cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Putative Bet-Hedging Strategy Buffers Budding Yeast against Environmental Instability

To grow and divide, cells must extract resources from dynamic and unpredictable environments. Many organisms use different metabolic strategies for distinct contexts. Budding yeast can produce ATP from carbon sources by mechanisms that prioritize either speed (fermentation) or yield (respiration). Withdrawing glucose from exponentially growing cells reveals variability in their ability to switch from fermentation to respiration. We observe two subpopulations of glucose-starved cells: recoverers, which rapidly adapt and resume growth, and arresters, which enter a shock state characterized by deformation of many cellular structures, including mitochondria. These states are heritable, and on high glucose, arresters grow and divide faster than recoverers. Recoverers have a fitness advantage during a carbon source shift but are less fit in a constant, high-glucose environment, and we observe natural variation in the frequency of the two states across wild yeast strains. These experiments suggest that bet hedging has evolved in budding yeast.
Is Deliberation an Antidote to Extreme Partisan Polarization? Reflections on America in One Room

This paper is positioned at the intersection of two literatures: partisan polarization and deliberative democracy. It analyzes results from a national field experiment in which more than 500 registered voters were brought together from around the country to deliberate in depth over a long weekend on five major issues facing the country. A pre-post control group was also asked the same questions. The deliberators showed large, de-polarizing changes in their policy attitudes and large decreases in affective polarization. The paper develops the rationale for hypotheses explaining these decreases and contrasts them with a literature which would have expected the opposite. The paper briefly concludes with a discussion of how elements of this “antidote” can be scaled.
Evaluation of hemodynamic parameters among patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms and suspected pulmonary hypertension

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are associated with pulmonary hypertension (PH). We studied MPN patients who underwent right-heart-catheterization (RHC) to identify hemodynamic differences between MPN-subtypes. Per RHC, hemodynamics were classified as pre, post or combined pre and post-capillary PH. One-way analysis-of-variance (ANOVA) was used to compare hemodynamic differences among MPN-subtypes. Correlation of RVSP between trans-thoracic echocardiography (TTE) and RHC was evaluated. We included 68 patients. Median age was 63. Fifty-nine percent were male and 87% Caucasian. Polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia were the most common subtypes. On TTE, 91.5% had PH. On RHC, only 29% met criteria for pre-capillary PH. No MPN-subtype was more likely than others to have pre-capillary PH. Bland-Altman analysis showed significant intra-person variability between TTE and RHC-derived right ventricular systolic pressures. Post-capillary involvement is more common than precapillary PH in MPN. Type of PH does not appear to differ by MPN-subtype.
GRB Phenomenology, Shock Dynamo, and the First Magnetic Fields

A relativistic collisionless shock propagating into an unmagnetized medium leaves behind a strong large-scale magnetic field. This seems to follow from two assumptions: (i) GRB afterglows are explained by synchrotron emission of a relativistic shock, (ii) magnetic field can't exist on microscopic scales only, it would decay by phase space mixing. Assumption (i) is generally accepted because of an apparent success of the shock synchrotron phenomenological model of GRB afterglow. Assumption (ii) is confirmed in this work by a low-dimensional numerical simulation. One may hypothesize that relativistic shock velocities are not essential for the magnetic field generation, and that all collisionless shocks propagating into an unmagnetized medium generate strong large-scale magnetic fields. If this hypothesis is true, the first cosmical magnetic fields could have been generated in shocks of the first virialized objects.
Allelochemical effect of gramine under temperature stress and impact on fat transesterification

Invading microorganisms can hinder productivity of biofuel algae cultures. We utilise allelochemical gramine as a model to better understand allelopathic effects against Chlorella sorokiniana and i...
Apuntes sobre la expresión del neutro en español

Por su naturaleza intrinsecamente compleja a nivel semantico y formal dentro del sistema de genero gramatical, la ensenanza del neutro generalmente se restringe a la exposicion, un tanto marginal, de los usos referenciales mas basicos de las formas neutras. La realidad es que los elementos neutros del espanol son frecuentes en todos los registros, se presentan en estructuras sintacticas diversas y presentan usos menos conocidos, pero igualmente importantes a nivel comunicativo. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo ofrecer una vision exhaustiva sobre la expresion del neutro en espanol y presentar su riqueza referencial y distribucional. Ademas de presentar exhaustivamente sus posibilidades referenciales y distribucionales mas conocidas, se presentan tambien otros usos y construcciones menos conocidos, pero igualmente frecuentes en la lengua coloquial. Asimismo se analizan varias extensiones de significado y funcionales que incluyen formas neutras.
Spatial Stochastic Frontier Model with Endogenous Spillovers

We propose a spatial autoregressive stochastic frontier model, which allows for endogenous spillovers (i.e., the spatial weighting matrix is not independent of the two-sided error term). The parameters of the model are estimated via the maximum likelihood estimation method. Monte Carlo simulations illustrate that our model performs well in finite samples. As an example, we employed our methodology to the US banks and found evidence for endogenous spillovers. The empirical example suggested potential biases in the parameter estimates when endogeneity of spillovers is ignored.
Greek Ethnic Modal Names vs. Alia Musica’s Nomenclature

