cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sprint's fiber to the home planning

Sprint planners realized a fiber to the home network has the potential to offer a compelling bundle of services today and the capability to offer unmatched suite of services. The cost of fiber to home network is less. Sprint has concluded that fiber to home is the bulk new growth method of choice that may shortly replace copper twisted pair cables as the standard network for all residential and small business customers.
Reversal of left ventricular hypertrophy by antihypertensive therapy.

The effect of antihypertensive therapy on left ventricular hypertrophy due to essential hypertension was determined echocardiographicallv in 27 previously untreated subjects with essential hypertension. Fifteen were treated with hydrochlorothiazide alone, while 12 received additional therapy with methyldopa to control blood pressure. After a mean treatment interval of 11 months, mean blood pressure had fallen from 167/109 to 138/94 mm Hg ( P < 0.001). Simultaneously, echocardiographic left ventricular posterior wall thickness fell from 11 to 10 cm ( P < 0.07) and septal thickness fell from 1.3 to 1.2 cm ( P < 0.05). End-diastolic relative wall thickness, an index of concentric hypertrophy, fell from 0.50 to 0.45 ( P < 0.01, normal mean value = 0.33 ± 0.06). Estimated endsystolic left ventricular wall stress was normal both before and after treatment. No significant differences were demonstrable between the two treatment subgroups. We conclude that, in asymptomatic essential hypertension, treatment with diuretic or diuretic plus methyldopa can result in nearly complete reversal of left ventricular hypertrophy, provided that good blood pressure control is obtained.
Connectionist expert systems

Connectionist networks can be used as expert system knowledge bases. Furthermore, such networks can be constructed from training examples by machine learning techniques. This gives a way to automate the generation of expert systems for classification problems.
The glycoprotein nature of murine gamma interferon.

Synthesis of murine gamma interferon (MuIFNγ) by phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated spleen cells was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by graded concentrations of tunicamycin or 2-deoxy-glucose, both of which inhibit glycosylation. The homologous (murine) and heterologous (rat) antiviral activities of the MuIFNγ preparations secreted in the presence of the various concentrations of either glycosylation inhibitor were reduced to similar degrees. MuIFNγ synthesized in the presence of tunicamycin (tunicamycin-MuIFNγ) exhibited a lower molecular weight (MW), a lack of binding to immobilized Concanavalin-A (Con A), and different charge properties when compared to MuIFNγ produced in absence of inhibitor (control-MuIFNγ). Potent rabbit and rat neutralizing antibodies raised against a control-MuIFNγ subcomponent, isolated by its specific binding to a Con A affinity column, neutralized the antiviral activity of tunicamycin-MuIFNγ to the same degree as the immunogen.
Effects of lumbar extensor fatigue and surface inclination on postural control during quiet stance

A number of work environments require workers to perform tasks on inclined surfaces. Such tasks, along with muscle fatigue, can impair postural control and increase falling risks. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of surface inclination angle, standing direction, and lumbar extensor fatigue on postural control during quiet standing. A group of 16 young, healthy participants were tested while standing on inclined surfaces before and after lumbar extensor fatigue (induced by repetitive isotonic exercise). Three inclination angles (0°, 18° and 26°) and three standing directions (uphill, downhill, and lateral facing) were examined. Postural control was assessed using several measures derived from center-of-pressure time series and subjectively perceived stability. Significant main and interactive effects of inclination angle and standing direction were found for all dependent measures. The adverse effects of standing on inclined surfaces were found to differ between the three standing directions. In general, dose-response relationships with inclination angle were evident, particularly in the lateral-facing direction. Fatigue-related effects differed between conditions, suggesting that the adverse effect of lumbar extensor fatigue on postural control depend on inclination angle and standing direction. These findings may facilitate the development of fall prevention interventions for work involving inclined surfaces.
Systematic Trends Across the Night in Human Sleep Cycles

The durations of successive sleep cycles, defined according to NREM (stage 2) or REM onsets, were objected to trend analysis in three groups of normal subjects and in a group of elderly patients with chronic brain syndrome (CBS). NREM sleep cycles showed consistent curvilinear trends for all groups except that the trend in children was distinguished by a lengthy first NREM cycle. REM steep cycles showed quite similar curvilinear trends for the three normal age groups with the middle two cycles being longer than the first and fourth. In the CBS patients, REM sleep cycles did not show a significant trend across the night. Real-time cycles (i.e., with time awake included) manifested trends quite similar to those excluding waking. The trends in sleep cycle durations are normative characteristics of sleep which may not be apparent on a single night. A more constant cycle was found in the CBS elderly and may indicate brain pathology. Sleep cycle trends, along with such other temporal characteristics as the decline in stage 4, may provide clues to the metabolic processes which underlie the sleep EEG. They also provide a more exact basis for investigation of hypothesized biorhythm correlates of NREM-REM cycles.
Characterization of Left Heart Volumes and Mass in Normal Children and in Ifants with Intrinsic Myocardial Disease

