cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A rapid procedure for the determination of adrenal ascorbic acid. Application of the Sullivan and Clarke method to tissues.

Abstract A simple and rapid method for the determination of ascorbic acid in adrenal glands and other tissues is described. Tissues are homogenized in trichloroacetic acid, and ascorbic acid is assayed in the filtrate by measuring the reduction of ferric ions at pH 1–2 in the presence of excess orthophosphate, coupling the Fe ++ produced with α,α′-dipyridyl. The redorange complex is estimated spectrophotometrically.
Review and Fabrication of Nanochannels for Single Phase Liquid Flow

The topic of single phase liquid flow in submicron or nanochannels is a nascent field. There have only been a couple papers that have dealt with this area directly. The most probable reason for this is that currently most research in fluid mechanics or heat transfer is being focused on micron size channels. To help facilitate researchers to focus on this undeveloped area, this paper serves as a review for some of the micro-fabrication processes that will make it possible for engineers and scientists to study this field in greater detail.
Structural basis of natural ligand binding and activation of the Class II G-protein-coupled secretin receptor.

The secretin receptor is prototypic of Class II GPCRs (G-protein-coupled receptors), based on its structural and functional characteristics and those of its natural agonist ligand. Secretin represents a linear 27-residue peptide with diffuse pharmacophoric domain. The secretin receptor includes the typical signature sequences for this receptor family within its predicted transmembrane segments and the highly conserved six cysteine residues contributing to three intradomain disulfide bonds within its long N-terminus. This domain is critical for secretin binding based on receptor mutagenesis and photoaffinity labelling studies. Full agonist analogues of secretin incorporating a photolabile moiety at various positions throughout the pharmacophore covalently label residues within this region, while only N-terminal probes have labelled the core helical bundle domain. Combining insights coming from receptor structural studies, peptide structure–activity relationship considerations, photoaffinity labelling, and application of fluorescence techniques has resulted in the development of a working model of the secretin–receptor complex. This supports the initial docking of the peptide agonist within a cleft in the receptor N-terminus, providing the opportunity for an endogenous sequence within that domain to interact with the core of the receptor. This interaction is believed to be key in the molecular basis of conformational change associated with activation of this receptor. The site of action of this endogenous agonist could also provide a possible target for small molecule agonists to act.
Global solution of bilevel programs with a nonconvex inner program

A bounding algorithm for the global solution of nonlinear bilevel programs involving nonconvex functions in both the inner and outer programs is presented. The algorithm is rigorous and terminates finitely to a point that satisfies ?-optimality in the inner and outer programs. For the lower bounding problem, a relaxed program, containing the constraints of the inner and outer programs augmented by a parametric upper bound to the parametric optimal solution function of the inner program, is solved to global optimality. The optional upper bounding problem is based on probing the solution obtained by the lower bounding procedure. For the case that the inner program satisfies a constraint qualification, an algorithmic heuristic for tighter lower bounds is presented based on the KKT necessary conditions of the inner program. The algorithm is extended to include branching, which is not required for convergence but has potential advantages. Two branching heuristics are described and analyzed. Convergence proofs are provided and numerical results for original test problems and for literature examples are presented.
Quasi-Closed-Form Solution to the Time-Optimal Rigid Spacecraft Reorientation Problem

The problem of slewing a rigid body from an arbitrary initial orientation to a desired target orientation in minimum time is addressed. The nature of the time-optimal solution is observed via an open-loop solution using the switch time-optimization algorithm developed by Meier and Bryson. Conclusions as to the number and timing of control switches are drawn and substantiated analytically. The solution of the kinematic differential equations for Euler parameters is examined for systems in which the applied torque is much greater than the nonlinear terms in Euler's equations. An approximate solution to these equations is used to construct the state transition matrix as a function of a given control sequence and control intervals. This allows a rapid solution for the required switch times for all admissible control sequences. Uncoupled switching functions can be generated given the approximate switch times for the optimal sequence. The resulting feedforward/feedback control is suitable for online computation.
The cost of reproduction: differential resource specialization in female and male California sea otters

Intraspecific variation in behavior and diet can have important consequences for population and ecosystem dynamics. Here, we examine how differences in reproductive investment and spatial ecology influence individual diet specialization in male and female southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis). We hypothesize that greater reproductive constraints and smaller home ranges of females lead to more pronounced intraspecific competition and increased specialization. We integrate stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope analysis of sea otter vibrissae with long-term observational studies of five subpopulations in California. We define individual diet specialization as low ratios of within-individual variation (WIC) to total population niche width (TNW). We compare isotopic and observational based metrics of WIC/TNW for males and females to data on population densities, and movement patterns using both general linear and linear mixed-effects models. Consistent with our hypothesis, increasing population density is associated with increased individual diet specialization by females but not by males. Additionally, we find the amount of coastline in a sea otter’s home range positively related with individual dietary variability, with increased range span resulting in weaker specialization for both males and females. We attribute our results to sex-based differences in movement, with females needing to specialize in their small ranges to maximize energy gain, and posit that the paradigm of individual prey specialization in sea otters with increased intraspecific competition may be a pattern driven largely by females. Our work highlights a potentially broader role of sex in the mechanistic pressures promoting and maintaining diet specialization.
Effects of multiple environment stresses on evapotranspiration and runoff over eastern China

