cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Audio-visual emotion recognition in adult attachment interview

Automatic multimodal recognition of spontaneous affective expressions is a largely unexplored and challenging problem. In this paper, we explore audio-visual emotion recognition in a realistic human conversation setting - Adult Attachment Interview (AAI). Based on the assumption that facial expression and vocal expression be at the same coarse affective states, positive and negative emotion sequences are labeled according to Facial Action Coding System Emotion Codes. Facial texture in visual channel and prosody in audio channel are integrated in the framework of Adaboost multi-stream hidden Markov model (AMHMM) in which Adaboost learning scheme is used to build component HMM fusion. Our approach is evaluated in the preliminary AAI spontaneous emotion recognition experiments.
NEAR-WAKE OF A PERTURBED, HORIZONTAL CYLINDER AT A FREE-SURFACE

A horizontal cylinder intersecting a free surface is subjected to controlled vertical perturbations, and the consequent vortex formation is characterized by high‐image‐density particle image velocimetry, which leads to instantaneous patterns of velocity, vorticity, and streamlines. For the limiting case of the stationary cylinder, the near wake does not exhibit rapid formation of organized vortical structures in a manner similar to Karman vortices. Application of perturbations, however, generates phase‐locked vortex formation over a wide range of excitation frequencies, even at relatively low amplitudes, indicating that the near wake in presence of a free surface is convectively, rather than absolutely, unstable. At a sufficiently high value of excitation frequency, the formation of the initial vortex undergoes an abrupt change in timing, which is analogous to that occurring for Karman vortex formation from a completely submerged cylinder. All of these features of the near wake are interpreted in terms of foci, saddle points, and reattachment points of the streamwise topology.
Health Inequality between Ethnic Minority and Han Populations in China

Summary This paper examines the health status of Chinese ethnic minorities using the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) data collected during 1989–2006. We found negative and significant differences between minority and Han Chinese in a set of anthropometric measures for people of all age groups. OLS and province fixed-effects regressions suggest that the economic development level of the province of residence is a major factor contributing to the gap. Oaxaca decompositions further reveal that the observed health gap is mainly due to inequalities in endowments rather than inequalities in their effects.
On the Relationship between First and Second Order Controllable Systems in Banach Spaces

Approximate controllability properties of the ‘abstract wave equation’ $\mathcal{S}:\ddot x = Ax + Bu$ on $X \times X$ and of the ‘abstract heat equation’ $\mathcal{F}:\dot x = Ax + Bu$ on X are compared. It is shown that there exists a dense subspace $X_0 $ of X, explicitly exhibited, such that, with $BU \subset X_0 $, $\mathcal{S}$ is approximately controllable on any finite time interval $[0,T]$ if and only if so is $\mathcal{F}$. Moreover, this is the case if and only if a suitable extension of the familiar finite dimensional rank condition holds.
On the two-dimensionality of the critical disturbances for stratified viscous plane parallel shear flows

It is rigorously proved that the most critical small disturbances to a stratified viscous plane parallel shear flow between rigid horizontal boundaries must be either two‐dimensional (2‐D) transverse or longitudinal modes, and that there are no marginally stable flows for which truly 3‐D disturbances are marginally stable. This allows the linear stability analysis to be restricted to (two classes of ) 2‐D disturbances.
Physical and electro-chemical properties of high rate ion-beam sputtered Fe films

Magnetic properties, resistivity, hardness, and corrosion resistance of nitrogen-doped iron films deposited using an ion-beam sputter system are reported. It was found that longer ion source idling time and higher nitrogen doping generates films with lower coercivities, lower anisotropy fields, and finer grain size for nitrogen concentration less than 3 at.%. The nitrogen in the films is chemically bonded to iron with photoelectron binding energy of 397.2 eV. For nitrogen concentrations >or=5 at.%, near-zero saturation magnetostriction, fine grain size, high saturation magnetization, 60 mu Omega -cm resistivity, 20 GPa hardness, and corrosion resistance higher than that of NiFe were obtained. >
Condom Use Assertiveness and the Stages of Change With Main and Other Partners

A measure assessing an individual's ability to assert the use of condoms was developed using, N= 248, heterosexually active college men and women. Both principal component analysis (PCA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) procedures were performed. External validity for the assertion for condom use measure was established by integrating the measure with the stages of change dimension from the transtheoretical model of behavior change. The transtheoretical model posits that both the cessation of high-risk behaviors and the acquisition of health behaviors involve the progression through five stages of change: precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance. The results indicated that individuals were further along in the stages of change for using condoms with a casual partner, as compared to a steady partner. The degree to which assertive condom use behavior was engaged in was related to an individual's stage of readiness for using condoms with the two types of partners. The utility of stage-matched intervention strategies, as opposed to the action-oriented approaches to modify high-risk sexual behavior, is discussed.
Approximate dependencies in database systems

