cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A “Push and Slide” Mechanism Allows Sequence-Insensitive Translocation of Secretory Proteins by the SecA ATPase

In bacteria, most secretory proteins are translocated across the plasma membrane by the interplay of the SecA ATPase and the SecY channel. How SecA moves a broad range of polypeptide substrates is only poorly understood. Here we show that SecA moves polypeptides through the SecY channel by a "push and slide" mechanism. In its ATP-bound state, SecA interacts through a two-helix finger with a subset of amino acids in a substrate, pushing them into the channel. A polypeptide can also passively slide back and forth when SecA is in the predominant ADP-bound state or when SecA encounters a poorly interacting amino acid in its ATP-bound state. SecA performs multiple rounds of ATP hydrolysis before dissociating from SecY. The proposed push and slide mechanism is supported by a mathematical model and explains how SecA allows translocation of a wide range of polypeptides. This mechanism may also apply to hexameric polypeptide-translocating ATPases.
An Experimental and Theoretical Study on the Anisotropy of Elastin Network

The mechanical properties of elastin network from bovine thoracic aorta under biaxial tensile loading were studied both experimentally and theoretically. Histology and scanning electron microscopy were performed to verify the removal of cells, collagen, and other extracellular matrix components. Equi- and nonequi-biaxial tests were performed to study the effect of different loading conditions on the stress-strain responses of the elastin network. The mechanical properties of different elastin sections along the thoracic aorta were examined and studied to understand the anisotropy of elastin along the whole artery. Biaxial tensile test data comparing elastin vs. intact aorta showed that elastin is mainly responsible for the linear elastic response of the arterial wall at lower strains. Experimental results revealed that elastin network possesses significant anisotropic mechanical properties with the circumferential direction being stiffer than the longitudinal direction. The mechanical properties of elastin vary significantly along the thoracic aorta, with the thin section appearing to have the highest tangent modulus. Biological assay results indicate that elastin content is about the same along the thoracic aorta. The mechanical behavior of elastin network was well captured by the eight-chain statistical mechanics based microstructural model. Material parameters obtained from the equi-biaxial test were able to predict the stress-strain responses of elastin network under arbitrary nonequi-biaxial loading conditions. Also, by varying material parameters in the model, the changes in microstructure such as elastin fiber orientation and cross-linking density on the macroscopic mechanical properties of elastin network were discussed.
Heparitinase inhibition of mesoderm induction and gastrulation in Xenopus laevis embryos

We have examined the involvement of proteoglycan molecules in the induction of mesodermal tissue in Xenopus laevis embryos. Blastocoelic injections of the enzyme heparitinase at early blastula stages lead to gastrulation defects and to failures in the development of anterior embryonic structures. The period of sensitivity of embryos to this treatment suggests a possible role for these molecules during mesoderm induction. We show that heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans are the predominant sulfated glycoconjugates synthesized in early Xenopus embryos and that HSPGs are degraded by blastocoelic injections of heparitinase. Further, bFGF induction of mesoderm in explants of Xenopus stage 8 embryonic animal cap tissue is blocked by heparitinase but not by Chondroitinase ABC, using three separate criteria of mesoderm induction. Since HSPGs present in blastula animal cap cells are digested by heparitinase under the culture conditions used in the mesoderm-induction assay, we suggest that cell-surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans are required for basic fibroblast growth factor-mediated mesoderm induction.
Loss of social group affinity following prefrontal lesions in free-ranging macaques

Abstract Five free-ranging rhesus monkeys underwent resections of prefrontal cortex anterior to the frontal eyefields. Four others sustained bilateral ablations of the cingulate gyrus. Four of the 5 prefrontal animals failed to rejoin their social group on release and remained solitary until their deaths. The one animal to rejoin the social group was a yearling. All prefrontal animals except the yearling exhibited increased levels of aimless pacing activity. Three of the 4 animals with bilateral cingulate lesions returned to the social group and appeared largely unchanged by the extensive cerebral lesions. The fourth animal, a 5-year-old male, remained solitary until his early death 2–3 days later. However, abandonment of social group and adoption of a temporary solitary state occurs frequently among males of this age group on Cayo Santiago. Ten control animals trapped from the group all returned to the social group and appeared unaffected. The present results support the hypothesis that the prefrontal and the anterior temporal cortical regions both contribute importantly to the control and regulation of social behavior in the subhuman primate.
OP04.11: MR diagnosis of ischemia/infarct in the fetal brain; spectrum of appearance and significance of findings

