cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Activation of Histone 3 Lysine 9 methyl writing and reading capabilities within the G9a-GLP heterodimer

Author(s): Sanchez, Nicholas | Advisor(s): Al-Sady, Bassem | Abstract: Unique among metazoan repressive histone methyltransferases, G9a and GLP, which target histone 3 lysine 9 (H3K9), require dimerization for productive H3K9 mono (me1)- and dimethylation (me2) in vivo. Intriguingly, even though each enzyme can independently methylate H3K9, the predominant active form in vivo is a heterodimer of G9a and GLP. How dimerization influences the central H3K9 methyl binding (“reading”) and deposition (“writing”) activity of G9a and GLP, and why heterodimerization is essential in vivo remains opaque. Here, we examine the H3K9me “reading” and “writing” activities of defined, recombinantly produced homo- and heterodimers of G9a and GLP. We find that both reading and writing are significantly enhanced in the heterodimer. Compared to the homodimers, the heterodimer has higher recognition of H3K9me2, and a striking ~ 10-fold increased kcat for nucleosomal substrates under multiple turnover conditions, which is not evident on histone tail peptide substrates. This however is not encoded by altered nucleosome affinity, which is dominated by the G9a protomer and comparable across the homo- and heterodimer. Our results indicate that heterodimerization may be required to relieve autoinhibition of H3K9me reading and chromatin methylation evident in G9a and GLP homodimers. Relieving this inhibition may be particularly important in early differentiation when large tracts of H3K9me2 are deposited by G9a-GLP, which may require a more active form of the enzyme.
Persistence of Zika virus RNA in the epididymis of the murine male reproductive tract

Abstract Zika virus (ZIKV) can infect developing fetuses in utero and cause severe congenital defects independent of route of maternal infection. Infected men can shed ZIKV RNA in semen for over six months. Whether prolonged viral RNA shedding in semen indicates a persistent infection in the male reproductive tract is unknown. We hypothesized that if ZIKV establishes a persistent infection in the male reproductive tract (MRT), then immunosuppressant treatment should stimulate ZIKV replication and seminal shedding. Male mice were infected with ZIKV and immunosuppressed when they shed viral RNA but not infectious virus in ejaculates. Following immunosuppression, we did not detect infectious virus in ejaculates. However, we did detect ZIKV positive and negative sense RNA in the epididymal lumens of mice treated with cyclophosphamide, suggesting that ZIKV persists in the epididymis. This study provides insight into the mechanisms behind ZIKV sexual transmission, which may inform public health decisions regarding ZIKV risks.
Discovery Guidance for Product Cases

When investors file arbitration claims against their broker, they sometimes focus on a particular product, also known as product cases. FINRA, the forum where investor arbitrations are heard, has adopted guidance focused on product cases. This article provides an overview of the relevant FINRA guidance related to product cases.
A Horse of a Different Color: A Study of Color Bias, Antitrust and Restraint of Trade Violations in the Equine Industry

In 2000, Kay Floyd sued the American Quarter Horse Association, and changed not only the way the Association did business, but changed the law as it applied to voluntary associations. The court ruled that an association cannot economically discriminate against some of its members and artificially devalue the property held by those members. Subsequently, the American Quarter Horse Association has changed its own registration rules to reflect the principle behind the Floyd suit, even though the parties settled and dismissed the case. A sister equine association in Texas, however, has refused to amend its rules concerning equine registration, resulting in economic discrimination against some, but not all, of its membership. This article examines the effects of the Floyd suit on the AQHA, and projects the outcome of a similar suit against the American Paint Horse Association, should it continue its registration policies in violation of the Texas Business & Commerce Code.
Resistance to the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner), in maize, Zea mays L., as affected by soil silica, plant silica, structural carbohydrates, and lignin

The study examined the effectiveness of silica content of whorl and leaf sheath tissues in maize, Zea mays L., as a soil-moderated defense against the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Huber). Results were based on data from two test sites in Wisconsin at which 15 maize genotypes were grown with artificial insect infestation. At Madison [Dresden silt loam (fine-loamy over sandy, mixed mesic Mollic Hapludalf), SiO2 = 20 ppm), approximately 49 percent of the total variation in first generation damage ratings could be accounted for by silica and lignin content in whorl tissue. No significant relationships between whorl composition and first generation insect damage were observed at Hancock [Plainfield sand (mixed, mesic, Typic Udipsamment), SiO2 = 5 ppm). Silica and neutral detergent fiber in leaf sheath tissue could account for 71 percent of the variation measured for second generation insect damage at Madison, while at Hancock, plant silica content was not a significant factor. Instead, neutral detergent fiber and lignin accounted for an equivalent 71 percent of variation in insect damage. The most resistant genotypes at either location depended upon elevated levels of total structural carbohydrates, lignin, and silica to provide adequate defense against the second generation of the European corn borer.
The Subsidy Question in King v. Burwell—A Federalist Response to Crony Capitalism

