cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Functional expression of a Drosophila gene in yeast: genetic complementation of DNA topoisomerase II

Abstract Since DNA topoisomerase II (EC 5.99.1.3) is an essential enzyme in yeast, heterologous topoisomerase II gene expression in yeast cells can provide a system for analyzing the structure and function of topoisomerase II genes from other species. A series of yeast expression plasmids was constructed in which segments of the cDNA sequences encoding Drosophila DNA topoisomerase II were inserted under the transcriptional control of yeast GAL1 promoter. Expression of the functional form of Drosophila topoisomerase II cDNA can complement conditionally lethal, temperature-sensitive mutations in the yeast topoisomerase II gene (TOP2), as well as mutations in which the TOP2 locus was disrupted. The survival of these yeast cells depends upon the continuous expression of Drosophila topoisomerase II. Repression of Drosophila gene expression by glucose causes these yeast cells to cease dividing after a few generations. In addition to these genetic complementation data, the expression of the Drosophila topoisomerase II gene in yeast cells with a disruption in TOP2 can also be detected by immunochemical methods with an antibody specific for Drosophila topoisomerase II.
Mutational analysis of Baculovirus phosphatase identifies structural residues important for triphosphatase activity in vitro and in vivo

Baculovirus phosphatase (BVP) and mammalian capping enzyme (Mce1) are members of the RNA triphosphatase branch of the cysteine phosphatase superfamily. Although RNA triphosphatases have a core alpha/beta fold similar to other cysteine phosphatases, there is little conservation of primary structure outside of the cysteine-containing P-loop motif, HCxxxxxR(S/T), that comprises the active site. However, there is extensive primary structure conservation between members of the RNA triphosphatase branch, whether from cellular or viral sources and whether they are bifunctional capping enzymes such as Mce1 or monofunctional RNA phosphatases such as BVP. To evaluate the functional significance of such sequence conservation, we performed a mutational analysis of 14 residues of BVP. We identified three side chains (Trp6, Lys25, and Arg153) as essential for triphosphatase activity in vitro, i.e., W6A, K25A, and R153A were <0.1% as active as wild-type BVP, and were unable to complement a yeast RNA triphosphatase null mutant in vivo. Six other BVP residues (Thr62, Tyr67, Tyr68, Lys82, Glu158, and Arg159) were deemed functionally important, i.e., Ala mutations reduced triphosphatase activity to <20% of wild-type. On the basis of the locations of the equivalent amino acids in the Mce1 crystal structure, we surmise that the essential/important BVP residues ensure proper conformation of the catalytic P-loop (e.g., Arg153 and Tyr68) or other elements of the tertiary structure. Our results highlight a conserved Trp6-Lys25 pi-cation pair essential for BVP function.
Landscape and postcolonial science

This article draws attention to the framing of problems in the history and sociology of Indian science. It argues that physics in postcolonial India cannot be seen in isolation from the political context within which it was embedded and the international circuits within which its work circulated. Further, the article demonstrates how certain experi mental approaches, highly effective from a scientific point of view, depend upon a violent exclusion of all that is social and living from the scientific register. The article draws on the conceptual device of 'landscape', borrowed from critical work in art history, to make the link between different elements of the argument.
Identification of the 170-kDa Melanoma Membrane-bound Gelatinase (Seprase) as a Serine Integral Membrane Protease

The 170-kDa membrane-bound gelatinase, seprase, is a cell surface protease, the expression of which correlates with the invasive phenotype of human melanoma and carcinoma cells. We have isolated seprase from cell membranes and shed vesicles of LOX human melanoma cells. The active enzyme is a dimer of N-glycosylated 97-kDa subunits. Sequence analysis of three internal proteolytic fragments of the 97-kDa polypeptide revealed up to 87.5% identity to the 95-kDa fibroblast activation protein α(FAPα), the function of which is unknown. Thus, we used reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to generate a 2.4-kilobase cDNA from LOX mRNA with FAPαprimers. COS-7 cells transfected with this cDNA expressed a 170-kDa gelatinase that is recognized by monoclonal antibodies directed against seprase. Sequence analysis also showed similarities to the 110-kDa subunit of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV). Like DPPIV, the gelatinase activity of seprase was completely blocked by serine-protease inhibitors, including diisopropyl fluorophosphate. Seprase could be affinity-labeled by [3H]diisopropyl fluorophosphate, but the proteolytically inactive 97-kDa subunit could not, confirming the existence of a serine protease active site on the dimeric form. Proteolytic activity is lost upon dissociation into its 97-kDa subunit following treatment with acid, heat, or cysteine and histidine-modifying agents. We conclude that seprase, FAPα, and DPPIV are related serine integral membrane proteases and that seprase is similar to DPPIV, the proteolytic activities of which are dependent upon subunit association.
Predictors of Prolonged Status 1A Wait Time Prior to Heart Transplant

