cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mycoplasma genitalium Nonadherent Phase Variants Arise by Multiple Mechanisms and Escape Antibody-Dependent Growth Inhibition

Antigenic variation of the immunodominant MgpB and MgpC proteins has been suggested to be a mechanism of immune evasion of the human pathogen Mycoplasma genitalium, a cause of several reproductive tract disease syndromes. Phase variation resulting in the loss of adherence has also been documented, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this process and its role in pathogenesis are still poorly understood. In this study, we isolated and characterized 40 spontaneous, nonadherent phase variants from in vitro-passaged M. genitalium cultures. In all cases, nonadherence was associated with the loss of MgpBC protein expression, attributable to sequence changes in the mgpBC expression site. Phase variants were grouped into seven classes on the basis of the nature of the mutation. Consistent with the established role of RecA in phase variation, 31 (79.5%) variants arose via recombination with MgPa repeat regions that contain mgpBC variable sequences. The remaining mutants arose via nonsense or frameshift mutations. As expected, revertants were obtained for phase variants that were predicted to be reversible but not for those that arose via an irreversible mechanism. Furthermore, phase variants were enriched in M. genitalium cultures exposed to antibodies reacting to the extracellular, conserved C terminus of MgpB but not in cultures exposed to antibodies reacting to an intracellular domain of MgpB or the cytoplasmic HU protein. Genetic characterization of the antibody-selected phase variants confirmed that they arose via reversible and irreversible recombination and point mutations within mgpBC These phase variants resisted antibody-mediated growth inhibition, suggesting that phase variation promotes immune evasion.
Synthesis, characterization, and reactivity of the first uranium metallocene 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)acetylene complexes

Abstract Two new uranium metallacyclopropenes, (C5Me4R)2U(η2-Ph2PC CPPh2) (R = Me, Et) were prepared by reducing the corresponding (C5Me4R)2UCl2 complexes with KC8 in the presence of 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)acetylene (Ph2P C C PPh2). Both compounds were fully characterized by a combination of elemental analysis and multinuclear NMR, UV–visible–NIR, and IR spectroscopies. Differences in the electronic spectra of these novel compounds and the known (C5Me5)2U(η2-Me3SiC CSiMe3) are discussed. Also presented is the solid-state structure of (C5Me4Et)2U(η2-Ph2PC CPPh2), which reveals significant distortions of the coordinated 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)acetylene (Ph2P C C PPh2) ligand.
Characterization of Late Blight Resistance Potato Breeding Lines with the RB Gene from Solanum bulbocastanum

Late blight, caused by Phytophthora infestans, is an important disease of potato (Solanum tuberosum). Previous work has demonstrated that the wild diploid potato species Solanum bulbocastanum showed resistance to all known genotypes of P. infestans. In this study, the RB gene (also known as Rpi-blb1) from S. bulbocastanum was transformed and expressed into conventionally bred, late blight resistant breeding lines to evaluate the effect of pyramiding late blight resistance genes. All RB potato transformation events were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction and RB transcription was detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Multiple P. infestans genotypes were used to evaluate foliar host plant resistance using a greenhouse whole plant bioassay (WPB) and field trials. The results of the WPB were dependent on different pathogen genotypes. The RB lines derived from MSM171-A late blight resistant (LBR) parental line showed less foliar late blight than other RB lines. Field trials indicated most RB lines from three LBR parental lines had lower RAUDPC values than their parent and susceptible check line. Our results suggest that stacking of R-genes may be a viable strategy to obtain late blight resistant potato varieties.
Deaths in Custody Investigations

The death of an individual at the time of arrest or in police custody has the potential for generation of civil litigation, criminal charges against law enforcement personnel, and, on occasion, riots. Some segments of our society are distrustful of police. On occasion, this distrust is justified. In most instances, however, there is no misconduct. The situation is often aggravated by the news media, which seems sensation-driven. Thorough investigation and thoughtful analysis of an incident is often lacking.
Tree-Based Cancer Classification and Diagnosis Using Gene Expression Data

