cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transcriptional Repression Mediated by LysR-Type Regulator CatR Bound at Multiple Binding Sites

The catBCA operon of Pseudomonas putida encodes enzymes involved in the catabolism of benzoate. Transcription of this operon requires the LysR-type transcriptional regulator CatR and an inducer molecule, cis , cis -muconate. Previous gel shift assays and DNase I footprinting have demonstrated that CatR occupies two adjacent sites proximal to the catBCA promoter in the presence of the inducer. We report the presence of an additional binding site for CatR downstream of the catBCA promoter within the catB structural gene. This site, called the internal binding site (IBS), extends from +162 to +193 with respect to the catB transcriptional start site and lies within the catB open reading frame. Gel shift analysis and DNase I footprinting determined that CatR binds to this site with low affinity. CatR binds cooperatively with higher affinity to the IBS in the presence of the two upstream binding sites. Parallel in vivo and in vitro studies were conducted to determine the role of the internal binding site. We measured β-galactosidase activity of catB-lacZ transcriptional fusions in vivo. Our results suggest a probable cis -acting repressor function for the internal binding site. Site-directed mutagenesis of the IBS verified this finding. The location of the IBS within the catB structural gene, the cooperativity observed in footprinting studies, and phasing studies suggest that the IBS likely participates in the interaction of CatR with the upstream binding sites by looping out the intervening DNA.
From Exclusion to Acceptance: A Case History of Homosexuality in the U.S. Court of Military Appeals

Policing the legality and normalcy of service members’ sexual lives was a contentious process for military courts throughout the 1950s, 1960s, and early 1970s that resulted in the inconsistent enfo...
Care everywhere, a point-to-point HIE tool: utilization and impact on patient care in the ED

Background: Emergency departments (EDs) routinely struggle with gaps in information when providing patient care. A point to point health information exchange (HIE) model has the potential to effectively fill those gaps. Objective: To examine the utility, perceived and actual, of a point-to-point HIE tool called Care Everywhere (CE) and its impact on patient care in the ED. Methods: This mixed methods study was performed at four large hospital EDs between January 2012 and November 2012. Retrospective data was extracted from the electronic health record (EHR) to evaluate CE utilization since implementation. ED notes data were extracted from ED visits occurring between January 2012 and June 2012 and were reviewed to evaluate the impact of exchanged information on patient care. Results: Per focus group discussions, physicians thought the information received via CE was of value to patient care, particularly laboratory results, imaging, medication lists, discharge summaries and ECG interpretations. They feel the greatest impact of HIE is the avoidance of duplicative diagnostic testing and the identification of drug-seeking behavior. Nursing and ancillary staff expressed somewhat less enthusiasm but still felt HIE positively impacted patient care. Over a period of six months, CE was used in approximately 1.46% of ED encounters. A review of ED provider notes over that time period revealed CE use resulted in 560 duplicate diagnostic procedures being avoided and 28 cases of drug seeking behavior identified. Conclusion: Our study provides insight into the perceived value of HIE from the point of view of our ED physicians and staff. It also demonstrates that a point-to-point HIE tool such as Epic System’s Care Everywhere has the potential to generate greater efficiencies within the ED and impact to patient care through elimination of duplicative diagnostic imaging or testing and resource utilization associated with those procedures.
Emergency Department and Observation Unit Discharge Criteria

Appropriate discharge and disposition from the emergency department and observation unit has the potential to lead to major changes in the long-term care for patients with heart failure (HF). HF affects nearly six million Americans, thus causing substantial morbidity and mortality. Due to the ever-aging population and increased survival from cardiovascular diseases, the HF prevalence is expected to continue growing. Annually, there are one million ED visits for heart failure patients. The past several years have consistently shown that more than 80 % of these ED visits for acute HF result in admission compared to only 13 % of the total 136 million annual ED visits in the United States. This chapter will review how patient-centered measures, physical exam findings, and changes in laboratory parameters and imaging can be utilized in the decision to discharge heart failure patients from an observation unit or the emergency department and potentially decrease the large and disproportional number of admissions for heart failure from the ED.
Comparison of feature combination strategies for saliency-based visual attention systems

Bottom-up or saliency-based visual attention allows primates to detect non-specific conspicuous targets in cluttered scenes. A classical metaphor, derived from electrophysiological and psychophysical studies, describes attention as a rapidly shiftable 'spotlight'. The model described here reproduces the attentional scanpaths of this spotlight: Simple multi-scale 'feature maps' detect local spatial discontinuities in intensity, color, orientation or optical flow, and are combined into a unique 'master' or 'saliency' map. the saliency map is sequentially scanned, in order of decreasing saliency, by the focus of attention. We study the problem of combining feature maps, from different visual modalities and with unrelated dynamic ranges, into a unique saliency map. Four combination strategies are compared using three databases of natural color images: (1) Simple normalized summation, (2) linear combination with learned weights, (3) global non-linear normalization followed by summation, and (4) local non-linear competition between salient locations. Performance was measured as the number of false detections before the most salient target was found. Strategy (1) always yielded poorest performance and (2) best performance, with a 3- to 8-fold improvement in time to find a salient target. However, (2) yielded specialized systems with poor generations. Interestingly, strategy (4) and its simplified, computationally efficient approximation (3) yielded significantly better performance than (1), with up to 4-fold improvement, while preserving generality.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Correlates of Psychological Distress Among Older Residents of Urban Public Housing

