cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
p21-Activated Kinases Cla4 and Ste20 Regulate Vacuole Inheritance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Each time Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells divide they ensure that both the mother and daughter cell inherit a vacuole by actively transporting a portion of the vacuole into the bud. As the mother cell begins budding, a tubular and vesicular segregation structure forms that is transported into the bud by the myosin V motor Myo2, which is bound to the vacuole-specific myosin receptor, Vac17 (41, 59, 70, 79). Upon arriving in the bud the segregation structure is resolved to found the daughter vacuole. The mechanism that regulates segregation structure resolution in a spatially dependent manner is unknown. In addition to resolving the segregation structure, Vac17 is degraded specifically in the bud to provide directionality to vacuole inheritance. It has been proposed that bud-specific degradation of Vac17 is promoted by proteins localized to or activated solely in the bud (77). The p21-activated kinases (PAKs) Cla4 and Ste20 are localized to and activated in the bud. Here we report that Cla4 is localized to the segregation structure just prior to segregation structure resolution, and cells lacking PAK function fail to resolve the segregation structure. Overexpression of either Cla4 or Ste20 inhibited vacuole inheritance and this inhibition was suppressed by the expression of nondegradable VAC17. Finally, PAK activity was required for Vac17 degradation in late M phase and CLA4 overexpression promoted Vac17 degradation. We propose that Cla4 and Ste20 are bud-specific proteins that play roles in both segregation structure resolution and the degradation of Vac17.
Reliability of NLDMOS transistors subjected to repetitive power pulses

The failure mechanisms for NLDMOS transistors subjected to rectangular power pulses are investigated. The study confirms by measurement and simulation that the transistors survive single power pulses up to an energy that causes snapback at a critical temperature. However, devices can fail due to large thermal-mechanical stress and metal migration when subjected to repetitive power pulses of significantly smaller energy. The failure mechanism is confirmed by physical analysis then a Coffin-Manson metal fatigue model is applied to predict transistor reliability.
Teaching for Conceptual Change: Using Status as a Metacognitive Tool.

Research into students' conception often presents those conceptions as problematic for the teacher, something to be exposed and then overcome through instruction. This article argues for a different approach to conceptual change instruction—one that places students' science conceptions and their ability to reflect on their conceptions at the center of science instruction. In the elementary school classroom selected for this study, students learned to speak about their conceptions in powerful ways (i.e., to be metacognitive) when studying the physical science concepts of force and motion. Students in this classroom defined the status constructs of intelligibility and plausibility in response to their teacher's instruction and then applied both constructs when speaking about ideas related to force and motion. When using the status constructs, these students provided deep insights into their developing conceptions of force and motion and how they were learning these concepts. Comments from the students helped the teacher evaluate their progress and allowed her to plan instruction based on the students' progress. Learning outcomes for students in this classroom included changes in their abilities to apply status constructs to their developing notions of force and motion. The instructional approach selected by this teacher also supported change in students from passively receiving information to actively examining their own conceptions. The role of the teacher in facilitating this approach to conceptual change instruction shifted from the more traditional one of organizing and sequencing science content knowledge to a more dynamic role, one that was capable of responding to the ideas expressed by students. These new roles required that the teacher provide metacognitive tools such as intelligibility and plausibility as part of her instruction and that students learn to apply these tools when discussing science concepts. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Sci Ed82:343–356, 1998.
Basement Geology of the Lake Michigan Area from Aeromagnetic Studies

The magnetic field of Lake Michigan is dominated by a series of alternating regional maxima and minima which are, in general, directly related to gravity anomalies on the perimeter of the lake. These magnetic zones are believed to be primarily related to Penokean basement trends which extend from Wisconsin across Lake Michigan into the Southern Peninsula of Michigan. The strike of these zones changes from northeast in southern Wisconsin and east in northern Wisconsin to east and east-southeast respectively in eastern Lake Michigan and Michigan. Exceptions are found in the northern and southern extremities of the lake. In southern Lake Michigan southeast-trending magnetic anomalies are related to a regional gravity high extending across southwestern Michigan into northeastern Indiana. The positive magnetic zone in northern Lake Michigan strikes north from Grand Traverse Bay to north of Beaver Island, where it bifurcates with one limb extending north-northwest through Lake Superior to the Keweenawan basalt on Keweenaw Point. The other limb continues into the eastern portion of the Northern Peninsula of Michigan, and another segment of this branch connects to the Keweenawan flows on Mamianse Point on the eastern shore of Lake Superior. In the Grand Traverse Bay area this positive magnetic zone becomes strongly negative and connects to the south with the mid-Michigan gravity and magnetic anomaly.
Beamlet pyramids: a new form of multiresolution analysis suited for extracting lines, curves, and objects from very noisy image data

We describe a multiscale pyramid of line segments and develop algorithms which exploit that pyramid to recover image features - lines, curves, and blobs - from very noisy data.
Information-theoretic data-hiding for public network security, services control and secure communications

