cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Localization of the ATP/Phosphatidylinositol 4,5 Diphosphate-binding Site to a 39-Amino Acid Region of the Carboxyl Terminus of the ATP-regulated K+ Channel Kir1.1

Abstract Intracellular ATP and membrane-associated phosphatidylinositol phospholipids, like PIP2(PI(4,5)P2), regulate the activity of ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) and Kir1.1 channels by direct interaction with the pore-forming subunits of these channels. We previously demonstrated direct binding of TNP-ATP (2′,3′-O-(2,4,6-trinitrophenylcyclo-hexadienylidene)-ATP) to the COOH-terminal cytosolic domains of the pore-forming subunits of Kir1.1 and Kir6.x channels. In addition, PIP2 competed for TNP-ATP binding on the COOH termini of Kir1.1 and Kir6.x channels, providing a mechanism that can account for PIP2 antagonism of ATP inhibition of these channels. To localize the ATP-binding site within the COOH terminus of Kir1.1, we produced and purified maltose-binding protein (MBP) fusion proteins containing truncated and/or mutated Kir1.1 COOH termini and examined the binding of TNP-ATP and competition by PIP2. A truncated COOH-terminal fusion protein construct, MBP_1.1CΔC170, containing the first 39 amino acid residues distal to the second transmembrane domain was sufficient to bind TNP-ATP with high affinity. A construct containing the remaining COOH-terminal segment distal to the first 39 amino acid residues did not bind TNP-ATP. Deletion of 5 or more amino acid residues from the NH2-terminal side of the COOH terminus abolished nucleotide binding to the entire COOH terminus or to the first 49 amino acid residues of the COOH terminus. PIP2 competed TNP-ATP binding to MBP_1.1CΔC170 with an EC50 of 10.9 μm. Mutation of any one of three arginine residues (R188A/E, R203A, and R217A), which are conserved in Kir1.1 and KATP channels and are involved in ATP and/or PIP2 effects on channel activity, dramatically reduced TNP-ATP binding to MBP_1.1ΔC170. In contrast, mutation of a fourth conserved residue (R212A) exhibited slightly enhanced TNP-ATP binding and increased affinity for PIP2 competition of TNP-ATP (EC50 = 5.7 μm). These studies suggest that the first 39 COOH-terminal amino acid residues form an ATP-PIP2 binding domain in Kir1.1 and possibly the Kir6.x ATP-sensitive K+ channels.
Causal constraints on the nuclear equation of state

Abstract The constraints imposed by causality on the nuclear equation of state at high density and temperature are examined for various phenomenological and Skyrme interactions. For the SIII interaction the interaction the adiabatic speed of sound becomes superluminal at 3.9 and 3.6 times normal nuclear density for internal energies of zero and 200 MeV per nucleon, respectively. For the more recent SkM ∗ force the corresponding numbers are 9.3 and 7.8. For the Sierk-Nix equation of state which was designed to be consistent with causality at infinite density and zero temperature, the speed of sound may become superluminal at high temperature, but only at very high density.
N=2 supersymmetric GUT breaking on T2 orbifolds

Abstract We study the 6-dimensional N =2 supersymmetric grand unified theories with gauge group SU ( N ) and SO ( M ) on the extra space orbifolds T 2 /( Z 2 ) 3 and T 2 /( Z 2 ) 4 , which can be broken down to the 4-dimensional N =1 supersymmetric SU (3)× SU (2)× U (1) n −3 model for the zero modes. We also study the models which have two SU (2) Higgs doublets (zero modes) from the 6-dimensional vector multiplet. We give the particle spectra, present the fields, the number of 4-dimensional supersymmetry and gauge group on the observable 3-brane or 4-brane and discuss some phenomenology for those models. Furthermore, we generalize our procedure for (4+ m )-dimensional N supersymmetric GUT breaking on the space–time M 4 × T m /( Z 2 ) L .
Meta-sulfurpentafluorophenyl Diethyl Phosphate and Meta-sulfurpentafluorophenyl N-methylcarbamate as Insecticides and Anticholinesterases

A new electron withdrawing group, m -sulfurpentafluoride, was evaluated for its influence on the insect toxicity of substituted-phenyl diethyl phosphates and substituted-phenyl N -methyl-carbamates to the house fly ( Musca domestica L.). The toxicity of the compounds incorporating this grouping was in excellent agreement with theoretical values predicted from the Hammett equation, again demonstrating the value of the physical-organic approach to biochemistry and toxicology.
Defects of the clotting mechanism in blood dyscrasias and their significance in oral surgery.

