cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Signaling defects in T lymphocytes of patients with malignancy.

In patients with cancer, alterations in the expression of T-cell receptor-associated molecules in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) as well as in circulating lymphocytes have been reported. By quantitative flow cytometry analysis, decreased or absent expression of the ζ chain in CD4+ or CD8+ T cells as well as in natural killer (NK) cells was demonstrated in patients with malignancies. Changes in the expression of ζ are biologically significant, because the absence or low expression of this signaling molecule in TIL of patients with stage III or IV head and neck cancer predicts a significantly shorter 5-year survival than that of patients with normal ζ expression in TIL. Preliminary evidence indicates that expression of ζ in TIL may not only influence survival but also predicts a favorable response to biologic therapies. Patients with cancer also show significantly greater spontaneous ex vivo apoptosis in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) compared to normal controls, as measured by a terminal deoxynucleotide transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. While no correlation could be established between the proportions of cells with low ζ chain expression and those that spontaneously apoptose ex vivo, the ζ chain has been shown to be cleaved by caspases in T cells coincubated with tumor cells or with T cells exposed to CH-11 antibody, which induces apoptosis upon crosslinking Fas on the cell surface. The results suggest that low/absent ζ chain expression and lymphocyte apoptosis may be manifestations of negative effects of the tumor on the host immune system.
Probing functional interfaces of rod PDE γ-subunit using scanning fluorescent labeling

In the dark, the activity of the rod cGMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) catalytic α- and β-subunits (Pαβ) is inhibited by two γ-subunits (Pγ). On light stimulation of the photoreceptor cells, the GTP-bound α-subunit of visual G-protein transducin (GtaGTP) displaces the Pγ-subunits from their inhibitory sites on Pαβ, leading to the effector enzyme activation. We designed a number of Pγ mutants, each with a single cysteine residue evenly distributed at a different position along the Pγ polypeptide chain. These cysteine residues served as sites for the introduction of the environmentally sensitive fluorescent probe, 3-(bromoacetyl)-7-diethyl aminocoumarin (BC). Analysis of the interactions of Pαβ and Gta with the fluorescently labeled Pγ mutants suggests two distinct functional interfaces of Pγ. The Pαβ/Pγ interface is formed essentially by the C-terminus of Pγ and by the N-terminal portion of the Pγ polycationic region, Pγ-24-45, whereas the Pγ/Gta interface includes the C-terminal portion of Pγ-24-45 and the region surrounding Pγ Cys68. Such functional organization of Pγ may represent an important element for the PDE activation mechanism during transduction of visual signals.
Molecular defects of uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase in a patient with mild hepatoerythropoietic porphyria

The molecular defect of uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase (UROD) was examined in a patient with mild hepatoerythropoietic porphyria. To elucidate the UROD defect, we cloned UROD cDNAs from EBV-transformed lymphoblastoid cells of the proband using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the cloned UROD cDNAs revealed two separate missense mutations, each occurring in a separate allele. One mutation was a Val134-->Gln transition, and was due to three sequential point mutations (T417G418T419-->CCA); the other mutation was a His220-->Pro transition (A677-->C). UROD phenotype studies demonstrated that the TGT-->CCA mutation was inherited from the father, and the A-->C mutation was inherited from the mother. In contrast to the null activity previously described for a mutant UROD from a patient with familial porphyria cutanea tarda, these mutant URODs had subnormal but substantial enzyme activities, when expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells. This is the first demonstration of a mutation caused by three sequential base substitutions.
On density, translates, and pairwise sums of integers

Abstract The principal result is that if a question of Erdos about pairwise sums has a counterexample, then it has counterexamples with maximal density arbitrarily close to 1. In investigating this question, several results about translates of sets with positive-maximal density and with positive asymptotic-upper density are also derived.
What Is Political Philosophy? A Phenomenological View

Political philosophy must be pursued phenomenologically. When pursued phenomenologically, political philosophy is in fact proto or first philosophy itself rather than a subsection of philosophy. As first philosophy, political philosophy must be seen as architectonic, the queen of the sciences.
Nuclear Electric Propulsion - A concept for solar system exploration

The potential of Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NEP) to meet the increasing demands of our planetary space exploration program is examined and evaluated. Based on an assumption of a modest growth beyond current technology, an NEP system is described that provides performance advantage over all competitive technologies. Flight times and available payload mass - as indicators of mission performance - are compared for several mission opportunities of interest. NEP is shown to have a unique capacity for substantial reductions in mission flight times in terms of payloads consistent with the needs of planetary exploration.
Some Properties Of Synthetic Single Crystal And Thin Film Diamonds

