cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assessing Demand for Transparency in Intelligent Systems Using Machine Learning

Intelligent systems offering decision support can lessen cognitive load and improve the efficiency of decision making in a variety of contexts. These systems assist users by evaluating multiple courses of action and recommending the right action at the right time. Modern intelligent systems using machine learning introduce new capabilities in decision support, but they can come at a cost. Machine learning models provide little explanation of their outputs or reasoning process, making it difficult to determine when it is appropriate to trust, or if not, what went wrong. In order to improve trust and ensure appropriate reliance on these systems, users must be afforded increased transparency, enabling an understanding of the systems reasoning, and an explanation of its predictions or classifications. Here we discuss the salient factors in designing transparent intelligent systems using machine learning, and present the results of a user-centered design study. We propose design guidelines derived from our study, and discuss next steps for designing for intelligent system transparency.
Successful Endovascular Repair of a Ruptured Isolated Iliac Artery Aneurysm: A Case Report

While isolated iliac artery aneurysm is rare, its rupture can lead to complete circulatory collapse and possibly death. Herein, we report a case of rupture of a large isolated aneurysm of the right common iliac artery that led to circulatory collapse and rapid endovascular repair saved the patient's life.
Birth Weight and Adult-Onset Hearing Loss.

OBJECTIVES Among low-birth-weight infants, exposure to stress or undernutrition in utero may adversely affect cochlear development. As cochlear reserve declines, the risk of hearing loss may increase with age. While low birth weight is associated with a higher risk of neonatal hearing loss, our objective was to examine whether birth weight was associated with adult-onset, self-reported hearing loss in the Nurses' Health Studies (NHS) I and II (n = 113,130). DESIGN We used Cox proportional hazards regression to prospectively examine whether birth weight, as well as gestational age at birth, is associated with adult-onset hearing loss. Participants reported their birth weight in 1992 in NHS I and 1991 in NHS II. Mothers of NHS II participants reported gestational age at birth in a substudy (n = 28,590). The primary outcome was adult-onset, self-reported moderate or greater hearing loss, based on questionnaires administered in 2012/2016 in NHS I and 2009/2013 in NHS II. RESULTS Our results suggested a higher risk of hearing loss among those with birth weight <5.5 lbs compared with birth weight 7 to <8.5 lbs (pooled multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio 1.14, 95% confidence interval = 1.04-1.23; p trend = 0.01). Additionally, participants with gestational age at birth ≥42 weeks had a higher risk of hearing loss, compared with gestational age 38 to <42 weeks (multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio 1.33, 95% confidence interval = 1.06-1.65). CONCLUSIONS Birth weight <5.5 lbs was independently associated with higher risk of self-reported, adult-onset hearing loss. In addition, gestational age at birth ≥42 weeks was also associated with higher risk.
Intrathecal injection of brilliant blue G, a P2X7 antagonist, attenuates the exercise pressor reflex in rats

Purinergic 2X (P2X) receptors on the endings of group III and IV afferents play a role in evoking the exercise pressor reflex. Particular attention has been paid to P2X3 receptors because their blo...
Business Continuity Management for Supply Chains Facing Catastrophic Events

Organizations are increasingly subject to many types of disruptions and catastrophes, with little or no predictability, and with increasing frequency and high impact. In response to these, organizational risk management has been pursued broadly in two different ways. One approach has been to adopt procedures like business continuity management (BCM), enterprise risk management (ERM), and related approaches. On the other hand, operations management and supply chain professionals have focused their efforts on cultivating various types of flexibility, agility, and resilience to cope with increasingly volatile business conditions. The first set of approaches has tended to be more structured, reflected by the emergence of standards like ISO 22301. Currently, there is a critical need to reconcile and synthesize both approaches, which forms the main objective of this article. We first provide a summary of BCM methods, followed by a description of the disparate risk management attempts of supply chain professionals. A framework for business continuity management for supply chain risk management is developed based on the structure provided by ISO 22301, and drawing on the strengths of both approaches.
“Sometimes I Wish I Was a Girl, ’Cause They Do Shit Like Cry”: An Exploration Into Black Boys’ Thinking About Emotions:

Social-emotional learning (SEL) is important for academic and social success, yet responsive SEL for Black youth remains underexamined. The current study analyzed focus groups to investigate how Bl...
Non-linear partial volume artifact reduction in spectral CT one step direct inversion reconstruction