Older residents in low-income public housing are estimated as having a psychiatric disorder prevalence rate more than two times the rate found among community-dwelling elders in the United States. Yet despite this higher prevalence rate, only limited research has focused on the mental health needs of this population. Based on data from 196 older urban public housing residents, this article examines the role of health perceptions, disability status, and social supports as predictors of mental health distress. Results underscore that diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders among public housing residents must be an important health services objective.
Histopathology of a nuclear polyhedrosis infection in Aedes epactius with observations in four additional mosquito species

Abstract Aedes epactius larvae were utilized to study the infection sequence of the nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) from Aedes sollicitans. From 30 min to 6 hr postinoculation, polyhedra and many free virions were observed in the larval midgut lumen. Penetration of the midgut cells by virions was not observed. The first infected nuclei were observed 12 hr postinoculation. Nucleocapsids initially exhibited electron translucent cores which became electron dense before the nucleocapsids acquired an envelope. Envelope acquisition occurred through a process of de novo membrane morphogenesis. Occlusion of the singly embedded virions began by 18 hr postinoculation with the mature rough-surfaced polyhedra averaging approximately 1 by 2 μm. Unusually long nucleocapsids (approximately two or three times the length of other nucleocapsids) were only observed in late infection period nuclei. There was no evidence that long nucleocapsids represented an early developmental stage for nucleocapsids of standard length. Infection was restricted to midgut nuclei and gastric caecae cells. Infected early instar A. epactius larvae became moribund 36 to 40 hr postinoculation and infected midgut nuclei were observed to undergo lysis. The late stages of NPV infection were observed in larvae of A. annandalei, Wyeomyia smithii, Toxorhynchites brevipalpus, and Eretmapodites quinquevittatus. Virion development and occlusion in these species was basically identical to the sequence observed in A. epactius larvae.
Simultaneous massive pulmonary embolism and impending paradoxical embolism through a patent foramen ovale.

![Figure][1] [![Graphic][3] ][3][![Graphic][4] ][4][![Graphic][5] ][5] A 66-year-old obese woman presented with shortness of breath over 8 weeks. She was hemodynamically stable. D-dimer was elevated at 2.14. Transthoracic (Online Video [1][5]) followed by transesophageal
Abdominal mesh sacrocolpopexy for recurrent triple-compartment pelvic organ prolapse.

OBJECTIVE To report the short- and intermediate- term outcome of safety and efficacy after abdominal-mesh sacrocolpopexy (MSC) for recurrent anterior, posterior and vault (‘triple-compartment’) pelvic organ prolapse (POP). PATIENTS AND METHODS In a database review we identified non-neurogenic women who had MSC for recurrent triple-compartment POP and with a ≥6-month cystographic follow-up. The preoperative evaluation included a history, physical examination, Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6) and visual analogue quality-of-life (QoL) questionnaires, urodynamic studies, and a standing lateral voiding cysto-urethrogram (VCUG) with rest-strain views. All surgery as performed by the same surgeon, using polypropylene (Marlex) mesh. Perioperative data, the VCUG at 6 months, and interval pelvic examinations were recorded. RESULTS Between 2000 and 2006, 29 postmenopausal women (Caucasian, mean age 64 years, sd 11) underwent MSC. The mean (sd, range) operative duration was 228 (75, 170–340) min, the estimated blood loss 150 (100) mL and the inpatient stay 3 (1) days. At a mean (sd) follow-up of 23 (16) months, the physical examination showed no evidence of POP of grade ≥2, with mean POP-Quantification scores of −2.8 (0.4), −2.9 (0.4) and −9.3 (0.8) for points Aa, Ap and C, respectively. Two patients (8%) had evidence of grade ≥2 cystocele at the 6-month VCUG. After MSC, four of the six UDI and the QoL scores were significantly lower at the last follow-up than at baseline, with no change in sexual or defecatory function. CONCLUSIONS The objective and subjective improvement at the short and intermediate follow-up after MSC suggest that this is a safe and effective treatment for recurrent triple-compartment POP.
Helping Friends and the Homeless Milieu: Social Capital and the Utility of Street Peers

