cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enhanced Transverse Motion of Multiple Kinesin Motor Configurations via a Diffusive Weakly Bound State

Kinesins are a class of active molecular motors which mainly walk along microtubules from the negative to positive end in a highly processive manner and are regarded as tracking single protofilaments to a large extent. However, our experimental measurements of multiple-motor configurations reveal significant side-stepping motion without the loss of processivity. Here, we combine experimental data and theoretical modeling to demonstrate that, in two-motor configurations, one of the motors can be in a weakly interacting state that diffuses along the microtubule surface. At low ATP concentrations of 10 micro-molar ATP we find double motor configurations to consist of mainly a single active motor together with a passively diffusing weakly bound motor. As the ATP concentration is increased to the saturating range, processivity decreases and configurations consist mainly of single active motors with unbound partners. We present a simple stochastic state transition model between actively engaged, diffusive weakly bound, and unbound states that can reproduce experimental results regarding ATP dependence and characteristics of transverse motion. Although the tethering effect of a weakly interacting motor acting to increase processivity has been studied before, we present novel measurements of the diffusive weakly interacting motor's diffusion across the microtubule surface and the resulting enhanced transverse motion of cargo. Functionally this enhanced transverse motion could be important for providing the flexibility needed for multiple motors to navigate a cargo through a crowded cellular environment.
The role of cancer stem cells in neoplasia of the lung: past, present and future

Through the identification and subsequent targeting of an exquisitely unique and phenotypically defined cancer stem-cell population exhibiting discrete therapeutic vulnerabilities (a potential source of tumor recurrence) better survival rates for these patients may be achieved. It is this impetus that is making the field of pulmonary stem cell biology a growing field in biomedicine. These efforts are leading to the steady identification of multi-potent, self-renewing and proliferative progenitor cell populations throughout the bronchopulmonary tree. These cells give rise to both transiently amplifying (TA) and terminally differentiated (TD) cells, which (like in many other organs) are crucial for tissue homeostasis. In leukemia, it has been shown that partially committed cells, which are normally responsible for tissue maintenance after trauma, may undergo transformation via mutations resulting in the selective expression of genes that accentuate and perpetuate these cells’ self-renewal capabilities. It is therefore perhaps legitimate to consider stem cells as protumorigenic. It is when these cells undergo genetic mutations which make them acquire the ability to metastasize, that cancer occurs, rendering the concept of ‘cancer stem cells’ a rather attractive one indeed.
Experimental studies of small particle structures

Data on the experimental structure of small particles is reviewed, the emphasis being an attempt to correlate experimental information with theoretical models. First, a general discussion of some of the controlling factors is presented, primarily equilibrium shapes of small particles, the effect of surface stresses, kinetics, and the role of chemisorption and the substrate. Experimental techniques for obtaining information about small particles are then described, primarily electron microscopy approaches. Experimental data on the static structure of small particles is then reviewed, both single crystals and the many, complicated twinned structures in face-centred cubic materials. An overview is then given of some of the more recent results on dynamic phenomena in small particles. Finally, a general model merging thermodynamic and kinetic factors is presented to attempt to rationalize the available data, followed by a brief discussion.
Hsp90 cochaperone Aha1 is a negative regulator of the Saccharomyces MAL activator and acts early in the chaperone activation pathway.

Aha1 is a ubiquitous cochaperone of the Hsp90/Hsp70 chaperone machine. It binds the middle domain of Hsp90 and stimulates ATPase activity, suggesting a function late in the chaperone pathway. Saccharomyces Mal63 MAL activator is a DNA-binding transcription factor and Hsp90 client protein. This study utilizes several MAL activator mutants to investigate Aha1 function in vivo. Deletion of AHA1 enhances induced Mal63-dependent maltase activity levels 2-fold, whereas overproduction of Aha1 represses expression. Maltase expression in strains carrying constitutive and super-inducible mutant activators with alterations near the C terminus (particularly residues 433–463) is unaffected by either aha1Δ or Aha1 overproduction. However, another constitutive activator with alterations outside of this C-terminal region is sensitive to Aha1 regulation. Previously, we showed that in the absence of inducer, Mal63 forms a stable intermediate complex with Hsp70, Hsp90, and Sti1, whereas noninducible mutant activators bind only with Hsp70 in an apparent early complex. Here, we find that triple Myc-tagged Aha1/Myc3 copurifies with all noninducible Mal63 mutant activators tested. Aha1/Myc3 association with inducible Mal63 is observed only in a sti1Δ strain, in which Hsp90 binding and intermediate complex formation are defective. Constitutive and super-inducible mutant activators with C-terminal alterations do not bind Aha1 even in a sti1Δ strain. Mal63 binding to Hsp90 and Hsp70 is enhanced 3-fold by loss of Aha1. These results suggest an interaction between Aha1 and residues near the C terminus of Mal63 thereby regulating Hsp90 association. A novel mechanism for the negative regulation of the MAL activator by Aha1 cochaperone is proposed.
EVALUATION OF ANTI-HUMAN ANTIBODIES FOR IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY ON ARCHIVAL NONHUMAN PRIMATE TISSUES