Large synthetic diamond single crystals, in sizes up to 1.4 ct, are produced on 4 commercial basis for some industrial application fields by Sumitomo Electric. The crystals are yellow colored type Ib stones which contain lower amounts of nitrogen (up to about 100 ppm) dispersed through the crystal structure in the form of singly substituting atoms. The impurity controlled type lb crystals have the highest thermal conductivity which is equivalent to that of pure type IIa crystals. Optical and thermal properties of diamond crystals are strongly affected by dispersed impurities. We studied the kinds of dispersed impurities and amounts of those impurity atoms in our synthesized crystals by SIMS. A relation of the thermal conductivities and the nitrogen concentrations of the crystals was examined. The state of nitrogen impurity in the crystals could be transformed by electron irradiation and subsequent high temperature annealing. The reaction rates for the transformation Ib nitrogen to type IaA aggregates and differences in crystal growth sectors have been studied. Vapor phase deposited diamond films are hopeful candidates for optical application of diamond. Preliminary spectroscopic analysis has been done for the free standing polycrystalline films.
Optimal simulation of linear multiprocessor architectures on multiply-twisted cube using generalized Gray Codes

We consider the problem of simulating linear arrays and rings on the multiply twisted cube. We introduce a new concept, the reflected link label sequence, and use it to define a generalized Gray Code (GGC). We show that GGCs can be easily used to identify Hamiltonian paths and cycles in the multiply twisted cube. We also give a method for embedding a ring of arbitrary number of nodes into the multiply twisted cube.
Analysis of Wild-Type and Mutant Plant Nitrate Reductase Expressed in the Methylotrophic Yeast Pichia pastoris

Recombinant Arabidopsis thaliana NADH:nitrate reductase (NR; EC 1.6.6.1) was produced in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris and purified to near-electrophoretic homogeneity. Purified enzyme had the spectral and kinetic properties typical of highly purified NR from natural plant sources. Site-directed mutagenesis altering several key residues and regions was carried out, and the mutant enzyme forms were expressed in P. pastoris. When the invariant cysteine residue, cysteine-191, in the molybdo-pterin region of the A. thaliana NIA2 protein was replaced with serine or alanine, the NR protein was still produced but was inactive, showing that this residue is essential for enzyme activity. Deletions or substitutions of the conserved N terminus of NR retained activity and the ability to be inactivated in vitro when incubated with ATP. Enzyme with a histidine sequence appended to the N terminus was still active and was easily purified using metal-chelate affinity chromatography. These results demonstrate that P. pastoris is a useful and reliable system for producing recombinant holo-NR from plants.
Ultrafast fiber lasers and bulk lasers for material processing — A comparison

The advent of high energy femtosecond lasers based on Yb-doped bulk materials and Yb-doped fibers has led to commercially available systems with output powers of up to 30 W and pulse durations between 200 fs and 600 fs, and repetition rates of several 100s of kHz.At present, two areas of femtosecond laser development have materialized. While Yb-doped regenerative amplifiers access the high energy regime at moderate repetition rates of 100s of kHz, Yb-fiber MOPA systems may enable power scaling to 100 W at repetition rates of up to several MHz.
Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy Mutations Associated With Infantile-Onset Myoclonic Epilepsy

Epilepsy syndromes with onset in the first year of life, especially when they include myoclonic features, have special significance since they are associated with long-term developmental and neurological abnormalities. Dravet’s severe myoclonic epilepsy in infancy is especially interesting as it is associated with fever-provoked seizures and mutations in the alpha subunit of the sodium channel (SCN1A) in about one-third of the cases. Here, we report 2 children who had clinical features of severe myoclonic epilepsy of infancy without mutations in the SCN1A gene who were found to have mitochondrial DNA mutations associated with Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy. These 2 children demonstrated markers of mitochondrial dysfunction, drug-resistant epilepsy, and dysfunction of nonneurological systems. These cases demonstrate that mitochondrial DNA mutations, especially those associated with Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy, should be considered in cases of myclonic epilepsy starting in infancy, especially w...
Influence of alkali chlorides on distribution of aqueous base solubilized silicate species

Abstract Monomeric, dimeric, trimeric and tetrameric silicate species were found in alkali (Li, Na, K, Cs) hydroxide solubilized silicates by laser Raman spectroscopy. Alkali chlorides promote condensation of these silicate species in solution. A siliceous precipitate whose Raman spectrum resembled that of alkali disilicate glasses was formed upon addition of LiCl to 1 M silicate solutions. This precipitate could be redissolved and the Raman spectrum indicated that it did so by hydrolysis into smaller silicate species. This study shows that, besides hydroxide ion, alkali cations can be used to control the degree of polymerization of aqueous silicate solutions and that Raman spectroscopy provides a convenient probe to monitor such changes.
Modulation of the Host Interferon Response and ISGylation Pathway by B. pertussis Filamentous Hemagglutinin

