ) to a soil depth of 15 cm on a Catalpa silty clay loam soil in Verona, MS. Inorganic N fertilizer was applied at the rate of 123 kg ha –1 yr –1 to cotton and 180 kg ha –1 yr –1 to corn. Averaged across crop sequences, broiler litter application signifi cantly increased soil nutrient concentrations, microbial biomass C (MBC), total porosity, and aggregate stability (AS). Th e inclusion of corn into rotation with cotton increased soil MBC, AS, and reduced bulk density (D b ). Application of broiler litter at rate greater than 9 Mg ha –1 to CCC resulted in increasing NO 3 –N concentration at the lower 30-cm depth and P accumulation by fourfold at the 0- to 5-cm depth. Rotating cotton with corn in this study improved soil quality parameters and decreased NO 3 –N and P accumulation at the soil surface by approximately 24 and 20%, respectively. Hence, corn is sown in rotation with cotton in Mississippi, the Mississippian cotton industry could potentially improve soil organic carbon, nutrient cycling, and soil quality if broiler litter is used as the nutrient source.
Measuring the value of life saving from consumer reactions to new information

Abstract Past studies have relied on cross-section patterns of risky behavior to generate estimates of the value of life saving. This approach is colored by several problems that affect the reliability of the results in potentially serious ways. It is difficult to separate the risk components from the (dis)utility attributes of work or consumption; to avoid selectivity biases; and to disentangle user costs (e.g. wearing a face mask) from the risk premium paid for accepting risk. To circumvent some of these difficulties, this paper uses a different approach, one which exploits the information about the value of risk reduction that is provided by changing consumption patterns over time brought about by changes in available information about risks. This approach makes it possible to more reliably estimate the pure effects of risks on behavior and to generate unbiased distributions of the value of life saving. The case of cigarette consumption over time provides an ideal setting to illustrate this methodology.
Venice Incognito: Masks in the Serene Republic

James H. Johnson (2011), xiv+317 (University of California Press, Berkeley, Los Angeles and London, £27.95/$39.95). In Venice in 1736 ‘a “highly private and confidential colloquy” between Doge Alvi...
Spatiotemporal Regulation of Signaling in and out of Dendritic Spines: CaMKII and Ras

Recent advances in 2-photon fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (2pFLIM) in combination with 2-photon photochemistry have enabled the visualization of neuronal signaling during synaptic plasticity at the level of single dendritic spines in light scattering tissue. Using these techniques, the activity of Ca(2+)/Calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII) and Ras have been imaged in single spines during synaptic plasticity and associated spine enlargement. These provide two contrasting examples of spatiotemporal regulation of spine signaling: Ras signaling is diffusive and spread over ~10 μm along the dendrites, while CaMKII activation is restricted to the spine undergoing plasticity. In this review, we will discuss the mechanisms and roles of the different spatiotemporal regulation of signaling in neurons, and the impact of the spine structure upon these biochemical signaling processes.
Identification and Characterization of Pestalotiopsis spp. Causing Scab Disease of Guava, Psidium guajava, in Hawaii

Guava is one of the most widely grown plants in the tropics; however, it is affected by many fruit rot diseases. Fruit diseases decrease the marketability of fresh fruit and fruit for processing. A survey of scab disease was conducted at the USDA/ARS Tropical Plant Genetic Resource Management Unit in Hilo, HI, where more than 50 accessions of guava are grown. Symptoms observed were gray/light brown lesions surrounded by dark brown borders on leaves and brown, raised, corky, necrotic lesions on the exocarp of fruit which progressed as the fruits matured. Seventeen isolates from infected fruit, six isolates from lesions on leaves, and nine isolates from additional crops surrounding the guava trees were collected. The main fungi consistently isolated from symptomatic leaves and fruit were Pestalotiopsis spp. Morphology, colony characteristics, and pathogenicity of the isolates were examined and potential sources of host resistance were identified for germplasm characterization studies. Molecular methods were used to identify four Pestalotiopsis taxa (P. clavispora, P. microspora, P. sp. GJ-1, and P. disseminata) on guava in Hawaii. To our knowledge, this is the first report of traditional and molecular methods of identification and characterization being used for fungal pathogens of guava in Hawaii.
Intra-subject reliability of parameters contributing to maps generated by transcranial magnetic stimulation in able-bodied adults