Abstract The defects that hinder effective blood coagulation are nearly always due to either lack of a plasma coagulation factor or a serious diminution or absence of platelets. Information concerning this is usually volunteered by the patient or readily obtained from a history, and often it is obtained from inspection of the patient. Confirmation and more detailed data can be learned from routine and easily performed laboratory tests. Any surgical treatment afforded these patients should be as conservative as possible and should be performed only to give relief obtainable in no other way. They should be premedicated in order to correct the specific abnormality as much as possible, and procedures should be performed with the greatest possible care. Adequate precautions to prevent postoperative infection are essential. Frequently, a period of postoperative bleeding is to be expected, and sufficient preparations to control this and to compensate for it should be made in advance. Finally, each case of a patient suffering from one of the foregoing diseases will present its own special problems in addition to those discussed here or in the literature. Their proper resolution is dependent upon the good clinical judgment and knowledge of the practitioner.
Induction and genetic regulation of mouse hepatic cytochrome P450 by cannabidiol

Cannabidiol (CBD) has been shown to be a selective inactivator of cytochromes P450 (P450s) 2C and 3A in the mouse and, like many P450 inactivators, it can also induce P450s after repeated administration. The inductive effects of CBD on mouse hepatic P450s 2B, 3A, and 2C were determined using cDNA probes, polyclonal antibodies, and specific functional markers. P450 2B10 mRNA was increased markedly after repeated CBD administration and correlated well with increased P450 2B immunoquantified content and functional activity. On the other hand, although the 2-fold increase in P450 3A mRNA detected after repeated CBD administration was consistent with the increased immunoquantified P450 3A protein content, the lack of an observable increase in P450 3A-specific functional activity suggested subsequent inactivation of the induced P450 3A. Repeated CBD treatment increased P450 2C mRNA content 2-fold, but did not increase either the P450 2C immunoquantified content or its functional activity. The effect of CBD treatment on the ability of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to induce P450 2B was also determined. A THC dose that did not induce P450 2B significantly was administered alone or in combination with a CBD dose that markedly inactivated P450s 2C- and 3A but submaximally increased P450 2B functional activity. The combination of THC and CBD did not increase P450 2B-catalyzed activity significantly over that observed after CBD treatment alone. Thus, prior CBD-mediated P450 inactivation does not appear to increase the ability of THC to induce P450 2B. To further characterize the relationship between P450 inactivation and induction, several structurally diverse CBD analogs with varying P450 inactivating potentials were tested for their ability to induce P450 2B. At least one CBD analog that is an effective P450 inactivator failed to induce P450 2B, while at least one CBD analog that is incapable of inactivating P450 was found to be a very good P450 2B inducer. It therefore appears that inherent structural features of the CBD molecule rather than its ability to inactivate P450 determine P450 2B inducibility. The complex effects of CBD treatment on P450 inactivation and induction have the potential to influence the pharmacological action of many clinically important drugs known to be metabolized by these various P450s. The mechanism of CBD-mediated P450 induction remains to be elucidated but does not appear to be related to CBD-mediated P450 inactivation.
The use of the recall in American cities

It is very doubtful if there have been more than 120 municipal recall elections in the 1500 cities in which the right of recall exbts.
Chemical Signaling among Bacteria and Its Inhibition

Generations of chemists and biologists have conducted research on natural products and other metabolites produced by bacteria and other microorganisms. This has led to an explosion in knowledge concerning the mechanism by which such natural products are made, ultimately allowing custom redesign of many of these molecules for increased potency and selectivity as therapeutic drugs. Along the way, scientists have begun to appreciate that the bacterial world is teeming with life on a scale hardly conceivable, with constant communication within the bacterial world and with outside neighbors, such as plants and mammals. Only in recent years have some of the signaling molecules that comprise these elaborate forms of communication been characterized in any sort of chemical detail, which has in turn peaked interest in the intricate biology of this micro-world and its interactions with the macro-world.
Full-Lagrangian schemes for dynamic analysis of electrostatic MEMS

Dynamic analysis of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) is characterized by the nonlinear coupling of electrical and mechanical domains. The nonlinear coupling between the two domains gives rise to several interesting dynamic phenomena besides the well established pull-in phenomenon in electrostatic MEMS. For proper understanding and detailed exploration of MEMS dynamics, it is important to have a reliable and efficient physical level simulation method. In this paper, we develop relaxation and Newton schemes based on a Lagrangian description of both the mechanical and the electrical domains for the analysis of MEMS dynamics. The application of a Lagrangian description for both mechanical and electrostatic analysis makes this method far more efficient than standard semi-Lagrangian scheme-based analysis of MEMS dynamics. A major advantage of the full-Lagrangian scheme is in the accurate computation of the interdomain coupling term (mechanical to electrical) in the Jacobian matrix of the Newton scheme which is not possible with a semi-Lagrangian scheme. The full-Lagrangian based relaxation and Newton schemes have been validated by comparing simulation results with published data for cantilever and fixed-fixed MEM beams. The Newton scheme has been used for the dynamic analysis of two classes of comb-drives widely used in MEMS, namely, transverse and lateral comb-drives. Several interesting MEM dynamic phenomena and their possible applications have been presented. Spring-hardening and softening of MEM devices has been shown. The existence of multiple resonant peaks in MEM devices has been analyzed under different electrical signals and their possible applications in multiband/passband MEM filters/oscillators is discussed. Switching speed is a serious constraint for capacitive based RF-MEM switches. We have shown that a DC bias along with an ac bias at the resonant frequency can give very fast switching at a considerably less peak power requirement.
ANATOMICAL VARIATION IN THE POSITION OF THE PROXIMAL INTERCOSTAL NERVE