Quantitation of myocardial volumes, mass, and ejection fractions was performed in a group of 26 patients (10 of whom were infants less than 2 years old) with normal left ventricles and in a separate group of 13 children with intrinsic myocardial disease and clinical decompensation. All patients were studied by use of biplane cineangiocardiography, and volumes were determined by the area-length method. Left ventricular end-diastolic volume in "normal" infants below 2 years of age was 44.8 ± 8.5 cc/m2, and it was 71.4 ± 8.0 cc/m2 in older normal children ( P <0.001), ages 3 to 16 years. Left ventricular ejection fraction also was different in the younger normals: 0.76 ± 0.07 versus 0.63 ± 0.05 in older normals ( P <0.001). Left ventricular mass and left atrial maximal volume were not significantly different in normal infants and older children, averaging 81.7 ± 10.0 g/m2 and 33.6 ± 10.1 cc/m2, respectively. All patients in the cardiomyopathy group had significant elevations of left ventricular end-diastolic volume and mass, and the ejection fraction was reduced in all patients except one infant with severe mitral insufficiency. Five infants with chronic left ventricular failure and no mitral insufficiency had normal left atrial maximal volumes. Left atrial maximal volumes were increased significantly in six patients with myocardial disease, all of whom had mitral insufficiency. These results emphasize the potential value of the quantitative estimation of left heart volume and provide normative base-line data for left heart volume and mass parameters in both infants and children.
Cross-country convergence in energy and electricity consumption, 1971–2007

Abstract Patterns of convergence in per-capita consumption of energy and electricity are studied from a large cross-country data set covering the period 1971–2007. Along with unconditional β-convergence, we use σ-convergence criterion and a simple model of conditional β-convergence. The exploration is done for the entire period and several subperiods. In addition to OLS for the global sample, β-convergence is studied for top and bottom deciles through quantile regressions. Ten points are noted. First, global convergence in energy consumption is generally weak. Second, convergence in electricity usage is strong in most cases. Third, despite some variations, the patterns are fairly similar across the four periods. Fourth, energy convergence in both top and bottom deciles is generally weak, but there are some variations. Fifth, for electricity, convergence is noted in the top, but not in the bottom, decile. Sixth, unconditional β-convergence patterns are consistent with σ-convergence scenarios. Seventh, as is usually noted, convergence is more marked in conditional β-format than in the unconditional models. However, interpretation of conditional convergence in usage of energy or electricity is somewhat ambiguous. Eighth, weak convergence in energy usage might reflect a modestly larger increase in low-usage contexts relative to high-usage cases, and might not be of concern from the sustainability perspective. Ninth, strong convergence in electricity usage is associated with a much higher rate of global increase than the weakly-convergent energy usage. Last, the difference in convergence patterns for energy- and electricity-usage seems to merit further exploration.
Optical-model analysis of 38 MeV 3He elastic scattering extended into the backward hemisphere

Abstract Angular distributions for 3He elastic scattering, have been measured to 155° at 37.7 MeV on 48Ti, 58Fe and 90Zr, and at 36.8, 37.4, 37.5 and 38.1 MeV on 58Ni. These have been analysed in terms of the optical model. Ambiguities in the real well depth and in the geometrical form of the imaginary potential have been studied. The usefulness of a surface-peaked imaginary potential, particularly in fitting the backward angle data, is indicated by these analyses. The utility of a spin-orbit term in fitting large angle data was investigated. Multiset fits were performed to the data. No conclusions concerning the necessity of either an isospin or asymmetry term in the optical potential at these energies could be drawn. Other information gained from extending 3He elastic scattering measurements into the backward hemisphere is discussed.
Effect of pH and dissolved organic matter on the abundance of nirK and nirS denitrifiers in spruce forest soil

Acid N depositions in the Bohemian Forest during the second half of the last century caused enormous soil acidification which led to the leaching of essential nutrients including nitrates. We investigated the effect of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and pH on the abundance of 16S RDNA, nirK and nirS gene copies in four spruce forest sites. Soil samples for molecular based quantification (qPCR) were taken from the organic litter and humus layers. The amounts of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved nitrogen (DN) were much lower in highly acidified soils. We found a strong correlation between nirK denitrifiers and the amount of available P (r = 0.83, p < 0.001), which suggested a higher nutrient sensitivity of this group of denitrifying bacteria. Additionally, we found that correlations between the amount of nirK denitrifiers and DOC and pH are exponentional showing two important threshold values, being 4.8 mol kg−1 and 5, respectively. The amount of nirK denitrifiers rapidly decreased below these values. The amount of nirK and nirS denitrifiers was higher in the organic litter horizon than the organic humus horizon at all sampling sites.
On a Question of G. E. Sacks

In [1], p. 171, Sacks asks (question (Q5)) whether there is a recursively enumerable degree of unsolvability d such that for all n ≧ 0. Sacks points out that the set of conditions which d must satisfy is not arithmetical. For this reason he suggests that a proof of (Q5) might require some new combinatorial device. The purpose of this note is to show how (Q5) may be proved simply by extending the methods of [l]. 2
Abundance and Recruitment of Juvenile Atlantic Sturgeon in the Altamaha River, Georgia

