cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Career Outcome Expectations Related to Sustainability among Students Intending to Major in Civil Engineering

AbstractLearning more about the career outcome expectations of students interested in civil engineering can help identify gaps between their expectations and sustainability challenges. The authors used data from two national surveys to compare students interested in civil engineering and other engineering disciplines. Those interested in civil engineering are more likely to address such sustainability topics as environmental degradation, water supply, and climate change. However, civil engineering students are less likely to have outcome expectations related to disease and saving lives. Particularly, female students interested in civil engineering have similar expectations to males but also hope to address poverty and opportunities for women and minorities. The gaps in outcome expectations related to disease and saving lives are troubling for a profession that is so instrumental in providing, for example, clean water and safe shelter. Showing the connection between societal needs and civil engineering may...
Growth status and performance relative to parental size.

Abstract The relationship between parent size and the stature and performance of their offspring was considered in a cross-sectional sample of Philadelphia Negro and white children of elementary school age. Parents were classified into six mating combinations according to their stature. Analysis of the children's stature and performance by parental stature-mating combinations indicated a well-defined parent size-related trend for stature, a suggestive size-related trend for static strength, and an inconsistent parent size relationship for gross motor performance.
An efficient N-body algorithm for a fine-grain parallel computer

Numerical simulations of complicated N-body systems require codes with significantly greater capacity than provided by existing schemes. For example, to study the collision of two galaxies with realistic self-gravitating disks, we will probably need to integrate the equations of motion of ~ 2.5 x 10 s particles. Problems of this kind require algorithms which can handle a wide range of physical scales without any special assumptions about the symmetry of the system. Conventional algorithms have difficulty meeting these requirements: direct-summation codes are far too slow, FFT codes can handle only a limited range of scales, and multipole-expansion codes make restrictive assumptions about the geometry. This report describes an N-body algorithm for a parallel computer combining the generality of direct-summation codes with the favorable scaling properties of FFT and multipole-expansion codes.
A New Method of Preparation of D-Amino Acid Oxidase Apoprotein and a Conformational Change after Its Combination with Flavin Adenine Dinucleotide

Abstract The apoprotein of D-amino acid oxidase has been prepared by a new method involving dialysis of the holoenzyme against 1 M potassium bromide. The apoprotein prepared in this way has been found to have the same properties as that prepared by the classical acid-ammonium sulfate method. The effect of mixing apoprotein with flavin adenine dinucleotide has been followed by changes in absorbance at 493 mµ, by changes in flavin fluorescence and protein fluorescence, and by measuring catalytic activity. It is found that the reaction proceeds in two stages, a rapid binding of FAD being followed by slow secondary changes which correlate with the appearance of catalytic activity. Evidence is presented that the slow change is due to a change in protein conformation. Some speculation is made on the significance of this finding to the current theories of protein synthesis.
A co-synthesis approach to embedded system design automation

Embedded systems are targeted for specific applications under constraints on relative timing of their actions. For such systems, the use of pre-designed reprogrammable components such as microprocessors provides an effective way to reduce system cost by implementing part of the functionality as a program running on the processor. However, dedicated hardware is often necessary to achieve the requisite timing performance. Analysis of timing constraints is, therefore, key to determination of an efficient hardware-software implementation. In this paper, we present a methodology for embedded system design as a co-synthesis of interacting hardware and software components. We present a decomposition of the co-synthesis problem into sub-problems, that is useful in building a framework for embedded system CAD. In particular, we present operation-level timing constraints and develop the notion of satisfiability of constraints by a given implementation both in the deterministic and probabilistic sense. Constraint satisfiability analysis is then used to define hardware and software portions of functionality. We describe algorithms and techniques used in developing a practical co-synthesis framework, vulcan. Examples are presented to show the utility of our approach.
The Acousto-Ultrasonic Approach

The nature and underlying rationale of the acousto-ultrasonic approach is reviewed, needed advanced signal analysis and evaluation methods suggested, and application potentials discussed. Acousto-ultrasonics is an NDE technique combining aspects of acoustic emission methodology with ultrasonic simulation of stress waves. This approach uses analysis of simulated stress waves for detecting and mapping variations of mechanical properties. Unlike most NDE, acousto-ultrasonics is less concerned with flaw detection than with the assessment of the collective effects of various flaws and material anomalies. Acousto-ultrasonics has been applied chiefly to laminated and filament-wound fiber reinforced composites. It has been used to assess the significant strength and toughness reducing effects that can be wrought by combinations of essentially minor flaws and diffuse flaw populations. Acousto-ultrasonics assesses integrated defect states and the resultant variations in properties such as tensile, shear, and flexural strengths and fracture resistance. Matrix cure state, porosity, fiber orientation, fiber volume fraction, fiber-matrix bonding, and interlaminar bond quality are underlying factors.
M.N. Roy: Marxism and colonial cosmopolitanism, by Kris Manjapra

