cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Problems in Understanding the Organization, Structure and Function of Chromosomes

Despite intensive investigation of mammalian chromosomes, we are still largely ignorant of the basic rules that govern their organization, structure, and functions. This situation results from the current limitations in available technologies to elucidate the structures of such complex biological systems. Whereas the powerful techniques of molecular biology have successfully addressed at high resolution functional problems at the level of nucleic acid sequences, many lower resolution questions concerning the architecture of the cell nucleus, long range order in chromosomes, and higher order chromatin structures remain largely unanswered. Techniques are now emerging that should help to remedy this situation. The use of confocal microscopy with molecular probes will tell us at the level of the light microscope a great deal about the organization of the nucleus and how it changes in different cell types; advanced light sources have the potential to image hydrated biological systems down to 10 nm, and scanning electron tunneling and atomic force microscopies have demonstrated their ability to image molecules though their ability to usefully image biomolecules such as DNA remains to be demonstrated.
Human Genes for Factor IX and other Vitamin K Dependent Blood Proteins

Factor IX is a plasma glycoprotein with m.w. 57,000. It is a single chain precurser to a serine protease which participates in the middle phase of blood coagulation. It is activated by factor XIa (activated factor XI) as well as by a complex of factor VII-tissue factor to a two chain form serine protease, factor IXa. Factor IX is one of the half a dozen blood proteins which require vitamin K for their normal biosynthesis. These proteins include factor VII, factor IX, factor X, prothrombin, protein C, protein S and protein Z. The first four proteins are blood coagulation factors. Protein C functions as an efficient regulator of blood coagulation by inactivating factors Villa and Va in the presence of protein S. Protein S also has a possible regulatory role in the complement system by binding to C4b binding2 protein. The function for protein Z is not known at the present time. The first about ten glutamic acid residues which are located within the amino-terminal about 40 amino acid sequence of these proteins are converted to gamma carboxylglutamic acid residues (gla residues) in a reaction catalyzed by a membrane-bound carboxylase(s) in the presence of vitamin K as a cofactor3. These gla residues in the proteins serve as the sites to bind calcium ions which are required for the optimal activities for these proteins.
Oral Infections and Autoimmune Diseases

Abstract Environmental factors such as oral infections may play an important triggering role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases (AIDs) among genetically susceptible individuals. The role of oral infections in the putative pathogenic mechanism has been presented. The pathogenesis of AIDs involves naive T-cells developing into Th17 cells and leading to autoimmune diseases with the help of multiple transcription factors and cytokines such as interferon (INF)-γ, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-21, IL-23, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, and forkhead box P3 (Foxp3). These transcription factors and cytokines are also expressed in oral infections. Hence, the molecular biology of oral infections in the framework of autoimmune pathogenesis has been discussed. Bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are recognized via toll-like receptors (TLRs) and may become the epitopes for the antibodies causing AIDs. Moreover, Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) is known to secrete peptidylarginine deiminase, which citrullinates fibrinogen, an auto-antigen for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Citrullinated enolase peptide-1 (CEP-1) in B-cells and α-enolase from P. gingivalis showed 82–100% sequence matching. Thus, molecular mimicry with P. gingivalis enolase and CEP-1 might be a possible connection between oral infections and RA pathogenesis. Furthermore, the evidence linking oral infections with various autoimmune diseases, including atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, antiphospholipid syndrome, Sjogren's syndrome and Crohn's disease, are critically reviewed individually in a causal context. Also discussed are future directions in establishing causality in the relationship between oral infections and AIDs. Applying the results from animal, in vitro or ex vivo studies to humans requires the careful adjustment of confounding effects such as smoking, genetics and other competing factors.
Real-time standoff detection of nitrogen isotopes in ammonia plumes using a swept external cavity quantum cascade laser.

A swept-wavelength external cavity quantum cascade laser is used to measure time-resolved NH315 and NH314 concentrations and isotope ratios in a turbulent plume source located at 10 m standoff distance. Measurements show excellent agreement with expected values of isotope ratios for samples with natural and enriched N15 abundance. Detection sensitivity of 150 ppb*m is demonstrated for a 50 ms measurement interval, improving to 10 ppb*m with 10 s averaging, with isotopic precision as good as 0.8%.
Elemental Composition at the Cosmic-Ray Source Derived from the ACE-CRIS Instrument. I. 6C to 28Ni

We report new elemental source abundances from _6C to _(28)Ni for galactic cosmic rays, using observations from the Cosmic Ray Isotope Spectrometer (CRIS) on board the NASA Advanced Composition Explorer spacecraft. Abundances were calculated using CRIS energy spectra at energies below 550 MeV/nucleon from the 1997–98 and 2009–10 solar-minimum periods, as well as from the 2001–03 solar-maximum period. These new results, when combined with results for heavier elements reported in a forthcoming paper, are consistent with a model of galactic cosmic-ray origin where nuclei found in interstellar grains are accelerated preferentially over those found in interstellar gas, with this acceleration happening in OB associations.
Gender Differences in SIOP Research Fellows’ Publication Networks

