cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Oxidative refolding of insulin-like growth factor 1 yields two products of similar thermodynamic stability : a bifurcating protein-folding pathway

Can one protein sequence encode two structures? Oxidative folding of human insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), a globular protein of 70 residues, is shown to yield two products of similar thermodynamic stability. This observation is of particular interest in light of the recent demonstration that two of the three disulfide bonds in native IGF-1 rearrange in the presence of dithiothreitol [Hober, S., et al. (1992) Biochemistry 31, 1749-1756]. Kinetics of the IGF-1 folding pathway were monitored by high-performance liquid chromatography (rp-HPLC). Disulfide-pairing schemes of intermediates and products were established by peptide mapping. Two disulfide isomers were obtained as products: one with native insulin-like pairing [6-48; 18-61; 47-52] (designated native IGF-1; 60% yield) and the other with alternative pairing [6-47; 18-61; 48-52] (designated IGF-swap; 40% yield). The predominant early intermediate contains the single disulfide 18-61, which is shared in common by the two products. Relative yields of native IGF-1 and IGF-swap are independent of protein concentration under dilute conditions. In the absence of an added thiol reagent, each isomer is stable indefinitely at neutral pH; in the presence of an added thiol reagent, the two isomers interconvert with an Arrhenius activation barrier of 12 kcal/mol. Interconversion does not require complete reduction and yields the same ratio of products as initial folding, demonstrating thermodynamic control. Spectroscopic studies using circular dichroism (CD), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), two-dimensional 1H-NMR (2D-NMR), and photochemical dynamic nuclear polarization (photo-CIDNP) suggest that IGF-1 and IGF-swap adopt similar secondary structures but distinct tertiary folds. Implications of these observations for understanding the topology of protein-folding pathways are discussed.
Realistic Ionosphere: Real-Time Ionosonde Service for UN International Space Weather Initiative

Realistic Ionosphere (RI) is a part of the International Space Weather Initiative (ISWI), a cooperative program of United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. RI is an ISWI instrument suite dedicated to continuing, accurate, and prompt nowcast of the 3D global plasma density distribution in the subpeak ionosphere of the Earth, based on the real-time data feeds from a global network of ionosondes with installations in 26 countries. The RI suite includes several remote sensing, modeling, and computer science components, including Global Ionosphere Radio Observatory (GIRO) and an online data processing and dissemination center with an open data portal at http://giro.uml.edu. The paper summarizes ionospheric weather services provided by the RI project.
Divergence of subjective and performance-based cognitive gains following cognitive training in schizophrenia.

Abstract Background Cognitive training is effective for improving cognitive performance among people with schizophrenia. An individual’s perception of their own cognition is dissociable from performance on objective cognitive tests. Since subjective cognitive benefit may impact engagement, motivation, and satisfaction with time-intensive cognitive interventions, this study aimed to determine whether subjective cognitive difficulties improve in conjunction with cognitive gains following 30 h of cognitive training. Methods Patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (N = 46) were randomized to treatment as usual (TAU) or TAU augmented with auditory-targeted cognitive training (TCT). All participants completed assessment batteries at baseline and follow-up. As previously reported, the TCT group showed significant improvements in verbal learning and memory and reductions in auditory hallucinations relative to the TAU group. Results Subjective cognitive difficulties did not significantly improve following TCT, even among TCT participants who showed improvements in cognitive performance (all ps > 0.05). Subjective cognitive difficulties were significantly associated with severity of depressive symptoms and hallucinations (r = 0.48 and r = 0.28, p 0.05). Discussion Patients with schizophrenia do not detect change in their cognition following cognitive training, even among those who showed robust gains in cognitive performance. Failure to detect improvement may undermine treatment engagement, motivation, and satisfaction. Translating score improvements on the cognitive exercises into tangible metrics, and providing ongoing, clinician-delivered feedback on performance may facilitate patient ability to detect improvements and improve motivation to engage with cognitive training interventions.
The Scandinavian container at San Isidoro, León, in the context of Viking art and society

A cylindrical container at San Isidoro in Leon is the only Viking object known from the Iberian Peninsula. The Leon piece is compared to other Viking artifacts of similar style and similar material...
Herriot's way inspired a generation

I write in support of Maureen Aitken ( VR , 4 May 2019, vol 184, p 559). I am unashamedly one of those veterinary surgeons for whom James Herriot was a major inspiration. In his books Alf Wight espoused the sort of selfless, compassionate, dedicated professionalism of which …
Immoral or Scandalous Marks: An Empirical Analysis

This article reports the results of a systematic empirical study of how the Patent and Trademark Office has applied trademark law’s prohibition on the registration of immoral or scandalous marks. We conducted this study for an amicus brief we submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court in Iancu v. Brunetti, 139 S. Ct. 782 (Jan. 4, 2019) (No. 18-302). In that case, the Supreme Court is considering whether the immoral-or-scandalous-marks provision runs afoul of the First Amendment’s Free Speech Clause. Our study shows, from multiple vantage points, that the Patent and Trademark Office applies the immoral-or-scandalous prohibition in an arbitrary, inconsistent, and viewpoint-discriminatory matter. On the basis of these empirical findings, we conclude that the bar on the registration of immoral-or-scandalous matter violates the Free Speech Clause because of a lack of fit between the purposes of the provision and the provision as enforced. The Patent and Trademark Office’s inconsistent and arbitrary enforcement also indicates unconstitutional vagueness. This article is based on the brief we submitted.
Searching for keV sterile neutrino dark matter with X-ray microcalorimeter sounding rockets

