cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Telomerase is processive

Telomerase synthesizes tandem repeats of the sequence d(TTGGGG) onto input d(TTGGGG)n primer oligonucleotides (C. W. Greider and E. H. Blackburn, Cell 43:405-413). An intrinsic RNA component of the enzyme provides the template for d(TTGGGG)n repeat synthesis [C. W. Greider and E. H. Blackburn, Nature (London) 337:331-337, 1989; G.-L. Lu, J. D. Bradley, L. D. Attardi, and E. H. Blackburn, Nature (London) 344:126-132, 1990]. In a typical reaction, products greater than 2,000 nucleotides were synthesized in 60 min. Dilution and primer challenge experiments showed that these long products were synthesized processively. The apparent processivity was not due to a higher affinity of the enzyme for long d(TTGGGG) products over the shorter competitors. The degree of processivity was quantitated; telomerase synthesized approximately 520 nucleotides before half of the enzyme had dissociated. After dissociating, telomerase reinitiated d(TTGGGG)n synthesis on new primer oligonucleotides. The products from a telomerase reaction have a characteristic 6-nucleotide banding pattern (C. W. Greider and E. H. Blackburn, Cell 51:887-898, 1987). A strong pause in the reaction occurs after the addition of the first G in the sequence d(TTGGGG). Both the processivity and the banding pattern analysis imply that in the elongation mechanism there must be a translocation step after the 9 nucleotides of internal template RNA have been copied to the extreme 5' end.
Improving Web Access Efficiency Using P2P Proxies

Recent studies have shown that caching data at the proxy server can improve the user response time for web document retrieval. However, a single cache proxy has a limited cache space, thus the amount of data that can be cached is limited. In this paper, we organize the distributed proxy servers into a group of peer-to-peer cache proxies. By exploiting the aggregate cache space and computing power, we can reduce the average user response time and improve our quality of services. Unlike some previous works that achieve the similar results by replacing the single proxy server with a cluster of servers, we simply link the existing distributed proxy servers using a set of rules for connection, data cache and data routing to build a self-organized scalable distributed P2P proxy caching system. Our simulation has proven the feasibility and effectiveness of our cache system. In addition, our P2P proxy cache system is configured using individual based model and is easy to implement in a large scale distributed environment.
Attempted Endoscopic Closure of a Pancreaticocolonic Fistula with an Over-The-Scope Clip

Context Spontaneous development of fistulae is an uncommon complication of acute pancreatitis. Until recently, surgical management has been the standard of care. Endoscopic treatment has been described with hemoclips and glue. Case report We report a case of a gentleman with a history of recurrent episodes of acute pancreatitis who presented with symptoms correlating with the development of a pancreatic-colonic fistula. Closure of the fistula was attempted with an over-the-scope clip. Conclusion More evidence is needed to determine criteria for use of over-the-scope clip in closure of GI and pancreatic fistulae. Image: Endoscopic view of the angled guidewire protruding through the fistula and the over-the-scope clip.
Beyond the Academic Journal: Unfreezing Misconceptions About Mental Illness and Gun Violence Through Knowledge Translation to Decision-Makers.

In a policy arena characterized by polarized debate, such as the consideration of legal interventions to prevent gun violence, research evidence is an important tool to inform decision-making processes. However, unless the evidence is communicated to stakeholders who can influence policy decisions, the research will often remain an academic exercise with little practical impact. The Educational Fund to Stop Violence's process of "unfreezing" individual perceptions and conventional interpretations of the relationship between mental illness and gun violence, forming a consensus, and translating this knowledge to stakeholders through state discussion forums is one way to inform policy change. The recent passage of gun violence prevention legislation in California provides an example of successfully closing the knowledge translation gap between research and decision-making processes. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Language: en
Free-Range Kids: How to Raise Safe, Self-Reliant Children (Without Going Nuts With Worry)

In the book Free-Range Kids: How to Raise Safe, Self-Reliant Children Without Going Nuts With Worry, Skenazy examines the many factors that hold parents hostage with worry while trying to raise chi...
Intercellular communication in plants : electrical stimulation of proteinase inhibitor gene expression in tomato

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) plants accumulate proteinase inhibitor ( pin) mRNA in response to various stimuli in leaves distant from those treated. Most earlier work suggests that the intercellular wound signals are chemical; we have tried to determine whether electrical or hydraulic signals can also evoke systemic pin expression. We used a mild flame to evoke a hydraulic signal and its local electrical aftermath, the variation potential (VP), and an electric stimulus to trigger an action potential. Under medium light, wounding evoked a 3- to 5-fold systemic increase in pin mRNA within 15 min, suggesting involvement of a rapidly transmitted signal. Wounding also triggered a transient systemic increase in calmodulin (cal ) mRNA, under medium light conditions. Wounded plants exhibited electrical responses (VP) and yielded 5-to 15-fold increases in pin mRNA within 1 h. Electrically stimulated plants that transmitted an action potential to the analyzed leaf exhibited similarly large, rapid increases in pin transcript. Plants which generated no signal had unchanged levels of pin mRNA. Thus, in addition to the previously shown chemical signals, both hydraulically induced VPs and electrically induced action potentials can elicit systemic pin expression.
Designing the Green Economy: The Postindustrial Alternative to Corproate Globalization. Brian Milani. 2000. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Lanham, MD. 234 pp. $65 hardcover, $19.95 paperback

