cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Separate regions of glucocorticoid receptor, coactivator TIF2, and comodulator STAMP modify different parameters of glucocorticoid-mediated gene induction.

Abstract Increased specificity in steroid-regulated gene expression is a long-sought goal of endocrinologists. Considerable progress has resulted from the discovery of coactivators, corepressors, and comodulators that adjust the total activity ( A max ) of gene induction. Two less frequently quantitated, but equally potent, means of improving specificity are the concentration of agonist steroid required for half-maximal activity (EC 50 ) and the residual or partial agonist activity displayed by most antisteroids (PAA). It is usually assumed that the modulatory activity of transcriptional cofactors coordinately regulates A max , EC 50 , and PAA. Here we examine the hypothesis that these three parameters can be independently modified by separate protein domains. The test system involves three differently sized fragments of each of three factors (glucocorticoid receptor [GR], coactivator TIF2, and comodulator STAMP), which are shown to form a ternary complex and similarly affect the induction properties of transfected and endogenous genes. Twenty-five different fragment combinations of the ternary complex are examined for their ability to modulate the A max , EC 50 , and PAA of a transiently transfected synthetic reporter gene. Different combinations selectively alter one, two, or all three parameters. These results clearly demonstrate that A max , EC 50 , and PAA can be independently regulated under some conditions by different pathways or molecular interactions. This new mechanistic insight suggests that selected activities of individual transcription factors are attractive targets for small molecules, which would have obvious clinical applications for increasing the specificity of steroids during endocrine therapies.
World crude oil and natural gas: a demand and supply model

Abstract This paper examines world markets for crude oil and natural gas over the period 1918–1999; it analyzes the time-series properties of output and prices and estimates demand and supply elasticities during 1918–1973 and 1973–1999. Oil and gas prices were stable during the first period; they became volatile afterwards, reflecting deep changes in the market structure following the oil shock in 1973. Demand price elasticities were too low; however, demand income elasticities were high. Supply price elasticities were also too low. The elasticity estimates help to explain the market power of the oil producers and price volatility in response to shocks, and corroborate elasticity estimates in energy studies.
A Comparison of Acetyl- and Methoxycarbonylnitrenes by Computational Methods and a Laser Flash Photolysis Study of Benzoylnitrene

Density functional theory (DFT), CCSD(T), and CBS-QB3 calculations were performed to understand the chemical and reactivity differences between acetylnitrene (CH(3)C(=O)N) and methoxycarbonylnitrene (CH(3)OC(=O)N) and related compounds. CBS-QB3 theory alone correctly predicts that acetylnitrene has a singlet ground state. We agree with previous studies that there is a substantial N-O interaction in singlet acetylnitrene and find a corresponding but weaker interaction in methoxycarbonylnitrene. Methoxycarbonylnitrene has a triplet ground state because the oxygen atom stabilizes the triplet state of the carbonyl nitrene more than the corresponding singlet state. The oxygen atom also stabilizes the transition state of the Curtius rearrangement and accelerates the isomerization of methoxycarbonylnitrene relative to acetylnitrene. Acetyl azide is calculated to decompose by concerted migration of the methyl group along with nitrogen extrusion; the free energy of activation for this concerted process is only 27 kcal/mol, and a free nitrene is not produced upon pyrolysis of acetyl azide. Methoxycarbonyl azide, on the other hand, does have a preference for stepwise Curtius rearrangement via the free nitrene. The bimolecular reactions of acetylnitrene and methoxycarbonylnitrene with propane, ethylene, and methanol were calculated and found to have enthalpic barriers that are near zero and free energy barriers that are controlled by entropy. These predictions were tested by laser flash photolysis studies of benzoyl azide. The absolute bimolecular reaction rate constants of benzoylnitrene were measured with the following substrates: acetonitrile (k = 3.4 x 10(5) M(-1) (s-1)), methanol (6.5 x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1)), water (4.0 x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1)), cyclohexane (1.8 x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1)), and several representative alkenes. The activation energy for the reaction of benzoylnitrene with 1-hexene is -0.06 +/- 0.001 kcal/mol. The activation energy for the decay of benzoylnitrene in pentane is -3.20 +/- 0.02 kcal/mol. The latter results indicate that the rates of reactions of benzoylnitrene are controlled by entropic factors in a manner reminiscent of singlet carbene processes.
A method for stable transgenesis of radial glia lineage in rat neocortex by piggyBac mediated transposition

