cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multimodality in the superior colliculus: an information theoretic analysis.

Abstract The deep superior colliculus (DSC) integrates multisensory input and triggers an orienting movement toward the source of stimulation (target). It would seem reasonable to suppose that input of an additional modality should always increase the amount of information received by a DSC neuron concerning a target. However, of all DSC neurons studied, only about one half in the cat and one-quarter in the monkey were multimodal. The rest received only unimodal input. Multimodal DSC neurons show the properties of multisensory enhancement, in which the neural response to an input of one modality is augmented by input of another modality, and of inverse effectiveness, in which weaker unimodal responses produce a higher percentage enhancement. Previously, we demonstrated that these properties are consistent with the hypothesis that DSC neurons use Bayes’ rule to compute the posterior probability that a target is present given their stochastic sensory inputs. Here we use an information theoretic analysis of our Bayesian model to show that input of an additional modality may indeed increase target information, but only if input received from the initial modality does not completely reduce uncertainty concerning the presence of a target. Unimodal DSC neurons may be those whose unimodal input fully reduces target uncertainty and therefore have no need for input of another modality.
Ozone decomposition over manganese oxide supported on ZrO2 and TiO2: a kinetic study using in situ laser Raman spectroscopy

Abstract Ozone decomposition on ZrO2- and TiO2-supported manganese oxide was studied using in situ laser Raman spectroscopy along with simultaneous steady-state kinetic measurements. The Raman spectra showed the presence of an adsorbed peroxide species for both catalysts under reaction conditions. The experimental data were well represented by a nonuniform surface kinetic treatment that assumed that the activation energies of adsorption and desorption were linear functions of the surface coverage of the peroxide species. Steady-state reaction rates were monitored for varying ozone partial pressure (0.6–3 kPa) and temperature (293–343 K). The reaction order with respect to ozone partial pressure for the ZrO2-supported sample was 0.98 and that for the TiO2-supported sample was 0.85. At zero surface coverage of the peroxide species, the activation energy for adsorption was 6 and 7 kJ/mol for the ZrO2- and TiO2-supported catalysts, respectively. The activation energies for desorption at zero coverage were 62 and 44 kJ/mol, respectively, for the same catalysts. The difference in ozone decomposition activity for the catalysts was primarily due to the difference in desorption kinetic parameters.
One Editor's Look Back at the JID

When I accepted the offer of editorship of the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, I had no idea of the commitment of time and energy that would be required to fulfill that responsibility. I had talked with Ruth Freinkel, my predecessor, but I must not have been a good listener. Fortunately, I had excellent assistant editors and a strongly supportive editorial board. I quickly recognized that there were some serious issues that needed to be addressed. These included limited financial resources as a result of the small size of the American and European societies that published the Journal; the lack of significant advertising revenue; and the increasing number of high-caliber manuscripts that were being submitted. There was a period of time when we were unable to publish some papers that had been approved by the reviewers and associate editors for lack of space. We had instituted page charges to try to increase our revenue, but that produced very little income. I am not sure whether the change in the color of the cover to gray was to match the color of the bags under my eyes from lack of sleep or my mood over not being able to do the job as well as I thought it should be done. Two things helped to change the situation: growth of the societies sponsoring the JID — the Society for Investigative Dermatology (SID) and the European Society for Dermatological Research (ESDR) — and engagement of a new publisher who provided us with additional pages without more cost to the Journal.
The relative importance of left atrial function versus dimension in predicting atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common complication after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. The purpose of this study was to determine whether pre-existing left atrial dysfunction is a predictor of postoperative AF compared with other clinical predictors. Methods Ninety-three patients undergoing CABG were prospectively studied. Intraoperatively, transesophageal echocardiography was performed to measure left atrial size, transmitral flow velocity, and other routine parameters. Left atrial function was estimated by the following formula: Atrial index = Transmitral VTI total × LAEF/Left atrial maximal area (where VTI = velocity time integral of E and A waves, LAEF = left atrial ejection fraction). The association of potential clinical predictors with the occurrence of postoperative AF was evaluated by χ2 or Fisher exact tests, followed by stepwise multivariate logistic regression model. P values and odds ratios (OR) with 95% CIs were reported. Significance was set at P <.05. Results Postoperative AF occurred in 28 of 93 patients (30.1%). Patients with postoperative AF were older (67.0 ± 8.3 vs 61.5 ± 9.6 years, P =.0075), had larger left atrial maximal area (14.3 ± 4.6 cm2 vs 10.9 ± 4.3 cm2, P <.001), lower atrial index (0.54 ± 0.56 vs 0.82 ± 0.64, P =.008), larger body surface area (BSA) (OR 57, 95% CI 3.97-827), longer aortic cross-clamp time (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.00-1.05), and more likely to have a postoperative myocardial infarction (OR 3.28, 95% CI 0.99-10.87) compared with those without AF. By multivariate analysis, only age (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.04–1.19, P =.002) and atrial dimension (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.03–2.96, P =.038) were significant independent predictors of postoperative AF. Body surface area also increased the odds of postoperative AF, but the CI was wide (OR 114, 95% CI 4.65–2810, P =.004). Conclusions Our results demonstrate that age and atrial enlargement, rather than atrial function, were independent predictors of postoperative AF. (Am Heart J 2002;143:181-6.)
Dropout-error-rate calculations for a maximum-density study

