cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A simplified formaldehyde fixation and immunoprecipitation technique for studying protein-DNA interactions

Using the single cell eukaryote Tetrahymena thermophila, a simple method was developed for studying protein-DNA associations by cross-linking proteins to DNA with formaldehyde and immunoprecipitating the solubilized chromatin fragments with a specific antiserum. The protocol uses crude antiserum and involves only three steps: cross-linking, shearing to solubilize the chromatin, and immunoprecipitation. Methods for optimizing certain critical parameters, such as fixation time and NaCl concentration, are described. The method is likely to be generally useful for a variety of nuclear antigens.
Modeling the temperature dependent effect of twinning on the behavior of magnesium alloy AZ31B sheet

Uniaxial compression test data were obtained from magnesium alloy AZ31B sheet material tested along three sample directions (rolling, transverse and normal direction) over the temperature range T = 22–250 ◦ C. The yield point during in-plane compression is insensitive to temperature, up to 200 ◦ C, suggesting that athermal mechanisms are responsible for yielding. The in-plane compression samples exhibit very low r-values, which provides another signature of significant twinning activity in magnesium sheet, in addition to the characteristic sigmoidal strain hardening curve. By varying the critical resolved shear strengths (CRSS) and hardening behaviors of the deformation mechanisms, it is possible to model the changes in the flow stress profile, the strain anisotropy, and texture evolution using a viscoplastic self-consistent polycrystal model. Notably, the CRSS values for basal slip were observed to be constant, while that of twinning increased slightly, and the CRSS values of thermally activated slip
Annexin V and terminal differentiation of growth plate chondrocytes.

Abstract Terminal differentiation and mineralization are the final events in endochondral bone formation and allow the replacement of cartilage by bone. Retinoic acid (RA) stimulates these events, including upregulation of expression and activity of alkaline phosphatase (APase), expression of annexins II, V, and VI proteins, which bind to membranes and form Ca2+ channels, expression of osteocalcin and runx2, another mineralization-related protein and terminal differentiation-related transcription factor, and ultimately mineralization. Chelating cytosolic Ca2+ with BAPTA-AM, interfering with annexin Ca2+ channel activities using K-201, a specific annexin Ca2+ channel blocker, or suppression of annexin V expression using siRNA inhibited these events. Overexpression of annexin V in embryonic chicken growth plate chondrocytes resulted in an increase of cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration, [Ca2+]i similar to [Ca2+]i increase in RA-treated cultures. Overexpression of annexin V also resulted in upregulation of annexin II, annexin VI, osteocalcin, and runx2 gene expression, expression and activity of APase, and ultimately stimulation of mineralization. K-201 inhibited upregulation of osteocalcin and runx2 gene expression, APase expression and activity, and mineralization in annexin V-overexpressing growth plate chondrocytes. These findings indicate that annexins II, V, and VI alter Ca2+ homeostasis in growth plate chondrocytes thereby regulating terminal differentiation and mineralization events. Overexpression of annexin V is sufficient to stimulate these terminal differentiation events in growth plate chondrocytes, whereas suppression of annexin V expression inhibits these events.
Abandoned penguin colonies and environmental change in the Palmer Station area, Anvers Island, Antarctic Peninsula

Six abandoned colonies of Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) were excavated near Palmer Station, Anvers Island, Antarctic Peninsula, to investigate the occupation history of this species. Sediments from each site yielded abundant fish bones and otoliths and squid beaks that represent prey remains deposited by penguins during the nesting period. Radiocarbon analyses indicate that colony occupation began prior to the Little Ice Age (LIA; 1500-1850 AD), with the oldest site dating to 644 yrs before present (BP; average reservoir-corrected date with 1s range, 603479 yr BP). Food remains indicate that the non-euphausiid prey of penguins consisted primarily of a mesopelagic squid (Psychroteuthis glacialis) and two species of fish (Pleuragramma antarcticum and Electrona antarctica). The relative abundance of the first two prey taxa varied significantly among six sites (x" > 34.6; df = 10; P < 0.00 1) with colonies dating prior to the LIA having greater representation of squid, and less of silverfish, than those occupied during the LIA. Data from control excavations at three modem colonies indicate a diet similar to that of the pre-LIA sites. These results suggest that Adelie penguins may have changed their diet in response to warming and cooling cycles in the past. In addition, only Adelie penguins are known to have nested in the Palmer Station area prior to the 1950s; gentoo (Pygoscelis papua) and chinstrap (P. antarctica) penguins now breeding in this region have expanded their ranges southward in the Peninsula within the past 50 yrs, in correlation with pronounced regional warming.
60-Hz electric fields inhibit electrogenic ion pumping in Nitella clavata

