cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
19F-NMR reveals substrate specificity of CYP121A1 in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Cytochromes P450 are versatile enzymes that function in endobiotic and xenobiotic metabolism and undergo meaningful structural changes that relate to their function. However, the way in which conformational changes inform the specific recognition of the substrate is often unknown. Here, we demonstrate the utility of fluorine (19F)-NMR spectroscopy to monitor structural changes in CYP121A1, an essential enzyme from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. CYP121A1 forms functional dimers that catalyze the phenol-coupling reaction of the dipeptide dicyclotyrosine. The thiol-reactive compound 3-bromo-1,1,1-trifluoroacetone was used to label an S171C mutation of the enzyme FG loop, which is located adjacent to the homodimer interface. Substrate titrations and inhibitor-bound 19F-NMR spectra indicate that ligand binding reduces conformational heterogeneity at the FG loop in both the dimer and in an engineered monomer of CYP121A1. However, only the dimer was found to promote a substrate-bound conformation that was preexisting in the substrate-free spectra, thus confirming a role for the dimer interface in dicyclotyrosine recognition. Moreover, 19F-NMR spectra in the presence of substrate analogs indicate the hydrogen-bonding feature of the dipeptide aromatic side chain as a dicyclotyrosine specificity criterion. This study demonstrates the utility of 19F-NMR as applied to a multimeric cytochrome P450, while also revealing mechanistic insights for an essential M. tuberculosis enzyme.
Decentralized PWM Interleaving for Ripple Minimization in both Symmetric and Asymmetric Parallel-connected DC-DC Converters

A decentralized control technique for minimizing the input and output current ripple in parallel connected dc-dc converters under both uniform and non-uniform operating conditions is presented in this paper. We solve two key problems related to obtaining minimum ripple operation of these converters. First, we eliminate the need for a centralized controller that manages system-wide pulse width modulation. This yields a decentralized structure where converters autonomously converge to the operating point with minimized ripple using only local voltage feedback. Second, we obtain a controller that can function in the presence of parametric mismatches as well as nonuniformities in converter duty ratios that naturally arise with heterogeneous input sources. More precisely, the proposed controller minimizes the fundamental switching harmonic under both uniform and asymmetric operating conditions. For the case studies we consider, a more than $4 \times$ reduction in net current ripple is observed compared to conventional methods. Moreover, the undesired fundamental harmonic is reduced by more than 30dB. Relevant analysis, simulation results and experimental results with 5 parallel-connected dc-dc converters validate the proposed method.
The search for Eden: Paper Towns That Never Where

The pursuit of happiness as an issue in planning for towns in trans-Appalachian America was a prime requisite. It is the intent of this paper to illustrate that, while many of the towns were paper towns that were never actualised, they acted as a catalyst for immigrants seeking to escape the oppression of Europe. Visualised as a new Eden, and promising land ownership with liberty, they were an opiate so strong that even with numerous instances of fraud and deceit the settlers came. Their belief that they had indeed arrived at Eden was so strong that it transcended any and all difficulties. This belief has influenced the planning and development of towns in America up to and including modern times. As long as people believe that their living situation is what is meant for them, their pursuit of happiness is satisfied. They have found their Eden.…the mild breezes of a summer's eve, playing upon the enraptured senses, softens the heart to love and friendship. Heavens! What charms are there in liberty (Imlay, 1793).
Metabolism of Long Chain Fatty Acids by Ruminant Liver

The primary source of fatty acids processed by ruminant liver is nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) from blood. Uptake is regulated by concentration of NEFA and blood flow. Blood NEFA concentration increases with negative energy balance. Blood flow increases with energy intake. Uptake and secretion of triacylglycerol between blood and the liver is limited. The reason for limited hepatic secretion of triacylglycerol-rich lipoprotein is unclear but probably involves the secretory process, not synthesis of triacylglycerol or apolipoprotein. Oxidation of fatty acids and ketogenesis are inhibited by malonyl-CoA and propionic acid. The stress of late gestation and early lactation increases NEFA supply to the liver, where they cause deposition of fat. Ketogenesis and oxidation in the liver increase but not sufficiently to prevent an accumulation of fat, which may contribute to decreased feed intake in the peripartum period.
Proteolytic Release of a Histidinol Dehydrogenase Fragment from the Double Enzyme Histidinol Dehydrogenase-Imidazolylacetolphosphate:l-Glutamate Aminotransferase

Abstract A double enzyme of Salmonella typhimurium, containing histidinol dehydrogenase and imidazolylacetolphosphate:l-glutamate aminotransferase, was mildly proteolyzed in an attempt to release these activities from covalent linkage. This treatment releases an active histidinol dehydrogenase fragment larger than normal histidinol dehydrogenase, while completely destroying aminotransferase activity. The normal, unfused enzymes show comparable sensitivities to proteolysis. The active fragment from the double enzyme appears to be composed of histidinol dehydrogenase subunits of roughly normal size and noncovalently bound smaller polypeptides.
Stochastic Distributed Algorithms for Target Surveillance