This paper describes an experimental method for determining the maximum areal density achievable for a given head-to-tape interface (HTI). Using this method, we can calculate amplitude and bit-shift error rates during dropouts for the areal density the HTI is originally designed for, and beyond. First, the read-back waveform is sampled to obtain the amplitude distribution of signal samples below 50% clip level at each areal density. Second, the channel-transfer-function variation is investigated during a dropout to study its effect on the bitshift error rate. Third, empirical relationships between the areal density and an rms-to-rms signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) are obtained. Based on the above information, a theoretical model is presented that predicts the error rate for each areal density after a write skip (defined here as the soft-error rate). The calculated soft-error rate agrees well with its experimental counterpart. The technique presented here is useful in determining the upper limit of the HTI used in the paper.
Measurement of frozen soil–pile dynamic properties: A system identification approach

Abstract A free-decay response signal approach is proposed for reliable estimation of frozen soil–pile dynamic properties of a partially embedded pile. Theoretical consideration and approximations are given for the free vibration of pile structures, with 20% of the pile cantilevered aboveground and the remaining embedded in Fairbanks silt. Winter measurements were taken for free-decay response of the pile. A comprehensive frequency spectrum analysis that includes fast Fourier transform, power spectrum density, and spectrograms is used to evaluate the system's vibration properties. Empirical mode decomposition is then used to decompose the signal to extract specific components for parameter identification. Results show that the response exhibits time-variant and nonlinear characteristics in the time–frequency domain. Experimental data show that the tested system exhibits weak nonlinearity. Dominant system parameters, used to characterize frozen soil–pile interactions, are identified. Two dominant frequencies for a stiff pile embedded 20 ft (6.096 mm) deep in frozen Fairbanks silt are 97 Hz and 1080 Hz. Damping was found to be approximately 0.016.
Estimating the prevalence of childhood psychopathology. A critical review.

Abstract Special methodological problems in the epidemiology of childhood psychopathology are addressed in this paper. Despite the methodological problems, we have attempted to provide as accurate an estimate as possible of the prevalence of childhood psychiatric disorder in the United States. Based on the national prevalence studies to date, we conclude that the overall rate of clinical maladjustment in the United States is probably no lower than 11.8%, specific rates varying across age, social class, ethnic group, and geographic region.
Locus of Control and Career Decidedness: Some Methodological Notes

The present investigation supports the idea that for 113 men and 177 women locus of control as measured by Rotter's Internal-External Locus of Control Scale is significantly related to career decid...
The Role of Chance in the Career Development of Individuals with Learning Disabilities

Everyone experiences the influence of chance events, or happenstance, in their career development. This influence can be positive or negative. Given the unique learning characteristics and experiences of persons with learning disabilities, chance may play a more negative role in their career development, vocational preparation, and occupational attainment. Key ideas from Bandura's (1982) explanation of how chance affects individual life paths—personal and social determinants of reactions to chance events—are contrasted with the personal and social characteristices often attributed to persons with learning disabilities. A general model of the response options to career-related cnance events is also provided and discussed.
The Android smartphone as an inexpensive sentry ground sensor

A key challenge of sentry and monitoring duties is detection of approaching people in areas of little human traffic. We are exploring smartphones as easily available, easily portable, and less expensive alternatives to traditional military sensors for this task, where the sensors are already integrated into the package. We developed an application program for the Android smartphone that uses its sensors to detect people passing nearby; it takes their pictures for subsequent transmission to a central monitoring station. We experimented with the microphone, light sensor, vibration sensor, proximity sensor, orientation sensor, and magnetic sensor of the Android. We got best results with the microphone (looking for footsteps) and light sensor (looking for abrupt changes in light), and sometimes good results with the vibration sensor. We ran a variety of tests with subjects walking at various distances from the phone under different environmental conditions to measure limits on acceptable detection. We got best results by combining average loudness over a 200 millisecond period with a brightness threshold adjusted to the background brightness, and we set our phones to trigger pictures no more than twice a second. Subjects needed to be within ten feet of the phone for reliable triggering, and some surfaces gave poorer results. We primarily tested using the Motorola Atrix 4G (Android 2.3.4) and HTC Evo 4G (Android 2.3.3) and found only a few differences in performance running the same program, which we attribute to differences in the hardware. We also tested two older Android phones that had problems with crashing when running our program. Our results provide good guidance for when and where to use this approach to inexpensive sensing.
Big science by design

