cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The BCR/ABL tyrosine kinase induces production of reactive oxygen species in hematopoietic cells

The BCR/ABL oncogene causes chronic myelogenous leukemia, a myeloproliferative disorder characterized by clonal expansion of hematopoietic progenitor cells and myeloid cells. It is shown here that transformation of the hematopoietic cell lines Ba/F3, 32Dcl3, and MO7e with BCR/ABL results in an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) compared with quiescent, untransformed cells. The increase in ROS was directly due to BCR/ABL because it was blocked by the ABL-specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor STI571. Oxidative stress through ROS is believed to have many biochemical effects, including the potential ability to inhibit protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases). To understand the significance of increased production of ROS, a model system was established in which hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) was added to untransformed cells to mimic the increase in ROS induced constitutively by BCR/ABL. H(2)O(2) substantially reduced total cellular PTPase activity to a degree approximately equivalent to that of pervanadate, a well known PTPase inhibitor. Further, stimulation of untransformed cells with H(2)O(2) or pervanadate increased tyrosine phosphorylation of each of the most prominent known substrates of BCR/ABL, including c-ABL, c-CBL, SHC, and SHP-2. Treatment of the BCR/ABL-expressing cell line MO7/p210 with the reducing agents pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate or N-acetylcysteine reduced the accumulation of ROS and also decreased tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins. Further, treatment of MO7e cells with H(2)O(2) or pervanadate increased the tyrosine kinase activity of c-ABL. Drugs that alter ROS metabolism or reactivate PTPases may antagonize BCR/ABL transformation.
Predictors of hospital stay following laparoscopic gastric bypass: analysis of 9,593 patients from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program.

Abstract Background Bariatric centers face pressure to reduce hospitalization to contain costs, and some centers have sought to develop "fast-track" protocols. There is limited data to identify which patients require a longer hospital stay after gastric bypass, and therefore would be inappropriate for fast tracking. The objectives of this study were to determine (1) whether most patients in the United States who underwent laparoscopic gastric bypass required>1 day of hospitalization to recover; (2) whether hospital length of stay can be predicted by factors known before or after the operation. Methods We reviewed all laparoscopic gastric bypass operations reported to the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program in 2011. Revision and open procedures were excluded. Patient and procedural characteristics, length of stay, readmissions, and 30-day morbidity and mortality were reviewed. Predictors of longer hospitalization (defined as≥3 days) were identified by multivariate analysis. Results Of 9,593 laparoscopic gastric bypass operations, median length of stay was 2 days (range 0–544) and 26% of patients required≥3 days of hospitalization. In multivariate analysis, longer hospitalization was predicted by diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bleeding diathesis, renal insufficiency, hypoalbuminemia, prolonged operating time, and resident involvement with the procedure, but not by patient age, sex, body mass index, and other co-morbidities. Conclusion Patient characteristics and operative details predict length of hospitalization after laparoscopic gastric bypass. Such data can be used to identify patients inappropriate for fast-track protocols.
Foreign Aid Negotiations: The Swedish-Tanzanian Aid Dialogue

Characteristics of the bargaining process for economic assistance between rich and poor countries; sectoral case studies.
CLONING, SEQUENCING, AND EXPRESSION OF INTERFERON-γ FROM ELK IN NORTH AMERICA

Eradication of Mycobacterium bovis relies on accurate detection of infected animals, including potential domestic and wildlife reservoirs. Available diagnostic tests lack the sensitivity and specificity necessary for accurate detection, particularly in infected wildlife populations. Recently, an in vitro diagnostic test for cattle which measures plasma interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) levels in blood following in vitro incubation with M. bovis purified protein derivative has been enveloped. This test appears to have increased sensitivity over traditional testing. Unfortunately, it does not detect IFN-γ from Cervidae. To begin to address this problem, the IFN-γ gene from elk (Cervus elaphus) was cloned, sequenced, expressed, and characterized. cDNA was cloned from mitogen stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The predicted amino acid (aa) sequence was compared to known sequences from cattle, sheep, goats, red deer (Cervus elaphus), humans, and mice. Biological activity of the recombinant elk IFN-γ (rElkIF...
Diurnal variation in mRNA encoding serotonin N-acetyltransferase in pineal gland

Formation of the pineal gland hormone melatonin increases markedly at night in response to light-dark environmental alterations. Melatonin is synthesized from serotonin by an initial N-acetylation followed by methylation of the 5-hydroxy moiety by hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase. Serotonin N-acetyltransferase (NAT; EC2.3.1.87), which catalyses the first reaction, is the rate-limiting enzyme in this process, and its activity increases dramatically with the onset of darkness. Because melatonin may play important biological roles in reproduction, ageing and sleep, understanding the molecular factors that regulate NAT is of particular importance. To identify proteins that regulate light-dark variations in pineal function, we used a subtractive hybridization technique based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to isolate rat pineal gland messages that are differentially expressed by day and night. Here we report the molecular cloning of NAT and dramatic diurnal variations in its transcription. Independently, Klein and associates have cloned NAT from sheep pineal glands.
Estimating common vector parameters in interlaboratory studies