The microarray gene expression profile has led to a promising technology for cell, tumor, and cancer classification. Despite some noted pitfalls, many authors have explored and demonstrated the value of this technology in cancer diagnosis. Better diagnosis beyond the standard pathology is regarded as critical to cancer treatment. In this chapter, we review some applications of microarray gene expression profiles for cancer diagnosis and tumor classification. In particular, we describe the recursive partitioning technique and tree-based methodology and demonstrate its use in cancer diagnosis based on gene expression.
Asymptotic Solutions in a Parameter

In this chapter, we explain asymptotic solutions of a system of differential equations \({{\epsilon }^{\sigma }}\frac{{d\vec{y}}}{{dx}} = \vec{f}\left( {x,\vec{y},\epsilon } \right){\text{ as }}\epsilon \to 0\) In §§XII-1, XII-2, and XII-3, existence of such asymptotic solutions in the sense of Poincare is proved in detail. In §XII-4, this result is used to prove a block-diagonalization theorem of a linear system \({ \in ^\sigma }\frac{{d\mathop {{\text{ }}y}\limits^ \to }}{{dx}} = A(x, \in )\vec y. \)
Neuroscience and Human Brain Evolution

Evidence from comparative neurobiological studies indicates that humans differ from other primates along several different dimensions of brain organization. Differences in cytoarchitecture, connectivity, and gene expression demonstrate that substantial remodeling of brain microstructure and molecular biology occurred during human evolution, and these changes are likely associated with cognitive specializations. The paleoneurological study of brain reorganization, however, has often been considered only on a larger scale, since the evidence from endocasts is limited to brain regions that can be detected from the traces left in the fossil record. Neuroscience offers a critical perspective on paleoneurology by investigating the microstructure and genetic mechanisms that might be responsible for brain reorganization. Recent findings suggest that neural tissue differs in its anatomical structure and molecular biology across primate species and is not uniform in its processing capabilities. Connectivity patterns can differ across species, producing selective enlargement of connected brain regions. Changes in patterns of innervation for various neurotransmitters may also occur on a microscopic scale, but can produce substantial changes in brain function and cognition. Furthermore, differential regulation of various transcription factors and genes can produce variation in the size of brain structures across primate species. Although the exact nature of brain reorganization related to the evolution of cognitive processing in humans remains to be fully defined, these findings indicate that it may have occurred through a number of different pathways. Further research in both neuroscience and paleoneurology is necessary to identify areas where brain reorganization likely occurred, along with the underlying mechanisms of evolutionary change in human brain structure and function.
Palladium release from catalytic converter materials induced by road de-icer components chloride and ferrocyanide.

Abstract Environmental levels of platinum group elements (PGEs) are rising due to emissions of vehicle catalytic converter (VCC) materials containing palladium, platinum and rhodium. When these PGE-containing VCC materials are exposed to soil and water, coordination complex formation with ligands present in the environment may mobilize PGEs into solution, particularly Pd. Road de-icing salt contains two ligands with high affinities for Pd2+: chloride (Cl−) from NaCl and cyanide (CN−) from ferrocyanide (Fe(CN)64−) anti-caking agents. Batch leaching studies of VCC materials were conducted with solutions representative of de-icer-contaminated road runoff at pH 8 and room temperature for 48 h. Ferrocyanide (FC) concentrations of 0 μM, 1 μM, 2 μM and 10 μM were tested with background electrolyte concentrations of 0.028 M NaCl (1000 mg/L Cl−) or 0.028 M NaClO4. Palladium release increased with FC concentration, ranging from 0.014 ± 0.002 μM Pd without FC to 5.013 ± 0.002 μM Pd at 10 μM FC. At 0 μM, 1 μM and 2 μM FC, chloride induced further Pd release, but had no effect at 10 μM FC. PHREEQC modeling predicted that the predominant species present in equilibrium with Pd(OH)2(s) were Pd(OH)20 and Pd(CN)42−, and that PdClx2−x complexes had only a minor effect on the total concentration of dissolved palladium. The effect of FC on Pd release was predicted but not the effect of Cl−, indicating possible kinetic control. Platinum was measured above limits of detection (LODs) only at 10 μM FC, and rhodium levels were below LODs, consistent with their slower complexation kinetics.
Applying the Neurodynamics of Emotional Circular Causalities in Psychosocial and Cognitive Therapy using Multi-Sensory Environments: An ORBDE Case Study Analysis