Astronomer by Chance . By Bernard L. Lovell. Basic Books: 1990. Pp.358. $24.95. To be published in Britain by Macmillan.
Role of Bruton's tyrosine kinase in myeloma cell migration and induction of bone disease

Myeloma cells typically grow in bone, recruit osteoclast precursors and induce their differentiation and activity in areas adjacent to tumor foci. Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK), of the TEC family, is expressed in hematopoietic cells and is particularly involved in B-lymphocyte function and osteoclastogenesis. We demonstrated BTK expression in clinical myeloma plasma cells, interleukin (IL)-6- or stroma-dependent cell lines and osteoclasts. SDF-1 induced BTK activation in myeloma cells and BTK inhibition by small hairpin RNA or the small molecule inhibitor, LFM-A13, reduced their migration toward stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1). Pretreatment with LFM-A13 also reduced in vivo homing of myeloma cells to bone using bioluminescence imaging in the SCID-rab model. Enforced expression of BTK in myeloma cell line enhanced cell migration toward SDF-1 but had no effect on short-term growth. BTK expression was correlated with cell-surface CXCR4 expression in myeloma cells (n = 33, r = 0.81, P < 0.0001), and BTK gene and protein expression was more profound in cell-surface CXCR4-expressing myeloma cells. BTK was not upregulated by IL-6 while its inhibition had no effect on IL-6 signaling in myeloma cells. Human osteoclast precursors also expressed BTK and cell-surface CXCR4 and migrated toward SDF-1. LFM-A13 suppressed migration and differentiation of osteoclast precursors as well as bone-resorbing activity of mature osteoclasts. In primary myeloma-bearing SCID-rab mice, LFM-A13 inhibited osteoclast activity, prevented myeloma-induced bone resorption and moderately suppressed myeloma growth. These data demonstrate BTK and cell-surface CXCR4 association in myeloma cells and that BTK plays a role in myeloma cell homing to bone and myeloma-induced bone disease. Am. J. Hematol. 88:463-471, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Validation of the United States–derived Index for Mortality Prediction After Cardiac Transplantation (IMPACT) using international registry data

Background We previously derived and validated the Index for Mortality Prediction After Cardiac Transplantation (IMPACT) using United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) data. This study aimed to validate the IMPACT score using international data. Methods International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) data were used to identify orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) patients between 2001 and 2010. The primary outcome was all-cause 1-year post-OHT mortality. Secondary outcomes included 30-day and 5-year mortality. Logistic regression, weighted regression, and Kaplan-Meier analyses evaluated the predictive accuracy of the IMPACT score. A sub-analysis of OHTs performed from 2009 to 2010 examined patients completely external to the original UNOS derivation cohort. Results We identified 29,242 OHT recipients. Their mean IMPACT score was 5.1 ± 3.6. The IMPACT score was highly predictive of 1-year mortality (odds ratio [OR], 1.14, p p r = 0.87, p 10 ( p p Conclusions This study validates the use of the IMPACT score as a predictor of short- and long-term mortality after OHT. Strong consideration should be given to broadly implementing and prospectively using the IMPACT score to predict mortality after OHT.
Providing support for mobile calendaring conversations: a wizard of oz evaluation of dual--purpose speech

We present a Wizard of Oz evaluation of dual--purpose speech, a technique designed to provide support during a face--to--face conversation by leveraging a user's conversational speech for input. With a dual--purpose speech interaction, the user's speech is meaningful in the context of a human--to--human conversation while providing useful input to a computer. For our experiment, we evaluate the ability to schedule appointments with our calendaring application, the Calendar Navigator Agent. We examine the relative difference between using speech for input compared to traditional pen input on a PDA. We found that speech is more direct and our participants can use their conversational speech for computer input. In doing so, we reduce the manual input needed to operate a PDA while engaged in a calendaring conversation.
Solution to the “high” frequency breakdown in EFIE

We demonstrate, both theoretically and numerically, that the EFIE solution at breakdown frequencies can be a full-wave solution for which static and quasi-static assumptions are invalid, especially in multiscale problems that span many orders of magnitude difference in geometrical scales. We present a fast method to find the solution to the original fullwave RWG-based EFIE at an arbitrary breakdown frequency, whether high or low. Numerical experiments have validated the proposed method.
Geometric considerations relating to lateral migration radiography (LMR) as applied to the detection of land mines

