cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopic Evaluation of Inkjet Printed Standards of Cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) on Aluminum Substrates

The Department of Defense (DOD) and first responder communities are evaluating and developing optical systems for the detection and identification of explosives and components used for assembling h...
Telocytes express ANO-1-encoded chloride channels in canine ventricular myocardium.

Introduction It is unknown if ANO-1 is expressed in the heart, though the presence of a calcium-activated chloride current has been proposed to mediate some cardiac dysrhythmias. Furthermore, a specific cell type termed telocytes, morphologically mimicking Cajal cells which use ANO-1 to modulate their pacemaker activity in the gut, have been described in the heart. We therefore sought to determine whether this channel is expressed in the canine heart. Methods Myocardium was sampled from the ventricles of five canines. Sections were labeled with anti-Kit and anti-ANO-1 antibodies. Slides were reviewed by four investigators looking at cell morphology, distribution, and co-localization. Identification of telocytes was based on criteria including morphology, Kit positivity (+), and ANO-1 positivity (+). Results Clusters of cells meeting criteria for telocytes were seen in the epicardium, sub-epicardium, and mid-myocardium. A small subset of cells that were morphologically similar to myocytes was ANO-1 (+) but Kit (-). In total, three different cell classes were found: (i) Kit (+), ANO-1 (+) cells with the appearance of telocytes; (ii) Kit (+), ANO-1 (-) cells; and (iii) Kit (-), ANO-1 (+) cells with the morphologic appearance of cardiac myocytes. Conclusions Telocytes are present in the canine ventricle and express ANO-1. These data merit further study to elucidate the functional expression of these channels in the heart and whether they may be targets for cardiac arrhythmias.
Extending the range of amide proton relaxation dispersion experiments in proteins using a constant-time relaxation-compensated CPMG approach.

Relaxation compensated constant-time Carr–Purcell–Meiboom–Gill relaxation dispersion experiments for amide protons are presented that detect μs-ms time-scale dynamics of protein backbone amide sites. Because of their ten-fold larger magnetogyric ratio, much shorter 180° pulses can be applied to 1H than to 15N spins; therefore, off-resonance effects are reduced and a wider range of effective rf fields can often be used in the case of 1H experiments. Applications to [1H-15N]-ubiquitin and [1H-15N]-perdeuterated HIV-1 protease are discussed. In the case of ubiquitin, we present a pulse sequence that reduces artifacts that arise from homonuclear 3J(HN-Hα) coupling. In the case of the protease, we show that relaxation dispersion of both 1H and 15N spins provides a more comprehensive picture of slow backbone dynamics than does the relaxation dispersion of either spin alone. We also compare the relative merits of 1H versus 15N transverse relaxation measurements and note the benefits of using a perdeuterated protein to measure the relaxation dispersion of both spin types.
Mutual Information Scaling and Expressive Power of Sequence Models

Sequence models assign probabilities to variable-length sequences such as natural language texts. The ability of sequence models to capture temporal dependence can be characterized by the temporal scaling of correlation and mutual information. In this paper, we study the mutual information of recurrent neural networks (RNNs) including long short-term memories and self-attention networks such as Transformers. Through a combination of theoretical study of linear RNNs and empirical study of nonlinear RNNs, we find their mutual information decays exponentially in temporal distance. On the other hand, Transformers can capture long-range mutual information more efficiently, making them preferable in modeling sequences with slow power-law mutual information, such as natural languages and stock prices. We discuss the connection of these results with statistical mechanics. We also point out the non-uniformity problem in many natural language datasets. We hope this work provides a new perspective in understanding the expressive power of sequence models and shed new light on improving the architecture of them.
Experimenting with domestication: Understanding macro- and micro-phenotypes and developmental plasticity in teosinte in its ancestral pleistocene and early holocene environments

Abstract Living representatives of the wild progenitors of domesticated species constitute a significant basis for morphological and genetic study of once ancestral plants and their early domesticated forms. However, plants, in part through phenotypic (developmental) plasticity, are well-known to directly respond to environmental changes creating phenotypic variability and new morphologies. Therefore, how the wild progenitors of domesticated species and their proto-crops may have responded to Late Pleistocene (LP) and early Holocene (EH) climatic conditions are important, yet little-studied issues. We grew the wild ancestor of maize, Zea mays ssp. parviglumis (Iltis&Doebley), and maize in the lower atmospheric CO2 and temperature characteristic of their ancestral LP and EH environments and studied key macro- and micro-traits important in the domestication process. Teosinte responded with some remarkable phenotypic changes including in key morphological traits in plant architecture, inflorescence sexuality, seed dormancy, and grain nakedness previously thought to be a result of domestication. An artificial selection experiment carried out on plastic maize-like traits in teosinte demonstrated their stability across generations that would have enabled early cultivators to cement the traits in all environments, as in modern maize. Our results arguably provide more faithful replicas of what the first teosinte collectors and cultivators exploited, and point to an alternative pathway to maize domestication not heretofore demonstrated in a crop plant. They demonstrate how experimental research informs current questions in domestication research and evolutionary biology more generally, while raising others that had not previously drawn attention.
Pointed Hopf Actions On Fields, I