The primary goal of this work is to extend two methods of random effects models to multiparameter situation. These methods comprise the DerSimonian-Laird estimator, stemming from meta-analysis, and the Mandel-Paule algorithm widely used in interlaboratory studies. The maximum likelihood estimators are also discussed. Two methods of assessing the uncertainty of these estimators are given.
Numerical analysis of fracture propagation during hydraulic fracturing operations in shale gas systems

Abstract We perform numerical studies on vertical fracture propagation induced by tensile hydraulic fracturing for shale gas reservoirs. From the numerical simulation, we find that tensile fracturing occurs discontinuously in time, which generates saw-toothed responses of pressure, the fracture aperture, and displacement, and that fracture propagation is sensitive to factors such as initial condition of saturation, a type of the injection fluid, heterogeneity, tensile strength, elastic moduli, and permeability models. Gas injection induces faster fracturing in shale gas reservoirs than water injection, for the same mass injection, because of high mobility of gas. However, water injection to highly water-saturated formations can contribute to fast pressurization and high mobility of water, resulting in large fracturing. For moderate initial water saturation, complex physical responses within the fracture result from strong nonlinear permeability and multiphase flow with gravity. Pressure diffusion and pressurization within the fracture are also affected by permeability. High intrinsic and high relative permeabilities result in fast fluid movement of injected fluid, followed by fast fracturing. High Young׳s modulus and high Poisson׳s ratio do not seem favorable to fracture propagation, although they are not significantly sensitive. For heterogeneity, a geological layer of high strength between near surface and above the shale gas reservoirs can prevent vertical fracture propagation, changing the direction of fracturing horizontally.
Direct and compound nuclear contributions to the 13C(6Li, t) reaction at Elab = 25 MeV

Abstract The reaction 13 C( 6 Li, t) 16 O has been studied in the incident energy range 24–26 MeV. Complete angular distributions have been measured at E 6 Li , = 25 MeV in the angular range θ lab = 8°–172°, with the reaction 6 Li( 13 C, t) 6 O being used for the backward angle measurements. Cross sections for evaporation residues from the fusion of the 6 Li + 13 C system have been measured in the incident 6 Li energy range 9.2–35.1 MeV. Compound nuclear contributions to the transfer cross sections have been calculated using the Hauser-Feshbach statistical theory with the assumption that the compound-nucleus formation cross section is equal to the measured fusion cross section. By comparison of the compound nuclear calculations with backward angle data it is found that the sharp cutoff approximation commonly used to represent the initial angular momentum distribution of the compound nucleus is not adequate for the 13 C( 6 Li, t) 16 O reaction. Good fits to the backward angle data can be obtained by using a smooth cutoff approximation. The forward angle cross sections have been compared with exact finite-range distorted-wave Born approximation calculations to extract transferred angular momenta and spectroscopic strengths. The present results differ from those of an earlier study. These differences are due to the inclusion of forward angle data in the present study.
Effect of precrop on winter wheat yield

The Earth's population is rising, and this situation puts high demands on agricultural production. Yield and quality should be increased. A growing number of agricultural products is used both for food and for industrial purposes, such as biofuel production. Most of Central European countries have decided to produce biodiesel from oilseed rape. The Croatian agricultural production has a long tradition. It is, side by side with tourism, the basis for future developments. One third of the population is presently associated with agricultural production. There are some problems in relation with agriculture such as small farms, low efficiency and unfavourable climate. Lower efficiency compared to the efficiency level of developed countries increases the productinal costs and producers' debts. The organization of agriculture as well as its economical, energetical and environmental aspects present an issue due to transitional processes, free market conditions and EU recommendations, which should be taken into consideration. All the above mentioned means that steps towards higher efficiency should be taken in order to be competitive (Kanisek et al., 2001). The EU imports 65% of energy, which is the upper limit. The EU signed the Kyoto Protocol according to which some recommendations were made concerning the use of alternative fuels such as biodiesel, ethanol, and biogas, which are obtained from biomass. Based on the above mentioned recommendations three biodiesel plants have already been built in Croatia, and some other plants have been considered. The production of oleiferous plants is lower than the productional capacity of the plants. The disparity has to be resolved by favourable steps, such as higher subventions. Another initative for oilseed rape production could be the improvement of soil quality. This means a higher amount of nitrogen after the vegetation period of oilseed rape, high activity of microorganisms as well as sufficient quality related with with harvest residues on soil (Lauten, 1988). The above mentioned assumptions could positively affect the productional input cost, and on the other side, the increse of the yield in crop rotation. This all can bring about a more eager interest in the production of oilseed rape. Efficient plant nutrition should be a part of proper technology (Szalay et al., 2006). The research presented in this paper compares the yield of wheat sown after oilseed rape and barley, respectively. The results show that after the growth of oilseed rape less nitrogen should be brought into the soil, which decreases the productional cost of the following cultivar.
A New Fiscal Rule: Should Israel Go Swiss?