(2002). Designing the Green Economy: The Postindustrial Alternative to Corproate Globalization. Brian Milani. 2000. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Lanham, MD. 234 pp. $65 hardcover, $19.95 paperback. Environmental Practice: Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 48-49.
Legal moralism and retribution revisited

This is a slightly revised text of Jeffrie G. Murphy’s Presidential Address delivered to the American Philosophical Association, Pacific Division, in March 2006. In the essay the author reconsiders two positions he had previously defended—the liberal attack on legal moralism and robust versions of the retributive theory of punishment—and now finds these positions much more vulnerable to legitimate attack than he had previously realized. In the first part of the essay, he argues that the use of Mill’s liberal harm principle against legal moralism cannot be cabined in such a way as to leave intact other positions that many liberals want to defend—in particular, certain fundamental constitutional rights and character retributivism in criminal sentencing. In the second part of the essay, he expresses serious doubts—some inspired by Nietzsche—about the versions of character retributivism that he had once enthusiastically defended and now describes himself as no more than a “reluctant retributivist.”
Using SCOPE to Identify Potential Regulatory Motifs in Coregulated Genes

SCOPE is an ensemble motif finder that uses three component algorithms in parallel to identify potential regulatory motifs by over-representation and motif position preference. Each component algorithm is optimized to find a different kind of motif. By taking the best of these three approaches, SCOPE performs better than any single algorithm, even in the presence of noisy data. In this article, we utilize a web version of SCOPE to examine genes that are involved in telomere maintenance. SCOPE has been incorporated into at least two other motif finding programs and has been used in other studies. The three algorithms that comprise SCOPE are BEAM, which finds non-degenerate motifs (ACCGGT), PRISM, which finds degenerate motifs (ASCGWT), and SPACER, which finds longer bipartite motifs (ACCnnnnnnnnGGT). These three algorithms have been optimized to find their corresponding type of motif. Together, they allow SCOPE to perform extremely well. Once a gene set has been analyzed and candidate motifs identified, SCOPE can look for other genes that contain the motif which, when added to the original set, will improve the motif score. This can occur through over-representation or motif position preference. Working with partial gene sets that have biologically verified transcription factor binding sites, SCOPE was able to identify most of the rest of the genes also regulated by the given transcription factor. Output from SCOPE shows candidate motifs, their significance, and other information both as a table and as a graphical motif map. FAQs and video tutorials are available at the SCOPE web site which also includes a "Sample Search" button that allows the user to perform a trial run. Scope has a very friendly user interface that enables novice users to access the algorithm's full power without having to become an expert in the bioinformatics of motif finding. As input, SCOPE can take a list of genes, or FASTA sequences. These can be entered in browser text fields, or read from a file. The output from SCOPE contains a list of all identified motifs with their scores, number of occurrences, fraction of genes containing the motif, and the algorithm used to identify the motif. For each motif, result details include a consensus representation of the motif, a sequence logo, a position weight matrix, and a list of instances for every motif occurrence (with exact positions and "strand" indicated). Results are returned in a browser window and also optionally by email. Previous papers describe the SCOPE algorithms in detail.
The conduct of phase I-II clinical trials in children with cancer.

Phase 1 Clinical Trials in children with cancer are carried out with therapeutic intent, so as to define antileukemic/antitumor activity, dose-limiting toxicity, maximum tolerated dosage, and pharmacokinetics. These studies define a dosage of an agent or combination that may be used in a larger study of pediatric patients with leukemias or malignant solid tumors. The content of phase I and II protocols is outlined, with a brief discussion of the ethics of performance of phase 1 trials in children.
Travel-time statistics for signals scattered at a rough surface

The travel time of signals reflected or refracted by a rough surface is investigated in the geometrical optics approximation. It is shown that surface roughness typically decreases the mean travel time in the case of large-scale roughness, when only one specularly reflecting point moves randomly around its unperturbed position, resulting in a negative travel-time bias (toward early echoes). In the opposite limiting case of multipath propagation, when many specular points exist on a random surface, the travel-time bias is always positive. General results are illustrated by two examples related to ocean remote sensing which involve sound scattering from the ocean surface and bottom.
Dynamics of single-species population growth: Experimental and statistical analysis

