cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Folding pathway of apo-metallothionein induced by Zn2+, Cd2+ and Co2+.

Abstract Metal ion binding to the sulfhydryl groups of apometallothionein (apo-MT) causes both the formation of native metal–thiolate clusters and the folding of the polypeptide chain of each domain. Cd2+ and Zn2+ react with apo-MT to form metal–thiolate bonds in reactions that are complete within milliseconds and which are pH-dependent. Dual mixing experiments were conducted that involve the initial reaction of metal ion and apo-MT followed by mixing with 5,5′-N-dithio-bis(2-nitrobenzoate) or EDTA after 26 ms. They showed that structures had formed within the brief reaction period which were resistant to rapid reaction with reagents that interact with sulfhydryl groups or metal ions, respectively. It was concluded that native metallothionein domains had been constituted within this brief period. Apo-MT was also titrated with Co2+ to yield Con–MT (n=1–7). Initially, Co2+ bound to independent, tetrahedral thiolate sites. Spectrophotometric analysis of the titration suggested that the independent Co(II) sites began to coalesce into clusters at n=4 (pH 7.2) or n=5 (pH 8.4). Back titration of free sulfhydryl groups (S) in Con–MT (n=1–7) with iodoacetamide at pH 7.2 confirmed that clustering began at n=4. Upon conversion of these alkylated structures to the corresponding 113Cd2+ species 113Cd NMR spectroscopy established that the location of Co(II) in Con–MT (n=1–3) was non-specific and that at n=4, the only observable structure was Co(II)4S11. The results suggest possible kinetic pathways of folding that are conceptually similar to those hypothesized for other small proteins.
Conditions for asymptotic stability of the discrete minimum-variance linear estimator

Stability of the discrete homogeneous linear minimum-variance estimation formulas is investigated. Sufficient conditions for uniform asymptotic stability in the large are derived. The conditions, if satisfied, also imply stochastic controllability and observability of the plant.
Metastable transitions in the mass spectra of methyl and phenylthiohydantoin derivatives of amino acids

The mass spectra of a number of methyl- and phenylthiohydantoin amino acid derivatives have been obtained. The major metastable transitions occurring in the mass spectra of these derivatives have been identified and measured. The major fragmentation pathways associated with the metastable transitions have been outlined and are discussed for each group of compounds. Inspection of the metastable data has shown that there is at least one unique metastable transition occurring for each thiohydantoin derivative which may be used to uniquely identify that derivative in the presence of a mixture of thiohydantoin derivatives obtained from the Edman degradation of a peptide or protein. The use of metastable ions to uniquely identify thiohydantoin derivatives in mixtures has proven useful in the identification of the MTH and PTH derivatives of glycine whose molecular ions are not unique and for resolving such ambiguities as occur for example in the mixture of leucine and isoleucine.
Failure of zinc to inhibit hyperthermia-induced apoptosis predicts differential nuclease activity detection by comet assay

Apoptotic DNA cleavage generally proceeds in two stages, first producing large 50–300kb fragments, and later oligonucleosomal pieces which create the characteristic DNA ladder. We show that zinc treatment of hyperthermia-induced apoptotic cultures is sufficient to prevent ladder formation, but not apoptosis (all features of which were inhibited by actinomycin D and cycloheximide). DNA damage measured in single cells using the comet (single cell gel) assay is detectable in zinc treated cultures using both alkaline and non-denaturing conditions. Both assays predict the same fraction of cells undergoing apoptosis, and damage is detectable earlier than shown by DNA ladder appearance. We conclude that the comet assay is detecting damage consistent with the initial 50–300kb fragments. Additionally, various cell lines when heattreated follow different temporal pathways or display differential apoptotic phenotypes. Also, we were unable to demonstrate an ‘apoptotic window’ for cells refractory to hyperthermia by increasing the heat load.
Characterization of MOCVD fluid dynamics by laser velocimetry

Three-component laser velocimetry techniques are applied to characterize the fluid dynamics of an MOCVD reactor. These methods provide three-dimensional quantitative measurements of the gas velocities inside the reactor at typical growth temperatures. The effects of buoyancy-induced convection are examined by comparing data from the hot reactor with cold reactor results. It was found that thermal convection dominated the fluid dynamics of the reactor at growth temperatures. Cold reactor tests showed unstable flow patterns that were subject to fluidic switching effects.
Modeling Head Motion During Explosive Events to Assess Brain Injury Severity in a Battlefield Environment

The occurrence of blast induced brain injury in individuals serving in Iraq and Afghanistan is dramatically higher than in past conflicts. This has been attributed in part to the prevalence of roadside improvised explosive devices, or IEDs. There is a call from the military medical community to reduce the reliance on victim self-reporting as the primary diagnosis technique to determine the likelihood of brain injury after a blast. This study demonstrates the utility of computational modeling in establishing clear criteria that denotes the probability of cerebral contusion and, thus, brain injury. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is used to establish the environment from a full range of threats. This is combined with bond graph modeling of varying levels of fidelity to estimate the dynamics of the skull and brain. Results clearly show that a boundary exists in the threat parameter space that determines whether brain injury occurs.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Monitoring the dynamics of miscible P3HT:PCBM blends: A quasi elastic neutron scattering study of organic photovoltaic active layers