Purpose Heart transplants (HTs) are increasingly performed on Status 1A (1A) patients, who are waiting longer at 1A prior to HT than in the past. Predicting which 1A patients will have an extended wait would benefit management (eg, earlier progression to VAD). We analyzed 1A wait times among HT recipients to establish factors predictive of a prolonged 1A wait. Methods and Materials UNOS Registry data was obtained for HT recipients from Jan 2000 and April 2012 who spent at least 1d in 1A (n=16,181). Our primary outcome was a prolonged 1A wait time, which we defined as >14 days (n=8145, 50.3%). Several predictors were analyzed. Uni- and multivariable logistic regressions were performed, the latter using a backwards stepwise method with α=0.05. Interactions and validity were tested, including area under curve analysis. Results UNOS region and blood type were associated with prolonged 1A time. The highest quartile of weight (≥90kg) and height (>180cm) were also associated. An elevated PRA, defined as >10%, was significant. A scoring system was devised. Patients received a subscore for their blood type, UNOS region, weight, height, and PRA level, and these scores were summated into a Prolonged Status 1A risk score, ranging from 0 to 43. [ figure 1 ] Scores below 10 were low-risk, with 80% of those scoring above 30 had >14 days at 1A. Conclusions Multiple factors influence 1A wait time in HT candidates. We have devised a scoring system to help identify 1A patients who will likely have an extended 1A wait time before receiving a HT. These patients would likely benefit from VAD implantation. Risk Estimates Risk Score Waiting >14d at 1A 24% 10-19 45% 20-29 66% 30+ 82%
Development of a Visualized Drug Information Database for United States Pharmacopeia Dispensing Information

A long-term project to visualize the medical terminology contained in the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Dispensing Information (DI) is described. In the process of completing the project, several technologies were used and user response was evaluated. A database that covers the visualization of over 7,800 prescription, nonprescription, and medical devices has been completed. Several applications which were produced in interactive computer format to achieve patient outcomes are described. A review of the current interactive, patient education technology is also discussed.
Benefits of Fibrate Drugs in Coronary Heart Disease Patients With Normal Cholesterol Levels

Most young and middle-aged persons who develop coronary heart disease (CHD) have some form of dyslipidemia with mild to moderate increases in plasma cholesterol or triglyceride concentrations (or both), often accompanied by reduced concentrations of HDL cholesterol. In such patients, treatment with diet or drugs directed mainly at lowering the concentration of atherogenic lipoproteins reduces the progression of coronary artery atherosclerotic disease and associated clinical events and prolongs life.1 Although many patients with CHD have abnormalities affecting all of the major lipoprotein classes (VLDL, LDL, and HDL), in some only a single class is affected. Low HDL cholesterol is a powerful risk factor for CHD, even when total cholesterol concentrations are normal.2 Although low HDL cholesterol is usually accompanied by increased VLDL cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in populations (but not by high concentrations of LDL cholesterol),3 isolated low HDL cholesterol is frequent in CHD patients.4 How to manage patients with isolated low HDL cholesterol, particularly those with manifest atherosclerotic vascular disease, is unclear. Increased physical activity and judicious use of alcoholic beverages can increase HDL cholesterol, usually modestly. Drugs that increase HDL cholesterol generally lower atherogenic lipoprotein concentrations as well, and the benefit of such drug use is generally ascribed primarily to reduced concentrations of these lipoproteins, especially LDL. However, recent observational studies and some clinical trials have placed increased emphasis on changes in components of VLDL as determinants of the progression of coronary artery atherosclerosis, assessed angiographically. For example, in the …
Studies of chick adrenal medulla in organ culture.

Abstract Chick adrenol medullae were maintained in organ culture using Eagle's minimal essential medium (MEM) fortified with 1% glucose and 10% fetal calf serum. This medium was as good as or better more than highly enriched media tested. After an initial loss of 50 per cent of their catecholamine content and tyrosine hydroxylase activity at 24 hr, the glands survived for up to 8 days without further losses. In contrast to adrenal medullae of other species, the chick adrenals contain only muscarinic receptors. Both fresh and cultured glands secreted catecholamines when acetylcholine, carbamylcholine or urocholine was added to the medium, but no secretion occurred when nicotine was added. The secretory response was blocked by atropine but not by hexamethionium. Aminophylline by itself had a slight but significant stimulatory effect and potentiated the response to carbamylcholine. Cyclic-AMP, dibutyrl cyclic-AMP and cyclic-GMB had no effect on secretion by themselves or in the presence of aminophylline. After 1–3 days in culture, the glands maintained their ability to synthesize epinephrine and norepinephrine from tyrosine at about one-half the rate of fresh glands and were able to incorporate [ 3 H]leucine into protein at a greater rate than fresh glands. However, after stimulation with carbamylcholine, the glands were unable to recover their catecholamine content or induce an increase in tyrosine hydroxylase activity. Additions of nerve growth factor, dibutyryl-cAMP, dexamethasone and ACTH to the culture media did not enable the glands to recover their catecholamine stores or increase their tyrosine hydroxylase activity.
Redox remodeling as an immunoregulatory strategy.

