cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Control improves with age: intercellular transport in plant embryos and adults.

Plasmodesmata (PD), the intercellular channels that span plasma membranes and cell walls between adjacent plant cells, are unique structures that create cytoplasmic continuity, termed the symplast, between individual cells. Within a symplastic domain, a group of cells that are interconnected by PD are able to exchange a wide range of molecules, from ions and water to proteins and nucleic acids. Although the importance of macromolecular trafficking through PD for plant physiology is well established, the mechanism(s) by which this cell-to-cell transport process is regulated remains largely unclear. PD transport can be classified into two distinct types: passive translocation by simple diffusion [also termed nontargeted movement (1)] of molecules smaller than the PD size exclusion limit (SEL), and active transport by PD dilation [also termed targeted movement (1)] of molecules larger than their SEL. The passive type of PD transport is determined solely by the PD SEL and, thus, by the PD structure and development. Thus, marker molecules, such as fluorescently labeled dextrans or GFP, that passively move between plant cells can be used as molecular tools for mapping developmental changes in PD permeability; this issue of PNAS includes a report by Kim et al. (2) that elegantly uses GFP transport to characterize changes in cell-to-cell communication during embryogenesis and early seedling development in Arabidopsis . Kim et al. (2) used autofluorescent markers of two different sizes, i.e., single soluble GFP (sGFP, 27 kDa) and tandem-fused soluble GFP (2xsGFP, 54 kDa), to demonstrate passive intercellular trafficking of both macromolecules from the meristem region during early stages of Arabidopsis thaliana development. To achieve specific expression within the meristem, Kim et al. first produced transgenic plants with sGFP and 2xsGFP under the control of a yeast GAL4 UAS minimal promoter. Then they used another transgenic line, J2341, that carried a cell type-specific enhancer …
Design and evaluation of a prototype user interface supporting sharing of search knowledge in information retrieval

This paper describes a prototype user interface system, CIRR tool, which allows searchers to share their relevance judgments, search queries, and search results by providing a system Task Console with a “Group Report” feature. The system was developed based on the assumption that knowledge sharing in information retrieval (IR) is helpful and important to improve search performance. A usability evaluation of this system was conducted. The test results show that in general the system is easy to learn and use. However, some usability problems are also observed. The paper discusses these issues and proposes future research directions.
Comparison of Self-reports and Parent Proxy-reports of Function and Quality of Life of Children with Below-the-elbow Deficiency

Background: The agreement between children's self-reports and parent proxy-reports has not been established for function and quality-of-life measures for children with musculoskeletal diagnoses, including unilateral congenital below-the-elbow deficiency. Factors influencing parent-child agreement in this population have yet to be determined. Methods: Ten hospitals administered the Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument (PODCI) and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) prospectively to children and adolescents with a unilateral congenital below-the-elbow deficiency in order to assess their function and quality of life. Two-thirds of the subjects wore a prosthesis. These children's and adolescents' self-reports were compared with their parents' proxy-reports for the PODCI (n = 179) and the PedsQL (n = 364). Results: Parents underestimated their children's/adolescents' self-report scores for the upper extremity physical function domain of the PODCI (p < 0.001) and overestimated the scores for comfort in the pain/comfort domain of the PODCI (p < 0.05). Parents also reported a lower social functioning score on the PedsQL than did the children and adolescents (p < 0.001). Greater agreement with regard to the social functioning domain of the PedsQL was observed between parents and children than between parents and adolescents (p < 0.05) and between parents and subjects who did not wear a prosthesis than between parents and subjects who wore a prosthesis (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Although the absolute differences are small, children with a unilateral congenital below-the-elbow deficiency report better upper-extremity function and quality of life than their parents perceive, but they may also be experiencing more pain. Factors influencing parent-child agreement on measures of quality of life include age and use of a prosthesis. Parents' reports of function may provide a helpful counterbalance to children's and adolescents' reports, but because quality of life is subjective by nature, the child's or adolescent's report is the gold standard. As a result of variability in agreement, PODCI and PedsQL parent reports cannot be considered true proxies for the self-reports of children or adolescents with unilateral congenital below-the-elbow deficiency or, possibly, of those with other musculoskeletal diagnoses.
An Example of the Use of CCD Processors in Automation

This paper describes the theoretical design of a pattern-recognition system which could be used in automating bonding of hybrid-integrated circuits. Charge-coupled device (CCD) discrete analog processors are described in the context of their employment in the decision-making logic of the system. Comparisons are made between an all-digital and discrete analog implementation.
Three‐dimensional imaging of fibrous cap by frequency‐domain optical coherence tomography

