cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Predicted asymmetrical effects of warming on nocturnal and diurnal ectotherms

Many ectotherms restrict activity to times and places with favorable temperatures. This widespread pattern of habitat use in fluctuating environments may alter predictions of how climate change will affect ectotherms. By considering time elapsed within a range of suitable temperatures as a resource, I demonstrate that warming is expected to affect thermally restricted nocturnal and diurnal activity windows asymmetrically. Under warming scenarios, thermally restricted nocturnal activity windows lengthen while diurnal activity windows contract. This divergent prediction results from the shape of the function relating time to temperature within a day, which is typically concave during the day and convex during the night. This characteristic shape is nearly universal across terrestrial environments due to the changing angle of the sun throughout each day and exponential decay of overnight temperatures. These predicted asymmetries are exacerbated by expectations of diurnally asymmetric warming (more warming during the night compared to the day). Using example data from a montane ant community, I demonstrate that, as predicted, moderate simulated warming expands activity time available to cool active species and reduces activity time available to warm active species. Together these results suggest that the time of day during which an ectotherms optimal temperature occurs can be an important factor in determining response to warming.
Aortopulmonary and Cavopulmonary Shunts

Patients born with congenital heart disease may require a series of operative procedures to ensure adequate pulmonary and systemic circulation. This section will review the Blalock-Taussig shunt (aortopulmonary) and the Glenn (partial cavopulmonary shunt) and Fontan procedures (total cavopulmonary shunt). The indications and implications of each procedure will also be discussed.
Is it Necessary: Quality Control in Cataloging?

Catalogers and technical services departments have always struggled with how much is too much when creating and enhancing bibliographic records as well as with what physical processing is needed to make these materials shelf-ready for timely circulation. Along with these decisions, catalogers also must address what quality control measures, if any, should be in place to guarantee resources are discoverable in the OPAC and discovery service. The authors of this paper describe their process and workflow for the quality control of tangible and electronic resources; they also discuss why quality control is performed. The importance of training cataloging staff on current cataloging rules and practices as a preventive measure to reduce mistakes is an essential part of the process. The ultimate goal of quality control is to eliminate errors and ensure the library’s resources are accessible.
Hurricane Surge-Wave Building Fragility Methodology for Use in Damage, Loss, and Resilience Analysis

AbstractPhysics-based fragilities for damage, loss, and resilience analysis are needed to model a community to earthquakes, hurricane winds, tornados, or floods. Currently, most building flood frag...
Vascular endothelial growth factor is required for regeneration of auditory hair cells in the avian inner ear.

Abstract Hair cells in the auditory organ of the vertebrate inner ear are the sensory receptors that convert acoustic stimuli into electrical signals that are conveyed along the auditory nerve to the brainstem. Hair cells are highly susceptible to ototoxic drugs, infection, and acoustic trauma, which can cause cellular degeneration. In mammals, hair cells that are lost after damage are not replaced, leading to permanent hearing impairments. By contrast, supporting cells in birds and other non-mammalian vertebrates regenerate hair cells after damage, which restores hearing function. The cellular mechanisms that regulate hair cell regeneration are not well understood. We investigated the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) during regeneration of auditory hair cells in chickens after ototoxic injury. Using RNA-Seq, immunolabeling, and in situ hybridization, we found that VEGFA, VEGFC, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, and VEGFR3 were expressed in the auditory epithelium, with VEGFA expressed in hair cells and VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 expressed in supporting cells. Using organotypic cultures of the chicken cochlear duct, we found that blocking VEGF receptor activity during hair cell injury reduced supporting cell proliferation as well as the numbers of regenerated hair cells. By contrast, addition of recombinant human VEGFA to organ cultures caused an increase in both supporting cell division and hair cell regeneration. VEGF’s effects on supporting cells were preserved in isolated supporting cell cultures, indicating that VEGF can act directly upon supporting cells. These observations demonstrate a heretofore uncharacterized function for VEGF signaling as a critical positive regulator of hair cell regeneration in the avian inner ear.
Chromatin Epigenomics in Muscle Development and Disease

Epigenomic approaches use genome-wide tools to characterize the reversible modifications of DNA or DNA-associated proteins (chromatin) and identify regulatory factors that shape epigenomic landscape. The status of the epigenomic landscape is a major regulator of gene expression, and it is central for specification of muscle fate. The epigenomic landscape is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors, and these changes exhibit a high degree of plasticity. Some modifications are long lasting and are needed to convey cell identity over time, while others can be more transient in order to provide rapid adaptation to environmental cues. Here we review relevant epigenomic tools commonly used to study chromatin biology in the context of muscle development and pathology.
195 Discordance in race and ethnicity between medical record and self-reported data