: A panel of commercially available antibodies which recognize specific antigens on human tissues was developed for use in immunohistochemistry on tissues from eight species of nonhuman primates. Antibodies were selected for potential usefulness in diagnostic pathology, and for effectiveness in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues. Tissues from four species of macaques and four New World monkeys were evaluated. Using these antibodies we were able to identify 17/21 antigens examined in all eight species, and 21/21 antigens in the four species of macaques. Detailed immunohistochemistry protocols are presented, along with a systematic approach to developing a protocol for a new antibody.
Ab-initio Hartree–Fock study of Mg+2 as a substitutional impurity in CaF2

Abstract The energetics and electronic structure of Mg+2 as a substitutional impurity in CaF2 have been computed using ab-initio Hartree–Fock theory and the supercell approach. After correcting for electron correlation, a substitution energy (referenced to free Mg and Ca atoms) of +3.30 eV is found. At a Mg+2 site, the F− nearest-neighbor shell contracts by about 0.093 A, relative to the ideal CaF2 shell radius; however, the Mg+2–F− distance remains about 0.32 A greater than in pure MgF2. No new valence states occur outside the CaF2 valence band, but Mg+2 s-like states are found at the very bottom of the conduction band, lying just below the lowest empty Ca+2 states. The position of these states is sensitive to the extent of lattice relaxation around the impurity cation. It is also found that displacement of the Mg+2 from the ideal Ca+2 lattice site can occur easily.
Ethosuximide-associated systemic lupus erythematosis in childhood

Abstract Systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder that may be associated with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). The postulated mechanisms of drug-related lupus (DRL) include either an unmasking of idiopathic SLE or the actual induction of autoantibodies. Although ethosuximide (ETH) is one of the drugs most implicated in childhood DRL, our treatment of a 13-year-old girl with ETH-associated DRL prompted a literature search that revealed only 15 other cases. Many of these were on multiple AEDs. We subsequently became aware of two other cases. The relationship of ETH to SLE in these three children is discussed, and clinical and laboratory features useful in the differentiation of various types of SLE are reviewed.
Priming effects in perceptual classification

Priming stimuli that spatially flank a fixated target stimulus may cause either facilitation or interference with target classification, depending on experimental context. Two experiments demonstrated distinct effects of response compatibility and semantic congruity between flankers and target. Response competition occurred when targets were flanked by context stimuli associated with the opposite response, but this effect diminished when the target was delayed relative to the flankers. Facilitative priming by response-compatible flankers, in contrast, required prior exposure of the flankers, and was strongly influenced by the semantic congruity of flankers and targets. These differing time courses suggest that perceptual priming encompasses a variety of distinct underlying cognitive and motor events.
Animation and 3D color display of multiple-variable data: application to semiconductor design

The increasing complexity of digital simulations requires more effective techniques to display and interpret the voluminous outputs. Advanced digital processing workstations and high-resolution color monitors permit a wide range of new techniques for use in examining the global characteristics of each output variable and their interrelationships with other variables. In this investigation, animation, 3D display, and multiple-window imaging have been shown to be effective in interpreting multiple-variable data sets, both scalar and vector. These display methods are used in the solution of two specific semiconductor design problems: the avalanche breakdown of an n-MOSFET and an alpha particle hit on an npn transistor. With these techniques the user can more fully utilize the results of these long and costly computations, making these methods a powerful addition to existing techniques for imaging data.
Optimal Management of the Hepatitis B Patient Who Desires Pregnancy or Is Pregnant

Women of childbearing age with recognized hepatitis B infection should have their liver disease assessed before pregnancy occurs since the management of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in this setting is complex. Initiation of treatment in a woman of child-bearing age will depend on when she intends on conceiving, as well as the severity of her liver disease. During pregnancy, all decisions about initiating, continuing or stopping HBV therapy must include an analysis of the risks and benefits for both mother and fetus. The trimester of the pregnancy and the stage of the mother’s liver disease are important factors. Treatment in the third trimester may be considered to aid in prevention of perinatal transmission, which appears to be most pronounced in mothers with high viral loads. Consideration of initiation of third trimester treatment should occur after a high viral load is documented in the latter part of the second trimester, to allow adequate time for initiation of antiviral therapy with significant viral suppression before delivery. This discussion should include the topic of breastfeeding, since it is generally not recommended while on antiviral therapy. Until recently lamivudine and tenofovir appeared to be the therapeutic options with the most reasonable safety data in pregnancy. There are emerging data that telbivudine may also be considered in this setting.
Surgical Decisions on the Basis of Magnetic Resonance Angiography of the Carotid Arteries

