cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A ferritin-responsive internal ribosome entry site regulates folate metabolism.

Abstract Cytoplasmic serine hydroxymethyltransferase (cSHMT) enzyme levels are elevated by the expression of the heavy chain ferritin (H ferritin) cDNA in cultured cells without corresponding changes in mRNA levels, resulting in enhanced folate-dependent de novo thymidylate biosynthesis and impaired homocysteine remethylation. In this study, the mechanism whereby H ferritin regulates cSHMT expression was determined. cSHMT translation is shown to be regulated by an H ferritin-responsive internal ribosome entry site (IRES) located within the cSHMT mRNA 5′-untranslated region (5′-UTR). The cSHMT 5′-UTR exhibited IRES activity during in vitro translation of bicistronic mRNA templates, and in MCF-7 and HeLa cells transfected with bicistronic mRNAs. IRES activity was depressed in H ferritin-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts and elevated in cells expressing the H ferritin cDNA. H ferritin was shown to interact with the mRNA-binding protein CUGBP1, a protein known to interact with the α and β subunits of eukaryotic initiation factor eIF2. Small interference RNA-mediated depletion of CUGBP1 decreased IRES activity from bicistronic templates that included the cSHMT 3′-UTR in the bicistronic construct. The identification of this H ferritin-responsive IRES represents a mechanism that accounts for previous observations that H ferritin regulates folate metabolism.
EVOLUTION FROM UNIVARIATE TO MULTIVARIATE OPTIMIZATION METHODS IN LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY

The rational evolution of optimization methods, from univariate to multivariate, is described together with selected examples of their application. A novel approach, parametric modulation, is then proposed which overcomes many limitations of the present methods. In this approach, each mobile phase, stationary phase, temperature, etc. to be optimized is maintained in discrete and separate zones along the column. The overall retention is a rigorously predictable function of the retention time in each individual environment. Hence, complete multivariate optimization can be achieved with good accuracy using a minimum number of preliminary experiments. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Structural organization of the 5′ flanking region of the human corticotropin releasing hormone gene

We have determined the nucleotide sequence of the proximal 3625 nucleotides 5' flanking the major mRNA start site of the human corticotropin releasing hormone gene (hCRH) and identified several putative regulatory elements. Interestingly, we did not detect any glucocorticoid responsive elements; we did however find five interspersed perfect half palindromic estrogen responsive elements, which might confer estrogen regulatability to the hCRH gene. We have identified a segment spanning from -2835 to -2972, which has about 72% homology to the 3' terminal half of the human Alu I family of highly repetitive elements, and another one, which spans from -2213 to -2580 and has greater than 80% homology to members of human type O family of repetitive elements. These elements may confer DNA fragility, since the loci for hCRH and the human fragile site FRA8F colocalize in human chromosome 8. The structural information reported represents a first step in the study of regulation of the hCRH gene at the molecular level.
Relation between C‐reactive protein levels and body composition in a multiethnic sample of school children in Hawaii

Objectives: Adipose cells secrete proinflammatory cytokines that stimulate hepatic production of C-reactive protein (CRP). CRP levels are associated with adiposity levels in adults, adolescents, and older children but not in young children (age 2–3). This study examined the relation between CRP, adiposity, and cardiovascular and metabolic variables including blood pressure, glucose, and blood lipids in two young cohorts of children, averaging ∼5.5 and 8.5 years, respectively. Methods: Children (N = 125) from eight elementary schools in the multiethnic community of Hilo Hawaii were recruited to fill out questionnaires, undergo anthropometrics and air displacement plethysmography, have resting blood pressure measured, and provide a finger stick blood sample for analysis of CRP, glucose, and blood lipids. Results: There were no significant differences between the cohorts in ethnic make up, household income, or parents' educational attainment. No significant relation was found between CRP and either adiposity or cardiovascular/metabolic variables in the younger cohort. However, significant correlations were found between CRP and adiposity measures and blood pressure in the older cohort. There was no marked difference in association of CRP with BMI versus waist circumference or waist-to-hip ratio. In neither cohort was CRP significantly related to glucose or blood lipids. Conclusions: Both amount of fat mass and time duration for possessing the adipose tissue may be important factors in determining the relation between CRP and both adiposity and blood pressure. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 22:675–679, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Synthesis and Application of Unprotected Cyclic Peptides as Building Blocks for Peptide Dendrimers

We describe an efficient regiospecific method for cyclization of unprotected peptide segments based on intramolecular transthioesterification of unprotected cysteinyl peptide thioesters under the control of ring−chain tautomeric equilibrium in aqueous buffered solutions at pH ranging from 5 to 7.5. The initial cyclization to form an intramolecular thioester under the ring−chain tautomeric equilibrium is reversible and could be performed in relatively high concentrations without observable oligomerization. This method overcomes the limitation of conventional cyclization methods that require high dilutions. The reaction becomes irreversible by a subsequent, spontaneous proximity-driven S- to N-acyl transfer to the adjacent Nα-amine of cysteine to form an end-to-end cyclic peptide. The cyclization is regioselective. No side reactions were observed with side-chain functionalities such as the Ne-amine of lysine, thiol of internal cysteine, or imidazole of histidine. Since a free thiol group was introduced to t...
BCL2 and CASP8 regulation by NF-κB differentially affect mitochondrial function and cell fate in antiestrogen-sensitive and -resistant breast cancer cells