In the preface to a recent edition of the journal Modern Intellectual History, historian Shruti Kapila called for ‘an intermediate history of connections between ideas and practice, and between Sou...
Inferring surface water equilibrium calcite δ18O during the last deglacial period from benthic foraminiferal records : implications for ocean circulation

The ocean circulation modifies mixed layer (ML) tracer signals as they are communicated to the deep ocean by advection and mixing. We develop and apply a procedure for using tracer signals observed “upstream” (by planktonic foraminifera) and “downstream” (by benthic foraminifera) to constrain how tracer signals are modified by the intervening circulation and, by extension, to constrain properties of that circulation. A history of ML equilibrium calcite δ18O (δ18Oc) spanning the last deglaciation is inferred from a least-squares fit of eight benthic foraminiferal δ18Oc records to Green's function estimated for the modern ocean circulation. Disagreements between this history and the ML history implied by planktonic records would indicate deglacial circulation changes. No deviations from the modern circulation are diagnosed because the two estimates of ML δ18Oc agree within their uncertainties over the deglaciation, but diagnostics suggest data collection and modeling procedures useful for inferring circulation changes. Uncertainties of benthic-derived ML δ18Oc are lowest in the high-latitude regions chiefly responsible for ventilating the deep ocean; additional high-resolution planktonic records constraining these regions are of particular utility. Benthic records from the Southern Ocean, where data are sparse, appear to have the most power to reduce uncertainties in benthic-derived ML δ18Oc. Understanding the spatiotemporal covariance of deglacial ML δ18Oc will also improve abilities of δ18Oc records to constrain deglacial circulation.
An insertion sequence unique to Frankia strain ArI5

At the genetic level, understanding of symbiotic nitrogen fixation by Frankia is limited to nif functions that are highly conserved among all organisms. The genetics and biochemistry of nodulation are largely unexplored because of a complete lack of genetic tools. In other bacteria, mobile genetic elements such as insertion sequences (IS) and transposons are commonly used to create mutations and insert new genetic material. We have characterized a 4 kbp segment of DNA from Frankia strain ArI5 that has the hallmarks of a mobile genetic element, inverted repeats flanking a gene encoding a transposase. There are at least six copies of this element in strain ArI5 but none in either strain CcI3 or CpI1. The inverted repeats are 17 nt long and separated by 2156 bp. Within that region are two, overlapping ORFs that each encode a transposase. RT-PCR analysis of RNA from Frankia ArI5 cells conclusively demonstrates the expression of one transposase gene and suggests that both may be transcribed. Numerous attempts to clone the intact IS in E. coli were unsuccessful suggesting that the element may be unstable in this context. A clone containing the complete IS was constructed in E. coli then modified by insertion of the kanamycin (KAN) resistance gene from Tn5. A fragment of DNA including the inverted repeats, transposase genes and KAN gene, was transferred to the suicide vector pJBSD1. The construct, pFRISK, was transformed into E. coli to search for transposition events.
Hadronic transitions of D-wave quarkonium.

The decays UPSILON(1D)..-->..UPSILON..pi pi.. are calculated within the framework of the multipole expansion in QCD. Using a description of the conversion of gluons into pions based on soft-pion theorems, we find GAMMA(UPSILON(1 /sup 3/D/sub J/)..-->..UPSILON..pi pi..) = 0.07 keV; the rates are identical for J = 1,2,3. The smallness of these rates means that the /sup 3/D states can probably only be observed using their electric-dipole transitions UPSILON(1D)..-->..UPSILON(1P)..gamma... .A
Texture based prelens tear film segmentation in interferometry images

Interferometric imaging has been identified as a novel approach to the evaluation of prelens tear film (PLTF) thickness in contact lens patients. In this paper, we present a texture based segmentation approach for the detection of tear film breakup regions on interferometry images. First, the textural information was extracted from the studied images using a bank of Gabor filters. A novel classifier, EM-MDA, which integrates traditional Expectation-Maximization with Multiple Discriminant Analysis, was then trained for the recognition of breakup regions of the PLTF. Experimental results provided a correct classification rate of 91.0% which proved significantly higher compared to traditional EM or well known Linear Discriminant Analysis.
The Multimerization of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type I Vif Protein A REQUIREMENT FOR Vif FUNCTION IN THE VIRAL LIFE CYCLE

The Vif (virion infectivity factor protein of human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) is essential for viral replication in vivo and productive infection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, macrophages, and H9 T-cells. However, the molecular mechanism(s) of Vif remains unknown and needs to be further determined. In this report, we show that, like many other proteins encoded by HIV-1, Vif proteins possess a strong tendency toward self-association. In relatively native conditions, Vif proteins formed multimers in vitro, including dimers, trimers, or tetramers. Through in vivo binding assays such as coimmunoprecipitation and the mammalian two-hybrid system, we also demonstrated that Vif proteins could interact with each other within a cell, indicating that the multimerization of Vif proteins is not simply due to fortuitous aggregation. Further studies indicated that the domain affecting Vif self-association is located at the C terminus of this protein, especially the proline-enriched 151-164 region. Moreover, we found that a Vif mutant with deletion at amino acid 151-164 was unable to rescue the infectivity of vif-defective viruses generated from H9 T-cells, suggesting that the multimerization of Vif proteins could be important for Vif function in the viral life cycle. Our studies identified a new feature of Vif and should accelerate our understanding of its role in HIV-1 pathogenesis.
Homogeneous Polynomial Solutions to Constant Coefficient PDE's