Bordetella pertussis filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) is a surface-associated and secreted protein that serves as a crucial adherence factor, and displays immunomodulatory activity in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). In order to appreciate more fully the role of secreted FHA in pathogenesis, we analyzed FHA-induced changes in genome-wide transcript abundance in human PBMCs. Among the 683 known unique genes with greater than 3-fold change in transcript abundance following FHA treatment, 125 (18.3%) were identified as interferon (IFN)-regulated. Among the latter group were genes encoding several members of the IFN type I response, as well as 3 key components of the ISGylation pathway. Using real-time RT-PCR, we confirmed FHA-associated increases in transcript abundance for the genes encoding ubiquitin-like protein, ISG15, and its specific protease USP18. Western-blot analysis demonstrated the presence of both, free ISG15 and several ISGylated conjugates in FHA-stimulated PBMC lysates, but not in unstimulated cells. Intracellular FACS analysis provided evidence that monocytes and a natural killer-enriched cell population were the primary producers of ISG15 in PBMCs after FHA stimulation. Our data reveal previously-unrecognized effects of B. pertussis FHA on host IFN and ISGylation responses, and suggest previously-unsuspected mechanisms by which FHA may alter the outcome of the host-pathogen interaction.
Agave for tequila and biofuels: an economic assessment and potential opportunities

This paper explores the economic viability of producing biofuels from Agave in Mexico and the potential for it to complement the production of tequila or mescal. We focus on Agave varieties currently being used by the tequila industry to produce two beverages, tequila and mescal, and explore the potential for biofuel production from these plants. Without competing directly with beverage production, we discuss the economic costs and benefits of converting Agave by-products to liquid fuel as an additional value-added product and expanding cultivation of Agave on available land. We find that the feedstock
Compact long wavelength free-electron lasers

The idea of using the Smith-Purcell effect to build a compact (table-top) long wavelength (0.1 -1 mm) free-electron laser is quite old. However, it is only recently that a complete theory for the operation of such devices has been proposed. The current state of the theoretical and experimental efforts to understand these devices will be summarized.
Comparison on Effects of SAR Data Compression in SQNR and Coherent Change Detection

In SAR applications, the size of data can be quite large, and many data compression algorithms have been developed to reduce the storage requirements for SAR data. Previous research has been done on the compression of both amplitude and raw SAR data. However, the performance metrics used in these compression schemes are often visual-related metrics such as peak-signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) or signal-to-quantization-noise ratio (SQNR). These metrics have been shown to provide misleading results for data with large dynamic range such as raw SAR data. The present research evaluates the performance of popular compression algorithms for raw SAR data in both SQNR and coherent change detection (CCD), which is superior in detecting subtle, man-made changes in the scene [1]. The results shows that higher SQNR does not lead to better CCD. This finding determines that the popular compression methods currently being used are not optimized for SAR data with respect to CCD.
Modeling wave generation by borehole orbital vibrator source

An orbital vibrator source (OVS), a fluid-coupled shear-wave source, has many properties useful for crosswell, single-well, and borehole-to-surface imaging of both P- (compressional) and S- (shear) wave velocities of reservoir rocks. To this day, however, only a limited number of quantitative models have been developed to explain its properties. In this article, we develop both 2D and 3D models of an OVS, allowing us to examine source characteristics such as radiation patterns, frequency dependence of wave amplitudes, and guided-wave generation. These models are developed in the frequency-wavenumber domain using the partial wave expansion of the wavefield within and outside the borehole. The models predict many unique characteristics of an OVS, including formation-property-dependent vibrator amplitudes, uniform isotropic S-wave radiation pattern, and small tube-wave generation.
Impact of daily noise exposure monitoring on occupational noise exposures in manufacturing workers

AbstractObjective: Despite the use of hearing protection devices (HPDs), noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) remains one of the most prevalent occupational conditions. A new technology allows for daily monitoring of noise exposures under HPDs. We report on an intervention employing the voluntary use of this technology in a worksite setting. Design: Volunteers were fitted with a device allowing them to monitor noise exposure under their hearing protection on a daily basis. The trends in noise exposures for individuals who completed at least six months of the intervention were analysed. Study sample: Recruitment occurred at three manufacturing facilities, with 127 workers enrolling and 66 workers actively using the device during their work shifts. Results: Among volunteers downloading regularly, the percentage of daily exposures in excess of the OSHA action level (85 dBA) decreased from 14% to 8%, while the percentage of daily exposures in excess of 90 dBA decreased from 4% to less than 2%. Conclusion: Initia...
Dynamics of a Langmuir-Hinshelwood-type recombination reaction

Abstract We report here the application of the classical trajectory method to a model system having many of the features of the recombination of atomic carbon and atomic oxygen on the (111) face of a platinum single crystal. Interactions between the adsorbed species and the surface, and between individual surface atoms are described by an empirical interaction potential which incorporates much of the experimental information about gaseous CO and about C, O, and CO adsorbed on Pt(111). We focus on the partitioning of energy among vibration, rotation and translation, as well as angular distributions of the desorbed product molecule. We find that most of the reaction exothermicity appears in translational modes of the desorping product, that the angular distributions cannot be fit to a cos γ θ law, and that the vibrational state distributions from several arrangements match the nearly Boltzmann shape of the experimental (C + O)/Pt(111) distribution for states above ν =1.
Delay in Diagnosis of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Investigators from Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, retrospectively reviewed 179 records of patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) evaluated between 1989 and 2012. Diagnosis was confirmed by genetic testing or muscle biopsy, and clinical data were complete in 107 patients.
Guided surface waves over a free-space-chiral interface: applications to identification of optically active materials