On the surface, King v. Burwell appears to be a simple case about statutory interpretation. In the Affordable Care Act (widely known as Obamacare), when Congress referred to the “State,” in the provision triggering federal subsidies to insurance consumers for purchases made from federally-authorized insurance providers selling federallyauthorized insurance products, should the “State” be understood to refer to the federal market (i.e., exchanges) as well as “State” markets. Simple tools of statutory construction—namely, that Congress knew full well how to refer to a “federal” exchange and failed to do so—would seem to be sufficient to supply a result. It would also seem be a stretch to rely on legislative history to overturn this conclusion. Some, such as Steven Brill, who has recently delivered an otherwise masterful account of the origins of Obamacare, might describe the critical language in this case as a “drafting error” committed when Senate Legislative Counsel, at the last minute, needed to revise the Senate bill that ultimately became law for a purely partisan final vote and without significant debate. But even Brill acknowledges that “drafting errors” of this kind would ordinarily have been corrected by “routine” procedures to make technical amendments, and that such
Effect of Ganaxolone in a Rodent Model of Cerebral Hematoma

Background and Purpose —Therapy with γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) agonists appears to improve outcome after experimental hematoma but with unacceptable side effects. We looked to synthetic GABA agonists, or positive GABA modulators, widely developed as anticonvulsants and anxiolytics, to find compounds that may be effective. Ganaxolone is a synthetic neuroactive steroid that positively modulates GABA. We sought to determine whether ganaxolone was beneficial using a model of intracerebral hematoma. Methods —We stereotaxically injected varying doses of bacterial collagenase into the caudate nucleus of rats to induce blood-brain barrier failure and hematoma formation. Four hours later, we administered intravenously 15 or 30 mg/kg ganaxolone (n=23 each group), 20 mg/kg pregnanolone (n=21), or vehicle (n=30). Forty-eight hours after collagenase injection, we rated each animal using a standard rodent neurological examination. The ratings were compared with the amounts of injected collagenase using the quantal bioassay procedure. Other sets of animals were tested later for visuospatial learning. Brains were then prepared for histomorphometry, and brain volumes were estimated. Results —We found that ganaxolone 30 mg/kg significantly increased the ED50 in the bioassay, for a potency ratio of 1.8±0.41 compared with vehicle ( P <0.05). Ganaxolone 15 mg/kg and pregnanolone did not affect neurological outcome. Ganaxolone 30 mg/kg did not clearly improve visuospatial learning several weeks after hemorrhage. Ganaxolone exhibited a weak effect on cerebral volumes 48 hours after stroke, but 3 months after hemorrhage no such effect could be detected. Conclusions —Ganaxolone improves neurological outcome 48 hours after intracerebral hematoma but not visuospatial learning several weeks after intracerebral hematoma. Histological evidence of damage was reduced at 48 hours but not at 3 months.
Hydrodynamic effects on the macromorphology of electrodeposited zinc and flow visualization: The rotating disk electrode

Abstract The macromorphological features of electrodeposited zinc on a rotating disk electrode (RDE) that result from hydrodynamic flow conditions have been investigated using acidic chloride solutions (mainly 1.0 M ZnCl2 +HCl) for the current density range 0.2 mA cm−2 to 3 A cm−2 and particularly between 10 and 30 mA cm−2. All the complex hydrodynamic characteristics of the reattaching flow and the presence of streamwise-directed counter-rotating Taylor vortices originating from the stagnation point have been clearly outlined and marked by the macromorphology of three-dimensional relief imprints. The macromorphological features of relief spirals in zinc electrodeposition represent mainly the competition between the flow- and electric-field strength and depend on the average current density, the rotation speed, the time of deposition, the ionic zinc content, the electrolyte composition, the pH value and the local hydrodynamic flow pattern. The time sequences at constant average current density and rotation speed afford the visual photoimprints of the secondary convection development near the RDE with all the characteristics of a stable Taylor vortex system envisaged by almost perfect relief equiangular (logarithmic) spirals in the electrodeposit. The macromorphological imprints of electrodeposited zinc within a certain current density range can be employed for both the instantaneous and the cumulative (time sequence of photoimprints) electrochemical visualization method. A survey of the existing knowledge and past explanations for corrugated electrodeposit growth is also presented.
Fetal hemoglobin levels in sickle cell disease and normal individuals are partially controlled by an X-linked gene located at Xp22.2

Fetal hemoglobin (Hb F) production in sickle cell (SS) disease and in normal individuals varies over a 20-fold range and is under genetic control. Previous studies suggested that variant Hb F levels might be controlled by genetic loci separate from the beta-globin complex on chromosome 11. Using microscopic radial immunodiffusion and flow cytometric immunofluorescent assays to determine the percentage of F reticulocytes and F cells in SS and nonanemic individuals, we observed that F-cell levels were significantly higher in nonanemic females than males (mean +/- SD, 3.8% +/- 3.2% v 2.7% +/- 2.3%). F-cell production as determined by F reticulocyte levels in SS females was also higher than in SS males (17% +/- 10% v 13% +/- 8%). We tested the hypothesis that F-cell production in both normal and anemic SS individuals was controlled by an X-linked locus with two alleles, high (H) and low (L). Using an algorithm to determine the 99.8% confidence interval of a normal distribution in nonanemic individuals, we estimated that males and females with at least one H allele had greater than 3.3% F cells. Comparisons of male-male or female-female SS sib pairs with discordant F reticulocyte levels distinguished two phenotypes in SS males (L, less than 12%; H, greater than 12%) and three phenotypes in SS females (LL, less than 12%; HL, 12% to 24%, HH greater than 24%). Linkage analysis using polymorphic restriction sites along the X chromosome in eight SS and one AA family localized the F-cell production (FCP) locus to Xp22.2, with a maximum lod score (logarithm of odds of linkage v independent assortment) of 4.6 at a recombination fraction of 0.04.
"Hasta que el tiempo se acabe": la prosa cervantina como expresión cronográfica