Histopathological data correlated the presence of thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) with adverse cardiovascular events. Intravascular optical coherence tomography (iOCT) is currently the only imaging modality with sufficiently high axial resolution (∼15 μm) that allows direct fibrous-cap (FC) assessment in vivo. iOCT quantification of TCFA has been validated, but the assessment of a single cross-sectional image does not depict the complexity of the atherosclerotic plaque. We present two cases that illustrate the importance of three-dimensional volumetric quantification of the FC capitalizing on the properties of frequency-domain iOCT.
Inventory cost impact of order processing priorities based on demand uncertainty

We evaluate an approach to decrease inventory costs at retail inventory locations that share a production facility. The retail locations sell the same product but differ in the variance of retail demand. Inventory policies at retail locations generate replenishment orders for the production facility. The production facility carries no finished goods inventory. Thus, production lead time for an order is the sojourn time in a single server queueing system. This lead time affects inventory costs at retail locations. We examine the impact of moving from a First Come First Served (FCFS) production rule for orders arriving at the production facility to a rule in which we provide non-preemptive priority (PR) to orders from retail locations with higher demand uncertainty. We provide three approximations for the ratio of inventory costs under PR and FCFS and use them to identify conditions under which PR decreases retail inventory costs over FCFS. We then use a Direct Approach to establish conditions when PR decreases retail inventory costs over FCFS. We extend the results to orders from locations that differ in the mean and variance of demand uncertainty. The analysis suggests that tailoring lead times to product demand characteristics may decrease system inventory costs. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 49: 376–390, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/nav.10016
Recombinant factor VIIa in paediatric bleeding disorders--a 2006 review.

Summary. Recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) has been used in haemophilia bleeding since its introduction in 1996. It has been found to be safe and effective in the majority of patients with haemophilia who have developed inhibitors. There is increasing use of rFVIIa in many off-label bleeding conditions, but there is a paucity of randomized studies regarding the use of rFVIIa in children. This review will attempt to address and summarize the studies focusing on the role of rFVIIa in both haemophilia and non-haemophilia bleeding conditions in children. rFVIIa has been administered as both bolus and continuous infusions, and at varying doses. Furthermore, adverse events have not reportedly increased in children despite growing experience with its use in the paediatric population.
Using Email to Enable E[superscript 3] (Effective, Efficient, and Engaging) Learning

This article argues that technology that supports both noncognitive and cognitive aspects can make learning more effective, efficient, and engaging (e3‐learning). The technology of interest in this article is email. The investigation focuses on characteristics of email that are likely to enable e3‐learning. In addition, in order to optimize the use of email for the support of e3‐learning, this article proposes a conceptual framework grounded in research that can guide the systematic design and development process in terms of (a) diagnosing learners’ needs, (b) constructing appropriate email, and (c) renewing email. Further research is also discussed, especially with regard to automated systems for email use. The article concludes with the notion that email messages in support of e3‐learning may prove to be a transformative technology in distance education.
An Interventionalist’s Perspective: Diagnosis of Cardiovascular Disease by CT Imaging

Physicians should embrace non-invasive coronary angiography as a helpful addition to the armamentarium with which to diagnose and help combat cardiovascular disease. In selected patients, coronary CTA can be useful to rule out significant coronary artery or bypass graft stenoses and this helps avoid unnecessary invasive coronary angiograms. In the future, an important application may be in the anatomic definition of plaque burden and composition. Technical improvements will continue to broaden the spectrum of patients who may profit from computed tomographic imaging of the coronary arteries.
High-speed in-situ pulsed thermometry in oxide RRAMs

In summary, we present an in-situ temperature characterization technique applicable to forming as well as switching in oxide RRAM. This work provides unambiguous evidence that the switching event in these oxide systems includes a thermal event involving temperature excursions of hundreds of °C within a 10 nm filament. The applicability of this technique to as-fabricated devices makes it distinct from previous extraction methodologies that make use of specialized test structures that may have very different thermal environment compared to functional memory blocks. One of the key contributions of this technique is the scalability of this technique with changing size of the conducting filament.
The RHIC accelerating cavity prototype tuner

The RHIC Accelerating System runs at 26.7 MHz and is required to have an operating range of 85 kHz during the acceleration cycle. Since it also must provide sufficient range to cover manufacturing errors and temperature variation, a requirement of 300 kHz has been specified. A mechanical approach acting on the cavity accelerating gap has been chosen for financial reasons over a ferrite approach. A prototype has been constructed and fully tested on the existing test cavity, using the tuning loop feedback circuitry developed for this task. Results from both the loop response and the power tests of the prototype indicate that this design will successfully meet the performance requirements for the RHIC Accelerating Cavity.
Human Disease Models in Drosophila melanogaster and the Role of the Fly in Therapeutic Drug Discovery