Anatomical study of the proximal intercostal nerve in cadavers revealed three nerve forms, depending on the relation between the nerve and adjacent ribs. This was found in the classical subcostal position in 16.6%, in the midzone in 73% and in the inferior supracostal position in 10%.
Improved centroids estimation for the nearest shrunken centroid classifier

Motivation: The nearest shrunken centroid (NSC) method has been successfully applied in many DNA-microarray classification problems. The NSC uses ‘shrunken’ centroids as prototypes for each class and identifies subsets of genes that best characterize each class. Classification is then made to the nearest (shrunken) centroid. The NSC is very easy to implement and very easy to interpret, however, it has drawbacks. Results: We show that the NSC method can be interpreted in the framework of LASSO regression. Based on that, we consider two new methods, adaptive L∞-norm penalized NSC (ALP-NSC) and adaptive hierarchically penalized NSC (AHP-NSC), with two different penalty functions for microarray classification, which improve over the NSC. Unlike the L1-norm penalty used in LASSO, the penalty terms that we consider make use of the fact that parameters belonging to one gene should be treated as a natural group. Numerical results indicate that the two new methods tend to remove irrelevant genes more effectively and provide better classification results than the L1-norm approach. Availability: R code for the ALP-NSC and the AHP-NSC algorithms are available from authors upon request. Contact: [email protected] Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
The wake from a cylinder subjected to amplitude-modulated excitation

Controlled, amplitude-modulated excitation of a cylinder at low Reynolds number ( Re equals; 136) in the cross-stream direction generates several states of response of the near wake including: a locked-in wake structure, which is periodic at the modulation frequency; a period-doubled wake structure, which is periodic at a frequency half the modulation frequency; and a destabilized structure of the wake, which is periodic at the modulation frequency, but involves substantial phase modulations of the vortex formation relative to the cylinder displacement. The occurrence of each of these states depends upon the dimensionless modulation frequency, as well as the nominal frequency and amplitude of excitation. Transition through states of increasing disorder can be attained by either decreasing the modulation frequency or increasing the amplitude of excitation at a constant value of nominal frequency. These states of response in the near wake are crucial in determining whether the far wake is highly organized or incoherent. Both of these extremes are attainable by proper selection of the parameters of excitation.
Predicting species distributions across the Amazonian and Andean regions using remote sensing data

Aim We explore the utility of newly available optical and microwave remote sensing data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and QuikSCAT (QSCAT) instruments for species distribution modelling at regional to continental scales. Using eight Neotropical species from three taxonomic groups, we assess the extent to which remote sensing data can improve predictions of their geographic distributions. For two bird species, we investigate the specific contributions of different types of remote sensing variables to the predictions and model accuracy at the regional scale, where the benefits of the MODIS and QSCAT satellite data are expected to be most significant. Location South America, with a focus on the tropical and subtropical Andes and the Amazon Basin. Methods Potential geographic distributions of eight species, namely two birds, two mammals and four trees, were modelled with the maxent algorithm at 1-km resolution over the South American continent using climatic and remote sensing data separately and combined. For each species and model scenario, we assess model performance by testing the agreement between observed and simulated distributions across all thresholds and, in the case of the two focal bird species, at selected thresholds. Results Quantitative performance tests showed that models built with remote sensing and climatic layers in isolation performed well in predicting species distributions, suggesting that each of these data sets contains useful information. However, predictions created with a combination of remote sensing and climatic layers generally resulted in the best model performance across the three taxonomic groups. In Ecuador, the inclusion of remote sensing data was critical in resolving the known geographically isolated populations of the two focal bird species along the steep Amazonian–Andean elevational gradients. Within remote sensing subsets, microwave-based data were more important than optical data in the predictions of the two bird species. Main conclusions Our results suggest that the newly available remote sensing data (MODIS and QSCAT) have considerable utility in modelling the contemporary geographical distributions of species at both regional and continental scales and in predicting range shifts as a result of large-scale landuse change.
Contemporary Clinical Opioid Use: Opportunities and Challenges

Opiate analgesics have been used by humans for thousands of years and are the longest continuously used class of medications. The recent increased interest in opiates (drugs derived from opium) and opioids (more generally, any natural or synthetic drug that binds to an opioid receptor) has evolved largely from 5 directions: (1) advances in the design of new opioid receptor agonist and antagonist drugs; (2) expansion and innovation in methods of drug delivery; (3) increased public awareness of pain management options and the appropriateness of aggressively treating pain (eg, declaration of pain as the “fifth vital sign”1 and pain relief as a fundamental human right2); (4) growing recognition of the serious consequences of opioid misuse, misadventure, and addiction; and (5) medicolegal aspects of practitioners' prescribing practices and legal prosecution for “overprescribing.” These and related issues are addressed in 4 articles and 1 additional editorial in the current issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Specifically, Passik3 discusses long-term prescription opioid therapy; Argoff and Silvershein4 address the use of long- vs short-acting opioids for treating chronic noncancer pain; Smith5 reviews opioid metabolism; and Berge et al6 discuss chemical dependency in physicians, with a focus on opioids. In their editorial, Oreskovich and Caldeiro7 discuss whether select groups of health care professionals, such as anesthesiologists, have unacceptably poor outcomes after initial opioid addiction and whether this should dictate policies of rehabilitation and possible return to clinical practice.
Fear of Crime in the United States: A Multivariate Analysis