Summary Little is known about how the terrestrial hydrological cycle responds to multiple environmental changes at large spatial scale and over long time period. Here, we applied a well calibrated and verified ecosystem model (the Dynamic Land Ecosystem Model, DLEM), in conjunction with newly developed data sets of multiple environmental factors including land use change, climate variability, elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen deposition, ozone pollution, and nitrogen fertilizer application, to characterize the spatial and temporal patterns of evapotranspiration (ET) and runoff in eastern China during 1961–2005 and further quantified the relative contributions of multiple environmental factors to these patterns at both basin and regional scales. The simulation results indicated that annual ET in the study area had a significantly increasing trend from 1961 to 2005. Yet there were no significant changing trends for estimated runoff and net water balance (precipitation minus ET). Substantial spatial heterogeneities in ET and runoff were observed. Annual ET increased in all basins except Yellow River Basin. Runoff increased in the southern part of the study area (including Pearl River and the Southeast basin), but decreased in northern part of the study area, particularly in Haihe and Huaihe river basins. Factorial analysis showed that climate change was the dominant factor responsible for the interannual variations in ET and runoff in the past 45 years. Land use change (including land conversions and land management practices) yielded minor effects on the interannual variations in ET and runoff but caused relatively large effects over long-term period. For the accumulated change in ET at basin scale, climate change was the dominant factor in the basins of Song-Liao, Pearl River, while land use change contributed the most in the basin of Haihe, Huaihe, and Yellow River. Climate change was the dominant factor controlling runoff change in all basins except Huaihe and Yangtze River basins. Our simulated results imply that it is important to quantify relative roles of natural and anthropogenic disturbances on water fluxes for maintaining water sustainability in a changing climate.
The gene encoding human ribosomal protein S24 and tissue-specific expression of differentially spliced mRNAs

Abstract Starting with a cloned cDNA encoding human ribosomal protein S24 [Brown et al., Gene 91 (1990) 293–296], we PCR-amplified two introns from the human RPS24 locus. These then were used as unique nucleic-acid probes to isolate a 12-kb RPS24 gene fragment from a library of human genomic DNA. The nucleotide sequence of human RPS24 (4942 bp), its exon-intron organization and mRNA transcription start point were determined using standard procedures. RT-PCR analyses of S24 mRNAs from multiple human tissues and cell lines revealed two mRNA isoforms which differ from each other, as well as murine S24 mRNAs due to alternative exon splices near the 3′ end of the gene
Defects and interfaces in low-temperature grown Ge/Si heterostructures

Initial stages of misfit relaxation process in Ge epitaxial films grown by pulsed laser deposition on (001) Si substrates have been investigated by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Special emphasis is placed on conditions leading to a 2D (layer-by-layer) growth mode. The evolution of the dislocation network as a function of film thickness and thermal annealing is controlled by surface undulations and interactions between dislocations. The dislocation interactions leading to rearrangements in a nonequilibrium dislocation network driven by elastic interaction between parallel 60 degree(s) dislocation segments are discussed in detail. Based upon our experimental observations, we propose a model for the formation of stacking faults in heterostructures.
Linear crystallization and induction-period studies of the growth of calcium sulphate dihydrate crystals.

Abstract The linear crystallization of well-formed crystallites of calcium sulphate dihydrate from supersaturated solutions has been studied by a microscopic method at temperatures ranging from 25° to 55°. The activation energy is 16 ± 1·5 kcal/mole for the fast-growing faces. Induction periods in the crystallization of calcium sulphate dihydrate have been determined as a function of solution concentration at temperatures of 25° and 90°.
The effects of acute and chronic psychological stress on bladder function in a rodent model.

Objective Psychological stress plays a role in the exacerbation of functional lower urinary tract disorders, such as painful bladder syndrome and overactive bladder. To better understand the mechanism underlying this relationship, we characterized changes in micturition, anxiety-related behavior, and bladder pathology in rats exposed to repeated water avoidance (WA) stress. Methods Twenty-four Wistar rats were subjected to WA stress or sham. Immediately after acute (day 1) and chronic (day 10) stress or sham, rats were placed in a metabolic cage for a 2-hour voiding behavior assessment. Voiding parameters were compared with baseline values obtained before stress. Four animals from each group were sacrificed on day 10 and bladders harvested for histologic and gene expression studies. The remaining 8 animals per group underwent repeated voiding assessment every 3 days for 1 month followed by 10 days of repeat WA stress or sham. Bladder histology and gene expression were studied. Results Rats exposed to WA stress developed a significant increase in micturition frequency and decrease in latency to void, voiding interval, and volume of first void compared with sham and baseline. Alterations in micturition persisted for approximately 1 month. Stressed rats showed increased fecal pellet excretion and anxiety-like behavior. In addition, bladder specimens from stressed animals revealed increased angiogenesis, and increased total and activated mast cells. Conclusion In rats, repeated psychological stress results in lasting alterations in micturition frequency, interval, and volume. This rodent model may represent a valid tool for studying syndromes characterized by increased urinary frequency.
Boundaries, centers, and circles: The postmodern geometry of the handmaid's tale