Methods that combine lineage tracing with cellular transgenesis are needed in order to determine mechanisms that specify neural cell types. Currently available methods include viral infection and Cre-mediated recombination. In utero electroporation (IUE) has been used in multiple species to deliver multiple transgenes simultaneously into neural progenitors. In standard IUE, most plasmids remain episomal, are lost during cell division, and so transgenes are not expressed in the complete neural lineage. Here we combine IUE with a binary piggyBac transposon system (PB-IUE), and show that unlike conventional IUE, a single embryonic transfection of neocortical radial glia with a piggyBac transposon system results in stable transgene expression in the neural lineage of radial glia: cortical neurons, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and olfactory bulb interneurons. We also developed a modular toolkit of donor and helper plasmids with different promoters that allows for shRNA, bicistronic expression, and trangenesis in subsets of progenitors. As a demonstration of the utility of the toolkit we show that transgenesis of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expands the number of astrocytes and oligodendrocyrtes generated from progenitors. The relative ease of implementation and experimental flexibility should make the piggyBac IUE method a valuable new tool for tracking and manipulating neural lineages.
Distribution of vortices in Nb/Al multilayers studied by spin-polarized neutron reflectivity and magnetization

Abstract We present SPNR and DC magnetization studies of non-uniformly distributed vortices in Nb/Al multilayers for fields applied near-parallel to the film surface. Peaks are observed in the M–H curves that are shown to correspond to vortex row-transitions and the field values of the transitions agree well with free energy calculations. An additional peak is observed at an applied field smaller than the first row-transition field and this is shown to arise from the lower critical field parallel to the surface. Demagnetization effects are discussed. SPNR measurements performed at low field give the London penetration length and measurements in the mixed state are consistent with a single row of vortices residing in the film center, but with positional fluctuations amounting to 1/4 of the film thickness. It is also shown that cycling the applied field leads to a surface-induced reorientation of the vortex magnetic field, which points perpendicular to the surface in zero field.
Effect of seed treatment emulsifiers on seed quality and membrane function in maize

Abstract Three commonly used seed treatment emulsifiers, Triton X-100, Proprietary-adjuvant A and Proprietary-adjuvant B, were applied to four seed lots differing in genotype, and seed vigor. Seed quality was measured by cold germination test, leachate conductivity, and sugar leakage. Membrane repair capacity during imbibition, and also membrane lipid composition and thermal properties, were determined. Seed and seedling performance as indicated by germination tests showed no significant difference between control and treated seed in the two high-vigor seed lots. All three emulsifiers, especially at high treatment rates, significantly reduced the performance of the two low-vigor seed lots. Conductivity and cold test germination were not related. However, a high correlation was found between sugar leakage and cold test germination following emulsifier treatment. The occurrence of membrane repair and the associated changes in phospholipid composition and thermal properties in the emulsifier-treated seed indicate a modification of the membrane function due to the emulsifier or adjuvant treatments.
Accuracy of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography in chronic thromboembolic disease

Rationale and Objectives. We evaluated the accuracy of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) angiography in demonstrating the findings of chronic pulmonary thromboembolism (CPTE) compared with conventional pulmonary angiography. Methods. We examined 18 patients with CPTE proved by conventional pulmonary angiography and 16 healthy control patients. T1-weighted and single-breathhold, two-dimensional multiplanar spoiled gradient-recalled pulmonary images were obtained after injection of gadopentetate dimeglumine. Images were interpreted independently by two radiologists. Results. All patients with CPTE were identified on MR angiography images by both readers. Sensitivity and specificity for MR angiography in diagnosing abnormal segments were 76% and 95% for reader 1 and 68% and 93% for reader 2, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity for MR angiography in depicting abnormal lobes were 83% and 96% for reader 1 and 82% and 93% for reader 2, respectively. Interobserver agreement was high; kappas for abnormal segments and abnormal lobes were .72 and .84, respectively. The T1-weighted spin-echo images demonstrated a mosaic signal intensity pattern in all patients with CPTE. Conclusion. Contrast-enhanced MR angiography accurately depicts abnormal segments and lobes in occlusive vascular disease and clearly distinguishes between patients with CPTE and those with healthy lungs.
Infertility and abnormal cervical mucus in two sisters who are compound heterozygotes for the cystic fibrosis (CF) ΔF508 and R117H/7T mutations

Objective To describe two cases of infertile sisters who are compound heterozygote carriers of the cystic fibrosis (CF) ΔF508 and R117H/7T mutations and who were found to have significantly abnormal cervical mucus. Design Case reports and review of literature. Setting Infertility practice based in an academic medical center. Patient(s) Two sisters (ages 34 and 42), compound heterozygote carriers of CF mutations, who presented with involuntary infertility. Intervention(s) The partners of both patients tested negative for CF. The evaluation of both sisters did not indicate other causes of infertility aside from advanced maternal age in the 42-year-old patient. Both sisters underwent natural-cycle intrauterine insemination. Main Outcome Measure(s) Pregnancy conception. Result(s) The 34-year-old patient has subsequently conceived twice through natural-cycle inseminations. Conclusion(s) This is the first reported case of infertility due to a cervical mucus factor in a patient who is a compound heterozygote of the ΔF508 and R117H/7T mutations. This case is important not only because of the distinct phenotypic abnormality seen with specific CF mutations but also because of the associated genotype.
PHENYL SHIFTS TO VINYL CATIONS FORMED BY IODINATION OF ALKYNES

Abstract Iodine and several of its oxides react with alkynyl alcohols in methanol to afford β-iodo-α,β-unsaturated ketones.
Evaluating Academics in Intercollegiate Athletics: Methodological Issues.