La prosa de Miguel de Cervantes ha sido objeto constante de atento analisis y clasificacion a lo largo de su historia critica. Desde los primeros atisbos de Karl Vossler y los esfuerzos catalogadores de Luis de Igartuburo y Julio Cejador y Franca, los clasicos estudios de Amado y Damaso Alonso y Osear Walzel dieron paso a la monografia de Angel Rosenblat, modelo de sistematicidad y esmero De entre la amalgama de expresiones, dichos, modismos y figuras retoricas que conforman la lengua de Cervantes, llama la atencion el repetido recurso a una formula, sencilla en su construccion y peculiar por su capacidad de conjugar los tiempos presente, pasado y futuro. Esta forma ha sido identificada por Angel Rosenblat como un recurso que dota a la prosa de mayor expresividad: «La repeticion de un verbo, o la sucesion de variantes flexivas de un verbo, se presta para el enfasis expresivo» (139). Dentro de la retorica clasica estaria proxima a la annonimatio, figura en la que se repite una misma palabra con diferentes formas gramaticales o tiempos verbales, conservando la raiz. El recurso aparece en, al menos, cuatro obras de Miguel de Cervantes, a saber: La Galatea (1585), El celoso extremeno (escrita alrededor de 1593 y publicada en 1613), el Viaje del Parnaso (1614) y el Quijote (1605 y 1615)^
L5 nerve root duplication in the setting of MRI-depicted L5-S1 disk herniation

Abstract Lumbosacral nerve root anomalies are rare anatomic variations with a predilection for the lumbosacral spine. Among these, conjoined nerve roots are the most common with other rare variants such as nerve root duplication occurring far less frequently. While these anatomic variations are exceedingly rare, their presence has significant clinical ramifications. Undiagnosed lumbosacral nerve root anomalies are at risk for iatrogenic injury, may contribute to wrong-site surgery and contribute to continued postoperative symptoms. Herein, we present a case of a 74 year-old female with diskogenic back pain and L5 radiculopathy found to have a duplicated L5 nerve root intraoperatively. Interestingly, the L5-S1 disk was found to be normal and unlikely to contribute to her presentation. She underwent L5-S1 laminectomy and L5 foraminotomy with resolution of her L5 radicular symptoms postoperatively.
Effect of the number of cases in image database on the performance of computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) for the detection of pulmonary nodules in chest radiographs

We investigated the effect of the number of cases included in an image database on development of a computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) scheme for the detection of lung nodules, in terms of the performance of the CAD scheme. A total number of 1000 chest radiographs with nodules was used in this study. All images were divided randomly into subsets consisting of the same number of cases from different sources. The subsets we used in this study were 10 sets of 100 cases, 5 sets of 200 cases, and 2 sets of 500 cases. The entire database and all of the subsets were tested by use of the same CAD scheme, but with different parameter settings for consistency tests. When the sensitivities of the CAD scheme for each subset were kept at a level of 70.0 %, the numbers of false positives per image were 0.1 for 100 cases, 0.6 for 200 cases, 2.9 for 500 cases, and 6.2 for 1000 cases. Therefore, the performance of the CAD scheme in detecting lung nodules was strongly affected by the number of cases used. We conclude that a large-scale image database is needed for reliable evaluation of the performance of CAD.
Habitat fragmentation caused by woody plant encroachment inhibits the spread of an invasive grass

1. Although habitat fragmentation and species invasions are widely recognized threats to biodiversity, few empirical studies have examined both threats together. Here we test the hypothesis that habitat fragmentation may limit the spread of invasive species across landscapes. 2. In central Texas, patches of herbaceous vegetation become increasingly fragmented (e.g. smaller and more isolated) as landscapes undergo woody plant encroachment. However, during this process, fragmentation and loss of herbaceous habitat are not completely correlated, which allowed us to separate the effects of fragmentation from the effects of habitat loss. 3. At three sites in central Texas, we recorded the occurrence of the invasive bunchgrass Bothriochloa ischaemum in randomly-located plots in herbaceous patches. We measured fragmentation of the herbaceous habitat around these plots at five scales, using aerial photographs. 4. Bothriochloa ischaemum occurrence was significantly negatively related to most aspects of fragmentation. These negative relationships were stronger after the effects of habitat loss were removed from the effects of fragmentation per se. 5. The strength of the negative relationship between B. ischaemum occurrence and fragmentation varied among sites, probably reflecting the influence of grazing and other management practices. 6. Synthesis and applications. Our results indicate that fragmentation, separated from habitat loss, can have positive as well as negative conservation effects. Fragmentation, if wisely used, could be a useful tool in the management of invasive plant species like B. ischaemum. Increasing the degree of habitat fragmentation may slow the spread of invasive species across landscapes.
Dogmatism and Authoritarianism

