cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Aqueous high‐temperature chemistry of arsenic‐containing compounds in water at 300°C

Arsenic compounds, and especially organo‐arsenic derivatives, are highly toxic and many have been manufactured as chemical warfare agents. This study was designed to provide background information relevant to the potential application of aquathermolysis techniques for the detoxification of such potent military warfare agents. Six arsenic‐containing compounds with structural features which mimic known agents were studied in neutral superheated water: 4‐aminophenylarsine oxide, 4‐arsanilic acid, 4‐nitrophenylarsonic acid, 5, 10‐dihydro‐10‐ethylphenarsazine, tetraphenylarsonium chloride hydrate, and (3‐cyanopropyl)dimethyl(2‐phenethyl)arsonium bromide. Most of these compounds were moderately susceptible to hydrolysis for 1h at 300°C. o‐ and p‐Aminosubsituted arsenic compounds were more reactive than compounds with an electron‐withdrawing group substituent. Aromatic C—As bonds were more resistant to cleavage than aliphatic C—As bonds.
Cloning and analysis of MART-1/Melan-A human melanoma antigen promoter regions

Abstract The MART-1/Melan-A human melanoma tumor antigen can be recognized by T lymphocytes and appears to be involved in tumor regression. To study the transcriptional regulation of this important gene, the 5′ untranslated (UT) region of the MART-1/Melan-A gene was cloned and sequenced. Human melanoma cell lines were screened for MART-1/Melan-A mRNA expression. Primer extension and northern analysis were performed to confirm the mRNA size and start site. Several overlapping fragments of 5′UT were isolated from genomic DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from the previously described sequence for an additional 700 bp upstream. The fragments isolated (ranging from 838 bp to 160 bp in length) were used to drive luciferase reporter gene expression in melanoma and non-melanoma cell lines. Tissue-specific promoter activity was found in a 233-bp fragment of 5′ UT with an average index of induction of 35 fold. The 233-bp MART-1/Melan-A promoter does not appear to have cytokine (IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, GM-CSF, TNF-α or IFN-γ) responsive elements when studied in transient transfection assays.
FYVE-DSP1, a dual-specificity protein phosphatase containing an FYVE domain.

Dual-specificity protein phosphatases (DSPs) dephosphorylate proteins at Ser/Thr and Tyr. FYVE domain is a double zinc finger motif which specifically binds phosphatidylinositol(3)-phosphate. Here, we report a novel dual specificity phosphatase that contains a FYVE domain at the C-terminus. We designate the protein FYVE-DSP1. Molecular cloning yielded three isoforms of the enzyme presumably derived from alternate RNA splicing. Sequence alignment revealed that the catalytic phosphatase domain of FYVE-DSP1 closely resembled that of myotubularin, while its FYVE domain has all the conserved amino acid residues found in other proteins of the same family. Recombinant FYVE-DSP1 is partitioned in both cytosolic and membrane fractions. It dephosphorylates proteins phosphorylated on Ser, Thr, and Tyr residues and low molecular weight phosphatase substrate para-nitrophenylphosphate. It shows typical characteristics of other DSPs and protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs). These include inhibition by sodium vanadate and pervanadate, pH dependency, and inactivation by mutation of the key cysteinyl residue at the phosphatase signature motif. Finally, PCR analyses demonstrated that FYVE-DSP1 is widely distributed in human tissues but different spliced forms expressed differently.
Segmenting Images Using Localized Histograms and Region Merging

THIS PAPER DESCRIBES A WORKING SYSTEM FOR SEGMENTING IMAGES OF COMPLEX SCENES. THE SYSTEM HAS EVOLVED OUT OF MANY YEARS OF RESEARCH IN LOW-LEVEL IMAGE SEGMENTATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS. SEGMENTATIONS PRODUCED BY THE SYSTEM ARE USED EXTENSIVELY IN THE IMAGE INTERPRETATION WORK HERE. THE SYSTEM FIRST PRODUCES SEGMENTATIONS BASED UPON AN ANALYSIS OF SPATIALLY LOCALIZED FEATURE HISTOGRAMS. THESE SEGMENTATIONS ARE THEN POST-PROCESSED WITH A REGION MERGING ALGORITHM. A SIMPLE EXTENSION OF THE LOCAL HISTOGRAM ALGORITHM TO MULTIPLE FEATURES IS PRESENTED. ISSUES OF PARAMETER SELECTION FOR THE LOCAL HISTOGRAM SEGMENTATION ALGORITHM ARE ADDRESSED BY PRESENTING A MAPPING FROM THE MULTI-DIMENSIONAL PARAMETER SPACE TO A ONE DIMENSIONAL `SENSITIVITY'' SPACE. RESULTS ARE INCLUDED WHICH DEMONSTRATE THE ROBUST CHARACTER OF THE ALGORITHMS WHEN APPLIED TO OUTDOOR AND AERIAL IMAGERY.
Branching of Central Neurons: Intracellular Cobalt Injection for Light and Electron Microscopy

Cobalt chloride can be injected into an identified nerve cell body in an insect ganglion and reacted with ammonium sulfide to stain the soma and its branches with a black precipitate. The stained cell body and its branches throughout the neuropil are visible in both the light and electron microscope. In whole mount preparations, the resolution of neurites within the neuropil is of a quality that permits the comparison of branching patterns between cells and during various functional states.
Fluorometric microassay of plasminogen activators.

Abstract A new method for determining plasminogen activator levels has been developed. Data are presented which demonstrate measurements of trypsin, plasmin, urokinase, and plasminogen activation. The assay is based on the digestion of N-terminal-blocked protamine and subsequent measurement of the exposed amino groups using the fluorogenic amine reagent, Fluram. The soluble substrate provides an assay which is linear with respect to both time and concentration and which is sensitive enough to allow measurements on a microscale. As little as 1 ng of trypsin, 0.002 CTA units (established by the Committee on Thrombolytic Agents of the NIH) of plasmin, and 0.01 CTA units of urokinase can be detected under the conditions described. Interference with the amine determination due to Fluram-positive material found in biological samples is minimized with the high dilutions attainable with the system. Plasminogen activator in the urine of the female mouse can be detected using 1 μl of urine in a 200-μl test system.
Papillary cystadenoma of the broad ligament in von Hippel-Lindau disease

Abstract We present radiologic-pathologic correlation in a case of von Hippel-Lindau disease diagnosed on the basis of the discovery of papillary cystadenoma of wolffian duct origin, a rare calcified tumor of the broad ligament that was visible on the abdominal radiograph.
Imputing Missing Race/Ethnicity in Pediatric Electronic Health Records: Reducing Bias with Use of U.S. Census Location and Surname Data.

Objective To assess the utility of imputing race/ethnicity using U.S. Census race/ethnicity, residential address, and surname information compared to standard missing data methods in a pediatric cohort. Data Sources/Study Setting Electronic health record data from 30 pediatric practices with known race/ethnicity. Study Design In a simulation experiment, we constructed dichotomous and continuous outcomes with pre-specified associations with known race/ethnicity. Bias was introduced by nonrandomly setting race/ethnicity to missing. We compared typical methods for handling missing race/ethnicity (multiple imputation alone with clinical factors, complete case analysis, indicator variables) to multiple imputation incorporating surname and address information. Principal Findings Imputation using U.S. Census information reduced bias for both continuous and dichotomous outcomes. Conclusions The new method reduces bias when race/ethnicity is partially, nonrandomly missing.
Food restriction early or later in life and its effect on adaptability, disease resistance, and immunocompetence of heat‐stressed dwarf and nondwarf chickens

Abstract 1. Dwarf and nondwarf chickens placed under 60% food restriction from either 4 to 6 (early) or 24 to 26 (late) days of age were exposed to high ambient temperatures (35 ± 2°C) from 36 to 43 d of age. 2. As measured by heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratios, stress response to food restriction was similar at both ages for dwarfs while less at the younger than the older age for nondwarfs, resulting in a significant food restriction interaction of genotype by age. 3. Nondwarf chickens food restricted at the younger age had smaller increases in H/L ratios, improved resistance to marble spleen disease infection and greater growth than those restricted at the older age or fed ad libitum in response to the high ambient temperatures. 4. For dwarf chickens feeding regimen had no influence on response to the environmental insults. 5. Antibody response to sheep erythrocyte antigen was not affected by genotype or feeding regimen.
Self-assembled monolayer coating of biological probes to avoid protein adhesion

Probes designed to locally illuminate structures within plant cells are described. The probes studied are etch-sharpened single mode optical fibers, coated with aluminum, similar to probes used for near-field scanning optical microscopy. We find that cellular material adheres to the probes that are not coated with a self-assembled monolayer octadecyltrichlorosilane. The hydrophobic monolayer coating enabled these probes to be inserted into and removed from plant cells with no protein adhesion to the probes. This allows probe reinsertion and it causes less damage to the target cell, greatly facilitating in vivo optical study of cells.
Strategies to reduce youth tobacco use: opportunities for local government.

Published by This issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine examines factors associated with youth tobacco use–a timely topic given that this year is the 50th anniversary of the first Surgeon General’s Report on Tobacco. In 1960, the outlook was grim. The probability that a boy born in 1960 would be smoking by the time he was 20 years old was about 35%. After more than a dozen Surgeon General’s Reports describing the health consequences of tobacco use, the youth smoking rate in 1991 was still 27.5%. To reduce youth and adult tobacco use, states and localities have employed a number of interventions–smoke-free air laws now cover almost half of the U.S. population, and 30 states have cigarette taxes of $1.00 per pack or higher. As a result of these efforts, the youth smoking rate over the last two decades has declined by one third to 18.1% in 2011– much higher than it should be, but a figure that represents considerable progress. Although youth cigarette use has decreased over time, the growing use of other tobacco products threatens to undermine these gains. The research in this issue examines youth use of various products, including hookah, cigars, smokeless tobacco, and e-cigarettes, specifically looking at factors influencing use such as advertising, coupons, warning labels, and perception and curiosity of tobacco products. With the emergence and growing popularity of other tobacco products, localities have seized a number of regulatory opportunities to curb youth tobacco, including limiting access to cigars, limiting exposure to coupons, and increasing the minimum sales age. Cigar use among youth has increased nationally, even surpassing cigarette smoking in some states, because many regulations that apply to cigarettes do not apply to cigars. This loophole has led to the increasing popularity of cigars and little cigars, which are nearly identical to cigarettes except that they are wrapped in brown tobacco
The Dominant Social Paradigm, Consumption, and Environmental Attitudes: Can Macromarketing Education Help?

It has been argued that the dominant social paradigm (DSP) of Western industrial societies is complicit in environmental decline. In the present research, the DSP and its elements and their relation to consumption behavior are first addressed in classes on social responsibility that are taught in a business school. Two quasi-experiments are then conducted using an after-only with control group design (Study 1) and a before—after with control group design (Study 2). In both studies, attitudes of students in the social responsibility classes are compared to control groups of marketing students to determine the effects of instruction on the DSP and environmental attitudes. Findings suggest that lower scores on the DSP for the experimental group result in increased measures of environmental attitudes and perception of change necessary to ameliorate environmental degradation. However, in neither experiment does willingness to change one's own behavior materialize.
The CD9/CD81 Tetraspanin Complex and Tetraspanin CD151 Regulate α3β1 Integrin-Dependent Tumor Cell Behaviors by Overlapping but Distinct Mechanisms

Integrin α3β1 potently promotes cell motility on its ligands, laminin-332 and laminin-511, and this may help to explain why α3β1 has repeatedly been linked to breast carcinoma progression and metastasis. The pro-migratory functions of α3β1 depend strongly on lateral interactions with cell surface tetraspanin proteins. Tetraspanin CD151 interacts directly with the α3 integrin subunit and links α3β1 integrin to other tetraspanins, including CD9 and CD81. Loss of CD151 disrupts α3β1 association with other tetraspanins and impairs α3β1-dependent motility. However, the extent to which tetraspanins other than CD151 are required for specific α3β1 functions is unclear. To begin to clarify which aspects of α3β1 function require which tetraspanins, we created breast carcinoma cells depleted of both CD9 and CD81 by RNA interference. Silencing both of these closely related tetraspanins was required to uncover their contributions to α3β1 function. We then directly compared our CD9/CD81-silenced cells to CD151-silenced cells. Both CD9/CD81-silenced cells and CD151-silenced cells showed delayed α3β1-dependent cell spreading on laminin-332. Surprisingly, however, once fully spread, CD9/CD81-silenced cells, but not CD151-silenced cells, displayed impaired α3β1-dependent directed motility and altered front-rear cell morphology. Also unexpectedly, the CD9/CD81 complex, but not CD151, was required to promote α3β1 association with PKCα in breast carcinoma cells, and a PKC inhibitor mimicked aspects of the CD9/CD81-silenced cell motility defect. Our data reveal overlapping, but surprisingly distinct contributions of specific tetraspanins to α3β1 integrin function. Importantly, some of CD9/CD81's α3β1 regulatory functions may not require CD9/CD81 to be physically linked to α3β1 by CD151.
The use of single-point measurements to characterize dynamic behavior in sprays

In an effort to derive dynamic information from a single-particle counting device such as the phase-Doppler interferometer (PDI), a one-dimensional motion model and a sequential sorting algorithm have been developed to calculate the distance and velocity difference between consecutive droplets in sprays, as well as the number of droplets in close proximity (grouplets) and the frequency of grouplet formation. By focusing on sprays that are primarily uni-directional, this model can be used to highlight dynamic behavior and provide information that may indicate tendencies for clustering, collision, coalescence or evaporation among the droplets – information that is not available when considering the histograms of droplet size and velocity normally produced by PDIs. The motion model and sorting algorithm are validated for a mono-sized droplet stream generated by piezo-electric excitation, and are then applied to two other sprays to determine dynamic behavior. For a pressurized-liquid nozzle emitting water, the expected trends of droplet deceleration and spatial dispersion are found moving away from the exit of the nozzle, and significant in velocity differences between closely-spaced droplet pairs are observed. No dominant frequencies are present in the grouping of the droplets. For a droplet-laden air jet excited at a known frequency, similar results are calculated for droplet spacing, grouping and velocity differences, and the driving frequency is also obtained from analysis of the sequentially-sorted PDI data. Although the models developed assume an idealized PDI system, real operating characteristics of PDI systems place limits on the accuracy of these analyses.
Developing strategic perspectives on business process reengineering: From process reconfiguration to organizational change

Successful business process reengineering (BPR) efforts in many firms have been reported to significantly improve productivity and reduce staff. However, as the reality of large-scale process change sets in and reengineering failures start coming to the forefront, more careful thought must be given to the change process itself, and it is important that senior leaders in the organization develop a high-level strategic perspective on this multifaceted change phenomenon. To help develop this perspective, a process reconfiguration model and a framework of organizational change in BPR are presented in this paper. The process reconfiguration model shows how various functional activities involved in a business process may be reconfigured through a reengineering initiative. Such fundamental reconfigurations may be facilitated by the application of IT as well as a number of innovative organizational changes. Building upon this process reconfiguration model, a framework depicting elements of organizational change associated with BPR is presented. The framework identifies the various sources of changes, elements of change implementation, and the direction of organizational change stemming from BPR. It is hoped that based on this framework, we may be better able to plan and implement the complex process of organizational change associated with BPR.
Nasal cavity deposition, histopathology, and cell proliferation after single or repeated formaldehyde exposures in B6C3F1 mice and F-344 rats☆

Abstract Inhalation exposure for 2 years to 14.3 ppm formaldehyde (HCHO) induced a 50% incidence of squamous cell carcinoma in the nasal cavity of F-344 rats but only a 3.3% incidence in B6C3F1 mice. Since the response was concentration and species dependent, species differences in nasal cavity “dose” were examined as a possible mechanism for the differences in tumor incidence. Naive (nonpretreated) and HCHO-pretreated (6 or 15 ppm, 6 hr/day, 4 days) mice and rats were exposed to HCHO for 6 hr during which respiratory rate and tidal volume were recorded to calculate the theoretical deposition (μg/min/cm2) of HCHO on the nasal epithelium. Species differences in delivered “dose” were further assessed by comparative autoradiography, histopathology, and cell turnover studies. Because mice were better able to reduce minute ventilation upon repeated exposures, they had less HCHO available for deposition than rats, resulting in less tissue damage and a lower rate of cell turnover in the nasal epithelium. The correlation between calculated “dose” and observed nasal toxicity, including nasal tumor incidence, demonstrates that by normalizing the dosimetry to nasal surface area, species differences in nasal toxicity may be better understood.
INTERACTION OF DIBUCAINEHCl LOCAL ANESTHETICS WITH BACTERIORHODOPSIN IN PURPLE MEMBRANE: A SPECTROSCOPIC STUDY

Several spectroscopic techniques (absorption, emission, transient absorption and differential scanning calorimetry--DSC) were used to investigate the deprotonation of dibucaine.HCl in a hydrophobic environment, and the interaction sites and mechanisms of the local anesthetic dibucaine.HCl on bacteriorhodopsin (bR) in purple membrane. The important results are summarized as follows: (1) the visible absorption features of native (lambda max = 568 nm) and deionized (lambda max = 608 nm) bR are sensitive to the amount of dibucaine.HCl added; (2) the emission spectrum of dibucaine.HCl embedded in the retinal-free mutant bR is similar to that of dibucaine free base in Triton X-100 micellar solutions; (3) the phosphorescence emission of dibucaine at 77 K is completely quenched by bR and the fluorescence quenching rate for the incorporated dibucaine.HCl in bR was determined as kq = 4.09 x 10(13) M-1 s-1; (4) the incorporation of dibucaine.HCl in bR inhibits the slow component rate of formation of M412 and decreases the amount of M412 formation in the photochemical cycle of bR; and (5) the thermal stability of native bR was measured by DSC in the presence and absence of dibucaine and yielded an endothermic transition at 95.9 +/- 1.0 degrees C with 13.6 J/g (3.25 +/- 0.12 cal/g) of enthalpy changes. All observations suggest that the action site of the local anesthetic, dibucaine.HCl, is near or at the chromophore, i.e. the retinal Schiff base of bR. The anesthetic action on bR purple membrane is probably via a specific site binding, but not a conformational mechanism.
Identifying and Characterizing Truck Bottlenecks in the U.S. Mississippi Valley Region

Freight movements throughout the Mississippi Valley region of the United States are complicated by the presence of recurring bottlenecks along the highway network. To help the states in the region take appropriate action to address freight bottlenecks, a methodology was developed to identify, characterize, and prioritize the regional freight bottlenecks characterized by significant delays for trucks on a per mile basis. The proposed methodology uses data from the Highway Performance Monitoring System. A prioritized list of regional freight bottlenecks is generated for the Mississippi Valley region to stimulate dialogue among freight planners and operators and to provide a basis to devise optimal alleviation plans for the greatest benefits for the region. The analysis results are verified through a series of qualitative comparisons against bottlenecks identified by state transportation engineers and planners, freight carriers, and previous studies. The general agreement between the findings and these other sources of bottleneck information suggests that the proposed methodology can identify the most prevalent truck bottlenecks while revealing additional locations that warrant further investigation.
Examining the social and scientific roles of invention in science education

I have been drawn to the construct of “invention” and “inventive acts” because in my research involving how homeless children construct science and the self-in-science, an overwhelming theme has been the multiple ways in which self-identity in science has been described by the children through a language of invention. Using post-modern feminism and science and technologies studies, I examine the multiple uses and definitions of “invention” in science in order to develop a theory of invention and inventive acts around the themes: invention as a social act, invention as a recursive and socially linked process, and embodied agency. I use this framework to examine the construct of “invention” in two different case studies involving the science education of urban homeless children. Finally, I link this discussion of invention and inventive acts with current international reform initiatives revolving around constructivist science teaching and learning.
Synthesis and electrochemical property of sulfone-functionalized imidazolium ionic liquid electrolytes

Sulfone-functionalized imidazolium ionic liquids were synthesized from direct nucleophilic substitution for the first time. Detailed NMR analysis of the products revealed the competition pathways of classic SN2 substitution and E2 elimination in the synthesis reaction. Impurities from E2 elimination can easily be overlooked during the conventional method of ionic liquid preparation via SN2 substitution. Initial electrochemical examination of the synthesized ionic liquids shows good compatibility with Li1.1(Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3)0.9O2 cathode material.
Interleaved imaging: an imaging system design inspired by rod-cone vision

Under low illumination conditions, such as moonlight, there simply are not enough photons present to create a high quality color image with integration times that avoid camera-shake. Consequently, conventional imagers are designed for daylight conditions and modeled on human cone vision. Here, we propose a novel sensor design that parallels the human retina and extends sensor performance to span daylight and moonlight conditions. Specifically, we describe an interleaved imaging architecture comprising two collections of pixels. One set of pixels is monochromatic and high sensitivity; a second, interleaved set of pixels is trichromatic and lower sensitivity. The sensor implementation requires new image processing techniques that allow for graceful transitions between different operating conditions. We describe these techniques and simulate the performance of this sensor under a range of conditions. We show that the proposed system is capable of producing high quality images spanning photopic, mesopic and near scotopic conditions.
Plasma and Erythrocyte Amino Acid Concentrations in Anorexia Nervosa

Plasma and erythrocyte amino acid concentrations in seven female patients in the acute stage of anorexia nervosa were compared with values in the same subjects after refeeding, and with normal controls. We also compared these values with literature values from patients with protein-calorie malnutrition and prolonged starvation in an attempt to identify a biological indicator of severity and prognosis. Our data indicate: (1) Routine laboratory analyses that reflect protein status do not differentiate normal subjects from patients with anorexia nervosa. (2) The plasma aminogram in the acute stage of anorexia nervosa differs from normal, and differs from values reported for both protein malnutrition and prolonged starvation. (3) The Whitehead ratio clearly separates the acutely ill anorectic state from the treated state and from normal controls. (4) Both erythrocyte and plasma amino acid concentrations differ from normal in anorexia nervosa, but changes in erythrocyte concentrations are more obvious. (5) Erythrocyte glycine concentrations are unique, in that values were persistently elevated at all stages of illness in anorexia nervosa. (6) Erythrocyte-to-plasma amino acid ratios do not provide a biological index of severity and prognosis for patients with anorexia nervosa, in contrast to data reported for individuals with protein malnutrition.
Distributions and Abundances of Early Life Stages of Fishes in a Florida Lake Dominated by Aquatic Macrophytes

We sampled early life stages of fishes with tow nets and light traps in Orange Lake, Florida, from June 1983 to June 1984. Four habitats were sampled, one open water and three vegetated; vegetated zones were dominated by panic grass Panicum spp., hydrilla Hydrilla verti- cillata, or a community of mixed floating and emergent vegetation. Vegetated zones of any type were important nursery areas for the fish assemblage. Mixed vegetation was an important nursery area for juvenile fish of many species, perhaps due to its structural complexity, and the panic grass was especially important for larvae. Larvae of most species first appeared in Orange Lake at temperatures similar to those at which they appear in temperate lakes, but larvae were present on almost all sampling dates (including those in winter). Larvae of golden shiners Notemigonus cry- soleucas. threadfin shad Dorosoma petenense, and gizzard shad D. cepedianum appeared on earlier dates than in temperate systems. Larvae of individual species were present over a longer period than in temperate systems, reflecting longer spawning seasons in Orange Lake. Habitat use by larvae was variable for several species; larval bluegills Lepomis macrochirus. which are typically considered limnetic, inhabited panic grass and hydrilla, in addition to open water.
Simplification of /s/ + stop consonant clusters: a developmental perspective.

This longitudinal study examined individual patterns and changes in /s/ + stop cluster simplifications of six normally developing children. Subjects produced selected words containing initial voice...
Genetics and molecular biology of rhythms.

Mutations that disrupt biological rhythms have existed in microbial and metazoan eukaryotes for some time. They have recently begun to be studied with increasing intensity, both in terms of phenotypic effects of the relevant genetic variants, and with regard to molecular isolation and analysis of the genes defined by two of the ‘clock mutations’. These genetic loci, called period (per) in Drosophila and frequency (frq) in Neurospora, influence not only the basic characteristics of circadian rhythmicity, but also temperature compensation of such daily cycle durations, ‘re-setting’ of the rhythms' phases, and (for the per mutants) behavioral oscillations associated with much shorter than circadian periodicities. Molecular cloning of Drosophila's per gene, accompanied crucially by the locus's identification in germ-line transformants, has led to information on its expression - temporally, spatially, and in regard to heterogeneity of mRNA types. Nucleotide-sequencing analyses of genomic DNA (and/or cDNA) from normal and mutated per alleles have (1) led to the suggestion that this clock gene encodes a family of proteoglycans (which was further indicated by application of antibody reagents obtained by manipulation of one of the gene's exons); and (2) shown that the three types of per mutations - which shorten or lengthen rhythm periodicities or appear to eliminate them - are associated with interesting amino-acid substitutions or a stop codon, respectively. Analogous molecular findings are awaited from Neurospora, whose frq gene has very recently been cloned and definitively identified, in part via transformation experiments.
SAPTA: a new design tool for improving TALE nuclease activity

Transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) have become a powerful tool for genome editing due to the simple code linking the amino acid sequences of their DNA-binding domains to TALEN nucleotide targets. While the initial TALEN-design guidelines are very useful, user-friendly tools defining optimal TALEN designs for robust genome editing need to be developed. Here we evaluated existing guidelines and developed new design guidelines for TALENs based on 205 TALENs tested, and established the scoring algorithm for predicting TALEN activity (SAPTA) as a new online design tool. For any input gene of interest, SAPTA gives a ranked list of potential TALEN target sites, facilitating the selection of optimal TALEN pairs based on predicted activity. SAPTA-based TALEN designs increased the average intracellular TALEN monomer activity by >3-fold, and resulted in an average endogenous gene-modification frequency of 39% for TALENs containing the repeat variable di-residue NK that favors specificity rather than activity. It is expected that SAPTA will become a useful and flexible tool for designing highly active TALENs for genome-editing applications. SAPTA can be accessed via the website at http://baolab.bme.gatech.edu/Research/BioinformaticTools/TAL_targeter.html.
An analysis of parity violating nuclear effects at low energy

Abstract We present an analysis of parity violating nuclear effects at low energy which attempts to circumvent the uncertainties due to the weak and strong nucleon-nucleon interactions at short distances. Extending Danilov's parametrization of the parity violating nucleon-nucleon scattering amplitude, we introduce six parameters: one for the long range contribution due to the pion exchange and five for the shorter range contributions. This choice gives an accurate representation of parity violating effects in the nucleon-nucleon system up to a lab energy of 75 MeV. For calculations in nuclei, we derive an effective two-body potential in terms of the parameters. The analysis of presently measured effects shows that they are consistent, and, in particular, that the circular polarization of photons in n + p → d + γ is not incompatible with the other measurements. It does not imply a dominant isotensor component.
The SRC-associated protein CUB Domain-Containing Protein-1 regulates adhesion and motility

Multiple SRC-family kinases (SFKs) are commonly activated in carcinoma and appear to have a role in metastasis through incompletely understood mechanisms. Recent studies have shown that CDCP1 (CUB (complement C1r/C1s, Uegf, Bmp1) Domain-Containing Protein-1) is a transmembrane protein and an SRC substrate potentially involved in metastasis. Here we show that increased SFK and CDCP1 tyrosine phosphorylation is, surprisingly, associated with a decrease in FAK phosphorylation. This appears to be true in human tumors as shown by our correlation analysis of a mass spectrometric data set of affinity-purified phosphotyrosine peptides obtained from normal and cancer lung tissue samples. Induction of tyrosine phosphorylation of CDCP1 in cell culture, including by a mAb that binds to its extracellular domain, promoted changes in SFK and FAK tyrosine phosphorylation, as well as in PKC(TM), a protein known to associate with CDCP1, and these changes are accompanied by increases in adhesion and motility. Thus, signaling events that accompany the CDCP1 tyrosine phosphorylation observed in cell lines and human lung tumors may explain how the CDCP1/SFK complex regulates motility and adhesion.
Application and variance based sensitivity analysis of surfactant-polymer flooding using modified chemical flood predictive model

Abstract We study the performance and behavior of surfactant–polymer (SP or micellar–polymer, MP) flooding enhanced oil recovery (EOR) using an analytical chemical flood predictive model (CFPM). The research has two parts based on the deterministic and the stochastic nature of the problem. In a deterministic study, the SP flood performance (ultimate recovery efficiency and oil-rate vs. time) of TORIS reservoir database (the Tertiary Oil Recovery Information System) was predicted using the modified CFPM. Results helped to determine the best candidates for SP flooding based on each reservoir's rock and fluid properties. From there we can determine the effect of different parameters (reservoir rock and fluid properties, injection design variables) on ultimate recovery efficiency and peak oil rate of an SP flood, which gives good clues about the sensitivity of output results to different input parameters. Stochastic study helps to recognize the behavior of the model under uncertain inputs. We used a variance-based sensitivity analysis (SA) method known as Winding Stairs (WS), which needs much fewer runs than traditional Monte-Carlo (MC) and Latin Hypercube methods. The results of the SA method facilitate identifying the most important sources of uncertainty of SP floods either through direct influences or interactions with other parameters. Based on these results we can reduce the uncertainty of output results of SP flood significantly by reducing the uncertainty of the input parameters that cause the largest uncertainty.
Assessing risks and opportunities of technology infusion in system design

Most new technologies only deliver value once they are infused into a parent system. While the literature on innovation itself is abundant, there is a lack of understanding and methodology in terms of evaluating both the risks and opportunities of new technologies not in isolation, but in terms of their integration into a parent system in a wider regulatory and competitive context. This paper presents a technology infusion assessment methodology to quantify the potential performance benefits of new technologies using multiobjective Pareto analysis. Moreover, the costs of infusing new technologies are also considered using the concept of architectural invasiveness relative to a baseline system. The degree of invasiveness of different system architectures is related to the amount of design change required to accommodate the new technology. This is quantified with a component-based change Design Structure Matrix (DSM). Risks and opportunities are quantified by evaluating the utility of future benefits and costs of a new technology against uncertain exogenous variables such as gains made by competing technologies and potential future regulatory actions. The technology infusion methodology is demonstrated for a hydrogen-enhanced combustion engine, where the effects of integrating a plasma fuel reformer are quantified and discussed in terms of fuel economy, NOx emissions, and add-on vehicle costs. The methodology is generally applicable to support quantitative analysis of technology infusion problems in system design. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Eng 10: 1– 25, 2007
Air stable n-doping of WSe2 by silicon nitride thin films with tunable fixed charge density

Stable n-doping of WSe2 using thin films of SiNx deposited on the surface via plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition is presented. Positive fixed charge centers inside SiNx act to dope WSe2 thin flakes n-type via field-induced effect. The electron concentration in WSe2 can be well controlled up to the degenerate limit by simply adjusting the stoichiometry of the SiNx through deposition process parameters. For the high doping limit, the Schottky barrier width at the metal/WSe2 junction is significantly thinned, allowing for efficient electron injection via tunneling. Using this doping scheme, we demonstrate air-stable WSe2 n-MOSFETs with a mobility of ∼70 cm2/V s.
Adaptation to prolonged food deprivation in the pigeon

Three groups of pigeons were maintained at 70% of their free-feeding weights for 0, 50, or 100 days. All groups were then totally deprived of food. Ss exposed to the 70% deprivation for 50 and 100 days lived longer and lost a greater percent of their original body weights before dying than did Ss deprived for 0 days.
Bacteria Entombed in the Center of Cholesterol Gallstones Induce Fewer Infectious Manifestations than Bacteria in the Matrix of Pigment Stones

The clinical significance of bacteria in the pigment centers of cholesterol stones is unknown. We compared the infectious manifestations and characteristics of bacteria from pigment stones and predominantly cholesterol stones. Three hundred forty patients were studied. Bile was cultured. Gallstones were cultured and examined with scanning electron microscopy. Level of bacterial immunoglobulin G (bile, serum), complement killing, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha production were determined. Twenty-three percent of cholesterol stones and 68% of pigment stones contained bacteria (P < 0.0001). Stone culture correlated with scanning electron microscopy results. Pigment stone bacteria were more often present in bile and blood. Cholesterol stone bacteria caused more severe infections (19%) than sterile stones (0%), but less than pigment stone bacteria (57%) (P < 0.0001). Serum and bile from patients with cholesterol stone bacteria had less bacterial-specific immunoglobulin G. Cholesterol stone bacteria produced more slime. Pigment stone bacteria were more often killed by a patient’s serum. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha production of the groups was similar. Bacteria are readily cultured from cholesterol stones with pigment centers, allowing for analysis of their virulence factors. Bacteria sequestered in cholesterol stones cause infectious manifestations, but less than bacteria in pigment stones. Possibly because of their isolation, cholesterol stone bacteria were less often present in bile and blood, induced less immunoglobulin G, were less often killed by a patient’s serum, and demonstrated fewer infectious manifestations than pigment stone bacteria. This is the first study to analyze the clinical relevance of bacteria within cholesterol gallstones.
The Landau-Zener model for electron capture by highly charged ions in collisions with atomic hydrogen

Abstract The two-state Landau-Zener model with rotational and degenerate Stark-effect coupling has been formulated to yield cross sections Q n m for populating Rydberg substates ¦ n m > of the one electron projectile ion P ( Z − 1)+ the transfer reaction P z+ + H(1s) → P (Z − 1)+ ( n m + H + , where P Z + represents a bare projectile ion. Total cross sections agree well with experiment and more elaborate calculations but the l -distributions exhibit some discrepancies at high velocities.
Type 1 diabetes mellitus.

1. Justin M. Gregory, MD* 2. Daniel J. Moore, MD, PhD† 3. Jill H. Simmons, MD‡ 1. *Pediatric Endocrinology Clinical Fellow, Ian Burr Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN. 2. †Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Assistant Professor of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Ian Burr Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN. 3. ‡Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Ian Burr Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN. * ADA: : American Diabetes Association DKA: : diabetic ketoacidosis HbA1c: : glycosylated hemoglobin I:C ratio: : insulin-to-carbohydrate ratio IV: : intravenous TDD: : total daily dose T1DM: : type 1 diabetes mellitus T2DM: : type 2 diabetes mellitus 1. All children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) should have their blood sugar managed with basal-bolus insulin treatment by either multiple daily injections or an insulin pump. 2. All children with T1DM should have access to a pediatric endocrinologist with a diabetes management team with resources to support patients and families. 3. All children with T1DM should be monitored for symptoms and/or screened for commonly associated conditions such as thyroid and celiac disease. After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Recognize the presenting signs and symptoms of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). 2. Know the key principles of effective diabetes self-management and the diabetes care team’s role in facilitating effective self-management. 3. Know the acute and chronic complications of (T1DM). 4. Identify how different categories of insulin analogues are used in daily insulin regimens. True, it is a fight, but there is pleasure in the struggle. Victory comes to the courageous; and without courage and common sense, success awaits no one. I look upon the diabetic as charioteer and his chariot as drawn by three steeds named Diet, Insulin, and Exercise. It takes skill to drive one horse, intelligence to manage a team of two, but a man must be a very good teamster who can get all three to pull together.EP Joslin, 1933 Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a disorder of glucose homeostasis characterized by autoimmune destruction of the insulin-producing pancreatic β-cell that progressively leads to insulin deficiency and resultant hyperglycemia. If left untreated, insulin deficiency leads to progressive metabolic derangement, with worsening hyperglycemia, ketoacidosis, starvation, and death. In …
A review of the cicada genus Semia Matsumura (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Cicadini)

Abstract The cicada genus Semia Matsumura from East Asia is taxonomically reviewed. Pomponia lachna Lei and Chou and Terpnosia majuscula Distant are transferred to Semia to become Semia lachna (Lei and Chou) comb. nov. and Semia majuscula (Distant) comb. nov. A revised description of Semia is provided. Diagnoses and synonymic lists for the four species of Semia are provided. A key to the four Semia species is also provided.
Pain management for elderly patients with cancer at home

Background. Pain is an important problem for patients with cancer and is particularly important for elderly patients with cancer and their family care givers. Increasingly, cancer is managed on an outpatient basis with pain management responsibility assumed by the family at home. This study evaluated a structured pain education program that included three components: basic pain management principles and assessment, pharmacologic interventions, and nondrug treatments. Methods. The pain education intervention was implemented across three home visits with two paints of follow-up evaluation. Outcomes of the 66 elderly patients with cancer completing the educational program included measures of quality of life, patient knowledge and attitudes regarding pain, and use of a self-care log to document drug and nondrug interventions and their effectiveness
Egg hypersensitivity and adverse reactions to measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine

We evaluated the safety of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) combination vaccine in 140 children with egg hypersensitivity. All children, regardiess of vaccine skin test results or severity of egg hypersensitivity, were safely immunized with the MMR vaccine. Systemic reactions to MMR vaccine in two nonallergic children were documented, indicating that reactions unrelated to egg protein can occur. With the use of a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the standard MMR injection was found to contain approximately 37 pg of ovalbumin-like material. This study provides 95% confidence that at least 97.5% of egg-allergic children will tolerate MMR vaccine without significant difficulty. Skin testing was not found to be helpful in predicting an adverse reaction. We recommend that the American Academy of Pediatrics consider revising its current policy regarding skin test response to MMR vaccine and administration of MMR vaccine to egg-allergic children.
Shear Stiffness of Neoprene Bearing Pads Under Long-Term Loads

This research evaluated the interaction between the shear modulus of steel-reinforced neoprene bearing pads and the shear strain rate. The following interactions related to variations in the shear modulus were investigated for pads with various shape factors: product approval strain rates versus short-term field strain rates, short-term field strain rates versus long-term field strain rates, reduction in shear modulus due to load cycles, and compressive stress. Forty-two tests were performed with test equipment designed to apply a shear strain at a variety of rates (50% shear strain at rates from 45 s to 90 days) while applying a sustained compressive load. Test results indicated that the shear modulus was reduced on average by 7% when tests were performed with the short-term field strain rates of 50% over 12 h instead of the product approval strain rates of 50% over 30 to 60 s, that there was essentially no reduction in shear modulus with long-term field loading rates of 50% over durations up to 90 days ...
EVIDENCE OF AN INHIBITORY EFFECT OF DIET AND EXERCISE ON PROSTATE CANCER CELL GROWTH

Purpose: A high fat diet and sedentary lifestyle may predispose men to prostate cancer through effects on serum factors such as hormones. We evaluated the effects of a low fat, high fiber diet and exercise intervention on serum stimulated growth of established prostate cancer cell lines.Materials and Methods: Fasting serum was obtained from 13 overweight men before and after undergoing an 11-day low fat, high fiber diet and exercise intervention. Serum was also obtained from 8 men who had complied with the regimen for a mean of 14.2 years. Hormone dependent LNCaP and independent PC-3 prostate cancer cell lines were grown in culture medium containing 10% of subject pre-intervention or post-intervention serum and viable cells were counted after 48 hours. Anthropometry, serum free testosterone, lipids and glucose were measured in all subjects.Results: Post-intervention serum from each of the 11-day intervention subjects reduced LNCaP cell growth by a mean of 30% compared with pre-intervention serum from each...
Current status of the role of Cl(-) ion in the oxygen-evolving complex.

This minireview summarizes the current state of knowledge concerning the role of Cl− in the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) of photosystem II (PSII). The model that proposes that Cl− is a Mn ligand is discussed in light of more recent work. Studies of Cl− specificity, stoichiometry, kinetics, and retention by extrinsic polypeptides are discussed, as are the results that fail to detect Cl− ligation to Mn and results that show a lack of a requirement for Cl− in PSII-catalyzed H2O oxidation. Mutagenesis experiments in cyanobacteria and higher plants that produce evidence for a correlation between Cl− retention and stable interactions among intrinsic and extrinsic polypeptides are summarized, and spectroscopic data on the interaction between PSII and Cl− are discussed. Lastly, the question of the site of Cl− action in PSII is discussed in connection with the current crystal structures of the enzyme.