The study of academics and athletics presents several methodological problems. The challenge for researchers is to know how these issues may have an impact on and shape research outcomes.
Characterization of basic protein-specific T cell lines selected from Lewis rats with relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Abstract Relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) was induced in Lewis rats by intraperitoneal immunization with guinea pig whole central nervous system tissue. Basic protein (BP)-specific T cell lines selected from rats with relapsing EAE proliferated in response to BP, the 44–89 peptidase fragment of BP and the synthetic peptide, S72-89, as did lines selected from rats with non-relapsing EAE induced by immunization with guinea pig BP. BP-specific T cell lines selected from rats with relapsing EAE transferred acute but not relapsing EAE. BP-specific T cell lines selected from Lewis rats with relapsing EAE appear not to differ from those selected from rats with non-relapsing EAE.
Sign-balanced covering matrices

Abstract A q × n array with entries from 0, 1,..., q − 1 is said to form a difference matrix if the vector difference (modulo q ) of each pair of columns consists of a permutation of [0, 1,... q − 1]; this definition is inverted from the more standard one to be found, e.g., in Colbourn and de Launey (1996). The following idea generalizes this notion: Given an appropriate δ (-[−1, 1] t , a λq × n array will be said to form a ( t, q, λ, Δ ) sign-balanced matrix if for each choice C 1 , C 2 ,..., C t of t columns and for each choice ɛ = ( ɛ 1 ,..., ɛ t ) ∈ Δ of signs, the linear combination ∑ j = 1 t e j C j contains (mod q ) each entry of [0, 1,..., q − 1] exactly λ times. We consider the following extremal problem in this paper: How large does the number k = k ( n, t, q, λ, δ ) of rows have to be so that for each choice of t columns and for each choice ( ɛ 1 , ..., ɛ t ) of signs in δ, the linear combination ∑ j = 1 t e j C j contains each entry of [0, 1,..., q − 1] at least λ times? We use probabilistic methods, in particular the Lovasz local lemma and the Stein-Chen method of Poisson approximation to obtain general (logarithmic) upper bounds on the numbers k ( n, t, q, λ, δ ), and to provide Poisson approximations for the probability distribution of the number W of deficient sets of t columns, given a random array. It is proved, in addition, that arithmetic modulo q yields the smallest array - in a sense to be described.
MIXOMA VENTRICULAR IZQUIERDO ASINTOMÁTICO DIAGNÓSTICADO CIRCUNSTANCIALMENTE POR ECOCARDIOGRAFÍA

We report a 50 year-old hypertensive and asymptomatic woman in whom a left ventricular tumor was found on a routine two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiogram. Complementary 3D echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance and cardiac computed tomography allowed the diagnosis of a calcified left ventricular myxoma. Surgical treatment was performed through a transaortic transvalvular approach with tumor resection and implantation of a pericardial bovine patch. This case confirms the importance of transthoracic echocardiography in the diagnosis of cardiac tumors and the complementary role of 3D echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography for the differential diagnosis before surgery.
Radical Pair Dynamics in Anionic Micelles with Different Alkyl Chain Length as Studied by Pulse-Mode Product-Yield-Detected ESR

Dynamics of the radical pair composed of benzophenone ketyl radical and an alkyl radical of surfactant molecule in the micellar solution were studied by means of the pulse-mode product-yield-detected electron spin resonance (pulse-PYESR) technique. As the surfactants heptyl (C7), nonyl (C9), decyl (C10) and dodecyl (C12) sulfates were employed. Both the escape rate and the recombination rate of the radical pair decreased monotonously with increasing the alkyl-chain length from C7 to C12. A close relation between the escape rate and the critical micellar concentration divided by the aggregation number and also that between the recombination rate and internal viscosity of micelle are pointed out. The pulse-PYESR analysis on the radical pair containing the alkyl radical of surfactant molecule as one of the components is very powerful in extracting the kinetic constants of micelle, since the alkyl sulfate radical is an ideal probe for the micelle molecule.
TU‐C‐M100F‐07: Detecting Dose Reconstruction Errors