Abstract This work addresses the detailed molecular dynamic behavior of miscible blends of Poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) and their pure counterparts by quasi-elastic neutron scattering measurements (QENS). The study provides the measure of relaxation processes on pico-to-nanosecond time scales. A single relaxation process was observed in pure P3HT and PCBM while two relaxation processes, one fast and one slow, were observed in the blends. The fast process was attributed to the dynamics of P3HT while the slow process was correlated to the dynamics of PCBM. The results show that the relaxation process is a balance between two opposing effects: increased mobility due to thermal activation of P3HT molecules and decrease mobility due to the presence of PCBM which is correlated to the percent crystallinity of P3HT and local packing density of PCBM in the amorphous phase. The threshold for the domination of the thermally activated relaxation is between 5 and 9 vol.% of PCBM loading. Two distinct spatial dependences of the relaxation processes, in which the crossover length scale depends neither on temperature nor composition, were observed for all the samples. They were attributed to the collective motions of the hexyl side chains and the rotational motions of the C–C single bonds of the side chains. These results provide an understanding of the effects of PCBM loading and temperature on the dynamics of the polymer-fullerene blends which provides a tool to optimize the efficiency of charge carrier and exciton transport within the organic photovoltaic (OPV) active layer to improve the high performance of organic solar cells.
Ambulatory ECG Monitoring in Atrial Fibrillation Management

Ambulatory ECG monitoring technology has rapidly evolved over the last few decades and has been shown to identify life-threatening and non-life threatening arrhythmias and provide actionable data to guide clinical decision making. Atrial fibrillation episodes can often be asymptomatic, even after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation, creating a disconnect between symptoms and actual arrhythmia burden which may alter clinical management. In this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of invasive and non-invasive ECG monitoring strategies in patients with atrial fibrillation, with a special focus on the diagnosis of atrial fibrillation, and on follow-up of patients after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation ablation.
Covalent Inhibition of HIV Membrane Fusion

Peptide inhibitors consisting of sequences from the six helix bundle structure of the fusogenic portion (gp41) of the HIV envelope glycoprotein have been successfully implemented in preventing HIV entry. These peptides block entry by binding to regions of HIV gp41 that are transiently exposed during the fusion stage of viral entry. We have successfully designed and tested peptide analogs composed of chemical spacers and reactive moieties positioned strategically to facilitate the covalent attachment of the peptide to gp41. We have utilized the covalent peptide to show evidence for the trapping of a pre-six helix bundle fusion intermediate by a covalent reaction with a specific anti-HIV-1 peptide. This is the first demonstration in live cells of the trapping of an intermediate conformation of a viral envelope glycoprotein during the fusion process. The permanent specific attachment of the covalent inhibitor is projected to improve the long-term sustainability of peptide entry inhibitor therapy and to serve as an important tool in probing the conformational changes that occur to the envelope protein complex during viral entry.
Molecular Cloning and Characterization of a Channel-like Transporter Mediating Intestinal Calcium Absorption

Abstract Calcium is a major component of the mineral phase of bone and serves as a key intracellular second messenger. Postnatally, all bodily calcium must be absorbed from the diet through the intestine. Here we report the properties of a calcium transport protein (CaT1) cloned from rat duodenum using an expression cloning strategy in Xenopus laevis oocytes, which likely plays a key role in the intestinal uptake of calcium. CaT1 shows homology (75% amino acid sequence identity) to the apical calcium channel ECaC recently cloned from vitamin D-responsive cells of rabbit kidney and is structurally related to the capsaicin receptor and the TRP family of ion channels. Based on Northern analysis of rat tissues, a 3-kilobase CaT1 transcript is present in rat duodenum, proximal jejunum, cecum, and colon, and a 6.5-kilobase transcript is present in brain, thymus, and adrenal gland. In situ hybridization revealed strong CaT1 mRNA expression in enterocytes of duodenum, proximal jejunum, and cecum. No signals were detected in kidney, heart, liver, lung, spleen, and skeletal muscle. When expressed inXenopus oocytes, CaT1 mediates saturable Ca2+uptake with a Michaelis constant of 0.44 mm. Transport of Ca2+ by CaT1 is electrogenic, voltage-dependent, and exhibits a charge/Ca2+uptake ratio close to 2:1, indicating that CaT1-mediated Ca2+ influx is not coupled to other ions. CaT1 activity is pH-sensitive, exhibiting significant inhibition by low pH. CaT1 is also permeant to Sr2+ and Ba2+ (but not Mg2+), although the currents evoked by Sr2+ and Ba2+ are much smaller than those evoked by Ca2+. The trivalent cations Gd3+ and La3+ and the divalent cations Cu2+, Pb2+, Cd2+, Co2+, and Ni2+ (each at 100 μm) do not evoke currents themselves, but inhibit CaT1-mediated Ca2+ transport. Fe3+, Fe2+, Mn2+, and Zn2+ have no significant effects at 100 μm on CaT1-mediated Ca2+ transport. CaT1 mRNA levels are not responsive to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 administration or to calcium deficiency. Our studies strongly suggest that CaT1 provides the principal mechanism for Ca2+ entry into enterocytes as part of the transcellular pathway of calcium absorption in the intestine.
Civic communities and urban violence

