cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cell cycle control during mammalian oogenesis.

Publisher Summary Many disciplines have contributed to the current perspectives on the basic mechanisms of cell cycle control. Genetic and biochemical analyses of cells in organisms ranging from yeast to humans have revealed that a conserved protein serine–threonine kinase activity causes eukaryotic cells to enter the M phase. This chapter discusses the basic cell cycle control mechanisms in eukaryotes and the adaptation of these mechanisms during the development of the female germ cell. The role of p34cdc2during the developmentally expressed cell cycle transitions in mammalian oogenesis is discussed with reference to mouse and, where possible, to pertinent studies in other species. Oogenesis can be viewed as a developmental continuum punctuated by precisely regulated transitions of the meiotic cell cycle. These transitions, involving transcriptional and translational control, must be executed in a temporally coordinated manner. Oogenesis entails rapid transcription and accumulation of the transcriptional products for use during growth and differentiation as well as during subsequent embryonic development.
Asbestos Litigation and Bankruptcy: A Case Study for Ad Hoc Public Policy Limitations on Joint and Several Liability

Over a decade ago, the Federal Judicial Conference warned of an asbestos litigation “disaster of major proportions.” The Supreme Court of the United States has described the litigation as a “crisis.” According the RAND Institute for Civil Justice, by the end of 2000, more than 600,000 asbestos claims were filed. RAND estimates that as many as three million more plaintiffs may eventually file claims. Most new claimants are not sick. The flood of claims has forced almost sixty companies into bankruptcy; many of these bankruptcies are very recent. As a result, defendants with only remote connections to asbestos – known as peripheral defendants – are being dragged into the litigation. Some of these companies have also begun to declare bankruptcy. Experts predict that, absent meaningful reform, asbestos cases may continue to be a major legal and public policy problem for decades to come.In this Article, Professor Cupp argues that courts and legislatures should impose ad hoc public policy limitations on joint liability in asbestos and other appropriate cases. The Article analyzes holdings that support asbestos-specific limits on joint liability, and explains why unlimited and unrestrained joint liability represents unsound public policy in the current asbestos litigation environment. The Article concludes that limits on joint liability in asbestos cases are supported by sound public policy and would help mitigate the litigation crisis.
Axially diode pumped unstable resonator Nd:YVO/sub 4/ laser

We describe in this paper a simple axially pumped Nd:YVO4 laser which achieves single transverse (and axial) mode behavior with a much larger mode diameter, and thus potentially larger power output, through the use of an unstable optical resonator design. We believe this approach has substantial potential for simple quasi monolithic axially pumped lasers in the medium power range.
Three Illustrations of Artificial Life's Working Hypothesis

Artificial life uses computer models to study the essential nature of the characteristic processes of complex adaptive systems proceses such as self-organization, adaptation, and evolution. Work in the field is guided by the working hypothesis that simple computer models can capture the essential nature of these processes. This hypothesis is illustrated by recent results with a simple population of computational agents whose sensorimotor functionality undergo open-ended adaptive evolution. These might illuminate three aspects of complex adaptive systems in general: punctuated equilibrium dynamics of diversity, a transition separating genetic order and disorder, and a law of adaptive evolutionary activity.
Distribution, density, diet and productivity of the Scops Owl Otus scops in the Italian Alps

The Scops Owl Otus scops is probably the least known European owl. We surveyed Scops Owls in the Trento region (6200 km 2 ) of the central‐eastern Italian Alps between 1995 and 2003 and we intensively monitored a subpopulation in a 50-km 2 plot between 2000 and 2003. In the whole region, we found 81 territories concentrated in 21, low-elevation 100-km 2 quadrats. Most territories were associated with villages surrounded by extensively managed grassland (79%), arid areas with rocky outcrops and xerophytic vegetation (12%) and/or large urban areas and parks (6%). In the 50-km 2 plot, density varied between 52 and 64 territories/100 km 2 annually. Territories were either solitary or clumped in loose colonies of 2‐7 pairs. In contrast to previous studies, most nests used for laying were in holes and cracks of buildings (95%, n = 20). This may have been favoured by thermal and foraging advantages, but also involved some costs, such as predation by domestic cats and collision with cars. Median laying date was 29 May (n = 16) and the mean number of fledged young was 1.37 (n = 30), 1.95 (n = 21) and 2.00 (n = 20) per territorial, breeding and successful pair, respectively. The diet was dominated by grasshoppers of the family Tettigoniidae. Compared to previous studies, this population showed medium to high density and low productivity. The species seems to be dependent on traditional, extensive agro-pastoralism and the main conservation threats include habitat loss through land abandonment and consequent forest expansion, which are probably best halted through subsidy schemes. From our results and published data, we estimate the population of the Scops Owl in the Italian Alps at 230‐ 500 territories. There is an urgent need for further data on this largely overlooked species, especially from its Mediterranean strongholds.
A feasibility test of using smartphones to collect GPS information in face-to-face surveys