Statement of Purpose Research into race/ethnicity-based injury disparities requires accurate race/ethnicity data. We compared the race/ethnicity documented in electronic medical records (EMRs) against self-report identity to measure the magnitude of EMR misidentification and potential contributing factors. Approach Descriptive statistics and misclassification matrices were used to assess sensitivity of EMR to true (self-reported) race/ethnicity within two study cohorts (one including all trauma mechanisms [n=95] and one of firearm assaults [n=217]) at a Level-1 trauma center. Both cohorts oversampled people of color. As processes for data collection vary based on how patients arrive, logistic regression models explored associations between arrival type (transfer, EMS, or walk-in) and accurate EMR identification within a subgroup of individuals reporting a single race/ethnicity. Results Of 276 individuals who self-reported as a single race that mapped to an existing EMR race, only 65.6% had their race correctly identified in the EMR. More than 90% of Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders were misidentified. Patients brought in by EMS and walk-in patients were more likely to be correctly identified than patients transferred from another facility, but this was not statistically significant (OR 1.61, 95%CI 0.59–3.29 and OR 1.39, 95%CI 0.76–3.39, respectively). Although the majority of patients were correctly identified as either non-Hispanic (194/199) or Hispanic or Latino (53/71), the EMR sensitivity for identifying Hispanic/Latino ethnicity was only 74.6%. Multiracial identity was not included in standard EMR racial categories, systematically miscategorizing 18.9% (n=18) of the first and 15.2% (n=33) of the second cohort. More than 30% of multiracial individuals self-reported an American Indian/Alaska Native identity that was not captured by EMR. Conclusions Large proportions of injured patients are misidentified by race/ethnicity in EMR. Misidentification is most common among indigenous people of color. Significance Misrepresentation of race/ethnicity in EMR suggests injury disparities among Hispanic and indigenous groups may actually have been be underestimated.
Rituximab, MS, and pregnancy.

Objective To describe the safety and efficacy of rituximab (RTX) in MS and pregnancy, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of 74 pregnancies among 55 women treated with RTX for MS and their offspring. Methods We used prospectively collected information from the electronic health record at Kaiser Permanente Southern California between 2012 and 2019 of mother and baby to identify treatment history, pregnancy outcomes, and relapses. Results Last RTX exposure before conception occurred between 1.8 and 5.2 months in 32 (49%) of 65 pregnancies and accidentally during the first trimester in 9 (12%). Among 38 live births, adverse pregnancy outcomes were as follows: 3 preterm deliveries (including 1 set of twins), 1 neonatal death (preterm twin), and 1 perinatal stroke (full-term). No stillbirths, chorioamnionitis, or major malformations were found. Fifteen (27%) women had at least one first-trimester miscarriage, of whom 8 (53%) had a history of infertility. Cumulative dose or timing of last RTX infusion was not associated with an increased risk of miscarriage. Only 2 (5.4%) women experienced relapses, one during pregnancy and the other postpartum. Conclusion We observed no increase in adverse pregnancy outcomes compared with expected national incidence rates and remarkably little disease activity in RTX-treated women with MS, particularly when compared with periconceptional natalizumab-treated cohorts. However, larger studies are needed to fully assess the safety of RTX use before pregnancy, especially risks associated with prolonged B-cell depletion and hypogammaglobulinemia. Until these data are available, we recommend restricting RTX use before pregnancy to women who require highly effective MS treatments. Classification of evidence This study provides Class IV evidence that for pregnant women with MS, RTX controls disease activity and does not increase adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Outpatient treatment of pulmonary embolism: A single center 4-year experience.

Abstract Background Pulmonary embolus (PE) is associated with significant utilization of health resources. As patients can be risk-stratified, there is an opportunity for a subset of patients to be safely treated without hospitalization, thus reducing the associated costs of treatment. Our aim was to describe the population, treatment strategies, complications, and outcomes associated with outpatient management of PE following treatment in the ED. Methods This retrospective health records survey investigated a 4-year cohort of patients presenting with PE who were discharged to home. Results Data from 151 patients demonstrated that 78% (118/151) of patients were discharged directly home; 19% (28/151) were discharged following ED clinical decision unit observation. Treatment with a novel oral anticoagulant was provided in 40% of cases (61/151). Six patients (4%) experienced a medication-related complication; 26 (17%) had a return visit within 30 days. Conclusion In this cohort of patients with PE, outpatient management was safe and effective for the large majority. Immediate and 30-day complications were few.
A Causal Pathway of Physical Activity to Motor Competence in Childhood:Evidence from a School-based Intervention

This study aimed to examine whether changes in physical activity (PA) after an 8-week pedometer-based intervention would result in changes on motor competence through competence beliefs towards phy...
Nutrition Transition and Climate Risks in Nigeria: Moving Towards Food Systems Policy Coherence

