cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hsc66 substrate specificity is directed toward a discrete region of the iron-sulfur cluster template protein IscU

Hsc66 and Hsc20 comprise a specialized chaperone system important for the assembly of iron-sulfur clusters in Escherchia coli. Only a single substrate, the Fe/S template protein IscU, has been identified for the Hsc66/Hsc20 system, but the mechanism by which Hsc66 selectively binds IscU is unknown. We have investigated Hsc66 substrate specificity using phage display and a peptide array of IscU. Screening of a heptameric peptide phage display library revealed that Hsc66 prefers peptides with a centrally located Pro-Pro motif. Using a cellulose-bound peptide array of IscU we determined that Hsc66 interacts specifically with a region (residues 99-103, LPPVK) that is invariant among all IscU family members. A synthetic peptide (ELPPVKIHC) corresponding to IscU residues 98-106 behaves in a similar manner to native IscU, stimulating the ATPase activity of Hsc66 with similar affinity as IscU, preventing Hsc66 suppression of bovine rhodanese aggregation, and interacting with the peptide-binding domain of Hsc66. Unlike native IscU, however, the synthetic peptide is not bound by Hsc20 and does not synergistically stimulate Hsc66 ATPase activity with Hsc20. Our results indicate that Hsc66 and Hsc20 recognize distinct regions of IscU and further suggest that Hsc66 will not bind LPPVK motifs with high affinity in vivo unless they are in the context of native IscU and can be directed to Hsc66 by Hsc20.
Clinical significance of slow paroxysmal atrial tachycardia

This study examines the clinical setting, characteristics, and follow-up of 173 patients who had slow paroxysmal atrial tachycardia (SPAT) (greater than 4 beats, rate less than 150 bpm) during 24-hour Holter monitoring. These episodes were classified by probable mechanism according to recognized ECG criteria and included AV nodal reentry (AVNR), sinoatrial nodal reentry (SANR), and automatic (A). There were 76 males (44%) with a mean age of 72 years and 97 females (56%) with a mean age of 73 years. The indications for Holter recording revealed that the SANR and A subgroups had a higher frequency of cerebral symptoms compared to AVNR (p less than 0.01). Chest pain was more common in the SANR group as compared to the other two groups (p less than 0.01). There was no difference in the frequency of palpitation in the three subgroups. The mean rate of SPAT for the entire group was 115.2 +/- 14 and these episodes had a mean duration of 5.58 +/- 3.07 seconds. The SANR subgroup had a significantly slower rate (107.1 +/- 9.2) as compared to the AVNR subgroup (p less than 0.01). One hundred fourteen patients were available for follow-up. The average period of follow-up was similar for all three groups. At follow-up the frequency of sick sinus syndrome as determined clinically and permanent pacemaker insertion was significantly greater in the SANR subgroup (p less than 0.01) as compared to the other subgroups which did not differ from each other.
Coh-Metrix: Analysis of text on cohesion and language

Advances in computational linguistics and discourse processing have made it possible to automate many language- and text-processing mechanisms. We have developed a computer tool called Coh-Metrix, which analyzes texts on over 200 measures of cohesion, language, and readability. Its modules use lexicons, part-of-speech classifiers, syntactic parsers, templates, corpora, latent semantic analysis, and other components that are widely used in computational linguistics. After the user enters an English text, Coh-Metrix returns measures requested by the user. In addition, a facility allows the user to store the results of these analyses in data files (such as Text, Excel, and SPSS). Standard text readability formulas scale texts on difficulty by relying on word length and sentence length, whereas Coh-Metrix is sensitive to cohesion relations, world knowledge, and language and discourse characteristics.
On Bounded Solutions of the n-Body Problem

Very little is known about the solutions of a Newtonian gravitational system of n mass particles where the mutual distances between the particles are bounded as time, t, approaches infinity. In fact it is not even known whether or not the velocities must be bounded t→∞.
Whole‐Genome Sequencing in Personalized Therapeutics

Eleven years since the initial drafts of the human genome were published, we have begun to see the first examples of the application of whole-genome sequencing to personalized diagnosis and therapeutics. The exponential decline in sequencing costs and the constant improvement in these technologies promise to further advance the use of a patient's full genetic profile in the clinic. However, realizing the potential benefit of such sequencing will require a concerted effort by science, medicine, law, and management. In this review, we discuss current approaches to decoding the 6 billion-letter genetic code of a whole genome in a clinical context, give current examples of translating this information into therapy-guiding knowledge, and list the challenges that will need to be surmounted before these powerful data can be fully exploited to forward the goals of personalized medicine.
C++ encapsulated dynamic runtime power control for embedded systems

This paper presents an innovative way to control power consumption in embedded microprocessors. A combination of software profiling, voltage-scaling and frequency throttling, along with run-time speed tables calibration and C++-like constructor and destructor functions is used. It is demonstrated that more power saving can be achieved by this hybrid system than can be achieved using only voltage scaling or frequency throttling.
Peptide docking using dynamic programming