Abstract Functional dependencies are the most commonly used approach for capturing real-word integrity constraints which are to be reflected in a database. There are, however, many useful kinds of constraints, especially approximate ones, that cannot be represented correctly by functional dependencies and therefore are enforced via programs which update the database, if they are enforced at all. This tends to make such constraints invisible since they are not an explicit part of the database, increasing maintenance problems and the likelihood of inconsistencies. We propose a new approach, cluster dependencies, as a way to enforce approximate dependencies. By treating equality as a fuzzy concept and defining appropriate similarity measures, it is possible to represent a broad range of approximate constraints directly in the database by storing and accessing cluster definitions. We discuss different interpretations of cluster dependencies and describe the additional data structures needed to enforce them. We also contrast them with an existing approach, fuzzy functional dependencies, which are much more limited in the kind of approximate constraints they can represent.
Robustness and Evolvability

Why isn't random variation always deleterious? Are there factors that sometimes make adaptation easier? Biological systems are extraordinarily robust to perturbation by mutations, recombination and the environment. It has been proposed that this robustness might make them more evolvable. Robustness to mutation allows genetic variation to accumulate in a cryptic state. Switching mechanisms known as evolutionary capacitors mean that the amount of heritable phenotypic variation available can be correlated to the degree of stress and hence to the novelty of the environment and remaining potential for adaptation. There have been two somewhat separate literatures relating robustness to evolvability. One has focused on molecular phenotypes and new mutations, the other on morphology and cryptic genetic variation. Here, we review both literatures, and show that the true distinction is whether recombination rates are high or low. In both cases, the evidence supports the claim that robustness promotes evolvability.
Lithium's Failure to Replace Sodium in Mammalian Sympathetic Ganglia

Ganglionic responses to electrical stimulation, acetylcholine, and potassium ions were studied in superior cervical ganglia of. cats perfused with media containing lithium chloride instead of sodium chloride. In lithium-Locke, ganglionic transmission and depolarization evoked by acetylcholine were blocked completely but reversibly, while the depolarization produced by potassium ions was unaltered.
Changes in E. coli cell envelope structure caused by uncouplers of active transport and colicin E1

It is of interest to inquire whether agents that uncouple or deenergize membranes cause concomitant structural changes. The agents considered here are the uncoupler carbonyl cyanide-p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone and the bacteriocidal protein colicin E1, agents for which there is some precedent for believing that they interact with membranes. In intact E. coli ML 308-225 cells the inhibition of [14C]-PROLINE ACtive transport by FCCP increases with uncoupler concentration from approximately 20% at 2 muM to approximately 100% at 5 muM. The increase in the rotational relaxation time (rho) of the cell-bound fluorescent probe N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine (PhNap)1 and 8-anilino-1-naphthalene-sulfonate (ANS) under these conditions shows the same dependence on FCCP concentration. For cells treated with EDTA to remove part of the outer lipopolysaccharide layer, inhibition of proline transport and the increase in rho value of ANS show the same dependence on FCCP concentration with saturation at 0.3 muM. EDTA treatment causes a large increase in the binding and rotational relaxation time of PhNap, the latter quantity approaching a value obtained with purified inner membrane. Similar effects are produced in untreated cells by 5muM FCCP...
Detection of noncovalent FKBP-FK506 and FKBP-Rapamycin complexes by capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry and capillary electrophoresis-tandem mass spectrometry.

The well known biospecific noncovalent receptor-ligand association complexes between the immunophilin FKBP and the immunosuppressive drugs FK506 and Rapamycin (RM) were investigated by on-line capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry (CE-MS) under selected ion monitoring (SIM) conditions and by CE-MS with tandem mass spectrometry (CE-MS/MS) under selected reaction monitoring (SRM) conditions. Solutions of hFKBP (33.3 µM) were dissolved in 50 mM ammonium acetate at pH 7.5. Samples that contained 100 µM of FK506 or RM also were prepared under the same solution conditions. By using these aqueous pH neutral conditions, samples were analyzed by SIM CE-MS and SRM CE-MS and the target complexes were separated by CE with mass spectrometer detection of the individual complexes between FKBP and FK506 [hFKBP + FK506 + 7HJ7+ as well as FKBP and RM [hFKBP + RM + 7HJ7+. In an experiment where a mixture of FK506 and RM was analyzed in the presence of FKBP, a nine-to-one ratio of ion current abundances between the RM and FK506 complexes was observed as reported in the literature from other studies. These results suggest that CE-MS and CE-MS/MS may be yet another analytical method for studying noncovalent interactions of biologically important macromolecules under physiological conditions.
Quality Management by State Medicaid Agencies Converting to Managed Care: Plans and Current Practice