ABSTRACTTHE RECENT DEMONSTRATION of the efficacy of carotid endarterectomy in certain patients emphasizes the advantages of having a noninvasive, accurate means of evaluating the carotid arteries. Advances in magnetic resonance (MR) angiography now allow accurate depiction of the carotid arteries th
Time course and outcome of recovery from stroke: Relevance to stem cell treatment

Abstract Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States after heart disease and cancer; it has an incidence of approximately 750,000 cases per year, and it is a leading cause of disability in adults. The factors predicting a poor outcome from stroke include severe initial neurological dysfunction, hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes mellitus. The armamentarium available for improvement of neurological function after stroke is currently limited to placement in specialized stroke units, optimal therapy for medical complications, and intense physical, occupational and speech rehabilitation. Despite many trials, no pharmacological intervention has been shown convincingly to improve neurological outcome. This review was undertaken to determine the appropriate time for new approaches to the theraphy of stroke such as the infusion of stem cells into the central nervous system. The literature shows in large case series that functional recovery from stroke reaches a maximum level by 3–6 months after onset, and no further recovery occurs beyond this time. Nevertheless, about 80% of these patients reach their maximum function for activities of daily living within 6 weeks from onset. Initiation of a clinical trial of stem cell therapy would require demonstration of optimal clinical improvement by neurological evaluations, with no change over at least 4 weeks of observation. Accordingly, in subjects with first-ever ischemic stroke who remained neurologically unchanged from the second until the third month after the acute event, implementation of stem cell therapy would be appropriate at approximately 3 months after the stroke.
Antagonist effects of non‐host fruit volatiles on discrimination of host fruit by Rhagoletis flies infesting apple (Malus pumila), hawthorn (Crataegus spp.), and flowering dogwood (Cornus florida)

In previous flight-tunnel tests Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) (Diptera: Tephritidae) flies originating from domestic apple (Malus pumila), hawthorn (Crataegus spp.), and flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), displayed greater numbers of upwind flights to blends of volatiles identified from their natal fruit compared to non-natal fruit. Here, we show that when certain non-host volatiles were added to the host blend, significantly fewer apple, hawthorn, and dogwood flies exhibited sustained upwind flight to the source. Specifically, the upwind flight of apple flies to the apple blend was significantly antagonized by the addition of the hawthorn or dogwood blends, the addition of 3-methylbutan-1-ol alone (a key volatile for hawthorn and dogwood flies), or the combination of 3-methylbutan-1-ol and another key dogwood volatile, 1-octen-3-ol. Similarly, the upwind flight of dogwood and hawthorn flies to their respective natal blends was antagonized by the addition of the apple blend or the key apple volatile butyl hexanoate. Experiments were also conducted to determine whether non-natal fruit volatiles could disrupt the close-range flight response of flies to the visual stimulus of fruit alone, represented by an odorless red sphere. Tests with apple-origin flies showed that when the hawthorn blend, the dogwood blend, or the key antagonist volatiles from each (3-methylbutan-1-ol and 1-octen-3-ol) were added to a red sphere fruit mimic, significantly lower proportions of flies were captured, compared with captures when no odor was present. Our results support the hypothesis that agonist and antagonist properties of fruit volatiles can play an important role in host recognition/ discrimination by Rhagoletis flies.
Policy and demographic factors shape deforestation patterns and socio-ecological processes in southwest Ethiopian coffee agroecosystems

Land-use change, a major driver of biodiversity loss and ecosystem service degradation, is caused by intertwined local and regional forces that shape human-environment interactions. In order to understand the interacting effects of local processes and national policies on landscape changes, we studied two districts of contrasting demographic and land-management histories in southwest Ethiopia. Our main objectives were to understand the extent of forest cover changes through time, and to explore how deforestation rates correlate with (a) local changes in settlement, demographic conditions, and livelihood practices, and (b) broader changes in land-tenure and agricultural development policies in Ethiopia. We found that: (a) over 36% of the forests were lost since 1973, (b) deforestation rates varied through time due to changes in land-tenure and agricultural development policies, and (c) rates also varied between the two districts with higher rates in Yeki that correlated with demographic pressure from resettlement and agricultural expansion, and lower rates in Decha associated with lower population pressure and in response to forest conservation practices and higher non-timber forest benefits to local communities. The interactions in agricultural policy, land-tenure, demographic dynamics, and conservation policies with forest stability or decline suggested by this study shows the importance of carefully considering the undesirable effects of resettlement and agricultural development policies and the need to support community forest conservation that also benefits local people.
Rationale for reversal of failed bariatric operations.

