cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pairing Correlations in the Two-Dimensional Hubbard Model

We present the results of a quantum Monte Carlo study of the extended $s$ and the ${d}_{{x}^{2}{\ensuremath{-}y}^{2}}$ pairing correlation functions for the two-dimensional Hubbard model, computed with the constrained-path Monte Carlo method. For small lattice sizes and weak interactions, we find that the ${d}_{{x}^{2}{\ensuremath{-}y}^{2}}$ pairing correlations are stronger than the extended $s$ pairing correlations and are positive when the pair separation exceeds several lattice constants. As the system size or the interaction strength increases, the magnitude of the long-range part of both correlation functions vanishes.
The differentiation of Ternidens deminutus and hookworm ova in human infections

Abstract The differential diagnosis of human infections with the hookworm species and Ternidens deminutus is discussed and the calculation of egg volume is described as the best method at present available for the separation of the eggs of T. deminutus from those of the hookworm species.
Combination of conditionally replicative adenovirus and standard chemotherapies shows synergistic antitumor effect in pancreatic cancer

Due to devastating prognosis, novel therapies are needed for pancreatic cancer. We are in preparation for a human clinical trial of a conditionally replicative adenovirus (CRAd) we developed. While most patients in the target population are receiving either gemcitabine or 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy, the combination with CRAd has not yet been studied. This study was designed to evaluate combination therapies with CRAd and current standard chemotherapies in pancreatic cancer. When the combination therapy was tested in vitro, gemcitabine pretreatment showed a synergistic effect in two out of four cell lines whereas CRAd followed by gemcitabine exhibited a synergistic effect in one cell line. With 5-fluorouracil, pretreatment with 5-fluorouracil produced a synergistic effect in three cell lines whereas post-treatment was synergistic in only one cell line. These effects were not fully explained by either induction of cyclooxygenase (Cox) 2 activity or adenoviral receptors with chemotherapeutics. In in vivo analyses with Hs766T xenograft, 5-fluorouracil slightly improved the CRAd antitumor effect but it was not significant. Pretreatment with gemcitabine embodied a significant tumor reduction compared with single therapy with gemcitabine. The most significant antitumor effect occurred when tumors were treated with 5/3COX2CRAdF and subsequent gemcitabine (P = 0.001 vs gemcitabine alone, P = 0.012 vs 5/3COX2CRAdF alone) at day 12. In MIA Paca-2, pretreatments with either 5-fluorouracil or gemcitabine improved the CRAd therapeutic effect when administered before CRAd injection (P = 0.03 and P = 0.01, respectively). These experiments indicate the possible benefit of combination therapies, and thus it is not necessary to interrupt chemotherapeutics when receiving CRAd therapy. (Cancer Sci 2009); 00: 000–000)
Safety of transfoveal subthreshold diode micropulse laser for fovea-involving diabetic macular edema in eyes with good visual acuity.

Purpose: To determine the safety of transfoveal subthreshold diode micropulse laser for fovea-involving diabetic macular edema. Methods: The records of all patients treated with transfoveal subthreshold diode micropulse laser for fovea-involving diabetic macular edema in two retina clinics were reviewed. The eligibility included fovea-involving diabetic macular edema by spectral domain optical coherence tomography and pretreatment visual acuity of 20/40 or better. Results: Thirty-nine eyes of 27 patients aged 50 years to 87 years (mean, 69 years) were included. Postoperative follow-up ranged from 3 months to 36 months (mean, 11 months). Fourteen patients were insulin dependent, and 19 had nonproliferative retinopathy. The preoperative visual acuity was 20/20 (10 eyes), 20/25 (10 eyes), 20/30 (8 eyes), and 20/40 (11 eyes). No eye had evidence of laser-induced macular damage by any imaging means postoperatively. There were no adverse treatment effects. Logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity was improved on average of 0.03 units at 4 months to 7 months of follow-up (P = 0.0449, paired t-test) and otherwise stable. The central foveal thickness was improved at 4 months to 7 months (P = 0.05, paired t-test) and 8 months to 12 months, postoperatively (P = 0.04, mixed model accounting). Maximum macular thickness was improved at 4 months to 7 months postoperatively (P = 0.01, paired t-test and mixed model accounting). Conclusion: In a small retrospective series, transfoveal subthreshold diode micropulse laser was safe and effective for the treatment of fovea-involving diabetic macular edema in eyes with good preoperative visual acuity that were not the candidates for conventional photocoagulation or intravitreal injection. Further study is warranted.
Colony stimulating factor-1 in the induction of lupus nephritis