Activation and proliferation of T cells require a reducing extracellular microenvironment in the immune synapse that is provided by antigen presenting cells, especially dendritic cells. Stimulation of dendritic cells by T cells activates the NF-κB pathway in dendritic cells and induces an antioxidant response. It also enhances system xc−-dependent cystine uptake, leading to enhanced glutathione synthesis, export, and, finally, degradation to cysteine outside the cell. Accumulation of extracellular cysteine supports glutathione synthesis in T cells while also leading to a more reducing redox potential that is needed for T cell proliferation. Naturally occurring regulatory T cells, a suppressor subpopulation of T cells, prevent autoimmune diseases and maintain peripheral tolerance by suppressing self-reactive effector T cells. They also suppress beneficial immune responses to parasites, viruses, and tumors. However, their mechanism of suppression is still not fully understood. Recently, we have found that i...
Summer Distribution of and Habitat Use by Chinook Salmon and Steelhead within a Major Basin of the South Umpqua River, Oregon

Abstract Snorkeling and established stream habitat assessment methods were used to determine basinwide summer habitat use by juvenile Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha and juvenile steelhead O. mykiss in 1989 in eight reaches along 39 km of Jackson Creek, a fifth-order tributary to the South Umpqua River, Oregon. Juvenile steelhead (ages 0–3) were widely distributed throughout the entire stream but age-1 and older fish were found in higher densities in the middle reaches whereas age-0 fish were found in higher densities in the upper reaches. Juvenile Chinook salmon were found in the highest densities in the middle reaches. Juvenile steelhead used mostly riffles in the downstream reaches but mostly pools in the upstream reaches. Age-0 Chinook salmon were strongly associated with pools in all reaches. Several factors are suggested that may have influenced distribution and abundance of both species; these include high stream temperatures in the lower reaches, habitat preferences of each species, and th...
Improved Corrections Process for Constrained Trajectory Design in the n-Body Problem

The general objective is the development of efficient techniques for preliminary design of trajectory arcs in nonlinear autonomous dynamic systems in which the desired solution is subject to algebraic interior and/or exterior constraints. For application to then-body problem, trajectoriesmust satisfy specific requirements, e.g., periodicity in terms of the states, interior or boundary constraints, and specified coverage. Thus, a strategy is formulated in a sequence of increasingly complex steps: 1) a trajectory isfirstmodeled as a series of arcs (analytical or numerical) and general trajectory characteristics and timing requirements are established; 2) the specific constraints and associated partials are formulated; 3) a corrections process ensures position and velocity continuity while satisfying the constraints; and finally, 4) the solution is transitioned to a full model employing ephemerides. Though the examples pertain to spacecraft mission design, the methodology is generally applicable to autonomous systems subject to algebraic constraints. For spacecraft mission design applications, an immediate advantage of this approach, particularly for the identification of periodic orbits, is that the startup solution need not exhibit any symmetry to achieve the objectives.
Structure determination of a rhenium trimethylsilylmethyl acyl complex and hydrolysis of the carbon-silicon bond

Abstract The X-ray crystal structure and reactivity of [ReO(C(O)CH2SiMe3)(CH2 SiMe3)2(PMe3)] are reported. The geometry about the rhenium atom can be described as trigonal bipyramidal with the equatorial plane defined by the acyl carbon, the oxo ligand and an alkyl methylene carbon. The Re-acyl interaction is best described as a composite of mono and dihapto acyl forms. [ReO(C(O)CH2SiMe3)(CH2SiMe3)2(PMe3)] reacts with potassium cyanide and excess water to yield K[ReO(CN)(C(O)CH3)(CH2SiMe3)2], a product of PMe3 substitution and C-Si bond hydrolysis. With rigorous exclusion of water only a PMe3 substitution reaction occurs. [ReO(C(O)CH2SiMe3)(CH2SiMe3)2(PMe3)] also reacts with water in the presence of AcO-, OCN-, SCN- or PMe3 to give the unstable hydrolysis product [ReO(C(O)CH3)(CH2SiMe3)2(PMe3)]. For the reactions involving AcO-, OCN- and SCN- a less than stoichiometric amount of base is needed to bring about the hydrolysis.
Japan's industrial policy: Instruments, trends, and effects

Abstract This survey of the functioning and effects of Japanese industrial policy discusses the evolution of the policy in relation to changing economic conditions in Japan. It describes the specific instruments of the policy and the shifts in the extent of use and effectiveness of its instruments. It analyzes current efforts to promote high-technology industries and also efforts to assist the adjustment of structurally declining industries, some of which had been promoted by earlier industrial policy.
Academic cardiology division in the era of managed care. A paradigm for survival.

Abstract The ability of academic divisions of cardiology to pursue educational and research missions in an era of market-driven managed care is being increasingly jeopardized. Indeed, several academic medical centers have been sold to for-profit entities, and many cardiology divisions have been forced to decrease staff and faculty reimbursements. Despite these threats, the academic division has unique strengths: (1) premium quality of care, (2) a single employer, (3) a somewhat uniform practice culture, (4) high-volume operators performing interventional procedures, (5) expertise in highly technical aspects of cardiology, and (6) the availability of physicians for outreach ventures. Therefore, we hypothesized that the cardiology division could be strengthened by collaborating with the medical center in the development of an aggressive and proactive managed care strategy. To this end, we developed a cardiovascular network having the academic center as its central focus but including a group of high-quality...
The flora of the respiratory tract of patients with cystic fibrosis of the pancreas.