Civic communities have a spirit of entrepreneurialism, a locally invested population and an institutional structure fostering civic engagement. Prior research, mainly confined to studying rural communities and fairly large geographic areas, has demonstrated that civic communities have lower rates of violence. The current study analyzes the associations between the components of civic communities and homicide rates for New Orleans neighborhoods (census tracts) in the years following Hurricane Katrina. Results from negative binomial regression models adjusting for spatial autocorrelation reveal that community homicide rates are lower where an entrepreneurial business climate is more pronounced and where there is more local investment. Additionally, an interaction between the availability of civic institutions and resource disadvantage reveals that the protective effects of civic institutions are only evident in disadvantaged communities.
Gonadotropin-stimulated uptake of steroid hormones by Rana pipiens ovarian follicles incubated in vitro.

Abstract The uptake of [ 3 H]pregnenolone by frog ovarian follicles incubated in vitro is stimulated 50–60% by frog pituitary homogenate. This effect is mimicked by mammalian LH, but not by other pituitary or placental hormones. The uptake of progesterone is also stimulated by pituitary hormone, whereas, 17β-estradiol uptake is not. Incubation of follicles for less than an hour with gonadotropic hormones is sufficient to stimulate steroid uptake, and this process is fully inhibited by puromycin and partially inhibited by actinomycin D. Removal of follicular envelope interferes with the action of the pituitary hormone. Increasing concentrations of steroid hormone (pregnenolone) in the incubation medium stimulated [ 3 H]pregnenolone uptake to an even greater extent than pituitary hormones. The possibility that gonadotropin-stimulated uptake of progestins is mediated by synthesis of a pregnenolone-like steroid is discussed.
Induction of neonatal renal tubular dysfunction by transplacentally acquired IgG from a mother with Sjögren syndrome

11. Alper CA, Rosen FS: Studies of a hypomorphic variant of human C3. J Clin Invest 1971;50:324 12. McLean RH, Weinstein A, Chapitis J, et al: Familial partial deficiency of the third component of complement (C3) and the hypocomplementemic cutaneous vasculitis syndrome. Am J Med i980;68:549 13. McLean RH, Winkelstein JA: Genetically determined varia~ tion in the complement system: relationship to disease. J PEDIATR 1984;105:179
MANAGING RISKS DURING RESPONSE USING THE INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM TO MANAGE RISK AND IMPROVE SAFETY

ABSTRACT Safety is often viewed as a separate and distinct aspect of incident response that is not directly tied to the development of strategies and tactics. Safety often becomes a function more oriented towards regulatory compliance than with the actual safety of the response workers. The Safety Officer ends up performing audits of field activities and conducting safety briefings without input to the decision making process. A Safety Officer functioning in this myopic way may satisfy the requirements of the safety laws and regulations, but may not contribute in a positive way to the reduction of risk to the responders. By function, the Safety Officer is the risk manager for the response organization. The Safety Officer does not simply assure that the requisite safety briefings are carried out and evaluate safe practices in the field during operations, but also must help the spill management team weigh the advantages and disadvantages of various strategies and tactics before they are put into the Inciden...
Sequence variation in IGF1R is associated with differences in insulin levels in nondiabetic Old Order Amish

Background Insulin growth factor-1 receptor (IGF1R) encodes the insulinlike growth factor 1 receptor, a transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor located on chromosome 15q26.3, in a region of linkage (LOD = 2.53, P = 0.00032) to Insulin30 on an OGTT in the Old Order Amish. Mouse models with beta-cell-specific deficiency of IGF1R demonstrate defects in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Methods To test the hypothesis that genetic variation in IGF1R is associated with impaired insulin secretion, we genotyped 54 SNPs in 778 nondiabetic subjects from the AFDS who had undergone OGTTs and tested them for association with ln Insulin30 and ISI. Results No individual SNPs were significantly associated with ln Insulin30 or ISI using a multiple hypothesis testing adjusted P < 0.002. Tests of association of 4-SNP haplotypes constructed by a windowing approach revealed an association of the CTTG-variant of a 4-SNP haplotype found in intron 20 (rs1784195–rs2715439–rs8034284–rs12440962) with lower ISI levels (β = 0.18, SE(β) = 0.05, P = 0.001). Conclusions Sequence variation in IGF1R may influence insulin secretory function, although further studies in other populations will be needed to confirm these findings. Copyright  2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Glucocorticoid Induction of Plasminogen Activator and Plasminogen Activator-Inhibitor Messenger RNA in Rat Hepatoma Cells