We propose a fiscal rule that fulfills a specific debt reduction objective while maintaining significant fiscal flexibility - two overarching concerns in Israel. Not unlike the Swiss "debt brake," the rule incorporates an error-correction mechanism (ECM) through which departure from the debt objective affects binding medium-run expenditure ceilings. Two variants of our ECM rule are shown to be superior to a comparable deficit rule in terms of attaining the debt objective and allowing for fiscal stabilization while supporting medium-term expenditure planning. Given its relative sophistication, a proper implementation of the ECM rule requires supportive fiscal institutions, including independent input and assessment.
Audience cost theory and its audiences

I really wanted to read Trachtenberg's article as taking part in the “modeling dialogue” by bringing historical evidence to bear as a corrective to some of the assumptions in audience cost theory (...
Imaging Constitutive Exocytosis with Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Microscopy

Total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy has been applied to image the final stage of constitutive exocytosis, which is the fusion of single post-Golgi carriers with the plasma membrane. The use of a membrane protein tagged with green fluorescent protein allowed the kinetics of fusion to be followed with a time resolution of 30 frames/s. Quantitative analysis allowed carriers undergoing fusion to be easily distinguished from carriers moving perpendicularly to the plasma membrane. The flattening of the carriers into the plasma membrane is seen as a simultaneous rise in the total, peak, and width of the fluorescence intensity. The duration of this flattening process depends on the size of the carriers, distinguishing small spherical from large tubular carriers. The spread of the membrane protein into the plasma membrane upon fusion is diffusive. Mapping many fusion sites of a single cell reveals that there are no preferred sites for constitutive exocytosis in this system.
Discrete solutions to engineering design problems

A method of obtaining discrete and/or integer valued solutions to non-linear design problems is presented. The general framework is that of geometric programming which is combined with the Branch and Bound Method. Recently developed computational procedures are described and are used to demonstrate the feasibility of the above method.
Rising Tide of Technology

After reading the article on “expert systems” by Stone et al. in the last Bulletin, I am stirred to comment on a disturbing trend I see in our science.
OF BUTTERFLIES AND BEETLES : FIRST GRADERS' WAYS OF SEEING AND TALKING ABOUT INSECT LIFE CYCLES

First graders' understandings of insect life cycles are explored through pre- and postinstructional interviews, as well as through the analysis of children's journal entries and talk that occurred throughout an instructional unit on beetle and butterfly metamorphosis. The data indicated that children's informal experiences resulted in the construction of one of three models of insect life cycles. Children's journal writing provided an avenue for contextualizing their experience with beetle and butterfly metamorphosis. Although the children's ways of seeing and talking about beetle and butterfly life cycles were changed by the instructional experience, the instructional experience constrained their understandings of insect life cycles. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 34: 873–889, 1997.
Comparison of Frequency of Inducible Myocardial Ischemia in Patients Presenting to Emergency Department With Typical Versus Atypical or Nonanginal Chest Pain

The present study was designed to assess the value of the presenting symptom of "typical" anginal pain, "atypical/nonanginal" pain, or the lack of chest pain in predicting the presence of inducible myocardial ischemia using cardiac stress testing in emergency department patients being evaluated for possible acute coronary syndrome. We performed a retrospective observational study of adult patients who were evaluated for acute coronary syndrome in an emergency department chest pain unit. The presenting symptoms were obtained from a structured questionnaire administered before stress testing. Patient chest pain was categorized according to the presence of substernal chest pain or discomfort that was provoked by exertion or emotional stress and was relieved by rest and/or nitroglycerin. Chest pain was classified as "typical" angina if all 3 descriptors were present and "atypical" or "nonanginal" if <3 descriptors were present. All patients underwent serial biomarker and cardiac stress testing before discharge. A total of 2,525 patients met the eligibility criteria. Inducible ischemia on stress testing was found in 33 (14%, 95% confidence interval 10% to 19%) of the 231 patients who had typical anginal pain, 238 (11%, 95% confidence interval 10% to 13%) of the 2,140 patients presenting with atypical/nonanginal chest pain, and 25 (16%, 95% confidence interval 11% to 22%) of the 153 patients who had no complaint of chest pain on presentation. Compared to patients with atypical or no chest pain, patients with typical chest pain were not significantly more likely to have inducible ischemia on stress testing (likelihood ratio +1.25, 95% confidence interval 0.89 to 1.78). In conclusion, in our study, the patients who presented with "typical" angina were no more likely to have inducible myocardial ischemia on stress testing than patients with other presenting symptoms.
Wireless communications technology in telehealth systems