The ethnic names associated with the diatonic modes (e.g., Dorian, Lydian, et al.) were assigned in one way by the ancient Greeks and in a different way in the anonymous medieval treatise Alia musica. Music historians usually say that this renaming was the result of a confusion, and leave it at that, but Edward Gollin showed that there was a logic here that could be captured in transformational terms. In this paper we add/uncover another layer to the palimpsest with the observation that the respective Greek and medieval nomenclatures are correlated with one of the fundamental distinctions in mathematical scale theory/word theory, the distinction between plain and twisted adjoint folding patterns of modes, as represented by conjugacy classes of Christoffel words.
Defects in Covalent Amorphous Semiconductors

Before any analysis of the physical properties of an amorphous solid can be undertaken, a knowledge of the structure is essential. Of course, this is true of a crystalline solid as well. However, because of the lack of long-range periodicity in amorphous materials, it is much more difficult to determine the structure. In addition, the preparation methods necessary to obtain the material in the amorphous phase require the consideration of several issues that are not usually contemplated when investigating crystals. First and foremost of these is the question of composition: we must determine what is in the material. If the solid has been prepared as a bulk glass, there are not usually too many compositional surprises. However, many of the most important amorphous solids cannot be fabricated as bulk glasses but are generally deposited as thin films directly from the vapor phase, while even compositions which are relatively easy glass formers are often also deposited in thin-film form for convenience or for commercial applications. In such cases, the composition must be carefully determined and preferential deposition and even unsuspected impurities are the rule rather than the exception. The composition can be a sensitive function not only of the preparation technique but also of the many deposition parameters and even of the geometry of the system.
Prediction of building response at any level from recorded roof response: The Kanai–Yoshizawa formula revisited

Abstract In the 1960s, Kanai and Yoshizawa proposed a simple formula for computing the response of a building at the base or at an intermediate level from recorded motion at the top (refered to here as KY formula). In that formula, derived based on the ray theory of shear wave propagation in a building, represented as a soft layer, the motion at the base is computed simply as the average of two time shifts of the motion at the roof. In this paper, we tested the goodness of the prediction of displacement response by the KY formula in 54 instrumented buildings in the Los Angeles area for which earthquake records are available both at base and top floor (or roof). The results show close agreement of the predicted and observed displacements for a variety of buildings and amplitudes and spectral content of the motions. It is concluded that the KY method can be a practical tool for extending the usefulness of earthquake recods in buildings in which only the roof record is available. It can also be used to predict displacements at any desired level which is useful for estimation of interstory drifts.
Merit Aid and Competition in the University Marketplace

Colleges and universities in the United States increasingly are turning to merit aid offers as a competitive tool to attract better students. Although the total amount of merit aid offered has increased recently, universities vary dramatically in the amount they use to attract top candidates. Intuitively, better (and wealthier) universities, who have better applicants, should offer more merit aid, but the topranked universities actually offer far less than do others, and some top schools offer no merit aid at all. The authors construct a theoretical model to explain this phenomenon and demonstrate that the quality of universities per se does not drive the negative relationship between university quality and merit aid offers; rather: (1) the differences between the quality levels of competitive universities and (2) the universities’ valuations of applicants drive the negative relationship. Top universities offer less merit aid because they and their immediate competitors represent greater quality differences than do more poorly ranked schools and have access to better safety candidates. We provide empirical evidence to support key assumptions and findings of our model.
4-nitro-1-cyclohexyl-3-ethoxy-2-oxo-3-pyrroline: A reversible, amino-specific, protein reagent

Abstract 4-Nitro-1-cyclohexyl-3-ethoxy-2-oxo-3-pyrroline reacts with both amino and sulfhydryl groups. The instability of the product with sulfhydryl groups makes the reagent a useful amino-group specific protein reagent. The advantages of this compound include (1) rapid reaction with protein (less than 15 min at pH 9), (2) ease of reversal under mildly alkaline conditions (pH ⩾ 8) with formation of a water-soluble by-product (λmax = 363 nm), and (3) ease of quantitation utilizing the high extinction coefficients of the amino derivative (λmax = 383 and 397 nm, ϵ397 = 20 200 M−1 · cm−1) and the reversal by-product (λmax = 363 nm, ϵ = 16 300 M−1 · cm−1). With these characteristics and the stability of the amino derivative under physiological conditions ( t 1 2 for reversal = 167 h at pH 7.0 and room temperature), nitrocyclohexylethoxyoxopyrroline can be a useful reagent in a wide variety of protein sequencing and structure studies.
Clinical Research Continuum: Big Data FOR and FROM Clinical Trials (P4.202)

