cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In vivo development of dendritic orientation in wild-type and mislocalized retinal ganglion cells

Background Many neurons in the central nervous system, including retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), possess asymmetric dendritic arbors oriented toward their presynaptic partners. How such dendritic arbors become biased during development in vivo is not well understood. Dendritic arbors may become oriented by directed outgrowth or by reorganization of an initially unbiased arbor. To distinguish between these possibilities, we imaged the dynamic behavior of zebrafish RGC dendrites during development in vivo. We then addressed how cell positioning within the retina, altered in heart-and-soul (has) mutants, affects RGC dendritic orientation.
Universalization of the Phase Diagram for a Model Rod-Coil Diblock Copolymer

The Flory−Huggins interaction is measured for a model rod−coil block copolymer system, poly(alkoxyphenylenevinylene-b-isoprene), by fitting the interfacial segregation of block copolymer to a homopolymer interface and by using the random phase approximation (RPA) for block copolymers. The measured interfacial segregation of a block copolymer to the interface between homopolymers, fit with a self-consistent field theory (SCFT) simulation using χ as a variable parameter, gives a functional form χ = 34.8/T − 0.091. When RPA is applied to neutron scattering curves for the rod−coil system above the order−disorder transition, the theoretical structure factors are inconsistent with observed scattering curves due to complex aggregated structures formed in the nematic and isotropic states. Using the Flory−Huggins parameter and a previously measured value of the Maier−Saupe parameter, the PPV-b-PI phase diagram may be converted from system-specific variables to dimensionless parameters. Under the assumptions that t...
An error analysis of an algorithm for Marcum's Q-function

McGee's iterative algorithm for calculating Marcum's Q-Function is useful in many numerical studies in radar and communication systems. An analysis is presented that allows estimates on the computation time required, as a function of the desired accuracy, to support a call to a subroutine implementing this algorithm.
A segmental mobile robot with active tensegrity bending and noise-driven oscillators

Tensegripede, the first prototype in a new series of modular, biologically inspired robots is presented. The robot platform is used to test innovative mechanical and controller designs. The robot is comprised of rigid body segments joined via tensegrity joint structures. These joints provide compliance to the structure and can be actuated via drive cables to change relative segment orientation. The tensegrity connections allow the robot to actively steer and rear body segments to navigate over and around obstacles. Tensegripede is capable of climbing objects up to 0.75 times the wheel diameter without rearing and can rear to heights of 1.13 times the wheel diameter. Tensegripede employs a new biologically inspired motor controller using stable heteroclinic channels to control motor speed with a simple PWM-like scheme.
Side effects during continuous epidural infusion of morphine and fentanyl

Respiratory effects, nausea, somnolence, and pruritus were compared during a 48-hr period of continuous epidural morphine (n = 34) and fentanyl (n = 32) infusion in 66 patients following elective total replacement of the hip or knee joint. Respiratory effects were assessed by PaCO2. Side effects were assessed by visual analogue scale and considered to be present when the score was above 30. Assessment was made at preoperative visits then 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 hr after the epidural injection. The bolus dose and subsequent infusion rate were 3,900 +/- 1,300 micrograms and 427 +/- 213 micrograms.hr-1 for morphine, and 85 +/- 46 micrograms and 56 +/- 27 micrograms.hr-1 for fentanyl. Pain relief was similar in both groups. In the morphine group, PaCO2 elevation and nausea occurred over a period of more than 12 hr (P less than 0.05). In the fentanyl group, there was no PaCO2 change, and nausea was confined to the first few hours. Nausea was more severe (P less than 0.01 at six hours and more frequent (24 hr cumulative incidence, 53 vs 28%, P less than 0.05) in the morphine group. Somnolence was prominent within several hours in two-thirds of patients in both groups. Somnolence continued to decline thereafter in the morphine group, but it was demonstrable in approximately half of the patients throughout the second day in the fentanyl group. The incidence was higher in the fentanyl group at the 48th hr (P less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Testing of the VocaLog Vocal Monitor.

Summary Objective To elucidate capabilities and limitations of the VocaLog, a device marketed to log-calibrated dB sound pressure level (SPL). Study Design The study design varied depending on the experiment. All were prospective. Some were case series, and others were cohort studies without controls. Method Experiments were conducted to determine (1) whether the VocaLog logged phonatory activity and silence when it should, (2) if nonphonatory activities were detected, (3) correlation of VocaLog dB values to an external sound level meter (SLM), and (4) accuracy of phonation time (PT) and speaking time (ST) estimates from the VocaLog. Results Silence and phonatory activity were logged as such nearly 100% of the time. Nonphonatory activities were sometimes detected as dB values, including coughs, throat clear, belching, and swallows. The dB values from the VocaLog were strongly correlated with dB SPL from an external SLM. When on the neck, the device rarely picked up external sounds when the external noise was between 85 and 103 dB SPL. The VocaLog gave a reasonable estimate of ST but overestimated PT. Conclusions Overall, the VocaLog holds promise as means of indexing vocal loudness via calibrated dB SPL levels. However, some nonphonatory activity is also likely to be logged. The device provides a reasonable estimate of ST, but not PT.
Tactical Currency Allocation Revisited: Four Simple Currency Trading Rules

