cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MARTs and MARylation in the Cytosol: Biological Functions, Mechanisms of Action, and Therapeutic Potential.

Mono(ADP-ribosyl)ation (MARylation) is a regulatory post-translational modification of proteins that controls their functions through a variety of mechanisms. MARylation is catalyzed by mono(ADP-ribosyl) transferase (MART) enzymes, a subclass of the poly(ADP-ribosyl) polymerase (PARP) family of enzymes. Although the role of PARPs and poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation (PARylation) in cellular pathways, such as DNA repair and transcription, is well studied, the role of MARylation and MARTs (i.e., the PARP ‘monoenzymes’) are not well understood. Moreover, compared to PARPs, the development of MART-targeted therapeutics is in its infancy. Recent studies are beginning to shed light on the structural features, catalytic targets, and biological functions of MARTs. The development of new technologies to study MARTs have uncovered essential roles for these enzymes in the regulation of cellular processes, such as RNA metabolism, cellular transport, focal adhesion, and stress responses. These insights have increased our understanding of the biological functions of MARTs in cancers, neuronal development, and immune responses. Furthermore, several novel inhibitors of MARTs have been developed and are nearing clinical utility. In this review, we summarize the biological functions and molecular mechanisms of MARTs and MARylation, as well as recent advances in technology that have enabled detection and inhibition of their activity. We emphasize PARP-7, which is at the forefront of the MART subfamily with respect to understanding its biological roles and the development of therapeutically useful inhibitors. Collectively, the available studies reveal a growing understanding of the biochemistry, chemical biology, physiology, and pathology of MARTs.
Singular value decomposition processing for in vivo cardiac photoacoustic imaging

Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) can be used to infer molecular information about myocardial health non-invasively in vivo using optical excitation at ultrasonic resolution. For clinical and preclinical linear array imaging systems, conventional delay-and-sum (DAS) beamforming is typically used. However, DAS is prone to image quality degradation when applied to murine cardiac PAI resulting in low signal specificity in the myocardium. To address this, we propose a spatiotemporal singular value decomposition (SVD) processing method using electrocardiogram (ECG) and respiratory gated in vivo cardiac murine PAI data. SVD was applied on a two-dimensional spatiotemporal matrix generated using a threedimensional volume of DAS beamformed complex PAI data over a cardiac cycle. The singular value spectrum (SVS) was then filtered to remove contributions from static clutter and random noise. Finally, SVD processing of beamformed images were derived using filtered SVS and inverse SVD computations. In vivo murine cardiac PAI was performed by collecting single wavelength (850 nm) photoacoustic channel data using two healthy mice. Qualitative comparison with DAS shows that SVD processed images had better signal specificity and contrast. DAS and SVD processed PAI were quantitatively evaluated by calculating contrast ratio (CR), generalized contrast-to-noise ratio (gCNR) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). SVD processed PAI had higher CR, gCNR and SNR values compared to DAS results. For example, at the end-systolic phase for mouse 1, the SVD processed image had 100.48% higher gCNR compared to the DAS image. These results suggest that significantly better-quality images can be realized using spatiotemporal SVD processing for in vivo murine cardiac PAI.
Pseudopapilledema in Cockayne syndrome.

Abstract Purpose This report describes pseudopapilledema in two siblings with Cockayne syndrome and examines a structural mechanism for its development. Observations Two siblings with genetically documented Cockayne syndrome, enophthalmos, and hyperopia were found to have pseudopapilledema. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging disclosed retrodisplacement of the globes, axial foreshortening, posterior scleral flattening, and protrusion of the optic papilla into the vitreous. Conclusions and importance In the setting of Cockayne syndrome, pseudopapilledema may arise from retrodisplacement of the globes causing indentation of the posterior sclera by the distal optic nerves. This anatomic aberration may contribute to the development of hyperopia as well.
Caring, Race, Culture, and Power: A Research Synthesis Toward Supporting Mathematics Teachers in Caring With Awareness

In this article, the author draws on theories of care to lay out a theoretical map of sorts on what an effective, caring teacher–student relationship that supports student learning might “look like.” In so doing, theories of culturally relevant pedagogy are considered, as these not only illustrate effective practices caring teachers employ but also because such theories provide models of classroom practices that consider explicitly issues of race, culture, and power. The author aims to illuminate the complex, nuanced, and, at times, overwhelming descriptions of what it means to be a caring teacher in the service of student learning. The author concludes by considering models of professional development that hold potential for supporting mathematics teachers in developing teacher–student relationships reflective of “caring with awareness.”
QD-Based FRET Probes at a Glance.

