cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PeptideDepot: Flexible Relational Database for Visual Analysis of Quantitative Proteomic Data and Integration of Existing Protein Information

Recently, dramatic progress has been achieved in expanding the sensitivity, resolution, mass accuracy, and scan rate of mass spectrometers able to fragment and identify peptides through MS/MS. Unfortunately, this enhanced ability to acquire proteomic data has not been accompanied by a concomitant increase in the availability of flexible tools allowing users to rapidly assimilate, explore, and analyze this data and adapt to various experimental workflows with minimal user intervention. Here we fill this critical gap by providing a flexible relational database called PeptideDepot for organization of expansive proteomic data sets, collation of proteomic data with available protein information resources, and visual comparison of multiple quantitative proteomic experiments. Our software design, built upon the synergistic combination of a MySQL database for safe warehousing of proteomic data with a FileMaker-driven graphical user interface for flexible adaptation to diverse workflows, enables proteomic end-users to directly tailor the presentation of proteomic data to the unique analysis requirements of the individual proteomics lab. PeptideDepot may be deployed as an independent software tool or integrated directly with our high throughput autonomous proteomic pipeline used in the automated acquisition and post-acquisition analysis of proteomic data.
Morphology of dry and swollen perfluorosulfonate ionomer by fluorine-19 MAS, NMR and xenon-129 NMR

Abstract At magic angle spinning speeds above 5 kHz, two major fluorine-19 resonances can be resolved in the acid form of the perfluorosulfonate ionomer Nafion (DuPont trademark). The larger signal at −120 ppm versus CFCl3 is assigned to the backbone CF2 groups and the second signal at −80 ppm is assigned to the OCF2 and CF3 groups in the pendant chain. Spin diffusion experiments between these two resonances are performed on dry Nafion, water swollen Nafion and ethanol swollen Nafion. The analysis assumes a morphology comprised of pendant group domains and backbone CF2 group domains. In dry Nafion, the thickness of the pendant group domain is found to be 3.8 nm with an overall periodicity of about 10 nm. Upon addition of water, on one hand, the pendant group domain increases to 6.5 nm at a level of 20 wt% water while the overall periodicity hardly changes. On the other hand, both overall periodicity and the pendant group domain increase significantly upon the addition of ethanol. At 20 wt% ethanol, the pendant group domain is 11 nm and the overall periodicity is 19 nm. Thus ethanol appears to induce a larger morphological rearrangement, though it is still the pendant group domain that primarily increases in size with increasing ethanol concentration. Analysis of the static fluorine-19 line shapes indicates that ethanol is a selective plasticizer of the pendant group domain. Xenon-129 NMR is used as an alternative probe of morphologically based sorption environments in Nafion. The xenon-129 spectrum of xenon sorbed into Nafion under a pressure of 12 atm shows two resonances corresponding to two sorption environments. The first resonance closer to the signal from free gas has a shift comparable to that of xenon-129 in amorphous poly(tetrafluoroethylene) and is assigned to that type of environment in Nafion. The second broader and larger intensity peak is assigned to the pendant group domain. The two domain view from xenon-129 NMR is consistent with the assumption of the presence of pendant group and backbone domains used to interpret the fluorine-19 spin diffusion data. Two-dimensional xenon-129 NMR shows the onset of exchange at a mix time of 1 ms at room temperature leading to an estimate of the average effective diffusion constant for xenon in Nafion of 4×10 −11 cm 2 /s .
Calculation of Diffusive Shock Acceleration of Charged Particles by Skew Brownian Motion

In the study of diffusive shock acceleration of charged particles, Fokker-Planck diffusion equations can be replaced by stochastic differential equations that describe the trajectory of the guiding center and the momentum of randomly walking individual particles. Numerical solution of stochastic differential equations is much easier to achieve, and very complicated shock acceleration cases can be simulated. However, the divergence of plasma velocity is a δ-function at the shock, resulting in a singularity for the momentum gain rate. The straightforward way of calculating shock acceleration is very slow because it requires that the shock be treated with finite thickness and the particles diffuse many steps inside the velocity gradient region. To overcome this difficulty, we suggest the use of skew Brownian motion, a diffusion process that has asymmetric reflection probability on both sides of the shock. The skew Brownian motion can be solved by a scaling method that eliminates the δ-function in the stochastic differential equation. The particle momentum gain is proportional to the local time spent by the diffusion process at the shock. In this way, the shock can be treated as infinitely thin, and thus the speed of numerical simulation is greatly improved. This method has been applied to a few cases of shock acceleration models, and results from the stochastic process simulation completely agree with analytical calculation. In addition, we have outlined a method using time backward stochastic processes to solve general diffusive shock acceleration problems with an extended source of particle injection.
The treatment of bipolar depression.