Abstract The logistic model, widely used for describing population growth, assumes that the per-capita rate of growth linearly decreases as the population size increases. Experimental data, however, suggest that often the per-capita rate of growth is not linearly related to population density. The theta model removes such linearity assumption by means of an additional parameter, θ; when θ = 1, the theta model reduces to the logistic model. We advance a method, the “jackknife” statistic, for estimating the rate of population growth (the largest eigenvalue and its variance) in the serial transfer system. Also, we propose a statistical method, PRESS, for quantifying the success of a given model in fitting experimental data. The criterion of success is the ability of a model to predict accurately new observations. One advantage of PRESS is that, contrary to what happens with other statistics such as R 2 , it tends to make a model less successful as the number of parameters increases (unless there is a disproportionate decrease in the bias of the new model). We have studied the rate of population growth in 25 genetically different populations of Drosophila melanogaster . The theta model provides a consistently better description of population growth in these populations than the logistic model. Moreover, the results indicate that the rate of growth is affected by the genetic constitution of a population.
Single cell fusion events induced by influenza hemagglutinin : studies with rapid-flow, quantitative fluorescence microscopy

Fusion of individual human erythrocytes to fibroblasts expressing the influenza virus hemagglutinin Cells were attached to coverslips fitted in a specially designed flow chamber mounted on a microscope stage, and fusion was triggered by rapid acidification to pH less than 5.2. Fusion between single cell pairs was monitored by a fluorescence increase due to redistribution of fluorescent dyes between either membrane or cytoplasmic compartments of fusing cells. The single cell fusion events were broadly heterogenous in lag times, rise times, and overall shape of the curves. Lag times obtained with a water-soluble dye were within the range obtained with a water-soluble dye were within the range obtained with the membrane-bound fluorophores, (10-160 s). Fusion was both all-or-nothing and irreversible, in that once dye redistribution in any cell commenced, it completed, regardless of pH. Short pulses of pH 4.9 for 6-10 s led to about half of the cell pairs fusing, but pulses greater than 14 s were as effective as constant low pH. Pulses that were too short to trigger fusion did not partially activate nor deactivate the fusion process, as shown by the ability of a second acidification to cause fusion of the same cells, with similar lag times. These results indicate that the overall hemagglutinin-mediated fusion process is composed of at least two stages, one required for commitment of the hemagglutinin to a fusogenic state that is pH-dependent and a maturation stage that is pH-independent.
Evaluation of myocardial viability by myocardial perfusion imaging: Should nitrates be used?

ECG GSPECT myocardial perfusion imaging is easily performed with most available imaging systems. It does not involve additional patient time and adds only minimal processing time for the technologist. GSPECT is the only study that allows simultaneous assessement of perfusion and function. This technique has demonstrated increases in test specificity and diagnostic accuracy and may eliminate the need for additional procedures.
Learning disabilities associated with lesser brain damage.

Summary In an habilitation program for brain-damaged children it has been found that children with little motor involvement merge with children who have no demonstrable motor handicap in presenting perceptual difficulty in areas of speech, hearing, writing, reading, memory, understanding, obeying oral commands, and in the control of activity. When not understood and dealt with properly, these deficits interfere with intellectual accomplishments. They cause emotional maladjustment and disturbance in socialization. This group is salvageable and deserve the combined efforts of physicians, psychiatrists, and educators as well as the ancillary discipline to help them attain their optimum development.
Feedback probability sorting and LLR-based SED search for iterative row-column 2D ISI equalization

This paper proposes complexity reduction and performance enhancement schemes for the iterative row-column soft decision feedback algorithm of Cheng et. al., one of the leading algorithms for turbo equalization of two dimensional intersymbol interference (ISI) channels with additive white Gaussian noise. For complexity reduction, we propose sorting and truncation of the soft decision feedback probability configurations. On the 3×3 ISI channel, this technique reduces complexity by more than 95% with only marginal performance loss. For performance enhancement, we propose post processing the final log-likelihood ratio estimates by thresholding and clustering, followed by a localized squared Euclidean distance (SED) search against the received 2D signal. The SED search yields up to 0.4 dB performance gain, with modest additional complexity.
Chlordecone potentiation of CCl4 hepatotoxicity in ovariectomized rats

Previous reports from this laboratory have established the propensity of chlordecone to potentiate the hepatotoxicity and lethality in male and female rats. The present study was designed to investigate the hepatotoxicity of CCl4 in chlordecone (CD) pretreated, ovariectomized rats. Ten days after bilateral ovariectomy, the rats were maintained on a dietary protocol of either 0 or 10 ppm chlordecone and on the day 15, they received a single i.p. injection of either corn oil (1 ml/kg) or 25 microliter CCl4/kg in corn oil. Hepatic function, serum enzyme levels and histopathological changes were assessed 24 h after CCl4 challenge as functional biochemical, and morphological parameters of hepatotoxicity. Hepatobiliary function was markedly impaired and serum enzyme levels were elevated in ovariectomized rats receiving the same treatment but not significantly different from normal females receiving the chlordecone and CCl4 combination. Histological findings indicated a greater degree of centrilobular hepatic necrosis accompanied by extensive fatty infiltration. This study suggests that chlordecone sensitizes the liver in ovariectomized rats as well to amplify the toxic effects of CCl4.
The Physical Educator as Artist

The chemical industry has traditionally been regarded as 'dirty'. Green chemistry is the industry's response to environmental protection. Liliana Mammimo explains how this happens.
Automated flow-recording system for field drainage monitoring—Direct data compilation of surface and subsurface drain flow☆