OBJECTIVE: Create clinical research continuum by maximizing data utilization from multiple sources and engaging all stakeholders, from patients to industry BACKGROUND: In the world of Big Data in clinical research, there are bidirectional flows of information: data from clinical trials may be aggregated and analyzed to better our understanding of the disease, while information from the “bedside” combined with data from clinical research helps to make better decisions on disease progression models, outcomes selection, eligibility criteria tuning and patient recruitment. In rare diseases such information may bring us to personalized intervention tracking, with so-called “virtual lead-in” modeling. DESIGN/METHODS: Usual stakeholders of clinical research include not only pharmaceutical and biotech industry, but also disease advocacy groups, foundations, clinicians and ... patients. Only working together as a team in a clinical research continuum and freely operating in the Big Data world common constrains in regulatory, ethics, standardization and harmonization could be addressed and overcome. Anyone working with in clinical research and with clinical research information may benefit from the proposed approach. RESULTS: The proposed approach recommends on ways to unify multiple participants of clinical care and research (physicians, researchers, industry, patients and non-profits) and informational components such as clinical data captured by clinicians at the bedside and from health records, research data from academic institutions and patient-reported outcomes, and data from completed clinical trials into a single disease-specific research continuum. Global patient identifiers (GUIDs) allow to uniquely identify individuals across this continuum, minimize duplication and compose longitudinal information. Anonymized datasets linked to biobanks, image banks and genetic information opens new horizons for research. CONCLUSIONS: NeuroBANK™, an Accelerated Research Environment creates a clinical research continuum from the bedside to clinical trials and back to research and clinical care. Study Supported by: NCRI, ALSA Disclosure: Dr. Sherman has nothing to disclose.
Low-Dose Ketamine Infusion for Emergency Department Patients with Severe Pain.

Objective Use of low-dose ketamine infusions in the emergency department (ED) has not previously been described, despite routine use in perioperative and other settings. Our hypothesis was that a low-dose ketamine bolus followed by continuous infusion would 1) provide clinically significant and sustained pain relief; 2) be well tolerated; and 3) be feasible in the ED. Methods We prospectively administered 15 mg intravenous ketamine followed immediately by continuous ketamine infusion at 20 mg/h for 1 hour. Optional morphine (4 mg) was offered at 20, 40, and 60 minutes. Pain intensity, vitals signs, level of sedation, and adverse reactions were assessed for 120 minutes. Results A total of 38 patients were included with a median initial numerical rating scale (NRS) pain score of 9. At 10 minutes, the median reduction in pain score was 4, with 7 patients reporting a score of 0. At 60 and 120 minutes, 25 and 26 patients, respectively, reported clinically significant pain reduction (decrease NRS score > 3). Heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation remained stable. Mild or moderate side effects including dizziness, fatigue, and headache were common. Patient satisfaction was high; 85% reported they would have this medication again for similar pain. Conclusion A low-dose ketamine infusion protocol provided significant pain relief with mostly mild side effects and no severe adverse events
New directions for criminology: notes from outside the field, by Ronnie Lippens and Patrick Van Calster

New Directions for Criminology is comprised of essays written by researchers and scholars from disciplines outside criminology. Their backgrounds include biopolitics, law, philosophy, and sociology...
Utilizing serial communications in control systems

An application utilizing a serial communications data highway to interface control system components is reviewed. In this application, variable speed drives are integrated into the control system by connecting them to a PLC remote I/O data highway. >
Gal4/UAS transgenic tools and their application to zebrafish.

The ability to regulate gene expression in a cell-specific and temporally restricted manner provides a powerful means to test gene function, bypass the action of lethal genes, label subsets of cells for developmental studies, monitor subcellular structures, and target tissues for selective ablation or physiological analyses. The galactose-inducible system of yeast, mediated by the transcriptional activator Gal4 and its consensus UAS binding site, has proven to be a highly successful and versatile system for controlling transcriptional activation in Drosophila. It has also been used effectively, albeit in a more limited manner, in the mouse. While zebrafish has lagged behind other model systems in the widespread application of Gal4 transgenic approaches to modulate gene activity during development, recent technological advances are permitting rapid progress. Here we review Gal4-regulated genetic tools and discuss how they have been used in zebrafish as well as their potential drawbacks. We describe some ex...
TU-E-217BCD-04: Spectral Breast CT: Effect of Adaptive Filtration on CT Numbers, CT Noise, and CNR.

Purpose:Photon counting spectral breast CT is feasible in part due to using an adaptive filter. An adaptive filter provides flat x‐ray intensity profile and constant x‐ray energy spectrum across detectorsurface, decreases required detector count rate, and eliminates beam hardening artifacts. However, the altered x‐ray exposure profiles at the breast and detectorsurface may influence the distribution of CTnoise,CT numbers, and contrast to noise ratio (CNR) across the CTimages. The purpose of this work was to investigate these effects. Methods:Images of a CT phantom with and without adaptive filter were simulated at 60kVp, 90kVp, and 120kVp tube voltages and 660 mR total skin exposure. The CT phantom with water content had 14cm diameter, contrast elements representing adipose tissue and 2.5mg/cc iodine contrast located at 1cm, 3.5cm, and 6cm from center of the phantom. The CT numbers, CTnoise, and CNR were measured at multiple locations for several filter/exposure combinations: (1)without adaptive filter for 660mR skin exposure; (2)with adaptive filter for 660mR skin exposure along central axis (mean skin exposure across the breast was <660mR); and (3)with adaptive filter for scaled exposure (mean skin exposure was 660mR). Results: Beam hardening (cupping) artifacts had 47HU magnitude without adaptive filter but were eliminated with adaptive filter. CNR of contrast elements was comparable for (1) and (2) over central parts but was higher by 20–30% for (1) near the edge of the phantom. CNR was higher by 20–30% in (3) as compared to (2) over central parts and comparable near the edges. Conclusions: The adaptive filter provided: uniform distribution of CTnoise,CNR, and CT numbers across CTimages; comparable or better CNR with no dose penalty to the breast; and eliminated beam hardening artifacts.
The use of tumors in the analysis of inductive tissue interactions.

