cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Helium and carbon isotopes in Indian diamonds

We report the first helium and carbon isotopic measurements for Indian diamonds. The helium concentrations and isotope ratios in ten diamonds from documented sites in Andhra Pradesh are generally in the ranges of values for diamonds from other locations. Five samples are alluvial, from various sites in the Krishna River gravels; the rest were mined from three kimberlite pipes. Despite the limited statistics our results lead to fairly plausible conclusions: 1. (1) most of the 3He in the alluvial diamonds is of cosmogenic origin, and 2. (2) the alluvial diamonds may also have a significant 4He component due to implantation of α particles during storage in a secondary matrix (conglomerates and/or alluvium). Carbon isotope ratios in these diamonds are within the “normal” mantle range (δ13C = −4 to−7‰ plus one sample at −10‰) except for a single sample, the only spectral Type II diamond, which has δ13C = −26.5‰ This sample, a mined kimberlite specimen, has the lowest 4He content so far recorded in diamonds (0.018 μcc/g).
Antibody orientation enhanced by selective polymer-protein noncovalent interactions.

A unique interaction has been found between protein G’ (a truncated recombinant bacterial “alphabet” protein which aligns by noncovalent attachment to the antibody stem) and poly(methyl methacrylate), a thermoplastic polymer substrate, which can be easily fabricated using high-rate processes. Significantly improved orientation efficiency with traditional passive adsorption for this system (termed ALYGNSA) has been achieved as compared to the same assay performed on a polystyrene substrate with protein G’. Results were consistent with an average alignment of 80% of the human immunoglobulin G capture antibody which translated into a 30% to 50% improved alignment over an array of industry standards tested. Laser scanning confocal microscopy confirmed the immunological results. Studies of additional poly(methyl methacrylate) polymer derivatives and protein biolinker (A and AG) combinations have been conducted and have revealed different degrees of antibody alignment. These findings may lead to additional novel noncovalent methods of antibody orientation and greater sensitivity in immunological assays.
Plant Cells Are Not Just Green Yeast

Are plant cells just yeast cells with chloroplasts? Should plant cell biologists who don't work on chloroplasts just switch to yeast to help solve the basic questions that are common to all eukaryotes? The recent completion of the sequencing of the entire yeast ( Saccharomyces cerevisiae ) genome
Nf2/Merlin Controls Spinal Cord Neural Progenitor Function in a Rac1/ErbB2-Dependent Manner

Objective Individuals with the neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) cancer predisposition syndrome develop spinal cord glial tumors (ependymomas) that likely originate from neural progenitor cells. Whereas many spinal ependymomas exhibit indolent behavior, the only treatment option for clinically symptomatic tumors is surgery. In this regard, medical therapies are unfortunately lacking due to an incomplete understanding of the critical growth control pathways that govern the function of spinal cord (SC) neural progenitor cells (NPCs).
Even no data has a value

Data that are missing, lost, or incomplete can be very significant in certain situations. Programs and languages need to be able to identify and manage such data effectively.
Organizational Behavior: Where Does It Fit in Today's Management Curriculum?

Maximizing shareholder value is the dominant goal that influences management decision making in business practice. This goal—with rapid improvements in technology, changes in capital markets, and global competition—has altered employment relations between workers and top executives. The authors' purpose in this article was to share thoughts and concerns about the value and relative importance of organizational behavior theory in current business school curricula and to offer recommendations for the future.
An activated c-Ha-ras allele blocks the induction of muscle-specific genes whose expression is contingent on mitogen withdrawal

Abstract During myogenesis, induction of muscle-specific genes is subject to negative control by polypeptide mitogens and type-beta transforming growth factor. Since transduction of growth factor signals may require proteins encoded by cellular ras oncogenes, we have tested whether a mutationally altered Harvey ras expression vector, by itself, can prevent establishment of a differentiated phenotype in BC3H1 mouse myoblasts. Transfection with the valine-12 allele of the human Harvey ras gene, under the control of its own promoter, was sufficient to prevent the induction of both muscle creatine kinase activity and the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor following mitogen withdrawal but did not inhibit withdrawal from the cell cycle. The loss of creatine kinase activity resulted from a corresponding block to induction of muscle creatine kinase mRNA. Similarly, mitogen withdrawal elicited little or no alpha-actin mRNA in ras-transfected cells. These results suggest that an activated ras allele can inhibit myogenesis through a mechanism independent of cell proliferation and can preclude activation of genes whose up-regulation normally accompanies mitogen withdrawal.
Location, location, and location: compartmentalization of Hedgehog signaling at primary cilia

Primary cilia are solitary, microtubule-based organelles that serve as signaling hubs for the Hedgehog (Hh) pathway, which regulates embryonic development and adult tissue homeostasis. While protein localization studies have suggested that the dynamic trafficking of Hh components at cilia plays an important role, the molecular basis of Hh signal transduction at cilia is not well understood. In a recent study published in Nature Cell Biology (He et al, 2014), He and colleagues demonstrate that the kinesin KIF7, a conserved regulator of Hh signaling, limits ciliary length by acting at the plus-ends of microtubules to both reduce growth rate and increase catastrophe frequency. They propose that this biochemical activity establishes a specialized compartment at the tip of the cilia where the activity the Gli family of Hh transcription factors is regulated.
Mechanisms of Exercise Intolerance Insights From Tissue Doppler Imaging