At a free-space-chiral interface, the complete modal expansion of the electromagnetic fields consists of the radiation fields and lateral waves, associated with branch cut integrals as well as guided surface waves associated with the poles of the like- and cross-polarized elements of the reflection matrix. The cross-polarized surface waves, considered here in detail, are proportional to the chiral measure and contain the footprints of the optical activity of the material. Explicit expressions are desired for the residue contributions at the poles of the cross-polarized reflection coefficients in terms of the optical activity. Thus, measurements of the ratio of the cross- to like-polarized surface waves, which can be excited by electric or magnetic dipoles near the interface, can be used to identify the optically active materials.
Inhibition of the Cyclin-Dependent Kinases at the Beginning of Human Cytomegalovirus Infection Specifically Alters the Levels and Localization of the RNA Polymerase II Carboxyl-Terminal Domain Kinases cdk9 and cdk7 at the Viral Transcriptosome

We previously reported that defined components of the host transcription machinery are recruited to human cytomegalovirus immediate-early (IE) transcription sites, including cdk9 and cdk7 (S. Tamrakar, A. J. Kapasi, and D. H. Spector, J. Virol. 79:15477-15493, 2005). In this report, we further document the complexity of this site, referred to as the transcriptosome, through identification of additional resident proteins, including viral UL69 and cellular cyclin T1, Brd4, histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1), and HDAC2. To examine the role of cyclin-dependent kinases (cdks) in the establishment of this site, we used roscovitine, a specific inhibitor of cdk1, cdk2, cdk7, and cdk9, that alters processing of viral IE transcripts and inhibits expression of viral early genes. In the presence of roscovitine, IE2, cyclin T1, Brd4, HDAC1, and HDAC2 accumulate at the transcriptosome. However, accumulation of cdk9 and cdk7 was specifically inhibited. Roscovitine treatment also resulted in decreased levels of cdk9 and cdk7 RNA. There was a corresponding reduction in cdk9 protein but only a modest decrease in cdk7 protein. However, overexpression of cdk9 does not compensate for the effects of roscovitine on cdk9 localization or viral gene expression. Delaying the addition of roscovitine until 8 h postinfection prevented all of the observed effects of the cdk inhibitor. These data suggest that IE2 and multiple cellular factors needed for viral RNA synthesis accumulate within the first 8 h at the viral transcriptosome and that functional cdk activity is required for the specific recruitment of cdk7 and cdk9 during this time interval.
Virtually fixed channel assignment for cellular radio-telephone systems: a model and evaluation

A promising approach to efficient channel assignment is the virtually fixed channel assignment (VFCA) method. In VFCA, the channels are nominally assigned as in conventional fixed assignment schemes, but cells are allowed to borrow channels from one another. An analytical model is developed for a cellular telephone system that uses VFCA, where the channel assignment process of a cell in the system is modeled as a two-dimensional Markov chain. The analytical results are compared with simulation results, and the model is shown to be an efficient tool for evaluating performance and traffic characteristics of VFCA system. >
Impact of victimization on substance abuse treatment outcomes for adolescents in outpatient and residential substance abuse treatment.

This paper considers whether victimization moderates adolescents' outcomes in substance abuse treatment. Adolescents (N = 975) in outpatient and residential settings were assessed at intake, three, six, nine, and 12 months. Differential outcomes by gender and degree of victimization were analyzed. Dependent variables were marijuana use and substance-related problems. The residential sample reported higher baseline marijuana use and victimization. Both samples significantly reduced marijuana use and associated problems during treatment. Victimization was significantly related to more substance-related problems at intake and follow-up. More severe trauma histories in residential females were associated with significantly greater persistence in substance-related problems post-discharge. (Am J Addict 2006;15:34–42)
Determinacy of generalized schema

R.M. Karp and R.E. Miller's (1966) computation graphs have been widely studied because they are a useful abstraction of multiprocessor computation. A system has the determinacy property if whenever the same set of input streams are entered into the system, the resultant output is the same set of output streams. Karp and Miller showed that computation graphs have this property; N.S. Woo et al. (1984) showed that dataflow schema also have the property of determinacy. A more general model than either of the foregoing, called a multiple component system model (MCSM), is presently defined. It is proved that MCSMs have the determinacy property. Deadlocking is then defined, and some additional properties of deadlocking MCSMs are proved. >
Adsorption‐Driven Self‐Sorting of Dynamic Imine Libraries

Differences in adsorption among the components of complex mixtures play a role in separations, surface-based sensing, and heterogeneous catalysis, and have been implicated in theories of the origin of life. Herein, we consider mixtures of imines and we show that if such complex mixtures are also dynamic—that is, if their components equilibrate among themselves—then they can dramatically simplify in composition during the course of column chromatography. As they travel down the column, imines continuously trade their aldehyde and amine constituents, favoring the formation of molecules with extremes of polarity at the expense of species with intermediate polarities. Iterative application of this principle leads to simplification of imine libraries containing up to 16 members into 4 major products.
Design and Performance of the Vegetation Canopy Lidar (VCL) Laser Transmitter

