cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Formation of PCBs and other biaryls during pyrolysis of o-dichlorobenzene and toluene

The role of aryl dimerization in the pyrolysis of single ring aromatic compounds was studied by the non-oxidative heating of droplets of o -dichlorobenzene, toluene, and an equal volume mixture of o -dichlorobenzene and toluene in a drop-tube reactor at temperatures ranging from 1100 to 1500 K. During pyrolysis of o -dichlorobenzene at low temperatures (below 1400 K), aryl-aryl reactions were dominant, as expected. Product tars were comprised almost entirely of a small set of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) whose relative yields were consistent with steric considerations. Little evidence of ring rupture was found. In contrast, o -dichlorobenzene pyrolysis at 1460 K produced a broad distribution of fused ring structures of even carbon number, suggestive of growth by acetylene addition. PCB yields in this tar were very low. Pyrolysis of toluene, on the other hand, resulted in a broad distribution of tar products at all temperatures studied, indicative of the ease with which reactive fuel fragments were produced. Major products included both fused ring structures and dimers of stable aryl radicals of odd carbon number (e.g., benzyl, indenyl and fluorenyl). Pyrolysis of the fuel mixture produced tars much more like those of toluene than those of o -dichlorobenzene. Thus, the presence of acyclic fragments was found to suppress PCB formation but not biaryl formation involving stable aryl radicals. With regard to fuel chlorine effects on pyrolysis product yields, we found that aryl chlorine was bound preferentially to unfused rings and fused arenes of low carbon number. We also found that the presence of chlorine increased arene reactivity, promoting the formation of highly fused aromatic products and soot.
A Description and Preliminary Results from a Fine-Mesh Model for Forecasting Quantitative Precipitation

Abstract The purpose of this paper is two-fold; first, to document and present a limited-area, moist primitive equation model and, second, to give some preliminary results of experiments testing the sensitivity of the model's quantitative precipitation forecasts to the initial horizontal and vertical relative humidity distribution. Three experiments were performed. The first case used a 1.5 km vertical grid and a Gandin humidity analysis based on standard rawinsonde observations. The results indicate that the model has some skill at forecasting precipitation amounts and location in regions of predominately stable rain and in regions of convective rain. However, some glaring defects in both the initialization of the mass-flow fields and the initialization of the moisture field were evident. The second experiment attempted to enhance the initial moisture field to reflect a narrow band of moisture which was suggested by satellite cloud observations. The inclusion of this moisture band increased the precipita...
Mutation analysis of 28 Gaucher disease patients: the Australasian experience.

Gaucher disease is the most common lysomal storage disease. It is an autosomal recessive disorder that results from a deficiency of {beta}-glucocerrebrosidase. Three clinical phenotypes have been described: non-neuronopathic, acute neuronopathic, and subacuteneuronopathic. Genomic DNA from 28 Australasian patients of diverse ethnic origin with Gaucher disease was screened for 3 common mutations (1226G, 1448C and 84GG) using the amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS), and one uncommon mutation (1504T) by restriction enzyme digestion. Thirty-eight of the 56 independent alleles in these patients were characterized, with 1448C present in 42% and 1226G in 28% of the alleles. The 1226G mutation was associated only with the nonneuronopathic phenotype and 7 of the 15 patients who carried the 1448C mutation developed neuronopathic disease. Three infants who died in the neonatal period following a rapidly progressive neurodegenerative course carried no identifiable mutations. The 84GG mutation was carried by 2 Jewish patients and 1504T was present in one patient. It is now possible to rapidly identify the common Gaucher mutations using ARMS and restriction enzyme digestion, and our findings confirm the heterogeneity of mutations in Gaucher disease. It is also possible to predict in part the phenotypic outcome when screening patients for these mutations. The authorsmore » consider mutation analysis to be of most use in prenatal diagnosis and for carrier detection within affected families. 27 refs., 2 figs., 2 tabs.« less
An in vitro cytologic assay for evaluation of the KIT signaling pathway in gastrointestinal stromal tumors

Specific inhibitors can be designed to inactivate the molecular pathways involved in tumor growth. A compelling example is the use of small molecule drugs, such as imatinib (Gleevec), which inhibit the KIT tyrosine kinase in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). Assays are needed to determine which inhibitor is most effective at silencing the KIT kinase in each GIST patient. The aim of this study was to develop a robust, cytology-based assay to measure tumor susceptibility to target-specific small molecule inhibitors. We created an immortal GIST cell line (GIST882) that was treated in vitro with several inhibitors of the KIT --> AKT --> mTOR --> S6 signaling pathway. KIT was inhibited with imatinib, and mTOR with RAD001. Treatment response was assessed in cytologic preparations by immunocytochemical staining with antibodies to KIT, phospho-KIT, phospho-AKT, and phospho-S6. Optimization was performed to maximize staining in the absence of inhibitor, and minimize staining in the presence of inhibitor. GIST882 cells demonstrated strong, robust phospho-S6 expression in the absence of inhibitor. This expression was completely inhibited by treatment with upstream signaling pathway inhibitors (imatinib and RAD001). Other phospho-specific antibodies had weaker baseline reactivity in the absence of inhibitor. The accuracy of the immunocytochemical results on the cytologic preparations was validated by immunoblotting studies. Our study demonstrates the feasibility of cytologic methods to monitor labile biochemical responses in tumor cells during drug therapy. Such approaches will be enhanced by the development of additional activation state-specific antibodies, particularly those optimized for use in cytologic preparations.
Single-center experience in prostate fiducial marker placement: Technique and midterm follow-up