Suppose p is a homogeneous polynomial over a field K. Let p(D) be the differential operator defined by replacing each occurrence of xj in p by xj , defined formally in case K is not a subset of C. (The classical example is p(x1 , ..., xn)= j xj , for which p(D) is the Laplacian { .) In this paper we solve the equation p(D) q=0 for homogeneous polynomials q over K, under the restriction that K be an algebraically closed field of characteristic 0. (This restriction is mild, considering that the ``natural'' field is C.) Our Main Theorem and its proof are the natural extensions of work by Sylvester, Clifford, Rosanes, Gundelfinger, Cartan, Maass and Helgason. The novelties in the presentation are the generalization of the base field and the removal of some restrictions on p. The proofs require only undergraduate mathematics and Hilbert's Nullstellensatz. A fringe benefit of the proof of the Main Theorem is an Expansion Theorem for homogeneous polynomials over R and C. This theorem is trivial for linear forms, goes back at least to Gauss for p=x1+x 2 2+x 2 3 , and has also been studied by Maass and Helgason.
The Neglected Half of Alzheimer Disease: Cognitive and Functional Concomitants of Severe Dementia

OBJECTIVE: Traditional mental status and psychometric assessments bottom out in the late stages of Alzheimer disease (AD). A method adapted from cognitive testing in infants, the Ordinal Scales of Psychological Development was modified (M-OSPD) and applied to a severely demented population. The concurrent validity of this method was tested in comparison with Functional Assessment Staging (FAST). Internal consistency as a measure for reliability was also determined. DESIGN: Cross sectional study. SETTING: Subjects were generally evaluated in their residence, usually a nursing home or a private home. PATIENTS: Severely cognitively impaired subjects who fulfilled criteria for probable AD were studied. MEASUREMENTS: Evaluation consisted of clinical global, mental status, functional, and cognitive assessments including the Global Deterioration Scale (GDS) and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). RESULTS: Seventy patients were evaluated. Traditional mental status assessments (eg, the MMSE) manifested virtually uniform bottom scores in all GDS stage 7 subjects (n = 46), and GDS stage 6 subjects had MMSE scores within one standard deviation unit of zero. In contrast, the M-OSPD scale continued to show results in the last stages of the disease. The Spearman correlation coefficient between the M-OSPD total score and the 11 FAST substages represented in this sample was −0.77 (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that patients who are functionally more impaired also show continuing increments in cognitive loss. These cognitive and functional assessments for measuring the magnitude of deterioration in AD can be applied to the estimated half-million nursing home residents presently labeled “untestable” with the goal of optimization of care and residual capacities.
Compact single-line Mössbauer sources of cobaltous oxide☆

Abstract A simple procedure for preparing a compact 57CoO single-line Mossbauer source with approximately 97% of the resonance at the Fe2+ position is described. The sensitivity of the Fe3+ line for this source to the oxygen partial pressure in the preparation environment is elucidated.
Infants' emotional and regulatory behaviors in response to violations of expectancies

Infants' emotional expressions and self-regulatory behaviors were assessed longitudinally at 3 and 6 months of age in response to two expectancy-violation tasks: a social task in which their mothers assumed a neutral expression (still-face task) and a nonsocial task in which a mobile that had previously moved in response to the infants' kicking could no longer be moved (operant extinction task). The infants demonstrated less expressions of interest/excitement and enjoyment/joy and more anger/rage in response to extinction than to the still-face task. On the other hand, they engaged in more emotion-regulation behaviors during the still-face task. These findings were attributed to extinction being the more novel (i.e., unexpected) of the two events. Greater cross-task and cross-age stability was seen in the infants' emotional expressions than in their self-regulatory behaviors. This suggests that infants' reactivity in response to the violation of a learned expectancy may be more trait-like whereas their emotion-regulation behaviors may be more susceptible to external influences.
Aorticopulmonary Septal Defect Coexisting with Ventricular Septal Defect

Three cases, in each of which an aorticopulmonary septal defect (AP window) coexisted with a ventricular septal defect, are described. In two the ventricular septal defect was of the usual variety, and in one it was part of the tetralogy of Fallot. The patients presented as examples of congestive cardiac failure with a large left-to-right shunt in infancy. Aortography was the most reliable method for identification of the AP window when a ventricular septal defect was associated. Associated features included a right aortic arch with mirror image branching in the first case and tetralogy of Fallot with muscular subaortic stenosis in the third case. In the case with the tetralogy of Fallot, the effects of pulmonary stenosis were masked by the left-to-right shunt through the AP window.
The solar neutrino problem and recent results from Super-Kamiokande