The purpose of this review is to describe the combined impacts of the nutrition transition and climate change in Nigeria and analyze the country’s national food-related policy options that could support human and planetary health outcomes. This paper uses a food systems framework to analyze how the nutrition transition and climate change interact in Nigeria affecting both diets and the double burden of malnutrition, resulting in what has been termed the syndemic. Interactions between climate change and the nutrition transition in Nigeria are exacerbating diet-related inequities and will continue to do so if food systems continue on their current trajectory and without significant transformation. Siloed policy actions that attempt to mitigate one aspect of food system risk can create a negative feedback loop in another aspect of the food system. Our analysis finds that Nigeria has five national policies that include actionable steps to address food system insufficiencies; however, each of these policies is constrained by the boundaries of singular nutrition, climate change, and agricultural objectives. The country should consider a coherent policy environment that explicitly identifies and links underlying systemic and institutional drivers between climate change and malnutrition that simultaneously and comprehensively address both human and planetary health outcomes of food systems. The systemic and institutional outcomes of this emerging syndemic—undernutrition, obesity, and climate change—are inexorably linked. Nigeria lacks a coherent policy environment taking on this challenging syndemic landscape. The analysis in this paper highlights the need for Nigeria to prioritize their national nutrition and agricultural and climate policies that uncouple feedback loops within food systems to address climate change and malnutrition in all its forms.
Severity analysis of crashes on express lane facilities using support vector machine model trained by firefly algorithm.

Express lanes (ELs) provide an alternative way for improving the capacity of the existing freeway network without considerably expanding the roadway footprint. Although much research has been done ...
Location Accuracy Estimates for Signal Fingerprinting

Location fingerprinting is a technique for determining the location of a device by measuring ambient signals such as radio signal strength, temperature, or any signal that varies with location. The accuracy of the technique is compromised by signal noise, quantization, and limited calibration resources. We develop generic, probabilistic models of location fingerprinting to find accuracy estimates. In one case, we look at predeployment modeling to predict accuracy before any signals have been measured using a new concept of noisy reverse geocoding. In another case, we model a previously deployed system to predict its accuracy. The models allow us to explore the accuracy implications of signal noise, calibration effort, and quantization of signals and space.
Patient Attitudes Toward Spoken Surveys in a Low-Income Urban Surgical Clinic.

Diverse groups in urban settings demonstrate poor participation in health care and low levels of literacy. It is possible the method of health information delivery (eg, spoken vs. written) in these...
Recent trends and demographics of pedestrians injured in collisions with cyclists

Abstract Introduction: Despite extensive media coverage of pedestrians who are injured in collisions with cyclists, little systematic inquiry has been carried out on this topic. This study examines the incidence of pedestrian injuries due to collisions with cyclists in the United States and in New York State and New York City (NYC) from 2005 to 2018. Method: The study rests on national data derived from the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) and state and local data gathered by the Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS). A negative binomial regression analysis was performed on the state and local data to measure the simultaneous effects of demographic variables on the incidence of pedestrian injuries. The study also mapped the incidence of injuries in NYC neighborhoods. Results: Pedestrian injuries due to collisions with cyclists declined at both the national and state and local levels from 2005 to 2018. The decline was particularly pronounced among school-aged children. In NYC, the distribution of injuries was concentrated in certain neighborhoods. Conclusions: Possible explanations for the decline in injuries include the change in the age composition of NYC’s population, the greater level of physical inactivity among school-aged children, stricter enforcement of traffic laws, and, importantly, improvements in the cycling infrastructure. Practical Applications: Cycling as a mode of transportation is continuing to grow in popularity, particularly in large cities in the United States and Europe. With this upsurge in popularity, it is important to create a safe environment for all road users. Improvements in the cycling infrastructure (especially the installation of protected bike lanes) reduce hazards not only to cyclists but to pedestrians as well.
Fewer Mistakes and Presumed Consent

"Opt-out" organ procurement policies based on presumed consent are typically advertised as being superior to "opt-in" policies based on explicit consent at securing organs for transplantation. However, Michael Gill (2004) has argued that presumed consent policies are also better than opt-in policies at respecting patient autonomy. According to Gill's Fewer Mistakes Argument, we ought to implement the procurement policy that results in the fewest frustrated wishes regarding organ donation. Given that the majority of Americans wish to donate their organs, it is plausible that a presumed consent policy would result in fewer frustrated wishes compared to the current opt-in policy. It follows that we ought to implement a policy of presumed consent. In this paper, I first consider and find wanting an objection to the Fewer Mistakes Argument developed recently by Douglas MacKay (2015). I also consider an objection put forth by James Taylor (2012) but argue that there is a methodological reason to prefer my own argument to Taylor's. Finally, I argue for two theses: first, that Gill's major argument in favor of the crucial premise of the Fewer Mistakes Argument is flawed, and second, that the major premise of the Fewer Mistakes Argument is false.
N-type doping of low-pressure chemical vapor deposition grown β-Ga2O3 thin films using solid-source germanium