Abstract Purpose To describe the technique, technical success, and complications of prostate fiducial marker implantation using transrectal ultrasound (US) guidance in patients undergoing image-guided radiation therapy. Materials and Methods A retrospective review was performed of patients who underwent fiducial marker placement from January 2010–April 2013. In each case, gold markers were placed in the prostate using transrectal US guidance. Computed tomography (CT) was performed after the procedure and evaluated to confirm correct placement. Technical success, complications, and development of symptoms during radiotherapy were reviewed. Results Transrectal US–guided fiducial marker placement was performed on 75 patients (mean age, 62 y; range, 48–79 y) with a mean Gleason score of 7.25 (range, 6–10). Fiducial marker placement was confirmed in the intended location of the prostate or prostate bed for 297 of 300 markers (99%) on follow-up CT imaging. Two markers were placed just outside the prostate capsule, and one marker was lost. Complications included sepsis (n = 1; 1.3%), self-limiting perirectal or intraprostatic hemorrhage (n = 3; 4%), nausea (n = 1; 1.3%), transient hypotension (n = 1; 1.3%), epididymitis (n = 1; 1.3%), and urinary tract infection (n = 1; 1.3%). Complications were seen more frequently in patients with high tumor grade ( P = .001) and in patients who developed metastatic disease ( P = .01). Conclusions Transrectal US–guided implantation of fiducial markers is technically feasible, is well tolerated, and has a good safety profile.
Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis infection of cattle does not diminish peripheral blood-derived macrophage mycobactericidal activity

Summary Ruminants infected with Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis consistently develop a multibacillary form of disease that is centered on the ileum. Mechanisms responsible for failure of macrophage function during multibacillary disease are incompletely characterized. Our data suggest that mycobactericidal functions are present, and potentially enhanced, in monocyte-derived macrophages from M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis infected cattle. Addition of CD4 + T cells from infected animals to autologous in vitro infected macrophages did not increase bacterial killing. In contrast, CD4 + T cells from non-infected animals did increase bacterial killing in autologous macrophages. In macrophages from both infected and non-infected cattle, bacterial killing appeared to be independent of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and nitric oxide production.
Epigenetic Regulation of HYAL-1 Hyaluronidase Expression IDENTIFICATION OF HYAL-1 PROMOTER

HYAL-1 (hyaluronoglucosaminidase-1) belongs to the hyaluronidase family of enzymes that degrade hyaluronic acid. HYAL-1 is a marker for cancer diagnosis and a molecular determinant of tumor growth, invasion, and angiogenesis. The regulation of HYAL-1 expression is unknown. Real time reverse transcription-PCR using 11 bladder and prostate cancer cells and 69 bladder tissues showed that HYAL-1 mRNA levels are elevated 10-30-fold in cells/tissues that express high hyaluronidase activity. Although multiple transcription start sites (TSS) for HYAL-1 mRNA were detected in various tissues, the major TSS in many tissues, including bladder and prostate, was at nucleotide 27274 in the cosmid clone LUCA13 (AC002455). By analyzing the 1532 base sequence 5' to this TSS, using cloning and luciferase reporter assays, we identified a TACAAA sequence at position -31 and the minimal promoter region between nucleotides -93 and -38. Mutational analysis identified that nucleotides -73 to -50 (which include overlapping binding consensus sites for SP1, Egr-1, and AP-2), bases C(-71) and C(-59), and an NFkappaB-binding site (at position -15) are necessary for promoter activity. The chromatin immunoprecipitation assay identified that Egr-1, AP-2, and NFkappaB bind to the promoter in HYAL-1-expressing cells, whereas SP1 binds to the promoter in non-HYAL-1-expressing cells. 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine treatment, bisulfite DNA sequencing, and methylation-specific PCR revealed that HYAL-1 expression is regulated by methylation at C(-71) and C(-59); both Cs are part of the SP1/Egr-1-binding sites. Thus, HYAL-1 expression is epigenetically regulated by the binding of different transcription factors to the methylated and unmethylated HYAL-1 promoter.
Helminths from fifteen species of frogs (Anura, Hylidae) from Costa Rica