Objectives The treatment of the depressed phase of bipolar disorder is understudied and remains a common clinical dilemma for clinicians. Compared to the manic phases, episodes of bipolar depression are more frequent and of longer duration, yet the literature on this problem is minimal. The few methodologically sound studies find that treatment effective for unipolar depression are also efficacious for bipolar depression. However, standard antidepressant agents may cause acute mania or a long-term worsening of bipolar illness. This paper reviews the available literature on the treatment of bipolar depression and offers recommendations for clinical management. Methods A literature search was conducted using keywords 'bipolar disorder', 'depression', 'drug therapy', 'antidepressants', 'lithium', and 'anticonvulsants'. Results If effectively treated by lithium, patients are spared the risk of antidepressant-induced mania. If lithium is not sufficient treatment for acute depression, the combination of lithium and a standard antidepressant appears to reduce the risk of affective switch, as well as the induction of a long-term rapid-cycling course. Additionally, tapering antidepressant medication after periods of sustained remission can be beneficial in limiting the risk of affective switch and acceleration of the cycle rate. Conclusions Doctors must be cautious in prescribing antidepressants for bipolar depression. Use of antidepressants alone should be avoided.
Sensitivity of Populations of Phytophthora capsici from South Carolina to Mefenoxam, Dimethomorph, Zoxamide, and Cymoxanil.

In summer and fall 2003, Phytophthora blight and crown rot, caused by Phytophthora capsici, was found in three fields each of summer squash and pepper on three farms in two counties in South Carolina. Although this disease had been confirmed previously in the state, five of these outbreaks were in fields thought to be free of P. capsici. The objectives of this study were to determine whether isolates of P. capsici in South Carolina were sensitive to mefenoxam and to determine baseline sensitivities to dimethomorph, zoxamide, and cymoxanil, fungicides recently registered to control Phytophthora blight. Of 120 isolates tested for sensitivity to mefenoxam at 100 mg/liter, 8 isolates were resistant (relative colony diameter [RCD] > 90% of nonamended control), 60 isolates were sensitive (RCD 50 mg/liter for cymoxanil. EC50 values for zoospore cyst germination were 0.07 ± 0.02 mg/liter for dimethomorph and >50 mg/liter for cymoxanil. EC50 values for zoospore production were 0.63 ± 0.42 mg/liter for dimethomorph, 0.47 ± 0.51 mg/liter for zoxamide, and <50 mg/liter for cymoxanil. Sensitivity values obtained in this South Carolina study can be used as a comparative baseline to monitor shifts in sensitivity to the fungicides mefenoxam, dimethomorph, zoxamide, and cymoxanil in populations of P. capsici.
Impaired organization and function of myofilaments in single muscle fibers from a mouse model of Pompe disease

Pompe disease, a deficiency of lysosomal acid α-glucosidase, is a disorder of glycogen metabolism that can affect infants, children, or adults. In all forms of the disease, there is progressive muscle pathology leading to premature death. The pathology is characterized by accumulation of glycogen in lysosomes, autophagic buildup, and muscle atrophy. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine if myofibrillar dysfunction in Pompe disease contributes to muscle weakness beyond that attributed to atrophy. The study was performed on isolated myofibers dissected from severely affected fast glycolytic muscle in the α-glucosidase knockout mouse model. Psoas muscle fibers were first permeabilized, so that the contractile proteins could be directly relaxed or activated by control of the composition of the bathing solution. When normalized by cross-sectional area, single fibers from knockout mice produced 6.3 N/cm2 of maximum Ca2+-activated tension compared with 12.0 N/cm2 produced by wild-type fibers. The total protein concentration was slightly higher in the knockout mice, but concentrations of the contractile proteins myosin and actin remained unchanged. Structurally, X-ray diffraction showed that the actin and myosin filaments, normally arranged in hexagonal arrays, were disordered in the knockout muscle, and a lower fraction of myosin cross bridges was near the actin filaments in the relaxed muscle. The results are consistent with a disruption of actin and myosin interactions in the knockout muscles, demonstrating that impaired myofibrillar function contributes to weakness in the diseased muscle fibers.
The Use of KTP Laser in Revision Stapedectomy

ObjectiveRevision stapes operations have lower success rates than primary surgeries. Success rates have increased since the introduction of the laser. Visible (KTP, argon) and infrared (CO2) spectrum lasers have been used in stapes surgery. A concern has been raised regarding the use of visible lase
Differential Cross-Section Measurements for Large-Angle Collisions of Helium, Neon, and Argon Ions with Argon Atoms at Energies to 100 kev

The differential cross section for the scattering of positive charge from collisions of noble gas ions with the target gas argon has been measured. The ion beam is passed through a chamber containing the target gas at a pressure of a few microns of mercury, which is low enough to insure that single collisions will predominate. The particles scattered out of the beam are collected and the total positive charge is measured. The collector incorporates collimating holes to select only those particles at a chosen scattering angle with a resolution of about two degrees. The apparatus allows the angle to be varied continuously up to thirty-eight degrees. Data are presented for collisions of singly ionized helium, neon, and argon ions with argon atoms at 25, 50, and 100 kev. The cross sections observed differ from those expected from the Rutherford scattering law and these differences are interpreted in terms of electron screening, ionization, and charge exchange.
Understanding Characteristics of Available Bandwidth in Wireless Environment

