cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The optimal number of options for multiple-choice questions on high-stakes tests: application of a revised index for detecting nonfunctional distractors

Research suggests that the three-option format is optimal for multiple choice questions (MCQs). This conclusion is supported by numerous studies showing that most distractors (i.e., incorrect answers) are selected by so few examinees that they are essentially nonfunctional. However, nearly all studies have defined a distractor as nonfunctional if it is selected by fewer than 5% of examinees. A limitation of this definition is that the proportion of examinees available to choose a distractor depends on overall item difficulty. This is especially problematic for mastery tests, which consist of items that most examinees are expected to answer correctly. Based on the traditional definition of nonfunctional, a five-option MCQ answered correctly by greater than 90% of examinees will be constrained to have only one functional distractor. The primary purpose of the present study was to evaluate an index of nonfunctional that is sensitive to item difficulty. A secondary purpose was to extend previous research by studying distractor functionality within the context of professionally-developed credentialing tests. Data were analyzed for 840 MCQs consisting of five options per item. Results based on the traditional definition of nonfunctional were consistent with previous research indicating that most MCQs had one or two functional distractors. In contrast, the newly proposed index indicated that nearly half (47.3%) of all items had three or four functional distractors. Implications for item and test development are discussed.
Proximal and Distal Terror Management Defenses: A Systematic Review and Analysis

Abstract The dual-process model of terror management specifies cognitive and behavioral defenses that minimize individuals’ awareness of their mortality. In response to overt mortality reminders, individuals first exhibit proximal defenses: threat-focused efforts to pseudorationally deny or avoid the problem of death. Subsequently, individuals exhibit distal defenses: efforts to maintain faith in a cultural worldview and gain self-esteem, and ultimately procure a symbolic sense of heroic continuance. At both phases, death-related thoughts impose subconscious pressures on the mind, thereby motivating defensive thought and behavior. Ultimately, distal defenses serve to deactivate unconscious death-related thoughts. This chapter reviews extensive evidence for these processes, as well as recent discoveries regarding the provocation of unconscious death-related thoughts, and the relationship between death thought accessibility and emotion. Various remaining research questions are identified.
Regional Unrepresented Patient Advocacy Committee as an Alternative for Decision Making

Acute care hospitals and extended care facilities across the United States care for patients who lack capacity to make medical decisions. When such patients are hospitalized and have no identifiable surrogate
Impact and production of Non-HLA-specific antibodies in solid organ transplantation

Organ transplantation is an effective way to treat end-stage organ disease. Extending the graft survival is one of the major goals in the modern era of organ transplantation. However, long-term graft survival has not significantly improved in recent years despite the improvement of patient management and advancement of immunosuppression regimen. Antibody-mediated rejection is a major obstacle for long-term graft survival. Donor human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-specific antibodies were initially identified as a major cause for antibody-mediated rejection. Recently, with the development of solid-phase-based assay reagents, the contribution of non-HLA antibodies in organ transplantation starts to be appreciated. Here, we review the role of most studied non-HLA antibodies, including angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1 R), K-α-tubulin and vimentin antibodies, in the solid organ transplant, and discuss the possible mechanism by which these antibodies are stimulated.
Policy Progress in Reducing Sodium in the American Diet, 2010-2019.

Most Americans consume dietary sodium exceeding age-specific government-recommended targets of 1,500–2,300 mg/day per person. The majority (71%) of US dietary sodium comes from restaurant and packa...
Microbe-Mineral Interaction and Novel Proteins for Iron Oxide Mineral Reduction in the Hyperthermophilic Crenarchaeon Pyrodictium delaneyi.

ABSTRACT Dissimilatory iron reduction by hyperthermophilic archaea occurs in many geothermal environments and generally relies on microbe-mineral interactions that transform various iron oxide minerals. In this study, the physiology of dissimilatory iron and nitrate reduction was examined in the hyperthermophilic crenarchaeon type strain Pyrodictium delaneyi Su06. Iron barrier experiments showed that P. delaneyi required direct contact with the Fe(III) oxide mineral ferrihydrite for reduction. The separate addition of an exogenous electron shuttle (anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate), a metal chelator (nitrilotriacetic acid), and 75% spent cell-free supernatant did not stimulate growth with or without the barrier. Protein electrophoresis showed that the c-type cytochrome and general protein compositions of P. delaneyi changed when grown on ferrihydrite relative to nitrate. Differential proteomic analyses using tandem mass tagged protein fragments and mass spectrometry detected 660 proteins and differential production of 127 proteins. Among these, two putative membrane-bound molybdopterin-dependent oxidoreductase complexes increased in relative abundance 60- to 3,000-fold and 50- to 100-fold in cells grown on iron oxide. A putative 8-heme c-type cytochrome was 60-fold more abundant in iron-grown cells and was unique to the Pyrodictiaceae. There was also a >14,700-fold increase in a membrane transport protein in iron-grown cells. For flagellin proteins and a putative nitrate reductase, there were no changes in abundance, but a membrane nitric oxide reductase was more abundant on nitrate. These data help to elucidate the mechanisms by which hyperthermophilic crenarchaea generate energy and transfer electrons across the membrane to iron oxide minerals. IMPORTANCE Understanding iron reduction in the hyperthermophilic crenarchaeon Pyrodictium delaneyi provides insight into the diversity of mechanisms used for this process and its potential impact in geothermal environments. The ability of P. delaneyi to reduce Fe(III) oxide minerals through direct contact potentially using a novel cytochrome respiratory complex and a membrane-bound molybdopterin respiratory complex sets iron reduction in this organism apart from previously described iron reduction processes. A model is presented where obligatory H2 oxidation on the membrane coupled with electron transport and either Fe(III) oxide or nitrate reduction leads to the generation of a proton motive force and energy generation by oxidative phosphorylation. However, P. delaneyi cannot fix CO2 and relies on organic compounds from its environment for biosynthesis.
Misuse of Information Under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act: On What Side of the Circuit Split Will the Second and Third Circuits Wind Up?