Helminths from fifteen species of frogs (Anura, Hylidae) from Costa Rica. Fifteen species of Costa Rican hylid frogs were examined for helminths: Agalychnis annae, Agalychnis callidryas, Agalychnis spurrelli, Dendropsophus ebraccatus, Dendropso- phus phlebodes, Duellmanohyla uranochroa, Hylomantis lemur, Hypsiboas rosenbergi, Isthmohyla pictipes, Isthmohyla rivularis, Isthmohyla tica, Scinax elaeochrous, Smilisca phaeota, Smilisca sordida, Tlalocohyla loquax. The frogs were found to harbor twelve species of helminths including one species of Monogenea, (Polystoma naevius), two species of Digenea (Gorgoderina diaster and Mesocoelium monas), eight species of Nematoda (Cosmocerca podicipinus, Falcaustra costaricae, Ochoterenella digiticauda, Oswaldocruzia costaricensis, Oxyascaris mcdiarmidi, Rhabdias savagei, Physaloptera sp. and Acuariidae gen. sp.) and one species of Acanthocephala (Anuracanthorhynchus lutzi). Mean number of helminth species per infected host species was 2.7 ± 0.3 SE (range 1-5). Thirty-nine new host records are reported.
Dynamic Modeling of the Spatial Distribution of Precipitation in Remote Mountainous Areas

Abstract Precipitation in remote mountainous areas dominates the water balance of many water-short areas of the globe, such as western North America. The inaccessibility of such environments prevents adequate measurement of the spatial distribution of precipitation and, hence, direct estimation of the water balance from observations of precipitation and runoff. Resolution constraints in atmospheric models can likewise result in large biases in prediction of the water balance for grid cells that include highly diverse topography. Modeling of the advection of moisture over topographic barriers at a spatial scale sufficient to resolve the dominant topographic features offers one method of better predicting the spatial distribution of precipitation in mountainous areas. A model is described herein that simulates Lagrangian transport of moist static energy and total water through a 3D finite-element grid, where precipitation is the only scavenging agent of both variables. The model is aimed primarily at the re...
New Forms of Learning in Co-Configuration Work.

Focuses on the theories and study of organizational and workplace learning. Outlines the landscape of learning in co‐configuration settings, a new type of work that includes interdependency between multiple producers forming a strategic alliance, supplier network, or other such pattern of partnership which collaboratively puts together and maintains a complex package, integrating material products and services. Notes that learning in co‐configuration settings is typically distributed over long, discontinuous periods of time. It is accomplished in and between multiple loosely interconnected activity systems and organizations operating in divided local and global terrains and representing different traditions, domains of expertise, and social languages. Learning is crucially dependent on the contribution of the clients or users. Asserts that co‐configuration presents a twofold learning challenge to work organizations and outlines interventionist and longitudinal approaches taken.
A RESEARCH NOTE SURFACE ROUGHENING OF PRECOOKED, CURED BEEF ROUND MUSCLES REDUCES IRIDESCENCE1

Surface roughening during slicing of precooked cured beef Biceps femoris, Semimembranosus, and Semitendinosus roasts was evaluated for its effects on intensity of iridescence and percentage of iridescent area. Using a textured slicing blade surface decreased (P < 0.05) iridescent intensity and the area of iridescence compared to the control (smooth slicing surface). Iridescence intensity and percentage of iridescent area was greatest (P < 0.05) in the Semitendinosus muscle, followed by Semimembranosus and Biceps femoris. Use of a meat-slicing blade with a textured face could reduce the intensity and area of iridescence in sliced meat products.
Thermolabile transfecting DNA from temperature-sensitive mutant of phage ϕ29

THE chromosome of bacteriophage ϕ29, one of the smallest Bacillus phages, is a non-permuted linear duplex DNA molecule of molecular weight 11 × 106 (refs 1 and 2) that seems to be circularised by association with a protein, as circular monomers are converted into linear monomers by treatment with proteolytic enzymes3. A similar circular DNA–protein complex has been reported for adenoviruses4. DNA extracted from phage ϕ29 is infectious (transfectious) when added to competent cells of B. subtilis5. This trans-fectivity is sensitive to proteolytic enzymes6, indicating that some protein is associated with ϕ29 DNA and is required for transfection. Protease-sensitive transfection has also been observed with DNAs of B. subtilis. subtilis phages, GA1 (ref. 7), SPO2 and ϕ105 (H. Hirokawa, personal communication).
LANGUAGE POLICIES FOR LINGUISTIC MINORITIES

Linguistic Minorities in Multilingual Settings: Implications for Language Policies. Christina Bratt Paulston.
Elder Care Recipients' Care-Seeking Process

The care-seeking process used by elders residing in a continuing-care retirement community to elicit care from caregivers and engage caregivers in care interactions is described. Generated from 8 months of ethnographic field research that incorporated semistructured interviewing, participant observation, and focus group interviewing data collection strategies with 47 elders, the care-seeking process emerged as the sequential phases and stages that evolved over time in elders' interactions with their formal and informal caregivers. The findings extend what is currently known about the active and thoughtful role elders assume in their care interactions. An understanding of the ways elders elicit care and engage caregivers may assist nurses to maximize their care interactions with elders.
The unnatural history of heritage: what's the future for the past?