Purpose In radiation therapy,delivereddoses can be accumulated over fractions for adaptive treatment planning. However, the dosereconstruction fidelity can be compromised by image registration errors. The resultant dose discrepancy is hard to measure. This paper proposes a new method to assess the difference between the delivereddose and the warped dose.Method and Materials: The dose warping discrepancy is dominated by deformable image registration errors and source‐dose distributions. Registration errors can be specified within a finite element framework as an unbalanced energy δ R , which is defined at element j by δ R (j) = ∑ i=1,…,4 | d i (j) F i | , F i = E 0 ∑ j Φ j (d i 1 (j) , d i 2 (j) ,…, d i 4 (j) ) where E 0 and di are Young's modulus and the displacement vector fields of the registration R. E 0Φ j is an assembly of all the element forces relating to the node i. Consequently the dose warping discrepancy at voxel k can be defined as the convolution of the dose divergence Div(D) and δ R : e D,R (k) = ∫ Div(D(k)) * δ R (k − τ)dτ . The effectiveness of the dose‐discrepancy‐convolution (DDC) defined above is demonstrated through applying it to dose computed on ten prostate‐CT images. An IMRT treatment plan is developed on the planning image. In nine subsequent treatments, images are acquired to calculate the corresponding delivereddoses. Their mean and standard‐deviation in Ci , a target contour automatically expanded from prostate delineated on the time‐of‐treatment imagei, are compared with those of their warped doses measured on the planning target volume. The differences in their means and standard‐deviations are denoted by E e and E σ, respectively. Results δ R , e D,R , E e and E σ are computed for the nine treatment fractions. Fraction one and eight have the largest warping discrepancies identified in all the four evaluation criterions. Conclusion Defined in terms of the deformable registration error, the voxel‐based DDC can be employed for the automatic evaluation of dosereconstruction in the whole dosing domain. Its measurement is consistent to the contour‐based dose warping evaluation performed in the planning target volume.
Salutary effects of nitrendipine, a new calcium entry blocker, in hemorrhagic shock

Intracellular accumulation of calcium is thought to play an integral role in the progression of ischemic injury and cell death. We infused the calcium entry blocker, nitrendipine (1.5 μg/kg per min), into cats in order to investigate the importance of extracellular Ca2+ influx during hemorrhagic shock. Nitrendipine proved to be a potent hypotensive agent in sham shock cats when infused over a 4 h period (156 ± 9 to 90 ± 5 mm Hg) (P < 0.01). However, in hemorrhaged animals, nitrendipine treatment maintained the post-reinfusion MABP at a significantly higher (P < 0.01) value than untreated controls (79 ± 5 vs. 51 ± 4 mm Hg, respectively). Superior mesenteric artery flow (SMAF) for hemorrhaged animals treated with nitrendipine was significantly higher (9.8 ± 1.4 ml/min per kg) (P < 0.01) than that for untreated cats (4.2 ± 0.4 ml/min per kg), at 2 h post reinfusion. There was no significantly increase in SMAF during oligemia in the nitrendipine-treated animals. Nitrendipine was also found to significantly retard the appearance of cathepsin D in the plasma of hemorrhaged cats as well as reduce plasma proteolysis to values not significantly different from sham shock animals. Furthermore, myocardial depressant factor (MDF) activity in the plasma of nitrendipine-treated shock cats was not significantly different from sham shock animals, while the plasma MDF activity for shock cats receiving vehicle increased 3-fold (P < 0.001). The beneficial effects for nitrendipine in hemorrhagic shock are likely due to both its vasodilator function and its ability to reduce intracellular Ca2+ accumulation during ischemia, thereby reducing disruption of cell membrane systems.
Surgical excision for mediastinal synovial sarcoma with limited response to chemoradiotherapy.

Primary synovial sarcoma of the mediastinum is an exceedingly rare neoplasm. We describe a 31-year-old woman who had an incidental diagnosis of mediastinal mass. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry analysis confirmed the diagnosis of primary mediastinal synovial sarcoma. The patient underwent concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy, with minimal response radiologically. Resection was subsequently performed, with negative margins. The histopathologic examination revealed the diagnosis with a limited pathologic response. Because of the rarity of primary mediastinal synovial sarcoma, the optimal therapy is still unclear. We report this case of induction theraphy followed by en bloc surgical resection.
Children's Ideas about Selected Art and Economic Concepts before and after an Integrated Unit of Instruction

The problem of this study was to explore fifth-graders' (i.e. eleven-year-olds') ideas about selected art and economic concepts before and after an integrated art-economics unit. Seventy children within three classrooms participated in the study. The unit, taught by regular classroom teachers but designed by university-based economic educators in cooperation with university-based art educators, was built upon principles of discipline-based art education (DBAE) and shared curricular integration. Using both written and oral measures, students were pre-tested and post-tested on their understanding and application of art and economic concepts. Pre- and post-unit data were analysed by (a) identifying categories of responses post facto using constant comparison methods, and (b) tallying the number of responses in each category. Results indicated that students increased their understanding of both art and economic concepts. Some misconceptions identified at pre-test were still present at post-test, but these mis...
The homotopic proof of Cauchy's integral theorem

The object of this paper is to present a simple proof of the homotopic version of Cauchy's integral theorem which requires only the definition of integral over a piecewise continuously differentiable path, and which is constructive in the sense that it follows the deformation of one path onto another ‘across’ the homotopy.
Elimination of Inclusions from Flux‐Grown Crystals

Abstract : Crystals grown from solution are frequently flawed by inclusions of solution that has been trapped by the crystal during the growth process. Crystals of ThO2 and ZrSiO4 were placed in a thermal gradient high enough to liquefy the inclusions. This caused the liquid to move through the crystal toward the heat source, thereby removing inclusions from the crystals. (Author)
“LEST ONE GOOD CUSTOM SHOULD CORRUPT THE WORLD:” AFRICAN THEATRE AND THE “HOLY” CANON