In a clinical setting, the accurate representation of pathologies and anatomical structures in CT reconstructions is important for diagnostic and therapeutical interventions. However, the presence of metal within the patient can cause significant streak artifacts within the reconstruction, possibly degrading or obscuring features within a region of interest to the imaging study. Spectral CT can be utilized to better resolve the attenuation properties of different materials and hence provide more accurate reconstructions of images. In addition, accurately modeling the polyenergetic transmission of x-ray photons, the noise properties of the data, and undersampling caused by materials with high photon attenuation can address some of the artifacts caused by metal. Previous work using a one-step image reconstruction algorithm (cOSSCIR), demonstrated the potential to remove metal artifacts caused by beam hardening and photon starvation, but streaks due to the high gradient around the boundary of metal remained. Within this framework, an accurate model of the detector geometry can be leveraged to further address metal artifacts in the reconstructed image. In this study, we investigate errors caused by “partial-volume” effects using photon-counting CT phantom simulations. Noiseless 2D fan-beam data was first generated from a pelvic phantom with bilateral hip prostheses, where each detector element was modeled as having a finite aperture using multiple ‘raylets.’ The cOSSCIR framework was modified to incorporate the nonlinear partial volume (NLPV) model based on raylets. Basis images were reconstructed by cOSSCIR with and without the NLPV model. The simulation results demonstrated that cOSSCIR with the NLPV model was able to accurately tom with metal, therefore removing metal artifacts caused by beam hardening and nonlinear partial volume effects.
Generalizing Bayesian phylogenetics to infer shared evolutionary events

Many processes of biological diversification can simultaneously affect multiple evolutionary lineages. Examples include multiple members of a gene family diverging when a region of a chromosome is duplicated, multiple viral strains diverging at a "super-spreading" event, and a geological event fragmenting whole communities of species. It is difficult to test for patterns of shared divergences predicted by such processes, because all phylogenetic methods assume that lineages diverge independently. We introduce a Bayesian phylogenetic approach to relax the assumption of independent, bifurcating divergences by expanding the space of topologies to include trees with shared and multifurcating divergences. This allows us to jointly infer phylogenetic relationships, divergence times, and patterns of divergences predicted by processes of diversification that affect multiple evolutionary lineages simultaneously or lead to more than two descendant lineages. Using simulations, we find the new method accurately infers shared and multifurcating divergence events when they occur, and performs as well as current phylogenetic methods when divergences are independent and bifurcating. We apply our new approach to genomic data from two genera of geckos from across the Philippines to test if past changes to the islands9 landscape caused bursts of speciation. Unlike our previous analyses restricted to only pairs of gecko populations, we find evidence for patterns of shared divergences. By generalizing the space of phylogenetic trees in a way that is independent from the likelihood model, our approach opens many avenues for future research into processes of diversification across the life sciences.
Physicians' Ratings of their Supervisor's Leadership Behaviors and Their Subsequent Burnout and Satisfaction: A Longitudinal Study.

Abstract Objective To evaluate the relationships between immediate supervisors’ leadership qualities and the subsequent levels and changes in burnout and satisfaction of supervised physicians 2 years later. Participants and Methods In 2015 and 2017 physicians were asked to complete surveys that included the 9-item Mayo Clinic Leadership Score (range, 9 to 45) assessing their supervisor, an item about satisfaction with the organization, and two items from the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Individual participants’ responses to the surveys were linked. Results Among the 3698 physicians invited to complete both the 2015 and 2017 survey, 1795 (48.5%) responded. The mean composite baseline leadership score was 38.1 (SD, 8.4). Lower mean baseline leadership scores were reported by physicians who had burnout (mean [SD], 36.0 [9.7] vs 39.1 [7.3]; P Conclusion Physicians’ ratings of their immediate supervisors’ leadership qualities were associated with their subsequent levels and changes in burnout and satisfaction 2 years later. Additional studies are needed to determine the effect of sharing such scores with immediate supervisors and providing additional leadership training to those with low scores, and if doing so ultimately reduces burnout and improves satisfaction of the supervised physicians.
A Power Prior Approach for Leveraging External Longitudinal and Competing Risks Survival Data Within the Joint Modeling Framework

In this paper, we propose a new partial borrowing-by-parts power prior for carrying out the analysis of co-longitudinal and survival data within the joint modeling framework. The borrowing-by-parts power prior facilitates borrowing the information from a subset of the data, from a subset of the model parameters, or from the different parts of the joint model. The deviance information criterion is used to quantify the gain in the fit of the current longitudinal and survival data when leveraging external co-data. A Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling algorithm is developed for carrying out Bayesian computations. The proposed methodology is motivated by two large concurrent clinical trials: Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT) and Prostate, Lung, Colon, Ovarian (PLCO) prevention trial. In both trials, the longitudinal biomarkers and competing risks survival data were collected. A detailed analysis of the PLCO and SELECT data is conducted to demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed methodology.
Interactive effects of biochar amendment and lead toxicity on soil microbial community

Abstract This study determined the interactive effects of biochar and lead toxicity on the soil microbial community in a phytoextraction experiment. Arranged with a completely randomized design in a green house, banana liners were planted singly in a sandy soil spiked with Pb(NO3)2 at 0, 400 and 1200 mg kg-1 and amended with bamboo biochar (pyrolyzing at 600 oC) at 0, 1, 3%. Soil samples were taken from triplicated pots five months after planting and measured for (i) content of lead and organic carbon; (ii) lead speciation; and (iii) microbial community composition through 16 S rRNA gene sequencing. DNA sequencing results showed that lead and biochar treatments had significant individual and interactive effects on soil microbial dissimilarities from taxonomic levels of phyla to genera. While some specific taxa were lead resistant, biochar addition apparently alleviated lead toxicity and increased their richness (e.g., Alkanibacter, Muciaginibacter, Burkholderiaceae, and Beggiatoaceae). Soil analysis data indicated that biochar not only helped retain more lead in the soil matrix but created a soil environment inducive for transformation of lead into highly insoluble pyromorphite. This study highlights the effectiveness of biochar for lead remediation and the sensitivity of soil microorganisms in sensing changes in soil environment and lead bioavailability.
Influence of Yeast Products on Modulating Metabolism and Immunity in Cattle and Swine