The unique optoelectronic properties of quantum dots (QDs) give them significant advantages over traditional organic dyes, not only as fluorescent labels for bioimaging, but also as emissive sensing probes. QD sensors that function via manipulation of fluorescent resonance energy transfer (FRET) are of special interest due to the multiple response mechanisms that may be utilized, which in turn imparts enhanced flexibility in their design. They may also function as ratiometric, or “color-changing” probes. In this review, we describe the fundamentals of FRET and provide examples of QD-FRET sensors as grouped by their response mechanisms such as link cleavage and structural rearrangement. An overview of early works, recent advances, and various models of QD-FRET sensors for the measurement of pH and oxygen, as well as the presence of metal ions and proteins such as enzymes, are also provided.
Creep deformation and rupture of polycrystalline alumina

ABSTRACT The paper presents a simple micromechanical model for the creep deformation of polycrystalline vitreous alumina. The inelastic strain is attributed to the grain boundary sliding and intergranular microcracks.
Confidence Intervals for Regression Quantiles

Several methods to construct confidence intervals for regression quan-tile estimators (Koenker and Bassett (1978)) are reviewed. Direct estimation of the asymptotic covariance matrix requires an estimate of the reciprocal of the error density (sparsity function) at the quantite of interest; some recent work on bandwidth selection for this problem will be discussed. Several versions of the bootstrap for quantile regression will be described as well as a recent proposal by Parzen, Wei, and Ying (1992) for resampling from the (approximately pivotal) estimating equation. Finally, we will describe a new approach based on inversion of a rank test suggested by Gutenbrunner, Jureckova, Koenker, and Portnoy (1993) and introduced in Huskova(1994). The latter approach has several advantages: it may be computed relatively efficiently, it is consistent under certain heteroskedastic conditions and it circumvents any explicit estimation of the sparsity function. A small monte-carlo experiment is employed to compare the competing methods.
Strong and weak topologies

A Hilbert space has two useful topologies (weak and strong); the space of operators on a Hilbert space has several. The metric topology induced by the norm is one of them; to distinguish it from the others, it is usually called the norm topology or the uniform topology. The next two are natural outgrowths for operators of the strong and weak topologies for vectors. A subbase for the strong operator topology is the collection of all sets of the form $$\left\{ {A:\left\| {\left( {A - {A_{0}}} \right)} \right.f\left\| { < \varepsilon } \right.} \right\}$$ ; correspondingly a base is the collection of all sets of the form $$\left\{ {A:\left\| {\left( {A - {A_{0}}} \right)} \right.f\left\| { < \varepsilon } \right.} \right\}$$ .
Practical experience: Resource adequacy studies in the Western interconnection

• Paper presents the practical experience in evaluating adequacy of generating capacity by different regions in the Western interconnection. • It also outlines different probabilistic methodologies and tools used to calculate reliability indexes such as LOLE, EUE, etc in the Western Interconnection. • The paper made an attempt to emphases why industry today needs enhanced methodologies and tools and how to resolve some of the known obstacles. • Adequacy assessment of systems with ongoing integration of variable resources such as wind and solar is among new requirements to enhance the present methodologies and tools. • Address planning for adequate reliability under high penetration of renewable
Mischief-making of one kind/and another: unruliness and resistance in rural preschoolers' free play

While many contemporary popular cultural discourses in the USA recognise and commodify children as distinct persons engaging in the middle-class project of expressive individuation, much public and early educational policy has simultaneously intensified the control and regulation of children, children’s culture and children’s bodies and emotions in early education settings. Prout suggests that late modern schooling might be characterised by ‘practices directed at greater surveillance, control and regulation of children’ (304). This ethnographic study of a group of three-, four- and five-year-old children in a rural New England community preschool setting explores rural children’s lived experiences resisting control and navigating contradiction through unruly, mischievous games and free play. This unruliness is situated in the context of escalating academic demands in early childhood education and resistant rural community culture(s).
U.S. consumer attitudes and expectations about energy

Understanding public perceptions of energy is important for informing energy-related business, research and policy strategies. To this end, a new U.S. consumer survey probes core attitudes about the reliability, affordability and environmental impact of energy. Appended quarterly to the long-running monthly survey of 500 households that produces the Index of Consumer Sentiment, this instrument inherits the sample design and statistical rigor of that household economic survey. First-year results yield several notable findings. Home energy bills are viewed as unaffordable if they were to double for consumers in the lower income tercile but only if they were to triple for consumers in the upper income tercile. Regarding the cost increases deemed unaffordable, consumers report much greater sensitivity to higher gasoline prices than to higher home energy bills. Moreover, consumers express at least as much concern about the environmental impact of energy as they do about its affordability, a result that shows some regional variation but which holds across income brackets. Several other findings are of likely interest to energy researchers and policymakers, and the unique data series generated by this survey will enable deeper analyses of attitudinally related energy topics as time goes on.
Lack of Prognostic Significance of p53 and K-ras Mutations in Primary Resected Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer on E4592: A Laboratory Ancillary Study on an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Prospective Randomized Trial of Postoperative Adjuvant Therapy