Abstract Objective : This study evaluated the reliability of several parameters contributing to topographic motor cortical maps of the extensor digitorum communis (EDC) within able-bodied participants, across 3 sessions and from both hemispheres with greater precision than previously reported. Methods : Nine healthy right-handed males aged 44–75 years were studied at 3 separate sessions, spaced 7–14 days apart. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was used to elicit motor evoked potentials (MEP) in the contralateral EDC. Closely spaced surface electrodes were used to record the MEPs. Results : TMS-related parameters did not demonstrate a significant difference within participants across sessions and between hemispheres, with the exception of the hotspot distance, center of gravity distance, and normalized map volume. Hotspot and COG distances were determined from the Euclidean equation to calculate the distance in x,y coordinates traveled over sessions: one to two (distance A) and two to three (distance B). The hotspot distance, center of gravity distance and normalized map volume demonstrated a significant difference between right and left hemispheres, within participants. Adjusting for time and examining mean changes for hemispheres across sessions revealed that there was a 9-fold greater movement over sessions in the left hemisphere among these variables. Conclusions : TMS-related parameters are reliable within participants across 3 sessions. These data should be useful for planning and interpreting TMS studies using a healthy or patient population before and after an intervention.
A predictability study of simulated North Atlantic multidecadal variability

The North Atlantic is one of the few places on the globe where the atmosphere is linked to the deep ocean through air–sea interaction. While the internal variability of the atmosphere by itself is only predictable over a period of one to two weeks, climate variations are potentially predictable for much longer periods of months or even years because of coupling with the ocean. This work presents details from the first study to quantify the predictability for simulated multidecadal climate variability over the North Atlantic. The model used for this purpose is the GFDL coupled ocean-atmosphere climate model used extensively for studies of global warming and natural climate variability. This model contains fluctuations of the North Atlantic and high-latitude oceanic circulation with variability concentrated in the 40–60 year range. Oceanic predictability is quantified through analysis of the time-dependent behavior of large-scale empirical orthogonal function (EOF) patterns for the meridional stream function, dynamic topography, 170 m temperature, surface temperature and surface salinity. The results indicate that predictability in the North Atlantic depends on three main physical mechanisms. The first involves the oceanic deep convection in the subpolar region which acts to integrate atmospheric fluctuations, thus providing for a red noise oceanic response as elaborated by Hasselmann. The second involves the large-scale dynamics of the thermohaline circulation, which can cause the oceanic variations to have an oscillatory character on the multidecadal time scale. The third involves nonlocal effects on the North Atlantic arising from periodic anomalous fresh water transport advecting southward from the polar regions in the East Greenland Current. When the multidecadal oscillatory variations of the thermohaline circulation are active, the first and second EOF patterns for the North Atlantic dynamic topography have predictability time scales on the order of 10–20 y, whereas EOF-1 of SST has predictability time scales of 5–7 y. When the thermohaline variability has weak multidecadal power, the Hasselmann mechanism is dominant and the predictability is reduced by at least a factor of two. When the third mechanism is in an extreme phase, the North Atlantic dynamic topography patterns realize a 10–20 year predictability time scale. Additional analysis of SST in the Greenland Sea, in a region associated with the southward propagating fresh water anomalies, indicates the potential for decadal scale predictability for this high latitude region as well. The model calculations also allow insight into regional variations of predictability, which might be useful information for the design of a monitoring system for the North Atlantic. Predictability appears to break down most rapidly in regions of active convection in the high-latitude regions of the North Atlantic.
Characterizing polyethylene‐based blends with temperature rising elution fractionation (TREF) techniques