This paper analyzes four previously documented regularities in the currency futures markets and develops four simple trading rules based on these regularities. These trading rules are examined both separately and in combination, and all but one generate significant profits over the full sample period from January 1978 through May 1996. The trading rules appear to be losing their power, however, and become less profitable over the more recent from January 1992 through May 1996.
Requisite Role of Angiopoietin-1, a Ligand for the TIE2 Receptor, during Embryonic Angiogenesis

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which acts via members of a family of endothelial-specific receptor tyrosine kinases, is the only factor that has been shown definitively to play a role in the formation of the embryonic vasculature. Only one other family of receptor tyrosine kinases, comprising TIE1 and TIE2, is largely endothelial cell specific. We have recently cloned a ligand for TIE2, termed Angiopoietin-1. Here we show that mice engineered to lack Angiopoietin-1 display angiogenic deficits reminiscent of those previously seen in mice lacking TIE2, demonstrating that Angiopoietin-1 is a primary physiologic ligand for TIE2 and that it has critical in vivo angiogenic actions that are distinct from VEGF and that are not reflected in the classic in vitro assays used to characterize VEGF. Angiopoietin-1 seems to play a crucial role in mediating reciprocal interactions between the endothelium and surrounding matrix and mesenchyme.
Behavior and histochemistry of functionally isolated cat ankle extensors.

Abstract A division of labor between cat ankle extensors has been previously proposed. It was suggested that gastrocnemius has the speed and power of contraction for phasic movements whereas soleus is suited for sustained activity and full extension. A more recent study showed that plantaris in the cat provides a substantial contribution to locomotor activities when the other two ankle extensors are denervated. We extended chronic behavioral observations of isolated muscles to all three ankle extensors and also examined fiber type characteristics. Soon after surgery, when plastic changes in muscles would be minimal, cats with the gastrocnemius isolated performed normally in almost all postural and locomotor tasks. Cats with either the soleus or plantaris isolated failed to extend the ankle fully after surgery, but they could run and jump adequately. The relatively good locomotor performance of soleus points to the hitherto unrecognized versatility of its type I fibers. Long term effects of isolation included some gradual improvement in performance over six weeks and increased numbers of type I fibers in the plantaris muscle. In contrast, no fiber conversion was observed in the isolated gastrocnemius, which had performed so well after surgery. We conclude that while in normal intact cats specialized roles may exist for these muscles, their intrinsic versatility permits them a broader range of actions than previously has been assumed.
Psychic and somatic anxiety: worries, somatic symptoms and physiological changes

Contrary to self-reports, patients with generalized anxiety disorder exhibit increased muscle tension but not autonomic hyperarousal. Under stress they tend to react autonomically in a less flexible manner than normal controls. There is only a weak relationship, and in some instances a desynchrony, between physiological changes and perception of change. The inconsistencies between self-reports of physiological states and physiological recordings can be explained by alterations of body sensations through psychological factors, predominantly expectations of and attention to bodily states, that lead to perceptual distortions.
3638 Randomized, prospective trial of endoscopic rubber band ligation compared to bipolar coagulation for bleeding internal hemorrhoids

Internal hemorrhoids are the most common cause of recurrent hematochezia (BRB) in ambulatory adults.We compared the efficacy and safety of bipolar coagulation (BICAP) with endoscopic rubber band ligation (RBL) for hemostasis of bleeding internal hemorrhoids (IH). Methods: This was a randomized prospective trial of patients with IH bleeding, documented by anoscopy and colonoscopy, who continued to have BRB inspite of at least 60 days of medical therapy (bulk agents, suppositories, stool softeners). Exclusions were rectal fissures, AIDS, inflammatory disease, or incidental IH and another source of bleeding found. After grading of IH with a slotted anoscope, patients were randomized to anoscopic treatment with BICAP (16W, 1 secs pulses) or RBL (via videoendoscope) and treatments were applied above the dentate line on 3 IH segments/session. Endpoints were control of BRB, severe complication or refusal to continue the treatment, and reduction of all IH segments to grade ≤ 1 in ≥ 3 treatment sessions. Failures were crossed over to other therapies. Results: 37 patients with mean age of 51 and chronic IH symptoms for ≤ 9 yrs were treated, 18 with BICAP and 19 with RBL. See table for results. Significantly fewer treatment sessions with RBL were required for control of BRB. Conclusions: For patients with chronic internal hemorrhoids and recurrent hematochezia unresponsive to medical therapy: 1) bipolar coagulation and rubber band ligation were similar in efficacy and safety for hemostasis, 2) non-significantly more bipolar than RBL patients had treatment failures and were crossed-over to other treatments, and 3) RBL required significantly fewer sessions to control hematochezia and reduce the size of internal hemorrhoids than bipolar coagulation. Funded in part by NIH DK41301 (Human Studies Core), American Digestive Health Foundation Endoscopy Research Award, and NIH-GCRC M01-RR008658.
A Dual-IMU/GPS based Geolocation System