This exploratory, evidence-based practice research study focuses on presenting a plausible mesoscopic brain dynamics hypothesis for the benefits of treating clients with psychosocial and cognitive challenges using a mindful therapeutic approach and multi-sensory environments. After an extensive neuroscientific review of the therapeutic benefits of mindfulness, a multi-sensory environment is presented as a window of therapeutic opportunity to more quickly and efficiently facilitate the neurobiological experience of becoming more mindful or conscious of self and environment. The complementary relationship between the default mode network and the executive attention network is offered as a neurobiological hypothesis that could explain positive occupational engagement pattern shifts in a case study video of a hospice client with advanced dementia during multi-sensory environment treatment. Orbital Decomposition is used for a video analysis that shows a significant behavioral pattern shift consistent with dampening of the perceptual system attractors that contribute to negative emotional circular causalities in a variety of client populations. This treatment approach may also prove to be valuable for any person who has developed circular causalities due to feelings of isolation, victimization, or abuse. A case is made for broader applications of this intervention that may positively influence perception during the information transfer and processing of hippocampal learning. Future research is called for to determine if positive affective, interpersonal, and occupational engagement pattern shifts during treatment are related to the improved default mode network-executive attention network synchrony characteristic of increased mindfulness.
Right Dominant Frontoparietal Network for Spatial Orientation (Dorsal Attention and Visuospatial Attention)

With usually preserved communication, unlike left hemisphere aphasia–related communication impairment, right hemisphere (RH) lesions reveal a manifold of cognitive disorders. Each of these may be the key to monitoring an improvement or deterioration of the clinical status or disease pathophysiology. Furthermore, the RH is dominant for more known entities (at least measurable by us thus far) than the left hemisphere (Table 9.1).
Inference to the best explanation and Norton's material theory of induction.

Abstract I argue that we should consider Norton's material theory of induction as consisting of two largely independent claims. First, there is the claim that material facts license inductions - a claim which I interpret as a type of contextualism about induction. Second, there is the claim that there are no universal rules of induction. While a good case can be made for the first claim, I believe that Norton's arguments for the second claim are lacking. In particular, I spell out Norton's argument against the claim that all induction may be reduced to inference to the best explanation, and argue that it is not persuasive. Rejecting this part of Norton's theory does not however require us to abandon the first claim that material facts license inductions. In this way, I distinguish the parts of the material theory of induction we should happily accept from the parts about which we should be more skeptical.
Nano-optical CMOS Systems for Bio-molecular Sensing: In-vitro and In-vivo

In this paper, I will highlight approaches towards enabling CMOS-based in tegrated nano-optical sensing systems that are wireless connected, of millimeter-scale and capable of allowing multiplexed bio-molecular sensing platforms in in-vitro and in-vivo settings.
Recent Approaches to Linguistic Theory

Because unconstrained transformational grammars are capable of generating undecidable sets—apparently more power than is necessary for natural languages—much recent research within linguistics has focused on constraining the power of grammars. Several approaches to this task have been taken, and we will examine two in detail. First, however, in 9.1 we will review some current developments in linguistic theory that are common to both approaches to be examined. Then, in Section 9.2 we describe the framework of generalized phrase structure grammar (GPSG). Finally, in Section 9.3 we look at the theory of government and binding (GB), the current version of transformational grammar.
Blurring the Boundary Lines between Amateur and Professional Sports