(1995). Boundaries, centers, and circles: The postmodern geometry of the handmaid's tale. Lit: Literature Interpretation Theory: Vol. 6, Margaret Atwood, pp. 213-231.
Quaternary landscape development, alluvial fan chronology and erosion of the Mecca Hills at the southern end of the San Andreas Fault zone

Abstract Quantitative geomorphic analysis combined with cosmogenic nuclide 10 Be-based geochronology and denudation rates have been used to further the understanding of the Quaternary landscape development of the Mecca Hills, a zone of transpressional uplift along the southern end of the San Andreas Fault, in southern California. The similar timing of convergent uplifts along the San Andreas Fault with the initiation of the sub-parallel San Jacinto Fault suggest a possible link between the two tectonic events. The ages of alluvial fans and the rates of catchment-wide denudation have been integrated to assess the relative influence of climate and tectonic uplift on the development of catchments within the Mecca Hills. Ages for major geomorphic surfaces based on 10 Be surface exposure dating of boulders and 10 Be depth profiles define the timing of surface stabilization to 2.6 +5.6/–1.3 ka (Qyf1 surface), 67.2 ± 5.3 ka (Qvof2 surface), and 280 ± 24 ka (Qvof1 surface). Comparison of 10 Be measurements from active channel deposits (Qac) and fluvial terraces (Qt) illustrate a complex history of erosion, sediment storage, and sediment transport in this environment. Beryllium-10 catchment-wide denudation rates range from 19.9 ± 3.2 to 149 ± 22.5 m/Ma and demonstrate strong correlations with mean catchment slope and with total active fault length normalized by catchment area. The lack of strong correlation with other geomorphic variables suggests that tectonic uplift and rock weakening have the greatest control. The currently measured topography and denudation rates across the Mecca Hills may be most consistent with a model of radial topographic growth in contrast to a model based on the rapid uplift and advection of crust.
Inhibition of peroxynitrite-mediated tyrosine nitration by a novel pyrrolopyrimidine antioxidant

Peroxynitrite is a cytotoxic, free radical species that is formed by the combination of superoxide and nitric oxide. The goal of the present study was to examine the ability of a novel antioxidant, U-101033E, to prevent peroxynitrite-mediated oxidative damage of red blood cell membrane proteins. Treatment of red blood cell membranes with peroxynitrite resulted in oxidative damage as evidenced by the presence of both membrane protein cross-linking and nitration of tyrosine residues. Membrane protein cross-linking was the result of oxidation of sulfhydryl groups and was completely blocked by the addition of dithiothreitol. Dithiothreitol also prevented peroxynitrite-mediated nitration of tyrosine red blood cell proteins. U-101033E prevented nitrotyrosine formation in peroxynitrite-treated red blood cell membrane proteins in a concentration-dependent manner, with maximal protection observed at 100 μM U-101033E. However, at a similar concentration where U-101033E prevented tyrosine nitration, it had little or no effect on membrane protein cross-linking. Our results suggest that U-101033E may be intercepting a peroxynitrite-derived reactive nitrogen species that is capable of nitrating tyrosine residues. The ability of U-101033E to prevent tyrosine nitration by peroxynitrite represents a new role for this class of antioxidants and suggests that the pyrrolopyrimidines may be useful in the treatment of diseases where peroxynitrite-mediated injury is implicated.
Diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy

Diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy are arguably the two most dreaded complications of diabetes. Together they contribute to serious morbidity and mortality. As they progress to end-stage renal disease and blindness, they impose enormous medical, economic,and social costs on both the patient and the health care system. Because nephropathy and retinopathy are frequently linked in patients,this article reviews their common and individual aspects of pathophysiology, clinical features, and management.
Repair of an Osseous Facial Critical-Size Defect Using Augmented Fibrin Sealant†