Nutritional supplementation has been used by livestock producers for many years in order to increase animal performance, improve animal health, and reduce negative effects associated with enteric and/or respiratory pathogens. Supplements such as yeast and yeast-based products have broad applications across many livestock production systems, including poultry, aquaculture, cattle, and swine and have been shown to benefit animal production at various stages. These benefits include improvement in milk production, weight gain and feed conversion, as well as immune function. Initial research into the mode of action for these effects has focused on stimulation of the immune system by the β-glucan fractions of yeast. However, emerging studies have revealed that some of the beneficial effects of yeast products may stem from altering metabolism, including the availability of glucose and fatty acids. These changes in metabolism, and potentially energy availability, may partially explain differences in immune function observed in yeast-supplemented livestock, as the energy demands of an activated immune system are extremely high. Thus, this paper explores the influence of yeast products on metabolism in cattle and swine, and how changes in metabolism and energy availability may contribute to improvements in immune function in supplemented animals.
A new approach for molecular characterisation of sediments with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry: Extraction optimisation

Abstract Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICRMS) can begin to tease apart the molecular character of sedimentary organic matter (SOM). We therefore tested five different solvents (aqueous base, CHCl3, MeOH, pyridine and water) for their ability to extract a representative fraction from two organic rich lacustrine sediments, Mangrove Lake, Bermuda (MLB) and Mud Lake, Florida (MLF). Following comparison using liquid state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and negative ion mode electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (FTICRMS) we found that pyridine was the optimal solvent, extracting a more diverse (10–100× greater integration for carbonyl, amide and amine groups) and a larger number of peaks on average (1375–1450 vs. 380–1450). Comparison of the pyridine extracts between MLB, MLF and two organic poor sediments from the Mississippi River Delta and Bayou Grande (Pensacola, FL) showed that only 4.9% of the molecular formulae were common to all four and that unique formulae made up the highest proportion of the assignments. The use of pyridine for extracting immature (Holocene) SOM for FTICRMS analysis can therefore be widely applied to immature sediments and produce representative spectra.
Inhibition and Agglutination of Arthrobacters by Pseudomonads

The bacterial flora of water in Narragansett Bay, R.I., was observed semimonthly from 1962 to 1964. Dominant isolates were keyed to genus, and the isolates for each genus were expressed as percentage of total isolates. There was a consistent inverse relationship between arthrobacters and the dominant pseudomonads. Pseudomonad growth on agar plates markedly inhibited arthrobacter cross-streaks. Agar from inhibition zones as well as supernatant fluids from pseudomonad broth cultures inhibited arthrobacter motility and caused the cells to agglutinate. Gummy pseudomonad residues from vacuum-evaporated broth cultures readily passed a G-25 Sephadex column. This material agglutinated arthrobacter cells, but failed to cause arthrobacter inhibition in filter-pad assays. In contrast, sterile medium inside a dialysis sac, inoculated externally with a pseudomonad, was inhibitory to arthrobacters in pad assay but failed to agglutinate arthrobacter cells. Pseudomonad isolates from soil showed similar inhibiting and agglutinating activities for both soil and seawater arthrobacter isolates. The inhibitory and agglutinating activities of pseudomonad isolates appeared to diminish on prolonged laboratory cultivation.
Time‐of‐Flight Ion Composition Measurement Technique for Space Plasmas

Time-of-flight (TOF) technique is now a well proven technique to determine the ion composition in space plasmas. TOF instruments have been successfully used in the energy range from 0.1eV/n to 60 MeV/n. This review covers briefly the history of TOF instrumentation in space research and describes several different time-of-flight techniques such as AE-E-TOF, secondary electron emission TOF, and pulsed operation TOF.
The Advocate's Dilemma: Framing Migrant Rights in National Settings

This article identifies and explores the dilemma of migrant advocacy in advanced industrial democracies, focusing specifically on the contemporary United States. On the one hand, universal norms such as human rights, which are theoretically well suited to advancing migrants' claims, may have little resonance within national settings. On the other hand, the debates around which immigration arguments typically turn, and the terrain on which advocates must fight, derive their values and assumptions from a nation-state framework that is self-limiting. The article analyzes the limits of human rights arguments, discusses the pitfalls of engaging in national policy debates, and details the challenges for advocates of advancing the cause of policy reform and shifting the frame for thinking about migration over the long term.
Characterization of EngF from Clostridium cellulovorans and identification of a novel cellulose binding domain.