(1968). Dogmatism and Authoritarianism. The Journal of Social Psychology: Vol. 76, No. 1, pp. 89-95.
Master stability functions for coupled nearly identical dynamical systems

We derive a master stability function (MSF) for synchronization in networks of coupled dynamical systems with small but arbitrary parametric variations. Analogous to the MSF for identical systems, our generalized MSF simultaneously solves the linear-stability problem for near-synchronous states (NSS) for all possible connectivity structures. We also derive a general sufficient condition for stable near-synchronization and show that the synchronization error scales linearly with the magnitude of parameter variations. Our analysis underlines the significant role played by the Laplacian eigenvectors in the study of network synchronization of near-identical systems.
Communicating climate change: spatial analog versus color-banded isoline maps with and without accompanying text

People discount projected impacts of climate change that they see as spatially or temporally remote. To overcome this, climate change outreach must communicate impacts as local, concrete, immediate, and situated in a well-understood frame of reference. Spatial-analog mapping may meet this challenge: by drawing on people’s experience of existing climates, this technique matches a locality’s projected climates with present-day climates of other localities. However, analog maps’ effect on climate impact perceptions has not been compared with the effect on climate impact perceptions elicited by standard climate change mapping techniques. Accordingly, this study considers whether residents of Centre Region, Pennsylvania, who are shown spatial-analog maps for future Centre Region temperatures, perceive impacts as more salient than do residents shown the same temperature-change information directly using color-banded isallotherm maps. It also considers how responses differ when this information is presented usin...
Endoscopic instrumented posterolateral lumbar fusion with Healos and recombinant human growth/differentiation factor-5.

OBJECTIVE The goal of this study was to use a minimally invasive endoscopic surgical technique in a sheep model to evaluate the efficacy of an osteoinductive growth factor, recombinant human growth/differentiation factor-5 (also designated MP52), and an osteoconductive matrix formulation (Healos; DePuy AcroMed, Inc., Mountain View, CA) for inducing and facilitating bone formation. METHODS Twelve mature sheep underwent bilateral posterolateral lumbar fusion and pedicle screw fixation via a posterior endoscopic approach. Each sheep received two different types of graft material, autogenous iliac crest bone, or a bone graft substitute (MP52 with Healos), inserted into the right and left sides of the spine in an alternating fashion. Groups of four sheep were killed at 2, 4, and 6 months postoperatively for manual, radiographic, and histological evaluation. RESULTS No neurological impairments, infections, or other complications were observed. After 2 months, partial fusion on both sides was observed, but radiographic evaluation showed greater bone growth on the side that received the bone graft substitute. Solid posterolateral fusion was observed in both autograft and bone graft substitute sites at 4 and 6 months, and autograft and Healos MP52 fusion sites were essentially the same at histological examination. There was no abnormal overgrowth of new bone from either of these two materials. CONCLUSION Endoscopic posterolateral lumbar arthrodesis and instrumentation is feasible, safe, and effective in a sheep model. Healos is a useful bonding agent that mimics natural bone in posterolateral intertransverse fusion sites. Combined with MP52, it produced fusion comparable to that of autogenous bone graft. Minimally invasive techniques and bone graft substitutes could eliminate morbidity and increase the likelihood of successful fusion.
Mechanically Tunable Thin Films of Photosensitive Artificial Proteins: Preparation and Characterization by Nanoindentation

Thin films of controlled elastic modulus were made by photo-cross-linking artificial extracellular matrix (aECM) proteins containing the photosensitive amino acid p-azidophenylalanine (pN_3Phe). The elastic moduli of the films were calculated from nanoindentation data collected by atomic force microscopy (AFM) using a thin-film Hertz model. The modulus was shown to be tunable in the range 0.3−1.0 MPa either by controlling the irradiation time or by varying the level of pN_3Phe in the protein. Tensile measurements on bulk films of the same proteins and finite-element simulation of the indentation process agreed with the thin-film modulus measurements from AFM. Substrates characterized by spatial variation in elastic modulus were created by local control of the irradiation time.
Self-concept and mother-concept in black and white preschool children.

Utilizing objective psychological assessment instruments and projective techniques, measures of self-concept and mother-concept were obtained from young black children and white children. No significant differences were found between the self-concepts and mother-concepts of these two groups of children. As predicted, there was significant positive association between the self-concept and mother-concept in both groups. Consideration was given to contradictions between the present findings, plus some from other recent studies, and certain views presented in the older psychological literature. The need for longitudinal studies of self-esteem was emphasized.
Subjective criteria and probing attachment loss to evaluate the effects of plaque control and root debridement.