In this paper we introduce and develop a framework for the data-hiding technologies that aim at resolving emerging problems of modern public networks. First, we emphasize the main open issues in public network security, quality of services control and secure communications. Secondly, we formulate digital data hiding as communications with side information and advocate an appropriate information-theoretic framework for the analysis of different data hiding methods in various applications. In particular, Gel'fand-Pinsker channel coding with side information at the encoder and Wyner-Ziv source coding with side information at the decoder are used for this purpose. Finally, we demonstrate the possible extensions of this theory for watermark-assisted multimedia processing and indicate its perspectives for distributed networks.
Dual cropping winter camelina with soybean in the northern corn belt.

Sustainably balancing biofuel crop production with food, feed, and fiber on agricultural lands will require developing new cropping strategies. Double- and/or relay-cropping winter camelina (Camelina sativa L.) with soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] may be a means to produce an energy and food crop on the same land in a single year. A study was conducted between 2009 and 2011 in west central Minnesota to evaluate yields, seed quality, economics, and within-field energy balance of winter camelina–soybean double- and relay-cropping systems compared with a conventional monocropped full-season soybean. Systems included methods to hasten camelina harvest (e.g., swathing and desiccating) to promote early soybean growth. Camelina seed yields were unaffected by cropping system and ranged from 1.1 to 1.3 Mg ha–¹. Relay-cropped soybean yields were greater than double-cropped soybean and were 58 to 83% of that for the monocropped control. Seed oil and protein content of double- and relay-cropped soybean were comparable to their monocropped counterpart and combined seed oil yield for the dual crop systems was as much as 50% greater. Net economic returns for the relay-crop treatments were competitive with that of the full-season soybean. Moreover, net energy of the relay-crop treatments was generally as high as the sole soybean crop, but energy efficiency (outputs/inputs) was less due to greater inputs. Results indicate that dual cropping of winter camelina with soybean is agronomically viable for the upper Midwest and might be an attractive system to growers seeking a “cash” cover crop.
First-principles study of polarization in Zn 1 − x Mg x O

Wurtzite ZnO can be substituted with up to $\ensuremath{\sim}30%$ MgO to form a metastable ${\mathrm{Zn}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Mg}}_{x}\mathrm{O}$ alloy while still retaining the wurtzite structure. Because this alloy has a larger band gap than pure ZnO, ${\mathrm{Zn}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Mg}}_{x}\mathrm{O}∕\mathrm{Zn}\mathrm{O}$ quantum wells and superlattices are of interest as candidates for applications in optoelectronic and electronic devices. Here, we report the results of an ab initio study of the spontaneous polarization of ${\mathrm{Zn}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Mg}}_{x}\mathrm{O}$ alloys as a function of their composition. We perform calculations of the crystal structure based on density-functional theory in the local-density approximation, and the polarization is calculated using the Berry-phase approach. We decompose the changes in polarization into purely electronic, lattice-displacement-mediated, and strain-mediated components, and quantify the relative importance of these contributions. We consider both free-stress and epitaxial-strain elastic boundary conditions, and show that our results can be fairly well reproduced by a simple model in which the piezoelectric response of pure ZnO is used to estimate the polarization change of the ${\mathrm{Zn}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Mg}}_{x}\mathrm{O}$ alloy induced by epitaxial strain.
A 3D miniaturization method for low impedance designs

Microstrip interconnects with a V conductor are designed, fabricated, and measured to provide a compact solution for designs requiring low characteristic impedance lines. S-parameter curves are shown up to 35 GHz for 0.5 cm long designs. The 308 /spl mu/m deep V structure produces a 33.8 /spl Omega/ line with strong standing waves and reflections under 5 dB. To further reduce the impedance, a partial shield is added that results in 6.7 times reduction of signal line width, near elimination of open end effect, and excellent correlation with a standard 15 /spl Omega/ microstrip up to 25 GHz. A filter demonstration shows near ideal behavior in 3 dB response and low return loss when compared to a similar design.
Illusion of contraction from out-of-plane translation: can Doppler tissue velocities resolve it?