Fear of crime in the United States has become a problem as serious as crime itself. Many commentators have pointed out that fear is greatly out of proportion to the objective probability of being victimized. But to date, few multivariate analyses of fear of crime have been undertaken. The present research moves in this direction by combining and analyzing two national samples from 1973 and 1974 in regard to fear (n = 2,700). We employed five variables central to the victimization literature-sex, race, age, socioeconomic status, and community size. Multivariate Nominal Scale Analysis (MNA) was employed to assess the independent ability of each variable to predict respondents who indicated a fear of crime (42 %) and those who did not (58 %/6). Findings indicated that sex and city size are strong predictors of fear. Age and race were somewhat less important than has generally been supposed and the socioeconomic variables, income and education, had small effects. Merely on the basis of this system of explanatory variables, however, it was possible to classify correctly almost 72 percent of the entire sample in regard to fear. Implications of this high explanatory power as well as limitations of the analysis are presented and discussed.
Public Goods, Private Interests, and Representation

We estimate a model of House members' roll call voting decisions embodying some hypotheses about representation, including estimates of the influence of district opinion on broad collective issues relative to personal economic interests, of the effect of electoral security on constituency responsiveness, and of the difference in constituency and party voting among Republicans and Democrats. This model is estimated with votes taken during deliberations on the 1978 Tax Reform Act, important because it was a significant change from the tax reforms passed in the late 1960s and 1970s, marked the first appearance of the Kemp-Roth proposed tax cut, and represented a concerted effort by Republicans to make tax policy a broad national issue. Findings indicate that constituent preferences for redistribution are important influences on representatives' decisions and that Republicans exhibited a greater degree of party voting than the Democrats while the Democrats better represented their constituent's preferences.
Distribution of continental surface aerosol extinction based on visual range data

The global continental haze pattern was evaluated based on daily average visibility data at 7000 surface weather stations over "ve years, 1994}98. The data processing consisted of three broad categories of "lters: (1) validity of individual data points, (2) "lters based on statistics for speci"c stations, and (3) "lters based on spatial analysis. The data are presented as the aerosol extinction coe$cient (Bext or haze) at the surface, seasonally aggregated over "ve years. The data reveal that the continental haze is concentrated over distinct aerosol regions of the world. The haziest regions of Asia are the Indian subcontinent, eastern China, and Indochina where the 75 percentile seasonal Bext exceeds 0.4 km~1. In Africa, the highest year around extinction coe$cient’0.4 km~1 is found over Mauritania, Mali and Niger. During December, January, February, the savanna region of sub-Saharan Africa shows similar values. The haziest region of South America is over Bolivia, adjacent to the Andes mountain range, with a peak during August}November (0.4}0.6 km~1). In North America and Europe, there are isolated haze pockets, such as the San Joaquin Valley in California and the Po River Valley in the northern Italy. In many regions of the world the size, shape, and intensity of hazy pockets is determined by the topographic barriers. A major quali"cation of this work is that the haze maps are based on daily average visibility which emphasizes humid regions with hygroscopic aerosols (nighttime peak Bext) and de-emphasizes arid, dusty regions with daytime maximum extinction. Regional haze episodes over several continental aerosol regions are illustrated by truecolor rendering of the re#ectance data from the SeaWiFS satellite. ( 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Phase equilibrium computational algorithms of continuous mixtures

Abstract Two continuous mixture phase equilibrium algorithms which can be used for vapor—liquid equilibrium calculation involving very-many-component fluid mixtures are proposed. The algorithms are applied to the case of simulated gas-condensate systems with analytical results. The proposed continuous mixture techniques reduce the required computer time significantly while they retain accuracy of the predictions. In addition, the proposed continuous mixture algorithms are applicable to varieties of multicomponent mixtures, equations of state, and mixing rules.
CYTOKINES IN ALLERGIC BRONCHOPULMONARY ASPERGILLOSIS