The physical and enzymatic properties of noncellulosomal endoglucanase F (EngF) from Clostridium cellulovorans were studied. Binding studies revealed that the Kd and the maximum amount of protein bound for acid-swollen cellulose were 1.8 μM and 7.1 μmol/g of cellulose, respectively. The presence of cellobiose but not glucose or maltose could dissociate EngF from cellulose. N- and C-terminally truncated enzymes showed that binding activity was located at some site between amino acid residues 356 and 557 and that enzyme activity was still present when 20 amino acids but not 45 amino acids were removed from the N terminus and when 32 amino acids were removed from the C terminus; when 57 amino acids were removed from the C terminus, all activity was lost. EngF showed low endoglucanase activity and could hydrolyze cellotetraose and cellopentaose but not cellotriose. Activity studies suggested that EngF plays a role as an endoglucanase during cellulose degradation. Comparative sequence analyses indicated strongly that the cellulose binding domain (CBD) is different from previously reported CBDs.
Global Democracy or Global Law: Which Comes First?

This has been an extraordinary week; it started on Monday with an after-breakfast visit from President Clinton at the Whitman Center at Rutgers, and it has culminated this evening in a dinner with your great chancellor, Hermann Wells. I am delighted then to be with you for this sesquicentennial of your great law school apd to join with this group of distinguished lawyers and social scientists to talk about the globalization of law. I have only one problem: there is no globalization of law. Law has always been the destitute camp follower of the itinerant armies of transnationalism?traditionally, imperialism, communism, international commercialism, or markets; today, telecommunications, ecology, markets, and pop culture. Law is dragged along behind these forces in the most awkward fashion. The image I have before me is not of a man pulling a somewhat reluctant dog along a smooth path, but of a helicopter hauling a puppy on a long tether across an obstacle course on the ground. The chopper sails along, but the poor puppy dog .... There are those who would point to the law of the seas, human rights, space law, the new thrust toward global environmental regulation (the Montreal or Rio treaties, for example), or, most persuasively, to the role of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in fostering European integration. The ECJ has in fact been well ahead of the region's political institutions. Yet events in Europe since Maastricht suggest the continuing priority of national sovereignty over what remains in almost every realm as "soft law" or no law at all. Hobbes continues to frame the discussion of international law. Law for the purposes of nations is the capacity for enforcement; for sovereign nations its essence lies in its sanctions. Covenants without the sword are still but words, of no use at all to secure man or nations. There are nonetheless powerful forces of globalization at work in the modern world, and they are drawing law along behind them. Indeed, as you know, it is the purpose of this conference to try to influence, a little bit, the
Antibiotic administration in ITU: Are we throwing away that which we hold so dear?

Timely antibiotics decrease mortality in patients who are critically unwell with bacterial infections. Adequate dosing, so that antibiotic concentration exceeds the minimum inhibitory concentration for the treated pathogen, is likely equally important. An observation in our unit made us concerned that we may not be administering the intended doses of antibiotics to our patients due to an oversight that results in unintentionally discarding antibiotics. On informal discussion with colleagues at a regional meeting, we realised that our mistake is being replicated in other units. Therefore, we felt it was important to raise the issue more widely. It has become common practice in intensive care units to administer antibiotics using a mini bag of 50 to 100ml of carrier fluid and a separate, disposable giving set. This allows delivery devices with preprogrammed ‘guardrails’ to be used and facilitates audit of drug delivery. Once the mini bag is empty, the bag and giving set are discarded. The giving set is not flushed through and hence the carrier fluid with antibiotics in the giving set, equivalent to the priming volume, is thrown away. The residual volume of fluid held within a giving set is obviously variable depending on the length of tubing and the filling of the air trap, but it is in the region of 17ml for a gravity administration system (CareFusion 41173E-0006, CareFusion, UK) and 22ml for a pump administration set (Alaris GW primary infusion set, CareFusion, UK). This would result in a potentially significant proportion of a 50ml antibiotic solution not being administered, potentially resulting in underdosing and treatment failure. We have therefore changed practice to flush through our antibiotic giving sets to ensure delivery of intended doses of antibiotics using a burette system. We plan to change to delivering antibiotics using syringe drivers and narrow bore IV extensions with smaller priming volumes (1.4ml; G40020B Extension set, CareFusion, UK). As we had overlooked this potentially harmful practice locally, we felt it was possible that others might be doing the same and felt that raising the issue was therefore important.
HVOF thermal spray deposited Y 2 O 3 -stabilized ZrO 2 coatings for thermal barrier applications

High velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) thermal spray has been successfully used to deposit yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) for thermal barrier coating (TBC) applications. Adherent coatings were obtained within a limited range of spray conditions using hydrogen as fuel gas. Spray parameters such as hydrogen-to-oxygen ratio, spray distance, and substrate cooling were investigated. Spray distance was found to have a pronounced effect on coating quality; adherent coatings were obtained for spray distances between 75 and 125 mm from the gun exit for the hydrogen-to-oxygen ratios explored. Compared to air plasma spray (APS) deposited YSZ coatings, the HVOF deposited coatings were more fully stabilized in the tetragonal phase, and of similar density, surface roughness, and cross-sectional microhardness. Notably, fracture surfaces of the HVOF coatings revealed a more homogeneous structure. Many theoretical models predict that it should not be possible to melt YSZ in an HVOF flame, and therefore it should not be possible to deposit viable YSZ coatings by this process. The experimental results in the present work clearly contradict those expectations. The present results can be explained by taking into account the effect of partial melting and sintering on particle cohesion, as follows. Combustion chamber pressures (P o) of ∼3.9 bar (58.8 psi) realized during HVOF gun operation allows adiabatic flame temperature values that are above the zirconia melting temperature. Under these conditions, the Ranz-Marshall heat transfer model predicts HVOF sprayed particle surface temperatures T p that are high enough for partial melting of small (∼10 µm) zirconia particles, T p=(1.10−0.95)T m. Further analysis shows that for larger particles (38 µm), adherent coatings are produced when the particle temperature, T p=0.59−0.60 T m, suggesting that sintering may have a role in zirconia particle deposition during HVOF spray. These results suggest two different bonding mechanisms for powders having a broad particle size distribution.
Nephrology Crosswords: Diabetic nephropathy.

ACROSS 2 Expansion of this cell in the glomerulus correlates with reduced capillary surface area and decreased filtration. 5 This drug is a nonspecific phosphodiesterase inhibitor that has been shown to have beneficial effects on kidney function in patients with diabetic nephropathy, with a reduction in proteinuria. 7 Long-term exposure to ____ increases the risk of diabetic nephropathy because it accelerates the aging process in the kidney tissues (abbreviation). 8 Working in synergy with renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockade, this agent has been shown to modestly reduce proteinuria in diabetic nephropathy. 9 Diabetic patients with pre-existing renal or cardiovascular disease and receiving an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) at baseline were randomized to receive this drug or placebo in the ALTITUDE trial. 11 The podocyte secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor A can alter _______ cell function and morphology in diabetic nephropathy. 12 The Beacon trial studied this drug in over 2000 diabetic patients with stage 4 chronic kidney disease (CKD) and found no difference in renal outcome or mortality as compared with placebo. 13 This drug inhibits the sodium-glucose transporter in the proximal tubule leading to increased distal flow and restoration of the tubule glomerular feedback mechanism. DOWN 1 This control is imperative to delay the development of microvascular complications in diabetic patients. 3 This early process seen in the glomerulus of diabetic patients serves as a risk factor for the development of progressive nephropathy. 4 This term emphasizes the importance of glycemic legacy and that efforts to control glucose levels early can have long-term gains. 6 CKD progression was a secondary end point in this trial and showed that combination of ACEI and ARB had a higher rate of acute kidney injury requiring dialysis, hyperkalemia and hypotension. 10 This type of glomerulorsclerosis is a pathognomic of diabetic nephropathy. http://www.kidney-international.org m a k e y o u r d i a g n o s i s
The effect of liquid phase on VOC removal in trickle-bed biofilters

The objective of this work was to analyze the effect of water content on the removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in gas phase trickle-bed biofilters. Previous studies revealed that excessive accumulation of biomass in the reactor had a negative effect on contaminant removal efficiency. To solve this problem, periodic backwash was used to remove excess biomass and maintain an effective operation. Results showed that the ether removal efficiency dropped immediately after backwashing and gradually improved to reach the optimal value within about 24 hours. The initial drop in performance can be attributed to biological effects, such as loss of active biomass and the necessity for an adaptation period for the microbial culture. However, mass transfer limitations due to the water retained in the reactor may also be important. To investigate the effect of water content on the biofilter performance, an experiment evaluated the effect of draining after backwashing was conducted. Biofilters were allowed to drain for different periods of time before restarting the reactors. A longer lapse time in draining before the restart resulted in better ether removal efficiency. The improvement of biofilter performance after backwashing was explained with a combination of biological and physical effects. A mathematical model was then used to simulate the performance of the biofilter under these conditions and to support the conclusions obtained. The mathematical model considered a three-phase system (biofilm, water, and gas phase), dunamic processes, non-uniform bacterial population, and one limiting substrate.
The anticonvulsant gabapentin enhances promoted release of GABA in hippocampus: a field potential analysis

The mechanism of action of the recently developed anticonvulsant gabapentin (GBP) used for treatment of partial seizures [12] is largely unknown. Rat hippocampal slices were maintained in vitro and the effects of microapplication of nipecotic acid (NPA), which promotes the release and blocks uptake of GABA, on the synaptically-evoked population excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) were assessed before and after 1 h bath application of GBP. GBP treatment did not alter the population EPSP amplitude to paired or multiple stimuli, but nearly doubled the shunting effects of NPA on the EPSP with no effect on the presynaptic volley. The NPA-induced shunting of the EPSP was bicuculline-sensitive, indicating its mediation by GABAA receptor activation. These results suggest that GBP may increase free GABA levels in hippocampal cells, the release of which may be enhanced under conditions of promoted GABA release. Moreover, the study presents a methodology to electrophysiologically assess relative free GABA levels using field potential analysis in the adult rat brain.
Crystal structure of rubredoxin from Pyrococcus furiosus at 0.95 Å resolution, and the structures of N-terminal methionine and formylmethionine variants of Pf Rd. Contributions of N-terminal interactions to thermostability