Resistance to endocrine therapies remains a major problem in the management of estrogen receptor-α (ER)-positive breast cancer. We show that inhibition of NF-κB (p65/RELA), either by overexpression of a mutant IκB (IκBSR) or a small-molecule inhibitor of NF-κB (parthenolide; IC50=500 nM in tamoxifen-resistant cells), synergistically restores sensitivity to 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4HT) in resistant MCF7/RR and MCF7/LCC9 cells and further sensitizes MCF-7 and MCF7/LCC1 control cells to 4HT. These effects are independent of changes in either cell cycle distribution or in the level of autophagy measured by inhibition of p62/SQSTM1 expression and cleavage of LC3. NF-κB inhibition restores the ability of 4HT to decrease BCL2 expression, increase mitochondrial membrane permeability, and induce a caspase-dependent apoptotic cell death in resistant cells. Each of these effects is reversed by a caspase 8 (CASP8)-specific inhibitor that blocks enzyme-substrate binding. Thus, increased activation of NF-κB can alter sensi...
Entanglement of solid-state qubits by measurement

We show that two identical solid-state qubits can be made fully entangled (starting from a completely mixed state) with probability 1/4 just by measuring them with a detector, equally coupled to the qubits. This happens in the case of repeated strong (projective) measurements as well as in a more realistic case of weak continuous measurement. In the latter case, the entangled state can be identified by a flat spectrum of the detector shot noise, while the nonentangled state (probability 3/4) leads to a spectral peak at the Rabi frequency with the maximum peak-to-pedestal ratio of 32/3.
Has Form 8-K reporting become timelier post-regulation fair disclosure and the Sarbanes–Oxley Act? Initial evidence

Abstract Our paper examines the timeliness of Form 8-K filings immediately after significant US regulation and legislation. Our events are issuance of regulation fair disclosure by the SEC and Congress’s passage of the Sarbanes–Oxley Act. We use Carter and Soo’s (1999) sample from 1993 for the pre-SOX and pre-FD data. For all firms that filed an 8-K in the sample periods, the post-FD sample filings are timelier than the pre-FD sample, and the post-SOX filings are more timely than most of the post-FD filings. For large firms, the post-SOX sample has significantly shorter filing lags in most cases relative to the post-FD sample, but we only find weak evidence of the shorter filing lags resulting in improved compliance with stated Form 8-K filing deadlines. We conclude that management reporting behavior has positively changed post-SOX, but that the results are less conclusive post-FD.
Time-dependent bending rigidity and helical twist of DNA by rearrangement of bound HU protein

HU is a protein that plays a role in various bacterial processes including compaction, transcription and replication of the genome. Here, we use atomic force microscopy to study the effect of HU on the stiffness and supercoiling of double-stranded DNA. First, we measured the persistence length, height profile, contour length and bending angle distribution of the DNA-HU complex after different incubation times of HU with linear DNA. We found that the persistence and contour length depend on the incubation time. At high concentrations of HU, DNA molecules first become stiff with a larger value of the persistence length. The persistence length then decreases over time and the molecules regain the flexibility of bare DNA after ∼2 h. Concurrently, the contour length shows a slight increase. Second, we measured the change in topology of closed circular relaxed DNA following binding of HU. Here, we observed that HU induces supercoiling over a similar time span as the measured change in persistence length. Our observations can be rationalized in terms of the formation of a nucleoprotein filament followed by a structural rearrangement of the bound HU on DNA. The rearrangement results in a change in topology, an increase in bending flexibility and an increase in contour length through a decrease in helical pitch of the duplex.
Inversion of multi-layer dielectrics using open-ended waveguides

Using various interactive optimization schemes, such as Levenberg-Marquardt and conjugate gradient, it was possible to invert multilayer media of up to nine layers with layer thicknesses of 0.05 lambda and a range of dielectric constants from 1.2 to 2.5. The model under study is a setup in which an open-ended waveguide ending in a flange is put is contact with the dielectric or plasma medium. The self-admittance of the waveguide describes the medium in terms of a set of parameters defining the unknown conductivity or permittivity profile. Choosing efficient optimization techniques, a search for these parameters is then carried out until the admittance of the trial medium agrees closely, within a certain tolerance, with the admittance of the actual medium. In order to check the robustness of the method, Gaussian noise was added to the exact values of the data simulating different dynamic ranges D/sup 2/. Results are given for a two-layer medium. >
What Are the Numbers? The Epidemiology of Cancer by Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