Context.—Enrollment in Medicaid managed care plans has increased more than 5-fold in this decade, but how states monitor and encourage quality of care in these programs is not known.Objective.—To characterize the quality monitoring and assurance activities of state Medicaid agencies for Medicaid beneficiaries enrolled in comprehensive prepaid managed care programs.Design.—Structured telephone survey conducted between October 1996 and January 1997.Setting.—State Medicaid agencies.Participants.—Representatives from all state Medicaid agencies, including the District of Columbia, with beneficiaries enrolled in comprehensive prepaid managed care plans as of July 1, 1996.Main Outcome Measures.—Proportion of states with specific quality monitoring and assurance activities for Medicaid managed care.Results.—We surveyed all 34 states enrolling beneficiaries in comprehensive managed care programs. In 1996, all 34 states enrolled the population receiving assistance from the Aid to Families With Dependent Children (AFDC) program, while only 21 (62%) and 15 (44%) enrolled the disabled and elderly populations, respectively. In the period 1995 to 1996, 19 states (63%) collected data on satisfaction with care, and 25 states (83%) collected data on childhood immunizations. No more than half of the states collected data on other selected measures of access and quality, but a substantial number planned to collect such data in 1997. While at most 37% of states were providing comparative data to health plans, up to 80% were planning to provide such information in 1997. Similarly, while at most 10% of states provided beneficiaries with such information, up to 38% planned to do so in 1997. The breadth of contracting requirements designed to assure quality varied substantially across states.Conclusions.—State Medicaid agencies have already begun adapting to their new roles as purchasers of health care. Continued monitoring is essential to ensure that state agencies implement planned programs and that quality of care for Medicaid enrollees is preserved or improved.
Inactivation of a basement membrane component responsible for cell proliferation but not for cell attachment

Abstract The effect of various chemical, enzymatic, and heat treatments on the ability of basement membrane (BM) produced by cultured bovine corneal endothelial cells to support cell proliferation vs cell attachment has been analysed. Alkaline treatment (pH 13.9), which is known to cleave proteoglycans or glycopeptides at the O-glycosidic bond between the protein and carbohydrate moieties resulted in a 97% decrease in the ability of BM-coated dishes to support cell growth. Likewise, treatment with 4 M guanidine-HCl, which extracts up to 80% of the glycosaminoglycan, caused a 92% reduction in cell growth. Nitrous acid (HNO 2 ) treatment, which degrades heparan sulphate and releases both sulphated disaccharide and non-sulphated oligosaccharides, also reduced cell growth by 90%. Treatment of the BM with specific protease, collagenase, or glycosidase did not appreciably decrease the ability of the BM to support cell growth. It is therefore doubtful that any of the substrates used for the enzymes tested in the present studies could play a direct role in cell proliferation. Alkali treatment of BM, which abolishes its ability to support cell growth, does not alter the cells' ability to attach to it. On the contrary, such treatment even improves it slightly. Conversely, heat treatment of BM (70 °C), which does not reduce the ability of the cells to grow on BM, strongly reduces their ability to attach to it. It is therefore likely that heat treatment, but not alkali treatment of BM preferentially affects attachment factors, but not growth-promoting factors, and that these factors are separate entities.
Lake Effect in Wellhead Protection

A computational protocol for particle tracking in wellfields with lakes is proposed. The protocol is demonstrated in the Northwest Wellfield, which is the largest wellfield in Florida and contains many lakes. Comparison of the results with existing regulatory travel-time contours shows that the proposed method produces more realistic results in terms of reflecting the presence of lakes.
Phytohormones Mediate Volatile Emissions During The Interaction Of Compatible and Incompatible Pathogens: The Role Of Ethylene In Pseudomonas syringae Infected Tobacco

Interactions between the phytohormones ethylene, salicylic acid (SA), and jasmonic acid (JA) are thought to regulate the specificity of induced plant defenses against microbial pathogens and herbivores. However, the nature of these interactions leading to induced plant volatile emissions during pathogen infection is unclear. We previously demonstrated that a complex volatile blend including (E)-β-ocimene, methyl salicylate (MeSA), and numerous sesquiterpenes was released by tobacco plants, Nicotiana tabacum K326, infected with an avirulent/incompatible strain of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst DC3000). In contrast, a volatile blend, mainly consisting of MeSA and two unidentified sesquiterpenes, was released by plants infected with P. syringae pv.tabaci (Pstb) in a virulent/compatible interaction. In this study, we examined the interaction of multiple pathogen stresses, phytohormone signaling, and induced volatile emissions in tobacco. Combined pathogen infection involved the inoculation of one leaf with Pst DC 3000 and of a second leaf, from the same plant, with Pstb. Combined infection reduced emissions of ocimene and MeSA compared to plants infected with Pst DC 3000 alone, but with no significant changes in total sesquiterpene emissions. In the compatible interaction, Pstb elicited a large ethylene burst with a peak emission occurring 3 days after inoculation. In contrast, the incompatible interaction involving Pst DC3000 displayed no such ethylene induction. Pstb-induced ethylene production was not significantly altered by Pst DC3000 in the combined infection. We postulated that Pstb-induced ethylene production may play a regulatory role in altering the typical volatile emission in tobacco in response to Pst DC3000 infection. To clarify the role of ethylene, we dynamically applied ethylene to the headspace of tobacco plants following infection with Pst DC3000. Consistent with Pstb-induced ethylene, exogenous ethylene reduced both ocimene and MeSA emissions, and selectively altered the ratios and amounts of induced sesquiterpene emissions. Our findings suggest that ethylene can regulate the magnitude and blend of induced volatile emissions during pathogen infection.
Synthesis of Alkyltantalocene Oxide, Sulfide, and Imide Derivatives: Stereospecific Heteroatom and -group Transfers from Oxiranes, Thiiranes, and Aziridines to Methyltantalocene

