cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adeno‐associated viral vectors for gene therapy

Publisher Summary Adeno-associated viruses (AAV) have been considered as a potential vector for gene therapy because of its wide range of tissue specificity, its ability to infect and be expressed in non-dividing cells, and because of its lack of pathogenicity. Production of vector virions requires transfection of the vector construct in plasmid form, together with the introduction on separate plasmids and/or helper viruses of both the AAV genes and the helper virus genes required for a productive AAV infection. The goal of vector production is high titer vector virions with no contamination by either wild-type AAV or intact helper virus. The development of more efficient systems for packaging and purification of wild-type-free preparations of (recombinant) rAAV has made it possible to test the safety, efficiency, and duration of transduction in a wide range of mammalian organs and tissues. Numerous studies have indicated that rAAV transduction of skeletal muscle results in efficient expression of marker genes, secreted proteins, or gene products needed for correction of intrinsic muscle disease, such as delta sarcoglycan, one of the genes implicated in limb-girdle muscular dystrophy. In most in vitro and in vivo applications of rAAV, it has been observed that rAAV vector genomes persist long-term, in most cases for the life span of the infected cell. This persistence may be viewed as a modified form of latent AAV infection. The vast majority of studies with rAAV have been performed using AAV serotype 2-based vector genomes and capsids.
NMR structure of the thromboxane A2 receptor ligand recognition pocket.

To overcome the difficulty of characterizing the structures of the extracellular loops (eLPs) of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) other than rhodopsin, we have explored a strategy to generate a three-dimensional structural model for a GPCR, the thromboxane A2 receptor. This three-dimensional structure was completed by the assembly of the NMR structures of the computation-guided constrained peptides that mimicked the extracellular loops and connected to the conserved seven transmembrane domains. The NMR structure-based model reveals the structural features of the eLPs, in which the second extracellular loop (eLP2) and the disulfide bond between the first extracellular loop (eLP1) and eLP2 play a major role in forming the ligand recognition pocket. The eLP2 conformation is dynamic and regulated by the oxidation and reduction of the disulfide bond, which affects ligand docking in the initial recognition. The reduced form of the thromboxane A2 receptor experienced a decrease in ligand binding activity due to the rearrangement of the eLP2 conformation. The ligand-bound receptor was, however, resistant to the reduction inactivation because the ligand covered the disulfide bond and stabilized the eLP2 conformation. This molecular mechanism of ligand recognition is the first that may be applied to other prostanoid receptors and other GPCRs.
Modeling emotions and other motivations in synthetic agents

We present Cathexis, a distributed, computational model which offers an alternative approach to model the dynamic nature of different affective phenomena, such as emotions, moods and temperaments, and provides a flexible way of modeling their influence on the behavior of synthetic autonomous agents. The model has been implemented as part of an extensible, object-oriented framework which provides enough functionality for agent developers to design emotional agents that can be used in a variety of applications including entertainment (e.g. synthetic agents for interactive drama, video games, etc.), education (e.g. Intelligent Tutoring Systems), and human-computer interfaces.
Australian Federal Government Failure: The Rise and Fall of the Home Insulation Program

Controversy surrounded the recent ill-fated Commonwealth Government’s Home Insulation Program (HIP) from the outset and continues after the HIP was abruptly halted. Public disquiet has been aroused not only by the death and injury which has resulted from the HIP, but also the perceived waste of public funds. Drawing on the Hawke Review (2010) of the HIP, this article examines the HIP through the analytical lenses of the government failure paradigm as well as the literature on decentralisation and economic efficiency. It is argued that the HIP represents a “case study” of how governments should not pursue public expenditure programmes.
Model Restarts for Structural Symmetry Breaking

There exist various methods to break symmetries. The two that concern us in this paper are static symmetry breaking where we add static constraints to the problem (see e.g. [1,3]) and symmetry breaking by dominance detection (SBDD) where we filter values based on a symmetric dominance analysis when comparing the current searchnode with those that were previously expanded [2,5]. The core task of SBDD is dominance detection. The first provably polynomial-time dominance checkers for value symmetry were devised in [18] and [14]. For problems exhibiting both "piecewise" symmetric values and variables, [15] devised structural symmetry breaking (SSB). SSB is a polynomial-time dominance checker for piecewise symmetries which, used within SBDD, eliminates symmetric subproblems from the search-tree. Piecewise symmetries are of particular interest as they result naturally from symmetry detection based on a static analysis of a given CSP that exploits the knowledge about problem substructures as captured in global constraints [17]. Static SSB was developed in [4] and is based on the structural abstractions that were introduced in [17].
Activation of human furin precursor processing endoprotease occurs by an intramolecular autoproteolytic cleavage.