We report on the growth and characterization of Ge-doped β-Ga2O3 thin films using a solid germanium source. β-Ga2O3 thin films were grown using a low-pressure chemical vapor deposition reactor with either an oxygen or a gallium delivery tube. Films were grown on 6° offcut sapphire and (010) β-Ga2O3 substrates with growth rates between 0.5 and 22 μm/h. By controlling the germanium vapor pressure, a wide range of Hall carrier concentrations between 1017 and 1019 cm−3 were achieved. Low-temperature Hall data revealed a difference in donor incorporation depending on the reactor configuration. At low growth rates, germanium occupied a single donor energy level between 8 and 10 meV. At higher growth rates, germanium doping predominantly results in a deeper donor energy level at 85 meV. This work shows the effect of reactor design and growth regime on the kinetics of impurity incorporation. Studying donor incorporation in β-Ga2O3 is important for the design of high-power electronic devices.
Associations between longitudinal pretreatment BMI and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio(NLR) and progression-free(PFS) and overall survival(OS) in advanced NSCLC patients treated with single agent anti-PD-1/anti-PDL1 monoclonal antibodies(mAbs).

e21189Background: Several parameters that have been associated with outcomes in patients with metastatic NSCLC treated with anti-PD1/PDL1 mAbs include tumor PD-L1 expression, tumor mutational burde...
The Year 1924—Hope and Despair

Despite considerable differences in personality, temper, and vivacity, Haas and Huber decide to marry, a decision that was primarily hampered by the lack of financial resources that Haas considered necessary for a successful marriage. This chapter relies to a large extent on the exchange of personal letters during this particularly difficult year of 1924. The correspondence includes the personal and economic difficulties of a young physicist without employment, as he vacillates between big ambitions and little hope. The chapter ends with the marriage of Artur Haas and Emma Beatrice Huber.
TESTS OF MODEL REINFORCED CONCRETE CIRCULAR SLABS

Six small-scale circular reinforced concrete slabs with variable thicknesses and reinforcement ratios were tested to establish their load-deflection relationships. The slabs were made of microconcrete and miniaturized reinforcements. An analysis based on equilibrium equations, kinematic relations, yield conditions, a flow rule, and an assumed elastic-plastic failure mechanism was performed and the results of the model tests were compared with the analysis. The influence of membrane forces, concrete compressive strength, specimen thickness, reinforcement ratio, rate of loading, and degree of end restraint were studied.
No Going Back: The Political Ethics of Ecological Novelty

This chapter argues that ecological novelty, a condition where new species and mixes of species come to form persistent communities with no precedent, holds unavoidable implications for science. It argues that the “Edenic” sciences focusing on these ecologies—conservation biology, invasion biology/ecology, and restoration ecology—though extremely valuable, are inherently political. Though this has always been the case, the rapid changes in environments around us have made the political implications of these sciences harder to ignore or disguise. As such, these fields will necessarily need to evolve an ethical procedure to adjudicate between ecological interventions, rather than depending on restorative or originary criteria. Further, the evolution of these criteria and standards will be rooted in principles that come to terms with the political implications and character of scientists and scientific practice within broader diverse publics. Finally, scientific education will require the creation of a new set of standards for the instruction of ecological science, ones that better accept the role of anthropogenesis in ecological futures, and foster politically reflexive future scientists and citizens.
Cole Crops, Other Brassica, and Crucifer Vegetables

Commonly known as the mustard family, the Brassicaceae consists of more than 300 genera and 3000 species. Included are important annual and biennial vegetables as well as valuable oil seed and ornamental crops distributed throughout the world. Most are grown in temperate regions, and some are even grown in subarctic climates. Many Brassicaceae crops commonly known as crucifers are widely recognized for their contribution to human nutrition and for other possible healthful benefits. Recent research suggests that some crucifers may have cancer-preventive attributes.
Influence of the urban environment on fox squirrel range overlap

We predicted that features of the urban environment (uneven habitat from buildings, density of conspecifics and scarcity of dead or dying trees) would lead to different patterns of range overlap for urban and rural fox squirrels Sciurus niger. During 2003–2005 we captured, tracked and calculated seasonal ranges for 60 individuals at an urban site and 45 individuals on a rural site. Differences in range overlaps were best explained by sex, site and season. We observed a greater amount of seasonal range overlap by squirrels on our rural site. Buildings appeared to form the boundary of squirrels' seasonal ranges. By providing clear demarcations of squirrels' ranges, building might have reduced the costs of delineating territories. During the winter, urban squirrels used fewer [urban , 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.0–1.7; rural , 95% CI=2.8–4.2] cavities and anthropogenic shelters, suggesting that cavities might be limited on the urban site and worth the cost of defense. Similar population densities on the sites (urban=1.58 squirrel ha−1, rural=1.45 squirrel ha−1) did not allow us to examine the influence of densities of conspecifics on seasonal range overlaps. The alternative hypothesis, that reduced seasonal range overlaps were a function of range size had little support (female F=1.001, d.f.=82, P=0.130); r males F=2.33, d.f.=118, P=0.320). In summary, squirrels were able to alter their use of space and reduce their range overlap depending on the surrounding environment.
Politics and power in early medieval Europe : Alsace and the Frankish Realm, 600-1000

Introduction 1. The late Merovingian order 2. Conquest and continuity 3. The Carolingians and ecclesiastical property 4. Reaction and resistance 5. The politics of old German 6. Imperial unity and regional power 7. The late Carolingian order 8. The tenth-century transformation Conclusions.
Studies on activation of T4 bacteriophage by cofactor. II. The mechanism of activation.