Design details of the vegetation canopy laser (VCL) for the NASA multi beam laser altimeter (MBLA) earth orbit mission are presented. The laser is a Nd:YAG Q-switched, diode side-pumped, zig-zag slab design producing 10 ns, 15 mJ pulses at 1064 nm. It employs an unstable resonator as well as a graded reflectivity output coupler with a Gaussian reflectivity profile. A cylindrical lens of undoped YAG collimates the 809 nm pump diode radiation and focuses it into a region /spl sim/ 1.5 mm wide down the 100 mm long Nd:YAG slab. In order to conserve power, a conductively cooled design is employed. The laser is designed to operate over a range of 25/spl deg/C without active thermal control. Passive cooling is achieved with a large thermal radiator panel consisting of heat-pipes and a change-of-state element. The laser is equipped with a 15/spl times/ beam expander to limit the output divergence to less than 60 /spl mu/rad. One discussion will explain the compensation of the thermal lens created in the side-pumped slab and the different treatments of the x and y portions of the z-directed beam in order to obtain an output beam of near circular symmetry. Paraxia modeling was used along with performance data to determine the optimum location of the thermal compensating lens, and how the slab's thermal lens changed with temperature. This is due to the change in inversion density resulting from the varying overlap of the pump radiation spectral profile with the location of the Nd:YAG pump bands. Performance data as a function of temperature are given. The total number of shots to date and any change in performance as a function of shot count are presented.
A validated ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for the quantification of polymyxin B in mouse serum and epithelial lining fluid: application to pharmacokinetic studies

OBJECTIVES A rapid, sensitive and robust ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was developed for the quantification of four major polymyxin B components (polymyxin B1, polymyxin B2, polymyxin B3 and isoleucine-polymyxin B1) in serum and epithelial lining fluid (ELF) samples. METHODS A Waters Acquity UPLC HSS C18 column was used with 0.1% formic acid in water/acetonitrile as mobile phases. Analysis was performed in a positive ionization mode with multiple-reactions monitoring scan type. Five percent trichloroacetic acid was used to precipitate proteins in biological samples and to increase the sensitivity of detection. RESULTS Our results showed a linear concentration range of 0.0065-3.2 mg/L for all the major polymyxin B components in both serum and ELF, respectively; the interday variation was <10% and the accuracy was 88%-115%. The validated method was used to characterize the pharmacokinetics (serum and ELF) of polymyxin B in mice. CONCLUSIONS This is the first report, to date, examining the individual pharmacokinetics of various polymyxin B components in mice. Our results revealed no considerable differences in clearances among the components. The limited exposure of polymyxin B in ELF observed was consistent with the less favourable efficacy of polymyxin B reported for the treatment of pulmonary infections. This method can be used to further examine the pharmacokinetics of polymyxin B in a variety of clinical and experimental settings.
Heritability of Extinction Rates Links Diversification Patterns in Molecular Phylogenies and Fossils

Time-calibrated molecular phylogenies provide a valuable window into the tempo and mode of species diversification, especially for the large number of groups that lack adequate fossil records. Molecular phylogenetic data frequently suggest an initial "explosive speciation" phase, leading to widespread speculation that ecological niche-filling processes might govern the dynamics of species diversification during evolutionary radiations. However, these patterns are difficult to reconcile with the fossil record. The fossil record strongly suggests that extinction rates have been high relative to speciation rates, but such elevated background extinction should erase the signal of early, rapid speciation from molecular phylogenies. For this reason, extinction rates in molecular phylogenies are frequently estimated as zero under the widely used birth-death model. Here, I construct a simple model that combines phylogenetically patterned extinction with pulsed turnover dynamics and constant diversity through time. Using approximate Bayesian methods, I show that heritable extinction can easily explain the phenomenon of explosive early diversification, even when net diversification rates are equal to zero. Several assumptions of the model are more consistent with both the fossil record and neontological data than the standard birth-death model and it may thus represent a viable alternative interpretation of phylogenetic diversification patterns. These results suggest that variation in the absolute rate of lineage turnover through time, in conjunction with phylogenetically nonrandom extinction, may underlie the apparent diversity-dependent speciation observed in molecular phylogenies.
Triple Hydrogen Bonds in DNA Modify the Transition from Right- to Left- Handed Forms