Telehealth is an inter-disciplinary area and is basically the delivery of health and medical information and services over large and small distances using electronic information and communication technologies. Broadband wireless services available today, along with more powerful and convenient hand-held devices, will enable a transformational change in health management and healthcare with the introduction of real-time monitoring and timely responses to a wide array of patient needs. Further, a network of low-cost sensors and wireless systems help in creating constantly vigilant and pervasive monitoring capability at home and at work. This paper addresses recent efforts efforts in this growing field, including standards, system architectures, and lower layer protocols for body area networks. The paper also suggests the use of cooperative transmission-based strategies for such wireless topologies.
Detection of gravity waves across the USArray: A case study

Abstract Barometers deployed as part of the USArray Transportable Array (TA) recorded large (300 Pa peak-to-peak) gravity waves, or gust fronts, that originated near a severe tornadic storm system in the southern United States on April 27, 2011. We present a new method in which the TA is divided into a large number of elemental sub-arrays. Each 3-element sub-array (triad) is sufficiently closely spaced so that the long-period gravity wave signal is coherent, but large enough to provide a robust estimate of the signal's direction and speed. The results from each triad are combined to follow the progress of gravity waves as they propagate across the TA over 2 days in late April, 2011. We observe a large, high-amplitude gravity wave, spanning a region over 200,000 km2, progressing to the NNW away from the tornadic storm region. We also observe gravity waves with lower amplitudes and smaller spatial extent along the gulf coast, propagating southward, away from the storm region. This study demonstrates the functionality of the USArray pressure sensors for analyzing gravity wave dynamics over periods greater than 40 min and across a wide region. In principle the method could be applied to study other long-period wave phenomena recorded by any dense large-scale network and is not limited to gravity waves.
Homicide Followed by Suicide: Los Angeles, 1970-1979.

A study of 104 homicide-followed-by-suicide events in Los Angeles during 1970-1979 are reported and compared, in part, to the findings of D.J. West for Wales and England, 1954-1961. Variables discussed are age, ethnicity, sex distribution of both offenders and victims, relationship between them, methods by which victims were killed, alcohol content in victims and offenders, suicide notes, depression, and physical illness.
Investigating Reading Disabilities Using the Rauding Diagnostic System

Should a measure of intelligence be replaced by a measure of listening in discrepancy definitions of reading disability? This question was answered using a newly developed diagnostic system, which is based on “rauding” theory and a causal model of reading achievement. In Study 1, diagnostic results were analyzed from 122 students in Grades 3 through 7 who took, via computer, a battery of tests called the Computer Assisted Reading Diagnosis (CARD). In Study 2, 44 university students were given the CARD. In Study 3, the CARD was administered to 128 students in reading improvement classes at a suburban community college. From the results, it was concluded that the rauding diagnostic system consistently diagnoses disabilities in listening, decoding, and naming speed when they are theoretically needed to explain accuracy and rate disabilities of children and adults who are poor readers. It was recommended that (a) general intelligence, fluid intelligence, or IQ not be used to measure potential or to diagnose r...
Re: Genome-based expression profiling study following spinal cord injury in the rat: An array of 48-gene model.

Aim To explore the potential molecular mechanisms underlying experimental neurogenic bladder dysfunction. Methods With the aid of Affymetrix GeneChip Rat Genome U34A arrays, we examined microarray gene expression profiles in bladder wall tissue from female Sprague–Dawley rats within the first 3 weeks following spinal cord injury. Gene transcripts expressed in rat bladder wall tissue at 3 days, 7 days, and 3 weeks following spinal cord injury were compared to normal rat bladder wall tissue. Results The Mahalanobis distance in hierarchical cluster analysis revealed a 48-gene model, which contained high expressions in rat bladder wall tissue at 3 days, 7 days, and 3 weeks following spinal cord injury. According to gene ontology, plausible molecular alterations in rat bladder wall tissue following spinal cord injury include: (1) the release of nerve growth factor (NGF) and transforming growth factor beta 1 (Tgfb1) (2) the secretion of histamine from mast cells, (3) the occurrence of blood coagulation, (4) the occurrence of N-terminal protein myristoylation, and (5) Axon guidance mediated by Ena/Vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (Ena/VASP) promotes reestablishment of the bladder reflex following spinal cord injury. Such changes, jointly termed “bladder remodeling,” can constitute an important long-term consequence of neurogenic bladder dysfunction. Conclusion The success of this innovation has supported the use of microarray-based expression profiling as a commonplace platform for the pathogenesis and therapeutic interventions of experimental neurogenic bladder dysfunction. dysfunction. Neurourol. Urodynam. 29:1439–1443, 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Outcomes of expectant management after betamethasone for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Objective: Review the latency period after betamethasone (BMZ) for pregnancies complicated by hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). Study design: A retrospective chart review of patients that received BMZ for the reduction of preterm morbidity for HDP. Patients were grouped by gestational age of administration of BMZ and type of hypertensive disorder of pregnancy for analysis. The primary outcome was the interval between the gestational age of the patient at BMZ administration and delivery. Results: One-hundred and forty-seven subjects received BMZ for HDP during the study period delivering 168 infants. The median interval between administration of BMZ and delivery was 5 days [interquartile range (IQR) 2–20 days]. The median neonatal intensive care unit length of stay (NICU LOS) was 20 days (IQR 6–33 days). Fifty-seven percent of subjects delivered within 7 days of diagnosis and 32% had a latency period >14 days. Seventy-five percent of subjects were ultimately delivered for worsening hypertension. C...
A single lithography vertical NEMS switch