Abstract This paper investigates some important characteristics of available Internet bandwidth in commercial wireless environment which have become increasingly available everywhere. Through extensive experiments and performance analysis, the paper identifies three important characteristics. First, the bandwidth bottleneck in a commercial wireless environment lies on the edge of the Internet. Second, the available downstream bandwidth is usually larger than the available upstream bandwidth. Finally, available bandwidth remains relatively persistent and piecewise stationary.
Packaging of Fat: An Evolving Model of Lipid Droplet Assembly and Expansion

Lipid droplets (LDs) are organelles found in most types of cells in the tissues of vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants, as well as in bacteria and yeast. They differ from other organelles in binding a unique complement of proteins and lacking an aqueous core but share aspects of protein trafficking with secretory membrane compartments. In this minireview, we focus on recent evidence supporting an endoplasmic reticulum origin for LD formation and discuss recent findings regarding LD maturation and fusion.
The Role of Deformation and Potential Vorticity in Southern Hemisphere Blocking Onsets

Abstract The relative importance of interactions between deformation and potential vorticity (PV) as a block-onset mechanism is examined in 30 cases of atmospheric blocking over the Southern Hemisphere (SH). The blocking cases are diagnosed with a quasigeostrophic model for the u component of the geostrophic wind tendency. In this model, two mechanisms, the advection of the meridional gradient of PV and interactions between deformation and PV, can force the weakening of westerly flow or increasing easterly flow associated with blocking. The first forcing mechanism, which does not directly include deformation, indicates that the advection of equatorward increasing cyclonic PV (or equatorward decreasing anticyclonic PV) could force a local weakening of geostrophic westerlies or increasing easterlies. The second forcing mechanism, which represents the net effect of interactions between deformation and PV, indicates that eastward increasing PV embedded in a cyclonically sheared flow or equatorward increasing ...
Methylated bases in DNA from Paramecium aurelia.

Abstract The amount of methylated bases in the DNA from the macronuclei, micronuclei and mitochondria of Paramecium aurelia was investigated. It was found that macro- and micronuclear DNA contained about 2.5 molepercent 6 N- methyladenine and no 5-methylcytosine. Mitochondrial DNA contained less than 0.1 molepercent methylated bases. Since macronuclear DNA from five different syngens of paramecia differed only slightly in their 6 N- methyladenine content, we have concluded that intersyngen differences can not be attributed to the level of methyl group content.
Maize growth as affected by root temperature and form of nitrogen

The maize inbred ND203 was grown in separate NH4 and NO3 nutrient solutions containing approximately 100 ppm N with root temperatures (RT) maintained at either 14.8 or 28.2°C. Nutrient solution composition had little effect on yield of roots or tops at 28.2°C (RT). Yields were greatly reduced in both nutrient solutions at 14.8°C (RT), but the yield reduction was greater in the NH4 nutrient medium apparently as a result of NH4 toxicity. The afflicted plants in the NH4 medium at 14.8°C (RT) contained the highest level of plant NH4-N, 0.12%, and had relatively wide NH4: K ratios. Tissue K concentration was reduced at the lower RT, and the reduction proportionately was greater in plants grown in the NH4 medium. NO3 concentration in the tops and to a lesser extent roots of ND203 grown in the NO3 medium was greatly reduced at 14.8°C (RT). Plants grown in the NH4 medium generally contained higher organic N concentrations. Influences of root temperature and form of nitrogen on the accumulation of Ca, Mg and Na are discussed.
Ameba actin: the presence of 3-methylhistidine.

Abstract Actin has been isolated from the ameba, Acanthamoeba castellanii (Neff) by procedures similar to those used previously for the isolation of actin from slime mold and skeletal muscle. The three actins are very similar in their amino acid composition, and ameba actin, like skeletal muscle actin, contains one mole of 3-methylhistidine per mole of protein. Ameba actin resembles the other two actins in its molecular weight, its precipitation by added myosin at low ionic strength, its increase in viscosity upon the addition of myosin at high ionic strength which is reversed by ATP, and its ability to undergo a reversible G-F transition.
Project Selection Considering Risk

A number of procedures have been formulated in recent years for evaluating engineering, procurement and construction projects based on an established set of objectives. These procedures, however, have generally considered either multi-objectives without the risk associated with each objective or a single objective with some form of risk assessment. Decision aid methodologies that permit the consideration of both multi-objectives and risk have generally been associated with complex mathematics and high computational effort. The purpose of this paper is to present a simple, yet comprehensive methodology for the selection of a project under risk, avoiding time consuming analyses. The method considers multi-objective decision criteria and takes into account the uncertainties associated with each individual objective. The method is based on multi-attribute utility theory for modelling the selection criteria and treats uncertainty in a similar way to that used in Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT). ...
Detecting Mental Workload Fluctuation during Learning of a Novel Task Using Thermography

Training has been identified as a means to reduce mental workload. However, there are limitations associated with many current mental workload measurement techniques. Thermography of the face has been identified as a potential workload measurement tool that may be more closely related to performance and subjective ratings of performance than many other physiological measures. The objective of this study was to validate the efficacy of thermography for assessing mental workload. Twenty participants, 10 males and 10 females, completed seven blocks of an alpha-numeric task. Changes in nose temperature (ANT), task accuracy, reaction time, and two subjective mental workload ratings were collected. Performance improved over time, while ANT and subjective mental workload ratings decreased. Nose temperature was found to be strongly correlated with both performance measures and subjective perceptions of mental workload.
Witnessing to God in the Midst of Life: Old Testament Preaching