Background— A decreased ratio of early to late diastolic mitral inflow velocities (E/A <1.0) reflects slowing of left ventricular (LV) relaxation. This finding is widely believed to indicate significant diastolic dysfunction. However, E/A <1.0 is common during normal aging and often is not associated with symptoms of heart failure. We asked (1) whether slowed LV relaxation is associated with exercise intolerance and (2) whether tissue Doppler imaging of the early diastolic mitral annular velocity (Ea) is helpful in understanding mechanisms of exercise intolerance. Methods and Results— Patients (n=121) underwent echocardiography before maximal exercise testing. Fifty-nine subjects had E/A <1.0, and 36 subjects had E/Ea ≥10. Exercise capacity was similar in the population with a normal mitral inflow pattern and those with a slow relaxation pattern when E/Ea was <10. In contrast, the subjects with slow relaxation and E/Ea ≥10 had reduced exercise tolerance. Of all the echo and clinical parameters assessed, E...
Thermal inactivation of electron-transport functions and F0F1-ATPase activities.

Abstract Bovine heart submitochondrial particles in suspension were heated at a designated temperature for 3 min, then cooled for biochemical assays at 30°C. By enzyme activity measurements and polarographic assay of oxygen consumption, it is shown that the thermal denaturation of the respiratory chain takes place in at least four stages and each stage is irreversible. The first stage occurs at 51.0 ± 1.0°C, with the inactivation of NADH-linked respiration, ATP-driven reverse electron transport, F0F1 catalyzed ATP/Pi exchange, NADH and succinate-driven ATP synthesis. The second stage occurs at 56.0 ± 1.0°C, with the inactivation of succinate-linked proton pumping and respiration. The third stage occurs at 59.0 ± 1.0°C, with the inactivation of electron transfer from cytochrome c to cytochrome oxidase and ATP-dependent proton pumping. The ATP hydrolysis activity of F0F1 persists to 61.0 ± 1.0°C. An additional transition, detectable by differential scanning calorimetry, occurring around 70.0 ± 2.0°C, is probably associated with thermal denaturation of cytochrome c and other stable membrane proteins. In the presence of either mitochondrial matrix fluid or 2 mM mercaptoethanol, all five stages give rise to endothermic effects, with the absorption of approx. 25 J/g protein. Under aerobic conditions, however, the first four transitions become strongly exothermic, and release a total of approx. 105 J/g protein. Solubilized and reconstituted F0F1 vesicles also exhibit different inactivation temperatures for the ATP/Pi exchange, proton pumping and ATP hydrolysis activities. The first two activities are abolished at 49.0 ± 1.0°C, but the latter at 58.0 ± 2.0°C. Differential scanning calorimetry also detects biphasic transitions of F0F1, with similar temperatures of denaturation (49.0 and 54.0°C). From these and other results presented in this communication, the following is concluded. (1) A selective inactivation, by the temperature treatment, of various functions of the electron-transport chain and of the F0F1 complex can be done. (2) The ATP synthesis activity of the F0F1 complex involves either a catalytic or a regulation subunit(s) which is not essential for ATP hydrolysis and the proton translocation. This subunit is 10°C less stable than the hydrolytic site. Micromolar ADP stabilizes it from thermal denaturation by 4–5°C, although ADP up to millimolar concentration does not protect the hydrolytic site and the proton-translocation site. (3) Protein complexes of the mitochondrial energy-transducing membrane are metastable, i.e., they are in a high-energy state under aerobic environments. These complexes are susceptible to oxidation (consuming 250 nmol O2 per mg protein) and as a consequence dissipate heat. Whether this exothermic energy is relevant to the in vivo ATP synthesis remains unclear.
Individual Distributions Under Ordinal Measurement.

For ordinal measurement the concept of an individual propensity distribution is developed. For any given individual the mean of this distribution is his true score, for which estimation procedures are discussed. Two measures of individual dispersion are considered and their distributions derived in the null case. These measures are shown to be counterparts at the individual level of Kendall's tau and Spearman's rho. Estimation of the two dispersion measures from sample data is investigated, and the relation of these estimates to the variance of the individual propensity distribution is derived.
Exploration of Reaction Time: Ideas for an Inquiry Investigation in Physics Education.