We demonstrate the use of torsion in nanorelays to achieve low voltages, high speeds, single lithography step construction, and a form useful for configurability and electronic design enhancements in three-dimensional integrated implementations. The combined bending and torsion of self-aligned nanopillars facilitates the first top-down fabricated vertical three terminal nanoscale relay. Experimental devices, even at 500 nm features, operate at ∼10 V and µs. Scaling suggests operation down to unit volts.
Effect of mineralogy and organic matter on mechanical properties of shale

We report a nanoindentation study of shales on 144 samples from Barnett, Eagle Ford, Haynesville, Kimmeridge, Ordovician, and Woodford plays. Mineralogy is found to play an important role in controlling mechanical properties of shales: An increase in carbonate and quartz content is correlated with an increase in Young’s modulus, whereas an increase in total organic content, clay content, and porosity decreases Young’s modulus. We had a close agreement between indentation moduli measured on small samples (millimeter scale) and dynamic moduli calculated from velocity and density measurements made on larger samples (centimeter scale). By taking an average of a large number of indentation Young’s moduli, 100 indentations in our case, and using an appropriate penetration force, nanoindentation technology measured an acceptable average Young’s modulus even for heterogeneous samples such as shale highlighting the potential of applying this technology to plug and perhaps field-scale problems.
17-allyamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin treatment results in a magnetic resonance spectroscopy-detectable elevation in choline-containing metabolites associated with increased expression of choline transporter SLC44A1 and phospholipase A2

Introduction: 17-allyamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG), a small molecule inhibitor of Hsp90, is currently in clinical trials in breast cancer. However, 17-AAG treatment often results in inhibition of tumor growth rather than shrinkage, making detection of response a challenge. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) are noninvasive imaging methods than can be used to monitor metabolic biomarkers of drugtarget modulation. This study set out to examine the MRS-detectable metabolic consequences of Hsp90 inhibition in a breast cancer model. Methods: MCF-7 breast cancer cells were investigated, and MRS studies were performed both on live cells and on cell extracts. 31 P and 1 H MRS were used to determine total cellular metabolite concentrations and 13 C MRS was used to probe the metabolism of [1,2- 13 C]-choline. To explain the MRS metabolic findings, microarray and RT-PCR were used to analyze gene expression, and in vitro activity assays were performed to determine changes in enzymatic activity following 17-AAG treatment. Results: Treatment of MCF-7 cells with 17-AAG for 48 hours caused a significant increase in intracellular levels of choline (to 266 ± 18% of control, P = 0.05) and phosphocholine (PC; to 181 ± 10% of control, P = 0.001) associated with an increase in expression of choline transporter SLC44A1 and an elevation in the de novo synthesis of PC. We also detected an increase in intracellular levels of glycerophosphocholine (GPC; to 176 ± 38% of control, P = 0.03) associated with an increase in PLA2 expression and activity. Conclusions: This study determined that in the MCF-7 breast cancer model inhibition of Hsp90 by 17-AAG results in a significant MRS-detectable increase in choline, PC and GPC, which is likely due to an increase in choline transport into the cell and phospholipase activation. 1 H MRSI can be used in the clinical setting to detect levels of total choline-containing metabolite (t-Cho, composed of intracellular choline, PC and GPC). As Hsp90 inhibitors enter routine clinical use, t-Cho could thus provide an easily detectable, noninvasive metabolic biomarker of Hsp90 inhibition in breast cancer patients.
High-frequency, stripline, multireflection electrooptic beam deflectors

A novel electrooptic (EO) beam deflector has been designed through numerical simulation. This stripline lithium tantalate device has the potential to electrooptically modulate the deflection of an optical pulse at unprecedented frequencies. Velocity matching of the optical pulse to a high-frequency transmission line signal is achieved through reflections of the fast optical pulse. An optimal design criterion is formulated for this device. Deflection capability is estimated to be 8/spl deg/. The device is intended for use in deflection-based optical analog-digital (A/D) conversion.
TCP performance re-visited

Detailed measurements and analyses for the Linux-2.4 TCP stack on current adapters and processors are presented. We describe the impact of CPU scaling and memory bus loading on TCP performance. As CPU speeds outstrip I/O and memory speeds, many generally accepted notions of TCP performance begin to unravel. In-depth examinations and explanations of previously held TCP performance truths are provided, and we expose cases where these assumptions and rules of thumb no longer hold in modern-day implementations. We conclude that unless major architectural changes are adopted, we would be hard-pressed to continue relying on the 1 GHz/1 Gbps rule of thumb.
Structural Allostery and Binding of the Transferrin·Receptor Complex