Abstract Previous work in this laboratory has demonstrated that 60-Hz electric fields inhibit the growth of plant roots used as model eukaryotic cell systems. The inhibition of root growth is proportional to the 60-Hz membrane potential induced by the applied field and to field-induced inhibition of net, transmembrane H + flux ( Brayman and Miller , Radiat. Res. 123 , 22–31, 1990). We have proposed that the interference with transmembrane ion traffic is one of the coupling mechanisms by which field-exposed cells transduce the stimulus associated with field exposure ( viz. 60-Hz membrane potential induction) into gross effects on growth and cellular development in the root model system. We report here the results of experiments undertaken with the giant Characean alga Nitella clavata with which we demonstrate that 60-Hz electric field interference with electrogenic transmembrane ion transport processes is not unique to higher plant cells. Both the frequency of affected bands and the frequency of affected cells increased in response to increasing 60-Hz field strength. The sensitivity of acid/base banding to perturbation by 60-Hz electric fields is similar to that of higher plant root growth when compared on the basis of field strength, but qualitatively different when compared on the basis of induced membrane potentials.
Electromigration in Liquid Na-K Alloys

The direction of electromigration in liquid Na-K alloys reverses with composition. Coefficients of electron drag have been measured in dilute alloys, where the separation is greatest, and in an alloy of composition approximating the null point. Theoretical calculations of the electron-ion interactions in these alloys, have been used to refine the Epstein-Paskin model for electromigration in liquid alloys, and to explain the observed reversal.
A Single-Crystal X-Ray Diffraction Study of Lithium Zirconate, Li6Zr2O7, a Solid-State Ionic Conductor

Abstract The structure of lithium zirconate (Li 6 Zr 2 O 7 ) has been solved by the single-crystal X-ray method. Li 6 Zr 2 O 7 is monoclinic, space group C 2/ c and cell parameters a = 10.440(4), b = 5.991(1), c = 10.204(2) A, β = 100.25(3)°, Z = 8 (for the asymmetric unit Li 3 ZrO 7/2 ). A least-squares refinement gave conventional and weighted R factors of 0.041 and 0.052, respectively. The structure is of the NaCl type and is characterized by an ordered anionic deficiency. As a consequence the coordination number of the Li atoms is 5, with the coordination geometry of a distorted square pyramid. Also, the oxygen octahedron around each Zr atom is significantly distorted. A comparison between Li 6 Zr 2 O 7 and Li 2 ZrO 3 , another phase of the NaCl type, shows that the structure of the former compound is more "open" than that of Li 2 ZrO 3 and, for this reason, a higher mobility of both the Li + and O 2- ions can be expected for the former phase. These results are in agreement with conductivity measurements.
Radiotherapy treatment planning using the ACTA-scanner.

Abstract Computerized tomography is useful in radiotherapy treatment planning in the following ways: (1) Its image provides the most accurate possible contour of the patient and demonstrates the internal structures in their proper relation to each other. (2) The tumor and its extension are accurately demonstrated. (3) Corrections for tissue heterogeneities can be accomplished in one of two ways, either by arbitrary assignment of densities to tissues or by direct scanning with a therapy source. This latter procedure is_ under investigation. (4) The computer can be programmed to demonstrate summations of dose delivered from multiple fields.
Concentration dependence of fluorescence signal in a microfluidic fluorescence detector

Abstract Fluorescence detection is one of the most widely used techniques for measuring analyte concentration in biological applications. Although used frequently with bulk systems, there are important considerations in using this approach in thin (
Cathepsin S Required for Normal MHC Class II Peptide Loading and Germinal Center Development

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules acquire antigenic peptides after degradation of the invariant chain (Ii), an MHC class II-associated protein that otherwise blocks peptide binding. Antigen-presenting cells of mice that lack the protease cathepsin S fail to process Ii beyond a 10 kDa fragment, resulting in delayed peptide loading and accumulation of cell surface MHC class II/10 kDa Ii complexes. Although cathepsin S-deficient mice have normal numbers of B and T cells and normal IgE responses, they show markedly impaired antibody class switching to IgG2a and IgG3. These results indicate cathepsin S is a major Ii-processing enzyme in splenocytes and dendritic cells. Its role in humoral immunity critically depends on how antigens access the immune system.
Effects of hypothermic kidney preservation on the isolated perfused kidney: a comparison of reperfusion methods.