ABSTRACT Reaction time, the time between a stimulus and a person's reaction to it, is a concept familiar to most teenagers, particularly in the context of driving. We describe a simple inexpensive activity that utilizes students’ creativity and invokes the scientific method in order to explore reaction time. The goal of the activity is to give students a realistic understanding of their reaction time and to challenge them to consider the implications of this for driving scenarios.
Seasonal phosphorus dynamics in the surficial sediment of two shallow temperate lakes: a solid-phase and pore-water study

This study examined phosphorus (P) dynamics by surveying the solid-phase and pore-water of the surficial sediment in a mesotrophic and eutrophic shallow lake in Maine, USA. Both lakes were dimictic, developed hypolimnetic anoxia, and released sedimentary P. We examined the controls on sedimentary P release by considering two possible mechanisms; mineralization and release of sedimentary organic P, and dissolution of Fe hydroxide following the onset of anoxia. The temporal investigation of solid-phase included sequential chemical extraction and 31P NMR analysis, and the pore-water included use of equilibrium samplers. In both lakes, the relative contribution of organic P to total sedimentary P release was minor compared to Fe hydroxide-associated P. The eutrophic lake, however, had more evidence of microbial uptake of sedimentary P and a higher degree of rapid P transformation in the water column. Sediment polyphosphates were dynamic and possibly contributed to hypolimnetic P accumulation. The pore-water Fe and P profiles exhibited similar temporal patterns as the solid-phase results. Together, they showed an upward migration of the redoxcline in the sediment, from winter to summer, resulting in the accumulation of Fe-bound P at the sediment–water interface in the winter followed by its release into the summer.
Synthesis of 5-O-methylembelin

Abstract A general synthetic route to 3-alkyl-2-hydroxy-5-methoxy-1,4-benzoquinones and the total synthesis of 5-O-methylembelin is reported based upon ring expansion of substituted cyclobutenes.
Efficacy of Trapping and Shooting in Removing Breeding Brown‐Headed Cowbirds

Trapping often is used to mitigate brood parasitism by brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater). The efficacy of trapping to remove locally breeding cowbirds has not been compared to shooting, an alternative removal method. We used cluster analysis to group female cowbirds trapped and shot at Fort Hood, Texas, USA, during the 2003 and 2004 breeding seasons as potential local breeders (PLBs) or migrants based on their color, mass, ovarian development, and wing chord. The PLBs were paler and smaller, generally fitting the description of M. a. obscurus, the expected race of locally breeding cowbirds. We detected enlarged ovaries in 0% of migrants (n = 1,634) and 18% of PLBs (n = 959). We compared the efficiency (proportion of PLBs removed) and effectiveness (total no. of PLBs removed) of trapping and shooting. Monthly shooting efficiency was high (>90%) and always greater than that for trapping. Trapping efficiency was temporally variable but greatest in March (50%). Despite its inefficiency, trapping removed at least 8-fold more PLBs during March and April than shooting. Effectiveness of trapping and shooting was similar in May. Shooting removed 3-fold more PLBs in June than trapping. The cost of removing a single PLB by trapping in March and April was <$4 but increased to $153 by June. Cost of removing a single PLB by shooting ranged from $14–19 during all months except March, when few breeding cowbirds were shot. Knowledge of the efficacy of cowbird removal techniques over the breeding season will allow managers to strategically apply control to enhance program benefits.
Rebels’ Property: Smuggling and Imperial [Dis]loyalty in the Anglo-American Atlantic *

In early 1776, the Royal Navy entered Liverpool, Nova Scotia searching for smuggled goods. The sailors found what they sought in three warehouses, including that of Simeon Perkins, the local magistrate. My curiosity over this incident includes an off-hand reference to the contraband as “rebels’ property”. Why describe trade goods in politically loaded terms? Caught up in the pre-revolutionary tensions, understandings of illegal commerce intertwined with debates over political ideologies and imperial obligations between Great Britain and its original mainland colonies. In the process, loyalty to empire became linked to commerce in the imperial imagination. In this essay, I focus on the experience of Nova Scotia as seen through the diary of Simeon Perkins. Although not one of the central venues of the American Revolution, Nova Scotia represented one site of intersection between the metropole and its colonies. As such, it reveals a unique insight into the larger imperial civil war and the anxieties that produced it.
Meta-analysis: Aspirin reduces risk for colon cancer and related mortality at 20 years, particularly when taken for ≥ 5 years

Source Citation Rothwell PM, Wilson M, Elwin CE, et al. Long-term effect of aspirin on colorectal cancer incidence and mortality: 20-year follow-up of five randomised trials. Lancet. 2010;376:1741-...
Prediction of learning rate from the hippocampal electroencephalogram

Samples of spontaneous electroencephalographic (EEG) activity from the dorsal hippocampus of rabbits were recorded immediately before classical conditioning of the nictitating membrane response. Computer analysis revealed a significant predictive relationship between EEG frequency characteristics and the subsequent rate of learning.
Effects of light quality on the circadian rhythm of leaf movement of a short-day-plant.