Gardner, Ryan, and Snoeyink (2018) provide illuminating analyses regarding the role of gender in career advancement within industrial and organizational (I-O) psychology. One of their suggestions for further advancing this area of research is to examine homophily, defined as the tendency for individuals to have social ties with those who are similar to themselves, in the social networks of men and women in the field. Such research is warranted because social networks—in particular, the networks of research collaboration relationships (e.g., publications, grants) scientists develop throughout their careers—are critical to success in academia (e.g., Bozeman & Corley, 2004).
Profiling Target and Potential Learners Today and into the Future

Conducting an early learner profile for a particular subject domain may help identify whether there is a potential market for the conceptualized open-shared learning objects and sequences…and may inform learning designs for target and potential learners. This chapter focuses on the importance of learner-centered design or the general idea that the design of learning accommodates understood learner needs and interests. This is not to say that all learner needs are accommodated because there are learning benefits for those who are able to adjust and adapt to the learning context. This chapter describes the importance of rough learner profiling as a framework, some relevant dimensions of such profiling, and how to use such profiles to enhance the design, development, and delivery of open-shared learning contents. This work shows the importance of using empirics to profile target and potential learners, and also to use profiles to constructive ends, not any potentially harmful ones (such as stereotyping and limiting learner options or denying access to particular groups). Also, this work emphasizes the efficacy-testing of learner profiling on learning resource designs and development and the resultant learning.
Exposure to ENDS advertising and use of marijuana in ENDS among college students.

Abstract Background Factors associated with marijuana use in electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) are largely unknown. ENDS advertising, through subtle normative cues as well as explicit and implicit messages suggesting ENDS products are socially condoned and healthier alternatives, may influence the use of marijuana in ENDS. The aim of our study was to examine the association between exposure to ENDS advertising and subsequent use of ENDS with marijuana among college students. Methods Data for this study were from waves 2 and 4 of the Marketing and Promotions across Colleges in Texas (M-PACT) study. Participants included 3720 college students (mean age = 21.4, SD = 2.3; 35.78% white; 35.7% male) across 24 colleges in Texas who completed online tobacco behavior surveys one year apart. Multilevel logistic regression was conducted to examine the association between ENDS advertising exposure at wave 2 (spring 2015) and use of marijuana in ENDS one year later at wave 4 (spring 2016), controlling for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and wave 2 sensation-seeking, impulsivity, current tobacco use, current marijuana use, and ever use of ENDS with marijuana. Use of ENDS to consume marijuana in the past six months was the outcome variable and ENDS advertising exposure was the independent variable. Results Nearly half of participants reported ever ENDS use at waves 2 and 4, and 10% used marijuana in ENDS in the past 6-months at wave 4. Multilevel logistic regression analyses indicated that for every unit increase in ENDS advertising exposure, the odds of subsequently using ENDS with marijuana one year later were 1.08 times (95% CI = 1.01–1.14) greater. Conclusions ENDS advertising uniquely contributed to the subsequent use of marijuana in an ENDS, over and above the effects of other risk factors.
Blood flow restriction augments the skeletal muscle response during very low-load resistance exercise to volitional failure

The purpose of this study was to compare the acute muscular response with resistance exercise between the following conditions [labeled (% one-repetition maximum/% arterial occlusion pressure)]: hi...
Aspects of lingual coarticulation

Abstract: This study utilized high speed X-ray films (cinefluorography) to study RL coarticulations of tongue apex and tongue dorsum. Subjects spoke C1C2V and VC1C2 sequences comprised of combinations of tense and lax consonant clusters and vowels. Measurements of lingual movements were obtained from cineframe tracings. Results indicate RL anticipatory movements of the tongue dorsum in C1C2V sequences, anticipatory movements toward V began on C1 in 30 % of the cases. In VC1C2 sequences, the tongue apex began RL anticipatory movements toward C2 during the steady-state vowel segment in approximately 44% of the cases. Perturbations of tongue movement related to labial closures and subsequent oral pressure build up was observed. The articulatory feature tense/lax did not vary systematically with the amount and extent of coarticulatory RL effects. Results were related to certain hypotheses concerning articulation behavior.
From Inquisition to E-Inquisition: A Survey of Online Sources on the Portuguese Inquisition

The Portuguese Inquisition in the colonies of the Empire remains understudied due to a lack of primary source materials that are available the researchers and educators. The advances in digital technologies and the current drive to foster Open Access have allowed us to understand better the relations among the complex set of circumstances as well as the mechanisms that, in their totality, represent the Portuguese Inquisition. The present paper seeks to answer questions that vary from describing these resources to identifying the institutions that created them. Digitized resources serve as a surrogate of the originals, and we can leverage the access to these electronic surrogates and enhance our understanding of the mechanisms of inquisition through E-Inquisitional objects in pedagogy and research.
Deep neural networks for efficient phase demodulation in wavelength shifting interferometry