Abstract Human furin is a calcium-dependent serine endoprotease that can efficiently cleave many precursor proteins on the carboxyl side of the consensus cleavage sequence, -Arg-X-Lys/Arg-Arg-, both in vivo and in vitro. Analysis of furin proteins in extracts of cells infected with a vaccinia recombinant expressing human furin show that the enzyme is present as two prominent forms of 90 and 96 kDa. Because the structurally related bacterial subtilisins require endoproteolytic removal of the NH2-terminal pro-region by an autocatalytic intramolecular cleavage, we speculated that the size heterogeneity in the furin doublet similarly may result from a proteolytic removal of an NH2-terminal pro-region. Here we report identification of the 90-kDa furin NH2 terminus and, based on the reported sequence of the furin cDNA, demonstrate that this furin protein is derived from a larger precursor by an endoproteolytic cleavage on the COOH-terminal side of a consensus furin cleavage site, -Arg-Thr-Lys-Arg107-. Expression of mutant furin molecules containing an altered cleavage site (Arg104----Ala or Arg107----Gly) resulted in the production of only the 96-kDa furin protein. Assays of furin-dependent cleavage of a protein substrate in vitro showed that proteolytic activity was associated with the 90-kDa and not the 96-kDa furin protein, demonstrating that removal of the NH2-terminal pro-region is required for furin activity. Expression of a third furin construct containing a mutation of the active site aspartate (Asp153----Asn) similarly resulted in the expression of only the 96-kDa protein, suggesting that furin activation occurs by an autoproteolytic cleavage. Finally, the production of 90-kDa furin from either site-directed furin mutant could not be potentiated by overexpressing active furin, suggesting that the autoproteolytic activation was an intramolecular event.
Forecasting Civil Conflict with Zero-Inflated Count Models

Advances in the study of civil war have led to the proliferation of event count data, and to a corresponding increase in the use of (zero-inflated) count models for the quantitative analysis of civil conflict events. Our ability to effectively use these techniques is met with two current limitations. First, researchers do not yet have a definitive answer as to whether zero-inflated count models are a verifiably better approach to civil conflict modeling than are ‘less assuming’ approaches such as negative binomial count models. Second, the accurate analysis of conflict-event counts with count models – zero-inflated or otherwise – is severely limited by the absence of an effective framework for the evaluation of predictive accuracy, which is an empirical approach that is of increasing importance to conflict modelers. This article rectifies both of these deficiencies. Specifically, this study presents count forecasting techniques for the evaluation and comparison of count models' predictive accuracies. Usin...
Irene Calboli and Edward Lee (eds.): Trademark Protection and Territoriality Challenges in a Global Economy

In the eighth and latest volume of the ‘‘Elgar Intellectual Property and Global Development Series,’’ Irene Calboli and Edward Lee have gathered distinguished experts in the areas of trademarks, Internet domain names, and traditional knowledge for a discussion of a variety of issues that continuingly intensified globalization presents for trademark law. The volume, entitled Trademark Protection and Territoriality Challenges in a Global Economy, is a welcome contribution to the Series, edited by Peter Yu, which is designed ‘‘to undertake a critical inquiry of issues lying at the intersection of intellectual property and global development.’’ It might seem that trademark law should be immune to the pressures of globalization because trademarks are, in a sense, the most transnational of all types of intellectual property: The primary role of trademarks is unequivocal; they are designed to guide consumers in the marketplace and support fair competition among businesses. With minor exceptions, countries recognize the same types of protectable subject matter for trademarks, and this high degree of consensus ensures relative consistency in the protectability of marks in most countries. As indicators of the sources of goods and services, trademarks seem to fit perfectly into the globalized marketplace, including the digital superhighway on which they should serve as reliable direction signs. Despite the seeming suitability of trademarks for the worldwide marketplace, globalization has posed arguably greater challenges to trademark law than it has to copyright law and patent law. Trademarks are expected to serve their role in an
Male Bodies in Manhood Acts: The Role of Body‐Talk and Embodied Practice in Signifying Culturally Dominant Notions of Manhood

New developments in the critical study of men and masculinity, known as the manhood acts perspective, have focused attention on the ways that males collectively and individually engage in identity work to present themselves as men (Schrock and Schwalbe 2009). This review unpacks two central processes through which males use the body to put on a convincing manhood act. First, I review research on institutions and culture in order to explain how various discourses on male bodies provide resources to signify manhood. Second, I demonstrate how males are socialized to use their bodies to symbolize manhood. Overall, I demonstrate how the manhood acts perspective provides a potentially fruitful theoretical framework for understanding previous research on manhood and the body.
Art Review: 9/11 Memorial: A Photo Essay

The 9/11 Memorial in New York City is a national tribute of remembrance to the 3,000 culturally diverse victims of the terror attacks of September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993. The 8-acre Memorial Plaza contains two massive granite reflection pools, North and South; 400 swamp white oak trees; and a museum of 120,000 sq ft. scheduled to open in September 2012. Each pool contains an infinity waterfall surrounded by bronze parapets stencil cut with victims’ names, including the unborn. The ambiance of the plaza is tempered by the ongoing reconstruction of buildings destroyed and damaged during the September 11 attacks.
Molecular beam epitaxy of Si/ZnS/Si(100) heterostructures for fabrication of silicon-based quantum devices

Epitaxial Si/ZnS/Si heterostructures were grown for the purpose of developing silicon-based quantum devices. An arsenic passivation technique was used on silicon surfaces for the growth of ZnS. A two-step growth method was developed for the epitaxial growth of silicon on ZnS surfaces. Using the results of TEM (transmission electron microscopy), C-V (capacitance-voltage), RHEED (reflection high energy electron diffraction), and SIMS (secondary ion mass spectroscopy), we present studies of crystal defects, density of interface states, surface structure, and compositional profiles of the heterostructural materials.
A monte carlo method for 3D thermal infrared radiative transfer