Abstract Teratomas which have embryonic nervous tissue properties can replace dorsal spinal cord as inducers of metanephric tubules in embryonic mouse metanephrogenic mesenchyme. In contrast, neither undifferentiated teratomas nor mature neuroblastoma show such activity. The studies suggest that specific embryonic tumors can be used as a source of developmentally significant inductively active material, providing a massive source of tissue for further analysis.
Population dynamics and control strategy for Bemisia tabaci in the imperial valley, California☆

Abstract Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) populations were monitored in 1983 in the Imperial Valley of California on cotton and alfalfa utilizing yellow sticky traps and leaf samples. The influence of B. tabaci populations on cotton and early defoliation of cotton on autumn-planted crops was discussed. Infrared aerial photography was used as a survey tool to locate high whitefly densities in cotton. Insecticide resistance, adverse effects of pesticides on beneficial arthropods and different developmental rates on cultivated crops were factors that enhanced B. tabaci population increases.
Theoretical interpretation of the kinetics and mechanisms of the HNO + HNO and HNO + 2NO reactions with a unified model

Previously measured decay rates of HNO in the presence of NO have been kinetically modeled on the basis of thermochemical data calculated with the BAC-MP4 technique. The results of this modeling, aided by TST-RRKM calculations for the association of HNO and the isomerization, decomposition, and stabilization of the many dimers of HNO, reveal that the decay of HNO under NO-lean conditions occurs primarily by association forming cis- and trans-(HNO)2 at temperatures below 420 K. N2O, which is a relatively minor product, is believed to be formed by H2O elimination from cis-HON NOH, a product of succesive isomerization reactions: trans-(HNO)2† HN(OH)NO† HN(O)NOH† cis-HON NOH†. The calculated rate constants, which fit experimental data quantitatively, can be represented by k = 1016.2 × T−2.40e−590/T cm3/mol sec for the HNO recombination reaction and k = 10−2.44T3.98e−600/T cm3/mol sec for N2O formation in the temperature range 80–420 K, at a total pressure of 710 torr H2 or He. Under NO-rich conditions, HNO reacts predominantly by the exothermic termolecular reaction, HNO + 2NO HN(NO)ONO HN NO + NO2, with a rate contant of (6 ± 1) × 109 cm6/mol2 sec at room temperature, based on both HNO decay and NO2 production. All existing thermal kinetic data on HNO + HNO and HNO + 2NO processes can be satisfactorily rationalized with a unified model based on the thermochemical data obtained by BAC-MP4 calculations.
Effect of anisotropic thermal conductivity of the GDL and current collector rib width on two-phase transport in a PEM fuel cell

A two-dimensional two-phase model based on the classical two-fluid model is used to analyze electrochemical and thermal transport in a PEMFC. The model is extended to account for the dependence of interfacial area density on liquid volume fraction. At a given fixed voltage, the fuel cell generates maximum current density for low through-plane and high in-plane thermal conductivities at high humidity operating conditions. It is also predicted that for low humidity operating conditions, the fuel cell generates maximum current density if the GDL is tailored to have high through-plane thermal conductivity near the inlet and progressively decreasing through-plane thermal conductivity at distances away from the inlet. At fully humidified cathode inlet conditions, narrower current collector ribs generate higher current densities at all voltages by reducing the resistance to diffusion of reactants and products through the GDL. In order to maximize the current density at low humidities, ribs must be wider near the inlet and narrower away from the inlet. The proposed methodology for tailoring GDL through-plane thermal conductivities and rib widths reduces the risk of membrane dehydration near inlet and also reduces the possibility of excessive liquid accumulation in the region away form the inlet.
A study of plaque formation with avian RNA tumor viruses

Abstract Avian leukosis viruses of subgroups B, D, F, and one strain of reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV) are able to make plaques in several lines of chick embryo fibroblasts. Moreover, plaque formation with some strains of subgroup A is obtained only in chicken fibroblasts of C C phenotype. One exception is RAV-3 which produces plaque in line 6 ( C E ) only. Several important steps for the reproducibility of the assay are described. Of all the vital stains tested, only neutral red incorporated into the agar overlay is capable of inducing the formation of plaques. Several lysosome stabilizers and labilizers are examined and their role in the mechanism of plaque formation is discussed.
Intrinsic neuromuscular defects in the neurogenic bladder. II. Long-term innervation of the unilaterally decentralized feline bladder base by regenerated cholinergic, increased adrenergic, and emergent probable “peptidergic” nerves