Irradiation of Cp2Ta(C2H4)(CH3) or thermolysis of Cp2Ta(PMe3)(CH3) cleanly generates an intermediate that behaves as Cp2Ta(CH3). This species efficiently abstracts heteroatoms and -groups from oxiranes, thiiranes, and aziridines resulting in the formation of Cp2Ta(X)(CH3) (X = O, S, and NR) and the corresponding alkene. The sulfido product, Cp2Ta(S)(CH3), retains a dual reactivity toward thiiranes. It undergoes further thermal sulfur atom abstraction from thiirane to give Cp2Ta(η2-S2)(CH3) and, in a competing photochemical pathway, the sulfido thiolate complex Cp2Ta(S)(SCH3). Our results constitute a rare example of nitrene group transfer from an aziridine to a metal center (and the first one that has been demonstrated to be stereospecific) and the first formation of a soluble thiolate from a metal−alkyl sulfide species. The persulfido complex can be reconverted to Cp2Ta(S)(CH3) by treatment with phosphines (phosphine sulfides are also generated in this process). All the heteroatom and -group transfer rea...
P300—An Orienting Reaction in the Human Auditory Evoked Response:

The auditory average evoked response (AER) to unpredictable changes in tone-burst frequency was studied in 12 human Ss who were instructed to ignore all tones. In the vertex-ear leads the AERs to frequent tones contained the usual negative-positive complex (N1-P2-N2). The AERs to infrequent tones generally were more positive in the 300-msec. region as compared to that region of the AERs to frequent tones. This positivity decreased during the session as did the N1-P2 amplitudes. Average N1-P2 amplitudes were not different for the two stimulus conditions.
Concurrent and quantitative evaluation of neuronal activity and eye movement signals in behavioral experiments.

Abstract Using inexpensive integration ciruits, a device was developed that can transform extracellularly recorded neuronal impulses into signals readily visible on polygraph charts. The device includes also a frequency divider. The characteristics of the circuit are quantitatively evaluated. The problems related to the limitation of such analog circuits are discussed.
Motion is reduced in the unstable spine with the use of mechanical devices for bed transfers

AbstractContextExcessive spinal motion generated during multiple bed transfers of patients with unstable spine injuries may contribute to neurological deterioration.ObjectiveTo evaluate spinal motion in a cadaveric model of global spinal instability during hospital bed transfers using several commonly used techniques.Design/participantsA motion analysis and evaluation of hospital bed transfer techniques in a cadaveric model of C5–C6 and T12–L2 global spinal instability.Setting/outcome measuresGlobal instability at C5–C6 and T12–L2 was created. The motion in three planes was measured in both the cervical and lumbar spine during each bed transfer via electromagnetic motion detection devices. Comparisons between transfers performed using an air-assisted lateral transfer device, manual transfer, a rolling board, and a sliding board were made based on the maximum range of motion observed.ResultsSignificantly less lateral bending at C5–C6 was observed in air-assisted device transfers when compared with the two ...
Depletion of intracellular putrescine and spermidine by α-difluoromethylornithine does not inhibit proliferation of 9L rat brain tumor cells☆

Abstract Incubation of 9L rat brain tumor cells with 25 mM DL-α-difluoromethylornithine inhibits cell proliferation, while treatment with 10 mM and 1 mM do not. All three concentrations cause equal degrees of depletion of intracellular putrescine and spermidine content, but have no effect on spermine content. These observations show that 9L cells can continue to proliferate in spite of significant polyamine depletion and leads one to question the role of polyamines in 9L cell replication. These observations also suggest that inhibition of 9L cell proliferation by 25 mM DL-α-difluormethylornithine is probably not due to its effect on ornithine decarboxylase or on intracellular polyamine content.
1/fγ DRAIN CURRENT NOISE MODEL IN ULTRATHIN OXIDE MOSFETS

A 1/fγ drain current noise model for deep-submicron MOSFETs with ultrathin oxide is presented. Based on the number and correlated mobility fluctuation mechanisms, the model is derived incorporating a tunneling assisted-thermally activated process and a more realistic trap distribution inside the gate oxide layer. The effects of the device structure and processing technologies on the noise characteristics are taken into consideration through a quadratic mobility degradation factor, a parasitic resistance, a doping profile, and trap-related parameters. For ultrathin oxide MOSFETs, the trapping efficiency ratio and the scattering rate are expressed in terms of the trap distance and the inversion carrier density, enabling an accurate prediction of the noise behavior. From quantitative results simulated with extracted data, it is shown that the new model is applicable to design future CMOS devices and new device processing technologies, and is suitable to be implemented in circuit simulators.
Simultaneous dorsal dislocation of the proximal and distal interphalangeal joints in one digit

Dorsal dislocation of a proximal and distal interphalangeal joint is a common clinical problem. However, simultaneous dorsal dislocation of both interphalangeal joints in a single digit is rare. We describe the first case of an open, simultaneous proximal and distal interphalanged dislocation. Patient outcome following vigorous wound care, closed reduction, and four weeks of immobilization was excellent. Review of reported cases revealed that these injuries occur most commonly in men, on the dominant hand, and in association with sporting injuries or falls, and typically have a good outcome following closed reduction and splinting.
Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis 2: positive predictive value of antenatal group B streptococci cultures and antibiotic susceptibility of clinical isolates