Abstract Background Assessment of wall motion is one of the most challenging aspects of echocardiography. Because of tapering cardiac shape, the impression of thickening can be produced by cardiac translation perpendicular to the image plane. Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) can potentially resolve this problem because in noncontracting myocardium, velocities (V) are uniform (V gradient [VG] = 0) and V measured by DTI should be unaffected by translation perpendicular to the imaging beam. Methods A left ventricle–shaped phantom and a string model were translated at known angles to the ultrasound beam. Two-dimensional gray-scale, DTI, and M-mode images were acquired and analyzed. Results During translation perpendicular to the image plane, 2-dimensional and M-mode images of the ventricular model showed apparent wall thickening, but analysis of the DTI images showed that V and VG across the walls were near 0 (V = 0.04 ± 0.1 cm/s; VG=0.02 ± 0.02/s). Translation of both models at various angles relative to an M-mode beam also created the impression of wall thickening. However, DTI accurately measured the angle-corrected V component toward the transducer ( r > 0.98, P Conclusions M-mode and 2-dimensional echocardiography images are subject to the illusion of myocardial thickening resulting from out-of-plane translation. Analysis of tissue Doppler V avoids such error by accurately measuring V components and VG, and it has the potential to improve assessment of left ventricular function.
Transient stress intensity factors for thermally loaded edge-cracked plates

Transient crack-tip stress intensity factors are experimentally determined for the problem of an edge-cracked plate that is subjected to a sudden temperature change by bringing it in contact with a...
Within the Bounds: The Role of Relocation on Intimate Partner Violence Help-Seeking for Immigrant and Native Women With Histories of Homelessness

Our study examines the effects of abused women's relocation and recentness to an area on informal and formal help-seeking, and how access to personal and social resources affect these relationships. Secondary data analysis was conducted using a sample of 572 women with histories of abuse and homelessness who were interviewed at shelters in the state of Florida. Findings from nested linear regressions demonstrate that relocation affects formal help-seeking while recentness to an area affects informal help-seeking. Access to personal resources also predicts women's use of both informal and formal resources. Implications for intimate partner violence help-seeking are discussed.
Childhood adversity and adult health: Evaluating intervening mechanisms.

Substantial evidence has accumulated supporting a causal link between childhood adversity and risk for poor health years and even decades later. One interpretation of this evidence is that this linkage arises largely or exclusively from a process of biological embedding that is not modifiable by subsequent social context or experience - implying childhood as perhaps the only point at which intervention efforts are likely to be effective. This paper considers the extent to which this long-term association arises from intervening differences in social context and/or environmental experiences - a finding that would suggest that post-childhood prevention efforts may also be effective. Based on the argument that the selected research definition of adult health status may have implications for the early adversity-adult health linkage, we use a representative community sample of black and white adults (N = 1252) to evaluate this relationship across three health indices: doctor diagnosed illnesses, self-rated health, and allostatic load. Results generally indicate that observed relationships between childhood adversity and dimensions of adult health status were totally or almost totally accounted for by variations in adult socioeconomic position (SEP) and adult stress exposure. One exception is the childhood SEP-allostatic load association, for which a statistically significant relationship remained in the context of adult stress and SEP. This lone finding supports a conclusion that the impact of childhood adversity is not always redeemable by subsequent experience. However, in general, analyses suggest the likely utility of interventions beyond childhood aimed at reducing exposure to social stress and improving social and economic standing. Whatever the effects on adult health that derive from biological embedding, they appear to be primarily indirect effects through adult social context and exposure.
A Geodesics-Based Surface Parameterization to Assess Aneurysm Progression

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) intervention and surveillance is currently based on maximum transverse diameter, even though it is recognized that this might not be the best strategy. About 10% of patients with small AAA transverse diameters, for whom intervention is not considered, still rupture; while patients with large AAA transverse diameters, for whom intervention would have been recommended, have stable aneurysms that do not rupture. While maximum transverse diameter is easy to measure and track in clinical practice, one of its main drawbacks is that it does not represent the whole AAA and rupture seldom occurs in the region of maximum transverse diameter. By following maximum transverse diameter alone clinicians are missing information on the shape change dynamics of the AAA, and clues that could lead to better patient care. We propose here a method to register AAA surfaces that were obtained from the same patient at different time points. Our registration method could be used to track the local changes of the patient-specific AAA. To achieve registration, our procedure uses a consistent parameterization of the AAA surfaces followed by strain relaxation. The main assumption of our procedure is that growth of the AAA occurs in such a way that surface strains are smoothly distributed, while regions of small and large surface growth can be differentiated. The proposed methodology has the potential to unravel different patterns of AAA growth that could be used to stratify patient risks.
The pituitary-adrenal relationship in the infant rat.

SummaryThe administration of epinephrine to the infant rat does not result in a fall in adrenal ascorbic acid until the animal reaches the eighth day of life. Under the conditions of the experiment, adrenal ascorbic acid does not decline as a result of refrigeration until the 16th day of life. The administration of ACTH, on the other hand, causes adrenal ascorbic acid depletion on the 4th and 6th day of life.
Van Inwagen on the consequence argument

If determinism is true, then, where p is any true proposition ascribing an action to some human agent, p is logically implied by any conjunction consisting of a proposition that expresses the laws of nature and a proposition that describes the state of the universe at some time prior to the origin of human existence. Now it is not within our power to change the past, nor is it within our power to change the laws of nature. Further, if the truth of p follows logically from propositions describing things that one is unable to change, then it is not within one's power to make p false. Hence, if determinism is true, then, where p is any true proposition ascribing an action to some human agent, it is not within anyone's power to make p false. That is to say, if determinism is true, then it is not within anyone's power to perform any actions other than the ones that he or she actually does perform.
HYBRID BREAKDOWN IN PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE: A MECHANISTIC APPROACH.