Lateral migration radiography (LMR), a form of Compton backscatter radiography, is applied to the detection and identification of landmines. The LMR system consists of two inner uncollimated detectors positioned to optimally detect first scattered photons and two outer collimated detectors designed to detect primarily photons that have had two or more scatterings. The difference between the collimated and uncollimated detector response to both the landmines themselves and the different types of landmine image masking phenomena, form the basis of the image enhancement and landmine identification procedures. Surface feature information is the primary component of the uncollimated detector response. The collimated detector signal contains information about the surface features as well as the buried objects. The principles of the detection system have been shown in previous work and now the focus has shifted to the preparation for field tests and the associated problems. One of the expected events that the detector system will encounter is the variation of detector height with respect to the ground. This is caused by irregularities in the surface as will as oscillations of the detection vehicle. The collimated detectors and the uncollimated detector react differently to height variations. When the detector height increases the uncollimated detector response will be reduced due to the decrease in solid angle. Although the collimated detector will also be affected by the change in solid angle the dominate reaction is the loss of collimation causing the collimated detectors signal to increase. When the detector height decreases the opposite responses are observed. By using the information from both detector systems, the effects of the detector height variation can be removed.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Constitutive modelling for granular media using an anisotropic distortional yield model

It has been attempted here to model the mechanical response of granular media through a combination of analytical, numerical and experimental techniques. Based on the experimental evidence obtained from a series of triaxial laboratory experiments on specimens made of glass beads, the model attempts to simulate the movement of yield surfaces and the stress-strain relationships. It is found that the yield surface distorts in the direction of loading in a manner analogous to that of metals. An anisotropic distortional yield model is formulated in order to describe the experimental behavior exhibited by these granular media. From the experimental yield surfaces the parameters of the model have been evaluated and a hardening rule, based on the Phillips rule, has been determined. Associativity on the π-plane has been observed experimentally. Using these concepts the constitutive formulation has been presented and the stress-strain curves have been generated. From the comparisons of these curves we observe a good correlation between the model and the experimental observations.
Spontaneous generation of stable pnictinyl radicals from "jack-in-the-box" dipnictines: A solid-state, gas-phase, and theoretical investigation of the origins of steric stabilization

The molecular structures of the stable phosphinyl and arsinyl radicals, •PnR2 [Pn = P (2); As (4); R = CH(SiMe3)2], have been determined by gas-phase electron diffraction (GED) in conjunction with ab initio molecular orbital calculations. The X-ray crystal structures of the corresponding dipnictines, the “dimers”, R2PnPnR2 [Pn = P (1), As (3)], and the chloro derivatives R2PnCl [Pn = P (5), As (6)] have also been determined. Collectively, these structural investigations demonstrate that large distortions of the ligands attached to Pn occur when the pnictinyl radicals unite to form the corresponding dipnictine dimers. Principally, it is the shape and flexibility of the CH(SiMe3)2 ligands that permit the formation of the P−P and As−As bonds in 1 and 3, respectively. However, theoretical studies indicate that in the process of pnictinyl radical dimerization to form 1 and 3, both molecules accumulate substantial amounts of potential energy and are thus primed to spring apart upon release from the solid state ...
Evaluation of atmospheric correction using bi-temporal hyperspectral images

Atmospheric correction of hyperspectral image data is frequently a requirement for using remote sensing to understand and quantify various phenomena that take place on the Earth. This is particularly true when the analysis requires the use of spectral reflectance. Although sophisticated models exist that can be used to perform atmospheric correction, evaluating the performance of these procedures is non-trivial. In this study, two atmospheric correction programs, FLAASH (based on MODTRAN 4), and TAFKAA_6S (based on 6S), were applied to a pair of images of the same area but collected six weeks apart. The results of the two atmospheric correction procedures are analyzed based on the expected stability of pseudo-invariant features (PIFs). Although both procedures performed rather well in terms of removing atmospheric absorption features in the infrared region, the analysis identified some anomalous behaviors as well, the most important of which appears to be related to the bidirectional reflectance distribut...
Detection of fungal DNA in human body fluids and tissues during a multistate outbreak of fungal meningitis and other infections.

ABSTRACT Exserohilum rostratum was the major cause of an outbreak of fungal infections linked to injections of contaminated methylprednisolone acetate. Because almost 14,000 persons were exposed to product that was possibly contaminated with multiple fungal pathogens, there was unprecedented need for a rapid throughput diagnostic test that could detect both E. rostratum and other unusual agents of fungal infection. Here we report development of a novel PCR test that allowed for rapid and specific detection of fungal DNA in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), other body fluids and tissues of infected individuals. The test relied on direct purification of free-circulating fungal DNA from fluids and subsequent PCR amplification and sequencing. Using this method, we detected Exserohilum rostratum DNA in 123 samples from 114 case-patients (28% of 413 case-patients for whom 627 samples were available), and Cladosporium DNA in one sample from one case-patient. PCR with novel Exserohilum-specific ITS-2 region primers detected 25 case-patients with samples that were negative using broad-range ITS primers. Compared to fungal culture, this molecular test was more sensitive: of 139 case-patients with an identical specimen tested by culture and PCR, E. rostratum was recovered in culture from 19 (14%), but detected by PCR in 41 (29%), showing a diagnostic sensitivity of 29% for PCR compared to 14% for culture in this patient group. The ability to rapidly confirm the etiologic role of E. rostratum in these infections provided an important contribution in the public health response to this outbreak.
Single-nutrient microbial competition: qualitative agreement between experimental and theoretically forecast outcomes