Abstract OBJECTIVE: To estimate the probability of positive intrapartum group B streptococcus cultures among women previously identified as carriers of this organism, and to estimate the susceptibility of group B streptococci to six commonly used antibiotics. METHODS: We performed a prospective cohort study of women identified as carriers of group B streptococci by current pregnancy genital tract (group 1) or urine cultures (group 2), or a positive culture in a prior pregnancy (group 3). Intrapartum culture specimens were obtained, and isolates were tested for susceptibility to six antibiotics using the agar disk diffusion technique. RESULTS: Intrapartum cultures were positive for 68% (62, 73), 61% (49, 72), and 48% (36, 60) of groups 1 ( n = 249), 2 ( n = 69), and 3 ( n = 59), respectively. Cultures were positive in 67% (61, 73) of women in group 1 whose cultures were done 42 days or less before delivery ( n = 218). The proportion of isolates ( n = 239) susceptible to penicillin, ampicillin, cefazolin, and vancomycin was 100% (98, 100). The proportion susceptible to clindamycin and erythromycin was 91% (87, 94) and 79% (73, 84), respectively. CONCLUSION: The positive predictive value of antenatal group B streptococci cultures is lower than was previously reported. Clindamycin and erythromycin are not optimal agents for prophylaxis against early-onset neonatal group B streptococcal infection in patients who are allergic to penicillin.
Party differences and energy reform: fiscal conservatism in the California legislature

Research building on political economy and ecological modernisation theories has paid increasing attention to the conditions that affect the prospects for environmental reform. Much work focuses on variation among political units in support of a single type of energy policy, whereas we examine within-state variation in support of a wide range of energy reform policies. Applying multilevel analyses to the 2011–2012 legislative session in California, we identify bill characteristics associated with divisions between Republicans and Democrats. Expanding the size or scope of government (through spending, government commissions, and business regulations) reduces support for energy reform among Republicans, whereas promoting transparency and other ‘good government’ initiatives reduces support among Democrats. In contrast with the standard view that Republicans oppose almost all energy reforms proposed by Democrats, we identify bill characteristics that increase the likelihood of support from both parties, namel...
Modeling of Multi-Domain Assemblies in α-Actinin-4 Reveals How External Cues Regulate its Binding to Actin

α-Actinin-4 (ACTN4) is an actin-crosslinking protein that is essential to a number of processes in non-muscle cells, including motility and maintenance of cell shape. The binding of ACTN4 to actin filaments is dynamically regulated by a variety of external cues such as tyrosine phosphorylation, binding of calcium ions, binding of phosphoinositides, and calpain proteolysis, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. To address this, we developed an atomic model for the full ACTN4 homodimer, whose end regions contain a novel ternary complex between the C-terminal calmodulin-like domain of one monomer, and the N-terminal actin-binding domain (ABD) and an adjacent helical “neck” region of the opposite antiparallel monomer. This assembly is predicted to reduce actin binding by blocking the binding site on the CH1 subdomain of the ABD, which is validated by mutagenesis experiments designed specifically to disrupt the complex. using this atomic model, we are able to rationalize changes in actin binding due to external effectors as changes in the assembly of the ternary complex. Integrating these structural insights into a network model has allowed us to make detailed predictions that are consistent with a broad set of semi-quantitative experimental results. The similarity between ACTN4 and other actin-binding proteins suggests that many of our findings will apply for this whole class of proteins.
Predictive Value of Drosophila

The Drosophila fruitless (fru) mutant analysis of Lisa Ryner et al. ([1][1]) discussed by Wade Roush (Research News, [13 Dec., p. 1836][2]) is an important contribution to our understanding of the largely unknown genetic basis for insect behavior. But the evolutionary implications put forth by Ryner
Notch inhibition reverses kidney failure

Inhibition of the Notch pathway reverses damage in a mouse model of kidney disease ( pages 290–298 ). The findings suggest that blockade of the Notch pathway through inhibition of γ-secretase activity may be an approach to combating glomerular failure.
Characterization of an antibody raised against reduced glycoprotein IIIa of human platelets.

Abstract A polyclonal antibody against reduced and vinylpyridylethylated human glycoprotein IIIa was raised in rabbits. Its reactivity with reduced GPIIIa was about 500 times higher than that of the antibody against native GPIIIa. The lowest amounts of purified reduced and native GPIIIa recognized by the antibody against reduced GPIIIa were 25 and 400 ng, respectively. The antibody did not recognize native GPIIIa (about 1–2 μg) in platelet extracts and chymotryptic degradation products of GPIIIa. It inhibited ADP-induced platelet aggregation but it did not inhibit fibrinogen binding to ADP-stimulated platelets. Our experiments suggest that the antigenicity of GPIIIa (β3 integrin) depends on the conformation of the molecule determined by numerous S-S bridges between cysteine residues.
Separable regulatory elements governing myogenin transcription in mouse embryogenesis