Double-stranded DNA usually adopts a right-handed B-form in aqueous solution, but alternative DNA conformations can also exist and play important roles in a wide range of cellular processes. For example, DNA melting (strand separation) is required to initiate DNA replication as well as transcription. Moreover, the over-production of left-handed Z-form DNA in cells is thought to be the trigger for auto-immunity in lupus. Therefore, understanding the underlying mechanics of right- to left-handed DNA transitions is very important to begin to understand how cellular processes depend on alternative DNA conformations. Two of the most influential factors related to this transition are the tension on DNA and the degree of hydrogen bonding. Magnetic Tweezers enable us to unwind single DNA molecules to investigate the dynamics of right- to left-handed DNA transitions at different tensions. Moreover, by substituting diaminopurine (DAP) deoxyribonucleotides for dATP in PCR reactions, completely triply hydrogen-bonded DNA fragments have been produced. These and normal DNA fragments were used to observe the dynamics of right- to left-handed DNA transitions under tension. We found that this transition is highly hydrogen bond dependent. Although DAP and normal DNA exhibit similar patterns of conformational change, DAP DNA converted to left-handed DNA at lower tension. Also, we found pronounced hysteresis for normal DNA upon re-winding from a left- to right-handed form, which indicated the that heterogeneity of the number of hydrogen bonds between base pairs in normal DNA contributes to non-equilibrium conformational changes. The results suggest that hydrogen bonding can significantly affect cellular processes requiring certain under-wound DNA conformations, and DAP DNA provides a sequence-independent model for studying the effects of hydrogen bonding on conformational changes of DNA.
The Cultural Archive of the IKEA Store

The IKEA store has become one of the world's most recognized and reproduced archives of national culture in the global marketplace, necessitating a critical reading of its spatial narrative. This article engages in a historicized reading of the culturally encoded space of the IKEA store, of which they were 285 in nearly 40 countries by the end of 2008. It argues that the IKEA store helps construct, reproduce, and disseminate a narrative of Swedish exceptionalism worldwide. This narrative showcases Sweden's image as a peaceful, homogenous, and industrious little nation, exemplifying Enlightenment ideals of social and economic progress while avoiding implication in the Enlightenment's more violent aspects. This article engages Derrida's formulation of archival violence to demonstrate how these hidden histories disrupt this archive's dominant narrative. Recovering these histories is particularly important given recent renewed faith in an essential “Swedishness” that has emerged in response to non-Western imm...
Statistical Methods for Combining Information: Stryker Family of Vehicles Reliability Case Study

The authors show that, when we combine the available information across two test phases for the Stryker family of vehicles, reliability estimates are more accurate and precise than those reported previously using traditional methods that use only operat..
USING THE STEEPEST-EDGE SIMPLEX ALGORITHM TO SOLVE SPARSE LINEAR PROGRAMS

An algorithm for solving sparse linear programs in core is described. This algorithm selects pivot columns according to a “steepest-edge” strategy. Although this approach is non-standard and requires some additional storage and increased computing time per iteration, computational results are given which show it to be competative with other approaches. A variant of the Bartels-Golub algorithm developed by Reid which creates a minimal amount of fill-in while maintaining numerical stability is used to update the factorization of the basis matrix after each simplex step. Combining the steepest-edge approach with partial pricing and applying it to obtain a dual algorithm are also discussed.
Dual Goals: The Academic Achievement of College Prep Students with Career Majors

In recent years, “college and career-ready” has become a catchphrase in education policy circles. Since the 1990s, multiple waves of federal reforms have sought to provide Career and Technical Education (CTE) to all students (Stone and Aliaga, 2005). The Common Core State Standards crafted by the National Governor’s Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers emphasize “college and career readiness” (National Governor’s Association and Council of Chief State School Officers, 2010, p. 1). The Obama administration’s blueprint for reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act proposes that states implement standards and assessments that measure students’ progress toward readiness for college and careers (US Department of Education, 2011). "We need to make sure we're graduating students who are ready for college and a career," U.S. President Barack Obama said in March 2011. "In the 21st century, it's not enough to leave no child behind. We need to help every child get ahead. We need to get every child on a path to academic excellence." (Jackson, 2011).
Guidelines for the Self Evaluation of Legal Education Clinics and Clinical Programs

This volume is an effort to present a comprehensive set of guidelines for the self-evaluation of legal clinics and programs. The last time that guidelines were developed for legal clinics was in 1980 when a joint AALS and ABA Committee on Guidelines for Clinical Legal Education published its Guidelines for Clinical Legal Education. The present guidelines trace their lineage to the efforts of a group of clinicians working under the auspices of the CLEA-AALS Section on Clinical Legal Education Joint Task Force on Clinical Standards, which was formed in 1995 and was active for several years. These guidelines also draw inspiration from the Standards for the Provision of Civil Legal Aid (2006), which is the work of the ABA Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defendants and reference the National Legal Aid and Defender Association’s Performance Guidelines for Criminal Defense Representation (2006). The volume first describes the history of this guidelines project. The balance of the volume is comprised of chapters focusing on guidelines for the Organization and Administration of Clinical Legal Education; Live-Client Clinics; Externships; and Simulation Courses. Although presented here in print form, the ultimate goal of the project is to create an editable Wiki document that can be updated and expanded by members of the clinical community to represent current thinking on best practices in experiential education.
Predictors of Methamphetamine Use among Adolescents: Findings from a Midwestern Sample

This study has two primary goals. First, we seek to identify common demographic characteristics and risk factors among adolescent methamphetamine (MA) users, and second, to determine factors that p...
Angiomentor simulator contributes to the learning about coronary angiography in the postgraduate students