High-resolution X-ray spectrometers onboard suborbital sounding rockets can search for dark matter candidates that produce X-ray lines, such as decaying keV-scale sterile neutrinos. Even with exposure times and effective areas far smaller than XMM-Newton and Chandra observations, high-resolution, wide field of view observations with sounding rockets have competitive sensitivity to decaying sterile neutrinos. We analyze a subset of the 2011 observation by the X-ray Quantum Calorimeter instrument centered on Galactic coordinates = = -  lb 165 , 5 with an effective exposure of 106 s, obtaining a limit on the sterile neutrino mixing angle of q <´ sin 2 7.2 10
Behavioral Response to High Temperatures in a Desert Grassland Bird: Use of Shrubs as Thermal Refugia

Birds inhabiting hot, arid ecosystems contend with trade-offs between heat dissipation and water conservation. As temperatures increase, passerines engage in various behaviors to reduce exposure to heat, solar radiation and insolation, and reradiation of heat from the ground. These responses to rising temperatures may result in subordination of reproductive urgency or nutrient acquisition to the need for thermoregulation. During studies on Arizona Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum ammolegus) life history and ecology, we noted that these sparrows abandoned territoriality and foraging behaviors under certain circumstances in favor of cooler microsites. In this paper we document the extreme temperatures to which these and other ground-foraging and ground-nesting birds are exposed in southwestern desert grasslands, and we present evidence that A. s. ammolegus avoids exposure to extreme air and ground temperatures by using shrubs as thermal refugia. Our observations have implications for Arizona Grasshopper Sparrows and other desert grassland passerines in the southwestern United States, where the climate is projected to become hotter and drier. We provide some of the only behavioral data, and associated temperature data, associated with the use of thermal refugia by desert grassland birds. We encourage further studies that use more robust methods to supplement our observational data.
Abstract A081: Trial Library: A pilot study to examine feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary estimates of efficacy for an online clinical trial matching website on patient-prompted conversations for prostate cancer clinical trials

Background: The ability of clinical trials to effectively translate into therapeutic interventions for the general population can be limited by a lack of representative participants in these trials. There is an acute need to develop informational resources regarding cancer clinical trials that meet the linguistic and literary needs of under-represented and vulnerable populations. Current practices utilize a one-size-fits-all approach that may be inaccessible to a diverse audience. Given the increased utilization of online resources for health information among a diverse patient population and across age groups, we developed a website, called Trial Library, which may serve as a prostate cancer clinical trial matching tool. We hypothesize that use of the Internet-based clinical trial matching tool in clinic will increase the number of patient-initiated conversations with physicians about clinical trial options, and by extension, improve enrollment to therapeutic cancer clinical trials among a diverse participant pool. Procedures/Design/Aims: This is a nonrandomized, nontherapeutic interventional pilot study. The study will be performed in genitourinary medical oncology clinic at UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. We will measure the feasibility and acceptability of a clinical trial matching tool that includes two unique features: user-validated clinical trial content and navigation schema. We will measure preliminary estimates of efficacy of the online clinical trial matching tool in triggering patient-promoted conversations regarding clinical trials and ultimately clinical trial enrollment. Discussion: Trial Library is designed to be an accessible informational resource for patients from diverse levels of health literacy and English proficiency. This pilot study will provide important preliminary results to inform the design of the website and subsequent testing outside of clinic. Additionally, this website will ultimately serve as a model for clinical trial information that can be translated across tumor types. Note: This abstract was not presented at the conference. Citation Format: Hala T. Borno, Brian Bakke, Anke Hebig Prophet, Yoon-Ji Kim, Jan Yaeger, Jessica Chao, Pelin Cinar, Celia Kaplan, Eric Small, Christy Boscardin, Ralph Gonzales. Trial Library: A pilot study to examine feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary estimates of efficacy for an online clinical trial matching website on patient-prompted conversations for prostate cancer clinical trials [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2018 Nov 2-5; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl):Abstract nr A081.
An efficient source of single photons: a single quantum dot in a micropost microcavity

Abstract We have used a single quantum dot in a micropost microcavity to generate triggered single photons. Coupling between the quantum-dot dipole and the confined microcavity mode leads to a large enhancement of the spontaneous emission rate. This, in turn, leads to efficient coupling of the emitted photons into a single traveling-wave mode. Optimization of the microcavity design should lead to nearly unity efficiency, and could also allow for strong coupling and for single-dot lasing.
Bending losses in multi-mode fibers with low numerical aperture