Expression of the myogenic helix-loop-helix (HLH) protein myogenin in muscle cell precursors within somites and limb buds is among the earliest events associated with myogenic lineage determination in vertebrates. Mutations in the myogenin promoter that abolish binding sites for myogenic HLH proteins or myocyte enhancer factor-2 (MEF-2) suppressed transcription of a linked lacZ transgene in subsets of myogenic precursors in mouse embryos. These results suggest that myogenic HLH proteins and MEF-2 participate in separable regulatory circuits leading to myogenin transcription and provide evidence for positional regulation of myogenic regulators in the embryo.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Measurements of Line Width, Chemical Shift, and Intensity for Molecules Adsorbed on Silica

Abstract High-resolution NMR spectra were taken of molecules adsorbed on silica to determine the effects of specific surface interactions on line widths, chemical shifts, equilibria, and freezing points. Line widths were measured for cyclohexane, benzene, acetone, and methanol adsorbed at monolayer coverage. Hydrogen bonding to the surface was evident for the latter two compounds from the decrease in line width when the silica was silanized. In addition, the hydroxyl hydrogen of methanol was found to undergo exchange with the surface. After silanization, chemical-shift changes were noted for cyclohexane, p-xylene, mesitylene, acetone, and methyl acetate. Attempts were made to explain the magnitude of the changes by comparison with data from infrared spectroscopy and gas-solid chromatography. Chemical shifts of mixtures of adsorbates were studied to gain additional information on relative adsorption strengths. The tautomeric equilibrium of adsorbed acetylacetone was measured from the relative integrated in...
Role of neuronal signal input in the down-regulation of central noradrenergic receptor function by antidepressant drugs.

: Rats with unilateral lesions of the locus coeruleus were used to study the role of norepinephrine (NE) signal input in the down-regulation by antidepressants of the noradrenergic cyclic AMP-generating system in the cortex. Chronic administration of both desipramine (blockade of NE reuptake) and iprindole (no blockade of NE reuptake) reduced the cyclic AMP response to NE on the nonlesioned side, but had little or no effect on the lesioned side. The results indicate that NE signal input and thus the formation of the NE-receptor complex are prerequisites for inducing noradrenergic subsensitivity.
Electron ionization mass spectra of monosaccharide O-methyloxime trifluoroacetates

Abstract Electron ionization mass spectra for trifluoroacetate (TFA) derivatives of aldose, ketose, and deoxyaldose O -methyloximes are reported. Typical fragmentation patterns include loss of F, CH 3 O, CF 3 CO, or CF 3 CO 2 fragments from the generally observable parent ion, as well as cleavage between each of the sugar CC chain bonds. The most intense ions result from loss of trifluoroacetic acid and/or trifluoroacetic anhydride from these primary fragments. Suitable high-mass and fragmentation ions are present to make this technique a useful structural probe. During the preparation of fructose TFA O -alkyloximes, partial conversion to 1-chloro-1-deoxyfructose derivatives is observed due to displacement of an O -trifluoroacetyl group by chloride ions present in the reaction mixture.
Tectonic development of passive continental margins of the southern and central Red Sea with a comparison to Wilkes Land, Antarctica

Abstract The continental margins of the southern and central Red Sea and most of Wilkes Land, Antarctica have bulk crustal configurations and detailed structures that are best explained by a prolonged history of magmatic expansion that followed a brief, but intense period of mechanical extension. Extension on the Red Sea margins was spatially confined to a rift that was 20–30 km in width. The rifting phase along the Arabian margin of the central and southern Red Sea occurred 25–32 Ma ago, primarily by detachment faulting at upper crustal levels and ductile uniform stretching at depth. Rifting was followed by an early magmatic phase during which the margin was invaded by dikes and plutons, primarily of gabbro and diorite, at 20–24 Ma, after the crust was mechanically thinned from 40 km to ≈ 20 km. We infer continued spreading after that in which broad shelves were formed by a process of magmatic expansion, because the offshore crust is only 8–15 km thick, including sediment, and seismic reflection data do not depict horst and graben or half graben structures from which mechanical extension might be inferred. The Wilkes Land margin is similar to the Arabian example. The margin is about 150 km in width, the amount of upper crustal extension is too low to explain the change in sub-sediment crustal thickness from ≈ 35 km on the mainland to
Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) and Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) in Breast Cancer: Describing the Heterogeneity of Microscopic Disease.