Heritage sites abound and the types of sites have expanded in the past 50 years. The essay reviews the variety of circumstances that would produce what might be called a ‘heritage consciousness’ in a group or in a nation. This is first considered in the West, then internationally. While the will to preserve appears to have become an entrenched core value throughout the world, the question is, how permanent is the heritage impulse? Will heritage as an activity endure in the post-modern world or is it a modernist trend, the last gasp of Romanticism? Several logical scenarios are considered in relation to this question (heritage tourism, the future of the heritage industry).
New directions in the management of chronic pain: Self-regulation theory as a model for integrative clinical psychology practice

The next generation of empirically derived clinical health psychology involves use of self-regulation theory for understanding and treating chronic pain. Temporomandibular disorders serve as a model to illustrate how increasing self-regulatory strength facilitates small, behavioral changes that positively influence the underlying physiological factors known to be important in the etiology and maintenance of chronic pain conditions. For individuals with chronic temporomandibular disorders, physical self-regulation is an integrative clinical health psychology intervention that decreases both physical and psychological symptoms via improvements in self-regulatory strength and autonomic nervous system regulation. Suggestions for the application of self-regulation to other chronic pain disorders and future research directions are provided.
Deterministic formation of visual color sensation

There exists a considerable body of research on what is ergonomically suitable in the selection of colors, both from the point of view of discrimination and distinguishing between physical energy and perceived sensation. We find little precedent in the study of the psychological impact of the use of color in the display of information. There are no readily available mechanisms for using color to communicate an expressive mood or climate. We postulate that colors can be chosen for conveying the substance of a message effectively: its scale, duration and format of exposure. In this paper, we add these considerations as enhancements to the definition of color ergonomics, and the selection and application of color. We propose an organization of color which facilitates its application beyond the vagaries of chance, i.e. the formulation of predictable expressive signals. The methodology for the quantification of the relative expressive qualities of color is discussed. We describe an experiment to distinguish between informational and expressive aspects of color. Reading speed is measured as a function of the contrast of value and the hue-to-hue alignment of pairs of colors. These same dyads are sorted by expressive qualities.
A differential displacement transducer for measuring relative movement in biological systems

This article describes a modified and improved version of the displacement transducer design originally presented by Sandeman (1968). The present design generates a high frequency electric field in the bathing solution. Relative displacement is detected within this field by measuring the differential voltage between two small diameter wire-sensing electrodes, which can be attached to different biological structures. By placing one of the sensing electrodes at a fixed point within the bath, absolute displacement can also be measured. A brief theoretical discussion and complete design are presented for the differential displacement transducer. The method presented here is more sensitive and versatile than the original approach.
Effect of atilmotin on gastrointestinal transit in healthy subjects: a randomized, placebo-controlled study

We studied effects of i.v. atilmotin (BAX-ACC-1638, a novel motilin agonist, circulating t(1/2) < 10 min) on gastrointestinal transit in humans using a randomized, parallel-group, dose-response double-blind study of i.v. atilmotin, 6, 30, 60 microg or vehicle (placebo) given 2 min after standardized breakfast, lunch and dinner. The breakfast meal contained (99m)Tc-eggs and (111)In-milk. Full gastrointestinal transit was measured by scintigraphy. Primary endpoints were % gastric emptying (GE) at 30 min, GE t(1/2), colonic filling (CF) at 6 h, and geometric centre of colonic transit at 24 h. Analysis included adjustment for age, gender and body mass index, with Bonferroni correction applied for multiple comparisons. A significant treatment effect of atilmotin was detected for GE (%) at 30 min for solids and liquids (P < 0.01 for both). There were no significant effects on CF or CT and no significant adverse clinical events. Thus, atilmotin accelerates GE of solids and liquids in healthy humans. These data suggest that, at the doses tested, atilmotin should be considered for treatment of stomach motility disorders.
Comparison of Log P values obtained from CAChe and other sources

Partition coefficients, P, are useful for correlating a variety of properties. The log P values have been calculated for some 120 compounds, including amines, ketones, carboxylic acids, and esters using CAChe software. The correlation is excellent for the calculated value and the value obtained from literature sources (r = 0.973; N = 120). The agreement between predicted and reported values is good for alcohols, acids, amines, phenols, hydrocarbons, and a group of miscellaneous compounds. Unfortunately, the actual agreement is not good for esters and ketones, for which reported values tend to be higher and lower, respectively, than the values calculated using CAChe software. The reasons for this discrepancy are considered.
Can Quasigeostrophic Turbulence Be Modeled Stochastically

Abstract Numerically generated data of quasigeostrophic turbulence in an equilibrated shear flow are analyzed to determine the extent to which they can be modeled by a Markov model. The time lagged covariances are collected into a matrix, Cτ, and are substituted into the fluctuation-dissipation relation for a first-order Markov model with white noise forcing CτC0−1 = exp (Aτ),to determine whether the relation is satisfied for a single dynamic operator A. The dynamic operator obtained by inverting the relation was found to depend on time lag. In particular, for small time lags (τ < 1 day), the eigenvectors and imaginary eigenvalues were independent of time lag, while the damping rates increased linearly with time lag. It is shown analytically that precisely this discrepancy occurs when the relation is applied to data generated by a red noise Markov model using a time lag that is small compared to the decorrelation time of the noise. Although a fourth-order Markov model with white noise can more accurately ...
Neural mechanisms underlying behavior in the locust Schistocerca gregaria I. Physiology of identified motorneurons in the metathoracic ganglion