In this paper we investigate problems of target surveillance with the aim of building a general framework for the evaluation of the performance of a system of autonomous agents. To this purpose we propose a class of semi-distributed stochastic navigation algorithms, that drive swarms of autonomous scouts to the surveillance of grounded targets, and we provide a novel approach to performance estimation based on analysing sequential observations of the system’s state with information theoretical techniques. Our goal is to achieve a deeper understanding of the interrelations between randomness, resource consumption and ergodicity of a decentralized control system in which the decision-making process is stochastic.
Percolation and transport in a sandy soil under a natural hydraulic gradient

[1] Unsaturated flow and transport under a natural hydraulic gradient in a Mediterranean climate were investigated with a field tracer experiment combined with laboratory analyses and numerical modeling. Bromide was applied to the surface of a sandy soil during the dry season. During the subsequent rainy season, repeated sediment sampling tracked the movement of bromide through the profile. Analysis of data on moisture content, matric pressure, unsaturated hydraulic conductivity, bulk density, and soil texture and structure provides insights into parameterization and use of the advective-dispersive modeling approach. Capturing the gross features of tracer and moisture movement with model simulations required an order-of-magnitude increase in laboratory-measured hydraulic conductivity. Wetting curve characteristics better represented field results, calling into question the routine estimation of hydraulic characteristics based only on drying conditions. Measured increases in profile moisture exceeded cumulative precipitation in early winter, indicating that gains from dew drip can exceed losses from evapotranspiration during periods of heavy (“Tule”) fog. A single-continuum advective-dispersive modeling approach could not reproduce a peak of bromide that was retained near the soil surface for over 3 years. Modeling of this feature required slow exchange of solute at a transfer rate of 0.5–1 × 10−4 d−1 with an immobile volume approaching the residual moisture content.
Least squares support vector machines for direction of arrival estimation

Machine learning research has largely been devoted to binary and multiclass problems relating to data mining, text categorization, and pattern/facial recognition. Recently, popular machine learning algorithms, including support vector machines (SVM), have successfully been applied to wireless communication problems. The paper presents a multiclass least squares SVM (LS-SVM) architecture for direction of arrival (DOA) estimation as applied to a CDMA cellular system. Simulation results show a high degree of accuracy, as related to the DOA classes, and prove that the LS-SVM DDAG (decision directed acyclic graph) system has a wide range of performance capabilities. The multilabel capability for multiple DOAs is discussed. Multilabel classification is possible with the LS-SVM DDAG algorithm presented.
Lysis of catatonic withdrawal by propofol in a bone-marrow transplant recipient with adenovirus limbic encephalitis.

The evaluation of hospitalized patients with agitation can be challenging, especially when an immunocompromised state introduces the potential for central nervous system (CNS) infections. The presentation of agitation in a patient with psychiatric diagnoses and comorbid medical conditions further confounds assessment, as the differential diagnosis includes both medical and psychiatric causes of catatonia and delirious agitation. We offer a case of a woman with a history of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and social anxiety disorder (SAD) who presented to the emergency department (ED) with agitation and confusion. She posed a particular diagnostic challenge because of her history of psychiatric illness and double-umbilical cord stem cell transplant for leukemia, which suggested oncologic, infectious, psychiatric, and toxic etiologies. Her course is consistent with a manic delirium or catatonic excitement progressing to catatonic withdrawal with autonomic instability. After a desaturation episode because of aspiration, she received propofol in the intensive care unit, lysing her catatonia. Catatonia was likely precipitated by early adenovirus limbic encephalitis in the context of benzodiazepine withdrawal. To our knowledge, this is the first documented case of catatonia lysed by propofol and of catatonia associated with adenovirus limbic encephalitis.
Effects of Enzyme Modified Soy Protein on Rennet-Induced Reconstituted Nonfat Dry Milk Coagulum Properties

Soy protein was hydrolyzed by trypsin, pepsin and α-chymotrypsin. Effects of adding hydrolyzed soy protein on rennet-induced nonfat milk coagulum texture and syneresis were studied. Pepsin-modified soy protein increased coagulum firmness and syneresis greater than untreated soy protein. Soy protein hydrolyzed with trypsin for 150 min and added to nonfat milk increased coagulum firmness greater than nonfat milk with no soy protein added. Chymotrypsin-modified soy protein acted similarly to the trypsin modified soy protein except the coagulum firmness was less than nonfat milk alone. Soy protein hydrolyzed by trypsin followed by pepsin increased coagulum firmness more than hydrolysis by a single enzyme and was close to nonfat milk without soy protein.
Mappings of subspaces into subsets