PURPOSE: To determine the prognostic and predictive significance of p53 and K-ras mutations in patients with completely resected non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were randomized preoperatively to receive adjuvant postoperative radiotherapy (Arm A) or radiotherapy plus concurrent chemotherapy (Arm B). p53 protein expression was studied by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and p53 mutations in exons 5 to 8 were evaluated by single-strand conformational analysis. K-ras mutations in codons 12, 13, and 61 were determined using engineered restriction fragment length polymorphisms. RESULTS: Four hundred eighty-eight patients were entered onto E3590; 197 tumors were assessable for analysis. Neither presence nor absence of p53 mutations, p53 protein expression, or K-ras mutations correlated with survival or progression-free survival. There was a trend toward improved survival for patients with wildtype K-ras (median, 42 months) compared with survival of patients with mutant K-ras who wer...
Measurements of Equilibrium and Time-Dependent Energy Spectra of Beta Rays from Californium-252 Fission Fragments

Absolute measurements were made for the equilibrium and time-dependent beta-ray energy spectra from flssion fragments produced bv spontaneous fission of /sup 252/Cf. The beta rays were detected by a plastic scintillator, and the fission rate was monitored by a semiconductor detector. The equilibrium spectrum was measured from a /sup 252/Cf source permanently encapsulated between two Mylar foils thick enough to stop the fragments. The time-dependent measurements used a /sup 252/Cf source supported on a thin nickel foil and covered with a thin collodion foil. Virtually all fragments from this second source escaped the foils. By use of a special transport system, the time dependence of the /sup 252/ Cf beta-ray energy spectrum was measured for two cases: buildup of the spectrum following initiation of fragment collection on clean catcher foils, and decay of the spectrum following a period of fragment collection. The measured spectra were corrected for energy resolution effects by unfolding them with the use of a measured system response function. The measured data were used to generate empirical expressions for the equilibrium and time-dependent beta-ray spectra from /sup 252/Cf fission fragments. The total number of beta rays from one fission was estimated to be 6.7 plus or minusmore » 0.3, while the total beta-ray energy was estimated to be 6.1 plus or minus 0.5 MeV. The results of the measurements were compared with the analogous measurements for thermal-neutron fission of /sup 235/U. High-energy transitions (5 to 10 MeV) found for /sup 235/ U fission were not found for /sup 252/Cf fission. (11 figures) (auth)« less
Evidence against a direct antiviral activity of the proteasome during the early steps of HIV-1 replication

The infectivity of HIV-1 virions can be enhanced by inhibition of the proteasome in target cells, leading to the hypothesis that the proteasome degrades incoming virions as part of the intracellular antiviral defense. Here, several lines of evidence suggest instead that proteasome inhibition renders target cells more susceptible to infection via an indirect effect on the cellular environment: (1) proteasome inhibition increased infectivity more effectively when target cells were exposed to the inhibitors before exposure to virions, rather than when the inhibitors and virions were present simultaneously; (2) increased infectivity correlated directly with the duration of pre-exposure of cells to the inhibitors; (3) although increased infectivity was induced by as little as 30 min of pretreatment of target cells, binding of virions to target cells before the addition of inhibitor abolished the effect; and (4) increased infectivity persisted after removal of the inhibitors and the recovery of proteasome activity within the target cells. Cell cycle analyses revealed that an increased fraction of cells in G2/M may correlate with increased efficiency of infection. These data suggest that rather than relieving a target cell restriction based on the degradation of incoming virions, proteasome inhibitors likely increase infectivity either via their effects on the cell cycle or by increasing the expression of a host cell factor that facilitates infection.
Point defect formation and annihilation in silica glass by heat-treatment: Role of water and stress

Abstract It was discovered that E ′ centers were created by heat-treatment when silica glass contains water and has residual stress. Silica glass samples were heat-treated at 1000 °C for various lengths of time in 355 torr (47 000 Pa) water vapor pressure and dry nitrogen gas atmospheres. The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signal of E ′ centers increased initially with heat-treatment time in both atmospheres but then decreased afterwards in the wet atmosphere. It is known that water molecules eliminate paramagnetic defects, such as E ′ centers and non-bridging oxygen hole centers (NBOHCs) by reacting with these defects in the glass, transforming them to non-paramagnetic species such as Si–OH or Si–H. The present study indicates that water molecules are also capable of initially creating paramagnetic defects in the glass structure by breaking the silica network structure in the presence of stress. The present observation may be relevant to mechanical strength reduction of silica glasses, which is commonly observed in the presence of water and stress.
Major Element Distribution in Folded Granulite-Facies Rocks

Rocks of the arendalite charnockitic suite are well exposed on numerous islands and along the coast near Arendal, Norway. Isoclinally folded interlayered hypersthene quartzite and pyroxene-amphibole-quartz-plagioclase gneiss were examined for major element variation with respect to structural setting. The hinge and limb samples are much the same in the gneiss, but show striking chemical differences in the quartzite. On the basis of equal aluminum, the hinge is enriched in SiO2, TiO2, Fe2O3, MnO, MgO, and CaO, with alkalies approximately constant. Textures and orientation of hypersthene crystals are also very different from limb to hinge, and suggest that stresses in the hinge had σ1 > σ2 > σ3 while stress in the limbs was less well defined and probably approached σ1 = σ2 = σ3.
Second crystal cooling on cryogenically cooled undulator and wiggler double crystal monochromators.