A preparation of the desert locust, Schistocera gregaria, has been developed, in which it was possible to work with identified neurons while still allowing some behavior. A total of 26 motorneurons to the hind leg were studied singly, and in various pairs, both by direct stimulation, and by recording during spontaneous activity and various reflex actions. Motorneurons were identified by passing current into their somata and correlating the evoked somata spikes with extracellularly or intracellularly recorded events in the muscles. Tension of the muscle was also recorded and motor axons were stimulated to evoke antidromic spikes in the somata. Both epsp's and ipsp's can be seen clearly in recordings from the somata; spikes appear as electrotonically conducted remnants only. Somata exhibited little or no electrogenesis. It is inferred that impulses are initiated in a zone tentatively identified with the region of emergence of the motor axon from the neuropil. Integration occurs in the neuropilar segment, with the soma serving as a parallel RC element. Data was obtained on the central mechanisms of coordination of synergistic and antagonistic motorneurons and on the modes of excitation of slow and fast neurons to the same muscles.
Molecular Mechanisms Underlying the Clinical Success of the Cancer Drug Gleevec

Cancer is a serious illness and the second leading cause of death in the US. It is caused by misregulation of the signaling cascades and uncontrolled cell proliferation. Protein kinases are the key players in the regulatory machinery, and in the last 20 years they have become an increasingly important drug targets. The main requirement for such drugs is selectivity: ideally, only one kinase should be affected by an individual drug. The prominent success story is an FDA-approved chronic myeloid leukemia therapeutic Gleevec. Gleevec is a highly specific inhibitor of the Abl kinase and has very little potency towards a closely related Src subfamily of kinases. This specificity is particularly intriguing considering that the drug-binding pockets look nearly identical in these kinases. We combined NMR and pre-steady-state kinetic experiments to monitor Gleevec binding in real time and with residue-specific precision. Our data establish a novel model that fully and quantitatively explains the observed 3000-fold difference in Gleevec's affinities to Abl and Src, solving a long-standing paradox in the field. These results reveal the general principles of kinase-drug interactions and highlight the molecular mechanisms behind nanomolar affinities found in clinically relevant therapeutics.
PKC-ϵ translocation in enteric neurons and interstitial cells of Cajal in response to muscarinic stimulation

Interstitial cells of Cajal in the deep muscular plexus (ICC-DMP) of the small intestine express excitatory neurotransmitter receptors. We tested whether ICC-DMP are functionally innervated by chol...
Load-sensitive flip-flop characterizations

Different flip-flop designs vary in the number and complexity of logic stages they contain, and hence have different inherent parasitic delays and output drive strengths. We examine the effect of electrical load on flip-flop delay and energy consumption and show that the relative ranking of optimized flip-flop structures varies widely with both electrical effort and absolute load. We also show that some structures benefit substantially from the addition of appropriate output buffering.
Fundamentals‐based low‐dimensional combustion modeling of spark‐ignited internal combustion engines

A four-mode low-dimensional model for the in-cylinder combustion process in an internal combustion engine is developed. The lumped parameter ordinary differential equation model is based on two mixing times that capture the reactant mixing limitations inside the cylinder and mixing limitations caused by the input and exit stream distribution. For a given inlet and operating conditions, the model predicts the exhaust composition of regulated gases (total unburned HCs, CO, and NOx) as well as the in-cylinder pressure and temperature. The model is able to capture the qualitative trends observed with change in fuel composition (gasoline and ethanol blending), air/fuel ratio, spark timing, engine load, and speed. The results show good qualitative and fair quantitative agreement with the experimental results published in the literature and demonstrate the possibility of such low-dimensional model for real-time control. Improvements and extensions to the model are discussed. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2011
A multiscale model of thrombus development.

A two-dimensional multiscale model is introduced for studying formation of a thrombus (clot) in a blood vessel. It involves components for modelling viscous, incompressible blood plasma; non-activated and activated platelets; blood cells; activating chemicals; fibrinogen; and vessel walls and their interactions. The macroscale dynamics of the blood flow is described by the continuum Navier–Stokes equations. The microscale interactions between the activated platelets, the platelets and fibrinogen and the platelets and vessel wall are described through an extended stochastic discrete cellular Potts model. The model is tested for robustness with respect to fluctuations of basic parameters. Simulation results demonstrate the development of an inhomogeneous internal structure of the thrombus, which is confirmed by the preliminary experimental data. We also make predictions about different stages in thrombus development, which can be tested experimentally and suggest specific experiments. Lastly, we demonstrate that the dependence of the thrombus size on the blood flow rate in simulations is close to the one observed experimentally.
Genetic diversity of Athabaskan Indians.