Colony stimulating factor in the induction of lupus nephritis. In this study we examine the role of colony stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) in the induction of lupus nephritis. The purpose of the study was to establish the relationship of CSF-1 to the prominent influx of macrophages (Mo) in the glomeruli of MRL- lpr mice with autoimmune lupus nephritis. The kidneys of MRL- lpr mice were examined before ( 12 weeks of age) renal injury for CSF-1 transcripts by in situ hybridization. CSF-1 mRNA was detected at four weeks of age within glomeruli and increased with disease severity. To examine whether glomerular Mo (glom Mo) required CSF-1 we isolated Mo from the kidneys of MRL- lpr mice. Two types of glom Mo (with morphological and growth characteristics which correlated with the presence or absence of proteinuria) were isolated. Under CSF-1-free culture conditions, where the viability of glom Mo from proteinuric mice was maintained, glom Mo from pre-proteinuric mice were unable to survive. Neutralization of CSF-1 in the media reduced viability of pre-proteinuric glom Mo (5 to 6 ×), while viability of proteinuric glom Mo was diminished
Four biological samplers: opening-closing midwater trawl, closing vertical tow net, pressure fish trap, free vehicle drop camera

Abstract Four systems for sampling marine organisms have been developed. A system has been designed to convert an Isaacs-Kidd midwater trawl into an opening-closing net. A closing vertically towed net was buikt to reduce the handling and scaring problems of this style of sampling. A trap has been designed to capture live fish at great depths and hold them in their own cold water and keep them under pressure. A low-cost free vehicle drop camera system has been developed to photograph schools of fish detected on sonar, providing a simplified method of identifying pelagic fish stocks.
Functional transient genetic transformation of Arabidopsis leaves by biolistic bombardment.

Transient gene expression is an indispensable tool for studying functions of gene products. In the case of plants, transient introduction of genes by Agrobacterium infiltration is a method of choice for many species. However, this technique does not work efficiently in Arabidopsis leaf tissue, the most widely used model system for basic plant biology research. Here we present an optimized protocol for biolistic delivery of plasmid DNA into the epidermis of Arabidopsis leaves, which can be easily performed using the Bio-Rad Helios gene gun system. This protocol yields efficient and reproducible transient expression of diverse genes and is exemplified here for use in a functional assay of a transcription repressor and for the subcellular localization and cell-to-cell movement of plant viral movement protein. This protocol is suitable for studies of biological function and subcellular localization of the gene product of interest directly in planta by utilizing different types of activity-based assays. Using this procedure, the data are obtained after 2–4 d of work.
The Social Benefits of Expedited Risk Assessments

The present regulation of carcinogens is quite slow; hundreds of substances that have tested positive for carcinogenicity in animal bioassays have not been addressed by the U.S. regulatory system. This carries with it unappreciated social, economic, and public health costs. However, there are readily available expedited approximation procedures for assessing the potency of carcinogens whose use has substantial benefits that outweigh any costs from less science-intensive and less extensively documented assessments. These benefits can be seen by using a model to suggest the magnitude of social costs in regulating carcinogens by current conventional methods compared with expedited procedures for assessing the potency of known carcinogens. Two scenarios, one in accordance with current agency presumptions and one which assumes extreme unreliability in animal data and in the accuracy of potency assessments, compare conventional science-intensive and expedited procedures. On both, the total social costs of expedited procedures are lower than conventional procedures across a wide range of values assigned for individual mistakes of under regulation and over regulation. It appears better to evaluate a larger universe of known carcinogens somewhat less intensively for each substance than to evaluate a small proportion of that same universe very carefully and delay considering the rest.
Modeling regional electric power markets and market power

This paper develops a nonlinear, mathematical programming model for estimating production decisions in an open access, regional power market. Our approach allows one to estimate competitive power market equilibrium prices, which in turn offers empirical conclusions about marginal generation facilities, transmission interconnection congestion, and most importantly, load pockets and market power. Sensitivity analyses are conducted by subjecting the model to changes in production costs, peak hour demand, power imports, and transmission interconnection price assumptions. We then consider the issue of a firm's ability to exercise market power and the implications it may have on regional equilibrium power prices. The Louisiana power market is used as a case study for our work. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Phytochemicals of Black Bean Seed Coats: Isolation, Structure Elucidation, and Their Antiproliferative and Antioxidative Activities

Bioactivity-guided fractionation of black bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) seed coats was used to determine the chemical identity of bioactive constituents, which showed potent antiproliferative and antioxidative activities. Twenty-four compounds including 12 triterpenoids, 7 flavonoids, and 5 other phytochemicals were isolated using gradient solvent fractionation, silica gel and ODS columns, and semipreparative and preparative HPLC. Their chemical structures were identified using MS, NMR, and X-ray diffraction analysis. Antiproliferative activities of isolated compounds against Caco-2 human colon cancer cells, HepG2 human liver cancer cells, and MCF-7 human breast cancer cells were evaluated. Among the compounds isolated, compounds 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, and 20 showed potent inhibitory activities against the proliferation of HepG2 cells, with EC50 values of 238.8 +/- 19.2, 120.6 +/- 7.3, 94.4 +/- 3.4, 98.9 +/- 3.3, 32.1 +/- 6.3, 306.4 +/- 131.3, 156.9 +/- 11.8, 410.3 +/- 17.4, 435.9 +/- 47.7, 202.3 +/- 42.9, and 779.3 +/- 37.4 microM, respectively. Compounds 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 19, and 20 showed potent antiproliferative activities against Caco-2 cell growth, with EC50 values of 179.9 +/- 16.9, 128.8 +/- 11.6, 197.8 +/- 4.2, 105.9 +/- 4.7, 13.9 +/- 2.8, 35.1 +/- 2.9, 31.2 +/- 0.5, 71.1 +/- 11.9, 40.8 +/- 4.1, 55.7 +/- 8.1, 299.8 +/- 17.3, 533.3 +/- 126.0, 291.2 +/- 1.0, and 717.2 +/- 104.8 microM, respectively. Compounds 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 19, 20 showed potent antiproliferative activities against MCF-7 cell growth in a dose-dependent manner, with EC50 values of 129.4 +/- 9.0, 79.5 +/- 1.0, 140.1 +/- 31.8, 119.0 +/- 7.2, 84.6 +/- 1.7, 186.6 +/- 21.1, and 1308 +/- 69.9 microM, respectively. Six flavonoids (compounds 14-19) showed potent antioxidant activity. These results showed the phytochemical extracts of black bean seed coats have potent antioxidant and antiproliferative activities.
Protecting the interests of juveniles on aftercare/parole