Abstract Let Vn(q) denote the n-dimensional vector space over the finite field with q elements, and Ln(q) be the lattice of subspaces of Vn(q). Two rank- and order-preserving maps from Ln(q) onto the lattice of subsets of an n-set are constructed. Three equivalent formulations of these maps are given: an inductive procedure based on an elementary combinatorial interpretation of a well-known pair of difference equations satisfied by the Gaussian coefficients [ n k ], a direct set-theoretical definition, and, a direct definition involving a certain pair of modular chains in Ln(q). The direct set-theoretical definition of one of these maps has already been given by Knuth. Knuth's map, however, may be systematically discovered by means of the inductive procedure and the direct lattice-theoretic definition shows how it can be generalized. As a further application of the pair of difference equations satisfied by [ n k ], a direct-combinatorial proof of an identity of Carlitz that expands Gaussian coefficients in terms of binomial coefficients has been formulated.
Transaction decomposition using transaction semantics

Serializability has been widely accepted as the correctness criterion for databases subject to concurrent access. However, in a number of the newer and most challenging application areas, serializable execution may not be feasible. A number of models have recently been proposed in which transactions are decomposed into smaller, atomic, interleavable steps. These models have the potential for improving performance since locks are released at the end of each step. Models of distributed transactions have also been proposed with the similarity that subtransactions correspond to steps. In most of this work serializability is no longer guaranteed. In this paper we propose a new, application-oriented, correctness criterion that utilizes transaction semantics. We treat transactions as programs whose semantics can be analyzed at design time. The effect of each transaction is specified using pre- and postconditions, and any schedule that preserves these conditions is permissible. Such schedules can produce database states that could not be reached by any serial execution. In addressing the issue of performance, we use transaction semantics to decompose transactions into steps and describe a concurrency control that controls step interleaving in such a way that assertions are preserved. The same model can be used to study the interleaving of subtransactions of concurrent distributed transactions.
Beam Tracking and Stability Analysis for the SSC

At the Texas Accelerator Center our initial analytical and tracking studies for the SSC have identified the dominant limitations of systematic multipoles. Future studies will extend to randan multipoles, misalignment effects, and modulation effects, determining conditions for stable motion.
The Two-Alternative Observing Response Procedure in Rats: Preference for Nondiscriminative Stimuli and the Effect of Delay.

Abstract A two-alternative choice procedure was used with rats to examine preference for discriminative stimuli (correlated with the occurrence of reinforcement) versus uncorrelated cues. Choice of discriminative stimuli was below chance, despite the use of very low levels of reinforcement (12.5% for some rats) known to produce a preference for discriminative cues. Levers that had been retracted during the stimulus presentation in Experiment 1 were extended in Experiment 2 to assess the role of response elicitation during the observed stimuli. In Experiment 3, the impact of cue-duration behaviors was further evaluated by lengthening the duration of the cues and providing an opportunity for an escape response. The preference for nondiscriminative stimuli was reversed only with increased exposure to the cues. The present results point to fundamental differences in the prevailing context of the choice procedure as compared to the usual free-operant observing design.
Differential positive and negative transcriptional regulation by tamoxifen

Tamoxifen, a nonsteroidal antiestrogen and breast cancer chemotherapeutic, exhibits both estrogen agonist and antagonist properties. Rat GC3 cells grown under estrogen-free conditions were analyzed for the expression of model luciferase reporter genes, either positively or negatively regulated by estrogens. Expression assays adding tamoxifen alone or in combination with 17 beta-estradiol were performed to determine agonist or antagonist activities. In rat GC3 cells, tamoxifen acts as an estrogen antagonist for gene activation, but as an agonist for repression. Regulation by tamoxifen is mediated by estrogen receptor (ER), not via nonreceptor tamoxifen effects. Evaluation of human ER shows that although the wild-type receptor behaves similarly to the rat receptor, the Gly400 to Val400 mutant receptor does not. Tamoxifen, an effective agonist for gene repression with rat and wild-type receptor, shows no agonist activity using this mutated Val400 receptor. Yet, 17 beta-estradiol and clomiphene, another mixed...
A pilot study of immune and mood outcomes of a community-based intervention for dementia caregivers: the PLST intervention.

Providing care to a family member with dementia is conceptualized as a chronic stressor with adverse psychological and physical effects. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate mood and immune outcomes of caregivers exposed to a community-based psychoeducational nursing intervention based on the progressively lowered stress threshold (PLST) model. The PLST intervention is designed to strengthen the psychological resources of dementia caregivers by teaching methods of preventing and/or managing behavioral problems exhibited by the person with dementia. Mood and immune outcomes were compared between caregivers randomly assigned to receive either the PLST or a comparison intervention. Results of this pilot study suggest that caregivers who received the PLST intervention showed significantly stronger T-cell proliferative responses to both PHA and ConA, indicating an improvement in T-cell immune function immediately after the in-home intervention (T2) and again after 6 months of telephone support for application of the PLST model (T3). Findings do not support the hypothesis that the PLST intervention had a significant effect on total mood disturbance or natural killer cell cytotoxicity over the course of the study.
Position and spatial frequency in large-scale localization judgments.