ABSTRACT Taking a look at Western and African theatres through the ages, the paper examines the beginnings of theatrical canons and the attitude of conservative scholars to new theatrical forms. It draws particular attention to Plato, Hegel, Brockett, and early colonial theatre in Africa, on the one hand, and the innovative theatrical form of the Zambuko-Izibuko of Zimbabwe in which gender, race, production methods and general non-conformity militate against the holy grounds of the canon, on the other hand. Rejecting the narrow definition of canonical theatre as “common culture,” the paper argues for theatrical experimentations and for canonical flexibility and inclusiveness to make the theatre more relevant to the different cultures of the world. There is no hesitation in using the canon to argue against the canon, as the paper shows in Alfred, Lord Tennyson's “Morte D'Arthur.”
Mathematical models and cost-effective screening strategies for colorectal cancer

See related research article by Telford and colleagues, page [1307][1] , and see also research article by Simunovic and colleagues, page [1301][2] In 1993 the results of the Minnesota Colon Cancer Control Study provided clear evidence of the efficacy of screening for colorectal cancer with a
STUDIES ON PENETRATION OF DYES WITH GLASS ELECTRODE : IV. PENETRATION OF BRILLIANT CRESYL BLUE INTO NITELLA FLEXILIS.

Glass electrode measurements of the pH value of the sap of Nitella show that cresyl blue in form of free base penetrates the vacuoles and raises pH value of the sap to about the same degree as the free base of the dye added to the sap in vitro, while the dye salt dissolved in the sap does not alter its pH value. It is proved conclusively that the increase in the pH value of the sap is due only to the presence of the dye and not to some other alkaline substance. Spectrophotometric measurements show that the dye which penetrates the vacuole is chiefly cresyl blue. When the protoplasm is squeezed into the sap, the pH value of the sap is higher than that of the pure sap. Such a mixture behaves very much like the sap in respect to the dye.
Design and synthesis of novel heterobiaryl amides as metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 antagonists.

Abstract A series of heterobiaryl amides was designed and synthesized as novel mGluR5 antagonists. The synthesis using palladium catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reactions provided an array of compounds with a range of in vitro activities. In particular, compound 9e, 4(3,5-difluorophenyl)-N-(6-methylpyridin-1-yl)picolinamide, exhibited nanomolar affinity at the mGluR5 and will serve as a template for future drug design.
Differences of Opinion Make a Horse Race

A model of trading in speculative markets is developed based on differences of opinion among traders. Our purpose is to explain some of the empirical regularities that have been documented concerning the relationship between volume and price and the time-series properties of price and volume. We assume that traders share common prior beliefs and receive common information but differ in the way in which they interpret this information. Some results are that absolute price changes and volume are positively correlated, consecutive price changes exhibit negative serial correlation, and volume is positively autocorrelated. Article published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Financial Studies in its journal, The Review of Financial Studies.
Psychosocial management of the foot and ankle surgery patient.

Currently, many patients undergo surgery when they and their families are not prepared or resilient enough to recover fully, predisposing them to poor outcomes. These poor outcomes lead to missed work, patient depression, chronic pain, litigation, and surgeon frustration. Sometimes these individuals require the surgeon's oversight and are more likely to improve with rapid vocational therapy, physical therapy, and aggressive, continuous chronic-pain management. The foot and ankle surgeon who takes a biopsychosocial multidisciplinary perspective will prescreen his or her patients for positive risk factors and expand his or her intervention long before and after surgery. This strategy of triaging medical cases to differential treatment is not a new concept in medicine. What is novel is the necessity of triaging and prioritizing patients on the basis of the most significant factors that determine successful surgical outcome: psychologic, social, environmental, and historical medical factors . Robert Sternberg of Yale University suggested that three psychologic problem-solving strategies are available: (1) I can try to change myself, (2) I can try to change others, or (3) I can try to change the situation. Naturally, the authors of this article encourage applying all three: (1) the caring surgeon is attentive to these issues; (2) the medical community prepares the patient, themselves, and the patient's family; and (3) the environment into which the patient is released is altered to support their rehabilitation. The ABLE Presurgical Assessment Tool and related treatment strategies provide foot and ankle surgeons with an easy-to-use, research-based application to better screen and manage their surgical patients. The goal of this review and assessment tool is not to determine a quantitative level of risk. Instead, the authors hope to facilitate a surgeon's awareness of critical preoperative risk factors and provide a tool to efficiently identify these factors and arrange appropriate treatment as needed.
Acinetobacter baumannii Response to Host-Mediated Zinc Limitation Requires the Transcriptional Regulator Zur