Abstract Two isolated-perfused kidney methods were used to study the effects of hypothermic preservation on renal function in dog kidneys. The isolated-machine-perfused kidney (IMPK) used an in vitro perfusion technique—the perfusate was a Krebs-bicarbonate type delivered to the kidney at 37 °C by a mechanical pump at a constant pressure (100 mm Hg). The isolated-blood-perfused kidney (IBPK) utilized transplantation of the preserved kidney to the femoral vasculature. Renal function (urine analysis) was determined over a 1-hr reperfusion interval and included GFR (creatinine clearance), urine formation, and Na + reabsorption. Kidneys preserved for only 24 hr by cold storage in either Collins'-C 3 solution or in hypotonic citrate and kidneys hypothermically perfused for 24 hr demonstrated greater retention of renal function when reperfused by blood (IBPK) than with the in , vitro perfusate (IMPK). The GFR was reduced by 38–58% when tested with the IBPK, but by 80–90% when tested with the IMPK. Na + reabsorption was normal (97%) with blood reperfusion but was reduced to 36–50% in cold-stored kidneys and 82% in hypothermically perfused kidneys determined by machine reperfusion (IMPK). However, kidneys perfused for 72 hr demonstrated more similar renal functions when tested by either IMPK or IBPK. GFR was reduced to 20% (IBPK) and 11% (IMPK) and Na + reabsorption averaged 76–85% (IBPK or IMPK). These results suggest that either reperfusion method is suitable for determining the effects of renal preservation on kidney function in kidneys preserved for 72 hr but, for short-term preserved kidneys (24 hr), the IBPK model may be preferred.
The meaning of heritability in the behavioral sciences 1

Abstract The concept of heritability in quantitative genetics is defined and discussed in terms of its implications for individual and group differences in behavioral traits, with particular reference to studies of the heritability of IQ. Common misconceptions concerning the relevance of heritability analysis for individual scores and the roles of genotype x environment covariance and interaction are clarified. Some of the popular criticisms of heritability analysis as applied to mental ability are shown to be misconceived.
College student smokers' cognitive appraisal of high-risk activities.

Abstract Objective: Students who smoke are more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as binge drinking and unprotected sex (Schnieder and Morris, Environ Behav. 1999; 23:575–591). The goals of the present study were to determine whether smokers assess these behaviors as lower risk than nonsmokers, and if smoking rate influences risk perceptions. Methods: Participants were 303 college students. Cognitive Appraisal of Risky Activities (Fromme et al., Cognit Ther Res. 1997; 21:421–442) and smoking were assessed August–November, 2006. Results: Smokers reported significantly less risk, more benefit, and more involvement in risky behaviors than nonsmokers (p < .01). In hierarchical linear regression, risk perceptions moderated the association between smoking and (a) expected benefit from risky sexual behaviors (β = −1.121, p < .05); and (b) expected involvement with illicit drugs (β = −.313, p < .01). Conclusions: College smokers’ assessment of high-risk behaviors influenced their intended involvement. Risk...
A new iron–sulphide cluster containing the ‘prismane’[Fe6(µ-S)6]3+ core. Synthesis, structure, and properties of [Et4N]3[Fe6S6Cl6]

The synthesis and structural (crystallographic and spectroscopic) characterization of the new Fe–S–Cl cluster [Fe6S6Cl6]3– is described.
Aromatase-independent testosterone conversion into estrogenic steroids is inhibited by a 5α-reductase inhibitor

Estrogens are generated mainly by the action of aromatase, which converts testosterone to estradiol and androstenedione to estrone. However, in addition to estradiol and estrone, a variety of other steroids, whose synthesis is not dependent on aromatase, can stimulate the estrogen receptor. Here we show that testosterone is converted into such estrogenic steroids by aromatase-negative HeLa cells. This aromatase-independent generation of estrogenic steroids is seen in aromatase-positive MCF-7 cells as well. In both cell lines, the synthesis of estrogenic steroids was blocked by inhibition of testosterone conversion into dihydrotestosterone using a 5α-reductase inhibitor finasteride, suggesting that they are generated downstream of dihydrotestosterone. This finding raises the possibility that the combination of a 5α-reductase inhibitor and an aromatase inhibitor may reduce estrogenic steroids in vivo more completely than an aromatase inhibitor alone.
Regulation of contractile vacuole formation and activity in Dictyostelium

The contractile vacuole (CV) system is the osmoregulatory organelle required for survival for many free-living cells under hypotonic conditions. We identified a new CV regulator, Disgorgin, a TBC-domain-containing protein, which translocates to the CV membrane at the late stage of CV charging and regulates CV–plasma membrane fusion and discharging. disgorgin− cells produce large CVs due to impaired CV–plasma membrane fusion. Disgorgin is a specific GAP for Rab8A-GTP, which also localizes to the CV and whose hydrolysis is required for discharging. We demonstrate that Drainin, a previously identified TBC-domain-containing protein, lies upstream from Disgorgin in this pathway. Unlike Disgorgin, Drainin lacks GAP activity but functions as a Rab11A effector. The BEACH family proteins LvsA and LvsD were identified in a suppressor/enhancer screen of the disgorgin− large CV phenotype and demonstrated to have distinct functions in regulating CV formation. Our studies help define the pathways controlling CV function.
Plugging the Leaking Pipeline Why Men Have a Stake in the Recruitment and Retention of Women in Cardiovascular Medicine and Research