Data comparing the physiological response to hyperosmotic stress in individual copepods (Tigriopus californicus) from natural populations and laboratory hybrids are presented. While individuals from two genetically differentiated natural populations and F1 interpopulation hybrids showed only minor differences in patterns of free amino acid (FAA) accumulation during hyperosmotic stress, patterns of FAA synthesis were highly variable among the F2 hybrids. Isofemale lines initiated from later hybrid generations (F7 -F10 ) exhibited substantial inter-line variance in FAA accumulation. This increased variance in physiological response appears unrelated to allozyme polymorphisms at two loci encoding FAA-metabolizing enzymes and appears to result from other, unidentified polymorphisms in the proline synthetic pathway.
FORECASTING THE 2012 ELECTION WITH STATE-LEVEL ECONOMIC INDICATORS: A POSTMORTEM

Our State-Level Economic Model incorrectly forecast the outcome of the presidential election. The model's projections were based on the two-party vote in the prior election, the status of the incumbent party in the election/reelection cycle, national and state unemployment rates, and changes in real per capita personal income levels for state residents. Even before the Republican nomination process began, President Obama's success in the 2008 campaign coupled with the electoral advantage typically enjoyed by first-term incumbents bode well for his reelection chances. However, by the arrival of the fall campaign, unemployment remained high and income growth was stagnant, meaning that the president faced significant economic headwinds. Our estimates indicated that Governor Romney would carry most of the battleground states. We were wrong. President Obama carried all but one of them.
Effect of leucogenenol on formation of 19S and 7S hemolysin in normal and splenectomized rats.

SummaryInjection of leucogenenol into splenectomized rats together with sheep erythrocytes, results in the formation of normal titers of 19S hemolysin. Injection of leucogenenol, together with sheep erythrocytes into normal rats does not result in increased hemolysin titers. The distribution and concentration of 19S and 7S proteins in the serum is not affected by leucogenenol. It is suggested that leucogenenol acts by increasing the rate of transformation of immunoincom-petent cells, possibly a type of lymphocyte, into antigen-reactive lymphocytes.We thank Dr. E. J. Leonard, NCI, NIH, for the rabbit antirat serum antiserum.
Collisions of sodium atoms with liquid glycerol: insights into solvation and ionization.

The reactive uptake and ionization of sodium atoms in glycerol were investigated by gas–liquid scattering experiments and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations. A nearly effusive beam of Na atoms at 670 K was directed at liquid glycerol in vacuum, and the scattered Na atoms were detected by a rotatable mass spectrometer. The Na velocity and angular distributions imply that all impinging Na atoms that thermally equilibrate on the surface remain behind, likely ionizing to e– and Na+. The reactive uptake of Na atoms into glycerol was determined to be greater than 75%. Complementary AIMD simulations of Na striking a 17-molecule glycerol cluster indicate that the glycerol hydroxyl groups reorient around the Na atom as it makes contact with the cluster and begins to ionize. Although complete ionization did not occur during the 10 ps simulation, distinct correlations among the extent of ionization, separation between Na+ and e–, solvent coordination, and binding energies of the Na atom and electron wer...
Analysis on Micronucleus of Lymphocytes of 541 Radiation Workers in Handan City

[Objective]To accurately evaluate the radiation injury status of radiation workers in Handan City,and explore the the damage to health by occupational chronic low-dose radiation[Methods]The conventional culture method for peripheral blood lymphocyte was used and χ2 test was used to analyze the lymphocyte micronucleus rates and micronucleated lymphocyte rates between radiation group workers and control group workers,between male and female radiation workers,and between radiation workers with different kinds of job such as radiodiagnosis,radiotherapy and industrial radiography.[Results]Compared with the control group,the lymphocyte micronucleus rates and micronucleated lymphocyte rates of radiation group were significantly increased(P0.01).Compared to male workers,the lymphocyte micronucleus rates and micronucleated lymphocyte rates of female were significantly increased(P0.01).No significant difference of lymphocyte micronucleus rates and micronucleated lymphocyte rates was found between radiodiagnosis,radiotherapy and industrial radiography groups(P0.05).[Conclusion]Low-doses of ionizing radiation damage exists among radiation workers,especially for female workers.Related department should improve the working environment of radiation workers,improve their protective equipment,and increase their sense of personal protective.
INFLUENCE FACTORS APPRAISAL OF SLIM-TUBE SIMULATION TO DETERMINE THE MINIMUM MISCIBILITY PRESSURE

The slim tube test may be the most accurate method and can achieve duplicating results to determine the minimum miscibility pressure. Based on the home actual reservoir to implement carbon dioxide floods, we used the numeric simulation to simulate different influence factors on the minimum miscibility pressure, including the length, the diameter, and the porosity of the slim-tube and flooding velocity. It showed that the selections of the different slim-tube parameters influenced on the experimental results. The results of the numeric simulation can be helpful to guide slim-tube test so as to get the fitting minimum miscibility pressure.
'Bálint's syndrome' and associated visuospatial disorders.