Abstract This paper examines liberty and due process issues in juvenile aftercare that are treated in a relatively cavalier fashion by social work and legal advocates. Special attention is given to reviewing current judicial policy and the results of a national survey on juvenile aftercare practices and procedures. This review of judicial and state policies is used to formulate future directions for policy reforms by social workers involved in the administration of juvenile aftercare/ parole.
Kinetics and Mechanism of Reversible Oxidative Addition of Hydrogen across the Metal−Metal Bond of (μ-H)2Ru3(CO)8(μ-P(t-Bu)2)2. Steric Promotion of Metal−Metal Bond Cleavage But a CO Dissociative Mechanism

The kinetics of the reaction (μ-H)2Ru3(CO)8(μ-P(t-Bu)2)2 + H2 ⇄ (μ-H)2Ru3(CO)8(H)2(μ-P(t-Bu)2)2 have been studied. The reaction of (μ-H)2Ru3(CO)8(μ-P(t-Bu)2)2 with H2 has a rate law which is first-order in cluster concentration and in hydrogen pressure and inverse order in CO pressure; on the basis of the rate law, activation parameters, and deuterium kinetic isotope effect, hydrogen addition is proposed to involve rapid, reversible dissociation of a carbonyl ligand, followed by rate-determining oxidative addition of hydrogen through a three-center transition state at a single metal atom. Loss of hydrogen from (μ-H)2Ru3(H)2(CO)8(μ-P(t-Bu)2)2 also involves reversible loss of a carbonyl, followed by rate-determining reductive elimination of molecular hydrogen. The reaction is highly sensitive to the steric bulk of the phosphido substituents, as (μ-H)2Ru3(CO)8(μ-PR2)2, R = cyclohexyl and phenyl, do not react with hydrogen. In addition, the rate of exchange with 13CO is much faster for R = t-Bu than for R = c...
Exercise-rest Tc-99m tetrofosmin SPECT in patients with chronic ischemic left ventricular dysfunction: Direct comparison with Tl-201 reinjection

This study was designed to compare the results of exercise-rest technetium-99m tetrofosmin single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with those of thallium-201 reinjection at rest after exercise-redistribution imaging in the same patients with chronic ischemic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. Within 1 week, 33 patients with chronic myocardial infarction and LV dysfunction underwent exercise-rest tetrofosmin SPECT and Tl-201 reinjection at rest after exercise-redistribution imaging. In each patient, regional tetrofosmin and Tl-201 activity was quantitatively measured in 22 myocardial segments. Regional LV function was assessed in corresponding segments by echocardiography. Agreement in the evaluation of regional perfusion status between tetrofosmin and Tl-201 imaging was observed in 78% of the 726 total segments, with a ¢ value of 0.61. In segments with normal function at echocardiography (n=436), no difference between Tl-201 and tetrofosmin uptake was observed. In hypokinetic segments (n=138), exercise tetrofosmin uptake was lower (P<.01) as compared with exercise Tl-201 activity, whereas no difference was observed between tetrofosmin uptake at rest as compared with Tl-201 activity on redistribution and reinjection images. In segments with severe functional imapirment (akinetic or dyskinetic, n=152), tetrofosmin uptake on exercise images was reduced (P<.01) as compared with exercise Tl-201 activity; furthermore, tetrofosmin uptake at rest was lower (P<.01) as compared with Tl-201 activity on both redistribution and reinjection images. In these segments, concordance in the detection of myocardial viability between tetrofosmin and Tl-201 imaging was observed in 138 (91%) of the 152 segments, with a ¢ value of 0.77. In patients with chronic coronary artery disease and LV dysfunction quantitative exercise-rest tetrofosmin and Tl-201 reinjection SPECT provide similar information in the assessment of perfusion status and in the detection of myocardial viability.
The electrochemical evaluation of a Zr-based bulk metallic glass in a phosphate-buffered saline electrolyte.

Bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) represent an emerging class of materials with an amorphous structure and a unique combination of properties. The objectives of this investigation were to define the electrochemical behavior of a specific Zr-based BMG alloy in a physiologically relevant environment and to compare these properties to standard, crystalline biomaterials as well as other Zr-based BMG compositions. Cyclic-anodic-polarization studies were conducted with a Zr{sub 52.5}Cu{sub 17.9}Ni{sub 14.6}Al{sub 10.0}Ti{sub 5.0} (at %) BMG in a phosphate-buffered saline electrolyte with a physiologically relevant oxygen content at 37 C. The results were compared to three common, crystalline biomaterials: CoCrMo, 316L stainless steel, and Ti-6Al-4V. The BMG alloy was found to have a lower corrosion penetration rate (CPR), as compared to the 316L stainless steel, and an equivalent CPR, as compared to the CoCrMo and Ti-6Al-4V alloys. Furthermore, the BMG alloy demonstrated better localized corrosion resistance than the 316L stainless steel. However, the localized corrosion resistance of the BMG alloy was not as high as those of the CoCrMo and Ti-6Al-4V alloys in the tested environment. The excellent electrochemical properties demonstrated by the BMG alloy are combined with a low modulus and unparalleled strength. This unique combination of properties dramatically demonstrates the potentialmore » for amorphous alloys as a new generation of biomaterials.« less
Critical periods for effects of prenatal reserpine administration on development of rat brain and adrenal medulla

Abstract The specific prenatal time periods of drug exposure required for developmental alterations produced by maternal reserpine administration were examined by studying catecholamine systems in brain and adrenal medulla. Reserpine (1 mg/kg s.c.) was administered to three groups of pregnant rats on 6, 7 and 8 days of gestation (group I), 9, 10 and 11 days (group II), or 12, 13 and 14 days (group III); there was maternal weight loss and a slight reduction in litter size in all three groups. Offspring in groups I and II exhibited only a few neurochemical developmental alterations and these were of short duration ; however these groups demonstrated greater effects on body weight gain. Rats in group III showed marked increases in adrenal tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine β-hydroxylase activities beginning at about two weeks of age and persisting into young adulthood. Brain tyrosine hydroxylase development was delayed in all three groups, but again only group III showed a persistent effect. Measurements of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity, a more general marker for cellular and metabolic development, also indicated that brain development was most affected in group III: the ODC changes preceded those in neurotransmitter enzymes. These studies demonstrate the existence of a critical period for actions of maternally-administered reserpine on developing brain and adrenal medulla, involving enzymes specific to catecholaminergic systems and the polyamine system.
The chimney procedure is an emergently available endovascular solution for visceral aortic aneurysm rupture

A 79-year-old woman presented with a ruptured saccular thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm involving the celiac and mesenteric artery. The patient was unfit for open surgical repair. A "chimney" procedure was performed, which involved placement of stents in the aortic side branches alongside the endograft. The patient underwent another chimney procedure 2 weeks later for a type I endoleak. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) at 1 and 6 months showed a good result with no endoleaks or graft migration. The chimney procedure provides an alternative for emergency patients unfit for open repair and has the advantage that stents can be used that are already available in most institutions.
Concealed Questions and Specificational Subjects

This paper is concerned with Noun Phrases (NPs, henceforth) occurring in two constructions: concealed question NPs and NP subjects of specificational sentences. The first type of NP is illustrated in (1). The underlined NPs in (1) have been called ‘concealed questions’ because sentences that embed them typically have the same truth-conditional meaning as the corresponding versions with a full-fledged embedded interrogative clause, as illustrated in (2) (Heim 1979):
Computer Simulation of Nanoparticle Aggregate Fracture

Nanoparticle aggregates have been found to possess unique mechanical properties. Aggregates of metal nanoparticles can be strained up to 100% before failure, and even typically brittle materials are observed to have a ductile failure mode. In this effort two materials; namely silver and silicon, were chosen to represent ductile and brittle materials, respectively. Aggregates with 2 to 6 particles were simulated using the molecular dynamics (MD) algorithm to determine the stress-strain behavior of the aggregate. Many interesting observations are made including the negligible affect of strain rate on ultimate tensile strength, and the direct relationship between Young’s modulus and nanoparticle size.
Clinical effects and adverse reactions of off-label use of aripiprazole in children and adolescents with developmental disabilities.

Objective: The aim of this study was to report on the clinical efficacy and side effects of aripiprazole in treating behavioral symptoms of children with a developmental disability (DDs). Design/me...
Theoretical and Experimental Evaluation of Power Absorption in Elongated Biological Objects at and Beyond Resonance

The recently developed iterative extended boundary condition method (IEBCM) is used to calculate the average specific absorption rates (SAR's) in biological models of an average man and a sitting rhesus monkey at and beyond their resonance frequencies. The average SAR's for these objects are also experimentally determined in scaled saline phantoms. Close agreement thus found between the calculated and the measured SAR values validates the postresonance absorption calculations made using the novel IEBCM. Also, in order to check the adequacy of using the mixed basis functions in the IEBCM procedure, the SAR in a capped cylindrical model of an average man is calculated and the result verified experimentally. It is, therefore, concluded that to achieve an improved computational efficiency in the IEBCM, the choice of the basis functions for a particular lar subregion should be based on the geometry of that subregion.
Efficient Mid-IR Generation in Reverse-Proton Exchanged Lithium Niobate Waveguides