In this article, the author draws upon ethnographic data from a group of homeless and housed youth and young adults who congregated in one city square in the northeastern United States. The author applies social capital theories to understand the positive and negative aspects of street life for each group involved. In this setting, participants found commonalities and befriended one another. By maintaining and nurturing these ties, each group expanded their access to both practical and symbolic resources and provided one another with affective supports, which alleviated feelings of alienation and isolation. Participants benefited in multiple ways by participating, but also placed themselves in potentially harmful and problematic situations as a result. The author explores the utility as well as consequences of extended social ties made through these subgroup affiliations to understand the nuances of social capital and the role of diversified peer groups within homeless street settings.
Balancing Tax and Financial Reporting Objectives: Effective Tax Planning within the Property and Casualty Insurance Industry

Tax‐planning strategies will not enhance firm value if the tax benefit is less than the (nontax) costs incurred to achieve such benefit. Effective tax planning therefore requires the joint consideration of tax benefits and the costs of obtaining those benefits, rather than a myopic focus on only tax minimization. This case presents the opportunity for you to evaluate alternative sources of tax law and balance tax and nontax concerns (including ethical considerations) as you make the same loss reserve reporting decisions that property‐casualty (P&C) insurers faced following the Tax Reform Act of 1986 (TRA86).
An organizing activity is required for head patterning and cell fate specification in the polychaete annelid Capitella teleta: new insights into cell-cell signaling in Lophotrochozoa.

Abstract Many lophotrochozoans (i.e., molluscs, annelids, nemerteans, and polyclad flatworms) display a well-conserved early developmental program called spiral cleavage that contrasts with the high diversity of adult body forms present in this group. Due to this stereotypical development, each cell can be uniquely identified and its lineage history known following intracellular injection of lineage tracers. Cell deletion experiments performed mainly in molluscs have demonstrated that one or two cells associated with the endomesodermal lineage represent an embryonic organizer of subsequent development and are causally involved in cell fate and body patterning. Utilizing the published fate map of the spiral-cleaving annelid Capitella teleta, we used infrared laser cell deletions to dissect the role of individual cells on the patterning of the larval body. Thirteen uniquely identifiable individual blastomeres and two double cell combination deletions were studied to assess larval phenotypes by scoring multiple morphological structures and cell type-specific molecular markers differentially expressed along the antero-posterior and dorso-ventral axes. Surprisingly, our results show that in C. teleta, the cellular identity of the “organizing cell” and the timing of the organizing activity are different from that of other spiralians. In C. teleta, the ectodermal primary somatoblast, 2d, is the key cell responsible for organizing activity during early embryonic development, and is necessary for bilateral symmetry and dorso-ventral axis organization of the head as well as neural, foregut and mesoderm tissue formation. Furthermore, we show that the ERK/MAPK signaling pathway does not appear to be involved in organizing activity in C. teleta. This contrasts with data from molluscs and the molecular mechanism suggested for another polychaete, Hydroides elegans, highlighting likely molecular level variation among spiralian embryos. These results reinforce the idea that an embryonic organizing activity is present across spiralians. Our data also emphasize the developmental variation within lophotrochozoans, and may ultimately provide insight into the role of developmental processes in the evolution of diverse body forms in metazoans.
Robust Object Representation Through Object-Relevant Use of Scale

ABSTRACT In previously published papers we have presented an object representation known as a corethat represents anobject at measurement scales (tolerances) relative to the local size of the object. Such object-relevant scale allowsone to be more sensitive to fine detail (and, ofcourse, the effects ofnoise, blurring, and other image degradation) forsmaller objects while being less sensitive to such detail (and image degradation) for larger objects. This producesa more robust mechanism that is able to trade off between sensitivity to noise and loss of detail by considering the properties of the object involved. This paper, after briefly reviewing the definition and computation of cores, studies this relationship between noise and object size and shows that the algorithms for computing coresdo indeed produce more stable results for larger objects by automatically selecting correspondingly larger, lessnoise-sensitive scales. 1 INTRODUCTION Image analysis involves segmenting an image into objects and representing them in a form suitable for suchtasks as identification, registration, tracking, or measurement of object properties. To be useful for these tasks,the object representations extracted from an image must be consistent across a wide range of varying imagingconditions including noise, blurring, fine-scale differences between generally similar objects, and differences inmagnification. One common element tying together these different conditions is that they all involve the scale orresolution of image measurements:. Noise is unwanted or extraneous information in the image that can produce apparent objects of varyingsizes—uncorrelated noise typically produces small (often pixel-size) objects while correlated noise may
Biochemical and pharmacological characterization of ICI 198,615: a peptide leukotriene receptor antagonist.