Objectives: Fetal stroke is defined as fetal intracranial hemorrhage that occurs between 14 weeks of gestation and the onset of labor. It has been associated with postnatal epilepsy, mental retardation, and cerebral palsy and may be caused by antenatal ischemic, thrombotic, or hemorrhagic injury. Maternal alloimmune thrombocytopenia and trauma are common predisposing conditions, but there are many unknown risk factors. MRI can depict intracranial hemorrhage, infarct, porencephaly, cystic encephalomalacia, and ischemia. Methods: This was a retrospective, chart review of cases performed between January 1, 2000 through February 2008. A comparison of CNS findings on prenatal ultrasound and fetal MRI was performed to assess potential differences in the two imaging modalities Results: Review of fetal MRI’s revealed 23 cases of diagnosed CNS hemorrhage, ischemia, and infarcts. MRI can delineate the features and extent of the cerebral injury and can define acute and chronic ischemic changes. This is extremely important for predicting prognosis and decision making. Prior studies have shown that major destructive lesions, diffuse excessive high signal intensity within the white matter, cerebellar hemorrhage, and ventricular dilatation after intraventricular hemorrhage are associated with adverse outcomes, but punctate white matter lesions, hemorrhage, or ventricular dilatation without intraventricular hemorrhage are not necessarily correlated with unfavorable results. Conclusions: We present the spectrum of CNS injury diagnosed at our institution. Accurate diagnosis of CNS injury was valuable in prenatal counseling and decision making. It is hoped that additional studies will be performed with long term outcomes assessment to assist in prognostication of fetuses diagnosed with CNS ischemia/infarct.
Toxicity of Ferro- and Ferricyanide Solutions to Fish, and Determination of the Cause of Mortality

Abstract The investigation of the causes of a fish kill in waters containing ferro- and ferricyanide at concentrations far under those generally accepted as non-lethal have shown these low concentrations to be lethal due to photo-decomposition and release of the cyanide ion. Experimental data place the toxic level of these compounds, under similar conditions of light intensity, at a concentration between 1 and 2 p.p.m. This level is assumed to vary slightly under natural conditions with latitude, period of the year, temperature, water turbulence, and interferences. Rapid development of toxicity has been demonstrated at a concentration of 2 p.p.m. of either potassium ferro- or ferricyanide.
Devaluation, Asymmetric Money Demand, and Investment in a Small Open Economy

This paper investigates the relationship between inflation and investment when cash is required to purchase some consumption goods in a small open economy while others are purchased with foreign currency or on credit. Devaluation acts as a differential tax on the good that must be purchased with domestic money and lowers the return to the factor used intensively in this sector. If this sector is relatively labor intensive, the steady-state capital stock will increase in response to higher inflation. Nonneutrality of inflation exists even though money is only held for consumption purposes.
Transverse acoustic impedance of normal liquid3He

Both the real and imaginary parts of the transverse acoustic impedance of normal liquid3He have been measured at excitation frequencies of 10 and 30 MHz, fluid pressures from 0.7 to 27 bar, and temperatures from 3 mK to 1 K. The impedance is obtained from the changes in resonance frequency and Q of a quartz crystal, which is electrically driven to oscillate in a thickness shear mode while immersed in liquid3He. These results are compared with the predictions of Fermi liquid theory, which takes into account two contributions to the impedance: (1) incoherent single-quasiparticle excitations, and (2) the excitation of the collective transverse sound mode. At 0.7 bar, our measurements of the impedance are in agreement with the predictions of Fermi liquid theory and imply that the symmetric Fermi liquid parameterF 2=1.25±0.4 ifF 1=6.3. At higher pressures, we also observe agreement in the region ωτ<0.3, where ω is the excitation frequency and τ is the quasiparticle scattering time. However, above 8 bar in the zero-sound regime (ωτ≳1), the impedance is observed to be frequency dependent, at constant ωτ. This frequency dependence cannot be explained within the present framework of Fermi liquid theory.
Preparation of 20Na2O·80B2O3 glasses by sol-gel method

Abstract Glasses of composition 20Na 2 O·80B 2 O 3 were prepared from NaOCH 3 and B(OBu) 3 (tri-n-butyl borate) by the sol—gel method. The densities and IR spectra of the gels were measured as a function of heat-treatment temperature. It was found that the gels heat-treated below 450 °C are very porous and have somewhat different structures from that of the melt-quenched glass with the same chemical composition. The gels were densified completely at 500 °C to produce a glass having almost the same density as the melt-quenched one. The IR data showed the formation of four-coordinated borons in the starting mixed solution. The gelation process and structural development during the heat-treatment were discussed on the basis of the results obtained.
Identification of photosynthesis-light models for aquatic systems I. Theory and simulations