Abstract 1. 1. The rates of activation and deactivation of cofactor-requiring T4 bacteriophages are measured as functions of the tryptophan concentration in the medium. 2. 2. The concept of key-site at which activation of the phage occurs is inferred from the kinetic data and the degree of activity of a phage population defined in terms of the state of the key sites. 3. 3. A model of the mechanism by which key sites gain or lose activity is developed and the quantitative relations implied are derived. 4. 4. The experimental findings of the kinetic experiments are unified by assigning suitable values to the empirical parameters appearing in the equations describing the model.
The Weight of the World Is Quantum Chromodynamics

Ab initio calculations of the proton and neutron masses have now been achieved, a milestone in a 30-year effort of theoretical and computational physics.
Understanding Low-cycle Fatigue Life Improvement Mechanisms in a Pre-twinned Magnesium Alloy

Abstract The mechanisms of fatigue life improvement by pre-twinning process in a commercial rolled magnesium (Mg) alloy have been investigated using real-time in situ neutron diffraction under a continuous-loading condition. It is found that by introducing the excess twinned grains through pre-compression along the rolling direction the fatigue life was enhanced approximately 50%, mainly resulting from the prolonged detwinning process and inhibited dislocation slip during reverse tension. Moreover, after pre-twinning, the reduction of the rapid strain hardening during reverse tension leads to a compressive mean stress value and more symmetric shape of stress–strain hysteresis loop. The pre-twinning has significant impacts on the twinning-detwinning characteristics and deformation modes during cyclic loading and greatly facilitates the twinning-detwinning activities in plastic deformation. The cyclic straining leads to the increase of contribution of tensile twinning deformation in overall plastic deformation in both the as-received and pre-twinned sample. The mechanisms of load partitioning in different groups of grains are closely related to the deformation modes in each deformation stage, while the fatigue cycling has little influence on the load sharing. The pre-twinning process provides an easy and cost-effective route to improve the low-cycle fatigue life through manufacturing and processing, which would advance the wide application of light-weight wrought Mg alloys as structural materials.
Studies on the isolation of lymphocytes active in cell-mediated immune responses. Iii. The pattern of recovery of immuno-competence by various lymphoid cell populations following cessation of chronic administration of antilymphocyte serum.

Abstract Long-term four month treatment with heterologous antilymphocyte serum (ALS) produced immunoincompetence of thymus, spleen and bone marrow lymphocytes as measured by their ability to produce a graft-versus-host reaction. Twenty-four hours following discontinuance of treatment this immunoincompetence is manifested by all three cell populations. Forty-eight hours following cessation of administration of ALS an immunocompetent population of lymphoid cells is demonstrable in the thymus gland. This activity is again confirmed at 168 hr, a time at which no immunocompetent cells are detectable in the spleen or bone marrow cell populations. This pattern of recovery of immunocompetence by populations of lymphoid cells helps to (1) localize the primary site of immunoconversion of stem cells into immunocompetent cells in the thymus gland; (2) serves to confirm the primary action of ALS as one of destruction of immunocompetent cells and to infer that its action is not to interfere with the thymus-guided maturation processes; (3) defines the recovery phase following ALS treatment as that time required for the build up of a population of immuno-competent cells in the thymus with subsequent seeding of these cells to the peripheral lymphoid organs; and (4) confirms that the normal thymus contains a population of immunocompetent cells whose activity can not be ascribed to contaminating blood or lymph node lymphocytes.
Smooth muscle-dependent vasodilation is impaired in immature arterialized collateral capillaries (677.17)

Native collateral vessels creates a natural bypass for blood flow around an arterial occlusion, potentially mitigating the effects of ischemic diseases, such as peripheral arterial occlusive diseas...
Comparison of the global structure and dynamics of native and unmodified tRNAval.