An extended dynamic programming algorithm is presented that is applicable to the fragment assembly phase of the site mappingfiagment assembly approach to peptide docking. After constructing a free energy map of the receptor using each of the amino acids in the peptides to be docked, we apply the algorithm to two systems: HIV-1 protease complexed with a synthetic hexameric inhibitor, and MHC HLA-A2 complexed with a nonameric peptide. The all atom root meano square deviation between the predicted and crystal structures was 1.7 and 2.0 A, respectively. While these results are reasonable considering the relatively coarse level of mapping, the more important result is that the structures are probably very close to the best obtainable by an exhaustive search through the entire data map, and yet are obtained with a reduction of 3-5 orders of magnitude in the number of computations. We also outline a prescription for an iterative procedure which finds the global minimum with increasing confidence. 0 1996 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A comparison of absorption and assimilation efficiencies between four species of shallow- and deep-living fishes

We captured two species of deep-sea zoarcids, Melanostigma pammelas and Lycodapus mandibularis, from Monterey Bay California and maintained them in the laboratory. One shallow-water zoarcid, Eucryphycus californicus, and an ecologically and morphologically similar stichaeid fish Xiphister atropurpureus were collected from intertidal and subtidal habitats in Monterey Bay. We investigated the absorption and assimilation efficiencies of these fishes to determine whether deep-sea species have evolved mechanisms to increase their efficiency of food use. Fishes were placed in experimental chambers and fed a known quantity of food. Ammonia excretion was measured and feces were collected daily. Both food and feces were analyzed for water, protein, lipid and ash to determine specific absorption efficiencies. Absorption ranged from 87.7 to 92.4% and assimilation efficiencies from 84.0 to 86.5%. Meal sizes from 0.5 to 4.0% of body weight did not affect the results. No significant differences were found between deep-sea and shallow-water species fed single meals or fed ad libitum for 10 days. This suggests that the selective pressure to maximize absorption and assimilation is universal and is not affected by the productivity of the habitat occupied. However, the relative size of the intestine in the deep-sea species was significantly smaller suggesting that they had a lower metabolic cost to maintain their digestive apparatus. It could not be concluded whether this was the result of pressure to conserve energy or rather the tendency of the shallow-living species to ingest more refractory material (i.e. sediment, algae).
Solution structures of micelle-bound amyloid beta-(1-40) and beta-(1-42) peptides of Alzheimer's disease.

The amyloid beta-peptide is the major protein constituent of neuritic plaques in Alzheimer's disease. The beta-peptide varies slightly in length and exists in two predominant forms: (1) the shorter, 40 residue beta-(1-40), found mainly in cerebrovascular amyloid; and (2) the longer, 42 residue beta-(1-42), which is the major component in amyloid plaque core deposits. We report here that the sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) micelle, a membrane-mimicking system for biophysical studies, prevents aggregation of the beta-(1-40) and the beta-(1-42) into the neurotoxic amyloid-like, beta-pleated sheet structure, and instead encourages folding into predominantly alpha-helical structures at pH 7.2. Analysis of the nuclear Overhauser enhancement (NOE) and the alphaH NMR chemical shift data revealed no significant structural differences between the beta-(1-40) and the beta-(1-42). The NMR-derived, three-dimensional structure of the beta-(1-42) consists of an extended chain (Asp1-Gly9), two alpha-helices (Tyr10-Val24 and Lys28-Ala42), and a looped region (Gly25-Ser26-Asn27). The most stable alpha-helical regions reside at Gln15-Val24 and Lys28-Val36. The majority of the amide (NH) temperature coefficients were less than 5, indicative of predominately strong NH backbone bonding. The lack of a persistent region with consistently low NH coefficients, together with the rapid NH exchange rates in deuterated water and spin-labeled studies, suggests that the beta-peptide is located at the lipid-water interface of the micelle and does not become inbedded within the hydrophobic interior. This result has implications for the circulation of membrane-bound beta-peptide in biological fluids, and may also facilitate the design of amyloid inhibitors to prevent an alpha-helix-->beta-sheet conversion in Alzheimer's disease.
A theory of steady breakers