Background: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are an independent predictor of survival in metastatic breast cancer (BC) patients. CTC are readily detected by CellSearch System based on their expression of EpCAM. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) gives rise to cells with stem cell-like properties with increased chemotherapy resistance. Human mammary epithelial cells (HMEC) transformed by the EMT transcription factor TWIST1 and spiked into normal peripheral blood (PB) are not detected by EpCAM enrichment based conventional detection methods compared to non-transformed HMECs. We hypothesize that CTCs undergoing EMT and resultant loss of epithelial markers may escape detection by conventional detection methods. The aim of this study was to detect CTCs based on expression of EMT genes in breast cancer patient9s peripheral blood.Methods: This prospective ongoing study of breast cancer patients consisted of 16 (57.1%) patients with metastatic disease, 19 (67.9%) patients with inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) and 12 (42.9%) patients with primary, non-IBC breast cancer, respectively. Isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were depleted of cells of hematopoietic origin (CD45+) using anti-CD45 coated magnetic beads. RNA extracted from CD45-depleted (CD45-) PBMC were interrogated for expression of TWIST1, SNAIL1, SLUG, ZEB1, FOXC2 and EpCAM gene transcripts by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. Expressions of gene transcripts in CD45- PBMC from patients were compared to those of CD45- PBMC of healthy donors (HD). Expression of one or more gene transcripts was considered a positive result. Concurrently, a 7.5 mL PB sample was collected for determination of CTC by CellSearch.Results: Median age was 54 year (range: 34-72 years). Overall, the median CTC count by CellSearch was 2 (range; 0-750) per 7.5 mL of PB. TWIST1, SNAIL1, SLUG, ZEB1 and FOXC2 were overexpressed in CD45- PBMC in 7%, 4 %, 4%, 0% and 14 % of patients, respectively. At least one of the EMT genes was overexpressed in 6 (21%) of patients. TWIST1 and SLUG were overexpressed only in IBC patients (10.5% and 5.3% of patients, respectively). Patients with triple negative breast cancer more commonly overexpressed EMT genes compared to non-triple negative patients (30.8% vs. 13.3%). There was no correlation between expression of EMT genes, EpCAM expression or CTC count measured by CellSearch, respectively.Conclusions: These data suggest that EMT genes may be involved in the dissemination of CTCs. Loss of epithelial antigen on CTC due to EMT, triggered by high expression of these genes, may be responsible for their undetection by conventional methods in a fraction of patients with early or advanced breast cancer. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 3011.
Surface conductive films via polymerization on a liquid surface

Abstract Surface conductive crosslinked polybutyl acrylate (c-PBA) films were prepared in two steps. In the first step, a mixture containing the monomer of the conductive polymer (pyrrole or 3-methylthiophene) and the precursors of c-PBA (butyl acrylate, a crosslinking reagent, and the initiator 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile) was spread over the surface of a hot 2 wt.% poly (vinyl alcohol) aqueous solution, and allowed to polymerize. In the second step, the pyrrole or 3-methylthiophene containing c-PBA film was immersed into an iron chloride solution in ethyl acetate for the monomer present in the film to be oxidatively polymerized and to generate a conductive coating layer near the surface of the film. The highest conductivities achieved were 1 S/cm for polypyrrole and 18 S/cm for poly (3-methylthiophene). The effects of the oxidation polymerization time, the amount of monomer precursor of the conductive polymer, the concentration of the oxidant solution, and the extent of crosslinking of c-PBA were investigated.
Characterization of unlabeled level planar graphs

We present the set of planar graphs that always have a simultaneous geometric embedding with a strictly monotone path on the same set of n vertices, for any of the n! possible mappings. These graphs are equivalent to the set of unlabeled level planar (ULP) graphs that are level planar over all possible labelings. Our contributions are twofold. First, we provide linear time drawing algorithms for ULP graphs. Second, we provide a complete characterization of ULP graphs by showing that any other graph must contain a subgraph homeomorphic to one of seven forbidden graphs.
Conforhational Analysis of 3,3-Dimethylheptane

Abstract Infrared and Raman spectra were obtained for 3,3-dimethylheptane and were interpreted with the aid of normal coordinate calculations. The presence of only three conformers could be verified in this way. Molecular mechanics calculations showed the probable presence of all eleven possible conformers, with concentrations ranging from 27% to 33%. Structural parameters and the heat of formation were obtained from the calculations.
On reducing feature dimensionality for partial discharge diagnosis applications

Feature dimensionality reduction is a critical task in various machine learning applications including prognostics and health management (PHM) applications. Linear transformations, most popularly principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA), are the most widely-used methods for feature dimensionality reduction. For classification problems, LDA, being a supervised linear transformation that aims at maximally retaining class discriminant information, is generally considered to be a better method than PCA, an unsupervised method. However, LDA suffers from the singularity or small sample size problem. Attempting to address this problem, in this paper we propose a cluster-based LDA (cLDA) for feature dimensionality reduction. It first partitions features in distinct clusters and then performs cluster-wise LDA transformation. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed cLDA on reducing the number of features by using a real-world PHM application - partial discharge diagnosis.
Rare-earth-Sb and -Bi compounds with the Gd4Bi3 (anti-Th3P4) structure

Abstract The crystal structures of the 4:3 stoichiometry compositions in the rare earth-antimony and bismuth systems have been studied. The Gd 4 Bi 3 (anti-Th 3 P 4 ) structure was formed only by the lighter elements, La to Dy. This structure has only been observed for compounds with radius ratios, based on ionic radii, between 0.417 and 0.520. The lattice constants of most of these compounds are linearly dependent on the trivalent ionic radii of the rare earths. Deviations from this linear dependence were observed for compounds containing Eu, Sm and Yb, which suggest that these elements are, at least partly, in the divalent state.
A Critical Perspective of Integrative Social Contracts Theory: Recurring Criticisms and Next Generation Research Topics