The temperature rising elution fractionation (TREF) technique makes use of the differential crystallizabilities, introduced by short chain branches (SCB), to fractionate polyethylenes (PE) on the basis of the SCB level of any one chain. This allows one to probe the SCB distribution of a polymer. The TREF technique has been applied to blends of PE by recognizing that the two commercial types of low density polyethylene, high pressure (HP-LDPE) and linear low density (LLDPE), have different short chain branching distributions. Other common copolymers of ethylene, like ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) or terpolymers like ethylene/propylene/hexadiene (EPDM), also have different SCB types, levels, and distributions and therefore have different TREF behavior. We have constructed a TREF apparatus that can be used in a number of different types of blend studies. The first is an Analytical-TREF, which gives a profile of the amount of polymer with a given SCB level and can be used to quantify HP-LDPE/LLDPE blends. We have also modified the technique to construct a stop-flow TREF apparatus, which enables one to separate fractions on the basis of the branching levels. The fractions can then be analyzed by size exclusion chromatography, IR, 13C NMR, or DSC. The use of these TREF techniques to characterize blends of HP-LDPE/LLDPE, LLDPE/EVA, PE/EPDM, and PE/polyisobutylene is discussed.
Advanced DPSM approach for modeling ultrasonic wave scattering in an arbitrary geometry

Several techniques are used to diagnose structural damages. In the ultrasonic technique structures are tested by analyzing ultrasonic signals scattered by damages. The interpretation of these signals requires a good understanding of the interaction between ultrasonic waves and structures. Therefore, researchers need analytical or numerical techniques to have a clear understanding of the interaction between ultrasonic waves and structural damage. However, modeling of wave scattering phenomenon by conventional numerical techniques such as finite element method requires very fine mesh at high frequencies necessitating heavy computational power. Distributed point source method (DPSM) is a newly developed robust mesh free technique to simulate ultrasonic, electrostatic and electromagnetic fields. In most of the previous studies the DPSM technique has been applied to model two dimensional surface geometries and simple three dimensional scatterer geometries. It was difficult to perform the analysis for complex three dimensional geometries. This technique has been extended to model wave scattering in an arbitrary geometry. In this paper a channel section idealized as a thin solid plate with several rivet holes is formulated. The simulation has been carried out with and without cracks near the rivet holes. Further, a comparison study has been also carried out to characterize the crack. A computer code has been developed in C for modeling the ultrasonic field in a solid plate with and without cracks near the rivet holes.
Improved partition functions for neutral and singly ionized uranium

Abstract We have computed partition functions for neutral and singly ionized uranium (U I and U II) between 100 and 15 000 K. Energy-level values were obtained from ab initio atomic-structure calculations based on the Slater-Condon theory. The single-configuration approximation was used to define levels for 21 U I and 16 U II configurations. Partition functions for U I and U II are tabulated as a function of temperature, and comparisons are made with those obtained using observed levels. We present estimates of the uncertainty of the tabulated partition functions.
TU‐C‐213CD‐10: Shifting MLC to Follow the Prostate Movements While Concurrently Treating Pelvic Lymph Nodes