Abstract The frequency-channel model and the position, or “local-signs”, model that have been proposed to account for hyperacuity (i.e. small-scale relative spatial localization) are examined in the context of large-scale relative spatial localization. As a basis for subsequent experiments, localization accuracy is measured over a large range of object separations, and previous findings that the “Weber fraction for localization” is constant are replicated. The effects on localization accuracy of both high- and low-spatial frequency components in the objects being localized are examined in some detail. Localization accuracy is found not to rely exclusively on either the high- or the low-frequency components. Neither the frequency-channel nor the position hypothesis as defined here is consistent with all of the observed results. However, with a slight modification, the position hypothesis can account qualitatively for all of the observed results, whereas no reasonable modification of the frequency-channel hypothesis appears able to do as well.
Ba oxides: Core level binding energies and defect-related Fermi level pinning

Abstract X-ray photoemission spectroscopy has been used to measure core level and valence band energies for Ba oxides prepared by oxidation of Ba metal and evaporation of Ba in an activated oxygen ambient. We demonstrate that previously-observed negative binding energy shifts for oxidized Ba relative to metallic Ba are due to changes in the position of the Fermi level in the energy gap of the oxide. Shifts of the Ba and O core levels ranging from −0.4 to + 0.5 eV were induced by changing the amount of disorder in an oxide surface by sputtering or annealing without changing the chemical composition of the surface. Movement of EF toward the valence band maximum was correlated with increasing disorder. Apparent shifts of up to −1.6 eV with respect to the metal were obtained when Ba was evaporated in an activated oxygen ambient. These results are related to the unusual core level binding energies observed in the high temperature superconductors, particularly Ba in YBa2Cu3O7−x.
Alcohol and condom use: a meta-analysis of event-level studies.

Although it is often assumed that drinking alcohol interferes with condom use studies on this topic have used several different methods and have yielded inconsistent findings. By examining drinking and condom use in specific sexual encounters the role of alcohol in influencing unprotected intercourse is targeted. The goal of the study was to assess the relationship of alcohol use and condom use in discrete sexual encounters using meta-analysis. Studies in the literature were identified by computerized searches of MEDLINE and PsycINFO and hand searches of reference lists. Summary odds ratios were calculated for all analyses and for subgroups formed according to type of sexual encounter (first most recent most recent with a new sexual partner). The association of alcohol use and condom use varied by type of sexual encounter: drinking at first intercourse was associated with decreased condom use (odds ratio [OR] 0.54; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.44-0.66) but drinking was unrelated to condom use in recent sexual encounters with new partners (OR 1.0; 95% CI 0.92-1.32). Drinking is not necessarily linked to unprotected intercourse; the relationship between alcohol use and unprotected sex depends on context and sexual experience of the partners. (authors)
Infrared spectra of simple molecules in liquid-argon solution—II. NF3 and N2O

Abstract The i.r. spectrum of NF 3 has been measured in liquid-argon solution. Since the sample of NF 3 used for the experiments was contaminated with N 2 O, it was also necessary to measure the spectrum of N 2 O in liquid-argon solution so that the impurity bands could be identified unambiguously. In the observed spectrum of NF 3 it was possible to identify 29 overtone and combination bands in addition to the vibrational fundamentals. The measured wavenumbers of the NF 3 bands have been used to estimate the anharmonic coefficients x ss′ , which are compared with the corresponding quantities determined from the gas-phase spectrum.
Some physical properties of a black aerosol

Abstract Experimental results support the use of a simple linear extinction coefficient as a measure of the light-absorbing properties of a column of aerosol. A black test aerosol was generated by spraying dilute drawing ink with a Collison atomizer. The pigment aerosol obtained was made up of smooth particles confined to the size range 0.01 μ m d μ m. A linear function was found to relate the area of these particles collected by a filter, to the extinction of diffuse light by the face of that filter.
PREDICT: Privacy and Security Enhancing Dynamic Information Collection and Monitoring

In this paper, we present an overview of our ongoing project PREDICT (Privacy and secuRity Enhancing Dynamic Information Collection and moniToring). The overall aim of the project is to develop a framework with algorithms and mechanisms for privacy and security enhanced dynamic data collection, aggregation, and analysis with feedback loops. We discuss each of our research thrusts with research challenges and potential solutions, and report some preliminary results.
Process Controls for Radiation-Hardened Aluminum Gate Bulk Silicon CMOS

Optimized dry oxide processes have recently yielded notable improvements in CMOS radiation hardness. For these processes to be manufacturable, controls and screens are required to allow both manufacturer and user to guarantee survival of specific radiation environments. Four aspects of controlling a radiation hardened process are discussed. The electrical characteristics and constraints of a hardened technology are outlined. The statistical relations between radiation survival probability and process hardness capabilities are developed. The process steps which are key to achieving hardness are identified and the required controls on these steps are determined. Finally, the subject of hardness screening is explored to determine necessary actions, prerad and postrad, to insure that radiation requirements are met.
Sex bias exists in basic science and translational surgical research