The mechanics of the quasi-steady breaking wave created above a submerged hydrofoil, first studied experimentally by Duncan (1981), is elucidated here. It is an example of a flow wherein the resistance of the body manifests itself in a detached separation eddy located away from the body (i.e. on the free surface). As we show, the conditions for inception of separation and the prediction of the breaking configuration follow from simple considerations, without extensive calculation.The physical model of the breaker, based on observations, consists of an essentially stagnant eddy riding on the forward face of the leading wave in the wave train behind the hydrofoil. This eddy is sustained by turbulent stresses acting in the shear zone separating the eddy and the underlying flow. These stresses result in a trailing turbulent wake just beneath the water surface. The breaker eddy contains air entrained at breaking, and the degree of aeration is a parameter of the problem.The eddy—breaker model is quantified utilizing independent measurements of turbulent shear stress in shear zones. It is then shown that the hydrostatic pressure acting on the dividing streamline underneath the eddy creates a trailing wave which largely cancels the trailing wave that would exist in the absence of breaking. The ‘wave’ resistance of the hydrofoil then manifests itself in the momentum flux of the residual trailing wave, plus the momentum flux in the breaker wake, i.e. the breaker resistance.For a fixed hydrofoil speed the total momentum flux, or resistance, in the presence of breaking is shown to have a minimum corresponding to a particular value of the trailing-wave steepness. It is thus concluded that the wave resistance must exceed this value for breaking to ensue. For hydrofoil resistance in excess of this minimum, both a weak and strong breaker would seem to exist. It is shown, however, that the weak breaker is unstable. It is also shown that a maximum steady breaking resistance exists, limited by the size of the breaker and dependent on the extent of its aeration.Good quantitative comparisons between theory and experiments are shown.
What controls stratospheric water vapor in the NH summer monsoon regions

Water vapor in the lower stratosphere exhibits localized maximum values during Northern Hemisphere summer in the Asian and North American (NA) monsoon regions. The processes maintaining these maxima are not well understood. We analyze the variability of water vapor in the monsoon regions based on Aura Microwave Limb Sounder satellite observations during 2005–2013 and quantify links to deep convection, large-scale temperatures, and monsoonal circulations. Strong subseasonal variations in stratospheric water vapor are closely linked with deep convection in the monsoon regions, with the surprising result that stronger convection leads to a relatively dry stratosphere and weaker convection to a wetter stratosphere. This result is observed for both the Asian and NA monsoon regions. This behavior is explained by temperature changes in the stratosphere tied to deep convection: stronger convection leads to relatively cold temperatures in the subtropical lower stratosphere, which is the key region controlling large-scale dehydration within the anticyclonic monsoonal circulations. Likewise, weaker convection leads to warmer subtropical stratospheric temperatures, relatively less dehydration, and enhanced water vapor. The observed water vapor changes are in approximate agreement with those expected from the subtropical temperature variations, taking into account dilution of the dehydrated air into the larger monsoon region. These results demonstrate that stratospheric water vapor in the Northern Hemisphere monsoon regions is mainly controlled by large-scale circulation and temperatures, and overshooting deep convection plays a relatively minor role.
Animatronic Shader Lamps Avatars

Applications such as telepresence and training involve the display of real or synthetic humans to multiple viewers. When attempting to render the humans with conventional displays, non-verbal cues such as head pose, gaze direction, body posture, and facial expression are difficult to convey correctly to all viewers. In addition, a framed image of a human conveys only a limited physical sense of presence—primarily through the display's location. While progress continues on articulated robots that mimic humans, the focus has been on the motion and behavior of the robots. We introduce a new approach for robotic avatars of real people: the use of cameras and projectors to capture and map the dynamic motion and appearance of a real person onto a humanoid animatronic model. We call these devices animatronic Shader Lamps Avatars (SLA).We present a proof-of-concept prototype comprised of a camera, a tracking system, a digital projector, and a life-sized styrofoam head mounted on a pan-tilt unit. The system captures imagery of a moving, talking user and maps the appearance and motion onto the animatronic SLA, delivering a dynamic, real-time representation of the user to multiple viewers.
The Attack on Christianity in NARRATIVE OF THE LIFE OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS, AN AMERICAN SLAVE

The question of whether Frederick Douglass's Narrative implies that slaveholding is a faithful expression of Christian doctrine was posed first by Douglass himself, in the appendix of “that conscio...
Functions of the ORF9-to-ORF12 Gene Cluster in Varicella-Zoster Virus Replication and in the Pathogenesis of Skin Infection

The gene cluster composed of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) open reading frame 9 (ORF9) to ORF12 encodes four putative tegument proteins and is highly conserved in most alphaherpesviruses. In these experiments, the genes within this cluster were deleted from the VZV parent Oka (POKA) individually or in combination, and the consequences for VZV replication were evaluated with cultured cells in vitro and with human skin xenografts in SCID mice in vivo. As has been reported for ORF10, ORF11 and ORF12 were dispensable for VZV replication in melanoma and human embryonic fibroblast cells. In contrast, deletion of ORF9 was incompatible with the recovery of infectious virus. ORF9 localized to the virion tegument and formed complexes with glycoprotein E, which is an essential protein, in VZV-infected cells. Recombinants lacking ORF10 and ORF11 (POKAΔ10/11), ORF11 and ORF12 (POKAΔ11/12), or ORF10, ORF11 and ORF12 (POKAΔ10/11/12) were viable in cultured cells. Their growth kinetics did not differ from those of POKA, and nucleocapsid formation and virion assembly were not disrupted. In addition, these deletion mutants showed no differences compared to POKA in infectivity levels for primary human tonsil T cells. Deletion of ORF12 had no effect on skin infection, whereas replication of POKAΔ11, POKAΔ10/11, and POKAΔ11/12 was severely reduced, and no virus was recovered from skin xenografts inoculated with POKAΔ10/11/12. These results indicate that with the exception of ORF9, the individual genes within the ORF9-to-ORF12 gene cluster are dispensable and can be deleted simultaneously without any apparent effect on VZV replication in vitro but that the ORF10-to-ORF12 cluster is essential for VZV virulence in skin in vivo.
Effect of Cisapride, a Serotonin-4 Receptor Agonist, on Aldosterone Secretion: Absence of Age-Related Change