Purpose: To evaluate an MLC tracking method and compare it to conventional iso‐center shift methods using daily kilo‐voltage cone beam CT (KV‐CBCT) for concurrent prostate and lymph nodes treatment. Methods: A total of 124 kV‐CBCT images from six patients were studied, and three verification plans were created for each KV‐CBCT. Contours of prostate, bladder and rectum were manually delineated, while contours of lymph nodes were transferred from the planning CT after bone‐based rigid image registration. The daily prostate displacements were obtained using dual‐image registrations: alignment to the bone and alignment to the prostate. For each segment of the initial plan, an in‐house program automatically shifted MLC leaf pairs that were collimated to the prostate according to measured prostate displacements. The MLC shifted plans were calculated based on shifted MLCs that applied to corresponding KV‐CBCT. The conventional iso‐center shifted plans were created based on original MLC shapes with shifted iso‐centers according to prostate contour‐based (iso‐shift‐contour plans) or bone‐based registration (iso‐shift‐bone plans). The dose to 95% (D95) of prostate and lymph nodes, and dose to 5% (D5) of rectum and bladder, were compared for all verification plans. Results: Using D95 within 3% of the prescription dose as a criterion, 97%, 97.6%, and 95% of 124 fractions met the criterion for prostate in the MLC‐shift, iso‐shift‐contour, and iso‐shift‐bone plans, respectively. Accordingly, 96%, 91%, and 97.6 of 124 fractions met the criterion for lymph nodes. For bladder, D5 of the bladder < 102% of the planned dose was observed in 67%, 56%, and 70% of the fractions, and D5 of the rectum <105% of the planned dose was observed in 85%, 88%, and 86% of the fractions, respectively. Conclusions: MLC‐shift method is an effective strategy for concurrent treatment of two independent moving targets, especially for patients with large organ motion.
Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Is a Critical Mediator of Ultraviolet B Irradiation-Induced Signal Transduction in Immortalized Human Keratinocyte HaCaT Cells

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a critical mediator of several types of epithelial cancers. Skin cancer arising from exposure to ultraviolet B irradiation (UVB) from the sun is a prominent form of human cancer. Recent data indicate that in addition to cognate ligands, EGFR is activated by UVB irradiation. We used pharmacological and genetic approaches to investigate the function of EGFR in mediating UVB-induced signal transduction in human skin keratinocyte HaCaT cells. Pharmacological inhibition of EGFR tyrosine kinase significantly inhibited UVB-mediated induction of ERK, p38, and JNK MAP kinases, and their effectors, transcription factors c-Fos and c-Jun. Inhibition of UVB activation of EGFR also suppressed activation of AKT-, PKC-, and PKA-dependent signal transduction pathways. B82 mouse L cells devoid of EGFR were used to further investigate EGFR dependence of UVB-induced signal transduction. UVB failed to induce ERK, and JNK activation was reduced 60% in B82 cells compared to B82K+ cells, which express EGFR. In addition, UVB induced both c-Fos and c-Jun proteins in B82K+ cells, whereas neither were induced in B82 cells. Taken together, these data demonstrate that EGFR is required for UVB-mediated induction of multiple signaling pathways that are known to mediate tumor formation in skin.
Strengthening the Resiliency of a Coastal Transportation System through Integrated Simulation of Storm Surge, Inundation, and Nonrecurrent Congestion in Northeast Florida

The Multimodal Transportation Educational Virtual Appliance (MTEVA) is an application developed within the framework of the broader Coastal Science Educational Virtual Appliance (CSEVA) to enhance coastal resiliency through the integration of coastal science and transportation congestion models for emergency situations. The first generation MTEVA enabled users to perform and visualize simulations using an integrated storm surge and inundation model (CH3D-SSMS) and transportation evacuation/return modeling system that supports contraflow in a simple synthetic domain (order of tens of intersections/roads) under tropical storm conditions. In this study, the second generation MTEVA has been advanced to apply storm surge and evacuation models to the greater Jacksonville area of Northeast Florida (order tens of thousands of transportation intersections/roads). To support solving the evacuation problem with a significantly larger transportation network, new models have been developed, including a heuristic capable of efficiently solving large-scale problems. After initial testing on several smaller stand-alone transportation networks (e.g., Anaheim, Winnipeg), the heuristic is applied to the Jacksonville area transportation network. Results presented show the heuristic produces a nearly optimal (average optimality gap <0.5%) solution in 90% less wall clock time than needed by the exact solver. The MTEVA’s new capabilities are then demonstrated through the simulation of a Hurricane Katrina-sized storm impacting the region and studying how the evacuation patterns are affected by the closing of roads due to flooding and bridges due to high winds. To ensure residents are able to leave the area, evacuations are shown to need to have begun at least 36 h prior to landfall. Additionally it was shown that large numbers of residents would be left behind if evacuation does not begin within 18 h of landfall and ~97% would not escape if evacuation did not begin until landfall, when areas of the coast that are the most prone to flooding are already cut off from the “safe” nodes of the transportation network.
Kin I Kinesins Are Microtubule-Destabilizing Enzymes