The ultrastructure of muscular innervation of the feline bladder base was studied eight and ten weeks following its decentralization by unilateral sacral ventral rhizotomy. In all samples, there was widespread regeneration of cholinergic axons that displayed initial transsynaptic degeneration a few weeks after the operation, with re-formation of cholinergic neuroeffector junctions. This was associated with reactive sprouting of adrenergic axons leading to adrenergic hyperinnervation, as well as the emergence of a population of cholinergic and adrenergic axons containing strikingly abundant polymorphous large dense-core vesicles that resembled those naturally present in paraganglionic cells, paraneurons, and neurosecretory cells. This increased content of large dense-core vesicles imparts a probable “peptidergic” character to some regenerating and many reactively sprouting adrenergic axons. Our findings suggest that the long-term dysfunction of the parasympathetic-decentralized bladder base is determined by the interplay of reestablished cholinergic, exaggerated adrenergic, and emergent probable “peptidergic” axonal influence and neuroeffector transmission.
Early effects of 1,1-dichloroethylene on canalicular and plasma membranes: ultrastructure and stereology

The pathogenesis of 1,1-dichloroethylene (1,1-DCE)-induced hepatotoxicity was investigated in fasted male rats by identifying the earliest morphological alterations in organelles. In situ perfusion-fixed liver tissue was examined by light and electron microscopy at 1, 2, or 3 hr after oral administration of 25, 50, and 100 mg 1,1-DCE/kg in mineral oil. The earliest morphological alterations, which occurred within 1 to 2 hr after 1,1-DCE administration, were dilation of bile canaliculi with an increase in the number of microvilli or membrane fragments in canaliculi and the formation of canalicular diverticuli in centrolobular hepatocytes. Subsequently, microvilli on sinusoidal surfaces were disrupted or lost. Membrane whorls were frequently found in bile canaliculi, the space of Disse, and between the lateral membranes of hepatocytes at early times. As injury progressed, centrolobular hepatocytes retracted from endothelial cells and sinusoidal plasma membranes invaginated to form cytoplasmic vacuoles. Stereological analysis of centrolobular hepatocytes at the 25 mg/kg dose showed a significant increase in canalicular volume density by 3 hr and no detectable alteration in mitochondrial volume density. These results indicate that changes in canalicular shape and microvilli configuration are the earliest morphological alterations following 1-DCE ingestion.
Anatomy of the tricuspid annulus. Circumferential myofibers as the structural basis for atrial flutter in a canine model.

BACKGROUND Little anatomic information is available on the annular myocardium. This study was conducted to determine the anatomic substrate for atrial flutter due to circus movement around the tricuspid annulus in the Y-shaped incision canine model of atrial flutter. METHODS AND RESULTS We studied photographs of the annular myocardium serial histological sections, made in either of three different planes, and compared these with photographs of the intact and blocked gross heart specimens. We found that the annulus is the most caudal region of the atrial wall. The epicardial aspect of the annulus abuts the ventricular septum or the aortic root in the medial region; in other regions, it is covered by the fat of the coronary sulcus. Its endocardial aspect is delimited by the tricuspid leaflets inferiorly and by the pectinate muscle bundles superiorly, except in the medial region where the pectinate muscle bundles are absent. The annular myocardium is bilaminated. A continuous subepicardial circumferential lamina is the most prominent and is robust in the anterior, lateral, and posterior regions, but it attenuates to a fine muscular connection in the medial region. Myofibers of its superior border merge with the pectinate muscle bundles or are admixed in the medial region with myocardium at the base of the medial atrial wall. Its inferior border makes little contact with the annulus fibrosus about the ring; however, in the medial region, these myofibers insert into fibrous tissue superior to the septal leaflet. A discontinuous, subendocardial perpendicular lamina contains myofibers that descend from the atrium; most of these myofibers insert into the annulus fibrosus about the ring, but the lamina is absent in the anteromedial region. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that the continuous circumferential lamina provides the anatomic substrate for circus movement of excitation in this model.
Hemorrhagic Shock Shifts the Serum Cytokine Profile from Pro- to Anti-Inflammatory after Experimental Traumatic Brain Injury in Mice

Abstract Secondary insults, such as hemorrhagic shock (HS), worsen outcome from traumatic brain injury (TBI). Both TBI and HS modulate levels of inflammatory mediators. We evaluated the addition of HS on the inflammatory response to TBI. Adult male C57BL6J mice were randomized into five groups (n=4 [naive] or 8/group): naive; sham; TBI (through mild-to-moderate controlled cortical impact [CCI] at 5 m/sec, 1-mm depth), HS; and CCI+HS. All non-naive mice underwent identical monitoring and anesthesia. HS and CCI+HS underwent a 35-min period of pressure-controlled hemorrhage (target mean arterial pressure, 25–27 mm Hg) and a 90-min resuscitation with lactated Ringer's injection and autologous blood transfusion. Mice were sacrificed at 2 or 24 h after injury. Levels of 13 cytokines, six chemokines, and three growth factors were measured in serum and in five brain tissue regions. Serum levels of several proinflammatory mediators (eotaxin, interferon-inducible protein 10 [IP-10], keratinocyte chemoattractant [KC...
A model for the relative environmental stability of a series of polyimide capacitance humidity sensors