Abstract An automatic recording console has been developed to accept water stage data from remote weirs and flumes and store the data on magnetic tape. The sensing-transmitting-cycling-recording components can economically replace the mechanical-manual systems for converting flow events to card or tape data ready for computer analysis. A sequence of problems that had prevented operation was solved and is reported herein.
Valproic acid extends Caenorhabditis elegans lifespan

Aging is an important biological phenomenon and a major contributor to human disease and disability, but no drugs have been demonstrated to delay human aging. Caenorhabditis elegans is a valuable model for studies of animal aging, and the analysis of drugs that extend the lifespan of this animal can elucidate mechanisms of aging and might lead to treatments for age-related disease. By testing drugs that are Food and Drug Administration approved for human use, we discovered that the mood stabilizer and anticonvulsant valproic acid (VA) extended C. elegans lifespan. VA also delayed age-related declines of body movement, indicating that VA delays aging. Valproic acid is a small carboxylic acid that is the most frequently prescribed anticonvulsant drug in humans. A structure-activity analysis demonstrated that the related compound valpromide also extends lifespan. Valproic acid treatment may modulate the insulin/IGF-1 growth factor signaling pathway, because VA promoted dauer larvae formation and DAF-16 nuclear localization. To investigate the mechanism of action of VA in delaying aging, we analyzed the effects of combining VA with other compounds that extend the lifespan of C. elegans. Combined treatment of animals with VA and the heterocyclic anticonvulsant trimethadione caused a lifespan extension that was significantly greater than treatment with either of these drugs alone. These data suggest that the mechanism of action of VA is distinct from that of trimethadione, and demonstrate that lifespan-extending drugs can be combined to produce additive effects.
Investigating Hydrolytic Polymerization of Aqueous Zirconium Ions Using the Fluorescent Probe Pyrenecarboxylic Acid

We report on the hydrolytic polymerization of zirconium in aqueous solution using the transient optical response of the fluorescent molecule 1-pyrenecarboxlyic acid (PCA) as a probe. We have measured the fluorescence lifetimes and rotational diffusion dynamics of PCA in “aged” aqueous solutions of tetravalent zirconium to understand the ability of fluorescent probes to report on the structural aspects of hydrous metal oxide self-assembly. The degree of polymerization, and therefore the extent of solute organization, is controlled by allowing the Zr4+ solutions to polymerize (age) for selected amounts of time at 85 °C. Fluorescence lifetimes and reorientation times measured for PCA in zirconium solutions increase rapidly, approaching a constant value after 30 h of aging. The data point to growth of polymers that achieve a maximum volume. The reorientation data place limits on the size and shape of polymers and provide insight into the mechanism for their growth.
Notice of Violation of IEEE Publication Principles Asymmetric Path Optimization In Mobile Multi-homed SCTP Multimedia Transport

We investigate the optimization of asymmetric path choice in mobile multi-homed SCTP multimedia transport. We find that existing method has some limitation caused by the insufficient of reasonable RTT calculation. Based on this, we make a potential change to standard SCTP by adding RETID (RETransmission IDentifier) chunk and RETID Echo chunk and propose a scheme named Acknowledgement-matched Asymmetric-Path RTT Measurement (AAPRM) to match retransmission TSN with its Ack and to obtain correct RTT of asymmetric path. We also propose an algorithm called Smallest RTT Asymmetric-Path First (SRAPF) for transport path selection that takes into account the dynamic asymmetry over the available routes. The time sequence figure demonstrates how asymmetric-path RTT measurement could benefit from AAPRM and an example is provided showing how a multimedia application could benefit from SRAPF.
Effect of daily exercise and food intake on leucine oxidation

Abstract Oxidation of the branched-chain amino acid leucine was studied in 22 male Sprague-Dawley rats (70–90 g) over 3 days following the ingestion on Day 1 of a mixed diet containing a tracer dose (10 μCi) of l -[1-14C]Leu. One group (E) completed 1 hr exercise at 80% VO2 max immediately after a 2-hr feeding period on all 3 days, while a second group served as a control. Rats from group E were sacrificed immediately after the 2 hr feeding on Day 1, following exercise on Days 1 and 3, and at the end of Day 3. The following were determined: (1) continuous 14CO2 production, (2) radioactivity remaining in the gastrointestinal tract, and (3) distribution of free vs protein bound 14C in muscle and liver. The results indicated that (1) 14CO2 production increased during exercise on all 3 days (P 98% of the labeled diet was absorbed from the GIT 51 hr postingestion, and (6) 14C in the free pool of muscle and liver could account for
Casein kinase II phosphorylates translation initiation factor 5 (eIF5) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5 (eIF5) interacts with the 40S initiation complex (40S-eIF3-mRNA-Met-tRNA(f)-eIF2-GTP) to promote the hydrolysis of ribosome-bound GTP. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, eIF5 is encoded by a single-copy essential gene, TIF5, that is required for cell growth and viability. In this work, we show that eIF5 immunoprecipitated from cell-free extracts of (32)P-labelled yeast cells is phosphorylated on multiple serine residues. Phosphopeptide mapping reveals four major sites of phosphorylation that appear to be identical to recombinant yeast eIF5 sites phosphorylated in vitro by casein kinase II. Furthermore, analysis of eIF5 isolated from a yeast strain having a conditional mutant of casein kinase II indicates that phosphorylation of eIF5 is completely abolished at the non-permissive temperature. Additionally, haploid yeast strains were constructed to contain Ser-to-Ala mutations at the five casein kinase II consensus sequences in eIF5; in these cells, eIF5 phosphorylation was absent. Surprisingly, substitution of the TIF5 gene mutated at these sites for the wild-type gene had no obvious effect on cell growth under normal growth conditions. The implications of these results in eIF5 function are discussed.
Hydroxyl radical-mediated oxidation of serotonin: potential insights into the neurotoxicity of methamphetamine.