Abstract The paper describes a general procedure which uses a noisy series of diel oxygen concentration measurements to test the adequacy of non-linear photosynthesis-light models containing uncertain parameters. The extended Kalman filter (EKF), used with an oxygen mass belance equation and observed stream oxygen concentrations, provides serial estimates of the state (oxygen concentration) and the model parameters. Objective criteria of model adequacy are based on the statistical behavior of the differences between measurements and estimates of the state (the innovations sequence). While the expected behavior of the innovations can be derived from theoretical considerations for linear systems, no such theory exists for non-linear systems. Simulated data were used to demonstrate thatthe theoretical criteria are applicable to non-linear photosynthesis-light models. Five mass balance equations containing photosynthesis-light relationships were each used with five different levels of system and parameter noise to produce 25 time series of oxygen concentration. The procedure was applied repetitively in attempts to identify adequate models for each of these data sets. In 1250 tests of model adequacy there were no Type I errors (failure to accept the correct model as adequate) and the incidence of Type II errors (accepting as adequate an incorrect model) was less than 3%. These results show the EKF estimation procedure to be reliable and robust and suggest that it should be useful in examining the photosynthesis-light ( P-I ) relationship in streams.
The crystallization behavior and kinetics of a barium fluorozirconate type glass

An investigation of the crystallization behavior of a Zr-Ba-La-Al-F glass which is subjected to isothermal heat treatments is presented. The number and nature of the crystalline phases which form and their nucleation sites are determined at three temperatures. Also, the growth rate and volume fraction of crystals which nucleate internally in the glass, when heated at 320 C, are determined as a function of time.
Stability of polymer binders in Li–O2 batteries

Abstract The stability of various polymer binders was systematically investigated in the oxygen-rich environment required for the operation of Li–O 2 batteries. Due to the coverage on air electrode surface by the discharge products and decomposition products of the electrolyte during the discharge process of Li–O 2 batteries, the binder in the air electrode is hard to be detected making the evaluation of its stability problematic. Therefore, stability of the binder polymers against the reduced oxygen species generated during the discharge process was investigated by ball milling the polymers with KO 2 and Li 2 O 2 , respectively. Most of the studied polymers are unstable under these conditions and their decomposition mechanisms are proposed according to the analyzed products. Polyethylene was found to exhibit excellent stability when exposed to superoxide and peroxide species and is suggested as a robust binder for air electrodes. In addition, the binding strength of the polymer significantly affects the discharge performance of Li–O 2 batteries.
Structured Light Technique Applied To Solder Paste Height Measurement

The technique of structured light has been used to measure the height of solder paste "bumps" on surface mount printed wiring boards. The issue of solder paste height and volume is important in the characterization of the surface mount production process, because solder paste shape and volume (among other things) can have a large effect on the final solder joint quality. Inspection of solder paste takes place after the paste is screened or stenciled on the board, and before components are placed. The structured light system was developed as an off-line process monitoring or process development station. The paper discusses some of the technical challenges overcome in the lighting and imaging side of this application. The challenges include applying the system to boards of various colors and translucencies, imaging the laser stripe reflected off different kinds of solder mask, dealing with large variations of reflectance within the same image, and finally analyzing the image in such a way as to obtain very accurate height measurements. In addition, a method for automating the image analysis was incorporated to significantly improve the usability of the system. Parameters investigated while developing the system include the laser color, polarization of the beam, configuration of the structured light components, and laser speckle effects. The accuracy and repeatability of the system was quantified by a study of the errors contributing to the final measurement.
Joint experimental/computational techniques to measure thermal properties of solids

Experimental techniques to measure the thermal properties of solids are discussed. Experimental measurements and parameter estimation techniques are used to estimate the thermal properties. The importance of experimental design is emphasized, and criteria that give insight to the parameter estimation process and experiment are cited. A code-to-code communication technique is presented, which allows standard stand-alone direct solution programs to be linked with parameter estimation codes without modification. This method is called reusable interface technology (RIT). Aspects of this computational technique are discussed. The experimental/computational techniques are demonstrated with an experiment to estimate the thermal properties of an orthotropic carbon-carbon composite material. Two-dimensional, transient temperature and heat flux data are used to estimate two components of thermal conductivity (in the principal directions of the material) and the volumetric heat capacity.
Abstract 2884: ER stress and autophagy induced in pro-inflammatory mast cells exposed to stimuli associated with a positive energy balance.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Over the past two decades there has been an increase in the incidence of obesity and metabolic diseases due to sedentary lifestyles, high caloric intake, genetics and environmental factors. Studies have shown that obesity is linked with multiple co-morbid pathologies, including increases in the incidence of some cancers. We have studied the effect of a nutrient-dense environment upon the mast cell, a pro-inflammatory immunocyte. Our recently published work shows that these immunocytes are sites for ectopic lipid deposition (steatosis) under conditions that mimic high nutrient availability and hyperinsulineamia. Moreover, the steatotic phenotype is associated with phenotypic change in the mast cells, with relative over-production of bioactive eicosanoids and other pro-inflammatory lipid mediators, but suppression of some aspects of the acute Type I hypersensitivity pathway. In the current study we sought to further explore the impact of nutrient abundance upon the cell biology of the mast cell. We observe the induction of ER stress pathways, which is associated with the re-programming of the ER towards lipid synthesis and deposition in lipid bodies. Moreover, we observe the induction of autophagy pathways, which likely reflect cellular attempts to access the dysregulated ER and lipid bodies in an effort to return to homeostasis. These studies deepen our understanding of the degree to which altered nutrient environments can, in turn, cause immunological dysregulation. Of particular interest for future studies will be the links between mast cell dysregulation and the systemic and local inflammatory pathology that is associated with metabolic syndrome. Citation Format: Januaria M. Balajadia, Lori Shimoda, William Greineisen, Helen Turner. ER stress and autophagy induced in pro-inflammatory mast cells exposed to stimuli associated with a positive energy balance. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2884. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-2884
The Arab Spring Meets the Occupy Wall Street Movement: Examples of Changing Definitions of Citizenship in a Global World