The structural allostery and binding interface for the human serum transferrin (Tf)·transferrin receptor (TfR) complex were identified using radiolytic footprinting and mass spectrometry. We have determined previously that the transferrin C-lobe binds to the receptor helical domain. In this study we examined the binding interactions of full-length transferrin with receptor and compared these data with a model of the complex derived from cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) reconstructions (Cheng, Y., Zak, O., Aisen, P., Harrison, S. C. & Walz, T. (2004) Structure of the human transferrin receptor·transferrin complex. Cell 116, 565–576). The footprinting results provide the following novel conclusions. First, we report characteristic oxidations of acidic residues in the C-lobe of native Tf and basic residues in the helical domain of TfR that were suppressed as a function of complex formation; this confirms ionic interactions between these protein segments as predicted by cryo-EM data and demonstrates a novel method for detecting ion pair interactions in the formation of macromolecular complexes. Second, the specific side-chain interactions between the C-lobe and N-lobe of transferrin and the corresponding interactions sites on the transferrin receptor predicted from cryo-EM were confirmed in solution. Last, the footprinting data revealed allosteric movements of the iron binding C- and N-lobes of Tf that sequester iron as a function of complex formation; these structural changes promote tighter binding of the metal ion and facilitate efficient ion transport during endocytosis.
Mitral Valve Prolapse

Mitral valve prolapse, a common condition that can occur in 5% to 15% of the general population, presents a number of unresolved questions. Among these are the criteria for the diagnosis, the prevalence of complications, and the prognosis. Especially important is the relation of mitral prolapse to anxiety symptoms and panic attacks.
Preservice Biology Teachers’ Use of Interactive Display Systems to Support Reforms-Based Science Instruction

The purpose of this study was to explore preservice science teachers’ use of an interactive display system (IDS), consisting of a computer, digital projector, interactive white board, and Internet connection, to support science teaching and learning. Participants included 9 preservice biology teachers enrolled in a master of teaching program during their full-time student teaching experience. Each participant had access to an IDS for the duration of the investigation. The research questions guiding the investigation included (a) whether teachers would use the IDS for instructional purposes, (b) what form this instruction would take, and (c) whether the instruction would reflect the recommendations of current science education reform documents. Analytic induction was used to analyze the wide variety of collected data, including classroom observation notes, entrance and exit interviews, lesson plans, and reflective essays. Results indicated that student teachers used the IDS in substantial ways to facilitate teaching reforms-based science. Furthermore, the results support the use of explicit approaches to preparing preservice teachers to use educational technology for inquiry instruction, modeling of effective uses of digital images and video clips, and specific instruction on whole-class inquiry methods.
IN TWO PLACES AT ONCE: NELLIE J. HALLWILLIAMS AND THE CONUNDRUMOF GENDER AND TRAVEL IN THE EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY

As recently as ninety years ago, traveling simply for the joy of it was an activity charged with implications regarding gender roles. For women in the United States, traveling involved navigating a social landscape as well as a physical one, a situation that many women living in Western democracies would be unfamiliar with today. A lot of the research revolving around the social barriers inherent in traveling is centered upon female travel journals, on which there is a substantial amount of academic research (Bunkers; Smith; Schlissel). Scholars have studied women and girls who crossed boundaries in the arena of female travel as well as those who stayed within the lines of decorum, yet either way, diaries are unique and valuable tools for understanding “historical, social, and self-construction” (Bunkers and Huff 1).In this article, I examine the 1923 travel diary of Nellie J. Hall, who was just twenty-one when she traveled from Maryville, Missouri, to Fresno, California, with her mother. Her diary falls into the “ordinary” category, noting items such as the food she eats, the types of plants she sees, and the kind of transportation she uses, without reflection on wider social themes or even deep personal feelings. Rather than embracing her situation as a trailblazing traveler, her journal reflects what she believed she was supposed to feel and “acknowledge[s] the conformist power of the dominant culture” (Braham 56). Such narratives, though more commonplace, offer a glimpse into the realities of living and traveling during a specific time period, and it is this kind of ordinariness that should be examined in order to get a more cohesive picture of what it meant to live in a certain era. Nellie Hall’s rhetoric offers an interesting look at the intersection of societal pressures, gender roles, and the experience of traveling, all of which she negotiates in a very specific way. In order to reject any notions of negativity in regard to her travel, Nellie chooses to project the identity of a “nice girl” by incorporating certain diction, subjects, and responses to her experiences that both underscore her support of traditional female roles and mitigate the liberalizing effect of travel.
Recovery of 15N-labeled Fertilizer by Thompson Seedless Grapevines: Effects of N Fertilizer Type and Irrigation Method