Abstract 11 adult patients with moderate to advanced periodontitis were treated with oral hygiene instruction and an initial, single episode of root debridement. Before therapy, 3 independent clinicians examined all patients and identified sites that in their opinion probably would not respond to the therapy and would continue to lose attachment. On 2 occasions, 3 and 12 months later, the clinicians reexamined and reevaluated all patients and all sites. The results of therapy were also monitored by probing attachment level measurements performed every 3rd month. All 11 patients completed 24 months of follow-up, and 6 subjects were available until 36 months. Sites with probing attachment loss after 12, 24 and 36 months were identified using linear regression analysis and compared to the clinicians' prediction of probing attachment loss. The results demonstrated a limited agreement between probing attachment loss determined by linear regression and the clinicians' predictions of probing attachment loss. It appears that the traditional clinical signs and factors used to forecast and identify periodontal disease activity are only moderately associated with probing attachment loss. This suggests that attachment loss may be caused by several factors, at least following initial therapy. The progression of an inflammatory disease of microbial etiology may be only 1 of such causes. Further studies are needed to clarify the nature and cause of probing attachment loss.
Vanadium- and molybdenum-containing compositions prepared by mechanochemical and following thermal treatments of V 2 O 5 /(NH 4 ) 2 Mo 2 O 7 (V/Mo = 0.7/0.3)

X-ray powder diffraction, DTA, FT-IR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), nitrogen adsorption, and mercury porometry were used to characterize samples prepared as a result of mechanochemical treatment (MCT) of a V2O5/(NH4)2Mo2O7 (V/Mo = 0.7/0.3) composition in water, ethanol, and air, as well as after calcining them at temperatures from the range 300–700°C. The MCT of nonporous powders in water yields porous materials with definite meso- and macropore sizes. Heat treatment in air at 300–450°C enhances the formation of a molybdenum substitutional solid solution in V2O5 and conserves rather high values of specific surface areas and pore volumes. An increase in heat treatment temperature is accompanied by the degradation of the solid solution and the formation of a V2MoO8 phase.
Ethical Issues in Stem Cell Research

Stem cell research offers great promise for understanding basic mechanisms of human development and differentiation, as well as the hope for new treatments for diseases such as diabetes, spinal cord injury, Parkinson's disease, and myocardial infarction. However, human stem cell (hSC) research also raises sharp ethical and political controversies. The derivation of pluripotent stem cell lines from oocytes and embryos is fraught with disputes about the onset of human personhood. The reprogramming of somatic cells to produce induced pluripotent stem cells avoids the ethical problems specific to embryonic stem cell research. In any hSC research, however, difficult dilemmas arise regarding sensitive downstream research, consent to donate materials for hSC research, early clinical trials of hSC therapies, and oversight of hSC research. These ethical and policy issues need to be discussed along with scientific challenges to ensure that stem cell research is carried out in an ethically appropriate manner. This article provides a critical analysis of these issues and how they are addressed in current policies.
Perspectives on multiagent learning

I lay out a slight refinement of Shoham et al.'s taxonomy of agendas that I consider sensible for multiagent learning (MAL) research. It is not intended to be rigid: senseless work can be done within these agendas and additional sensible agendas may arise. Within each agenda, I identify issues and suggest directions. In the computational agenda, direct algorithms are often more efficient, but MAL plays a role especially when the rules of the game are unknown or direct algorithms are not known for the class of games. In the descriptive agenda, more emphasis should be placed on establishing what classes of learning rules actually model learning by multiple humans or animals. Also, the agenda is, in a way, circular. This has a positive side too: it can be used to verify the learning models. In the prescriptive agendas, the desiderata need to be made clear and should guide the design of MAL algorithms. The algorithms need not mimic humans' or animals' learning. I discuss some worthy desiderata; some from the literature do not seem well motivated. The learning problem is interesting both in cooperative and noncooperative settings, but the concerns are quite different. For many, if not most, noncooperative settings, future work should increasingly consider the learning itself strategically. Lower bounds cut across the agendas. They can be derived on the computational complexity and on the number of interactions needed.
Temperature Dependence of Open-Circuit Voltage and UPS Study for P3HT:PCBM Organic Solar Cells

In this paper, the open-circuit voltage Voc of a poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) and a [6,6]-phenyl C61 -butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) bulk heterojunction organic solar cell device was measured at temperatures ranging from 15°C to 145°C. The temperature dependence of the vacuum shift and of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy level of P3HT and PCBM were measured by ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy in the same temperature range. The temperature dependence of the absorption edge was also studied in the same temperature range to obtain the temperature variation of the optical band gap energy Eg. The measured Voc of the devices shows a clear decreasing trend with increasing operating temperature, and the total decrease is found to be about 0.1 V. However, by utilizing the measured values of the HOMO for the P3HT (donor) and of the determined lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) for the PCBM (acceptor), we have found that the calculated values of Voc and its temperature dependence do not agree with the measured Voc values. This is a clear indication that the expression (HOMO-LUMO)-exciton energy does not hold and that other factors are impacting the value of Voc.
An integrated congestion management architecture for Internet hosts