The essay takes the logic of Empire/multitude as a starting point for the study of forms of citizenship in an increasingly global world. The neo-liberal models of development that emerged in the South and the North in the 1980s have contributed to high levels of exclusion, expensive national security states, and economic crisis. While there are many historical economic and political differences between these models, there are also important similarities that can be seen in the protest movements that responded to them. The comparative study of the Arab Spring and the Occupy Wall Street movement offer interesting insights into the development of the multitude as a global actor. The results are economic and political agendas that reflect the specificities of these different regions of the global world and their intersection.
Keeping lists and naming names: habitual patient files for suspected nontherapeutic drug-seeking patients

Abstract Emergency departments commonly keep files of patients who are suspected of frequently visiting them and fabricating symptoms to obtain prescription drugs, usually opioids, for nontherapeutic purposes. Such files have previously been given names such as "frequent flyer file," "repeater log," "kook-book," "problem patient file," "patient alert list," or "special needs file." Little has been written about the ethical, legal, and regulatory considerations that should be taken into account when establishing, maintaining, and using such files. This article explores these issues. The term "habitual patient files" is proposed because it is descriptive without being judgmental. [ Ann Emerg Med. 2003;42:873-881.]
The highly accurate anteriolateral portal for injecting the knee

The extended knee lateral midpatellar portal for intraarticular injection of the knee is accurate but is not practical for all patients. We hypothesized that a modified anteriolateral portal where the synovial membrane of the medial femoral condyle is the target would be highly accurate and effective for intraarticular injection of the knee. 83 subjects with non-effusive osteoarthritis of the knee were randomized to intraarticular injection using the modified anteriolateral bent knee versus the standard lateral midpatellar portal. After hydrodissection of the synovial membrane with lidocaine using a mechanical syringe (reciprocating procedure device), 80 mg of triamcinolone acetonide were injected into the knee with a 2.0-in (5.1-cm) 21-gauge needle. Baseline pain, procedural pain, and pain at outcome (2 weeks and 6 months) were determined with the 10 cm Visual Analogue Pain Score (VAS). The accuracy of needle placement was determined by sonographic imaging. The lateral midpatellar and anteriolateral portals resulted in equivalent clinical outcomes including procedural pain (VAS midpatellar: 4.6 ± 3.1 cm; anteriolateral: 4.8 ± 3.2 cm; p = 0.77), pain at outcome (VAS midpatellar: 2.6 ± 2.8 cm; anteriolateral: 1.7 ± 2.3 cm; p = 0.11), responders (midpatellar: 45%; anteriolateral: 56%; p = 0.33), duration of therapeutic effect (midpatellar: 3.9 ± 2.4 months; anteriolateral: 4.1 ± 2.2 months; p = 0.69), and time to next procedure (midpatellar: 7.3 ± 3.3 months; anteriolateral: 7.7 ± 3.7 months; p = 0.71). The anteriolateral portal was 97% accurate by real-time ultrasound imaging. The modified anteriolateral bent knee portal is an effective, accurate, and equivalent alternative to the standard lateral midpatellar portal for intraarticular injection of the knee. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00651625
Composite Ising Lattices. I. Bragg-Williams Approximation

The Bragg-Williams approximation for certain general classes of composite Ising lattices is worked out and discussed in detail. Our results suggest that the proximity effect may exist in composite ferromagnetic insulators.
Integrating Validation and Verification in the Digital Design Curriculum

This paper presents a module-based approach on integrating verification terminology, concepts and examples into the current computer engineering design curriculum. The primary goal is to equip students with the necessary verification and validation skills which are either ignored or are dealt with in an ad-hoc manner in current design courses. By making these courses verification-centric and emphasizing design-for-verifiability, we can produce highly qualified designers to handle the ever-larger and complex designs of the future.
Angiotensin II enhances GABAB receptor-mediated responses and expression in nucleus tractus solitarii of rats

Angiotensin II (ANG II) increases GABAB receptor expression in neuronal cultures from the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS). In the present study, the chronic effects of ANG II on GABAB receptor expr...
Validation of Multiple Whole Slide Imaging Scanners Based on the Guideline From the College of American Pathologists Pathology and Laboratory Quality Center