Abstract The theory of solar neutrino generation is reviewed with an emphasis on the measureable fluxes from the 8 B , 7 Be , and p − p reactions. The “solar neutrino problem” is summarized. It is emphasized that there are really two solar neutrino problems — the most compelling being the difficulty in making a quantitatively consistent picture of the relative rates of the different reactions from current experimental data. In addition, preliminary results from Super-Kamiokande are presented for the first 306 days of operation. The flux of solar neutrinos from 8 B is measured to be 2.44 ± 0.06( stat. ) −0.09 +0.25 ( syst. ) × 10 6 cm −2 s −1 , inconsistent with the BP95 solar model prediction of 6.6 × 10 6 cm −2 s −1 . No significant day/night or energy dependence is seen, although energy resolution will not reach the expected final value until on-going calibration studies with the electron LINAC are completed.
The preparation of some imidazoline and amidine compounds.

Considering the amidines as the “open” model of a drug and the imidazolines as the “closed” model, a series of alkyl esters and amides of p- (2-imidazolin-2-yl) benzoic acid were prepared. The analogous esters and amides in the amidine series were previously shown to have marked local anesthetic activity. A series of esters of p-amidinobenzoic acid, containing alkyl groups in the amidine portion of the molecule, also were prepared.
The velocity problems of two 3-R robots manipulating a four-bar linkage payload

This paper presents solutions to the forward and inverse velocity problems associated with two planar three-degree-of-freedom robots, with all revolute joints, manipulating a planar four-bar linkage payload. These kinematic problems are formulated using two Jacobian matrices: one associated with the independent inputs to the robots, and the other associated with the payload outputs. The paper shows that both Jacobian matrices can be obtained from a geometric inspection of the system. This provides kinematic insight into the system and is believed to be important in the design and control of cooperating robot workcells. The paper also shows that the inverse of the Jacobian matrix associated with the independent inputs can be obtained directly from inspection. The inverse of the Jacobian matrix associated with the outputs is obtained from a geometric inspection by considering a four-input mechanism equivalent to the passive part of the system. Choosing one input at a time, the instantaneous centers of zero velocity provide relationships between the outputs of the mechanism and each input. The matrix is then formulated from these relationships using the principle of superposition of the outputs. The paper also includes a discussion of the singular and stationary configurations of the system and emphasizes the geometric interpretation of these configurations. For illustrative purposes, a numerical example is presented which shows how singular and stationary configurations effect the solutions to the velocity problems.
Intravenous versus intracoronary streptokinase in acute myocardial infarction

Abstract One hundred sixty-four consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction were enrolled in a prospective trial of coronary thrombolysis with streptokinase (STK). The first 98 patients received intracoronary(i.c.) STK after coronary angiography and the next 66 received a high-dose rapid infusion of STK (900,000 IU) intravenously (i.v.) before angiography. First-pass radionuclide ejection fraction (EF) was performed early (within 24 hours of admission and late (10 to 14 days after admission) to evaluate left ventricular function. In the i.v. group, 42 of 66 (64%) of infarct-related arteries were patent at the initial angiogram and 6 (9%) opened with subsequent i.c. STK. In the i.c. group, 13 of 98 (13%) of infarct-related arteries were patent at the initial angiogram and 50 of 85 (59%) opened with the i.c. STK. The i.v. and i.c. groups did not differ in time from onset of chest pain to presentation, type of infarct or underlying severity of coronary artery disease. In the i.v. group, STK was begun 67 minutes earlier than in the i.c. group. In 62 patients in whom reperfusion was successful, mean EF increased from 39 ± 11% early to 48 ± 13% late. In 30 in whom it was not, the mean EF increased from 36 ±10% to 40 ± 12%. The increase in EF was significantly greater in patients in the reperfused group (p
Norepinephrine transmitter metabolite generates free radicals and activates mitochondrial permeability transition: a mechanism for DOPEGAL-induced apoptosis

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylglycolaldehyde (DOPEGAL) is the monoamine oxidase A metabolite of norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine. DOPEGAL, but neither NE nor its other metabolites induces apoptosis in differentiated PC-12 cells by an unknown mechanism. To study the mechanism of DOPEGAL-induced apoptosis, we tested DOPEGAL and NE for their capacity to generate free radicals and to induce mitochondrial permeability transition (PT). Results show that DOPEGAL but not NE forms reactive free radical intermediates under oxidative stress and enhances Ca2+-mediated induction of the mitochondrial PT. Linkage of these events to apoptosis is described. Implications for degenerative diseases are discussed.
Chemical modification of yeast alanine-tRNA with a radioactive carbodiimide.