The common fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, is a well studied and highly tractable genetic model organism for understanding molecular mechanisms of human diseases. Many basic biological, physiological, and neurological properties are conserved between mammals and D. melanogaster, and nearly 75% of human disease-causing genes are believed to have a functional homolog in the fly. In the discovery process for therapeutics, traditional approaches employ high-throughput screening for small molecules that is based primarily on in vitro cell culture, enzymatic assays, or receptor binding assays. The majority of positive hits identified through these types of in vitro screens, unfortunately, are found to be ineffective and/or toxic in subsequent validation experiments in whole-animal models. New tools and platforms are needed in the discovery arena to overcome these limitations. The incorporation of D. melanogaster into the therapeutic discovery process holds tremendous promise for an enhanced rate of discovery of higher quality leads. D. melanogaster models of human diseases provide several unique features such as powerful genetics, highly conserved disease pathways, and very low comparative costs. The fly can effectively be used for low- to high-throughput drug screens as well as in target discovery. Here, we review the basic biology of the fly and discuss models of human diseases and opportunities for therapeutic discovery for central nervous system disorders, inflammatory disorders, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. We also provide information and resources for those interested in pursuing fly models of human disease, as well as those interested in using D. melanogaster in the drug discovery process.
ModView, visualization of multiple protein sequences and structures.

SUMMARY We describe ModView, a web application for visualization of multiple protein sequences and structures. ModView integrates a multiple structure viewer, a multiple sequence alignment editor, and a database querying engine. It is possible to interactively manipulate hundreds of proteins, to visualize conservative and variable residues, active and binding sites, fragments, and domains in protein families, as well as to display large macromolecular complexes such as ribosomes or viruses. As a Netscape plug-in, ModView can be included in HTML pages along with text and figures, which makes it useful for teaching and presentations. ModView is also suitable as a graphical interface to various databases because it can be controlled through JavaScript commands and called from CGI scripts. AVAILABILITY ModView is available at http://guitar.rockefeller.edu/modview.
Targeted Deletion of a High-Affinity GATA-binding Site in the GATA-1 Promoter Leads to Selective Loss of the Eosinophil Lineage In Vivo

Transcription factor GATA-1 reprograms immature myeloid cells to three different hematopoietic lineages-erythroid cells, megakaryocytes, and eosinophils. GATA-1 is essential for maturation of erythroid and megakaryocytic precursors, as revealed by gene targeting in mice. Here we demonstrate that deletion of a high-affinity GATA-binding site in the GATA-1 promoter, an element presumed to mediate positive autoregulation of GATA-1 expression, leads to selective loss of the eosinophil lineage. These findings suggest that GATA-1 is required for specification of this lineage during hematopoietic development. Mice lacking the ability to produce eosinophils should prove useful in ascertaining the role of eosinophils in a variety of inflammatory or allergic disorders.
Analysis of the severity of dyskinesia in patients with Parkinson's disease via wearable sensors

The aim of this study is to identify movement characteristics associated with motor fluctuations in patients with Parkinson's disease by relying on wearable sensors. Improved methods of assessing longitudinal changes in Parkinson's disease would enable optimization of treatment and maximization of patient function. We used eight accelerometers on the upper and lower limbs to monitor patients while they performed a set of standardized motor tasks. A video of the subjects was used by an expert to assign clinical scores. We focused on a motor complication referred to as dyskinesia, which is observed in association with medication intake. The sensor data were processed to extract a feature set responsive to the motor fluctuations. To assess the ability of accelerometers to capture the motor fluctuation patterns, the feature space was visualized using PCA and Sammon's mapping. Clustering analysis revealed the existence of intermediate clusters that were observed when changes occurred in the severity of dyskinesia. We present quantitative evidence that these intermediate clusters are the result of the high sensitivity of the proposed technique to changes in the severity of dyskinesia observed during motor fluctuation cycles.
Intestinal Hemorrhage in the Elderly

Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding in the elderly is a common cause of hospitalization and frequently results in significant morbidity and mortality. While GI bleeding is common in the population in general, management of the elderly population is especially challenging due to the high incidence of comorbid medical conditions. Intestinal hemorrhage in the elderly can be further complicated by antiplatelet and anticoagulant medications that both predispose this population to occult or massive bleeding. These therapeutic agents make control of the bleeding source challenging. Understanding the unique issues facing the elderly patient with GI bleeding is critical for clinicians to effectively care for this population.
The RABL5 homolog IFT22 regulates the cellular pool size and the amount of IFT particles partitioned to the flagellar compartment in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Cilia and flagella, sensory and motile structures protruding from the cell body, rely on the continuous bidirectional traffic of intraflagellar transport (IFT) particles to ferry flagellar precursors into flagella for assembly. Cells synthesize a large pool of IFT particle proteins in the cell body, but only a small portion engages in active transport within the flagella at any given time. The atypical small G protein Rab-like 5 (RABL5) has been shown to move in an IFT-like manner in the flagella, but its function in ciliogenesis is controversial. In this report, we demonstrate that IFT22, the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii homolog of RABL5, is a bona fide IFT particle complex B subunit. Although the amount of IFT22 remains unaffected by depletion of either complex A or B, depletion of IFT22 leads to a smaller pool of both complex A and B. Strikingly, the smaller cellular pool of IFT particles does not lead to a reduced distribution of IFT particles to flagella. Instead, the amount of IFT particle proteins, including IFT22 itself, increase in the flagella. Moreover, cells over-expressing IFT22 also accumulate IFT particles in their flagella. Taken together, these data indicate that, in C. reinhardtii, IFT22 controls the cellular levels of both complex A and B, thus plays a critical role in determining the cellular availability of IFT particles. In addition, although IFT22 may not directly carry any precursors for flagellar assembly, it controls how many IFT particles participate in ferrying precursors into flagella. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Crystal structure of an RNA helix recognized by a zinc-finger protein: An 18-bp duplex at 1.6 Å resolution