Context.— Whole slide imaging (WSI) produces a virtual image that can be transmitted electronically. This technology has clinical applications in situations in which glass slides are not readily available. Objective.— To examine the results of a validation study performed using the draft version of the WSI clinical validation guideline recently released by the College of American Pathologists. Design.— Ten iScan Coreo Au scanners (Ventana Medical Systems, Tucson, Arizona) were validated, 6 with one set of 100 cases and 4 with a different set of 100 cases, for 1000 case examinations. The cases were selected consecutively from the following case types: internal consultations and malignancies and cases with frozen sections, special stains, and/or immunohistochemistry. Only key slides were scanned from each case. The slides were scanned at ×20 magnification. Pathologists reviewed the cases as both glass slides and WSI, with at least a 3-week washout period between viewings. Results.— Intraobserver agreement b...
Gendered Pathways to the Political: The Political Participation of Women Factory Workers in Mexico*

Objectives. The objective of this article is to analyze the mobilization factors available within and without international factories that do and do not contribute to political participation of employees, hypothesizing that the quantity, type, and causal linkages will vary by gender. Methods. Using original survey data of factory employees (N=402) in multiple sectors and regions in Mexico, I test common explanations as to how the factory experience stimulates and stifles the political participation of women employees, exploring whether the causal linkages between the workplace and political engagement are the same for women and men. Results. Contrary to some of the recent research that reveals men to be more politically engaged than women in the Mexican population overall, my data show that among factory workers there is rough parity between men's and women's levels of political engagement. A distinction of note, controlling for other variables, female employees are more likely than male employees to engage in informal political activities. Conclusion. The international factory experience appears to have a limited “egalitarian” effect. The distribution of factors leading to political mobilization for women and men is not equal, yet women are able to translate a distinct set of factors into participation.
Actin-mediated surface motility during sea urchin fertilization

The sea urchin egg at fertilization is an ideal model in which to study actin-mediated surface activity. Electron microscopy of unfertilized eggs demonstrates the presence of thousands of well-arrayed short microvilli, which appear supported by cytochalasin-sensitive actin oligomers as detected with rhodamine-labeled phalloidin staining of permeabilized eggs. At insemination, the previously short microvilli elongate and cluster around the successful sperm during incorporation. Phalloidin staining demonstrates a tremendous recruitement of polymerized actin into the site of sperm incorporation, resulting in the formation of the fertilization cone. Fertilization of cytochalasin-treated eggs results in the normal activation of the metabolic and bioelectric events, but sperm incorporation does not occur since the localized actin assembly required for fertilization cone formation is precluded. After sperm incorporation, the entire fertilized surface is restructured, as a result of a massive polymerization of actin to produce a burst in microvillar elongation. Addition of cytochalasin to eggs immediately following sperm incorporation demonstrates the recruitment of actin assembly for the proper progression through the first cell cycle. During normal cell division, the egg surface retains the long microvilli. The furrow which forms at cytokinesis does not appear as a unique new structure, but rather as a reorganization of the cortical microfilaments. Quantitative fluorescence microscopy argues against an increase in microfilaments during early cytokinesis. At the latest stages of cytokinesis, a thickening of the cortical actin is noted, which could possibly be interpreted as a contractile ring. A minor basal level of actin assembly with numerous nucleation sites in unfertilized eggs and a tremendous but localized assembly of microfilaments surrounding the sperm during incorporation, followed by a massive global microfilament assembly event to elongate the fertilized egg microvilli resulting later in the reorganization of these microfilaments to produce the forces necessary for cytokinesis, highlight the utility of the study of sea urchin eggs at fertilization for understanding actin-membrane interactions.
A Memorial to Robert Tiegerstedt: The Centennial of Renin Discovery

One hundred years have passed since the first discovery of renin as a “pressor substance” in 1898 by Robert Tiegerstedt at Karolinska Institute. Since then, we have undergone long and difficult but highly productive years of renin-angiotensin research. This work was an important breakthrough in the context of the new concept of the endocrine mechanism “milieu interior” initiated by Claude Bernard. The 48-page publication “Niere und Kreislauf” in Skandinavisches Archiev fur Physiologie in 1898 by Tiegerstedt and Bergman detailed their meticulous approaches, even including the design of a flowmeter to measure blood pressure changes and documentation of long-lasting pressor effects of renin and tachyphylaxis.1 Curiously, however, no sequel study was published. According to Professor Mattias Aurell, this was because of the rather poor reproducibility of renin activity measurement, a well-known feature that has troubled many renin investigators since then. The choice of the kidney as the source of renin had an important implication because it coincided with the long-standing recognition that high blood pressure goes hand in hand with kidney diseases. The kidney became the target of studies again 30 some years later in independently conducted studies by Goldblatt, a pathologist who succeeded in making a dog model of renovascular hypertension by constricting the renal artery with silver clips. This work is based on Goldblatt’s repeated observations that renal arterial stenosis frequently accompanies hypertension. He also found that venous plasma of ipsilateral kidney contains a vasopressor substance. Study of renin-angiotensin was given a solid base when renin was found to be a peptidase that produces the pressor peptide angiotensin (a hybrid of angiotonin and hypertensin), demonstrated by Page and Braun-Menendez and their associates in the late 1930s. Angiotensin I (Ang I) was isolated by Skeggs et al, and the structure of Ang II was determined by Lentz et al, …
The microprocessor for scientific computing in the year 2000