HTC rat hepatoma cells synthesize and secrete both tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and type 1 plasminogen activator-inhibitor (PAI-1). Incubation with the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone causes a rapid decrease in tPA activity which is secondary to a 5-fold increase in PAI-1 antigen and activity. Paradoxically, dexamethasone increases tPA antigen by 50%. We have analyzed HTC cell RNA by Northern and slot blot analysis, using as probes radiolabeled human PAI-1 and rat tPA cDNAs. HTC cells have a single species of PAI-1 mRNA of approximately 3.2 kilobases, which is increased 4-fold upon incubation with dexamethasone. Maximal induction occurs after 8-10 h of incubation. Half-maximal induction occurs at 5 nM dexamethasone. Dexamethasone also transiently increases the 2.8 kilobase tPA mRNA. The protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide does not affect accumulation of PAI-1 mRNA and does not block its induction by dexamethasone. In contrast, cycloheximide alone causes an increase in tPA mRNA, and in combination with dexamethasone, no further increase is observed. Induction of both mRNAs is prevented by actinomycin D. We conclude that the dexamethasone-induced increase in HTC cell PAI-1 activity and antigen is the result of a direct effect on accumulation of PAI-1 mRNA.
THE SCALING OF IMPACT PROCESSES IN PLANETARY SCIENCES

Current approaches to scaling laws for planetary impact processes are reviewed. Only the simplest concepts and first-order theories that are the most determined are presented. Experimental, analytical, and calculative approaches to determining scaling laws are examined, including the advantages and deficiencies of each.
A patient with recurrent pneumonia: think outside the box

A 53-year-old Caucasian man presented with left-sided chest discomfort, of two week duration. There was no associated dyspnea, wheezing, cough, fever or chills. He is a smoker and reports multiple hospitalizations for pneumonia. The physical exam was unremarkable. A chest radiograph revealed an ill-defined retrocardiac density (Figure 1). Chest computed tomography (CT) scan showed a cystic infiltrate in the left lower lobe supplied by arterial …
Tests Of Low Background Photo Conductors

In support of two infrared astronomy space projects, the IRAS satellite and the IRT on Spacelab 2, low-background tests were carried out on the performance and characterization of Si:Ga, Si:As, Si:Sb and Ge:Ga photoconductive detectors. These test results represent a useful appraisal of this family of detectors when operated at 1.8-4.2 K and at background power levels of 10 to the -14th to 10 to the -13th W. In addition to detector performance data, results are also presented on cryogenically cooled MOSFET amplifiers operated in the source follower and in the balanced-dc-TIA configurations.
Detecting Attempts at Humor in Multiparty Meetings

Systems designed for the automatic summarization of meetings have considered the propositional content of contributions by each speaker, but not the explicit techniques that speakers use to downgrade the perceived seriousness of those contributions. We analyze one such technique, namely attempts at humor. We find that speech spent on attempts at humor is rare by time but that it correlates strongly with laughter, which is more frequent. Contextual features describing the temporal and multiparticipant distribution of manually transcribed laughter yield error rates for the detection of attempts at humor which are 4 times lower than those obtained using oracle lexical information. Furthermore, we show that similar performance can be achieved by considering only the speaker's laughter, indicating that meeting participants explicitly signal their attempts at humor by laughing themselves. Finally, we present evidence which suggests that, on small time scales, the production of attempts at humor and their ratification via laughter often involves only two participants, belying the allegedly multiparty nature of the interaction.
Active antenna array with optical interaction for application in radar system

An active antenna array system, capable of switching between sum and difference patterns for radar applications, is explored. The desired phase relationship amongst the antenna elements is synthesized via injection locking. An optical reference signal is transmitted from remote controller through the optical fiber link. The measured patterns agree with the theoretical results.
Arbitrary Throughput Versus Complexity Tradeoffs in Wireless Networks Using Graph Partitioning

Several policies have recently been proposed for attaining the maximum throughput region, or a guaranteed fraction thereof, through dynamic link scheduling. Among these policies, the ones that attain the maximum throughput region require a computation time which is linear in the network size, and the ones that require constant or logarithmic computation time attain only certain fractions of the maximum throughput region. In contrast, in this paper we propose policies that can attain any desirable fraction of the maximum throughput region using a computation time that is largely independent of the network size. First, using a combination of graph partitioning techniques and Lyapunov arguments, we propose a simple policy for tree topologies under the primary interference model that requires each link to exchange only 1 bit information with its adjacent links and approximates the maximum throughput region using a computation time that depends only on the maximum degree of nodes and the approximation factor. Then we develop a framework for attaining arbitrary close approximations for the maximum throughput region in arbitrary networks, and use this framework to obtain any desired tradeoff between throughput guarantees and computation times for a large class of networks and interference models. Specifically, given any epsiv > 0, the maximum throughput region can be approximated in these networks within a factor of 1-epsiv using a computation time that depends only on the maximum node degree and epsiv .
Changes in phenolic acid content during dry-grind processing of corn into ethanol and DDGS.