The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) has reached a breaking point. The much-discussed issue is whether the CFAA provides a cause of action against persons who use electronic information in a way that violates a relevant computer-use policy. Four circuit courts of appeals have held that the CFAA provides a cause of action for misuses of information, while two have disagreed. In two undecided circuits, the district courts have favored the latter interpretation. As the Supreme Court recently refused to address the issue, these two undecided circuits will play a pivotal role in determining the direction of the CFAA. By way of background, in 1984, the Ninety-Eighth Congress enacted the Comprehensive Crime Control Act (CCCA). In § 2102 of the CCCA, Congress included the Counterfeit Access Device and Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, which was codified in § 1030 of Title 18 of the United States Code. Shortly thereafter, Congress substantially amended § 1030 by way of the CFAA. At that time, the CFAA focused primarily on criminalizing computer hacking. Presently, the CFAA provides criminal and civil liability in § 1030(a)(2) for “[w]hoever . . . intentionally accesses a
Ultra-Precise Mass Measurements Using the UW-PTMS

Based on the use of a single ion, isolated at the center of a cryogenically cooled Penning trap, an environment is produced which makes this mass spectrometer remarkably free of systematic errors. The most notable developments in our quest for an ultra-high accuracy instrument were (a) the compensation of the trapping potential, (b) the discovery that motional sidebands could manipulate radial energies, (c) the use of multiply-charged ions that could improve signal-to-noise, and (d) the use of an ultra-stable superconducting magnet/cryostat system with drift <0.010 ppb/h. The dominant systematic errors are associated with radial electric fields caused by image charges in the trap electrodes and with the rf-electrical drive field used to determine the harmonic axial resonance. To illustrate the potential of this improved spectrometer, the four-fold improved measurement of the proton's mass and the eight-fold improved measurement of oxygen's atomic mass will be described.
Divergent molecular mechanisms for insulin-resistant glucose transport in muscle and adipose cells in vivo.

Glucose homeostasis depends on regulated changes in glucose transport in insulin-responsive tissues (e.g. muscle and adipose cells). This transport is mediated by at least two distinct glucose transporters: "adipose-muscle" and "erythrocyte-brain." To understand the molecular basis for in vivo insulin resistance we investigated the effects of fasting and refeeding on the expression of these two glucose transporters in adipose cells and skeletal muscle. In vivo insulin resistance seen with fasting and hyperresponsiveness seen with refeeding influence glucose transporter expression in a transporter-specific and tissue-specific manner. In adipose cells only the adipose-muscle glucose transporter mRNA and protein decrease dramatically with fasting and increase above control levels with refeeding, changes that parallel effects on insulin-stimulated glucose transport. In contrast, in muscle expression of both glucose transporters increase with fasting and return to control levels with refeeding, also in accordance with changes in glucose uptake in vitro. Although expression of the adipose-muscle glucose transporter predicts the physiological response at the tissue level, factors in the hormonal/metabolic milieu appear to override its increased expression in muscle resulting in insulin-resistant glucose uptake in this tissue in vivo.
A polynomial time algorithm for the ground state of one-dimensional gapped local Hamiltonians

The density matrix renormalization group method has been extensively used to study the ground state of 1D many-body systems since its introduction two decades ago. In spite of its wide use, this heuristic method is known to fail in certain cases and no certifiably correct implementation is known, leaving researchers faced with an ever-growing toolbox of heuristics, none of which is guaranteed to succeed. Here we develop a polynomial time algorithm that provably finds the ground state of any 1D quantum system described by a gapped local Hamiltonian with constant ground-state energy. The algorithm is based on a framework that combines recently discovered structural features of gapped 1D systems with an efficient construction of a class of operators called approximate ground-state projections (AGSPs). The combination of these tools yields a method that is guaranteed to succeed in all 1D gapped systems. An AGSP-centric approach may help guide the search for algorithms for more general quantum systems, including for the central challenge of 2D systems, where even heuristic methods have had more limited success.
The asialoglycoprotein receptor is associated with a tyrosine kinase in HepG2 cells.

The asialoglycoprotein (ASGP) receptor undergoes constitutive endocytosis in HepG2 cells, which is regulated by tyrosine kinase activity (Fallon, R. J., Danaher, M., Saylors, R. L., and Saxena, A. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 11011-11017). In this study we show that the receptor copurifies with a tyrosine kinase activity, as defined by tyrosine phosphorylation of an exogenous substrate (reduced carboxyamidomethylated and maleylated lysozyme). Analysis of cells transfected with one subunit of the ASGP receptor showed that signals in the cytoplasmic domain of the H1 subunit are sufficient for receptor kinase association. In addition, receptor kinase association is not dependent on the single cytoplasmic tyrosine at position 5. Analysis of the components of anti-ASGP receptor immunoprecipitates revealed the presence of a 127-kDa protein (p127), which becomes phosphorylated on tyrosine upon addition of gamma-[32P]ATP and which is capable of binding ATP.p127 was also demonstrated in anti-transferrin receptor immunoprecipitates but not in immunoprecipitates of a resident membrane protein, human HLA. In conclusion, these data demonstrate that the ASGP receptor, a protein that participates in constitutive, rapid endocytosis, is associated with a cellular tyrosine kinase.
Further studies on the development of the lateral motor column in anuran larvae. I. Normal development in Rana temporaria

A study was made of the normal development of the lateral motor column (LMC) in the lumbo-sacral region of the European grass frog, Rana temporaia. The results were then compared with the development of the LMC in Rana pipiens (Beaudoin, '55), in order to determine if the difference in life cycle between the two species would result in differences in development of the column. The results show that the overall developmental pattern in R. temporaria is no different from that found in other anura. There is a general decrease in the large number of cells present early in the larval period and a concomitant increase in the size of the remaining cells during development through metamorphosis. During metamorphosis, at least 80% of the original population of cells are lost. Immediately following forelimb emergence, nuclear area is at least 52% larger than the nuclear area of cells found at the earliest stage. In both species, the largest decrease in cell number and increase in cell size is at the time the circulating thyroid hormone concentration is at its highest level. Although the pattern of development in the two species is similar, the number and size of the LMC cells differ significantly between the two species during the late larval stages. This difference can be attributed to the difference in life cycle between R. pipiens and R. temporaria.
Evaluating the performance of multicomputer configurations

Steps to optimize the performance of a multicomputer system (MCS) are discussed. Three aspects are emphasized: (1) the interconnection scheme that ties all the processors together, (2) the scheduling and mapping of the algorithm on the architecture, and (3) the mechanism for detecting parallelism and partitioning the algorithm into modules which achieve computational speedup when run on an MCS. Mapping and scheduling issues are addressed, and an application example is given.
Starch synthesis and grain filling in wheat

Wheat is the most widely produced cereal in the world. The formation and characteristics of the grain are largely a function of starch biosynthesis. The starch is composed of granules with distinct class sizes, properties and patterns of occurrence within the spike. Deposition of the starch is influenced by factors related to endosperm cell number, assimilate availability and high temperature, to name a few. Its biosynthesis is controlled directly by several enzymes, many of whose genes have been isolated, that have greater or lesser degrees of importance ascribed to them. Many specifics of starch metabolism, its regulation by external controls, and relation to grain filling in wheat are described herein.
Apitoxin Aquapuncture and Administration of Herbal Medicines in a Dog with Superficial Pyoderma

บทคดยอ สนขจรจดพนธผสมเพศเมยอาย 6 เดอน นำหนก 7.2 กก. ถกพามาทโรงพยาบาลสตวของมหาวทยาลย National Chung Hsingดวยอาการขนรวงและคนอยางรนแรง การขดตรวจผวหนงเพอการเพาะเชอแบคทเรยพบเชอ Staphylococcus pseudintermedius การวนจฉยสรปวาเปนโรคผวหนงอกเสบเปนหนองในสนข ในการรกษาใชการฉดนำพษเหลกในผงรกษาสปดาหละหนงครง ตดตอกน 5 สปดาหโดยจดทใชในการฉดไดแก จด GV-14 (Da Zhui) จด BL-13 (Fei Shu) จด LI-11 (Qu Chi) จด BL-40 (Wei Zhong) จด STจด Zu San Li)จด SP-6 (San Yin Jiao) และจด SP-10 (Xue Hai) นอกจากนนยงมการปอนสมนไพรยาจน Shi Wei Bai Du Tang และ Huang Lian JieDu Tang และ Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin วนละสองครงตดตอกน 5 สปดาห ผลการรกษาพบวาการฉดนำพษเหลกไนผงรวมกบการปอนสมนไพรใหผลในการรกษาโรคผวหนงอกเสบเปนหนองในสนขเปนทนาพอใจ คำสำคญ : พษเหลกไนผง, การฉดนำ, สมนไพร, โรคผวหนงอกเสบเปนหนองในสนข Abstract A 6-month-old, 7.2 kg, intact female mongrel stray dog wasreferred to the Veterinary Medical TeachingHospital, National Chung Hsing University with a chief complaint of alopecia, and severe pruritus. A skin swab wasobtained for bacterial culture, and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius was identified. The definitive diagnosis was caninesuperficial pyoderma. Apitoxin aquapuncture was performed to treat superficial pyoderma once a week for 5 weeks.The acupoints used in this clinical case included GV-14 (Da Zhui), BL-13 (Fei Shu), LI-11 (Qu Chi), BL-40 (WeiZhong), ST-36 (Zu San Li), SP-6 (San Yin Jiao), and SP-10 (Xue Hai). In addition, the herbal medicines Shi Wei Bai DuTang, Huang Lian Jie Du Tang, and Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin were orally administered twice a day for 5 weeks. Theresults indicated that apitoxin aquapuncture combined with the administration of herbal medicines resulted in afavorable therapeutic effect in the treatment of canine superficial pyoderma. Keywords : apitoxin, aquapuncture, herbal medicine, superficial pyoderma
Wavelength tuning in Nd-doped YAG, GYAG and YGAG

Summary form only given. A spectroscopic characterization of the title materials, including branching ratios, lifetimes and cross sections has been performed. In addition, the lasing performance around 0.94 /spl mu/m, including threshold, slope efficiency, and lasing wavelength, has been studied. Spectroscopy and lasing characteristics are presented for the R/sub 1//spl rarr/Z/sub 5/ line of the /sup 4/F/sub 3/2//spl rarr//sup 4/I/sub 9/2/ transition around 0.94 /spl mu/m, although the analysis is also applicable to other transitions such as the 1.06 /spl mu/m and the 1.33 /spl mu/m laser lines.
Training data collection system for a learning-based photographic aesthetic quality inference engine

We present a novel data collection system deployed for the ACQUINE - Aesthetic Quality Inference Engine. The goal of the system is to collect online user opinions, both structured and unstructured, for training future generation learning-based aesthetic quality inference engines. The development of the system was based on an analysis of over 60,000 user comments of photographs. For photos processed and rated by our engine, all users are invited to provide manual ratings. The users can also choose up to three key photographic features that the user liked, from a list, or to add features not in the list. Within a few months that the system is available for public used more than 20,000 photos have received manual ratings and key features for over 1,800 photos have been identified. We expect the data generated over time will be critical in the study of computational inferencing of visual aesthetics in photographs. The system is demonstrated at http://acquine.alipr.com
INTESTINAL ORGAN CULTURE: THE DEFINITIVE DIAGNOSIS OF GLUTEN SENSITIVE ENTEROPATHY (GSE)

The “flat” jejunal lesion is not pathognomonic of GSE and is observed in various diseases. This study evaluates the “organ culture model of GSE” (JCI 53:587, 1974) as a tool for the specific diagnosis of GSE. We prospectively biopsied 70 patients(Pts) with diarrhea and malabsorption 35 of whom had a “flat” jejunal lesion of varying degree. 22/35 were subsequently shown to have GSE by conventional criteria. Alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) was assessed before and after 24 hour culture in the presence and absence of gluten. All 35 pts had initial low values of APA which increased when cultured in the absence of gluten. (P<0.001). APA rise was inhibited in 18 of 22 pts with GSE in the presence of gluten (gluten vs gluten free P<0.005) but in none of 13/13 pts with non GSE jejunal flattening. Conclusion: 80% of pts with GSE exhibited in vitro gluten sensitivity while gluten had no effect on non-GSE flat jejunal mucosa. In vitro gluten sensitivity appears to be specific for the diagnosis of GSE, thus perhaps obviating repeat biopsies and challenge to confirm the diagnosis in these pts.
Biomimetic Formation of Pd and Au-Pd Nanocomposites and their Catalytic Applications

In this work, we probed the formation of gallic acid (GA) assemblies. It was observed that nanoassemblies of varying morphologies were formed depending upon the growth conditions. We then utilized the assemblies as templates for the growth of palladium (Pd) nanoparticles for developing catalytic systems biomimetically. Further, amide conjugates of GA were synthesized and self-assembled for the formation of uniformly coated assemblies of Pd nanoparticles and Au-Pd nanocomposites. Their catalytic abilities were explored by examining the degradation of para-nitrophenol. Thus, we have developed a new class of nanocomposites that were found to be effective catalytic nanomaterials via green synthesis.
New synthesis of L-m-sarcolysin and tritiated sarcolysin

Abstract L-m-sarcolysin, L-3-[bis(2-chloroethyl) amino]-L-phenylalanine was synthesized by converting 3-nitro-L-tyrosine to L-N-acetyl-3-aminophenyl-alanine Me-ester which was hydroxyethylated and converted into the N-mustard with mesyl chloride and LiCl; the title compound was obtained by hydrolysis of the protecting groups. The tritiated compound was specifically labeled on the benzyl group.
Help! They Don't Speak English: Partnering Preservice Teachers with Adult English Language Learners.

It is well documented that parent and family involvement in children's education correlates with success in school. The increasing number of English Language Learners in public schools has created a need for teacher educators to prepare preservice teachers to be able to work with families who have limited English. This study examined the outcomes of one guided experience that preservice teachers had with adults who spoke English as a second language. Qualitative data indicated that this experience increased preservice teachers' confidence when working with parents, broadened their knowledge base about diversity, and expanded their knowledge and understanding of strategies that support communication.
Failure of a 3D conformal boost to improve radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Abstract Purpose: To determine whether the use of 3-dimensional (3D) boost for patients with nasopharynx cancer improves local control and reduces the risk of long-term complications. Methods and Materials: From 1988 to 1998, 68 patients with nasopharynx cancer received conventional external beam therapy followed by a 3D boost. Disease characteristics of treated patients were as follows: WHO I histology 7%, WHO II 62%, WHO III 31%, clinical AJCC stage T1–2 45%, T3–4 55%, N0–1 63%, N2–3 37%, M0 100%. The median radiation dose was 70 Gy (68–75.6 Gy). Thirty-five patients (52%) received cisplatin-based chemotherapy. The median follow-up of surviving patients was 42 months (12–118 months). Results: Five-year actuarial local control was 77%, regional control was 97%, progression-free survival was 56%, and overall survival was 58%. Stage was the only identifiable prognostic factor: 5-year progression-free survival was 65% for Stages I–III vs. 40% for Stage IV ( p = 0.01). The incidence of Grade 3–4 complications was 25% and included hearing loss, trismus, dysphagia, chronic sinusitis, and cranial neuropathy. These results are comparable to outcomes reported with conventional radiation techniques for similarly staged patients. Conclusion: The lack of a major benefit with the 3D boost may be related to the fact that CT planning was only used for a fraction of the total dose. We are now using intensity modulated radiation therapy to deliver the entire course of radiation. Intensity modulated radiation therapy achieves better conformal distributions than conventional 3D planning, allowing dose escalation and increased normal tissue sparing.
Radiation effects in materials for accelerator-driven neutron technologies

The materials exposed to the most damaging radiation environments in an SNS (spallation neutron source) are those in the path of the incident proton beam. This includes target and window materials. These materials will experience damage from the incident protons and the spallation neutrons. The major solid targets in operating SNS`s and under consideration for the 1--5 MW SNS`s are W, U, and Pb. Tungsten is the target material at LANSCE, and is the project target material for an upgraded LANSCE target that is presently being designed. It is also the projected target material for the tritium producing SNS under design at LANL. In this paper, the authors present the results of spallation radiation damage calculations (displacement and He production) for tungsten.
Adenine inhibits microcyst formation inPhysarum flavicomum and affects the cellular level of S-adenosylmethionine

The effect of various purines, pyrimidines and nucleosides on the encystment of haploid cells ofPhysarum flavicomum was determined. Of the compounds tested guanine, guanosine, cytidine, cytosine, 5-methylcytosine and uracil had no effect on encystment. Adenosine, thymine, uridine and 3-methyladenine only slightly delayed encystment and protein degradation. Adenine and, to a lesser extent, hypoxanthine produced a significant inhibition of encystment and greatly increased rates of autolytic protein and RNA degradation, which eventually led to about 75% cell death in the adenine-exposed cells. The inhibition of microcyst formation by adenine was concentration dependent. The incubation of cells with adenine resulted initially in elevated intracellular levels of S-adenosylmethionine up to 3.5 times the level of untreated control cells.
Yang-Lee zeros of the Potts model

The Yang-Lee zeros of the three-component ferromagnetic Potts model in one dimension in the complex plane of an applied field are determined. The phase diagram consists of a triple point where three phases coexist. Emerging from the triple point are three lines on which two phases coexist and which terminate at critical points (Yang-Lee edge singularity). The zeros do not all lie on the imaginary axis but along the three two-phase lines. The model can be generalized to give rise to a tricritical point which is a new type of Yang-Lee edge singularity. Gibbs phase rule is generalized to apply to coexisting phases in the complex plane.
Effect of External Cathode Azimuthal Position on Hall-Effect Thruster Plume and Diagnostics

The T-220HT Hall-effect thruster was tested with the external cathode at different azimuthal locations to determine the effect of an external cathode on the far-field plume. The cathode is mounted in two configurations: 1) on top of the thruster, perpendicular to the plane of plume measurements, and 2) in the plane of plume measurements. The thruster was tested at discharge voltages of 150–300 V at a constant discharge current of 9 A on krypton propellant. The vacuum facility operating pressure was below 9.2×10−6 torr·Kr for all operating conditions. Noticeable changes in the plume ion current density were measured that indicate plume asymmetry. With the cathode in the plane of the probes, the ion current density peak increases by up to 43% and the divergence angle decreases by up to 2.6 deg. However, there is less than a 5 V shift in the ion energy distribution, and the distribution shape remains constant. The results indicate that an external cathode alters the plume symmetry and creates a region of in...
Global Optimization: Quantum Thermal Annealing with Path Integral Monte Carlo

We investigate a new method (QTA-PIMC) for global optimization on complex potential energy surfaces which combines the path integral Monte Carlo method with quantum and thermal annealing. This method is applied to the BLN protein model (Honeycutt, J. D.; Thirumalai, D. Biopolymers 1992, 32, 695). We show that this new approach outperforms simulated (thermal) annealing (SA) and that in fact SA is a subset of our method. This means that we could invoke the effects of both quantum and/or thermal annealing in the global optimization process, hence the name quantum thermal annealing (QTA-PIMC). The simulation results also suggest that QTA-PIMC scales better than SA in terms of system size in the search for the global minimum.
ER Stress in Retinal Degeneration in S334ter Rho Rats

The S334ter rhodopsin (Rho) rat (line 4) bears the rhodopsin gene with an early termination codon at residue 334 that is a model for several such mutations found in human patients with autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (ADRP). The Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) is implicated in the pathophysiology of several retinal disorders including ADRP in P23H Rho rats. The aim of this study was to examine the onset of UPR gene expression in S334ter Rho retinas to determine if UPR is activated in ADRP animal models and to investigate how the activation of UPR molecules leads to the final demise of S334ter Rho photoreceptors. RT-PCR was performed to evaluate the gene expression profiles for the P10, P12, P15, and P21 stages of the development and progression of ADRP in S334ter Rho photoreceptors. We determined that during the P12-P15 period, ER stress-related genes are strongly upregulated in transgenic retinas, resulting in the activation of the UPR that was confirmed using western blot analysis and RT-PCR. The activation of UPR was associated with the increased expression of JNK, Bik, Bim, Bid, Noxa, and Puma genes and cleavage of caspase-12 that together with activated calpains presumably compromise the integrity of the mitochondrial MPTP, leading to the release of pro-apoptotic AIF1 into the cytosol of S334ter Rho photoreceptor cells. Therefore, two major cross-talking pathways, the UPR and mitochondrial MPTP occur in S334ter-4 Rho retina concomitantly and eventually promote the death of the photoreceptor cells.
Dynamic mechanical properties of plasticized polyvinyl acetate

Abstract The real and imaginary components of the complex compliance have been measured between 30 and 4500 cycles per second in the temperature range −11°C. to 40°C. for a 50% (by volume) solution of polyvinyl acetate in tri-m-cresyl phosphate. Results at all temperatures and frequencies superpose by the method of reduced variables to give the components at 25°C. over 7.5 decades of frequency, corresponding to the transition from rubberlike to glasslike consistency at this temperature. Values of the steady-flow viscosity have been measured between 0° and 41°C. and found to give nearly the same temperature reduction factors as found empirically from the dynamic measurements. Relaxation and retardation distribution functions have been calculated. By reducing these data to a common temperature for both plasticized and undiluted polymer, it is concluded that the presence of 50% diluent reduces the monomeric friction coefficient by a factor of 107. By reducing the data to a hypothetical reference state of unit density and unit steady-flow viscosity and combining them with previous data on solutions of the same polymer in 1,2,3-trichloropropane, the distribution function of mechanical relaxation times can be obtained at 25°C. over 13.5 decades of time. The distribution function is found to be similar in shape and location on the time scale to that obtained for polystyrene in decalin previously studied in this laboratory.
Automatic evaluation of move-limits in structural optimization

The two-point exponential approximation method was introduced by Fadelet al. (1990) and tested on structural optimization problems with stress and displacement constraints. It was subsequently tested on problems with frequency constraints (Sareenet al. 1991). The results reported in earlier papers showed reductions in the number of iterations needed to reach an optimum, and a smoother convergence towards that optimum. The method, which consists in correcting Taylor series approximations using previous design history, is used in the present paper to automatically determine move-limits. Move-limits are the allowable changes in design variables during the optimization of the approximate problem. The exponents, computed in the two-point exponential approximation by matching slopes between two design iterations, are used as a measure of non-linearity of the objective function and constraints with respect to each of the design variables. The relationships between the move-limits and the exponents are established and individual move-limits are computed and applied to each design variable. The method is applied to two classical structural optimization examples. It provides the engineer with more flexibility when choosing the move-limits and typically converges in less iterations.
Utilizing legume cropping systems to reduce nitrogen fertilizer requirements for conservation-tilled corn.

(...) On the Wynnville soil, soybean was more effective in providing early season N, and clover in providing late-season N. The system with both soybean and clover resulted in an even more effective contribution of N to corn grain yield, and a higher yield level than that of continuous corn regardless of N fertilizer rate. On the Dothan soil, the benefits of cropping systems were not as pronounced, and the responses were eliminated by N fertilization, suggesting increased yields were due to N and not to a rotation effect (...)
A shift from phospholipid to triglyceride synthesis when cell division is inhibited by trans-fatty acids

The yeast mutant Saccharomyces cerevisiae (KD 46) requires added unsaturated fatty acid for growth. When cell growth was inhibited by the presence of trans-acids there was a marked inhibition of oleate esterification into phospholipids accompanying continued incorporation into triglycerides. Apparently some control point in phospholipid synthesis associated with the cell cycle occurs after the stage of phosphatidate biosynthesis.
Stochastic cooling of solids

Abstract A low-noise amplifier can be used to construct a two-terminal device with the impedance of a resistor, but with voltage fluctuations corresponding to a temperature less than the ambient temperature. If such an active cold resistor is connected to a passive resistor, the thermal voltage fluctuations of the passive resistor will dissipate power in the active resistor, and the passive resistor will cool. It appears possible to cool the electrons in a small metal resistor to below one microkelvin by this method.
Bacteriophage T7 protein kinase. Site of inhibitory autophosphorylation, and use of dephosphorylated enzyme for efficient modification of protein in vitro

Bacteriophage T7 encodes a serine/threonine-specific protein kinase that phosphorylates multiple cellular proteins during infection of Escherichia coli. Recombinant T7 protein kinase (T7PK), normally purified in phosphorylated form, exhibits a modest level of phosphotransferase activity. A procedure is described that provides dephosphorylated T7PK with an enhanced ability to phosphorylate protein substrates, including translation initiation factor IF1 and the nuclease domain of ribonuclease III. Mass spectrometric analysis identified Thr12 as the site of IF1 phosphorylation in vitro. T7PK undergoes Mg2+-dependent autophosphorylation on Ser216 in vitro, which also is modified in vivo. The inability to isolate the presumptive autophosphorylation-resistant T7PK Ser216Ala mutant indicates a toxicity of the phosphotransferase activity and suggests a role for Ser216 modification in limiting T7PK activity during infection.
A Personal Computer for Children of All Ages

This note speculates about the emergence of personal, portable information manipulators and their effects when used by both children and adults. Although it should be read as science fiction, current trends in miniaturization and price reduction almost guarantee that many of the notions discussed will actually happen in the near future.
Using tri-reference point theory to evaluate risk attitude and the effects of financial incentives in a gamified crowdsourcing task

Crowdsourcing has rapidly developed as a mechanism to accomplish tasks that are easy for humans to accomplish but are challenging for machines. However, unlike machines, humans need to be cajoled to perform tasks, usually through some type of incentive. Since participants from the crowd are typically anonymous and have no expectation of an ongoing work relationship with a task requester, the types of incentives offered to workers are usually short-term monetary bonuses, which have had an inconclusive impact on crowdsourcing worker quality. In this paper, we explore the notion that the risk attitude of crowdsourcing workers may play an important role in the effectiveness of incentives on task accuracy. Traditional utility theories, such as prospect theory, depend on decisions made relative to a singular reference point, whereas the tri-reference point (TRP) theory (Wang and Johnson, J Exp Psychol Gen 141:743–756, 2012) holds that three reference points impact decision making. Using the TRP theory as a guide, we develop a game that provides workers with three reference points and subsequently explores the role of multiple reference points on worker risk aversion and task accuracy.
INHIBITION OF HUMAN TRANSITIONAL CELL CARCINOMA IN VITRO PROLIFERATION BY FLUOROQUINOLONE ANTIBIOTICS

AbstractPurpose: The in vitro effects of the fluoroquinolone antibiotics ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin upon 3 human transitional cell carcinoma cell lines were investigated at concentrations that are attainable in the urine of patients taking these drugs orally.Materials and Methods: Cell lines TCCSUP, T24, and J82 were exposed in culture to either ciprofloxacin or ofloxacin at concentrations ranging from 0 to 800 microgram/ml. and at durations ranging from 24 to 120 hours. Inhibition of proliferation and DNA synthesis were assessed via MTT and tritiated thymidine assays, respectively.Results: From the MTT assay ciprofloxacin, at concentrations of 25 to 800 microgram/ml., produced proliferation inhibition in the TCCSUP line ranging from 8.1 percent to 90.2 percent at 24 hours, 25.1 percent to 94.9 percent at 72 hours, and 53.8 percent to 96.9 percent at 120 hours. Inhibition of proliferation for the T24 line ranged from 8.0 percent to 85 percent, 31.5 percent to 96.5 percent, and 27.3 percent to 98.2 percen...
Reduction of dendritic spines and elevation of GABAergic signaling in the brains of mice treated with an estrogen receptor β ligand.

An estrogen receptor (ER) β ligand (LY3201) with a preference for ERβ over ERα was administered in s.c. pellets releasing 0.04 mg/d. The brains of these mice were examined 3 d after treatment had begun. Although estradiol-17β is known to increase spine density and glutaminergic signaling, as measured by Golgi staining, a clear reduction in spines was evident on the dendritic branches in LY3201-treated mice but no morphological alteration and no difference in the number of dendritic spines on dendritic stems were observed. In the LY3201-treatment group, there was higher expression of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) in layer V of cortex and in the CA1 of hippocampus, more GAD+ terminals surrounding the pyramidal neurons and less glutamate receptor (NMDAR) on the neurons in layer V. There were no alterations in expression of Iba1 or in Olig2 or CNPase. However, GFAP+ astrocytes were increased in the LY3201-treatment group. There were also more projections characteristic of activated astrocytes and increased expression of glutamine synthetase (GS). No expression of ERβ was detectable in the nuclei of astrocytes. Clearly, LY3201 caused a shift in the balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission in favor of inhibition. This shift was due in part to increased synthesis of GABA and increased removal of glutamate from the synaptic cleft by astrocytes. The data reveal that treatment with a selective ERβ agonist results in changes opposite to those reported in estradiol-17β–treated mice and suggests that ERα and ERβ play opposing roles in the brain.
A brief review of concurrent activation potentiation: theoretical and practical constructs.

ABSTRACT Enhancing the acute quality of the resistance training stimulus is the goal of many research and applied professionals. To that end, many methods have been proposed and a variety of training strategies and ergogenic supplements have been investigated. Postactivation potentiation is one phenomenon that has been frequently examined, offering some promise in this regard. Though never previously applied in the strength and conditioning profession, dental research on jaw clenching, studies examining the Jendrassik maneuver and remote voluntary contractions and research on motor overflow together make a compelling case for the existence of a concurrent activation potentiation phenomenon and the acute ergogenic advantage associated with the simultaneous activation of muscles other than the prime mover or synergists. Evidence demonstrates that this advantage is accrued via activation of the H reflex and through cortical overflow. Ultimately, through research and practical application, athletes may be taught to optimize the type, timing, and magnitude of remote muscle actions in order to gain an ergogenic advantage and increase the acute response of the prime movers. This strategy may be especially useful during the most difficult portion of a resistance training repetition and during the most difficult repetitions of a resistance training set.
Two-dimensional bricklayer arrangements of tolans using halogen bonding interactions