Studies were made of the effects of blue, green, red and far-red (FR) light on the circadian rhythm of leaf movement of Coleus blumei × C. frederici, a short day plant. Under continuous illumination with blue light, there was a significant lengthening of the period of the rhythm to about 24.0 hr, as compared to 22.5 hr in continuous darkness. Under continuous red light, the period length was significantly shortened to 20.5 hr. Under continuous green or FR, the period length was not significantly different from the dark control. It was observed that under continuous FR illumination, the leaves tended to oscillate in a more downward position. Eight-hr red light signals were effective in advancing the phase of the rhythm as compared to a control under continuous green light. Blue light signals were effective in delaying the phase of the rhythm. FR light signals were ineffective in producing either delay or advance phase shifts. Far-red light did not reverse the effects of either red or blue light signals. On the basis of these results it is suggested, that pigments which absorb blue or red light, rather than phytochrome, mediate the effect of light on the circadian rhythm of leaf movement.
Towards real-time microgrid power management using computational intelligence methods

Microgrids are an emerging technology which promises to achieve many simultaneous goals for power system stakeholders, from generator to consumer. The microgrid framework offers a means to capitalize on diverse energy sources in a decentralized way, while reducing the burden on the utility grid by generating power close to the consumer. As a critical component to enabling power system diversity and flexibility, microgrids encompass distributed generators and load centers with the capability of operating islanded from or interconnected to the macrogrid. To make microgrids viable, new and innovative techniques are required for managing microgrid operations given its multi-objective, multi-constraint decision environment. In this article, two example computational intelligence methods, particle swarm optimization (PSO) and ant colony optimization (ACO), for application to the microgrid power management problem are introduced. A mathematical framework for multi-objective optimization is presented, as well as a discussion of the advantages of intelligent methods over traditional computational techniques for optimization. Finally, a three-generator microgrid with an ACO-based power management algorithm is demonstrated and results are shown.
Asian‐American women in the mental health system: An examination of ethnic and gender match between therapist and client

The present study investigated the simultaneous effects of ethnic and gender therapist-client match on mental health services. The sample consisted of over 1,000 Asian-American women who received mental health services at Los Angeles County facilities in the mid-1980s. Regression analyses were employed to determine the effects of match on client satisfaction (i.e., premature termination, length of treatment), therapists' assessment of client functioning (i.e., diagnosis and general functioning ratings at admission), and treatment outcome (i.e., general functioning at discharge after controlling for initial functioning). The findings indicated that ethnic and/or gender match conditions were significantly associated with reduced premature termination, increased treatment duration, and the assignment of higher functioning at admission in comparison to the no-match condition. Neither ethnic nor gender match was a significant predictor of initial diagnoses or client functioning at discharge. Moreover, ethnic and gender match was found to be more important for Asian-American women than for Asian-American men, White-American women, or White-American men. Implications for treatment are discussed.
A comparison of hemoglobins in five species of Microtus

Abstract The composition of tryptic peptides was determined for Hb (major or fast electrophoretic component) from four additional species of Microtus; M. p. pennsylvanicus, M. abbreviatus, M. miurus , and M. oeconomus , The amino acids from the four Hb were compared with Hb from M. p. tananaensis , and, on the basis of the combination of analyses for the several Hb. Ca 95% of the overall amino acid composition was considered. The compositions of most of the homologous peptides were identical, and two deletions in the sequence of 21 amino acids β 41–61 are believed to characterize the Hb of all four species. From differences in peptide composition the following substitutions were inferred. In the β chain, M. pennsylvanicus (2 ssp) differed from other species at two positions, α8: Ser vs Thr and α12: Thr vs Ash. In the β chain M. pennsylvanicus (2 ssp) differed from other species at two positions, β45: Phe vs Leu, and β50: Ser-Glx vs Thr. M. p. pennsylvanicus differed from M. p. tananaensis at position β88: Val-Leu vs Leu. All species showed ambiguity among the amino acids Ala-Ser-Phe-Leu centred presumably in positions β129 and β130. On the basis of an incomplete examination, the slow electrophoretic component of M. abbreviatus Hb could not be seen to differ from the fast component in its peptide map or in the general composition of its α and β peptides.
The identification of residence time models by reacting tracer experiments

It has been shown that the steady-state conversion of tracers which react with nonlinear kinetics (NLRT) may be used to differentiate complete mixing from macro-fluid behavior. This paper presents the results of theoretical and experimental studies which have demonstrated that the discriminatory power of NLRT techniques may be greatly increased if unsteady-state pulse tests with reacting tracers are used instead of steady-state conversion experiments. The method is shown to be sufficiently sensitive to differentiate among models of mixing which describe the results of inert tracer experiments with equal accuracy. The method was used to identify the position of a plug-flow element in a plug-flow mixing-cell network and to differentiate between a Taylor dispersion system and a plug-flow mixing-cell network. On a demontre qu'on peut utiliser la transformation, en regime stable, des traceurs qui reagissent avec la cinetique non-lineaire pour differentier un melange complet d'un comportement de macro-fluide. On presente, dans le travail actuel, les resultats d'etudes theoriques et experimentales qui ont demontre qu'on peut augmenter considerablement l'energie discriminatoire des techniques a base desdits traceurs en utilisant, en regime instable, des essais d'impulsion avec des traceurs qui reagissent, au lieu d'experiences de transformation en regime stable. On indique que ladite methode est suffisamment sensible pour differentier des modeles de melange qui decrivent avec la měme exactitude les resultats d'experiences faites avec des traceurs inertes; on a employe cette methode pour identifier la position d'un element d'ecoulement obture dans un reseau de cellules de melange d'un ecoulement obture, et pour differentier entre un systeme de dispersion de Taylor et un reseau de cellules de melange dans un ecoulement obture.
On the use of singular perturbations to neglect the dynamic saliency of synchronous machines