Background Although the Revitalization Act was passed in 1993 to increase enrollment of women in clinical trials, there has been little focus on sex disparity in basic and translational research. We hypothesize that sex bias exists in surgical biomedical research. Methods Manuscripts from Annals of Surgery, American Journal of Surgery, JAMA Surgery, Journal of Surgical Research, and Surgery from 2011 to 2012 were reviewed. Data abstracted included study type, sex of the animal or cell studied, location, and presence of sex-based reporting of data. Results Of 2,347 articles reviewed, 618 included animals and/or cells. For animal research, 22% of the publications did not specify the sex of the animals. Of the reports that did specify the sex, 80% of publications included only males, 17% only females, and 3% both sexes. A greater disparity existed in the number of animals studied: 16,152 (84%) male and 3,173 (16%) female (P Conclusion Sex bias, be it overt, inadvertent, situational, financial, or ignorant, exists in surgical biomedical research. Because biomedical research serves as the foundation for subsequent clinical research and medical decision-making, it is imperative that this disparity be addressed because conclusions derived from such studies may be specific to only one sex.
Bacteriology of neonatal omphalitis

Summary Aerobic and anaerobic cultures were obtained from 23 newborns with omphalitis. Aerobes were isolated from 20 specimens (87 per cent). In six cases (26 per cent) they were mixed with anaerobes, and in 14 cases (61 per cent) they were the only isolates. Anaerobes alone were recovered in three instances (13 per cent). There were 47 aerobic isolates (2·1 per specimen). These included 11 Group B beta hemolytic streptococci, nine Esch. coli , six Staph. aureus , five Group D streptococci and four Proteus mirabilis . There were 22 anaerobic isolates (0·9 per specimen). They included seven B. fragilis group, four anaerobic Gram-positive cocci and two Clostridium perfringens . Beta lactamase production was detected in 13 isolates, recovered from 12 patients. The above findings demonstrate the polymicrobial aerobic and anaerobic aetiology of neonatal omphalitis.
Elastic properties of single crystal Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8

Abstract We have measured the (in-plane) Young's and (out-of-plane) shear moduli of superconducting crystals of Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8 ( T c = 88 K ) as functions of temperature using “vibrating reed” techniques. No anomalous behavior is observed at any temperature (below room temperature), consistent with conventional thermodynamic behavior at T c and the absence of other structural phase transitions.
A Novel PMU-Based Transmission Line Protection Scheme Design

This paper presents an adaptive transmission line protection scheme based on synchronized phasor measurement. This scheme uses the positive-sequence voltage and current phasors at both ends of a transmission line to determine the parameter of the transmission line and the location of a fault on the transmission line. This scheme can be used for the protection of both single-and double-circuit transmission lines. This scheme is also robust against power swing conditions. A novel adaptive single pole auto re-closer is introduced based on the proposed scheme due to its capability of differentiating transient and permanent faults. System simulation studies show that the proposed scheme is able to operate fast and accurately for transmission line protection.
Dynamics of large wood in an eastern U.S. mountain stream

Abstract Large wood (LW) is an important feature in many streams in northeastern North America, yet the dynamics (recruitment, movement, and export) of large wood remain largely undocumented for streams in this region. In this study we quantify the dynamics of LW in 400 m of a second-order, high gradient, boulder-dominated stream in the eastern Adirondack Mountains, NY. Characteristics and location of all LW (>1-m length, >10-cm diameter) in the 400-m study reach were initially recorded and pieces were individually tagged in November 2000. Subsequent surveys were conducted in late summer/fall of 2001, 2003, and 2004. Twenty-six% of the 112 pieces of LW initially tagged moved 5.0 m or more during the 4 years of this study. Mobile wood was, on average, shorter than non-mobile wood. Nearly all mobile wood was shorter than the 8.0-m bankfull width of the stream. From 2000 to 2004, 2.16 m 3 (0.54 m 3 100 m −1 ; 43 pieces) of LW entered the study reach and 0.7 m 3 (0.18 m 3 100 m −1 ; 13 pieces) left the stream. Retention of wood in debris dams was key to reducing potential export. For this stream, located within a second-growth mixed northern hardwood riparian forest that is approaching maturity, the net wood accumulation rate was estimated as ranging from 0.09 to 0.15 m 3 100 m −1 year −1 . Our data support previous observations that LW length strongly influences its potential to move in high gradient streams, though debris dams can reduce LW movement rates and movement distances for wood of all sizes.
Smooth muscle myosin heavy chain isoforms and their role in muscle physiology.

Unlike vertebrate skeletal muscle, smooth muscle myosin heavy chain isoforms are encoded by a single gene. Alternative splicing of the primary transcript from a single gene generates four smooth muscle myosin heavy chain isoforms. These isoforms differ both at the carboxyl terminus (SM1 and SM2 isoforms) and at the amino terminus (SM-A and SM-B isoforms). The smooth muscle myosin heavy chain isoforms are differentially expressed during smooth muscle development and in different smooth muscle cell types. The mechanical properties of smooth muscle may be correlated with the myosin heavy chain content/isoform expression. However, the precise function of each smooth muscle myosin heavy chain isoform to muscle contraction remains to be determined. This review mainly focuses on the molecular basis of smooth muscle myosin heavy chain isoform diversity, its expression during development and disease, and its role in muscle physiology. Microsc. Res. Tech. 50:532–540, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Lack of effect of calcitonin on renal function in the elasmobranch, Squalus acanthias.