The high-resolution crystal structure of the small iron-sulfur protein rubredoxin (Rd) from the hyperthermophilic archeon Pyrococcus furiosus (Pf) is reported in this paper, together with those of its methionine ([_0M]Pf Rd) and formylmethionine (f[_0M]Pf Rd) variants. These studies were conducted to assess the consequences of the presence or absence of a salt bridge between the amino terminal nitrogen of Ala1 and the side chain of Glu14 to the structure and stability of this rubredoxin. The structure of wild-type Pf Rd was solved to a resolution of 0.95 A and refined by full-matrix least-squares techniques to a crystallographic agreement factor of 12.8% [F>2σ(F) data, 25 617 reflections], while those of the [_0M]Pf and f[_0M]Pf Rd variants were solved at slightly lower resolutions (1.1 A, R=11.5%, 17 213 reflections; 1.2 A, R=13.7%, 12 478 reflections, respectively). The quality of the data was such that about half of the hydrogen atoms of the protein were clearly visible. All three structures were ultimately refined using the program SHELXL-93 with anisotropic atomic displacement parameters for all non-hydrogen protein atoms, and calculated hydrogen positions included but not refined. In this paper we also report thermostability data for all three forms of Pf Rd, and show that they follow the sequence wild-type >[_0M]Pf>formyl[_0M]Pf. Comparison of the three Pf Rd structures in the N-terminal region show that the structures of wild-type Pf Rd and f[_0M]Pf are rather similar, while that of [_0M]Pf Rd shows a number of additional hydrogen bonds involving the extra methionine group. While the salt bridge between the Ala1 amino group and the Glu14 carboxylate is not the primary determinant of the thermostability of Pf Rd, alterations to the amino terminus do have a moderate influence on the thermostability of this protein.
A modification of Trouton's rule by simple molecular parameters for hydrocarbon compounds

The entropy of vaporization at the normal boiling point (ΔSb) is an important property in the chemical engineering and environmental sciences. This paper presents a simple modification of Trouton's rule to estimate this property for a variety of hydrocarbon compounds including alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, dienes, cycloalkanes, and alkyl aromatics. The equation contains three easy-to-determine parameters that describe important molecular features: flexibility, symmetry, and planarity. The entropy data were calculated from experimental enthalpy data of 477 different organic compounds at the normal boiling point. The average percentage error for the prediction is 1.30 by the proposed method, 2.79 by Trouton's rule, 1.62 by Kistiakowsky's method, 1.51 by Vetere's method, and 2.23 by the group contribution method of Ma and Zhao.
Isoquinoline-based analogs of the cancer drug clinical candidate tipifarnib as anti-Trypanosoma cruzi agents

We developed a synthetic route to prepare isoquinoline analogs of the cancer drug clinical candidate tipifarnib. We show that these compounds kill Trypanosoma cruzi amastigotes grown in mammalian host cells at concentrations in the low nanomolar range. These isoquinolines represent new leads for the development of drugs to treat Chagas disease.
Radiocephalometric evaluation of a family with mandibulofacial dysostosis

Persons from four generations of a family with mandibulofacial dysostosis (MFD), known as Treacher Collins (TC) Syndrome, were examined for the presence of clinical signs traditionally associated with this syndrome. In this family, 14 adults, who had been judged trait bearers by an earlier family study were included in this study. Maxillary and mandibular study models were taken of affected and unaffected family members. Panoramic cephalograms and lateral radiographs were taken. The lateral cephalograms were traced and digitized on a computer system and compared. The 117 cephalometric values of the trait bearers were compared with known standard values and nontrait bearing family members. In the trait bearing group, 81 of the 117 values and, in the nontrait bearing group, 72 of the 117 values were significantly different ( p
Fiber-Reinforced Composite Bridge Decks in the USA

Highway departments across America are searching for ways to solve the nation's bridge problems. Engineers have turned to fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites as possible solutions. In West Virginia, a concrete bridge deck has been cast with FRP reinforcement bars. In Delaware, Kansas and West Virginia, several bridges have been constructed with FRP decks positioned above conventional substructures, and in Ohio and West Virginia composite material has been utilized for entire bridge structures. This paper presents a brief overview of FRP bridge construction. (A)
Angle resolved photoemission study of surface states on the Pt(997) vicinal surface

One-dimensional atomic chains can be synthesized on stepped surfaces and the electronic structure of the high vicinal surface plays an essential role in determining the physical properties of atomic chains grown on top of it. We have applied surface analysis techniques to study the surface of a Pt(997) single crystal. The STM image of the surface showed that the surface was uniform with a well defined distance between the terraces. Angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) was used to characterize the electronic states of the Pt(997) surface, and confinement of electrons with wave vector perpendicular to the step direction was observed.
NMDA receptors: Substrates or modulators of memory formation