Yeast alanine-tRNA was reacted with 1-cyclohexyl-3- [ 2-morpholinyl-(4)-ethyl ] carbodiimide 14C-methoiodide in the presence of magnesium ion. The carbodiimide formed addition products with bases in the sequences ψpGp, UpCp and UpUpIpGpCp. The expected bases in the sequence TpψpCpGpApUp did not react, although this region is postulated to be in a loop that is not hydrogen-bonded. The capacity of the alanine-tRNA to accept amino acids decreased after reaction with the carbodiimide.
Tax Policy and Spending Policy

Most efforts to develop a theory of tax policy change have emphasized institutional, procedural, and partisan explanations. By contrast, very little attention has been directed toward the budgetary context within which tax policy is determined. The long-term evolution of federal income tax policy, however, demonstrates the importance of budgetary context and constraints, and this relationship is particularly evident in the case of the Tax Reform Act of 1986. Passage of this comprehensive reform measure depended on a revenue-neutral standard that ignored the traditional norms governing aggregate revenue levels.
Histopathologic Correlation of Residual Mammographic Microcalcifications After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Locally Advanced Breast Cancer

This study was designed to determine the histopathologic correlation at surgery of residual mammographic calcifications in patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). This single-institution, retrospective study was approved by the Institutional Review Board and was Health Insurance Portability and Accountability act compliant. Women with LABC who underwent NAC between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2008 and had mammography performed before and after NAC available for review were included in this study. The extent of microcalcifications associated with cancer before and after the completion of NAC was correlated with histopathology and biomarker status. Of 494 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 106 demonstrated microcalcifications on pre-, post-chemotherapy, or both sets of mammograms and were included in this study. Of 106 women, 31 (29 %) had invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) and 60 (57 %) had both IDC and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Microcalcifications decreased or remained stable in 76 (72 %) patients after completion of NAC. Correlation of microcalcifications with histopathology after NAC showed that 43 (40.6 %) patients had tumors associated with benign pathology. Of 32 patients with pathologic complete response, calcifications were associated with DCIS in 9 (9 %) and benign findings in 21 (22 %). The proportion of residual malignant calcifications was higher in ER+ versus ER− patients after NAC. The extent of calcifications on mammography following NAC does not correlate with the extent of residual disease in up to 22 % of women; this information may impact surgical planning in subsets of women with breast cancer.
Temperature and Hydrologic Controls on Dissolved Organic Matter Mobilization and Transport within a Forest Topsoil

Variations in concentrations of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in streams and rivers reflect, in part, coupled biogeochemical and hydrological processes that govern DOM mobilization and transport through soils. We explore the effects of temperature and rainfall characteristics on the quantity and composition of DOM mobilized from laboratory columns packed with an unsaturated forest soil. Our observations demonstrate that changes in temperature and a five-month drought period affect the mass and structure of DOM mobilized during soil-water infiltration, while changes in rainfall intensity and hourly to daily changes in the frequency of rainfall affect only the mass of DOM mobilized. The spectroscopic analyses indicate that DOM mobilized at low temperature is less humified and tends to be less condensed and lower in molecular weight. The C:N ratios of effluent DOM decline with cumulative rainfall volume during successive rainfall events and decrease by an average of 36% owing to the extended drought period. A two-region model that accounts for rate-limited DOM desorption from soil-water interfaces present within inter-aggregate and intra-aggregate pore spaces closely describes the time-series data on total concentrations of DOM eluted from the soil columns during the rainfall events.
Treatment of Psychiatric Tuberculous Patients

SUMMARY 1)Diagnostic study of the psychotic tuberculous patient can be done almost as easily as with the non-psychotic patient. 2)All forms of therapy can be given to this group of patients. 3)Major thoracic surgery in the form of thoracoplasty is entirely feasible in the psychotic patient no matter how hyperactive and uncooperative he might be before the operation. 4)In mental patients thoracoplasty, which is quicker and more permanent, is the treatment of choice. 5)Any psychotic patient can be bronchoscoped with ease with transtracheal pontocaine anesthesia and intravenous sodium pentothal.
Third turn position in teacher talk: Contingency and the work of teaching

Abstract As part of the familiar three-turn sequence in pedagogical discourse, the third turn position in classroom talk is considered to play an important role in giving feedback on second turn answers produced by the students. The prior literature relies on functional categories to explain the relationship between teachers’ third turn moves and student learning and yet, their analyses often take for granted the local exigencies embedded in the three-turn sequence. In producing the third turn, classroom teachers come to terms with far more local and immediate contingencies than what is projected by blanket terms such as ‘evaluation,’ ‘feedback,’ or ‘follow-up.’ Following Ethnomethodology and Conversation Analysis, this paper examines and specifies the local contingencies that surround the teacher's third turn in order to bring into view the unforeseen range of the method of actions that teachers display. Based on 46 hours of ESL classroom interactions, several collections of talk exchanges are analyzed to demonstrate how the third turn carries out the contingent task of responding to and acting on the prior turns while moving interaction forward. It is in these procedural aspects of interaction that we find the practical enactment of the classroom teachers’ pedagogical work.
Functionally substituted poly (α-olefins)

Revue des methodes de preparation de monomeres ω. fonctionnalises par un acide carboxylique, de leur polymerisation radicalaire et ionique et de celle des derives correspond a l'acide (esters, nitriles). Polymerisation par coordination de monomeres contenant des atomes de Si, d'halogene, d'azote ou d'oxygene
Phosphatidylinositol 4-Kinase IIβ Associates with Clathrin Coated Vesicles in Living Cells as Revealed by Brightness Analysis