Abstract A 3D Monte Carlo model for specific application to the broadband thermal radiative transfer has been developed in which the emissivities for gases and cloud particles are parameterized by using a single cubic element as the building block in 3D space. For spectral integration in the thermal infrared, the correlated k-distribution method has been used for the sorting of gaseous absorption lines in multiple-scattering atmospheres involving 3D clouds. To check the Monte-Carlo simulation, we compare a variety of 1D broadband atmospheric fluxes and heating rates to those computed from the conventional plane-parallel (PP) model and demonstrate excellent agreement between the two. Comparisons of the Monte Carlo results for broadband thermal cooling rates in 3D clouds to those computed from the delta-diffusion approximation for 3D radiative transfer and the independent pixel-by-pixel approximation are subsequently carried out to understand the relative merits of these approaches.
Human Capital, Economic Development, and the Rural Poor: Discussion

Poverty is perceived by many as primarily an urban problem. Inner city poverty is concentrated and visible, but as long as the United States has gathered poverty statistics, a disproportionate share of the poor have been found to live in rural areas. If characteristics or causes of poverty are unique to rural areas, then policies can be designed to alleviate rural poverty. Unfortunately, the analyses provided in the two invited papers do not address the unique aspects of the rural poor. Neither paper justifies the need or proscribes policies to specifically target rural poverty. Allen and Thompson begin with a review of the many deficiencies of the current measure of poverty. Their criticisms do not point out, however, that the current measure of poverty does not discriminate between poverty related to age or disability and poverty caused by lack of employment opportunity or adequate education. Allen and Thompson would strengthen their analysis of poverty among rural minorities if they focused on factors affecting the nonelderly and nondisabled persistently poor. The disproportionate share of poverty among African Americans and Hispanics in nonmetro counties of the United States is well docu-
Optical Instrumentation and Nondestructive Evaluation Branch Research and Technology Advances at NASA Glenn Research Center since 1941

AbstractThis paper is a transitory decadal overview capturing the current research and technology accomplishments that are being developed by the Optical Instrumentation and Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) Branch at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Glenn Research Center (GRC). The emphasis is on the latest GRC research and technology advances with a brief discussion of the history and technical background of optical instrumentation since the 1940s, NDE sciences and methods since the 1970s, fiber optics since the 1980s, space-qualified instrumentation since the 1990s, and propulsion health monitoring since the beginning of the current century. This paper also identifies and describes recent and future technical directions based on/guided by current NASA strategic and GRC and NASA project implementation plans.
Erythema multiforme: a review of its characteristics, diagnostic criteria, and management.

Erythema multiforme is a distinctive hypersensitivity syndrome characterized by skin and mucous membrane lesions and, in its more severe forms, mucosal lesions with constitutional symptoms and, at times, visceral involvement.1,2 It is usually considered acute and self-limiting, but recent observations indicate that it may also behave as a chronic recurrent disorder in many people.1,3,4 The disorder may occur at any age, with its highest incidence in young adults 20 to 40 years of age; as many as 20% of cases are seen in children and adolescents.2 PATHOGENESIS The pathogenesis of erythema multiforme remains unknown. It appears to represent the end result of a hypersensitivity reaction to a number of infectious and other agents: viral, bacterial, protozoal, fungal, or Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Eaton agent) infection; foods or drugs; immunizations; and a variety of other systemic diseases and physical agents. Whereas drug reactions and malignancies are important causes of erythema multiforme in older persons, infectious diseases are the most common precipitants in children and young adults. The most common cause of erythema multiforme appears to be the virus of herpes simplex; a history of cold sores precedes the development of other lesions by about 3 to 14 days. Recurrences are particularly common in this form of erythema multiforme.4,5
An examination of the effect of wage inequity in the hourly condition

Abstract This study examines the effect of overpayment on job productivity, the relationship between quality and quantity of job performance, and the effect of known production rates on equity resolution. The data generally support Adams' theory that overpaid subjects produce more than equitably paid subjects. The relative emphasis on quality (vs. quantity) in job performance seems to be a function of the perceived instrumentality of quality (vs. quantity) as a basis for equity resolution. Also, the introduction of known production rates as a criterion for equitable payment had the desired effect of reducing production variance and thus providing additional evidence on equity resolution process. A new production task in equity experiments, scoring questionnaires, was introduced.
Ecdysone metabolism in premolt land crabs (Gecarcinus lateralis)