Spectrographs are integral in panoramic surveys. An optimized spectrograph design can facilitate the observation of faint objects. One such optimization lies in its bundle of optical fibers and their numerical apertures (NA). Low NA fibers are less commonly used and studied, but can be advantageous in terms of cost and precision. Here, we describe the properties of 0.12 NA and 0.22 NA fibers with different input beam f-ratio, quantities of wraps, and bend radii.
Blueprint: Cyberinfrastructure Center of Excellence

In 2018, NSF funded an effort to pilot a Cyberinfrastructure Center of Excellence (CI CoE or Center) that would serve the cyberinfrastructure (CI) needs of the NSF Major Facilities (MFs) and large projects with advanced CI architectures. The goal of the CI CoE Pilot project (Pilot) effort was to develop a model and a blueprint for such a CoE by engaging with the MFs, understanding their CI needs, understanding the contributions the MFs are making to the CI community, and exploring opportunities for building a broader CI community. This document summarizes the results of community engagements conducted during the first two years of the project and describes the identified CI needs of the MFs. To better understand MFs' CI, the Pilot has developed and validated a model of the MF data lifecycle that follows the data generation and management within a facility and gained an understanding of how this model captures the fundamental stages that the facilities' data passes through from the scientific instruments to the principal investigators and their teams, to the broader collaborations and the public. The Pilot also aimed to understand what CI workforce development challenges the MFs face while designing, constructing, and operating their CI and what solutions they are exploring and adopting within their projects. Based on the needs of the MFs in the data lifecycle and workforce development areas, this document outlines a blueprint for a CI CoE that will learn about and share the CI solutions designed, developed, and/or adopted by the MFs, provide expertise to the largest NSF projects with advanced and complex CI architectures, and foster a community of CI practitioners and researchers.
Joint Topology Identification and State Estimation in Unobservable Distribution Grids

Many distribution system operations (e.g., state estimation, control, fault detection/localization) rely on the assumption that the underlying topology is accurately defined. In general, topology identification is a challenging problem in distribution systems as these systems are unobservable with a very limited number of available measurements. In this paper, we tackle this problem by designing a compressive sensing framework that jointly estimates the systems states and network topology via an integrated mixed integer nonlinear program (MINLP) formulation. Two reformulations of the original MINLP problems are investigated. Firstly, in order to remove the nonlinearity in the MINLP formulation, a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) problem that employs auxiliary variables is derived. Furthermore, to achieve a faster solution, convex relaxation of the original formulation is derived. Finally, using a Markovian model for topology changes, prior information about system topology is used to improve topology identification particularly when a limited amount of measurements is available. Simulation results on IEEE 37-bus test feeder and IEEE 123-bus test feeder illustrate the efficiency and scalability of the proposed approaches from both state estimation and topology identification point of view (even with 30% of available data).
Evaluation of Nocturnal Enuresis After Adenotonsillectomy in Children With Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance Children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are at increased risk for nocturnal enuresis (NE). However, randomized clinical trials assessing NE outcomes in children randomized to adenotonsillectomy (AT) vs watchful waiting are lacking. Objective To assess the outcomes of AT vs watchful waiting in children with nonsevere OSA who experience NE. Design, setting, and participants Secondary analysis of data from a multicenter randomized clinical trial conducted at tertiary children's hospitals was performed. Participants included 453 children aged 5.0 to 9.9 years with nonsevere OSA who were randomized to either watchful waiting or AT as part of the multicenter Childhood Adenotonsillectomy Trial. Caregivers completed the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire, which includes a binary item on bed-wetting, at baseline and 7-month follow-up. The trial was conducted between October 2007 and June 2012. Evaluation in this secondary analysis involving NE occurred from October 2019 to March 2021. Interventions Adenotonsillectomy vs watchful waiting in children with NE. Main outcomes and measures Prevalence of NE as defined by parental response to the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire bed-wetting item at baseline and 7-month follow-up. Results Of the 453 children enrolled, 393 were included in analysis; of these, 201 were girls (51.1%). Mean (SD) age at baseline was 6.54 (1.40) years. At baseline, the number of children with NE was similar (2.6%; 95% CI, -0.12% to 0.07%) between the AT (59 [30.7%]) and watchful-waiting (67 [33.3%]) groups. The odds of NE in the watchful-waiting group were approximately 2 times higher than the AT group after 7 months (odds ratio, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.3 to 3.1). Following AT, there was a decrease (-11.0%; 95% CI, -16.3% to -5.7%) in the number of children with NE (n = 38). The prevalence of NE did not change significantly (-0.5%; 95% CI, -5.4% to 6.4%) in the watchful-waiting group (n = 66) at follow-up. Although NE was less frequent in girls (adjusted odds ratio, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.33-0.85), other clinical factors, such as age, race and ethnicity, obesity, and apnea-hypopnea index, were not associated with improvement of NE. Conclusions and relevance In this secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial, AT for the treatment of pediatric OSA appears to result in improvement in NE. Further research is needed to assess whether AT is associated with long-term benefits for NE compared with watchful waiting. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00560859.
Bacteria modulate tamoxifen-induced death via host fatty acid metabolism