Abstract Analytical phase demodulation algorithms in optical interferometry typically fail to reach the theoretical sensitivity limit set by the Cramer–Rao bound (CRB). We show that deep neural networks (DNNs) can perform efficient phase demodulation by achieving or exceeding the CRB by significant margins when trained with new information that is not utilized by conventional algorithms, such as noise statistics and parameter constraints. As an example, we developed and applied DNNs to wavelength shifting interferometry. When trained with noise statistics, the DNNs outperform the conventional algorithm in terms of phase sensitivity and achieve the traditional three parameter CRB. Further, by incorporating parameter constraints into the training sets, they can exceed the traditional CRB. For well confined parameters, the phase sensitivity of the DNNs can even approach a fundamental limit we refer to as the single parameter CRB. Such sensitivity improvement can translate into significant increase in single-to-noise ratio without hardware modification, or be used to relax hardware requirements.
Anticipation-induced delta phase reset improves human olfactory perception

Anticipating an odor improves detection and perception, yet the underlying neural mechanisms of olfactory anticipation are not well understood. In this study, we used human intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) to show that anticipation resets the phase of delta oscillations in piriform cortex prior to odor arrival. Anticipatory phase reset correlates with ensuing odor-evoked theta power and improvements in perceptual accuracy. These effects were consistently present in each individual subject and were not driven by potential confounds of pre-inhale motor preparation or power changes. Together, these findings suggest that states of anticipation enhance olfactory perception through phase resetting of delta oscillations in piriform cortex.
A 100KHz-1GHz termination-dependent human body communication channel measurement using miniaturized wearable devices

Human Body Communication has shown great promise to replace wireless communication for information exchange between wearable devices of a body area network. However, there are very few studies in literature, that systematically study the channel loss of capacitive HBC for wearable devices over a wide frequency range with different terminations at the receiver, partly due to the need for miniaturized wearable devices for an accurate study. This paper, for the first time, measures the channel loss of capacitive HBC from 100KHz to 1GHz for both high-impedance and 50Ω terminations using wearable, battery powered devices; which is mandatory for accurate measurement of the HBC channel-loss, due to ground coupling effects. Results show that high impedance termination leads to a significantly lower channel loss (40 dB improvement at 1MHz), as compared to 50Ω termination at low frequencies. This difference steadily decreases with increasing frequency, until they become similar near 80MHz. Beyond 100MHz inter-device coupling dominates, thereby preventing accurate measurements of channel loss of the human body. The measured results provide a consistent wearable, wide-frequency HBC channel loss data and could serve as a backbone for the emerging field of HBC by aiding in the selection of an appropriate operation frequency and termination.
Abandoning Holocene Dreams: Proactive Biodiversity Conservation in a Changing World

Although species have always shifted their ranges, the rapid pace of current biophysical changes and the further complications imparted by human land use provide unprecedented challenges for biodiv...
Toward a Personally Situated Approach to Advocacy: Expanding Community-Engaged Rhetoric to Parent Advocacy in Special Education

A “personally situated” approach to community-engaged rhetoric highlights the personal and performative dimensions of advocacy, which are often obscured in public and community-oriented frameworks....
Pyruvate Kinase M2 Coordinates Metabolism Switch between Glycolysis and Glutaminolysis in Cancer Cells

Cancer cells alter their nutrition metabolism to cope the stressful environment. One important metabolism adjustment is that cancer cells activate glutaminolysis in response to the reduced carbon from glucose entering into the TCA cycle due to inactivation of several enzymes in glycolysis. An important question is how the cancer cells coordinate the changes of glycolysis and glutaminolysis. In this report, we demonstrate that the pyruvate kinase inactive dimer PKM2 facilitates activation of glutaminolysis. Our experiments show that growth stimulations promote PKM2 dimer. The dimer PKM2 plays a role in regulation of glutaminolysis by upregulation of mitochondrial glutaminase I (GLS-1). PKM2 dimer regulates the GLS-1 expression by controlling internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-dependent c-myc translation. Growth stimulations promote PKM2 interacting with c-myc IRES-RNA, thus facilitating c-myc IRES-dependent translation. Our study reveals an important linker that coordinates the metabolism adjustment in cancer cells.
Foreign direct investment and discriminatory environmental enforcement: a firm level perspective

This study focuses on de facto environmental enforcement and tests whether the practice of environmental enforcement discriminates against foreign-invested firms in a developing country. Using orig...
Time- and resource-constrained scheduling for digital microfluidic biochips

Digital microfluidic biochips (DMFBs) are a class of software-programmable laboratories-on-a-chip capable of automating and miniaturizing biochemical assays. Many assays feature time-sensitive interactions which are not supported by existing programming languages or compilers. This paper presents high-level language annotations to allow programmers to specify assays that feature time-sensitive dependencies between operations. To provide compiler support, this paper also presents a new formulation of a microfluidic scheduling problem for DMFBs that enforces timing constraints. To solve the problem, which is NP-complete, the paper introduces an efficient heuristic, along with an optimal Integer Linear Programming (ILP) formulation. Experiments demonstrate that existing methods for the traditional scheduling problem often do not yield solutions that satisfy time-sensitive constraints, while the proposed methods can do so while also effectively minimizing the total execution time of a scheduled assay.
From the Field: An Ombuds Guide

This resource guide provides noteworthy themes, lessons, and tips gathered from HNMCP's decade of experience partnering with ombuds.
Automated Planning and Scheduling for Orbital Express (151)