Simple methods for the cooling of the second crystals of cryogenically cooled undulator and wiggler double crystal monochromators are described. Copper braids between the first and second crystals are used to cool the second crystals of the double crystal monochromators. The method has proved successful for an undulator monochromator and we describe a design for a wiggler monochromator.
Metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue

Squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue (SCCOT) is one of the most prevalent tumors of the head and neck region. Despite advances in treatment, the survival of patients with SCCOT has not significantly improved over the past several decades. Most frequently, treatment failure takes the form of local and regional recurrences, but as disease control in these areas improves, SCCOT treatment failures are occurring more often as distant metastasis. The presence of cervical lymph node metastasis is the most reliable adverse prognostic factor in patients with SCCOT, and extracapsular spread (ECS) of cervical lymph nodes metastasis is a particularly reliable predictor of regional and distant recurrence and death from disease. Decisions regarding the elective and therapeutic management of cervical lymph node metastases are made mainly on clinical grounds as we cannot always predict cervical lymph node metastasis from the size and extent of invasion of the primary tumors. Therefore, the treatment of these metastases in the management of SCCOT remains controversial. The promise of basing treatment decisions on biomarkers has yet to be fully realized because of our poor understanding of the mechanisms of regional and distant metastases of SCCOT. Here we summarize the current status of investigations of SCCOT metastases and the potential of these studies to have a positive impact on the clinical management of SCCOT in the future.
Beam steering and pointing with counter-rotating grisms

Gimbals have been the main mechanism to perform pointing and beam steering for most Electro-optic sensors. A new class of pointing and beam steering devices based on a pair of counter-rotating Grisms is presented here. The device is capable of wide spectral band. The paper first describes the design principles of counter-rotating Grisms for beam pointing and beam steering. Comparison between gimbals and counter-rotating prisms is given next. Finally potential applications of a pair of counter-rotating grisms are illustrated.
Crystal Growth, Transport, and Magnetic Properties of YbCoGa5

Single crystals of YbCoGa5 have been synthesized using gallium flux. YbCoGa5 crystallizes in the HoCoGa5 structure type with space group P4/mmm (No. 123), Z = 1 and lattice parameters a = 4.190(1) A, c = 6.727(3) A, and V = 118.10(7) A3. The cell volume obtained from single crystal X-ray diffraction data shows a larger volume than expected for a Yb3+ compound. Magnetic susceptibility measurements on single crystals of YbCoGa5 display temperature independent Pauli paramagnetic behavior. Electrical resistivity measurements of YbCoGa5 display metallic behavior with a residual resistivity ratio (RRR) of 150 indicating the high crystal quality.
FDG-PET Evaluation of Response to Treatment

This article discusses evaluating response after and during therapy in various settings and for the types of cancers for which ample evidence demonstrates that PET imaging with flourodeoxyglucose provides a valuable surrogate for response to therapy. It also briefly discusses pitfalls in obtaining an optimal assessment of response and issues that need further attention for this modality to become established as an independent predictor of response to anticancer therapy.
Attempts to alter the concentration of melanophore hormone in the pituitary gland of the rat.

RECENT literature contains several reports concerning the mechanism involved in the endocrine control of melanogenesis in man (1–5). All recent observers emphasize a relationship between adrenal cortical steroids and the melanophore hormone (MH, intermedin, and other terms) of the pituitary gland. It is postulated that the adrenal cortical steroids exert an inhibiting influence on the release or formation of MH. In conditions with decreased or absent adrenal cortical function, excessive amounts of MH are presumably formed and released into the blood stream, resulting in excessive melanogenesis. This concept is supported by the observation that MH is present in the blood of patients with a variety of clinical disorders characterized by intensive melanosis. However, the significance of these observations, since they are based on bio-assay of blcod or urinary MH, is not known with certainty. Animal experimentation has not always revealed results consistent with the foregoing concept of MH control by adrenal ...
Follicular exclusion of retroviruses in the bursa of Fabricius.

Abstract To gain insight into the regulation of retroviral infection at the cellular level, we analyzed the distribution of retroviral antigen and nucleic acid in the bursa of Fabricius of the parents and progeny of two highly inbred lines of chickens, one resistant and the other susceptible to infection. Line 1515 chickens and line 72, which are C/C and C/A, respectively, and 15I5 × 72 F1 chickens were infected with either RAV-1 or RAV-49 avian leukosis virus (ALV). Most bursal follicles of F1 chickens infected with either virus contained a variable mixture of virus-positive and virus-negative cells and a few (1 to 20%) were void of detectable virus. However, in either parental line the respective virus was uniformly expressed among all follicles. The follicles which excluded virus in the F1 birds were indistinguishable from other infected follicles in the same bursa or in uninfected birds on the basis of histology or cellular antigen expression. It was concluded that virus susceptibility is most likely determined at the bursal stem cell level of differentiation, possibly by a process of allelic exclusion at the retroviral receptor locus.
An interbasal body apparatus in mammalian cells

The observations reported herein concern an array of filaments observed in the cytoplasm between basal bodies of cilia. The filaments are disposed in a narrow plane just distal to the basal feet. The possibility that this filamentous apparatus may function in ciliary coordination is discussed. Filaments which extend from the lateral basal bodies to the cell membrane are also described. The possibility that these are related to intercellular ciliary coordination is considered. In addition, the proximal portion of the basal bodies display a morphology not previously described. It consists of a central chamber and a ring of outer chambers, some of which are shown to communicate with the cytoplasmic matrix.
Intrastriatal implants of fetal mesencephalic cells attenuate the increases in striatal proenkephalin mRNA observed after unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine-induced lesions of the striatum.