The crystal structure of the 19-mer RNA, 5'-GAAUGCCUGCGAGCAUCCC-3' has been determined from X-ray diffraction data to 1.6 A resolution by the multiwavelength anomalous diffraction method from crystals containing a brominated uridine. In the crystal, this RNA forms an 18-mer self-complementary double helix with the 19th nucleotide flipped out of the helix. This helix contains most of the target stem recognized by the bacteriophage Mu Com protein (control of mom), which activates translation of an unusual DNA modification enzyme, Mom. The 19-mer duplex, which contains one A.C mismatch and one A.C/G.U tandem wobble pair, was shown to bind to the Com protein by native gel electrophoresis shift assay. Comparison of the geometries and base stacking properties between Watson-Crick base pairs and the mismatches in the crystal structure suggest that both hydrogen bonding and base stacking are important for stabilizing these mismatched base pairs, and that the unusual geometry adopted by the A.C mismatch may reveal a unique structural motif required for the function of Com.
The Impact of Damage Caps on Malpractice Claims: Randomization Inference with Difference-in-Differences

We use differences-in-differences (DID) to assess the impact of damage caps on medical malpractice claims for states adopting caps between 1991–2004. We find that conventional DID estimators exhibit acute model sensitivity. As a solution, we offer (nonparametric) covariance-adjusted randomization inference, which incorporates information about cap adoption more directly and reduces model sensitivity. We find no evidence that caps affect the number of malpractice claims against physicians.
The Supply of University Enrollments: University Administrators as Utility Maximizing Bureaucrats

The supply of enrollments in higher education has receivedrelatively little attention in both theoretical and empiricaleconomic research. To address this, we formulate and test amodel of the supply of enrollments in higher education inwhich administrators are modeled as utility maximizingbureaucrats. We find evidence that individual presidents andprovosts have a significant effect on enrollment supply andfaculty demand in a panel of eleven public colleges anduniversities in Maryland from 1988 to 1996, implying thatinstitutions have enough market power to permit thepreferences of administrators to influence enrollment supplyand faculty demand.
Common Method Variance in IS Research: A Comparison of Alternative Approaches and a Reanalysis of Past Research

Despite recurring concerns about common method variance (CMV) in survey research, the information systems (IS) community remains largely uncertain of the extent of such potential biases. To address this uncertainty, this paper attempts to systematically examine the impact of CMV on the inferences drawn from survey research in the IS area. First, we describe the available approaches for assessing CMV and conduct an empirical study to compare them. From an actual survey involving 227 respondents, we find that although CMV is present in the research areas examined, such biases are not substantial. The results also suggest that few differences exist between the relatively new marker-variable technique and other well-established conventional tools in terms of their ability to detect CMV. Accordingly, the marker-variable technique was employed to infer the effect of CMV on correlations from previously published studies. Our findings, based on the reanalysis of 216 correlations, suggest that the inflated correlation caused by CMV may be expected to be on the order of 0.10 or less, and most of the originally significant correlations remain significant even after controlling for CMV. Finally, by extending the marker-variable technique, we examined the effect of CMV on structural relationships in past literature. Our reanalysis reveals that contrary to the concerns of some skeptics, CMV-adjusted structural relationships not only remain largely significant but also are not statistically differentiable from uncorrected estimates. In summary, this comprehensive and systematic analysis offers initial evidence that (1) the marker-variable technique can serve as a convenient, yet effective, tool for accounting for CMV, and (2) common method biases in the IS domain are not as serious as those found in other disciplines.
Generation Ramping Valuation in Day-Ahead Electricity Markets

In this paper, we first introduce a variational formulation of the Unit Commitment (UC) problem, in which generation and ramping trajectories of the generating units are continuous time signals and the generating units cost depends on the three signals: the binary commitment status of the units as well as their continuous-time generation and ramping trajectories. We assume such bids are piecewise strictly convex time-varying linear functions of these three variables. Based on this problem derive a tractable approximation by constraining the commitment trajectories to switch in a discrete and finite set of points and representing the trajectories in the function space of piece-wise polynomial functions within the intervals, whose discrete coefficients are then the UC problem decision variables. Our judicious choice of the signal space allows us to represent cost and constraints as linear functions of such coefficients, thus, our UC models preserves the MILP formulation of the UC problem. Numerical simulation over real load data from the California ISO demonstrate that the proposed UC model reduces the total dayahead and real-time operation cost, and the number of ramping scarcity events in the real-time operations.
Wound induced ethylene production from excised muskmelon fruit tissue