The Bible is rigorously realistic in its representations of human character, the conditions and contingencies of life in this world. Therefore the aim of Old Testament preaching is to invite Christians to grow toward spiritual maturity in circumstances that are always less than ideal. Preaching Old Testament characters and preaching psalms may enable both preacher and hearers to enter into the biblical story in ways that open up a complex and faithful moral vision.
Development of an improved assay for purine nucleoside kinase activity in cell extracts and detection of inosine kinase activity in Brevibacterium acetylicum ATCC 953, related species, and Corynebacterium flaccumfaciens ATCC 6887.

An improved assay was developed to detect direct purine nucleoside phosphorylating activity in cell-free extracts. Direct inosine phosphorylating activity was detected in 2 of 70 species tested. Both activities, which depended on magnesium ion and ATP, phosphorylated a hydroxyl group at the 5′ position of inosine. The new assay was shown to be useful for screening of direct purine nucleoside phosphorylating activity and have the potential to detect inosine kinase in the presence of a background of nucleoside phosphorylase and purine phosphoribosyltransferase activities. Previously, the latter two activities made it difficult to correctly detect direct phosphorylation of inosine by inosine kinase.
Vaginal fetal fibronectin measurements from 8 to 22 weeks' gestation and subsequent spontaneous preterm birth

Abstract Objective: We sought to determine the range of fetal fibronectin values in the vagina from 8 to 22 weeks' gestation, the factors associated with both low and high values, and whether high values are associated with gestational age at birth. Study Design: Vaginal fetal fibronectin was quantitatively determined in a prospective cohort study of 13,360 women being evaluated for participation in the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Maternal-Fetal Medicine Unit treatment trials for bacterial vaginosis and Trichomonas vaginalis. Fetal fibronectin values were correlated with gestational age at screening, race, the presence of bacterial vaginosis and Trichomonas vaginalis, and gestational age at delivery. Results: Vaginal fetal fibronectin values at each gestational age ranged from unmeasurable to >1000 ng/mL, with median values always being
Full-length and internally deleted forms of interleukin-7 are present in horse (Equus caballus) lymph node tissue

Horse IL-7 (HIL-7) cDNA was isolated from adult lymph node tissue by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) using oligonucleotide primers based on horse genomic sequences (The Broad Institute). In addition, to the full-length (FL) 531 bp reading frame encoding 176 amino acids, shorter open-reading frames of 477, 396 and 264 bp were also amplified. Nucleotide sequence analysis of these RT-PCR products demonstrated they were homologous except the shorter species were missing internal sequences consistent with multiple RNA splicing events. Consequently, the shorter open-reading frames were renamed splice variant (SV) 1 (477 bp), 2 (396 bp) and 3 (264 bp). Organization of the horse IL-7 is predicted to be similar to that in humans with exon 5 deleted from SV1, exons 3, 5 deleted from SV2 and exons 3, 4, and 5 missing from SV3. Each of these openreading frames has the potential to be stably expressed as demonstrated using a polyclonal antiserum against human IL-7 to visualize the protein products produced when the FL HIL-7 and each SV were molecularly cloned into pCI and transfected in brefeldin A treated HEK 293 cells. Furthermore, addition of supernatants to horse PBMC from HEK cells transfected (without brefeldin A treatment) with pCIHIL-7 FL,pCIHIL-7SV1, pCI HIL-7SV2and pCI IL-7SV3 all inducedsignificant incorporation of 3 H-thymidine in thepresence of sub-stimulatory amounts of concanavalin A compared to supernatants from mock-transfected cells. Therefore, all isoforms of horse IL-7 described in this report have the ability to stimulate proliferative responses in ex vivo horse PBMC cultures. # 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
The semiotics of heritage tourism

This monograph provides an overview of current debates on the role of semiotics in tourism. It ends with a call to incorporate non representational theory within semiotic theory. Such a manoeuvre e...
High-resolution electron microscopy studies of Nb/Al2O3 interfaces

Abstract Single-crystal niobium films were grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) on (0001)S, (1 1 00)S and (1 2 10)S sapphire substrates. Cross-sectional specimens with thickness of 1 1 0]S Verbar;[1 1 0]Nb. The atomistic structure of the interface was identified by HREM. Defects at or close to the interface were analyzed. A model for the atomic arrangement at the interface will be proposed.
LQR and receding horizon approaches to multi-dimensional option hedging under transaction costs

In this paper we formulate the problem of dynamically hedging a basket option on multiple underlying stocks and in the presence of proportional transaction costs as a linear quadratic control problem subject to constraints. The linear structure is obtained by sampling over paths of the underlying stocks and linearly parameterizing control actions over basis functions. Two solutions are then proposed. The first involves quadratically penalizing transaction costs in the objective and allows the hedging problem to be solved as a standard unconstrained linear quadratic regulator problem. The second approach uses receding horizon control to solve a quadratic program over a specified prediction horizon, where the cost function utilizes the LQR solution from the first approach. A numerical example illustrates the methodology.
Influence of combined pressure gradient and turbulence on the transfer of heat from a plate