The challenging timeline for DARPA's Orbital Express mission demanded a flexible, responsive, and (above all) safe approach to mission planning. Because the mission was a technology demonstration, pertinent planning information was learned during actual mission execution. This information led to amendments to procedures, which led to changes in the mission plan. In general, we used the ASPEN planner scheduler to generate and validate the mission plans. We enhanced ASPEN to enable it to reason about uncertainty. We also developed a model generator that would read the text of a procedure and translate it into an ASPEN model. These technologies had a significant impact on the success of the Orbital Express mission.
Parametryczne metody racjonowania

Streszczenie: Artykul analizuje problem racjonowania, czyli podzialu pojedynczego, jednorodnego i doskonale podzielnego dobra pomiedzy agentow o roznych cechach, zwanych typami. Jeśli typ agenta jest dodatnią liczbą rzeczywistą (interpretowaną np. jako „roszczenie” agenta), twierdzenie Younga mowi, ze przy zalozeniu ciąglości, metoda racjonowania jest spojna i symetryczna wtedy i tylko wtedy, gdy posiada reprezentacje w postaci ciąglej funkcji parametrycznej. Twierdzenie to zostalo uogolnione w niniejszym artykule na wszystkie ośrodkowe przestrzenie typow. Kolejne wyniki charakteryzują wszystkie, nie tylko ciągle, metody parametryczne oraz podają proste kryterium rozstrzygające, kiedy metoda binarna (zdefiniowana jedynie dla dwoch agentow) moze byc rozszerzona do spojnej metody zdefiniowanej dla dowolnej liczby agentow. Omowione jest tez zastosowanie do wielowymiarowego problemu bankructwa, ilustrujące korzyści z uogolnienia twierdzenia Younga.
Melatonin reduces oxidant damage and promotes mitochondrial respiration: implications for aging.

: Melatonin has a number of properties as a consequence of which it could be beneficial to animals as they age. Of particular interest are its ubiquitous actions as a direct and indirect antioxidant and free radical scavenger. Besides directly detoxifying a variety of reactive oxygen and reactive nitrogen species, at least one product that is formed as a result of these interactions is also a potent free radical scavenger. Thus, the product that is formed when melatonin detoxifies hydrogen peroxide, that is, N1-acetyl-N2-formyl-5-methoxykynuramine is an efficient scavenger, at least equivalent to melatonin itself. This antioxidant cascade increases the ability of melatonin to resist oxidative damage. Other actions of melatonin, such as stimulation of antioxidative enzymes also improves its status as an antioxidant. Finally, recent observations documenting melatonin's ability to stimulate electron transport and ATP production in the inner-mitochondrial membrane also has relevance for melatonin as an agent that could alter processes of aging. These findings, coupled with diminished melatonin production in advanced age, has prompted scientists to consider melatonin in the context of aging. As of this writing there is no definitive evidence to prove that melatonin alters the rate of aging, although data relating to melatonin deferring some age-related degenerative conditions is accumulating rapidly.
Single-Molecule Adhesion Forces and Attachment Lifetimes of Myosin-I Phosphoinositide Interactions

Phosphoinositides regulate the activities and localization of many cytoskeletal proteins involved in crucial biological processes, including membrane-cytoskeleton adhesion. Yet little is known about the mechanics of protein-phosphoinositide interactions, or about the membrane-attachment mechanics of any peripheral membrane proteins. Myosin-Ic (myo1c) is a molecular motor that links membranes to the cytoskeleton via phosphoinositide binding, so it is particularly important to understand the mechanics of its membrane attachment. We used optical tweezers to measure the strength and attachment lifetime of single myo1c molecules as they bind beads coated with a bilayer of 2% phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate and 98% phosphatidylcholine. Adhesion forces measured under ramp-load ranged between 5.5 and 16 pN at loading rates between 250 and 1800 pN/s. Dissociation rates increased linearly with constant force (0.3–2.5 pN), with rates exceeding 360 s−1 at 2.5 pN. Attachment lifetimes calculated from adhesion force measurements were loading-rate-dependent, suggesting nonadiabatic behavior during pulling. The adhesion forces of myo1c with phosphoinositides are greater than the motors stall forces and are within twofold of the force required to extract a lipid molecule from the membrane. However, attachment durations are short-lived, suggesting that phosphoinositides alone do not provide the mechanical stability required to anchor myo1c to membranes during multiple ATPase cycles.
Alterations in the Metabolism of Exogenous Lipid Associated with Sepsis

The responses to an exogenous lipid challenge of nonhypermetabolic surgical patients requiring parenteral nutrition and seriously ill septic patients were compared. All patients received a 500-ml intravenous infusion of a 10% lipid emulsion over a 4-hr period. An early elevation of glycerol and triglyceride was noted during the infusion suggesting chylomicron fractionation. Peak triglyceride levels were higher in the septic group but the rate of lipid clearance appeared essentially identical in both septic and nonseptic patients. Lipoprotein lipase levels remained constant and were equal for both groups. Significant late ketone body production was statistically identical in both groups despite depressed albumin levels in the septic group suggesting adequate hepatic ketogenic capacity in septic as well as nonseptic patients. (Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition8:169—173, 1984)
Simultaneous Correction of Meridian Aberrations. I. Preliminaries