Using in vitro assays with purified proteins, we show that XKCM1 and XKIF2, two distinct members of the internal catalytic domain (Kin I) kinesin subfamily, catalytically destabilize microtubules using a novel mechanism. Both XKCM1 and XKIF2 influence microtubule stability by targeting directly to microtubule ends where they induce a destabilizing conformational change. ATP hydrolysis recycles XKCM1/XKIF2 for multiple rounds of action by dissociating a XKCM1/ XKIF2-tubulin dimer complex released upon microtubule depolymerization. These results establish Kin I kinesins as microtubule-destabilizing enzymes, distinguish them mechanistically from kinesin superfamily members that use ATP hydrolysis to translocate along microtubules, and have important implications for the regulation of microtubule dynamics and for the intracellular functions and evolution of the kinesin superfamily.
Expression, purification, and isotope labeling of cannabinoid CB2 receptor fragment, CB2180–233

Abstract To develop an approach to obtain milligram quantities of purified isotope-labeled seven transmembrane G-protein coupled cannabinoid (CB) receptor for NMR structural analysis, we chose a truncated CB receptor fragment, CB2180–233, spanning from the fifth transmembrane domain (TM5) to the associated loop regions of cannabinoid CB2 receptor. This highly hydrophobic membrane protein fragment was pursued for developmental studies of membrane proteins through expression and purification in Escherichia coli. The target peptide was cloned and over-expressed in a preparative scale as a fusion protein with a modified TrpΔLE1413 (TrpLE) leader sequence and a nine-histidine tag at its N-terminal. An experimental protocol for enzyme cleavage was developed by using Factor Xa to remove the TrpLE tag from the fusion protein. A purification process was also established using a nickel affinity column and reverse-phase HPLC, and then monitored by SDS–PAGE and MS. This expression level is one of the highest reported for a G-protein coupled receptor and fragments in E. Coli, and provided a sufficient amount of purified protein for further biophysical studies.
Morphology of soot collected in microgravity droplet flames

Measurements of the primary particle size, radius of gyration, fractal dimension, and the mass fractal prefactor were measured for soot sampled in n-heptane droplet flames under microgravity conditions. These represent the first such measurements obtained for spherically symmetric droplet flames. Experiments were performed in the NASA-Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, OH. Soot was sampled at 0.2 and 0.5 s after ignition for a 2.1 mm droplet burning in atmospheric pressure air. The measured primary particle sizes were significantly larger under microgravity conditions compared to normal gravity and were found to increase with residence time. The average radius of gyrations were also larger for soot collected in microgravity conditions. Differences in the particle and agglomerate dimensions are believed to be caused by the longer residence times. The fractal dimensions were found to be nearly constant for all experiments while the prefactor term was found to increase slightly with residence time.
Conformational analysis of (CH3)2CCl(CH2)xCH(CH3)2

Abstract Liquid and solid-state i.r. spectra and liquid-state Raman spectra were obtained for three compounds in a family of compounds with the general formula (CH 3 ) 2 CCl(CH 2 ) x CH(CH 3 ) 2 with x = 0, 1 and 2. Two carbon—chlorine stretching bands were observed in the liquid-state spectra of each of the three: 2-chloro-2,3-dimethylbutane, 569 and 611 cm −1 ; 2-chloro-2,4-dimethypentane, 573 and 628 cm −1 ; 2-chloro-2,5-dimethylhexane, 561 and 626 cm −1 . It was determined that two conformers ( T CHH and T HHH ) exist in the liquid state of 2-chloro-2,3-dimethylbutane and that only the T HHH conformer was present in the crystalline solid. For both 2-chloro-2,4-dimethylpentane and 2-chloro-2,5-dimethylhexane, the liquid is composed of the T CHH conformer and at least one of the two possible T HHH conformers. The crystalline solid exists as one of the two possible T HHH conformers. Normal coordinate calculations were made for all three compounds and a force field was developed for the family. It was not possible to distinguish between the two T HHH forms of 2-chloro-2,4-dimethylpentane and 2-chloro-2,5-dimethylhexane.
Dynamic Fluorescence Probing of the Local Environments within Amphiphilic Starlike Macromolecules

Steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopies were used to investigate the local environments of coumarin 102 (C102) probe molecules when encapsulated within an amphiphilic starlike ma...
Studies of six-coordinate adducts all-trans-[M(OAr)2(X)2(L)2] (M=Nb, Ta; X=Cl, Br; L=tertiary phosphine, pyridine)

An extensive series of d 1 -derivatives of niobium and tantalum [M(OAr)2(X)2(L)2 ]( M Nb, Ta; X Cl, Br; Ltertiary phosphine, pyridine) have been isolated by reduction of the corresponding adducts [M(OAr)2(X)3(L)] in the presence of excess L. Crystallographic studies show an all-trans, octahedral arrangement of ligands about the metal center. The effect of the halide, donor ligand and aryloxide substituents upon the structural parameters is discussed. © 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.
FTIR emission spectroscopy applied to polymer degradation

Abstract The thermal degradation of some common polymers was investigated using infrared emission spectroscopy. The potential of the technique to contribute to polymer degradation studies is demonstrated by measuring the spectroscopic changes that occur during thermal degradation, oxidation or decomposition of polymers under air at temperatures ranging from 150 to 250 °C. Polymer types studied include EPDM and nitrile rubbers (commercial materials containing some inorganic fillers), PMMA, PAN, PA, PVC and PS. The resulting qualitative changes in the polymers were easily detected, and were correlated with the current knowledge on the degradation mechanisms of these materials. These include simple carbonyl formation and related oxidative reactions, weight loss and volatilization, as well as formation of conjugation and specific polymer reactions. Some fundamental aspects and limitations of the technique are discussed to demonstrate the intrinsic difficulties of attempting to determine precise emittances and ultimately quantitative spectroscopic information. FTIR emission appears to be promising for studying in situ polymer degradation.
The effects of task outcome feedback and broad domain evaluation experience on the use of unique scorecard measures

Abstract Prior research has found that division evaluators using balanced scorecards in a performance evaluation process relied almost solely on common measures and virtually ignored unique measures. Other studies have found certain situations in which measures that are unique to a particular division are not completely ignored. However, no study has addressed whether outcome feedback over a period of time can motivate evaluators to rely more on unique measures that are predictive of future financial results. Our study involving executives with varying levels of prior evaluation experience examines two factors that may lead to increased use of unique measures: task outcome feedback and broad domain evaluation experience. Results provide evidence of increased reliance on unique measures after multiple periods as evaluators receive outcome feedback showing the predictive value of these unique measures. Further, results indicate that unique measures are used more over time when the prior evaluation experience of the participants is relatively high.
Factors predicting communal attitudes among African American men

This study examines the direct effects of demographic variables, religiosity, psychosocial stress variables (i.e., financial and relational stress, reported exposure to injustice), and sociostructural variables (i.e., racism) on the communal attitudes of African American men. Age and educational attainment were not systematically associated with communalism. However, there is some evidence of a negative relationship between income and communalism. Relational stress, financial stress, and stress due to everyday racism were not systematically related to communalism. Subjective religiosity and early religious involvement positively predicted communal attitudes; however, organizational religious involvement did not. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Prospective randomized comparison of surgical versus endovascular management of thrombosed dialysis access grafts