When microbial strains compete for the same limiting nutrient in continuous culture, resource-based competition theory predicts that only one strain will survive and all others will die out. The surviving strain expected from theory will be the one with the smallest subsistence or "break-even" concentration of the limiting resource, a concentration defined by the J parameter. This prediction has been confirmed in the case of auxotrophic bacterial strains competing for limiting tryptophan. Because the value of J can be measured on the strains grown alone, the theory can predict the qualitative outcomes of mixed-growth competition in advance of actual competition.
Construct Validation of the Self-Efficacy Teaching and Knowledge Instrument for Science Teachers-Revised (SETAKIST-R): Lessons Learned

Described herein is the academic lineage and independent validation of the Self-Efficacy Teaching and Knowledge Instrument for Science Teachers-Revised (SETAKIST-R). Data from 334 K-12 science teachers were analyzed using Partial Credit Rasch models. Principal components analysis on the person-item residuals suggest two latent dimensions: Knowledge and Teaching Self-Efficacies. Item-fit statistics were used to select items for each subscale. Person and item separation (reliability) indices were quite low, and we noted disordered response patterns on the person-item maps that revealed problems with item content and/or scaling for both subscales. These issues include the presence of: verbal negatives, ambiguous modifiers, counter-intuitive scaling, and an “undecided/uncertain” option. The SETAKIST-R, in its current form, cannot be recommended as a measure of science teacher self-efficacy.
Explaining Differences in Identity Styles: Possible Roles of Personality and Family Functioning

There are stylistic differences in the manner in which late adolescents approach or manage to avoid the tasks of constructing and revising their sense of identity. This study investigated the role that family functioning and personality variables may play in explaining variation in the adoption of these identity processing styles among late adolescent college students. The findings indicated that personality, but not family functioning, variables accounted for significant unique variation in informational and diffuse-avoidant identity style scores. Although personality variables accounted for variation in normative identity style scores, family functioning variables also made a significant contribution even after the variance explained by personality was controlled. The possible roles of personality and family functioning in identity style formation are discussed.
Auguste Rodin’s The Burghers of Calais The Career of a Sculpture and its Appeal to Civic Heroism

The Burghers of Calais (1895) by Auguste Rodin was originally commissioned by the city of Calais to celebrate a local hero. It then became part of the national culture of the Third Republic, and it can today be found all over the world. This article tells the story of how this statue came into being and also attempts to address the issue of why it has become so popular and why it seems to speak so directly to universalism. Apart from the fact that The Burghers of Calais is an extremely well executed and very inspired piece of art, this monument, I argue, also has to have another quality in order to become so popular. This quality, I suggest, is related to a new way of understanding and depicting heroism. Rodin centered The Burghers of Calais around a modern version of heroism that can be termed ‘civic heroism’, which draws on the collective and civic courage of the average person (Zivil-courage), rather than on the physical courage of the single and outstanding individual. Or, to put it differently, Rodin...
Design and Simulation of a PAM Based Bionic Elbow Joint

A bionic elbow joint driven by motor is lack of flexibility. So a good option is to improve the flexible and power density ratio. This paper has designed a 3-DOF bionic elbow joint based on pneumatic artificial muscle, and the simulation and forward kinematics analysis have been done. The simulation results show that the structure scheme is feasible, and the movement is smooth. This structure can improve the generalization of the bionic joint and then lay a foundation in the serialization and standardization of the transmission part.
Coulomb energies of spherical nuclei

Abstract A phenomenological Coulomb energy equation has been derived for spherical nuclei with diffuse surfaces. Contributions from the direct and exchange Coulomb energy and from the electromagnetic spin-orbit interaction are included explicitly. The experimental Coulomb displacement energies of 42 essentially spherical nuclei with Z ≧ 28 have been subjected to a least-squares analysis with the shape parameters of the ground state charge distributions required to agree with those obtained from electron scattering and muon capture X-ray experiments. Agreement between the experimental and calculated energies with a standard deviation of about 20 keV is obtained if (i) the ratio between the rms radii of the neutron excess and the proton core is taken between about 1.10 and 1.15, (ii) a smoothly A -dependent correction term which varies between about +450 keV in the light nuclei and +350 keV in the heavy nuclei is introduced, and (iii) an averaged contribution from the electromagnetic spin-orbit interaction is used rather than the expected shell-model contribution. Justification for this averaging may be provided by amounts of not less than 15 % of excitations into higher shellmodel orbits for all nuclei. The Coulomb displacement energies of vibrational and rotational nuclei are observed to be smaller by up to 200 keV than corresponding spherical nuclei. Neutron halos have been calculated and are found to be in very good agreement with the results of Hartree-Fock calculations, the droplet model of Myers and Swiatecki and the calculations by Nolen and Schiffer using wave functions generated in a Woods-Saxon potential well. The calculated neutron halo for 208 Pb is 0.25±0.05 fm.
Recent developments in physics and applications of photorefractive materials