Actions of semisimple Hopf algebras H over an algebraically closed field of characteristic zero on commutative domains were classified recently by the authors in [18]. The answer turns out to be very simple–if the action is inner faithful, then H has to be a group algebra. The present article contributes to the non-semisimple case, which is much more complicated. Namely, we study actions of finite dimensional (not necessarily semisimple) Hopf algebras on commutative domains, particularly when H is pointed of finite Cartan type. The work begins by reducing to the case where H acts inner faithfully on a field; such a Hopf algebra is referred to as Galois-theoretical. We present examples of such Hopf algebras, which include the Taft algebras, uq( $$ \mathbf{\mathfrak{s}}\mathfrak{l} $$ 2), and some Drinfeld twists of other small quantum groups. We also give many examples of finite dimensional Hopf algebras which are not Galois-theoretical. Classification results on finite dimensional pointed Galois-theoretical Hopf algebras of finite Cartan type will be provided in the sequel, Part II, of this study.
Rebaselining Asset Data for Existing Facilities and Infrastructure

AbstractThis paper introduces “rebaselining” as a workflow for collecting reliable and verifiable asset management data for existing facilities and infrastructure. Reporting on two action research ...
Determinants of Trust in Health Information Technology: An Empirical Investigation in the Context of an Online Clinic Appointment System

An online clinic appointment system (OCAS) is an example of health information technology (HIT) innovation in the healthcare industry. An OCAS can help healthcare organizations to improve the effic...
Chronic Invasive Fungal Sinusitis With Negative Histopathology: A Diagnostic Challenge:

Although the diagnosis of chronic invasive fungal sinusitis relies chiefly on identification of invasive fungi on histology, the insidious nature of the disease can preclude detection of fungal organisms. Here, we present a case of chronic invasive fungal sinusitis with negative histopathologic findings and a definitive diagnosis made through fungal DNA detection. Clinicians should consider polymerase chain reaction an important complement to histology and culture in the diagnosis of chronic invasive fungal sinusitis.
3D Printed Monolithic Device for the Microfluidic Capture, Perfusion, and Analysis of Multicellular Spheroids

Microfluidic systems for the analysis of tissue models of cancer and other diseases are rapidly emerging, with an increasing recognition that perfusion is required to recapitulate critical aspects of the in vivo microenvironment. Here we report on the first application of 3D printing for the fabrication of monolithic devices suitable for capturing and imaging tumor spheroids under dynamic perfusion flow. Resolution of the printing process has been refined to a level sufficient to obtain high precision features that enable capture and retention of tumor spheroids in a perfusion flow stream that provides oxygen and nutrient requirements sufficient to sustain viability over several days. Use of 3D printing enables rapid design cycles, based on optimization of computational fluid dynamic analyses, much more rapidly than conventional techniques involving replica molding from photolithographic masters. Ultimately, these prototype design and fabrication approaches may be useful in generating highly multiplexed monolithic arrays capable of supporting rapid and efficient evaluation of therapeutic candidates in the cancer drug discovery process.
Anatomy of the Rally Round the Flag Effect

When national security is breached, citizens systematically increase their trust in the political system and the head of state, in particular. This effect is dubbed “rally ‘round the flag.” For almost 50 years, research has been investigating the paradox of why public opinion rewards its leadership, despite the failure of the latter to protect the citizens. This review aggregates and critically revisits recent literature on the rally ‘round the flag effect. To provide a systematic account of the literature, a classification is proposed, which accounts for the top-down and bottom-up interpretations that are offered from a rational choice perspective, and political psychology. This study highlights the significance of applying an integrative approach to advance a comprehensive understanding of the rally ‘round the flag effect.
Weight set-point theory predicts HDL-cholesterol levels in previously obese long-distance runners

I have proposed that long-distance runners have the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol metabolism of men who are below their sedentary weight set-point. This hypothesis was tested by correlating HDL-cholesterol levels with other variables in 33 long-distance runners who ran at least 24 km/week. The most significant determinant of the runners' plasma HDL-cholesterol concentrations was the difference between the runners' current weight and their self-reported greatest weight (r = -0.50, P less than 0.0001). HDL-cholesterol levels were highest in previously-obese runners who had lost the most weight, i.e. highest in those who were the furthest below their presumed weight set-point. Plasma HDL-cholesterol concentrations were unrelated to training level, running performance, current weight and upper-body obesity. Although these results do not prove homeostatic regulation of weight at a set point, they do suggest that deviations from sedentary weight affect metabolism. Moreover, with respect to male runners elevating their HDL-cholesterol concentrations, these results suggest, 'tis better to have been fat and lost than to have never been fat at all.
A novel intestinal intraepithelial CD8α+ population involved in innate immunity (MUC8P.807)