Imagine that, over the course of a few years, you noticed a steady and annoying drop in the water pressure in your house. Finding no leaks in the fixtures, plumbers eventually diagnose the problem: a gradually worsening leak in the delivery line into your house. Repairing the leak would become a top priority for both you and the municipality supplying the water. The leak would be fixed, and systems would be put in place to avoid future problems. Sadly, the analogy of the leaky pipe reflects the current state of affairs with respect to women in cardiovascular medicine and research: women leave academic medicine and research at a much higher rate than their male counterparts at every career stage. However, unlike the hypothetical example, the repair of the leak has not been a top priority, and few systems have been put into place to prevent future leaks. The brief summary that follows will show the importance of recruiting and retaining women in cardiovascular medicine and research, provide facts about the leaky pipeline, and suggest solutions for plugging the leak. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women. For years, some women with acute myocardial infarction were undeniably misdiagnosed because the established clinical indicators, which focused heavily on chest pain, were based on research conducted primarily in middle-aged men. Women often have more adverse side effects from drug therapy than men; for example, statin use increases the risk of diabetes mellitus more in women than men,1 where it is postulated that the smaller size of women may be the culprit. Efficacy and adverse effects of Food and Drug Administration–approved drugs have often been based on results from randomized …
Optimization in a class of priority-discarding policies for finite queues

Considers an optimization problem for finite queues governed by priority-discarding control policies. The author develops an analytical model for systems that defer discarding decisions until service completion instants, but then may expel any waiting jobs. Using stochastic dynamic programming techniques, the author obtains closed-form optimization results for systems constrained to retain at most one job. Numerical performance examples are included. >
The profile algorithm for microwave delay estimation from water vapor radiometer data

A new algorithm has been developed for the estimation of tropospheric microwave path delays from water vapor radiometer (WVR) data, which does not require site and weather dependent empirical parameters to produce accuracy better than 0.3 cm of delay. Instead of taking the conventional linear approach, the new algorithm first uses the observables with an emission model to determine an approximate form of the vertical water vapor distribution, which is then explicitly integrated to estimate wet path delays in a second step. The intrinsic accuracy of this algorithm, excluding uncertainties caused by the radiometers and the emission model, has been examined for two channel WVR data using path delays and corresponding simulated observables computed from archived radiosonde data. It is found that annual rms errors for a wide range of sites average 0.18 cm in the absence of clouds, 0.22 cm in cloudy weather, and 0.19 cm overall. In clear weather, the new algorithm's accuracy is comparable to the best that can be obtained from conventional linear algorithms, while in cloudy weather it offers a 35 percent improvement.
The challenge of uncoupled motion: duration of cognitive and physiological aftereffects.

Objective: This study aimed to document the cognitive aftereffects of exposure to uncoupled motion and the time course of recovery from these aftereffects. Background: Uncoupled motion refers to a situation in which an individual is simultaneously exposed to two asynchronous motions, either real or virtual. These environments are a challenge for designers because technology that is supposed to increase the user’s task performance may actually lead to decreased task performance. Method: In the study, 11 male participants, (median age = 32 years) with prior flight experience (median = 600 hr) were exposed to an uncoupled motion environment consisting of a flight simulator on a vertically oscillating platform. Participants completed a cognitive test battery, a balance test, and a dynamic visual acuity test preexposure, immediately postexposure, and 2, 4, 6, 8, and 24 hr postexposure. Results: The uncoupled motion scenario led to significant cognitive aftereffects that cannot be solely attributed to motion sickness. These aftereffects lasted between 2 and 4 hr postexposure. The scenario generated some physiological aftereffects that lasted between 1 and 2 hr postexposure. However, it is likely that these aftereffects can be attributed to motion sickness. Conclusion: Uncoupled motion can cause unappreciated effects, such as degraded cognitive performance. Application: System designs that create uncoupled motion need to be evaluated for the potential to generate operator impairment, and designs should be modified to minimize this potential wherever possible. When redesign is not possible, system-use guidelines should be developed to minimize impairment. The current results suggest operators avoid performing cognitively demanding tasks for at least 2 hr postexposure.
Topographic ooze: Building the eastern margin of Tibet by lower crustal flow

Topography extracted from swath profiles along the northern, southern, and eastern margins of the Tibetan Plateau show two end-member morphologies: steep, abrupt margins and longwavelength, low-gradient margins. Because the lack of significant upper crustal shortening across much of the eastern plateau margin implies that the crustal thickening occurs mainly in the deep crust, we compare regional topographic gradients surrounding the plateau to model results for flux of a Newtonian fluid through a lower crustal channel of uniform thickness. For an assumed 15-km-thick channel, we estimate a viscosity for the lower crust of 10 18 Pa·s beneath the low-gradient margins, 10 21 Pa·s beneath the steep margins, and an upper bound of 10 16 Pa·s beneath the plateau. These results indicate that the large-scale morphology of the eastern plateau reflects fluid flow within the underlying crust; crustal material flows around the strong crust of the Sichuan and Tarim Basins, creating broad, gentle margins, and “piles up” behind the basins creating narrow, steep margins. These results imply that this portion of the Eurasian crust was heterogeneous, but largely weak, even prior to construction of the Tibetan Plateau.
Attenuation of acute stroke injury in rat brain by minocycline promotes blood-brain barrier remodeling and alternative microglia/macrophage activation during recovery.