Acinetobacter baumannii is a leading cause of ventilator-associated pneumonia in intensive care units, and the increasing rates of antibiotic resistance make treating these infections challenging. Consequently, there is an urgent need to develop new antimicrobials to treat A. baumannii infections. One potential therapeutic option is to target bacterial systems involved in maintaining appropriate metal homeostasis, processes that are critical for the growth of pathogens within the host. The A. baumannii inner membrane zinc transporter ZnuABC is required for growth under low-zinc conditions and for A. baumannii pathogenesis. The expression of znuABC is regulated by the transcriptional repressor Zur. To investigate the role of Zur during the A. baumannii response to zinc limitation, a zur deletion mutant was generated, and transcriptional changes were analyzed using RNA sequencing. A number of Zur-regulated genes were identified that exhibit increased expression both when zur is absent and under low-zinc conditions, and Zur binds to predicted Zur box sequences of several genes affected by zinc levels or the zur mutation. Furthermore, the zur mutant is impaired for growth in the presence of both high and low zinc levels compared to wild-type A. baumannii. Finally, the zur mutant exhibits a defect in dissemination in a mouse model of A. baumannii pneumonia, establishing zinc sensing as a critical process during A. baumannii infection. These results define Zur-regulated genes within A. baumannii and demonstrate a requirement for Zur in the A. baumannii response to the various zinc levels experienced within the vertebrate host.
Building Bridges Between Cultures: A Literacy Program for Immigrant Latino Children

In the fall of 2000, a pilot program was established in Springfield, Missouri to provide pre-literacy activities to young immigrant Latino children. While the original intent was to provide opportunities for Early Childhood majors at Southwest Missouri State University to learn to present pre-literacy learning sessions, the program's expansion has resulted in a different but very worthwhile focus. It has evolved into a program that attempts to fulfill needs at the level of the individual as well as the community. First, we wish to spark the interest of these children in books and literacy-related activities in order to enhance their entire educational experience. We also want to assist in the integration of this immigrant population into the community at large by providing a conduit for intercultural interactions between the growing Latino community and the existing (primarily Anglo) inhabitants of Springfield. Traditionally, Southwest Missouri has experienced low cultural and ethnic diversity; therefore,...
BMAA neurotoxicity in Drosophila

We report the establishment of an in vivo model using the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster to investigate the toxic effects of L-BMAA. We found that dietary intake of BMAA reduced the lifespan as well as the neurological functions of flies. Furthermore, we have developed an HPLC method to reliably detect both free and protein-bound BMAA in fly tissue extracts.
Calculation of monoclonal antibody affinity constants directly from antibody dilution curves.

Abstract A method for estimating the affinity constants of monoclonal antibody directly from antibody dilution curves is described.
Discrete Determinants in Transfer RNA for Editing and Aminoacylation

During translation errors of aminoacylation are corrected in editing reactions which ensure that an amino acid is stably attached to its corresponding transfer RNA (tRNA). Previous studies have not shown whether the tRNA nucleotides needed for effecting translational editing are the same as or distinct from those required for aminoacylation, but several considerations have suggested that they are the same. Here, designed tRNAs that are highly active for aminoacylation but are not active in translational editing are presented. The editing reaction can be controlled by manipulation of nucleotides at the corner of the L-shaped tRNA. In contrast, these manipulations do not affect aminoacylation. These results demonstrate the segregation of nucleotide determinants for the editing and aminoacylation functions of tRNA.
A study of hindsight bias : the rodney king case in retrospect

68 subjects completed a short questionnaire asking them to predict, five days before a verdict was reached, the outcome and aftermath of the well-publicized Rodney King civil rights trial. Ten days after the verdict was reached, the subjects were asked to recall their responses to the questionnaire. Results were compatible with hindsight bias inasmuch as errors in recall were more likely to be consistent than inconsistent with the trial's outcome and aftermath. The hindsight bias phenomenon was interpreted in the context of a reconstructionist approach to memory.
The border at El Paso: Mexican and Anglo interactions during the early history of an urban center

Some scholars may think that archaeologists have little to say about the social interactions which have occurred along the border between Mexico and the United States. Such a conclusion is expectable, given that most archaeology deals with prehistoric time periods and humans living well before either country existed as we know them today. Yet, archaeology has changed dramatically during the last few decades. Peoples and processes of recent, historical times are presently considered most appropriate subjects of study. By example, this paper demonstrates just how archaeologists can add to the overall understanding of events along the international boundary. The projects under consideration were conducted in downtown El Paso, a fact that makes necessary additional discussion regarding the potentials of archaeology. A widespread lack of optimism concerning urban archaeology -- archaeological research conducted in urban settings -- has persisted until quite recently, even among many professionals within the discipline. This perceived lack of promise has been based on the untested assumption that the processes of urbanization are overwhelmingly destructive to the archaeological record. Since the integrity of the urban subsurface was often times uncritically evaluated as poor, it followed that many predictive models for urban areas called for less rigorous investigations in those regions of greater urban development. This lack of field investigation, in turn, perpetuated the untested assumption.
Stability boundaries of liquid-propelled elastic space vehicles withsloshing.

for the minimum weight formulations for single loadings. The factors 771, 772, 773, ... will appear in Eq. (5) as multiples of Young's modulus E and as ratios coupled to load ratios. These details have been omitted here to simplify the presentation; readers interested in pursing the subject further should see Ref. 5. Although emphasis has been placed on minimum weight analysis here, geometric proportions have been obtained also in the examples for designs that are not minimum weight but are nearly minimum weight. Thus, the approach allows some flexibility in matching the mathematically ideal, minimum weight structural design requirements with practical design requirements. Two assumptions have been made in the present article: 1) interaction equations based on tests of unstiffened components are applicable to stiffened components of minimum weight design and 2) there is no coupling between the modes of instability for each type of loading. These assumptions require experimental investigation to determine their validity. Although the present work is subject to modification because of these uncertainties, it does reveal trends, parameters, and potentials that are useful as guides in the design of efficient structures subjected to combined loads. References
Babysitting behavior by age/sex classification in squirrel monkeys ( Saimiri sciureus )

The aunting behavior in a captive group of 22 squirrel monkeys containing three infants was done in terms of the age/sex classification of those animals involved. The time course of the aunting phenomena and the type and intensity of the interactions between the mothers and the aunts were recorded. Males as well as females were observed to ascertain if the babysitters were sex specific. Observations were gathered before, during, and after a particular threat to any monkey who was carrying an infant. Three categories of protective behavior (protect, retreat, and nothing) were tabulated. The results indicated that most aunting and protection occurred between infant ages 2-1/2-5 weeks when the infants were growing rapidly but not as yet socially self-sufficient. Mothers protected infants the most against juveniles, then subadult males, and least against other adult females. Subadult males were occasionally observed to carry and protect older infants. Aunting behavior was discussed in terms of the selective pressures by which it may have evolved.
A note on external sorting using almost single input buffering

On montre qu'il est possible d'obtenir un recouvrement maximal des entree-sortie et de l'unite centrale en utilisant une seule memoire intermediaire d'entree plus une de reserve
Fast transform eigenfunction methods for boundary value problems

Summary. An extension of the classic eigenfunction expansion method is presented for solving boundary value problems on boundaries of essentially arbitrary shape in R3. The algorithm yields approximate solutions in terms of simple eigenfunctions of the underlying differential operator. The coefficients of these eigenfunctions are calculated with two-dimensional FFTs. The algorithm has many applications in geophysics, such as potential theory, scattering theory, earthquake source dynamics, and wave propagation, where non-separable boundaries are common.
Improving the selection of family medicine residents through development of multi-dimensional policy models.

Abstract The annual cost of training a single family medicine resident may now exceed $50,000. This, together with the fact that normally only a small fraction of those applying for family medicine residency is selected for admission, creates a decision problem of enormous import to affected institutions. Despite these considerations, the applicant evaluation and selection process remains relatively subjective, with results often disappointing. In the current paper, a preference-based approach is proposed that first models the evaluation/selection process on the basis of well-defined cognitive and noncognitive criteria. It is suggested that validation of this model be based on future performance levels of both the accepted and rejected cohorts during and following their residencies. Discrepancies between future success levels and predicted outcomes may then be translated into appropriate control actions designed to: (1) improve the definition/measurement of selection criteria; (2) enhance the evaluation/selection policies and decisions of the admissions committee; and (3) better inform potential applicants of the department's program and selection philosophies. The approach is applied to two recent, accepted cohorts of the University of North Carolina Department of Family Medicine. Preliminary results indicate that the procedure is capable of improving the in-residency success levels of selected applicants, and that these levels can be better predicted than when no formal, i.e., analytic, process is followed.
Axillary cannulation significantly improves survival and neurologic outcome after atherosclerotic aneurysm repair of the aortic root and ascending aorta.

Background The impact of axillary artery cannulation (AXC) on survival and neurologic outcome after operation for ascending aortic disease was retrospectively evaluated. Methods We reviewed 869 patients with ascending aorta/root repairs (1995 to 2005), principally for atherosclerotic and degenerative aneurysms and chronic and acute type A dissections. Arterial cannulation was through the ascending aorta (AAC) in 157 patients, the femoral artery (FAC) in 261, and the right axillary artery (AXC) in 451. Patients cannulated at different sites were compared for preoperative comorbidities and outcomes (mortality and stroke) for each cause. Results Of the 122 patients with atherosclerotic aneurysms, 66 with right AXC had significantly better outcomes (p = 0.02): 64 of 66 survived vs 24 of 26 with FAC and 27 with 30 of AAC; no strokes occurred (vs 2 of 26 with FAC and 4 of 30 with AAC). No significant advantage for AXC was found with ascending aortic operation in 495 degenerative aneurysms, 106 chronic, or 65 acute type A dissections, 41 patients with endocarditis, or in 18 with aneurysms of other causes; AXC was associated with a significantly better outcome (p = 0.05) in the 869 patients taken together. Conclusions AXC resulted in superior survival and neurologic outcome in patients with atherosclerotic aneurysms and a marginally better outcome than with cannulation at other sites during proximal aortic procedures for all causes. This study supports AXC in patients with atherosclerotic disease who require complex cardiothoracic operations and in patients requiring proximal aortic intervention regardless of cause.
An integrated, ontology-driven approach to constructing observational databases for research