The NCAA expends substantial resources to insure that the distinction between amateur and professional sports is maintained in collegiate athletics. Preserving the boundary lines between amateur and professional sports is more than an attempt to ensure philosophical purity or a nostalgic quest for historic preservation. The boundaries between amateur and professional sports are maintained by legal doctrines in several areas.Application of tort law to coaches' liability for conduct leading to injuries to athletes reflects and preserves the boundary lines between professional and amateur sports. Although the implied assumption of risk doctrine should preserve that distinction, some courts have applied the doctrine in a manner that blurs those lines. Application of the implied assumption of risk doctrine to shield collegiate coaches and educational institutions from liability for injuries makes student-athletes insurers of their coaches and their educational institutions. Denying professional athletes a remedy for negligent conduct of their coaches under the assumption of risk doctrine may be justified on the basis that professional athletes are compensated as employees for their participation in professional sports and are covered by collective bargaining agreements. Even though intercollegiate football and men's and women's basketball generate enormous revenue, the athletic scholarships student-athletes receive cannot alone justify denying amateur athletes a remedy for negligent coaching conduct.This article analyzes the primary and secondary implied assumption of risk doctrines in the sports context. It then argues that the boundary line developed between the primary and secondary implied assumption of risk doctrines may be applied to preserve the distinction between professional and amateur sports. The article specifically argues that some courts analyze inherent risk in particular sports in a way that treats professional and amateur athletes similarly, thereby blurring the distinction. An over-inclusive definition of the term "inherent risk" potentially relieves defendants of a duty of care to student-athletes for negligent conduct for which imposition of liability would not fundamentally alter particular sports or undermine the policy of encouraging vigorous and spirited sport participation.
NSF/IEEE CAEME center: An exciting opportunity to align electromagnetic education with the nineties

The National Science Foundation/Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers NSF/IEEE Center for Computer Applications in Electromagnetic EM Education CAEME was funded in early 1990 by the National Science Foundation to stimulate and accelerate the use of computers and software tools in EM education. The Center is managed by the Executive Office of IEEE on behalf of the Antennas and Propagation Society. This organizational structure provided avenues for broad participation by universities, professional societies, and corporations in the Center's activities. In two years of operation, CAEME has organized several workshops and special sessions in international meetings, published its first software book, prepared a lesson on "Electromagnetic Waves" using interactive video, and raised over $ 130,000 from university membership, participating societies, and corporate sponsors. This article summarizes CAEME activities, outlines its organizational structure, and briefly describes the contents of its first software book. Future developments are discussed and avenues for participation are outlined.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT AND LUNG CANCER MORTALITY IN KENTUCKY: IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSES

Context: The professional literature indicates health has a positive correlation with socioeconomic status. More specifically, prior research documents heightened rates of lung cancer incidence and mortality in Appalachia, a region plagued by persistent poverty and below-average educational attainment. This study analyzed predictors of lung cancer mortality within Kentucky, a predominantly rural state in central Appalachia. Purpose: To determine whether county-level lung cancer mortality is related to counties’ high school graduation rates, per capita personal income levels and adult smoking rates. Also, to test whether significant differences exist among these variables between Kentucky’s Appalachian and nonAppalachian counties. Methods: Data from the Kentucky Institute of Medicine’s 2007 report The Health of Kentucky: A County Assessment were analyzed using independent samples t tests, bivariate correlations and regression analyses. Results: On a statewide basis, inverse associations were found between county-level lung cancer mortality and counties’ graduation rates (p < .001) and per capita personal income (p < .01). Statistically significant differences were detected between Kentucky’s Appalachian and non-Appalachian regions for each variable except adult smoking rates. Conclusions: In the context of similar adult smoking rates between the state’s Appalachian and nonAppalachian counties, high school graduation rates showed the strongest statistical association with lung cancer mortality. This indicates that continued improvements in Kentucky’s rate of diploma attainment may contribute to future reductions in lung cancer mortality statewide. These findings suggest practice and policy implications for nurses in Kentucky and, potentially, other states with low educational attainment and high lung cancer mortality.
Clonal Analysis of Cell Division in the Bacillus subtilis div IV-B1 Minicell-Producing Mutant

Spores of the Bacillus subtilis minicell-producing mutant div IV-B1 were germinated and grown to microcolonies in chambers which facilitate continuous observation of the developing clones with a phase-contrast microscope. Time lapse photographs were taken of 46 clones, covering the period from the beginning of outgrowth until at least two rounds of cell division had been completed. Cell lineages were constructed from contour length measurements of the photographs. These data include cell lengths, division site locations, and cell numbers in clones of various ages. From these data we have determined that the probability of a minicell being produced at any division by the div IV-B1 mutant is 0.31. The location of the abnormal division site which generates the first minicell produced in the outgrowing clone appears to be random with respect to the existing cell poles. In contrast, the location of the second abnormal division site, and hence the second minicell, is not random but rather occurs preferentially in proximity to the first minicell. This clustering of abnormal events suggests that division site location is related to pole age (generations), although other influences on minicell clustering cannot be ruled out at present.
The Molecular Basis of Cataract Formation