Asthma is clinically characterized as a disease manifested as reversible or mostly reversible bronchial obstruction with cough and wheeze accompanied by hyperresponsiveness of the airways to a variety of irritant triggers, including allergens. The current concept of asthma is that it is a unique cellular immune response responsible for the characteristic pathophysiologic and clinical manifestations. The recruitment and activation of helper T cells and production of their unique family of cytokines network in concert to increase the production of immunoglobulin E (IgE) and enhance the recruitment and activation of eosinophils and differentiation of mast cells, leading to the pathologic expression of asthma. The concerted effect of vasoactive and spasmogenic mediators, along with chemoattractant molecules, active enzymes, and the unique granule proteins of eosinophils and mast cells, leads to the development of the characteristic physiologic picture associated with asthma. This article focuses on the role of cytokines in precipitating the allergic cascade in allergic asthma with particular emphasis on allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA). Very few reports are available on the role of cytokines in human ABPA. In the past few years, however, a number of animal models of ABPA have been described. Here we have compiled the salient findings of these studies. The sequence of the inflammatory cascade has been elucidated in studies of allergen bronchoprovocation in atopic individuals. Allergic individuals, when challenged with specific allergenic proteins, develop an acute bronchoconstrictive event and recover spontaneously, only to manifest a second, more prolonged and persistent bronchoconstriction. 5 During the early phase, histamine, prostaglandin D2, leukotriene C4, and platelet-activating factor release are accompanied by increased mucous secretion; a brisk infiltration of eosinophils is added and an influx of CD4+ T lymphocytes can be demonstrated at 24 to 48 hours. 4,20 ABPA occurs primarily in patients with asthma or with cystic fibrosis (CF) and is characterized by a variety of clinical and immunologic responses to antigens of Aspergillus fumigatus , a ubiquitous fungus that colonizes the bronchial tree of patients. 3,27 Some immunologic manifestations are (1) peripheral blood and pulmonary eosinophilia, (2) immediate cutaneous reactivity to Aspergillus antigen, (3) elevated total serum IgE, (4) precipitating antibody to A. fumigatus , (5) elevated serum IgE and IgG antibodies to Aspergillus compared with sera from patients with asthma alone without ABPA, and (6) increased serum interleukin (IL)-2 receptor concentrations. 7 Frequently, hyphae of A. fumigatus grow saprophytically in the bronchial lumen. Bronchiectasis in patients with asthma is proximal, occurring in the central two thirds of lung field on high-resolution examinations.
Polar Production of Interleukin-8 by Mesothelial Cells Promotes the Transmesothelial Migration of Neutrophils: Role of Intercellular Adhesion Molecule–1

Migration of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNL) from the vascular compartment into the pleural space occurs rapidly during the development of parapneumonic effusions. This study investigated the polarized secretion of interleukin (IL)-8 in activated pleural mesothelial cells (PMC) and the migration of PMNL across resting, activated PMC monolayers. Results show that PMC produce IL-8 in a polar manner. When PMC were stimulated with Staphylococcus aureus or IL-1beta at the basal or at the apical surface, significantly (P< .05) more IL-8 was released toward the apical surface. This polarized production of IL-8 was confirmed by in situ hybridization. PMNL migration was higher from the basilar to apical than from the apical to basilar surface of PMC. Neutralizing antibodies against IL-8 and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 significantly (P< .001) blocked PMNL migration across activated monolayers. Thus, during pleural inflammation, PMC regulate the influx of PMNL into the pleural space by polar production of IL-8 and expression of ICAM-1.
Injury to the Anterior Cruciate Ligament During Alpine Skiing A Biomechanical Analysis of Tibial Torque and Knee Flexion Angle

Background: The anterior cruciate ligament has been shown to be particularly susceptible to injury during alpine skiing. Tibial torque is an important injury mechanism, especially when applied to a fully extended or fully flexed knee.Purpose: We wanted to record the forces generated in the anterior cruciate ligament with application of tibial torque to cadaveric knees in different positions.Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.Methods: Thirty-seven fresh-frozen cadaveric knees were instrumented with a tibial load cell that measured resultant force in the anterior cruciate ligament while internal and external tibial torques were applied to the tibia at full extension, 90° of flexion, full flexion, and forced hyperflexion.Results: At each knee flexion position, mean force generated by 10 N•m of internal tibial torque was significantly higher than the mean generated by 10 N•m of external tibial torque. Mean forces generated by tibial torque at 90° of flexion were relatively low. During flexion-extension...
Super-resolution of THEMIS thermal infrared data: Compositional relationships of surface units below the 100 meter scale on Mars

Abstract The Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) has provided the highest spatial resolution (100 m/pixel) thermal infrared (TIR) data of the surface of Mars to date. These data have enabled the discovery of many small-scale compositional units and helped to better constrain surface processes operating at these scales. However, with higher-resolution visible (VIS) instruments revealing smaller-scale surficial differences, there exists a need to detect and map compositional variability using TIR data at scales below 100 m. Because it is unlikely there will be a higher-resolution TIR instrument sent to Mars in the near future, creative image processing techniques commonly classified under the umbrella of “super-resolution” can be employed to improve or enhance the spatial resolution of the THEMIS TIR data. These approaches typically integrate another higher-resolution dataset and can either be qualitative for visual appeal, quantitative for data accuracy, or some combination of both. The super-resolution approach presented here produces enhanced TIR images that are radiometrically accurate, but also visually appealing. For the technique to be successfully applied, multi- to hyper-spectral data from two different spectral regions are required (e.g., the THEMIS TIR and VIS datasets). The focus here is to introduce this new super-resolution methodology and demonstrate its ability using existing THEMIS IR and VIS data. The quartzofeldspathic deposit in northern Syrtis Major was selected because of the spectral variability detected using the original IR resolution data and to better constrain the relationship between the small-scale surface morphology and areal extent of the deposit as well as its formation process. Despite being associated with the central peaks of two craters, the results here show no positive correlation between the small rocky outcrops and the quartzofeldspathic unit. A gradational contact exists between the unit and basaltic sands within the intercrater eolian material. The super-resolution approach offers an alternative approach to traditional sub-pixel deconvolution identification and provides a higher-resolution IR dataset for thermophysical and spectral analysis on Mars.
A Review of “The Arms Race in Asia: Trends, Causes and Implications”

The one-hundred-year anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War has been accompanied by a fair bit of public discourse by academics, journalists, and others comparing the international secu...
Where M&A Pays and Where it Strays

How you assess an M&A deal or the whole flow of M&A activity depends on your frame of reference, on beliefs that help you decide whether specific deals represent the average or what statisticians call the tails of the distribution. This frame of reference is a hugely important filter for decision-makers and their advisers, and is typically built on a blend of personal experience, anecdotes, conventional wisdom, and facts. The aim of this chapter is to enrich your frame of reference about success and failure in M&A with the findings of scientific research. Surveyed here are the results of over 130 studies of returns from merger. On average, acquisitions compensate buyers for their cost of funds - in this sense, it appears that M&A pays. But around the average is significant variation in outcomes. This chapter summarizes findings on 18 factors that help to explain the variation in returns to buyers from M&A. One practical implication is that all M&A is local which means that the executive's choices about strategy, deal design, governance, and tailoring of investment opportunities will have a meaningful influence on the success or failure of acquisitions.
Abstract 134: Agonaute 2 Regulates Neurogenesis In Ischemic Neural Progenitor Cells

Background: Molecular mechanisms underlying stroke-induced neurogenesis have not been fully investigated. Argonaute 2 (Ago2) is the central component of RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) that regulates miRNA activities. We investigated the biological functions of Ago2 in neural progenitor cells (NPCs) under normal and ischemic conditions. Methods and Results: Adult rats were subjected to permanent right middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo). Double immunofluorescent data revealed that stroke significantly (p + neuroblasts (doublecortin, DCX + , 31±4 vs 13±4 in non-MCAo control, n=6/group) in the subventricular zone (SVZ). To examine the role of stroke-upregulated Ago2, we selectively attenuated endogenous Ago2 in NPCs isolated from the ischemic SVZ with siRNA. Attenuation of endogenous Ago2 suppressed stroke-induced NPC proliferation (bromodeoxyuridine + , BrdU + cells, 45±3 vs 61±5% in scrambled siRNA group, n=6/group, p + cells (37±5 vs 15±5%, n=6/group, p + cells, 4±1 vs 9±1%, n=6/group, p Conclusion: Our data suggest that Ago2 regulates miRNA biogenesis in NPCs after stroke, which provides new insight into molecular mechanisms of stroke-induced neurogenesis.
Pioneering studies of the "morning-after" pill.

Yale School of Medicine produced the first proof-of-concept study on the viability of a “morning-after” pill for human use. This study was a result of a fruitful collaboration between a pair of Yale scientists, Drs. John M. Morris and Gertrude van Wagenen, who sought a non-abortion, post-coital contraceptive. They tested a variety of hormones, hormone-based synthetic drugs, and other compounds in monkeys in an effort to uncover a compound that was non-toxic but highly effective. Unfortunately, although they were unable to identify such a drug, their initial studies inspired other scientists to further pursue the concept of a “morning-after” pill, leading to the development of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved emergency contraceptives.
Educational Perspectives: Creating an Effective PowerPoint Presentation

This review provides the reader with a comprehensive strategy about how to prepare and deliver a slide presentation by using the most popular software presentation program, Microsoft PowerPoint. With extensive preparation, keen organization, precise formatting, appropriate use of audiovisual aids, and effective delivery, PowerPoint can be a successful tool for teaching. However, if used ineffectively, this technology can prove to be disadvantageous where listeners may succumb to passive learning without critical thinking. This paper will guide novice speakers to refine their presentation skills and will encourage experienced presenters to refresh their presentation approach.
Identification of Soybean Accessions Resistant to Macrophomina phaseolina by Field Screening and Laboratory Validation

Abstract Charcoal rot of soybean, caused by Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goidanich, has been a problem for soybean farmers in the United States for many years. However, recently its incidence an...
Effect of Glyceryl Trinitrate on Pulmonary Vasculature of Anesthetized Dogs.

SummaryThe effect of GTN on the pulmonary vasculature was tested in animals with an intact circulation, with a mechanical pump substituted for the left ventricle and with the pump by-passing the right ventricle. The results of the experiments indicate that in anesthetized dogs the direct effect of GTN in the pulmonary circuit is to decrease pulmonary vascular resistance. The observed increase in pulmonary artery pressure in intact dogs following the injection of GTN is due to increased pulmonary blood flow.
Targeted next-generation sequencing for the detection of ciprofloxacin resistance markers using molecular inversion probes.