SummaryPrevious studies indicate that physical damage or wounding increases the preclimacteric production of ethylene in muskmelon fruit (Cucumis melo L., var. reticulatus Naud.) by inducing 1-aminocylopropane-l-carboxylic acid (ACC) synthase and ACC oxidase. In our experiments, ethylene production increased in the cylinders of preclimacteric fruit tissue from an undetectable level to 125 nl g−1 h−1 within 24 h after excision but declined to less than 50 nl g−1 at 48 h. Tissues subsampled from the inner portion of the original cylinder never exceeded 50 nl g−1 h−1 unless incubated for an additional 24 to 48 h after removal from the original cylinder. In contrast to ethylene production, ACC increased throughout all tissues in the original cylinder during the initial 48 h incubation. Wound induced increases in ACC were unaffected by inhibiting endogenous ethylene production with cobalt. The temporal and spatial patterns of wound induced ethylene production in preclimacteric muskmelon fruits are apparently d...
Observations on the Proteolytic Enzyme of Bacillus Proteus. Studies in Bacterial Metabolism, XL

The role of enzymes in the manifestations of cellular activity, both in unicellular and multicellular organisms, has become a prominent subject of investigation. Evidence is accumulating which strongly supports the view that cellular function is intimately associated with enzyme action. The problem is inherently a complex one, but certain aspects of it may be advantageously approached through the bacteria. Here the enzymes of a single type of cell may be examined under varied conditions, quite free from complications introduced by heterologous cells. A study of bacterial enzymes, furthermore, should eventually lead to facts of practical importance, for enzymes probably play a not unimportant part in the phenomena of microbic disease. One of the most important phases of cellular activity is that of nutrition; so prominent is the nutritional phase in the bacteria that it largely overshadows their other activities, and the nature and extent of their metabolism largely determine their function in the economy of Nature.
Matthew Fontaine Maury: Reformer

Although he was better known as a scientist than a reformer, Matthew Fontaine Maury’s influence as the latter was hardly negligible. Maury argued for institutional expansion and reform during a period of agitation and stagnation for the American navy. Published in Richmond’s Southern Literary Messenger between 1840 and 1841, Maury’s five ‘Scraps from the Lucky Bag’ agitated for wide-ranging reforms aimed at tackling the numerous inefficiencies and inadequacies of the navy. His proposed reforms served multiple purposes. Naval reform was, for Maury, a matter of necessity, and advocating for it permitted him to challenge the limited role that the navy occupied in 1840. It also served as a way for Maury to address the anxieties of the antebellum South’s maritime interests and make the case for real protection of Southern coastal waters. Lastly, Maury’s plan of reform was based in and allowed a re-imagination of the navy as the modern, powerful arm of an ambitious national project. This article considers Maury...
Defects and improvement of water pollution discharge permission system of the PRC

Problems and defects of the present water pollution discharge permission system are analyzed. Basic principles and frameworks of a perfect system are expounded, and measures for the reconstruction and improvement of the system are proposed.
Parameters optimization of VDCOL connected to AC power systems with different strength

The rule about how the control parameter of VDCOL varies with the strength of AC power system is studied in this paper.The influence of electrical connection strength and the access mode of HVDC on short-circuit capacity is analyzed in detail.The rule is explained from the power system stability point of view.Study results show that the electrical distance of the receiving power system and the input impedance of the HVDC system affect the short-circuit capacity more dramatically.The stability type changes from angle stability to voltage stability for the same fault near the converter station with the decrease of the system short-circuit ratio(SCR) as well as the effective short-circuit ratio(ESCR).The V-I curve of VDCOL shifts to the right during the decreasing.Simulation results for different operating conditions of the system show the general property of the rule.It is useful for VDCOL parameter setting when a certain HVDC system is connected to different AC power systems.
Study on Design-end Experiment Teaching in Microbiology

Study on design-end experiment in microbiology that culture of Bacillus coagulans TBC-169 in fermentor.Teaching practice showed that these experimental teaching system with the basic experimental skills as foundation and the culture of innovative ability as keystone is an effective way to meet the training needs of higher education.
Mechanism of N-hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene mutagenicity in the Salmonella test system. Role of N-O acyltransferase and sulfotransferase from rat liver.