The metabolic fate of (/sup 3/H)ecdysone was examined in land crabs (Gecarcinus lateralis) in premolt stages D/sub 1/ (late)-D/sub 2/ and D/sub 3/ to elucidate changes in biochemical pathways and dynamics of ecdysteroid metabolism during proecdysis. In crabs of both premolt stages, 20-hydroxyecdysone was the principal metabolite (85 to 95% of the recovered radioactivity); further hydroxylation to 20,26-dihydroxyecdysone and formation of polar conjugates (primarily in the midgut gland) occurred to a limited extent. The rate of elimination of (/sup 3/H)20-hydroxyecdysone was slow in crabs of both premolt stages (k approx. 0.006 to 0.009 hr/sup -1/; t/sub 1/2/ approx. 77 to 115 hr). Serum titers of 20-hydroxyecdysone (measured by radioimmunoassay) increased during stages D/sub 0/ to D/sub 2/ and maintained a maximum level of 100 ng/ml for a week (stage D/sub 2/-early D/sub 3/) before dropping rapidly to intermolt levels during the last day before ecdysis (stage D/sub 3/ to D/sub 4/). The rapid decrease in serum titers results from a 10-fold increase in the rate of elimination of serum ecdysteroids at about 24 to 48 hr before ecdysis. The titer of an apolar ecdysteroid, tentatively identified as ponasterone. A, increases rapidly during stages D/sub 1/ and D/sub 2/ to levelsmore » several-fold higher than the maximum titers of 20-hydroxyecdysone. Ponasterone A titers then decreased very rapidly during the last 3 days before ecdysis (stages D/sub 3/ and D/sub 4/).« less
Effects of para-chlorophenylalanine on amphetamine and haloperidol-induced changes in striatal dopamine turnover.

Para-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) was administered to rats, and the animals were sacrificed 48 h later. Animals received various doses of S(+)-amphetamine (AMPH) 31 min before sacrifice or of haloperidol (HAL) 46 min before sacrifcie and an intracerebral injection of [3H]tyrosine 15 min prior to sacrifice. PCPA pretreatment potentiated the increased accumulation of striatal [3H]dopamine (DA) induced by doses of AMPH to 1.5 mg/kg, and inhibited the decrease in striatal [3H]DA accumulation observed at higher doses (> 2.5 mg/kg) of AMPH. Furtherm the AMPH-induced increase in endogeneous levels of striatal DA was inhibited by PCPA pretreatment. Similarily, PCPA pretreatment potentiated the HAL-induced increase in striatal [3H]DA accumulation. The data are discussed with respect to an inhibitory serotonergic influence on nigrostriatal DA function, and the relationship of nigrostriatal biochemical events to AMPH-induced behavioral changes.
Segmentation of Landsat Thematic Mapper imagery improves buffelgrass (Pennisetum ciliare) pasture mapping in the Sonoran Desert of Mexico

Abstract The invasive exotic buffelgrass (Pennisetum ciliare) is a principal threat to the Sonoran Desert of southwestern North America. Buffelgrass is cultivated in cattle pastures throughout Mexico's northwestern state of Sonora, where it poses an invasion threat to surrounding desert lands. Automated remote sensing methods to detect buffelgrass pasture conversion at a regional scale have shown limited success, due in part to variable land-cover conditions, and in part to intrinsic heterogeneity in desertscrub land-cover. This paper discusses a novel technique for delineating and mapping buffelgrass pastures based on vector-based satellite image segmentation followed by pixel-based classification using ancillary spatial environmental data. Based on quantitative accuracy metrics and visual inspection of known pasture sites, we report that segmentation considerably improved the mapping process, in particular the detection and delineation of pastures. Comparisons of paired classifications with segmented and nonsegmented imagery revealed higher overall map accuracies and higher buffelgrass class accuracies, as well as lower errors of commission and omission for buffelgrass in segmented maps. This new application of object-based image analysis has promising implications for ongoing efforts to map and monitor buffelgrass expansion region-wide and other similar changes in land-cover type and condition across human-modified landscapes.
Acebutolol and left ventricular function: assessment by radionuclide angiography.

We assessed the effects of acebutolol, a cardioselective beta blocker, on global and regional left ventricular function in 26 patients with chronic angina pectoris. All patients underwent rest and maximal supine bicycle exercise radionuclide angiography while on placebo and oral acebutolol (400 mg three times a day). Resting ejection fraction on placebo was 51 ± 3% and on acebutolol was 54 ± 3% (p < 0.05). No resting ejection fraction decreased ≥7%. Only one patient (resting ejection fraction 28% on placebo and 21% on acebutolol) developed signs of fluid retention. Exercise nuclear studies on placebo revealed responses consistent with coronary artery disease (abnormal ejection fraction response to exercise and regional wall motion abnormalities) in 24 of 26 patients. Peak exercise ejection fraction was of the same order on placebo and acebutolol (51 ± 3% and 54 ± 3%, p = NS). In four patients the ejection fraction response to exercise became normal and in five patients all regional wall motion abnormalities became normal on acebutolol. Cardioselective beta blockade with acebutolol in effective antianginal doses is safe and may improve resting and exercise ventricular function. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1981) 29, 149–154; doi:10.1038/clpt.1981.24
Percutaneous computed tomography–guided radiofrequency ablation of renal masses in high surgical risk patients: preliminary results