The effects of post-transcriptional modifications on the structure and dynamics of Escherichia coli tRNAval were studied by NMR spectroscopy. NMR chemical shift data and residual dipolar couplings ...
Synthetic peptides model instability of cardiac myosin subfragment-2

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a heart-related abnormality, is the most prevalent cause of sudden death in young athletes at sporting events. A cluster of cardiomyopathy mutations are localized in β-cardiac myosin at the N-terminal region of subfragment-2. Using resonance energy transfer probes, a synthetic peptide model system was developed to study stability of the coiled coil (S2 fragment) structure by determining monomer-dimer equilibrium of the peptide. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer and MacroModel software suite were used to obtain distance measurements along with measurement of coiled coil formation. The model peptide was used to characterize the effects of disease-causing-mutations and examine potential candidate drugs (polyamines) to counteract effects of mutations causing HCM. Distance measurements between donor and acceptor probes obtained by computational simulation and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) were consistent. Measurements also agreed with simulations of unlabeled wildtype, indicating coiled coil structural stability of the peptide. Interaction of the site-specific antibody with the peptide strongly inhibited dimerization and destabilized coiled coil structure of the peptide. Presence of negatively charged glutamate residues in the region of subfragment-2 strongly suggested a potential interaction site for positively charged polyamines. Binding of certain polyamines, such as poly-L-Lysine 11 residues and poly-D-Lysine 17 residues, demonstrated the ability to enhance dimerization and improve stability of the coiled coil structure, while some other polyamines were shown to have insignificant impact on the structure. In an attempt to characterize the effect of HCM-causing-mutations, peptides containing E924K mutation and lethal mutation E930 deletion were synthesized. Fluorescence resonance probes were conjugated to the mutant peptides to determine coiled coil formation. Results obtained from both dynamic simulations and resonance energy transfer experiments indicated that these mutations strongly inhibit dimerization, and thus, destabilize coiled coil structure of the peptide. Further experiments were conducted using heterodimers containing a chain of wildtype and a chain of mutant peptide. Both E924K & Edel930 mutations destabilized coiled coil formation and prevented dimerization. This peptide model system would provide a promising tool for drug development targeting HCM-causing-mutations along the S2 region of myosin.
Individual Consistency of Hearing for Speech Across Diverse Listening Conditions

Twenty speech tests each were administered twice to nine presbycuses and to nine individuals with other sensorineural hearing impairments. Ten of the 20 tests were received unaided and 10 with a he...
Endothelin-1 mediated regulation of extracellular matrix collagens in cells of human lamina cribrosa.

Abstract Endothelin-1 (ET-1), a potent vaso-active peptide, mediates extracellular matrix regulation resulting in an increase in collagen deposition in various cell types and tissues and has been proposed to play a key role in glaucoma pathology. The role of ET-1 in the regulation of extracellular matrix collagens at the level of optic nerve head is not known. In this study we have examined the role of ET-1 in extracellular matrix collagen regulation in primary cultures of human lamina cribrosa cells. Our hypothesis is that ET-1 increases remodeling of the ECM of cells of the lamina cribrosa. Such actions could contribute to the development of optic neuropathy. QPCR analysis revealed that ET-1 mediated an increase in mRNA levels of collagen type I α1 and collagen type VI α1 chains at all doses of ET-1 with a significant increase at 1 nM and 10 nM concentration in LC cells. A dose-dependent increase in collagen type I and type VI protein deposition and secretion was also observed by Western blot in response to ET-1 and was significant at 10 nM and 100 nM concentrations of ET-1. ET-1 increased the [ 3 H] proline uptake in LC cells suggesting that ET-1 contributed to an increase in total collagen synthesis in LC cells. ET-1-mediated increase in collagen type I, type VI and total collagen synthesis was significantly blocked by the ET A receptor antagonist, BQ610, as well as with the ET B receptor antagonist, BQ788, suggesting the involvement of both receptor subtypes in ET-1 mediated collagen synthesis in LC cells. These results suggest that ET-1 regulates extracellular matrix collagen synthesis in LC cells and may contribute to ECM remodeling at the level of LC of POAG subjects who have elevated plasma and aqueous humor levels of endothelin-1.
1 Progress in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: A historical perspective

Summary A historical review of gains in the body of knowledge on chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) reveals a continuous, steady process from the beginning of the century with the pioneering work of scholars to the present era of molecular biology. Several notable hallmarks of this progress have been recognized: (1) the early period of broad, loose grouping of all chronic lymphoproliferative disorders; (2) recognition of CLL as a discrete entity with clinical and cytological identification of different forms of lymphoid neoplasm; (3) development of clinical staging systems and prognostic factors; and (4) use of immunological techniques in the study of CLL. Studies currently in progress using molecular genetic techniques hold promise for future advances in unravelling the biology of leukaemic transformation of lymphocytes in CLL.
Trapping of transcription factors with symmetrical DNA using thiol-disulfide exchange chemistry.