Abstract 1. The effect of calcitonin in the elasmobranch,S. acanthias, on glomerular filtration rate and the tubular reabsorption of sodium, urea, potassium and calcium was examined. 2. In contrast to the mammal where calcitonin reduces reabsorption of mono and divalent ions, no influence on renal function was found in the shark.
Relationship between quantitated precordial movement and left ventricular function.

The relationship between external records of precordial movement and ventricular function has been studied in 61 patients with various cardiac disorders by comparing the records of the apical impulse to the left ventricular volume. A significant correlation between external recordings and the volume data was found in patients with normal or increased ventricular volumes: Patients with a normal record in systole usually had normal end-diastolic and left ventricular stroke volumes; those with a hyperdynamic record in systole usually had an appropriate increase in stroke volume for increased end-diastolic volume; and those with sustained records usually had an increased end-diastolic volume without an appropriate increase in stroke volume, indicating poor myocardial function. Patients with a pressure-loaded left ventricle usually had a sustained record, but this appeared to be related to factors other than volume. These studies demonstrate that records of the apical impulse may provide useful information about left ventricular function.
Template-directed synthesis on oligodeoxycytidylate and polydeoxycytidylate templates.

Abstract Oligodeoxycytidylic acids and polydeoxycytidylic acid are effective templates for the polymerization of guanosine 5′-(phospho-2-methylimidazolide). They may be substituted for the corresponding ribo-oligomers without greatly changing the course of the reactions. Since oligomers of deoxynucleotides are much more easily synthesized than the ribo-oligomers, this finding, if it proves general, should greatly facilitate the study of the template properties of oligomers containing two or more bases. Oligodeoxycytidylates facilitate the synthesis of oligoguanylates up to one residue longer than the template in high yield, and oligoguanylates up to twice the length of the template in significant yield. The time-course and regiospecificity of these reactions suggest that “sliding” and “double-templating” are important factors in determining the pattern of reaction products.
Attitudes toward Religious Diversity among American Exemplars of Christian Virtue.

An important concern within contemporary Western societies is how religious adherents view and engage religious diversity. This study attempts to further understandings regarding religious diversity in contemporary society through the accounts of American Christian religious exemplars whose religious identification spans the conservative evangelical, liberal Protestant and Roman Catholic traditions. Ninety‐six in‐depth interviews were conducted with individuals recognized by their congregational leadership as exemplifying Christian virtues and thereby Christian commitment. Weak denominational allegiances, accompanied by salient identification with broad Christian religious traditions were found. Mainline/liberal Christians tended to identify conservative/evangelical Christians as ‘others’, while conservative/evangelical Christians identified Mormons as ‘others.’ Also, a shift in attitudes toward Catholics was found among Protestants, and attitudes toward non‐Christian religions were respectfully civil acr...
Finite element methods for the Helmholtz equation in an exterior domain: model problems

Abstract Finite element methods are presented for the reduced wave equation in unbounded domains. Model problems of radiation with inhomogeneous Neumann boundary conditions, including the effects of a moving acoustic medium, are examined for the entire range of propagation and decay. Exterior boundary conditions for the computational problem over a finite domain are derived from an exact relation between the solution and its derivatives on that boundary. Galerkin, Galerkin/least-squares and Galerkin/gradient least-squares finite element methods are evaluated by comparing errors pointwise and in integral norms. The Galerkin/least-squares method is shown to exhibit superior behavior for this class of problems.
DEAE paper chromatography to separate intermediates of the pyrimidine biosynthetic pathway and to assay aspartate transcarbamylase and dihydroorotase activities

Abstract A DEAE paper chromatographic method was developed to separate the six sequential intermediates on the pyrimidine biosynthetic pathway. This method has been utilized to assay aspartate transcarbamylase and dihydroorotase activities. Consequently, it can be inferred that the remaining three enzymes unique to pyrimidine biosynthesis can also be assayed in a similar manner.
Subjective probability revision in twelve simultaneous sequences

Two groups of Ss gave successive probability estimates of coin bias in the same 12 sequences. The control group operated on sequences consecutively while the experimental group worked with all 12 sequences concurrently. The experimental group extracted more of the available certainty as measured by Bayesian predictions.
Implications of the reorganizational behavior of condensed phosphates for mitochondrial phosphorylation.