When incubated with a hydroxyl radical (HO . )-generating system (ascorbic acid/Fe 2+ -EDTA/O 2 /H 2 O 2 ), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT; serotonin) is rapidly oxidized initially to a mixture of 2,5-, 4,5-, and 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine (DHT). The major reaction product is 2,5-DHT, which at physiological pH exists as its keto tautomer, 5-hydroxy-3-ethylamino-2-oxindole (5-HEO). Rapid autoxidation of 4,5-DHT gives tryptamine-4,5-dione (T-4,5-D), which reacts with the C (3)-centered carbanion of 5-HEO to give 3,3'-bis(2-aminoethyl)-5-hydroxy-[3,7'-bi-1H-indole]-2,4',5-3H-trione (7). The latter slowly cyclizes to 3'-(2-aminoethyl)-1',6',7',8'-tetrahydro-5-hydroxyspiro[3H-indole-3,9'-[9H]pyrrolo[2,3-f]quinoline]-2,4',5'(1H)-trione (9). A minor amount of T-4,5-D dimerizes to give 7,7'-bi-(5-hydroxytryptamine-4-one) (7,7'-D). In the presence of GSH, the reaction of T-4,5-D with 5-HEO is diverted and, in the presence of sufficient concentrations of this tripeptide, completely blocked. This is because GSH preferentially reacts with T-4,5-D to give 7-S-glutathionyltryptamine-4,5-dione (11). The results of this investigation suggest that 5,6-DHT, 5-HEO, 7, and 9 are products unique to the HO . -mediated oxidation of 5-HT. Thus, the observation of other investigators that 5,6-DHT is formed in the brains of rats following a large dose of methamphetamine (MA) suggests that this drug might evoke HO . formation. However, the present in vitro study indicates that 5,6-DHT is a rather minor, unstable product of the HO . -mediated oxidation of 5-HT and suggests that detection of 5-HEO, 7/9, and 11 in rat brain following MA administration could provide additional support for HO . formation. Furthermore, one or more of the intermediates and major products of oxidation of 5-HT by HO . might, in addition to 5,6-DHT, contribute to the MA-induced degeneration of serotonergic neurons
Benign prostatic stromal hyperplasia with bizarre nuclei.

A 37-year-old healthy Hispanic man was referred for an enlarged prostate noted during routine physical examination. The patient denied any urological symptoms and reported no previous health problems. Serum prostatic specific antigen was 62.85. Computerized tomography (CT) of the abdominopelvic region demonstrated a 10 10 cm mass with multiple heterogeneous densities in the pelvis between the bladder and the rectosigmoid (fig. 1). No other abnormalities were noted on CT. Chest x-ray was clear. Cystoscopy showed a normal bladder and no significant prostatic abnormalities. Prostate volume was 135 cc and there was diffuse heterogeneous echogenicity noted on transrectal ultrasound. Prostatic needle biopsies revealed fibromuscular stroma with spindle cells having atypical nuclei grouped in a multinucleate pattern and proliferation suspicious for malignant stromal tumor (fig. 2). Histological staining demonstrated cytoplasmic positivity for CD34, desmin and estrogen. Repeat biopsy was performed due to concern regarding sampling error. Repeat microscopic findings were similar to the first set of biopsies. Bizarre giant cells with vacuoles and multinucleation were seen. No mitotic figures or necrosis was present. The histomorphology of the mass was most consistent with prostatic stromal hyperplasia with bizarre nuclei.
Of Paleo-Genes and Perch: What if an “Alien” Is Actually a Native?

Documenting whether a biotic taxon is native or alien to an ecosystem has theoretical value for ecological and evolutionary studies, and has practical value because it can potentially identify a taxon as a desirable component of an ecosystem or target it for removal. In some cases, however, such background information is inadequate or unavailable. Here we use paleo-DNA to re-evaluate the historical status of yellow perch in the 6 million acre Adirondack State Park of northern New York. Yellow perch DNA in a 2200-year sediment record reveals a long-term native status for these supposedly alien fish and challenges assumptions that they necessarily exclude native trout from upland lakes. Similar approaches could be applied to other species with uncertain historical distributions and could help to identify unrecognized pockets of biodiversity.
Contrasting chemical and physical properties of [o- and [p-(N,N-dimethylamino) phenyl]phosphines and phosphonium salts