BACKGROUND Nine fractions (1, ground corn; 2, cooked slurry; 3, liquefied slurry; 4, fermented mash; 5, whole stillage; 6, thin stillage; 7, condensed distillers soluble (CDS); 8, distillers wet grains (DWG); and 9, distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS)) were collected at different steps from three commercial dry-grind bioethanol processing plants. Samples were analyzed for individual and total phenolic acid content by HPLC and the antioxidant capacity by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. RESULTS There were significant differences in phenolic acid (individual and total) content and the antioxidant capacity in the nine fractions collected from the three processing plants, but the changing trends in all three plants were very similar. The four phenolic acids identified in all fractions were caffeic, p-coumaric, ferulic and sinapic acids. Vanillic acid was present in all fractions except fractions 2 and 3. All fractions collected following fermentation, except fractions 6 and 7, had higher concentrations of phenolic acids than fractions before fermentation, with DWG having the highest phenolic acids content. CONCLUSION The increased concentration of phenolic acid content after fermentation in four fractions (4, 5, 8 and 9) was primarily due to depletion of starch during dry-grind processing. Further research is needed to investigate the influence of enriched phenolic acid concentration in DDGS on diet palatability (sensory property) and animal health. Published 2013. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA
Explorations of Acculturation: Toward A Model of Ethnic Identity

This paper examines interview data from a three-generational sample drawn from two ethnic minority groups in the San Francisco Bay Area. First we look at the history of the concept acculturation, combining both "classic" acculturation literature and the newer "ethnic identity" literature in order to orient the reader to our conceptual framework and the nature of our research. Second, we present six Ethnic Identity Profile Types described quantitatively in another paper. Case summaries illustrate the characteristics shared by members of each Profile Type. A comparison of (1) the composition of the variables included in each type, and (2) the two profile types for each generation, reveal the influence of individual choice in the expression of ethnic identity.
Machine vision technology for agricultural applications

Current applications of machine vision in agriculture are briefly reviewed. The requirements and recent developments of hardware and software for machine vision systems are discussed, with emphases on multispectral and hyperspectral imaging for modern food inspection. Examples of applications for detection of disease, defects, and contamination on poultry carcasses and apples are also given. Future trends of machine vision technology applications are discussed.
Compensational three-wavelength differential-absorption lidar technique for reducing the influence of differential scattering on ozone-concentration measurements

A three-wavelength differential-absorption lidar (DIAL) technique for the ultraviolet spectral region is presented that reduces the influence of aerosol differential scattering on measured ozone-concentration profiles. The principal advantage of this approach is that, to a good first approximation, no correction for aerosol differential-extinction and backscattering effects are needed. Therefore, one avoids having to obtain an aerosol extinction-coefficient profile at a reference wavelength; nor does one have to invoke questionable assumptions regarding the spectral dependence of the aerosol total and backscatter coefficients.
Identification and characterization of multiple erythroid cell proteins that interact with the promoter of the murine alpha-globin gene

The proteins responsible for erythroid-specific footprints extending to -180 on the mouse alpha-globin gene were identified, enriched, and characterized from extracts of murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cells. Three proteins accounted for most aspects of the footprints. The binding sites of two proteins, termed alpha-CP1 and alpha-CP2, overlapped in the CCAAT box. Further characterization of these two CCAAT binding proteins showed that neither interacted with the adenovirus origin of replication, a strong CCAAT transcription factor-nuclear factor 1 binding site. A third protein, termed alpha-IRP, interacted with two sequences that formed an inverted repeat (IR) between the CCAAT and TATAA boxes. Interestingly, the binding domain of one of the CCAAT factors, alpha-CP1, overlapped one alpha-IRP binding site. alpha-CP1 thus overlapped the binding domains of both alpha-CP2 and alpha-IRP. The IRs included GC-rich sequences reminiscent of SP1-binding sites. Indeed, alpha-IRP bound as well to the alpha-promoter as it did to SP1 sites in the simian virus 40 early promoter. These results suggest that alpha-IRP may be related to the transcription factor Sp1. We determined the level of each alpha-globin-binding activity before and after induced erythroid differentiation of MEL cells. We found that differentiation caused alpha-CP1 activity to drop three- to fivefold, while alpha-IRP activity decreased slightly and alpha-CP2 activity increased two- to threefold.
The rational parameterisation theorem for multisite post-translational modification systems

Post-translational modification of proteins plays a central role in cellular regulation but its study has been hampered by the exponential increase in substrate modification forms (“modforms”) with increasing numbers of sites. We consider here biochemical networks arising from post-translational modification under mass-action kinetics, allowing for multiple substrates, having different types of modification (phosphorylation, methylation, acetylation, etc.) on multiple sites, acted upon by multiple forward and reverse enzymes (in total number L), using general enzymatic mechanisms. These assumptions are substantially more general than in previous studies. We show that the steady-state modform concentrations constitute an algebraic variety that can be parameterised by rational functions of the L free enzyme concentrations, with coefficients which are rational functions of the rate constants. The parameterisation allows steady states to be calculated by solving L algebraic equations, a dramatic reduction compared to simulating an exponentially large number of differential equations. This complexity collapse enables analysis in contexts that were previously intractable and leads to biological predictions that we review. Our results lay a foundation for the systems biology of post-translational modification and suggest deeper connections between biochemical networks and algebraic geometry.
Pressure and volume overloads are associated with ventricular hypertrophy in male rainbow trout.