Minocycline reduces reperfusion injury by inhibiting matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and microglia activity after cerebral ischemia. Prior studies of minocycline investigated short-term neuroprotective effects during subacute stage of stroke; however, the late effects of minocycline against early reperfusion injury on neurovascular remodeling are less well studied. We have shown that spontaneous angiogenesis vessels in ischemic brain regions have high blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability due to lack of major tight junction proteins (TJPs) in endothelial cells at three weeks. In the present study, we longitudinally investigated neurological outcome, neurovascular remodeling and microglia/macrophage alternative activation after spontaneous and minocycline-induced stroke recovery. Adult spontaneously hypertensive rats had a 90 minute transient middle cerebral artery occlusion. At the onset of reperfusion they received a single dose of minocycline (3 mg/kg intravenously) or a vehicle. They were studied at multiple time points up to four weeks with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), immunohistochemistry and biochemistry. Minocycline significantly reduced the infarct size and prevented tissue loss in the ischemic hemispheres compared to vehicle-treated rats from two to four weeks as measured with MRI. Cerebral blood flow measured with arterial spin labeling (ASL) showed that minocycline improved perfusion. Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI indicated that minocycline reduced BBB permeability accompanied with higher levels of TJPs measured with Western blot. Increased MMP-2 and −3 were detected at four weeks. Active microglia/macrophage, surrounding and within the peri-infarct areas, expressed YM1, a marker of M2 microglia/macrophage activation, at four weeks. These microglia/macrophage expressed both pro-inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factors-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and anti-inflammatory factors transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and interleukin-10 (IL-10). Treatment with minocycline significantly reduced levels of TNF-α and IL-1β, and increased levels of TGF-β, IL-10 and YM1. Early minocycline treatment against reperfusion injury significantly promotes neurovascular remodeling during stroke recovery by reducing brain tissue loss, enhancing TJP expression in ischemic brains and facilitating neuroprotective phenotype alternative activation of microglia/macrophages.
Queueing Analysis of Global Locking Synchronization Schemes for Multicopy Databases

Locking is a simple scheme to synchronize multiple updates in a multicopy distributed database system. Various schemes were proposed before to maintain the consistency of the distributed database. But these schemes were compared to each other mostly on heuristic base. In this paper, three analytic queueing models for the Network Semaphore scheme, Hopping Permit scheme, and Adaptive Hopping Permit scheme are developed. Incorporating special waiting stages allows the latter two control schemes to he modeled as M/G/1 queueing systems. Shown in this paper are various performance measures of the models, which can provide much insight into these schemes. The validity of these models is verified by the simulation results.
Host factors and failure of interferon‐α treatment in hepatitis C virus

Failure of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a challenging obstacle for clinical and experimental hepatology. Both viral and host factors have been implicated in reducing responsiveness to IFN-alpha therapy. The role of viral factors has been studied extensively and has been summarized in several review articles; however, much less attention has been paid to host factors. In this paper, we review evidence of host factor involvement in IFN-alpha treatment failure. We discuss possible underlying mechanisms responsible for these effects. Potential therapeutic strategies to enhance the effectiveness of IFN-alpha therapy for HCV are also proposed.
Synchrony and Desynchrony in Neural Oscillator Networks

An novel class of locally excitatory, globally inhibitory oscillator networks is proposed. The model of each oscillator corresponds to a standard relaxation oscillator with two time scales. The network exhibits a mechanism of selective gating, whereby an oscillator jumping up to its active phase rapidly recruits the oscillators stimulated by the same pattern, while preventing others from jumping up. We show analytically that with the selective gating mechanism the network rapidly achieves both synchronization within blocks of oscillators that are stimulated by connected regions and desynchronization between different blocks. Computer simulations demonstrate the network's promising ability for segmenting multiple input patterns in real time. This model lays a physical foundation for the oscillatory correlation theory of feature binding, and may provide an effective computational framework for scene segmentation and figure/ground segregation.
A New Control Method for Input–Output Harmonic Elimination of the PWM Boost-Type Rectifier Under Extreme Unbalanced Operating Conditions

Under severe fault conditions in the distribution system, not only input voltages but also input impedances must be considered as unbalanced. This paper presents a new control method for input-output harmonic elimination of the pulsewidth-modulation (PWM) boost-type rectifier under conditions of both unbalanced input voltages and unbalanced input impedances. The range of imbalance in both input voltages and input impedances, for which the proposed method is valid, is analyzed in detail. An analytical approach for complete harmonic elimination shows that PWM boost-type rectifier can operate at unity power factor under extremely unbalanced operating conditions resulting in a smooth (constant) power flow from AC to DC side. Based on the analyses in open-loop configuration, a feedforward control method is proposed. Elimination of harmonics at AC and DC side of the converter affects the cost of DC link capacitor and AC side filter. The proposed method is very useful when the PWM boost-type rectifier is subject to extreme imbalance due to severe fault conditions in the power system. In addition, by using the proposed method, the PWM boost-type rectifier can be operated from the single-phase supply in cases where three-phase source is not available. Simulation results show excellent response and stable operation of the PWM boost-type rectifier under the proposed control algorithm. Experimental and simulation results are in excellent agreement.
Kinetics of interfacial reaction between borosilicate glass and sapphire substrate