Objective:To evaluate the effect of Angiomentor virtual reality simulator(Simbionix company,American)on the learning about the coronary angiography in the postgraduate students with cardiovascular major.Methods:14 cardiovascular postgraduate students without the cardiovascular interventional experience are admitted to enter this program. 7 of them randomly gain the training of Angiomentor virtual reality simulator, the rest are not admitted for this simulator training program. In the following real clinic practice, their frequency of catheter handling errors (CE), the coronary angiography fluoroscopic time (FT), the contrast volume (CV), procedure time (PT), the total volume of x-ray exposion and the volume of x-ray exposion/cm2 are recorded respectively. Results:Compared to the non-training group, the mean performance errors of training group decreases by 50%, the mean procedure time decreases by 26.7%, the contrast volume fell by 22.2%, the fluoroscopic time decreases by 45.7%,and the volume of x-ray exposion/cm2 fell by 52.1%.Conclusion:Angiomentor virtual reality simulator is helpful to the learning about the skill of coronary angiography in the cardiovascular postgraduate students.
Influence of spinal degenerative joint disease on BMD measurement by QCT and DXA

Objective To assess the impact of spinal degenerative joint disease (DJD) changes on bone mineral density (BMD) measured by quantitative CT (QCT) and dual X ray absorptiometry (DXA) in a group of relative old population Methods Lateral (T4-L4) and anterior posterior (L1-L4) spinal radiographs in 201 subjects were reviewed for evaluation of fracture and DJD The subjects ranged in age from 45 80 years (mean age 59 6±0 8 years) Exclusion criteria included history of any bone disease or condition known to affecte bone metabolism The severity of DJD was graded as 0, 1, or 2 on the spinal lumbar film, except for DJD with vertebral osteophytes which was graded from 0 to 3 Twenty five out of the 201 subjects were diagnosed with vertebral fractures by visual inspection using the semiquantitative method Spinal BMD was measured by both QCT and DXA, including postero anterior DXA (PA DXA), lateral DXA (L DXA), and midlateral DXA (ML DXA) Results There were no significant differences in BMD measured by QCT in the 176 non fractured subjects with and without DJD ( P 0 05) BMD measured by PA DXA was significantly higher in subjects with DJD changes than those without, particularly when osteophytes were presented at the vertebral bodies and facet joints ( P 0 05) BMD measured by L DXA and ML DXA was less affected by DJD changes Chi square test demonstrated no significant relationships between vertebral fractures and any of the DJD changes ( P 0 05) Conclusion QCT is superior to PA DXA, L DXA, and ML DXA in detecting bone loss in patients with DJD For subjects with severe DJD, BMD assessment using QCT may be advisable
Activity-dependent induction of slow myosin gene expression in isolated fast-twitch mouse muscle

We demonstrate that direct electrical stimulation of isolated fast-twitch muscle in an organ culture system can induce expression of the slow myosin heavy chain (beta-MHC) gene, indicative of a phenotype transformation. Pairs of extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles were isolated from adult mice, incubated at resting length in separate chambers, and superfused with the same recirculated media One muscle was subjected to twitch stimulation (5-s trains of 5-Hz pulses at supramaximal voltage every minute), and force was recorded to assess function. The contralateral muscle was incubated without stimulation, to control for effects of the experimental preparation. Both muscle were rapidly frozen for RNA purification and oligo(dT)-primed reverse transcription; serial studies were carried out to 36 h. Polymerase chain reaction was performed utilizing primers specific for cytoplasmic beta-actin (beta-actin), a constitutive marker, and beta-MHC, a gene that is either inactive or expressed at very low levels in control EDL. After 30 h of stimulation, beta-MHC was consistently detected at a level severalfold higher in stimulated EDL than in incubated control EDL when band intensities were normalized to those of beta-actin. These results show that signals or fiber-specific transformations reside within the muscle and that this shift begins rapidly after induction of continuous stimulation.
Onomatopeia, Assonance, and Alliteration

Frege also includes in his tonal class other types of examples that appear entirely unrelated to those just considered.1 With a sentence fragment like ‘slithers and hisses in the grasses’, where the element of onomatopoeia is heard, one must ask whether there is anything to its meaning over and above whatever descriptive content it contains. Again, I answer this in the negative. Doubtless, prominent repetition of the ‘s’ sound imparts in some sense a certain ‘coloring’ to the utterance, and may be exploited for special effect or purpose. Nevertheless, this is more a matter of happy accident than of a standard, rule-governed connection to anything that either the words or the way they are put together represent. Failure on the part of an audience to appreciate this effect does not reflect a defect in linguistic comprehension. They may not grasp why the speaker has uttered all those ‘s’ sounds; it might or it might not put them in mind of a snake, supposing this to be the speaker’s intention. However, their failure to apprehend her intention does not betray a failure to understand the content of her words — i.e., tofully grasp what she says.
Vorinostat and hydroxychloroquine improve immunity and inhibit autophagy in metastatic colorectal cancer