Before correcting a lens system for aberrations of the meridian section, it is economical to reach desired values for the power, Petzval sum, and longitudinal chromatic aberration. Approximate values derived from the equivalent doublet can be rapidly refined by an iterative paraxial trace method.
Consumer Citizens and the Cities for Climate Protection Campaign

The Cities for Climate Protection campaign, an effort to lower greenhouse-gas emissions at the city scale, operates within the neoliberal state. Two features characterize the interaction of the state and the public via this campaign: a lack of public involvement, and the construction of the citizen as a passive consumer. The author emphasizes a tension that exists between two readings of the consumer citizen: the pliable figure who listens to neoliberal bottom-line arguments, and the political economic actor who identifies not with consumerism but with political change. Citizens thus cannot be wholly embodied by constructions such as the consumer, and consumerist activism has potential. Citizens, though often interpellated as consumers, can position themselves as reasoning publics who see climate change, their cities, and themselves in relational perspective. The author enlists Foucauldian and deliberative-democracy theory to explore the making of citizens through the Cities for Climate Protection campaign.
Evaluation of Soft Tissue Attachments to a Novel Intra-abdominal Prosthetic in a Rabbit Model:

Background. Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair requires placement of an intraperitoneal prosthetic. Composite mesh types have been developed to address the shortcomings of standard meshes. The authors evaluated the host reaction to intraperitoneal placement of a novel composite material. Materials and Methods. A comparison of an innovative polypropylene/polylactide composite mesh was made to Parietex Composite (PCO), Proceed, and DualMesh. Eighteen meshes per group were implanted on intact peritoneum in New Zealand White rabbits. The main outcome measures included the formation of visceral adhesions, adhesion tenacity, tensiometric measurements, and histological analysis. Evaluations of adhesions were made at 1, 4, and 16 weeks using a 2-mm minilaparoscopy. Results. There were no significant differences in the mean adhesion scores between the composite mesh types at week 1 (P = .15) and week 16 (P = .06). At 4 weeks, PCO had significantly fewer adhesions when compared with the other 3 mesh types (P = .02)...
Effects of α1-Blockade on Maximal Vascular Conductance in Young Borderline Hypertensives

This study was conducted to determine if reducing sympathetic tone with alpha 1-adrenergic receptor blockade affected the maximal forearm vascular conductance (FVCmax, reactive hyperemia) responses in young borderline hypertensives and normotensive controls. The FVC response following ischemia (14 min arterial occlusion with 3 min of hand exercise) was determined after systemic alpha 1-blockade (5 mg prazosin in preceding 24 h) in hypertensives (n = 11, MAP = 110 +/- 1, age = 24.5 +/- 1.1, mean +/- SEM) and normotensives (n = 13, MAP = 82 +/- 1, age = 22.5 +/- 0.3). During the placebo trial, resting FVC was lower in the hypertensives than the normotensives (.0472 +/- .0073 vs .0755 +/- .0095 units; P < .05). During alpha 1-blockade, FVC did not differ between the groups. Within each group, FVCmax did not differ significantly between either trial. During placebo, FVCmax was lower (P < .05) in the hypertensives (.3485 +/- .0335 vs .5641 +/- .0503 units) and remained so during alpha 1-blockade (.4048 +/- .0520 vs .5286 +/- .0275 units; P < .05). These data suggest that alpha 1-blockade does not increase FVCmax in borderline hypertensives and that both functional and structural changes in the peripheral vasculature are involved in the blood pressure elevations seen in this group.
Production of energy from saline aquifers: A method to offset the energy cost of carbon capture and storage

Abstract Technologies considered for separating CO2 from flue gas and injecting it into saline aquifers are energy intensive, costly, and technically challenging. Production of dissolved natural gas and geothermal energy by extraction of aquifer brine has shown the potential of offsetting the cost of CO2 capture and storage along with other technical and environmental advantages. Preliminary investigations demonstrate that the amount of produced energy by extracted methane exceeds the energy required for pressurization of CO2 and extracted brine to be injected into the same aquifer. In case of brine temperatures of higher than 150 °C, geothermal energy from the produced hot brine can be used in amine scrubbing process to capture CO2 from flue gas. The amount of thermal energy from hot brine exceeds the amount of energy required for amine scrubbing. In case of lower temperatures, it is suggested that the produced geothermal energy can be converted to power required for pressurization in a membrane separation process. It is estimated that the total power produced from methane and geothermal energy exceeds the power required for capture and pressurization.
Marine tetrapod macroevolution: Physical and biological drivers on 250 Ma of invasions and evolution in ocean ecosystems