Abstract Unilateral injections of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) cause significant bilateral increases in striatal proenkephalin (PEK) mRNA in rat brain. We have tested the possibility that implantation of fetal mesencephalic cells can normalize these changes. Two types of grafts were used: 1. 1) embryonic day-15 mesencephalic cells 2. 2) embryonic day-15 cells which have been modified with a retroviral vector containing a cDNA for protein kinase C (PKC). At two months after grafting, both cell types cause significant attenuation of the increases which occurred on the side of the lesion. However, only the PKC-modified cells cause normalization of the changes on the contralateral side. These observations indicate that, in addition to normalizing supersensitive striatal dopamine (DA) D2 receptors, embryonic cells can also attenuate the alterations in PEK mRNA observed after lesions of the nigrostriatal DA system. The finding that the PKC-modified cells caused bilateral effects in the striatum suggests that second messenger systems may play a role in the bilateral improvement reported in parkinsonian patients who had gotten unilateral intrastriatal transplants.
Social defeat promotes a reactive endothelium in a brain region-dependent manner with increased expression of key adhesion molecules, selectins and chemokines associated with the recruitment of myeloid cells to the brain

Repeated social defeat (RSD) in mice causes myeloid cell trafficking to the brain that contributes to the development of prolonged anxiety-like behavior. Myeloid cell recruitment following RSD occurs in regions where neuronal and microglia activation is observed. Thus, we hypothesized that crosstalk between neurons, microglia, and endothelial cells contributes to brain myeloid cell trafficking via chemokine signaling and vascular adhesion molecules. Here we show that social defeat caused an exposure- and brain region-dependent increase in several key adhesion molecules and chemokines involved in the recruitment of myeloid cells. For example, RSD induced distinct patterns of adhesion molecule expression that may explain brain region-dependent myeloid cell trafficking. VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 mRNA expression were increased in an exposure-dependent manner. Furthermore, RSD-induced VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 protein expression were localized to the vasculature of brain regions implicated in fear and anxiety responses, which spatially corresponded to previously reported patterns of myeloid cell trafficking. Next, mRNA expression of additional adhesion molecules (E- and P-selectin, PECAM-1) and chemokines (CXCL1, CXCL2, CXCL12, CCL2) were determined in the brain. Social defeat induced an exposure-dependent increase in mRNA levels of E-selectin, CXCL1, and CXCL2 that increased with additional days of social defeat. While CXCL12 was unaffected by RSD, CCL2 expression was increased by six days of social defeat. Last, comparison between enriched CD11b(+) cells (microglia/macrophages) and enriched GLAST-1(+)/CD11b(-) cells (astrocytes) revealed RSD increased mRNA expression of IL-1β, CCL2, and CXCL2 in microglia/macrophages but not in astrocytes. Collectively, these data indicate that key mediators of leukocyte recruitment were increased in the brain vasculature following RSD in an exposure- and brain region-dependent manner.
Computational aspects of two-segment separable programming

Recursive separable programming algorithms based on local, two-segment approximations are described for the solution of separable convex programs. Details are also given for the computation of lower bounds on the optimal value by both a primal and a dual approach, and these approaches are compared. Computational comparisons of the methods are provided for a variety of test problems, including a water supply application (with more than 600 constraints and more than 900 variables) and an econometric modelling problem (with more than 200 variables).
CO2-Induced miscibility of fluorous and organic solvents for recycling homogeneous catalysts

Fluorous biphasic chemistry enables the recovery of homogeneous catalysts but presents engineering challenges because of issues concerning phase contacting and solvent loss. The addition of gaseous CO2 to fluorous−organic biphasic systems results in a single homogeneous liquid phase at temperatures well below the upper critical solution temperature of the binary liquid mixture. This phenomenon is due to the high solubility of CO2 in both organic liquids and fluorocarbons, and it facilitates reactions and can also reduce fluorous solvent losses. We demonstrate two homogeneously catalyzed reactions, a hydrogenation and an epoxidation, which result in an enhancement in the turnover frequency of 70% and 50%, respectively, for the CO2-merged phase relative to the fluorous biphasic system. This creates new opportunities for the use of fluorous-sequestered catalysts.
Genetic evidence for the “good genes” process of sexual selection