Reaction kinetics between borosilicate glass (BSG) and sapphire has been studied at temperatures from 850 °C to 950 °C. Microstructural and chemical analyses show that the nonporous interdiffusion layer is formed with Al+3 ion dissolving from sapphire and K+ diffusing from BSG onto the interface of sapphire/BSG, and that both ions are always coupled together in the reaction layer. The interdiffusion layer moves toward BSG with time and the reaction starts immediately at temperatures investigated without incubation period. The growth kinetics for the interdiffusion layer follows a parabolic rate law in the temperature range investigated, and shows an apparent activation energy in the range of 176 k–/mol. The diffusion coefficient of aluminum ion is determined from EDX analysis, and the values range from 0.7–1.4 × 10−12 at 850 °C to 3.0–6.0 × 10−12 cm2/s at 950 °C. The above results also show an activation energy close to that determined from the parabolic growth rate constants, suggesting that the mass-transport kinetics of aluminum ion from sapphire into the interdiffusion layer controls the formation process.
Ultraviolet absorbance as a proxy for total dissolved mercury in streams

Stream water samples were collected over a range of hydrologic and seasonal conditions at three forested watersheds in the northeastern USA. Samples were analyzed for dissolved total mercury (THg(d)), DOC concentration and DOC composition, and UV(254) absorbance across the three sites over different seasons and flow conditions. Pooling data from all sites, we found a strong positive correlation of THg(d) to DOC (r(2)=0.87), but progressively stronger correlations of THg(d) with the hydrophobic acid fraction (HPOA) of DOC (r(2)=0.91) and with UV(254) absorbance (r(2)=0.92). The strength of the UV(254) absorbance-THg(d) relationship suggests that optical properties associated with dissolved organic matter may be excellent proxies for THg(d) concentration in these streams. Ease of sample collection and analysis, the potential application of in-situ optical sensors, and the possibility for intensive monitoring over the hydrograph make this an effective, inexpensive approach to estimate THg(d) flux in drainage waters.
Mammalian Clusterin associated protein 1 is an evolutionarily conserved protein required for ciliogenesis

Background Clusterin associated protein 1 (CLUAP1) was initially characterized as a protein that interacts with clusterin, and whose gene is frequently upregulated in colon cancer. Although the consequences of these observations remain unclear, research of CLUAP1 homologs in C. elegans and zebrafish indicates that it is needed for cilia assembly and maintenance in these models. To begin evaluating whether Cluap1 has an evolutionarily conserved role in cilia in mammalian systems and to explore the association of Cluap1 with disease pathogenesis and developmental abnormalities, we generated Cluap1 mutant mice.
Two scales for measuring patients' perceptions for coercion during mental hospital admission

Legal and extra-legal coercion are pervasive in mental hospital admission and there are sharp disputes about its appropriate role. This article presents two scales for measuring psychiatric patients' perceptions of coercion during hospital admission and reports data on these scales' internal consistency. We measure patients' perceptions of coercion by asking questions, in either an interview or questionnaire format, about their experience of lack of control, choice, influence, and freedom in hospital admission. Patients' responses to questions about their perceptions of coercion were highly internally consistent. The internal consistency of the scale was robust with respect to variation in site, instrument format, patient population, and interview procedure. Correspondence analysis was used to construct two numerical scales of perceived coercion.
Norwalk Virus Vaccines: Challenges and Progress

Human caliciviruses (HuCVs) are the major cause of outbreaks of acute nonbacterial gastroenteritis throughout the world. An increasing recognition of the clinical significance of these viruses as human pathogens causing foodborne and waterborne disease indicates that an effective vaccine would be useful. This article reviews the current challenges that exist for the development of a vaccine for the HuCVs as well as the status of development of a candidate vaccine. HuCVs are viruses that exhibit a restricted tropism for infection of the gastrointestinal tract of humans, and a volunteer model of infection and disease is available. As pathogens with a restricted host range, the HuCVs are excellent models for understanding the mechanisms that mediate and regulate viral infection of the gastrointestinal tract and mucosal immunity in humans.
Search for multiple targets: Remember the targets, forget the search