// Sukeshi Patel 1 , Vincent Hurez 1 , Steffan T. Nawrocki 1 , Martin Goros 1 , Joel Michalek 1 , John Sarantopoulos 1 , Tyler Curiel 1 , Devalingam Mahalingam 1 1 Cancer Therapy and Research Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA Correspondence to: Devalingam Mahalingam, email: mahalingam@uthscsa.edu Keywords: vorinostat, hydroxychloroquine, colorectal cancer, autophagy, immunity Received: May 06, 2016 Accepted: June 30, 2016 Published: July 23, 2016 ABSTRACT Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) enhances the anti-cancer activity of the histone deacetylase inhibitor, vorinostat (VOR), in pre-clinical models and early phase clinical studies of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Mechanisms could include autophagy inhibition, accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins, and subsequent tumor cell apoptosis. There is growing evidence that autophagy inhibition could lead to improved anti-cancer immunity. To date, effects of autophagy on immunity have not been reported in cancer patients. To address this, we expanded an ongoing clinical study to include patients with advanced, refractory mCRC to evaluate further the clinical efficacy and immune effects of VOR plus HCQ. Refractory mCRC patients received VOR 400 milligrams orally with HCQ 600 milligrams orally daily, in a 3-week cycle. The primary endpoint was median progression-free survival (mPFS). Secondary endpoints include median overall survival (mOS), adverse events (AE), pharmacodynamic of inhibition of autophagy in primary tumors, immune cell analyses, and cytokine levels. Twenty patients were enrolled (19 evaluable for survival) with a mPFS of 2.8 months and mOS of 6.7 months. Treatment-related grade 3–4 AEs occurred in 8 patients (40%), with fatigue, nausea/vomiting, and anemia being the most common. Treatment significantly reduced CD4 + CD25 hi Foxp3 + regulatory and PD-1 + (exhausted) CD4 + and CD8 + T cells and decreased CD45RO-CD62L + (naive) T cells, consistent with improved anti-tumor immunity. On-study tumor biopsies showed increases in lysosomal protease cathepsin D and p62 accumulation, consistent with autophagy inhibition. Taken together, VOR plus HCQ is active, safe and well tolerated in refractory CRC patients, resulting in potentially improved anti-tumor immunity and inhibition of autophagy.
Conclusion: Living in the Age of Babel: War, Rhetoric, and the Perils of Hyperbole

The concluding chapter presents a discussion about our post-language, post-humanities epoch, and the dangers of living in a world where logos is absent. In its stead is the viscera of media, beyond the reaches of reason and logic.
Modeling and Analysis of an Indirect Coal Biomass to Liquids Plant Integrated with a Combined Cycle Plant and CO2 Capture and Storage

A model of an indirect coal biomass to liquids (CBTL) plant integrated with CO2 capture and storage (CCS) and a combined cycle plant has been developed in Aspen Plus 7.3.2. In the CBTL plant, syngas produced in the gasifier is sent to a water-gas shift (WGS) reactor to obtain the desired H2/CO ratio in the syngas for Fischer–Tropsch (FT) synthesis. The product upgrading section is configured to satisfy the desired product specifications. CO2 generated in the syngas and syncrude production units are captured by different CO2 capture technologies. Fuel gas and steam generated in the plant are used as either utilities or sent to the combined cycle plant for power generation. The CBTL plant includes a novel integrated hydrotreating unit, which has the potential to reduce both operating and capital costs of the product upgrading section, in comparison to conventional separate hydrotreating units for gasoline and diesel. Impacts of a number of key input and operational variables, such as the steam/carbon ratio ...
Eat your veggies: A chef-prepared, family style school lunch increases vegetable liking and consumption in elementary school students

Abstract School lunches provide an opportunity to introduce children to healthy foods in ways that might result in both short- and long-term healthier eating. This study compared vegetable consumption and liking for vegetables in 8–10 year old children at two schools, one with a traditional lunch service (61–84 students in School B) and the other (24–26 students in School A) which devoted one day each week to the “Eatiquette Program”, which incorporates chef-prepared food, non-disposable plates and cutlery, and family style service including an adult at each table. Consumption of target vegetables (cauliflower and sweet potato “fries”) was recorded in the lunchroom at the beginning and end of the school year, and a subset of children provided rankings and ratings of liking for those and six other vegetables in separate assessments at those times. Consumption of sweet potato fries was higher in children in the Eatiquette lunch than in the children at the control school at the beginning of the year. Although initial consumption of the cauliflower was not significantly higher in the Eatiquette lunch than in the control school, consumption increased from the beginning to the end of the school year for children eating the Eatiquette lunch. In addition liking for and ranking of the cauliflower increased from the beginning to the end of the year for the children in the Eatiquette (n = 6) program but not for those eating the traditional lunch (n = 22). The Eatiquette program increased consumption of and liking for vegetables. Aspects of the Eatiquette program including food palatability and the presence of an adult at each table may be responsible for these increases.