Abstract Background No guidelines are available to assist surgeons in determining whether reversal is appropriate for patients with problematic bariatric operations. Methods A retrospective review of 2573 primary and 252 revisional bariatric operations was performed to determine the indications for the reversal of problematic bariatric operations. Results Of the 82 patients who had undergone reoperation for complications of the primary operation, 13 had undergone reversal rather than revision. Reversal was performed at the patient's request for 5 patients with intractable vomiting after banded restrictive operations and 2 patients with intractable diarrhea after jejunoileal bypass. The surgeon recommended reversal for the remaining 6 patients, including 3 with active substance abuse and 3 with severe metabolic complications. One postoperative complication (wound infection) occurred, with no deaths. Conclusion The decision to reverse, rather than revise, a problematic bariatric operation is motivated by the perspective that the outcome of revision would also be problematic. Improved patient education and follow-up by the primary surgeon might have obviated the need for reversal in about one half of the patients in the present series.
B cells and transplantation tolerance

Transplantation tolerance is a state of immune unresponsiveness (or benign responsiveness) to the presence of specific, nonself antigens in the absence of chronic immunosuppressive therapy. Renal transplant tolerance remains a desired yet generally unattained goal that would enable transplantation to be performed without the risk of graft rejection or the need for broadly immunosuppressive drugs, which can have toxic effects. Studies published in the past few years have provided evidence that B cells have an important role in both graft rejection and transplantation tolerance. Indeed, antibody-dependent and antibody-independent functions of B cells account for both tolerogenic and rejection-promoting immune responses in transplant recipients. This Review comprises a discussion of the mechanisms involved in the induction of B-cell tolerance and a survey of current and emerging therapies that target the effects of B cells in transplant recipients.
Evaluating major controls on basinal stratigraphy, Pine Valley, Nevada: Implications for syntectonic deposition

The interpretation of prograded gravel as an indicator of tectonic uplift, that is, "syntectonic" deposition, is not necessarily correct. Increases in sediment supply induced by tectonic uplifting did not control the progradation of gravel in the Pine Valley basin, an actively subsiding half graben in northeastern Nevada. Rather, the distribution of lithofacies in the Pine Valley basin is primarily controlled by the uneven distribution of subsidence within the basin. Differences in subsidence along the axis of the basin indicate a strong inverse relationship between the long-term subsidence rate since late Miocene time and the distance of gravel transport out into the basin. Differential progradation of alluvial gravel into the basin from various drainages along the footwall is not related to uplift or lithology of the source area, size of the catchment area, or climate. In addition, the relatively fixed location of the topographic low within the basin through time, as indicated by the distribution of lacustrine deposits and the position of the modern axial drainage, suggests that a balance between basin subsidence and sediment supply to the basin has been generally maintained through time. Thus, if subsidence rates are a measure of tectonic activity, gravel progradation may record times of reduced, not increased, tectonism.
SCHEMA THEORY: AN APPLICATION TO INTEGRATION OF FINE AND GROSS MOTOR SKILLS OF YOUNG CHILDREN

Summary.-This study tested the extension of Schmidt's schema theory to the relationship between fine and gross motor skills. It was hypothesized that significant covariation would occur between isomorphic pairs of fine and gross motor skills. 52 children ranging in age from 29 to 63 mo. were tested on a series of 20 tasks. Each fine motor task was paired with an analogous gross-motor task having identical underlying cognitive elements but requiring different muscle groups for execution. When age was partialled out, the results showed significant covariation among G of 10 pairs of isomorphically related skills. In contrast, no consistent positive relationship among unrelated fine or gross motor skills was demonstrated. -These findings support Schmidt's motor schema theory and suggest that the schema may function to integrate selected aspects of fine and gross motor skills of young children. The concept of the motor schema (Piaget, 1952; Schmidt, 1975) has received considerable attention in the research literature as a central explanatory construct for motor skill development and performance. According to Schmidt (1975) the schema is a form of stored motor program located in the central nervous system which contains the basic organizational framework for the issuance of commands to the musculature for the enactment of specific motor performance. The schema is built up through repetitive experience by the organism with a particular class of motor behaviors. Although the movements within a class are highly similar, each one is initiated under varying conditions of the individual and within a slightly different environmental context. Likewise, the desired outcome of the movement varies across contexts. For.example, ,the motor program (schema) for throwing could be initiated under calm or windy conditions and could be modified by specifying a fast or slow throw. The extent and degree of variation in the experience of the individual over time decermines the generalizability of the schema to novel situations. The wellestablished schema requires only precise specification of the desired outcome and the initial context to generate detailed response specifications for a particular performance. Response specifications are then generated in terms of force, rime, and space parameters unique to the particular motor task in question. 'This research was partially supported by a grant from the Faculty Research Award Committee at Kansas State University. The authors wish to thank Roxanna Baldwin and Barbara Chmielowicz for their assistance in data collection. Requests for reprints should be sent to Susan E. Miller, Deparunent of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, Kansas State University, Manhatran, KS 66506.
Risk of hospitalizations/emergency department visits and treatment costs associated with initial maintenance therapy using fluticasone propionate 500 µg/salmeterol 50 µg compared with ipratropium for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in older adults