Summary 1. Bacterial flora of the upper and lowerrespiratory tract of patients with cystic fibrosis of the pancreas and those with a chronic respiratory tract of patients with cystic fibrocauses have been studied. 2. The results showed a markedly increased incidence of Staph. aureaus in the throat and bronchial secretions, and of Ps. aeruginosa in cultures obtained from all the sites of the respiratory tract of CF patients. 3. In non-CF patients there was a significantlylower incidence of cultures yielding pathogens. Pneumococci and H. influenzae were isolated more frequently in non-CF patients than in CF patients. 4. A total of 251 strains of Staph. aureus which were isolated from nasopharyngeal and bronchial secretions of CF and non-CF patients were tested for their bacteriophage patterns. The results showed no difference in t the distribution of phage type of Staph. aureus isolated from the 2 groups of patients. 5. Antibiograms of a total of 101 strainsof Staph. aureus from the bronchial secretions and 109 strains from the nasopharyngeal secretions of CF patients were determined against 12 antibiotics. No significant difference was found in the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of the different phage types tested except that the type 80/81 strains were highly resistant to penicillin, streptomycin, and tetracycline. 6. All the strains of Staph. aureus tested were highly susceptible to bacitracin, ristocetin, vancomycin, and novobiocin, and fairly susceptible to neomycin, oleandomycin, erythromycin, chloramphenicol, and kanamycin, in decreasing order. The antibiotic susceptibility patterns of a total of 70 strains of Ps. aeruginosa against 7 antibiotics showed that these organisms were highly resistant to the antibiotics tested. Only polymyxin, neomycin, and oxytetracycline were fairly effective against some strains.
Comorbid psychopathology symptom rates in infants and toddlers with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Abstract In comparison to both typically and atypically developing peers, researchers investigating the rates of comorbid psychopathology symptoms in infants and toddlers with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have not been widespread. Additionally, the DSM-5 introduced structural criteria changes for the ASD diagnostic group. The current study included 205 infants between 17 and 37 months who were part of a screening program assessing children for developmental delays or a general medical condition placing them at risk for a developmental delay. Each participant was administered the Baby and Infant Screen for Children with aUtIsm Traits-Part 2 (BISCUIT-Part 2) as part of a broader screening package. The BISCUIT-Part 2 is a measure of comorbid psychopathology symptoms which includes a normative ASD group. Following completion of the screeners, participants were separated into either the ASD or atypically developing diagnostic categories based upon clinical diagnosis. The scores for each subscale of the BISCUIT-Part 2 were calculated and used to indicate the presence of comorbid symptoms. Statistical analyses identified that comorbid psychopathology symptoms occur at significantly greater rates in infants and toddlers diagnosed with ASD when compared to an atypically developing peer group. The implications of these findings as well as future directions are discussed.
Hemodynamics and Survival in Patients With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Related to Systemic Sclerosis

Study objectives: The goal of this study was to determine whether the survival of patients with pulmonary hypertension related to systemic sclerosis (SScPH) was different from that of patients with other forms of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Tertiary care medical center. Patients: Our cohort was composed of 33 patients with pulmonary hypertension that is sporadic, familial, or related to anorexigen use (PPH) and 22 patients with SScPH who underwent initial pulmonary artery catheterization and vasodilator study at our center between January 1997 and June 2001. Measurements and results: Patients with SScPH had somewhat lower percentage of predicted lung volumes than patients with PPH (total lung capacity, 80% vs 92%; p 0.06) and had lower percentage of predicted diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (42% vs 68%; p 0.0002). Right atrial pressure, pulmonary artery pressure, and cardiac index were similar between the groups. Patients with SScPH and PPH were treated with usual medical therapies, such as digoxin, warfarin, and continuous IV epoprostenol. Despite these similarities, the risk of death in patients with SScPH was higher than in patients with PPH (unadjusted hazard ratio, 2.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.1 to 7.8; p 0.03). This increased risk appeared to persist after adjustment for a variety of demographic, hemodynamic, or treatment variables. Conclusions: Despite having similar hemodynamics, patients with SScPH have a higher risk of death than patients with PPH. Future studies of the mechanism and therapy of pulmonary arterial hypertension should focus on the distinctions between the different forms of this disease. (CHEST 2003; 123:344 –350)
A causal-model theory of conceptual representation and categorization.