ICI 198,615 is one representative of a new chemical class of peptide leukotriene receptor antagonists that are the most potent and selective described to date. ICI 198,615 antagonized LTC4-, LTD4- and LTE4-induced increases in cutaneous vascular permeability in the guinea pig, with i.v. ED50 values of 0.083, 0.11 and 0.067 mumol/kg, respectively. Against LTD4, ICI 198,615 was 615 and 415 times more potent than LY 171883 and FPL 55712, respectively. L-Serine borate, an inhibitor of the metabolism of LTC4 to LTD4, did not influence the antagonism by ICI 198,615 of LTC4-induced increases in cutaneous vascular permeability. The compound both inhibited and reversed aerosol ovalbumin antigen-induced increases in pulmonary resistance in passively sensitized guinea pigs, but demonstrated little ability to inhibit or reverse ovalbumin antigen-induced decreases in dynamic lung compliance. At concentrations ranging from 10(-8) to 10(-5) M, ICI 198,615 had no significant effect on either the spontaneous or ovalbumin antigen-induced release of histamine, peptide leukotrienes, thromboxane B2 or 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha from chopped guinea pig lung. At 10 microM, the compound did not inhibit 5-, 12- or 15-lipoxygenase. Finally, ICI 198,615 antagonized LTD4-induced increases in TxB2 release from chopped guinea-pig lung.
‘Concerning the Loaves’ Comprehending Incomprehension in Mark 6.45-52:

Students of the second Gospel have long been puzzled by the cryptic assertion, in Mark 6.52, that the disciples ‘did not understand concerning the loaves…’ Through an exegetical study of Mk 6.45-52, this essay proposes that what the disciples have misconstrued is their own active participation in the inbreaking, eschatological kingdom that Jesus inaugurates. Relying mainly on narrative-critical insights, the study first surveys the disciples’ function to this point in the Markan story, a function featuring companionship with Jesus as well as empowerment by him. Against this backdrop, the second sea-crossing story depicts the disciples’ failure to exercise their authority over the sea already given to them by Jesus. In turn, this reading considers as central to the passage not only the identity of Jesus (the traditional chris-tological understanding) but also the empowered discipleship that is central to his kingdom proclamation.
Yeast N-terminal Amidase: A NEW ENZYME AND COMPONENT OF THE N-END RULE PATHWAY

Abstract The N-end rule relates the in vivo half-life of a protein to the identity of its N-terminal residue. Tertiary destabilizing N-terminal residues asparagine and glutamine function through their conversion, by enzymatic deamidation, into the secondary destabilizing residues aspartate and glutamate, whose activity requires their enzymatic conjugation to arginine, one of the primary destabilizing residues. We isolated a Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene, termed NTA1, that encodes an amidase (Nt-amidase) specific for N-terminal asparagine and glutamine. Alterations at the putative active-site cysteine of the 52-kDa Nt-amidase inactivate the enzyme. Null nta1 mutants are viable but unable to degrade N-end rule substrates that bear N-terminal asparagine or glutamine. The effects of overexpressing Nt-amidase and other components of the N-end rule pathway suggest interactions between these components and the existence of a multienzyme targeting complex.
Cell-free unnatural amino acid incorporation with alternative energy systems and linear expression templates

Site-specific incorporation of unnatural amino acids (uAAs) during protein synthesis expands the proteomic code through the addition of unique residue chemistry. This field provides a unique tool to improve pharmacokinetics, cancer treatments, vaccine development, proteomics and protein engineering. The limited ability to predict the characteristics of proteins with uAA-incorporation creates a need for a low-cost system with the potential for rapid screening. Escherichia coli-based cell-free protein synthesis is a compelling platform for uAA incorporation due to the open and accessible nature of the reaction environment. However, typical cell-free systems can be expensive due to the high cost of energizing reagents. By employing alternative energy sources, we reduce the cost of uAA-incorporation in CFPS by 55%. While alternative energy systems reduce cost, the time investment to develop gene libraries can remain cumbersome. Cell-free systems allow the direct use of PCR products known as linear expression templates, thus alleviating tedious plasmid library preparations steps. We report the specific costs of CFPS with uAA incorporation, demonstrate that LETs are suitable expression templates with uAA-incorporation, and consider the substantial reduction in labor intensity using LET-based expression for CFPS uAA incorporation.
A polymer–solvent system with two homogeneous double critical points: Polystyrene (PS)/(n‐heptane + methylcyclohexane)

Liquid-liquid (LL) critical demixing loci have been experimentally determined in the (T,P) projection for some polystyrene/solvent systems with nonspecific interaction for (∼ 270 K < T < ∼ 500 K) and (0 MPa < P < 200 MPa). A lower homogeneous double critical pressure and lower homogeneous double critical temperature have been located for a solution of PS (M w = 2.0 × 10 6 ) dissolved in an n-heptane/methylcyclohexane mixture [PS/n-C 7 H 16 /CH 3 C 6 H 11 //0.029/0.194/0.777 (wt. fractions)]. That solution forms the first example of a polymer/solvent with nonspecific interaction that exhibits two double critical points. A symmetrical representation of the LL critical loci in the (P,T) plane is developed.
Phencyclidine-like discriminative stimulus properties of MK-801 in rats.