We investigated whether ventricular hypertrophy in reproductively mature male trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is associated with elevated hemodynamic loads. We measured ventral aortic blood pressure, p...
Pathogen strategies: A Hitchhiker's guide to the macrophage

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses specific issues in macrophage–pathogen interactions that compare different strategies adapted by individual pathogens to achieve a similar endpoint within the host. This chapter focuses on the pathogen strategies that is a successful intracellular pathogen must be able to enter a host cell, survive, and preferably replicate therein. To do so, the microbe must be able to meet its nutritional requirements. In most cases, it must not kill its host cell fight away but survive with a minimal perturbation of the host cell function. Finally, it must be able to exit when the time is ripe. A wide range of pathogenic bacteria and protozoan parasites has evolved a multitude of techniques to reside in a macrophage. Many of the intracellular bacteria are perfectly capable of extracellular survival, suggesting that they have to evolve additional specialized means for their intracellular lifestyle.
Brachyptery and phyletic size increase in Carabidae (Coleoptera)

Phyletic body size increase is surveyed across taxa of Carabidae for which cladistic hypotheses of phylogenetic relationships are available. Patterns of body size evolution are assessed by regression analysis of body length on cladogram position for species-level taxa. Phyletic size increase is significantly more frequent in taxa containing brachypterous species than in taxa comprising exclusively macropterous species. Brachyptery and increase in body size occur principally in groups inhabiting stable, favorable habitats. Macropterous taxa characteristically inhabit less stable environments and do not exhibit phyletic size increase. Brachyptery may permit evolution of larger body size by removing the need for maintaining a thoracic flight apparatus. For island lineages, the historical constraint of small ancestral size of the colonizing species serves as one explanation for the observed patterns of size increase.
Drug-resistance analysis of clinical anti-tuberculosis drugs for 332 retreatment tuberculosis patients

Objective To investigate the drug resistance and its relevant factors of four clinical anti-tuberculosis drugs for retreatment tuberculosis patients in Ningbo,and to provide scientific basis for tuberculosis control. Methods 332 strains of mycobacterium tuberculosis were isolated from retreatment tuberculosis patients,and their drug resistance tests of isoniazid( INH),rifampicin( RFP),streptomycin( SM) and ethambutol( EMB) were performed by the 1% drug-sensitivity proportion method recommended by World Health Organization( WHO) and International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease( IUATLD).Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to determine the risk factors associated with drug resistance. Results Of the retreatment tuberculosis patients,the total drug resistance was 57. 2%,the total multi-drug resistance was 36. 1%. The highest drug resistance was on INH. Household register had relevant effect on the drug resistance to retreatment tuberculosis patients. Conclusion The prevalence of drug-resistant tuberculosis among retreatment patients was relatively high in Ningbo,suggesting the necessity to strengthen the tuberculosis control program for retreatment patients.
Virginia Political Economy, Rationally Reconstructed

The idea of an identifiable school of thought denoted as Virginia political economy was in play at least as early as 1963, and it is reasonable to conclude that this identifier began to take shape some years earlier. It is common though not universal to identify a school of thought sociologically by the academic residence of the main figures associated with the creation and propagation of a particular set of ideas. By this approach, Virginia political economy is associated with the three academic venues where James Buchanan and Gordon Tullock did their work. In contrast, this paper takes a methodologically substantive approach to definition. It does this by employing a form of rational reconstruction to articulate the hard core programmatic logic of Virginia political economy that has arisen through scholarly interaction. Consequently, Virginia political economy acquires an analytical rather than a regional or sociological identity.
Breast CancerIncidence and Mortality in Tbilisi

According to GLOBOCAN/IARC (2013), in 2008, 1 384 000 new cases of breast cancer incidence and 458 000 cancer related deaths were registered worldwide.An epidemiological research has been conducted in the University of Georgia to specify the number of breast cancer incidencein Tbilisi. There has been data on 12 913 cases of breast cancerin Tbilisi in 1998-2010 provided by the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC). Tbilisi Population Cancer Registry provided information about 16 705 cases of death in Tbilisi female population in 2002-2004.Based on the descriptive analysis, it has been determined that in Tbilisi female population, the number and frequency of breast cancer is an important medical and social problem. The frequency of incidence of breast cancer in Tbilisi (ASR=123%000; AAR=158%000) and the frequency of cancer related deaths (ASR=33%000; AAR=43%000) correspond to the index of the average level of the developed countries of the world. Besides, according to both indicators in dynamics, there was an increase in breast cancerincidence. Compared to 1988-1992, in 2008-2010, according to SRR, the frequency of breast cancer rose by 3.5 times, and according to SIR – by 253%.In Tbilisi, in 2002-2004, the cases of deaths caused by cancerranked second after circulatory system and its share in the structure of death comprised 18%. In the structure of cancer mortality in women over 25, breast cancer ranks first. At the same time, at a later period, 35-59, breast cancer again ranks first in the structure of different causes of death. As a result of the research, recommendations have been worked out.
Alternative source models of very low frequency events