This article presents a theory of categorization that accounts for the effects of causal knowledge that relates the features of categories. According to causal-model theory, people explicitly represent the probabilistic causal mechanisms that link category features and classify objects by evaluating whether they were likely to have been generated by those mechanisms. In 3 experiments, participants were taught causal knowledge that related the features of a novel category. Causal-model theory provided a good quantitative account of the effect of this knowledge on the importance of both individual features and interfeature correlations to classification. By enabling precise model fits and interpretable parameter estimates, causal-model theory helps place the theory-based approach to conceptual representation on equal footing with the well-known similarity-based approaches.
Gaze and body pose estimation from a distance

We present a comprehensive approach to track gaze by estimating location, body pose, and head pose direction of multiple individuals in unconstrained environments. The approach combines person detections from fixed cameras with directional face detections obtained from actively controlled pan tilt zoom (PTZ) cameras. The main contribution of this work is to estimate both body pose and head pose (gaze) direction independently from motion direction, using a combination of sequential Monte Carlo Filtering and MCMC sampling. There are numerous benefits in tracking body pose and gaze in surveillance. It allows to track people's focus of attention, can optimize the control of active cameras for biometric face capture, and can provide better interaction metrics between pairs of people. The availability of gaze and face detection information also improves localization and data association for tracking in crowded environments. The performance of the system will be demonstrated on data captured at a real-time surveillance site.
Adhesion and sliding response of a biologically inspired fibrillar surface: experimental observations

Inspired by the adhesion mechanisms of several animal species such as geckos, beetles and flies, several efforts in designing and fabricating surface engineering strategies have been made recently to mimic the adhesive and frictional behaviour of biological foot pads. An important feature of such biological adhesion systems is the ability to switch between strong attachment and easy detachment, which is crucial for animal locomotion. Recent investigations have suggested that such a ‘switching’ mechanism can be achieved by the elastic anisotropy of the attachment pad, which renders the magnitude of the detachment force to be direction dependent. This suggestion is supported by the observations that the fibres of the foot pads in geckos and insects are oriented at an angle to the base and that geckos curl their toes backwards (digital hyperextension) while detaching from a surface. One of the promising bio-inspired architectures developed recently is a film-terminated fibrillar PDMS surface; this structure was demonstrated to result in superior detachment force and energy dissipation compared with a bulk PDMS surface. In this investigation, the film-terminated fibrillar architecture is modified by tilting the fibres to make the surface vertically more compliant and elastically anisotropic. The directional detachment and the sliding resistance between the tilted fibrillar surfaces and a spherical glass lens are measured: both show significant directional anisotropy. It is argued that the anisotropy introduced by the tilted fibres and the deformation-induced change in the compliance of the fibre layer are responsible for the observed anisotropy in the detachment force.
Turbulence measurements in two shock-wave/shear-layer interactions

Measurements of the longitudinal component of the mass-flow fluctuations have been made in an 8° compression corner flow and a reattaching shear layer at a Mach number of approximately 2.9 and unit Reynolds number of about 7 × 107 m−1. The data includes turbulence intensities and probability density distributions. Significant turbulence amplification occurs in both interactions. A qualitative explanation in terms of direct shock effects, extra strain rates, and their relative contribution, is suggested.
Single-stage three-phase power-factor-correction circuit using three isolated single-phase SEPIC converters operating in CCM

A single-stage three-phase power-factor-correction circuit is developed using three isolated single-phase SEPIC-based power-factor-correction circuits operating in continuous-current mode. This approach is found to be attractive for low to medium power applications and when stringent THD and EMI specifications have to be met, such as power supplies for avionics systems. Use of isolated single-phase circuits also avoids the problems associated with the interaction among three phases. Detailed design criteria for the power and control stages of the single-phase SEPIC power-factor-correction circuit are presented. Issues specific to the three-phase implementation, such as current sharing at the input, are discussed. Simulation and experimental results corresponding to a 500 W three-phase prototype switching at 100 kHz are reported.
Forecasting network performance to support dynamic scheduling using the network weather service

The Network Weather Service is a generalizable and extensible facility designed to provide dynamic resource performance forecasts in metacomputing environments. In this paper, we outline its design and detail the predictive performance of the forecasts it generates. While the forecasting methods are general, we focus on their ability to predict the TCP/IP end-to-end throughput and latency that is attainable by an application using systems located at different sites. Such network forecasts are needed both to support scheduling, and by the metacomputing software infrastructure to develop quality-of-service guarantees.
A Classroom Activity to Demonstrate Self-Other Agreement in Personality Judgments

This article describes a classroom activity to demonstrate (dis)agreement in personality judgments, using an exercise derived from Watson’s research on the accuracy of rating strangers’ personaliti...
Adaptive formation control for distributed autonomous mobile robot groups

We present adaptive formation control for distributed autonomous mobile robot groups, envisioning mobile robots being used in crime deterrence. Our mobile robot group has a task to prevent a trespasser from passing along a way in a surveillance area by a group formation. To control the formation, each robot has a formation vector. In particular, the formation is controllable by the vectors. The group encounters various ways and each way has its own width. Moreover, the number of the robots in the group is changed when some of them are broken. However, the group in our control method can make a specified formation to achieve the task, adapting to variations of such conditions. In other words, we prove an existence of a distributed control method that enables the adaptation of the formation. The validity of our method is verified by computer simulations.
The Type IV Leader Peptidase/N-Methyltransferase of Vibrio vulnificus Controls Factors Required for Adherence to HEp-2 Cells and Virulence in Iron-Overloaded Mice