Objectiue: Osseous defects of the head and neck are a common challenge for the otolaryngologist. To develop improved reconstructive options, osteoconductive engineering experiments are being conducted. A nasal critical-size defect (CSD) model has previously been described in which less than 7% bone healing is observed over 6 months. An implant containing fibrin sealant with and without osteoprogenitor cells is evaluated in this model. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial using a rodent model. Methods: A nasal CSD was Surgically created in 18 male retired breeder Sprague-Dawley rats. Six animals were not implanted with any material, six received fibrin sealant consisting of fibrin (26 mg/rnL) and thrombin (lo00 WmL), and six were implanted with fibrin sealant and rat calvarial osteoprogenitor cells (1.8 x 10‘ cell&&). Thirty days later, the animals were examined at necropsy by planimetry, histological analysis of new bone growth, and radiodensitometric analysis of bone thickness. Results: A thin layer of bone covered the defect in all of the treated animals. A statistically significant increase in bone density (P < .06) between fibrin sealant plus osteoprogenitor cells and each of the other groups was shown using radiodensitometric analysis. Histological analysis also confirmed this Merence. Concluswn: Osteoprogenitor cells contained within fibrin sealant result in a greater augmentation of bone regeneration than controls or fibrin sealant alone. Key Words: Critical-size defect, fibrin sealant, bone regeneration, nasal reconstruction, tissue engineering.
Alcohol exposure during adolescence impairs auditory fear conditioning in adult Long-Evans rats

Few studies have examined long-term effects of ethanol on auditory fear conditioning, and fewer still have examined whether adolescence represents a unique period of vulnerability. We investigated the impact of ethanol consumption during adolescence and adulthood on fear conditioning, following an extended abstinence period. Male and female Long-Evans rats (N = 80) consumed 10% ethanol or water (control) in a limited-access drinking paradigm (1 h) between postnatal (P) days 28-45 (adolescent) and P80-97 (adult). After the abstinence period (30 days), ethanol and control groups were assessed on the auditory fear-conditioning task. Alcohol consumption impaired tone conditioning in the male and female adolescent group. There were no persisting effects of adult dosing. In addition, adolescent rats consumed more ethanol than adults. These data provide evidence that ethanol consumption during adolescence produces enduring effects on auditory fear conditioning. The age-specific effect of ethanol may be attributable to an interplay of higher ethanol intake and the unique neurobiological characteristics of adolescents.
Temperature- and pH-Responsive Dense Copolymer Brushes Prepared by ATRP

Dual responsive molecular brushes consisting of statistical copolymers of di(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (MEO2MA) and either methacrylic acid (MAA) or N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) were synthesized by grafting from poly(2-(2-bromoisobutyroyloxy)ethyl methacrylate (PBIEM) macroinitiators using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Copolymer brushes with controlled composition and molecular weights ranging from Mn = 600 000 to 1 400 000 with polydispersity indexes (Mw/Mn) between 1.18 and 1.45 were obtained. The lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of MEO2MA-stat-MAA decreased with the increasing molar fraction of MAA in the copolymer in deionized water but increased in buffer solution at pH 7. At pH 9, the hydrophilicity of polymer increased with ionization of carboxylic acid to further raise the LCST. On the other hand, the LCST of MEO2MA-stat-DMAEMA copolymers increased with increasing DMAEMA content at pH 4, 7, and 9. A bottle-brush terpolymer prepared from all...
Relationship between smooth pursuit eye-tracking and cognitive performance in schizophrenia

The relationship between measures of smooth pursuit and neuropsychological performance was assessed in 20 unmedicated schizophrenics. Eye-tracking measures included gain, catch-up saccade parameters, and rate of saccadic intrusions. Neuropsychological measures included tests generally considered as "frontal": Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), Consonant Trigram Test (CTT), and Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT). The Digit Symbol Test (DST), which is generally considered to be a measure of global functioning, was also included. Gain and other pursuit measures were significantly correlated with the DST and the COWAT, but were not correlated with the WCST or the CTT.
A Graph-Based Fault Identification and Propagation Framework for Functional Design of Complex Systems

In this paper, the functional-failure identification and propagation (FFIP) framework is introduced as a novel approach for evaluating and assessing functional-failure risk of physical systems during conceptual design. The task of FFIP is to estimate potential faults and their propagation paths under critical event scenarios. The framework is based on combining hierarchical system models of functionality and configuration, with behavioral simulation and qualitative reasoning. The main advantage of the method is that it allows the analysis of functional failures and fault propagation at a highly abstract system concept level before any potentially high-cost design commitments are made. As a result, it provides the designers and system engineers with a means of designing out functional failures where possible and designing in the capability to detect and mitigate failures early on in the design process. Application of the presented method to a fluidic system example demonstrates these capabilities.
PROBABILISTIC STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS METHODS AND APPLICATIONS

An advanced algorithm for simulating the probabilistic distribution of structural responses due to statistical uncertainties in loads, geometry, material properties, and boundary conditions is reported. The method effectively combines an advanced algorithm for calculating probability levels for multivariate problems (fast probability integration) together with a general-purpose finite-element code for stress, vibration, and buckling analysis. Application is made to a space propulsion system turbine blade for which the geometry and material properties are treated as random variables.
The use of response cost to treat spitting by a child with autism