Tamoxifen is a selective estrogen receptor (ER) modulator that is used to treat ER positive breast cancer, but that at high doses kills both ER-positive and ER negative breast cancer cells. We recapitulate this off-target effect in Caenorhabditis elegans, which does not have an ER ortholog. We find that different bacteria dramatically modulate tamoxifen toxicity in C. elegans, with a three-order of magnitude difference between animals fed Escherichia coli, Comamonas aquatica, and Bacillus subtilis. Remarkably, host fatty acid (FA) biosynthesis mitigates tamoxifen toxicity, and different bacteria provide the animal with different FAs, resulting in distinct FA profiles. Surprisingly these bacteria modulate tamoxifen toxicity by different death mechanisms, some of which are modulated by FA supplementation and others by antioxidants. Together, this work reveals a complex interplay between microbiota, FA metabolism and tamoxifen toxicity that may provide a blueprint for similar studies in more complex mammals.
Induction of specific T-cell tolerance by adenovirus-transfected, Fas ligand-producing antigen presenting cells.

Induction of specific T-cell tolerance by adenovirus-transfected, Fas ligand-producing antigen-presenting cells
Prodelegation: Why Administrators Should Make Political Decisions

Americans often complain about their government. Indeed, while baseball's claim to the position of"national pastime" is variously disputed, good empirical research might reveal that carping about the actions or inactions of various officials deserves serious consideration for this increasingly dubious honor. While a moderately skeptical analysis of our various articulated disappointments might trace their origins largely to the intractability, even perversity, of the humnan materials that constitute the body politic, we often also look optimistically for ways of reforming our political organization. Our aspiration is to produce better governmental action by designing a better governmental svstem.
Absolute Rovibrational Intensities and Self-Broadening and Self-Shift Coefficients for the X1Σ+V=3←V=0 Band of 12C16O

Abstract The absolute rotationless transition moment squared for the X1Σ+v=3←v=0 band of CO is measured to be |R3–0|2=1.713 (−20, +33)×10−7 Debye2. This value is about 8.6% smaller than the value assumed for HITRAN 2000. The measured Herman–Wallis intensity factor of this band is F=1+0.01168(11)m+0.0001065(79)m2. The determination of self-broadening coefficients is improved with the inclusion of line narrowing; self-shifts are also reported.
Use of enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium in liver transplant patients with intestinal intolerance caused by mycophenolate mofetil.

Background Post-transplant gastrointestinal (GI) side effects can impair a patient's quality of life (QoL). This study investigates the improvement in GI side effects and related QoL changes in recipients of liver transplantation (OLT) after converting patients from mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) to enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS). Methods Thirty-four patients who underwent OLT and suffered from GI intolerability were included in this study. Infectious causes of GI intolerability were excluded. QoL assessed by the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index was evaluated before conversion and at months 3, 6 and 12 post-conversion. All patients received baseline immunosuppression of one calcineurin inhibitor, MMF, with or without steroids. Patients were converted from MMF to EC-MPS on an equimolar basis. Paired t-test was used to assess differences in mean score changes over time. Results Conversion from MMF to EC-MPS for GI intolerability post-OLT shows statistically significant improvement in GI-related QoL at 3, 6, and 12 months when compared to baseline assessments (p Conclusion OLT recipients who develop GI side effects caused by MMF can be safely converted to EC-MPS with improvement to their QoL.
Studies on the preservation and organization of DNA-containing regions in a blue-green alga, a cytochemical and ultrastructural study

The cytochemistry and fine structure of the nucleoplasmic areas within the cells of Anabaena have been investigated. The observations of cells subjected to the Feulgen test and UV fluorescence of acridine orange, demonstrate that DNA is located in the central and peripheral regions of the cell. The Feulgen reaction and the yellowish-green fluorescence are eliminated when cells are incubated in DNase or trichloroacetic acid prior to being subjected to the Feulgen test or acridine orange staining for UV fluorescence. Electron microscopic studies of the DNA-containing regions after various fixation procedures reveal the occurrence of three types of fibrils within the nucleoplasm: ( a ) fine fibrils 20–30 A in diameter, ( b ) fibrils which measure 80 A in diameter and seem to form an interconnecting lattice throughout the nucleoplasm, and ( c ) coarse aggregations which measure from 100 up to 350 A and appear to be composed of several smaller fibrils. The appearance and organization of the DNA fibrils in cells fixed in OsO 4 with and without Ca ++ , cells fixed in KMnO 4 , and cells fixed in glutaraldehyde and stained with bismuth or InCl 3 are compared.
FIBER-OPTIC SENSOR FOR AROMATIC COMPOUNDS IN WATER BASED ON SOLID-PHASE MICROEXTRACTION AND ULTRAVIOLET EVANESCENT WAVE ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY

A method is described for the determination of aromatic contaminants in water samples that combines solid-phase microextraction and ultraviolet evanescent wave absorption (UV-EWA) spectroscopy. In this method, the aromatic compounds are partitioned from a 10 mL sample of water into the polymer cladding of a 10 cm length of UV-transmitting fiber. The aromatics are then detected directly in the cladding by EWA spectroscopy. The time required for four BTEX compounds to reach concentration equilibrium between the aqueous phase and the cladding ranges from 12 to 80 min, although we show that quantitative determinations can be accomplished in 30 min. Detection limits for these compounds range from 1 to 18 ppm, with relative standard deviations from 3 to 17%. Finally, preliminary work demonstrates that natural water matrices pose no significant matrix effects and that this method shows promise in determining the total aromatic concentrations of water samples contaminated with gasoline.
The effects of acid-base disturbances on cardiovascular and pulmonary function

Disturbances in acid-base balance are commonly met problems in clinical medicine and decisions about their treatment are of great importance in patients with cardiopulmonary problems, in whom acid-base disturbances may be especially critical.Similarly, cardiopulmonary function may be significantly compromised even in patients with no intrinsic heart or lung disease, in the face of acid-base disturbances.It is essential, therefore, to understand the physiological consequences of these disturbances on the cardiovascular and pulmonary system. Of major importance is the effect of acid-base disturbances on the delivery of oxygen to the various tissue cells of the body.In order to understand all the pathophysiological mechanisms involved it is necessary to review the effects of acid-base changes on the heart, the peripheral vessels, the lungs, and the diffusion of oxygen between air, blood, and tissues. The requirement for oxygen by the various tissue cells of the body is met by the combined cardiovascular and pulmonary systems, which function as a unit termed the "oxygen transport system" of the body.The movement of oxygen from the ambient air to the tissue cells involves ventilation, pulmonary perfusion, diffusion, oxygen-carrying capacity of hemoglobin, cardiac output (including cardiac muscle performance), systemic distribution of flow, and finally the oxygen delivery capacity of hemoglobin.It is important to understand the effects of changes in pH on each of these steps in the chain.
Thermophysical measurements on tungsten-3 (wt %) rhenium alloy in the range 1500–3600 K by a pulse heating technique

Simultaneous measurements of the specific heat capacity, c p, electrical resistivity, ρ, and hemispherical total emittance, e, of tungsten-3 (wt%) rhenium alloy in the temperature range 1500–3600 K by a subsecond-duration pulse heating technique are described. The results are expressed by the relations $$\begin{gathered} c_{\text{P}} = 0.30332 - 2.8727 \times 10^{ - 4} {\text{ }}T + 1.9783 \times 10^{ - 7} {\text{ }}T^2 \hfill \\ {\text{ }} - 5.6672 \times 10^{ - 11} {\text{ }}T^3 + 6.5628 \times 10^{ - 15} {\text{ }}T^4 , \hfill \\ \rho = - 24.261 + 8.1924 \times 10^{ - 2} {\text{ }}T - 3.7656 \times 10^{ - 5} {\text{ }}T^2 \hfill \\ {\text{ + 1}}{\text{.1850}} \times {\text{10}}^{ - 8} {\text{ }}T^3 - 1.3229 \times 10^{ - 12} {\text{ }}T^4 , \hfill \\ \varepsilon = 0.1945 + 5.881 \times 10^{ - 5} {\text{ }}T, \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ where T is in K, cp is in J·g−1·K−1, and ρ is in μΩ·cm. The melting temperature (solidus temperature) was also measured and was determined to be 3645 K. Uncertainties of the measured properties are estimated to be not more than ±3 % for specific heat capacity, ±1 % for electrical resistivity, ± 5 % for hemispherical total emittance, and ±20 K for the melting temperature.
Two novel phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinase type Iγ splice variants expressed in human cells display distinctive cellular targeting

The generation of various phosphoinositide messenger molecules at distinct locations within the cell is mediated via the specific targeting of different isoforms and splice variants of phosphoinositide kinases. The lipid messenger PtdIns(4,5)P2 is generated by several of these enzymes when targeted to distinct cellular compartments. Several splice variants of the type Iγ isoform of PIPK (PtdIns4P 5-kinase), which generate PtdIns(4,5)P2, have been identified, and each splice variant is thought to serve a unique functional role within cells. Here, we have identified two novel C-terminal splice variants of PIPKIγ in human cells consisting of 700 and 707 amino acids. These two splice variants are expressed in multiple tissue types and display PIPK activity in vitro. Interestingly, both of these novel splice variants display distinct subcellular targeting. With the addition of these two new splice isoforms, there are minimally five PIPKIγ splice variants that have been identified in mammals. Therefore, we propose the use of the HUGO (Human Genome Organization) nomenclature in the naming of the splice isoforms. PIPKIγ_i4 (700 amino acids) is present in the nucleus, a targeting pattern that has not been previously observed in any PIPKIγ splice variant. PIPKIγ_i5 (707 amino acids) is targeted to intracellular vesicle-like structures, where it co-localizes with markers of several types of endosomal compartments. As occurs with other PIPKIγ splice variants, the distinctive C-terminal sequences of PIPKIγ_i4 and PIPKIγ_i5 may facilitate association with unique protein targeting factors, thereby localizing the kinases to their appropriate cellular subdomains for the site-specific generation of PtdIns(4,5)P2.
A Case Study of Teaching Parallel and Distributed Computing Topics on a Computer Cluster

This paper presents the establishment of cluster computing lab at a minority serving institution that aims to provide computing resources to support undergraduate computer science curriculum. The computing resources of the cluster are managed by a job distribution environment that allows the users to upload, compile, and run their jobs. The job distribution software distributes the submitted jobs to the computing nodes of the cluster. The authors will present a case study of using this platform to teach parallel and distributed computing topics in the operating system course. The evaluation of the teaching effectiveness is presented thereafter.
Separations by gradient elution: Why are steep gradient profiles distorted and what is their impact on resolution in reversed-phase liquid chromatography

The formation of a concentration shock layer of either methanol or acetonitrile used as the modifier in steep RPLC aqueous/organic gradients was predictable from their excess adsorption isotherm and was directly observed from their elution profiles recorded in UV absorption. A discontinuity of the concentration profile of the organic modifier arises and grows along the column. Its effects on the peak shapes and the resolution levels achieved in steep gradient chromatography were measured in the recorded chromatograms of a sample mixture containing 14 different analytes uniformly distributed across the gradient retention window. The results showed severe peak shape deformation for some compounds and a significant degradation of the baseline resolution of weakly (when using acetonitrile) and moderately (when using methanol) retained analytes. Solutions to limit this loss of resolution may lie in changing the initial gradient conditions or in adjusting the curvature of the gradient profile at the column inlet.
Interactive presentation: Techniques for designing noise-tolerant multi-level combinational circuits

As CMOS technology downscales, higher noise levels, wider threshold variation, and low supply voltage will force designers to contend with high rates of soft logical errors and many defective devices. A probabilistic design framework based on Markov random fields (MRF) has been previously proposed to address dynamic fault and noise vulnerability of ultimate digital CMOS circuitry. The idea is to use additional transistors and feedback loops to achieve significant noise immunity and ensure correct logic operations at low VDD. However, the extra reliability achieved in previously published work came at a cost of high transistor counts. In this paper, we present techniques to reduce the transistor count of larger multi-level combinational circuits built within the MRF framework by using variable sharing, implied dependence and supergates. Using these techniques we show an average reduction of approximately 28% in transistor counts over a range of combinational benchmark circuits built within the MRF framework compared to the best previously published results.
Effect of a Dummy Audience on Male–Male Interactions in Siamese Fighting Fish, Betta splendens

Recent research on Siamese fighting fish, Betta splendens, and other taxa has demonstrated that an audience can cause males to alter their behavior in aggressive interactions. One factor not taken into account in these studies is how exactly the audience influences these interactions. It is possible that a live audience may interact with the subjects, creating an active communication network rather than a signaler-receiver dyad with a passive audience. Here, we used a dummy audience to control for information exchange between the audience and the interactants that might cause them to modify their behavior. Audience treatments included dummies of male and female B. splendens, a dummy cichlid, and a control condition with no audience present. The presence of a dummy audience did not influence male-male interactions. However, males spent the most time near the audience tank when the audience was a dummy of a B. splendens. This suggests that some factor other than the physical presence of the audience is responsible for the modification of behavior found in previous audience effect studies in Siamese fighting fish. However, we cannot rule out definitively that our dummy audience is viewed as unimportant by the opponents and, thus, ignored. Further research is necessary to determine which component of the audience is important for producing audience effects.
Festival for a Cause: Culture and Participant Mobilization in a Japanese Social Welfare Movement

Abstract This paper illustrates the contributions of three major social movement perspectives, macro, micro, and participant mobilization, to the cross-cultural analysis of social movements. It examines an emerging citizens' movement in Japan which aims to improve social welfare services in its region. A particular movement event, the International Forum, demonstrates the significance of symbol and ritual in understanding the formation of collective identity in the leaders' attempts to mobilize participants.
Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis

This review summarizes the current understanding of primary sclerosing cholangitis, a persistent, progressive disease for which there is no definitive therapy. The authors describe the pathogenesis and management of this condition.
A multi-species malaria antigen for use in the indirect fluorescent antibody test.

Abstract A multi-species thick smear antigen containing equal proportions of P. vivax, P. falciparum, and P. brasilianum schizonts was prepared for use in the indirect fluorescent antibody test for malaria. Tests with 80 sera showed that antibody titres with the multi-species antigen always equalled or exceeded the highest titre obtained when the sera were tested with the constituent mono-species antigens. Use of the multi-species antigen greatly reduces the time and labour required to screen serum specimens for malaria antibody. This study confirms the need for homologous antigens of all species to be detected if maximum sensitivity and reactivity are to be achieved.
Media Effects on Women's Body Esteem: Social and Individual Difference Factors

This study examined individual difference and social factors in moderating the effects of media images on women's body satisfaction. Participants heard a conversation wherein 2 people either were judgmental about a mutual friend's weight gain or discussed their friend's recent move. Participants then viewed slides which were either neutral or depicted “ideal” images of women. Results underscored the importance of individual differences. When exposed to ideal images, thinner women more positively evaluated their sexual attractiveness, while heavier women reported more negative self-evaluations. Compared to low self-monitors, high self-monitors who were exposed to ideal images were more positive about their physical condition. The findings demonstrate that media images do not similarly affect all women's body esteem.
Blood thrombopoietin levels in clonal thrombocytosis and reactive thrombocytosis.

Abstract Background: Although the distinction between clonal and reactive thrombocytosis is clinically relevant because clonal thrombocytosis has more thrombohemorragic complications, the differential diagnosis of these two entities can be difficult. Methods such as the detection of unstimulated erythroid or megakaryocyte colony growth are not readily available. Therefore, we measured blood thrombopoietin levels to determine whether these levels can be used to distinguish the two conditions. Patients and Methods: Thrombopoietin levels were measured in 73 patients with thrombocytosis (platelet count >500,000/μL), including 39 patients with clonal thrombocytosis (20 patients with essential thrombocythemia, 15 with agnogenic myeloid metaplasia, 1 patient with polycythemia vera, and 3 with undefined myeloproliferative disorders) and 34 patients with reactive thrombocytosis (17 with malignant tumors, 11 with inflammatory diseases, 4 with sickle cell disease, and 2 with iron deficiency anemia). Seventeen normal volunteers were used as controls. Results: Thrombopoietin levels were significantly higher ( P Conclusions: Thrombopoietin levels may be helpful in distinguishing between clonal thrombocytosis and reactive thrombocytosis. Thrombopoietin is probably responsible for the elevated platelet counts in clonal thrombocytosis including essential thrombocythemia, but not in reactive thrombocytosis. High thrombopoietin levels in patients with clonal thrombocytosis cannot be explained solely by platelet megakaryocyte mass.
Electromagnetically induced transparency in microcavities

Using detailed numerical simulations, and analytical theory, we study properties of micro-cavities which incorporate materials that exhibit Electro-magnetically Induced Transparency (EIT) or Ultra Slow Light (USL). We find that such systems, while being miniature in size (order wavelength), and integrable, can have some outstanding properties. In particular, they could have lifetimes orders of magnitude longer than other existing systems, and could exhibit non-linear all-optical switching at single photon power levels. Potential applications include miniature atomic clocks, and all-optical quantum information processing.
SYNERGISTIC CYTOTOXICITY FROM NITRIC OXIDE AND HYPEROXIA. † 2042

Nitric oxide (NO) has been discovered to be a potent vasodilator. Endogenous NO is produced by many cell types and is important in regulating basal vasomotor tone. Exogenous NO has recently been used very successfully to treat pulmonary hypertension in infants and children. In most cases, these patients receive simultaneous oxygen therapy. Unfortunately, there are few reports on the combined toxicity of NO and hyperoxia, either of which can be toxic alone. Together, the potential for the formation of peroxynitrite(ONOO˙) - an extremely reactive and toxic free radical - is increased. To directly test this potential toxicity, cultured human alveolar epithelial(A549) cells were grown in room air (control), hyperoxia (95% O2), 2 mM SNAP (S-nitroso-N-acetyl penicillamine - an NO donor) and hyperoxia + SNAP. Live cells were counted in each of the groups above daily for the next six days, and media and gasses were refreshed each day. Cells began to die in hyperoxia after 4 to 5 d, but cell counts were relatively unchanged in NO. However, cells exposed to both NO and hyperoxia began to die on day 2, and died rapidly thereafter. This cytotoxic effect was clearly synergistic, the death rate far exceeding any additive effect. Some cells were grown on cover slips for later immunocytochemistry for nitrotyrosine, which is a stable byproduct of peroxynitrite (which is too reactive to detect directly). Immunoreactive nitrotyrosine was most abundant only in cells exposed to NO + hyperoxia. Western blots indicate that a variety of proteins become nitrated under various conditions. However, a unique band appeared on blots only after culture in NO + hyperoxia. These experiments indicate that NO and hyperoxia have a synergistic cytotoxic effect on alveolar cells in culture, which is probably mediated by production of peroxynitrite.(Funded by grants from the NIH-NHLBI, ALA and Winthrop-University Hospital)
On the Ascent of Properties Related to Unique Factorization Domains

In this article, we develop equivalent conditions for a certain class of monoidal transform to inherit either the property of being a completely integrally closed domain that satisfies the ascending chain condition on principal ideals, the property of being a Mori domain, the property of being a Krull domain, or the property of being a unique factorization domain, respectively. Such a class of monoidal transform is given in terms of an (analytically) independent set that forms a prime ideal in the base domain. Characterizations are provided illustrating the necessity of the “prime ideal” hypothesis when the base domain is a Noetherian unique factorization domain.
Planning Approximations to the Average Length of Vehicle Routing Problems with Varying Customer Demands and Routing Constraints

This paper studies approximations to the average length of vehicle routing problems (VRPs). The approximations are valuable for strategic and planning analysis of transportation and logistics problems. The focus is on VRPs with varying numbers of customers, demands, and locations. This modeling environment can be used in transport and logistics models that deal with a distribution center serving an area with daily variations in demand. The routes are calculated daily on the basis of what freight is available. New approximations and experimental settings are introduced. Average distance traveled is estimated as a function of the number of customers served and the number of routes needed. Approximations are tested in instances with different customer spatial distributions, demand levels, numbers of customers, and time windows. Regression results indicate that the proposed approximations can reasonably predict the average length of VRPs in randomly generated problems and real urban networks.
Refinements of animal experiments in toxicology

Alternatives are defined according to the «3R» principle of animal use as advanced by Russel and Burch (1959): Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement. The essence of the 3R principle which underlies the examination of scientifically valid alternatives is to replace methods that use animals, when appropriate, with those that do not, to encourage scientifically feasible reduction in numbers of animals used, and to encourage refinement of existing procedures to minimize animal pain and distress
Regulation of estrogen receptor mRNA in normal and neoplastic rat pituitary tissues.

The effects of estradiol 17β (E2) on the regulation of estrogen receptor (ER) mRNA amounts in normal and neoplastic rat pituitary tissues were analyzed by in situ hybridization with an oligonucleotide probe. E2 treatment produced a significant increase in ER mRNA amounts in two transplantable pituitary tumors (MtT/Wl5 and MtT/F4) and in the GH3 cell line. ER mRNA amounts were also increased In normal pituitaries after 6 weeks of E2 treatment, but the differences were not significant. Biochemical assay of ER proteins confirmed the presence of ER protein in MtT/Wl 5 and MtT/F4 tumors. “Cytoplasmic” ER proteins were decreased by E2 in the MtT/Wl5 tumor.These results indicate that ER mRNA is present in normal pituitaries and in pituitary tumors and can be regulated by estrogen treatment in vivo and in vitro. The inhibitory effects of high estrogen concentration on proliferation of transplantable pituitary tumors in vivo and GH3 cells in vitro is not explained by the absence of ER mRNAs in these tumors.
Extinction in Goldfish: Facilitation by Intracranial Injection of RNA from Brains of Extinguished Donors

Extracts rich in RNA were prepared from the brains of goldfish that had acquired and then extinguished a light-signaled avoidance to shock in an aquatic shuttle-box. Recipient fish injected intracranially with such extracts extinguished the response significantly faster than those injected with extracts prepared from brains of naive donors.
Thyroid-Like Follicular Carcinoma of the Kidney in a Young Patient with History of Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Thyroid-like follicular carcinoma of the kidney (TLFCK) is a rare histological variant of renal cell carcinoma not currently included in the World Health Organization classification of renal tumors. Only 24 previous cases of TLFCK have been reported to date. We report a case of TLFCK in a 19-year-old woman with history of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia. This patient is the youngest with TLFCK to be reported to date and the first with history of lymphoblastic leukemia. The development of TLFCK in a young patient with history of lymphoblastic leukemia is interesting and suggests that genes involved in leukemogenesis may also be important for TLFCK pathogenesis. Recognition of TLFCK is important to distinguish it from other conditions that show thyroid-like features, as a misdiagnosis can result in adverse patient care.
Mapping problems, fundamental groups and defect measures

We study all the possible weak limits of a minimizing sequence, for p-energy functionals, consisting of continuous maps between Riemannian manifolds subject to a Dirichlet boundary condition or a homotopy condition. We show that if p is not an integer, then any such weak limit is a strong limit and, in particular, a stationary p-harmonic map which is C 1,α continuous away from a closed subset of the Hausdorff dimension ≤ n − [p] − 1. If p is an integer, then any such weak limit is a weakly p-harmonic map along with a (n − p)-rectifiable Radon measure μ. Moreover, the limiting map is C 1,α continuous away from a closed subset Σ=spt μ ∪ S with H n − p (S)=0. Finally, we discuss the possible varifolds type theory for Sobolev mappings.
Casimir Energy for a Purely Dielectric Cylinder by the Mode Summation Method

We use the mode summation method together with zeta-function regularization to compute the Casimir energy of a dilute dielectric cylinder. The method is very transparent, and sheds light on the reason the resulting energy vanishes.
Evidence that the heterodisulfide of coenzyme M and 7-mercaptoheptanoylthreonine phosphate is a product of the methylreductase reaction in Methanobacterium.

Abstract When 7-mercaptoheptanoylthreonine phosphate (HS-HTP) was used as the sole source of electrons for reductive demethylation of 2-(methylthio)-ethanesulfonic acid (CH3-S-CoM) by cell extracts of Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum strain ΔH, the heterodisulfide of coenzyme M and HS-HTP (CoM-S-S-HTP) was quantitatively produced: HS-HTP + CH3-S-CoM → CH4 + CoM-S-S-HTP. CH4 and CoM-S-S-HTP were produced stoichiometrically in a ratio of 1:1. Coenzyme M (HS-CoM) inhibited HS-HTP driven methanogenesis indicating that CH3-S-CoM rather than HS-CoM was the substrate for CoM-S-S-HTP formation.
Weed suscepts of the Potato yellow dwarf virus.

Fifteen new weed suscepts of the potato yellow dwarf virus are reported. Limited evidence is presented which indicates thatChrysanthemum leucanthemum var.pinnatifidum may be a more important source of the potato yellow dwarf virus under field conditions than Medium Red clover. The presence of the yellow dwarf virus was demonstrated in naturally infected plants of the following species:Chrysanthemum leucanthemum var.pinnatifidum, Trifolium pratense, Rudbeckia hirta, andBarbaren vulgaris.