Vibrio vulnificus expresses a number of potential virulence determinants that may contribute to its ability to cause a severe and rapidly disseminating septicemia in susceptible hosts. We have cloned and characterized two genes encoding products related to components of the type IV pilus biogenesis and general secretory (type II) pathways by complementation of a type IV peptidase/N-methyltransferase (PilD) mutant of Pseudomonas aeruginosa with a V. vulnificus genomic library. One of the genes (vvpD) encodes a protein homologous to PilD and other members of the type IV peptidase family that completely restores this activity in a P. aeruginosa mutant deficient in the expression of PilD. The other gene (vvpC) encodes a homolog of PilC from P. aeruginosa, where it is essential for assembly of type IV pili. Phenotypic characterization of a V. vulnificus vvpD mutant, constructed by allelic exchange, showed that VvpD is required for the expression of surface pili, suggesting that the pili observed on V. vulnificus are of the type IV class. This mutant was also unable to secrete at least three extracellular degradative enzymes, and the localization of one of these (the cytolysin/hemolysin) to the periplasmic space indicates that these proteins are normally exported via the type II secretion pathway. Loss of VvpD resulted in significant decreases in CHO cell cytotoxicity, adherence to HEp-2 cells, and virulence in a mouse model. Capsule formation and serum resistance were not affected in the vvpD mutant, indicating that in addition to capsule, virulence of V. vulnificus requires type IV pili and/or extracellular secretion of several exoenzymes.
Does Happiness Promote Career Success

Past research has demonstrated a relationship between happiness and workplace success. For example, compared with their less happy peers, happy people earn more money, display superior performance, and perform more helpful acts. Researchers have often assumed that an employee is happy and satisfied because he or she is successful. In this article, the authors review evidence in support of an alternative hypothesis—namely, that happiness is a source of why particular employees are more successful than others. To this end, the authors consider evidence from three types of studies—cross-sectional, longitudinal, and experimental—that relate happiness to various work outcomes. Taken together, the evidence suggests that happiness is not only correlated with workplace success but that happiness often precedes measures of success and that induction of positive affect leads to improved workplace outcomes.
Temperature Dependence of Magnetotransport in Extraordinary Magnetoresistance Devices

Extraordinary magnetoresistance (EMR) devices have been fabricated and characterized at various magnetic fields, operating temperatures, and current excitations. These devices are comprised of nonmagnetic high mobility semiconductors and low resistance metallic contacts and shunts. The resistance of the device is modulated by magnetic fields due to the Lorentz force steering an electron current between the high resistance semiconductor and the low resistance metallic shunt. The EMR devices were tested between 300 K and 5 K in magnetic fields up to 2 T perpendicular to the 2DEG plane and excitation currents up to 100 muA. Magnetoresistance increases as temperature decreases, potentially indicating that EMR persists even as dimensions approach the electron mean free path
A layered framework strategy for deploying high assurance VPNs

Deploying VPNs (Virtual Private Networks), especially in a large-scale environment, requires much planning. Based on actual implementation experience, we propose a layered framework that can be used to distribute VPN deliverables among different workgroups. Despite the perception that a VPN is not a customizable solution, we conclude there is a broad range of VPN options available with corresponding trade-offs. This framework supports advanced planning to maximize trade-offs depending on individualized requirements.
Endogeneity in Marketing Decision Models

There are many critical concerns (including the accounting for endogeneity) when one is properly estimating response functions. However, it is sometimes (certainly not always) better to leave some variables exogenous when building mathematical models intended to help decision makers. The exogenous variables allow the decision maker to better adapt the mathematical model to different situations and to incorporate myriad variables and constraints outside of the model.
Artroplastia de codo

Resumen La artroplastia de codo representa una buena alternativa terapeutica para un gran porcentaje de pacientes con importante destruccion articular. Sin embargo, muchos cirujanos ortopedicos no estan familiarizados con los abordajes o tecnicas quirurgicas relacionados con la sustitucion protesica del codo. Ademas, la incidencia de complicaciones es superior a la de la artroplastia de otras articulaciones, siendo las mas importantes, la infeccion, el fracaso mecanico, la neuropatia cubital y las alteraciones del triceps. Por estos motivos, la utilizacion de artroplastia de codo en el medio espanol puede que sea inferior a la ideal. Aunque las artropatias inflamatorias, como la artritis reumatoide, constituyen la indicacion mas frecuente para este tipo de intervencion, las fracturas de humero distal y la afeccion postraumatica representan una indicacion creciente. Este trabajo intenta resumir los conceptos actuales mas importantes relacionados con la artroplastia de codo.
A self-optimizing embedded microprocessor using a loop table for low power

We describe an approach for a microprocessor to tune itself to its fixed application to reduce power in an embedded system. We define a basic architecture and methodology supporting a microprocessor self-optimizing mode. We also introduce a loop table as a tunable component, although self-optimization can be done for other tunable components too. We highlight experimental results illustrating good power reductions with no performance penalty.
Avoiding microbubbles formation during radiofrequency left atrial ablation versus continuous microbubbles formation and standard radiofrequency ablation protocols: comparison of energy profiles and chronic lesion characteristics