Antibiotic resistance (AR) is an epidemic of increasing magnitude requiring rapid identification and profiling for appropriate and timely therapeutic measures and containment strategies. In this context, ciprofloxacin is part of the first-line of countermeasures against numerous high consequence bacteria. Significant resistance can occur via single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and deletions within ciprofloxacin targeted genes. Ideally, use of ciprofloxacin would be prefaced with AR determination to avoid overuse or misuse of the antibiotic. Here, we describe the development and evaluation of a panel of 44 single-stranded molecular inversion probes (MIPs) coupled to next-generation sequencing (NGS) for the detection of genetic variants known to confer ciprofloxacin resistance in Bacillus anthracis, Yersinia pestis, and Francisella tularensis. Sequencing results demonstrate MIPs capture and amplify targeted regions of interest at significant levels of coverage. Depending on the genetic variant, limits of detection (LOD) for high-throughput pooled sequencing ranged from approximately 300–1800 input genome copies. LODs increased 10-fold in the presence of contaminating human genome DNA. In addition, we show that MIPs can be used as an enrichment step with high resolution melt (HRM) real-time PCR which is a sensitive assay with a rapid time-to-answer. Overall, this technology is a multiplexable upfront enrichment applicable with multiple downstream molecular assays for the detection of targeted genetic regions.
The Clinical Correlation Analysis of Serum NSE and Serum Calcium Levels with Neonatal Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy

Objective: To analyze the clinical correlation of serum NSE and serum calcium levels with neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy and to research the effective indicator for the early diagnosis of neonatal HIE.Methods: 62 HIE neonatal were collected,and were divided into mild group,moderate group and severe group,according to the clinical manifestations,and the clinical correlation of dynamic changes of serum NSE and serum calcium levels with the disease severity were analyzed.Results: Serum NSE was respectively positively correlated(P0.05) with the disease severity,serum calcium was negatively correlated(P0.05) with the disease severity;there was a(highly) significant difference(P0.01,P0.05) in the different severity of HIE neonatal;there was a(highly) significant difference(P0.01,P0.05) in the different treatment time.Conclusion: The serum NSE and serum calcium levels were closely related to the neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy,and could be used as the valid indicator in monitoring the neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.
Application of a real-time PCR method for rapid detection of Vibrio vulnificus in oyster

Objective:The aim of this study was to develop a real-time PCR assay for detecting Vibrio vulnificus in raw oysters and evaluate the specificity,sensitivity and accuracy of the assay.Methods:The genomic DNA of sample after 5 h pre-enrichment or without pre-enrichment in 3% NaCl alkaline peptone water was extracted by using two methods(QIAamp DNA mini Kit and boiling lysis assay).Then the primers and probe originated from vvhA gene were designed in order to establish a real time PCR assay.Results:It was a specific assay for Vibrio vulnificus sample,and other bacteria were negative for this reported here.The real-time PCR assay combined with DNA extraction by QIAamp DNA mini Kit is suitable for the detection of Vibrio vulnificus in oyster samples.The detection limit of the method was 1.4 cfu/ml.Conclusion:This study shows that the real-time PCR assay was specific,sensitive and accurate,and it is applicable to rapid detection of Vibrio vulnificus in oyster samples in eight hours.
Angiotensin II receptor antagonists : The prototype losartan

ObjectiveTo describe a new class of antihypertensive agents, the angiotensin II receptor antagonists, with emphasis on the prototype losartan. Pharmacokinetic data and clinical trials are reviewed, as well as adverse reactions, drug interactions, and dosing guidelines.Data SourcesA MEDLINE search of English-language literature published from 1966 through 1995 was performed. In addition, Merck and Co. provided bibliographic data on file for losartan.Study SelectionEmphasis was placed on clinical and pharmacokinetic studies in humans. Controlled, double-blind studies were evaluated to assess the efficacy and adverse effect profile of losartan.Data SynthesisLosartan is a nonpeptide, competitive antagonist of the type 1 angiotensin II receptor. In comparative clinical trials, losartan appears to have antihypertensive efficacy similar to that of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. Losartan is well tolerated, with an adverse effect profile similar to that of placebo and a reduced incidence of co...
Toward a Rational Law and Diplomacy of Straight Baselines

Our review of the genesis of straight baselines in their historical and political context persuades us that it is urgent that this area of the law be subjected to reconsideration. As we have seen, straight baselines have been justified in terms of a number of different functions. In terms of what might be called the maritime zone rationalization function — simplifying and facilitating both mariner respect for and coastal enforcement of maritime zones by “smoothing out” the lines demarking the sequential seaward zones — straight baselines were neither the necessary nor the optimum solution. As a rationalization technique, the arcs of circles method, developed in 1930 by Whittemore Boggs, the then Geographer of the US State Department, which won the approval of geographers and cartographers at The Hague Codification Conference and was formally proposed by the United Kingdom and rejected by the International Court in 1951, would have had much to recommend it, not the least being its relative insusceptibility to abuse.1
Think Different: Accounting as a Systems Theorist—Gender, Race and Class