A common approximation used in the analysis of power systems is the neglect of the dynamic saliency in synchronous machines. In this paper, it is shown that eliminating the error associated with neglecting dynamic saliency can be accomplished with the addition of a singular perturbation(s) into the machine model. By considering the elimination of error in such a way, singular-perturbation-based model-order-reduction techniques are used to derive detailed- and reduced-order models of synchronous machines where dynamic saliency is eliminated with zero error and no added numerical cost.
Mitochondrial Dynamics: Mechanisms and Pathologies

Mitochondrial dynamics, a cellular process describing continuous change of shape and location of mitochondria, has drawn much attention recently due to its involvement in cell injury and human pathologies. Mitochondrial fission and fusion are the major processes that alter mitochondrial morphology. Molecular machineries for mitochondrial fission and fusion include proteins of dynamin family large GTPases that remodel biological membranes. Mutations in these proteins cause hereditary diseases or death in human, indicating that mitochondrial fission and fusion are important cellular processes. Identification of additional factors participating in mitochondrial fission and fusion still continues. Recent studies demonstrate that mitochondrial fission/fusion process is under tight regulation through cellular signalling networks and functional states of mitochondria. This information suggests that cellular cues both extrinsic and intrinsic to mitochondria regulate mitochondrial fission and fusion, indicating an important role of mitochondrial fission and fusion in controlling mitochondrial functionality. Many additional pathologies are associated with aberrant mitochondrial fission and fusion, and defining the form–function relationship of mitochondria will be the key for understanding disease aetiology and therapeutic application. Key Concepts: Mitochondria take a variety of shapes depending on cell types and activities. Fission and fusion of mitochondria are the main processes changing their morphology. Dynamin-related proteins (DRPs) remodel mitochondrial membranes for fission and fusion. Additional proteins and factors including signal-induced protein modifications participate in mitochondrial fission and fusion. Mutations in genes in mitochondrial fission and fusion are detrimental to human health. Many diseases such as neurodegeneration, metabolic diseases, ischemia-reperfusion injury, heart diseases, and aging are directly and indirectly associated with dysregulation of mitochondrial fission and fusion. Keywords: mitochondria; mitochondrial dynamics; fission; fusion; dynamin; dynamin-related proteins; apoptosis; pathology; neurodegeneration
Efficient curved reaches resulting from kinematic biases in the DIRECT model

The DIRECT model is a self-organizing neural network designed to explain neurophysiological and psychophysical data from targeted reaching experiments. The model's learning process is indirectly influenced by the arm's kinematics, resulting in movements biased toward joint rotations that produce the most spatial movement of the end-effector. This bias causes the end-effector trajectories performed after learning to deviate slightly from the straight path which would be produced by an explicit pseudoinverse computation, but the total joint rotation is significantly reduced by this slight curvature. A simplified model of this biasing is introduced, and implications regarding human arm movements are discussed.
When Antibiotics are Unnecessary

Dermatologists can decrease unnecessary use of antimicrobial agents by avoiding them in situations wherein good evidence indicates that they are ineffective. Controlled trials indicate that antimicrobial agents are unhelpful in treating cutaneous abscesses, inflamed epidermal cysts, uninfected atopic eczema, and cutaneous ulcers caused by venous insufficiency or diabetes in the absence of significant contiguous soft-tissue inflammation. Prophylactic antibiotics are rarely appropriate for routine dermatologic surgery and are not indicated for patients who have prosthetic joints or vascular grafts. They are recommended only for a small group of patients who have abnormal cardiac valves, and then only with surgery involving clearly infected skin or soft-tissue. Topical antibiotics are no better than white petrolatum in covering sutured wounds, and with moist occlusive dressings, no ointment is necessary.
Mitochondrial manoeuvres: Latest insights and hypotheses on mitochondrial partitioning during mitosis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Movement and positional control of mitochondria and other organelles are coordinated with cell cycle progression in the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Recent studies have revealed a checkpoint that inhibits cytokinesis when there are severe defects in mitochondrial inheritance. An established checkpoint signaling pathway, the mitotic exit network (MEN), participates in this process. Here, we describe mitochondrial motility during inheritance in budding yeast, emerging evidence for mitochondrial quality control during inheritance, and organelle inheritance checkpoints for mitochondria and other organelles.
The gene expression profiles of induced pluripotent stem cells from individuals with childhood cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy are consistent with proposed mechanisms of pathogenesis