Twenty healthy volunteers (age ranging from 19 to 72) were studied for their aldosterone response to oral administration of 10 mg cisapride, a serotonin-4 receptor agonist. The participants were studied after minimum of 4-hour ambulation (high basal renin) and a repeated test after overnight bed rest (low basal renin). Oral administration of cisapride caused a two-fold increase in the plasma aldosterone levels (182.6 +/- 28.0% in high renin state and 203.4 +/- 38.6% in low renin state; P = 0.659 between the means of two states) without affecting the plasma renin levels, Scatterplot of percentile aldosterone increment against age distribution demonstrated that the R-square were very low (0.039 for high renin and 0.009 for low renin state). Our data suggest that the age does not alter the serotonergic mediated effect on aldosterone secretion. The cisapride effect is also independent of the different basal renin states. Cisapride, as a single oral dose, could serve as a simple test to assess the functional capacity of aldosterone secretion.
Out of reach

Denitrifying bacteria and hungry plants do sterling work in disposing of the nitrates that we pump into rivers and streams. But as the excess influx goes up and up, the efficiency of removal goes down and down.
Selectivity and affinity of DNA triplex forming oligonucleotides containing the nucleoside analogues 2'-O-methyl-5-(3-amino-1-propynyl)uridine and 2'-O-methyl-5-propynyluridine.

Triplex forming oligonucleotides (TFOs) containing the nucleoside analogues 2′-O-methyl-5-propynyluridine (1) and 2′-O-methyl-5-(3-amino-1-propynyl)uridine (2) were synthesized. The affinity and selectivity of triplex formation by these TFOs were studied by gel shift analysis, Tm value measurement, and association rate assays. The results show that the introduction of 1 and 2 into TFOs can improve the stability of the triplexes under physiological conditions. Optimized distribution of 1 or 2 in the TFOs combined with a cluster of contiguous nucleosides with 2′-aminoethoxy sugars resulted in formation of triplexes with further enhanced stability and improved selectivity.
Trigram timmies and Bayesian Johnnies: probabilistic models of personality in Dominion

Probabilistic models were fit to logs of player actions in the card game Dominion in an attempt to find evidence of personality types that could be used to classify player behavior as well as generate probabilistic bot behavior. Expectation Maximization seeded with players' self-assessments for their motivations was run for two different model types - Naive Bayes and a trigram model - to uncover three clusters each. For both model structures, most players were classified as belonging to a single large cluster that combined the goals of splashy plays, clever combos, and effective play, cross-cutting the original categories - a cautionary tale for research that assumes players can be classified into one category or another. However, subjects qualitatively report that the different model structures play very differently, with the Naive Bayes model more creatively combining cards.
Defects in solution-processed dithienylsilole-based small-molecule photovoltaic thin-films

DTS-(FBTTh2)2 is a prominent solution-processable small-molecule donor for donor-acceptor bulk-heterojunction organic photovoltaics. Power conversion efficiency of DTS-(FBTTh2)2 based photovoltaic devices exceeds 8%. This paper reports on the distribution of sub-bandgap trap states in DTS-(FBTTh2)2. Trap states were probed using admittance spectroscopy and low-frequency capacitance-voltage profiling and analyzed using established theoretical models. Three distributions were revealed in the trap density of states energy spectra. Key observations were (1) thicker solution-processed films with higher drying time had 55% less traps than thinner films that dried relative faster (2) blending of DTS-(FBTTh2)2 with the acceptor PC70BM introduced traps at the center of the donor-acceptor interfacial bandgap. Charge carrier dynamics in DTS-(FBTTh2)2 based thin-films was also characterized using impedance spectroscopy.
Magnetic anomaly detection (MAD) of ferromagnetic pipelines using principal component analysis (PCA)

The magnetic anomaly detection (MAD) method is used for detection of visually obscured ferromagnetic objects. The method exploits the magnetic field originating from the ferromagnetic object, which constitutes an anomaly in the ambient earth's magnetic field. Traditionally, MAD is used to detect objects with a magnetic field of a dipole structure, where far from the object it can be considered as a point source. In the present work, we expand MAD to the case of a non-dipole source, i.e. a ferromagnetic pipeline. We use principal component analysis (PCA) to calculate the principal components, which are then employed to construct an effective detector. Experiments conducted in our lab with real-world data validate the above analysis. The simplicity, low computational complexity, and the high detection rate make the proposed detector attractive for real-time, low power applications.
Justice, motivation, and performance beyond role requirements