The lack of information on sexual orientation and gender identity in cancer registries has prevented epidemiologists from assessing cancer disparities related to these dimensions of social inequality at the individual level. Nonetheless, researchers in North America and Europe have conducted studies to estimate sexual orientation and gender identity disparities in the risk of developing or dying of certain cancers, some of which provide evidence of a higher burden of cancer among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) populations. Specifically, U.S. investigators have found a positive association between same-sex partner household density and the incidence of breast (among women), colorectal (among women and men), and lung (among men only) cancers at the county level. At the individual level, research shows that breast cancer incidence may be slightly higher among lesbian and bisexual women relative to heterosexual women, and that the incidence of anal cancer may be higher among men who have sex with men compared to men in general. Some studies have also suggested that transgender women receiving hormone therapy may be at higher risk than the population in general of dying of lung and blood cancers. Additional research is needed to identify the long-term effect of estrogen and testosterone on the risk of developing hormone-related tumors among transgender women and men receiving hormone therapy. Further, studies that consider the influence of the lifecourse and contextual factors on outcomes along the full cancer continuum, include LGBT people of color and low-income LGBT individuals, and focus on populations in developing countries are needed.
Neuroprotective peptide ADNF-9 in fetal brain of C57BL/6 mice exposed prenatally to alcohol

Background: A derived peptide from activity-dependent neurotrophic factor (ADNF-9) has been shown to be neuroprotective in the fetal alcohol exposure model. We investigated the neuroprotective effects of ADNF-9 against alcohol-induced apoptosis using TUNEL staining. We further characterize in this study the proteomic architecture underlying the role of ADNF-9 against ethanol teratogenesis during early fetal brain development using liquid chromatography in conjunction with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Methods: Pregnant C57BL/6 mice were exposed from embryonic days 7-13 (E7-E13) to a 25% ethanol-derived calorie [25% EDC, Alcohol (ALC)] diet, a 25% EDC diet simultaneously administered i.p. ADNF-9 (ALC/ADNF-9), or a pair-fed (PF) liquid diet. At E13, fetal brains were collected from 5 dams from each group, weighed, and frozen for LC-MS/MS procedure. Other fetal brains were fixed for TUNEL staining. Results: Administration of ADNF-9 prevented alcohol-induced reduction in fetal brain weight and alcohol-induced increases in cell death. Moreover, individual fetal brains were analyzed by LC-MS/MS. Statistical differences in the amounts of proteins between the ALC and ALC/ADNF-9 groups resulted in a distinct data-clustering. Significant upregulation of several important proteins involved in brain development were found in the ALC/ADNF-9 group as compared to the ALC group. Conclusion: These findings provide information on potential mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effects of ADNF-9 in the fetal alcohol exposure model.
A Phenomenological Psychological Study of the Police Officer’s Lived Experience of the Use of Deadly Force

A police officer is sometimes required to literally make a potentially life or death decision and act on it under rapidly evolving and dynamic circumstances involving a variety of mental, physical, and emotional aspects of the deadly force experience. Because the act of using deadly force is so personally influencing, the descriptive phenomenological psychological method was used in this study to provide a qualitative, holistic, and personal viewpoint from the officers’ perspective in their lived experiences. Three city police officers were interviewed and each gave a descriptive account of their experiences with deadly force. It was found that police officers experience complex decision-making challenges requiring rapid interpretations and understandings of the situation as a lethal encounter. The phenomenological psychologically pertinent constituents found in the general structure of their experiences are Perceptions of Bullets Hitting the Suspect, Surreal Experience, Noticing Body Damage to the Suspec...
Self and Language Anxiety

This paper discusses relationships between language anxiety and self. Self refers to an individual’s (a) self-confidence, (b) language ego, L2/FL self or identity developed during second or foreign language learning, or a combination of both L1 self and L2/FL self. Based on previous literature on language anxiety and L2 or FL learning, language learners’ self-confidence might imply a lack of language anxiety which enhances language achievement (e.g., Casado & Dereshiwsky, 2004; Clement, 1980; Liu & Chen, 2013; Matsuda & Gobel, 2004; Onwuegbuzie, Bailey, & Daley, 1999; Peng & Woodrow, 2010; Ro, 2013). Language anxiety is an experience unique to the language learning process, and this unique emotion or experience may be associated with the anxiety of feeling limited, broken, incompetent, having another self or a different personality in a target language. I believe that while learning target languages, L2 or FL identities are developing, and L1 identities are reconstructed. Language learners may feel the loss of L1 identities in a target language context or may feel that they are not able to express their thoughts in a target language. When learners feel the loss of L1 identities, feel limited or broken, this may be language anxiety arising.
Kinetics of ammonia decomposition on nickel