Abstract Juvenile Atlantic sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus remain in natal rivers for several years prior to out-migrating to marine environments during later portions of their life history. Data regarding river-resident juvenile population dynamics are unknown. During the summers of 2004–2007, we performed mark–recapture of juvenile Atlantic sturgeon in the Altamaha River to assess age-specific abundance, apparent survival, per capita recruitment, and factors influencing recruitment. Estimates indicated that juvenile abundance ranged from 1,072 to 2,033 individuals, and age-1 and age-2 individuals comprised greater than 87% of the juvenile population, while age-3 or older individuals constituted less than 13% of the population. Estimates of apparent survival and per capita recruitment from Pradel models indicated that the juvenile population experienced high annual turnover: apparent survival rates were low (<33%), and per capita recruitment was high (0.82–1.38). Fall discharge, which had a positive relati...
Exploring power in multicultural counselling encounters

Power is a central dynamic in multicultural encounters. Yet many people, especially counsellors, are reluctant to discuss their experiences with power and what it means to them. As a result, power remains an often unspoken, disturbing issue in multicultural counselling and counsellor education. This article addresses this silence by: a) clarifying the relationship between power and cultural racism; b) discussing what counsellors need to know about power; c) presenting an experiential “powerlab” that counsellor educators and trainers may use to explore various aspects of power; and d) suggesting a processing format, issues and supportive resources for debriefing this exercise.
Adolescent egocentrism: a comparison among adolescents and adults.

Abstract Reformulation of adolescent egocentrism suggests that personal fable and imaginary audience ideations extend into adulthood. To test this proposition, adolescents (aged 14–18) and adults (aged 20–89) completed subscales of the adolescent egocentrism, self-consciousness and interpersonal reactivity scales. An across scale comparison first ensured that adolescent egocentrism measures were comparable across age. Next, MANOVAs revealed higher egocentrism scores for adolescentsvs. adults (p
Absence of inflation symmetric commensurate states in inflation symmetric networks

In this paper we present measurements of the normal-to superconducting phase boundary T c (H) for three different networks possessing inflation symmetry. Fluxoid quantization constraints induce the formation of a lattice of fluxoid quanta for any non-zero perpendicular magnetic field, and at particular fields, T c (H) exhibits cusp-like structure indicating that the lattice is commensurate with the underlying network geometry. For inflation symmetric netrvorks studied in the past, all commensurate states have always been related to the inflation symmetry. In the three networks studied here, none of the commensurate phase boundary structure derives from the inflation symmetry. We propose that this structure can instead be understood by considering the Fourier transform of the network geometry and that the transform actually provides a more universal prescription for the identification of commensurate states. The relevance of the transform (as opposed to the inflation symmetry) in determining commensurate states in two dimensions is consistent with analytical work performed for one dimensional systems
Bifurcation analysis of a non-cooperative differential game with one weak player

We study a bifurcation problem for a system of two differential equations in implicit form. For each value of the parameter θ, the solution yields a pair of Nash equilibrium strategies in feedback form, for a non-cooperative differential game. When θ=0, the second player has no power to influence the dynamics of the system, and his optimal strategy is myopic. The game thus reduces to an optimal control problem for the first player. By studying the bifurcation in the solutions to the corresponding system of Hamilton–Jacobi equations, one can establish existence and multiplicity of solutions to the differential game, as θ becomes strictly positive.
PREFACE: SNAKE VENOMS and HEMOSTASIS

In this special series of Toxin Reviews I have invited leading authorities who have played important roles in the advancement of their fields of toxinology and hemostasis to contribute chapters to ...
Speed/accuracy relations: The kinetic–kinematic link and predictions for rapid timing tasks

Recent accounts of the speed/accuracy relation for motor tasks have focused on the concept of motor output variability. We outline the advantages of this approach and the limitation of Plamondon's model in explaining movement error. We also examine and present complimentary data for rapid timing tasks. While these tasks do not meet the presented assumptions, the data still fit the model predictions.
Nutrition and Lower Urinary Tract Disease in Cats

Lower urinary tract disease occurs commonly in cats and is often associated with crystal-related disease. Dietary modification is beneficial in managing some of these diseases, including idiopathic cystitis, urolithiasis, and urethral matrix-crystalline plugs. Altering dietary formulation may result in decreasing urinary concentrations of crystallogenic compounds, increasing urinary concentrations fo crystallogenic inhibitors, and diluting urine composition.
Bounds on the size of branch-and-bound proofs for integer knapsacks

Using a direct counting argument, we derive lower and upper bounds for the number of nodes enumerated by linear programming-based branch-and-bound(B&B) method to prove the integer infeasibility of a knapsack. We prove by example that the size of the B&Btree could be exponential in the worst case.
An experimental evaluation of a novel sequential beamspace smart antenna system