We present alternative source models for very low frequency (VLF) events, previously inferred to be radiation from individual slow earthquakes that partly fill the period range between slow slip events lasting thousands of seconds and low frequency earthquakes (LFE) with durations of tenths of a second. We show that VLF events may emerge from band-pass filtering a sum of clustered, shorter duration, LFE signals, believed to be the components of tectonic tremor. Most published studies show VLF events occurring concurrently with tremor bursts and LFE signals. Our analysis of continuous data from Costa Rica detected VLF events only when tremor was also occurring, which was only seven percent of the total time examined. Using analytic and synthetic models, we show that a cluster of LFE signals produces the distinguishing characteristics of VLF events, which may be determined by the cluster envelope. The envelope may be diagnostic of a single, dynamic, slowly slipping event that propagates coherently over kilometers, or represent a narrowly band-passed version of nearly simultaneous arrivals of radiation from slip on multiple higher stress drop and/or faster propagating slip patches with dimensions of tens of meters (i.e., LFE sources). Temporally clustered LFE sources may be triggered by single or multiple distinct aseismic slip events, or represent the nearly simultaneous chance occurrence of background LFEs. Given the non-uniqueness in possible source durations, we suggest it is premature to draw conclusions about VLF event sources or how they scale.
Serum SHBG Levels are not Associated with Longitudinal Cognitive Decline in Mild Cognitive Impairment.

BACKGROUND Prior studies have noted gender differences in cognition, imaging, and pathological markers in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) subjects. Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), a major controlling factor in the proportion of bioavailable versus bound testosterone and estrogen, has been proposed to contribute to links between hormones and dementia, but has not yet been investigated fully in a prospective biomarker trial. OBJECTIVE This study examined whether, among subjects with MCI, SHBG levels predict future rate of cognitive decline. METHODS We examine the effect of gender on cognitive decline and factors modulating potential gender differences in 378 MCI subjects (134 females, 244 males) in the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative-1 (ADNI-1), followed for up to 8 years (mean ± SE, 4.0 ± 0.1 years). Cognition was assessed using the ADAS-cog-11. Multivariate models examined the effect of gender covarying for age, ApoE4, baseline cognition, years of education, and SHBG levels. RESULTS MCI women declined significantly faster than men in cognition over the follow up period. Baseline SHBG levels differed significantly between men and women (p < 0.0001), and by age in men, but not by ApoE4 status. In the multivariate models, SHBG levels were not a significant predictor of cognitive decline in men or women but ApoE4 status, baseline cognition, years of education, and female gender were. CONCLUSION SHBG levels did not influence the rate of cognitive decline in MCI. Further studies to confirm these findings and uncover other potential mechanisms of gender differences in the risk for AD may be warranted.
A closed form large deformation solution of plate bending with surface effects

We study the effect of surface stress on the pure bending of a finite thickness plate under large deformation. The surface is assumed to be isotropic and its stress consists of a part that can be interpreted as a residual stress and a part that stiffens as the surface increases its area. Our results show that residual surface stress and surface stiffness can both increase the overall bending stiffness but through different mechanisms. For sufficiently large residual surface tension, we discover a new type of instability – the bending moment reaches a maximum at a critical curvature. Effects of surface stress on different stress components in the bulk of the plate are discussed and the possibility of self-bending due to asymmetry of the surface properties is also explored. The results of our calculations provide insights into surface stress effects in the large deformation regime and can be used as a test for implementation of finite element methods for surface elasticity.
Lyl1 and Scl Regulate Bcl2 Expression and Control Apoptosis at Different Stages of Hematopoietic Development.