The future of scientific computing, like the future of all computing, demands higher and higher performance from the computing system. In the author's view, that means exploiting concurrency at all levels of granularity, including the microprocessor. For scientific computing there is much good news. For example, the regularity of scientific computations (although Amdahl's law makes it not as good as it might be) allows for multiple instruction streams operating on behalf of a single process. That works well for the multimicro paradigm, and in fact might further suggest putting the multiprocessor on a single chip. However, the author does not believe the single chip multiprocessor is the answer for high performance scientific computing in the year 2000 for two reasons: system partitioning and pin bandwidth. At the uniprocessor level, scientific code makes the job of the compiler and the job of the microarchitecture easier, and that will translate into greater performance sooner than will be possible with integer code. Instruction and data supply will both be handled jointly by the compiler and the microarchitecture.
Trace Measurements of Mitomycin C Based on Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetry

Abstract A highly sensitive voltammetric approach for trace measurements of mitomycin C is described. The method is based on controlled adsorptive accumulation of the drug at the hanging mercury drop electrode, followed by voltammetric measurement of the surface species. After five min preconcentration, a detection limit of 2 × 10−9 M mitomycin C is obtained. The adsorptive stripping response is evaluated with respect to electrolyte, pH, preconcentration time and potential, concentration dependence, possible interferences, and other variables. The relative standard deviation at 1 times; 10−7 M is 4%. Cyclic voltanmetry is used to characterize the redox and interfacial processes.
A QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF INTERFACIAL AMINO ACID CONSERVATION IN PROTEIN-PROTEIN HETERO COMPLEXES

A long-standing question in molecular biology is whether interfaces of protein-protein complexes are more conserved than the rest of the protein surfaces. Although it has been reported that conservation can be used as an indicator for predicting interaction sites on proteins, there are recent reports stating that the interface regions are only slightly more conserved than the rest of the protein surfaces, with conservation signals not being statistically significant enough for predicting protein-protein binding sites. In order to properly address these controversial reports we have studied a set of 28 well resolved hetero complex structures of proteins that consists of transient and non-transient complexes. The surface positions were classified into four conservation classes and the conservation index of the surface positions was quantitatively analyzed. The results indicate that the surface density of highly conserved positions is significantly higher in the protein-protein interface regions compared with the other regions of the protein surface. However, the average conservation index of the patches in the interface region is not significantly higher compared with other surface regions of the protein structures. This finding demonstrates that the number of conserved residue positions is a more appropriate indicator for predicting protein-protein binding sites than the average conservation index in the interacting region. We have further validated our findings on a set of 59 benchmark complex structures. Furthermore, an analysis of 19 complexes of antigen-antibody interactions shows that there is no conservation of amino acid positions in the interacting regions of these complexes, as expected, with the variable region of the immunoglobulins interacting mostly with the antigens. Interestingly, antigen interacting regions also have a higher number of non-conserved residue positions in the interacting region than the rest of the protein surface.
Nuclear Discourse in the 1980s: The Unravelling Conventions of the Cold War:

The power and importance of discourse conventions in the cold war are revealed through their breach. The Reagan Administration talked publicly about nuclear weapons as a way to win a nuclear war. T...
Evaluation of data consistency and estimation of yield parameters in hydrocarbon fermentations

The consistency of experimental data for hydrocarbon fermentations is reviewed using carbon and available electron balances and the mean values of the regularities for carbon weight fraction in biomass and biomass reductance degree. True growth yields and maintenance coefficients are estimated from both batch and continuousculture data and the results are compared.
Prevalence and Predictors of Anemia in a Population-Based Study of Octogenarians and Centenarians in Georgia

THE over 85 segment of the population is projected to be the fastest growing segment in the United States this next century (1). With a growing number of older individuals comes an increase in chronic health conditions (2), one of which is anemia. Anemia both causes symptoms and is a signal of other underlying serious health conditions (3–7). In addition to the physical costs, the health care costs of anemia have been estimated to be an additional $7,000–$30,000 more than those incurred with similar health conditions but not anemia (8). Previous studies on anemia have focused on the entire group of older adults, often combining individuals in their sixties with those who are in their one hundreds (9–11). Considering that the fastest growing segment of the population is those over 85 years and the relatively rapid growth in number of individuals reaching their one hundreds (12), there could potentially be differences in anemia status between those in their sixties and those in their eighties or one hundreds. Consequently, there is a need for better understanding of anemia in older adults, particularly the very old. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine differences, if any, in the prevalence of anemia in a population-based study of octogenarians and centenarians and to determine possible predictors of anemia in the older age group. Based on previous studies (3,9,10,13), it was hypothesized that (a) the prevalence of anemia is higher in centenarians than in octogenarians and (b) that being African American, being male, having decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and low serum albumin concentrations are possible predictors of anemia in this population. The findings of this study will help identify potential predictors of anemia in the very old, which can then aid in the development of prevention and treatment programs for anemia.
Beyond record and play: backpacks: tangible modulators for kinetic behavior