Abstract This article evaluates the safety and efficacy of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) delivered by computed tomography (CT) fluoroscopic guidance for the treatment of small, solitary renal lesions in high risk surgical and anesthetic patients. In total, 29 patients with 35 small (≤4 cm) renal lesions underwent a total of 37 CT fluoroscopically guided RFA treatments using a dry RFA technique. Because of medical comorbidities, 26 patients were considered high surgical risk candidates, and 3 patients had von Hippel-Lindau disease. Procedures were performed percutaneously, under intravenous sedation and on an outpatient basis. Renal lesions were monitored on a 3-month basis using precontrast- and postcontrast-enhanced CT imaging to assess for the presence of growth or residual lesion enhancement. Of 37 RFA treatments, 35 (95%) were successfully performed under intravenous sedation and 32 (86%) treatments were performed on an outpatient basis. Over a mean radiographic follow-up period of 9 months, 33 of 35 (94%) renal lesions have required only a single RFA treatment, and 2 patients required a second, successful retreatment for small regions of residual enhancement on follow-up CT imaging. Of 13 renal lesions with a ≥12-month radiographic follow-up interval, 11 (85%) have demonstrated no residual enhancement or growth after RFA. Percutaneous RFA of small, solitary renal lesions is well tolerated in high surgical risk patients. Although early results are encouraging, longer-term follow-up time is necessary to determine the precise role of RFA in this patient population. high resolution video , medium resolution video , low resolution video
RNA splicing and genes.

The splicing of long transcripts of RNA (copied from DNA in the cell nucleus) into smaller, specific mRNA (ready for export to the protein-producing machinery in the cytoplasm) is an important event in the regulation of gene expression in eukaryotic cells. The splicing reaction occurs as a late step in the nuclear pathway for synthesis of mRNAs. This pathway commences with initiation of transcription by RNA polymerase II and probably involves an integrated series of steps each dependent on previous events. Splicing of precursors to mRNAs involves the formation of a spliceosome complex containing the 5' and 3' splice sites. This complex contains the evolutionarily highly conserved small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) U2, U4, U5, and U6. The most abundant snRNA, U1, is required to form the spliceosome and may be a part of the spliceosome. Analogues of these snRNAs have been identified in yeast. Assembly of the spliceosome probably involves the binding of a multi-snRNA complex containing U4, U5, and U6 snRNAs. Several observations suggest that the association of snRNAs in such complexes is quite dynamic. It is argued that the snRNAs in the spliceosome form a catalytic RNA structure that is responsible for the cleavage and ligation steps during splicing. ( JAMA 1988;260:3035-3041)
The Incidence of Salmonella Pullorum in Wild Pheasants in Southern Michigan

Abstract THE pheasant (Phasianus colchicus torquatus) is frequently seen feeding in close proximity to both chickens and turkeys in Michigan. Most of our wild pheasants are found in the southern part of the state. This area also has the greatest concentration of domestic fowl. The importance of Salmonella infections in pheasants reared in captivity has long been recognized. However, the state game farm, which has a breeding stock of between one and two thousand adult pheasants, has been free from infection in recent years. This farm is maintained by the Michigan Department of Conservation in Ingham County near Mason. All birds on the farm are blood tested annually for pullorum disease under the supervision of the Michigan State Poultry Improvement Association using polyvalent antigen and the whole blood agglutination test. During the last two years no reactors have been detected in these birds. In the four previous years all reactors were …
Conformation of Leu-Arg-Arg-Ala-Ser-Leu-Gly Bound in the Active Site of Adenosine Cyclic 3’,5’-Phosphate Dependent Protein Kinase

Studies utilizing NMR spectroscopy have shown that adenosine cyclic 3',5'-phosphate dependent protein kinase (A-kinase) probably binds Leu-Arg-Arg-Ala-Ser-Leu-Gly (peptide 1) in one of two extended coil conformations (A or B). The relative reactivities of a series of N-methylated peptides based on the structure of peptide 1 might, therefore, be related to how well each can assume the A or B conformation. From estimates of the magnitude of steric interactions that would be induced by N-methylation of an amide in peptide 1 that is locked in either conformation, the ability of each peptide to form that conformation was predicted. The ability of A-kinase to catalyze phosphorylation of the N-methylated peptides correlated well with the ability of each peptide to form conformation A, but not conformation B. In accord with these findings, the reactivity of an unreactive N-methylated peptide was partially restored by a second change, which allowed the peptide to assume conformation A. These results suggest that, when bound in the enzymatic active site, peptide 1 has a conformation that resembles structure A much more closely than structure B.
The Peptide GsMTx4 Inhibits the TREK-1 Channel from the Intracellular Side

GsMTx4, the only known specific inhibitor for mechanically gated ion channels, is 34 amino acid long and adopts an ICK motif. The peptide when applied extracellularly inhibits nonselective MSCs. Understanding the relationship peptide's structure and mechanism using mutagenesis has been slowed due to a lack of a specific target. In this work we show that GsMTx4 can also inhibit TREK-1, a well characterized mechanical channel, but only from the intracellular side. Application of the peptide to the inner leaflet of transfected cells with TREK-1 produced a greater than 90% inhibition in the 2-5 μM range. GsMTx4 does not inhibit TREK-1 on the extra-cellular side and the enantiomeric form of GsMTx4 is equally effective. There are two observable responses; GsMTx4 decreases the magnitude of the mean channel activity produced by external stimuli from a pressure clamp and GsMTx4 also decreases the background activity. The latter is expected since the gigaseal adhesion energy activates channels at rest and Gsmtx4 blocks those channels. We have developed a 3 state model (close-open- inactivated) which allows us to extract the binding and unbinding kinetic parameters for the liganded and unliganded states.
On unimolecular decomposition of phenyl radical