To improve the geolocation performance of an Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) survey platform, a geodetic Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver was combined with two tactical-grade Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) and mounted on two types of detection systems. Analysis of data collected for typical trajectories focused on the dual-IMU/GPS pre/post processing using optimal nonlinear estimation together with a Wave Correlation Filter (WCF) and end-matching. Each trajectory of the platforms was estimated by the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) and the Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF). The WCF was then applied to the two solutions of the platform trajectories derived from each IMU in order to extract the common components in the frequency domain, assuming that uncorrelated components are errors. The remaining bias and trends of the estimated position results were further removed by end-matching IMU solutions and GPS update points. The results of these methods were applied to our field test data to show that the WCF and end-matching can improve position accuracy from 4% to 14% with respect to the Unscented Kalman Smoother (UKS) solution alone.
Negative Aspects of Therapy: Client Perceptions of Therapists' Social Influence, Burnout, and Quality of Care

This study investigated the relationships between client perceptions of therapist use of social influence strategies, therapist burnout, and clients' perceptions of the quality of their therapy. Scales were developed to measure personal coercive power, personal reward power, various forms of expert power, and compromise strategies. A scale was also developed to measure clients' perceptions of their therapists' burnout that contained a combination of modified items from the Maslach Burnout Inventory (Maslach & Jackson, 1986) and original items based on stereotypical burnout behaviors. Research participants were 131 undergraduate students at the University of Pittsburgh who reported their experiences as therapy clients. Therapist use of personal coercive influence strategies and certain types of expert influence strategies were negatively associated with clients' perceptions of the quality of their therapy. Therapist use of personal reward influence strategies, compromise, and the therapist's reputation as an expert were positively related to clients' perceptions of the quality of their therapy. Perceived therapist burnout was positively associated with therapist use of personal coercive influence strategies, direct expert influence strategies, and indirect expert influence strategies. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Subchronic feeding study with genetically modified stacked trait lepidopteran and coleopteran resistant (DAS-Ø15Ø7-1xDAS-59122-7) maize grain in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Abstract DAS-O15O7-1xDAS-59122-7 (1507 × 59122) is a genetically modified (GM) maize hybrid that was produced by crossing of two GM maize inbreds; DAS-O15O7-1 and DAS-59122-7. This hybrid cross expresses four transgenic proteins: Cry1F and PAT (from DAS-O15O7-1) and Cry34Ab1/Cry35Ab1 and PAT (from DAS-59122-7) that confer resistance to lepidopteran and coleopteran pests and tolerance to the herbicidal active ingredient glufosinate-ammonium. The current subchronic feeding study was conducted in Sprague-Dawley rats to evaluate the potential health effects of long-term consumption of a rodent diet containing 1507 × 59122 maize grain compared with a diet containing maize grain from its near-isogenic control (091). Diets formulated with three unrelated non-GM commercial hybrids (3573, 35P12, 36G12) were also included for within study reference data. All diets contained 34% (w/wt) maize grain and were prepared according to the specifications of PMI® Nutrition International, LLC Certified Rodent LabDiet® 5002 (PMI® 5002). Diets were fed ad libitum to rats for at least 92 days. OECD 408 response variables from rats fed the 1507 × 59122 diet were compared with those from rats fed the 091 control diet. No toxicologically significant differences were observed in nutritional performance variables, clinical and neurobehavioral signs, ophthalmology, clinical pathology (hematology, clinical chemistry, coagulation, and urinalysis), organ weights, and gross and microscopic pathology between rats in the 091 and 1507 × 59122 treatment groups. The results from this study demonstrate that 1507 × 59122 maize grain is as safe and nutritious as non-GM maize grain and support the concept that crossing of two safe GM maize events results in production of a safe stacked GM event.
Hospice policy and patterns of care.