Abstract Purpose: Salvage of thrombosed prosthetic dialysis shunts can be performed using surgical or endovascular techniques. A prospective randomized trial was designed to compare the efficacy of these two methods in restoring dialysis access function. Methods: One hundred fifteen patients with thrombosed dialysis shunts were randomized prospectively to surgical (n = 56) or endovascular (n = 59) therapy. In the surgical group, salvage was attempted with thrombectomy alone in 22% and with thrombectomy plus graft revision in 78%. In the endovascular group, graft function was restored with mechanical (82%) or thrombolytic (18%) graft thrombectomy followed by percutaneous angioplasty. Results: Stenosis limited to the venous anastomotic area was the cause of shunt thrombosis in 55% of patients, and long-segment venous outflow stenosis or occlusion was the cause in 30%. In 83% of the surgical group and in 72% of the endovascular group, graft function was immediately restored ( p = NS). The postoperative graft function rate was significantly better in the surgical group ( p p Conclusions: Neither surgical nor endovascular management resulted in long-term function for the majority of shunts after thrombosis. However, surgical management resulted in significantly longer primary patency in this patient population, supporting its use as the primary method of management in most patients in whom shunt thrombosis develops.
Sodium inhibits hormone release and stimulates calcium efflux from isolated nerve endings of the rat neurohypophysis.

1. We studied the effects of extracellular sodium on the secretion of vasopressin (VP) and oxytocin (OT) and the efflux of45Ca from isolated, perfused nerve endings of the rat neurohypophysis (neurosecretosomes). 2. Upon removal of sodium from the perfusing medium, basal release of VP and OT increased by 3.95 ± 0.23- and 3.71 ± 0.22-fold, respectively, followed by a decline to about double the levels in normal (150 mM) sodium (P ⩽ 0.1). 3. Compared to neurosecretosomes perfused in normal (150 mM) sodium, omission of sodium from the medium augmented ionomycin-induced VP and OT secretion by 66 ± 5- and 20 ± 3-fold, respectively, and A23187-induced secretion was increased 1.3 ± 0.4- and 1.3 ± 0.1-fold (P ⩽ 0.01 for both ionophores). 4. The inhibition of ionomycin-induced secretion by sodium was concentration dependent (P ⩽ 0.01 for sodium ⩾ 5 mM); the IC50 was about 10 mM sodium for both hormones, and the Hill slope was close to -1. 5. The rate of45Ca efflux from neurosecretosomes showed 2.7 ± 0.1-fold stimulation upon increasing sodium from 4.5 to 150 mM (P ⩽ 0.01). 6. Our results suggest that sodium inhibits basal and stimulated secretion at the nerve terminal, possibly by reducing intraterminal calcium through sodium/calcium exchange.
Quantification of phospholipid molecular species by coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of deuterated samples

Abstract Recent findings suggest that changes in phospholipid molecular species may play a more important role in membrane acclimation than previously believed. The improvements in gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry quantification of phospholipid molecular species by specific deuteration of phospholipase C-derived diacylglycerols using the homogeneous catalyst tris(triphenylphosphine)rhodium (I) chloride are reported here. The reduced diacylglycerols were then converted to the t-butyldimethylsilyl derivatives for gas chromatography. Reduction of unsaturated fatty acyl chains with deuterium improved molecular species quantification in two important ways. First, reduction permitted a sharper gas chromatographic resolution of peaks differing only in their total number of carbon atoms. Second, it eliminated the need for empirically derived correction factors to compensate for the much greater tendency of polyunsaturated fatty acids to fragment during mass spectrometry while preserving, through the number of deuterium atoms incorporated, an accurate record of the degree of unsaturation for each fatty acid.
Grey-Box Approach for Performance Prediction in Map-Reduce Based Platforms