SummaryIf Athabaskan Indians are subdivided by linguistic group, a wide diversity in gene frequencies is disclosed. This diversity approximated that found when linguistically unrelated groups were compared. It was greater than that found for Eskimo-Aleuts, even though the latter are more heterogeneous linguistically and subject to a wider variety of environmental conditions. Contiguity, geographic distance, and linguistic similarity were not reflected in similarity of gene frequencies. The gene frequenices found for Athabaskans appear to be the result of random processes—survivor effects and genetic drift of small isolated groups. They appear to be of no value in detecting ethnic relationships.
Subcellular Localization of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Is Modulated by the Immunophilin Homolog Hepatitis B Virus X-associated Protein 2

The hepatitis B virus X-associated protein 2 (XAP2) is an immunophilin homolog and core component of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). Immunophilins are components of many steroid receptor complexes, serving a largely unknown function. Transiently expressed AhR·YFP (yellow fluorescent protein) localized to the nuclei of COS-1 and NIH-3T3 cells. Co-expression of AhR·YFP with XAP2 restored cytoplasmic localization, which was reversed by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin treatment (TCDD). The effect of XAP2 on AhR localization was specific involving a nuclear localization signal-mediated pathway. Examination of the ratio of AhR to XAP2 in the AhR complex revealed that ∼25% of transiently expressed AhR was associated with XAP2, in contrast with ∼100% when the AhR and XAP2 were co-expressed. Strikingly, TCDD did not influence these ratios, suggesting that ligand binding initiates nuclear translocation prior to complex dissociation. Analysis of endogenous AhR in Hepa-1 cells revealed that ∼40% of the AhR complex was associated with XAP2, predicting observed AhR localization to cytoplasm and nuclei. This study reveals a novel functional role for the immunophilin-like component of a soluble receptor complex and provides new insight into the mechanism of AhR-mediated signal transduction, demonstrating the existence of two structurally distinct and possibly functionally unique forms of the AhR.
Distinct structural requirements for clustering and immobilization of K+ channels by PSD-95.

PDZ-domain–containing proteins such as PSD-95 have been implicated in the targeting and clustering of membrane proteins. Biochemical and immunohistochemical studies indicate that PSD-95 recognizes COOH-terminal S/TXV sequences present in Kv1 K+ channels. However, the effect of binding a PDZ domain on a target protein has not been studied in live cells. In the present study, a green fluorescent protein–Kv1.4 fusion protein is used to study the effect of PSD-95 on channel movement. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching showed that PSD-95 can immobilize K+ channels in the plasma membrane in an all-or-none manner. Furthermore, time lapse imaging showed that channel clusters formed in the presence of PSD-95 are stable in size, shape, and position. As expected from previous reports, two green fluorescent protein–tagged COOH-terminal variants of Kv1.4, Δ15 and V655A, are not clustered by PSD-95. However, coexpression of PSD-95 with V655A, but not Δ15, leads to the appearance of PSD-95 immunoreactivity in the plasma membrane. Furthermore, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching studies show that V655A channels are immobilized by PSD-95. Thus, V655A channels can interact with PSD-95 in a manner that leads to channel immobilization, but not clustering. These experiments document for the first time that PSD-95 immobilizes target proteins. Additionally, the data presented here demonstrate that the structural requirements for protein clustering and immobilization by PSD-95 are distinct.
A light-weight agent architecture for collaborative multimedia systems

This paper describes the Agent-based Imagery and Geospatial processing Architecture (AIGA). AIGA is a novel approach for developing and supporting large-scale query-driven multimedia information systems. AIGA is designed to support collaboration and reuse by defining a set of light-weight agents and a combined knowledge encoding and agent communication language called I-XML. Scalability and reuse are achieved by employing a two-tier communication structure. Agents do not communicate directly but rather through a shared page space. We show how this approach simplifies system design and facilitates collaboration and information sharing among area experts.AIGA is specifically designed to allow experts to answer open-ended queries such as "What is the current situation at the border between two countries?". For this environment the reuse of prior strategies reduces the number of computations necessary to construct new answers. We have implemented AIGA in a Java environment. We believe the resulting system demonstrates the effectiveness of our approach in constructing large-scale query-driven multimedia information systems.
Role of the Fused Corrinoid/Methyl Transfer Protein CmtA during CO-Dependent Growth of Methanosarcina acetivorans