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) is a complex disorder with variable expressivity that affects the nervous, adrenocortical and male reproductive systems. Although ABCD1 mutations are known to provide the genetic basis for X-ALD, its pathogenesis is not fully elucidated. While elevated very long chain fatty acid (VLCFA) levels in blood and reduced VLCFA catabolic activity in cultured fibroblasts are biomarkers used to identify ABCD1 mutation carriers, the roles peroxisomal lipid metabolism play in disease etiology are unknown. Primary skin fibroblasts from two male patients with the childhood cerebral form of the disease (CCALD) caused by ABCD1 frameshift or missense mutations and three healthy donors were transduced with retroviral vectors expressing the OCT4, SOX2, KLF4 and c-MYC factors. Candidate induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) were subject to global gene expression, DNA methylation, DNA copy number variation, and genotyping analysis and tested for pluripotency through in vitro differentiation and teratoma formation. Saturated VLCFA (sVLCFA) and plasmalogen levels in primary fibroblasts and iPSCs from healthy donors as well as CCALD patients were determined through mass spectroscopy. Skin fibroblasts from CCALD patients and healthy donors were reprogrammed into validated iPSCs. Unlike fibroblasts, CCALD patient iPSCs show differentially expressed genes (DEGs) relevant to both peroxisome abundance and neuroinflammation. Also, in contrast to fibroblasts, iPSCs from patients showed no significant difference in sVLCFA levels relative to those from controls. In all cell types, the plasmalogen levels tested did not correlate with ABCD1 mutation status. Normal ABCD1 gene function is not required for reprogramming skin fibroblasts into iPSCs or maintaining pluripotency. Relative to DEGs found in fibroblasts, DEGs uncovered in comparisons of CCALD patient and control iPSCs are more consistent with major hypotheses regarding disease pathogenesis. These DEGs were independent of differences in sVLCFA levels, which did not vary according to ABCD1 mutation status. The highlighted genes provide new leads for pathogenic mechanisms that can be explored in animal models and human tissue specimens. We suggest that these iPSC resources will have applications that include assisting efforts to identify genetic and environmental modifiers and screening for therapeutic interventions tailored towards affected cell populations and patient genotypes.
Social Skills Training with Mildly Retarded Young Adults.

Described a social skills assessment and training model for use with mildly retarded young adults (N = 20). The assessment procedure examined social behavior in three types of social situations (e. g., conversational situation, cooperative task and assertive situation) with both male and female respondents. Group behavioral social skills training was compared with a no treatment control condition using various dependent measures collected in the in-vivo social situations. Group behavioral social skills trining was more effective than the control condition in increasing positive social behavior, attention to the transaction, and degree of empathy. It was also more effective than a control condition in decreasing negative social skill behavior. A situation effect also was observed, which suggests a need for more focus on particular social skills and a need to address issues of generalization. A comprehensive social skills assessment and training model is discussed.
Planning and Ideology

This article identifies some of the major themes or ideologies that dominate American planning as they are reflected in the variable meanings of some of its key terms, especially, the word “planning,” itself. It avers that these ideologies refer not only to the planning of cities and regions, but to the nation as a whole. It traces their origins to the societal crises such as culture conflict, war, and depression that have shaken American society in the course of the last century, or to periods of recovery from such crises. It shows how they have succeeded each other in time, so as to constitute more or less distinct eras of planning thought and practice. It also notes how the same ideologies confront each other in space resulting in severe land-use conflicts, especially at the edges of metropolitan areas. In the light of these ideologies, the article raises questions about the nature and future of the contemporary American planning profession.
Developmental study of GnRH neuronal projections to the medial basal hypothalamus of the male Djungarian hamster

The present study in the male Djungarian hamster determined the neuroanatomical distribution and morphology of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons which innervate the medial basal hypothalamus during sexual maturation. Prepubertal, peripubertal, and postpubertal males were perfused, brains were removed, and crystals of the fluorescent tract tracer, DiI, were implanted directly into the median eminence of the brain. Eight weeks later, brains were sectioned and processed for GnRH immunofluorescence. At all ages, GnRH cell bodies were bipolar or unipolar; both subtypes were labeled with DiI in proportion to their respective numbers in each brain region. GnRH perikarya were distributed in a diffuse ventromedial continuum from the septum through the anterior hypothalamus. In prepubertal males, DiI was present in the majority of GnRH neurons (54% of total) that were located in brain regions rostral to and including the medial preoptic area. In lateral and caudal brain areas, fewer GnRH perikarya contained DiI (28% of total or less). With sexual maturation, fewer GnRH somata were labeled with DiI in areas rostral to the hypothalamus. The data suggest that bipolar and unipolar GnRH neurons in the forebrain, rostral to the preoptic area, are major contributors to the GnRH innervation of the median eminence in the male Djungarian hamster. With the onset of puberty, the finding that decreasing numbers of GnRH perikarya directly project to the medial basal hypothalamus suggests that fewer GnRH neurons constitute the final common pathway that controls gonadotropin secretion. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The high-frequency limits of SIS receivers

The field of submillimeter-wavelength astronomy is blossoming thanks to major investments such as the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA) and the Herschel Space Telescope. These projects were enabled by the development of very sensitive receivers, especially those using Superconductor-Insulator-Superconductor (SIS) tunnel junction diodes. Here I review some of the challenges that were faced in pushing this technology from its first demonstrations around 100 GHz to its upper frequency limit beyond 1.2 THz.
Pilot Study to Evaluate the Efficacy of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Improving the Survival of Reattached Auricular Composite Grafts in the New Zealand White Rabbit