The adaptive nature of female mate choice remains one of the most contentious issues in the study of sexual selection. Here, I provide evidence that mate choice by females of the ovoviviparous cockroach Nauphoeta cinerea influences the rate at which offspring develop and provides both direct and indirect benefits to the female. Males that are more attractive to females produce offspring with shorter development times than less preferred males. Development time is heritable and apparently unconstrained by antagonistic pleiotropy. Male attractiveness and rate of offspring development are genetically correlated. Offspring gain an indirect benefit from their mother's mate choice because, on average, individuals that hatch faster reach sexual maturity more quickly. Females that discriminate among males gain a direct benefit because N. cinerea is ovoviviparous and the time between clutches is decreased by producing offspring with shorter development. In addition to providing evidence for beneficial consequences of mate choice, this study highlights how genetic data provide insights into the process of sexual selection not gained in a purely phenotypic study.
Polymer-blend microparticles: Anew approach to nanoscale composites with tunable properties

Recently, enormous commercial and scientific at tention has been focused on mul t i -component polymer systems as a means for producing new materials on the micron and nanometer scale wi th specifically tailored material, elect r ical and opt ica l p roper t i e s . Composi te po lymer particles, or polymer alloys, wi th specifically tailored proper t ies could find many novel uses in such fields as electro-optic and luminescent devices,[1] conduct ing materials, [2] and hybrid inorganic-organic polymer alloys. [3] However, the problem of phase separation from bulkimmiscible componen t s in solut ion often poses a significant barr ier to producing many commercial ly and scientifically relevant homogeneous polymer blends.[4,5,6] The route typically taken in trying to form homogeneous blends of immiscible polymers is to use compatibi l izers to reduce interfacial tension. Recently, a number of different groups have examined phaseseparat ion in copolymer systems to fabr ica te fascinat ing and in t r ica te mesoand micro-phase separa ted structures wi th a rich variety of morphologies. [7,8]
Modeling starburst cells' GABAB receptors and their putative role in motion sensitivity

Neal and Cunningham (Neal, M. J., and J. R. Cunningham. 1995. J. Physiol. (Lond.). 482:363–372) showed that GABAB agonists and glycinergic antagonists enhance the light-evoked release of retinal acetylcholine. They proposed that glycinergic cells inhibit the cholinergic Starburst amacrine cells and are in turn inhibited by GABA through GABAB receptors. However, as recently shown, glycinergic cells do not appear to have GABAB receptors. In contrast, the Starburst amacrine cell has GABAB receptors in a subpopulation of its varicosities. We thus propose an alternate model in which GABAB-receptor activation reduces the release of ACh from some dendritic compartments onto a glycinergic cell, which then feeds back and inhibits the Starburst cell. In this model, the GABA necessary to make these receptors active comes from the Starburst cell itself, making them autoreceptors. Computer simulations of this model show that it accounts quantitatively for the Neal and Cunningham data. We also argue that GABAB receptors could work to increase the sensitivity to motion over other stimuli.
Neurally expressed Drosophila genes encoding homologs of the NSF and SNAP secretory proteins

Abstract Several lines of investigation have now converged to indicate that the neurotransmitter release apparatus is formed by assembly of cytosolic proteins with proteins of the synaptic vesicle and presynaptic terminal membranes. We are undertaking a genetic approach in Drosophila melanogaster to investigate the functions of two types of cytosolic proteins thought to function in this complex: N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein (NSF) and the soluble NSF attachment proteins (SNAPs). We have identified Drosophila homologs of the vertebrate and yeast NSF and SNAP genes. Both Drosophila genes encode polypeptides that closely resemble their vertebrate counterparts and are expressed in the nervous system; neither appears to be in a family of closely related Drosophila genes. These results indicate that the Drosophila NSF and SNAP genes are excellent candidates for mutational analysis of neurotransmitter release.
Capturing racism: An analysis of racial projects within the Lisa Simpson vs. University of Colorado football rape case

The spectacle of collegiate sports is the face of the American university. Collegiate sports are, as Hartman would put it, contested racial terrain. In America sport incidents of sexual assault push the contested racial terrain into high relief. Such is the case with the Lisa Simpson versus the University of Colorado sexual assault case. This analysis of court documents, public comments and participant observation from the position of an expert witness reveals how racism is practised by powerful whites within and around a collegiate sport organization. Data collected at a moment of institutional crisis suggest that powerful university officials, acting on behalf of the university, appropriate ‘progressive’ concerns such as ‘hostile community’ and ‘the myth of the black rapist’ to draw attention to whiteness. This seemingly oppositional stance insulates the university and its athletic programme from charges of racial exploitation. These comments are contrasted with the testimony and actions of people of co...
Na-doped p-type ZnO microwires.

p-Type ZnO microwires were first synthesized by a simple chemical vapor deposition method using Na as the dopant source. p-Type doping was confirmed by the electrical transport in single-wire field-effect transistors and low-temperature photoluminescence. The carrier mobility of the microwires was estimated to be ∼2.1 cm2 V−1 S−1.
Energy bands and magnetization of a Ni(001) monolayer