This paper presents a novel framework for managing network congestion from an end-to-end perspective. Our work is motivated by trends in traffic patterns that threaten the long-term stability of the Internet. These trends include the use of multiple independent concurrent flows by Web applications and the increasing use of transport protocols and applications that do not adapt to congestion. We present an end-system architecture centered around a Congestion Manager (CM) that ensures proper congestion behavior and allows applications to easily adapt to network congestion. Our framework integrates congestion management across all applications and transport protocols. The CM maintains congestion parameters and exposes an API to enable applications to learn about network characteristics, pass information to the CM, and schedule data transmissions. Internally, it uses a window-based control algorithm, a scheduler to regulate transmissions, and a lightweight protocol to elicit feedback from receivers.We describe how TCP and an adaptive real-time streaming audio application can be implemented using the CM. Our simulation results show that an ensemble of concurrent TCP connections can effectively share bandwidth and obtain consistent performance, without adversely affecting other network flows. Our results also show that the CM enables audio applications to adapt to congestion conditions without having to perform congestion control or bandwidth probing on their own. We conclude that the CM provides a useful and pragmatic framework for building adaptive Internet applications.
Improved Binding Free Energy Predictions from Single-Reference Thermodynamic Integration Augmented with Hamiltonian Replica Exchange.

Reliable predictions of relative binding free energies are essential in drug discovery, where chemists modify promising compounds with the aim of increasing binding affinity. Conventional thermodynamic integration (TI) approaches can estimate corresponding changes in binding free energies but suffer from inadequate sampling due to the ruggedness of the molecular energy surfaces. Here, we present an improved TI strategy for computing relative binding free energies of congeneric ligands. This strategy employs a specific, unphysical single-reference (SR) state and Hamiltonian replica exchange (HREX) to locally enhance sampling. We then apply this strategy to compute relative binding free energies of 12 ligands in the L99A mutant of T4 lysozyme. Besides the ligands, our approach enhances hindered rotations of the important V111 as well as V87 and L118 side chains. Concurrently, we devise practical strategies to monitor and improve HREX-SRTI efficiency. Overall, the HREX-SRTI results agree well (R2 = 0.76, RMS...
Hurler syndrome: alpha-L-iduronidase activity in leukocytes as a method for heterozygote detection.

Extract: α-L-Iduronidase activity and β-galactosidase activity were determined in mixed leukocyte preparations in 10 families in which the Hurler syndrome had occurred. Affected patients, heterozygotes, and normal subjects were clearly distinguished by α-L-iduronidase activity alone. Patients had 0–3%, obligate heterozygotes 19–60%, and normal subjects 83–121% of the mean normal activity. There was no overlap between heterozygotes and normal subjects. Although the mean α-L-iduronidase to β-galactosidase ratio was significantly lowered in heterozygotes when compared with that of normal subjects, appreciable overlap was noted between the two groups. Speculation: Carriers and affected individuals for Hurler syndrome can be reliably detected using mixed leukocyte preparations for the determination of α-L-iduronidase activity. As technology improves enzyme assays will become reliable enough for determination of heterozygotes for an increasing number of disorders, thus enabling more thorough and accurate genetic counseling.
Reversible computation with quantum-dot cellular automata (QCA)

Quantum-dot cellular automata (QCA) is a strategy in which binary data is represented by charge configuration within a multi-dot cell. Data is transmitted to nearest neighbors by the Coulombic interaction. An electric field acts as a clock and imposes directionality on circuits. We have explored the connection between logical reversibility and physical reversibility in the context of a QCA system, explicitly calculating the energy dissipated by performing an erasure as a function of the time over which it is performed [1]. Further, we present a Bennett-style clocking scheme to implement reversible computation that is natural to the circuits to minimize the amount of information that is erased. Molecular QCA may provide a practical implementation of reversible computing
Improved microstructural characteristics in YBa2Cu3O7−x thick films prepared by a modified powder melt process route

Abstract It is evident from the characterisation of superconducting YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7− x (YBCO) thick films processed by melt texturing on yttria-stabilised zirconia substrates from YBCO precursors that the microstructural properties are highly dependent upon the stoichiometry of the precursor powder. It has been observed that the presence of BaCuO 2 and CuO in the precursor leads to the formation of increased grain growth in the processed films. Increased YBCO grain sizes have been observed in thick films processed by a modified powder melt process (PMP) using precursors consisting of BaCuO 2 /CuO flux material mixed with Y 2 BaCuO 5 relative to those seen in films processed from prereacted YBCO. Cross-sectional analysis of such films has also shown a decreased size and increasingly homogeneous distribution of Y 2 BaCuO 5 particles throughout the matrix with respect to films processed from YBCO precursors. Such microstructural improvements may lead to improved properties in YBCO thick films.
Morphology of the airways and lung parenchyma in hatchlings of the loggerhead sea turtle, Caretta caretta.