The theoretical and experimental basis for the transparency and opacification of the lens is reviewed. The microscopic mechanisms so far established which produce cataract are discussed. The use of quasielastic light scattering spectroscopy to measure in vivo the diffusivity of proteins and to sensitively detect the earliest stages of cataract formation is described.
An Implicit Exemption, Implicitly Applied: Blurring the Line of Accommodation Between Labor Policy and Antitrust Law in Harris v. Safeway

On July 12, 2011, in Harris v. Safeway, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held that an agreement among employers to share profits during a labor union strike did not fall within the non-statutory labor exemption to the antitrust laws and required full rule of reason review. In doing so, however, the court may have discouraged future plaintiffs from bringing suit in antitrust labor cases. This Comment argues that although the court appropriately denied exemption from the antitrust laws, it implicitly applied the exemption by allowing collective bargaining peculiarities to control its subsequent antitrust analysis.
When Is a Tumor Marker Ready for Prime Time? A Case Study of c-erbB-2 as a Predictive Factor in Breast Cancer

PURPOSE: c-erbB-2 (HER-2, c-neu) might play a role as a predictive factor in breast cancer. However, the clinical utility of the marker in this disease is still not established. We conducted a critical analysis of the literature, in which we reviewed the factors that contribute to the lack of acceptance of c-erbB-2 for clinical use and attempted to determine the predictive role of c-erbB-2 for response to specific therapies. METHODS: We conducted a MEDLINE literature search using the keywords c-erbB-2, HER2, neu, and breast cancer, reviewed the references included in each publication, and reviewed abstracts that have been reported in the 1997-2000 proceedings to the American Association of Cancer Research and American Society for Clinical Oncology annual meetings. RESULTS: The preclinical and clinical data reported to date suggest that amplification or overexpression of c-erbB-2 is a weak to moderate negative pure prognostic factor. c-erbB-2 seems to be a weak to moderate negative predictive factor for re...
Accounting and Litigation Risk

Litigation risk has been hypothesized to affect managerial behavior in a number of ways. An understanding of the determinants of litigation risk is a necessary first step to analyzing managerial behavior. We examine the determinants of an ex-ante measure of litigation risk, namely, Directors and Officers (D&O) liability insurance premium. We find that accounting risk is priced by D&O insurers. There is only limited evidence of traditional corporate governance measures getting priced. We also find some support that certain provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, 1995 created specific litigation risk. Additionally, we present evidence that pricing for D&O premiums is lower for companies which adopted limited liability provisions to limit directors' exposure to litigation risk. Thus, adoption of these provisions can be a useful tool to reduce litigation risk. Finally, we find that the historical rise in insurance premium from 2001 to 2002 is associated with an increase in concerns about accounting quality.
Light scattering by size/shape distributions of soil particles and spheroids.

A size/shape distribution of spheroids was chosen to approximate a group of micrometer sized soil particles whose angular light scattering patterns had been measured previously. The scattering properties of the randomly oriented spheroids were calculated using the T-matrix method. The largest soil particles, those accounting for ~30% of the total scattering, were not included in the spheroid distribution because of computer limitations. These calculations were made to (1) investigate how well the measured scattering by soil particles is approximated by a similar distribution of spheroids and (2) use the data for spheroids to estimate some scattering properties that were too difficult to measure when the soil particles were studied previously. The shapes of the measured angular scattering patterns are better approximated by the distribution of spheroids than by a distribution of spheres of equal surface area or of equal volume.
Immunoblastic sarcoma: a clinical description.