A capacitance humidity sensor is used as a test device to characterize the performance of 13 polyimide films in relative humidity sensing applications. This sensor has a multilayer, free-standing film construction. It consists of a humidity sensitive polyimide dielectric core and conductive layers consisting of carbon filled polysulfone on each side of the polyimide film to form a capacitor. Thirteen polyimide films, including commercial polyimides and films of novel chemistry, are investigated to determine the long term stability of sensors using the films exposed to 85°C/85% RH for a total of 28 days. Differences in film chemistry are used to interpret trends in the environmental stability of the films.
Stratigraphy and Geologic History of Middle Ordovician Rocks of Central Tennessee

The major facies of the Nashville and Maysville groups (Middle and Upper Ordovician) in Central Tennessee are Laminated argillaceous limestone to the west and limestone with varying amounts of silt to the east; Granular phosphatic limestone and Dove-colored limestone lie between the western and eastern facies. The distribution of these four rock types was controlled by activity of the Cincinnati arch. Typical of the regional history was the pattern of deposition of the various lithologies in the Bigby-Cannon Limestone. During deposition of this formation a relatively deep sea to the west received mud and sand from the west to form the western Laminated argillaceous limestone; a relatively shallow sea to the east received normal limy ooze with varying amounts of silt. Between these two provinces was a north-south belt of shallow water—the Central Tennessee Bank—which was the expression of the Cincinnati arch, and which for short periods of time was above sea level to form a north-south strip of mud and sand. The great concentration of organisms on the western part of this bank resulted in in situ reef detritus and the limy phosphatic “sand” of the fore-reef slope off the bank, which together formed the Granular phosphatic limestone. The eastern part of the bank was a tide-level shelf-lagoon in which fine limy ooze accumulated to form the Dove-colored limestone. During the deposition of the Hermitage Formation there were three uplifts of the then narrow Cincinnati arch. During deposition of the Bigby-Cannon Limestone the arch remained high. At the beginning of deposition of the Catheys Limestone the arch was low, but it was uplifted for a short period of time during early Catheys deposition. Uplifts were recurrent during deposition of the Leipers, and the arch at this time was a broad domal bulge—the Nashville dome.
The Validity and Utility of Global Measures of Subjective Well-Being

Research interest in topics such as happiness, the quality of life, and the experience of well-being has dramatically increased in the past four decades. Global measures of Subjective Well-Being (SWB) have long held a prominent position in this burgeoning body of research (Diener, 1984; Pavot, 2008). Despite their widespread acceptance and use, the validity and utility of global measures of SWB have been challenged at several levels of analysis. These critiques have ranged from the conceptual basis of SWB (e.g. Ryan & Deci 2001; Ryff, 1989; Ryff & Singer, 2008) to very specifi c concerns about the context of the assessment situation and the cognitive processes involved in formulating a response to such measures (Pavot & Diener, 1993a; Schimmack & Oishi, 2005; Schwarz, & Strack, 1999). The purpose of this paper is to review and address some of the more prominent critiques of global measures of SWB, and to discuss methodological procedures and strategies for minimizing threats to the validity and increasing the utility of global measures of SWB.
Bias errors in estimating frequency response and coherence functions from truncated transient signals

Abstract An estimation bias error is known to exist when spectra are estimated from truncated responses to transient signals. Expressions for this bias error are developed for zeroth, first and second order systems excited by a burst of white noise, with varying degrees of truncation of the response signal. A series of experiments confirms the theoretical results. For the zeroth order system the effects of truncation are identical for both the frequency response and coherence functions, with a bias error proportional to the fraction of output signal truncation. For first and second order systems, it is shown that the frequency response functions can be accurately estimated with 5% provided that one and three time constants, respectively, of the response signal are captured after the excitation has ceased. On the other hand, the bias of the output autospectrum and the coherence function are much more sensitive to the degree of truncation. Estimating these functions within 5% may require capturing seven or more time constants after the excitation has ceased. Upper bound error limits are developed from the bias functions to help establish data capture requirements when analyzing real systems under varying degrees of signal truncation. It is shown that transient excitation requires significantly shorter capture time per record than continuous excitation to provide the same degree of estimation accuracy.
Chromosome classification based on optical density profiles