There are several objections to the need for the designation 'Balint's syndrome'. The full syndrome is generally associated with a wide variety of behavioural disturbances outside Balint's original triad that may confound the interpretation of their supposed defect. It embeds itself in the hemineglect syndrome, violating the principle of autonomy for a syndrome. Individual components of the triad, particularly simultanagnosia, may represent relatively broad categories that subsume other combinations of defects of widely different degrees of severity. The diagnosis fails to predict a consistent site of anatomical impairment, and the main proposed mechanism is not sound. Our experience with a registry of patients with focal brain lesions and well-documented behavioural impairments (Palca, 1990), now numbering over 1500 individuals, tends to support these generalizations.
Human neutrophil-mediated killing of schistosomula of Schistosoma mansoni: augmentation by schistosomal binding of eosinophil peroxidase.

Abstract Eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) is a major component of the large cytoplasmic granules of eosinophils, and is released onto the surface of schistosomula when eosinophils adhere to antibody and complement coated organisms. EPO is a strongly cationic protein, which can bind to the surface of schistosomula with retention of peroxidatic activity. The binding per se was not toxic to the organisms under our conditions, but EPO-coated schistosomula were rapidly killed when H2O2 and halide were added, under conditions in which uncoated schistosomula were unaffected. The toxicity of the surface-bound EPO system was not significantly inhibited by albumin (20 mg/ml), in contrast to the complete inhibition by this concentration of protein when the EPO was free in solution. Purified polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) from normal donors were toxic to uncoated schistosomula in medium containing antischistosomal antibody and complement, and this toxicity was significantly increased when EPO was bound to the surface of the organisms. The toxicity of PMNs to EPO-coated schistosomula was inhibited but not abolished by the hemeprotein inhibitor azide. This is compatible with the involvement of surface-bound EPO in an enzymatic attack on the organism, utilizing H2O2 generated by PMNs stimulated by adherence to antibody and complement-coated schistosomula. PMN adherence to schistosomula is increased by surface-bound EPO, and this also may contribute to the enhancement of neutrophil-mediated toxicity by EPO. These findings indicate a mechanism by which two inflammatory cells, the eosinophil and neutrophil, may interact to enhance the destruction of a target organism.
Electrical Degradation of InAlN/GaN HEMTs Operating Under ON Conditions

The degradation of InAlN/GaN high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) for millimeter-wave applications has been examined under on conditions. Two dominant permanent degradation mechanisms have been identified as well as two trapping mechanisms which affect the device characteristics in different ways. Under high-voltage, low-current stress conditions, we have observed permanent enhancement in the maximum drain current $I_{D\mathrm {{max}}}$ that arises from a negative shift in threshold voltage $V_{T}$ . We attribute this mechanism to depassivation of hydrogenated defects. Under the same stress conditions, there is prominent and reversible hot-electron trapping on the drain side of the device that brings $I_{D\mathrm {{max}}}$ down and increases the drain resistance. Under low-voltage high-current stress conditions, there is a visible permanent reduction in $I_{D\mathrm {{max}}}$ and a positive shift in $V_{T}$ . This is also the signature of-high temperature stress under unbiased conditions and is attributed to gate sinking.
Use of advanced control with virtual rolling to improve the control of the threading of the tandem hot metal strip mill

Previously our work has investigated the use of a state dependent Riccati equation (SDRE) based method for the control of a fully threaded tandem hot metal strip mill, with highly successful results. We present in this paper the results of further work wherein the SDRE method is combined with a virtual processing technique to greatly simplify the control of the threading phase of the tandem hot strip mill. This initial work also has been highly successful, with a strong potential for extension to other industrial process.
Ragnar Frisch’s Great Idea

The rousing editorial of Joseph Schumpeter was not the only immortal contribution to the first edition of Econometrica. Also in the volume was a paper by Ragnar Frisch and his agricultural economist colleague F.W. Waugh that both postulated and solved a problem that is both somewhat unique and ubiquitous in financial and economic data.
Arsenic antisite and oxygen incorporation trends in GaAs grown by water-mediated close-spaced vapor transport

Close-spaced vapor transport (CSVT) provides a plausible path to lower the costs of GaAs deposition as it uses only solid precursors and provides precursor utilization in principle approaching 100%. However, the use of H2O as a transport agent causes O to be incorporated in CSVT films, and O has been associated with a number of electrically active defect centers in GaAs, which decrease minority carrier lifetimes. Using deep-level transient spectroscopy, we study the effect of H2O concentration and substrate temperature on electron trap concentrations in n-type GaAs. We find that the most-prominent O-related center (ELO) typically has a much higher concentration than the center usually associated with As antisites (EL2), but that overall defect concentrations can be as low as those in films deposited by common vapor phase techniques. The trends with increasing H2O concentration suggest that ELO is most likely a defect complex with two As antisites. We also consider the optimal conditions for achieving high...
SDBC: A novel method for detection of nucleotide changes in cDNA libraries.