Models of visual search performance typically assume that search proceeds by sampling without replacement. This requires memory for each deployment of attention. We tested this assumption of memorydriven search using a multiple-target search paradigm. We held total set size constant, varied the number of targets in the display, and asked subjects to report whether or not there were at least n targets present, where n was varied by block. This allowed us to measure the time to find each subsequent target. Memory-driven search predicts that reaction time should be a linear function of n. The alternative memory-free search hypothesis predicts an accelerating function. The data falsify the memory-driven hypothesis. They were consistent with the memory-free search hypothesis but would also be consistent with memory for a small number of previously attended locations.
The Role of Geometric and Biomechanical Factors in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Rupture Risk Assessment

The current clinical management of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) disease is based to a great extent on measuring the aneurysm maximum diameter to decide when timely intervention is required. Decades of clinical evidence show that aneurysm diameter is positively associated with the risk of rupture, but other parameters may also play a role in causing or predisposing the AAA to rupture. Geometric factors such as vessel tortuosity, intraluminal thrombus volume, and wall surface area are implicated in the differentiation of ruptured and unruptured AAAs. Biomechanical factors identified by means of computational modeling techniques, such as peak wall stress, have been positively correlated with rupture risk with a higher accuracy and sensitivity than maximum diameter alone. The objective of this review is to examine these factors, which are found to influence AAA disease progression, clinical management and rupture potential, as well as to highlight on-going research by our group in aneurysm modeling and rupture risk assessment.
Perceived attributes of health-promoting laughter: a cross-generational comparison.

Abstract A small but growing body of empirical data support the popular belief that laughter benefits health. However, there are many varieties of laughter and no reason to assume all varieties should be, or would be, perceived as equally beneficial. The authors examined which types of laughter and which characteristics of laughter people associate with health and whether there are generational differences in this perception. Young adults and older participants rated 12 laughter terms (e.g., chuckle, giggle, belly laugh) on their contribution to health and assessed various aspects of each laughter type on 11 scales. The young adults characterized health-promoting laughter as strong, active, uninhibited, and involving movement; the older participants characterized it as socially appropriate. Both groups associated health-promoting laughter strongly with positive emotion and absence of malice. Implications for placebo effects in laughter interventions are discussed. Differences between humor and laughter an...
Test Results for an Interval Branch and Bound Algorithm for Equality-Constrained Optimization

Various techniques have been proposed for incorporating constraints in interval branch and bound algorithms for global optimization. However, few reports of practical experience with these techniques have appeared to date. Such experimental results appear here. The underlying implementation includes use of an approximate optimizer combined with a careful tesselation process and rigorous verification of feasibility. The experiments include comparison of methods of handling bound constraints and comparison of two methods for normalizing Lagrange multipliers. Selected test problems from the Floudas / Pardalos monograph are used, as well as selected unconstrained test problems appearing in reports of interval branch and bound methods for unconstrained global optimization.
Airgun inter-pulse noise field during a seismic survey in an Arctic ultra shallow marine environment.

Offshore oil and gas exploration using seismic airguns generates intense underwater pulses that could cause marine mammal hearing impairment and/or behavioral disturbances. However, few studies have investigated the resulting multipath propagation and reverberation from airgun pulses. This research uses continuous acoustic recordings collected in the Arctic during a low-level open-water shallow marine seismic survey, to measure noise levels between airgun pulses. Two methods were used to quantify noise levels during these inter-pulse intervals. The first, based on calculating the root-mean-square sound pressure level in various sub-intervals, is referred to as the increment computation method, and the second, which employs the Hilbert transform to calculate instantaneous acoustic amplitudes, is referred to as the Hilbert transform method. Analyses using both methods yield similar results, showing that the inter-pulse sound field exceeds ambient noise levels by as much as 9 dB during relatively quiet conditions. Inter-pulse noise levels are also related to the source distance, probably due to the higher reverberant conditions of the very shallow water environment. These methods can be used to quantify acoustic environment impacts from anthropogenic transient noises (e.g., seismic pulses, impact pile driving, and sonar pings) and to address potential acoustic masking affecting marine mammals.
Antiinfectives targeting enzymes and the proton motive force

There is a growing need for new antibiotics. Compounds that target the proton motive force (PMF), uncouplers, represent one possible class of compounds that might be developed because they are already used to treat parasitic infections, and there is interest in their use for the treatment of other diseases, such as diabetes. Here, we tested a series of compounds, most with known antiinfective activity, for uncoupler activity. Many cationic amphiphiles tested positive, and some targeted isoprenoid biosynthesis or affected lipid bilayer structure. As an example, we found that clomiphene, a recently discovered undecaprenyl diphosphate synthase inhibitor active against Staphylococcus aureus, is an uncoupler. Using in silico screening, we then found that the anti-glioblastoma multiforme drug lead vacquinol is an inhibitor of Mycobacterium tuberculosis tuberculosinyl adenosine synthase, as well as being an uncoupler. Because vacquinol is also an inhibitor of M. tuberculosis cell growth, we used similarity searches based on the vacquinol structure, finding analogs with potent (∼0.5-2 μg/mL) activity against M. tuberculosis and S. aureus. Our results give a logical explanation of the observation that most new tuberculosis drug leads discovered by phenotypic screens and genome sequencing are highly lipophilic (logP ∼5.7) bases with membrane targets because such species are expected to partition into hydrophobic membranes, inhibiting membrane proteins, in addition to collapsing the PMF. This multiple targeting is expected to be of importance in overcoming the development of drug resistance because targeting membrane physical properties is expected to be less susceptible to the development of resistance.
INFLAMMATORY BIOMARKER IL-6 PREDICTS HEART FAILURE IN WOMEN WITH SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF ISCHEMIA AND NO OBSTRUCTIVE CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE: FINDINGS FROM THE NHLBI-SPONSORED WOMEN’S ISCHEMIC SYNDROME EVALUATION (WISE) STUDY