The discriminative stimulus properties of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist MK-801 ((+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo(a,d)cyclohepten-5,10-imine) were investigated in rats trained to discriminate phencyclidine (PCP; 1.25 mg/kg i.p.) from saline on a standard two-lever fixed ratio 32 schedule of food reinforcement. MK-801 was generalized from PCP in a dose-dependent manner, with an ED50 of 0.10 mg/kg i.p. The ED50 for PCP was 0.7 mg/kg io.p. MK-801 is, therefore, a very potent PCP-like drug which may share cellular mechanisms and other effects with PCP, including the antagonism of NMDA.
Gender Equality and Economic Growth: Is it Equality of Opportunity or Equality of Outcomes?

ABSTRACTThis article explores the impact of gender equality on economic growth. In particular, we focus on the multidimensional nature of gender equality with the object of identifying the relative salience of different aspects of equality. Using exploratory factor analysis on five measures of gender equality, we identify two distinct dimensions: equality of economic opportunities and equality in economic and political outcomes. Regression analysis conducted on an unbalanced panel of 101 countries taken over nonoverlapping five-year periods from 1990 to 2000 reveals that a standard deviation improvement in equality in economic opportunity increases growth by 1.3 percentage points and a corresponding improvement in participatory equality improves growth by an average of about 1.2 percentage points. However, this impact is contingent on a country's stage of development: while developing economies experience significant improvements in growth from greater equality in opportunity, developed societies see sign...
Synchronous Versus Asynchronous Contributions to Frequency-induced Synaptic Depletion in Zebrafish

Paired spinal motorneuron and target muscle recordings were used to examine transmitter depletion and subsequent recovery during high frequency stimulation. The skeletal muscle is sufficiently compact that the unitary synaptic events (∼400pA average) were fully resolved through whole cell voltage clamp. Also, the evoked endplate current reflected the sum of 20Hz led to drops in quantal content and eventual failure, with no associated change in unitary quantal size. The time required to deplete 80% of the transmitter corresponded to 25 sec at 20Hz, 10 sec at 50Hz and 5 sec at 100 Hz. Recovery occurred abruptly after a 40 sec rest and the rate of recovery was calcium-dependent. Analysis of the depletion profile during 100 Hz stimulation revealed two partially overlapping processes. Initially, all release was synchronous upon repolarization of the motorneuron action potential. With continued stimulation the release was delayed and asynchronous with respect to the action potential. The quantal size underlying both synchronous and asynchronous modes was unchanged during the depletion and following recovery. At 100 Hz the synchronous endplate current converted to asynchronous unitary openings in a manner that was qualitatively reciprocal. Moreover, traces composed principally of synchronous events had few asynchronous events and conversely traces with the largest numbers of asynchronous events lacked synchronous release. This reciprocity suggested that the two modes share common release sites. However, measurements of total synchronous and asynchronous events during the time of maximal overlap revealed a period of facilitation, suggesting that the synchronous and asynchronous modes were capable of additivity and might represent different release sites. Experiments are ongoing to distinguish between these alternative possibilities.
Festering ideas: Paul Muldoon's Maggot

Paul Muldoon's 2006 volume Horse Latitudes, like one of his most famous and cherished, The Annals of Chile (1994), is moved by personal loss to elegiac heights; only in it the savagery with which M...
PORE-ing over ERK substrates

A functional proteomics study reveals that nuclear pore proteins are direct substrates for mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, leading to a new mechanism for growth factor control of nuclear transport.
Dynamic equilibrium among erosion, river incision, and coastal uplift in the northern and central Apennines, Italy

Erosion, river incision, and uplift rates in the northern and central Apennines, Italy, since 0.9 Ma, are determined from new cosmogenic nuclide data. Beryllium-10 concentrations in modern and middle Pleistocene sediments indicate erosion rates from 0.20 to 0.58 mm/yr. These rates are similar to estimates of sediment yield (0.12–0.44 mm/yr), river incision (0.35 mm/yr), and uplift (0.01–1.0 mm/yr) rates inferred from other methods that integrate landscape process rates since the early Pleistocene. These rates of landscape change are significantly lower than long-term exhumation rates of ∼1.2 mm/yr since ca. 4.5 Ma, inferred from thermochronometry. Collectively, these data suggest that hillslope erosion and river incision rates in the northern and central Apennines have balanced local uplift rates for ∼1 My, but that exhumation rates have slowed significantly since emergence of the mountain chain in the Pliocene. This condition of dynamic equilibrium was potentially achieved within ca. 3 Ma, similar to some model predictions of hillslope and fluvial system adjustment.
Hypertension in Women

One in 4 adults has hypertension worldwide, which equates to approximately 1 billion individuals. Hypertension is a leading cause of death, and lowering blood pressure prevents mortality and morbidity in women and men. Although men have higher blood pressures compared with women at all ages, older women have a slightly higher prevalence of hypertension, and hypertension is more often uncontrolled in women. Hypertension associated with pregnancy and polycystic ovary syndrome is unique to women. Exogenous hormone administration in the form of oral contraceptives, and rarely postmenopausal hormone replacement, contributes to the burden of hypertension in women. Renovascular hypertension due to fibromuscular dysplasia is more common in women. Hypertension treatment should focus on lowering blood pressure and treating additional cardiovascular risk factors, and there is no evidence to support gender-specific approaches to lowering blood pressure and modifying cardiovascular risk.
Split bond ratings and rating migration