Abstract The dominant consumers in today's ocean ecosystems are marine mammals, including cetaceans, sirenians, and pinnipeds, and other marine carnivorans. The ecological dominance of marine mammals can be traced back to at least seven independent transitions during the Cenozoic, when different lineages of terrestrial mammals underwent land to sea evolutionary transformations. However, the evolution of marine mammals represents only the most recent set of marine invasions by tetrapods over the past 250 Ma. During the Mesozoic, over a dozen different reptile lineages (e.g., mosasaurs, ichthyosaurs, turtles, snakes) evolved obligate marine lineages, including a few lineages that persist to today, such as sea turtles. Birds, which are phylogenetically nested among diapsid reptiles, have also repeatedly adapted to marine life since the Cretaceous. Attempts to understand the common patterns of marine tetrapod evolution, and the processes that have shaped them, have largely been limited to individual groups. Placed in a broad comparative view from the Mesozoic to the Cenozoic eras, the macroevolution of marine tetrapods reveals evolutionary drivers at different scales, along with morphological parallels, unique evolutionary innovations, and the strong influence of historical constraints. Major physical, environmental drivers appear to be responsible for some patterns in marine tetrapod evolution at some temporal and geographic scales, but these drivers are not unique causes, as biological drivers (e.g., escalation) likely also play a role. The culmination of this trophic ascendancy has been dramatically altered by human hunting (especially of marine mammals), underscoring the need for historical datasets that extend into deep time to understand the ecological history of marine tetrapods.
Real-time sound synthesis and propagation for games

Simulating the complete process of sound synthesis and propagation by exploiting aural perception makes the experience of playing games much more realistic and immersive.
Nanoreinforcement of poly(propylene fumarate)-based networks with surface modified alumoxane nanoparticles for bone tissue engineering.

A novel composite material has been fabricated for bone tissue engineering scaffolds utilizing the biodegradable polymer poly(propylene fumarate)/poly(propylene fumarate)-diacrylate (PPF/PPF-DA) and surface-modified carboxylate alumoxane nanoparticles. Various surface-modified nanoparticles were added to the polymer including a surfactant alumoxane, an activated alumoxane, a mixed alumoxane containing both activated and surfactant groups, and a hybrid alumoxane containing both groups within the same substituent. These nanocomposites, as well as polymer resin and unmodified boehmite composites, underwent flexural and compressive mechanical testing and were examined using electron microscopy. Hybrid alumoxane nanoparticles dispersed in PPF/PPF-DA exhibited over a 3-fold increase in flexural modulus at 1 wt % loading compared to polymer resin alone. No significant loss of flexural or compressive strength was observed with increased loading of hybrid alumoxane nanoparticles. These dramatic improvements in fle...
High throughput testing of the SV40 Large T antigen binding to cellular p53 identifies putative drugs for the treatment of SV40-related cancers

SV40 has been linked to some human malignancies, and the evidence that this virus plays a causative role in mesothelioma and brain tumors is mounting. The major SV40 oncoprotein is the Large tumor antigen (Tag). A key Tag transforming activity is connected to its capability to bind and inactivate cellular p53. In this study we developed an effective, high throughput, ELISA-based method to study Tag-p53 interaction in vitro. This assay allowed us to screen a chemical library and to identify a chemical inhibitor of the Tag binding to p53. We propose that our in vitro assay is a useful method to identify molecules that may be used as therapeutic agents for the treatment of SV40-related human cancers.
Bleomycin and cyclophosphamide toxicity in mice with damaged lung tissue

Abstract The clinical use of several anticancer drugs, including bleomysin and cyclophosphamide (CP), is often associated with lung damage which progresses to fibrosis. The effect of existing lung damage on the toxicity of these agents has not been investigated. Male BALB/c mice were treated intraperitoneally with 400 mg/kg butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), 100 mg/kg CP or 100 mg/kg bleomycin, alone or in combination. Based on analyses of pulmonary DNA synthesis, each agent alone elicited significant lung damage with cell proliferation, peaking on Day 4 for BHT, Day 7 for CP and Day 14 for bleomycin. Quantitatively, the BHT lesion was greater than CP which was much greater than bleomycin. Mice given 100, 75, 50, 40 or 25 mg/kg bleomysin 1 day after BHT exhibited 100, 90, 22, 20 and 21% mortality, respectively. Treatment with 100, 50, 40 or 25 mg/kg CP 1 day after BHT resulted in 100, 54, 33 and 0% mortality, respectively. No mice treated with BHT, bleomycin or CP alone died. Total lung hydroxyproline content, an index of fibrosis, was significantly increased 14 days after the initial treatment in mice given BHT and 50 mg/kg bleomycin compared to mice treated with BHT, bleomycin or vehicle alone. Mice treated with 50 mg/kg CP 1 day after BHT did not develop fibrosis in excess of that attributable to the BHT alone. Treatment of mice with 100 mg/kg CP followed 1 or 2 days later by 100 mg/kg bleomycin resulted in 20–40% mortality, but no increase in lung hydroxyproline content compare to CP alone. Bleomycin delayed the onset of lung cell proliferation normally seen after treatment with BHT while CP attenuated this cell division only after it had begun. Treatments involving BHT and bleomycin did not alter lung sulfhydryl content. These data indicate that overall toxicity is increased in mice pretreated with BHT and then given bleomycin or CP while lung injury is enhanced only after bleomycin. The mechanism of the interaction with bleomycin is not known but may be related to a rapid inhibition of lung repair and not to oxidative stress.
Cytoplasmic Tubular Structures in Liver of HBsAg Carrier Chimpanzees Infected with Delta Agent and Comparison with Cytoplasmic Structures in Non-A, Non-B Hepatitis