The rate of alkylation of (2-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)diphenylphosphine with benzyl bromide in chloroform is faster than that of the corresponding reaction of (4-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)diphenylphosphine. This result is discussed in terms of a through-space N2p–P(IV) interaction for the former. The rate of alkaline cleavage of benzyl(4-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)diphenylphosphonium bromide, which gives toluene, is slower than the rate of alkaline cleavage of benzyl(2-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)diphenylphosphonium bromide, which gives dimethylaniline. This result is also discussed in terms of the through-space N2p–P(IV) interaction. The 31P NMR spectra of a series of ortho-dimethylamino-substituted triarylphosphines and benzyltriarylphosphonium halides show that the phosphorus atom is more shielded than in the corresponding para-dimethylamino compounds, as anticipated on the basis of an N2p–P(IV) interaction for the former.
Plasmon Enhancement of Organic Photovoltaic Efficiency in Tandem Cells of Pentacene/C 60

The effects of thin silver films embedded in a tandem pentacene/C 60 photovoltaic cell are investigated. A 2 nm Ag film improves the device's power efficiency under white light illumination from 0.32% to 1.11% by almost doubling its open circuit voltage and enhancing its short circuit current density. The doubled open circuit voltage is due to the formation of two separated photovoltaic pentacene/C 60 cells in series where discontinuous silver clusters provide carrier recombination centers. The increased photocurrent density is partly ascribed to improved charge separation and transport associated with the silver layer. In addition, wavelength dependent measurements suggest that plasmon-enhanced light absorption by pentacene due to surface plasmon resonance of silver nanoparticles contributes as much as a factor of 4 to the power efficiency near the plasmon resonance around 450 nm.
Reduced order reference governor

Reference governors are add-on control schemes for enforcing constraints in closed-loop systems. This paper presents an approach to reducing the reference governor complexity for systems with states decomposable into “slow” and “fast” states. The reference governor design is based on the reduced order model for “slow” states, where constraints are tightened to ensure that the contribution of fast states does not cause constraint violation. The first of two examples demonstrates that a reference governor based on just two states can handle the surge constraint for a turbocharged downsized gasoline described by five dynamic states. The second example demonstrates that the tip deflection limits in an infinite-dimensional model of a flexible Euler-Bernoulli free-free beam can be handled based on just two modal coordinates.
Precise measurement of the half-life of 49Ca☆

Abstract The half-life of 49Ca has been determined by scintillation counting to 8.715 ± 0.023 min. Sample purity and stability of the counting electronics have been carefully examined to insure minimization of systematic errors in the measurements. As a further check, the half-life of 27Mg has been measured and found to be in close agreement with results reported in the literature.
Neurosecretion and the Endocrinology of Nereid Polychaetes

The endocrine activity of the nereid brain supports caudal regeneration in young worms and inhibits both the onset and progress of gametogenesis and metamorphosis. A single hormone is believed to influence these processes. There is also evidence that the nereid brain, like that of many other polychaetes, secretes a tropic hormone that is indispensable for normal vitellogenesis. It is not known if the inhibitory and tropic functions of the brain are caused by separate hormones. The cellular origin of this endocrine activity is unknown. Some cerebral neurosecretory cells have terminals located in the infracerebral complex on the ventral region of the brain. The infracerebral complex, which has some features of a neuroendocrine organ, also has epithelioid infracerebral cells, one type of which resembles cerebral neurosecretory cells. The infracerebral complex is undoubtedly hormonogenic but the functions and interactions of its various components are unknown. Evidence that cerebral neurosecretory cells of nereids produce neurohormones or control the activity of infracerebral cells is circumstantial. The neuroendocrine status of this neurosecretory system is uncertain in the absence of demonstrated interactions between nervous and non-nervous endocrine tissues.
Atomic accuracy in predicting and designing noncanonical RNA structure

We present fragment assembly of RNA with full-atom refinement (FARFAR), a Rosetta framework for predicting and designing noncanonical motifs that define RNA tertiary structure. In a test set of thirty-two 6-20-nucleotide motifs, FARFAR recapitulated 50% of the experimental structures at near-atomic accuracy. Sequence redesign calculations recovered native bases at 65% of residues engaged in noncanonical interactions, and we experimentally validated mutations predicted to stabilize a signal recognition particle domain.
EUS-guided FNA of regional lymph nodes in patients with unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma

Background The clinical impact of EUS-guided FNA (EUS-FNA) in regional lymph-node staging in patients with unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma before liver transplantation has yet to be determined. Objectives To determine the frequency of regional lymph-node detection, identify EUS features predictive of benign or malignant lymph nodes, compare EUS lymph-node detection rates to CT/magnetic resonance imaging and exploratory laparotomy, and evaluate the impact of EUS-FNA on patient selection for liver transplantation. Design Retrospective case series. Setting Tertiary referral EUS unit. Patients Clinical, radiographic, EUS, cytologic, and surgical data of 47 patients with unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma before liver transplantation were evaluated. Interventions EUS-FNA. Main Outcome Measurements Lymph-node morphology and echo features. Results EUS identified lymph nodes in all patients. FNA of 70 lymph nodes identified metastases in 9 nodes of 8 patients (17%), who were then precluded from transplantation before a staging laparotomy. Identified lymph nodes, irrespective of malignant involvement, were typically oval and geographic in shape, of mixed echogenicity, with a hypoechoic border. There were no morphologic criteria or echo features to correlate with nodal malignancy. The EUS finding of absent regional lymph-node metastases was confirmed in 20 of 22 by a subsequent exploratory staging laparotomy. Limitations Single institution, retrospective analysis. Conclusions EUS identified lymph nodes in all patients, and confirmation of malignant lymph nodes detected by FNA precluded 17% of patients from transplantation. EUS-FNA of visualized lymph nodes irrespective of appearance is advised because morphology and echo features do not predict malignant involvement.
Characterization of Natural and Imitation Mozzarella Cheeses by Differential Scanning Calorimetry

Abstract Differential scanning calorimetry was used to distinguish natural Mozzarella cheese from imitation Mozzarella made with calcium caseinate. The enthalpy of the milk fat melting transition at 18°C decreased with increasing caseinate concentration. Scanning electron microscopy studies revealed an agglomeration of lipids in the imitation samples, whereas the natural cheese had a uniform dispersion of fat globules. The addition of the caseinate apparently affected the crystallization of the fat, leading to the enthalpy reduction. Electrophoresis and atomic absorption procedures did not differentiate between natural and imitation samples.
Transport processes in red giant stars

Low-mass stars ( ๏ ) exhibit, at all the stages of their evolution, signatures of processes that require challenging modeling beyond the standard stellar theory. In this paper we focus on their peculiarities while they climb the red giant branch (RGB). We first review canonical evolution along the RGB and compare the classicle predictions of the so-called first dredge-up with observational data in various environments. We show how clear spectroscopic diagnostics probe the nucleosynthesis and the internal mixing mechanisms that drive RGB stars. Coherent data reveal in particular the existence of a nonstandard and shallow mixing process that changes the surface abundances at the so-called RGB bump. We discuss the current understanding of the connection between this extra-mixing and stellar rotation and conclude on the remaining open questions.
On boundary values for the Laguerre operator in indefinite inner product spaces

Abstract It is shown that, when α ly = xy ′' + (1 + α − x ) y ′ requires more than one boundary condition at x = 0 in order to be self-adjoint. The more negative α, the more boundary conditions required.
Transcriptional errors and ambiguity resulting from the presence of 1,N6-ethenoadenosine or 3,N4-ethenocytidine in polyribonucleotides

1,N6-Ethenoadenosine (epsilon A) and 3,N4-Ethenocytidine (epsilon C) in copolymers with unmodified nucleosides were transcribed using DNA-dependent RNA polymerase in the presence of Mn2+. Nearest neighbor analysis of the products showed that epsilon A directed incorporation of A much greater than U greater than C while epsilon C directed the incorporation of U greater than or equal to A much greater than C Neither directed G into the complementary polymer. Such misincorporations resulting from epsilon A and epsilon C, compounds that are formed in vivo by the carcinogen vinyl chloride, may have a biological role as promutagens.
Motionmindedness: The Transposition of Movement from Factory to Home in Chaplin's Modern Times

ABSTRACTThroughout Modern Times (1936), Charlie Chaplin works to thrust motion on the general attention of the audience. From the rhythmic mutation of tics and jerks that set his body to convulse in the factory to the automation of Paulette Goddard's efficient movements in the home, the perceptible flicker effect of moving bodies interrupts the normative flows of both the factory and the home. Drawing on the history of domestic architecture, the history of technology, and film studies, this article demonstrates how Chaplin's conception of the domestic sphere allows the director to compare it to the brutal realities of the factory. Modern Times makes perceptible the shared organizational habits of the factory and the home as they are propagated in pathways and trajectories that define these productive spaces.
Scottish Gaelic dialectology: A preliminary assessment of the Survey of the Gaelic Dialects of Scotland

Abstract This essay outlines the current state of Scottish Gaelic dialect study, with a focus on the contributions of the published Survey of the Gaelic Dialects of Scotland [O Dochartaigh, C. (Ed.), 1994–1997. Survey of the Gaelic Dialects of Scotland. Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 5 vols. Dublin] and the archival resources upon which that publication is based. Although the SGDS provides a wealth of transcribed phonetic detail, there is still an urgent need for information on lexical, morphological, and syntactic variation in Scottish Gaelic. In addition it is proposed that the Survey's extensive archives, held at Edinburgh University, from the foundation for a concerted and on-going effort at assembling a larger archival resource on contemporary Scottish Gaelic dialect data for future analytic work, with a view to developing a searchable electronic archive.
The relative prognostic utility of standardized uptake value, gross tumor volume, and metabolic tumor volume in oropharyngeal cancer patients treated with platinum based concurrent chemoradiation with a pre-treatment [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography scan