BACKGROUND Radiofrequency (RF) energy parameters and chronic lesion characteristics associated with the microbubbles formation have not been yet fully elucidated. OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to compare the energy profiles and chronic lesion characteristics associated with RF ablation of the pulmonary vein antrum using three different ablation protocols: (1) avoiding microbubbles; (2) continuous microbubble formation; (3) temperature-guided ablation. METHODS A 4-mm tip ablation catheter was used for creating RF ablation lesions in 15 adult mongrel dogs. All ablation lesions were created at the posterior aspect of the PV antrum in each animal. Avoiding microbubbles (group 1, n = 5 dogs, 23 lesions), continuous microbubble formation (group 2, n = 5 dogs, 22 lesions), and temperature-guided (group 3, n = 5 dogs, 19 lesions, target temperature 60 degrees C/power limit 50 W) ablation lesions were analyzed. RESULTS Group 1 showed significantly lower power (19 +/- 8.6 W), lower temperature (50 +/- 4.8 degrees C), higher efficiency-of-heating index (2.9 +/- 0.8 degrees C/W), and lower impedance (109 +/- 24.4 Omega) than groups 2 (38 +/- 8.4 W; 63 +/- 10 degrees C; 1.8 +/- 0.8 degrees C/W; 148 +/- 34.4 Omega) and 3 (44 +/- 12 W; 57 +/- 2.4 degrees C; 1.4 +/- 0.5 degrees C/W; 139 +/- 23.1 Omega) (P < 0.001 vs groups 2 and 3). During ablation, no significant events were detected in group 1, but 11 cases of audible pop, 11 cases of catheter tip charring, and 1 case of fatal myocardial perforation were observed in groups 2 and 3. Transmural lesions were more frequently created in group 1. CONCLUSION RF energy delivery applying "avoiding microbubbles" protocol seems to be associated with higher degree of safety and efficacy when compared to temperature-guided and continuous microbubble-formation ablation protocols.
Are historical records sufficient to constrain ENSO simulations

[1] A control simulation of the GFDL CM2.1 global coupled GCM, run for 2000 years with its atmospheric composition, solar irradiance, and land cover held fixed at 1860 values, exhibits strong interdecadal and intercentennial modulation of its ENSO behavior. To the extent that such modulation is realistic, it could attach large uncertainties to ENSO metrics diagnosed from centennial and shorter records ― with important implications for historical and paleo records, climate projections, and model assessment and intercomparison. Analysis of the wait times between ENSO warm events suggests that such slow modulation need not require multidecadal memory; it can arise simply from Poisson statistics applied to ENSO's interannual time scale and seasonal phase-locking.
Nuclear receptor engineering based on novel structure activity relationships revealed by farnesyl pyrophosphate.

Nuclear receptors (NRs) comprise the second largest protein family targeted by currently available drugs, acting via specific ligand interactions within the ligand binding domain (LBD). Recently, farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) was shown to be a unique promiscuous NR ligand, activating a subset of NR family members and inhibiting wound healing in skin. The current study aimed at visualizing the unique basis of FPP interaction with multiple receptors in order to identify general structure–activity relationships that operate across the NR family. Docking of FPP to the 3D structures of the LBDs of a diverse set of NRs consistently revealed an electrostatic FPP pyrophosphate contact with an NR arginine conserved in the NR family, a hydrophobic farnesyl contact with NR helix-12 and a ligand binding pocket volume between 300 and 430 A3 as the minimal requirements for FPP activation of any NR. Lack of any of these structural features appears to render a given NR resistant to FPP activation. We used these structure–activity relationships to rationally design and successfully engineer several mutant human estrogen receptors that retain responsiveness to estradiol but no longer respond to FPP.
Alternatives to Antibiotics in Animal Agriculture: An Ecoimmunological View

Ecological immunology (or ecoimmunology) is a new discipline in animal health and immunology that extends immunologists’ views into a natural context where animals and humans have co-evolved. Antibiotic resistance and tolerance (ART) in bacteria are manifested in antibiosis-surviving subsets of resisters and persisters. ART has emerged though natural evolutionary consequences enriched by human nosocomial and agricultural practices, in particular, wide use of antibiotics that overwhelms other ecological and immunological interactions. Most previous reviews of antibiotic resistance focus on resisters but overlook persisters, although both are fundamental to bacteria survival through antibiosis. Here, we discuss resisters and persisters together to contrast the distinct ecological responses of persisters during antibiotic stress and propose different regimens to eradicate persisters. Our intention is not only to provide an ecoimmunological interpretation, but also to use an ecoimmunological system to categorize available alternatives and promote the discovery of prospective approaches to relieve ART problems within the general scope of improving animal health. Thus, we will categorize available alternatives to antibiotics and envision applications of ecoimmunological tenets to promote related studies in animal production.
Rheology and Deformation of the Lithosphere at Continental Margins