The composition of phosphorus-32 labeled polyphosphoric acid (32PPA) prepared from, (i) H332PO4 and (82% w/w) P2O5 and, (ii) by incorporation of radioactivity from H332PO4 into unlabeled polyphosphoric acid (PPA) was examined and found to be the same. The identity of these condensed phosphorate mixtures, as established, argues strongly in favor of a rapid and complete equilibration and provides direct evidence in support of Van Wazer's reorganization theory of condensed phosphates. No evidence for metaphosphates or label exchange in an aqueous environment was found. 32PPA was found to exist in metastable equilibrium with 32PPA as a crystalline solid of different composition. Agreement of hydrolytic rate data from the mixtures of condensed phosphates with literature values for individual species suggests that the hydrolysis of the pyro- and tripolyphosphate species proceeds independently in the presence of other homologs. The rate of hydrolysis of the condensed phosphates (at pH5.0 and 65 °C) was found to be proportional to chain length, increasing about four-fold between pyro- and hexapoly-phosphate. The same correlation is also manifest in the adenosine 5′ polyphosphates. A slight enhancement in the rate of hydrolysis of adenosine diphosphate, increasingly more pronounced in the case of adenosine tri- and tetra-phosphate, was also noted. This effect is attributed to the presence of the adenosine moiety. The most interesting aspect of the rate data is to be found in the similarity of the rates of hydrolysis of the adenosine 5′ polyphosphates, relative to their inorganic polyphosphate counterparts. The significance of these findings is discussed and the viewpoint is presented that the properties of condensed phosphates are compatible with the requisite characteristics that must be predicated of any in situ phosphoryl precursor in mitochondrial phosphorylation.
Mate pair sequencing of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas reveals that HPV integration occurs much less frequently than in cervical cancer

Abstract Background Human papillomavirus (HPV) is now recognized to be very important in the pathogenesis of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). It is not clear yet whether the physical status of HPV in OPSCC is similar to what is found in cervical cancer. Study design We performed genome-wide mate pair next generation sequencing from 20 OPSCCs patients, thirteen of which were positive for HPV16 to determine the HPV physical status and its relationship to HPV oncogene E6 and E7 expression. Results This high throughput approach detected HPV integration events and also determined the bridged HPV coverage in each sample. Two of the HPV16-positive OPSCCs had HPV integration and one of the HPV16-negative OPSCCs had an HPV26 integration. We mapped the site of integration in the HPV genome in all integration events and the integrations were located at E1, E5, E6 and L2 region respectively. One HPV positive OPSCC had two integration events but also had a very high bridged HPV coverage, while the other two just had HPV integrated into the human genome. Conclusion Our results are thus different from what is routinely observed in cervical cancer where HPV is almost always integrated into the human genome with loss of episomal HPV sequences. Thus more investigation should be carried out to study how episomal HPV alone can contribute to the development of most OPSCCs.
S-adenosyl-L-methionine modulates phosphatidylethanolamine me methyltransferase response to isoproterenol in brain

The effect of l-isoproterenol on S-adenosyl-L-methionine (Adomet)-mediated phospholipid methylation in rat brain cortex was examined. Under conditions which favor the activity of methyltransferase I (i.e. low Adomet), formation of phosphatidyl-N-methylethanolamine was inhibited by l-isoproterenol. On the other hand, methyltransferase II activity (i.e. high Adomet) was stimulated by l-isoproterenol. The results suggest that Adomet may play a regulatory role in the response of phospholipid methyltransferases to catecholamines in brain.
Assessing Lexical Proficiency Using Analytic Ratings: A Case for Collocation Accuracy

This study analyzes lexical proficiency in oral and written texts produced by second language (L2) learners of English. The purpose of the study is to examine relationships between analytic scores of depth of lexical knowledge, breadth of lexical knowledge, and access to core lexical items and holistic scores of lexical proficiency. A corpus of 240 spoken texts and 240 written texts produced by beginning L2 learners, intermediate L2 learners, advanced L2 learners, and native speakers were scored for both analytic and holistic features of lexical proficiency by trained raters. Using a multiple regression analysis, the study found that collocation accuracy, lexical diversity, and word frequency are significant predictors of human evaluations of lexical proficiency. Collocation accuracy explained the greatest amount of variance in the holistic scores (84% in the written samples and 89% in the spoken samples). The authors discuss the importance of collocation accuracy in predicting human judgments of lexical proficiency.
Time course of plasma free fatty acid concentration in response to insulin: effect of obesity and physical fitness.

This study examines the relationships between parameters of the time course of plasma free fatty acid (FFA) concentration during a euglycemic, hyperinsulinemic clamp (100 mU/m2.min) and the age, body composition, and physical fitness, indexed as maximal aerobic capacity (VO2 max), of three groups of healthy men: (A) 20 obese older men (32% +/- 1% fat, aged 60 +/- 2 years, mean +/- SEM); (B) 11 lean older men (19% +/- 1% fat, aged 63 +/- 2 years); and (C) 11 lean younger men (16% +/- 2% fat, aged 27 +/- 2 years). The time course was modeled as a delayed exponential decline from an initial level to a plateau level. The plateau level was 72% +/- 2%, 72% +/- 2%, and 68% +/- 3% of the initial level in groups A, B, and C, respectively. The delay was shorter in the younger men than in the older men (7.6 +/- 0.9 minutes in group C v 13.2 +/- 1.0 in group A and 11.9 +/- 1.6 minutes in group B), but correlated more strongly with percent fat, waist to hip ratio (WHR), or VO2max than with age. The magnitude of the rate constant of the exponential, k, was smaller in obese than in lean men (3.2 +/- 0.2 h-1 in group A v 5.3 +/- 0.6 h-1 in group B and 6.4 +/- 0.6 h-1 in group C), and was independently predicted only by percent fat in the older men and only by VO2max when the older and younger groups were combined.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
DNA−Nanotube Artificial Ion Channels