Map-Reduce has become an important paradigm for data-intensive computations. The ability to estimate Map-reduce application performance is critical for efficient resource scheduling and provisioning both on dedicated clusters and on the cloud. Current state-of-the-art techniques for performance prediction of Map- Reduce applications use analytical and simulation-based models. In this paper, we make the case for performance prediction using regression techniques based on machine-learning. Through modeling the Map-Reduce environment as a grey-box, we can leverage a combination of externally observed system features and information about sub-system internals. We identify four learning techniques with high prediction accuracy through a detailed comparative study of twenty methods. The powerful capabilities of data analytics platforms are usually accompanied by frequent faults that occur due to scale, complexity and the use of commercial off- the-shelf components. We show that our proposed approach can effectively predict degraded performance under these faulty conditions by the inclusion of additional fault-related input features. A mean prediction error of <12% was achieved across the range of parameters studied on a 64-node Xen virtualized environment running an open-source Map-Reduce implementation, Hadoop.
The Relationship between Declining Plasma Progesterone Levels and Increasing Luteinizing Hormone Pulse Frequency in Late Gestation in the Rat

The object of this study was to determine whether the increase in LH pulse frequency and mean blood LH levels on day 22 of pregnancy in the rat is due to the precipitous fall in plasma progesterone (P) levels that occurs late in gestation. On day 20 of pregnancy two groups of animals with indwelling jugular cannulae were implanted sc with empty or P-containing Silastic capsules. Blood samples were withdrawn 0.5 h before and 5.5 h postimplantation on day 20 (0800 and 1400 h), at 1400 h on day 21, and at the end of the study between 1200-1300 h on day 22 to follow the time course of changes in plasma P levels over this 2-day period in both groups. These groups were bled on day 22 for 3 h between 0900-1200 h for analysis of pulsatile LH release. A third group not implanted with Silastic capsules was bled on day 20 for 3 h; plasma P levels in these rats bled on day 20 did not differ from the preimplantation values observed in either group of capsule-implanted rats. In empty capsule-implanted animals, plasma P values declined slightly from days 20 to 21 and were dramatically reduced between days 21 and 22. In contrast, after implantation of P capsules, plasma P levels were elevated on day 20 and remained elevated on day 21 compared with preimplantation values. Although these increased plasma P values declined between days 21 and 22, reflecting a decrease in endogenous P secretion, they were nonetheless comparable to day 20 values due to the presence of the P-containing capsules. Plasma estradiol values did not differ significantly between any of the experimental groups. In the empty capsule group bled on day 22, mean blood LH levels and LH pulse frequency were significantly higher compared to day 20 values, at a time when plasma P levels had fallen significantly from day 20 values. However, in the P capsule group, mean blood LH levels and LH pulse frequency on day 22 were significantly lower than values in the empty capsule group and were not different from the low values on day 20. Thus, preventing a decline in plasma P values to the low levels normally found on day 22 prevented the increase in LH pulse frequency and mean blood LH levels normally seen at this time of pregnancy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Ocular injuries from laser accidents

Ocular injuries resulting from exposure to laser beams are relatively uncommon since there is normally a low probability of a relatively small-diameter laser beam entering the pupil of an eye. This has been the accident experience to date with lasers used in the research laboratory and in industry. A review of the accident data suggests that at least one type of laser is responsible for the majority of accidental injuries that result in a visual loss in the exposed eye. This is the q-switched neodymium:YAG laser. Although a continuous-wave laser causes a thermal coagulation of tissue, a q-switched laser having a pulse of only nanoseconds duration disrupts tissue. A visible or near-infrared laser can be focused on the retina, resulting in a vitreous hemorrhage. Examples of laser ocular injuries will be presented. Despite macular injuries and an initially serious visual loss, the vision of many patients recovers surprisingly well. Others may have severe vision loss. Corneal injuries resulting from exposure to reflected laser energy in the far-infrared account for surprisingly few reported laser accidents. The explanation for this accident statistic is not really clear. However, with the increasing use of lasers operating at many new wavelengths in the ultraviolet, visible and infrared, the ophthalmologist may see more accidental injuries from lasers.