We evaluated the extent to which noncontingent access to one or multiple items and the contingent removal of a specific item decreased a young boy's spitting. Results indicated that the boy's spitting did not decrease when he was given noncontingent access to multiple, alternative stimuli or to a toy radio. By contrast, when the toy radio was removed contingent on spitting, the rate of the boy's spitting decreased to zero or near-zero levels. Similar results were produced in the boy's special education classroom. Follow-up sessions conducted 2 and 4 months later indicated that the reduction in the boy's spitting persisted across time. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reduced activity of Staphylococcus epidermidis in the presence of sonicated piezoelectric zinc oxide nanoparticles

Particulate zinc oxide (ZnO) is a known antibacterial agent. Studies have shown that reducing the size of ZnO particles to nanoscale dimensions further enhances their antibacterial properties. ZnO is also piezoelectric. Upon mechanical deformation of ZnO, a transient electrical charge across the material is produced. The purpose of the present in vitro study was to investigate the antibacterial properties of ultrasonically stimulated ZnO nanoparticles. Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteria were seeded at a known cell density into 96-well plates and observed for 48 h with a 10 min ultrasonication period at 24 h. Optical density reading data was collected every 12 h, with an additional reading taken immediately after the ultrasonication period. Bacteria activity was significantly reduced in experimental groups exposed to nanoparticles and ultrasonication compared to groups exposed to nanoparticles or ultrasonication alone. Developing methods and understanding mechanisms for reducing bacteria activity may help reduce potential infection complications following biomaterial implantation.
Sexual preference or opportunity: An examination of situational factors by gender of victims of clergy abuse

The overwhelming number of male victims of clergy sexual abuse led to assumptions regarding sexual preference of clergy offenders. The present study examined 9,540 records (incidents) of alleged cleric sexual abuse in the United States between 1950 and 1999 to explore situational factors of the abuse by victim gender. No evidence was found to suggest that male victims were purposefully targeted more than female victims; rather, the abuse appeared to be more a function of opportunity. These findings support a situational framework of sexual abuse for the majority of clergy abuse and the assertion that abuse in church can be understood as not a crisis regarding homosexuality but as a social problem that must be examined in its context.
Seasonal Movement, Residency, and Migratory Patterns of Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata)

ABSTRACT. Cross-seasonal studies of avian movement establish links between geographically distinct wintering, breeding, and migratory stopover locations, or assess site fidelity and movement between distinct phases of the annual cycle. Far fewer studies have investigated individual movement patterns within and among seasons over an annual cycle. Within western Oregon's Willamette Valley throughout 2007, we quantified intra- and interseasonal movement patterns, fidelity (regional and local), and migratory patterns of 37 radiomarked Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata) to elucidate residency in a region of breeding- and wintering-range overlap. Telemetry revealed complex regional population structure, including winter residents (74%), winter transients (14%), summer residents (9%), and one year-round resident breeder (3%). Results indicated a lack of connectivity between winter and summer capture populations, some evidence of partial migration, and between-season fidelity to the region (winter-resident retur...
Intimations of Immortality in the Thought of Jesus: The Ingersoll Lecture for 1959

The historic Ingersoll lectureship on the Immortality of Man requires of the lecturer both some legitimate extension of its terms and some necessary limitation of his field. One is justified in supposing that the pious layman who planned the foundation was not thinking in highly technical terms, but like laymen of our day was thinking of a widely shared belief in the post mortem survival or revival of those who die. If he had wished to specify the indiscriminate persistence of the individual as a philosophical tenet of the nature of man, he could well have used the more familiar term — the immortality of the soul. On the other hand, if he had wished to be faithful to the wording of much of the Bible and to the Church's creeds, he would have spoken of the Resurrection of the Dead.
Application of local-density functional theory to molecules containing a hypervalent bond

The molecular and electronic structures of ADPO 1, a model thiapentalene 2, and [Xe2F3]+ have been calculated in the local-density functional (LDF) formalism with polarized double numerical basis sets. The molecules were calculated to have planar C2ν structures in agreement with experiment and in contrast to Hartree–Fock molecular-orbital calculations. The vibrational spectra of all species were calculated to show that the optimized structures are indeed minima. The calculated spectrum of [Xe2F3]+ is compared with the experimental one and excellent agreement is found. These results demonstrate that the LDF method can be applied to the prediction of molecular structures containing hypervalent bonds.
CDDO-Imidazolide induces DNA damage, G2/M arrest and apoptosis in BRCA1-mutated breast cancer cells