Innate immune responses play a critical role during the early stages of defense against infection and other immunological processes. Here, we describe a novel lymphoid population, referred to as innate CD8α+ (iCD8α+) cells. iCD8α+ cells display a lymphoid-like morphology and are present in the intestinal mucosa, primarily residing between intestinal epithelial cells (IEC). iCD8α+ cells are a population characterized by the expression of CD45, CD103, and CD69, and by lacking expression of TCR and markers associated with intraepithelial ILC1, such as NKp46 and NK1.1. Our results indicate that iCD8α+ cells are lymphoid-derived, but contrary to ILC, they do not depend on Id2 for their development, suggesting that iCD8α+ cells belong to a new class of innate lymphoid cells. Interestingly, iCD8α+ cell numbers are considerably reduced in thymus leukemia (TL) antigen-deficient mice, indicating that expression of TL by IEC is important for the development and/or maintenance of iCD8α+ cells. iCD8α+ cells produce cytokines and chemokines associated with innate immune responses such as MCP-1, MIP-1α, MIP1-β, IFN-γ and RANTES. Moreover, iCD8α+ cells can phagocytose and kill bacteria, and are important during Citrobacter rodentium infection. In summary, here we present the description of a novel innate immune cell involved in mucosal immune responses of the intestine.
A CMOS Matrix-Vector Multiplier (MAVEM) with Self-Testing Capabilities

This paper describes a Si-gate CMOS Matrix-Vector multiplier with self-testing (on-line) capabilities. This multiplier multiplies a 3×3 matrix with a 3 element vector and outputs their product. The word size for the chip is 8-bits, and all the operations are done bit-serially. All the events in the chip are synchronized with a 4 MHz two-phase clock, and the system interfaces directly with a 6MHz microprocessor. A self-testing scheme incorporated into the design allows fault detection and isolation concurrently with the data processing.
A prover for general inequalities

A variation of an earlier prover (described in Machine Intelligence 8) is used to prove theorems about general inequalities, i.e., first-order logic with equality where the only predicate symbols are <, <, and =, and where function symbols are admitted. Transcripts of some proofs are given.
Oxidized triphosphopyridine nucleotide specific isocitrate dehydrogenase from Azotobacter vinelandii: III. The path of hydrogen in the enzymatic reaction

Abstract Isocitrate dehydrogenase from Azotobacter vinelandii transfers hydrogen from threo - d 8 -isocitrate to the A side of TPN + . The decarboxylation of threo d 8 isocitrate to 2-ketoglutarate occurs with retention of configuration. The enzyme catalyzes the labilization of tritium from [3-T]2-ketoglutarate in the presence of Mg 2+ and TPNH which suggests an ordered addition of substrates in the reductive carboxylation of 2-ketoglutarate to isocitrate.
A comparison of the palatability of flavored oral contrasts.

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to compare the taste of computed tomography (CT) oral contrast diluted with various flavored drinks. Methods We performed a prospective, blinded, controlled trial in healthy adult volunteers. Subjects were assigned to ingest four 250-mL aliquots of oral contrast media diluted in water, Crystal Light Lemonade (Kraft Food, Northfield, Ill), Tropical Punch Kool-Aid (Kraft Food), and Tropicana orange juice (Pepsi Bottling Company, Sommers, NY) in random order; and the taste of the solution was measured with a 100-mm visual analogue scale and 5-point Likert scale from very worst to best. Between-group comparison of the taste scores was performed with repeated-measures analysis of variance and pairwise t tests. The study had 80% power to detect an effect size 0.75 SDs. Results There were 23 subjects; mean (SD) age was 33 (7.7) and 30% were female. The mean (SD) taste scores were water 12 (5), lemonade 37 (21), Kool-Aid 44 (20), and orange juice 40 (20) ( P P Conclusions Dilution of oral contrast media with lemonade, fruit punch, or orange juice is tastier than with water. The choice of the specific juice used to dilute the oral contrast should be individualized based on patient preferences and availability.
Pseudointrinsic probes for generating spectrally enhanced proteins and nucleic acids

The convergence of methods and techniques in biological fluorescence spectroscopy and molecular biotechnology have resulted in improved strategies for labelling specific sites in proteins and nucleic acids. Extrinsic probes, such as dansyl or fluorescein, are commonly used for labelling of proteins and nucleic acids. Introduction of extrinsic probes by covalent modification, however, is always accompanied by the potential risk of altering structure and/or function of these macromolecules. As an alternative to the use of extrinsic probes, there has been a developing interest in the use of tryptophan or nucleic acid base analogs as pseudo intrinsic probes in proteins and nucleic acids. The objective is to generate spectrally enhanced proteins or nucleic acids that are labelled at specific sites and that retain most or all of the functional features of the non-enhanced parent macromolecule. Base analogs with desirable spectroscopic properties can be introduced by direct synthesis. Tryptophan analogs with desirable spectroscopic properties can be introduced into proteins by expression in vivo or in vitro, or by direct chemical synthesis.
The role of fibular fixation in combined fractures of the tibia and fibula: a biomechanical investigation.

Objectives:To determine whether adjunctive plating of the fibula with tibial fixation enhanced the stability of the construct under combined compressive and bending loads in simulated fractures of both the tibia and fibula.Methods:Each of twelve fresh cadaveric specimens (six pairs) with an intact k
Differential Multiphoton Microscopy

High-speed nonlinear imaging systems capable of dynamically imaging differences in depth, excitation polarization, excitation wavelength, beam shape, and pulse shape with single element detection are presented for the first time.
Survival of rat mammary tumor cell clones and DNA strand damage following adriamycin treatment.