Rheology and Deformation of the Lithosphere at Continental Margins is a collection of well written and interesting papers that provide a good overview of the current cutting edge in seismically oriented deformation studies. The book is, unfortunately, somewhat misnamed. It really should be titled something akin to “A review of seismogenic behavior in different plate tectonic settings (and some partially molten mantle deformation experiments).” Perhaps it sounds less impressive, but that is really what you get in this book: a series of excellent review papers, most of which focus on our current understanding of seismogenic behavior.
Breaking monotony with meaning: Motivation in crowdsourcing markets

Abstract We conduct the first natural field experiment to explore the relationship between the “meaningfulness” of a task and worker effort. We employed about 2500 workers from Amazon's Mechanical Turk (MTurk), an online labor market, to label medical images. Although given an identical task, we experimentally manipulated how the task was framed. Subjects in the meaningful treatment were told that they were labeling tumor cells in order to assist medical researchers, subjects in the zero-context condition (the control group) were not told the purpose of the task, and, in stark contrast, subjects in the shredded treatment were not given context and were additionally told that their work would be discarded. We found that when a task was framed more meaningfully, workers were more likely to participate. We also found that the meaningful treatment increased the quantity of output (with an insignificant change in quality) while the shredded treatment decreased the quality of output (with no change in quantity). We believe these results will generalize to other short-term labor markets. Our study also discusses MTurk as an exciting platform for running natural field experiments in economics.
Truth, Love and Humanism: The Moral Ends of Economic Personhood in Caritas in Veritate

This paper examines the current economic situation as a human rights crisis and, in particular, a crisis in understanding about the nature and ends of human personhood. While the global financial collapse has occasioned many calls for bringing about more justly ordered economic institutions (German Chancellor Angela Merkel, for instance, recently called for reforms that would “give capitalism a conscience”), the moral resources of liberalism and the attendant language of human rights are unable to provide a coherent account of the sources and content of this reordered capitalism. Indeed, this paper proposes that the dominant discourse of economic reform reveals the exhausted state of liberal human rights as a moral vocabulary. This paper argues that the limitations of the liberal tradition of human rights create space for religious communities to advance theologically-informed accounts of economic justice. The tradition of Catholic social teaching, in particular Pope Benedict's recent encyclical Caritas in Veritate, is offered as a case study.
A complexity scoring system for degenerative mitral valve repair.

Abstract Objective To develop a score to allow stratification of complexity in degenerative mitral valve repair. Methods Retrospective modeling of data from 668 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for mitral valve prolapse. A complexity scoring scale was developed using a consensus approach, assigning a score to each valve, based on the following: prolapsing segments (weight 1 for each posterior segment; weight 2 for each anterior or commissural segment); presence of valve restriction (weight 2); presence of calcification (weight 3 if annulus involved, otherwise weight 2); and prior mitral valve repair (weight 3). Valve repairs were categorized into 3 groups based on the complexity score: 1: Simple (n = 244); 2-4: Intermediate (n = 260); ≥5: Complex (n = 164). Results Mitral valve repair was successfully performed in 667 patients (repair rate: 99.9%). The complexity score was directly correlated with surrogates of technical complexity. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass time increased with lesion complexity ([in minutes] simple: 152; intermediate: 167; complex 195; P P P P Conclusions Our scoring system may allow effective stratification of complexity of mitral valve repair. Future studies are required to evaluate the use of our score in a prospective setting.
Gravitational Waves in the Post-Newtonian Formalism

We now turn our attention to GWs in the full theory of GR. Solutions to the EFE can only be found analytically in special cases. Instead, approximation methods are commonly used to obtain analytical insight into the full theory of GR.
Routine intraoperative leak testing for sleeve gastrectomy: is the leak test full of hot air?

Abstract Background Staple line leak after sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is a rare but dreaded complication with a reported incidence of 0% to 8%. Many surgeons routinely test the staple line with an intraoperative leak test (IOLT), but there is little evidence to validate this practice. In fact, there is a theoretical concern that the leak test may weaken the staple line and increase the risk of a postop leak. Methods Retrospective review of all SGs performed over a 7-year period was conducted. Cases were grouped by whether an IOLT was performed, and compared for the incidence of postop staple line leaks. The ability of the IOLT for identifying a staple line defect and for predicting a postoperative leak was analyzed. Results Five hundred forty-two SGs were performed between 2007 and 2014. Thirteen patients (2.4%) developed a postop staple line leak. The majority of patients (n = 494, 91%) received an IOLT, including all 13 patients (100%) who developed a subsequent clinical leak. There were no (0%) positive IOLTs and no additional interventions were performed based on the IOLT. The IOLT sensitivity and positive predictive value were both 0%. There was a trend, although not significant, to increase leak rates when a routine IOLT was performed vs no routine IOLT (2.6% vs 0%, P = .6). Conclusions The performance of routine IOLT after SG provided no actionable information, and was negative in all patients who developed a postoperative leak. The routine use of an IOLT did not reduce the incidence of postop leak, and in fact was associated with a higher leak rate after SG.