We reviewed the clinical records of 33 patients with Immunoblastic Sarcoma in order to further describe this disease clinically. Several common features were found. Thirty percent of the patients had a history of a prior immune disease or lymphoproliferative malignancy. Forty-four percent of the patients tested had a diffuse hypergammaglobulinemia. Lymphopenia (less than 1,000/mm3) was found in 45%, and anemia occurred in 73%. At initial presentation, 30% of the cases were clinically staged as either stage I or II, whereas 70% were found to be stage III or IV. Forty-nine percent of the patients had systemic symptoms at presentation. The median survival was 14 months. Advanced stage of disease, lymphopenia, and presence of systemic symptomatology were associated with significantly decreased survival times (p less than .05). We conclude that IBS is a clinical entity often associated with prior immune disease and/or diffuse hypergammaglobulinemia.
The human immunodeficiency virus type-1 transcription factor Tat produces elevations in intracellular Ca2+ that require function of an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor polyamine-sensitive site.

Abstract Human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) infection is commonly associated with neuronal loss, as well as, cognitive and motor deficits collectively termed HIV-1-associated dementia (HAD). Function of the HIV-1 transcription factor Tat, activation of N-methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA)-type glutamate receptors, and subsequent rapid rises in free intracellular Ca2+ have been implicated in the development of this neurological disorder. However, the role of specific NMDA receptor modulatory sites in mediating effects of Tat has not been examined. The present studies examined the ability of two variants of Tat protein (1–100 nM), Tat 1–72 and Tat 1–86, to produce rapid rises in intracellular Ca2+ in organotypic slice cultures of rat hippocampus. Further, these studies evaluated the role of an NMDA receptor polyamine-sensitive site in mediating Tat-induced elevations in intracellular Ca2+. Brief exposure (10 min) to each variant of Tat protein (>1 nM) markedly increased levels of intracellular Ca2+ in each region of the hippocampus to as much as 145% of controls. In contrast, exposure of cultures to a deletion mutant of Tat protein devoid of amino acids 31–61 (Tat Δ31–61) did not produce changes in intracellular Ca2+ levels. Most significantly, exposure to the NMDA receptor antagonist dizocilpine (MK801 20 μM) and the polyamine site antagonist arcaine (10 μM) significantly attenuated increases in intracellular Ca2+ levels when co-administered with either the Tat 1–72 or Tat 1–86 amino acid variant of Tat. Thus, exposure of the hippocampus to Tat produces increases in intracellular Ca2+ levels that require function of an NMDA receptor polyamine-sensitive site and this may well contribute to the neurotoxic effects of HIV-1 infection. Polyamine-sensitive portions of this receptor may then represent novel therapeutic targets in the pharmacologic treatment of HAD-related neurotoxicity.
Challenges in Constructing Time Series Models from Process Data

Correlated input and output sequences of industrial processes are often autocorrelated. Analysts who wish to construct models for such processes from input and output sequences alone must be careful as the autocorrelations in individual time series can masquerade as cross-correlations. Several different models may appear equally plausible, depending on how the process had been operated. In this paper we study the input and output sequences from two industrial case studies using various time series tools. The results of our study illustrate that in feedback situations, where the current input is adjusted—either automatically or manually—on the basis of past output, different models may fit the data equally well. Which of these models describe the actual transfer function is unclear, unless a known dither signal can be added to the input to allow for an unambiguous identification of the transfer function. This problem is related to spurious regression and is of interest to econometricians who often deal with time series where feedback, known or unknown, may be responsible for misleading interpretations. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Continuous-wave operation of extremely low-threshold GaAs/AlGaAs broad-area injection lasers on (100) Si substrates at room temperature.

Room-temperature continuous-wave operation of large-area (120 μm X 980 μm) GaAs/AlGaAs graded-refractive-index separate-confinement heterostructure lasers on (100) Si substrates has been obtained. Minimum threshold-current densities of 214 A/cm2 (1900-μm cavity length), maximum slope efficiencies of about 0.8 W/A (600-μm cavity length), and optical power in excess of 270 mW/facet (900-μm cavity length) have been observed under pulsed conditions.
On the “tertiary” structure of chromosomes☆