Breast cancer-associated gene 1 (BRCA1) protein plays important roles in DNA damage and repair, homologous recombination, cell-cycle regulation, and apoptosis. The synthetic triterpenoid 1-[2-cyano-3,12-dioxooleana-1,9(11)-dien-28-oyl]imidazole (CDDO-Imidazolide, CDDO-Im) is a promising anticancer and chemopreventive agent with potent anti-proliferative and apoptotic activities against a wide variety of cancer types. However the mechanisms responsible for the selective apoptotic effects of CDDO-Im in cancer cells remain elusive. In the present work, CDDO-Im induced G2/M arrest and apoptosis in BRCA1-mutated mammary tumor cell lines. Prior to the induction of apoptosis, CDDO-Im induced DNA damage and the phosphorylation of H2AX followed by activation of the DNA damage response. Moreover, CDDO-Im also induced the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is associated with the induction of DNA damage, in both mouse and human tumor cells containing a BRCA1 mutation. The inhibition of ROS generation by uric acid prevented the induction of DNA damage by CDDO-Im. Furthermore, treatment with CDDO-Im did not induce ROS in non-malignant MCF-10A breast epithelial cells or in E18-14C-27 breast cancer cells with wild-type BRCA1 genes and was not cytotoxic to normal mouse 3T3 fibroblasts, highlighting a selective therapeutic potential of CDDO-Im for BRCA1-associated breast cancer cells. Altogether, our results demonstrate that CDDO-Im induces ROS and subsequent DNA damage, thereby facilitating the activation of the DNA damage checkpoint, G2/M arrest and finally apoptosis in BRCA1-mutated cancer cells. The particular relevance of these findings to the chemoprevention of cancer is discussed.
DHA and EPA reverse cystic fibrosis-related FA abnormalities by suppressing FA desaturase expression and activity

Patients and models of cystic fibrosis (CF) exhibit consistent abnormalities of polyunsaturated fatty acid composition, including decreased linoleate (LA) and docosahexaenoate (DHA) and variably increased arachidonate (AA), related in part to increased expression and activity of fatty acid desaturases. These abnormalities and the consequent CF-related pathologic manifestations can be reversed in CF mouse models by dietary supplementation with DHA. However, the mechanism is unknown. This study investigates this mechanism by measuring the effect of exogenous DHA and eicosapentaenoate (EPA) supplementation on fatty acid composition and metabolism, as well as on metabolic enzyme expression, in a cell culture model of CF. We found that both DHA and EPA suppress the expression and activity of Δ5- and Δ6-desaturases, leading to decreased flux through the n-3 and n-6 PUFA metabolic pathways and decreased production of AA. The findings also uncover other metabolic abnormalities, including increased fatty acid uptake and markedly increased retroconversion of DHA to EPA, in CF cells. These results indicate that the fatty acid abnormalities of CF are related to intrinsic alterations of PUFA metabolism and that they may be reversed by supplementation with DHA and EPA.
The Chinese Social Dance Party in Tokyo: Identity and Status in an Immigrant Leisure Subculture

This article is a sociological ethnography of a Chinese immigrant social dance subculture in Japan. It examines the logic of immigrants’ leisure participation from a social psychological perspective. Traditional immigrant community studies, focusing on immigrants’ social and economic adaptation and ethnic minority’s political mobilization, emphasize the collective identity building and group solidarity in immigrant ethnic subcultures. Without downplaying the theme of collective identity, I argue that the recognition of individual status is an equally important motivation. Social cohesion within an immigrant subculture is achieved because ethnic enclosure allows the removal of a stigmatizing immigrant identity, giving immigrants a chance to display individual status resources.
Efficient sequential and parallel algorithms for record linkage.

Background and objective Integrating data from multiple sources is a crucial and challenging problem. Even though there exist numerous algorithms for record linkage or deduplication, they suffer from either large time needs or restrictions on the number of datasets that they can integrate. In this paper we report efficient sequential and parallel algorithms for record linkage which handle any number of datasets and outperform previous algorithms. Methods Our algorithms employ hierarchical clustering algorithms as the basis. A key idea that we use is radix sorting on certain attributes to eliminate identical records before any further processing. Another novel idea is to form a graph that links similar records and find the connected components. Results Our sequential and parallel algorithms have been tested on a real dataset of 1 083 878 records and synthetic datasets ranging in size from 50 000 to 9 000 000 records. Our sequential algorithm runs at least two times faster, for any dataset, than the previous best-known algorithm, the two-phase algorithm using faster computation of the edit distance (TPA (FCED)). The speedups obtained by our parallel algorithm are almost linear. For example, we get a speedup of 7.5 with 8 cores (residing in a single node), 14.1 with 16 cores (residing in two nodes), and 26.4 with 32 cores (residing in four nodes). Conclusions We have compared the performance of our sequential algorithm with TPA (FCED) and found that our algorithm outperforms the previous one. The accuracy is the same as that of this previous best-known algorithm.
Biochemical systematics and population genetic structure of Anastrepha fraterculus and related species (Diptera: Tephritidae).