Light microscopy as well as scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed the lungs of loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), hatchlings to be multichambered with several separate open chambers communicating with a cartilage-reinforced central intrapulmonary bronchus. This central bronchus is structurally analogous to an oversized mammalian respiratory bronchiole. The subsequent branching airways, chambers and niches, are in many ways structurally and functionally similar to mammalian alveolar ducts and alveolar sacs, respectively. The airways are lined by a pseudostratified, columnar epithelium comprised of ciliated, nonciliated secretory, and basal cells. Histochemically, the epithelium is found to contain cells secreting both sialomucins and sulfomucins, as well as a neutral serous secretion. Small granule cells, a type of neuroendocrine cell similar to those seen in mammals, are scattered among the other airway cells. The gas-exchange areas, termed ediculae, are lined by the respiratory type I and type II pneumocytes, as in mammals. Abundant smooth muscle is seen in the trabeculae and interedicular septa of the lung tissue. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A three dimensional implicit immersed boundary method with application

Most algorithms of the immersed boundary method originated by Peskin are explicit when it comes to the computation of the elastic forces exerted by the immersed boundary to the fluid. A drawback of such an explicit approach is a severe restriction on the time step size for maintaining numerical stability. An implicit immersed boundary method in two dimensions using the lattice Boltzmann approach has been proposed. This paper reports an extension of the method to three dimensions and its application to simulation of a massive flexible sheet interacting with an incompressible viscous flow.
Structural Bioinformatics Prediction of Membrane-binding Proteins

Membrane-binding peripheral proteins play important roles in many biological processes, including cell signaling and membrane trafficking. Unlike integral membrane proteins, these proteins bind the membrane mostly in a reversible manner. Since peripheral proteins do not have canonical transmembrane segments, it is difficult to identify them from their amino acid sequences. As a first step toward genome-scale identification of membrane-binding peripheral proteins, we built a kernel-based machine learning protocol. Key features of known membrane-binding proteins, including electrostatic properties and amino acid composition, were calculated from their amino acid sequences and tertiary structures, which were then incorporated into the support vector machine to perform the classification. A data set of 40 membrane-binding proteins and 230 non-membrane-binding proteins was used to construct and validate the protocol. Cross-validation and holdout evaluation of the protocol showed that the accuracy of the prediction reached up to 93.7% and 91.6%, respectively. The protocol was applied to the prediction of membrane-binding properties of four C2 domains from novel protein kinases C. Although these C2 domains have 50% sequence identity, only one of them was predicted to bind the membrane, which was verified experimentally with surface plasmon resonance analysis. These results suggest that our protocol can be used for predicting membrane-binding properties of a wide variety of modular domains and may be further extended to genome-scale identification of membrane-binding peripheral proteins.
Post-traumatic stress disorder assessment with a structured interview: reliability and concordance with a standardized clinical interview

Epidemiologic studies of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have used the PTSD module of the NIMH Diagnostic Interview (DIS) in its various editions and modifications. Although the diagnoses of numerous disorders made by the DIS or the WHO – Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI), which is modelled on the DIS, have been compared to clinical diagnoses, little is known about the performance of these instruments in diagnosing PTSD. In this study, we examine the test–retest reliability of a modified version of the PTSD section of the DIS-IV and the CIDI 2.1 and compare it with an independently conducted clinical interview in the 1996 Detroit Area Survey of Trauma, an epidemio-logical study of a representative sample of 2181 persons. A blind readministration of the structured interview was conducted by a lay interviewer 12–18 months after the initial interview, on 32 respondents classified as PTSD cases in the initial interview and on 23 non-cases who reported exposure to trauma. The clinical reappraisal was conducted blindly by two psychiatric social workers, using the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-IV (CAPS-DX). The data were weighted to adjust for the oversampling of cases and the differential probabilities of selection of traumatic events across respondents with different numbers of events. The test–retest consistency of the structured interview was a kappa of 0.62 and an odds ratio of 42.5. The comparison of the structured interview with the clinical reappraisal showed agreement in 81% of the assessed sample. Positive predicted value was 0.75, negative predictive value was 0.97, and the odds ratio was 94.8 (all weighted values). Discrepant cases were mostly ‘false positives’ and, of these, the majority were subthreshold cases missing only one symptom in the CAPS-DX. Copyright © 1998 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Road boundary detection

A method for extracting road boundaries using the monochrome image of a visual road scene is presented. The statistical information regarding the intensity levels present in the image along with some geometrical constraints concerning the road are the basics of this approach. Results and advantages of this technique compared to others are discussed. The major advantages of this technique, when compared to others, are its ability to process the image in only one pass, to limit the area searched in the image using only knowledge concerning the road geometry and previous boundary information, and dynamically adjust for inconsistencies in the located boundary information, all of which helps to increase the efficacy of this technique.
Catalase activity is stimulated by H2O2 in rich culture medium and is required for H2O2 resistance and adaptation in yeast