The genome of Methanosarcina acetivorans encodes three homologs, initially annotated as hypothetical fused corrinoid/methyl transfer proteins, which are highly elevated in CO-grown cells versus cells grown with alternate substrates. Based only on phenotypic analyses of deletion mutants, it was previously concluded that the homologs are strictly dimethylsulfide:coenzyme M (CoM) methyltransferases not involved in the metabolism of CO (E. Oelgeschlager and M. Rother, Mol. Microbiol. 72:1260 –1272, 2009). The homolog encoded by MA4383 (here designated CmtA) was reexamined via biochemical characterization of the protein overproduced in Escherichia coli. Purified CmtA reconstituted with methylcob(III)alamin contained a molar ratio of cobalt to protein of 1.0 ± 0.2. The UV-visible spectrum was typical of methylated corrinoid-containing proteins, with absorbance maxima at 370 and 420 nm and a band of broad absorbance between 450 and 600 nm with maxima at 525, 490, and 550 nm. CmtA reconstituted with aquocobalamin showed methyl-tetrahydromethanopterin:CoM (CH3-THMPT:HS-CoM) methyltransferase activity (0.31 μmol/min/mg) with apparent Km values of 135 μM for CH3-THMPT and 277 μM for HS-CoM. The ratio of CH3-THMPT:HS-CoM methyltransferase activity in the soluble versus membrane cellular fractions was 15-fold greater in CO-grown versus methanol-grown cells. A mutant strain deleted for the CmtA gene showed lower growth rates and final yields when cultured with growth-limiting partial pressures of CO, demonstrating a role for CmtA during growth with this substrate. The results establish that CmtA is a soluble CH3-THSPT:HS-CoM methyltransferase postulated to supplement the membrane-bound CH3-THMPT:HS-CoM methyltransferase during CO-dependent growth of M. acetivorans. Thus, we propose that the name of the enzyme encoded by MA4384 be CmtA (for cytoplasmic methyltransferase).
The Search for Emerging Decolonizing Methodologies in Qualitative Research: Further Strategies for Liberatory and Democratic Inquiry.

Many non-Western and non-English-speaking scholars express the need for supporting a methodological approach that foregrounds the voices of nationals and locals (or indigenous peoples). Supporting this stance, Western scholars will reach out in democratic and liberatory ways that effect research collaboration, helping to foster social justice and locally desired change. This article supports this search via presenting some methodological strategies culled from six different cases of cross-cultural and cross-language research in which both Western and non-Western scholars were involved and/or collaborated. A comparative study of the inquiries themselves, with follow-up interviews with their U.S.-based authors, is the strategy that has been chosen to respond to this search for additional, emerging methodological and narrative approaches to cross-cultural/cross-national research that is useful to both local and Western scholars equally.
An example of a stochastic equilibrium with incomplete markets

We prove existence and uniqueness of stochastic equilibria in a class of incomplete continuous-time financial environments where the market participants are exponential utility maximizers with heterogeneous risk-aversion coefficients and general Markovian random endowments. The incompleteness featured in our setting—the source of which can be thought of as a credit event or a catastrophe—is genuine in the sense that not only the prices, but also the family of replicable claims itself are determined as a part of the equilibrium. Consequently, equilibrium allocations are not necessarily Pareto optimal and the related representative-agent techniques cannot be used. Instead, we follow a novel route based on new stability results for a class of semilinear partial differential equations related to the Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman equation for the agents’ utility maximization problems. This approach leads to a reformulation of the problem where the Banach fixed-point theorem can be used not only to show existence and uniqueness, but also to provide a simple and efficient numerical procedure for its computation.
Note on the rare decay of a Higgs boson into photons and a Z boson

We have calculated the width of the rare decay H{yields}{gamma}{gamma}Z at one-loop level in the standard model for Higgs boson masses in the range 115 GeV{<=}m{sub H}{<=}160 GeV . For this range of Higgs boson masses we find that Z boson is predominantly longitudinally polarized, and the photons have the same helicity. A comparison of the decay width {gamma}(H{yields}{gamma}{gamma}Z) to those of H{yields}{gamma}{gamma} and H{yields}{gamma}Z shows that, for the Higgs boson mass of m{sub H}{approx}135 GeV, the ratios of the decay widths are {gamma}(H{yields}{gamma}{gamma}Z)/{gamma}(H{yields}{gamma}{gamma}){approx}{gamma}(H{yields}{gamma}{gamma}Z)/{gamma}(H{yields}{gamma}Z){approx}10{sup -5}-10{sup -6}.
The Seven L’s of Superficial and Deep Perivascular Mononuclear/Lymphoid Infiltrates

The mnemonic 7 L’s has been used to prompt the histological differential diagnosis of a superficial and deep perivascular mononuclear and lymphoid infiltrate. The presence of prominent superficial dermal edema should prompt a consideration of polymorphous light eruption; whereas extension of the infiltrate to involve the adnexal structures, particularly the eccrine units supports a diagnosis of lupus. The presence of eosinophils and reactive follicles may be seen in cutaneous lymphoid hyperplasia, particularly if the etiology is a persistent reaction to arthropod bite.
The cerebellum for jocks and nerds alike