Two kinetic regimes were observed in the decomposition of NH3 over nickel wires at temperatures between 750 and 1350K and NH3 pressures between 5.3 and 133 Pa. At temperatures below 1000K, the decomposition is highly activated (211 ± 20 kJ mol−1), and the rate is independent of NH3 pressure. Above 1000K a transition to first-order kinetics occurs as the apparent activation energy decreases with increasing temperature. The data were closely predicted by a rate expression which was derived from an analysis of the elementary reaction steps involved in NH3 decomposition. The analysis of the data indicates that the desorption of strongly adsorbed nitrogen is the rate-controlling step in the zero-order regime, and the adsorption of NH3 is the rate-controlling step in the first-order regime.
Interrelated role of cigarette smoking, oxidative stress, and immune response in COPD and corresponding treatments

Cigarette smoking (CS) can impact the immune system and induce pulmonary disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is currently the fourth leading cause of chronic morbidity and mortality worldwide. Accordingly, the most significant risk factor associated with COPD is exposure to cigarette smoke. The purpose of the present study is to provide an updated overview of the literature regarding the effect of CS on the immune system and lungs, the mechanism of CS-induced COPD and oxidative stress, as well as the available and potential treatment options for CS-induced COPD. An extensive literature search was conducted on the PubMed/Medline databases to review current COPD treatment research, available in the English language, dating from 1976 to 2014. Studies have investigated the mechanism by which CS elicits detrimental effects on the immune system and pulmonary function through the use of human and animal subjects. A strong relationship among continued tobacco use, oxidative stress, and exacerbation of COPD symptoms is frequently observed in COPD subjects. In addition, therapeutic approaches emphasizing smoking cessation have been developed, incorporating counseling and nicotine replacement therapy. However, the inability to reverse COPD progression establishes the need for improved preventative and therapeutic strategies, such as a combination of intensive smoking cessation treatment and pharmaceutical therapy, focusing on immune homeostasis and redox balance. CS initiates a complex interplay between oxidative stress and the immune response in COPD. Therefore, multiple approaches such as smoking cessation, counseling, and pharmaceutical therapies targeting inflammation and oxidative stress are recommended for COPD treatment.
Gold nanoparticles as spectroscopic enhancers for in vitro studies on single viruses.

Gold particles with diameters between 2.5 and 4.5 nm have been introduced in the inner cavity of an icosahedral brome mosaic virus. The optical properties of single gold-marked virions have been tested in-vitro with respect to the characteristic plasmon polariton resonance. The shift in the plasmon polariton resonance of a single Au particle encapsulated in a virus with respect to a free particle in solution indicates a close interaction between the basic residues on the inner wall of the capsid and the negative surface charge of the particle. Incorporation of a pair of Au particles, ∼4 nm diameter, is shown to be a frequent event. In this case, the dependence of the two-particle surface plasmon spectrum on the interparticle distance and the strong particle/capsid wall interaction suggest that, in the future, it will be possible to use encapsulated Au particles to track changes in the viral capsid volume in real-time and in a physiological environment.
Review of the Validity and Significance of Cannabis Withdrawal Syndrome

The authors review the literature examining the validity and significance of cannabis withdrawal syndrome. Findings from animal laboratory research are briefly reviewed, and human laboratory and clinical studies are surveyed in more detail. Converging evidence from basic laboratory and clinical studies indicates that a withdrawal syndrome reliably follows discontinuation of chronic heavy use of cannabis or tetrahydrocannabinol. Common symptoms are primarily emotional and behavioral, although appetite change, weight loss, and physical discomfort are also frequently reported. The onset and time course of these symptoms appear similar to those of other substance withdrawal syndromes. The magnitude and severity of these symptoms appear substantial, and these findings suggest that the syndrome has clinical importance. Diagnostic criteria for cannabis withdrawal syndrome are proposed.
Nonstandard finite-difference schemes for the Lotka–Volterra systems: generalization of Mickens's method

Mickens [Applied Numerical Mathematics, 45, pp. 309–314, 2003] constructed a nonstandard finite difference scheme for the Lotka–Volterra predator–prey system which, for positive initial conditions, gives rise to periodic solutions. His method amazingly preserves the oscillation feature of the Lotka–Volterra system while many numerical methods give solutions that spiral into or out of the positive-valued fixed-point. The reason is that Mickens's scheme is noncanonically symplectic. Applying the same idea, we generalize Mickens's method and produce a class of nonstandard symplectic numerical methods for the above Lotka–Volterra system. These methods are all symplectic with respect to a noncanonical symplectic structure. They all have the property that the computed points do not spiral. Hence, these methods also preserve the oscillation feature of the predator–prey system.
Measurements on prototype cavities (352 MHz) for the Advanced Photon Source (APS)

Measurements of the higher order modes of a prototype single-cell 352-MHz cavity for the APS 7-GeV storage ring are presented and discussed. A 352-MHz cylindrical pill-box cavity made of aluminum has been built to test and verify the measurement instruments using the analytically derived resonant frequencies of both the fundamental and higher-order modes. A cavity made from solid copper was built according to dimensions derived from URMEL program runs. The longitudinal and transverse impedances of the first several higher-order modes have been measured using various shaped metal beads. >
An emergency department-based vaccination program: overcoming the barriers for adults at high risk for vaccine-preventable diseases.