We agree with Shors & Matzel's general hypothesis that the proposed link between NMDA-dependent LTP and memory is weak. They suggest that NMDA-dependent LTP is important to arousal or attentional processes which influence learning in an anterograde manner. However, current evidence is also consistent with the view that NMDA receptors modulate memory consolidation retroactively, as occurs in several other receptor classes.
Vascularized Bone Grafting for Treatment of Kienböck's Disease

Treatment of Kienbock's disease has historically been determined by staging, ulnar variance, and presence or absence of arthritic changes. With the advent of newer techniques of vascularized bone grafting, the status of the cartilage shell of the lunate has become another factor that can influence the procedure performed. The purpose of this article is to describe the technique of the 4th plus 5th extensor compartment artery vascularized bone graft for Kienbock's disease.
Vasoactive intestinal peptide effects on GH3 pituitary tumor cells: high affinity binding, affinity labeling, and adenylate cyclase stimulation. Comparison with peptide histidine isoleucine and growth hormone-releasing factor.

Abstract The vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) receptor was characterized on the GH 3 rat pituitary tumor cell line using competitive binding studies with peptides having sequence homology with VIP. Further studies investigated receptor coupling to the adenylate cyclase complex by measurement of cAMP levels. Finally, the molecular weight of the receptor was estimated by affinity labeling techniques. Studies using 125 I-VIP and unlabeled competing peptides revealed a single class of high affinity binding sites with a dissociation constant ( K D ) of 17 ± 2 nM (mean ± S.E.M.) for VIP, 275 ± 46 nM for peptide histidine isoleucine (PHI), and 1380 ± 800 nM for human pancreatic growth hormone releasing factor (GHRF). VIP and PHI each stimulated intracellular cAMP accumulation in a dose-dependent manner; both peptides demonstrated synergism with forskolin. In contrast, GHRF neither stimulated accumulation of cAMP nor demonstrated synergism with forskolin. VIP plus PHI (1 μM each) caused no significant increase in cAMP over either VIP or PHI alone, implying that the two peptides act through the same receptor. Covalent crosslinking of 125 I-VIP to its binding site using either disuccinimidyl suberate (DSS) or ethylene glycol bis(succinimidyl succinate) (EGS) was followed by SDS-PAGE and autoradiography. The result is consistent with an M r 47 000 VIP-binding subunit comprising or being associated with the VIP receptor of GH 3 pituitary tumor cells.
A sustainable “building block”?: The paradoxical effects of thermal efficiency on U.S. power plants’ CO2 emissions

Abstract Under its recently proposed Clean Power Plan, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gives states several “building blocks” to choose from to reduce their power plants’ CO2 emissions, including improving plants’ heat rate efficiency. However, skeptics suggest that precisely because efficiency enhances electrical output, it may reduce power plants’ emission rates but increase their emission levels. Using the EPA’s new Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) data, this paper conducts the first analysis of the effect of thermal efficiency on the rate and level at which individual power plants emit carbon dioxide. Consistent with the arguments of skeptics, we find that while efficiency lowers CO2 emission rates, it actually increases CO2 emission levels. In suggesting to states that improving efficiency is one of the best systems of emission reductions, therefore, the EPA needs to consider whether more efficient plants are subject to such “rebound effects.”
Jigsaw Puzzles, Edge Matching, and Polyomino Packing: Connections and Complexity

We show that jigsaw puzzles, edge-matching puzzles, and polyomino packing puzzles are all NP-complete. Furthermore, we show direct equivalences between these three types of puzzles: any puzzle of one type can be converted into an equivalent puzzle of any other type.
Erythropoietin gene regulation depends on heme-dependent oxygen sensing and assembly of interacting transcription factors

Studies on erythropoietin (Epo) gene expression have been useful in investigating the mechanism by which cells and tissues sense hypoxia. Both in vivo and in Hep3B cells. Epo production is induced not only by hypoxia but also by certain transition metal (cobalt and nickel) and by iron chelation. When Hep3B cells were incubated in an iron deficient medium, Epo mRNA expression was enhanced fourfold compared to Hep3B cells in iron enriched medium. Epo induction by cobalt was inversely related to iron concentration in the medium, indicating competition between the two metals. Under hyperbaric oxygen, cobalt induction of erythropoietin mRNA was modestly suppressed while nickel induction was markedly enhanced. These recent observations support the proposal that the oxygen sensor is a heme protein in which cobalt and nickel can substitute for iron in the porphyrin ring. The up-regulation of Epo gene transcription by hypoxia depends on at least two known DNA binding transcription factors, HIF-1 and HNF-4, which bind to cognate response elements in a critical approximately 50 bp 3' enhancer. Hypoxia induces HIF-1 binding. HNF-4, an orphan nuclear receptor constitutively expressed in kidney and liver, binds downstream of HIF-1 and cooperates with HIF-1, contributing importantly to high level and perhaps tissue specific expression. The C-terminal activation domain of HNF-4 binds to the beta subunit of HIF-1. The C-terminal portion of the alpha subunit of HIF-1 binds specifically to p300, a general transcriptional activator. Hypoxic induction of the endogenous Epo gene in Hep3B cells as well as an Epo-reporter gene was fully inhibited by E1A, an adenovirus protein that binds to and inactivates p300, but only slightly by a mutant E1A that fails to bind to p300. Moreover, overexpression of p300 enhanced hypoxic induction. Thus, it is likely that in hypoxic cells, p300 or a related family member plays a critical role in forming a macromolecular assembly with HIF-1 and HNF-4, enabling transduction from the Epo 3' enhancer to the apparatus on the promoter responsible for the initiation of transcription.
Incorporation of DL-tyrosine-2-C-14 and DL-tryptophan-2-C-14 by encysted Trichinella spiralis larvae.