The nonlinear theory of photorefractive materials is used to analyze beam fanning, two-wave coupling and subharmonic generation. Novel applications based on the nonlinear behavior, e.g. characterization of photorefractive materials, optical limiters, phase conjugation and edge detection, are discussed. >
Enzymatic Synthesis of Phosphoroselenoate DNA Using Thymidine 5‘-(α-P- seleno)triphosphate and DNA Polymerase for X-ray Crystallography via MAD

We report here the first study of enzymatic synthesis of two phosphoroselenoate (PSe) DNAs using the two alpha-Se-TTP diastereomers (Sp and Rp) and DNA polymerase. The experimental results indicate that Klenow equally recognizes the two individual diastereomers at the same level as natural TTP. The incorporations of the PSe groups at the expected sites have been confirmed by the digestion resistance to exonuclease III, and the different patterns of the digestion resistance of DNA I and II indicate the configurational differences of the PSe centers (Sp or Rp). Unlike chemical synthesis, which is limited to short DNAs and where the separation of the PSe DNA diastereomers is necessary, this enzymatic method can be used to prepare longer DNAs without diastereomer separation. This quantitative enzymatic approach is particular valuable for the synthesis of longer DNAs with multiple PSe groups in large scale for their X-ray crystal structure determination by the MAD phasing technique.
Dengue virus nonstructural protein NS5 induces interleukin-8 transcription and secretion

Elevated circulating levels of chemokines have been reported in patients with dengue fever and are proposed to contribute to the pathogenesis of dengue disease. To establish in vitro models for chemokine induction by dengue 2 virus (DEN2V), we studied a variety of human cell lines and primary cells. DEN2V infection of HepG2 and primary dendritic cells induced the production of interleukin-8 (IL-8), RANTES, MIP-1α, and MIP-1β, whereas only IL-8 and RANTES were induced following dengue virus infection of HEK293 cells. Chemokine secretion was accompanied by an increase in steady-state mRNA levels. No chemokine induction was observed in HEK293 cells treated with poly(I:C) or alpha interferon, suggesting a direct effect of virus infection. To determine the mechanism(s) involved in the induction of chemokine production by DEN2V, individual dengue virus genes were cloned into plasmids and expressed in HEK293 cells. Transfection of a plasmid expressing NS5 or a dengue virus replicon induced IL-8 gene expression and secretion. RANTES expression was not induced under these conditions, however. Reporter assays showed that IL-8 induction by NS5 was principally through CAAT/enhancer binding protein, whereas DEN2V infection also induced NF-κB. These results indicate a role for the dengue virus NS5 protein in the induction of IL-8 by DEN2V infection. Recruitment and activation of potential target cells to sites of DEN2V replication by virus-induced chemokine production may contribute to viral replication as well as to the inflammatory components of dengue virus disease.
What do venture capitalists think of venture capital research

AbstractGiven the growing economic impact of venture capital and the increasing amount of scholarly work in this field, an assessment of the relevance and value of venture capital research to practicing venture capitalists is appropriate. To better understand its usefulness, we employed a Delphi methodology to solicit professional venture capitalists’ insight on existing research, on expected changes in the venture capital environment, and on the most relevant research topics going forward. We found VCs seek more research in exit strategies and performance, and less in fundraising. VCs also indicated that ongoing structural changes in the industry can inform future research directions.
Isotope hydrology and residence times of the unimpounded Meramec River Basin, Missouri

Abstract Strong isotopic forcing of hydrologic systems in eastern Missouri, caused by the large seasonal variations in the δ 18 O values of meteoric precipitation, can be used to determine numerous characteristics of hydrologic systems including the residence time of the water. The normal annual average δ 18 O value of meteoric precipitation in this region is about −6.9‰, but during the period June 1997–May 1998, which incorporates an El Nino event, the average δ 18 O of precipitation was −9.4‰. Monthly averages are highly variable, ranging from −2.8‰ in August 1996 to −15.1‰ in January 1998, and define a cycloid-like annual pattern. This meteoric forcing gives rise to similar patterns of isotopic variation in springs and rivers, but with greatly reduced amplitudes. Thus the δ 18 O variations for the precipitation have an amplitude exceeding 10‰, yet the annual amplitudes of the variations in the unimpounded Meramec and Big Rivers are only about 3‰, and the amplitudes of several karst springs, including the `first magnitude' Maramec Spring, are even smaller at about 1‰. Most of the isotopic variation in streamflow can be explained by a simple exponential weighting of the preexisting rainfall events, such that the most recent precipitation more greatly influences the flow than earlier precipitation events, according to our formulation: δ 18 O flow = ∑ δ i P i e −t i /τ ∑ P i e −t i /τ where δi and Pi are the δ 18 O value and amount for a given rain event, ti is the time interval between the storm and the stream or spring sample, and τ is the residence time. For the Meramec and Big Rivers, τ takes on a value of close to 100 days, whereas it is 1–2 years for several springs. Smaller contributions with τ on the order of 1–10 days are superimposed, representing the latest storm events. This method has a significant advantage over the standard mixing arguments for overland flow and baseflow contributions to hydrologic systems, in that it not only demonstrates the dominant contributions of `pre-event' water in the systems, but it implicitly accounts for the variability of baseflow and also provides the approximate time scale for subsurface mixing.
Subtype-Specific Effects of Lithium on Glutamate Receptor Function