The unimolecular decomposition of the phenyl radical and ortho-benzyne was examined by ab initio quantum chemical calculations, Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus (RRKM) calculations, and numercial simulation of shock tube pyrolysis of phenyl and benzene. The rate constants of C-H fission in the phenyl radical was first determined by re-examining the rates of H-atom production from nitrosobenzenepyrolysis at temperatures from 1450 to 1730 K and pressures from 1.5 to 7 atm. The experimental rate constant was successfully reproduced and extrapolated with RRKM calculations using molecular parameters obtained with the complete active space self-consistent field approach. The theoretical rate constants were then fitted in Troe's fall-off expressions for C6H5 (+Ar)→o-C6H4+H(+Ar) in the temperature range of 500 to 2500 K, which gives k∞(s−1)=4.3×1012T0.62 exp(−38,900/T) k0/[Ar] (cm3 mol−1 s−1)=1.0×1084 T−18.87 exp(−45,340/T) Fc=(1−0.902) exp(−T/696)+0.902 exp(−T/358)+exp(−3856/T) The concerted unimolecular decomposition of ortho-benzyne, o-C6H4(+Ar)→C4H2+C2H2(+Ar) was studied similarly. The high-pressure limit rate parameters were estimated to be k∞(s−1)=1.2×1018T−0.34 exp(−44,200/T) It was shown that a revised Bauer-Aten mechanism, featuring H ejection from phenyl followed by the concerted decomposition of o-benzyne, describes very well benzene decomposition in a shock tube.
Limits to Certainty in Interpreting Video Data: Interactional Ethnography and Disciplinary Knowledge

This article examines the problem of interpretation by exploring how disciplinary knowledge, or lack thereof, informs interpretations and creates limits to certainty in assessment of observed discipline-based patterns represented on video records. Guided by an interactional ethnographic perspective, and through a (re)analysis of records from a 2-year ethnographic video archive of a high school studio arts class, the authors show how contrastive analysis or triangulation of perspectives (students, teacher, and researcher) and of data (discourse and activity across times and events) provide the basis for developing warranted claims of interpretation of disciplinary knowledge recorded on video.
Regulation of Schizosaccharomyces pombe Wee1 Tyrosine Kinase

Wee1 tyrosine kinase regulates mitosis by carrying out the inhibitory tyrosine 15 phosphorylation of Cdc2 M-phase inducing kinase. Schizosaccharomyces pombe Wee1 is a large protein, consisting of a C-terminal catalytic domain of approximately 350 amino acids preceded by a N-terminal domain of approximately 550 residues. The functional properties of the Wee1 N-terminal domain were investigated by expressing truncated forms of Wee1 in S. pombe. Both positive and negative regulatory domains were identified. Sequences important for Wee1 function were mapped to a central region (residues 363-408). This region is not required for kinase activity or nuclear localization, suggesting it may be involved in substrate recognition. The negative regulatory domain resides in the N-terminal third of Wee1, Wee1 constructs lacking this domain are more effective at delaying mitosis than wild-type Wee1. The negative regulatory domain contains clusters of potential Cdc2 phosphorylation sites. Investigations to monitor the abundance of Wee1 mRNA and protein during the cell cycle were also carried out.
A model for dislocation behavior during deformation of Al/Al3Sc (fcc/L12) metallic multilayers

Abstract In previously published work, we have reported on the microstructure and indentation hardness of nanoscale Al/Al 3 Sc multilayers. In this paper, the large increases in hardness that were observed with decreasing aluminum layer thickness are analyzed in detail and several simple dislocation mechanisms are proposed to describe the behavior. Strengthening can be explained by assuming that yielding occurs first by forming dislocation loops in the aluminum layers—the dislocations are constrained by layers of Al 3 Sc. We show that the anti-phase boundary (APB) energy of the L1 2 Al 3 Sc structure can be used to quantify the resistance of the interfaces in the multilayer structure to dislocation motion and that the thickness of the Al 3 Sc layer also plays an important role in determining the strengthening response.
Efficient Luminance and Saturation Processing Techniques for Color Images

Processing of digital color images is often performed in a coordinate system related to the human visual system's perceptual attributes?luminance, hue, and saturation. However, the coordinate transformations of the color image data can be computationally intensive. Several efficient computational techniques are presented here for processing the luminance and saturation components of a color image. These techniques effectively eliminate the need for computing the coordinate transformations. A theoretical analysis and experimental results show the effects of these techniques in various color coordinate systems.
ANIMALS AS KIN: THE RELIGIOUS SIGNIFICANCE OF MARC BEKOFF'S WORK

Although the disciplines of religion and science often may seem to be at cross purposes with each other, some individuals are attempting to bridge the gap, particularly with regard to animals. Cognitive ethologist Marc Bekoff, who studies animals in their natural habitat, has addressed in his work the implications of the findings of animal study for religion and ethics. I provide here an overview of some of his most important ideas for the study of religion and animals. Bekoff argues that the differences between humans and animals are primarily ones of degree rather than kind and that our similarities are greater than our differences-and that this reality should influence our actions. I explore three issues in particular. First, Bekoff's work, with his view of evolution, challenges the traditional Christian hierarchy of beings. Second, this evolutionary connection needs to move us in the direction of modifying our treatment of animals to make it more ethical. Third, our understanding of and relationship with animals can deepen our own spirituality. Applying some of Bekoff's findings to our religious and ethical understandings of and treatment of animals can move us closer to the peaceable kingdom toward which we all strive.
Intracellular transport and packaging of prolactin: a quantitative electron microscope autoradiographic study of mammotrophs dissociated from rat pituitaries