N -Hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene N-O acyltransferase and sulfotransferase were purified from male Sprague-Dawley rat liver, and the partially purified enzyme fractions were used to evaluate the role of each enzyme in the metabolic and mutagenic activation of N -hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene in the Salmonella mutagenesis system. Partially purified N-O acyltransferase was approximately 5 times as active as rat liver 105,000 x g supernatant in its ability to activate N -hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene to a mutagen in the Salmonella test system. The addition of either ascorbate (2 mM) or NADPH (1 mM) markedly increased the mutagenicity of N -hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene, whereas the addition of either paraoxon (10 -6 M) or 39-phosphoadenosine-59-phosphosulfate had no effect on the mutagenicity of N -hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene mediated by N-O acyltransferase. N-O acyltransferase also activated N -hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene in vitro to a species which formed covalent nucleic acid-aminofluorene adducts with yeast tRNA. Adduct formation was markedly inhibited by either ascorbate or NADPH but unaffected by the addition of either paraoxon or 39-phosphoadenosine-59-phosphosulfate. Similarly, partially purified sulfotransferase catalyzed the covalent binding in vitro of N -hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene to tRNA. The addition of 39-phosphoadenosine-59-phosphosulfate markedly increased (60-fold) the extent of adduct formation, whereas ascorbate (2 mM) and NADPH (1 mM) markedly inhibited the covalent binding of N -hydroxy-2 acetylaminofluorene to tRNA. The addition of 39-phosphoadenosine-59-phosphosulfate in combination with either ascorbate or NADPH resulted in a marked increase (50- to 70-fold) in the extent of covalent binding of N -hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene, although the total amount bound was only 10-20% of that observed with 39-phosphoadenosine-59-phosphosulfate alone. However, in contrast to N-O acyltransferase, purified rat liver sulfotransferase was completely inactive in its capacity to activate N -hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene to a mutagen in the Salmonella test system. The addition of either ascorbate or NADPH with or without 39-phosphoadenosine-59-phosphosulfate had no effect (no revertants observed) on the mutagenicity of N -hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene mediated by sulfotransferase. These data indicate that the initial step in the mutagenic activation of N -hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene in the Salmonella test system by rat liver 105,000 x g supernatant is deacetylation via N-O acyltransferase rather than sulfate formation via sulfotransferase.
Adding T1 Mapping and Extracellular Volume Fraction for Myocardial Fibrosis Assessment: Implications for Cardiovascular Risk Assessment

“T1 mapping” and “ECV mapping” techniques offer clinicians and researchers new opportunities to quantify important changes in the human myocardium such as myocardial fibrosis. These cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) techniques employ “native T1” (i.e., without administration of contrast) and “extracellular volume fraction (ECV) measures.” These novel parameters can facilitate diagnosis of disease as well as associated prognosis since these quantitative measures depict the disease severity spectrum beyond its mere presence or absence. As such, these tools may enable the clinician to identify vulnerable patients and potentially improve outcomes by individualizing therapy and thus match the right treatment to the right patient. Clinicians now can possess new tools to detect focal and diffuse derangements in myocardial structure occurring in cardiac disease that can be otherwise difficult to detect. Fundamentally, increased ECV generally reflects expansion of the interstitial compartment (which includes the myocardial vasculature), whereas native T1 alterations may occur with processes affecting the myocyte or interstitium or both. These measurements complement the traditional functional and geometric surrogates of vulnerability such as left ventricular ejection fraction and volumes and mass. Increased understanding of the role of the interstitium in pathophysiology may facilitate new paradigms of cardiac vulnerability. Various aspects of T1 mapping and ECV have been reviewed in several previous publications.
Zirconium-Catalyzed Intermolecular Double Hydrophosphination of Alkynes with a Primary Phosphine

Catalytic double hydrophosphination of internal alkynes and primary phosphines is possible using a zirconium complex, [κ5-N,N,N,N,C-(Me3SiNCH2CH2)2NCH2CH2NSiMe2CH]Zr (1). The reaction proceeds via stepwise hydrophosphination to give vinyl phosphine products, which can be isolated or further converted to the respective 1,2-bis(phosphino)ethane (i.e., double hydrophosphination). The catalysis is highly selective for formation of secondary phosphine products.
Plumes and Hotspots

The plate tectonic processes adequately explain two principal types of basaltic volcanism on the earth’s surface, the mid-oceanic ridge and island arc volcanism. Apart from these, another important type of basaltic volcanism occurs away from the plate margins.
The Value of Post-Remission Therapy in Older Adults with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).