Abstract This paper examines the relationships between split ratings and ratings migration. We find that bonds with split ratings are more likely to have future rating changes. A one-notch (more-than-one-notch) split rating increases the probability of rating change within one year of initial issuance by about 3% (6%). Furthermore, we find that about 30% of split rated bonds have their two ratings converge after four years of initial issuance. The rating convergence tapers off after three years, and the rating agency with a higher (lower) initial rating generally maintains a higher (lower) rating in subsequent years if the two ratings do not converge. We also show that rating transition estimation can be improved by taking into consideration split ratings. We find that one-year rating transition matrices are significantly different between non-letter-split rated bonds and letter-split rated bonds, and we show that the difference has an economically significant impact on the pricing of credit spread options and VaR-based risk management models. Overall, our results suggest that split ratings contain important information about subsequent rating changes.
Impact of daily computer usage on GUI usage analysis

This paper investigates a new method for detecting masquerade attacks. A masquerade attack is a form of attack wherein the attacker uses someone else's identity or one system assumes the identity of another system. One extremely simple and dangerous form of a masquerade attack occurs when an attacker begins using an unattended and unlocked computer. In this paper, we present a new method for detecting this type of masquerade attack, based on the notion of how the current user interacts with the graphical user interface. This method does not use mouse movements or keystroke dynamics, rather profiles how the user manipulates the windows, icons, menus, and pointers that comprise a graphical user interface. In order to evaluate the performance of our method, we conducted some empirical studies in a real operational environment. We consider previously published results and present new analysis concerning the impact of several key demographical factors on the effectiveness of GUI Usage Analysis. Our results indicate that the effectiveness of GUI Usage Analysis is greater in several groups, particularly on users who spend greater amounts of time operating a computer system on an average day.
Investigating the hyperelasticity of porcine aorta under sub-failure loading

Studies on the mechanisms of traumatic aortic rupture (TAR) are limited while the behavior of blood vessels under physiological conditions has been investigated by many researchers. It is not clear whether arteries behave similarly under post-physiological pressures and deformations. In this study, samples of porcine aorta were assembled in an inflation setup capable of generating sub-failure pressures. Pressure inside the samples were increased in quasi-static and sinusoidal profiles and recorded with fiber optic pressure sensors. The deformation of aorta was captured with 2 high speed cameras in 3D. An exponential hyperelastic strain energy function was assumed and the martial parameters of the model that could explain the recorded loading-deformation behavior were derived. This model can be used in further studies on TAR and in related finite element analyses.
Olio and intègraphy as method and the consumption of death

This article discusses strategies called olio and integraphy as convenient terms for a multi-method approach to studying situations. Encompassing the familiar activities called ethnography, netnography, and symbolic analysis, as well as participant-observation and use of the media, the purpose is to integrate information, data, findings, and examples from a variety of sources in the environment that bear on topics of interest and to explicate what they mean to members of the culture, including the subjects, the researchers, and the audience. This is a classical behavioral science approach that makes explicit the role of the researcher as a participant–observer and an interpreter. It is rooted in symbolic interaction, the classic work of Mead [1934. Mind, Self, and Society, edited by Charles Morris. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press], who noted that “the reflective experience, the world, and things within it exist in the form of situations” (Becker, Howard, Blanche Geer, Everett C. Hughes, and Ansel...
Paramutation: From Maize to Mice

Paramutation is the epigenetic transfer of information from one allele of a gene to another to establish a state of gene expression that is heritable for generations. RNA has recently emerged as a prominent mediator of this remarkable phenomenon in both maize and mice.
Indirect adaptive trajectory control of MEMS LCR

This paper illustrates the application of an indirect adaptive trajectory controller for MEMS lateral comb resonators to obtain better convergence and trajectory performance. A recursive least square estimator with forgetting factor is used to estimate the parameters of MEMS in real-time. Accordingly, the control law and gains are derived to achieve high performance trajectory controls. Simulation results demonstrate a close trajectory profile and accurate parameter estimation performance.
Prediction of Compliance With an Over-the-Counter Acne Medication

As part of a larger study investigating treatment compliance with an over-the-counter acne medication, 28 undergraduates were administered the Health Belief Questionnaire (HBQ), the Self-Consciousness Scale (SCS), and a Self-Efficacy Scale (SES). Stepwise regression analyses were performed with these scales as the predictors and the following measures as criterion variables: compliance rate, change in acne severity, change in number of acne lesions, dropout, and satisfaction. Results indicate that the HBQ significantly predicted outcome on a number of measures and was a better predictor than self-consciousness or self-efficacy.
Large-scale simulation of methane hydrate dissociation along the West Spitsbergen Margin