There is considerable interest in developing chemical devices that mimic the function of biological ion channels. We recently described such a device, which consisted of a single conically shaped gold nanotube embedded within a polymeric membrane. This device mimicked one of the key functions of voltage-gated ion channels: the ability to strongly rectify the ionic current flowing through it. The data obtained were interpreted using a simple electrostatic model. While the details are still being debated, it is clear that ion-current-rectification in biological ion channels is more complicated and involves physical movement of an ionically charged portion of the channel in response to a change in the transmembrane potential. We report here artificial ion channels that rectify the ion current flowing through them via this "electromechanical" mechanism. These artificial channels are also based on conical gold nanotubes, but with the critical electromechanical response provided by single-stranded DNA molecules attached to the nanotube walls.
A Multiscale Coarse-Graining Study of the Liquid/Vacuum Interface of Room-Temperature Ionic Liquids with Alkyl Substituents of Different Lengths

Multiscale coarse-grained (MS-CG) molecular dynamics simulations were performed for the liquid−vacuum interface of room-temperature ionic liquids having alkyl substituents of different lengths. Surface properties, such as the number density profile, the orientational ordering, and surface tension, were calculated. Both CG site and electron number density profiles show that, for the ionic liquids with a long enough alkyl chain, a unique multilayer ordering occurs. In contrast, ionic liquids with a shorter chain exhibit an interfacial structure consistent with a monolayer ordering. Detailed analysis indicates that such mono/multilayer ordering results from the strong electrostatic interactions among the polar groups, and the collective short-range interactions among the nonpolar groups. Such surface behavior may be interpreted as the two-dimensional manifestation of bulk spatial heterogeneity in ionic liquids (Wang, Y.; Voth, G. A. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 12192). The orientational behavior of the catio...
Interplay of chemical expansion, Yb valence, and low temperature thermoelectricity in the YbCu2Si2−xGex solid solution

YbCu2Si2 is a promising low temperature thermoelectric material because of the large broad peak in the Seebeck coefficient near 100 K combined with a low electrical resistivity. This behavior is thought to arise from fluctuating, or intermediate, valence effects due to partial occupation of Yb 4f energy states near the Fermi level. Previous studies of the magnetic properties under pressure have demonstrated that the average Yb valence is sensitive to the contraction of unit cell volume. By forming a solid solution of YbCu2Si2 with YbCu2Ge2, an isostructural compound with a larger unit cell volume, here we examine the subtle effects of lattice expansion on the transport properties and average Yb valence. We observe a shift in the peak of the Seebeck coefficient towards higher temperatures, as well as an enhanced power factor in the solid solutions. At the same time, a reduction in thermal conductivity due to alloy scattering enhances the thermoelectric figure of merit. Chemical pressure effects may thus be...
Measurement volume defined by peak-finding algorithms in cross-correlation particle image velocimetry

This note presents an analytical model that relates the displacement found by peak finding in cross-correlation particle image velocimetry using light-sheet illumination to the weighted volume average of the fluid velocity field. General equations are derived describing the cross-correlation function in light-sheet PIV. An approximate model is derived for light-sheet illumination by approximating the particle images as Gaussian. This results in a weighting function that can be used to define the measurement volume and to find biasing of the velocity measured for this volume.
Electric quadrupole transitions in neutral Li

Abstract Eigenfunctions of an effective potential for the valence electron in neutral Li are used to compute electric quadrupole oscillator strengths and transition probabilities for a large number of bound-bound transitions and a few bound-free transitions.
Experimental verification of heat flux bending in multilayered thermal metamaterials

ABSTRACT We demonstrate heat flux bending in a multilayered composite considering an effective thermal medium approximation . We show that when the orientation of the composite is physically rotated with respect to the applied temperature gradient , tha t the resultant thermal conductivity tensor can be modified to be anisotropic, with non -zero off - diagonal elements. The resultant anisotropy was found to be dependent on the angle of rotation as well as the ratio of the thermal conductivities of the constituent materials. We experimentally demonstrate the bending of the heat flux in three such multilayered composites made by alternately stacking 2mm layers of copper ~ 391 W/mK and alloy steel ~ 42 W/mK respectively with three different rotation an gles. We show that the resultant heat flux vectors in the composites are oriented at an angle with the applied temperature gradient , due to anisotropy in the thermal conductivity. Our experiments and analysis indicate that heat flux does not have to be co llinear with the applied temperature gradient, e.g. the temperature gradient in a particular direction can drive heat flux in an orthogonal direction. Our studies have implications in thermal energy management with possible utility in portable electronics, nano -combustible systems, solar energy utilization etc. Keywords: Thermal conductivity, anisotropy, thermal metamaterials, transformation optics , m ulti-layered composites