Electron microscopic observations were carried out on five HBsAg carrier chimpanzees infected with delta (delta) agent and two chimpanzees infected with human non-A, non-B hepatitis. The cytoplasmic tubular structures, which have been recognized in the liver of chimpanzees infected with human non-A, non-B hepatitis, were found also in the liver of HBsAg carrier chimpanzees infected with delta agent. The quantity of the cytoplasmic structures in serial studies was associated with SGPT elevation rather than with expression of delta antigen in sera and liver tissues. This indicates that the cytoplasmic structures reflect a pathologic change of the hepatocytes in chimpanzees infected with delta agent or human non-A, non-B hepatitis. These and other similarities between the two agents suggest a similar nature.
AlGaN/GaN HBTs using regrown emitter

AlGaN/GaN HBTs using regrown emitter AlGaN/GaN HBTs have been realised using the regrown emitter method. The device structure consists of an n-GaN collector, p-GaN base, and selectively grown AlGaN emitter. The HBTs were grown using metal organic chemical vapour deposition on sapphire substrate. The emitter was grown selectively on a pn junction diode after it was patterned with SiN. A common emitter curve showing low-leakage has been obtained.
Influence of cortisone upon brown fat of hamsters and mice.

Summary1. Beyond an early age (about 3 weeks), the proportion of brown fat within the hamster maintains a relative constancy. In contrast, the ratio of white fat to body weight increases precipitously with age until full maturity of the hamster. 2. Cortisone treatment results in a prompt hypertrophy of brown fat in hamsters and mice, reflected microscopically by measurable expansion of cell diameter. White fat is possibly somewhat reduced in weight. 3. The reactive hypertrophy of brown fat in cortisone-treated hamsters diminishes with increasing age, apparently caused in part by the increasing numbers of unresponsive white fat cells within the borders of brown fat masses.
Recent developments in diisocyanate asthma

Objective To summarize the latest experimental findings on diisocyanate asthma and discuss the impact of these data on our understanding of disease pathogenesis and diagnosis. Data Sources The literature reviewed includes articles from PubMed (National Library of Medicine) published within the last 3 years (1999-2001). In addition, pertinent older references are discussed to provide a historical perspective and background. Study Selection The data discussed were chosen to highlight key concepts relevant to diisocyanate asthma pathogenesis and are grouped accordingly. Results In many ways, diisocyanate-induced asthma mirrors allergic asthma caused by other stimuli; however, the immune-mediated pathways believed to be central to the disease have been difficult to define. Recent studies on the human immune response to diisocyanates provide additional evidence supportive of an immune basis for pathogenesis but also highlight well-recognized differences between diisocyanate asthma and common atopic asthma. Studies on the antigenic form of diisocyanates and their interaction with epithelial tissues provide new insights that may help explain these apparent immunologic differences. Genetic factors that influence disease have begun to be identified but remain poorly characterized. Associations of particular major histocompatibility complex class II alleles with diisocyanate asthma further fuel the hypothesis that immune-dependent mechanisms underlie pathogenesis, whereas associations of glutathione S-transferase polymorphisms (in conjunction with recent studies defining the effects of diisocyanates on thiol-redox homeostasis) may implicate additional antigen-independent mechanisms. Long-term follow-up studies of diisocyanate asthma patients have confirmed the prognostic value of early removal of symptomatic patients from exposure and highlight the need for effective diagnostic tests of sensitivity and susceptibility. Conclusions Diisocyanate-induced asthma appears to be a multifactorial disease involving the immune system, airway epithelium, and genetic factors. The potential long-term adverse effects of diisocyanate exposure in sensitized patients underscore the need for further studies to elucidate the pathogenesis of this disease and identify biomarkers for sensitization and susceptibility.
Clinical outcomes in newer anticonvulsant overdose: A poison center observational study

Clinicians have limited experience with assessment and treatment of overdose from newer anticonvulsant medications. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate clinical effects of newer anticonvulsant overdose, determine if a relationship exists between dose and clinical effect, and if a particular agent appears more toxic in overdose. This was a retrospective study using electronic poison center data, evaluating clinical outcomes from newer anticonvulsant overdose. The Toxicall™ database from January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2011 was queried using key words: “gabapentin,” “lamotrigine,” “levetiracetam,” “tiagabine,” “topiramate,” “zonisamide,” “pregabalin,” and “oxcarbazine.” Polypharmacy overdose and children less than 15 years of age were excluded. Charts were reviewed by two abstractors for pharmaceutical, self-reported dose, clinical effect score, and clinical signs, symptoms, and vital signs recorded in the chart. Ordinal logistic regression was used to evaluate the relationship between drug type, dose, age, and sex to clinical effect score. Out of 501 cases identified, 347 met the final inclusion criteria. There were 116 gabapentin, 67 lamotrigine, 15 levetiracetam, 15 tiagabine, 56 topiramate, 23 pregabalin, and 55 oxcarbazepine cases. Overdose of newer anticonvulsants frequently results in altered mental status. Seizures may be more common with tiagabine, lamotrigine, and oxcarbazepine. There was one death reported from intentional overdose of topiramate. An information index was created to rank drug toxicity based on reported signs and symptoms for each overdose. There was no significant effect of dose on severity of outcome (β = 0.12, p = 0.23). However, the risk of a more severe outcome score was significantly increased with tiagabine relative to other drugs (β = 2.8, p = 0.001). Lamotrigine ranked highest in terms of toxicity (HT = 1.66) and number of interventions performed (HI = 1.17), and levetiracetam the lowest (HT = 0.98; HI = 0.88). We could not identify a dose-effect in these data which likely reflects the limitations of self-reported doses. Despite limitations of these data, the risk of more severe outcome scores appear to be higher with tiagabine overdose while lamotrigine overdose appears to result in more reported signs, symptoms, and interventions.
Choline: determination using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

Determination du taux tissulaire de choline par HPLC. Melange de la choline extraite des tissus avec des standards marques au 13 C, 15 N, 2 H puis mesure de la choline et de tous ces derives par HPLC. Pour une mesure de la choline et de l'acetylcholine uniquement, homogeneisation au prealable avec de l'acide formique dans de l'acetone
On the effectiveness of evaluating retrieval systems in the absence of relevance judgments

Soboroff, Nicholas and Cahan recently proposed a method for evaluating the performance of retrieval systems without relevance judgments. They demonstrated that the system evaluations produced by their methodology are correlated with actual evaluations using relevance judgments in the TREC competition. In this work, we propose an explanation for this phenomenon. We devise a simple measure for quantifying the similarity of retrieval systems by assessing the similarity of their retrieved results. Then, given a collection of retrieval systems and their retrieved results, we use this measure to assess the average similarity of a system to the other systems in the collection. We demonstrate that evaluating retrieval systems according to average similarity yields results quite similar to the methodology proposed by Soboroff et~al., and we further demonstrate that these two techniques are in fact highly correlated. Thus, the techniques are effectively evaluating and ranking retrieval systems by "popularity" as opposed to "performance.
Unbalanced globin chain synthesis in reticulocytes of sickle cell trait individuals with low concentrations of hemoglobin S.

Summary Reticulocytes were isolated from the blood of eight nonanemic individuals with sickle cell trait; five donors had relatively low hemoglobin S concentrations (26 to 32%) and three had high hemoglobin S concentrations (40 to 42%). The cells were incubated with [ 3 H]leucine in a medium supporting protein synthesis. Total α chain synthesis was equal to total β chain synthesis in cells from the high hemoglobin S donors. In cells from low hemoglobin S donors the rate of α chain synthesis was about 65 to 80% that of total β chain synthesis. These data suggest that there was a deficit in α chain synthesis in the cells of sickle cell trait individuals with low hemoglobin S concentrations. The results are consistent with the presence of an α-thalassemia or α-thalassemia-like gene in the low hemoglobin S people.
Problems with two standard models for teaching critical thinking

Two common models of teaching critical thinking in a discipline fail to do justice to the essential role critical thinking plays in all learning or to its role in the discipline as a whole. This chapter describes a model that emphasizes a more central role for critical thinking in shaping all course activity and in focusing on the most fundamental and powerful discipline-based concepts.
Characterization of Nanoscale Oxide and Oxyhydroxide Powders Using EXAFS Spectroscopy

Extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy has been used to determine the structural environment local to iron(HI) and zircorium(IV) cations in respectively, nanoscale iron oxyhydroxide and nanoscale zirconium oxide powders. The iron oxyhydroxide powder, produced by the modified reverse micelle (MRM) technology, was found to have a short-range structure most similar to that of goethite ([alpha]-FeOOH). The short-range structure of the zirconium oxide powder, produced using the rapid thermal decomposition of solutes (RTDS) technology, was found to be a mixture of monoclinic zirconia and cubic zirconia environments.
Beyond psychographics — values as determinants of tourist behavior

Abstract To analyze the relationship between subjects' values (both general and ‘object-specific’) and their travel behavior, 60 undergraduate students were administered a set of 6 general value scales and an ‘object-specific’ vacation value scale that was intentionally developed for this purpose. The subjects' last year's travel behavior was measured on an 8-variable ordinal scale. The results indicate that the combined general values and object-specific values successfully predicted anywhere between 41 and 81% of travel behavior.
Nutraceuticals: Definition and Epidemiological Rationale for Their Use in Clinical Practice

Cardiometabolic risk factors, such as hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and arterial hypertension, are major predictors of the premature development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Since CVD prevention needs a life-course approach, beyond dietary and pharmacological treatment, non-pharmacological treatment should be considered an important alternative for patients in primary prevention with mild-moderate cardiometabolic risk factors at low-moderate global risk of CVD. Several functional foods and nutraceuticals are efficacious, safe and well tolerated. However, only some (monacolins of red yeast rice and omega-3 fatty acids) have showed, in long-term randomized clinical trials, a reduction of cardiovascular events.