Historically the cerebellum has been implicated in the control of movement. However, the cerebellum's role in non-motor functions, including cognitive and emotional processes, has also received increasing attention. Starting from the premise that the uniform architecture of the cerebellum underlies a common mode of information processing, this review examines recent electrophysiological findings on the motor signals encoded in the cerebellar cortex and then relates these signals to observations in the non-motor domain. Simple spike firing of individual Purkinje cells encodes performance errors, both predicting upcoming errors as well as providing feedback about those errors. Further, this dual temporal encoding of prediction and feedback involves a change in the sign of the simple spike modulation. Therefore, Purkinje cell simple spike firing both predicts and responds to feedback about a specific parameter, consistent with computing sensory prediction errors in which the predictions about the consequences of a motor command are compared with the feedback resulting from the motor command execution. These new findings are in contrast with the historical view that complex spikes encode errors. Evaluation of the kinematic coding in the simple spike discharge shows the same dual temporal encoding, suggesting this is a common mode of signal processing in the cerebellar cortex. Decoding analyses show the considerable accuracy of the predictions provided by Purkinje cells across a range of times. Further, individual Purkinje cells encode linearly and independently a multitude of signals, both kinematic and performance errors. Therefore, the cerebellar cortex's capacity to make associations across different sensory, motor and non-motor signals is large. The results from studying how Purkinje cells encode movement signals suggest that the cerebellar cortex circuitry can support associative learning, sequencing, working memory, and forward internal models in non-motor domains.
Unraveling the evolutionary history of the hyperdiverse ant genus Pheidole (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).

Pheidole is currently the most species rich genus of ants in the world, with many taxa still awaiting description. In this study, I reconstruct the phylogeny of Pheidole using molecular characters from three mitochondrial genes and two nuclear genes for � 140 species. The phylogenetic relationships of Pheidole are investigated with special interest in understanding factors that may have led to their remarkable diversity. The results presented here establish a framework for understanding the explosive radiation of this group by providing (1) a phylogenetic estimate, and (2) a comparative analysis of life history traits that are likely to have been important in the diversification of the group. In all analyses, Pheidole is recov- ered as a monophyletic lineage, and molecular clock estimates infer an age of 58.4-61.2 million years ago (Ma) for crown group members of the genus. Using an estimate of diversification rate, it appears that Pheidole has undergone 0.108-0.103 speciation events per million years. Previous hypotheses of species groups were largely not upheld in the analyses presented here. Workers of the genus Pheidole are dimor- phic with a minor and major (soldier) subcaste. A third subcaste of super majors is known in eight species of Pheidole and this trait was found to have arisen multiple times throughout the phylogeny. Seed har- vesting is common among species of the genus and is thought to be one of the factors leading to the diversification of the group, but additional data will be required to further test this hypothesis. To address biogeographic questions on the origin of the genus, both New and Old World species were included in these analyses, and the results suggest that Pheidole is New World in origin with a possible single intro- duction into the Old World.
The impact of imperfect scheduling on cross-layer congestion control in wireless networks

In this paper, we study cross-layer design for congestion control in multihop wireless networks. In previous work, we have developed an optimal cross-layer congestion control scheme that jointly computes both the rate allocation and the stabilizing schedule that controls the resources at the underlying layers. However, the scheduling component in this optimal cross-layer congestion control scheme has to solve a complex global optimization problem at each time, and is hence too computationally expensive for online implementation. In this paper, we study how the performance of cross-layer congestion control will be impacted if the network can only use an imperfect (and potentially distributed) scheduling component that is easier to implement. We study both the case when the number of users in the system is fixed and the case with dynamic arrivals and departures of the users, and we establish performance bounds of cross-layer congestion control with imperfect scheduling. Compared with a layered approach that does not design congestion control and scheduling together, our cross-layer approach has provably better performance bounds, and substantially outperforms the layered approach. The insights drawn from our analyzes also enable us to design a fully distributed cross-layer congestion control and scheduling algorithm for a restrictive interference model.
Raising to Object out of CP

Kuno (1976) presents arguments for raising to object (RTO) in Japanese. After summarizing his analysis, this article presents additional data supporting RTO. Alternative analyses are also critically examined. The significance of RTO constructions in Japanese is that the RTO complement clause has a complementizer. It is suggested that this is permissible under the theory outlined in Chomsky 2000 if the RTO complement CP may have one A(-adjoined)-position in its edge.
Generating disulfides with the Quiescin-sulfhydryl oxidases

The Quiescin-sulfhydryl oxidase (QSOX) family of flavoenzymes catalyzes the direct and facile insertion of disulfide bonds into unfolded reduced proteins with concomitant reduction of oxygen to hydrogen peroxide. This review discusses the chemical mechanism of these enzymes and the involvement of thioredoxin and flavin-binding domains in catalysis. The variability of CxxC motifs in the QSOX family is highlighted and attention is drawn to the steric factors that may promote efficient thiol/disulfide exchange during oxidative protein folding. The varied cellular location of these multi-domain sulfhydryl oxidases is reviewed and potential intracellular and extracellular roles are summarized. Finally, this review identifies important unresolved questions concerning this ancient family of sulfhydryl oxidases.
A reexamination of connectivity trends via exponential random graph modeling in two IDU risk networks.

Patterns of risk in injecting drug user (IDU) networks have been a key focus of network approaches to HIV transmission histories. New network modeling techniques allow for a reexamination of these patterns with greater statistical accuracy and the comparative weighting of model elements. This paper describes the results of a reexamination of network data from the SFHR and P90 data sets using Exponential Random Graph Modeling. The results show that “transitive closure” is an important feature of IDU network topologies, and provides relative importance measures for race/ethnicity, age, gender, and number of risk partners in predicting risk relationships.