Abstract Background: Cost-effective treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are needed to reduce the burden on the Medicare system. Objectives: The objectives of this retrospective study were to compare the effects of fluticasone propionate 500 µg/salmeterol 50 µg (FSC 500/50) with those of ipratropium (IPR) in older adult patients with COPD on the following factors: (1) the risk of all-cause and COPD-related hospitalization and emergency department (ED) visits; and (2) all-cause and COPD-related treatment costs. Methods: This retrospective, observational cohort study assessed commercially insured patients aged ≥65 years (Medicare eligible) with COPD-related medical costs (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes 490.xx, 491.xx, 492.xx, or 496.xx), 18 months of continuous enrollment (12 months' pre-study and 6 months' poststudy), and ≥1 prescription claim (ie, the index event) for FSC 500/50 or IPR between January 2, 2001, and August 12, 2003. Exacerbation events (hospitalizations/ED visits) were assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression models controlling for baseline factors and preindex events. Treatment costs were estimated using multivariate generalized linear models to adjust for baseline characteristics and preindex utilization and costs. A propensity-matched comparison was conducted as a sensitivity analysis. Results: A total of 1051 patients (540 women, 511 men) were identified: 952 in the IPR group (mean age, 74.26 years) and 99 in the FSC 500/50 group (mean age, 72.38 years). Treatment with FSC 500/50 was not associated with a reduction in the risk of all-cause hospitalization or ED visit compared with IPR (adjusted hazards ratio [HR], 0.913 [95% CI, 0.673-1.238]); however, FSC 500/50 was associated with a significantly lower risk (45%) of a COPD-related event (adjusted HR, 0.547 [95% CI, 0.301-0.995]). Although treatment with FSC 500/50 was associated with significantly lower annual mean all-cause medical costs compared with IPR ($18,642 vs $25,556, P Conclusions: Compared with the IPR cohort, the FSC 500/50 cohort was 45% less likely to have a COPD-related exacerbation event and had similar medical costs. FSC 500/50 was a more effective initial maintenance therapy than IPR for this Medicare population, and, despite the $260 increase in COPD-related pharmacy costs, there was no significant difference in COPD-related medical costs.
Peat porewater chloride concentration profiles in the Everglades during wet/dry cycles from January 1996 to June 1998: Field measurements and theoretical analysis

Water quality is a key aspect of the Everglades Restoration Project, the largest water reclamation and ecosystem management project proposed in the United States. Movement of nutrients and contaminants to and from Everglades peat porewater could have important consequences for Everglades water quality and ecosystem restoration activities. In a study of Everglades porewater, we observed complex, seasonally variable peat porewater chloride concentration profiles at several locations. Analyses and interpretation of these changing peat porewater chloride concentration profiles identifies processes controlling conservative solute movement at the peat–surface water interface, that is, solutes whose transport is minimally affected by chemical and biological reactions. We examine, with an advection–diffusion model, how alternating wet and dry climatic conditions in the Florida Everglades mediate movement of chloride between peat porewater and marsh surface water. Changing surface water–chloride concentrations alter gradients at the interface between peat and overlying water and hence alter chloride flux across that interface. Surface water chloride concentrations at two frequently monitored sites vary with marsh water depth, and a transfer function was developed to describe daily marsh surface water chloride concentration as a function of marsh water depth. Model results demonstrate that porewater chloride concentrations are driven by changing surface water chloride concentrations, and a sensitivity analysis suggests that inclusion of advective transport in the model improves the agreement between the calculated and the observed chloride concentration profiles. Published in 2007 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quantitative comparison of errors in 15N transverse relaxation rates measured using various CPMG phasing schemes