Inflammation plays an important role in cardiovascular disease. We aimed to investigate the predictive value of inflammatory markers for development of heart failure (HF) in women with signs and symptoms of ischemia with no obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) and baseline preserved left
Mathematics for the Undergraduate Physics Student

(1971). Mathematics for the Undergraduate Physics Student. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 78, No. 7, pp. 788-789.
Structure and Properties of Li―Si Alloys: A First-Principles Study

On the basis of density functional theory calculations, we present the energetics, structure, and electronic and mechanical properties of crystalline and amorphous Li−Si alloys. We also discuss the dynamic behavior of the alloys at finite temperatures based on ab initio molecular dynamics. When the Li content is sufficiently high, alloying between Li and Si is energetically favorable as evidenced by the negative mixing enthalpy; the alloy is most stable around 70 atom % Li in the crystalline phase and 70 ± 5 atom % Li in the amorphous phase. Our calculations unequivocally show that the incorporation of Li leads to disintegration of the tetrahedrally bonded Si network into small clusters of various shapes. Bader charge analysis shows that the charge state of Li remains nearly unchanged around +0.8, while that of Si varies approximately from −0.5 to −3.3 depending on the number of Si neighbors as can be understood as Zintl-like phases. Electronic structure analysis highlights that the charge transfer leads ...
Effects of repeated administration of midazolam on learning and memory in mice

[Objective] To investigate the effects of repeated administration of midazolam on memory function in mice.[Methods] 100 KM mice were divided randomly into 5 groups: group M1,group M2,group M3,group M4,and group NS.20 mice in every group were randomly allocated into step-through test or step-down test,respectively.Mice in group M1,M2,M3 and M4 were administrated midazolam of 0.5,1,2 and 4 mg/kg by intraperitoneal injection three times per day for 10 days,respectively.As a control,mice in group NS were administrated saline of 10 ml/kg.Step-through test or step-down test was operated after 10-day administration finished.The memory of mice were tested 24 hours later after the training.The markers of memory result are based on the latencies and the numbers of errors.[Results] Repeated administration of midazolam before the passive avoidance learning reduced the latencies and increased the numbers of errors after 24 hours.Midazolam administration resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in step-through latencies and increase in the numbers of errors.However the latencies and the numbers of errors were not statistically significant in group M3 and M4(P0.05).[Conclusions] Repeated midazolam administration impairs learning and memory in a dose-dependent manner.Memory impairment caused by midazolam may have a ceiling effect.
On the Prudent Supervision Under GATS Framework

Financial liberalization and financial supervision efficiency are the fundamental objectives of trade in financial services. GATS and its annex set out prudential carve-out. However, the abstraction of the clause, together with its priority in application, undermines the achievement of financial liberalization. To remedy the deficiency of the lack of substantive rule, GATS stipulates for its members the procedural obligations of cooperation and recognition, so as to strengthen the supervision cooperation and promote the effort to establish a common supervision standard. According to the mechanism, the dynamic balance on the financial liberalization and financial supervision is attained.
Effect of perfusion with different substrates and with isoproterenol on phosphofructokinase activity in the isolated guinea pig heart.

Guinea pig hearts were perfused with Krebs-bicarbonate solution to which glucose, pyruvate, acetate, β-hydroxybutyrate, or octanoate was added. Heart extracts were prepared in the presence of 13 mM caffeine and assayed for phosphofructokinase activity. When assays were done at pH 6.9 (a pH which allows demonstration of allosteric regulation), extracts from glucose-perfused hearts had high enzyme activity, while extracts from pyruvate-, β-hydroxybutyrate-, and octanoate-perfused hearts had very low activity. Extracts from acetate-perfused hearts had intermediate activity. The reduction in phosphofructokinase activity in pyruvate-perfused hearts was correlated with increased tissue citrate levels. Furthermore, when enzyme activity was determined as a function of fructose-6-P concentration, a sigmoid curve was obtained for extracts of pyruvate-perfused hearts and a hyperbolic curve was obtained for extracts of glucose-perfused hearts. Addition of isoproterenol to the perfusate antagonized the effect of pyruvate. The data provide direct evidence for allosteric control of the enzyme in intact tissue by intermediary metabolites of aerobic metabolism.