The calculated energy bands of a Ni(001) monolayer with the bulk lattice parameter display a wide range of exchange splittings influenced by hybridization, potential anisotropy, and bonding differences. The magnetic moment $0.98{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B}$ is 75% larger than the measured bulk value of $0.56{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B}$, where ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B}$ is the Bohr magneton. Factors contributing to the increase of magnetization compared with the bulk behavior include narrowing and sharpening of the density of states, $p\ensuremath{-}d$ dehybridization, and increased occupation of the $\mathrm{sp}$ band. The majority-spin $d$ bands are full, in contradiction to previous calculations in which these bands rise above the Fermi energy near $\overline{M}$ in the surface Brillouin zone. Our results were obtained using a spin-polarized adaptation of the self-consistent localized-orbital method developed by Smith, Gay, and Arlinghaus. We used a new exchange-correlation potential derived from a recent analysis by Vosko, Wilk, and Nusair of the correlation energy of the spin-polarized electron liquid. Substitution of the von Barth---Hedin potential, which overestimates correlation effects, led to a reduction of the magnetic moment by 1%, and a reduction of the exchange splittings by 2---8%.
Reactivity of (3-chloro-2-methylenecycloalkyl)palladium chloride dimers: Nucleophilic attack by one or two equivalents of malonate anion.

Abstract The title compounds undergo reaction with one and two equivalents of malonate anion in the presence of phosphine ligands to afford mono- and di-substituted products. A mechanism for the formation of both products is presented.
Long-time electron spin storage via dynamical suppression of hyperfine-induced decoherence in a quantum dot

The coherence time of an electron spin decohered by the nuclear spin environment in a quantum dot can be substantially increased by subjecting the electron to suitable dynamical decoupling sequences. We analyze the performance of high-level decoupling protocols by using a combination of analytical and exact numerical methods, and by paying special attention to the regimes of large interpulse delays and long-time dynamics, which are outside the reach of standard average Hamiltonian theory descriptions. We demonstrate that dynamical decoupling can remain efficient far beyond its formal domain of applicability, and find that a protocol exploiting concatenated design provides best performance for this system in the relevant parameter range. In situations where the initial electron state is known, protocols able to completely freeze decoherence at long times are constructed and characterized. The impact of system and control nonidealities is also assessed, including the effect of intrabath dipolar interaction, magnetic field bias and bath polarization, as well as systematic pulse imperfections. While small bias field and small bath polarization degrade the decoupling fidelity, enhanced performance and temporal modulation result from strong applied fields and high polarizations. Overall, we find that if the relative errors of the control pulse flip angles do not exceed 3%, decoupling protocols can still prolong the coherence time by up to 2 orders of magnitude.
Loss of p53 and c-myc Overrepresentation in Stage T 2-3 N 1-3 M 0 Prostate Cancer are Potential Markers for Cancer Progression

To determine whether genetic changes are markers of cancer progression and patient survival in Stage T(2-3)N(1-3)M(0) prostatic carcinoma, we compared 26 patients who died of tumor relapse after prostatectomy and lymphadenectomy (case group) with 26 matched patients who were alive at the time of the matched case's death (control group). Nine unmatched cases were also included in this study. In 37 cases, paired primary tumors (119 foci) and lymph node metastases (114 foci) were available for study. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with centromere-specific probes for chromosomes 7, 8, and 17 and region-specific probes for D7S486 (7q31), c-myc (8q24), LPL (8p22), and p53 (17p13) was performed on available primary carcinomas and lymph node metastases. In primary tumor foci, +7q31, -8p22, +c-myc, substantial additional increases of myc (AI-c-myc), and -p53 were observed in 65%, 74%, 43%, 29%, and 31% of foci, respectively. AI-c-myc was strongly associated with higher cancer Gleason score (P =.003). Heterogeneity of genetic changes was frequently observed among multiple cancer foci. Lymph node metastases of prostate cancer usually shared genetic changes with paired primary tumors. In addition, the genetic change pattern with -8p, +c-myc or AI-c-myc, +7q, and +p53 was slightly higher in lymph node metastases (22%) than in primary tumors (6%) (P =.08). In matched case and control patients, simultaneous gain of 7q31 (+7q31) and CEP7 (+CEP7) was identified in 59% and 68% of specimens for case and control groups, respectively (P =.48). Loss of 8p22 (-8p22) was identified in 77% and 69% of specimens for case and control groups, respectively (P = 1.0). Simultaneous gain of c-myc (+c-myc) and CEP8 (+CEP8) without overt additional increase of c-myc copy number relative to CEP8 copy number, was identified in 38% and 54% of specimens for case and control groups, respectively (P =.27). AI-c-myc was identified in 54% and 23% of specimens for case and control groups, respectively (odds ratio = 3.0, P =.06). Loss of p53 (-p53) was identified in 46% and 15% of specimens for case and control groups, respectively (odds ratio = 4.0, P =.04). Our results indicate that FISH anomalies are very common in both primary tumors and lymph node metastases of Stage T(2-3)N(1-3)M(0) prostate cancer; that AI-c-myc is associated with higher cancer Gleason score; that AI-c-myc and -p53 are associated with prostate cancer progression and are potential markers of survival in Stage T(2-3)N(1-3)M(0) prostate cancer; and that lymph node metastases usually have similar or additional genetic changes compared with primary tumors, and multiple lymph node metastases usually have similar genetic changes.
Induction of unresponsiveness in adult rats by immunodominant and nondominant peptides