Nitrogen-15 Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) transverse relaxation experiment are widely used to characterize protein backbone dynamics and chemical exchange parameters. Although an accurate value of the transverse relaxation rate, R2, is needed for accurate characterization of dynamics, the uncertainty in the R2 value depends on the experimental settings and the details of the data analysis itself. Here, we present an analysis of the impact of CPMG pulse phase alternation on the accuracy of the 15N CPMG R2. Our simulations show that R2 can be obtained accurately for a relatively wide spectral width, either using the conventional phase cycle or using phase alternation when the r.f. pulse power is accurately calibrated. However, when the r.f. pulse is miscalibrated, the conventional CPMG experiment exhibits more significant uncertainties in R2 caused by the off-resonance effect than does the phase alternation experiment. Our experiments show that this effect becomes manifest under the circumstance that the systematic error exceeds that arising from experimental noise. Furthermore, our results provide the means to estimate practical parameter settings that yield accurate values of 15N transverse relaxation rates in the both CPMG experiments.
Phylogeny from function: evidence from the molecular fossil record that tRNA originated in replication, not translation

Abstract We propose a phylogeny for the evolution of tRNA that is based on the ubiquity and conservation of tRNA-like structures in the replication of contemporary genomes. This phylogeny is unique in suggesting that the function of tRNA in replication dates back to the very beginnings of life on earth, before the advent of templated protein synthesis. The origin we propose for tRNA has distinct implications for the order in which other components of the modern translational apparatus evolved. We further suggest that the "top half" of modern tRNA-a coaxial stack of the acceptor stem on the T psi C arm--is the ancient structural and functional domain and that the "bottom half" of tRNA--a coaxial stack of the dihydrouracil arm on the anticodon arm--arose later to provide additional specificity.
Wada difference a day makes: Interpretive cautions regarding same-day injections

Objective: To determine whether memory scores after second intracarotid amobarbital procedure (IAP) injections are affected by the time between the first and second injections. Methods: Sixty-two patients received their second IAP injection on the day after the first injection. Forty-three other patients received the second injection on the same day as the first injection. Both groups underwent similar IAP protocols and memory assessments, except for the timing of the second injection. Results: The second IAP memory scores in the two-day group were significantly higher ( p Conclusion: One-day and two-day IAP protocols do not result in similar memory scores after the second injection. Nineteen percent of a subset of patients in the one-day protocol were misclassified, in terms of IAP memory ratings, because of the deleterious effect of having both injections on the same day. It is recommended that correction scores be considered, for some patients who receive two IAP injections on one day, to approximate what the second IAP memory score would have been had the second injection occurred on a second day.
In vitro enhancement of natural killer cell activity against herpesvirus-infected targets in patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia

The present study was carried out to determine whether natural killer (NK) activity against virus-infected target cells could be enhanced in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) taken from patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia. Nonspecific cell-mediated killing of heterologous herpesvirus-infected B lymphoblastoid targets could be enhanced by pretreating PBL with interferons-α or -γ, or with interleukin-2. NK activity was substantially enhanced over that of untreated cells, and virtually all cytolytic activity was attributable to CD16+ NK cells. Pretreatment of PBL with a combination of cytokines resulted in additive, but never synergistic enhancement of NK activity. The results suggest that cytokine therapy may provide a useful means for treating severe varicella zoster infections in immunocompromised children.
Evaluation of anisotropic non-coincident g and A tensors from EPR and ENDOR data by the method of least-squares fitting

Abstract The details of a rigorous least-squares fitting procedure for the evaluation of the principal values of g and A tensors, as well as the direction cosines of their principal axes, are given. Expressions are provided for a quick evaluation of the required energy level differences. In this method all EPR (ENDOR) line positions (frequencies) obtained for several orientation of the external magnetic field in three mutually perpendicular planes are simultaneously fitted to evaluate all the components of the g and A tensors, and to minimize parameter errors. The procedure is illustrated by application to the EPR data analysis of one of the eight inequivalent (BO 4 ) 4- tetrahedral complexes ( S = 1 2 , I = 3 2 ) obtained w hen 11 B 3+ replaces Si 4+ in (SiO 4 ) 4- complex in danburite single crystal (CaB 2 Si 2 O 8 ).
The black market exchange rate and demand for money in sixteen developing countries

Using data for a sample of 16 diverse countries, this study tests the hypothesis that it is the black market exchange rate, not the official rate, that should enter into the demand for money function of countries where there is a black market for foreign currencies. Using several cointegration methods and Hausman tests, it is shown that this hypothesis is strongly supported for most of the countries studied.
Intelligent systems development in a non engineering curriculum