Abstract Abstract 1043 Poster Board I-65 Background: In older (age 3 60) AML patients (pts) who are induced into complete remission, it is unclear whether post-remission therapy provides additional benefit. Methods: We examined all older AML pts treated with cytarabine-based induction chemotherapy at a single institution between 1997 and 2008. Data on known prognostic factors (age, white blood cell count (WBC) at diagnosis, cytogenetic risk groups (as defined by CALGB 8461) and AML etiology (de novo vs. secondary AML)) were collected. Of 240 pts identified, 25 had unknown post-remission status, leaving 215 pts for analyses: 81 receiving cytarabine-based post-remission therapy (PRT) for 1-2 cycles; 134 received no PRT. A cohort study using a propensity score method was conducted in which pts receiving PRT and those not receiving PRT were matched in a 1:1 ratio to address potential sample selection bias and to better balance patient characteristics. A logistic regression was used to predict the propensities of receiving PRT using individual characteristics: age, gender, race, WBC at presentation, AML cytogenetics, secondary AML, re-induction, FAB classification, and complete remission (CR). Overall survival (OS) was measured from the time of diagnosis; disease-free survival (DFS) from the time of CR. Individual characteristics and survival between groups were assessed by the routines of linear, categorical, and survival analyses. Results: Median age was 68 years (range, 60-81). Patients receiving PRT were more likely to be younger (67 vs 69 years, P=.003), male (67% vs. 52%, p=.04), have de novo AML (75% vs. 50%, p=.0012), favorable- or intermediate-risk cytogenetics (65% vs. 36%, p Conclusions: Even after adjusting for patient disease and treatment factors that could influence PRT administration, older AML pts receiving at least one cycle of PRT lived significantly longer than those who did not. PRT should be considered as a standard part of intensive therapy for older AML pts. Download : Download high-res image (119KB) Download : Download full-size image Red line – Patients receiving PRT. Blue line – Patients not receiving PRT Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Dynamics of a DNA Mismatch Site Held in Confinement Discriminate Epigenetic Modifications of Cytosine.

The identification and discrimination of four epigenetic modifications to cytosine in the proposed active demethylation cycle is demonstrated at the single-molecule level, without the need for chemical pretreatment or labeling. The wild-type protein nanopore α-hemolysin is used to capture individual DNA duplexes containing a single cytosine–cytosine mismatch. The mismatch is held at the latch constriction of α-hemolysin, which is used to monitor the kinetics of base-flipping at the mismatch site. Base-flipping and the subsequent interactions between the DNA and the protein are dramatically altered when one of the cytosine bases is replaced with methyl-, hydroxymethyl-, formyl-, or carboxylcytosine. As well as providing a route to single-molecule analysis of important epigenetic markers in DNA, our results provide important insights into how the introduction of biologically relevant, but poorly understood, modifications to cytosine affect the local conformational dynamics of a DNA duplex in a confined envi...
Demonstration of Automated Analysis of Multiple Analytes on an Integrated Digital Microfluidic Platform.

Featured Article: Srinivasan V, Pamula V, Fair R. An integrated digital microfluidic lab-on-a-chip for clinical diagnostics on human physiological fluids, Lab Chip 2004;4:310–15.2 Our 2004 article highlighted here was the first report of a droplet-based microfluidic device that integrated on a monolithic platform all the functions for analyzing human physiological fluids, including sample injection, on-chip reservoirs, droplet formation structures, fluidic transport, mixing of reagent and sample droplets, and optical detection. The device could also be run by a computer. Thus, the device proved the potential for automated analysis of multiple analytes for clinical diagnostics using a programmable lab-on-a-chip. The use of microfluidic lab-on-a-chip technology for clinical applications in the early 2000 timeframe was almost exclusively based on continuous fluid flow in microchannels. Fluid pumping based on electrokinetic phenomena (electrophoretic separation and electroosmotics), external pressure sources, centrifugal effects, and passive capillary flow were being investigated. However, continuous-flow based devices offered very little flexibility in terms of scalability, reconfigurability, and suitability for use with a variety of liquids. For instance, physiological liquids with high ionic strength, such as blood and urine, could not be pumped using electrokinetic effects due to excessive Joule heating. In addition, continuous flow systems relied on fixed channels through …
Considering terminology and notation of the decimal system

Have you or any of your students noticed that terms on the left and right side of the decimal point can appear to be inconsistent? For example, the hundreds' digit is 3 places to the left of the decimal point, while the hundredths' digit is 2 places to the right of the decimal point. Students can sometimes find the terminology confusing since tens are not paired with tenths, hundreds are not paired with hundredths, and thousands are not paired with thousandths. This reflects an innate expectation for symmetric terminology.
Volume holographic lens spectrum-splitting photovoltaic system for high energy yield with direct and diffuse solar illumination

NSF/DOE ERC [EEC-1041895]; NSF [ECCS-1405619]; State of Arizona TRIF/WEES [5835204]; National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program [DGE-1143953]
Resource Allocation: Justice and Resource Allocation in Public Health

Ideally, justice should determine how a society's resources are allocated among the important needs for expenditures on social goods such as public health, education, defense, safety, transportation, law enforcement, the arts, and clinical medicine. Yet, the requirements of justice are hard to define. This article describes prominent theories of justice and describes key principles that should guide public health policies and allocation of public health resources. By discussing a variety of public health issues, including the Ebola crisis and the Flint, Michigan, water debacle, it explains how principles of justice can be applied in a variety of public health decisions.
Interpreting the Biblical Words for the Self