Abstract Green fluorescent protein (GFP) fused to the C-terminal 100 amino acids of CAAT enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) also containing an N-terminal (His)6 tag (GFP-C/EBP) was used as a transcription factor model to test whether thiol-disulfide exchange reactions could be used to successfully purify transcription factors. A symmetrical dithiol oligonucleotide with dual CAAT elements was constructed with 5′ and 3′ thiols. Upon reduction, circular dichroism confirms it spontaneously anneals with its internally complementary sequence to form the hairpin structure: Download : Download full-size image The specific GFP-C/EBP protein–DNA complex, formed in solution at nM concentrations, could then be recovered (trapped) via thiol-disulfide exchange with a disulfide thiopropyl-Sepharose and eluted with dithiothreitol. GFP-C/EBP was isolated from crude bacterial extract treated with iodoacetamide; DNA binding by GFP-C/EBP was unaltered by carboxyamidomethylation. Eluted GFP-C/EBP was of high purity by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The protein, after in-gel digestion with trypsin, was also characterized by capillary reversed-phase liquid chromatography–nano-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry and the results analyzed using MASCOT software searching of the non-redundant protein database. A score of 1874 with a sequence coverage of 51% encompassing both termini and internal sequences for the match with GFP-C/EBP confirms its identity and sequence. The method has high potential for the identification and characterization of transcription factors and other DNA-binding proteins.
Distributed observer-based LQR design for multi-agent systems

In this paper, the problem of designing distributed LQR for multi-agent systems is considered when the states are not available for the control purpose. Two types of distributed observer-based LQR controller are developed with local observers and distributed observers. The design procedure provides a systematic way to construct control and observer gains that guarantee stabilization by solving two low-dimensional algebraic Riccati equations (ARE). The control and observer gains are designed in separation mode and they are decoupled from the communication graph structure. The effectiveness of this method is demonstrated by an example.
Order effects in belief updating with consistent and inconsistent evidence

The current study tests for the presence of differential order effects in evaluation tasks with consistent and inconsistent evidence as predicted by the Hogarth and Einhorn (1992) belief-adjustment model. The results, based on both between-subjects and within-subjects experiments, demonstrate that there were significant recency effects with inconsistent evidence as predicted, larger recency effects when the inconsistent evidence was farther apart in subjective value as predicted, and significant recency effects even when subjects were given training designed to both help them understand the task as completely as possible and to be better able to assess the pieces of evidence. By including a within-subjects design, we were able to demonstrate that the difference in subjective value between two pieces of evidence is the primary factor influencing the magnitude of the recency effect, regardless of whether the evidence is consistent or inconsistent. This latter finding is unique and contrary to previous research and theory.
ABILITY OF VARIOUS CARBON SOURCES TO INDUCE AND SUPPORT AFLATOXIN SYNTHESIS BY ASPERGILLUS PARASITICUS

The ability of a wide variety of carbon sources to induce and support aflatoxin synthesis by Aspergillus parasiticus was examined using mycelia pregrown in a peptone-mineral salts medium that does not support aflatoxin synthesis. Sugars and derivatives of sugars supported widely varying amounts of aflatoxin production. Amino acids and tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates except aspartate and malate, respectively, did not appear to support de novo aflatoxin synthesis. Embden-Meyerhoff pathway intermediates prior to, but not after, 3-phosphoglycerate supported aflatoxin synthesis.
Assessing values of Arctic wildlife and habitat subject to potential petroleum development

Abstract The National Wildlife Refuge system of the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is predicated on the principle of conserving and perpetuating the natural diversity and abundance of wildlife and wildlands. The prospect of petroleum development on the 1002 area of the 10 000 km2 pristine coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) has been a contentious national issue. The FWS assessed the habitat and its constituent wildlife species to determine potential impacts from his development. As part of the assessment effort, research was conducted on the 163 000 member porcupine caribou (Rangifer tarandus) herd, its primary predator at calving, brown bear (Ursus arctos), and the vegetation communities on the coastal plain. We found the traditional calving area within the 1002 area had significantly greater forage species availability and nutrient quality than areas peripheral to the 1002 area. Increased post-perinatal, predator- related mortality has been associated with the foothills and mountains adjacent to the 1002 area. Displacement of the calving caribou from the 1002 area would mean a lesser abundance of high quality forage for calving cows, and calves would be subjected to a potentially higher risk. These factors could have a negative impact on the population dynamics of the Porcupine herd. If petroleum development were authorized on the 1002 area of ANWR, the challenge for the FWS will be to assure that the dynamics of the tundra ecosystem are adequately understood and to conserve the abundance and diversity of natural wildlife populations and their habitat.
Drug Misuse among the Elderly: An Educational Challenge for Health Professionals

This paper reviews current knowledge about the extent of the misuse of prescription and non-prescription drugs by the elderly; and discusses factors contributing to the problem, particularly the role of information and non-medical individuals who may influence medication behavior. It also addresses the role of health professionals in the problem and its amelioration; and reviews the success of attempts to reduce the misuse of drugs. Finally, this article suggests fruitful directions for the health care community to pursue for educating and counseling elderly patients about drug use and misuse.
The relationship between the inner and outer dimensions in Islam as a foundation for inter‐religious dialogue