Intravenous (i.v.) administration of antigens in aqueous solution is an efficient procedure for inducing unresponsiveness in adult animals. Using this procedure, we have compared the unresponsiveness-inducing capacity of an immunodominant and a nondominant peptide derived from the sequence of a retinal antigen, interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP). The immunodominant peptide, R16, is highly immunogenic in the Lewis rat, while the nondominant peptide, R4, is much less immunogenic and requires higher doses to induce immune response. Pretreatment of Lewis rats with peptides R4 or R16 effectively induced unresponsiveness, shown by the reduced lymphocyte responses following the challenge with the same peptide in adjuvant emulsion. A correlation was found between the doses of each peptide needed to induce immunity or unresponsiveness: both of these doses had to be higher for peptide R4 than for R16. Remarkably, the minimal unresponsiveness-inducing doses of both peptides were lower than those used for the challenge. Pretreatment with the immunodominant peptide, R16, readily inhibited the response to this peptide by lymphocytes from rats challenged with whole IRBP and excessive doses of R16 even affected the response of these rats against whole IRBP. In contrast, R4, which is not recognized by cells of rats challenged with whole IRBP, had no effect on the responses of these rats. The data thus underscore the relationship between immunodominance and unresponsiveness-inducing capacity of peptides and support the notion that the processes of unresponsiveness induction are related to those that produce immunity.
The incorporation of actin and fascin into the cytoskeleton of filopodial sea urchin coelomocytes

Echinoderm coelomocytes transform from petaloid cells with large motile lamellipodia to filopodial forms. During this morphological transformation, actin filaments extensively reorganize from a random meshwork into tight bundles, which become the skeletons or cores of the filopodia. Antibody localization procedures show that fascin, a 58,000 dalton actin cross-linking protein, becomes incorporated into the filament bundles as they form. Isolated filopodial cores have a pronounced transverse striping pattern, which has been previously identified with fascin crosslinks, and gel electrophoresis identifies a protein in the cores that co-migrates with purified egg fascin. A few of the core fragments also have a distinctive “cap,” which we presume is the membrane insertion site for actin filaments. We have developed a radioimmunoassay for fascin and have used it to study the redistribution of this protein during transformation. Data from the assay indicate that fascin constitutes about 5% of the total cell protein and that substantially more fascin, approximately 1.5–2 times more, is found in the Triton-insoluble cytoskeletons of the filopodial cells than in the petaloid cells. Actin, measured by the DNAase I inhibition assay accounts for approximately 10% of the total cell protein. Approximately 65% of this actin is in a soluble non-filamentous form in the petaloid cells. Our results show that actin polymerization must occur during the cell shape change, since we find approximately 25% more actin in the filopodial cytoskeleton than in the petaloid cytoskeleton. The results show a preferential incorporation of fascin into the cytoskeleton as the cells form filopodia.
The neural and genetic basis of executive function: Attention, cognitive flexibility, and response inhibition

Executive function is a collection of cognitive processes essential for higher order mental function. Processes involved in executive function include, but are not limited to, working memory, attention, cognitive flexibility, and impulse control. These complex behaviors are largely mediated by prefrontal cortical function but are modulated by dopaminergic, noradrenergic, serotonergic, and cholinergic input. The ability of these neurotransmitter systems to modulate executive function allows for adaptation in cognitive behavior in response to changes in the environment. Because of the important role these neurotransmitter systems play in regulating executive function, changes in these systems can also have a grave impact on executive function. In addition, polymorphisms in genes associated with these neurotransmitters are associated with phenotypic differences in executive function. Understanding how these naturally occurring polymorphisms contribute to different executive function phenotypes will advance basic knowledge of cognition and potentially further understanding and treatment of mental illness that involve changes in executive function. In this review, we will examine the influence of dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, and acetylcholine on the following measures of executive function: attention, cognitive flexibility, and impulse control. We will also review the effects of polymorphisms in genes associated with these neurotransmitter systems on these measures of executive function.
Nonlinear flexures for stable deflection of an electrostatically actuated micromirror

This paper describes how nonlinear force flexures can be used to increase the stable deflection distance of an electrostatically operated micromirror. Traditional micromirrors have flexures that provide linear force as a function of deflection. Electrostatic attraction is a nonlinear force, so after a traditional micromirror has deflected one-third of the initial separation distance between the top and bottom electrode, the mirror's position becomes unstable, and the mirror quickly jumps down to the bottom electrode. This phenomenon is called 'snap-through,' and it has been well-documented. A nonlinear second order flexure has a restorative force that is proportional to the square of the deflection distance. A second order flexure does not exhibit snap-through until the micromirror is deflected one-half the initial separation between the top and bottom electrode. Higher order flexures are capable of traveling a larger distance before snap-through. This paper presents a theoretical simulation of traditional and higher order flexures. Specific nonlinear flexure designs have been constructed and demonstrated.