Summary Objectives This study compared the relative prognostic utility of the Gross Tumor Volume (GTV), maximum Standardized Uptake Value (SUVmax), and Metabolic Tumor Volume (MTV) in a uniform cohort of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) patients treated with platinum-based concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT). Methods and materials One-hundred OPSCC with a pretreatment [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography–computed tomography (PET–CT) were treated with CCRT. Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox proportional hazard models were generated. Results When dichotomized by the median, a smaller MTV correlated with improved 5 year locoregional control (LRC) (98.0% versus 87.0%, p = 0.049), freedom from distant metastasis (FDM) (91.7% versus 65.0%, p = 0.005), progression-free survival (PFS) (80.3% versus 56.7%, p = 0.015), and overall survival (OS) (84.1% versus 57.8%, p = 0.008), whereas a smaller GTV correlated with improved PFS (80.3% versus 57.4%, p = 0.040) and OS (82.1% versus 60.1%, p = 0.025). SUVmax failed to correlate with any outcome. On multivariate analysis, when adjusted for GTV, T-stage, and N-stage a smaller MTV remained independently correlated with improved FDM, PFS, and OS. GTV failed to reach significance in the multivariate model. Conclusions A smaller MTV correlates with improved LRC, FDM, PFS, and OS in OPSCC patients undergoing platinum-based CCRT.
The effect of carbohydrates on the expression of the Prevotella ruminicola 1,4-β-D-endoglucanase ☆☆

The β-1,4-endoglucanase of the ruminai bacterium, Prevotella ruminicola B14, hydrolysed carboxymethylcellulose and barley glucan but not xylan or mannan. Endoglucanase activity was present in 88- and 82-kDa proteins, and there was at least a 20-fold variation in endoglucanase activity when P. ruminicola B14 was grown on different sugars. The highest activities were observed with mannose, cellobiose or xylose and little activity was observed with sucrose, arabinose or rhamnose. P. ruminicola B14 also had significant xylanase and mannanase activities, but these activities were present in proteins that had lower molecular masses than the endoglucanase and these proteins did not cross-react with antibody made against the endoglucanase. Mannanase activity has a similar pattern of expression to the endoglucanase, while the xylanase was not induced or repressed by the same sugars or combinations of sugars. The xylanase activity was greatest when xylan was the energy source for growth, but xylose was a very poor inducer of xylanase activity.
Preparation and properties of YBa2Cu3O7-x thin films on LaAlO3 by pulsed excimer laser ablation

Abstract Epitaxial YBa2Cu3O7−x thin films were grown on (100)-LaAlO3 substrates by pulsed excimer laser ablation (308 nm) using a rotating YBa2Cu3O7−x target. Principally c-axis oriented, the films exhibited a midpoint Tc of 88.5 K with a 3 K transition width (10–90%). Transport critical current densities, measured in zero applied field on 100 μn wide microbridges, were 1.25× 106 A/cm2 at 77 K and reached 4.7× 106A/cm2 at 10 K. Critical current densities at temperatures near Tc (77 to 88 K) were proportional to ( 1 − T T c )n, with n≈ 1.5, in reasonable agreement with the expected Ginzburg-Landau dependence for thin films near Tc. The value n≈1.5 implies that a superconductor-normal-metal-insulator-superconductor (S-N-I-S) tunneling junction is formed at the grain boundaries in these films.
Modeling Motion Relations for Moving Objects on Road Networks

In this paper, a basic set of motion relations capturing specific prototypical movements of vehicles on US road networks are introduced. Vehicle positional data collected from a geosensor network and stored in a spatio-temporal database serve as the basis for computing the relations that include isBehind, inFrontOf, driveBeside, and passBy. Relational SQL queries are used to derive the relations, returning information about pairs of moving objects and their relative positions. This information provides additional user contexts for binary vehicle patterns relative to a reference object. A framework for the kinds of moving objects that participate in these relations is supplied through an associated TransportationDevice ontology. Depending on the class of moving object, a relation such as isBehind captures scenarios that are facilitating or inhibiting with respect to the movement of traffic. For example, if a police car is known to be behind an automobile, the automobile typically slows to correspond with the legal speed limit. In this work, we show how linking the spatio-temporal database to an ontology can augment and extend the motion relation information, providing multi-granular perspectives of moving vehicles.
Evaluation of threshold management strategies for groundfish off the U.S. West Coast

Abstract Monte Carlo simulations and equilibrium analyses are used to explore the behavior of threshold management strategies. The analyses explore the medium- to long-term implications of uncertainty about the steepness of the stock–recruitment relationship, variation as well as possible temporal autocorrelation in recruitment, and estimation and implementation uncertainty. The results highlight the trade-offs among various management strategies, in particular the trade-offs between average catch, inter-annual variation in catch, and the risk of dropping below the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) overfished threshold of 25% of the average unfished spawning biomass. Uncertainty regarding steepness is the major source of variation in the final size of the resource and whether it is below the overfished threshold, although the extent of recruitment variability also impacts these quantities. The extent of inter-annual variation in catches is determined primarily by the amount of implementation error. Although the values for the various performance measures depend on all of the factors examined to some extent, the impact of interactions among these factors is generally small.