cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Photoactivated fluorescence and in situ electroluminescence from individual Ag/sub n/ molecules

Summary form only given. Individual Ag/sub n/ molecules are also strongly electroluminescent and have been created in situ within silver oxide films. This first example of single molecule electroluminescence occurs through a field-induced extraction of charge carriers with subsequent charge re-injection. This mechanism is demonstrated by the simultaneous conduction through and electroluminescence from spatially resolved single molecules that span the gap between two closely spaced AgO electrodes. The electroluminescence efficiency of individual molecules is very strongly field dependent, enabling the heterogeneous interelectrode interface to be probed.
Synthesis and structural characterization of group 6 transition metal complexes with terminal fluoromethylidyne (CF) ligands; a DFT/NBO/NRT comparison of bonding characteristics of terminal NO, CF and CH ligands

A family of group 6 transition metal complexes M(C5R5)(CO)2(CF) [M = Cr, Mo, W; R = H, Me] with terminal fluoromethylidyne ligands have been synthesized through the reduction of the corresponding trifluoromethyl precursors with potassium graphite or magnesium graphite. They have been characterized spectroscopically and in some cases crystallographically, although the structures show disorder between the CO and CF ligands. The MCF subunit reacts as a triple bond to form cluster complexes containing μ3-CF ligands on reaction with Co2(CO)8. Computational (DFT/NBO/NRT) studies on M(C5H5)(CO)2(CF) [M = Cr, Mo, W] and the corresponding cationic fragments M(CO)2(XY)+ illustrate significant differences in the metal–ligand bonding between CF and its isoelectronic analogue NO, as well as with its hydrocarbon analogue CH.
Binding of p53 to the KIX Domain of CREB Binding Protein A POTENTIAL LINK TO HUMAN T-CELL LEUKEMIA VIRUS, TYPE I-ASSOCIATED LEUKEMOGENESIS

The pleiotropic cellular coactivator CREB binding protein (CBP) plays a critical role in supporting p53-dependent tumor suppressor functions. p53 has been shown to directly interact with a carboxyl-terminal region of CBP for recruitment of the coactivator to p53-responsive genes. In this report, we identify the KIX domain as a new p53 contact point on CBP. We show that both recombinant and endogenous forms of p53 specifically interact with KIX. We demonstrate that the activation domain of p53 participates in KIX binding and provide evidence showing that this interaction is critical for p53 transactivation function. The human T-cell leukemia virus, type-I-encoded oncoprotein Tax is a well established repressor of p53 transcription function. Like p53, Tax also binds to KIX. The finding that both transcription factors bind to a common region of CBP suggests that coactivator competition may account for the observed repression. We demonstrate reciprocal repression between Tax and p53 in transient transfection assays, supporting the idea of intracellular coactivator competition. We biochemically confirm coactivator competition by directly showing that both transcription factors bind to KIX in a mutually exclusive fashion. These data provide molecular evidence for the observed intracellular competition and suggest that Tax inhibits p53 function by abrogating a novel p53-KIX interaction. Thus, Tax competition for the p53-KIX complex may be a pivotal event in the human T-cell leukemia virus, type I transformation pathway.
The proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of some trialkoxysilanes

Abstract The 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of some trialkoxysilanes ((RO)3SiH; R = me, et, n-pr, i-pr, n-bu, i-bu, s-bu, t-bu) were examined, and chemical shifts and 29-silicon-proton spin-spin coupling constants were measured. The systematic trends found in these data for the silane proton in these and related compounds are thought to reflect changes in hybridisation of the silicon-hydrogen bond. A correlation is attempted between these data and the frequency of the silicon-hydrogen stretching vibration in the vibrational spectra.
Translation of an efficient Web-based 3-D matrix switching algorithms for remote switching and control of electrical and electronics instruments

This paper presents a new smart interface module that translates a CGI-query string from a user to a Web server connected to a 3-dimension matrix switching board, which can be used to switch on and off, and to control a cluster of instruments and components. A software procedure has been developed that uses a signature system to identify each instrument and component in the complex system. The Web-server application is developed in HTML, JavaScript, and Java, and in C language for the CGI interface resides in the controller portion of LabVIEW. The LabVIEW software fully integrates the Web server, LabVIEW data acquisition boards and controllers, and the 3-dimensional matrix switching board. The software for the Web-based 3-dimensional system is flexible, portable, can be integrated into many applications or expanded, and easily accessible.
Nonpolygonal isosurface rendering for large volume datasets

Surface-based rendering techniques, particularly those that extract a polygonal approximation of an isosurface, are widely used in volume visualization. As dataset size increases though, the computational demands of these methods can overwhelm typically available computing resources. Recent work on accelerating such techniques has focused on preprocessing the volume data or postprocessing the extracted polygonization. The algorithm presented, concentrates instead on streamlining the surface extraction process itself so as to accelerate the rendering of large volumes. The technique shortens the conventional isosurface visualization pipeline by eliminating the intermediate polygonization. We compute the contribution of the isosurface within a volume cell to the resulting image directly from a simplified numerical description of the cell/surface intersection. The approach also reduces the work in the remaining stages of the visualization process. By quantizing the volume data, we exploit precomputed and cached data at key processing steps to improve rendering efficiency. The resulting implementation provides comparatively fast renderings with reasonable image quality. >
Attention and interference in prospective and retrospective timing.