We report on the design and fabrication of reverse-proton-exchanged lithium niobate waveguides for difference-frequency generation of 3-4 micron radiation. 14 mW of single-frequency CW power was generated at 3.3 microns.
Emotions, Unconscious Processes, and the Right Hemisphere

Since the classical Babinski’s (1914) observation of lack of awareness (“anosognosia”) for a left-sided hemiplegia, the problem of the mechanisms underlying this surprising phenomenon has been raised. Most authors have stressed the links between right hemisphere and emotional processes, considering anosognosia as an abnormal emotional reaction, caused by disruption of the side of the brain crucially involved in emotional behavior. Theoretically motivated models of hemispheric asymmetries in emotional processing have proposed either a right-hemisphere dominance for specific components of emotions, or a different involvement of the right and left hemispheres in different levels of emotional processing. Following the last line of thought, we have proposed that the right hemisphere may subserve the lower “schematic” level (where emotions are automatically generated and experienced as “true emotions) and the left hemisphere the higher “conceptual” level (where emotions are consciously analyzed and submitted to...
52 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HOME SCREENING QUESTIONNAIRE (HSQ)

About 50% of children in low socio-economic status (SES) environments have school problems, many of which may be due to factors in the home. The HSQ was developed from the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) to improve the early identification of children who will have school problems. Unlike the HOME, the HSQ requires only 15 to 20 minutes of the parent's time to complete and does not require a home visit. The HSQ was developed for two age groups of children: birth to 3 years (0-3 form), and 3 to 6 years (3-6 form). 868 children (0-3 years) and 497 children (3-6 years) were screened with the HSQ. Of these, 503 in the 0-3 group and 287 in the 3-6 group were also given a HOME. The internal consistency of the HSQ is .73 for the 0-3 form and .80 for the 3-6 form. Test-retest reliability is .62 for the 0-3 form and .86 for the 3-6 form. School performance of siblings of children screened was evaluated to estimate test validity. Of the 191 siblings followed, 55% had school problems. The sensitivity of the HSQ, based on sibling school outcome, was 81% as compared with.61% for the HOME; a non-significant difference. The specificity of the HSQ was, however, significantly lower than the HOME (p <.05). There were no significant differences between the 3-6 HSQ and HOME on measures of sensitivity (81% vs. 79%) or specificity. Results suggest that the HSQ may be an efficient screening instrument of the young child's home environment.
Aging (not so) gracefully.

Although the correlation between maternal age and meiotic nondisjunction in human oocytes is widely recognized, the underlying molecular defects are largely unknown. New evidence from mice lacking SMC1β suggests that high levels of chromosome mis-segregation in older oocytes may be due in part to deterioration of meiotic sister-chromatid cohesion during aging.
Review: A survey on content-centric technologies for the current Internet: CDN and P2P solutions

One of the most striking properties of the Internet is its flexibility to accommodate features it was not conceived for. Among the most significant examples, in this survey we consider the transition of the Internet from a reliable fault-tolerant network for host-to-host communication to a content-centric network, i.e. a network mostly devoted to support efficient generation, sharing and access to content. We survey this research area according to a top-down approach. We present a conceptual framework that encompasses the key building blocks required to support content-centric networking in the Internet. Then we describe in detail the two most important types of content-centric Internet technologies, i.e., Content-Delivery Networks (CDNs) and P2P systems. For each of them, we show how they cover the key building blocks. We then identify the functional components of CDN and P2P content management solutions, and discuss the main solutions proposed in the literature for each of them. We consider different types of content (both real time and non real time), and different networking environments (fixed, mobile, ...). Finally, we also discuss the main recent research trends focused on how to design the Future Internet as a native content-centric network.
Simian EEG activity related to problem solving during a simulated space flight.

EEG electrode stimulated simian mental activity in problem solving during simulated space flight, discussing skull implantation and EEG recordings of hippocampus activity
A yeast mutant, PRP20, altered in mRNA metabolism and maintenance of the nuclear structure, is defective in a gene homologous to the human gene RCC1 which is involved in the control of chromosome condensation.

We report on the characterization of the yeast prp20-1 mutant. In this temperature-sensitive mutant, multiple steps of mRNA metabolism are affected. The prp20-1 mutant strain showed alterations in mRNA steady-state levels, defective mRNA splicing and changes in transcription initiation or termination when shifted from the permissive to the non-permissive temperature. In addition, a change in the structure of the nucleus in these cells became apparent. Electron microscopy revealed an altered structure of the nucleoplasm of prp20-1 mutant cells when grown at the no-permissive temperature that was not observed in cells grown at the permissive temperature or in wild-type cells. The wild-type PRP20 gene was isolated and sequenced. The putative PRP20 protein has a molecular weight of 52 kDa. We found that the PRP20 gene is identical to the yeast SRM1 gene (Clark and Sprague 1989). In addition, the PRP20 protein sequence shows significant sequence similarity to the human RCC1 protein (Ohtsubo et al. 1987). This protein has been implicated in the control of chromosome condensation. Based on the phenotype of the prp20-1 mutant and the observed sequence similarity to the human RCC1 protein, we postulate that the yeast PRP20 protein is involved in the control of nuclear organization.
Parallel sample manipulation using micromachined pipette arrays

One of the challenges of future miniaturized biochemical analysis laboratories is manipulation of sub-(mu) L samples on a macro-scale in a parallel fashion. Today's commercially available sample handling systems for biochemical analysis are limited to wide center-to-center spacing (3.0 mm) and cannot handle sample volumes less than approximately 0.5 (mu) L. In addition, these systems are able to dispense only 6 to 12 pipettes at one time. The technique presented in this work addresses these problems by using micromachined pipette arrays for sample manipulation.
Pair density functional theory — a generalized density functional theory

Abstract The idea of a pair density functional theory for fermions is presented. Whereas in the conventional Hohenberg-Kohn-Sham theory for the ground state of an interacting N-particle system the particle density is the key quantity and the sum of the kinetic and the interaction energy is a universal functional of this density, here the pair distribution function (PDF) is the key quantity and the kinetic energy alone is a universal functional of this PDF. With an appropriate ansatz for the PDF and the kinetic energy in terms of antisymmetric geminals a two-particle equation with an effective local interaction potential and a corresponding expression for the total energy are derived. Besides this a way is described how to obtain from the solution of the effective two-particle equation also the one-particle density matrix via the first link of the equation of motions for the reduced density matrices.
Design, synthesis, and structure-activity relationship, molecular modeling, and NMR studies of a series of phenyl alkyl ketones as highly potent and selective phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors

Phosphodiesterase 4 catalyzes the hydrolysis of cyclic AMP and is a target for the development of anti-inflammatory agents. We have designed and synthesized a series of phenyl alkyl ketones as PDE4 inhibitors. Among them, 13 compounds were identified as having submicromolar IC50 values. The most potent compounds have IC50 values of in the mid- to low-nanomolar range. Compound 5v also showed preference for PDE4 with selectivity of >2000-fold over PDE7, PDE9, PDE2, and PDE5. Docking of 5v, 5zf, and 5za into the binding pocket of the PDE4 catalytic domain revealed a similar binding profile to PDE4 with rolipram except that the fluorine atoms of the difluoromethyl groups of 5v, 5za, and 5zf are within a reasonable range for hydrogen bond formation with the amide hydrogen of Thr 333 and the long alkyl chain bears additional van der Waals interactions with His 160, Asp 318, and Tyr 159.
Fertility patterns of college graduates by field of study, US women born 1960–79

Building on recent European studies, we used the Survey of Income and Program Participation to provide the first analysis of fertility differences between groups of US college graduates by their undergraduate field of study. We used multilevel event-history models to investigate possible institutional and selection mechanisms linking field of study to delayed fertility and childlessness. The results are consistent with those found for Europe in showing an overall difference of 10 percentage points between levels of childlessness across fields, with the lowest levels occurring for women in health and education, intermediate levels for women in science and technology, and the highest levels for women in arts and social sciences. The mediating roles of the following field characteristics were assessed: motherhood employment penalties; percentage of men; family attitudes; and marriage patterns. Childlessness was higher among women in fields with a moderate representation of men, less traditional family attitudes, and late age at first marriage.
Diving metabolism and thermoregulation in common and thick-billed murres

The diving and thermoregulatory metabolic rates of two species of diving seabrid, common (Uria aalge) and thick-billed murres (U. lomvia), were studied in the laboratory. Post-absorptive resting metabolic rates were similar in both species, averaging 7.8 W·kg-1, and were not different in air or water (15–20°C). These values were 1.5–2 times higher than values predicted from published allometric equations. Feeding led to increases of 36 and 49%, diving caused increases of 82 and 140%, and preening led to increases of 107 and 196% above measured resting metabolic rates in common and thick-billed murres, respectively. Metabolic rates of both species increased linearly with decreasing water temperature; lower critical temperature was 15°C in common murres and 16°C in thick-billed murres. Conductance (assuming a constant body temperature) did not change with decreasing temperature, and was calculated at 3.59 W·m-2·oC-1 and 4.68 W·m-2·oC-1 in common and thick-billed murres, respectively. Murres spend a considerable amount of time in cold water which poses a significant thermal challenge to these relatively small seabirds. If thermal conductance does not change with decreasing water temperature, murres most likely rely upon increasing metabolism to maintain body temperature. The birds probably employ activities such as preening, diving, or food-induced thermogenesis to meet this challenge.
Ordering Energy and Effective Pairwise Interactions in a Binary Alloy of Simple Metals

The pseudopotential theory of metals is applied to the case of a binary alloy with an arbitrary degree of order. A self-consistent screening potential which includes the effect of the total conduction-electron charge is derived to first order in a perturbation-theory expansion in the pseudopotential. Expressions are obtained for the conduction-electron contributions to the ordering energy and to the effective pairwise interactions among the ions in the alloy. If the conduction-electron energy may be expressed accurately to second order in the pseudopotential, this energy is shown to depend upon only two-particle correlations among the ion positions. Numerical values are obtained for the ordering energy and the pairwise interactions for stoichiometric LiMg. The ordering energy is not obviously inconsistent with experimental observations. If the ordering interaction is expressed approximately as a sum of two terms, one of which depends exponentially and the other sinusoidally on interionic separation, the former dominates throughout the region of the calculation.
A General Model for Amyloid Fibril Assembly Based on Morphological Studies Using Atomic Force Microscopy

Based on atomic force microscopy analysis of the morphology of fibrillar species formed during fibrillation of α-synuclein, insulin, and the B1 domain of protein G, a previously described model for the assembly of amyloid fibrils of immunoglobulin light-chain variable domains is proposed as a general model for the assembly of protein fibrils. For all of the proteins studied, we observed two or three fibrillar species that vary in diameter. The smallest, protofilaments, have a uniform height, whereas the larger species, protofibrils and fibrils, have morphologies that are indicative of multiple protofilaments intertwining. In all cases, protofilaments intertwine to form protofibrils, and protofibrils intertwine to form fibrils. We propose that the hierarchical assembly model describes a general mechanism of assembly for all amyloid fibrils.
Muscle Response to Changing Neuronal Input in the Lobster(Panulirus Interruptus) Stomatogastric System: Slow Muscle Properties Can Transform Rhythmic Input into Tonic Output

Slow, non-twitch muscles are widespread in lower vertebrates and invertebrates and are often assumed to be primarily involved in posture or slow motor patterns. However, in several preparations, including some well known invertebrate “model” preparations, slow muscles are driven by rapid, rhythmic inputs. The response of slow muscles to such inputs is little understood. We are investigating this issue with a slow stomatogastric muscle (cpv1b) driven by a relatively rapid, rhythmic neural pattern. A simple model suggests that as cycle period decreases, slow muscle contractions show increasing intercontraction temporal summation and at steady state consist of phasic contractions overlying a tonic contracture. We identify five components of these contractions: total, average, tonic, and phasic amplitudes, and percent phasic (phasic amplitude divided by total amplitude). cpv1b muscle contractions induced by spontaneous rhythmic neural input in vitro consist of phasic and tonic components. Nerve stimulation at varying cycle periods and constant duty cycle shows that a tonic component is always present, and at short periods the muscle transforms rhythmic input into almost completely tonic output. Varying spike frequency, spike number, and cycle period show that frequency codes total, average, and tonic amplitudes, number codes phasic amplitude, and period codes percent phasic. These data suggest that tonic contraction may be a property of slow muscles driven by rapid, rhythmic input, and in these cases it is necessary to identify the various contraction components and their neural coding. Furthermore, the parameters that code these components are interdependent, and control of slow muscle contraction is thus likely complex.
A Fuzzy Inverse Model Construction Method for a General MISO System with a Monotonic Input-output Relationship

This paper presents a novel method of systematically constructing the fuzzy inverse model for a general multi-input single-output (MISO) system represented with triangular input membership functions, singleton output membership function and fuzzy-mean defuzzification. The fuzzy inverse model construction method has the ability of uniquely determining the inverse relationship for each input-output pair. It is derived in a straightforward way and the required input variables can be simultaneously obtained by the fuzzy inferencing calculation to realize the desired output value. Simulation examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method to find the inverse kinematics solutions for complex industrial robot manipulators.
Using Traffic Shaping to Improve Performance for Raw Data Transfer and Video Streaming

As networks and data transmission are becoming increasingly important for computational science, we are working on developing a visualization application that uses high-speed networks to aid scientists in their scientific exploration. However, we have identified a major issue in the performance of data transmission when rate-based UDP is used in parallel from multiple senders to a single receiver. This affects both video and raw data transmission. In this paper we identify the source of the issue in the traffic bursts caused by uneven pacing of data at the senders. Our experiments confirm that adding precise pacing at the data transmission source addresses the issue, improving the performance of data transfer and video streaming.
Reconstruction of a positive definite Toeplitz matrix from its sequence of minimum eigenvalues

It is shown that a positive definite symmetric Toeplitz matrix of rank p+1 can be represented uniquely by the minimum eigenvalues of itself and its p submatrices, along with a sign bit for each eigenvalue. The application of such a procedure allows specification of linear prediction coding (LPC) spectra by an alternate set of parameters. It also enables extension of an autocorrelation sequence using a nonstandard criterion. A number of parallels are made between these parameters and the LPC mean-square error values for successively higher-order systems. An application involving maximum entropy spectral estimation under a nonstandard set of constraints is presented. >
Does Helicobacter pylori protect against asthma and allergy

The microbes that persistently colonise their vertebrate hosts are not accidental.1 Although highly numerous and diverse, there is specificity by site and substantial conservation between individuals. The genus Helicobacter includes spiral, highly motile, urease-positive, Gram-negative bacteria that colonise the stomach in many mammals. Each mammal has one or more dominant Helicobacter species and they are highly, if not exclusively, host species-specific.2 Such observations are consistent with the hypothesis that when ancestral mammals diverged from reptiles about 150 million years ago, they contained ancestral helicobacters, which then diverged as their hosts changed. According to this hypothesis, helicobacters represent ancestral biota (flora) in the mammalian stomach. The human-adapted strain is H pylori ,3 which has not been reproducibly observed in any animals other than humans and other primates.3 Although we can not reliably estimate how long H pylori has been in the human stomach, its ancestors may have been present when our humanoid ancestors diverged from other primates about four million years ago. Consistent with this view are results from phylogeographic studies; strong and consistent evidence indicates that our ancestors already were carrying gastric H pylori when a group that ultimately populated much of the world last left Africa, more than 58 000 years ago.4 In any case, H pylori has been colonising the stomach of humans since at least Paleolithic times. In this paper, we examine the evidence concerning the relationship of this ancient member of the human microbiota, and particularly its absence, with the recent and on-going epidemic of asthma and related allergic disorders. We discuss the possibility that gastric H pylori colonisation protects against these disorders and that its disappearance has fuelled their rise. H pylori is acquired, and may be detected, in early childhood usually after the first year of life.5 Transmission is …
Temporal Patterns of Nitrogenase Gene (nifH) Expression in the Oligotrophic North Pacific Ocean

Dinitrogen (N2)-fixing microorganisms (diazotrophs) play important roles in ocean biogeochemistry and plankton productivity. In this study, we examined the presence and expression of specific planktonic nitrogenase genes (nifH) in the upper ocean (0 to 175 m) at Station ALOHA in the oligotrophic North Pacific Ocean. Clone libraries constructed from reverse-transcribed PCR-amplified mRNA revealed six unique phylotypes. Five of the nifH phylotypes grouped with sequences from unicellular and filamentous cyanobacteria, and one of the phylotypes clustered with γ-proteobacteria. The cyanobacterial nifH phylotypes retrieved included two sequence types that phylogenetically grouped with unicellular cyanobacteria (termed groups A and B), several sequences closely related (97 to 99%) to Trichodesmium spp. and Katagnymene spiralis, and two previously unreported phylotypes clustering with heterocyst-forming nifH cyanobacteria. Temporal patterns of nifH expression were evaluated using reverse-transcribed quantitative PCR amplification of nifH gene transcripts. The filamentous and presumed unicellular group A cyanobacterial phylotypes exhibited elevated nifH transcription during the day, while members of the group B (closely related to Crocosphaera watsonii) unicellular phylotype displayed greater nifH transcription at night. In situ nifH expression by all of the cyanobacterial phylotypes exhibited pronounced diel periodicity. The γ-proteobacterial phylotype had low transcript abundance and did not exhibit a clear diurnal periodicity in nifH expression. The temporal separation of nifH expression by the various phylotypes suggests that open ocean diazotrophic cyanobacteria have unique in situ physiological responses to daily fluctuations of light in the upper ocean.
Core Concepts of Disability Policy, the Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities, and Public Policy Research With Respect to Developmental Disabilities

This article describes the core concepts of U.S. disability policy and their utility for national and international policy development. It compares and contrasts the core concepts with the articles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), and then describes implications of the alignment of these two approaches. There is significant overlap among the core concepts and UNCRPD articles. Aligning the core concepts derived from U.S. disability policy and the UNCRPD provides a unifying international framework for thinking about core values in the development of public policy and research based on the social-ecological model. The core concepts approach can help researchers analyze policies in other countries and relate analyses to quality of life outcomes for individuals and families affected by disability. The authors posit that policy leaders, advocates in professional and family organizations, nation-state policymakers and organization leaders, and practitioners might adopt a similar approach.
Impaired Decision-Making as a Young Adult Outcome of Girls Diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Childhood

We examined decision-making in young adulthood in a follow-up study of females diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) between 6 and 12 years. Participants with childhood ADHD (n = 114) and matched comparison females (n = 77), followed prospectively for 10 years, performed the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) at ages 17-25 years. This task assesses preference for high-reward/high-risk chances that result in lower overall gains (disadvantageous decks of cards) compared to low-reward/low-risk chances that result in higher overall gains (advantageous decks of cards). Relative to comparison participants, young adult females with a history of ADHD did not increase their preference for advantageous decks across time blocks, suggesting difficulties in learning to change behavior over the course of the IGT. Overall, childhood diagnoses of ADHD were associated with disadvantageous decision-making in young adulthood. These results extend findings on decision-making in males with ADHD by demonstrating comparable levels of impairment in an all-female sample.
Optimal goodness-of-fit tests for recurrent event data.

A class of tests for the hypothesis that the baseline intensity belongs to a parametric class of intensities is given in the recurrent event setting. Asymptotic properties of a weighted general class of processes that compare the non-parametric versus parametric estimators for the cumulative intensity are presented. These results are given for a sequence of Pitman alternatives. Test statistics are proposed and methods of obtaining critical values are examined. Optimal choices for the weight function are given for a class of chi-squared tests. Based on Khmaladze’s transformation we propose distributional free tests. These include the types of Kolmogorov–Smirnov and Cramer–von Mises. The tests are used to analyze two different data sets.