[1] Vast quantities of methane are trapped in oceanic hydrate deposits, and there is concern that a rise in the ocean temperature will induce dissociation of these hydrate accumulations, potentially releasing large amounts of methane into the atmosphere. The recent discovery of active methane gas venting along the landward limit of the gas hydrate stability zone (GHSZ) on the shallow continental slope west of Spitsbergen could be an indication of this process, if the source of the methane can be confidently attributed to dissociating hydrates. In the first large-scale simulation study of its kind, we simulate shallow hydrate dissociation in conditions representative of the West Spitsbergen margin to test the hypothesis that the observed gas release originated from hydrates. The simulation results are consistent with this hypothesis, and are in remarkable agreement with the recently published observations. They show that shallow, low-saturation hydrate deposits, when subjected to temperature increases at the seafloor, can release significant quantities of methane, and that the releases will be localized near the landward limit of the top of the GHSZ. These results indicate the possibility that hydrate dissociation and methane release may be both a consequence and a cause of climate change.
A clinical comparison of single-piece and three-piece truncated hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lenses.

Abstract Purpose To determine the clinical differences between three-piece (3P) and single-piece (SP) truncated hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lenses (IOL). Design Retrospective cohort clinical study. Methods The setting was an academic clinical practice. The patient population consisted of subjects without confounding comorbidity that could effect central vision with at least 1-year follow-up after uncomplicated surgical placement of 3P or SP IOLs in the capsular bag and at least 20/25 best-corrected postoperative vision documented. Observation procedures were as follows: logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (LogMAR) visual acuity (uncorrected and best corrected), digital retroillumination photographs to ascertain posterior capsular opacification (PCO), anterior capsular opacification (ACO), IOL centration, and refractive stability by comparing this refraction with the early postoperative refraction. Patients completed a dysphotopsia questionnaire. Main outcome measures were as follows: LogMAR visual acuity (uncorrected and best corrected), PCO, ACO, IOL centration, refractive stability, and dysphotopsia outcomes comparing 3P and SP. Results Seventy-five patients were enrolled (36 3P and 39 SP). Corrected and uncorrected visual acuity, refractive stability, and IOL centration were similar. Single piece truncated hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lenses had more PCO ( P = .013), less ACO ( P = .001), less central flash looking at a peripheral light ( P = .044), and less unwanted images to the side of a light source ( P = .025). Conclusions Although similar in centration and refractive stability, SP has more PCO, less ACO, and less dysphotopsia than 3P.
Neurotransmitters and peptides modulate the release of immunoreactive corticotropin-releasing factor from cultured human placental cells

The substances stimulating the release of immunoreactive corticotropin-releasing factor from cultured human placental cells were investigated. Monolayer primary cultures of trophoblast cells from pregnant women at term were used. The immunoreactive corticotropin-releasing factor released in the culture medium eluted from high-performance liquid chromatography with the same retention time as human corticotropin-releasing factor. Norepinephrine and acetylcholine increased immunoreactive corticotropin-releasing factor release into the culture medium in a dose-related manner. Epinephrine was partially active, whereas dopamine and serotonin did not induce significant changes of immunoreactive corticotropin-releasing factor release from placental cultures. Angiotensin II, interleukin-1, oxytocin, and arginine-vasopressin also increased placental immunoreactive corticotropin-releasing factor release in a dose-related manner, whereas other peptides (vasoactive intestinal peptide, substance P, somatostatin, atrial natriuretic factor, interleukin-2) were ineffective. These results showed that several neurotransmitters and peptides stimulate the release of immunoreactive corticotropin-releasing factor from placental cells, suggesting their possible involvement in the physiologic regulation of placental immunoreactive corticotropin-releasing factor release during pregnancy and parturition.
Frequency Tuning of the Cervical Vestibular-Evoked Myogenic Potential (cVEMP) Recorded from Multiple Sites along the Sternocleidomastoid Muscle in Normal Human Subjects

Frequency tuning of tone burst-evoked myogenic potentials recorded from the sternocleidomastoid muscle (cervical VEMP or cVEMP) is used clinically to assess vestibular function. Understanding the characteristics of cVEMP is important for improving the specificity of cVEMP testing in diagnosing vestibular deficits. In the present study, we analyzed the frequency tuning properties of the cVEMPs by constructing detailed tuning curves and examining their morphology and dependence on SCM tonic level, sound intensity, and recording site along the SCM. Here we report two main findings. First, by employing nine tone frequencies between 125 and 4,000 Hz, some tuning curves exhibited two distinct peaks, which cannot be modeled by a single mass spring system as previously suggested. Instead, the observed tuning is better modeled as linear summation of two mass spring systems, with resonance frequencies at ~300 and ~1,000 Hz. Peak frequency of cVEMP tuning curves was not affected by SCM tonic level, sound intensity, and location of recording site on the SCM. However, sharpness of cVEMP tuning was increased at lower sound intensities. Second, polarity of cVEMP responses recorded from the lower quarter of the SCM was reversed as compared to that at the two upper sites. While more studies are needed, these results suggest that cVEMP tuning is mediated through multiple generators with different resonance frequencies. Future studies are needed to explore implications of these results on development of selective VEMP tests and determine the nature of polarity inversion at the lower quarter of SCM.
CD4+ T cell repertoire on the ε subunit of muscle acetylcholine receptor in myasthenia gravis