1. 1. Trichinella spiralis larvae incorporated significant levels of C14 activity when dl-tyrosine-2-C-14 and dl-tryptophan-2-C-14 labeled diets were fed to mice with infections of 56 and 180 day's duration. 2. 2. In the 6-month-old infections the well-developed cyst wall surrounding the larvae retains sufficient permeability to tyrosine and tryptophan or to products of metabolism of these amino acids by the host. 3. 3. The larvae from the 62 and 186-day infected mice that were fed a dl-tyrosine-2-C-14 diet incorporated 86 and 92% of their total C14 content into protein (defined as material precipitable by tungstic acid). 4. 4. When the dl-tryptophan-2-C-14 diet was fed, the 62 and 186-day-old larvae incorporated 86 and 85% of their total C14 content into larval protein. 5. 5. Incorporation of total C14 into muscle protein was reduced in 186-day infected mice fed dl-tyrosine-2-C-14 as compared to muscle proteins obtained from noninfected animals. 6. 6. With the dl-tryptophan-2-C-14 diet, a 10-fold increase in C14 activity was found in 186-day infected muscle protein over that observed in noninfected muscle. This may indicate a significant change in tryptophan metabolism of the host during the course of a Trichinella infection in mice.
Land Surface Heterogeneity Signature in Tornado Climatology? An Illustrative Analysis over Indiana, 1950–2012*

AbstractLand surface heterogeneity affects mesoscale interactions, including the evolution of severe convection. However, its contribution to tornadogenesis is not well known. Indiana is selected as an example to present an assessment of documented tornadoes and land surface heterogeneity to better understand the spatial distribution of tornadoes. This assessment is developed using a GIS framework taking data from 1950 to 2012 and investigates the following topics: temporal analysis, effect of ENSO, antecedent rainfall linkages, population density, land use/land cover, and topography, placing them in the context of land surface heterogeneity.Spatial analysis of tornado touchdown locations reveals several spatial relationships with regard to cities, population density, land-use classification, and topography. A total of 61% of F0–F5 tornadoes and 43% of F0–F5 tornadoes in Indiana have touched down within 1 km of urban land use and land area classified as forest, respectively, suggesting the possible role o...
Asymmetric synthesis of cyclic cis-beta-amino acid derivatives using sulfinimines and prochiral Weinreb amide enolates.

Cyclic cis-β-amino Weinreb amides, valuable building blocks for the asymmetric synthesis of cyclic β-amino acids derivatives, are readily prepared via ring-closing metathesis of sulfinimine-derived N-sulfinyl β-amino diene Weinreb amides. These unsaturated cyclic cis-β-amino Weinreb amides are valuable building blocks for the asymmetric synthesis of cyclic β-amino acid derivatives.
The Role of the Escherichia coli Mug Protein in the Removal of Uracil and 3,N 4-Ethenocytosine from DNA

The human thymine-DNA glycosylase has a sequence homolog in Escherichia coli that is described to excise uracils from U.G mismatches (Gallinari, P., and Jiricny, J. (1996) Nature 383, 735-738) and is named mismatched uracil glycosylase (Mug). It has also been described to remove 3,N(4)-ethenocytosine (epsilonC) from epsilonC.G mismatches (Saparbaev, M., and Laval, J. (1998) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 95, 8508-8513). We used a mug mutant to clarify the role of this protein in DNA repair and mutation avoidance. We find that inactivation of mug has no effect on C to T or 5-methylcytosine to T mutations in E. coli and that this contrasts with the effect of ung defect on C to T mutations and of vsr defect on 5-methylcytosine to T mutations. Even under conditions where it is overproduced in cells, Mug has little effect on the frequency of C to T mutations. Because uracil-DNA glycosylase (Ung) and Vsr are known to repair U.G and T.G mismatches, respectively, we conclude that Mug does not repair U.G or T.G mismatches in vivo. A defect in mug also has little effect on forward mutations, suggesting that Mug does not play a role in avoiding mutations due to endogenous damage to DNA in growing E. coli. Cell-free extracts from mug(+) ung cells show very little ability to remove uracil from DNA, but can excise epsilonC. The latter activity is missing in extracts from mug cells, suggesting that Mug may be the only enzyme in E. coli that can remove this mutagenic adduct. Thus, the principal role of Mug in E. coli may be to help repair damage to DNA caused by exogenous chemical agents such as chloroacetaldehyde.