Abstract Although we know chromosomes consist of both nucleic acids and protein, we are still unsure about the actual organization of these components in chromosomes as they are seen in mitosis. Radiation studies in which chromosomes aberrations are induced at various stages of the cell cycle have indicated that chromosomes react as though they were single-stranded structures ( i.e. , give rise to chromosome aberrations) during most of G 1 and then behave double-stranded ( i.e. , give rise to chromatid aberrations) during S and G 2 . Studies of human lymphocytes have indicated that this transition from singleness to doubleness occurs in the absence of both DNA and protein synthesis. This has been interpreted to mean that chromosomes are multistranded structures that simply loosen at the time of transition. Attempts have been made to modify this “tertiary structure” of chromosomes to gain some insight into the nature of the binding involved in the lateral organization of chromosomes. If freshly drawn human lymphocytes are treated for 15–30 min with glycerol, which can change the dielectric constants within the cell, or with urea, which can disrupt hydrogen bonds, then radiation can induce chromatid breaks in cells that ordinarily respond to give only chromosome aberrations. It seems as though hydrogen bonds and ionic bonds are involved in maintaining the “tertiary structure” of chromosomes and that this structure can be modified in living cells.
Multiple feature clustering for image sequence segmentation

Abstract We present a segmentation scheme in order to develop a method which can identify homogeneous regions to represent higher level objects for content-based functionality. The proposed scheme extracts multiple features, such as motion and texture, on the pixel basis. Different weights are applied to each feature components based on motion confidence measures. The proposed scheme consists of two phases. In the first phase, a multiple feature space is transformed to one-dimensional label space using a self-organizing feature maps (SOFM) neural network clustering method. In the second phase, the neural network outputs are merged in order to generate desired segmentation resolution. Our experimental results and performance analysis show the validity of the proposed scheme.
The Effect of Pressure on the Migration and Accumulation of Petroleum

This paper describes several experiments in which various types and arrangements of sedimentary materials, after being charged with oil and water in such a way as to simulate conditions in nature, were placed in a steel cylinder and compacted at high pressures. The results are believed to justify the conclusion that the compaction of petroliferous sediments either as a result of the weight of the overlying load or of deformation is an important cause of the movement of oil into reservoir rocks.
Thinking about Violence

In the book, Enduring Violence: Ladina Women’s Lives in Guatemala, I assembled a lens to shed light on the less visible and routinized aspects of violence in women’s lives, based on field work I conducted among ladina women in eastern Guatemala and indigenous Maya women in the western highlands. In this piece I reflect on the connections between the framework I developed in this book and theoretical extensions to study similar cases of gender violence in other contexts as well as on the possibilities for engaging in public sociology that this work has created. I also take the opportunity to respond to a few critics so as to engage in productive dialogue that can inform future work in this area.
TU-EE-A3-05: Scatter Radiation in Digital Tomosynthesis

Purpose: To investigate the characteristics of scattered radiation and its effects on image quality in digital breast tomosynthesis. Method and Materials: A GEANT 4 based Monte Carlo package was used to simulate a rotating target/detector tomosynthesis system. The compressed breast was modeled as a cubic block imbedded with 24 small cylinders of different radii and heights in the central layer. An 11cm air gap between the breast and detector was modeled. The incident photon energy was set to 20 keV to avoid the complexity of beam hardening effects. A primary image and a scatter image were generated for each projection. The gantry was rotated around the breast from −25 degree to 25 degree with a 5 degree increment. Reconstructions of the 3D breast were computed from the 11 projection images using primary x-rays only, and primary plus scattered x-rays. Results: The magnitude of scatter radiation does not change very much from one projection to another because the scatter volume does not change. However, the primary radiation detected can be significantly different in different projections due to different path length. As a result, scatter to primary ratio is very different for different projection. Even with the 11 cm air gap, scatter to primary ratio was observed to be as high as 0.4 for a 5 cm thick breast. 3D breast images reconstructed from projections with only primary x-rays showed higher contrast than those reconstructed from projections with both primary and scatter. Further evaluation is needed to determine if this reduced contrast can affect tumor detectability. Conclusion: Scatter to primary ratio changed significantly from one projection to another and was observed to be as high as 0.4 for a 5 cm thick breast. Tomosynthesis slices showed a moderate decrease in contrast due to scatter.
Thermal acclimation in Australian amphibians