Dispersed pituitary cells prepared from estrogen-treated female rats were subjected to pulse labeling with [3H]leucine (5 min) followed by a chase incubation (up to 3 h) in order to study intracellular transport of PRL in mammotrophs. Sites of synthesis, rates of transport, and sites of packaging and storage of PRL were determined by quantitative electron microscopic autoradiography. Results of grain counts show that label is initially (end of pulse) distributed randomly over the rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER), but rapidly (5--15 min of chase) moves to the stacked Golgi cisternae where concentration into secretion granules takes place. The label moves successively from small (Type I) immature granules (15--55 min of chase) to large (Types II and III) polymorphic granules (55--115 min) in the Golgi region, to rounded or ovoid mature (Type IV) granules (55--185 min) usually found in the peripheral cytoplasm, indicating that these types of granules represent successive stages in granule concentration and assembly. Analysis of the relative grain density (percentage of total grains/percentage of total area) confirmed that there was progressive concentration (up to 20--150 times) along the transport route with the concentration lowest in the ER, higher in the Golgi, and highest in immature and mature secretion granules. These data indicate that synthesis of PRL occurs randomly in the ER, transport to the Golgi occurs rapidly (within 5--10 min), and is completed rapidly (90% within 15--20 min), and concentration into granules and aggregation of small granules into larger forms also occurs rapidly (by 15--20 min), but goes on over a prolonged period of time (up to 3 h). Use of dispersed cells has allowed a more precise determination of the location and kinetics of steps in the intracellular processing of PRL than has been possible previously using other systems.
AFAM: An Articulated Four Axes Microrobot for Nanoscale Applications

This paper presents a microassembled robot called the Articulated Four Axes Microrobot (AFAM). Target application areas include micro and nano part manipulation and probing. The robot consists of a cantilever actuated along four axes: in-place $X, Y$ and $YAW$ ; out-of-plane pitch. The microrobot size spans a total volume of $3~{\rm mm}\times 1.5~{\rm mm}\times 1~{\rm mm}$ ( $XYZ$ ), and operates within a workspace envelope of $50~\mu{\rm m}\times 50~\mu{\rm m}\times 75~\mu{\rm m}$ ( $XYZ$ ). This is by far the largest operating envelope of any micropositioner with nonplanar dexterity. As a result it can be classified as a new type of three-dimensional microrobot and a candidate for miniaturizing top-down assembly systems to dimensions under $1~{\rm cm}^{3}$ . A key feature in this design is a cable-like microwire that transforms in-plane actuator displacement into out-of-plane pitch and yaw motion (via flexure joints). Finite-element analysis simulation followed by microfabrication and assembly processes developed to prototype the designs are described. The microrobot is designed to carry an AFM tip as the end effector and accomplish nanoindentation on a polymer surface. The tip attachment technique and nanoindentation experiments have also been described in this paper. Open loop precision has been characterized using a laser interferometer which measured an average resolution of 50 nm along $XYZ$ , repeatability of 100 nm and accuracy of 500 nm. Experiments to determine microrobot reliability are also presented.
Single Molecule Fluorescence Imaging of Phospholipid Monolayers at the Air−Water Interface

Langmuir films of amphiphilic biomolecules represent promising systems to study diffusional properties in model membranes under controlled area conditions. Here, we present for the first time single molecule fluorescence imaging experiments on phospholipid monolayers at the air−water interface. The technique is used to track the lateral diffusion of single molecules of N-(6-tetramethylrhodaminethiocarbamoyl)-1,2-dihexadecanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine, triethylammonium salt (TRITC−DHPE), in phospholipid monolayers of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) and 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-[phospho-rac-(1-glycerol)] (sodium salt) (DMPG) at different areas per phospholipid molecule. Our tracking data of the averaged mean-square displacement indicate for both phospholipids that surface flow could be suppressed significantly. The diffusion behavior of TRITC−DHPE in DMPC and DMPG monolayers is characterized by unobstructed diffusion and can be described well by a free area model. Our experim...
A case for 3D stacked analog circuits in high-speed sensing systems

In order to build high performance real-time sensing systems every building block in the system should be built with a technology that allows that building block to achieve its best performance. Technologies like BJT and BICMOS are better suited for building basic analog blocks like input buffers and power amplifiers, while CMOS is the best choice for digital data processing. To build mixed-technology systems traditionally system-in-package (SiP) techniques are used. SiP integration uses bonding wires or flip chip instead of on-chip integration. In this paper we study the feasibility of using 3D stacking to integrate heterogeneous blocks built using different technologies within a real-time sensing system. Several of the previous studies on 3D stacking focused on integrating multiple digital blocks and using through-silicon-vias (TSVs) to transfer digital signals between the layers in a stack. In this paper we study the behavior of the analog signals traversing through TSVs and measure how well 3D stacking can enhance or limit the performance of analog and digital stacking. In order to quantify the power and performance characteristics, we modeled bonding wire, flip chip, and through-silicon-via (TSV) interfaces. Using these models we show that 3D stacking of analog and analog/digital components can double the bandwidth, increase sampling frequency by nearly two orders magnitude and and improve the signal integrity by 3 dB compared to bond wires.
Hybrid search in the temporal domain: Evidence for rapid, serial logarithmic search through memory