Tumor cell subpopulations have been shown to be heterogenous in a number of phenotypic characteristics, including responses to cytotoxic drugs. This phenotypic heterogeneity has been used here to study mechanisms associated with Adriamycin (doxorubicin HCl)-induced cytotoxicity. Clonogenic survival and alkaline elution methods were employed to examine the response of two tumor cell subpopulations to Adriamycin. The cells were derived from a primary 13762NF rat mammary adenocarcinoma (clone MTC) and a lung metastasis in the same animal (clone MTLn3). The MTC cells were significantly more resistant to Adriamycin than were the MTLn3 cells; the dose effective in reducing cell survival by 50% was 10-fold higher. Protein-associated DNA strand breakage assayed by alkaline elution was dose-dependent in both clones, and MTC cells were again more resistant to break induction than were MTLn3. These results showed that clonal tumor subpopulations isolated from a primary tumor and its metastases possessed different intrinsic survival responses to Adriamycin treatment in vitro and that this survival response correlated with Adriamycin-induced production of protein-associated DNA single-strand breaks.
Metabolism of mice and men: mathematical modeling of body weight dynamics.

Purpose of review Dynamic interrelationships between food intake, energy expenditure, energy partitioning, and metabolic fuel selection underlie changes in body weight and composition. A quantitative understanding of these interrelationships is becoming increasingly important given the rise of the worldwide obesity epidemic and the widespread interest in weight management. This review describes how mathematical models offer a quantitative framework for integrating dynamic physiological and behavioral data underlying body weight dynamics in both humans and mice. Recent findings Mathematical models have provided important insights regarding the drivers of the obesity epidemic, how metabolism adapts to different diets, the predicted magnitude and variability of weight change, and why mouse models have obesity phenotypes. Because mathematical models are constrained by conservation laws, they can also be used to infer physiological variables that are difficult to measure directly. Summary Mathematical models can help improve our understanding of the dynamic energy and macronutrient imbalances that give rise to changes in body weight and composition over time. The model development process can also highlight important knowledge gaps and model simulations can help design and predict the results of key new experiments to fill those gaps.
Cranial neuralgias and headaches associated with cranial vascular disorders

This article discusses various cranial neuralgias and headaches linked to vascular disorders, including trigeminal neuralgia, intracerebral hemorrhage, temporal arteritis, and central nervous system angiitis. Also discussed are diagnostic methods, treatment options, and pain management.
Real-world bare metal stenting: identification of patients at low or very low risk of 9-month coronary revascularization.

The high cost of drug-eluting stents (DESs) has made identification of patients who are at low risk for subsequent revascularization after treatment with bare metal stents (BMSs) highly desirable. Previous reports from randomized trials suffer from biases induced by restricted entry criteria and protocol-mandated angiographic follow-up. Between 1994 and 2001, 5,239 consecutive BMS patients, excluding those with coil stents, technical failure, brachytherapy, staged procedure, or stent thrombosis within 30 days, were prospectively identified from a large single-center tertiary-referral-center prospective registry for long-term follow-up. We sought to identify characteristics of patients with very low ( or = 3.5 mm, lesion length < 5 mm, no diabetes, not ostial in location). Actual and model-based outcomes were analyzed. No group had both predicted and observed 9-month revascularization < or = 4% (very low risk). Conversely, 19 of 20 groups had a predicted and observed revascularization rate of 4-10% (low risk). In the real-world setting, the need for intermediate-term revascularization after BMS may be lower than expected, but it may be very difficult to identify patients at very low risk. Conversely, if the benefits of DESs are attenuated in routine practice, many groups of patients treated with BMSs may have nearly comparable results.
Annealing of chromium oxycarbide coatings deposited by plasma immersion ion processing (PIIP) for aluminum die casting

Abstract Chromium oxycarbide coatings have been investigated for use as non-wetting coatings for aluminum die casting. This paper examines Cr–C–O coating stability and non-wetability at elevated temperatures for extended periods. Coatings were deposited onto 304 stainless steel from chromium carbonyl [Cr(CO)6] by plasma immersion ion processing. The coatings were annealed in air at an aluminum die casting temperature of 700°C up to 8 h. Coatings were analyzed using resonant ion backscattering spectroscopy, nanoindentation and pin-on-disk tribometry. Molten aluminum was used to determine coating wetting and contact angle. Results indicate that the surface oxide layer reaches a maximum thickness of 900 nm. Oxygen concentrations in the coatings increased from 24% to 34%, while the surface concentration rose to almost 45%. Hardness values ranged from 22.1 to 6.7 GPa, wear coefficients ranged from 21 to 8×10 −6 mm 3 / Nm and contact angles ranged from 156° to 127°.
Nonequilibrium radiative heating of an ablating Jovian entry probe

On etudie l'influence d'un transfert radiatif en equilibre thermodynamique non local sur le phenomene d'ecoulement autour d'un corps entrant dans l'atmosphere de Jupiter
The Mustawa framework: when collective intelligence meets intercultural communication

As global education expands and international campuses are established, a new generation of students is emerging. These students have the opportunity to experience three critical dimensions of cultural intelligence: intercultural exposure, cultural understanding and intercultural communication. However, for most people, increasing cultural intelligence without extensive interpersonal interactions is not easy or feasible. In this work we propose a framework that can capture the collective cultural knowledge of people around the world, allow them to share it and converse over it, and thus help to spread a more nuanced understanding of our cultures.
Prospective study of the role of duodenal bulb biopsies in the diagnosis of celiac disease