Survey organizations rely on interviewers to make informed and efficient decisions about their efforts in the field, including which housing units they approach to knock on doors, make appointments, and obtain interviews. This paper presents initial findings from a feasibility test on a face to face survey, the US National Survey of Family Growth, in which the interviewers were equipped with GPS-enabled smartphones. This test included an experiment to determine if the use of the GPS-enabled smartphone altered interviewer behavior. We evaluate interviewer compliance with the GPS request, the effects of using the GPS device on interviewer behavior, and the quality of the recorded GPS points as related to interviewer behaviors. This test also included two surveys of interviewers that were completed after using the smartphone. We report results from these surveys and link one set of survey results to interviewer GPS compliance rates. Implications for future use of GPS devices to monitor and understand interviewer travel behavior are discussed.
Women Midshipmen in Sports

This is a study of the physical performance and injury rate for seven classes of women midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy. Women comprise only 6.2% of the brigade of midshipmen, but men and women live in the same dormitory, undergo the same physical training and fitness tests, study the same academic curriculum, and live in an environment where performance and activities can be constantly moni tored. The required number of hours of physical edu cation are the same for men and women.The conclusions from this study are: (1) women midshipmen continue to improve their fitness level more rapidly than men; (2) while some disparities in perform ance are correctly attributed to physiological differ ences, many of the present disparities should be attrib uted to societal conditions; (3) should physical perform ance requirements ever become the same, women will have to work harder than men to achieve the same standards because of the physiological differences; (4) women continue to seek medical attention...
Studies of the melanogenic response of regenerating feathers in the weaver bird: comparison of two species in response to two gonadotrophins.

The gonadotrophic hormones, interstitial cell-stimulating hormone (ICSH, also known as luteinizing hormone) and pregnant mare serum (PMS), stimulate melanogenesis in regenerating feathers of weaver birds. In experiments designed to explore the mechanism by which these hormones stimulate melanogenesis, a method was devised for examining feathers microscopically, soon after injection of the gonadotrophic hormone. The two hormones were compared and two species of weaver bird, namely Euplectes after and Steganura paradisaea, were used for this comparison. In response to both hormones, melanocytes began to appear in the feathers of Steganura 12–24 hours after injection, but it was not until about 30–54 hours that they could be seen in feathers of Euplectes. ICSH induced a transient proliferation of melanocytes, higher doses causing responses of longer duration but generally not lasting more than 24 hours. In contrast, the responses to PMS continued for at least 72 hours in Steganura and for at least 96 hours in Euplectes. The possible significance of these observations is discussed in relation to the mechanism by which the hormones stimulate melanogenesis in feathers.
Theory/Analysis Mismatch: Comment on Fredrickson and Joiner’s (2002) Test of the Broaden-and-build Theory of Positive Emotions

Fredrickson’s (1998, ‘What good are positive emotions?’, Review of General Psychology 2, pp. 300–319; 2001, ‘The role of positive emotions in positive psychology: The broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions’, American Psychologist 56, pp. 218–226) broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions posits that positive emotions improve coping skills and that improved coping skills increase positive emotions, resulting in an upward spiral toward emotional well-being. Fredrickson and Joiner (2002, ‘Positive emotions trigger upward spirals toward emotional well-being’, Psychological Science 13, pp. 172–175) claimed that the results of their analyses supported the broaden-and-build theory but in fact their analyses did not test this theory. The broaden-and-build theory clearly describes a within-occasion across-persons psychological process; the analyses, however, tested a within-occasion across-persons theory.
Experimental study of a surfactant-assisted SiGe graded layer and a symmetrically strained Si/Ge superlattice for thermoelectric applications

Abstract A method to grow high-quality SiGe graded buffer layer is presented. The main concept of the method is to use Sb as a surfactant when growing SiGe graded layers. Compared with a Si 0.5 Ge 0.5 graded sample without Sb surfactant, the Sb-assisted Si 0.5 Ge 0.5 graded layer has much smoother surface and a significantly lower threading dislocation density. Thermal conductivity of a symmetrically strained Si/Ge superlattice grown on Sb-assisted Si 0.5 Ge 0.5 graded layer is also presented.
Dichloroacetic acid treatment increases hepatic CYP2E1 in male and female rats.