Hospice providers and policy makers are currently evaluating the emerging patterns of hospice care, especially regarding cost containment considerations. This study compared patterns of care for two groups of hospice homecare clients–one group, which received only homecare services for the duration of the hospice career; the other, which received both hospice homecare and inpatient services. The groups were significantly different on clinical parameters, number of homecare episodes, survival rate, and place of death. The impact of policy structures on continuity of care and service equity are discussed.
REVISITING LITHIC SCATTERS: A CRM PERSPECTIVE

AbstractThe scope of an archaeological survey may be defined by environmental or cultural boundaries, or by arbitrarily defined boundaries, which is generally the case in cultural resource management (CRM) surveys. The most common site type encountered during the course of almost any Phase I CRM survey is the temporally nondiagnostic “lithic scatter.” The majority of surveys conducted within the United States today are compliance driven, and thus most lithic scatters are discovered and recorded by CRM firms. They are therefore investigated according to state standards, and their potential for contributing to the archaeological record is evaluated according to criteria established under the National Historic Preservation Act. Under these circumstances, the significance of the vast majority of these sites is dismissed outright during the course of initial investigation and reporting. While nondiagnostic lithic scatters may often be uninteresting as individual units of analysis, this paper argues that in agg...
The mechanism of action of ceruloplasmin in inhibiting ascorbic acid-induced depolymerization of hyaluronic acid.

Abstract Autoxidation of ascorbic acid in the presence of hyaluronic acid resulted in depolymerization of the polysaccharide. Degradation of diketogulonic acid, an intermediate produced in the course of autoxidation of ascorbic acid, appeared to be the reaction with which depolymerization of hyaluronic acid was associated. Enzymatic oxidation of ascorbic acid by ceruloplasmin failed to result in depolymerization of hyaluronic acid. This effect of ceruloplasmin appeared to be the result of its capacity to alter the pathway of degradation of diketogulonic acid. Its failure to alter the course of depolymerization of hyaluronic acid by ionizing radiation indicated that its action was not due to destruction of free radicals. Apoceruloplasmin, serum albumin and haptoglobin had no influence on ascorbic acid-induced depolymerization of hyaluronic acid.
Rotational diffusion tensors for non-spherical molecules

Abstract The rotational diffusion tensors of several rigid molecules are determined from the rotational friction tensor. The molecular friction tensor is modeled as a sum over the translational Stokes law friction coefficients of the constituent atoms of the molecule. Agreement of the theory with experimental rotational diffusion constants and onentational correlation times is surprisingly good.
Regularized MR coil sensitivity estimation using augmented Lagrangian methods

Several magnetic resonance (MR) parallel imaging techniques require explicit estimates of the receive coil sensitivity profiles. These estimates must be accurate over both the object and its surrounding regions to avoid generating artifacts in the reconstructed images. Statistical estimation methods provide robust sensitivity estimates but can be computationally expensive. In this paper, we propose an augmented Lagrangian (AL) based method that estimates the coil sensitivity by minimizing a quadratic cost function. This method reformulates the finite differencing matrix to allow for exact alternating minimization steps. We also explore a variation of our algorithm that involves intermediate updating of the Lagrange multipliers. We demonstrate that our proposed algorithm converges in half the time of the traditional conjugate gradient method with a circulant precon-ditioner (PCG) on a real data set.
Distribution of 2-Aminoethylphosphonic Acid in Some Rumen Microorganisms

Abstract Acid hydrolysates of dried rumen contents, clarified rumen liquor, washed suspensions of mixed rumen bacteria, pure strains of rumen bacteria, washed suspensions of rumen ciliate protozoa, and the rations fed (hay and grain) were analyzed for 2-aminoethylphosphonic acid (AEP). Most of the AEP was in bound form. No AEP was detected in mixed rumen bacteria or in pure cultures of Streptococcus bovis, Selenomonas ruminantium and Bacteroides succinogenes . The ration was devoid of AEP. Almost all AEP in rumen liquor was in protozoal cells. Isotricha sp. contained greater quantities of AEP than Entodinium sp. Determination of total carbon-phosphorus compounds showed that the protozoal cells contained other substances related to AEP. The possiblity of using AEP as a marker to measure rumen protozoal populations is suggested.
Optical indices of electrochromic tungsten oxide

Abstract Tungsten trioxide (WO 3 ) is the most widely used material for the active layer of electrochromic devices. Knowledge of the complex refractive index over the range of coloration states is required for device design. Optical constants of WO 3 over the whole solar spectrum were determined as a function of injected charge. Films of WO 3 were prepared by electron-beam evaporation, then colored in several steps by reduction with lithium (Li) up to 68 mC cm −2 μm −1 injected charge. Measurements included variable-angle spectroscopic ellipsometry and spectroscopic transmittance and reflectance at normal incidence. Analysis was complicated by the fact that a transparent-conducting layer of indium tin oxide (ITO) was required to perform lithiation. Optical indices of the glass substrate and ITO transparent conductor were determined separately and then fixed in the model. The indices of WO 3 could then be extracted from measurements on the complete structure. A parametric dispersion model corresponding to Gaussian broadening of the oscillators was used to represent the dielectric response of WO 3 .
Methane Metabolism of the Obligate Methane-utilizing Bacterium, Methylomonas flagellata, in Methane-limited and Oxygen-limited Chemostat Culture