Abstract We have identified sequence regions of the human muscle acetylcholine receptor e subunit recognized by CD4 + T cells from myasthenia gravis patients. We tested the proliferative response in vitro of blood CD4 + cells from 18 myasthenic patients and 5 controls, to individual overlapping synthetic peptides spanning the e subunit sequence. All patients recognized a complex epitope repertoire. The peptides recognized by the CD4 + cells included sequence regions of the e subunit that were diverged as compared to the homologous sequences of the other receptor subunits. Recognition of epitopes formed by sequence regions unique to the e subunit suggests a direct role of this subunit in sensitizing the CD4 + cells. Several e subunit peptides were recognized by many patients. Thus the e subunit, like other acetylcholine receptor subunits, forms `universal' CD4 + epitopes. The healthy subjects recognized some e subunit peptides sporadically and at a low level.
Probe location in the presence of errors: a problem from DNA mapping

Abstract We consider the problem of mapping probes to locations along the genome given noisy pairwise distance data as input. The model used is quite general: The input consists of a collection of probe pairs and a distance interval for the genomic distance separating each pair. We call this the probe-location problem. Because the distance intervals are only known with some confidence level, some may be erroneous and must be identified and removed in order to find a consistent map. This is cast as the gang-filtering problem. To the author's knowledge, this is a previously unstudied combinatorial problem that can be viewed as a generalization of classical group testing. A randomized algorithm for this problem is proposed. All the algorithms were implemented and experimental results were collected for synthetic data sets (with and without errors) and real data from a region of human chromosome 4.
Admission control for multi-class ATM traffic with overflow constraints

Abstract We propose a comprehensive admission control and resource management strategy that exploits statistical multiplexing to support connections with diverse characteristics and requirements. At the first level traffic is classified into three broad categories: real-time, which has both delay and loss constraints, non-real-time, which is only loss-sensitive, and best-effort. Due to their tight delay constraints, real-time traffic cannot tolerate extensive buffering in the network. Thus the network cannot rely on the smoothing effect of buffers and must achieve small losses only by multiplexing a large number of sources so that the aggregate input rate rarely exceeds the capacity. We present an accurate estimate of the overflow probability for real-time traffic based on a theorem by Bahadur and Rao. On the other hand, existing results of large buffer asymptotics, such as effective and decoupling bandwidths, lend themselves to the analysis of non-real-time sources. We propose a simple resource allocation scheme in which service priority is given to real-time traffic. The non-real-time traffic is then buffered and served with the remaining capacity. Furthermore, we present a result that simplifies the tasks of traffic description and policing for real-time sources. We show that for fixed mean and peak rates, the on-off sources result in the largest overflow probability. Thus one can devise a call admission policy that bases its acceptance decision on these simple parameters and the worst-case assumption, such that the decision will always satisfy the quality of service constraints for arbitrary traffic distribution.
Optical Flux Analysis in a Cathode Ray Tube Scanner System

This paper describes the mathematical analysis of the light flux behavior in an optical scanner system. The system consists of a cathode ray tube (CRT) light source, a focusing lens system, a semidiffusing document plane, and several light-collecting photomultiplier tubes (PMTs). The flux intercepted by the PMTs is calculated as a function of: the position intensity distribution of the CRT source spot, the lens system’s focusing, absorbing, and vignetting properties, the document plane’s reflecting, diffusing, and absorbing properties, and the positions and orientations of the PMTs. The FORTRAN program which implemented these concepts is discussed.
Modulation of JC virus transcription by C/EBPβ

The polyomavirus JC (JCV) causes the demyelinating disease progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Infection by JCV is very common in childhood after which the virus enters a latent state, which is poorly understood. Under conditions of severe immunosuppression, especially AIDS, JCV may reactivate to cause PML. Expression of JC viral proteins is regulated by the JCV non-coding control region (NCCR), which contains an NF-κB binding site previously shown to activate transcription. We now report that C/EBPβ inhibits basal and NF-κB-stimulated JCV transcription via the same site. Gel shift analysis showed C/EBPβ bound to this region in vitro and ChIP assays confirmed this binding in vivo. Further, a ternary complex of NF-κB/p65, C/EBPβ-LIP and JCV DNA could be detected in co-immunoprecipitation experiments. Mutagenesis analysis of the JCV NCCR indicated p65 and C/EBPβ-LIP bound to adjacent but distinct sites and that both sites regulate basal and p65-stimulated transcription. Thus C/EBPβ negatively regulates JCV, which together with NF-κB activation, may control the balance between JCV latency and activation leading to PML. This balance may be regulated by proinflammatory cytokines in the brain.