Mammalian cells express two classes of phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase (PI4K), designated Types II and III, which phosphorylate phosphatidylinositol to generate PI4P. A number of studies indicate that these enzymes are important for Golgi trafficking and early as well as late stages of endocytosis. In this study, we focus on PI4KIIβ, a protein that is evenly distributed between membrane and soluble fractions and is believed to participate in stimulus-dependent phosphoinositide signaling. Using molecular brightness analysis, we found that EGFP-tagged PI4KIIβ exists as two distinct species in the cytoplasm, a soluble monomer and a high order complex enriched with multiple copies of PI4KIIβ. This observation is confirmed by autocorrelation analysis which identifies two species with distinct mobilities. We further demonstrate that the high order complex enriched with PI4KIIβ is sensitive to inhibition of palmitoylation, indicating that it is associated with membranes, very likely vesicles. Indeed, we show that the high order PI4KIIβ complex is sensitive to expression of dynamin 2-K44A, a dominant-negative inhibitor of endocytosis. We further directly detect that PI4KIIβ co-moves with clathrin light chain on vesicles using dual-color heterospecies partition analysis. This analysis allows us to isolate the co-mobile species in the presence of strong background contribution from the monomeric pool of PI4KIIβ. Our results strongly suggest that PI4KIIβ is involved in an early stage of endocytosis, and associated with clathrin-coated vesicles. Moreover, we establish molecular brightness as a powerful tool to characterize cellular cytosolic vesicles that are otherwise difficult to characterize by other techniques. This work is supported by the National Institutes of Health (R01 GM64589) and the National Science Foundation (PHY-0346782).
Influence of diet on nipple aspirate fluid production and estrogen levels

One possible mechanism how nutritional factors may affect breast cancer risk is through an influence on estrogen levels. Nipple aspirate fluid (NAF) is thought to provide a more direct insight into hormonal influences on breast tissue than serum. The ability to produce NAF may be an indicator of breast cancer risk. The current analysis was conducted as part of a soy trial in 92 premenopausal women and evaluated the relation of usual dietary intake with NAF volume and the most predominant steroidal estrogens in NAF and serum at baseline. Estradiol (E2) and estrone sulfate (E1S) were assessed in NAF and E2, estrone (E1), and E1S, in serum using highly sensitive radioimmunoassays. The statistical analysis applied multivariate, log-linear regression models. Intake of saturated fat and cheese (p = 0.06 for both) indicated a positive trend with NAF volume whereas isoflavonoid and soy consumption suggested inverse associations (p = 0.01 and p = 0.08). For estrogens in NAF, total fat and monounsaturated fat intake was positively associated with E2 (p = 0.05 and p = 0.02) and in serum, alcohol intake was associated with higher E1S levels (p = 0.02). These findings suggest a weak influence of dietary composition on NAF production and estrogen levels in serum and NAF.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Counseling, Testing, Referral, and Partner Notification Services: A Cost-Benefit Analysis

Background: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta, Ga) annually provides more than $100 million in funding to states, territories, and cities for the provision of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) counseling, testing, referral, and partner notification (CTRPN) services. Given the size of this expenditure, it is important to consider the net benefits of this program activity. We compared the economic costs and benefits of publicly funded HIV CTRPN services. Methods: Standard methods for cost-benefit analysis were used. A societal perspective was employed. Major assumptions used in the base-case analysis included the following: (1) without public funding, the HIV CTRPN services would not be provided; (2) for every 100 HIV-seropositive persons identified and reached by CTRPN services, at least 20 new HIV infections are averted; and (3) for every $100 spent on direct and indirect costs of CTRPN services, approximately another $60 is spent on the ancillary costs of alerting people to HIV issues and CTRPN service availability. Sensitivity analyses were performed to explore the robustness of base-case results to these and other changes in model assumptions. Results: Under base-case assumptions, the combined direct, indirect, and ancillary costs of the CTRPN program in 1990 dollars were $188 217 600. At a 6% discount rate, the estimated economic benefits of this expenditure are $3 781 918 000. The resultant benefit-cost ratio is 20.09. Sensitivity analyses showed that the benefit-cost ratio is greater than 1 for all considered cases. Conclusions: This cost-benefit analysis strongly suggests that publicly funded CTRPN services result in a net economic gain to society. (Arch Intern Med. 1993;153:1225-1230)
Current Algebra and Nonleptonic Hyperon Decays - A Fresh Approach

It is shown how to obtain consequences of current algebra for nonleptonic hyperon decays in the limit ${q}^{2}=0$, with the baryons kept on the mass shell. The $p$ waves are model-independent, and an excellent fit determines the parity-conserving spurion. When a ${K}^{*}$ pole is included for $s$ waves, a rough fit is achieved.
The new ethnicity: Old wine in new bottles

Nathan Glazer and Daniel P. Moynihan, eds. Ethnicity: Theory and Experience. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1976. 531 pp. Tables and index. $5.95 paper. Abdul A. Said and Luis R. Simmons, eds. Ethnicity in an International Context. New Jersey: Transaction Books, 1976. 241 pp. $12.95.
Communication about advance directives: are patients sharing information with physicians?