Subjects listened to a series of musical selections and then judged the duration of each selection. Some subjects were informed beforehand that timing was involved (prospective timing) whereas othe...
Heat transfer to molten polymers

The processing of polymers and other solids, such as waxes and acids, often requires the melting of a bulk or granular charge before its introduction into a process stream. Two approximate techniques for relating heat transfer and melting rates are presented here and the shielding effect of the melt formation is considered. The heat available for melting is sometimes remarkably decreased by the heat carried away by the flowing melt. Means are presented for quantitatively determining the shielding or sensible heat effect of the film. The thermal efficiency of the phase transformation process is discussed, and the effects of heat loss to both increased bulk temperature of the flowing melt and conduction in the solid are demonstrated. A comparison with experiment is made using temperature and melt flow data for polyethylene and polyoxymethylene. Heat transfer coefficients and melting correlations useful in practice are presented.
Cyclooxygenase-2 dependent metabolism of 20-HETE increases adiposity and adipocyte enlargement in mesenchymal stem cell-derived adipocytes

20-Hydroxy-5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE), a product of the cytochrome P450 (CYP)-catalyzed ω-hydroxylation of arachidonic acid, induces oxidative stress and, in clinical studies, is associated with increased body mass index (BMI) and the metabolic syndrome. This study was designed to examine the effects of exogenous 20-HETE on mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived adipocytes. The expression levels of CYP4A11 and CYP4F2 (major 20-HETE synthases in humans) in MSCs decreased during adipocyte differentiation; however, exogenous administration of 20-HETE (0.1–1 μM) increased adipogenesis in a dose-dependent manner in these cells (P < 0.05). The inability of a 20-HETE analog to reproduce these effects suggested the involvement of a metabolic product of 20-HETE in mediating its pro-adipogenic effects. A cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 selective inhibitor enhanced, whereas a COX-2 selective or a dual COX-1/2 inhibitor attenuated adipogenesis induced by 20-HETE. The COX-derived metabolite of 20-HETE, 20-OH-PGE2, enhanced adipogenesis and lipid accumulation in MSCs. The pro-adipogenic effects of 20-HETE and 20-OH-PGE2 resulted in the increased expression of the adipogenic regulators PPARγ and β-catenin in MSC-derived adipocytes. Taken together we show for the first time that 20-HETE-derived COX-2-dependent 20-OH-PGE2 enhances mature inflamed adipocyte hypertrophy in MSC undergoing adipogenic differentiation.
The Original Operation Twist: The War Finance Corporation's War Bond Purchases, 1918 - 1920

In 1918 the United States Treasury delegated to the War Finance Corporation, a newly created off-budget federal agency, the task of buying Liberty bonds and later Victory notes in an effort to stabilize prices. Bayesian vector autoregression analysis of the security purchases indicates that the WFC purchases provided statistically significant price support, and marginally lowered bond yields while the program operated. Once WFC purchases ended, war bond yields increased substantially. Between bond issues, the Treasury financed its operations, including security purchases from the WFC, by issuing short-term debt, which affected the money market interest rate. The WFC's bond purchases are found to have a positive and significant impact on the call loan rate. Thus the WFC's bond purchases twisted the yield curve.
Habit Formation and Demand for Sugar-Sweetened Beverages

Using scanner data, we estimated demand for nine nonalcoholic beverages under habit formation. We found strong evidence for habit formation. Although demand for sugar-sweetened beverages by low-income households is less elastic to own-price changes compared with high-income households, there is evidence that high-income households consider beverages to be more substitutable than low-income households do. A half-cent per ounce tax on store-purchased sugar-sweetened beverages will result in a moderate reduction in consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages for both income strata. Because of habit formation, long-run national tax revenue from a sugar-sweetened beverage tax is about 15 to 20% lower than short-run revenue.
Antitrypanosomal Activity of Fluoroquinolones

Six fluoroquinolones presently in clinical use and four investigational tetracyclic fluoroquinolones were tested for in vitro activity against bloodstream-form Trypanosoma brucei brucei. All compounds had measurable activity, but the tetracyclic analogs were most potent, with 50% effective concentrations in the low micromolar range. In general, trypanosomes were more susceptible than L1210 leukemia cells. Consistent with the notion that they target type II topoisomerase in trypanosomes, the fluoroquinolones promote the formation of protein-DNA covalent complexes.
Deformation assisted phase transformation: an example from the sillimanite‐in isograd, Eolus batholith, Needle Mountains, Colorado, USA

Terra Nova, 25, 48–56, 2013 Abstract The Palaeoproterozoic Vallecito conglomerate of the Needle Mountains, Colorado, experienced deformation and metamorphism during emplacement of the ∼1.4 Ga Eolus batholith, producing a contact aureole defined by sillimanite near the pluton, andalusite and sillimanite together ∼2 km from the pluton, and andalusite alone at greater distance. In the andalusite–sillimanite zone, sillimanite-rich layers, poor in andalusite, define shear bands. In contrast, regions between shear bands contain abundant andalusite and sillimanite. A deformed sample is enriched in immobile elements, with an estimated major element mass loss of 43% relative to a weakly deformed sample. Modal and compositional variation between deformed and undeformed regions indicates that mass transfer was central to shear band development. This process changed the composition of the deformed sample, facilitated the localization of deformation, catalyzed metamorphism and allowed the assemblage to more rapidly approach equilibrium than weakly deformed assemblages.
A multiplexed switched capacitor filter bank

A technique is introduced which allows several integrator capacitors to be multiplexed onto a single operational amplifier. As a result, the op amp can be shared by several switched capacitor filter channels, drastically reducing the number of op amps required for filter banks. Twenty second-order filters have been implemented in a circuit using only two op amps and 2.5 mm/SUP 2/. The design of this system is presented and its performance is discussed. Some loss of signal energy is shown to occur during the multiplexing operations, which reduces filter Q. Causes of this charge loss are described, and its effects on performance are modeled. The design of the op amp used is presented, which incorporates a new system of input stage biasing and differential to single-ended conversion, as well as other features.
Applying Empirical Data on Upper Torso Movement to Real-time Collision-free Reach Tasks

Simulating human reach is still challenging when considering complex interactions with the environment. Standard approaches involve inverse kinematics (IK) methods and usually require a complete but exponential cost search in configuration space. In ergonomic applications, both "naturalness" and interactive performance are important. We describe a real-time, collision-free, sternum-rooted IK solution for an articulated human figure based on motion capture data, human strength models, and multi-joint coordination functions. Movement paths are discovered through spatial search in a partitioned workspace. The system generates natural collision-free reach motions in real-time. The resulting animations and statistics demonstrate the efficacy of this approach.
GIS is a Powerful Tool for Local Governments

Geographical Information Systems (GIS) is used for the storage, management, analysis and mapping of spatial data. GIS is used in government, businesses and academics. Many economists use GIS to analyze the data spatially and then use the output of the geographical data as a catalyst to further their research. The ability to overlay different datasets for the same geography in order to study the spatial relationship between them makes GIS a very powerful tool.
Postmortem studies in psychiatry

Neurochemical postmortem examination of brain tissue may never be completely replaced as a research tool in psychiatry. This method has already provided support for the hypotheses relating norepinephrine, dopamine, seratonin, peptides, and hemisphere asymmetries to psychiatric syndromes.
Altricial Development in Wood-Feeding Cockroaches: The Key Antecedent of Termite Eusociality

Altricial development, the production of vulnerable, dependent neonates, is regularly associated with high levels of parental care in both vertebrates and invertebrates and has evolved in at least two phylogenetically distant, biparental wood-feeding cockroach genera: Cryptocercus and Salganea. Here I make the case that altricial development was the first deviation from standard hemimetabolous development in the biparental termite ancestor, played a fundamental role in the origin of the termite lineage, and can account for many of the novel traits and functions that constitute eusociality in extant Isoptera. Altricial neonates of subsocial wood feeding cockroaches are small, fragile, incapable of feeding themselves, and costly to rear. However, the type of care these juveniles require does not necessarily have to originate from a parent; consequently other members of the social group have the opportunity to undertake brood care obligations. Altricial development therefore allows for the transition to alloparental care, and has a great deal of explanatory power when the evolution of termite eusociality is framed as a hierarchical two-stage process. Stage 1 alloparental care both increased reproductive output of adults and prolonged the development of young helpers. Combined, this changed the nature of the family: it was composed of a greater number of small, vulnerable juveniles. At the same time however, parents were increasingly specializing in reproduction at the expense of their defensive parental duties. Stage 1 alloparental care, then, necessitated Stage 2, the development of a soldier caste, but it also allowed it. Soldiers are a nutritionally dependent caste, so alloparental feeding would have to be part of the behavioral repertoire before soldiers with specialized defensive mandibles could appear. As eusociality progressed, altricial development formed the operational basis for the prolongation of juvenile morphology, physiology and behavior into later ontogeny, accounting for many aspects of termite life history neglected by current hypotheses. Altricial development reinforces the importance of biparental care and hemimetabolous development in the termite ancestor and is a clear indication that the social environment can significantly influence developmental ontogeny in the lineage. The evolution of termite eusociality is a prime example of how evolution uses existing components in the origin of new systems.
Galectin-1 drives lymphoma CD20 immunotherapy resistance: validation of a preclinical system to identify resistance mechanisms

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is the most commonly diagnosed hematologic cancer of adults in the United States, with the vast majority of NHLs deriving from malignant B lymphocytes that express cell surface CD20. CD20 immunotherapy (rituximab) is widely used to treat NHL, even though the initial effectiveness of rituximab varies widely among patients and typically wanes over time. The mechanisms through which lymphomas initially resist or gain resistance to immunotherapy are not well established. To address this, a preclinical mouse model system was developed to comprehensively identify lymphoma transcriptomic changes that confer resistance to CD20 immunotherapy. The generation of spontaneous primary and familial lymphomas revealed that sensitivity to CD20 immunotherapy was not regulated by differences in CD20 expression, prior exposure to CD20 immunotherapy, or serial in vivo passage. An unbiased forward exome screen of these primary lymphomas was used to validate the utility of this expansive lymphoma cohort, which revealed that increased lymphoma galectin-1 (Gal-1) expression strongly correlated with resistance to immunotherapy. Genetically induced lymphoma Gal-1 expression ablated antibody-dependent lymphoma phagocytosis in vitro and lymphoma sensitivity to CD20 immunotherapy in vivo. Human NHLs also express elevated Gal-1 compared with nonmalignant lymphocytes, demonstrating the ability of this preclinical model system to identify molecular targets that could be relevant to human therapy. This study therefore established a powerful preclinical model system that permits the comprehensive identification of the dynamic lymphoma molecular network that drives resistance to immunotherapy.
Evidence that mannans of Candida albicans are responsible for adherence of yeast forms to spleen and lymph node tissue.

We have described a unique binding system between Candida albicans yeast-form cells and the marginal zone of mouse spleen (16). The chemical nature of the fungal adhesin(s) involved in this binding phenomenon was examined. A fraction obtained by 2-mercaptoethanol extraction (2-ME extract) of fungal cells caused a dose-response inhibition of yeast cell adherence to splenic marginal zone sites and also to subcapsular and medullary sinuses of mouse popliteal lymph nodes. Latex beads coated with the 2-ME extract showed a pattern of spleen and lymph node tissue binding identical to that observed with yeast cells. The extracted adhesins retained their binding activity in vivo. When 0.5 mg of the 2-ME extract was given intravenously to mice, spleen tissue removed up to 3 h later showed over 80% inhibition of yeast cell binding to the spleen marginal zone, and over 50% inhibition was retained for at least 24 h. The adhesins bound to a concanavalin A affinity column and were eluted by 0.5 M alpha-methyl-D-mannopyranoside, and the eluted adhesins were designated Fr.II. Fr.II was further fractioned by DEAE-Sephacel ion-exchange column chromatography, and one especially active and abundant fraction was designated Fr.IIa. The adhesin moiety appeared to be carbohydrate, because the activity of Fr.IIa was destroyed by 20 mM sodium periodate or by 5 U of alpha-mannosidase, but boiling (30 min) or proteinase K (100 micrograms/ml) treatments had no effect. Chemically, whereas the 2-ME extract contained significant amounts of protein and mannose, Fr.IIa consisted of over 98% mannose and less than 0.5% protein. These data strongly suggest that the mannan portion within a mannoprotein is responsible for the binding of yeast cells to splenic marginal zone and to subcapsular and medullary sinuses of mouse lymph node tissue.
Agenda Setting by Direct Democracy Comparing the Initiative and the Referendum

Using research on the initiative as a point of comparison, we consider how frequently and for what ends state legislators use the referendum. Akin to initiative use, we find that legislators are constrained by procedural hurdles in their ability to place referendums on the ballot. However, in contrast to research on the initiative, which emphasizes the role of interest groups as the drivers of initiatives, our analysis suggests that referendum use is motivated by partisan legislative majorities seeking to achieve a mix of political and policy goals.
A simple chemical reaction in numerically simulated homogeneous turbulence

v Conservation equations for the concentrations of two species undergoing an irreversible, isothermal, second-order reaction were integrated along with the Navier-Stokes equations f o r a homogeneous, incompressible turbulent flow. A pseudospectral method developed by Kerr was used for domains of 32x32~32 points. Results of the simulations are used to examine closure theories of Toor and of Patterson.
Myelin-specific Th17 cells induce severe relapsing optic neuritis with irreversible loss of retinal ganglion cells in C57BL/6 mice

Purpose Optic neuritis affects most patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), and current treatments are unreliable. The purpose of this study was to characterize the contribution of Th1 and Th17 cells to the development of optic neuritis.
Resistance of Musca domestica to insecticides in Changsha city

Objective To know the resistance of Musca domestica in Changsha city. Methods Topical application. Results All the four insecticides have had resistance to Musca domestica. Conclusion It was necessary to use insecticides scientifically,and limit the resistance development of Musca domestica to insecticide.
Numerical modeling of rapidly varying flows using HEC-RAS and WSPG models

The performance of two popular hydraulic models (HEC-RAS and WSPG) for modeling hydraulic jump in an open channel is investigated. The numerical solutions are compared with a new experimental data set obtained for varying channel bottom slopes and flow rates. Both the models satisfactorily predict the flow depths and location of the jump. The end results indicate that the numerical models output is sensitive to the value of chosen roughness coefficient. For this application, WSPG model is easier to implement with few input variables.
Sudden infant death syndrome: overview of recent research developments from a pediatric pathologist's perspective.

Interesting new information concerning SIDS infants has appeared in the medical literature in recent years. It seems that the unique curve for their ages at death is independent of all other risk factors suggesting that, in most cases, there is probably an important mechanism involving growth and development. Furthermore, some SIDS deaths occur among newborns and comprise as much as 10% of all neonatal mortality, an issue heretofore systematically excluded from consideration. Until now, racial differences in SIDS rates were usually attributed to differences in socioeconomic status. Recent data concerning impoverished Hispanics in this country appear to indicate that cultural factors must play some role as well. Pediatric pathologists have demonstrated a higher incidence of dysmorphic, dysplastic, and minor anomalous lesions as well as cytomegaloviral infection among SIDS babies than among autopsied control infants. These observations suggest that the former have experienced adverse influences prenatally which may make them peculiarly vulnerable to postnatal challenges. One study indicates that virtually all SIDS victims have higher than normal levels of fetal hemoglobin which fact, if confirmed, may permit identification of the potential victim before the fact. Finally, the multicenter NICHD study has shown that only 39.8% of 757 crib death babies had received DTP inoculation as compared to 53.2 and 55% of two control groups of living infants. In fact, one conclusion of the study might be that DTP immunization is likely to protect an infant against crib death. Language: en
An overview of siderophores for iron acquisition in microorganisms living in the extreme

Siderophores are iron-chelating molecules produced by microbes when intracellular iron concentrations are low. Low iron triggers a cascade of gene activation, allowing the cell to survive due to the synthesis of important proteins involved in siderophore synthesis and transport. Generally, siderophores are classified by their functional groups as catecholates, hydroxamates and hydroxycarboxylates. Although other chemical structural modifications and functional groups can be found. The functional groups participate in the iron-chelating process when the ferri-siderophore complex is formed. Classified as acidophiles, alkaliphiles, halophiles, thermophiles, psychrophiles, piezophiles, extremophiles have particular iron requirements depending on the environmental conditions in where they grow. Most of the work done in siderophore production by extremophiles is based in siderophore concentration and/or genomic studies determining the presence of siderophore synthesis and transport genes. Siderophores produced by extremophiles are not well known and more work needs to be done to elucidate chemical structures and their role in microorganism survival and metal cycling in extreme environments.
INFECTIOUS DISEASE IN A SPATIALLY HETEROGENEOUS ENVIRONMENT

Publisher Summary The incorporation of spatial heterogeneity into epidemic models can have two diametric effects. Models that incorporate continuous spatial distribution of individuals that interact strongly with neighbors and weakly with more distant individuals may demonstrate a damping effect resulting from geographic dispersion. On the other hand, the fade-out of a disease in a subpopulation below the threshold size may be countered by reintroduction from other subpopulations. Thus, interaction between subpopulations can effectively raise the infection rate in such a way that the disease may persist in the total population even when it would fade out of each separate isolated subpopulation. This chapter focuses on the latter possibility. It also discusses the relationships between the functional form of the rate of contagion and explains whether a disease can become established in a population.
Community Service-Learning in Statistics: Course Design and Assessment

Service-learning projects are a useful method for students to learn both the practice and value of statistical methods. Effective service learning, however, depends on several factors and can be implemented according to a variety of models. In this article, different models for incorporating service-learning in statistics courses are presented along with example statistics courses. Principles for good service-learning practice will also be presented as a means for assessing the quality of a service-learning course component.
A Strong Case for Prudent School Siting: The West Fertilizer Company Explosion

At 7:51 P.M. on 17 April 2013, an explosion rocked the town of West, Texas, when fertilizer-grade ammonium nitrate stored at the West Fertilizer Company blew up with the explosive force of 12.5 tons of TNT. 1 Fifteen people died, and 260 were injured. More than 150 offsite buildings were destroyed by the blast and subsequent fire, among them a middle school, a high school, a nursing home, and an apartment complex. An investigation by the Chemical Safety Board (CSB) concluded that if the explosion had occurred during the day, casualties likely would have been much higher and would have included a significant number of children. 1
Violent Attitudes and Antisocial Behavior: Examining the Code of the Street’s Generalizability among a College Sample

ABSTRACTDrawing on Elijah Anderson’s (1999) Code of the Street thesis, this study assesses the generalizability of street code attitudes. Using a sample of college students from a large Midwest university, the current study contributes to the literature by examining: (1) the generalizability of street code attitudes; (2) the correlates of street code attitudes, including various forms of strain; and (3) the predictive power of street code attitudes on criminal and non-criminal behavior. Our results reveal that street code attitudes are generalizable to college students, strain constructs are important correlates of street code attitudes, and street code attitudes are associated with criminal behavior. However, the effect of street code attitudes on criminal behavior becomes non-significant once measures of strain are included. Further, street code attitudes do not predict non-criminal behavior.
Extending a Single Residue Switch for Abbreviating Catalysis in Plant ent-Kaurene Synthases.

Production of ent-kaurene as a precursor for important signaling molecules such as the gibberellins seems to have arisen early in plant evolution, with corresponding cyclase(s) present in all land plants (i.e., embryophyta). The relevant enzymes seem to represent fusion of the class II diterpene cyclase that produces the intermediate ent-copalyl diphosphate (ent-CPP) and the subsequently acting class I diterpene synthase that produces ent-kaurene, although the bifunctionality of the ancestral gene is only retained in certain early diverging plants, with gene duplication and sub-functionalization leading to distinct ent-CPP synthases (CPSs) and ent-kaurene synthases (KSs) generally observed. This evolutionary scenario implies that plant KSs should have conserved structural features uniquely required for production of ent-kaurene relative to related enzymes that have alternative function. Notably, substitution of threonine for a conserved isoleucine has been shown to “short-circuit” the complex bicyclization and rearrangement reaction catalyzed by KSs after initial cyclization, leading to predominant production of ent-pimaradiene, at least in KSs from angiosperms. Here this effect is shown to extend to KSs from earlier diverging plants (i.e., bryophytes), including a bifunctional CPS/KS. In addition, attribution of the dramatic effect of this single residue “switch” on product outcome to electrostatic stabilization of the ent-pimarenyl carbocation intermediate formed upon initial cyclization by the hydroxyl introduced by threonine substitution has been called into question by the observation of similar effects from substitution of alanine. Here further mutational analysis and detailed product analysis is reported that supports the importance of electrostatic stabilization by a hydroxyl or water.
The Cosmic Good

Earlier, in Part II, chapter I, I defined the good as what is needed. When the need is felt, it becomes evident that the good is a quality. We are now ready to present the nature of the good more abstractly and more generally (and hence more cosmically) than we have been employing the term in connection with human ethics.
PALM: Machine Learning Explanations For Iterative Debugging

When a Deep Neural Network makes a misprediction, it can be challenging for a developer to understand why. While there are many models for interpretability in terms of predictive features, it may be more natural to isolate a small set of training examples that have the greatest influence on the prediction. However, it is often the case that every training example contributes to a prediction in some way but with varying degrees of responsibility. We present Partition Aware Local Model (PALM), which is a tool that learns and summarizes this responsibility structure to aide machine learning debugging. PALM approximates a complex model (e.g., a deep neural network) using a two-part surrogate model: a meta-model that partitions the training data, and a set of sub-models that approximate the patterns within each partition. These sub-models can be arbitrarily complex to capture intricate local patterns. However, the meta-model is constrained to be a decision tree. This way the user can examine the structure of the meta-model, determine whether the rules match intuition, and link problematic test examples to responsible training data efficiently. Queries to PALM are nearly 30x faster than nearest neighbor queries for identifying relevant data, which is a key property for interactive applications.
Anthropological realism in a scientistic age

Anthropology is a realist discipline. In this article, I draw a sharp distinction between realism and scientism, or objectivism, arguing that realism requires the recognition of the contexts and co...
Test anxiety effects, predictors, and correlates: A 30-year meta-analytic review.

Abstract Background and objectives Since the 1988 publication of Hembree's seminal meta-analysis on test anxiety, much has changed in the theoretical conceptualization of test anxiety, as well as the influences on test performance. The present study examined the influence of test anxiety on a variety of educational outcomes, in addition to demographic and intrapersonal correlates. Design and methods Results of 238 studies from 1988 to the present, were synthesized via a meta-analytic framework to explicate predictors, correlates, and relationships with the test anxiety construct. Pooled effect sizes were calculated. Results Results indicated that test anxiety was significantly and negatively related to a wide range of educational performance outcomes, including standardized tests, university entrance exams, and grade point average. Results were most pronounced at the middle grades level. Self-esteem was a significant and strong predictor of test anxiety. Perceived difficulty of the test and the high-stakes nature or consequences of the test was also related to higher test anxiety. Conclusions The magnitude of the relationship of test anxiety across a number of variables was in the small to moderate range. Implications for researchers and educators are discussed including the use of evidence-based assessment and interventions when warranted.
A Non-catalytic Function of SETD1A Regulates Cyclin K and the DNA Damage Response

Summary MLL/SET methyltransferases catalyze methylation of histone 3 lysine 4 and play critical roles in development and cancer. We assessed MLL/SET proteins and found that SETD1A is required for survival of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. Mutagenesis studies and CRISPR-Cas9 domain screening show the enzymatic SET domain is not necessary for AML cell survival but that a newly identified region termed the "FLOS" (functional location on SETD1A) domain is indispensable. FLOS disruption suppresses DNA damage response genes and induces p53-dependent apoptosis. The FLOS domain acts as a cyclin-K-binding site that is required for chromosomal recruitment of cyclin K and for DNA-repair-associated gene expression in S phase. These data identify a connection between the chromatin regulator SETD1A and the DNA damage response that is independent of histone methylation and suggests that targeting SETD1A and cyclin K complexes may represent a therapeutic opportunity for AML and, potentially, for other cancers.
Vertical changes of soil microbial properties in claypan soils

Abstract Microbial activity within the soil is critical for plant growth and development, and a major determinant of crop performance and yield. Claypan soils are characterized by a dense, impermeable subsoil that impedes root system development. Little is known about soil microbial properties in claypan soils or how microbial activity changes with depth in the soil profile. We explored how management practices mediate changes in soil microbial composition and potential enzyme activities with depth in a claypan soil. The soil microbial biomass and composition were examined through phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) assay. We found that the soil organic carbon (SOC), microbial biomass, and oxidative enzyme activities declined with depth, while hydrolase activity increased in the upper layer of the claypan. Changes in soil management practices affected the degree of increase in hydrolase activity in subsoils, especially for N-acetyl-β- d -glucosaminidase. No accumulation of SOC in the claypan layer was observed. Contrary to our expectation, soil microbes deeper within the soil profile were phosphorus- and nitrogen-limited rather than carbon-limited. Vertical stratification of measured soil properties was found with an upper layer from 0 to 15 cm, an intermediate layer between 15 cm and approximately 30 cm, and the lowest layer of soils in the claypan below 30 cm. The interaction between clay content and changes in soil factors with depth resulted in an increased potential activity but unaltered microbial composition in the claypan layer.
Dietary Phytate:Zinc and Phytate X Calcium:Zinc Ratios of Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian Trappist Monks

One of the Dietary Guidelines proposed to reap health benefits for the United States population is to increase the intake of dietary fiber. Because dietary fiber is not a discrete nutritional component, the recommendation promotes alterations in other aspects of the diet as well: a decrease in animal fat and protein and an increase in vegetable fat and protein. Implicit, though not stated, is a decrease in mineral-rich foods devoid of phytate to be replaced by foods higher in phytate. The primary concern from a trace element standpoint is that the recommended increase in whole grains, fruits and vegetables as a way of increasing total dietary fiber also increases phytate intake.
Culture-Relevant Psychotherapy

This chapter focuses on the modifications made in culture-relevant psychotherapy, which include operational adjustment, theoretical modification, and philosophical reconsideration. Areas that demand attention in order to carry out culture-effective therapy are examined from a clinical perspective, and requirements for culture-competent psychotherapy are suggested. Clinically, technical adjustments in psychotherapy refer to the need for the therapist to make proper choices of skills or techniques in therapy to fit the background of the patient. Based on the patient's orientation toward and understanding of psychotherapy, suitable preparation is needed in the way therapy is started. It includes to what extent an explanation regarding psychotherapy is required and what kind of contract needs to be established, including the rules to be observed and the payment that is expected. The relationship between the therapist and patient, in addition to professional considerations, also needs proper modification to conform to a culturally sanctioned therapist-patient relationship. The style and content of communication also need cultural adjustment, which includes the concept of illness and an explanation of the cause of the problems, the use of cultural idioms, and the level of sophistication of interpretation. Beyond technical adjustments, it is also necessary to make conceptual or theoretical modifications relating to therapy to fit the patient's cultural background. The therapist needs to take into consideration the patient's philosophical orientation as the patient's basic view of and attitude toward human beings, society, and life, closely related to concepts of normality, maturity, and health, have an obvious impact on the patient in his search for improvement. The therapist's own values system and philosophical attitude toward life and problems also explicitly or implicitly guide the direction of therapy, particularly regarding how to encourage the patient to resolve the problems.
Mindfulness Based Approaches to Obesity and Weight Loss Maintenance

Counselors may encounter clients who wish to make such lifestyle changes as healthy eating and weight management. Mindfulness, defined here as the practice of nonjudgmentally attending to the present moment while monitoring reactivity, has been adapted for use in treating many self-regulation disorders; mindfulness-based eating approaches support intuitive or attuned eating, an approach to weight management that helps individuals recognize internal cues in support of enhanced self-regulation. One program for developing mindfulness skills in individuals who want to maintain weight loss is the Enhancing Mindfulness for the Prevention of Weight Regain (EMPOWER) Program. Participants report changes in eating behavior, thinking patterns, emotional reactions, and physical activity and increased acceptance of personal responsibility for making choices, planning, asserting needs, and accomplishing personal goals. The article reviews key mindfulness skills for clinical practice.
Obligate ectosymbionts increase the physiological resilience of a scleractinian coral to high temperature and elevated pCO 2

Invertebrate ectosymbionts within the coralla of scleractinians enhance host fitness through protection from corallivores and nutrient addition. Here, we explore the ectosymbiotic relationship between the coral Pocillopora verrucosa and the crab Trapezia serenei and the shrimp Alpheus spp., to test for effects on coral calcification under contrasts of seawater temperature (27.7 °C and 29.9 °C) and pH (ambient, 8.0 and reduced, 7.7). Regardless of temperature, ectosymbionts depressed calcification by 55% (vs without ectosymbionts) at ambient pH; however, ectosymbionts only depressed calcification under ambient pH but not at reduced pH. These results suggest that P. verrucosa grows fastest at ambient pH without ectosymbionts, but when ectosymbionts are present, colonies are protected from further declines in calcification at reduced pH. This implies that there may be a change from a currently parasitic ectosymbiont–coral relationship to a commensal relationship that could increase fitness advantages for corals hosting crustacean ectosymbionts under ocean acidification conditions.
Optimizing band selection for spectral detection of Aphis glycines Matsumura in soybean

Background Soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is a significant insect pest of soybean in North America. Accurate estimation of A. glycines densities requires costly, time-intensive weekly counts of adults and nymphs on plants. Field studies were conducted in 2013 and 2014 to assess the potential for spectral-based remote sensing to more efficiently quantify cumulative aphid-days (CADs) using soybean canopy reflectance. Results Narrow-band wavelengths in the near-infrared spectral range were associated with CAD, but those in the visible spectral range were not associated with CAD. Simple linear regression models of CAD on reflectance were generally better than quadratic and cubic regression models. Simulated wide-band sensors centered at 740-1100 nm yielded better regression models than ones centered at 600-740 nm, regardless of bandwidth. Among the simulated wide-band sensors, increasing sensor bandwidth worsened CAD estimation or required more simulated sensors to optimize CAD estimation. Optimal combinations of spectral bands explained 83-96% of the experimentally manipulated variation in CAD. Conclusion Near-infrared wavelengths at 780 ± 50 nm can effectively estimate A. glycines abundance on soybean. Our approach of simulating wide-band multispectral sensors from ground-based hyperspectral data helped to refine spectral sensors and holds potential to reduce the cost and complexity of treat/no-treat classification tasks. This study will contribute to future research aiming to quantify insect injury using customized commercial-grade sensors for detection, quantification, and differentiation of A. glycines from other stressors. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.
Screening Tools for Who Will Start Smoking and the Future of Clinical Prediction.

Is the lack of a prognostic tool to assist clinicians in identifying youth at risk of transitioning from never to ever smoking a major barrier to counseling? Sylvestre et al1 address this in a longitudinal study of 12- to 13-year-olds in Montreal. They start with 58 candidate items on youth tobacco use initiation and monitor these early adolescents closely from 1999 to 2005, finding that 12 variables (age, 4 worry or stress items, 1 depression item, 2 self-esteem items, and 4 alcohol or tobacco items) are a best fit in predicting which youth go on to be among the ∼16% who were nonsmokers at baseline and then puffed on a cigarette during the coming year. The authors’ statistical analysis and use of modeling are elegant, and they call attention to an important and often overlooked fact that a first puff of a cigarette is a sentinel event that can rapidly lead to nicotine dependence and sustained smoking. However, the assumptions made by the authors in the question they posed, and thus the tool they developed, raise concerns that … Address correspondence to Jonathan D. Klein, MD, MPH, FAAP, Department of Pediatrics, University of Illinois at Chicago, 840 S Wood St, MC 856, Chicago, IL 60612. E-mail: jonklein{at}uic.edu
Organic Acid Promoted Controlled Ring-Opening Polymerization of α-Amino Acid-Derived N-thiocarboxyanhydrides (NTAs) toward Well-defined Polypeptides

Weak organic acids (i.e., acetic acid) in conjunction with primary amine initiators have enabled controlled ring-opening polymerization of α-amino-acid derived N-thiocarboxyanhydrides (NTAs) bearing N–H proton in a polar solvent (CH2Cl2) at room temperature, producing well-defined polypeptides with tailorable molecular weight (Mn = 3.2–57 kg·mol–1) and narrow molecular weight distribution (PDI = 1.02–1.12). The pKa of the organic acids and the nature of the reaction medium were found to be important for the polymerization to proceed in a controlled manner. The polymerization was shown to occur by a normal amine mechanism. The acetic acid is proposed to promote the polymerization of NTAs by accelerating the elimination of COS from the carbamate propagating intermediate to form the active amino propagating species and reducing side reactions by modulating the relative abundance of the active amino propagating species via acid–base equilibrium. The reactions do not require the use of rigorously anhydrous sol...