Previously, we showed that the pretreatment of dichloroacetic acid (DCA) increased CHCl3-induced hepatotoxicityin vivoand CHCl3metabolismin vitroin both male and female rats. The effects of DCA on hepatic cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenases were studied in this experiment. Male and female Sprague–Dawley rats were treated with DCA (each 2.45 mmol/kg) three times (9AM, 4PM, and 9AM) and hepatic microsomes were prepared 3 hr after the last treatment (the same procedure as previous studies). After DCA treatment, the total content of cytochrome P450 (0.67 nmol/mg protein vs 0.79) and the activity of NADPH-dependent cytochrome P450 reductase (227 nmol/mg protein/min vs 332) were significantly increased in female rats, but they were unchanged in males (0.99 vs 0.98 for P450; 315 vs 311 for reductase). Induction of CYP2E1 was observed in both sexes, evidenced as increased activities of aniline andp-nitrophenol hydroxylases and increased CYP2E1 protein amount determined by immunoblot assay. In contrast, the CYP2B-related activity (dealkylation of pentoxyresorufin) and immunoreactive protein did not increase after DCA treatment in either males or females. The activity of ethoxyresorufin dealkylase was decreased in DCA-treated males compared to their controls (310 pmol/mg protein/min vs 229,p< 0.05), but it was not significantly affected in females. These data demonstrate that DCA treatment of both male and female rats altered the population of hepatic cytochrome P450. The results support the hypothesis that DCA increases CHCl3metabolism, and therefore hepatotoxicity, by inducing CYP2E1.
Quantitative ultrastructure and protein composition of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) seeds: a comparative study of endosperm vs. embryo

Comparative studies on the ultrastructure and protein composition of the embryo and endosperm of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) were conducted. Cells of the embryo cotyledon and endosperm function in reserve storage and contained cell walls, nuclei, and cytoplasm rich in lipid and protein bodies. Morphometric analysis from light and electron micrographs showed that the cell walls of the endosperm occupied 65% of the total cell volume, but only 6% in the embryo. The protein bodies of the endosperm accounted for 11%, whereas those of the embryo occupied more than half of the total cell volume. The volume of organelles and organelle-free cytoplasm in the endosperm was negligible, suggesting that most of the extractable endosperm proteins are localized in the protein bodies. Extractable proteins in the embryo may come from cytoplasm, protein bodies, and other organelles. The endosperm contains relatively lower amounts of proteins than does the embryo. Proteins extracted from both tissues were compared using SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, tube gel isoelectric focusing, and two-dimensional electrophoresis. Proteins of both the tissues were heterogeneous in molecular mass and charge. The majority of the proteins were similar in molecular mass and charge in the two tissues, suggesting that most of the storage proteins are probably the same. However, there were also several embryo- and endosperm-specific proteins apparent in both the first- and second-dimension gels. The endosperm-specific proteins may play an important role in germination and seedling development.
THEORY OF UNIVERSAL PRIMARY INTERACTIONS.

This theory originates from observations that the theory of particle interactions becomes much simpler and more capable of correlating apparently unrelated phenomena if it is postulated that electromagnetism and weak interactions are not primary properties of the nucleons but are acquired by virtue of their interaction with vector and axial vector fields.
Parameter identifiability is required in pooled data methods

In pooled data methods such as naive pooled data methods and NONMEM, the number of sample points per individual may be less than the number of unknown parameters so that the values of the parameters are not estimable in individuals. However, for the moments of the distributions of the parameters to be estimable, the basic parameters must be identifiable.
Designing cigarettes for women: new findings from the tobacco industry documents

Aims To examine internal tobacco industry research on female smoking patterns and product preferences, and how this research has informed the design of female-targeted cigarettes and impacted smoking behavior among this target population. Design Research was conducted through a systematic web-based search of previously secret industry documents made publicly available through the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement. Findings This study provides evidence that the tobacco industry has conducted extensive research on female smoking patterns, needs and product preferences, and has intentionally modified product design for promotion of cigarette smoking among women. Cigarette manufacturers responded to changing female trends by focusing on social and health concerns as well as promoting dual-sex brands that also featured traditional female style characteristics. Conclusions Product features responsive to female-identified needs and preferences may contribute to differences in female smoking patterns. Assessment of female-targeted product differences should inform smoking cessation and prevention programs tailored to women. Overall, these findings underscore the need for further investigation of effects of targeting on smoking behavior, health outcomes and regulation of tobacco products by public health agencies.
Performance of serial assembly line designs under unequal operator speeds and learning

The traditional balanced assembly line designs can perform quite inefficiently under the presence of high labor turnover, low operator learning rates, and stochastic processing times. In these situations assembly line designs based on dynamic work allocation and work sharing principles have been shown to render a higher and less variable throughput. However, for situations where low labor turnover conditions and high operator learning rates exist, the traditional balanced lines still tend to be most productive. This paper has two objectives: to introduce a method based on work sharing principles, which we denominate Modified Work Sharing (MWS), and to develop some simple analytical tools that will allow us to compare the performance of this method with the traditional and other dynamic work allocation line designs. These results suggest that the traditional method is the most affected by the introduction of new operators in the production lines and thus the most affected by variability in general. On the ...
Psychometric properties of the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children (TSCC) with psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents.