Historically, patients have deferred to physicians′ judgments about appropriate medical care, thereby limiting patient participation in treatment decisions. In this model of medical decision making, physicians typically decided upon the treatment plan. Communication with patients focused on securing their cooperation in accepting a treatment decision that essentially had already been made.
Pharmacological characterization of INCB3344, a small molecule antagonist of human CCR2.

Abstract The chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) directs migration of monocytes and has been proposed to be a drug target for chronic inflammatory diseases. INCB3344 was first published as a small molecule nanomolar inhibitor of rodent CCR2. Here, we show that INCB3344 can also bind human CCR2 (hCCR2) with high affinity, having a dissociation constant (Kd) of approximately 5 nM. The binding of the compound to the receptor is rapid and reversible. INCB3344 potently inhibits hCCR2 binding of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and MCP-1-induced signaling and function in hCCR2-expressing cells, including ERK phosphorylation and chemotaxis, and is competitive against MCP-1 in vitro. INCB3344 also blocks MCP-1 binding to monocytes in human whole blood, with potency consistent with in vitro studies. The whole blood binding assay described here can be used for monitoring pharmacodynamic activity of CCR2 antagonists in both preclinical models and in the clinic.
A method for analyzing reading comprehension in computer science courses

Reading has traditionally been seen as an essential component in learning, especially at the university level. However, many instructors in higher education, especially in technical courses, do not emphasize reading or try to evaluate it. In this abstract we present an automated system designed to measure and improve reading comprehension and describe preliminary results using the system.
Power in Natural Resources Management: An Application of Theory

Processes of decentralization characterize much of the developing world's natural resource sectors (e.g., forestry). At the heart of decentralization processes lies the question of power, given that most decentralization efforts involve some transfer of authority from a central agency to downwardly accountable groups, or some claim to “empower” local-level actors. These processes often involve organizations such as the state, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and local communities, who may have divergent interests. The question thus arises, how is power reflected in various approaches to natural resources conservation and management? In this article, we trace some theoretical understandings of the concept of power from disciplines such as critical theory, adult education, and development sociology. We then illustrate these conceptions of power with various examples from the field of natural resources. Our purpose is to shed light on how power can be understood with the aim of informing more deliberate...
Postexercise severe ventricular ectopy in heart failure patients: new marker for aggregate risk.

In our current era marked with the beneficial addition of implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICDs) and beta-adrenergic receptor blockade to our therapeutic strategies, it is increasingly difficult to identify the individual with advanced systolic heart failure (HF) at high mortality risk ([1][1]).
ATF4, the Osteoblast Accumulation of Which Is Determined Post-translationally, Can Induce Osteoblast-specific Gene Expression in Non-osteoblastic Cells

Based on the analysis of a loss-of-function model, we recently showed that ATF4 regulates osteoblast terminal differentiation and function and is implicated in the pathophysiology of Coffin-Lowry syndrome. That study, however, did not address whether forced expression of Atf4 in non-osteoblastic cells would lead to osteoblast-specific gene expression, one of the most important features of a cell differentiation factor. To address this question we searched for cell lines that would not express Atf4. Contrasting with the restricted pattern of its protein accumulation, Atf4 mRNA was found in all cell lines and mouse tissues tested. Treatment of non-osteoblastic cells with MG115, a proteasome inhibitor, induced ATF4 accumulation and resulted in activation of an Osteocalcin promoter luciferase construct as well as expression of endogenous Osteocalcin, a molecular marker of differentiated osteoblasts and a target gene of ATF4. Eliminating the expression of β-TrCP1, an ubiquitin-protein isopeptide ligase interacting with ATF4 by RNA interference, led to ATF4 accumulation and to endogenous Osteocalcin expression in fibroblasts. These results indicate that the absence of ATF4 in most cell types is determined, at least in part, by an ubiquitination-dependent process. To our knowledge ATF4 is the first cell-specific transcription factor in which cell-specific distribution is achieved post-translationally. This study also establishes that ATF4, like other osteoblast differentiation factors, such as Runx2 and Osterix, has the ability to induce osteoblast-specific gene expression in non-osteoblastic cells.
A mathematical model for crystal growth by aggregation of precursor metastable nanoparticles.

A mathematical model is developed to describe aggregative crystal growth, including oriented aggregation, from evolving pre-existing primary nanoparticles with composition and structure that are different from that of the final crystalline aggregate. The basic assumptions of the model are based on the ideas introduced in an earlier published report [Buyanov and Krivoruchko, Kinet. Katal. 1976, 17, 666−675] to describe the growth of low-solubility metal hydroxides (e.g., iron oxides) by oriented aggregation. It is assumed that primary particles can be described as pseudo-species A, B, and C, which have the following properties: (1) fresh primary particles (colloidally stable inert nanoparticles, denoted as A), (2) mature primary particles (partially transformed nanoparticles at an optimum stage of development for attachment to a growing crystal, denoted as B), and (3) nucleated primary particles (denoted as C1). The evolution of primary particles, A → B → C1, is treated as two first-order consecutive reac...
Special cells, special considerations: the challenges of bringing embryonic stem cells from the laboratory to the clinic.