This paper presents an experimental evaluation of a novel and innovative sequential beamspace (SBS) smart antenna system. The system is capable of accurate direction of arrival (DOA) estimation in beamspace and efficient element space beamforming. Moreover, the robust functionality of such a system includes high resolution radio frequency (RF) emitter DOA estimation and beamforming in a noisy environment in the presence of strong interference. The beamspace DOA estimation accuracy, beamforming pattern, and output signal quality have been thoroughly studied and quantified. The algorithms have been tailored to utilize an 8 element uniform circular array (UCA) and an 8 channel analog beamformer (BF) operating at 5.8 GHz to gather lab-based experimental results. The previously completed simulations in [1], and the experimental results herein show that the proposed system can achieve good performance once it is properly synchronized using a time delay correction filter. In addition, a significant decrease in hardware is realized when operating in beamspace versus element space.
The use of conditional probability analysis to identify a response chain leading to the occurrence of eye poking

In contrast to the literature on shaping adaptive behavior chains, few applied studies have described procedures for identifying and treating behavior chains involving problem behavior such as self-injury. The present study expands upon past work by conducting a conditional probability analysis and within-session analysis to identify a response chain leading to the occurrence of self-injurious behavior. Based on the hypothesis that stereotypy and self-injury constituted a response chain, the effects of blocking stereotypy were examined. Reductions in both self-injury and in response effort for treatment implementation were observed.
Intracranial EEG power and metabolism in human epilepsy.

Summary EEG power and high frequency activity in the seizure onset zone has been increasingly considered for its relationship with seizures in animal and human studies of epilepsy. We examine the relationship between quantitative EEG measures and metabolic imaging in epilepsy patients undergoing intracranial EEG (icEEG) analysis for seizure localization. Patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) and neocortical epilepsy (NE) were studied. Metabolic imaging was performed with MR spectroscopic imaging using N-acetyl aspartate (NAA) and creatine (Cr). All data were acquired from the mesial temporal lobe such that a direct comparison of the same anatomical regions between the two groups could be performed. While no difference was seen in the total power recorded from the mesial temporal lobe, the MTLE group had significantly greater power in the high frequency bands. There was a significant positive exponential relationship between total icEEG power with NAA/Cr in MTLE, R =+0.84 and p R =−0.66 and p
Nest, but Not Egg, Fidelity in a Territorial Salamander

Egg recognition and subsequent egg brooding are costly forms of parental investment in many species of vertebrates. Life history factors, such as coloniality or risk of brood parasitism, may constrain egg recognition in vertebrates. Female red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) from my study site are territorial and do not share nest sites with other females. They are terrestrial and neither they nor their eggs are likely to be displaced by environmental factors such as flooding. I experimentally tested, in the laboratory, the hypothesis that female red-backed salamanders can discriminate between their own eggs and the eggs of unfamiliar females. Each female was allowed to move about a test chamber containing two clutches of eggs, one clutch with which it was found in the forest and one that had been found with a distant female. Most females remained with one clutch of eggs, which they brooded during the entire observation period. However, they did not significantly prefer to brood their own eggs over the eggs of another female. In a corollary field experiment, I tested whether brooding females that were displaced 1 m from their nest sites would return to their territories and commence brooding behaviour within 3 d. All 10 displaced females returned to their own nest within this time period and were found brooding their eggs. Because female red-backed salamanders at my study site do not tend to share nest sites with other females and because their eggs remain in stationary nests, selection may not have favoured egg recognition. However, the results suggest that female salamanders indirectly recognize their own eggs by actively recognizing their territorial nest sites.
Isotope Shift in the Spectrum of Neutral Lead

The isotope shift and the ${\mathrm{Pb}}^{207}$ h.f.s. in nine of the strongest PbI lines in the violet and ultraviolet regions have been measured, using material enriched in the 204 isotope. For all lines with measurable structure the 204-206 interval is less than the 206-208 interval. In the resonance line $\ensuremath{\lambda}2833$ and in $\ensuremath{\lambda}3639$, for both of which the measurements are almost completely unaffected by superposed h.f.s., the ratio of the 204-206 to the 206-208 interval is 0.89 and 0.82 respectively. The average of our observations and others for the staggering of the center of gravity of the 207 components for all lines is about 0.63 for the ratio of the 206-207 and 207-208 intervals. Isotope splitting of about 0.050 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ in the $6p6d$ levels contributes further evidence of perturbations by $6p7s$ and $6p8s$ levels. The staggering is discussed in terms of Breit's theory of polarizability of nuclei by electrons. These Pb isotope shifts indicate decreasing nuclear stability in the progression 204 to 208.
Significance of Doppler indices of diastolic filling of the left ventricle: comparison with invasive hemodynamics in a canine model.