A sample of 119 consecutively hospitalized adolescents, including 32 sexually abused teenagers, was assessed with the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children (TSCC). Participants also completed the Beck Depression Inventory, Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), Adolescent- Dissociative Experience Scale, Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), Rorschach, and the Family Environment Scale. The reliability and validity of each of the six TSCC scales and four subscales was determined. Analyses suggest that the individual scales are reliable and significantly intercorrelated. Independent measures of depression, anxiety, anger, and dissociation typically correlated significantly with the reference TSCC scales, and in fact, the Posttraumatic Stress subscale significantly discriminated the sexually abused group from the remainder of the sample. These findings suggested that with a psychiatric sample, the TSCC is a valid measure of distress.
Interaction of Li with atomic steps on Ru: Comparison between Ru(0 0 1) and Ru(1 0 9)

Abstract The interaction of Li with Ru was investigated on Ru(0 0 1) and Ru(1 0 9) using work function measurement, temperature-programmed desorption and low-energy electron diffraction. Strong depolarization effects for Li atoms at atomic step sites are observed, causing the dipole moment of a chemisorbed Li atom at the limit of zero coverage to decrease from 10 D to 6 D. In contrast to the (n × n) incommensurate Li structures observed on Ru(0 0 1), the Ru(1 0 9) surface does not produce any ordered Li structures. Despite these differences, the thermal desorption kinetics for Li from Ru(0 0 1) is virtually identical to that from Ru(1 0 9) at all coverages.
Low-Frequency Variability and Evolution of North American Cold Air Outbreaks

Hourly data from 17 relatively evenly distributed stations east of the Rocky Mountains during 54 winter seasons (1948/49 through 2001/02) are used to evaluate the low-frequency variability of extreme cold air outbreaks (CAOs). The results show no overall trend in CAO frequency, despite an increase in mean temperature over the Midwest and especially upstream into the CAO formation regions of high-latitude North America. However, there are regionally based trends in the intensity of long-duration (5 day) CAOs. Daily heat budgets from reanalysis data are also used to investigate the thermodynamic and dynamic processes involved in the evolution of a subset of the major CAOs. The cooling of the air masses can be generally traced in the heat budget analysis as the air masses track southward along the Rocky Mountains into the Midwest. The earliest cooling begins in northwestern Canada more than a week before the cold air mass reaches the Midwest. Downstream in southwestern Canada, both diabatic and advective processes contribute to the cumulative cooling of the air mass. At peak intensity over the Midwest, diabatic processes and horizontal advection cool the air mass, but warming by subsidence offsets this cooling. By contrast, to the west of the CAO track into the Midwestern United States, vertical advection by orographic lifting cumulatively cools the air in the upslope flow regime associated with the low-level airflow around a cold air mass, and this cooling is offset by diabatic warming. Diabatic processes have strong positive correlations with temperature change over all regions (especially in central Canada) except for the mountainous regions in the United States that are to the west of the track of the cold air mass. Correlations of vertical advection with horizontal advection and diabatic processes are physically consistent and give credibility to the vertical advection field.
Enhanced microtubule binding and tubulin assembly properties of conformationally constrained paclitaxel derivatives.

Microtubule binding and tubulin assembly promotion by a series of conformationally restricted paclitaxel (PTX) derivatives was investigated. In these derivatives, the C-4 acetate of the taxane is tethered to the C-3‘ phenyl at ortho and meta positions with different length linkers. The apparent affinity of these derivatives for GMPCPP-stabilized microtubules was assessed by a competition assay, and their influence on microtubule polymerization was evaluated by measuring the critical concentration of GDP-tubulin in the presence of the respective molecule. In general, taxane derivatives with higher apparent affinity for microtubules induced tubulin assembly more efficiently. Among the derivatives, molecules with the shortest tether display the strongest affinity for microtubules. These derivatives exhibited enhanced microtubule stabilization properties and efficiently induced GDP-tubulin assembly into microtubules at low temperature of 12 °C and in the absence of Mg2+ ions in 0.1 M PIPES. Based on molecular...
Disseminated intravascular coagulation due to cytomegalovirus infection in an immunocompetent adult treated with plasma exchange

We report the case of an immunocompetent woman who developed disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) due to acute cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and was successfully treated with plasma exchange. Extensive investigations revealed no other cause for her DIC, and she did not have any recurrence after more than 1 year of follow up. Clinically evident DIC due to CMV infection is most common in immunosuppressed patients. The one previously reported immunocompetent patient with DIC due to acute CMV infection died from the illness despite traditional supportive measures. Plasma exchange is a novel therapy that should be considered in this situation.
Evidence for Laser Induced Surface Silanol Formation

Evidence for the selective formation of surface silanol induced by ultraviolet irradiation in the intensity range between 3 × 107 W/cm2 and 108 W/cm2 is presented. Enhanced metallic deposition (Ti) on appropriately prepared samples is also reported.
The effect of methemoglobin on the inhibition of cytochrome c oxidase by cyanide, sulfide or azide.