In hybrid search, observers memorize a number of possible targets and then search for any of these in visual arrays of items. Wolfe (2012) has previously shown that the response times in hybrid search increase with the log of the memory set size. What enables this logarithmic search of memory? One possibility is a series of steps in which subsets of the memory set are compared to all items in the visual set simultaneously. In the present experiments, we presented single visual items sequentially in a rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) display, eliminating the possibility of simultaneous testing of all items. We used a staircasing procedure to estimate the time necessary to effectively detect the target in the RSVP stream. Processing time increased in a log–linear fashion with the number of potential targets. This finding eliminates the class of models that require simultaneous comparison of some memory items to all (or many) items in the visual display. Experiment 3 showed that, similar to visual search, memory search efficiency in this paradigm is influenced by the similarity between the target set and the distractors. These results indicate that observers perform separate memory searches on each eligible item in the visual display. Moreover, it appears that memory search for one item can proceed while other items are being categorized as “eligible” or “not eligible.”
SDF-based nonzero-order fringe-adjusted joint transform correlator using binary random phase mask

To achieve scale and rotation invariant pattern recognition, we implemented synthetic discriminant function (SDF) based reference image in a nonzero order Fringe-adjusted Joint Transform Correlator (FJTC) using binary random phase mask. The binary random phase mask encodes the SDF based reference image before it is introduced in the joint input image. The joint power spectrum is then multiplied by the phase mask to remove the zero-order term and false alarms that may be generated in the correlation plane due to the presence of multiple identical target or non-target objects in the input scene. Detailed analysis for the proposed SDF based nonzero order FJTC using binary random phase mask is presented. Simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed technique.
Blood cholesterol levels, autochthonous intestinal flora and clostridium perfringens recovery in rhesus monkeys fed a high sucrose diet

Abstract Eighteen rhesus monkeys fed butter, high sucrose and standard monkey ration were cultured for intestinal bacterial flora and their blood cholesterol levels measured for a 6 month period. This was done to determine if a shift from a diet with starch as principal carbohydrate to sucrose would result in hypercholesteremia, atheromata production, and marked changes in autochthonous intestinal bacterial flora as claimed. None of these occurred. Instead 1 per cent cholesterol seemed essential to production of hypercholesteremia in monkeys fed either butter or sucrose and intestinal bacterial flora remained virtually unchanged irrespective of diet. Recovery of Clostridium perfringens in rhesus monkeys was considerably higher and proved to be an autochthonous organism for those animals receiving cholesterol as a dietary supplement. The role of this organism in effectuating hypercholesteremia is unclear from this study. There was no indication, however, that C. perfringens would lower blood cholesterol levels of conventionalized animals as has been suggested by other reports dealing with monocontamination of germ free animals.
Photoelectrochemical water oxidation by cobalt catalyst ("Co-Pi")/alpha-Fe(2)O(3) composite photoanodes: oxygen evolution and resolution of a kinetic bottleneck.

A cobalt−phosphate water oxidation catalyst (“Co−Pi”) has been electrodeposited onto mesostructured α-Fe2O3 photoanodes. The photoelectrochemical properties of the resulting composite photoanodes were optimized for solar water oxidation under frontside illumination in pH 8 electrolytes. A kinetic bottleneck limiting the performance of such photoanodes was identified and shown to be largely overcome by more sparse deposition of Co−Pi onto the α-Fe2O3. Relative to α-Fe2O3 photoanodes, a sustained 5-fold enhancement in the photocurrent density and O2 evolution rate was observed at +1.0 V vs RHE with the Co−Pi/α-Fe2O3 composite photoanodes. These results demonstrate that integration of this promising water oxidation catalyst with a photon-absorbing substrate can provide a substantial reduction in the external power needed to drive the catalyst’s electrolysis chemistry.
Influence of fatty acids and sterols on atherosclerosis in the avian abdominal aorta.

Summary and conclusionMale chickens were fed for 6 months on rations containing (a) no supplement, (b) cholesterol plus corn oil, (c) cholesterol plus corn oil-sterol and (d) cholesterol plus fatty acids rich in linoleic acid. Atherosclerotic severity tended to be greatest in the group given fatty acids and least on the sterol-containing diet. Since sterol excretion indicated a similar rate of cholesterol absorption on the cholesterol-supplemented diets, it appears that the principle in corn oil which retards avian aortic atherogenesis is present in the sterol fraction.We gratefully acknowledge the help of Dr. V. K. Babayan, E. F. Drew and Co., Boonton, N. J. for supplying us with the fatty acid fraction and that of Dr. S. S. Chang, Staley Mfg. Co., Decatur, Ill. for providing corn oil sterols used in this study.