Background: More than 10% of the population visit emergency departments (ED) every year. Many of these patients are not up-to-date on routine vaccinations that could prevent future illnesses. The ED could significantly impact these vaccination trends. Objectives: This study was a feasibility study to determine whether patients would be amenable to an EDbased program that provided appropriate immunizations when they were at high risk for these diseases. In addition, the authors sought to identify barriers that predict high-risk patients who did not receive immunizations before ED presentation and to identify barriers that predict those high-risk unvaccinated patients who are unwilling to receive vaccinations when offered in the ED. Methods: This study was a prospective cross-sectional study of all patients arriving in the ED at one innercity trauma center between 10 AM and 10 PM over the course of a three-week intervention period. The subjects completed a survey that included information about their risk of influenza (flu) and pneumococcal disease, their immunization history, and their perceptions of their need for immunization. Demographic information collected included insurance status, age, gender, and primary language. All high-risk patients who were not current with their immunizations were offered vaccination. The primary outcome was improvement in vaccination coverage based on an ED surveillance and treatment system for vaccinations. The secondary outcomes were barriers to successful vaccination before ED presentation and barriers to acceptance of vaccination in the ED. Results were compared using chi-square test and confidence interval analysis. Characteristics of barriers to immunization were determined using a logistic regression model. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: A total of 674 subjects were entered into the study. Vaccination of subjects at high risk for flu increased significantly from 16% before to 83% after ED evaluation and treatment, and vaccination of subjects at high risk for pneumococcal disease increased significantly from 18% before to 84% after ED evaluation and treatment. Significant barriers to vaccination before ED presentation were lack of insurance (odds ratio [OR] = 0.31 for flu, 0.22 for pneumococcal disease), age younger than 50 years (OR = 0.18 for flu, 0.24 for pneumococcal disease), and no perceived need for vaccination (OR = 0.07 for flu). The sole significant barrier to vaccine administration in the ED was perceived need for vaccination (OR = 0.32 for flu). Conclusions: An ED-based vaccination program is both feasible and successful. Other than a shortage of vaccine, the only ED barrier to vaccination (perceived need) might be overcome with patient education. ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2006; 13:922–930 a 2006 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Vascular smooth muscle cells from the Milan hypertensive rat exhibit decreased functional angiotensin II receptors

The present study was designed to study the functional properties of Angiotensin II (Ang II) binding sites in vascular smooth muscle cells in the Milan hypertensive rat (MHS), a model of low renin hypertension. Smooth muscle cells from MHS rats exhibited increased growth in culture in comparison with the Milan normotensive strain (MNS) as determined by population doubling times (24.5 +/- 2 and 34.8 +/- 2 hours, n = 4, respectively). Hormone receptor number, evaluated by binding assays using [125I]Ang II, showed no difference in either receptor number or affinity for both cell types. The functional responsiveness of Ang II receptors was evaluated by measuring the activation of phospholipase C, Na(+)-H+ exchange, and cytosolic Ca2+ levels. Phospholipase C activity was determined as tritium-labeled inositol trisphosphate and bisphosphate release before and after 15-second exposure to 10(-7) M Ang II. Ang II-stimulated phospholipase C activity in MNS (p less than 0.02) but not in MHS cells. Na(+)-H+ exchange was measured as the dimethylamiloride-sensitive 22Na+ influx into acid-loaded vascular smooth muscle cells with and without 10(-7) M Ang II. In MNS cells, Ang II significantly stimulated (p less than 0.001) antiporter activity but not in MHS cells, which showed a uniformly blunted response. MHS cells exhibited higher basal cytosolic Ca2+ levels than MNS cells, but Ca2+ rapidly increased in the presence of Ang II in MNS but not in MHS cells. Direct activation of phospholipase C by GTP-gamma-S in permeabilized cells indicated that both strains exhibited similar coupling levels by guanine-nucleotide binding proteins.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
3-D sign language synthesis

Signed communication developed by deaf communities provides points for research in biomechanics, kinematics, and linguistics. The sign synthesizer is a tool that may be used to animate gestures contained within the vocabulary of a sign language by the user's selection of previously defined hand shapes and corresponding positions and the system integration of transitions between these selected positions. In this paper we will discuss the evolution of the sign synthesizer, its use in the development of an application for the purposes of basic research in the neuroscience of motor control and learning, and future applications that may be developed using the sign synthesizer. Advantages of the sign synthesizer include the ability to generate a human avatar in 3D for implementation in a virtual environment. The sign synthesizer also incorporates a number of important features desirable for the development of virtual experiences within experimental protocols. These important features include: a stereo enabled virtual environment, ability to create MPEGs or sequential still images of animation, and a custom graphical user interface (GUI) to enable creation of new signs.
Expanding customer orientation in the HR funciton