The effect of a limited supply of methane and oxygen on growth of Methylomonas flagellata was analyzed in chemostat culture. A significant decrease in YCH4 was observed under oxygen-limitation. Accumulation of formaldehyde is supposed to cause a decrease of YCH4. A low level of formaldehyde oxidizing activity in cells grown under oxygen-limited steady-states suggests that formaldehyde dehydrogenase is repressed under oxygen deficiency. In spite of the suppression of respiration, methane oxidation progressed independently under oxygen-limitation. These facts support the idea that methanol oxidation couples with methane oxidation (a mono-oxygenase system) in this microorganism.
An olfactory cocktail party: figure-ground segregation of odorants in rodents

Being able to perceive an individual odor in a continually changing and rich olfactory environment is a challenging task. Here, Rokni and colleagues find that this olfactory cocktail party problem can be studied in mice and reveal that the ability to identify a specific odor in a complex odorous scene is constrained by the amount of overlap in the representations of target and background odors at the level of olfactory receptors.
Cranial Capacity, Neural Reorganization, and Hominid Evolution: A Search for More Suitable Parameters

tion. This parameter, measured in cubic centimeters, has been used as a means of taxonomic identification, behavioral complexity, and intelligence, and for discussing dissimilar rates of somatic evolution. While it is generally appreciated that this parameter is a poor one for explaining behavioral differences, there is almost no discussion in the anthropological literature regarding the reasons behind the unsuitability of this parameter for either taxonomic or behavioral correlations. The range of variation of cranial capacity for modern Homo sapiens is about 1,000 c.c., with no correlation between capacity and behavior readily demonstrable. Such a figure represents almost the total amount of increase in capacity from the Australopithecine level to that of modern man. This parameter has also been one of the major stumbling blocks for almost 40 years in the acceptance of the Australopithecines as true hominids. It has been mainly the discoveries of stone tools, as well as the postcranial material (the pelves) which have been the most weighty factors in interpreting these early fossils as true hominids. With present-day emphases on behavior and selection in primate populations both past and present, and the increasing focus upon culture as an adaptive process and ecological niche, it seems critical to have a better understanding of both the meaning of this parameter and its unsuitability with respect to behavioral differences. This paper has an exceedingly simple point to make: a comparison of forms based on cranial capacity is not a comparison of equal units. Showing just why this is the case may aid in understanding other aspects of neural organization which are of more importance in relation to behavior, and pave the way for a clearer formulation of hypotheses which can eventually be tested through experimentation. While I have provided a much more thorough presentation of this problem elsewhere (Holloway 1964), and a number of more technical manuscripts are under preparation, it has been suggested that a presentation of the basic problems in a format containing a minimum of neurological technicalities might be of value for those anthropologists interested but without the
Educational theatre: A definition

(1954). Educational theatre: A definition. The Southern Speech Journal: Vol. 19, No. 4, pp. 317-323.
Regulation of split linear systems over rings: Coefficient-assignment and observers

A theory of regulators is developed for finite-free split linear systems over a commutative ring K . This is achieved by developing a theory, of coefficient-assignment and observers. It is shown that the problem of coefficient-assignment can be solved for reachable systems by using dynamic state feedback. For strongly observable systems, it is shown that observers with arbitrary dynamics can be constructed. Internal stability of observer and state feedback configuration is considered explicitly. Some examples are given to illustrate these techniques.
The use of pattern-communication tools and team pattern recognition

This study extends the theory of recognition primed decision-making by applying it to groups. An experiment was conducted in which teams made resource allocation decisions while physically dispersed and supported with a shared virtual work surface (What You See Is What I See-WYSIWIS). The task required teams to recognize patterns and collaborate to allocate their resources appropriately. The experiment explored the use of tools (item versus chunk level communication) designed to minimize the cognitive effort required to recognize and communicate patterns among team members. Dependent measures included pattern communication correctness, pattern communication time, resource allocation time, and outcome quality. All teams received significant financial rewards in direct proportion to their outcome quality. Teams supported with the pattern-communicating tools had significantly higher outcome quality and significantly less resource movements and allocation time than teams in the control condition. Further, the teams that used the chunk-communicating tool performed significantly better than the teams supported with an item-communicating tool.
Inferring higher level policies from firewall rules