Abstract Under our experimental conditions sulfide was a more potent inhibitor of a particulate preparation of cytochrome oxidase than was cyanide; azide proved to be a relatively weak inhibitor, all of which is in agreement with the observations of others. The undissociated species (H2S) appeared to be more inhibitory than the anionic species (HS−) in accord with the conclusions of others about HCN and HN3. Addition of methemoglobin to the oxidase inhibited by cyanide or sulfide restored the activity of the enzyme system, but the addition of methemoglobin to the azide-inhibited oxidase under the same conditions had little or no effect. Our results suggest that sulfide produces death in animals by inhibition of cytochrome oxidase, but such a mechanism seems unlikely in the case of azide.
Laminin binding to β1-integrins selectively alters β1- and β2-adrenoceptor signalling in cat atrial myocytes

1. Perforated patch recordings were used to determine how plating atrial cells on laminin alters beta-adrenergic receptor (beta-AR) regulation of L-type Ca2+ current (ICa,L). 2. Isoproterenol (isoprenaline; ISO; 0.01 microM), a non-selective beta-AR agonist, elicited a greater stimulation of ICa,L in cells plated on laminin (+79 +/- 16 %; n = 17) than on glass (+33 +/- 5 %; n = 23). Also, desensitization to ISO was greater in cells on laminin (-16 +/- 2 %) than on glass (-3 +/- 1 %). Atenolol (0.1 microM), a selective beta1-AR antagonist, inhibited the effects of ISO in cells on glass but not laminin. Conversely, 0.1 microM ICI 118,551, a selective beta2-AR antagonist, inhibited the effects of ISO in cells on laminin but not glass. With beta2-ARs blocked, ISO-induced stimulation of ICa,L was greater in cells on glass than laminin. 3. Zinterol (0.01-0.1 microM), a selective beta2-AR agonist, elicited a greater stimulation of ICa,L in cells on laminin than on glass. The effects of zinterol were blocked by ICI 118,551. 4. ISO-induced stimulation of ICa,L was greater in cells plated on an alphabeta1-integrin antibody than on glass. Also, addition of 20 microM cytochalasin D to cells on laminin prevented the enhanced effects of ISO typically elicited in cells on laminin alone. 5. We conclude that laminin binding to alphabeta1-integrins, in conjunction with the actin cytoskeleton, reduces beta1-AR and enhances beta2-AR signalling which regulates ICa,L. This novel mechanism may contribute to remodelling of beta-AR signalling in the failing heart.
Cryopreserved Venous Allografts Pretreated with Cyclosporine Revisited

In 1983 Bandlien et al reported that pretreatment of cryopreserved jugular allografts with cyclosporine (CsA) reduced immunogenicity and increased the patency of these grafts in the canine carotid artery. The purpose of this study was to determine whether CsA pretreatment of nonreversed cephalic venous allografts modifies the histologic events or increases patency in the canine femoral artery. The authors also wished to document the histologic events in the nonreversed cryopreserved cephalic autograft and allograft over a five-month period.Thirty-six nonreserved cephalic grafts were interposed in the canine femoral artery. Right venoarterial grafts were cryopreserved with CsA and the left grafts were cryopreserved without CsA. There were 28 allografts and 8 autografts so treated. Cryopreserved autograft endothelial cells (ECs) were quite well pre served on preoperative biopsies and rapidly repopulated the intima in one to three weeks like fresh autografts. All autografts remained patent. In contrast, allo...
The stress response of radially polarized rotating piezoelectric cylinders

Recent advances in smart structures technology have lead to a resurgence of interest in piezoelectricity, and in particular, in the solution of fundamental boundary value problems. In this paper, we develop an analytic solution to the axisymmetric problem of an infinitely long, radially polarized, radially orthotropic piezoelectric hollow circular cylinder rotating about its axis at constant angular velocity. The cylinder is subjected to uniform internal pressure, or a constant potential difference between its inner and outer surfaces, or both. An analytic solution to the governing equilibrium equations (a coupled system of second-order ordinary differential equations) is obtained. On application of the boundary conditions, the problem is reduced to solving a system of linear algebraic equations. The stress distribution in the tube is obtained numerically for a specific piezoceramic of technological interest, namely PZT-4. For the special problem of a uniformly rotating solid cylinder with traction-free surface and zero applied electric charge, explicit closed-form solutions are obtained. It is shown that for certain piezoelectric solids, stress singularities at the origin can occur analogous to those occurring in the purely mechanical problem for radially orthotropic elastic materials.
Modeling Pattern Density Dependent Bump Formation in Copper Electrochemical Deposition

A model and simulator that describe the dependence of deposition rate and bump formation on pattern density during electrochemical deposition (ECD) are presented. A curvature-enhanced ECD model from the recent literature [A.C. West et al., Electrochem. Solid-State Lett., 4. C50, (2001)] is used in a feature scale process simulator to explain bump formation and to qualitatively explain some observed pattern density effects. Experimentally, it is known that ECD topographies can be different when features are clustered together compared to isolated features. Although it is difficult to experimentally quantify the extent of bumping over patterned regions of wafers, the curvature-based models for bumping are at least qualitatively consistent with reported trends in deposit shape with feature density.
Isolation of three novel human cyclins by rescue of G1 cyclin (cln) function in yeast

We have isolated a number of cDNAs derived from human mRNAs that are able to substitute for G1 cyclin genes in S. cerevisiae. Several of these encode human cyclins A, B1, and B2. Three novel genes have been identified, which we call cyclins C, D, and E. The novel proteins are sufficiently distantly related to the other members of the cyclin family and to each other as to constitute three new classes of cyclins. Cyclin C and E mRNAs accumulate periodically through the cell cycle, peaking at different times in G1.
Soot in the Arctic snowpack: a cause for perturbations in radiative transfer

Abstract Recent data collected in the Arctic have demonstrated the transport of atmospheric aerosol of anthropogenic origin into that region. Concern over the radiative effect of the highly-absorbing soot component of this aerosol has resulted in a variety of atmospheric sampling efforts aimed at assessing the climatic impact of this component. However, little attention has been given to the measurement of soot deposited on the Arctic snowpack and the resulting perturbation of snow albedo, snowmelt rates and radiative transfer. Here we report measurements of light-absorbing material in the Arctic snowpack for longitudes from 25 E to 160 W. The contributions to light absorption due to natural crustal and soot aerosol are identified by their wavelength dependence. Reductions in Arctic snow albedo of one to several percent appear probable for the soot/ice mass fractions obtained to date. Estimates of the impact of this reduced albedo on the Arctic radiation budget over a season are shown to approximately equal that of the Arctic haze itself. The absorption of shortwave radiation by the springtime snowpack is estimated to be 5–10 % higher than that of soot-free snow for this data.
Context matters: Improving the uses of big data for forecasting civil unrest: Emerging phenomena and big data

Open Source Indicators (OSI) such as Google Trends (GT) promise to uncover the social dynamics associated with behavior that precede episodes of civil unrest. There are myriad reasons why societies may become unstable: Our analysis does not require or inquire the underlying reasons for discontent but instead takes into account differences associated with variegated social contexts. This paper examines instances of this volatile behavior and suggests a simple model for predicting civil unrest events using GT as an open source indicator (OSI). It grounds the possibilities for prediction on the fact that social processes occur within a particular social context. As such, paying attention to the particular signals associated from each country is an important moderator for any model keen on predicting cases of extreme social behavior such as civil unrest.
Genomic and personalized medicine: foundations and applications.

The last decade has witnessed a steady embrace of genomic and personalized medicine by senior government officials, industry leadership, health care providers, and the public. Genomic medicine, which is the use of information from genomes and their derivatives (RNA, proteins, and metabolites) to guide medical decision making—is a key component of personalized medicine, which is a rapidly advancing field of health care that is informed by each person's unique clinical, genetic, genomic, and environmental information. As medicine begins to embrace genomic tools that enable more precise prediction and treatment disease, which include “whole genome” interrogation of sequence variation, transcription, proteins, and metabolites, the fundamentals of genomic and personalized medicine will require the development, standardization, and integration of several important tools into health systems and clinical workflows. These tools include health risk assessment, family health history, and clinical decision support for complex risk and predictive information. Together with genomic information, these tools will enable a paradigm shift to a comprehensive approach that will identify individual risks and guide clinical management and decision making, all of which form the basis for a more informed and effective approach to patient care. DNA-based risk assessment for common complex disease, molecular signatures for cancer diagnosis and prognosis, and genome-guided therapy and dose selection are just among the few important examples for which genome information has already enabled personalized health care along the continuum from health to disease. In addition, information from individual genomes, which is a fast-moving area of technological development, is spawning a social and information revolution among consumers that will undoubtedly affect health care decision making. Although these and other scientific findings are making their way from the genome to the clinic, the full application of genomic and personalized medicine in health care will require dramatic changes in regulatory and reimbursement policies as well as legislative protections for privacy for system-wide adoption. Thus, there are challenges from both a scientific and a policy perspective to personalized health care; however, they will be confronted and solved with the certainty that the science behind genomic medicine is sound and the practice of medicine that it informs is evidence based.
Differential amygdala activation during emotional decision and recognition memory tasks using unpleasant words: an fMRI study

This study used fMRI to examine the response of the amygdala in the evaluation and short-term recognition memory of unpleasant vs. neutral words in nine right-handed healthy adult women. To establish specificity of the amygdala response, we examined the fMRI BOLD signal in one control region (visual cortex). Alternating blocks of unpleasant and neutral trials were presented. During the emotional decision task, subjects viewed sets of three unpleasant or three neutral words while selecting the most unpleasant or neutral word, respectively. During the memory task, subjects identified words that were presented during the emotional decision task (0.50 probability). Images were detrended, filtered, and coregistered to standard brain coordinates. The Talairach coordinates for the center of the amygdala were chosen before analysis. The BOLD signal at this location in the right hemisphere revealed a greater amplitude signal for the unpleasant relative to the neutral words during the emotional decision but not the memory task, confirmed by Time Course x Word Condition ANOVAs. These results are consistent with the memory modulatory view of amygdala function, which suggests that the amygdala facilitates long-term, but not short-term, memory consolidation of emotionally significant material. The control area showed only an effect for Time Course for both the emotional decision and memory tasks, indicating the specificity of the amygdala response to the evaluation of unpleasant words. Moreover, the right-sided amygdala activation during the unpleasant word condition was strongly correlated with the BOLD response in the occipital cortex. These findings corroborate those by other researchers that the amygdala can modulate early processing of visual information in the occipital cortex. Finally, an increase in subject's state anxiety (evaluated by questionnaire) while in the scanner correlated with amygdala activation under some conditions.
Improving clinical care and elucidating the pathophysiology of Diamond Blackfan anemia: An update from the Diamond Blackfan Anemia Registry