Doppler measurements of mitral flow velocity curves have been proposed as a method for characterizing diastolic filling of the left ventricle. Different velocity curves have been empirically described in different disease states and under differing loading conditions in humans, but relating these various Doppler parameters to hemodynamic measurements of ventricular diastolic properties has not been fully elucidated. The effect of differing loading conditions (preload reduction, preload increase, afterload increase) on the Doppler mitral flow velocity and high-fidelity left atrial-left ventricular pressures was examined in seven closed-chest, anesthetized dogs. Preload reduction by balloon inflation in the inferior vena cave resulted in significant decreases in E velocity (early diastolic velocity) from 0.39 ± 0.09 m/sec to 0.29 ± 0.10 m/sec (p < 0.01) and prolongation of deceleration time from 131 ± 18 msec to 165 ± 60 msec (p < 0.05). Preload increase by infusion of fluids resulted in a significant increase in E velocity from 0.39 ± 0.09 m/sec to 0.49 ± 0.10 m/sec (p < 0.001) and shortening of the deceleration time from 131 ± 18 msec to 95 ± 15 msec (p < 0.001). The effect of afterload increase was variable and was dependent upon the left atrial pressure. Significant but weak positive correlations were noted between E velocity and maximal left atrial-left ventricular pressure gradient (r = 0.47, p < 0.001) and total change in left ventricular pressure (r = 0.68, p < 0.001), with inverse relationships between the deceleration time and these parameters. There was no overall relationship between the time constant tau and the E velocity, but an inverse relationship emerged when the data were examined according to different filling pressures. These results indicate that none of the mitral velocity measurements should be directly equated with other measurements of diastolic function. However, distinct velocity curves emerged under differing loading conditions that help in interpreting the meaning of these curves.
Reference service without the desk

Purpose – This article aims to describe how a college library critically examined its maintenance of a traditional reference desk for in‐person services and changed its service model to suit local needs.Design/methodology/approach – The author examined quantitative and qualitative reference use data prior to changing the service model, and the purpose of reference services was formally articulated. Following the change the author again examined use data, conducted a convenience sample survey, and measured visits to the web site.Findings – The author came to the conclusion that while maintaining in‐person reference was important for the library, a separate desk was not the best means of providing service at the college. Following the change to the service model, use of reference and consultation services dramatically increased.Originality/value – The new on‐call, consultative reference service model is described, as is a description of how they managed the change process internally, how they marketed refer...
PARTITION COEFFICIENTS OF SOME ANTIBIOTICS, PEPTIDES AND AMINO ACIDS IN LIQUID-LIQUID PARTITIONING OF THE ACETONITRILE-WATER SYSTEM AT SUBZERO TEMPERATURES

Liquid-liquid equilibrium (LLE) occurs at a subzero temperature for the acetonitrile-water binary system. When the equilibrium temperature is below its LLE critical temperature of − 1.32°C, the top phase is acetonitrile-rich and the bottom phase water-rich. It was observed that a human growth hormone analog with 191 amino acids partitioned exclusively into the bottom phase and its bioactivity was retained. This suggests that the liquid-liquid partition system can be used for bioseparations. The new system gives a different selectivity and the low temperature environment offers better stabilities for biomolecules compared to conventional solvent extraction systems. This work presented the partition coefficients of some biomolecules including trypsin, thyroglobulin, transferrin, ribonuclease A; L-phenylalanine, L-tryptophan; val-ala-ala-phe, phe-gly-gly-phe; erythromycin, chloramphenicol, vancomycin, spiramycin, gramicidin D, cycloheximide, fusidic acid, antimycin and tetracycline. Temperature and pH effect...
Essential Oil of Anemopsis californica Part II: Minor Constituents

The minor constituents of the essential oil hydrodistilled from the roots and rhizomes of Anemopsis californica (Nutt.) Hook and Arn. (Fam. Saururaceae) have been isolated by gas chromatography on two stationary phases: polypropylene glycol adipate and polyethylene glycol. The isolated compounds were identified by the comparison of their LR spectra with those of pure authentic compounds. Esdragol, thymolmethylether, linalool, p-cymene, 1,8-cineol, d-limonene, camphene and α- and β-pinene have been shown to be present in the oil. In addition, the presence of two ketones, a sec alcohol, tentatively identified as 1-methyl-4-isopropyl-6-hydroxy-bicyclo (3:1:0) hexane, an ester, and six hydrocarbons is also indicated on the basis of the IR spectra of the corresponding fractions.
Discrimination between structurally related ligands nitrate and nitrite controls autokinase activity of the NarX transmembrane signal transducer of Escherichia coli K‐12

Anaerobic respiratory gene expression in Escherichia coli is differentially controlled by nitrate and nitrite through dual interacting two-component regulatory systems. The NarX sensor is one of two membrane-spanning sensor kinases that control the phosphorylation state of two DNA-binding response regulators. We have studied NarX autophosphorylation in crude membrane preparations from cells that overexpress NarX protein. The low basal autophosphorylation rate was stimulated about sixfold and threefold by nitrate and nitrite respectively. This demonstrates that nitrate and nitrite differentially activate NarX autokinase activity. We also isolated single-residue substitutions in NarX that affect its ability to respond to or discriminate between nitrate and nitrite. Most of these substitutions affect residues within the conserved P-box sequence in the periplasmic domain. We characterized several of the mutants in vivo, by monitoring ligand-regulated gene expression, and in vitro, by monitoring ligand-responsive autophosphorylation. At least one change, K491 (Lys at position 49 changed to Ile), resulted in a protein with greatly impaired ability to discriminate between nitrate and nitrite. Other changes (H45E and R59K) resulted in proteins that responded normally to nitrate but were unable to respond to nitrite. These results implicate the P-box region in discrimination between subtly different small molecules.
Saturated Fatty Acid Activates but Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Inhibits Toll-like Receptor 2 Dimerized with Toll-like Receptor 6 or 1