This article shows how the relationship between the sharīa and the arīqa in Islam constitutes a specific paradigm for the bond between the interior and exterior dimension in religion, which enriches and challenges the Christian–Muslim dialogue for peace because it reminds both religions of their potential for critical social–political assessments. This is especially important since the public dialogue generally focuses on post‐Enlightenment criteria for evaluating the possibilities for communion in peace by strictly separating the interior from the exterior dimension in religion.
Dynamical Instability and Domain Formation in a Spin-1 Bose-Einstein Condensate

We interpret the recently observed spatial domain formation in spin-1 atomic condensates as a result of dynamical instability. Within the mean field theory, a homogeneous condensate is dynamically unstable (stable) for ferromagnetic (antiferromagnetic) atomic interactions. We find that this dynamical instability naturally leads to spontaneous domain formation as observed in several recent experiments for condensates with rather small numbers of atoms. For trapped condensates, our numerical simulations compare quantitatively to the experimental results, thus largely confirming the physical insight from our analysis of the homogeneous case.
A Novel Control Scheme for DFIG-based Wind Energy Systems under Unbalanced Grid Conditions

This paper presents an analysis and a novel control scheme for a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) based wind energy generation under unbalanced grid voltage conditions. The control objectives are: (i) to limit the rotor currents, (ii) to suppress ripples in the torque and (iii) to suppress the dc-link voltage fluctuation through converter controls. Negative sequence compensation techniques by one of the converters, namely, the rotor side converter (RSC) or the grid side converter (GSC) in a DFIG are discussed and their limitations are presented. A coordinated control scheme with a concise structure compared to the conventional dual sequence control structure is proposed in this paper. The RSC is controlled to suppress ripples in the torque and the rotor currents while the GSC is controlled to suppress ripples in the dc-link voltage by considering the rotor power effect. The major contributions of the paper include: (i) the presentation of the limitation of negative sequence compensation using one converter; (ii) development of a concise coordination control scheme which is free of low pass filters and uses a reduced number of reference frame transformation. Matlab/Simulink tests for a 2MW DFIG demonstrate the effectiveness of the control scheme.
On quadratic bottom drag, geostrophic turbulence, and oceanic mesoscale eddies

Abstract Many investigators have idealized the oceanic mesoscale eddy field with numerical simulations of geostrophic turbulence forced by a horizontally homogeneous, baroclinically unstable mean flow. To date such studies have employed linear bottom Ekman friction (hereinafter, linear drag). This paper presents simulations of two-layer baroclinically unstable geostrophic turbulence damped by quadratic bottom drag, which is generally thought to be more realistic. The goals of the paper are 1) to describe the behavior of quadratically damped turbulence as drag strength changes, using previously reported behaviors of linearly damped turbulence as a point of comparison, and 2) to compare the eddy energies, baroclinicities, and horizontal scales in both quadratic and linear drag simulations with observations and to discuss the constraints these comparisons place on the form and strength of bottom drag in the ocean. In both quadratic and linear drag simulations, large barotropic eddies develop with weak dampin...
An examination of the anticipated-satisfaction importance valence controversy

Abstract This study examines the controversy that currently exists in the expectancy theory literature regarding the operationalization of valance. Need it be operationalized as anticipated satisfaction as originally suggested by Vroom, or does the currently popular operationalization as importance suffice? Using a sample of 40 sales representatives, the two operationalizations are examined employing functional measurement, conjoint analysis, and thermometer methodologies to secure each sales representative's valence for various company rewards. The data indicate that the sales representatives perceived little difference in the two operationalizations in that the correlations across operationalizations were uniformly high, regardless of the measurement methodology employed.
Luence of production coatings on the fatigue resistance of formed parts of titanium alloys

We have investigated VT5-1 and VT-9 alloys with EVT-24 and EVT-24K coatings [2]. The fatigue test samples were made from plates by hot forming in accordance in accordance with the temperature and time cycles of Aviation Metallurgical Technical Specification 1.90197-75 for titanium alloys. The degree of deformation was 50%. The preparation and application of the coatings to the surface of the pieces was by the slip method [3].
An Effect of Modeling and Imitation Teaching Procedures on Children with and without Specific Language Impairment

Following a treatment program in which an invented morpheme was taught through either imitation or modeling procedures, the generalization of 40 specific language-impaired children was compared to that of 40 children learning language normally. The results of the comparison indicated that the two teaching procedures have opposite relative effects on the two groups. The abnormal group generalized more extensively following imitation teaching while the normal group generalized more extensively following modeling teaching. The opposing results of the two procedures on the two groups suggest that language-impaired children will benefit more from teaching strategies that are adapted to their unique learning styles than from strategies fashioned after the styles of children who learn language normally.
Passing the Word: Toward a Model of Gossip and Power in the Workplace

Although gossip is widespread, seldom has it been a topic of management research. Here the researchers build a conceptual model of workplace gossip and its effects on the power of employees who initiate it. After defining and distinguishing among different kinds of workplace gossip, the researchers develop propositions about the effect of that gossip on gossipers' expert, referent, reward, and coercive power. They then suggest how moderators may shape those effects and discuss implications of the model.