Subtype-specific effects of lithium on glutamate receptor function. We report that substitution of sodium with lithium (Li+) in the extracellular solution causes subtype-specific changes in the inw...
Three Theorems on Recursive Enumeration. I. Decomposition. II. Maximal Set. III. Enumeration Without Duplication

In this paper we shall prove three theorems about recursively enumerable sets. The first two answer questions posed by Myhill [1].The three proofs are independent and can be presented in any order. Certain notations will be common to all three. We shall denote by “Re” the set enumerated by the procedure of which e is the Godel number. In describing the construction for each proof, we shall suppose that a clerk is carrying out the simultaneous enumeration of R0, R1, R2, …, in such a way that at each step only a finite number of sets have begun to be enumerated and only a finite number of the members of any set have been listed. (One plan the clerk can follow is to turn his attention at Step a to the enumeration of Re where e+1 is the number of prime factors of a. Then each Re receives his attention infinitely often.) We shall denote by “Rea” the set of numbers which, at or before Step a, the clerk has listed as members of Re. Obviously, all the Rea are finite sets, recursive uniformly in e and a. For any a we can determine effectively the highest e for which Rea is not empty, and for any a, e we can effectively find the highest member of Rea, just by scanning what the clerk has done by Step a. Additional notations will be introduced in the proofs to which they pertain.
Small molecule interleukin-8 modulators

The correlation between the production of IL-8, along with many chemokines and inflammatory diseases, has been well documented. Therefore, modulation of IL-8 production is a viable approach to drug discovery for the treament of inflammatory diseases. Two general approaches to regulate IL-8 production are most prevalent. One is direct inhibition of IL-8 receptors, CXCR1 and/or CXCR2. The other is downstream regulation of IL-8 production via inhibition of p38 kinase. This review accounts the patent literature published between 1998 and 2001, covering small molecule IL-8 modulators using both approaches.
Constrictive Pericarditis in 26 Patients With Histologically Normal Pericardial Thickness

Background— Traditionally, increased pericardial thickness has been considered an essential diagnostic feature of constrictive pericarditis. Although constriction with a normal-thickness pericardium has been demonstrated clinically by noninvasive imaging, the details of clinicopathological correlates have not been described. Methods and Results— A total of 143 patients with proven constriction underwent pericardiectomy at Mayo Clinic between 1993 and 1999. Their baseline characteristics, operative data, and pathological specimens were reviewed retrospectively. The pericardium was of normal thickness (≤2 mm) in 26 patients (18%; group 1) and was thickened (>2 mm) in 117 (82%; group 2). The most common causes of constriction in group 1 included previous cardiac surgery, chest irradiation, previous infarction, and idiopathic disease. There was little difference in symptoms and findings on physical examination between the 2 groups. Microscopically, no patient had an entirely normal pericardium. Histopathologi...
Optimization of broadband antenna elements in a periodic planar infinite array

It is critically important that mutual coupling effects be properly taken into account when designing wideband antenna elements for use in phased arrays; especially those which require large scanning volumes. In this paper, a method of designing antenna elements for use in large planar phased arrays is presented. The geometric and electrical properties of a single antenna element in an infinite array environment are optimized so that the mutual coupling between the array elements can be properly accounted for. A robust genetic algorithm [1,2] is used to optimize the antenna elements for operation in an infinite array environment with the goal of providing low return loss, high gain, and linear polarization over wide operating bandwidths and large scan angles. An example is presented and its performance is verified by comparison with the results of commercial software package. Similar design approaches have been taken before in [3], although the antenna designs presented possess large thicknesses (up to 0.3λ 0 between radiator and ground) which can limit practical application. Moreover, the analysis approach proposed in [3] is based on a periodic version of the Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) technique, whereas the analysis approached developed in this work is based on the Periodic Finite Element Boundary Integral (PFEBI) method.
Visualizing extravasation dynamics of metastatic tumor cells.