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and TLR2 agonists from bacterial origin require acylated saturated fatty acids in their molecules. Previously, we reported that TLR4 activation is reciprocally modulated by saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids in macrophages. However, it is not known whether fatty acids can modulate the activation of TLR2 or other TLRs for which respective ligands do not require acylated fatty acids. A saturated fatty acid, lauric acid, induced NFκB activation when TLR2 was co-transfected with TLR1 or TLR6 in 293T cells, but not when TLR1, 2, 3, 5, 6, or 9 was transfected individually. An n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)) suppressed NFκB activation and cyclooxygenase-2 expression induced by the agonist for TLR2, 3, 4, 5, or 9 in a macrophage cell line (RAW264.7). Because dimerization is considered one of the potential mechanisms for the activation of TLR2 and TLR4, we determined whether the fatty acids modulate the dimerization. However, neither lauric acid nor DHA affected the heterodimerization of TLR2 with TLR6 as well as the homodimerization of TLR4 as determined by co-immunoprecipitation assays in 293T cells in which these TLRs were transiently overexpressed. Together, these results demonstrate that lauric acid activates TLR2 dimers as well as TLR4 for which respective bacterial agonists require acylated fatty acids, whereas DHA inhibits the activation of all TLRs tested. Thus, responsiveness of different cell types and tissues to saturated fatty acids would depend on the expression of TLR4 or TLR2 with either TLR1 or TLR6. These results also suggest that inflammatory responses induced by the activation of TLRs can be differentially modulated by types of dietary fatty acids.
Characterization of Molecular Recognition Features, MoRFs, and Their Binding Partners

Molecular Recognition Features (MoRFs) are short, interaction-prone segments of protein disorder that undergo disorder-to-order transitions upon specific binding, representing a specific class of intrinsically disordered regions that exhibit molecular recognition and binding functions. MoRFs are common in various proteomes and occupy a unique structural and functional niche in which function is a direct consequence of intrinsic disorder. Example MoRFs collected from the Protein Data Bank (PDB) have been divided into three subtypes according to their structures in the bound state: α-MoRFs form α-helices, β-MoRFs form β-strands, and ι-MoRFs form structures without a regular pattern of backbone hydrogen bonds. These example MoRFs were indicated to be intrinsically disordered in the absence of their binding partners by several criteria. In this study we used several geometric and physiochemical criteria to examine the properties of 62 α-, 20 β- and 176 ι-MoRF complex structures. Interface residues were examined by calculating differences in accessible surface area between the complex and isolated monomers. The compositions and physiochemical properties of MoRF and MoRF partner interface residues were compared to the interface residues of homodimers, heterodimers, and antigen-antibody complexes. Our analysis indicates that there are significant differences in residue composition and several geometric and physicochemical properties that can be used to discriminate, with a high degree of accuracy, between various interfaces in protein interaction datasets. Implications of these findings for the development of MoRF-partner interaction predictors are discussed. In addition, structural changes upon MoRF-to-partner complex formation were examined for several illustrative examples.
Age-dependent extinction of thyrotropin-releasing hormone in the human cerebellum

Immunoreactive TRH was quantified in eight regions of the cerebellum as well as in the medulla, pons, and hypothalamus of the fetal and adult human brain. High levels of TRH were detected in the fetal cerebellum, ranging from 216 ± 103 pg/mg protein (mean ± SD) in the deep cerebellar nuclei to 591 ± 153 pg/mg protein in the anterior vermis. The concentrations of TRH were significantly greater (P < 0.001) in each of the eight regions of the cerebellum of the fetal brain than in the corresponding regions of the adult brain. The magnitude of the difference between adult and fetal cerebellar levels ranged from an 18-fold difference in the deep cerebellar nuclei to more than a 100-fold difference in the anterior hemisphere. However, the TRH levels in pons and medulla were similar among fetuses and adults, and the TRH concentration in the adult hypothalamus was significantly higher (P < 0.01) than that in the fetal hypothalamus. The TRH levels in adult rat hypothalami were extremely stable for several hours pos...
Comparing a Computer-based Childhood Vaccination Registry with Parental Vaccination Cards: A Population-based Study of Delaware Children

We conducted a population-based study in Delaware to examine the reliability of childhood vaccination data in a comprehensive computer-based record system versus parental vaccination cards. We sampled 1,005 children born betweenJanuary, 1991, and September, 1993. We oversampled for children whose mothers received Medicaid or were uninsured at the time of delivery. Of the survey responders, 276 (56%) had access to written records, and 409 (83%) records were located in the Delaware immunization computer database. The kappa coefficient was 0.18. The observed agreement was 59.8%. When the two databases were combined, the up-to-date rate for 2-year-olds was 58.4%, an increase of 12.7% and 24.2% from the computer database and the parental records, respectively. The computer database was 78.1% sensitive and the parental records were 54.9% sensitive. These results indicate that a comprehensive computer-based record system, with adequate provider participation and proper data management, can be more reliable than ...
Preferences among lifetime distributions of systems of components