Much of computer system development today is programming in the large - systems of millions of lines of code distributed across servers and the web. At the same time, microcontrollers have also become pervasive in everyday products, economical to manufacture, and represent a different level of learning about system development. Real world systems at this level require integrated development of custom hardware and software.How can academic institutions give students a view of this other extreme - programming on small microcontrollers with specialized hardware? Full scale system development including custom hardware and software is expensive, beyond the range of any but the larger engineering oriented universities, and hard to fit into a typical length course. The course described here is a solution using microcontroller programming in high level language, small hardware components, and the Arduino open source microcontroller. The results of the hands-on course show that student programmers with limited hardware knowledge are able to build custom devices, handle the complexity of basic hardware design, and learn to appreciate the differences between large and small scale programming.
The Fokker-Planc and Kramers-Chandrasekhar equations for semiclassical bosons and fermions

Abstract In the following we derive a non-linear Fokker-Planck equation in the momentum space, and a non-linear Kramers-Chandrasekhar equation in the μ space for semiclassical fermions and bosons. The medium is still represented by a Gaussian random process, but the transition probabilities are so altered as to disallow transitions prohibited by the exclusion principle.
Geometric errors in 3D optical metrology systems

The field of 3D optical metrology has seen significant growth in the commercial market in recent years. The methods of using structured light to obtain 3D range data is well documented in the literature, and continues to be an area of development in universities. However, the step between getting 3D data, and getting geometrically correct 3D data that can be used for metrology is not nearly as well developed. Mechanical metrology systems such as CMMs have long established standard means of verifying the geometric accuracies of their systems. Both local and volumentric measurments are characterized on such system using tooling balls, grid plates, and ball bars. This paper will explore the tools needed to characterize and calibrate an optical metrology system, and discuss the nature of the geometric errors often found in such systems, and suggest what may be a viable standard method of doing characterization of 3D optical systems. Finally, we will present a tradeoff analysis of ways to correct geometric errors in an optical systems considering what can be gained by hardware methods versus software corrections.
Effect of diquat (1,1′-ethylene-2,2′-dpyridylium dibromide) on the formation and photoreactions of chromatophores from Rhodospirillum rubrum

Abstract Analysis of chromatophore suspensions fractionated from Rhodospirillum rubrum indicated that the diphenylamine did not interfere with the cellular synthesis of bacteriochloropyll (absorption at 775 mμ in acetone-methanol). Diquat, on the other hand, interfered with the synthesis of both bacteriochlorophyll within chromatophore suspensions and the detectable Rhodospirillum heme protein of the supernatant (absorption at 435 mμ). While photoreduction of O2 was dependent on substrates such as malate or succinate, photophosphorylation by chromatophore suspensions was mostly independent of these substrates under aerobic conditions. Under anaerobic conditions, ascorbate plus 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol caused an “ovver-reduced” environment in which photophosphorylation was inhibited but was restored by diquat. The photophosphorylation altered by reduced 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol and phenazine methosulfate seemed to be related to the presence of atmospheric O2; the stimulation by phenazine methosulfate was dependent on both siccinate and O2;
Zonal organization of olivocerebellar projections to the uvula in rabbits.

Abstract Olivocerebellr projections to the uvula were studied by means of retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in pigmented rabbits. The distribution pattern of labeled cells in the inferior olive was compared among cases following large- and micro-injectionsof HRP into the uvula. Findings indicate topographically organized projections to longitudinally oriented zones. There areleast 6 zones in the rabbit's uvula. The caudal part of the nucleus beta projects contralaterally to a most medially located zone (caudalbeta zone). The rostral part of the nucleus beta projects to a little more laterally located zone (rostral beta zone) at a distance ofabout 1 mm from the midline of the uvula. The caudolateral part of the MAO projects to a zone (caudolateral MAO zone) located laterallyto the rostral beta zone. The dorsomedial cell column projects to a zone (dorsomedial cell column zone) located in the intermediatepart of the uvula at about 2 mm from the midline. The rostrolateral part of the MAO projects to the most lateral zone (rostrolateralMAO zone) of the uvula. Finally, the ventral lamella of the PO projects to a zone (ventral lamlla of PO zone) located between therostrolateral MAO zone and the dorsomedial cell column zone.
Complex event analytics: online aggregation of stream sequence patterns

Complex Event Processing (CEP) is a technology of choice for high performance analytics in time-critical decision-making applications. Yet while effective technologies for complex pattern detection on continuous event streams have been developed, the problem of scalable online aggregation of such patterns has been overlooked. Instead, aggregation is typically applied as a post processing step after CEP pattern detection, leading to an extremely ineffective solution. In this paper, we demonstrate that CEP aggregation can be pushed into the sequence construction process. Based on this insight our A-Seq strategy successfully aggregates sequence pattern online without ever constructing sequence matches. This drives down the complexity of the CEP aggregation problem from polynomial to linear. We further extend our A-Seq strategy to support the shared processing of concurrent CEP aggregation queries. The A-Seq solution is shown to achieve over four orders of magnitude performance improvement for a wide range of tested scenarios compared to the state-of-the-art solution.
Expressive speech synthesis using American English ToBI: questions and contrastive emphasis