Human embryonic stem (ES) cells are an attractive tool for cell-based therapies because of their limitless capacity for proliferation and their ability to differentiate into all cell types of the body. However, these features introduce certain unique risks that must be considered in developing transplantation strategies for clinical use. We outline these risks and examine current approaches to address them, both before and after transplantation.
Transcatheter and Ablative Therapeutic Approaches for Solid Malignancies

The purpose of this article is to present in a concise manner an overview of the most widely used locoregional transcatheter and ablative therapies for solid malignancies. An extensive MEDLINE search was performed for this review. Therapies used for liver cancer were emphasized because these therapies are used most commonly in the liver. Applications in pulmonary, renal, and bone tumors were also discussed. These approaches were divided into catheter-based therapies (such as transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, bland embolization, and the most recent transcatheter arterial approach with drug-eluting microspheres), ablative therapies (such as chemical [ethanol or acetic acid injection]), and thermal ablative therapies (such as radiofrequency ablation, laser induced thermotherapy, microwave ablation, cryoablation, and extracorporeal high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation). A brief description of each technique and analysis of available data was reported for all therapies. Locoregional transcatheter and ablative therapies continue to be used mostly for palliation, but have also been used with curative intent. A growing body of evidence suggests clear survival benefit, excellent results regarding local tumor control, and improved quality of life. Clinical trials are underway to validate these results. Image-guided transcatheter and ablative approaches currently play an important role in the management of patients with various types of cancer-a role that is likely to grow even more given the technological advances in imaging, image-guidance systems, catheters, ablative tools, and drug delivery systems. As a result, the outcomes of patients with cancer undoubtedly will improve.
Joint routing and channel assignment in multi-channel wireless infrastructure networks

Multi-channel wireless networks are increasingly being employed as infrastructure networks in metro areas. In addition, nodes in these networks employ directional antennas to improve spatial throughput. In such networks, given a source and destination, it is of interest to compute a path and channel assignment on every link in the path such that the path bandwidth is the same as that of the link bandwidth. Such a path must satisfy the constraint that no two consecutive links on the path are assigned the same channel, referred to as "channel discontinuity constraint." In this paper, we develop two graph expansion techniques to compute the minimum cost path between a given node pair that satisfy the channel discontinuity constraint. The first expansion provides the exact solution in polynomial time using minimum cost perfect matching algorithm. The second expansion results in a lesser complexity algorithm compared to the former and is amenable to distributed implementation, while it may result in infeasible paths at times. Through extensive simulations, we study the effectiveness of the routing algorithms developed based on the two expansion techniques and the benefits of employing the minimum cost perfect matching based solution. We show that the lesser complexity algorithm may not be able to compute a path for less than 2% of the calls in the networks considered.
Blocking of inhibition of fibrinolysin by mercurials and oxidizing agents

Abstract The effects of several substances upon inhibition of fibrinolysin by soybean trypsin inhibitor or antifibrinolysin have been studied. The decrease with time in turbidity of lysed fibrin mixtures, following the addition of saturated, neutralized ammonium sulfate, was used to measure fibrinolytic activity. Inhibitors of fibrinolysin or inhibitors with compounds to be tested for their blocking effects on the inhibitors were added immediately upon completion of visual lysis. Substances which were tested for their ability to restore inhibitory activity were added 3–3 1 2 minutes after visual lysis. Inhibition of fibrinolysin by antifibrinolysins or soybean trypsin inhibitor was blocked by low concentrations of mercurials, iodoacetate, iodine, or dichlorophenolindophenol. These agents, in the concentrations used, did not affect fibrinolytic activity in the absence of the inhibitors. The block to inhibition produced by mercurials was removed by the addition of cysteine or glutathione; the block to inhibition produced by iodine or iodoacetate was removed by cysteine, glutathione, NaHSO 3 , or Na 2 S 2 O 4 . Similar results were obtained with fibrinogen instead of lysed fibrin as the substrate for the enzyme. In additional experiments, clotting and lysing time of mixtures containing the inhibitors or inhibitors plus the blocking agents were determined.
Quail nuclear marker is lost during in vitro culture

Japanese quail cells when cultured in vitro lose the characteristic nuclear morphology that distinguishes them from chick cells. To determine if the nuclear marker is regained if cultured cells are reimplanted in ovo, a double marker experiment was performed. Quail neural crest cells, which include melanocyte precursors, were cultured in vitro and implanted into chick embryos. Although many of the resulting quail melanocytes exhibit the characteristic quail morphology, others do not. Thus, if donor cells are cultured in vitro prior to transplantation into chick hosts, the possibility that cells of quail origin are present but indistinguishable from host tissue must be considered.