Packet filtering firewall is one of the most important mechanisms used by corporations to enforce their security policy. Recent years have seen a lot of research in the area of firewall management. Typically, firewalls use a large number of low-level filtering rules which are configured using vendor-specific tools. System administrators start off by writing rules which implement the security policy of the organization. They add/delete/change order of rules as the requirements change. For example, when a new machine is added to the network, new rules might be added to the firewall to enable certain services to/from that machine. Making such changes to the low-level rules is complicated by the fact that the effect of a rule is dependent on its priority (usually determined by the position of the rule in the rule set). As the size and complexity of a rule set increases, it becomes difficult to understand the impact of a rule on the rule set. This makes management of rule sets more error prone. This is a very serious problem as errors in firewall configuration mean that the desired security policy is not enforced. Previous research in this area has focused on either building tools that generate low-level firewall rules from a given security policy or finding anomalies in the rules, i.e., verifying that the rules implement the given security policy correctly. We propose a technique that aims to infer the high-level security policy from low-level representation. The first step in our approach is that of generating flattened rules, i.e., rules without priorities, which are equivalent to the given firewall rule set. Removal of priorities from a rule set enables us to merge a number of rules that have a similar effect. Our rule merging algorithm reduces the size and complexity of the rule set significantly by grouping the services, hosts, and protocols present in these rules into various (possibly overlapping) classes. We have built a prototype implementation of our approach for iptables firewall rules. Our preliminary experiments indicate that the technique infers security policy that is at a sufficiently high level of abstraction to make it understandable and debuggable.
PAK1 Mediates Resistance to PI3K Inhibition in Lymphomas

Purpose: The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway is known to play an active role in many malignancies. The role of PI3K inhibition in the treatment of lymphomas has not been fully delineated. We sought to identify a role for therapeutic PI3K inhibition across a range of B-cell lymphomas. Experimental Design: We selected three small molecule inhibitors to test in a panel of 60 cell lines that comprised diverse lymphoma types. We tested the selective PI3K inhibitor BKM120 and the dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitors BEZ235 and BGT226 in these cell lines. We applied gene expression profiling to better understand the molecular mechanisms associated with responsiveness to these drugs. Results: We found that higher expression of the PAK1 gene was significantly associated with resistance to all three PI3K inhibitors. Through RNA–interference-mediated knockdown of the PAK1 gene, we showed a dramatic increase in the sensitivity to PI3K inhibition. We further tested a small-molecule inhibitor of PAK1 and found significant synergy between PI3K and PAK1 inhibition. Conclusion: Thus, we show that PI3K inhibition is broadly effective in lymphomas and PAK1 is a key modulator of resistance to PI3K inhibition. Clin Cancer Res; 19(5); 1106–15. ©2012 AACR .
The recessive epigenetic swellmap mutation affects the expression of two step II splicing factors required for the transcription of the cell proliferation gene STRUWWELPETER and for the timing of cell cycle arrest in the Arabidopsis leaf.

Generally, cell division can be uncoupled from multicellular development, but more recent evidence suggests that cell cycle progression and arrest is coupled to organogenesis and growth. We describe a recessive mutant, swellmap (smp), with reduced organ size and cell number. This defect is partially compensated for by an increase in final cell size. The mutation causes a precocious arrest of cell proliferation in the organ primordium and possibly reduces the rate of cell division there. The mutation proved to be an epigenetic mutation (renamed smpepi) that defined a single locus, SMP1, but affected the expression of both SMP1 and a second very similar gene, SMP2. Both genes encode CCHC zinc finger proteins with similarities to step II splicing factors involved in 3′ splice site selection. Genetic knockouts demonstrate that the genes are functionally redundant and essential. SMP1 expression is associated with regions of cell proliferation. Overexpression of SMP1 produced an increase in organ cell number and a partial decrease in cell expansion. The smpepi mutation does not affect expression of eukaryotic cell cycle regulator genes CYCD3;1 and CDC2A but affects expression of the cell proliferation gene STRUWWELPETER (SWP) whose protein has similarities to Med150/Rgr1-like subunits of the Mediator complex required for transcriptional activation. Introduction of SWP cDNA into smpepi plants fully restored them to wild-type, but the expression of both SMP1 and SMP2 were also restored in these lines, suggesting a physical interaction among the three proteins and/or genes. We propose that step II splicing factors and a transcriptional Mediator-like complex are involved in the timing of cell cycle arrest during leaf development.
A new model of neighborhood change: Reconsidering the role of white flight

Abstract New Orleans, a highly segregated city with low homeownership, experienced a tremendous number of housing foreclosures between 1985 and 1990. This study highlights the process and impact of foreclosure in the urban housing market, which contributes to an understanding of their impact on the spatial structure of the city. Two aspects of foreclosure are examined: the differential impacts of foreclosure on low‐income and African‐American householders and changes in socioeconomic conditions (neighborhood change and the spatial structure of the city) resulting from foreclosure. Conventional wisdom holds that urban neighborhood transformation is driven largely by white flight. The data presented in this article suggest a counterhypoth‐esis. Middle‐income professional whites employed in businesses impacted by recession who had recently bought housing with high loan‐to‐value ratios were forced to sell or have their houses foreclosed upon. The depressed market, in turn, made such housing affordable to midd...
Phrase structure detection in dance