We describe American English concatenative text-to-speech synthesis experiments in which "expressions", namely questioning and contrastive emphasis, are each associated with a ToBI prosodic template. ToBI labels, along with text features, are in turn incorporated into decision-tree models of F0 and segment duration to be used during synthesis, sparing the need for expression-specific large corpora and decision trees. Synthesizing using this approach enables listeners to perform the difficult task of distinguishing yes-no questions from identically-worded declarative sentences 78% of the time, compared to the baseline system's 50%. For contrastive emphasis, a sentence is synthesized with emphasis on a word which is chosen appropriately or inappropriately based on a preceding sentence. Listeners' mean opinion scores for appropriate emphases exceed inappropriate by 0.40 on a 1-to-5 scale for the experimental system, compared to a difference of 0.11 for the baseline, a significant system difference (p<0.01).
ABRA: improved coding indel detection via assembly-based realignment

Motivation: Variant detection from next-generation sequencing (NGS) data is an increasingly vital aspect of disease diagnosis, treatment and research. Commonly used NGS-variant analysis tools generally rely on accurately mapped short reads to identify somatic variants and germ-line genotypes. Existing NGS read mappers have difficulty accurately mapping short reads containing complex variation (i.e. more than a single base change), thus making identification of such variants difficult or impossible. Insertions and deletions (indels) in particular have been an area of great difficulty. Indels are frequent and can have substantial impact on function, which makes their detection all the more imperative. Results: We present ABRA, an assembly-based realigner, which uses an efficient and flexible localized de novo assembly followed by global realignment to more accurately remap reads. This results in enhanced performance for indel detection as well as improved accuracy in variant allele frequency estimation. Availability and implementation: ABRA is implemented in a combination of Java and C/C++ and is freely available for download at https://github.com/mozack/abra. Contact: ude.cnu@esoml; ude.cnu.liame@sjrekrap Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Overcoming short gaps in peripheral nerve repair: conduits and human acellular nerve allograft

Nerve conduits and acellular nerve allograft offer efficient and convenient tools for overcoming unexpected gaps during nerve repair. Both techniques offer guidance for migrating Schwann cells and axonal regeneration though utilizing very different scaffolds. The substantially greater amount of animal and clinical data published on nerve conduits is marked by wide discrepancies in results that may be partly explained by a still poorly defined critical repair gap and diameter size. The available information on acellular allografts appears more consistently positive though this tool is also hampered by a longer but also limited critical length. This article reviews the current relative literature and examines pertinent parameters for application of both acellular allograft and nerve conduits in overcoming short nerve gaps.
Creating the computer industry

The major underlying factors that shaped the computer industry as it emerged, beginning in the mid-1940s, are the focus of this paper. Unlike many accounts that primarily discuss technological developments, this paper examines the interaction of three equally important elements: technology, customers and suppliers. The evolution of the computer industry is shown to have been driven initially by national-security customers, and later by cost-sensitive commercial customers. Technological advances made in response to these two customer types are identified, and the successes and failures of suppliers are analyzed in terms of changing customer requirements.
Evaluating component effects of a prison-based treatment continuum.

A continuum of correctional-based therapeutic community (TC) treatment programs for drug-involved offenders has been functioning for several years in Delaware. Previous evaluations have shown the efficacy of the full continuum for up to three years posttreatment, though there has been some question of the benefits of treatment within prison. The particular focus here is on the relative impact of the within-prison, transitional, and aftercare treatment components upon criminal recidivism and relapse to illicit drug use. The relative benefit of participation in each component is supported, over and above the effects of differences in demographics and histories of criminal behavior and illicit substance use. However, the residential transitional program effects are generally larger and more long lasting. Additionally, the two outcomes appear differentially sensitive to the degree of completion of the continuum.
Boundary Coerciveness and the Neumann Problem for 4th Order Linear Partial Differential Operators

The relationship between the classical interior coercive estimate over W2,2(Ω) and a required boundary coercive estimate for solutions to the L2(∂Ω) Neumann problem is discussed. A conditional lemma in which boundary coerciveness implies interior is proved. Hilbert’s theorem that elliptic operators need not be sums of squares of differential operators and therefore cannot, in general, have formally positive integro–differential forms is discussed. An elliptic operator that is a sum of squares yet has no formally positive coercive form is displayed. The existence of coercive forms for elliptic operators far away from sums of squares is questioned.