Biblical language describing the sinful dimensions of human personality creates many confusions. Some have thought that Jesus calls his followers to deny their very personhood (Luke 9:23). In this ...
Hypothesis Testing with Model Search

This chapter covers the discussions of model selection tests in empirical asset pricing models with the asymptotic properties developed in Chap. 4. In particular, model selection with forward selection for variables in empirical asset pricing models is introduced. The purpose of this chapter is to consider the sequential model search where model selection tests (or criteria) with additional asymptotic properties for common factors of asset returns are used. Differing from the other empirical studies, the emphasis is on the cross-sectional commonality of these presumed variables or factors when the asset returns are projected onto these variables. Given that the underlying intrinsic mechanism of asset returns is unknown, the sequential model search is to pursue the optimality in approximation that the basic requirement for these presumed variables or factors will satisfy the coherence condition where cross-sectional dependence is persistent.
New antifungal compounds and strategies for treatment of invasive fungal infections in patients with neoplastic diseases.

Patients with neoplastic diseases are predisposed to develop invasive fungal infections as the result of impairments host defense, due principally to pharmacological immunosuppression resulting from intensive cytotoxic chemotherapy, ablative radiation therapy, and corticosteroids. Candida spp., Aspergillus spp., and emerging opportunistic fungal pathogens comprise the principal etiological agents of opportunistic mycoses in neutropenic cancer patients. This chapter will review advances in the development of new antifungal drugs and therapeutic strategies for the treatment of life-threatening mycoses in neutropenic hosts.
Effect of hypoxia on the endoplasmic reticulum of mouse liver.

Mammals exposed to sufficiently severe hypoxia die. However, if the mammals are first exposed to a lesser degree of hypoxia for long enough, acclimation occurs and the animal may survive. It is the purpose of this paper to describe studies of possible mechanisms of this acclimation.
Geochemical data from Angamuco, Michoacán, Mexico.

Included here are geochemical concentrations (ppm) of ceramic artifacts and clay samples from the archaeological site of Angamuco, Mexico. Additional data include maps and photographs of the ceramic samples. Concentrations were measured via Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis and are available here as Appendix B. These data complement the discussions and interpretations in "Geochemical Analysis and Spatial Trends of Ceramics and Clay from Angamuco, Michoacan" [1].
Happiness and the Good Life: A Classical Confucian Perspective

This essay examines the classical (or early) Confucian perspective on the topic of happiness through the lens of three Western theories: hedonism, desire satisfaction theory, and objective list theory. My analysis of the two classical texts—the Analects (Lunyu 論語) and the Mencius (Mengzi 孟子)—reveals that three salient aspects of the Confucian conception of happiness, namely ethical pleasure, ethical desire, and moral innocence, play the fundamental role in the guidance and evaluation of an individual’s life. According to Confucius (Kongzi 孔子, 551–479 BCE) and Mencius (Mengzi 孟子, 371–289 BCE?), happiness consists primarily not in pleasure, but in ethical pleasure; the good life is not a life in which all or most of one’s desires are fulfilled, but a life in which the satisfaction of prudential desires is subject to the constraint of ethical desire; the source of the greatest happiness lies not in the attainment of the greatest political power, but rather in the cognizance of one’s moral innocence. For classical Confucian thinkers, the relationship between happiness and the good life is that happiness is a critically important constituent of the good life. However, happiness—defined in terms of pleasure, desire satisfaction, or a list of goods—needs to be tempered by moral constraints. In light of their views on happiness and the good life, I conclude that Confucius and Mencius each lived a good life that exemplified the three salient features of happiness, and to that extent they were happy.
On Education, Formation, Citizenship and the Lost Purpose of Learning

A sobering number of American colleges and universities have recently closed their doors. The Chronicle of Higher Education reported that, in the last five years, over 1,200 private, public, for-pr...
Dark Trading at the Midpoint: Does SEC Enforcement Policy Encourage Direct Feed Arbitrage?

Prevailing research in market microstructure posits that liquidity providers bypass queue lines on exchanges by offering liquidity in dark venues with de minimis sub-penny price improvement, thus exploiting an exception to the penny quote rule. We show that (a) the SEC enforces the quote rule to prevent sub-penny queuejumping in dark pools unless trades are â€œpeggedâ€ to the NBBO midpoint and (b) the documented increase in dark trading due to investor queue-jumping stems from increased midpoint trading. Although encouraging pegged midpoint orders can subject traders to direct feed arbitrage, we estimate that less than 2% of shares traded per year present exploitable trading opportunities for this form of latency arbitrage, yielding annual gross potential profits of less than $20 million.