Digital Manipulatives embed computation in familiar children's toys and provide means for children to design behavior. Some systems use "record and play" as a form of programming by demonstration that is intuitive and easy to learn. With others, children write symbolic programs with a GUI and download them into a toy, an approach that is conceptually extensible, but is inconsistent with the physicality of educational manipulatives. The challenge we address is to create a tangible interface that can retain the immediacy and emotional engagement of "record and play" and incorporate a mechanism for real time and direct modulation of behavior during program execution.We introduce the Backpacks, modular physical components that children can incorporate into robotic creations to modulate frequency, amplitude, phase and orientation of motion recordings. Using Backpacks, children can investigate basic kinematic principles that underly why their specific creations exhibit the specific behaviors they observe. We demonstrate that Backpacks make tangible some of the benefits of symbolic abstraction, and introduce sensors, feedback and behavior modulation to the record and play paradigm. Through our review of user studies with children ages 6-15, we argue that Backpacks extend the conceptual limits of record and play with an interface that is consistent with both the physicality of educational manipulatives and the local-global systems dynamics that are characteristic of complex robots.
Peripheral Intravenous Access in Pediatric Inpatients

Background. Peripheral intravenous (PIV) line placement is a time-consuming procedure performed on the majority of general pediatric inpatients, with significant discomfort to patients. Objective. To determine parameters of pediatric PIV placement, including success rates, time to success, and factors associated with success. Design. Prospective study involving direct observation of PIV placement by trained research staff. Setting. General inpatient wards at 2 medium-sized pediatric hospitals. Patients. Hospitalized children younger than 19 years. Results. Successful placement was achieved in 95.8% (567/592) cases with a median time of 9 minutes. Children younger than 2 years were less likely to have success on the first attempt (38.9% vs 53.5%) and have longer time to success (11 minutes). Conclusions. Children younger than 2 years experienced lower first-attempt successful PIV placement and took longer. The overall success rate was similar to prior reports; these data are the first to show differential ...
Adaptive Sensing for Sparse Signal Recovery

The theory of compressed sensing shows that sparse signals in high-dimensional spaces can be recovered from a relatively small number of samples in the form of random projections. However, in severely resource-constrained settings even CS techniques may fail, and thus, a less aggressive goal of partial signal recovery is reasonable. This paper describes a simple data-adaptive procedure that efficiently utilizes information from previous observations to focus subsequent measurements into subspaces that are increasingly likely to contain true signal components. The procedure is analyzed in a simple setting, and more generally, shown experimentally to be more effective than methods based on traditional (non-adaptive) random projections for partial signal recovery.
Composite models in SYMMS

SYMMS is a model management system inspired by concepts from systems theory. The coupling of individual models to form composite models is supported. A description is given of the formalism and language used for specifying composite models in SYMMS. >
The realization and the dissemination of thermodynamic temperature scales

Since the establishment of the International Temperature Scale of 1990 (ITS-90), much progress has been made in the development of radiometers and blackbody sources. Cryogenic electrical-substitution radiometry is widely used in detector and radiometer calibrations, and stable, high-temperature metal–carbon eutectic blackbodies are under development. Radiation thermometers can be calibrated for absolute radiance responsivity, and blackbody temperatures determined from the amount of optical power without the use of any fixed points to directly measure thermodynamic temperatures. These thermodynamic temperatures can be measured with lower final uncertainties than the ITS-90 derived temperatures, and these developments will directly impact future international temperature scales.
Winter composition of Nelson’s Sparrow (Ammodramus nelsoni) and Saltmarsh Sparrow (Ammodramus caudacutus) mixed flocks in coastal Virginia

ABSTRACT We captured 1,055 Nelson’s (Ammodramus nelsoni) and Saltmarsh (Ammodramus caudacutus) sparrows during the winter season (2006–2014) within the outer Coastal Plain of Virginia to determine the composition of subspecies. Birds were captured using mist nets in 24 tidal salt marshes and identified to subspecies using a plumage-based, syntopic key. Contrary to previous assessments, both species of sharp-tailed sparrows were common. All five subspecies were present and appeared to form mixed flocks within patches. The north-Atlantic Saltmarsh Sparrow (A. c. caudacutus) was the most common form, accounting for 45% of all birds identified to subspecies. The three Nelson’s Sparrow forms including the “Acadian” Nelson’s Sparrow (A. n. subvirgatus), “James Bay” Nelson’s Sparrow (A. n. alter) and the “Nelson’s” Sparrow (A. n. nelsoni) were equally common and collectively accounted for 47% of the subspecies identified. The highly restricted, mid-Atlantic Saltmarsh Sparrow (A. c. diversus) was the least common...
Detection of Tobacco rattle virus (TRV) in Phryma leptostachya L.: a new native plant host in Minnesota.