A study was conducted to determine the N fertilizer recovery efficiency (REN) of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Thompson Seedless grown in the San Joaquin Valley of California. Vines were drip- or furrow-irrigated and fertilized with 15N-labeled potassium nitrate (KNO3) or ammonium sulfate (NH4)2SO4. The fertilizers were applied shortly after anthesis with a single application of 25 g N/vine (~28 kg N/ha). An additional set of the drip-irrigated vines was fertilized 10 times beginning 20 April across a 20-week period during the growing season with labeled KNO3 (amounts equivalent to ~31 kg N/ha). Total biomass, N concentrations, and 15N of all vine organs, including the root system, were measured. There were no significant differences in REN (~40%) between the two fertilizer types (nitrate versus ammonium) for the drip-irrigated vines or for the comparison of a single application of KNO3 to a split application of that fertilizer applied every two weeks. The REN of furrow-irrigated vines was ~12%. The partitioning of 15N-labeled fertilizer taken up by the vine was significantly affected by fertilizer treatment. Approximately 47% of the ammonium fertilizer for the drip-irrigated vines was found in the clusters, while only 30% of the nitrate fertilizer for the split application of the fertilized, drip-irrigated vines was found in the clusters. The greatest amount of fertilizer N found in the roots was for the nitrate fertilized vines under drip-irrigation (both single and split applications). The results indicated that irrigation type greatly affected REN of the N fertilizers used in the study, and that irrigation and fertilizer type affected the distribution of N once it was taken up by the vine.
An international multi-laboratory investigation of carbon-based hydrogen sorbent materials

New materials are needed to achieve the hydrogen storage targets set out by the US Department of Energy for fuel cell vehicular applications. In order to enable the pathway toward this discovery, precise and accurate characterization of the hydrogen storage performance of these materials is needed. Determining the precise and accurate hydrogen storage capacity of materials requires rigorous attention to detailed experimental parameters and methodology. Slight errors in even small experimental details can result in a large deviation in the determination of the material’s true characteristics. Here, we compare measurements of the gravimetric excess hydrogen uptake capacities for two different carbon sorbent materials measured by different laboratories at ambient and liquid N2 temperatures. The participants for this study consist of research laboratories led by experienced scientists in the hydrogen storage field. This collaborative evaluation of standard sorbents illustrated considerable reproducibility over a broad range of materials’ hydrogen sorption gravimetric capacities.
To Conquer Land or People: Regime Type and US Expansionism toward Canada

How does a state’s regime type influence its appetite for territorial expansion? Most great powers have historically used eras of strength to pursue expansion into neighboring population centers, which offer greater material benefits than empty lands. However, the only democracy to face major opportunities for expansion, the United States, has defied this pattern by consistently preferring to conquer land rather than people and by seeing its expansionism decline as its international power has grown. I argue that democracy transforms population centers from a lure into a deterrent by introducing a set of domestic social and political costs that can outweigh even substantial material gains. In this paper, I test this argument against the conventional wisdom by process-tracing US decision making during crises in its early relations with British Canada.
Phase II study of topotecan and carboplatin in the treatment of platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian and peritoneal cancer

15001 Background: The aim of this trial was to investigate the efficacy and toxicity of the combination of Topotecan (T) and Carboplatinum (C) in the management of recurrent platinum sensitive ovar...
High-Pressure Redox Behavior of Iron-Oxide-Based Oxygen Carriers for Syngas Generation from Methane

For gas to liquid (GTL)-type applications, partial oxidation of methane (CH4) is a viable route for conversion of natural gas to valuable chemicals. The oxygen for this partial oxidation process can be supplied using solid oxygen carriers, which can be single or mixed metal oxides. A particular partial oxidation scheme for CH4 conversion consists of two reactors, using Fe-based oxygen carrier particles, which circulate within the two units and undergo cyclic reduction–oxidation (redox) reactions. The solid carriers, therefore, serve as a vehicle for oxygen between the units, enabling clean conversion of the fossil fuel with high-purity product streams generated. Unlike the conventional combustion and/or gasification, the gaseous products of the two reactors are inherently separated. This allows for minimization of downstream processing and gas separation, making it a highly efficient energy conversion process. For applications involving high-pressure downstream processing (such as producing syngas as an i...
The development of a new computer adaptive test to evaluate chorea in Huntington disease: HDQLIFE Chorea.