Abstract Abstract 569 The Lymphoblastic Leukemia gene 1 (Lyl1) encodes a basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor that is involved in T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia via chromosomal translocations. Lyl1 has an almost identical bHLH motif to Scl, a known master regulator of hematopoiesis. In our previous work, we used a double knock-out mouse model to demonstrate functional redundancy between Lyl1 and Scl in adult hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), where in the absence of both genes in adult mice, HSCs and progenitors undergo rapid apoptosis. Despite their common and overlapping functions, the two genes appear to also function at different aspects of hematopoietic development. Lyl1 knock-out mice exhibit a unique defect in B-cell development. This phenotype is recapitulated in vitro, where Lyl1 progenitors grown on a layer of OP9 cells and allowed to differentiate with the addition of cytokines fail to differentiate to B cells as well as wild type progenitors. Rescue assays, where Lyl1 was transduced using a retrovirus into Lyl1 knock-out progenitors and transplanted into lethally irradiated recipients, showed complete rescue of the B cell lineage. Forced expression of Scl into Lyl1 knock-out progenitors failed to rescue, giving rise to only about 5% of peripheral blood B cells. This demonstrates the distinct functions of the two genes in differentiated cells types, despite their functional redundancy in the HSCs. We further sought to dissect the functions and differences between Lyl1 and Scl based on their target genes. Using bioinformatics analysis and a literature search, we identified a number of genes that were candidates for Lyl1 transcriptional regulation; these interactions with Lyl1 and Scl were confirmed by chromatin immunoprecipitation. We found that Bcl2, and genes belonging to this family, are direct target genes of both Lyl1 and Scl in progenitor cells, and that they are downregulated in Lyl1 and Scl single knock-out mouse models. Since Bcl2 is critical for B cell survival, we hypothesized that the B cell deficiency in Lyl1 knock-out mice could be partly due to a loss of Bcl2. We performed rescue assays where Bcl2 was transduced using a retrovirus into Lyl1 knock-out progenitors which were transplanted into lethally irradiated recipient mice. Bcl2 overexpression rescued the B-cell defect in Lyl1 knock-out bone marrow. Since Bcl2 was identified as a target gene for Scl as well, we tested whether Bcl2 could also rescue the rapid apoptosis phenotype of the Lyl1/Scl double knock-out progenitors. Forced expression of Bcl2 in these cells, followed by deletion of the floxed Scl allele, resulted in a delayed onset of apoptosis, but incomplete rescue of the progenitor cell death. These findings distinguish the activities of Lyl1 and Scl in B cells and demonstrate a possible mechanism for their functions, through in part by their activation of the antiapoptotic gene Bcl2. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Effect of daily fraction size on laryngoesophageal dysfunction after chemoradiation for squamous cell carcinomas of the larynx and hypopharynx

Background The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of fraction size on laryngoesophageal dysfunction among patients treated by chemoradiotherapy for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer. Methods Forty patients underwent chemoradiotherapy for stage III/IV squamous cell carcinomas of the larynx and hypopharynx. Median radiation dose was 70 Gy (range, 69.3–70.4 Gy) with daily fractionation ranging from 2 Gy to 2.2 Gy. Results When comparing 2 Gy versus >2 Gy daily fractionation, there was no difference in 2-year overall survival (71% vs 72%; p = .68), locoregional control (79% vs 77%; p = .43), or laryngectomy-free survival (60% vs 61%; p = .72). Use of 2 Gy versus >2 Gy fractionation improved laryngoesophageal dysfunction-free survival (2-year estimates, 49% vs 27%; p = .07). Patient-reported voice and swallowing were improved with the former. Conclusion As the importance of a functional larynx becomes recognized as an endpoint for patients treated by voice preservation, the results of our study help refine treatment guidelines. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 1322–1326, 2017
Anti-discrimination learning: a causal modeling-based framework

Anti-discrimination learning is an increasingly important task in data mining. Discrimination discovery is the problem of unveiling discriminatory practices by analyzing a dataset of historical decision records, and discrimination prevention aims to remove discrimination by modifying the biased data and/or the predictive algorithms. Discrimination is causal, which means that to prove discrimination one needs to derive a causal relationship rather than an association relationship. Although it is well known that association does not mean causation, the gap between association and causation is not paid enough attention by many researchers. In this paper, we introduce a causal modeling-based framework for anti-discrimination learning. Discrimination is categorized according to two dimensions: direct/indirect and system/group/individual level. Within the causal framework, we introduce a work for discovering and preventing both direct and indirect system-level discrimination in the training data, and a work for extending the non-discrimination result from the training data to prediction. We then introduce two works for group-level direct discrimination and individual-level direct discrimination respectively. The aim of this paper is to deepen the understanding of discrimination in data mining from the causal modeling perspective, and suggest several potential future research directions.
The glenoid track: a review of the clinical relevance, method of calculation and current evidence behind this method

In the setting of bipolar bone injury, orthopedic surgeons are currently making use of the glenoid track method to guide surgical management. Using preoperative CT or MR imaging, this method allows the identification of patients who are more likely to fail a primary capsuloligamentous Bankart repair. As the glenoid track method becomes increasingly used in preoperative planning, it is important for the radiologist to become familiar with its concept and method of calculation. This review article aims to concisely summarize the current literature and the clinical implications of the glenoid track method.
Pitchforks and Torches

Bitecofer sets the context of the 2016 presidential election. Rather than a singular event, the 2016 presidential election is best understood as the most recent chapter of a story that began decades ago. Over the past 50 years, America has undergone dramatic cultural, political, demographic, and technological transformations leading to an era of polarized politics. With one party immersed in a Civil War and the other facing an emerging revolution, the stage was set for the unlikely candidacies of Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders.