cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Toward a computational theory of pragmatics--discourse, presupposition, and implicature

This dissertation is a computational attempt to treat certain aspects of pragmatics of natural language based on a logical language augmentated by computational elements. One of the computational features introduced is the concept of super-interpretation in addition to the ordinary interpretation of language which is performed compositionally in the sense of Frege. In dealing with pragmatic aspects of natural language, however, compositionality does not always provide all the desired results of the language use. Super-interpretation is added to complement the interpretation as a post-compositional element in the computational interpretation system. Another extension is the concept of hierarchically organized universes of discourse, which will appropriately store the information acquired during the processing of a discourse. The hierarchical organization provides a way of making meaningful distinctions among various pieces of information in the system and offers a natural treatment of the phenomena of anaphora, as well as the treatment of quantifiers. This dissertation focuses on the treatment of "implicatures." Since this term has been used in various senses, a feature notation, based on Grice's intention to make a distinction between 'what is said' and 'what is implicated', is introduced to provide both an adequate taxonomy and a precise definition of "implicatures," including but not limited to what has been called "presuppositions." Based on the feature notation for implicatures, new kinds of procedures are introduced for pragmatic aspects of language. The usual semantic procedures are responsible for computing the compositional semantics, while additional pragmatic procedures perform cumulative pragmatic computations. The pragmatic procedures cause changes to the universes of discourse, which are carried over to later stages of interpretation as new information. This cumulative nature of the pragmatic procedures is in sharp contrast to the compositional nature of the semantic procedures. This dissertation shows how the integration of the compositional and the cumulative behaviors of information processing contributes to the treatment of the semantics and the pragmatics of natural language. The indispensability of this kind of integration in a unified system is demonstrated by comparing the current system with other existing well-defined formal frameworks, particularly works by Karttunen and Peters and by Gazdar.
Localization of the cytochrome cd1 and copper nitrite reductases in denitrifying bacteria.

The locations of cytochrome cd1 nitrite reductases in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas fluorescens and copper nitrite reductases in Achromobacter cycloclastes and Achromobacter xylosoxidans were identified. Immunogold labeling with colloidal-gold probes showed that the nitrite reductases were synthesized exclusively in anaerobically grown (denitrifying) cells. Little immunogold label occurred in the cytoplasm of these four strains; most was found in the periplasmic space or was associated with cell membranes. Immunogold labeling of thin sections was superior to fractionation by osmotic shock for locating nitrite reductases. The results support models of dentrification energetics that require a periplasmic, not a cytoplasmic, location for nitrite reductases. Images
1940年代に分離された日本の狂犬病ウイルス (高免株と小松川株) の系統樹解析

The entire coding region of the nucleoprotein (N) gene of Takamen and Komatsugawa strains of rabies virus isolated in Japan in 1940's were determined. Phylogenetic analysis was performed on 140 lyssaviruses (128 viruses of genotype 1 and 12 lyssaviruses of other genotypes) isolated in various parts of the world, including the two Japanese rabies strains, based on the sequences of 1,350 nucleotides of the N gene. The rabies viruses were divided into 12 distinct clusters at least, reflecting geographical areas and hosts as reservoirs. The Takamen, Nishigahara, and RC-HL strains derived from the Nishigahara strain were grouped into the same cluster as the Chinese strain (3aG) in the worldwide distribution group. The Komatsugawa strain was grouped into the same cluster as the viruses from a raccoon dog from Khabarovsk, and from a steppe fox in area of Lake Baikal in Russia in a group consisting of Canada, Greenland, and the Arctic. These data along with the historical evidence suggest that Japanese rabies viruses, the Takamen and Komatsugawa strains, belong to two different clusters and moved into Japan from China and Russia, respectively.
Complementation between different mutations in the ilvA gene of Escherichia coli K-12.

An ilvA mutation carried by a o80iλdilv transducing phage complemented some ilvA mutations and did not complement others. Complementation was accompanied by appearance of threonine deaminase activity in vivo. These results divided the ilvA mutations into two sets which formerly appeared to define two cistrons.
Performance-Based Compensation in Professional Service Firms

The purpose of this paper is to extend our understanding of theoretical agency considerations in the choice of compensation contracts by examining the use of performance-based compensation in professional service firms. We focus on compensation practices for physicians in medical group practices because this setting has several distinctive features that enhance our ability to study a wide variety of agency issues. Our sample covers 16,659 individual physicians in 778 practices. Consistent with agency theory, we find that the extent to which individual physicians are compensated using performance-based pay increases with the informativeness of standard clinical productivity measures. Monitoring serves as substitutes for performance-based compensation, but only in member-owned firms. The use of a common salary/bonus mix for all physicians is greater in smaller practices with little diversity in practice specialties. Member-owned firms also tend to use a common compensation mix when surgeons represent a greater proportion of members and when physicians staff hospitals, but tend to tailor the mix when there is greater variation in physician experience and in the amount of time physicians spend on non-clinical activities. Finally, equal-share arrangements tend to be used instead of salaries and/or bonuses in more technical practices where physicians have similar specialties and experience levels.
Sparse partial derivatives and reconstruction from partial Fourier data

Signal reconstruction from the smallest possible Fourier measurements has been a key motivation in the compressed sensing research. We present an approach that exploits the interdependency and structural sparsity of partial derivatives for lowering the sampling rates necessary for accurate reconstruction. Our experiments show that for signals that are sparse in the gradient domain our proposed method significantly outperforms the existing approaches including the total variation (TV) based CS reconstruction.
ANOTHER LOOK AT THE DEVELOPMENTAL RESEARCH: Commentary on Kelly and Lamb's “Using Child Development Research to Make Appropriate Custody and Access Decisions for Young Children”

Kelly and Lamb (2000) recently provided a summary of the attachment literature and a set of guidelines for visitation and custody for young children in divorced and separated families. Here, Solomon and Biringen review the same literature with an eye to critically evaluating these guidelines, especially the suggestion that more, rather than fewer, transitions between parents are appropriate for very young children. Three types of empirical findings raise questions regarding the appropriateness of Kelly and Lamb's guidelines. These include differences in the development of infant-mother and infant-father attachments, young children's sensitivity to overnight separations from the primary caregiver, and the possibility of infant preferences for primary versus secondary caregivers in times of stress. The authors argue that considerably more rigorous research is required before submitting Kelly and Lamb's suggestion to social policy.
El caso de Shougang: comparando la minería china y occidental en el Perú

Observers have expressed concern that Chinese mining companies operating in Latin America are violating labor and environmental standards to a greater extent than other foreign mining companies. Critics point to one operation in particular –Shougang Hierro Peru– as evidence of China’s threat to Latin America’s workers and environment. Indeed, Shougang has experienced a far higher rate of strikes than other foreign firms. Many observers have assumed that Shougang’s strike problem stems from an inevitable culture clash between Peruvian unions and Chinese management. In fact, union relations remained positive for years, until Shougang lost funding when its parent company suffered a crisis back in China in 1995. I argue that the strike problem stems largely from Shougang’s response to its 1995 funding crisis: it burnt its bridges with the unions to save money. Some have suggested instead that Shougang has suffered more strikes because it has a far worse record on labor safety and environmental protection. In fact, new Peruvian government data show that Shougang’s labor and environmental record is not significantly worse than that of other foreign firms. The most similar American firm, Doe Run Peru, has fewer union problems despite worse labor and environmental standards. I argue that Doe Run Peru has maintained better labor relations by careful communication with its unions. This study refutes the idea that Shougang suffered from an inevitable China-Peru culture clash and highlights the importance of open dialogue with organized labor.
Relation of silent myocardial ischemia after coronary artery bypass grafting to angiographic completeness of revascularization and long-term prognosis

Abstract The prevalence and characteristics of silent myocardial ischemia as detected by 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiography ST-segment depression were prospectively assessed in 94 patients examined early (1 to 3 months) and 184 patients examined late (12 months) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and followed for a mean of 48 ± 11 (range 4 to 62) months. The relation of ambulatory electrocardiographic silent ischemia to evidence of completeness of revascularization as defined by cardiac angiography performed 1 and 12 months after CABG, and to prognosis by follow-up of adverse clinical events was analyzed. Silent ischemia was detected early in 20% (19 of 94) and late in 27% (50 of 184) of patients, and showed a mean frequency of episodes ranging from 6 to 10 episodes/24 hours with a mean duration ranging from 15 to 23 minutes. The circadian distribution of episodes disclosed a significant peak of ischemic activity during the period of 6 A.M. to noon and a secondary peak between 6 P.M. and midnight (p
Mechanics of universal horizons

Modified gravity models such as Ho\ifmmode \check{r}\else \v{r}\fi{}ava-Lifshitz gravity or Einstein-\ae{}ther theory violate local Lorentz invariance and therefore destroy the notion of a universal light cone. Despite this, in the infrared limit both models above possess static, spherically symmetric solutions with ``universal horizons''---hypersurfaces that are causal boundaries between an interior region and asymptotic spatial infinity. In other words, there still exist black hole solutions. We construct a Smarr formula (the relationship between the total energy of the spacetime and the area of the horizon) for such a horizon in Einstein-\ae{}ther theory. We further show that a slightly modified first law of black hole mechanics still holds with the relevant area now a cross-section of the universal horizon. We construct new analytic solutions for certain Einstein-\ae{}ther Lagrangians and illustrate how our results work in these exact cases. Our results suggest that holography may be extended to these theories despite the very different causal structure as long as the universal horizon remains the unique causal boundary when matter fields are added.
Historical Perspectives in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Primary Immune Deficiencies

The field of Primary Immune Deficiency Disorders (PIDD) has advanced rapidly over the past several years with over 200 different gene mutations defined. With the recent institution of newborn screening for T cell deficiencies in many states and earlier recognition of the signs and symptoms of patients with immune deficiency, it is now apparent that PIDD is not as “rare” as was originally thought several decades ago. With the earlier recognition of patients with recurrent infections and various immune perturbations, advancements in the treatment of these immune deficiency disorders have led to enhanced survival and quality of life. In this issue, the diagnosis of PIDD through laboratory testing and skin manifestations is reviewed. The more recently described cellular immune deficiencies, selective immune deficiencies, and advances in the use of bone marrow transplantation in the correction of some of these immune deficiencies are discussed.
Spectral hole burning lookup tables for routing and address demultiplexing

Most optically accessed memory technologies resort to correlative address schemes. These addresses tend to be lengthy, inaccurate, and to produce crosstalk between fields. Alternative to full-length orthogonal, binary amplitude address codes are discussed here. Lookup table approaches could potentially reduce word length for address specification, but the complexity of the correlation process would still pertain. As the investigation of this topic proceeded its emphasis shifted so that the paper should more appropriately should be titled 'Short Addresses for Correlative Optical Memory Access.'© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Classifying spaces, steenrod operations and algebraic closure

IF BX IS a CW-space such that its loop space RBX is homotopy equivalent to a finite CW-complex, then for all sufficiently large prime numbers p, H*(BX,F,) is a graded polynomial algebra over F,, with generators in dimensions (2ni). Considerable effort has been devoted to the determination of the possibilities for the(2ni). Complete results are available only in the low rank cases, e.g. Hubbuck [ 121, while Clark’s criteria [7] remain the most useful general results. If only one prime is considered, the problem is more difficult, and even the classification of the rank two case is still incomplete, see however [9,29,22,33] for partial results. This work began as a general attack on these problems. It seemed that the best chance to obtain a complete classification was to apply some constructive methods, rather than the argument by contradiction or special cases typical of most earlier work. This optimism was supported by the special nature of all known examples, and by the way in which the Steenrod algebra action was exploited in the proof of the Adams-Mahmud theorem[l]. The classification of possible H*(BX, F,) ideally would be carried out in two steps. In all known examples (the classifying spaces of compact connected Lie groups and the exotic classifying spaces of [26, 18,8,28]), there is a common theme. The F,-cohomology of (CP”)” appears as a finite integral extension of H*(BX, F,), and the extension is as algebras over the Steenrod algebra. This suggests, by analogy with K-theory, that there should be a “splitting principle” for such H*(BX, F,). That is, one should be able to embed a polynomial algebra over F, with an unstable Steenrod algebra action in the polynomial algebra F,[t,, . . ., t.] on two-dimensional generators, at least for large p. The second phase of the program would be to classify these embeddings. In particular, if the extensions are Galois, it is known that the Galois group must be a finite generalized reflection group of the type studied by Ewing and Clark[8], and these possibilities are thus known. The second aspect of this program is completely achieved in this paper. Also, some interesting conditions which imply the “splitting principle” are discussed. However, the question remains open, and hence the classification of possible H*(BX, F,) is still incomplete. The majority of this work is devoted to the proof of step two of the program and to some of its applications. In the following .&, denotes the mod p Steenrod algebra. We prove a slightly more general result than is needed:
Prospective, randomized, contralateral eye comparison of tetracaine and proparacaine for pain control in laser in situ keratomileusis and photorefractive keratectomy.

© 2014 Moshirfar et al. This work is published by Dove Medical Press Limited, and licensed under Creative Commons Attribution – Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License. The full terms of the License are available at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. Permissions beyond the scope of the License are administered by Dove Medical Press Limited. Information on how to request permission may be found at: http://www.dovepress.com/permissions.php
Experimental design for simulation: experimental design for simulation

This tutorial introduces some of the ideas, issues, challenges, solutions, and opportunities in deciding how to experiment with simulation models to learn about their behavior. Careful planning, or designing, of simulation experiments is generally a great help, saving time and effort by providing efficient ways to estimate the effects of changes in the model's inputs on its outputs. Traditional experimental-design methods are discussed in the context of simulation experiments, as are the broader questions pertaining to planning computer-simulation experiments.
Flipping the script on macrophages in leiomyosarcoma

Macrophages promote the growth of leiomyosarcoma (LMS), a malignant soft-tissue tumor. CD47 on tumor cells binds to the macrophagic receptor signal regulatory protein α (SIRPα) and prevents phagocytosis. We showed that anti-CD47 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) allow macrophages to engulf LMS cells and prevent tumor growth and metastases. Therefore, anti-CD47 mAbs represent a promising targeted immunotherapy for LMS.
The Use of Covert Conditioning in the Treatment of Drug Abuse

It appears that behavioral techniques show some promise in treating drug abuse. Recently the covert conditioning procedures have been employed to modify drug-taking behavior. Covert conditioning procedures involve the manipulation of imagery in a manner similar to the overt operant procedures. The covert conditioning procedures of covert sensitization, covert positive reinforcement, and covert extinction are described, and studies presented where these procedures have been applied to the treatment of drug abuse. The studies cited involve various drug-taking behavior such as heroin, amphetamine (intravenously injected), and LSD. A behavioral model is presented concerning the application of a number of behavioral techniques to modify the antecedents and consequences of drug-taking behavior. It is indicated that a comprehensive drug treatment approach should also use the behavioral procedures to insure educational, vocational, social, and sexual and marital adjustment.
Applying Child Support Guidelines: Users versus Nonusers of Child Support Enforcement Services:

This study ascertained which of 371 fathers (either court-ordered to pay child support directly to the custodial parent or through a child support enforcement services agency) benefited from decisi...
Spin-wave-velocity renormalization in the two-dimensional S=1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnet.

We find the corrections to the conventional 1/S expansion for the spin-wave velocity in the two-dimensional S=1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnet. We do this by solving exactly for the ground and excited states of small clusters of up to 25 spins. We use open boundary conditions with a staggered Weiss effective field consistent with the correct quantum Monte Carlo staggered magnetization ${\mathit{M}}_{\mathit{S}}$=0.31. The numerical results are directly compared with the 1/S expansion for the same clusters. The exact spin-wave velocity is given by c=Z1.158 \ensuremath{\surd}2 Ja, where Z is within 2% of unity. Our best estimate gives Z\ensuremath{\approxeq}1.006.
Medical Toxicology Case Presentations: To Chelate or Not to Chelate, Is That the Question?

Four case studies described in this article were presented to a panel of physicians participating in the ACMT “Use and Misuse of Metal Chelation Therapy” Symposium in February 2012. The individuals who participated in the panel are listed in the appendix. These cases highlight some of the practical questions facing medical providers when issues of metal toxicity and its treatment arise. Medical toxicologists are valuable resources for information, public debate, consultation, and treatment of patients with concerns about heavy metal exposure.
Mitochondrial Medicine and the Neurodegenerative Mitochondriopathies

Neurodegenerative diseases are a common late-life scourge for which disease-modifying treatments are sorely needed. Mitochondrial perturbation is commonly observed in these diseases, so pursuing treatment development strategies that target mitochondria or processes affected by mitochondria seems reasonable. This review discusses the rationale underlying past and current efforts to treat neurodegenerative diseases using mitochondrial medicine, and tries to predict how future efforts might proceed.
On the Stability of Biaxial Stretching With Application to the Optimization of Superplastic Blow-Forming

The instability of biaxial stretching of thin sheets of viscoplastic metals under plane stress conditions is investigated using a linear stability analysis. An instability criterion for biaxial stretching is developed based on the assumption that localized necking initiates along the direction perpendicular to the major principal stress direction. Various optimum variable strain rate paths, which ensure a stable deformation of the sheet without neck formation, are computed for different strain ratios based on the instability analysis. The variable strain rate paths are applied in the finite element modeling of the superplastic uniaxial extension of a tabular specimen and superplastic blow-forming of a hemisphere. A reduction of forming time is achieved compared with the established constant strain rate forming method, while uniformity in the thickness distribution of the formed parts are maintained.
Simple Flume for Flow Measurement in Open Channel

There are various types of water measurement devices available. The type of flume used in a particular application depends on site-specific factors or limitations and the need for precision and cost. In measuring water in open drains, it is often desirable to prefabricate the flume to avoid the need for dewatering prior to installation. Traditionally, cutthroat flumes have been used in open drain systems or ditches due to ease of fabrication and installation. However, due to the extended transitional length and width associated with the cutthroat flume, transportation of the flume requires special facilitation or permits. A simple Venturi flume was proposed and tested that has several advantages over the traditional cutthroat flume. These advantages include lower construction cost, simplicity in fabrication, ease of transportation, and less width requirements where large flows are to be measured.
Nursing's syntax revisited: a critique of philosophies said to influence nursing theories

Lodged within the syntax of a discipline are the value systems and research constraints that influence theory development and research strategies. Humanism and postmodern philosophy have challenged natural science philosophical influences on nursing's syntax. This paper examines the construction of nursing's syntax from empiricist, hermeneuticist, feminist, and critical social theory views. In this critique, two requirements are placed on the world views: (1) they must accommodate theoretical (realist) terms important to nursing; and (2) they should provide explanatory power for these terms within nursing's disciplinary substance. Arguments are continued for a "within-the discipline" structure, a substantive and syntactical structure for the discipline of nursing that recognizes the centrality of biobehavioral processes in the practice of nursing [Gortner, IMAGE: J. Nurs. Scholarship 22, 101-105 (1990)].
POLAROGRAPHIC INVESTIGATION OF CONJUGATED FAT-SOLUBLE VITAMINS.

The half-wave potentials of all-trans β-carotene, all-trans retinol, 13-cis retinol, all-trans retinyl acetate, all-trans retinal, and vitamins D2 and D3 were related to the number of double bonds in conjugation. A minimum of three double bonds in conjugation was required before reduction took place at the dropping-mercury electrode. As the number of conjugated bonds increased in the fat-soluble vitamins, the initial reduction took place at a lower half-wave potential. All of the waves were linearly proportional to the concentration of the vitamins in the concentration range studied.
Weathering of limestone beds at the Great Sphinx.

The weathering characteristics of the sphinx limestones are evaluated in the context of their pore system. The latter consists of “ink-bottle” pores. This pore system varies from one stratum to another. In the lower micritic rocks the large cavities of the ink-bottle pores are interconnected through the fine capillary network of the narrow throats. In the upper skeletal-rich rocks the interconnections are provided by large as well as small throats.
Oxidative DNA damage and DNA repair enzyme expression are inversely related in murine models of fatty liver disease.

Mitochondrial generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is increased in mice with fatty livers induced by genetic obesity, chronic consumption of ethanol, or methionine/choline-deficient diets. B...
Synthetic, mechanistic, and computational investigations of nitrile-alkyne cross-metathesis

The terminal nitride complexes NW(OC(CF3)2Me)3(DME) (1-DME), [Li(DME)2][NW(OC(CF3)2Me)4] (2), and [NW(OCMe2CF3)3]3 (3) were prepared in good yield by salt elimination from [NWCl3]4. X-ray structures revealed that 1-DME and 2 are monomeric in the solid state. All three complexes catalyze the cross-metathesis of 3-hexyne with assorted nitriles to form propionitrile and the corresponding alkyne. Propylidyne and substituted benzylidyne complexes RCW(OC(CF3)2Me)3 were isolated in good yield upon reaction of 1-DME with 3-hexyne or 1-aryl-1-butyne. The corresponding reactions failed for 3. Instead, EtCW(OC(CF3)Me2)3 (6) was prepared via the reaction of W2(OC(CF3)Me2)6 with 3-hexyne at 95 °C. Benzylidyne complexes of the form ArCW(OC(CF3)Me2)3 (Ar = aryl) then were prepared by treatment of 6 with the appropriate symmetrical alkyne ArCCAr. Three coupled cycles for the interconversion of 1-DME with the corresponding propylidyne and benzylidyne complexes via [2 + 2] cycloaddition−cycloreversion were examined for rev...
Manage learning without apology: an economist's perspective

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review the current state of corporate learning from a business perspective and make specific recommendations for improvement.Design/methodology/approach – Conclusions are reached based on personal experience at Caterpillar Inc. (Caterpillar University was named Best Overall Corporate University in 2004 and ranked 1st in ASTD BEST Awards for 2005), from numerous benchmarking visits with other companies and from discussions with other learning professionals.Findings – It is found that learning is not managed like a business in most organizations which reduces its impact and influence. Worse, many in the learning profession continually apologize for the lack of rigor and discipline, believing that it is too hard or too difficult to manage learning like other lines of business. It is concluded that learning is not any more difficult to manage than the rest of business and two key requirements for success are suggested. First, the learning function should create a writ...
Effects of residual copper selenide on CuInGaSe2 solar cells

Abstract Large-grain, copper-poor CuInGaSe 2 (CIGS) films are favored in the fabrication of highly efficient solar cells. However, the degradation of cell performance caused by residual copper selenide (Cu 2− x Se) remains a problem. This work studies the formation and behavior of excess Cu x Se and further compares the cell performance of typical copper-poor with that of copper-rich solar cells. Since excess Cu 2− x Se cannot be exhausted during the growth, it fully surrounds the polycrystalline CIGS grains. Excess Cu 2− x Se in the CIGS film produces serious shunt paths and causes the pn junction to be of poor quality. A short circuit in copper-rich CIGS solar cells is attributable to the conductive Cu 2− x Se. The best way to ensure high-efficiency of the cells is to exhaust Cu 2− x Se during growth. Otherwise, a dense, chemically treated CIGS film is required to prevent the negative effects of excess Cu 2− x Se.
High-speed modulation of long-wavelength In/sub 1-x/Ga/sub x/As/sub y/P/sub 1-y/ and In/sub 1-x-y/Ga/sub x/Al/sub y/As strained quantum-well lasers

In/sub 1-x/Ga/sub x/As/sub 1-y/P/sub y/ quantum-well (QW) lasers with compressive strain and In/sub 1-x-y/Ga/sub x/Al/sub y/As QW lasers with two strain types (compressively strained and lattice matched) for 1.55-/spl mu/m telecommunication applications are investigated both in the steady-state and high-speed microwave modulation schemes. Under steady-state electric bias, the gain and intrinsic loss are measured based on the well-known Hakki-Paoli method from below threshold to threshold. The photon lifetime is obtained from this measurement. A comprehensive theoretical gain model with realistic band structure, including valence band mixing and many-body effects, is then used to fit the experimentally obtained modal gain profiles and extract the carrier density and, therefore, the differential gain. In the high-speed microwave modulation scheme, the experimental modulation response curves are fitted by the theory and parameters such as the differential gain and K factor are obtained. The differential gain agrees very well with the value obtained from the steady-state direct optical gain measurement. The comparison of two material systems will be important to design high-bandwidth high-performance semiconductor lasers in order to meet requirements of 1.55-/spl mu/m telecommunication applications.
Ca(2+) induces an extended conformation of the inhibitory region of troponin I in cardiac muscle troponin.

Abstract The inhibitory region of troponin I (TnI) plays a central regulatory role in the contraction and relaxation cycle of skeletal and cardiac muscle through its Ca 2+ -dependent interaction with actin. Detailed structural information on the interface between TnC and this region of TnI has been long in dispute. We have used fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) to investigate the global conformation of the inhibitory region of a full-length TnI mutant from cardiac muscle (cTnI) in the unbound state and in reconstituted complexes with the other cardiac troponin subunits. The mutant contained a single tryptophan residue at the position 129 which was used as an energy transfer donor, and a single cysteine residue at the position 152 labeled with IAEDANS as energy acceptor. The sequence between Trp129 and Cys152 in cTnI brackets the inhibitory region (residues 130–149), and the distance between the two sites was found to be 19.4 A in free cTnI. This distance was insensitive to reconstitution of cTnI with cardiac troponin T (cTnT), cTnC, or cTnC and cTnT in the absence of bound regulatory Ca 2+ in cTnC. An increase of 9 A in the Trp129-Cys152 separation was observed upon saturation of the Ca 2+ regulatory site of cTnC in the complexes. This large increase suggests an extended conformation of the inhibitory region in the interface between cTnC and cTnI in holo cardiac troponin. This extended conformation is different from a recent model of the Ca 2+ -saturated skeletal TnI-TnC complex in which the inhibitory region is modeled as a β-turn. The observed Ca 2+ -induced conformational change may be a switch mechanism by which movement of the regulatory region of cTnI to the exposed hydrophobic patch of the open regulatory N-domain of cTnC pulls the inhibitory region away from actin upon Ca 2+ activation in cardiac muscle.
Does Shape Anisotropy Control the Fractal Dimension in Diffusion-Limited Cluster-Cluster Aggregation?

Motivated by recent experiments of soot formation in premixed flames where a minority population of the “stringy” aggregates is found to have a fractal dimension as low as 1.2 instead of the classic diffusion-limited cluster-cluster aggregation (DLCA) value of 1.8, we address this same question in our simulation study: is there a distribution of fractal dimensions in a given ensemble of aggregates and does shape anisotropy of clusters control the fractal dimension? Our results, however, clearly show classic DLCA yields aggregates of a broad range of shapes all with Df≈1.8 independent of their shape, but with a shape dependent pre-factor k0 , in the relation between radius of gyration Rg , mass N, monomer radius a, and fractal dimension . Thus the pre-factor k0 gains in status as a descriptor of aggregate morphology so that aggregates should be described by the pair of parameters Df and k 0 , i.e., (Df, k0).
Isolated photon measurements in pp and PbPb collisions with CMS

Abstract We report new measurements using isolated photons based on the high statistics 2.76 TeV pp reference data collected in 2013. The nuclear modification factors of reconstructed isolated photons, obtained by the comparison of heavy ion collisions and pp data, are presented and provide useful constraints to the nuclear parton distribution functions. For events containing a high p T isolated photon with an associated jet, the photon + jet p T imbalance is studied as a function of collision centrality and compared to pp data and model calculations. These measurements allow an unbiased characterization of the in-medium parton energy loss.
Long-life, high-efficiency lithium/sulfur batteries from sulfurized carbon nanotube cathodes

The long-term cycling properties of Li–S cells comprised of sulfurized carbon nanotubes (SCNTs) were thoroughly investigated. A high concentration (68 wt%) of sulfur was successfully immobilized on the surfaces of functionalized CNTs using a unique fabrication method that combined solvent exchange and surface and low-temperature treatments. The developed Li–S cells presented a long cycle life exceeding 1300 cycles and an extremely low capacity decay rate (0.025% per cycle) at 1/3 C rate. Moreover, these Li–S cells had an excellent high-rate response up to 2 C with high Coulombic efficiency (above 95.5%) and high sulfur utilizations (1180 mA h g−1 of sulfur over 300 cycles at 0.25 C, 799 mA h g−1 over 600 cycles at 0.75 C, 810 mA h g−1 over 500 cycles at 1 C, and 400 mA h g−1 over 500 cycles at 2 C). These results provide important progress towards understanding the role of SCNTs in developing Li–S batteries with potentially high efficiency and long-term service life.
THE BACTERIOLOGY OF THE INTESTINAL TRACT OF YOUNG CALVES WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE EARLY DIARRHEA ("SCOURS").

New-born calves receiving no colostrum, or else receiving it after some delay, may die of Bacillus coli septicemia, of which scours is a local manifestation. Calves receiving an insufficiently protective dose of colostrum may become victims of various bacterial diseases such as arthritis, nephritis, omphalitis, and possibly pneumonia. Calves receiving a sufficient dose of colostrum may still develop scours of various degrees of severity due to the local multiplication of various types of Bacillus coli in the small intestine. There exists in the young calf a delicate balance between certain strains of Bacillus coli and the mucous membrane and digestive ferments, which, upset in favor of Bacillus coli , produces scours. The necessary conditions for such attacks are in part inherited defects of the digestive tract, both morphological and functional, and special types of Bacillus coli , resident in the herd and environment. The immediate indications are a great increase in the number of Bacillus coli in the lowest third of the small intestine with a spreading of the invasion towards the duodenum as the disease gains headway. Under these conditions a general intoxication results. The bacilli form layers or films attached to the top plates of the epithelial cells. At this time morphological changes in the cells are not yet recognizable. The vacuolar or hydropic condition frequently found antedates the bacterial invasion and may be present in the absence of bacteria. In mild or recovered cases, during the 1st week a fatty infiltration of the epithelium is not infrequently present. In a large number of clinically normal calves, from 1 day to 3 months of age, Gram-negative bacilli were not present in sufficient numbers to be detected in sections, although enriched cultures, when attempted, revealed them.
Fetal neutrophils and eosinophils express normal levels of L-selectin

ABSTRACT: L-selectin is a leukocyte adhesion molecule important in the initial stages of the interaction of neutrophils with endothelium during neutrophil emigration from the bloodstream. Neutrophils and eosinophils from newborn infants express significantly less L-selectin than do neutrophils and eosinophils from adults. It is not known whether L-selectin expression on fetal granulocytes is similarly decreased. We studied fetal blood specimens obtained for a variety of clinical indications by percutaneous umbilical cord sampling at 23 to 34 wk of gestation and measured L-selectin expression by flow cytometry. Eosinophils constituted a large proportion of the granulocytes in these fetal specimens (42 ± 26%, n = 8), with eosinophil counts ranging from 180 to 690/mm3 (mean ± SD: 350 ± 220). There was no difference in L-selectin expression of unstimulated fetal and adult neutrophils (mean ± SD specific fluorescence: 53.0 ± 6.8 versus 56.6 ± 4.3, n = 6), and no difference between unstimulated fetal and adult eosinophils (16.0 ± 6.5 versus 18.7 ± 3.2, n = 6). Thus, neutrophils and eosinophils from fetuses as early as 23 wk express L-selectin at adult levels. Furthermore, fetal neutrophils and eosinophils shed the receptor normally in response to stimulation in vitro. We conclude that the reduction of L-selectin expression on neonatal neutrophils and eosinophils is not due to an inherent developmental limitation, but instead must be caused by changes occurring in the neonatal period. Elucidation of the etiology of these changes may aid in the development of therapeutic measures to correct the L-selectin-related defects of neonatal neutrophil adherence.
Standardization of antifungal susceptibility testing

The application of in-vitro antifungal susceptibility testing to clinical research and to the guidance of antifungal therapy has been limited by a lack of reproducibili ty and uncertain clinical relevance. As a result of studies of the identified variables impacting on in-vitro susceptibility results, the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards have proposed a standardized antifungal susceptibility test method M27-P. The degree of intra- and inter-laboratory reproducibility which can be achieved with this method have been defined in multi-laborat ory collaborative studies. More convenient methods (microdilution broth and stable gradient technology) have been evaluated relative to the proposed standard method and the potential for a similar process with a disc diffusion method is apparent. A modification of this standard method for susceptibility testing of filamentous fungi appears promising. The existence of a standardized method and of alternative methods with a defined relationship to the proposed standard, facilitates meaningful analysis of published studies addressing the issue of clinical relevance of antifungal susceptibility testing. As a result of this process, correlation of MICs determined in vitro with clinical response to therapy is beginning to emerge, most notably in relation to fluconazole therapy for oropharyngeal candidosis associated with infection with the human immunodeficiency virus
Negative mood, craving, and alcohol relapse: can treatment interrupt the process?

Emotions, particularly negative affect such as depression and anxiety, play important roles in the etiology and maintenance of substance use disorders, as well as in response to treatment. For example, studies with alcohol-dependent patients have shown that ongoing depression increases the risk of relapse during and after treatment [1–3], and sudden increases in negative affect have been shown to immediately precede nicotine relapse [4]. One of the ways in which negative mood may lead to substance use is through its effect on craving for alcohol and other drugs. Several current models of substance use disorder etiology or relapse have offered explanations for the interplay among negative mood, craving, and substance use. For example, learning-based models postulate that substance abusers learn that use of alcohol and drugs can temporarily alleviate painful emotions. After such learning has occurred, negative emotions trigger the desire for alcohol or drugs, which in the immediate absence of alcohol or drugs is experienced as craving. The craving in turn then drives the substance abuser to seek out and use alcohol or drugs in an effort to reduce the negative affect [5].
Kinetic analysis of megakaryocyte numbers and ploidy levels in developing colonies from mouse bone marrow cells.

. The kinetics of megakaryocyte formation from mouse bone marrow cells in semi-solid medium was studied directly in the culture dish by staining the cells for acetylcholinesterase after drying the cultures. A WEHI-3 cell-conditioned medium (WEHI-3 CM) was used as a general source of stimulus for megakaryocyte colony formation. The addition of peritoneal exudate supernatant as well as WEHI-3 CM increased the frequency of megakaryocyte colonies detected. Colonies containing acetylcholinesterase-positive cells were first detected at day 3. Maximum numbers of 25–40 megakaryocyte colonies per 105 nucleaet mouse bone marrow cells were observed from days 7 to 11. The mean number of cells within each colony increased progressively with time of culture, and a modal range of 11–20 cells was obtained by day 7. Between 3 and 200 cells per colony were generally detected. A continuous distribution of the number of megakaryocytes per colony suggests that the clonable precursor cells are not synchronized either with respect to maturation stage or with respect to their capability to undergo nuclear endoreduplication. The addition of peritoneal exudate supernatant to the cell cultures increased the DNA levels of megakaryocytes grown in the presence of WEHI-3 CM but did not affect the number of cells per colony. The DNA content of colony megakaryocytes was measured after staining the cells with Feulgen reagent. A modal DNA value of 8 N was observed between days 4 and 7 for megakaryocytes stimulated with WEHI-3 CM. In the presence of both WEHI-3 CM and peritoneal exudate supernatant, the DNA content of megakaryocytes increased with the time of cell culture. Modal DNA values increased from 8 N at days 4 and 5, to 16 N by day 6. In these optimally stimulated cultures, 44% of colony megakaryocytes were 32 N or greater, a proportion higher than in normal bone marrow, but similar to that seen in the marrow of acutely thrombocytopenic animals. It is concluded that megakaryocytopoiesis in cell cultures is not a strictly controlled process with respect to cell division and endomitosis and that when certain culture conditions are employed, megakaryocyte development in vitro might reflect that seen in a stressed animal condition.
Synthesis of 9Z,11E;13-Tetradecatrienal, the Major Component of the Sex Pheromone of the Carob Moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae).

9Z,11E,13-Tetradecatrienal, a component of the sex pheromone of the carob moth, was synthesized by a short and efficient route, with a high degree of stereoselectivity. Key steps included the Pd-catalyzed construction of a conjugated dienynol intermediate from E-1,2-dichloroethylene, and stereo- and regiospecific reduction of the dienynol with activated zinc in aqueous alcohol.
Reduced Anterior Cingulate Cortex Glutamatergic Concentrations in Childhood Major Depression

ABSTRACT Objective To examine in vivo glutamatergic neurochemical alterations in the anterior cingulate cortex of children with major depressive disorder (MDD). Method Single-voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic ( 1 H-MRS) examinations of the anterior cingulate cortex were conducted in 13 psychotropic-naive children and adolescents with MDD and 13 age- and sex-matched healthy children and adolescents. Ten of the 13 MDD patient–control pairs also had a 1 H-MRS examination of occipital cortex. Results Anterior cingulate glutamatergic (Glx) concentrations were significantly lower (19% decrease) in MDD patients versus controls (9.27 ± 0.43 versus 11.47 ± 0.26, respectively, p = .000). Reduced anterior cingulate Glx in MDD patients was associated with increased severity of functional impairment. These results remained comparably significant after controlling for age and anterior cingulate volume. Occipital cortex Glx did not differ between MDD patients and controls. Conclusions These preliminary findings provide new evidence of localized functional neurochemical marker alterations in Glx in anterior cingulate cortex in pediatric MDD. Altered anterior cingulate Glx neurotransmission may be involved in the pathogenesis of MDD.
Screening for Depression, Sleep-Related Disturbances, and Anxiety in Patients with Adenocarcinoma of the Pancreas: A Preliminary Study

Purpose. Screening for depression, sleep-related disturbances, and anxiety in patients with diagnosed adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. Materials and Methods. Patients were evaluated at initial consultation and subsequent visits at the multidisciplinary pancreatic cancer clinic at our University Cancer Center. Cross-sectional and longitudinal psychosocial distress was assessed utilizing Personal Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ9) to screen for depression and monitor symptoms, the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) for generalized anxiety, and the University of Michigan Sleep Questionnaire to monitor sleep symptoms. Results. Twenty-two patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer participated during the 6-month pilot study with longitudinal followup for thirteen patients. In this study, mild-to-moderate depressive symptoms, anxiety, and potential sleep problems were common. The main finding of the study was 23% of the patients who were part of this pilot project screened positive for moderately severe major depressive symptoms, likely anxiety disorder or a potential sleep disorder during the study. One patient screened positive for moderately severe depressive symptoms in longitudinal followup. Conclusions. Depression, anxiety, and sleep problems are evident in patients with pancreatic cancer. Prospective, longitudinal studies, with larger groups of patients, are needed to determine if these comorbid symptoms impact outcome and clinical course.