Abstract This paper describes the results of experiments on the combined effect of a favorable pressure gradient and free-stream turbulence intensity on the local transfer of heat from an isothermal flat plate to an air stream. Experiments were made with both laminar and turbulent boundary layers. The experiments show that above about an intensity of turbulence of 1 per cent, the local rate of laminar convection is increased, the increase itself increasing with turbulence intensity. In contrast with a stagnation point, the increase is of modest magnitude, being of the order of 5–10 per cent for Tu ≈ 5 per cent. A turbulent boundary layer has turned out to be insensitive to variations in the free-stream turbulence intensity. A series of traces taken with a hot-wire probe demonstrates that a laminar boundary layer carries in it quite intensive fluctuations of an obviously stable character. The appearance of higher frequencies and a slight increase in amplitude with increasing Reynolds number have been traced in a qualitative way.
Wounding and its role in RSV-mediated tumor formation

Tumors induced in chickens by Rous sarcoma virus remain localized at the site of injection even though the animals become viremic. Tumors have now been shown to be inducible at other sites if a wound is inflicted or if the tissue is injured by administration of tumor promoters. These findings indicate that local wounding plays a role in the spread of tumorigenicity of Rous sarcoma virus.
A Methodology for Part Feeder Design

Summary A design methodology is presented encompassing the selection, configuration and parametric aspects of parts feeder design. Utilizing analytical, numerical and design tools, the methodology serves as a framework from the initial conceptual stages of design to the design iterations necessary to optimize the design. A case study illustrates this methodology.
Zebrafish pitx3 is necessary for normal lens and retinal development

Abstract The human PITX3 gene encodes a bicoid-like homeodomain transcription factor associated with a variety of congenital ocular conditions, including anterior segment dysgenesis, Peter's anomaly, and cataracts. We identified a zebrafish pitx3 gene encoding a protein (Pitx3) that possesses 63% amino acid identity with human PITX3. The zebrafish pitx3 gene encompasses approximately 16.5 kb on chromosome 13 and consists of four exons, which is similar to the genomic organization of other pitx genes. Expression of the zebrafish pitx3 gene was studied by in situ mRNA hybridization and RT-PCR. The pitx3 transcripts were detected throughout development with the greatest level of expression occurring in the developing lens and brain at 24 hpf. In adults, the highest expression was detected in the eye. Morpholinos were used to knockdown expression of the Pitx3 protein and a control morpholino that contains five mismatched bases was used to confirm the specificity of the phenotypes. The morphants had small eyes, misshapen heads and reduced jaws and fins relative to controls. The morphants exhibited abnormalities in lens development and their retinas contained pyknotic nuclei accompanied by a reduction in the number of cells in different neuronal classes. This suggests the lens is required for retinal development or Pitx3 has an unexpected role in retinal cell differentiation or survival. These results demonstrate zebrafish pitx3 represents a true ortholog of the human PITX3 gene and the general function of the Pitx3 protein in lens development is conserved between mammals and the teleost fish.
Stat5 promotes homotypic adhesion and inhibits invasive characteristics of human breast cancer cells

Signal transducer and activator of transcription-5 (Stat5) mediates prolactin (PRL)-induced differentiation and growth of breast epithelial cells. We have recently identified active Stat5 as a tumor marker of favorable prognosis in human breast cancer, and determined that Stat5 activation is lost during metastatic progression. Here we provide novel evidence for an invasion-suppressive role of Stat5 in human breast cancer. Activation of Stat5 by PRL in human breast cancer lines was associated with increased surface levels of the invasion-suppressive adhesion molecule E-cadherin in vitro and in xenotransplant tumors in vivo. Inducible E-cadherin was blocked by dominant-negative (Dn) Stat5 or Dn-Jak2, but not by Dn-Stat3. Further experimental data indicated a role of Stat5 as a coordinate regulator of additional invasion-related characteristics of human breast cancer cells, including cell surface association of beta-catenin, homotypic cell clustering, invasion through Matrigel, cell migration, and matrix metalloproteinase activity. A role of Stat5 as a suppressor of breast cancer invasion and metastatic progression provides a biological mechanism to explain the favorable prognosis associated with active Stat5 in human breast cancer.
Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation

Many current definitions of wetlands arise out of the regulatory need for rapid and accurate wetland delineation. These definitions focus on quickly observable characteristics that often lead to the perception that these are static environments that can be understood or re-created through attempts to reproduce these observable characteristics, rather than the processes responsible for them.
Microinjection of mouse phospholipase Cζ complementary RNA into mare oocytes induces long-lasting intracellular calcium oscillations and embryonic development