Background Studies have demonstrated that villous atrophy in celiac disease is patchy and have suggested that duodenal bulb biopsies aid in diagnosis. Objective To determine the role of the addition of duodenal bulb biopsies to distal duodenum (D2) biopsies in the diagnosis of celiac disease. Design Prospective, case-control study. Setting Tertiary referral hospital. Patients Patients undergoing upper endoscopy with biopsy for diagnosis or follow-up of celiac disease and control patients. Interventions Blinded review of duodenal biopsy samples. Main Outcome Measurements Increasing the yield as well as accuracy of the histologic diagnosis of celiac disease with the addition of bulb biopsies. Results Of 128 patients enrolled in the study, 67 had celiac disease. Of 1079 biopsy specimens, only 319 (30%) were adequate for complete histologic analysis, resulting in 40 celiac patients and 40 control patients for analysis. Of the 40 celiac patients, 35 (87.5%) had atrophy in either the bulb or D2, 30 (75%) exhibited atrophy at both sites with an identical grade of atrophy seen in 18 patients (45%). Fourteen patients (35%) had identical types of Marsh lesions in both biopsy sites. Twelve patients (30%) had atrophy detected in the bulb, D2, or both, but lacked intraepithelial lymphocytes and thus could not be assigned a Marsh grade. Five patients (13%) had a diagnosis of celiac disease based on findings in the bulb biopsy only. Limitations Small sample size and study performed in an academic medical center. Conclusions Our study confirms the patchy nature of villous atrophy as well as intraepithelial lymphocytosis in biopsy specimens from individuals with celiac disease. Adding duodenal bulb biopsies to our sampling regimen increased the diagnostic yield of celiac disease.
Explaining racial disparities in outcomes after cardiac surgery: the role of hospital quality.

Importance Racial disparities in mortality rates after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery are well established. We have yet to fully understand how care at high-mortality, low-quality hospitals contributes to racial disparities in surgical outcomes. Objective To determine the effects of hospital quality on racial disparities in mortality rates after CABG surgery. Design, Setting, and Participants The national Medicare database (2007-2008) was used to identify 173 925 patients undergoing CABG surgery in US hospitals. Main Outcomes and Measures Our primary measure of quality was the risk-adjusted mortality rate for each hospital. Logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between race and mortality rates, accounting for patient characteristics, socioeconomic status, and hospital quality. Results Nonwhite patients had 33% higher risk-adjusted mortality rates after CABG surgery than white patients (odds ratio [OR], 1.33; 95% CI, 1.23-1.45). In hospitals treating the highest proportion of nonwhite patients (>17.7%), the mortality was 4.8% in nonwhite and 3.8% in white patients. When assessed independently, differences in hospital quality explained 35% of the observed disparity in mortality rates (OR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.12-1.34). We were able to explain 53% of the observed disparity after adjusting for differences in socioeconomic status and hospital quality. However, even after these factors were taken into account, nonwhite patients had a 16% higher mortality (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.05-1.27). Conclusions and Relevance Hospital quality contributes significantly to racial disparities in outcomes after CABG surgery. However, a significant fraction of this racial disparity remains unexplained. Efforts to decrease racial disparities in health care should focus on underperforming centers of care treating disproportionately high numbers of nonwhite patients.
Epidermal growth factor receptors lose ligand binding ability as WI-38 cells progress from short-term to long-term quiescence

WI-38 cells, density arrested for short periods of time, can be stimulated to re-enter the cell cycle by epidermal growth factor (EGF) alone. However, cells density arrested for longer periods have a prolonged prereplicative phase when serum stimulated and cannot be stimulated by EGF alone. Radio-ligand binding studies performed on WI-38 cells showed that actively growing cells bind [125I]EGF at relatively low levels that increase to a maximum as the cells become contact inhibited. As the cells enter a state of deeper quiescence, EGF binding falls to one-third to one-fifth the short-term growth arrested levels, remaining constant thereafter. The EGF-receptor complexes internalize more slowly in long-term growth arrested cells, and the rate of ligand association to the receptor is lower than short-term growth arrested cells. The amount of EGF receptor protein in lysates of equal numbers of both short- and long-term quiescent cells remains the same. These results suggest that the failure of long-term growth arrested cells to respond to EGF is not due to dramatic changes in the amount of receptor protein during prolonged quiescence but more likely to an alteration in the ability of these receptors to bind ligand and/or activate the EGF signal transduction pathway. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Deformation of a two-domain lipid bilayer due to asymmetric insertion of lipid-modified Ras peptides

Ras proteins are attached to the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane via a lipid-modified anchor. Membrane-bound Ras proteins laterally segregate into nanoscale signaling platforms called nanoclusters. It has been shown that the membrane domain preference of Ras nanoclusters varies with the nature of lipidation but their effect on the membrane has not been well understood. To investigate the effect of Ras insertion on the membrane structure, we carried out numerous coarse-grained molecular dynamics (CGMD) simulations on a two-domain DPPC/DLiPC/cholesterol lipid bilayer in which different numbers and types of H-Ras peptides were attached on one side. We have shown previously that this lipid mixture forms co-existing liquid-ordered/liquid-disordered (Lo/Ld) domains and that different H-Ras peptides form clusters that variously accumulate in the Lo/Ld regions or the boundary between them. Here we show that asymmetric insertion of each of these peptides induces a vertical relative displacement of the domains and deforms the bilayer, with the domain boundary serving as the center of deformation. The extent of deformation, however, varies with the type and number of lipid modifications which determine the degree to which the stress caused by asymmetric peptide insertion is relieved by inter-leaflet cholesterol transfer and lipid tilt. In addition, we have characterized the mechanism of bilayer deformation based on the collective effect of the Ras peptides on the inter-leaflet surface area, pressure profile and line tension differences. This allowed us to elucidate how Ras lipid modification affects membrane geometry and how a two-domain bilayer adjusts its shape through boundary deformation. The result contributes to a better understanding of Ras signaling platforms and highlights some of the mechanisms by which a multi-domain membrane responds to external perturbation.
Gonadal steroid hormones upregulate medial preoptic μ-opioid receptors in the rat