Isozyme analysis of eight populations of the South American fruit fly, Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann), from a large portion of its geographic range revealed sharp genetic discontinuities among populations. Populations from northeastern Brazil, coastal Venezuela, Costa Rica, and Mexico were all very similar. Populations from southern Brazil, Andean Venezuela, and Peru were genetically distinct from the first group and possibly from each other as well. Comparable analysis of populations of Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart), A. distincta Greene, and A. striata Schiner over similar geographic ranges showed much lower intraspecific differentiation. These results provide strong evidence that a complex of cryptic species is included in the nominal species A. fraterculus. Cryptic species in this complex probably are not monophyletic.
The gene encoding ammonia monooxygenase subunit A exists in three nearly identical copies in Nitrosospira sp. NpAV

The gene encoding ammonia monooxygenase subunit A (AmoA) was found in three copies in the genome of the chemolithotrophic soil bacterium, Nitrosospira sp. NpAV. The open reading frame and flanking regions of the three copies were isolated from digested and size fractionated genomic DNA using oligodeoxyribonucleotide primers and polymerase chain reaction. The three gene copies of amoA were sequenced and the sequences compared to each other. The open reading frames and the upstream and downstream flanking regions were nearly identical in the three copies. All three copies were expressed in recombinant Escherichia coli strains from the indigenous promoter producing a product of approximately 30 kDa. All amoA copies encode 274 amino acid polypeptides which have similarity to the ammonia monooxygenase acetylene-binding protein from Nitrosomonas europaea.
Control of time-delayed double integrator systems

The control of system with large time-delays is a very challenging problem. As Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controllers and variants of these such as P, PI, or PD are widely used in industry, there has been extensive work to determine the range of their gains that will stabilize a linear time-invariant plant described by a rational transfer function. However, the extension of this work to systems with time-delays has been difficult. In this paper, the control of double integrators, a particular class of secondorder systems, with time-delays will be considered. Double integrator systems are a simple, but important, class of second order systems, as they model single-degree of freedom translational and rotational systems. The study of time-delayed double integrator systems in this paper is motivated by the formation flying challenge. In this paper, the ability for tight formation control in the presence of communication and measurement delays is investigated. The paper begins with a discussion of the cross-link requirements for formation control. A simple two degreeof-freedom model with communication delays is introduced for analysis. A typical approach for systems with small time-delays is to base the design on a nominal system model that does not contain the time-delays. The limitations of this approach on stability and closed-loop bandwidth are discussed. The time-delay is explicitly considered in the design of state-feedback (PD) controllers. The effects of the time-delay on stability, stability margins, and closed-loop bandwidth are investigated.
PATTERNS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ACROSS WISCONSIN FROM 1950 TO 2006

Trends in meteorological and ecological variables were calculated across the state of Wisconsin from 1950 to 2006 to quantify recent patterns of climate change. In summary, annual average nighttime low temperatures have increased by 0.6 to 2.2° C, whereas the annual average daytime high temperatures have warmed by 0.3 to 0.6° C. Annual average precipitation has increased by 50-100 mm in the central and southern portions of the state, about a 10-15% increase, while precipitation across the far northern portion of the state appears to have declined by 20-60 mm since 1950, with the most pronounced decrease occurring during summer. On a seasonal basis, warming temperatures are more pronounced during winter and springtime, and nighttime temperatures are warming faster than daytime high temperatures. Some cooling trends in daytime high temperatures were observed during late summer and fall, particularly in the northeast and far southwest portions of the state. We calculated that the length of the growing season...
An Investigation of Change in the Infant—Caregiver System over the First Week of Life

A combination of the two methods used in the investigation of postnatal adaptation between the infant and its caretaking environment will be described in this chapter: (1) continuous, around-the-clock bassinet monitoring of infant sleep and awake states, obtained while the infant is in the bassinet; and (2) continuous event-recording of an array of both infant and caretaker variables over the complete course of awake periods, including the entire caretaking intervention. In order to make meaningful our use of these methods, some explanation must be given for a study of the postnatal relationship between the infant and the caregiving environment within the concept of adaptation rather that as an investigation of their affiliative behaviors in terms of infant attachment or of parental bonding. The aim is to identify and document biological mechanisms in the interactions that constitute the adaptive process and that underlie these higher order functions.
Nearly linear time approximation schemes for Euclidean TSP and other geometric problems

We present a randomized polynomial time approximation scheme for Euclidean TSP in R/sup 2/ that is substantially more efficient than our earlier scheme (1996) (and the scheme of Mitchell (1996)). For any fixed c>1 and any set of n nodes in the plane, the new scheme finds a (1+1/c)-approximation to the optimum traveling salesman tour in O(n(logn)/sup O(c)/) time. (Our earlier scheme ran in n/sup O(C)/ time.) For points in R/sup d/ the algorithm runs in O(n(logn)/sup (O(/spl radic/dc)/d-1)) time. This time is polynomial (actually nearly linear) for every fixed c, d. Designing such a polynomial-time algorithm was an open problem (our earlier algorithm (1996) ran in superpolynomial time for d/spl ges/3). The algorithm generalizes to the same set of Euclidean problems handled by the previous algorithm, including Steiner Tree, /spl kappa/-TSP, /spl kappa/-MST, etc, although for /spl kappa/-TSP and /spl kappa/-MST the running time gets multiplied by /spl kappa/. We also use our ideas to design nearly-linear time approximation schemes for Euclidean versions of problems that are known to be in P, such as Minimum Spanning Tree and Min Cost Perfect Matching. All our algorithms can be derandomized, though the running time then increases by O(n/sup d/) in R/sup d/. They also have simple parallel implementations (say, in NC/sup 2/).
Signals and Structural Features Involved in Integral Membrane Protein Targeting to the Inner Nuclear Membrane