To our knowledge, this is the first report of TRV infection in P. leptostachya. The repeated isolation of TRV from plants in isolated, uncultivated habitats suggests that TRV may be endemic to Nort...
Further Observations on Apparent Effect of Diphtheria Toxin on Growth of Bacteria.

In a previous report1 we have noted the fact that diphtheria toxin when added to cultures of Bacillus cereus in a concentration of 30 m.l.d. per cc. leads to a slight but definite retardation of growth. While our data do not prove that the inhibitory factor for B. cereus is in fact the toxin rather than some other by-product of growth of the diphtheria organism, there is some basis for believing that this might be the case. Of particular interest is the fact that the addition of antitoxin appears to counteract this inhibitory action.In the present paper we wish to record that similar results have been obtained with Proteus vulgaris and Staphylococcus albus. The apparent inhibitory effect of the diphtheria toxin upon the growth of these organisms is of about the same magnitude as in the case of B. cereus.This is a preliminary report.
The effect of hole geometry on lift-off behavior of coolant jets

Water tunnel experiments have been conducted to understand the effect that hole exit geometry has on the lift-off characteristics of a jet in a crossflow stream. The following basic hole shapes were investigated, all having approximately the same cross-sectional area: round, elliptical, square, and rectangular. Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF) was used to visualize the jet structure in the region near the hole exit. Both jet trajectory and jet cross-section views provide insight into the basic characteristics of the jet, which are strongly dependent on the formation of kidney-shaped vortices. Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) was used to obtain the velocity field in the region immediately downstream of the jet. Based on the LIF and PIV results, hole geometry alone was found to influence the basic character of the jet, therefore, effecting the lift-off behavior.
Effect of Preputialectomy on Fighting Behavior in Mice

SummaryIndices of aggressive behavior were measured in paired male house mice which previously had been preputialectomized or sham-operated. Total fights and attacking time were increased in pairs comprised of a preputialectomized and a sham-operated animal as compared to that observed in sham-operated pairs. Preputialectomized males also showed a tendency to initiate first attacks of a paired encounter, but social rank was independent of presence or absence of preputial glands in an individual. Results indicate that the preputial glands influence fighting behavior, possibly through olfactory pathways.
Protein Kinase C Isoenzyme Expression in Normal Mouse Mammary Epithelial Cells Grown in Primary Culture

Mammary epithelial cells isolated from midpregnant BALB/c mice were grown within collagen gels and maintained in serum-free media containing 10 ng/ml epidermal growth factor (EGF) for an 8-day culture period. Western blot and scanning densitometric image analysis showed the presence of protein kinase C(PKC)alpha (82 kDa), delta(75 kDa), eta(90 and 78 kDa), and zeta(82, 74, and 65 kDa), whereas PKCbeta, gamma, and theta were not detected in either the cytosolic or membrane fractions in these cells. Cytosolic and membrane levels of PKCalpha and 82 kDa PKCzeta band progressively increased throughout the 8-day culture period. During this same time, cytosolic PKCdelta levels decreased, while membrane levels of PKCdelta showed no change. Cytosolic and membrane levels of PKCeta and the 74- and 65-kDa PKCzeta bands displayed some fluctuations but remained relatively constant during the 8-day culture period. Other studies showed that 24-hr treatment with 100 nM of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), resulted in the downregulation of PKCalpha, delta, and eta, and the 82-kDa PKCzeta band. However, PMA treatment had no effect on cytosolic and membrane levels of the 74- and 65-kDa PKCzeta bands. Since PKC activation is associated with hormone- and growth factor-dependent mammary epithelial cell proliferation, these findings suggest that increases and/or decreases in the relative levels of the different PKC isoenzymes in proliferating cells may indicate their possible role in mediating or regulating EGF-dependent mitogenesis.
Sizing-priority based low-power embedded memory for mobile video applications

Recently, mobile devices such as smart-phones and tablets have become the most important medium for delivering internet traffic, especially multimedia content, to end users. However, mobile embedded memory incurs large power consumption owing to the highly frequent access and extensive computation. This paper presents a sizing-priority based memory design methodology for low-power mobile video applications. We investigate the size dependent memory failure characteristics and effectively reduce the memory failure rate with low area overhead. Also, we develop a model for the influence of the memory failure on video output, connecting the hardware design process and application requirement. A 64-byte SRAM was fabricated and test results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed technique.