This paper deals with phrase structure detection in contemporary western dance. Phrases are a sequence of movements that exist at a higher semantic abstraction than gestures. The problem is important since phrasal structure in dance, plays a key role in communicating meaning. We detect two fundamental dance structures - ABA and the Rondo, as they form the basis for more complex movement sequences. There are two key ideas in our work - (a) the use of a topological framework for deterministic structure detection and (b) novel phrasal distance metrics. The topological graph formulation succinctly captures the domain knowledge about the structure. We show how an objective function can be constructed given the topology. The minimization of this function yields the phrasal structure and phrase boundaries. The distance incorporates both movement and hierarchical body structure. The results are excellent with low median error of 7% (ABA) and 15% (Rondo).
Collaborative emergency management: better community organising, better public preparedness and response

Community coordination requires communication and planning of precautions to take when faced with a severe threat of disaster. The unique case of the four Florida hurricanes of 2004—Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne—is used here to assess community responses to repeated threats of hurricanes. The paper examines how effectiveness in coordinating community disaster response efforts affects future public preparedness. The findings suggest that pre-season planning, open communication between emergency managers and elected officials, and the use of technology all had a significant impact on community responses. The repeated threat scenario indicates that emergency managers must work vigilantly to keep residents informed of the seriousness of a situation. The study describes how emergency managers in Florida countered public complacency during four hurricanes in six weeks. The strategies identified as useful by public managers in the context of hurricanes are applicable to other natural and man-made disasters.
Electrostatic discharge induced degradation of solar arrays

On-orbit data indicates 2.5%-a-year degradation in solar array power output for spacecraft in half-synchronous orbit. This unexplained degradation is sometimes attributed to contamination. Testing suggests that a large fraction of this degradation may be electrostatic-discharge-induced, and can be eliminated by conductivity coating the solar array coverglass. More long-term testing is required to confirm that degradation will accumulate linearly with time and to determine the dependence of such degradation on electron energy and electron flux density. >
Ethanolamine Controls Expression of Genes Encoding Components Involved in Interkingdom Signaling and Virulence in Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7

Bacterial pathogens must be able to both recognize suitable niches within the host for colonization and successfully compete with commensalflora for nutrients in order to establish infection. Ethanolamine (EA) is a major component of mam- malian and bacterial membranes and is used by pathogens as a carbon and/or nitrogen source in the gastrointestinal tract. The deadly human pathogen enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 (EHEC) uses EA in the intestine as a nitrogen source as a competitive advantage for colonization over the microbialflora. Here we show that EA is not only important for nitrogen metab- olism but that it is also used as a signaling molecule in cell-to-cell signaling to activate virulence gene expression in EHEC. EA in concentrations that cannot promote growth as a nitrogen source can activate expression of EHEC's repertoire of virulence genes. The EutR transcription factor, known to be the receptor of EA, is only partially responsible for this regulation, suggesting that yet another EA receptor exists. This important link of EA with metabolism, cell-to-cell signaling, and pathogenesis, highlights the fact that a fundamental means of communication within microbial communities relies on energy production and processing of metabolites. Here we show for thefirst time that bacterial pathogens not only exploit EA as a metabolite but also coopt EA as a signaling molecule to recognize the gastrointestinal environment and promote virulence expression. IMPORTANCE In order to successfully cause disease, a pathogen must be able to sense a host environment and modulate expres- sion of its virulence genes as well as compete with the indigenous microbiota for nutrients. Ethanolamine (EA) is present in the large intestine due to the turnover of intestinal cells. Here, we show that the human pathogen Escherichia coli O157:H7, which causes bloody diarrhea and hemolytic-uremic syndrome, regulates virulence gene expression through EA metabolism and by responding to EA as a signal. Thesefindings provide thefirst information directly linking EA with bacterial pathogenesis.
Cognitive Elements in the Social Construction of Communication Technology

Social constructivist theories of communication technology in organizations propose that interactions with social agents influence technology-related cognitions and behaviors. Empirical evidence of such influences was found for a sample of 65 research and development personnel. Each individual's communication partners were identified using communication network measures. In an analysis using LISREL VII, individuals' cognitions of their combined network partners' attitudes and behaviors in using electronic mail predicted the individuals' own attitudes and behaviors. Implications of these findings for social constructivist and media richness theories of communication technology are discussed.
Multiple-frequency mutual coherence functions for a beam in a random medium

By using the phase-screen approximation along with the extended Huygens-Fresnel principle, we have developed a method for computing the multiple-frequency mutual coherence functions for an arbitrary beam propagating in a random medium.
Clinical risk factors associated with incidence and progression of periodontal conditions in pregnant women.