A30 SDBC (Simultaneous Detection of Base Changes) is a method for detecting the entire spectrum of mutations and SNPs in a cDNA library without any prior knowledge about the genes carrying those alterations. The method is based on the digestion with Surveyor nuclease of the hybrids formed between the cDNA from the target cells and a reference homologous cDNA library. This enzyme hydrolyses both DNA strands at the site of nucleotide mismatches produced by mutations, polymorphic changes or deletions in one of the DNA strands. The clones opened by nuclease are then re-circularized by ligation of a “stuffer” primer. Then the DNA is transfected into E coli cells, plated and the new library screened with the stuffer probe. The clones containing the stuffer are identified and their plasmid DNA prepared and sequenced with primers included in the stuffer sequence. The computer analysis of these sequences allows identification of the genes split by the nuclease as well as the accurate site of nucleotide mismatch indicative of the mutation location in the gene sequence. Using SDBC method we looked for nucleotide changes in the cDNA from DU145 prostatic cancer cell line and a normal prostatic cDNA library as reference. Several clones were analyzed so far and the majority of them were confirmed as known mutations and SNPs. This method requires about two weeks of bench work up to the sequencing step and can be carried out by any investigator with basic molecular biology experience using standard laboratory equipment. The SDBC method could have wide applications for biomedical research and patients management. These include the detection of mutations in the cells exposed to physical, chemical, hormonal and viral agents, the determination of sequential molecular alterations leading to cancer, senescence, degenerative diseases and others. For cancer patients, SDBC could be used to detect the whole spectrum of mutations in a specific tumor and probably, to predict more accurately the patients9 prognosis and to identify the potential targets for therapy in each individual patient.
Preparing a Referee Report: Guidelines and Perspectives

Peer review is fundamental to the efficacy of the scientific process. We draw from our experience both as editors, authors and association representatives to provide a set of guidelines for referees in preparing their reports and cover letters to journal editors. While our document is directed to anyone asked to review a paper, our suggestions are especially relevant for new members of the profession when preparing their first reports.The Appendix to this document contains a Checklist. The Checklist is also available here.Also see our companion paper, How to Write an Effective Referee Report and Improve the Scientific Review Process, which includes comments by former editors of economics and finance journals.
Suburban Warriors: The Origins of the New American Right. 2nd ed. By Lisa McGirr

This book outlines the growth of the political Right in Southern California from the late 1950s into the 1970s. Lisa McGirr traces the Right’s growth roughly chronologically, beginning with its roo...
Preoperative Preparation and Positioning for Robotic Renal Surgery

Successful robotic renal surgery requires a strong foundation in the fundamentals of preoperative evaluation and patient preparation, from the initial patient selection up to the time of incision. Herein we review the preoperative preparation for patients undergoing robotic renal surgery, beginning with the outpatient evaluation and patient selection, counseling, and required medical examination.
Logic Synthesis Overview

The dream of generating efficient logic implementations from higher level specifications originated with the works of Boole,[57] Shannon [58], Quine and McCluskey[35, 36]. Interest in logic synthesis grew during the 60’s and 70’s, as the computers being designed became more complex. Although many theoretical advances were made, the first examples of practical synthesis did not occur until the later 70’s. Programmable logic arrays, PLAs, were minimized with the program, MINI, [15] and used on many product chips in IBM. LSS[10, 9] was the first example of production synthesis of gate array chips. It was based on local transformations and compiler techniques for optimizing logic, mapping gates to a specific technology. It was used on hundreds of product chips in IBM and was rewritten later with many significant refinements as BooleDozer[11]. These optimization methods were also used in the first offerings from Synop-sys[12, 13], a company formed in 1986 (originally Optimal Solutions) to market synthesis technology developed at General Electric. Synopsys succeeded in bringing synthesis to the commercial market enabling a dramatic advance in design productivity. The years that followed saw many important developments that produced improvements in execution speed, quality of results and ability to deal with real technologies. Today, logic synthesis is a critical part of almost all chip development projects.
Classical Radiation Recoil. II

The angular momentum carried off by electromagnetic or gravitational waves is evaluated by computing the torque exerted by the radiation on the emitting system. The lowest order secular effect in the electromagnetic case is proportional to the vector product of the first and second time derivatives of the electric dipole. In the gravitational case, the lowest order term is proportional to the antisymmetrized product of the second and third time derivatives of the mass quadrupole. (auth)
ASIA, WEST | Mesolithic Cultures

The Epipalaeolithic cultures of Western Asia represent hunter-gatherer groups whose subsistence strategies eventually led to the development of food production (agricultural) economies. During the interval from about 22 600 to 10 100 years ago, most of these hunter-gatherers were highly mobile and exploited a variety of wild plant foods and wild animals. A brief interlude during the early part (12 800–11 000 years ago) of the Natufian Complex, however, saw the establishment of small villages in some regions and possible intensification in the use of wild cereals and acorns. A return to nomadic lifeways occurred around 11 000 years ago, coinciding with cooler and drier climatic conditions.
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE MOLECULAR-DYNAMICS SIMULATION OF MATERIALS*

The fundamental principles of the molecular-dynamics (MD) simulation method are reviewed. The ability of MD to identify and elucidate mechanisms, provide insight and to determine trends in physical properties is discussed. The limitations of MD are also discussed, particularly with regards to limits on materials specificity and to the short times and small length scales accessible. A brief discussion of approaches to linking MD to simulation methods at other length and time scales is given.
Experimental studies of resource competition

Resource competition occurs widely among diverse organisms and is well documented. This chapter reviews studies that directly test the central hypotheses of simple resource competition theory: the R*-rule and the resource-ratio hypothesis. Such studies are most extensive for microorganisms growing in laboratory cultures, where these hypotheses have strong support, especially for phytoplankton. For microorganisms, a remaining challenge is to determine whether the competitive mechanisms and processes demonstrated in the laboratory are similarly influential in the field.
Detection of Disseminated Tumor Cells in Neuroblastoma: 3 Log Improvement in Sensitivity by Automatic Immunofluorescence plus FISH (AIPF) Analysis Compared with Classical Bone Marrow Cytology

The sensitive detection of bone marrow involvement is crucial for tumor staging at diagnosis and for monitoring of the therapeutic response in the patient's follow-up. In neuroblastoma, only conventional cytomorphological techniques are presently accepted for the detection of bone marrow involvement, yet since the therapeutic consequences of the bone marrow findings may be far-reaching, the need for highly reliable detection methods has become evident. For this purpose, we developed an automatic immunofluorescence plus FISH (AIPF) device which allows the exact quantification of disseminated tumor cells and the genetic verification in critical cases. In this study, the power of the immunofluorescence technique is compared with conventional cytomorphology. 198 samples from 23 neuroblastoma patients (stages 4 and 4s) at diagnosis and during follow-up were investigated. At diagnosis, 45.6% of the samples (26 of 57) which were positive by AIPF investigation were negative by cytomorphology. During follow-up, 74.2% (49 of 66) of AIPF-positive samples showed no cytological signs of tumor cell involvement. False negative morphological results were found in up to 10% of tumor cell content. A tumor cell infiltrate below 0.1% was virtually not detectable by conventional cytomorphology. Using the sensitive immunofluorescence technique, the analysis of only two instead of four puncture sites did not lead to false negative results. Thus, the immunofluorescence technique offers an excellent tool for reliable detection and quantification of disseminated tumor cells at diagnosis and during the course of the disease.
Polymorphic transformation and powder characteristics of TiO2 during high energy milling

Many studies have indicated that the reactivity of reactants can be enhanced greatly by mechanical activation through high energy ball milling. To understand this enhanced reactivity, the polymorphic transformation and the evolution of the powder characteristics of TiO2 and graphite mixtures during high energy ball milling was investigated using various analytical instruments. It was found that polymorphic transformation of anatase to srilankite and rutile took place during milling. Furthermore, amorphization of crystalline phases and crystallization of the amorphous phase occurred at the same time during milling. High energy milling also led to ultrafine crystallites, large specific surface areas, and substantial amounts of defects in the powder particles. Effects of the graphite addition and the milling temperature on the polymorphic transformation and the evolution of the powder characteristics were also investigated. It was proposed that the polymorphic transformation of TiO2 during milling could be explained in terms of the temperature-pressure phase diagram if the temperature rise and high pressure at the collision site were taken into consideration.
Assessing Risk from Cascading Blackouts Given Correlated Component Failures

Despite the infrequent occurrence of cascading power failures, their large sizes and enormous social costs mean that they contribute substantially to the overall risk to society from power failures in the grid. Therefore it is important to accurately understand the risk associated with such events. A cascading event may be triggered by a small subset of k components failing simultaneously or in rapid succession. While most prior work, including our own work into an efficient “Random Chemistry” method for risk analysis, has assumed that components fail independently, this paper proposes a method for deriving correlated outage probabilities such that pairs of branches that are proximate in space are more likely to fail together than distant ones. Combining Random Chemistry risk analysis with this approach to correlated outage probabilities shows that overall blackout risk can greatly increase with even small amounts of correlation. Results from the 2383-bus Polish test case under various load levels illustrate the substantial impact that correlation has on blackout risk.
Simulation Modeling to Extend Clinical Trials of Adjuvant Chemotherapy Guided by a 21-Gene Expression Assay in Early Breast Cancer.