Diamond Blackfan anemia (DBA) is a heterogeneous genetic disorder characterized by red cell aplasia, congenital anomalies, and a predisposition to cancer. Although incompletely understood, the erythroid failure in DBA appears to result from the accelerated apoptosis of affected erythroid progenitors/precursors. One of what appears to be multiple DBA genes, coding for a ribosomal protein RPS 19, has been cloned. Even within multiplex families individuals may vary dramatically as to the degree of anemia, response to treatment and the presence of congenital anomalies. The Diamond Blackfan Anemia Registry (DBAR), a comprehensive database of pediatric and adult patients with DBA who are enrolled after informed consent, was designed to overcome two significant obstacles encountered in the study of a rare disease; the reporting bias inherent in the literature and the lack of an active patient database. To enroll, patients, their families and their physicians complete a detailed questionnaire. A review of medical records and telephone interviews are performed to complete and clarify the information provided. As of May 1, 2005, 420 patients have been enrolled in the DBAR. Epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory data have been collected and analyzed. The DBAR has provided new information on the clinical presentation, outcome and genetics of DBA as well as a better description of congenital malformations and cancer predisposition. This has resulted both in improved clinical care of patients with DBA as well as providing new insights into the pathophysiology of this complex disorder.
Hsp90 and Hsp40/Erdj3 are required for the expression and anti-apoptotic function of KSHV K1

Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is a member of the gammaherpesvirus family. It is the etiological agent of three different human cancers, Kaposi sarcoma (KS), primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) and multicentric Castleman disease. The far left end of the KSHV genome encodes a unique transmembrane glycoprotein called K1. K1 possesses the ability to transform rodent fibroblasts and block apoptosis. K1 has also been shown to activate the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in different cells. Using tandem affinity purification, we identified heat shock protein 90beta (Hsp90beta) and endoplasmic reticulum-associated Hsp40 (Erdj3/DnaJB11), as cellular binding partners of K1. Interactions of K1 with Hsp90beta and Hsp40 were confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation in both directions. Furthermore, K1 also interacted with the Hsp90alpha isoform. We report that small-interfering RNAs directed against Hsp90 and Hsp40/Erdj3, as well as pharmacological inhibitors of Hsp90, dramatically reduced K1 expression, suggesting that K1 is a client protein of these chaperones. In addition, both Hsp90 and Hsp40/Erdj3 were essential for K1's anti-apoptotic function. Finally, we report that the Hsp90 inhibitors, 17-AAG and 17-DMAG, can suppress the proliferation of KSHV-positive PEL cell lines and exhibited IC(50) values of 50 nM and below.
Prophylactic antibiotics in surgery for chronic ear disease

Objectives/Hypothesis: The role of prophylactic antibiotics in otologic surgery continues to be debated and perhaps misused. Prior studies have provided conflicting evidence with regard to the benefit obtained from the use of prophylactic antibiotics in surgery for chronic otitis media. The current study was designed to evaluate the role of prophylactic antibiotics in the outcomes of surgery for chronic ear disease. It was the authors' impression that there was no indication for prophylactic antibiotics in such surgery. Study Design: Randomized prospective study performed in a tertiary care facility. Methods: Patients who met inclusion criteria (n = 146) were randomly assigned to an antibiotic treatment group or a control group receiving no prophylactic antibiotics. Patients in the antibiotic treatment group were given preoperative intravenous antibiotics followed by oral antibiotics for 5 days after surgery. Patients were followed postoperatively and observed for clinical evidence of infection and graft failure. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups with regard to the incidence of postoperative infection or graft survival. Conclusions: The use of prophylactic antibiotics in surgery for chronic ear disease cannot be recommended based on the findings of this study.
The Effect of New Duty Hours on Resident Academic Performance and Adult Resuscitation Outcomes

Abstract Background From July 2011, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education implemented new resident duty hours throughout the US. This study aimed to determine whether changes to call schedules due to these new duty hours achieved the intended goals of excellent patient care and improved resident learning. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study at an academic hospital. For patient outcomes, we used the hospital registry for code blues and rapid responses to compare the proportion of deaths and transfers to an intensive care unit (July 2010 to June 2011; July 2011 to June 2012). For resident learning, we compared delta percentage scores for annual in-service training examinations (2009 to 2010; 2010 to 2011; 2011 to 2012). Results We recorded 187 code blues and 469 rapid responses during the 2-year period: 48 (7.3%) deaths, 374 (57.0%) transfers to the intensive care unit, and 234 (35.7%) stabilizations on the floor. Of all transfers to the intensive care unit, those due to a code blue decreased after implementation of the new duty hours (36% [63/174] vs 25% [49/200], P = .02; adjusted odds ratio = 0.59; 95% confidence interval, 0.37-0.92). The median (interquartile range) delta percentage scores for annual in-service training examinations decreased significantly from the first time-period (2009 to 2010: 7 [4-11]) to the third time-period (2011 to 2012: 5 [2-8], P = .02). Conclusion We observed a reduced proportion of transfers to the intensive care unit with a code blue after implementation of new resident duty hours. Resident academic performance experienced a small but significant decrease in in-service training examination delta percentage score. We need large, multicenter studies to corroborate these findings.
On Recensoring for Censored Paired Data

In comparing two treatment regimens, a matched-pair design is often used for nonhomogeneous experimental units. A standard method of analyzing the resulting data is to consider the difference within pairs, so that the nuisance parameters due to the heterogeneity between pairs can be eliminated and the parameter of interest—the treatment effect—can be estimated. This procedure becomes invalid when the data are subject to censoring, however. In addition, the available likelihood based methods for handling censored data may suffer from the inconsistency problem incurred by the increasing number of nuisance parameters. In this article, we propose a new approach for eliminating the nuisance parameters based on a crucial notion of “recensoring.” Assuming that the censoring time for each observation is known, recensoring is a natural way to force a common lag between the two censoring times within each pair by resetting one of them to a smaller value. After recensoring, we may treat the new observed times as the...
Computation of Non-Commutative Gröbner Bases in Grassmann and Clifford Algebras

Tensor, Clifford and Grassmann algebras belong to a wide class of non-commutative algebras that have a Poincare-Birkhoff-Witt (PBW) “monomial” basis. The necessary and sufficient condition for an algebra to have the PBW basis has been established by T. Mora and then V. Levandovskyy as the so called “non-degeneracy condition”. This has led V. Levandovskyy to a re-discovery of the so called G-algebras (previously introduced by J. Apel) and GR-algebras (Grobner-ready algebras). It was T. Mora who already in the 1990s considered a comprehensive and algorithmic approach to Grobner bases for commutative and non-commutative algebras. It was T. Stokes who eighteen years ago introduced Grobner left bases (GLB) and Grobner left ideal bases (GLIB) for left ideals in Grassmann algebras, with the GLIB bases solving an ideal membership problem. Thus, a natural question is to first seek Grobner bases with respect to a suitable admissible monomial order for ideals in tensor algebras T and then consider quotient algebras T/I. It was shown by Levandovskyy that these quotient algebras possess a PBW basis if and only if the ideal I has a Grobner basis. Of course, these quotient algebras are of great interest because, in particular, Grassmann and Clifford algebras of a quadratic form arise this way. Examples of G-algebras include the quantum plane, universal enveloping algebras of finite dimensional Lie algebras, some Ore extensions, Weyl algebras and their quantizations, etc. Examples of GR-algebras, which are either G algebras or are isomorphic to quotient algebras of a G-algebra modulo a proper two-sided ideal, include Grassmann and Clifford algebras. After recalling basic concepts behind the theory of commutative Grobner bases, a review of the Grobner bases in PBW algebras, G-,and GR-algebras will be given with a special emphasis on computation of such bases in Grassmann and Clifford algebras. GLB and GLIB bases will also be computed.
Consideration of electrodes and electrolytes for electrochemical gasification of coal by anodic oxidation

It has been found that the performance of graphite anodes in coal electrolysis is closely comparable to that reported previously for anodes of Pt gauze; the sole exception discerned thus far is that the gases formed anodically at graphite are somewhat enriched in carbon monoxide and correspondingly depleted in carbon dioxide as compared to Pt anodes. No significant consumption or degradation of the graphite was observed during short experiments in which about half an equivalent of charge passed — the weight gain measured was about 0.05% of that computed from the assumption of formation of an equivalent quantity of surface oxides. Of several different electrolytes considered and tested, aqueous solutions of H2SO4 appear to cause the most rapid reaction rates.
Masking between Spatially Separated Sounds

The development of optimal three-dimensional auditory displays requires a more complete understanding of the interactions among spatially separated sounds. Free-field masking was investigated as a function of the spatial separation between signal and masker sounds within the horizontal, frontal, and median planes. The detectability of filtered pulse trains in the presence of noise maskers was measured using a cued, two-alternative, forced-choice, adaptive staircase procedure. Signal and masker combinations in low (below 2.3 kHz), middle (1.0–8.5 kHz), and high (above 3.5 kHz) frequency regions were examined. As the sound sources were separated within the horizontal plane, signal detectability increased dramatically. Similar improvement in detectability was observed within the frontal plane. As suggested by traditional binaural models, interaural time cues and interaural intensity cues are likely to play a major role in mediating masking release in both the horizontal and frontal planes. Because no interau...