Methods presently used to activate mare oocytes for assisted reproduction technologies provide low rates of advanced embryonic development. Because phospholipase Cζ (PLCζ) is the postulated sperm-borne factor responsible for oocyte activation at fertilisation, the aim of the present study was to investigate the pattern of (Ca 2+ )i oscillations and developmental rates achieved by microinjection of three concentrations of mouse PLCζ complementary (c) RNA (1, 0.5 or 0.25 µg µL −1 ) into mare oocytes. The frequency of (Ca 2+ )i oscillations was no different (P > 0.05) after injection of 1, 0.5 or 0.25 µg µL −1 PLCζ cRNA (41.1 ± 5.3, 47 ± 4.0 and 55.4 ± 9.0, respectively). However, (Ca 2+ )i oscillations persisted longest (P 0.05; range 97-100%), but the proportion of oocytes reaching advanced stages of embryonic development (>64 nuclei) was significantly lower for oocytes injected with 0.25 µg µL −1 PLCζ cRNA (3%) than for those injected with 1 µg µL −1 PLCζ cRNA (15%). Based on these results, microinjection of PLCζ may prove an effective and consistent method for the parthenogenetic activation of mare oocytes for nuclear transfer and provides a physiologically relevant tool with which to study fertilisation-dependent (Ca 2+ )i signalling in this species.
Preparation and structural characterization of the tetracobalt Co4(Co)8−x(P(C6H5)3)x(μ2-CO)2(μ4-PC6H5)2 clusters (x = 0, 2). Effect of triphenylphosphine substitution on the octahedral-like Co4P2 core

Abstract The syntheses, physicochemical properties, and X-ray crystallographic structure determinations of Co 4 (CO) 8 (μ 2 -CO) 2 (μ 4 -PC 6 H 5 ) 2 , 1 , and Co 4 (CO) 6 (P(C 6 H 5 ) 3 ) 2 (μ 2 -CO) 2 (μ 4 -PC 6 H 5 ) 2 , 2 , are described. 1 consists of four Co(CO) 2 groups arranged at the corners of a bonding cobalt rectangle whose shorter two sides are each spanned by a symmetrical bridging carbonyl ligand. This tetramer is capped above and below by quadruply bridging PC 6 H 5 ligands to give an octahedral-like Co 4 P 2 core such that the Co 4 (CO) 10 P 2 fragment (without phenyl rings) approximately conforms to D 2 h symmetry. A substitution of two P(C 6 H 5 ) 3 ligands in place of two carbonyls in 1 to give 2 gives rise to a cis -configuration (with respect to the tetracobalt plane) ideally possessing C 2 symmetry. In 2 , the observed distortion of the Co 4 P 2 core (involving mainly a preferential elongation of two CoP bonds by 0.10 A and a lengthening of the two unbridged CoCo bonds by 0.08 A and the two more rigid CO-bridged CoCo bonds by 0.03 A) is attributed to increased intramolecular nonbonding interactions, while the resulting 0.11 A asymmetrical coordination of each bridging carbonyl to its two cobalt atoms is ascribed to an electronic effect.
The effects on waste reduction and recycling rates when different components of the waste stream are counted

States differ in the components or solid waste management activities which they include when determining solid waste reduction and recycling rates. Thus, when attempting to draw comparisons among states, confusion arises in two ways: (1) use of two types of rates; and (2) use of different components or activities when calculating a given rate. This paper presents a mathematical basis for understanding the impacts on rate calculations when variations occur in the components and activities included in those calculations. Estimates of the incremental changes occurring in the rate calculations when incineration or selected components such as yard waste, construction and demolition wastes, and junked automobiles, are added to a base of municipal solid waste constituents are found using national data. Finally, the achieved rates reported by states counting different combinations are compared.
Use of molecular negentropy to encode structure governing biological activity

A drug molecule is considered to be an information source with an information content available to receptive tissue. In nonspecific interactions, much of the information content has quality as judged by the receptor. Quantitation of the information content using Shannon's equation gives the molecular negentropy. This index is shown to rank molecules according to symmetry and to encode structural characteristics influencing physical properties and biological activity in certain cases.
Economic Evaluations of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Medical Management

Background Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) contributes to substantial medication use and costs worldwide. Economic evaluations provide insight into the value of healthcare, taking into account cost, quality, and benefits of particular treatments.
The production of sulfate from cysteine without the formation of free cysteinesulfinic acid

Abstract It has generally been accepted that the production of sulfate from cysteine (or cystine) occurs through the intermediate formation of cysteinesulfinic acid (CSA) as first postulated by Pirie (1934) . The evidence for the central role of CSA has been largely based on the demonstration that various tissue preparations readily oxidize it ( Fromageot et al., 1948 ; Medes and Floyd, 1942 ; and Singer and Kearney, 1956 ). Also, CSA has been demonstrated in normal rat brain (Begeret and Chatnagner, 1954) and S35 CSA has been isolated from tissues of rats injected with S35 cysteine ( Chapeville and Fromageot, 1955 ). However, no enzyme system has been described which is capable of producing CSA from cysteine, and CSA has not been isolated in the in vitro studies of cystine oxidation to sulfate. The present study involves a system in which S35 cysteine was oxidized to S 35 O 4 = by rat liver mitochondria under conditions where added CSA remained essentially unmetabolized. Also, there was no formation of S35 CSA while S 35 O 4 = was being actively produced. The present system seems to be of quantitative importance for the matabolism of cystine in vitro .
Abstract C177: Chemical-driven biological probing: Discovery of a novel antimetastatic drug.