The density of μ-opioid receptors is dependent upon the levels of gonadal steroid hormones in the medial preoptic area of ovariectomized female rats. Because the region containing these cyclical μ-opioid receptors is relatively small, autoradiographic analysis of the binding of a saturating concentration of μ-selective radioligand was used to determine whether hormone treatment affects maximal binding capacity of these receptors. The results reveal that gonadal steroid hormones upregulate μ-opioid receptor binding capacity specifically in the medial preoptic area 27 h later, without affecting binding in adjacent brain regions. This suggests that hormones induce a functional increase of medial preoptic area μ-opioid receptors which could serve to regulate reproductive activities.
Inverse Measures, the Inversion Formula, and Discontinuous Multifractals

The present paper is the first in a series of three closely related papers in which theinverse measure?*(dt) of a given measure ?(dt) on 0,1 is introduced. In the first case discussed in detail, ? and ?* are multifractal in the usual sense, that is, both are linearly self-similar and continuous but not differentiable, and both are non-zero for every interval of 0,1. Under these assumptions the H?lder spectra of ?(dt) and ?*(dt) are shown to be linked by the “inversion formula”f*(?)=?f(1/?). The inversion formula is then subjected to several diverse variations, which reveal telling details of interest to the full understanding of multifractals. The inverse of the uniform measure on a Cantor dust leads us to argue that this inversion formula applies to the H?lder spectrafHeven if the measures ? and ?* are not continuous while it may fail for the spectrumfLobtained by the Legendre path. This phenomenon goes along with a loss of concavity in the spectrumfH. Moreover, with the examples discussed it becomes natural to include the degenerate H?lder exponents 0 and ∞ in the H?lder spectra. This present paper is the first of three closely related papers on inverse measures, introducing the new notion in a language adopted for the physicist. The second and third papers in this series make rigorous what is argued with intuitive arguments here. The second paper extends the common scope of the notion of self-similar measures. With this broader class of invariant measures the third paper shows that the multifractal formalism may fail.
Palatability of salt marsh forbs and grasses to the purple marsh crab (Sesarma reticulatum) and the potential for re-vegetation of herbivory-induced salt marsh dieback areas in cape cod (Massachusetts, USA)

Intense herbivory by a growing population of intertidal burrowing crabs Sesarma reticulatum (purple marsh crabs) has denuded large areas of salt marsh on Cape Cod (Massachusetts, USA). Spartina alterniflora (smooth cordgrass) and, to a lesser extent, S. patens (salt marsh hay) have been the primary taxa affected while halophytic forb populations of Salicornia spp. (pickleweed), Suaeda maritima (sea-blite), and Limonium carolinianum (sea lavender), that normally constitute a relatively low proportion of marsh vegetation, have remained intact. In addition, these forb species appear to be colonizing some of the marsh grass dieback areas. Because the loss of vegetation results in considerable subsidence and erosion, the objective of this study was to (1) confirm whether certain taxa are unpalatable to S. reticulatum and (2) determine whether unpalatable species could be used to re-vegetate dieback areas as an interim measure to control marsh sediment and elevation loss. The results suggest that S. reticulatum prefers Spartina alterniflora over forbs and that one or all of these forb species are good candidates for vegetation restoration in dieback areas.
Synthesis and Properties of Seven Ionic Liquids Containing 1-Methyl-3-octylimidazolium or 1-Butyl-4-methylpyridinium Cations

Syntheses are reported for ionic liquids containing 1-methyl-3-octylimidazolium or 1-butyl-4-methylpyridinium cations and trifluoromethyl sulfonate, dicyanamide, bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, or nonafluorobutyl sulfonate anions. Densities, melting points, glass-transition temperatures, solubilities in water, and polarities have been measured. Ionic liquids containing pyridinium cations exhibit higher melting points, lower solubility in water, and higher polarity than those containing imidazolium cations.
Non-Negative Maximum Likelihood ICA for Blind Source Separation of Images and Signals with Application to Hyperspectral Image Subpixel Demixing

The use of independent component analysis (ICA) methods for blind source separation of signals and images has been demonstrated in many applications and publications. While many ICA based algorithms for source separation exist, few impose physical constraints on the recovered independent components and the mixing matrix. Of particular interest is the non-negativity of the recovered independent components and the recovered mixing matrix. Such constraints are important for example when trying to do subpixel demixing on hyperspectral images. In this article, we propose a constrained non-negative maximum-likelihood ICA (CNML-ICA) algorithm that tackles the limitations of some existing non-negative ICA methods.
What is Television? An Introduction

This essay introduces the special issue based on What is Television? A Conference Exploring the Past, Present and Future of Television.
Cyclopentadienone Iron Alcohol Complexes: Synthesis, Reactivity, and Implications for the Mechanism of Iron-Catalyzed Hydrogenation of Aldehydes

Cyclopentadienone iron alcohol complexes generated from the reactions of [2,5-(SiMe3)2-3,4-(CH2)4(η5-C4COH)]Fe(CO)2H (3) and aldehydes were characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and IR spectroscopy. The benzyl alcohol complex [2,5-(SiMe3)2-3,4-(CH2)4(η4-C4C═O)]Fe(CO)2(HOCH2C6H5) (6-H) was also characterized by X-ray crystallography. These alcohol complexes are thermally unstable and prone to dissociate the coordinated alcohols. The alcohol ligand is easily replaced by other ligands such as PhCN, pyridine, and PPh3. Dissociation of the alcohol ligand in the presence of H2 leads to the formation of iron hydride 3. The reduction of aldehydes by 3 was carried out in the presence of both potential intermolecular and intramolecular traps. The reaction of 3 with PhCHO in the presence of 4-methylbenzyl alcohol as a potential intermolecular trapping agent initially produced only iron complex 6-H of the newly formed benzyl alcohol. However, the reaction of 3 with 4-(HOCD2)C6H4CHO, which possesses a potential intramolec...
100-GHz Transistors from Wafer-Scale Epitaxial Graphene

The high carrier mobility of graphene has been exploited in field-effect transistors that operate at high frequencies. Transistors were fabricated on epitaxial graphene synthesized on the silicon face of a silicon carbide wafer, achieving a cutoff frequency of 100 gigahertz for a gate length of 240 nanometers. The high-frequency performance of these epitaxial graphene transistors exceeds that of state-of-the-art silicon transistors of the same gate length.
Lung inflammation and pulmonary function in infants with meconium aspiration syndrome.

Objective To evaluate the relationship between inflammation and pulmonary function, we quantified changes in inflammatory cellular profile, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and pulmonary function in intubated neonates with meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS). Methods Sixteen term infants were studied. Tracheal aspirate fluids, obtained within the first 6, 24, 48, and 96 hr of life were used for measurements of: (1) cellular profile changes; (2) mRNA and protein levels for pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α, using RT-PCR and ELISA. Using the same time points as above, we determined mean airway pressure, oxygenation index (OI), alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient, and arterial/alveolar oxygen ratio. Baseline tidal volume and pulmonary compliance were obtained. Results Birth weight was 3,820 ± 656 g, gestational age 39.8 ± 1.4 weeks. Mean airway pressure and OI significantly decreased from the first 6–96 hr of age (P = 0.01, P = 0.027). Cell counts were elevated in the first 6 hr compared to 96 hr (17.4 × 106/ml vs. 1.5 × 106/ml, P < 0.05). Pro-inflammatory cytokines decreased from the first 6–96 hr: IL-1β (187 vs. 37 pg/ml, P < 0.05); IL-6 (3,469 vs. 150 pg/ml, P < 0.05); IL-8 (16,230 vs. 6,334 pg/ml, P = 0.01). Conclusions MAS is associated with an inflammatory response characterized by the presence of elevated cell count and pro-inflammatory cytokines which significantly decreased by 96 hr of life. This decrease in lung inflammation has a positive correlation with corresponding decreases in mean airway pressure and oxygenation index, two parameters associated with improved pulmonary function. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2007; 42:898–905. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Electronic circular dichroism of monomethyl [16O,17O,18O]-phosphate and [16O,17O,18O]-thiophosphate revisited.

Abstract Phosphoryl-transfer reactions have long been of interest due to their importance in maintaining numerous cellular functions. A phosphoryl-transfer reaction results in two possible stereochemical outcomes: either retention or inversion of configuration at the transferred phosphorus atom. When the product is phosphate, isotopically-labeled [ 16 O, 17 O, 18 O]-phosphate derivatives can be used to distinguish these outcomes; one oxygen must be replaced by sulfur or esterified to achieve isotopic chirality. Conventionally, stereochemical analysis of isotopically chiral phosphate has been based on 31 P NMR spectroscopy and involves complex chemical or enzymatic transformations. An attractive alternative would be direct determination of the enantiomeric excess using chiroptical spectroscopy. ( S )-Methyl-[ 16 O, 17 O, 18 O]-phosphate (MePi ∗ ), 7 and enantiomeric [ 16 O, 17 O, 18 O]-thiophosphate (TPi ∗ ), 10 , were previously reported to exhibit weak electronic circular dichroism (ECD), although with 10 the result was considered to be uncertain. We have now re-examined the possibility that excesses of 7 and 10 enantiomers can be detected by ECD spectrometry, using both experimental and theoretical approaches. 7 and both the ( R ) and ( S ) enantiomers of 10 ( 10a , 10b ) were synthesized by the ‘Oxford route’ and characterized by 1 H, 31 P and 17 O NMR, and by MS analysis. Weak ECD could be found for 7 , with suboptimal S/N. No significant ECD could be detected for the 10 enantiomers. Time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) calculations of the electronic excitation energies and rotational strengths of the same three enantiomers were carried out using the functional B3LYP and the basis set 6-311G ∗∗ . The isotopically-perturbed geometries were predicted using the anharmonic vibrational frequency calculational code in GAUSSIAN 03. In the case of 10 , calculations were also carried out for the hexahydrated complex to investigate the influence of the aqueous solvent. The predicted excitation wavelengths are greater than the observed wavelengths, a not unusual result of TDDFT calculations. The predicted anisotropy ratios are 2.9 × 10 −5 for 7 , −5.3 × 10 −6 for 10a/b , and 1.7 × 10 −6 for 10a/b ⋅(H 2 O) 6 . For 7 the predicted anisotropy ratio approximates that observed in this work, 4.5 × 10 −5 at 208 nm. For 10a/b , the upper limits of the experimental anisotropy ratios ( −6 at 225 nm, pH 9; −6 at 236 nm, pH 12) are comparable to the predicted magnitude of the value for 10a/b . The lower predicted value for 10a/b · (H 2 O) 6 suggests that the aqueous environment affects the ECD significantly. Altogether, the TDDFT calculations together with a stereochemical analysis based on NMR and the MS data support the conclusion that the experimental ECD results for MePi ∗ and TPi ∗ may be reliable in order of magnitude.
Elucidation of the biosynthetic origin of the anti-inflammatory pseudopterosins

The pseudopterosins are a family of diterpene glycosides isolated from the gorgonian coral Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae. These metabolites exhibit potent anti-inflammatory activity, and this review describes our efforts to elucidate their biosynthetic origin. A radioactivity-guided isolation was used to identify the terpene cyclase product. In addition, a detailed NMR-guided search for potential biosynthetic intermediates identified metabolites which were tested by incubating 3H-labeled analogues with a cell-free extract of the coral. All labeled metabolites were generated biosynthetically, and radiochemical purity was established by a combination of HPLC purification and derivatization. In summary, pseudopterosins are produced by a cyclization of geranylgeranyl diphosphate to elisabethatriene, aromatization to erogorgiaene, two successive oxidations to 7,8-dihydroxyerogorgiaene and a glycosylation to afford a seco-pseudopterosin as a key intermediate. A dehydrogenation leads to amphilectosins which undergo ring closures to yield the pseudopterosins.
Characterization of porcine xenoreactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) against mouse P815 cells were detected after stimulation of porcine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with irradiated Balb/c splenocytes. In vivo priming prior to in vitro stimulation slightly enhanced CTL activity, but lysis of targets was undetectable from lymphocytes from non-immune or immune animals that were not cultured with mouse splenocytes. After primary culture with Balb/c (H-2d) splenocytes, specific killing of P815 (H-2d) targets and not L929 (H-2k) targets indicated that recognition was specific for the H-2 locus. Similarly, CTL primed by mouse cells from either of two congenic strains recognized targets with alleles homologous to the stimulating cells. The anti-murine CTL was confirmed to be a CD8+ T cell based on studies using specific monoclonal antibodies to the porcine CD4 or CD8 cells. The cells responsible for the cytotoxicity of P815 targets lacked the characteristics of non-specific NK cells because (1) naive PBMC were unable to lyse NK targets (K562 cells) during the 4 h cytotoxic assay and (2) CTL killing of P815 targets increased with time after primary stimulation, whereas killing of K562 cells remained low at all times. These results suggest that porcine CTL can be readily generated against the xenogeneic mouse major histocompatibility complex.
Self-reported medication adherence and cardiovascular events in patients with stable coronary heart disease: the heart and soul study.

Background Nonadherence to physician treatment recommendations is an increasingly recognized cause of adverse outcomes and increased health care costs, particularly among patients with cardiovascular disease. Whether patient self-report can provide an accurate assessment of medication adherence in outpatients with stable coronary heart disease is unknown.
Rupture of Postcoarctation Mycotic Aneurysms of the Aorta

Sudden and usually fatal rupture is a common complication of postcoarctation mycotic aneurysms. Prompt operative treatment is always indicated, and can be performed using one of three techniques depending on the adequacy of the collateral circulation and the presence or absence of active bacterial infection. Renal dysfunction commonly is associated with bacterial endarteritis and is secondary to an immune-complex glomerulonephritis. The patient reported here was treated successfully by the placement of an emergency axillofemoral bypass graft, removal of the infected portion of the descending thoracic aorta, and delayed intrathoracic reconstruction.
The glycolipid involved in chitin synthesis by zoospores ofBlastocladiella emersonii is a monoglucosyldiacylglycerol

14C-Labeled glycolipids obtained from zoospores ofBlastocladiella emersonii were separated into mono-, di-, and polyglycosyldiglycerides by column chromatography. Each glycolipid was added to a chitin synthetase reaction mixture containing γ particles and unlabeled UDP-N-acetylglucosamine. Only label from the [14C]monoglycosyldiglyceride was incorporated into chitin. When γ particles were incubated with UDP-[1-14C]GlcNAc, a glycolipid that behaved chromatographically as a diglycosyldiglyceride was formed. This glycolipid was analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography, gas-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, and electron-impact ionization/mass spectrometry. The lipid was identified asN-acetylglucosaminylglucosyl-diacylglycerol, the major fatty acid being palmitic acid.