Let {Xi} be independent HNBUE (Harmonic New Better Than Used in Expectation) random variables and let {Yi} be independent exponential random variables such that E(Xi) = E(Yi), i = 1, ...., n. Assume two series systems are constructed: one with lifetimes {Xi} and the other with lifetimes {Yi}. If the systems are equally costly, we show any risk averse decision-maker will prefer the HNBUE system. Parallel systems are investigated under similar assumptions.
A salt-bridge controlled by ligand binding modulates the hydrolysis reaction in a GH5 endoglucanase

the unliganded wild-type structure. The structure of the enzyme solved in complex with a cleavage product (cellobiose) revealed ligand-induced conformational changes in the loop carrying Glu140 (proton donor). The reorientation of Glu140 in the complex reduces the separation of the catalytic glutamate residues to 4.3 A˚. In this study, we took advantage of conventional and steered molecular dynamics (MD) simulations along with in silico and in vitro mutagenesis to investigate the ligand-induced changes of the enzyme and interactions involved in preservation of Cel5B conformations in the presence and absence of substrate. We determined that the variation in separation of catalytic glutamates in the absence and presence of substrate is due to the different protonation states of the proton donor glutamate that is largely governed by conformational changes in the b3a3 loop. In the absence of substrate, the conformation of Cel5B is preserved by an electrostatic interaction between deprotonated Glu140 and protonated His91. The ion pair is interrupted upon the binding of substrate, and the positional displacement of the b3a3 loop allows Glu140 to become oriented within the active site in a less hydrophilic microenvironment that assists in Glu140 protonation.
Autoimmune progesterone dermatitis in a patient with endometriosis: case report and review of the literature

Autoimmune progesterone dermatitis (APD) is a condition in which the menstrual cycle is associated with a number of skin findings such as urticaria, eczema, angioedema, and others. In affected women, it occurs 3–10 days prior to the onset of menstrual flow, and resolves 2 days into menses. Women with irregular menses may not have this clear correlation, and therefore may be missed. We present a case of APD in a woman with irregular menses and urticaria/angioedema for over 20 years, who had not been diagnosed or correctly treated due to the variable timing of skin manifestations and menses. In addition, we review the medical literature in regards to clinical features, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment options.
Echoes of Leadership Education: Reflections on Failure, Forgetting, and Our Future.

Despite the popularity of leadership education on college campuses, little is known about what individual participants learn and remember. This longitudinal study examines the impact of a leadership education retreat through the eyes of six undergraduate college men. Entry and exit interviews, along with intensive one and two year follow-up interviews, were conducted. Cross case analysis reveals that leadership identity was reshaped by perceived personal failure during crisis. Longitudinal analysis suggests that students attribute improved leadership capabilities less to leadership education than to their own development and leadership experiences. This study questions the value of stand-alone or shortterm leadership education models and suggests new curricular approaches to leadership education that incorporate potential future crucible experiences.
Regulation of photolyase in Escherichia coli K-12 during adenine deprivation.

DNA photolyase, a DNA repair enzyme encoded by the phr gene of Escherichia coli, is normally regulated at 10 to 20 active molecules per cell. In purA mutants deprived of adenine, this amount increased sixfold within 2 h. Operon fusions placing lacZ under transcriptional control of phr promoters indicated no change in transcription rate during adenine deprivation, and gene fusions of phr with lacZ showed a nearly constant level of translation as well. Immunoblot analysis indicated that the total amount of photolyase protein remained constant during enzyme amplification. On the other hand, treatment of cells with chloramphenicol during the adenine deprivation prevented any increase. DNA regions lying 1.3 to 4.2 kb upstream of the phr coding sequences were necessary for this amplification to occur and for this purpose would function in trans. These results suggest that adenine deprivation leads to a posttranslational change, involving synthesis of protein encoded by sequences lying upstream of phr, which increases photolyase activity. The amplification in activity was found to be reversible, for when adenine was restored, the photolyase activity declined before cell growth resumed. Images
Winning the Eight-Hour Day, 1909–1919

The American workers' quest for an eight-hour day finally came to an end around 1919. I argue that the most important factors behind the rapid decline in manufacturing hours in the decade before 1919 include the rapid expansion of the economy, which increased wages and drew new participants into the manufacturing sector; the reduction of immigration during the war; the growth in organized labor's strength; federal and state legislation that mandated reduced work weeks; and the electrification of the manufacturing sector.
Enhanced apoptosis and radiosensitization by combined 13-CIS-retinoic acid and interferon-α2a; role of RAR-β gene