Display Omitted Incomplete and inconsistent data limit the use of observational data in research.An ontology-driven framework is proposed for extracting and representing data.The ontology facilitates standardization, data extraction, and semantic retrieval.Two examples illustrate how the ontology supports the analytic workflow. The electronic health record (EHR) contains a diverse set of clinical observations that are captured as part of routine care, but the incomplete, inconsistent, and sometimes incorrect nature of clinical data poses significant impediments for its secondary use in retrospective studies or comparative effectiveness research. In this work, we describe an ontology-driven approach for extracting and analyzing data from the patient record in a longitudinal and continuous manner. We demonstrate how the ontology helps enforce consistent data representation, integrates phenotypes generated through analyses of available clinical data sources, and facilitates subsequent studies to identify clinical predictors for an outcome of interest. Development and evaluation of our approach are described in the context of studying factors that influence intracranial aneurysm (ICA) growth and rupture. We report our experiences in capturing information on 78 individuals with a total of 120 aneurysms. Two example applications related to assessing the relationship between aneurysm size, growth, gene expression modules, and rupture are described. Our work highlights the challenges with respect to data quality, workflow, and analysis of data and its implications toward a learning health system paradigm.
Q Curvature on a Class of 3‐Manifolds

Motivated by the strong maximum principle for the Paneitz operator in dimension 5 or higher found in a preprint by Gursky and Malchiodi and the calculation of the second variation of the Green's function pole's value on 3 in our preprint, we study the Riemannian metric on 3-manifolds with positive scalar and Q curvature. Among other things, we show it is always possible to find a constant Q curvature metric in the conformal class. Moreover, the Green's function is always negative away from the pole, and the pole's value vanishes if and only if the Riemannian manifold is conformal diffeomorphic to the standard 3. Compactness of constant Q curvature metrics in a conformal class and the associated Sobolev inequality are also discussed.© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Development, Structure, and Function of Coverings of Eggs of Floodwater Mosquitoes. III. Functions of Coverings

In Aedes aegypti (L.), on which this paper is largely based, the envelopes composing the egg shell have different functions. The exochorion imbibes water from saturated atmospheres and releases it slowly while drying. An annular line of weakness, from which a cap later dehisces, is determined by a structural change in the chorion at or about the time when embryogenesis is completed. The chorion, by changes in stratification, tanning, and infiltration by water-repellent chemicals, combines with the endochorion to create a barrier to movement of water. Hatching is brought about when the embryo is activated to elevate its hatching spine against the fracture line while applying pressure toward the water, the larva rapidly expands and soon swims a ventral depression of the cap. Once exposed to sway.
Editorial focus: Myoglobin-2, an adaptation for life at low oxygen pressure. Focus on: "Functional differentiation of myoglobin isoforms in the hypoxia-tolerant carp".

the common carp lives in stagnant ponds where it must weather long periods of low environmental oxygen pressure. In a dramatic adaptation to life in this environment, carp and a few related fishes develop a novel myoglobin-like protein, myoglobin-2, found only in the brain ([3][1]), where it may
A model for fine particle agglomeration in circulating fluidized bed absorbers

A model for fine particle agglomeration in circulating fluidized bed absorbers (CFBAs) has been developed. It can model the influence of different factors on agglomeration, such as the geometry of a CFBA, the superficial gas velocity, initial particle size distribution (PSD), and type of agglomeration mechanism. It is found that the Brownian agglomeration mechanism can be neglected compared to agglomeration by mean shear and turbulence. Sorbent particles are shown to capture fine particles effectively for certain conditions.
Catalytic Pd Nanoparticles Synthesized Using a Lyotropic Liquid Crystal Polymer Template

Ion exchange of Pd(II) ions into a nanostructured lyotropic liquid crystal network, followed by reduction with hydrogen gas, generates a polymer composite containing finely dispersed, catalytically active Pd nanoparticles 4−7 nm in diameter. Loss of order upon nanoparticle growth appears to be due to residual mobility in the polymer matrix near the ionic headgroups. The Pd nanoparticle composite exhibits excellent product selectivity in benzaldehyde hydrogenation and high reactivity in catalyzing Heck olefinations.
Thromboembolic disease in pregnancy

Venous thromboembolic disease is a major cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. Virchow's triad of hypercoagulability, venous stasis, and vascular damage all occur during pregnancy. The risk of venous thromboembolism is five to six times higher during pregnancy and the puerperium. Risk factors include age greater than 35, antiphospholipid antibodies, inherited thrombophilias, operative delivery, increased parity, obesity, mechanical heart valves,and family history. Prophylactic and therapeutic anticoagulation is recommended for women at risk. Low molecular weight heparins are safe and effective in most cases.