Huntington’s disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease associated with motor, behavioral, and cognitive deficits. The hallmark symptom of HD, chorea, is often the focus of HD clinical trials. Unfortunately, there are no self-reported measures of chorea. To address this shortcoming, we developed a new measure of chorea for use in HD, HDQLIFE Chorea. Qualitative data and literature reviews were conducted to develop an initial item pool of 141 chorea items. An iterative process, including cognitive interviews, expert review, translatability review, and literacy review, was used to refine this item pool to 64 items. These 64 items were field tested in 507 individuals with prodromal and/or manifest HD. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA and CFA, respectively) were conducted to identify a unidimensional set of items. Then, an item response theory graded response model (GRM) and differential item functioning analyses were conducted to select the final items for inclusion in this measure. EFA and CFA supported the retention of 34 chorea items. GRM and DIF supported the retention of all of these items in the final measure. GRM calibration data were used to inform the selection of a 6-item, static short form and to program the HDQLIFE Chorea computer adaptive test (CAT). CAT simulation analyses indicated a 0.99 correlation between the CAT scores and the full item bank. The new HDQLIFE Chorea CAT and corresponding 6-item short form were developed using established rigorous measurement development standards; this is the first self-reported measure developed to evaluate the impact of chorea on HRQOL in HD. This development work indicates that these measures have strong psychometric properties; future work is needed to establish test–retest reliability and responsiveness to change.
Installation Scheme Study on Line Arrester of 220 kV Mianzi Line

Line arrester is an effective method to reduce the lightning trip-out rate and accidents rate,but because of its large cost for full line installation,the comprehensive lightning protection performance evaluation by lightning trip-out situation,lightning parameters and statistical analysis,landform analysis,lightning protection calculation and analysis is proposed,and installation strategy of line arrester is given:the tower had been struck by lightning;the tower that the counterattack risk assessment rating is class D,the tower that the counterattack risk assessment rating is class C and higher than 50 m;the tower that the strike risk assessment rating is class D;the tower that the strike risk assessment rating is class C and the span distance is more than 800 m;the tower that needed to prevent high potential transfer of lightning combined with the terrain analysis;the tower that local strong convective weather more easily affect to.
Ischemic conditioning of the rat stomach: implications for esophageal replacement with stomach.

BACKGROUND Esophagectomy, with gastric pull up replacement, is not uncommonly complicated by leakage from the esophagogastrostomy anastomosis. Occult ischemia of the mobilized gastric fundus is a major etiologic factor in anastomotic leakage. OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that tissue perfusion in a partially devascularized stomach will improve over time by a process of ischemic conditioning ("delay" phenomenon). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN COLON: Laboratory study of partial gastric devascularization in rats. ANIMALS Twenty rats. INTERVENTIONS Partial gastric devascularization was achieved by ligation of the left gastric artery. MEASURES Gastric perfusion was measured with a laser-Doppler flowmeter (in tissue perfusion units, TPU). Perfusion measurements were made at baseline, after vessel ligation, at 7 days, and at 14 days. RESULTS Perfusion immediately after vessel ligation (23.8 +/- 6.0 TPU) was significantly lower than baseline gastric tissue perfusion (88.4 +/- 9.8 TPU) (p < 0.00001). After 7 days, tissue perfusion had increased (54.4 +/- 9.2 TPU), but it was significantly lower than baseline values (p < 0.00005). After 14 days, perfusion was increased (71.7 +/- 8.6 TPU) compared to 7 day measurements (p < 0.001), but it was still significantly lower than baseline gastric tissue perfusion (p < 0.002). Nevertheless, 14 day perfusion was 81% of baseline values. CONCLUSIONS After partial devascularization, gastric perfusion steadily improves by a process of ischemic conditioning ("delay" phenomenon). The principle of ischemic conditioning may be clinically applicable to the gastric pull up operation.
Models and algorithms for data privacy

Over the last twenty years, there has been a tremendous growth in the amount of private data that can be collected and analyzed digitally. On the one hand, this has led to the development of data mining tools that aim to infer useful trends from this data. But, on the other hand, easy access to personal data poses a threat to individual privacy. In this thesis, we provide models and algorithms for protecting the privacy of individuals in such large data sets while still allowing users to mine useful trends and statistics. We focus on two frameworks for protecting privacy in statistical databases. The first part of the thesis focuses on the interactive framework, in which the user (researcher) queries the database through a privacy mechanism, which may deny the query or alter the answer in order to ensure privacy. We first consider the online query auditing problem: given a sequence of queries about the data, their corresponding answers and given a new query, deny the answer if privacy can be breached or give the true answer otherwise. We uncover the fundamental problem that query denials leak information and introduce the simulatable auditing model to overcome this problem. We also describe a probabilistic notion of (partial) compromise, in order to overcome the known limitations of the existing privacy definition. We then present simulatable auditing algorithms under both these definitions. The second problem we consider is output perturbation, in which the database administrator computes exact answer to the query and then outputs a perturbed answer as the response to the query. Inspired by the desire to enable individuals to retain control over their information, we provide a fault-tolerant distributed implementation of output perturbation schemes, thereby eliminating the need for a trusted database administrator. The second part of the thesis focuses on the non-interactive framework and considers two anonymization methods for publishing data. We present approximation algorithms for anonymizing databases under the k-Anonymity model. Then we propose a new method for anonymizing data records, where the data records are clustered and then cluster centers are published, and provide approximation algorithms.