Purpose The Trial Assigning Individualized Options for Treatment (TAILORx) found chemotherapy could be omitted in many women with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative, node-negative breast cancer and 21-gene recurrence scores (RS) 11-25, but left unanswered questions. We used simulation modeling to fill these gaps. Methods We simulated women eligible for TAILORx using joint distributions of patient and tumor characteristics and RS from TAILORx data; treatment effects by RS from other trials; and competing mortality from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program database. The model simulations replicated TAILORx design, and then tested treatment effects on 9-year distant recurrence-free survival (DRFS) in 14 new scenarios: eight subgroups defined by age (≤50 and >50 years) and 21-gene RS (11-25/16-25/16-20/21-25); six different RS cut points among women ages 18-75 years (16-25, 16-20, 21-25, 26-30, 26-100); and 20-year follow-up. Mean hazard ratios SD, and DRFS rates are reported from 1000 simulations. Results The simulation results closely replicated TAILORx findings, with 75% of simulated trials showing noninferiority for chemotherapy omission. There was a mean DRFS hazard ratio of 1.79 (0.94) for endocrine vs chemoendocrine therapy among women ages 50 years and younger with RS 16-25; the DFRS rates were 91.6% (0.04) for endocrine and 94.8% (0.01) for chemoendocrine therapy. When treatment was randomly assigned among women ages 18-75 years with RS 26-30, the mean DRFS hazard ratio for endocrine vs chemoendocrine therapy was 1.60 (0.83). The conclusions were unchanged at 20-year follow-up. Conclusions Our results confirmed a small benefit in chemotherapy among women aged 50 years and younger with RS 16-25. Simulation modeling is useful to extend clinical trials, indicate how uncertainty might affect results, and power decision tools to support broader practice discussions.
Brain iron levels in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder normalize as a function of psychostimulant treatment duration.

Abstract Brain iron homeostasis is a dopamine-related mechanism that may be modified with long-term psychostimulant treatment in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We previously reported that while medication-naive youth with ADHD have reduced brain iron compared to controls and psychostimulant-medicated patients, no differences were detected between the latter groups. In this follow-up study, we examined whether the duration of psychostimulant treatment correlates with the degree of iron normalization. Brain iron was indexed with MRI using an advanced method called magnetic field correlation (MFC) imaging and the conventional R2* proton transverse relaxation rate method. MFC was acquired in 30 psychostimulant-medicated youth with comorbid-free ADHD and 29 age-matched controls (all males). R2* was acquired in a subset of these individuals. Region-of-interest analyses for MFC and R2* group differences and within-group correlations with age and years of psychostimulant treatment were conducted in the globus pallidus (GP), putamen (PUT), caudate nucleus (CN), thalamus (THL) and red nucleus. No significant MFC and R2* group differences were detected. However, while all regional MFC and R2* significantly increased with age in the control group, MFC and R2* increased in the GP, PUT, CN and THL with psychostimulant treatment duration in the ADHD group to a greater degree than with age. Our findings suggest that while youth with ADHD may have less prominent age-related brain iron increases than that seen in typical development, long-term use of psychostimulant medications may compensate through a normalizing effect on basal ganglia iron. Longitudinal studies following ADHD patients before and after long-term psychostimulant treatment are needed to confirm these findings.
Chapter 13 – Psychological Stressors: Overview

Psychological stressors are social and physical environmental circumstances that challenge the adaptive capabilities and resources of an organism. These circumstances represent an extremely wide and varied array of different situations that possess both common and specific psychological and physical attributes. The challenge for theory, research, and practice is to abstract and understand the specific qualities and characteristics of environmental exposures that most strongly elicit noxious psychological and biological responses, which in turn can lead to serious mental and physical health problems over the life course. In the present article, historical perspectives and conceptual considerations are addressed first, which provides the context for the subsequent discussion of key issues for defining and assessing psychological stressors. Susceptibility to psychological stressors is subject to individual differences, which can alter the impact and adverse consequences of such environmental exposures, necessitating a discussion of these moderating influences as well.
Endovascular treatment for iatrogenic rupture of an iliac artery with severe tortuosity.

Abstract Retroperitoneal hemorrhage due to iatrogenic rupture of the iliac artery is a life-threatening complication associated with endovascular intervention. We present a case of iatrogenic iliac rupture after insertion of a sheath into a severely tortuous iliac artery during coil embolization of a cerebral aneurysm. Bleeding was controlled by resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta followed by placement of a balloon-expandable stent graft into the iliac artery. This resulted in complete repair of the ruptured iliac artery. The patient recovered without any neurological complications.