This article focuses on the possible instrumental characteristics of extrarole behaviours. Specifically, the motivation to perform beyond role requirements for future rewards is discussed. It is first argued that the motivation to engage in extrarole behaviors may stem from a reaction to inequity, or from a desire to receive rewards that cannot be achieved through the performance of official role requirements. Then, using data from two recent studies as support, it is proposed that these extrarole behaviors will only occur if the organizational reward system operates in a just, procedurally fair manner. Finally, the conceptual issues of how procedural justice might contribute to intrapreneurship and entrepreneurship are discussed.
Nitridation Induced-Reactions in Si and SiO2

Current IC technology uses SiO2 almost exclusively; however, several technological and reliability problems warrant the search for an alternative dielectric. Proposed alternatives are silicon nitride and nitrided SiO2. This paper reviews the work on thermal nitridation of Si and SiO2. Several of the experimental thermal nitridation processes used to achieve good thin dielectrics are discussed. At this time a clear mechanism for the nitridation of Si is not available. The two theoretical attempts to model this process are reviewed. Innovative processes to accomplish the nitridation, such as plasma growth, etc., are presented. Finally, the influence of nitridation on stacking faults and diffusions is also reviewed.
Refractory proctosigmoiditis caused by myointimal hyperplasia of mesenteric veins: report of a case.

PURPOSE: Proctosigmoiditis occurring in young adults is usually idiopathic and usually responds to medical management. If the process progresses to pancolitis and is refractory to medical management, proctocolectomy may be required. Myointimal hyperplasia of mesenteric veins, though rare, may also cause proctosigmoiditis, but this entity, in contrast to the idiopathic variety, does not respond to medical management; surgical excision limited to the involved colonic segment is curative. Because the treatment of the two entities differs significantly, it is important to distinguish them diagnostically. The purpose of this case report is to increase awareness of myointimal hyperplasia of mesenteric veins and to emphasize the clinical features that distinguish it from idiopathic proctosigmoiditis. METHODS: We report the case of a twenty-two-year-old male with an inflammatory process involving the distal colon and rectum, initially thought to be idiopathic proctosigmoiditis. The inflammation did not respond to an extensive course of medical management, and the patient developed complications associated with both the disease process and his medical therapy. Surgical resection of the rectosigmoid was performed. RESULTS: Histologic examination of the resected colon revealed the underlying process to be colonic ischemia caused by myointimal hyperplasia of mesenteric veins not associated with idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease or systemic vasculitis. CONCLUSION: Proctosigmoiditis caused by myointimal hyperplasia of mesenteric veins and idiopathic proctosigmoiditis may present in a similar fashion. Although patients with myointimal hyperplasia of mesenteric veins do not respond to medical management, segmental resection is usually curative, and long-term drug therapy or even proctocolectomy can be avoided. Physicians should consider the possibility of myointimal hyperplasia of mesenteric veins when patients with apparent idiopathic proctosigmoiditis do not respond to medical therapy.
Differentiation in Coprinus lagopus

The internal cellular organization and development of the dikaryotic fruit-body primordium (0.2 mm–1.0 mm) of Coprinus lagopus has been microscopically defined by the following stage: Stage I. Lattice formation. Stage II. Up-growth of aerial cells specifically from lattices followed by a general increase in cell density. Stage III. Regional cell growth and tissue organization. Stage IV. Development with a hyphal aggregation, in association with a clearly defined mushroom, of cells with distinct morphology and staining properties. Increasing organization and complexity of the primordium was associated with distinct changes in the morphology and staining properties of differentiating cells. Further specialization was found in the intracellular localization of polysaccharide during Stage IV of development.
Energy-efficient power control with finite discrete inputs under quality of service constraints

This paper presents an energy-efficient optimal power control policy with finite discrete inputs in the presence of statistical quality of service (QoS) limitations. In particular, an optimization problem is formulated to maximize the energy efficiency (EE) of the system, which is defined as the ratio of the effective capacity achieved with finite discrete inputs to the total power consumption. The circuit power consumption is explicitly considered in the total power expenditure. Subsequently, the optimal power control is derived using fractional programming. The resulting optimal power control strategy is further analyzed in two limiting cases, namely, the extremely stringent QoS constraints and looser QoS constraints. Through numerical results, the EE attained with the proposed optimal power control policy and constant power scheme is compared. Also, the effects of QoS constraints and signaling distribution on the maximum achievable EE are evaluated.
Effect of reaction gas mixing ratio on deposition performance of C/SiC in ICVI process

The effects of the concentration,mixing ratio and flow of reactant gases on deposition and C/SiC (CVI) composite properties in ICVI process are investigated.A simple reactant gas controller in line method is put forward.The XRD analysis results show that pure and uniform SiC matrix can be formed when molar ratio of H 2/MTS (Methyl Trisilane) is between 2 and 5;whereas lots of free carbon will exist in deposition matrix when H 2/MTS molar ratio is less than 1.SEM analysis reveals that concentration of MTS has a strong effect on the depositing rate and depth.The depth increases along with decrease of MTS concentration,whereas decrease of MTS concentration can cause a drop of depositing rate and lengthen the depositing cycle.By making the reactant gases flow fluently the deposition rate and uniformity can be improved.
Illuminating Excitonic Structure in Ion-Dependent Porphyrin Aggregates with Solution Phase and Single-Particle Resonance Raman Spectroscopy

Self-assembled, excitonically coupled aggregates of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin (TSPP) prepared in aqueous LiCl, NaCl, KCl, CsCl, and HCl were studied with solution phase and single-particle resonance Raman (RR) spectroscopy. Solution phase excitation profiles are sharply peaked at 488.0 nm excitation for samples in HCl, LiCl, and CsCl, which show narrow J-bands in the corresponding absorption spectra, but more gently peaked for those induced by NaCl or KCl, which show broader absorption J-bands. The former three samples also exhibit larger low to high frequency mode intensity ratios with excitation near the J-band peak and smaller depolarization ratios compared to the latter two samples. Polarized spectra of individual aggregates correlate with the solution phase results, exhibiting an increase in intensities involving either incident or scattered light polarized transversely to the aggregate long axes in conditions shown previously to induce bundling of nanotubes or greater disorder....
Isolation of erythropoietin-sensitive cells from Friend virus-infected marrow cultures: characteristics of the erythropoietin response

Murine erythroid precursor cells, stimulated to proliferate in vitro in the absence of added erythropoietin (EP) by the anemia strain of Friend virus (FVA), will subsequently respond to EP by complete erythrocyte differentiation. If not exposed to EP, the erythroid cells divide for about 120 hr in culture, and they maintain the potential for full differentiation in response to EP added at any time during the period from 72 to 120 hr. Between 96 and 120 hr of culture without added EP, the EP-sensitive erythroid precursor cells that have formed discrete erythroid bursts can be isolated in relatively large numbers from such cultures by plucking with a Pasteur pipette. The addition of EP initiates the final stages of erythroid differentiation, including heme synthesis in 70%-80% of these isolated cells. With respect to homogeneity of the precursor cells, quantity of EP-responsive cells obtainable, and uniformity of EP responsiveness, this system is uniquely favorable for biochemical studies of the late differentiation effects of EP. The overall changes in gene expression accompanying EP-induced terminal differentiation were examined by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of proteins labeled for a short time with radioactive amino acids. Several new proteins are synthesized in these erythroid cells during terminal differentiation, but the number is a very small percentage of the total number of proteins being made. Thus, in this system, the effect of EP is to initiate expression of a small group of genes, including those for globins, spectrin, and other proteins involved in the final stages of erythroid differentiation.
Role of calcium in dopaminergic regulation of TRH- and angiotensin II-stimulated prolactin release.

The contributions of intracellular and extracellular calcium to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)- and angiotensin II (ANG II)-stimulated prolactin (PRL) release and the role of calcium in dopami...
Preventing Phrenic Nerve Injury During Second Generation Cryoballoon Ablation: What Will it Take?

The cryothermy ablation balloon catheter was developed to facilitate pulmonary vein (PV) isolation to treat atrial fibrillation (AF). The STOP-AF (Study of the Arctic Front Cryoablation Balloon for the Treatment of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation [[NCT00523978][1]]) trial reported that ablation with
Profit maximization for multiple products in online social networks

Information propagation in online social networks (OSNs), which helps shaping consumers' purchasing decisions, has received a lot of attention. The ultimate goal of marketing and advertising in OSNs is to massively influence audiences and enlarge the number of product adoptions. Most of existing works focus on maximizing the influence of a single product or promoting the adoption of one product in competing campaigns. However, in reality, the majority of companies produce various products for supplying customers with different needs. Therefore, it is truly significant and also challenging to wisely distribute limited budget across multiple products in viral marketing. In this paper, we investigate a Profit Maximization with Multiple Adoptions (PM2A) problem, which aims at maximizing the overall profit across all products. The natural greedy fails to provide a bounded result. In order to select high quality seeds for information propagation, we first proposed the PMCE algorithm, which has a ratio 1/2 (1 − 1/e2). Moreover, we further improve this ratio to (1−1/e) by proposing the PMIS algorithm. Comprehensive experiments on three real social networks are conducted. And results show that our algorithms outperform other heuristics, and better distribute the budget in terms of profit maximization.
Nato: The Ancient Alliance

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is both one of the longest-lasting regional security alliances in history, and one of the most important and visible factors in current U.S. foreign policy. This in turn provides continuing insight into the paradoxes, tensions and ironies of the relationships involved. The pact is now almost forty years old. Arguably, however, the principal problems animating Alliance relations have changed very little over the past three decades. The overall strategic balance between the two superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union, may have shifted—at least in sheer military terms—from favouring the former to favouring the latter; the relationships between different Atlantic-area states and the rest of the international system may have changed in various ways; and there has clearly been a diminution in the political influence of Washington on European capitals. This in turn is connected to the shifting economic relations among the Allies as the American hegemony has waned.
Deaths Related to Bronchial Arterial Embolization in Patients With Cystic Fibrosis: Three Cases and an Institutional Review

Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients are at risk for life-threatening hemoptysis, sometimes necessitating bronchial arterial embolization (BAE). Spinal artery embolization and pulmonary infarction are commonly cited procedural risks, yet respiratory failure and death are underappreciated. We conducted a retrospective institutional review of our outcomes after BAE for hemoptysis in CF and present three cases highlighting this complication. From 2007 to 2015, 12 patients underwent 17 BAE procedures for hemoptysis at our institution. Three patients experienced respiratory failure and died within 3 months of BAE. Nonsurvivors had significantly lower baseline FEV 1 values than survivors (21.8% vs 52.6%, P
Fault diagnosis of water distribution networks based on state-estimation and hypothesis testing

A novel approach for the diagnosis of water distribution networks is proposed. The method combines information about the model of the network and the prior knowledge about the daily patterns of water consumption. In order to infer the presence of faults, typical field measurements characterised by nodal pressures and the flow at the in-let of the district metered areas are used. Then, an implicit state-estimation technique is applied for the estimation of the nodal demands from the available measurements. Fault diagnosis is then achieved based on a signature matrix produced by means of hypothesis testing, which compares the statistics of the estimate with the prior of the demand. Simulation results in realistic conditions show the ability of the method to correctly detect and isolate leaks as well as parametric faults.
C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeat expansions are not a common cause of obsessive-compulsive disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a polygenic neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by repetitive thoughts and behaviors that cause distress. The pathogenic repeat expansion [GGGGCC]n found at the C9orf72 locus is the most common cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and has also been documented in patients with psychosis and schizophrenia. Furthermore, obsessions and compulsions have been identified in patients diagnosed with ALS and/or FTD and carrying the pathogenic repeat expansion. Here, we performed genetic screening for the C9orf72 repeat expansion on 573 patients diagnosed with OCD. None of the patients were found to carry the expansion. The results show that patients with OCD do not commonly carry the pathogenic repeat expansion and therefore should not be routinely screened. OCD and psychotic patients who do test positive for the C9orf72, however, should be closely observed for the later development of FTD and ALS.
Collection of Emerald Ash Borer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) by Cerceris fumipennis (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) in North Carolina: Case Study at One Nesting Site

The buprestid hunting wasp, Cerceris fumipennis Say, was detected bringing an emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, back to its nest for the first time in North Carolina, USA at a nesting aggregation in Franklin County. We took the opportunity to closely monitor the site to track further collections of the pest and to monitor activity patterns of the wasp. Of the total 271 beetles collected at this site during 14 visits in 2015 (52 h of biosurveillance), just three emerald ash borers were collected from at least two females within 1 h on one date (15 June 2015). None of the three emerald ash borers were paralyzed by the wasps. At least 20 beetle species were collected from the wasp during the flight season: 14 species were represented in the first 57 beetles collected at the site, with 6 additional species identified from later collections. The wasps actively foraged for beetles from 9 June to 6 August, 2015. Until evidence to the contrary is available, this long activity period is best interpreted as the extended emergence of a single generation rather than as a partial second generation of wasps.
Introduction to the Center of Excellence for Commercial Space Transportation Issue of the New Space Journal

Abstract In this article, the author introduces the FAA Center of Excellence for Commercial Space Transportation (COE CST), with references to documentation of its history, its research structure, ...
Discovery of Orally Bioavailable Selective Inhibitors of the Sodium-Phosphate Cotransporter NaPi2a (SLC34A1)

Sodium-phosphate cotransporter 2a, or NaPi2a (SLC34A1), is a solute-carrier (SLC) transporter located in the kidney proximal tubule that reabsorbs glomerular-filtered phosphate. Inhibition of NaPi2a may enhance urinary phosphate excretion and correct maladaptive mineral and hormonal derangements associated with increased cardiovascular risk in chronic kidney disease–mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD). To date, only nonselective NaPi inhibitors have been described. Herein, we detail the discovery of the first series of selective NaPi2a inhibitors, resulting from optimization of a high-throughput screening hit. The oral PK profile of inhibitor PF-06869206 (6f) in rodents allows for the exploration of the pharmacology of selective NaPi2a inhibition.
A novel dissemination effort for prolonged exposure: Practice and dissemination curriculum.

Objectives This study examines the effectiveness of a novel dissemination and implementation curriculum for prolonged exposure (PE). Predoctoral clinical psychology interns completed a sequential, four-part curriculum that culminated in a community-based practicum during which interns conducted a PE workshop. We hypothesized that workshop participants would report more favorable attitudes regarding PE after completing the intern-led workshop than endorsed at the outset of the workshop. Method A total of 53 workshop participants attended and completed questionnaires. The majority of workshop participants had a master's-level degree or educational specialist degree (n = 28; 57.1%) and were currently a counselor or psychosocial rehabilitation worker (n = 21; 42.9%). We examined changes between pre- and posttraining time points for five self-report items related to negative attitudes toward PE and three self-report items related to intent to use PE. Results There was a significant effect of workshop training on four out of five items related to negative attitudes toward PE. The nonsignificant result of the fifth item may be due to a ceiling effect given that baseline scores for this item were very positive. There was a significant effect of workshop training on all three items related to intent to use PE. Conclusions Results suggested that this sequential four-part curriculum may be an effective way of combining education, training, and dissemination efforts. Future research should examine if similar results can be achieved with a controlled research design and whether outcomes would generalize to actual PE delivery skills in routine clinical care. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
Molecular genetics of von Recklinghausen neurofibromatosis.

In 1882, Friedrich von Recklinghausen described a clinical syndrome characterized primarily by tumors arising from nerves, called neurofibromas (Crump, 1981; Warkany, 1981). This report is generally recognized as the most thorough paper describing what is now termed von Recklinghausen neurofibromatosis, or neurofibromatosis type one (NF1). However, a number of previous reports in the medical and other literature as well as ancient artworks are also suggestive of NF1, indicating that this disease has likely been present throughout history (Riccardi and Eichner, 1986). NF1 obtained its misleading nickname of “The Elephant Man Disease” from Sir Frederick Treves’ depiction of Joseph Merrick, an Englishman afflicted with a disfiguring disease with features similar to NF1 (Treves, 1923; Rubenstein et al.,Nucleic Acids Res., 1981; Mulvihill, 1990a). NF1 gained much publicity and notoriety because of Merrick, as a widely performed play was written about his life and both the play and the movie based on it remain popular. However, it is now generally accepted that Merrick probably instead had Proteus syndrome, and the association of NF1 with the Elephant Man is being discouraged (Cohen, 1988), although Merrick’s diagnosis cannot be made with certainty (Hotamisligil, 1989).
HEREDITARILY AND COHEREDITARILY PROJECTIVE MODULES

This chapter describes the hereditarily and cohereditarily projective modules. There is a similarity between the study of n-firs and that of right semihereditary rings. In each case, one works with projective right modules P over the given ring R with the property that the image of any homomorphism of P into a free module of finite rank is again projective. For R semihereditary, all finitely generated projective right R -modules have this property. It is found that If P is a finitely generated projective module over a ring R , then P * will again be projective, and finitely generated, and P ** is naturally isomorphic to P ; it is well known that * gives an anti-isomorphism between the categories of finitely generated projective right and left R -modules. It is observed that a ring R will be right-hereditary if all projective right R -modules are hereditarily projective.
Antiretroviral considerations in HIV-infected patients undergoing bariatric surgery.

What is known and objective With the advent of antiretroviral therapy and the resultant decrease in mortality among adults living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), there is now an increased incidence of obesity and obesity-related comorbidities in these patients. Bariatric surgery is becoming an increasingly common treatment option for patients who are classified as clinically obese. There are limited data regarding the use of antiretroviral therapy in patients who have undergone bariatric surgery. The purpose of this review was to evaluate the available literature regarding antiretroviral therapy and pharmaceutical properties in this special population. Methods Literature review was performed through PubMed, utilizing search terms of bariatric surgery, sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y, HIV infection, obesity and antiretroviral. Direct medical information requests to antiretroviral pharmaceutical manufacturers were also completed. Results Several case series and case reports have been published which demonstrate minimal risk of complications and maintenance of virologic suppression in the vast majority of patients. Bariatric surgery appears to be an effective mechanism for assistance in controlling obesity in patients infected with HIV; however, numerous factors may impact the safe and effective use of antiretroviral therapy. What is new and conclusion Due to the physiologic changes and postoperative management following bariatric surgery, evaluation of the patients' medication regimens must be considered and several factors should be taken into account when choosing the appropriate antiretroviral regimen for these patients. Furthermore, communication between the patients' surgeon, HIV provider and a clinical pharmacist should occur prior to surgery to ensure the patient is optimized to achieve the best outcome including maintaining virologic suppression.
Non-domination and the libera res publica in Cicero's Republicanism

ABSTRACTThis paper assesses to what extent the neo-Republican accounts of Quentin Skinner and Philip Pettit adequately capture the nature of political liberty at Rome by focusing on Cicero's analysis of the libera res publica. Cicero's analysis in De Republica suggests that the rule of law and a modest menu of individual citizens’ rights guard against citizens being controlled by a master's arbitrary will, thereby ensuring the status of non-domination that constitutes freedom according to the neo-Republican view. He also shows the difficulty of anchoring an argument for citizens’ full political participation in the value of non-domination. While Cicero believed such full participation (by elite citizens) was essential for a libera res publica, he, like other elite Romans, argued for participation on the basis of liberty conceived as the space to contend for and enhance one's social status. The sufficiency of the rule of law and citizens’ rights for securing a status of non-domination taken together with t...