We have examined transfected cells by immunofluorescence microscopy to determine the signals and structural features required for the targeting of integral membrane proteins to the inner nuclear membrane. Lamin B receptor (LBR) is a resident protein of the nuclear envelope inner membrane that has a nucleoplasmic, amino-terminal domain and a carboxyl-terminal domain with eight putative transmembrane segments. The amino-terminal domain of LBR can target both a cytosolic protein to the nucleus and a type II integral protein to the inner nuclear membrane. Neither a nuclear localization signal (NLS) of a soluble protein, nor full-length histone H1, can target an integral protein to the inner nuclear membrane although they can target cytosolic proteins to the nucleus. The addition of an NLS to a protein normally located in the inner nuclear membrane, however, does not inhibit its targeting. When the amino-terminal domain of LBR is increased in size from approximately 22.5 to approximately 70 kD, the chimeric protein cannot reach the inner nuclear membrane. The carboxyl-terminal domain of LBR, separated from the amino-terminal domain, also concentrates in the inner nuclear membrane, demonstrating two nonoverlapping targeting signals in this protein. Signals and structural features required for the inner nuclear membrane targeting of proteins are distinct from those involved in targeting soluble polypeptides to the nucleoplasm. The structure of the nucleocytoplasmic domain of an inner nuclear membrane protein also influences targeting, possibly because of size constraints dictated by the lateral channels of the nuclear pore complexes.
The Technological Transformation of Psychiatric Care- Telepsychiatry Comes of Age.

Over the past decade, live interactive videoconferencing - telepsychiatry - has emerged as a valid and effective means of care delivery (Hilty et al., 2013). Telepsychiatry bridges gaps in geograph...
Life and Livelihood: Musicians Coping with Breast Cancer

Cancer survivorship -- an emerging research field, may be particularly helpful in understanding the physical effects of breast cancer and treatment on musicians. The National Cancer Institute reports that breast cancer survivors comprise the largest cohort of documented cancer survivors in the United States overall, representing 40% of female survivors. Nevertheless, the problems routinely encountered by breast cancer patients following treatment – such as lymph edema, post-surgical neuropathy, shoulder morbidity, post-radiation contracture, chronic fatigue, immune deficiency, and chronic pain – have not been extensively studied. Problems routinely encountered by breast cancer patients – such as lymph edema, post-surgical neuropathy, shoulder morbidity, post-radiation contracture, chronic fatigue, immune deficiency, and chronic pain – may be especially burdensome to musicians. Musicians depend upon their torsos and arms in their professional work, precisely the areas most affected by surgical procedures and adjuvant therapies. From holding an instrument to using lungs and arms to produce sound, a woman’s torso is the core of her livelihood. Performing arts medicine, a discipline derived from sports and occupational medicine, could easily support studies in rehabilitative health for breast cancer patients. As yet, however, no one has studied the problem of musician’s injuries from a non-occupational catalyst. Research into the long-term medical and occupational impact of breast cancer is needed so that best practices – both in treatment and rehabilitation – can be identified and developed, to bring about best outcomes for all patients, including, specifically, women musicians. The Life and Livelihood Study , commencing in September 2007, seeks to understand issues faced by women musicians with breast cancer, and clarify how the care of such women can be improved. This qualitative study will develop a profile of the impact of breast cancer and medical treatment for breast cancer on women musicians, toward facilitating a broader understanding of breast cancer survivorship issues in general. This essay describes the research problem of musicians' survivorship after breast cancer, and argues for further examination of the impact of breast cancer not only on musicians, but also on those in other fields where physical fitness, strength, and stamina are vital to occupational and general well-being.
Alan Greenspan in 2004

In October 2004, one month before the U.S. presidential election, U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan undertakes a full review of the unusual events of the previous six years, including the devastating terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Apart from policy, what were the underlying drivers of the economy? Should he continue along a path begun several months earlier, when the Fed began to raise interest rates, or should he suspend such action in order to allow the economy to make a full recovery from the recession of 2001?
Glider measurements of phytoplankton physiology in penguin foraging zones along the Western Antarctic Peninsula

Slocum Gliders have proven their usefulness in providing large volumes of high definition data but for the first time we were able to couple that with a FIRe system and look at the efficiency rates of phytoplankton in a hard to sample region of the world. The FIRe equipped glider allowed for high spatial and temporal resolution of physiological data vs. discrete samples taken with the traditional Go-Flo/Niskan bottle method and/or continuous flow through surface sampling via ships. We have identified numerous quality control measures that will need to be furthur explored for continued success of the sensor.