The study of human chromosomes with respect to the health monitoring, clinical karyotyping, abnormality detection, and genetic counseling, has urged the development of an efficient automatic system to improve the speed, reliability and capacity for chromosome analysis and classification 1-5. Prior to 1970, chromosomes in blood cells were analyzed in terms of their size and gross morphology. In normal cells, there are forty-six chromosomes which form twenty-two homologous pairs plus two sex chromosomes, XX or XY. These twenty-two homologous pairs of chromosomes are divided into seven groups: A, B, C, D, E, F, and G groups. There are seven pairs in C-group, three pairs in A-, D-, E-groups, and two pairs in B-, F-, and G-groups. The size and shape of X-chromosomes are similar to those of C-chromosomes, and the size and shape of Y-chromosomes similar to those of G-chromosomes. The identification and karyotyping of chromosomes images are usually done based on measurements of choromosome arm length, centromere position, and integrated optical density which represents the amount of DNA in the chro- mosome3,6. The optical density profile of a chromosome image along its longitudinal axis was sometimes used to determine the chromosome's centromere which corresponds to the location of the minimum point on the density profile7,8. Recently, such density profiles have also been used in automatic recognition of radiation induced chromosome aberrations, in particular, the recognition of dicentrics among the normal chromo- somes9. From the optical density profiles the amplitudes of the thrid through twelfth spatial spectral components were selected as features, the dicentrics were properly detected in a study involving seven irradiated human blood cells.
Structural biology: Immunity takes a heavy Toll

Toll receptors trigger immune responses through adaptor proteins and kinase enzymes. Structural studies reveal that hierarchical assembly of these proteins into a helical tower initiates downstream signalling events.
Cryopreservation of red blood cells.

“There is practically no mention in the literature of attempts to keep red blood cells alive in vitro, yet methods for their preservation might have much practical importance, and certainly would possess theoretical interest. Kept cells could be utilized for serum reactions or for transfusion. This last possibility is the more worth considering…” (P. Rous and J.R. Turner, J. Exp. Med. 1916)
Psychopharmacological Treatment of Dementia

Dementia is a challenging constellation of pathology, symptoms, and treatment modalities. Multiple etiologies for dementia have been proposed, resulting in numerous research attempts at determining the underlying causes and potential therapeutic approaches. Currently, psycho pharmacological management of dementia, particularly Alzheimer's disease, focuses on the manifested cognitive and noncognitive symptoms. This article provides an overview and descrip tion of dementia, explores current and investigational agents used in the treatment of accompa nying cognitive and noncognitive symptoms, and suggests considerations for assessing certain aspects of pharmacological management.
Equilibrium Distribution of Rectilinear Vortices in a Rotating Container

A system of rectilinear vortices in an arbitrary multiply connected domain rotating with angular velocity $\ensuremath{\Omega}$ is studied with Lin's general formalism. In the limit of many vortices, the equilibrium distribution is shown to be a uniform vortex density $n=\frac{2\ensuremath{\Omega}}{\ensuremath{\kappa}}$ where $\ensuremath{\kappa}$ is the circulation about each vortex. If the inner boundaries are specified by a set of contours ${C}_{\ensuremath{\alpha}}$, each enclosing an area ${A}_{\ensuremath{\alpha}}$, then the equilibrium value of the circulation ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\ensuremath{\alpha}}$ about ${C}_{\ensuremath{\alpha}}$ is given by ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\ensuremath{\alpha}}=2\ensuremath{\Omega}{A}_{\ensuremath{\alpha}}$. In equilibrium, the fluid rotates as a solid body with angular momentum $L=I\ensuremath{\Omega}$ and energy $E=\frac{1}{2} I{\ensuremath{\Omega}}^{2}$, where $I$ is the moment of inertia.
Cardiac receptors, their function in health and disease

Cardiac receptors include both mechanically and chemically sensitive receptors located in atria and in ventricles. Atrial receptors innervated by myelinated vagal afferent fibers reflexly regulate heart rate and intravascular volume. On the other hand, stimulation of ventricular receptors can cause either reflex bradycardia and hypotension or, alternatively, excitation of the cardiovascular system. The former response is mediated by vagal afferents, whereas the latter is mediated by sympathetic (spinal) afferents. Under normal circumstances, cardiac receptors sense changes in wall motion or diastolic pressure and perhaps provide a fine tuning of the cardiovascular system. However, under certain pathological conditions such as coronary ischemia, which cause release of substances such as bradykinin and prostaglandins, there is an exaggerated response of the ventricular receptors. Because these receptors cause a reflex depression of the cardiovascular system and, in particular, induce renal vasodilation, they may protect the heart and kidney by lessening myocardial oxygen requirements and by increasing renal blood flow. In the situation of heart failure both atrial and ventricular receptors are reset and therefore provide for an exaggerated neurohumoral discharge. Finally, patients with aortic stenosis may demonstrate a paradoxical vasodilation and syncope during exercise when there likely is excessive stimulation of left ventricular receptors by the high transmural pressure.
Variants of the Type II 3β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Gene in Children with Premature Pubic Hair and Hyperandrogenic Adolescents

To ascertain the potential role of heterozygosity for 3beta-hydroxysteroid (3beta-HSD) deficiency in children with premature pubic hair and adolescent girls with hyperandrogenism, we performed single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of the 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (3beta-HSD2) gene in 34 hyperandrogenic patients. Three sequence variants, two missense mutations and a 3'-UTR sequence variant, were detected among seven patients and in none of 100 healthy control subjects. One of these seven patients carried Leu236 --> Ser on one 3beta-HSD2 allele and Glu318 --> STOP on one 21-hydroxylase (CYP21) allele. ACTH stimulation tests were performed in 5/7 patients with sequence variants and were compatible with decreased 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity in three. Thus, 7 of 34 (20.6%) mildly hyperandrogenic patients carry heterozygous sequence variants of the 3beta-HSD2 gene. Since obligate heterozygotic carriers for congenital adrenal hyperplasia are typically asymptomatic, other genetic or environmental influences may contribute to the expression of hyperandrogenic symptoms in our patients.
Intrinsic perturbing ability of alkanols in lipid bilayers