While it has long been recognized that the human resource function must take a more customer-oriented perspective on the design and delivery of HR programs, this view has focused primarily on internal customers. However, external customers can provide important input into HR activities (e.g., job analysis information), they can participate in HR activities (e.g., selection decisions), and they can use HR activities (e.g., receive training). By expanding customer orientation in the HR function to focus explicitly on external customers, a more direct relationship between human resource management and competitive organizational performance can be established. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Islanded microgrids black start procedures with wind power integration

Microgrids with high renewable energy penetration has recently attracted much attention, as an excellent solution for powering remote and islanded areas. Much progress has been achieved in the investigation of microgrid frequency and voltage control in steady state or during load step change transients. However, the black start procedures and the corresponding control issues have not been as well researched. This paper focuses on the microgrid black start problem, which includes the modeling of the system, the integration of the wind generation, and the frequency control challenges during load step changes. The system dynamic response and the frequency control performance are considered and are evaluated by way of simulation results.
Electron spin resonance study of radiation-induced points defects in nitrided and reoxidized nitrided oxides

X-ray irradiated oxide, nitrided oxide, and reoxidized nitrided oxide films were studied with electron spin resonance. Nitridation of oxide films reduces the density of radiation-induced E' centers and creates bridging nitrogen center precursors, while reoxidation of nitrided oxides increases the number of radiation-induced E' centers, reduces the number of bridging nitrogen center precursors, and introduces overcoordinated nitrogen center precursors. Nitridation and reoxidation of these films also change the distribution of the radiation-induced defects. The present evidence supports earlier findings that the bridging nitrogen defect plays an important role in electron trapping in nitrided oxides and that the dominant hole trap in reoxidized nitrided oxides is not the E' center. Exposure to molecular hydrogen at room temperature annihilates paramagnetism of the nitrogen-associated centers and reduces that of the E' centers. >
An integrative measure of graph- and vector-based semantic similarity using information content distance

Gene Ontology (GO) and its annotation data have been widely used for genomic and proteomic analysis. In the past few years, various semantic similarity measures using GO have been proposed to quantify functional similarity between two proteins and assess validity of protein-protein interactions (PPIs). They are categorized as pairwise and groupwise approaches according to the strategies of deriving protein-to-protein functional similarity. We propose a novel semantic similarity measure, called simVICD, which is a graph-and vector-based groupwise approach. This method computes the magnitude of a common induced subgraph as semantic similarity between two sets of terms annotating two proteins, respectively. The magnitude of the common induced subgraph is represented as the Euclidean norm of a vector having information content distance of all possible directed shortest paths in the induced subgraph. Our experimental results show that the proposed groupwise approach, simVICD, and a previous integrative pairwise approach, simICND, outperform the other existing semantic similarity methods in predicting protein complexes and identifying essential proteins.
Imaging The Atomic-Scale Structure of Molybdenum and Vanadium Oxides by Scanning Tunneling Microscopy

Single crystals of Na0.003V2O5 and Mo18O52 were grown by chemical vapor transport and cleaved surfaces were imaged in ultrahigh vacuum using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Because the Mo18O52 (100) and Na0.003V2O5 (010) surfaces of these layered materials have a bulk terminated structure, the atomic-scale contrast in constant current images can be directly compared to components of the bulk structure. Among the structural features identified in the STM images are the surface/crystallographic shear plane intersections, the different MoOx coordination polyhedra on the Mo18O52 (100) surface, and the VO5 square pyramids that make up the Na0.003V2O5 (010) surface. In each of these cases, it was found that the atoms closest to the tip dominate the image contrast.
Comparative taphonomy of modern and Pleistocene corals, San Salvador, Bahamas

The taphonomic condition of the corals Acropora cervicornis and A. palmata obtained from two facies of the late Pleistocene Cockburn Town fossil reef was compared to that of modern subfossil specimens of the same taxa collected from analagous environments. The extent of coverage by potentially preservable and preserved encrusting organisms (coralline algae, worm tubes, bryozoans and corals) and borer organisms (clionid sponges, lithophagid bivalves) was recorded. The degree to which the material had been abraded by a variety of processes was also recorded. Results revealed that the Holocene corals were significantly (a = 0.05) more degraded than those preserved in the Pleistocene facies, suggesting that the Pleistocene corals were exposed on the sea floor for less time than the Holocene material currently residing on the sea floor. The recent history of the reefs from which the Holocene corals were collected suggests this interval to be less than ten years; however, sedimentologic evidence indicates that a single storm event buried and killed the Cockburn Town reef during late Pleistocene time. The taphonomic analysis presented here supports this conclusion. INTRODUCTION
Made in Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Sri Lanka: the labor behind the global garments and textiles industries

Shortly after World War II, Western countries began to impose quantitative limits on imports of textiles and clothing from developing countries. From 1974 until 2005 these limits were administered ...
Clearing Away Roadblocks to Funding California’s Infrastructure