Intellectual legacy, but not when we recognize Tony Lowe’s inspirations to think deeply, courageously, and differently; aspirations mirroring intersectionality research. Lowe saw the world as created and recreated, and, as a systems theorist, he saw society, organizations and accounting in complex and fascinating ways. Knowledge like a kaleidoscope contains mesmerizing and infinite possibilities and Lowe’s appreciation of the construction of knowledge combined with his systems perspective recognized that even the smallest shifts in a system—from within and without, holds potentiality. Critique and change were his fundamental passions and entreaty for scholarly work; it is thus unsurprising he stimulates re-imagination of the discipline with gender, race and class explorations. Tony Lowe was a change agent, and we acknowledge in this paper his substantive expansion of the discipline. By reviewing past explorations in intersectionality research and illustrating pathways forward, we honor Lowe’s lasting contributions and take seriously his appeal for fostering change.
Asymptomatic Aneurysms and HIV Infection

Aneurysms of major cerebral arteries in two children, aged 11 and 12 years, infected with human immunodeficiency virus from blood transfusions are reported from the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, and Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC.
A Crass Course in Education

As I sift through punk albums from the 1980s, the artwork on the sleeves (not to mention the etched out grooves of analog music within these cardboard gems) brings back memories of resistance, anger, joy, and frustration. The emotional impact is overwhelming. In many instances, the significance of one cover has connections to another.
Energy flow of electric dipole radiation in between parallel mirrors

AbstractWe have studied the energy flow patterns of the radiation emitted by an electric dipole located in between parallel mirrors. It appears that the field lines of the Poynting vector (the flow lines of energy) can have very intricate structures, including many singularities and vortices. The flow line patterns depend on the distance between the mirrors, the distance of the dipole to one of the mirrors and the angle of oscillation of the dipole moment with respect to the normal of the mirror surfaces. Already for the simplest case of a dipole moment oscillating perpendicular to the mirrors, singularities appear at regular intervals along the direction of propagation (parallel to the mirrors). For a parallel dipole, vortices appear in the neighbourhood of the dipole. For a dipole oscillating under a finite angle with the surface normal, the radiating tends to swirl around the dipole before travelling off parallel to the mirrors. For relatively large mirror separations, vortices appear in the pattern. W...
Busy beeway: a game for testing human-automation collaboration for navigation

This study presents Busy Beeway, a mobile game platform to investigate human-automation collaboration in dynamic environments. In Busy Beeway, users collaborate with automation to evade stochastically moving obstacles and reach a series of goals, in game levels of increasing difficulty. We are motivated by the need for reliable navigation aids in stochastic, dynamic environments, which are highly relevant for self-driving vehicles, UAVs, underwater and surface vehicles, and other applications. The proposed mobile game platform is agnostic to the particular algorithm underlying the autonomous system, can be used to evaluate both fully autonomous as well as human-in-the-loop systems, and is easily deployable, for large, remote user studies. This last element is key for rigorous study of human factors in navigation aids. Through a small 32--user study, we evaluate preliminary findings regarding the relative efficacy of collaborative and fully autonomous navigation, the relationship between success rate and users' learned trust in the automation (gathered via pre- and post-experiment surveys), and tolerance to error (for decisions made by the automation and by the user). This study validates the feasibility of Busy Beeway as a platform for human subject studies on human-automation collaboration, and suggests directions for future research in human-aided planning in difficult environments.
Marking the 70th Anniversary of the Doctors' Trial at Nuremberg.

An editorial is presented which addresses the 70th anniversary of the Doctors' Trial at Nuremberg and the establishment of the Nuremberg Code which deals with human rights and dignity in medical research. Several other articles about voluntary informed consent provisions, medical experimentation ethics, and Nazi physicians, which appear in the same issue of the journal, are examined. The abuse of prisoners at the Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay detention centers is assessed.
Identifying robust hysteresis in networks

We present a new modeling and computational tool that computes rigorous summaries of network dynamics over large sets of parameter values. These summaries, organized in a database, can be searched for observed dynamics, e.g., bistability and hysteresis, to discover parameter regimes over which they are supported. We illustrate our approach on several networks underlying the restriction point of the cell cycle in humans and yeast. We rank networks by how robustly they support hysteresis, which is the observed phenotype. We find that the best 6-node human network and the yeast network share similar topology and robustness of hysteresis, in spite of having no homology between the corresponding nodes of the network. Our approach provides a new tool linking network structure and dynamics.
Academic Difficulties Found Within Dysfunctional Family Relationships

Understanding academic difficulties from a family viewpoint focuses on strengths and vulnerabilities of individuals as factors in the pathogenesis of educational problems. It also maintains that family relationship processes are major factors, not only in the location of difficulties within the family, but also in the problem’s intensity. Appreciating how a family functions as an operational system assists in designing new, efficient, and effective intervention strategies for children with academic difficulties.