Abstract The proportionality constant between the equipotency concentrations of a series of solutes and the fraction of a solute in the membrane phase is directly related to the solute to lipid mol ratio. Experimental measurements of partition coefficient and of several alkanol-induced effects show that the solute/lipid mol ratlos for a series of alkanols are not constant at their equipotency concentrations. The deviations in the solute/lipid ratios are similar in the various systems, and these deviations seem to depend primarily upon the chain length and branching in alkanols. It is suggested that such intrinsic differences in the perturbing ability of alcohols arise from a specificity of interaction between alkanols and lipid bilayer. We have correlated partition coefficients (in n-octanol, in egg phosphatidylcholine liposomes, and in dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine liposomes) for thirteen alkanols to the equipotency concentrations for their ability to modify the order-disorder thermotropic transition in dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine, ability to stimulate the hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine in a bilayer by bee venom phospholipase A2, and for the activation of the galactoside transport system in Escherichia coli. Significant correlation is found between equipotency concentrations for perturbing the order-disorder transition, the activation of phospholipase A2-catalyzed hydrolysis and the activation of galactoside transport system.
Inhibition of MLC20 phosphorylation downstream of Ca2+ and RhoA: A novel mechanism involving phosphorylation of myosin phosphatase interacting protein (M-RIP) by PKG and stimulation of MLC phosphatase activity.

Previous studies have shown that cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) act on several targets in the contractile pathway to reduce intracellular Ca2+ and/or augment RhoA-regulated myosin light chain phosphatase (MLCP) activity and cause muscle relaxation. Recent studies have identified a novel protein M-RIP that associates with MYPT1, the regulatory subunit of MLCP. Herein, we examine whether PKG enhance MLCP activity downstream of Ca2+ and RhoA via phosphorylation of M-RIP in gastric smooth muscle cells. Treatment of permeabilized muscle cells with 10 μM Ca2+ caused an increase in MLC20 phosphorylation and muscle contraction, but had no effect on Rho kinase activity. Activators of PKG (GSNO or cGMP) decreased MLC20 phosphorylation and contraction in response to 10 μM Ca2+, implying existence of inhibitory mechanism independent of Ca2+ and RhoA. The effect of PKG on Ca2+-induced MLC20 phosphorylation was attenuated by M-RIP siRNA. Both GSNO and 8-pCPT-cGMP induced phosphorylation of M-RIP; phosphorylation was accompanied by an increase in the association of M-RIP with MYPT1 and MLCP activity. Taken together, these results provide evidence that PKG induces phosphorylation of M-RIP and enhances its association with MYPT1 to augment MLCP activity and MLC20 dephosphorylation and inhibits muscle contraction, downstream of Ca2+- or RhoA-dependent pathways.
Use of EndoGIA stapling device in Duhamel-Martin procedure for Hirschsprung's disease

The EndoGIA 30(V) is a new stapling device that has become commercially available for laparoscopic surgery. An alternative use is the side-to-side colorectal anastomosis in the Duhamel-Martin procedure for Hirschsprung's disease. The authors' experience with the first 12 patients has been such that we plan to continue to use this device in the treatment of Hirschsprung's disease.
The tmRNA Website

tmRNA (10Sa RNA) has a central role in trans -translation, in which a peptide tag encoded in tmRNA is added to the abnormally short protein product of a broken mRNA, as a signal for proteolysis of the entire tagged protein. The tmRNA website was established in 1997 as a resource for phylogenetic considerations of tmRNA structure and function. Since then, three partial tmRNA sequences have been completed, and sequences from 13 more species have been identified. Forty-six species from 10 bacterial phyla and chloroplasts are now represented in the database. Provisional sequence alignments and predicted proteolysis tag sequences are provided, as well as a literature review and a guide to searching for new tmRNA sequences. The tmRNA website is accessible via WWW at a new URL: http://sunflower.bio.indiana.edu/kwilliam/tmRNA /home.html
Dissociation of β2-microglobulin leads to the accumulation of a substantial pool of inactive class I MHC heavy chains on the cell surface

A large pool of free class I heavy chains is detected in situ on the plasma membrane of living cells. These chains are present on cells of different MHC genotypes and appear to exist under physiological conditions in vivo. These molecules arise from the dissociation of previously assembled class I heterodimers at the cell surface. The ratio of intact to dissociated heterodimers is strongly affected by the occupancy of the peptide-binding site of the class I molecule. Upon dissociation of the heterodimer, the class I molecule is functionally inactive. These findings may help to explain why class I molecules on the cell surface are unreceptive to binding peptides yet readily associate with peptides in the presence of exogenous beta 2-microglobulin. These results have implications for understanding the distinct functions of class I versus class II molecules and how the immunological identity of cells is preserved.