Diphenylacetylene (tolan) derivatives with self-complementary aryl halides and halogen bond-accepting nitriles form 2D bricklayer packing motifs when halogen bonding occurs. When halogen bonding is absent, as occurred with fluorinated aryl bromides, the molecules adopt other packing motifs. These results suggest halogen bonding is potentially useful for producing rarely observed 2D bricklayer motifs in organic semiconductors.
Ipsen 5i is a Novel Potent Pharmacoperone for Intracellularly Retained Melanocortin-4 Receptor Mutants

Inactivating mutations of the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) cause early-onset severe obesity in humans. Comprehensive functional studies show that most of the inactivating mutants of the MC4R are retained intracellularly. In the present study, we investigated whether a small molecule inverse agonist of the MC4R, Ipsen 5i, could act as a pharmacoperone and correct the cell surface expression and function of intracellularly retained mutant MC4Rs using multiple cell lines, including HEK293 and two neuronal cell lines. We showed that Ipsen 5i rescued the cell surface expression of all eleven intracellularly retained mutant MC4Rs studied herein in at least one cell line. Ipsen 5i functionally rescued seven mutants in all cell lines used. One mutant (Y157S) was functionally rescued in HEK293 cells but not in the two neuronal cell lines. Ipsen 5i increased cell surface expression of three mutants (S58C, G98R, and F261S) but did not affect signaling. Ipsen 5i had no effect on mutant MC4Rs with other defects (Δ88-92, D90N, I102S) or no defect (N274S). It also did not affect trafficking of a misrouted MC3R mutant (I335S). Cell impermeable peptide ligands of the MC4R or cell permeable small molecule ligand of δ opioid receptor could not rescue misrouted mutant MC4R. In summary, we demonstrated that Ipsen 5i was a novel potent pharmacoperone of the MC4R, correcting trafficking and signaling of a significant portion (73%) of intracellularly retained mutants. Additional studies are needed to demonstrate its in vivo efficacy.
Amplified, Frequency Swept Lasers for Frequency Domain Reflectometry and OCT Imaging : Design and Scaling Principles

We demonstrate a high-speed, frequency swept, 1300 nm laser source for frequency domain reflectometry and OCT with Fourier domain/swept-source detection. The laser uses a fiber coupled, semiconductor amplifier and a tunable fiber Fabry-Perot filter. We present scaling principles which predict the maximum frequency sweep speed and trade offs in output power, noise and instantaneous linewidth performance. The use of an amplification stage for increasing output power and for spectral shaping is discussed in detail. The laser generates ~45 mW instantaneous peak power at 20 kHz sweep rates with a tuning range of ~120 nm full width. In frequency domain reflectometry and OCT applications the frequency swept laser achieves 108 dB sensitivity and ~10 mum axial resolution in tissue. We also present a fast algorithm for real time calibration of the fringe signal to equally spaced sampling in frequency for high speed OCT image preview.
Characterizing hair loss in female patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)1

CHARACTERIZING HAIR LOSS IN FEMALE PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS (SLE) Radha Mikkilineni, MD, MS, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland, OH, United States, Paradi Mirmirani, MD, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland, OH, United States, Anita Gilliam, MD, PhD, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland, OH, United States
Packed column supercritical fluid chromatography of hydrophilic analytes via water-rich modifiers

Abstract The use of additives to dramatically extend the range of solute polarity amenable to CO 2 based supercritical fluid chromatography (pcSFC) was predicted over 20 years ago. At that time additives were predicted to have multiple functions such as enhancement of mobile phase solvating power, ion suppression, and ion pairing. The adsorption of mobile phase components on the stationary phase causing a modification of its surface was predicted, but the implications for separations were not defined. Reports published in the late 1980s showed that while water could not function as a primary modifier due to it poor solubility in carbon dioxide, its use as an additive was more promising. The past decade has seen very little published work concerning water and pcSFC. Now reports are beginning to appear that demonstrate enhanced selectivity with water, and application of the technology to polypeptide salts, drug molecules, and nucleobases. This review attempts to bridge the past with the present. As evidenced by the studies described in this review, water may offer much potential as an additive in that it could (a) enhance the solvating power of the mobile phase, (b) introduce HILIC-like analyte partitioning, (c) simplify preparative purifications, and (d) offer a more mass spectrometrically compatible interface.
Effects of guinea pig vasoactive intestinal peptide on the isolated perfused guinea pig heart.

Abstract The parmacological effects of guinea pig vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) were studied in isolated perfused guinea pig hearts. Bolus injections of VIP produced a dose-dependent tachycardia that was not affected by atenolol. A decrease in amplitude of ventricular contractions occurred in response to all doses of VIP. This response was preceded by a small increase in amplitude in 3 of 6 hearts at the highest dose. VIP produced a decrease in perfusion pressure which was prominent after coronary tone was elevated with [Arg 8 ]-vasopressin. The present findings support speculation that VIP may have a role in the regulation of heart rate and coronary blood flow.