During the past ten years Integrative Social Contracts Theory (ISCT) has become part of the repertoire of specialized decision-oriented theories in the business ethics literature. The intention here is to (1)␣provide a brief overview of the structure and strengths of ISCT; (2) identify recurring themes in the extensive commentary on the theory including brief mention of how ISCT has been applied outside the business ethics literature; (3) describe where research appears to be headed; and (4) specify challenges faced by those who seek to reform ISCT. Key themes in the critiquing literature relate to (a) the identification process for hypernorms; (b) justification of the recognition of hypernorms; (c) proposals for considering meso or meta norms; (d)␣clarification of the relationship between stakeholder concepts and ISCT; (e) problems with potentially unoccupied moral free space; (f) sources of ethical obligation within the ISCT framework; and (g) the potential role for concepts of stakeholder dialogue and engagement.
On laser annealing and lattice melting

Abstract The possibility of an annealing mechanism dependent on a long lived high density plasma of carriers is considered. The long lifetimes at high densities require a breakdown in the ability of energetic electrons to transfer energy to the lattice. It is shown that screening of the electron-phonon interaction is inadequate to reduce this energy transfer rate and it is argued that a suggested alternative photon scattering mechanism involving plasmons would not be able to explain the experimental properties of Si accounted for by deformation potential scattering.
Estimating Differential Responses to Local Fiscal Conditions: A Mixture Model Analysis

Alternative hypotheses exist regarding the impact of local sales and income taxes on local governments’ taxing and spending decisions. One hypothesis is that local governments use sales and income taxes to pay for spending increases and leave property tax collections unchanged, while an equally plausible alternative is that local governments use sales and income taxes to reduce property taxes. Traditional models that restrict the impact of these local taxes to be the same across all local governments are not able to capture both types of behavior. The methodological difficulty lies in allowing for differences in behavior with no a priori information on which cities belong in which category. In this article, the authors use panel data to estimate a mixture model of spending and property tax response to the existence of local taxes. These empirical results provide evidence to support both hypotheses. These differences are both substantive and statistically significant.
Associated with the Past?: Communist Legacies and Civic Participation in Post-Communist Countries

In this article, we test the effect of communist-era legacies on the large and temporally resilient deficit in civic participation in post-communist countries. To do so, we analyze data from 157 su...
Reducing reorder buffer complexity through selective operand caching

Modern superscalar processors implement precise interrupts by using the Reorder Buffer (ROB). In some microarchitectures , such as the Intel P6, the ROB also serves as a repository for the uncommitted results. In these designs, the ROB is a complex multi-ported structure that dissipates a significant percentage of the overall chip power. Recently, a mechanism was introduced for reducing the ROB complexity and its power dissipation through the complete elimination of read ports for reading out source operands. The resulting performance degradation is countered by caching the most recently produced results in a small set of associatively-addressed latches ("retention latches"). We propose an enhancement to the above technique by leveraging the notion of short-lived operands (values targeting the registers that are renamed by the time the instruction producing the value reaches the writeback stage). As much as 87% of all generated values are short lived for the SPEC 2000 benchmarks. Significant improvements in the utilization of retention latches, the overall performance, complexity and power are achieved by not caching short-lived values in the retention latches. As few as two retention latches allow all source operand read ports on the ROB to be completely eliminated with very little impact on performance.
The bone morphogenetic protein-hepcidin axis as a therapeutic target in inflammatory bowel disease

Background: A debilitating anemia associated with low serum iron often accompanies inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Increased production of the iron regulatory hormone hepcidin is implicated in its pathogenesis and may also contribute to the inflammatory process itself. Hepcidin expression is dependent on bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) like BMP6, but the mechanisms that increase hepcidin levels during intestinal inflammation are not clear. Here we test the hypothesis that inhibiting hepcidin expression may have beneficial effects in IBD, and also shed light on the mechanism of colitis-induced hepcidin upregulation. Methods: Mice with T cell transfer colitis were treated with vehicle or one of three anti-BMP reagents: HJV.Fc, a recombinant protein that prevents binding of BMPs to their receptor, LDN-193189, a small molecule inhibitor of BMP signal transduction, and an anti-BMP6 antibody. The effects of these reagents on colitis severity, liver hepcidin mRNA, and serum iron were determined. The mechanism of hepcidin upregulation was investigated by examining BMP6 expression and activity and the effects of IL-6 deficiency. Results: All the anti-BMP reagents inhibited hepcidin expression and increased serum iron levels in the colitic mice. They also produced modest reductions in colon inflammatory cytokine expression. Although hepcidin upregulation during colitis was dependent on BMP6, it was not associated with increased BMP6 expression or activity. IL-6 was required for increased hepcidin expression during colitis. Conclusions: Inhibiting hepcidin expression may help to correct the anemia of IBD and may also attenuate intestinal inflammation. The mechanism of colitis-induced hepcidin upregulation involves both BMP6 and IL-6. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2011)
Readers Becoming Teachers of Literature

This naturalistic case study focuses on 2 preservice students in a secondary language arts program. I wanted to know how their histories as readers and students of literature intersected with their...