Abstract Objective: This investigation is a prospective, randomized, blinded study seeking to evaluate the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy in improving the survival of the reattached auricular composite graft. Study Design: Twenty New Zealand White rabbits were randomly assigned to control (10) and treatment (10) groups in a prospective fashion. After amputation and reattachment of measured segments of each ear, the treatment group received 14 HBO treatments for 10 days. The control group received only standard postoperative care. On postoperative day 18, the surviving composite grafts were measured, recorded, and statistically analyzed. Results: The mean percentage of graft survival for the control group was 0.31% (range 0%-2.5%), and the mean for the group receiving HBO was 15.94% (range 0%-38%). A median test was used to evaluate this difference, which was found to be statistically significant ( P = 0057). Conclusion: Our study appears to indicate a possible survival benefit for the composite grafts in those rabbits that received HBO treatments. We believe that there are several significant difficulties with the rabbit as a model for this study, but we are encouraged at this point that a limited measurable benefit was observed. Further investigations with HBO appear to be warranted at this time. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2000;123:539-42.)
Distributed multi-layered workload synthesis for testing stream processing systems

Testing and benchmarking of stream processing systems requires workload representative of real world scenarios with myriad of users, interacting through different applications over different modalities with different underlying protocols. The workload should have realistic volumetric and contextual statistics at different levels: user level, application level, packet level etc. Further realistic workload is inherently distributed in nature. We present a scalable framework for synthesis of distributed workload based on identifying different layers of workload corresponding to different time-scales. The architecture is extensible and modular, promotes reuse of libraries at different layers and offers the flexibility to add additional plug-ins at different layers without sacrificing the efficiency.
Water balance in Hemizonia luzulifolia: the role of extracellular polysaccharides

We report how leaf capacitance varies as a fonction of extracellular polysaccharide content and how these differences in leaf capacitance in turn influence plant performance in the field. Hemizonia luzulifolia provides a model system for examing the importance of apoplasmic capacitors because it comprises two subspecies that difer in amount of pectin-like accumulations in their basal leaves (H.l. with channels of polysaccharide that run parallel to the vascular bundles or H.l. which lack these channels)
Web application bypass testing

Input validation refers to checking user inputs to a program to ensure that they conform to expectations of the program. Input validation is used to check the format of numbers and strings, check the length of strings, and to ensure that strings do not contain invalid characters. Input validation testing (IVT) is particularly important for software that has a heavy reliance on user inputs, including Web applications. A common technique in Web applications is to perform input validation on the client by using HTML attributes and scripting languages such as JavaScript. An insidious problem with performing input validation on the client is that end users have the ability to bypass this validation. Bypass testing is a unique and novel way to create test cases that is available only because of the unusual mix of client-server, HTML GUI, and JavaScript technologies that are used in Web applications. This workshop paper presents the issues and concerns that allow bypass testing, the preliminary concepts behind the technique, and some early results on applying it. How effective and useful bypass testing can be in testing Web applications is determined through ongoing research and automation.
Enhanced activation of p21-activated kinase 1 in heart failure contributes to dephosphorylation of connexin 43.

Aims We previously showed decreased cellular coupling and dephosphorylation of the gap junctional protein connexin 43 (Cx43) in left ventricular (LV) myocytes from an arrhythmogenic rabbit model of non-ischaemic heart failure (HF) that was associated with a 2.5-fold increase in the amount of protein phosphatase type 2A (PP2A) co-localized with Cx43. Here, we further explore the molecular mechanisms of enhanced dephosphorylation of Cx43 in HF. p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1) is a serine–threonine protein kinase that has been shown to activate PP2A. Methods and results We found that total PAK1 and activated PAK1 (PAK1-PThr423) were both increased in HF rabbit LV (vs. controls). PAK1 co-immunoprecipitated (co-IP'd) with Cx43 protein and, with HF, co-IP'd PAK1 and PAK1-PThr423 were increased. With failing human LV, PAK1 total protein and PAK1-PThr423 were also increased globally and locally (co-IP'd with Cx43). To further explore the role of PAK1 in modulating Cx43 dephosphorylation and intercellular coupling, we overexpressed active PAK1 in isolated LV myocytes from control rabbits and in HEK293 cells with genetically modified overexpression of Cx43 (HEK293-Cx43). PAK1 overexpression in both rabbit myocytes and HEK293-Cx43 cells significantly increased PP2A activity (globally and at the level of Cx43), increased dephosphorylated Cx43, and markedly reduced intercellular dye coupling. These effects were attenuated with PP2A inhibition using okadaic acid (10 nM). Conclusions PAK1 and PP2A are integral components of a macromolecular complex with cardiac Cx43, and increased activation of associated PAK1 can contribute to enhanced Cx43 dephosphorylation and impaired intercellular coupling that may underlie slow conduction in HF.
Leveraging GPS-Less Sensing Scheduling for Green Mobile Crowd Sensing