Chemicals constitute richly informative probes, have high resolving potential and are able to uncover complex biological processes. Harnessing this potential provides an avenue for the discovery of new therapeutics that act via novel mechanisms. We focused these principles upon an intractable problem: cancer metastasis. We started with a chemical scaffold with broad bioactivity, with desirable drug-like properties and that would support synthetic diversification. Initially focusing upon human prostate cancer (PCa) we then coupled fragment-diversification and novel synthetic routes to upfront positive selection screens (inhibition of cell motility) and negative selection screens (cell toxicity) in an iterative fashion. We thereby efficiently synthesized a new class of bioactive compounds that inhibits systemic PCa metastasis at low nanomolar concentrations. Efficacy against other cancer types was demonstrated. Extensive investigations indicate high specificity and no toxicity. Target validation studies point to inhibition of protein-protein interaction motifs. Together, these studies support the notion that this approach is powerful, can be broadly applied across biological systems, and constitutes a paradigm. Specifically, they have led to the discovery of a novel acting drug that inhibits human cancer metastasis. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2011 Nov 12-16; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2011;10(11 Suppl):Abstract nr C177.
Myocutaneous Flaps and Other Vascularized Grafts in Head and Neck Reconstruction for Cancer Treatment

This article addresses the clinical evaluation and some of the more common flaps and grafts used to reconstruct the surgical bed after excision of primary head and neck cancers and nodal metastases. This focused summary is intended to enhance the reader's understanding and improve the interpretation of posttreatment MR imaging. A practical approach to MR imaging evaluation of the postoperative reconstructed neck is presented. Readers of this article will become familiar with the normal appearances of commonly used flaps, recognize common complications, be able to delineate residual and recurrent neoplasm, and learn to avoid interpretative pitfalls.
Spectral and Spatial Energetics of the GISS Model Atmosphere

A calculation of the spectral and spatial energetics of the Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) 9-level model of the global atmosphere is given. Results are presented from a model simulation of January 1973 and compared with previous model studies and an observational analysis for the Northern Hemisphere. The spectral analysis permits detailed study of those physical processes of scale larger than the grid spacing and allows indirect conclusions concerning unresolved subgrid-scale processes. Major conclusions for larger-than-grid-scale processes are that (1) the GISS model with a relatively coarse resolution of 4 deg latitude by 5 deg longitude produces significant nonlinear energy transfers; and (2) baroclinic conversion is large near planetary wave-number 6, but both the GISS model and another orographic model show a less peaked structure than nonorographic models and observations. A linear fit to the kinetic energy spectrum yields a power law of -2.6 in the wavenumber region 8 to 15. For subgrid-scale processes, the turbulence theory result of very small energy flux cascade is obtained.
Evaluation of the anisotropic Green's function and its derivatives

Abstract An algorithm for computing the anisotropic elastic Green's function and its derivatives is presented. The method is based upon the calculus of residues, the main requirement being the computation of the roots of a sixth degree polynomial. It is demonstrated herein that this procedure is faster and more accurate than the standard Wilson–Cruse interpolation scheme, and moreover the need for extensive precalculated tables is eliminated.
Decision-Making Of The District Attorney: Diverting Or Prosecuting Intrafamilial Child Sexual Abuse Offenders

This research involves the assessment of the consistency between stated referral guidelines and the actual criteria used by a District Attorney's office to select defendants for participation in a pre-trial diversion program for intrafamilial child sexual abuse offenders. Diverted and non-diverted groups were compared with regard to two sets of factors (formal screening criteria and offender and offense variables that were unrelated to the formal diversion guidelines) to assess target population coverage and bias. The results are discussed in the context of legal parameters of prosecutorial discretion.
MicroRNAs in trees.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are 20–24 nucleotide long molecules processed from a specific class of RNA polymerase II transcripts that mainly regulate the stability of mRNAs containing a complementary sequence by targeted degradation in plants. Many features of tree biology are regulated by miRNAs affecting development, metabolism, adaptation and evolution. MiRNAs may be modified and harnessed for controlled suppression of specific genes to learn about gene function, or for practical applications through genetic engineering. Modified (artificial) miRNAs act as dominant suppressors and are particularly useful in tree genetics because they bypass the generations of inbreeding needed for fixation of recessive mutations. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current status of information on miRNAs in trees and to guide future studies on the role of miRNAs in the biology of woody perennials and to illustrate their utility in directed genetic modification of trees.
ARITHMETIC OF ℓ-REGULAR PARTITION FUNCTIONS

Let bl(n) denote the number of l-regular partitions of n, where l is prime and 3 ≤ l ≤ 23. In this paper we prove results on the distribution of bl(n) modulo m for any odd integer m > 1 with 3 ∤ m if l ≠ 3.
A PC based voice mailing system