Abstract Purpose: Combined use of 13- cis -retinoic acid (cRA) and interferon-α2a (IFNα) induced significant radiosensitization in human cervical cancer ME-180 cell line, whereas it failed to achieve similar radiation enhancement in HeLa cells. The differential radiosensitization could be from the difference of retinoic acid receptor (RAR) expression because RAR-β was highly expressed in ME-180 cells in contrast to the HeLa cells where RAR-β was not detectable. We examined the role of this gene in mediating radiosensitization by cRA and IFNα, and explored the mechanism of radiation-induced cell killing. Methods and Materials: Human cervical cancer cell lines, ME-180 and HeLa, were treated with cRA and IFNα followed by radiation. Apoptosis and radiosensitization were quantitated by TUNEL assay ( in situ DNA nick end labeling) and colony-forming ability of surviving cells. The cells were transfected with bcl-2 gene and RAR-β gene to test the role of these genes in mediating radiosensitization and apoptosis. Results: Synergistic radiosensitization and apoptosis was observed by combined use of cRA and IFNα with radiation in ME-180 cells which express high level of RAR-β mRNA, whereas these were not seen in HeLa cells where RAR-β mRNA is not detectable. Both radiosensitization and apoptosis were abolished by bcl-2 gene in ME-180 cells. RAR-β gene transfection induced similar radiation enhancement and apoptosis in HeLa cells. Conclusion: Apoptosis and radiation response were enhanced in the cells with high level of RAR-β mRNA expression. The RAR-β gene appears to mediate the radiation-induced apoptosis by cRA and IFNα. These findings indicate that presence of RAR-β in the cancer cells could be exploited for patient selection in using these drugs for apoptosis and radiosensitization.
Effect of multiple via structure on upstream electromigration in copper interconnect

Upstream Electromigration (EM) was studied on different multiple via structures. Better EM performance of structure with more via was observed. Via layout affects the current density distribution and resistance change under EM stress. Failure analysis showed different EM failure modes in these structures. EM performances were demonstrated to be dependent on current density and Cu diffusion pattern.
Cooperative base pair melting by helicase and polymerase positioned one nucleotide from each other

Leading strand DNA synthesis requires functional coupling between replicative helicase and DNA polymerase (DNAP) enzymes, but the structural and mechanistic basis of coupling is poorly understood. This study defines the precise positions of T7 helicase and T7 DNAP at the replication fork junction with single-base resolution to create a structural model that explains the mutual stimulation of activities. Our 2-aminopurine studies show that helicase and polymerase both participate in DNA melting, but each enzyme melts the junction base pair partially. When combined, the junction base pair is melted cooperatively provided the helicase is located one nucleotide ahead of the primer-end. The synergistic shift in equilibrium of junction base pair melting by combined enzymes explains the cooperativity, wherein helicase stimulates the polymerase by promoting dNTP binding (decreasing dNTP Km), polymerase stimulates the helicase by increasing the unwinding rate-constant (kcat), consequently the combined enzymes unwind DNA with kinetic parameters resembling enzymes translocating on single-stranded DNA.
Single-person controlled diffusions with discounted costs

This paper describes a class of single-person controlled one-dimensional diffusion processes where the control is a vector-valued function on the state space, which is a compact interval of the real line. These processes generate costs, and the optimal control problem is to choose an admissible control that minimizes expected discounted costs. The major results are necessary and sufficient conditions for a control to be optimal as well as characterizations of the expected costs corresponding to an optimal control. This paper also established sufficient conditions for the existence of piecewise-continuous optimal controls.
VEGF Is Crucial for the Hepatic Vascular Development Required for Lipoprotein Uptake

Hepatic lipid catabolism begins with the transport of lipoprotein remnants from the sinusoidal vasculature into hepatocytes by endocytosis via microvilli. To test the hypothesis that fenestrated sinusoidal endothelial cells (SECs) are crucial for this process, we selectively disrupted SECs by downregulating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling, using hepatocyte-specific, tetracycline-regulatable expression of a VEGF receptor that can sequester VEGF but cannot relay its signal. Newborn mutant livers appeared grossly normal, but displayed a dark-red color that was distinguishable from normal physiological lipid-rich pink livers. Mutant sinusoidal networks were reduced and their SECs lacked fenestrae. Hepatocellular lipid levels were profoundly reduced, as determined by Oil Red O staining and transmission electron microscopy, and fewer hepatocytic microvilli were evident, indicating impaired lipoprotein endocytosis. Levels of apolipoprotein (APO) E bound to mutant sinusoidal networks were significantly reduced, and fluorescently-labeled murine remnant lipoproteins injected into the blood stream failed to accumulate in the space of Disse and diffuse into hepatocytes, providing evidence that reduced hepatocellular lipid levels in mutant livers are due to impaired lipoprotein uptake. Temporal downregulation of VEGF signaling revealed that it is crucial at all developmental stages of hepatic vascular morphogenesis, and repression of the dominant-negative effect can rescue the phenotype. These findings provide the first genetic evidence that VEGF dynamically regulates SEC fenestration during liver organogenesis, a process that is required for lipoprotein uptake by the liver.