In this paper, we consider leveraging GPS-less energy-efficient sensing scheduling for mobile crowd sensing. We present a probabilistic model for sensing coverage without accurate location information (provided by GPS), based on which we formally define the Energy-constrained Maximum Coverage Sensing Scheduling (E-MCSS) problem for maximum coverage and the Fair Maximum Coverage Sensing Scheduling (F-MCSS) problem for fairness. Assuming that moving trajectories of mobile users are known beforehand, we present a (1 - 1/e)-approximation algorithm and a 1/2-approximation algorithm to solve the E-MCSS and F-MCSS problems in polynomial time, respectively, which can serve as benchmarks for performance evaluation. Under realistic assumptions, we present a GPS-less energy-efficient protocol for sensing scheduling based on the proposed algorithms. We developed an Android-based mobile crowd sensing system, on which we implemented the proposed protocol. Simulation results and experimental results (from a field test) are presented to validate and justify effectiveness of the proposed algorithms and protocol.
Bariatric Surgery Outcomes

Obesity is associated with an increased risk of death, and morbid obesity carries a significant risk of life-threatening complications such as heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Bariatric surgery is recognized as the only effective treatment of morbid obesity. The estimated number of bariatric operations performed in the United States in 2008 was more than 13 times the number performed in 1992. Despite this increase, only 1% of the eligible morbidly obese population are currently treated with bariatric surgery.
Exposure Time Dependence of Dark Current in CCD Imagers

In this paper, we present a systematic study on the rate of dark current generation of two scientific charge-coupled device imagers. The dark current in both imagers was measured for exposure times from 5 to 7200 s at a constant temperature. As one would expect, the majority of pixels show a linear increase in dark count with exposure time. However, we found distinct groups of pixels that show a nonlinear dark current dependence versus exposure time well below saturation. Since the dark count is often assumed to scale linearly with exposure time, these pixels can pose a problem during dark current correction. We also discuss what could cause some pixels to produce a dark count that is linear versus exposure time whereas others do not.
Free Markets and Fair Trade, Collective Livelihood Struggles, and the Cooperative Model: Two Case Studies from Paraguay

Two agricultural cooperatives in Paraguay illustrate different models of smallholders’ collective livelihood struggles to enter international markets and achieve autonomy. One cooperative exports organic sugar and follows a strategy based on Fair Trade, independence from state bureaucracies, and alliances with international buyers and nongovernmental organizations. The other cooperative exports bananas to Argentina and follows a strategy based on free trade, regional market liberalization, and dependence on state bureaucracies. These cooperatives operate in a context of deep structural inequalities in which elements of a 35-year dictatorship mix with more recent regional and global integration and the consolidation of a democratic project. Examination of the structure in which they operate and the individual and collective agency of small producers reveals that, whether through free trade or Fair Trade, participation in global markets requires participation in debates on globalization and democracy and th...
Effect of Chloride on the Dissolution Rate of Silver Nanoparticles and Toxicity to E. coli

Pristine silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are not chemically stable in the environment and react strongly with inorganic ligands such as sulfide and chloride once the silver is oxidized. Understanding the environmental transformations of AgNPs in the presence of specific inorganic ligands is crucial to determining their fate and toxicity in the environment. Chloride (Cl–) is a ubiquitous ligand with a strong affinity for oxidized silver and is often present in natural waters and in bacterial growth media. Though chloride can strongly affect toxicity results for AgNPs, their interaction is rarely considered and is challenging to study because of the numerous soluble and solid Ag–Cl species that can form depending on the Cl/Ag ratio. Consequently, little is known about the stability and dissolution kinetics of AgNPs in the presence of chloride ions. Our study focuses on the dissolution behavior of AgNPs in chloride-containing systems and also investigates the effect of chloride on the growth inhibition of E.col...
An investigation of the cyclic fatigue and fracture behavior of aluminum alloy 7055

In this research paper, the cyclic stress- and strain-amplitude-control fatigue response of aluminum alloy 7055 is presented and discussed. Specimens of the alloy in the T7751 temper were cyclically deformed over a range of stress amplitudes at both ambient and elevated temperatures. An increase in test temperature was found to have a detrimental influence on cyclic fatigue life of the transverse-oriented specimens and little influence on the longitudinally oriented counterparts. Under total strain-amplitude control, the alloy showed evidence of softening to failure at the two test temperatures. The degree of cyclic softening increased with increasing temperature. For both stress- and strain-amplitude control fatigue, the macroscopic fracture mode was essentially identical, regardless of the orientation of the test specimen with respect to the wrought rolled plate. Cyclic fatigue fracture on a microscopic scale revealed features reminiscent of locally ductile and brittle mechanisms. The plausible mechanisms governing damage and failure of the alloy are discussed in terms of the competing influences of intrinsic microstructural effects, matrix deformation characteristics arising from a combination of mechanical and microstructural interactions, the magnitude of cyclic stress and cyclic strain amplitudes and the test temperature.