There is an enormous need for new investment in infrastructure in California. Purportedly novel proposals for financing infrastructure abound, often under the rubric of Public Private Partnerships ("P3"). This short paper contends that nothing will enable more infrastructure to be built than dismantling the various roadblocks that prevent traditional means of financing infrastructure to be utilized. In particular, California needs to rely more on charging appropriate fees for the use of scarce natural resources (like water), and it needs to levy assessments on properties that benefit from investments in nearby public improvements (like a transit station). Unfortunately, such modest and venerable methods have been rendered very difficult by changes to the California Constitution (particularly Proposition 218). After establishing a baseline sketch of how infrastructure can be best financed in California (and elsewhere), this paper identifies legal roadblocks and proposes solutions that are as narrow and non-ideological as possible. The paper concludes by noting that an oft-mentioned alternative, utilizing Public Private Partnerships, would not be nearly as effective.
Control of renin release by dietary NaCl in the rat

The purpose of the present study is to determine whether changes of plasma renin activity (PRA) induced by dietary NaCl are mediated by a renal tubular mechanism or by a neural mechanism. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were placed on low-, normal-, or high-NaCl diets for 1 wk (n = 8 for each group). There were no group differences of glomerular filtration rate (GFR), renal plasma flow, Na+ or Cl- delivery to the loop, Na+ or Cl- reabsorption in the loop, Na+ or Cl- concentration in early distal tubular fluid, or Na+ or Cl- delivery to the early distal tubule. PRA of rats on normal NaCl (4.8 ng.ml-1.h-1 +/- 0.8) was greater (P less than 0.05) than that of rats on high NaCl (3.3 +/- 0.4) and less (P less than 0.05) than that of animals on low NaCl (9.1 +/- 1.8). To determine whether alterations of PRA by dietary NaCl might be related to low-pressure baroreceptors with vagal afferents, animals were bilaterally vagotomized after micropuncture. Forty-five minutes after vagotomy, PRA increased (P less than 0.05) on each of the diets, however, after vagotomy mean PRA in animals fed normal (10.9 +/- 1.8) and low NaCl (13.2 +/- 2.2) did not differ. Thus our results do not support the hypothesis that suppression of PRA by dietary NaCl loading is related to a renal tubular mechanism. A vagally mediated mechanism may contribute to renin suppression by dietary NaCl.
Incorporation of Corpora Cavernosa in Bulbous Urethral Artificial Urinary Sphincter

AbstractThe management of a nonambulatory patient with total urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy and radiation therapy is discussed. The corpora cavernosa were used in the placement of an artificial urinary sphincter after previous erosion to provide continence.
The discrete-continuum connection in dislocation dynamics: I. Time coarse graining of cross slip

A recent continuum dislocation dynamics formalism (Xia and El-Azab 2015 Model. Simul. Mater. Sci. Eng. 23 055009) has been enriched by incorporating an improved cross slip model. 3D discrete dislocation dynamics simulations were used to collect cross slip rate data in the form of time series that were analysed to estimate the correlation time for cross slip, which was subsequently used as a time scale for local window averaging of the collected cross slip rate data. This time averaging filters out the cross slip rate fluctuations over time intervals less than the correlation time, thus resulting in relatively smoother time series for the cross slip rates. The coarse grained series were further cast in the form of smooth trends with superposed fluctuations and implemented in continuum dislocation dynamics simulations using a Monte Carlo scheme. This approach resulted in a significant improvement of the predicted stress–strain response and a more realistic dislocation cell structure evolution. The similitude law for the average cell size evolution with inverse of stress, however, remains unaffected by the cross slip rates used in continuum dislocation dynamics.
Integrating Mobile Devices Into the Nursing Classroom

Abstract Mobile device usage is widespread among nursing students today. Utilizing these devices in nursing education may enhance learning by helping to create a learner-centered approach. Engaging in educational activities, virtually anywhere, creates learning opportunities outside the confines of a traditional classroom. Nursing faculty may need guidance on how to effectively introduce mLearning activities. The impact on learning from mobile devices is pronounced and could be augmented by developing pertinent activities for prelicensure nursing students to facilitate academic success.
Hereditary Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most significant causes of cancer morbidity and mortality in the United States. CRC incidence rates increase with age with greater than 90 % of cases occurring in persons over the age of 50. Twin and family studies have shown that genetic risk factors influence CRC incidence in up to 35 % of cases, but within that 35 % the level of risk conferred by genetic factors that predispose to CRC varies enormously. The correlations between family history and CRC susceptibility are propelled by a range of genetic mechanisms, from high-risk, disease-causing mutations that ablate gene function to low-risk genetic variants that perturb gene function in subtler ways. In addition, genetic risk factors can interact with each other and with nongenetic factors to increase or decrease CRC risk. However, the impact of interaction on risk is poorly understood.
388. Hypersensitivity of MYH16 Fibers (M Fibers) to Myodegeneration in Canine Muscular Dystrophy

Golden Retriever Muscular Dystrophy (GRMD) dogs frequently develop severe restriction to mouth opening, a condition known as trismus, as one of their earliest physical signs of the disease. Trismus is generally due to fibrosis and/or tonic contraction of the muscles of mastication, the temporalis and the masseter muscle. These muscles are primarily composed of unique myofibers exhibiting a masticatory myosin heavy chain encoded by the MYH 16 gene (M fibers). M fibers have been shown to produce the highest specific force among mammalian myofibers, based on their atypical crossbridge kinetics. Here, we show for a first time a morphological analysis of M fibers for the purposes of their classification, distribution and proportion in the masticatory muscles in normal and GRMD dogs based on immunofluorescence staining by a highly specific anti-MYH16 antibody. Our data demonstrate that in both temporalis and masseter muscles, the predominant M fibers are larger in size when compared to any other striated myofiber. A comparative histological analysis of these and other muscles in GRMD dogs demonstrates a significant relative increase in the proportion of injured, hypercontracted M fibers, a highly significant relative abundance of regenerating fibers expressing the embryonic myosin isoform encoded by the MYH3 gene, and prominent fibrosis when compared to the other affected striated muscles. These results suggest that the higher specific force developed by M fibers, due to the MYH16 encoded MyHC isoform, accelerates the fibers’ rate of degeneration in response to myonecrotizing sarcolemmal injury in the absence of dystrophin. Trismus is not seen in Duchenne MD, suggesting that the deletional frameshift in the human MYH16 gene (Nature 428: 373-4, 415-8) dramatically reduces the relative rate of sarcolemmal injury. These observations may offer novel insights into the physiological role of dystrophin in striated muscles, and provide an especially sensitive test for use in experimental therapeutics in the canine models for DMD.
The "new" medical model, fragmented clinical care and philosophy of medicine.

Jonathan Fuller, in a recent CMAJ article,[1][1] examines the transition from an “old” biomedical model to a “new” one, as well as the challenges that have emerged with the new model. Indeed, one of the more pressing challenges that he identifies is the fragmentation of clinical care. And,
Abstract 106: Pluripotent Stem Cell Microrna-294 Induces Cardiomyocyte Proliferation and Augments Cardiac Function After Myocardial Infarction

Rationale: Embryonic heart is characteristic of rapidly dividing cardiomyocytes that give rise to sufficient numbers required to build a working myocardium. In contrast, cardiomyocytes retain some proliferative capacity in the neonates but lose most of it in adulthood. Embryonic stem cell cycle (ESCC) miRs are a class of microRNAs regulating the unique cell cycle of ESCs and their characteristic pluripotency. Nevertheless, expression of miR-294, a member of the ESCC miRs is lost during developmental transitions from the ESCs to mature cells. Effect of miR-294 to induce cardiac proliferation and heart function has not been previously studied. Objective: To determine whether miR-294 drives cardiomyocyte cell cycle reentry leading to augmentation of cardiac function after myocardial infarction. Methods and Results: miR expression analysis in the heart during development revealed elevated levels of miR-294 in the prenatal stages while the expression was lost in the neonates and adults as confirmed by qRT-PCR. Neonatal ventricular cardiomyocytes (NRVMs) were treated with miR-294 mimic to determine the effect on proliferation and cell cycle. Elevated mRNA levels of cyclins A2, E1, CDK2 together with c-myc, E2F1 and E2F3 was observed in NRVMs treated with 25nM mimic for miR-294. Additionally, miR-294 treated NRVMs showed in AKT phosphorylation along with enhanced protein levels of cyclin D1 and E2F1. Increased expression of p-histone 3, Ki67 and Aurora B kinase (G2/M) was confirmed by immunocytochemistry in NRVMs after miR-294 treatment compared to control cells. Administration of miR-294 in mice subjected to myocardial infarction demonstrated augmentation of cardiac function in mice receiving miR-294 8 weeks after injury. Increase myocyte proliferation was observed in the heart after miR-294 treatment as analyzed by BrdU uptake, p-Histone 3 and Aurora B expression by immunostaining. Concurrently, a decrease in infarct size along with decreased apoptosis was observed in the miR-294 hearts compared to the control. Conclusion: Ectopic expression of miR-294 recapitulates embryonic signaling and enhances cardiomyocyte ability to proliferate and reenter the cell cycle leading to augmented cardiac function in mice after myocardial infarction.
Generic Feed Forward Control of Activated Sludge

Feed forward controllers for the completely mixed activated sludge process were developed and tested against the sludge growth rate models of five authors by computer simulation. Control was effective for all models and was shown to apply generally to growth models wherein specific growth rate is any function of substrate concentration. The control strategy involved manipulation of the recycle rate of return sludge. When the recycle rate was under proportional control from measurement of influent flow rate and derivative control from measurement of influent substrate concentration, soluble substrate in the effluent was minimized and stabilized. With recycled sludge storage, control was more effective.