Objectives: Few large studies have investigated the progression of periodontal conditions during pregnancy in a comprehensive manner. This study aimed to identify clinical factors that were predictive of incidence/progression of periodontal measures in pregnant women adjusting for relevant predictors. Material and Methods: Periodontal examinations were conducted on 891 pregnant women prior to 26 weeks gestational age and within 48 h after delivery. Gingivitis/periodontitis incidence/progression (GPIP) was defined as four plus sites with 2+ mm increase in probing depth (PD) that resulted in PD of at least 4 mm at delivery. Multivariable models including relevant clinical variables and significant covariates were developed. Results: While several clinical measures were significantly associated with the outcome, having 10% of sites with bleeding on probing (BOP) and four plus sites with PD 4 mm (PD4) were the best two predictors of GPIP (odds ratio (OR)=2.8, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.8–4.2; OR=2.0, 95% CI=1.4–2.9, respectively), adjusting for maternal race, age, enrollment weight, smoking during pregnancy, marital status, food stamp eligibility, and private health insurance. Multivariable models assessed the impact of BOP on the PD4–GPIP relationship. PD4 was significant in the presence of BOP (low BOP OR=1.3, 95% CI=0.5–3.3; high BOP OR=3.0, 95% CI=2.2–4.3). Conclusions: Enrollment BOP and PD4 were significant predictors of PD in pregnant women, however; PD4 is only a predictor with BOP.
Reorientation of Aquaporin-1 Topology during Maturation in the Endoplasmic Reticulum

The topology of most eukaryotic polytopic membrane proteins is established cotranslationally in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) through a series of coordinated translocation and membrane integration events. For the human aquaporin water channel AQP1, however, the initial four-segment-spanning topology at the ER membrane differs from the mature six-segment-spanning topology at the plasma membrane. Here we use epitope-tagged AQP1 constructs to follow the transmembrane (TM) orientation of key internal peptide loops in Xenopus oocyte and cell-free systems. This analysis revealed that AQP1 maturation in the ER involves a novel topological reorientation of three internal TM segments and two peptide loops. After the synthesis of TMs 4-6, TM3 underwent a 180-degree rotation in which TM3 C-terminal flanking residues were translocated from their initial cytosolic location into the ER lumen and N-terminal flanking residues underwent retrograde translocation from the ER lumen to the cytosol. These events convert TM3 from a type I to a type II topology and reposition TM2 and TM4 into transmembrane conformations consistent with the predicted six-segment-spanning AQP1 topology. AQP1 topological reorientation was also associated with maturation from a protease-sensitive conformation to a protease-resistant structure with water channel function. These studies demonstrate that initial protein topology established via cotranslational translocation events in the ER is dynamic and may be modified by subsequent steps of folding and/or maturation.
Intersection syndrome: a case report and review of the literature

Intersection syndrome is a condition that should be differentiated from DeQuervain's stenosing tenosynovitis, as there are many subtle differences in treatment and prognosis. We present a case of intersection syndrome, describing its characteristic clinical and anatomic features, and highlighting differences in the areas of diagnosis and treatment relative to the better known DeQuervain's tenosynovitis.
Zinc Finger Domains: Hypotheses and Current Knowledge

Many of the hypotheses are clearly correct that are based on the initial observation that TFIIIA has an approximately periodic structure with invariant pairs of cysteines and histidines apparently capable of coordinating metal ions. A startling number of other cDNA clones encode proteins that contain one or more sequences that match the zinc finger consensus, revealing that zinc finger proteins represent perhaps the largest class of DNA binding proteins in eukaryotes and that zinc finger protein-controlled gene expression may be a fundamental aspect of development as well as other processes. A great deal of progress has been made in elucidating the structure of single zinc finger domains. From knowledge of these structures, plausible and testable models can be developed for the complexes between zinc finger proteins and their DNA binding sites. Clearly, one of the most important challenges remaining in this area involves testing and extending these models. Structural data on such protein-nucleic acid complexes derived from NMR or crystallographic studies is tremendously valuable in this regard. Finally, an additional fundamental question is raised by the observation that this family and other important nucleic acid binding proteins contain zinc ions bound in small structural domains. Is zinc binding merely a useful structural strategy for generating domains involved in macromolecular interactions, or are zinc concentration fluctuations used in some manner to regulate gene expression? The biophysical data available to date certainly do not rule out this intriguing possibility.
Effect of Fluorescent Labels on Peptide and Amino Acid Sample Dimensionality in Two Dimensional nLC × μFFE Separations.

Multidimensional separations present a unique opportunity for generating the high peak capacities necessary for the analysis of complex biological mixtures. We have coupled nano liquid chromatography with micro free flow electrophoresis (nLC × μFFE) to produce high peak capacity separations of peptide and amino acid mixtures. Currently, μFFE largely relies on laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection. We have demonstrated that the choice of fluorescent label significantly affects the fractional coverage and peak capacity of nLC × μFFE separations of peptides and amino acids. Of the labeling reagents assessed, Chromeo P503 performed the best for nLC × μFFE separations of peptides. A nLC × μFFE analysis of a Chromeo P503-labeled BSA tryptic digest produced a 2D separation that made effective use of the available separation space (48%), generating a corrected peak capacity of 521 in a 5 min separation window (104 peaks/min). nLC × μFFE separations of NBD-F-labeled peptides produced similar fractional covera...