Little is known about how metastatic cancer cells arrest in small capillaries and traverse the vascular wall during extravasation in vivo. Using real-time intravital imaging of human tumor cells transplanted into transparent zebrafish, we show here that extravasation of cancer cells is a highly dynamic process that involves the modulation of tumor cell adhesion to the endothelium and intravascular cell migration along the luminal surface of the vascular wall. Tumor cells do not damage or induce vascular leak at the site of extravasation, but rather induce local vessel remodeling characterized by clustering of endothelial cells and cell-cell junctions. Intravascular locomotion of tumor cells is independent of the direction of blood flow and requires β1-integrin-mediated adhesion to the blood-vessel wall. Interestingly, the expression of the pro-metastatic gene Twist in tumor cells increases their intravascular migration and extravasation through the vessel wall. However, in this case, Twist expression causes the tumor cells to switch to a β1-integrin-independent mode of extravasation that is associated with the formation of large dynamic rounded membrane protrusions. Our results demonstrate that extravasation of tumor cells is a highly dynamic process influenced by metastatic genes that target adhesion and intravascular migration of tumor cells, and induce endothelial remodeling.
A comparison of heterokaryosis and vegetative incompatibility among varieties of Gibberella fujikuroi (Fusarium Moniliforme)

Abstract Gibberella fujikuroi is a complex species having at least four varieties, or mating groups, which we call A, B, C, and D. Ultraviolet light was used to induce auxotrophs in each group, and forced heterokaryons were recovered in each. The heterokaryon of group A strains was described earlier: heterokaryosis is confined to the anastomosed cells, which arise a few millimeters behind the growing colony front. The homokaryotic tip cells are nourished by translocation of complementation products out of the anastomosed cells. Heterozygous, somatic diploids were not recovered. This pattern of heterokaryosis has now been found in strains of the other three groups. Mutants unable to reduce nitrate (nit mutants) were readily recovered without mutagen treatment. They grew thinly on nitrate medium, but in some cases when two differentnit mutants were paired, a dense wild-type growth arose. This growth was always associated with heterokaryon formation. Vegetative, or heterokaryon, incompatibility occurs in all four groups. It is controlled by nuclear genes (vic genes) and is heterogenic and allelic. There are at least 10vic loci in group A, five in B, four in C, and three in D. The great genetic polymorphism for vegetative incompatibility in natural isolates ofG. fujikuroi should permit a study of the population dynamics and epidemiology of these important plant pathogens.
Neutrophils, airway hyperresponsiveness and COPD: true, true and related?

Once upon a time distinguishing between COPD and asthma in a smoking or ex-smoking patient was easy: a patient who smoked, had a low diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide or a hyperlucent radiogram, and no bronchodilator response was labelled as COPD; whereas a patient who, whether they smoked or not, had a bronchodilator response and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) was an asthmatic. Nothing could be simpler; that is until studies of asthmatics included measurements of inflammation and studies of patients with COPD included performing methacholine challenges. We now know that significant bronchodilator responses can be present in many patients with COPD [1] and, as discussed below, airway responsiveness is also not a stable feature of asthma. As determined by unbiased analysis, such as cluster or factor analysis, asthma [2, 3] and COPD [4] both have been shown to have distinctly different clinical phenotypes. While there is no doubt that these phenotype assignments will prove to be variable, irreproducible and effervescent, at least this clustering of patients’ characteristics provides a conceptual framework to advance the field. The clinical significance is that if a patient with airway disease is assigned a phenotype, then a targeted, effective treatment will be forthcoming, or at least that is the hope. AHR was long touted as a “hallmark” of asthma but we now know that hyperresponsiveness is a characteristic of many inflammatory lung diseases [5, 6]. In asthma, hyperresponsiveness is a well-studied end-point relating, in some patients, to inflammation [6], but this is not always the case, as we observed in patients on inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) [7] and …
Domain-specific environment generation for modular software model checking

To analyze an open system, one needs to close it with a definition of its environment, i.e., its execution context. Environment modeling is a significant challenge: environment models should be general enough to permit analysis of large portions of a system's possible behaviors, yet sufficiently precise to enable cost-effective reasoning. This thesis presents the Bandera Environment Generator (BEG), a toolset that automates generation of environment models to provide a restricted form of modular model checking of Java programs, where the module's source code is the subject of analysis along with an abstract model of the environment's behavior. Since the most general environments do not allow for tractable model checking, BEG has support for restricting the environment behavior based on domain-specific knowledge and assumptions about the environment behavior, which can be acquired from a variety of sources. When the environment code is not available, developers can encode their assumptions as an explicit formal specification. When the environment code is available, BEG employs static analyses to extract environment assumptions. Both specifications and static analyses can be tuned to reflect domain-specific knowledge, i.e., to describe domain-specific aspects of the environment behavior. Initially, BEG was implemented to handle general Java applications; later, it was extended to handle two specific domains: Graphical User Interfaces (GUI) implemented using the Swing/AWT libraries and web applications implemented using the J2EE framework. BEG was evaluated on several non-trivial case studies, including industrial applications from NASA, SUN, and Fujitsu. This thesis presents the domain-specific environment generation for GUI and web applications and describes BEG, its extensible architecture, usage, and how it can be extended to handle new domains.