The design and development of an IBM PC/AT-based low-cost voice mailing system (VMS) is described. This system, targeted for small to medium organizations, can receive and store incoming telephonic messages. The called party can later use an ordinary touch tone telephone to access his own private area on the system and do operations like playing back or deleting messages. The VMS consists of cards that can be plugged into the PC/AT bus slots and master software running on the PC/AT under the OS/2 operating system. In its maximum configuration, the system can simultaneously handle four subscriber lines from an EPABX and is estimated to support around 150 users. >
Tools for model-based real-time system synthesis

The model-based approach is an experimental technique for system development that strives to automatically transform models describing the specifications required for a system into a usable solution. This paper describes an extensible set of the software tools required to build complex, parallel, real-time, computer systems using the model-based approach. The paper focuses on the model editor portion of the tools but also provides background information and application examples to enhance understanding.
Convergence of Transverse Waveform Relaxation for the Electrical Analysis of Very Wide Transmission Line Buses

In this paper, we study the convergence and approximation error of the transverse waveform relaxation (TWR) method for the analysis of very wide on-chip multiconductor transmission line systems. Significant notational simplicity is achieved in the analysis using a splitting framework for the per-unit-length matrix parameters of the transmission lines. This splitting enables us to show that the state-transition matrix of the coupled lines satisfies a linear Volterra integral equation of the second kind, whose solution is generated by the TWR method as a summable series of iterated kernels with decreasing norms. The upper bounds on these norms are proved to be O(k r/r !), where r is the number of iterations and k is a measure of the electromagnetic couplings between the lines. Very fast convergence is guaranteed in the case of weak coupling (k Lt 1). These favorable convergence properties are illustrated using a test suite of industrial very large scale integration global buses in a modern 65-nm CMOS process, where it is shown that few ( ap 3) Gauss-Jacobi iterations are sufficient for convergence to the exact solution.
Atherosclerotic coronary lesions with inadequate compensatory enlargement have smaller plaque and vessel volumes: observations with three dimensional intravascular ultrasound in vivo

Objective To compare vessel, lumen, and plaque volumes in atherosclerotic coronary lesions with inadequate compensatory enlargement versus lesions with adequate compensatory enlargement. Design 35 angiographically significant coronary lesions were examined by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) during motorised transducer pullback. Segments 20 mm in length were analysed using a validated automated three dimensional analysis system. IVUS was used to classify lesions as having inadequate (group I) or adequate (group II) compensatory enlargement. Results There was no significant difference in quantitative angiographic measurements and the IVUS minimum lumen cross sectional area between groups I (n = 15) and II (n = 20). In group I, the vessel cross sectional area was 13.3 (3.0) mm 2 at the lesion site and 14.4 (3.6) mm 2 at the distal reference (p 2 at the lesion site and 14.0 (6.0) mm 2 at the distal reference (p v 17.5 (5.6) mm 2 , p v 15.2 (4.9) mm 2 , p v 353.7 (110.0) mm 3 , and 177.5 (48.4) v 228.0 (92.8) mm 3 , p Conclusions In lesions with inadequate compensatory enlargement, both vessel and plaque volume appear to be smaller than in lesions with adequate compensatory enlargement.
Counting strongly‐connected, moderately sparse directed graphs

A sharp asymptotic formula for the number of strongly connected digraphs on n labelled vertices with m arcs, under the condition m - n ≫ n2/3, m = O(n), is obtained; this provides a partial solution of a problem posed by Wright back in 1977. This formula is a counterpart of a classic asymptotic formula, due to Bender, Canfield and McKay, for the total number of connected undirected graphs on n vertices with m edges. A key ingredient of their proof was a recurrence equation for the connected graphs count due to Wright. No analogue of Wright's recurrence seems to exist for digraphs. In a previous paper with Nick Wormald we rederived the BCM formula by counting first connected graphs among the graphs of minimum degree 2, at least. In this paper, using a similar embedding for directed graphs, we find an asymptotic formula, which includes an explicit error term, for the fraction of strongly-connected digraphs with parameters m and n among all such digraphs with positive in/out-degrees. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2013
Study of Floating Fill Impact on Interconnect Capacitance

It is well known that fill insertion adversely affects total and coupling capacitance of interconnects. While grounded fill can be extracted by full-chip extractors, floating fill can be reliably extracted by 3D field solvers only. Due to poor understanding of the impact of floating fill on capacitance, designers insert floating fill conservatively. In this paper we study the impact of floating fill insertion on coupling and total capacitance when the fill geometry, and both the interconnects between which the capacitance is measured are on the same layer. We show that the capacitance with same-layer neighboring interconnects is a large fraction of total capacitance, and that it is significantly affected by fill geometries on the same layer. We analyze the effect of fill configuration parameters such as fill size, fill location, interconnect width, interconnect spacing, etc. and consider edge effects and effects occurring due to insertion of several fill geometries in close proximity. Based on our findings, we propose certain guidelines to achieve high metal density while having smaller impact on interconnect capacitance. Finally, we validate the proposed guidelines using representative process parameters and a 3D field solver. On average coupling capacitance increase due to floating-fill insertion decreases by /spl sim/ 53% on using the proposed guidelines.