Catalases are efficient scavengers of H2O2 and protect cells against H2O2 stress. Examination of the H2O2 stimulon in Saccharomyces cerevisiae revealed that the cytosolic catalase T (Ctt1) protein level increases 15-fold on H2O2 challenge in synthetic complete media although previous work revealed that deletion of the CCT1 or CTA1 genes (encoding peroxisomal/mitochondrial catalase A) does not increase the H2O2 sensitivity of yeast challenged in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4). This we attributed to our observation that catalase activity is depressed when yeast are challenged with H2O2 in nutrient-poor media. Hence, we performed a systematic comparison of catalase activity and cell viability of wild-type yeast and of the single catalase knockouts, ctt1∆ and cta1∆, following H2O2 challenge in nutrient-rich medium (YPD) and in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4). Ctt1 but not Cta1 activity is strongly induced by H2O2 when cells are challenged in YPD but suppressed when cells are challenged in buffer. Consistent with the activity results, exponentially growing ctt1∆ cells in YPD are more sensitive to H2O2 than wild-type or cta1∆ cells, whereas in buffer all three strains exhibit comparable H2O2 hypersensitivity. Furthermore, catalase activity is increased during adaptation to sublethal H2O2 concentrations in YPD but not in buffer. We conclude that induction of cytosolic Ctt1 activity is vital in protecting yeast against exogenous H2O2 but this activity is inhibited by H2O2 when cells are challenged in nutrient-free media.
The Sufi Approach to Food: A Case Study of Ādāb

En contraste avec la loi de l'islam, beaucoup de soufis considerent la nourriture et les repas non seulement sous leurs aspects legaux, mais aussi integres dans l'ensemble de la mystique de la vie quotidienne qui doit etre une routine nourrissante d'entrainement spirituel. L'A. se centre ici sur un groupe assez vaste, les soufis moderes, qui vivaient entre l'Egypte et l'Iran du IXe au XIIe siecles, et decrit l'«ādāb» soufi, l'integration dont il est question ci-dessus.
Word Recognition and Syntactic Attachment in Reading: Evidence for a Staged Architecture.

In 3 experiments, the author examined how readers' eye movements are influenced by joint manipulations of a word's frequency and the syntactic fit of the word in its context. In the critical conditions of the first 2 experiments, a high- or low-frequency verb was used to disambiguate a garden-path sentence, while in the last experiment, a high- or low-frequency verb constituted a phrase structure violation. The frequency manipulation always influenced the early eye movement measures of first-fixation duration and gaze duration. The context manipulation had a delayed effect in Experiment 1, influencing only the probability of a regressive eye movement from later in the sentence. However, the context manipulation influenced the same early eye movement measures as the frequency effect in Experiments 2 and 3, though there was no statistical interaction between the effects of these variables. The context manipulation also influenced the probability of a regressive eye movement from the verb, though the frequency manipulation did not. These results are shown to confirm predictions emerging from the serial, staged architecture for lexical and integrative processing of the E-Z Reader 10 model of eye movement control in reading (Reichle, Warren, & McConnell, 2009). It is argued, more generally, that the results provide an important constraint on how the relationship between visual word recognition and syntactic attachment is treated in processing models.
The effects of osteopontin (OPN) on human CD4+ T cells

Abstract Rationale Ostoepontin (OPN), a bone matrix protein, is involved in the Th1 immune response. Upregulation of OPN is seen in subjects following venom immunotherapy (see Konno et al.), but its exact role in immunoregulation is unclear. Therefore, OPN's effect on CD4+ T cells' gene expression was examined. Methods CD4+ T cells isolated from a healthy subject were activated by a combination of anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 MAbs in the presence or absence of OPN (1 and 10 μg/mL; purified from human milk) for four hrs. Patterns of differential gene expression were determined by four gene-chip microarray (Human 20K cDNA array) analyzes. Results In OPN-treated, activated cells; 2000 upregulated and 1400 downregulated genes were identified when compared to untreated, activated cells. The list of differentially expressed genes includes cytokines, chemokines and transcription factors. Of interest, the differential expression of genes encoding interferon-gamma-inducible protein 10 (IP-10) and interferon regulatory factor-4 (IRF-4), associated with Th1 and Th2 responses, respectively, were identified. In OPN treated cells, IP-10 expression was upregulated while IRF-4 expression was downregulated. Conclusions These results suggest OPN induces significant changes in CD4+ T cells' gene expression and plays a role in the regulation of T cells' responses. Further investigation into the mechanisms involved in OPN-regulated IP-10 and IRF-4 expression may provide insight into the effect of OPN on Th1- and Th2-associated responses.
First Report of Alternanthera mosaic virus Infection in Angelonia in the United States.

Stunting, chlorosis, and light yellow mottling resembling symptoms of nutrient deficiency were observed in angelonia (Angelonia angustifolia) in commercial production in New York. Numerous, filamentous particles 520 to 540 nm long and spherical virus particles 30 nm in diameter were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in negatively stained partially purified extracts of symptomatic Angelonia leaf tissue. Two viruses, the filamentous potexvirus Alternanthera mosaic virus (AltMV) and the spherical carmovirus Angelonia flower break virus (AnFBV) were subsequently identified on the basis of nucleotide sequence analysis of amplicons generated by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR using total RNA isolated from infected leaf tissue. A 584-bp portion of the replicase-encoding region of the AltMV genome was obtained with the degenerate primers Potex 2RC (5′-AGC ATR GNN SCR TCY TG-3′) and Potex 5 (5′-CAY CAR CAR GCM AAR GAT GA-3′) (3). Forward (AnFBV CP 1F-5′-AGC CTG GCA ATC TGC GTA CTG ATA-3′) and rever...