Abstract 1. 1. Critical thermal maxima, onset of spasms, hot and cold lethals and rate and range of acclimation have been determined for forty-two species of anurans from a wide variety of habitats, latitudes and altitudes along the east coast of Australia. 2. 2. Cryophylic anurans are more southern and thermophylic anurans more northern in distribution, though both stenothermic and eurythermic frogs may occur at any latitude. 3. 3. Species with restricted geographic ranges have little or poor ability to physiologically adjust. Species with wide ranges of adaptability have the widest geographic range.
Foundations of classical control theory with reference to eigenvalue geometry

Abstract The foundations of linear time-invariant control are re-examined via a new geometric paradigm, gain plots. These plots depict eigenvalue trajectory as an explicit function of gain. Various classical control concepts are generalized in nine theorems and demonstrated in three simple, yet pedagogical, examples.
The perception of path curvature: Effects of projected velocity and projected size

Todd (1984) showed that observers could discriminate the amount of curvature from the motion of texture elements in a 2D projection. Our recent research (VSS, 2007) has shown that observers are sensitive to both size and velocity information when judging trajectory of an object moving along a straight path in a 3D scene. This suggests that observers may use size and velocity information for judging trajectory in a more general manner. Experiment 1: Discriminating upward and downward curvature
Infinite gain loop and simulation of singular systems

We present a simulation for singular systems. An infinite gain loop is discussed and used to generate an impulsive mode for both single-input-output and multivariable systems, then the simulation is implemented by integrators and amplifiers. Some interesting issues such as the reachability at infinity, the controllability at infinity and the impulsive mode elimination are scrutinized by using the simulation.
Spontaneous regular structure amplification in strongly turbulent rotating fluids.

An initial stage of spontaneous generation of regular structures in strongly turbulent rotating fluids is studied in the framework of the Charney-Hasegawa-Mima model [J. Pedlosky, Geophysical Fluid Dynamics (Springer, New York, 1979); A. Hasegawa and K. Mima, Phys. Fluids 21, 87 (1978)]. It is shown that small-scale turbulence may maintain a regular structure in a mean flow. The corresponding growth rate is shown to have a form of negative hyperviscosity. Possible applications in the theoretical study of large scale vortices in the Jovian atmospheres are discussed. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
Building a biomedical research program in Qatar

Abstract The State of Qatar under the leadership of His Highness the Emir Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani has invested heavily into higher education and research infrastructure development through Qatar Foundation under the leadership of Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Missned. Part of that effort is the establishment of the biomedical research program at Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar (WCMC-Q), which, in collaboration with other stakeholders in Qatar, aims at instituting a world-class biomedical research program in Qatar. This presentation will highlight the efforts over the past two years expanded toward establishing the WCMC-Q research program. It will present a model for research infrastructure ramp-up in Qatar and the region. We will discuss: research support services including compliance and grants and contracts; the organization, staffing and high-end equipment of core research laboratories that are becoming increasingly important for collaborative biomedical research; and scientific areas of focus for the WCMC-Q program in the context of national priorities, including the diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome center of excellence that is underway.
Adult attachment and declining birthrates.

Attachment scores for 658 young adults living in the USA were obtained using the Experiences in Close Relationships scale. The participants came from a subsample of the RELATE data set, who had also filled out the adult attachment measure. Those young adults living in Utah County, Utah, an area of the country with a higher than normal birthrate (88% members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), also had higher than average adult attachment scores. While the methodology was not sufficient to assess causal direction nor eliminate the possibility of unidentified influences, an undiscussed psychological factor, adult attachment, may play a role in the numerical declines observed among nonimmigrant communities in the USA and Europe.
Occupational pursuits of free women in early America: An examination of eighteenth-century newspapers

The revival of social and family history during the past two decades has resulted in major revisions of conventional explanations of the processes of social change. Scholarship concerning the status, roles, and contributions of early American women has been especially important in this respect. This paper is based on original findings from a systematic survey of the occupational pursuits of early American women (N=2,572) and a stratified sample (N=1,949), both derived from eighteenth-century newspaper advertisements. Our findings focus on the distribution of occupations available to women, important trends during the period, and factors contributing to changes in the occupational structure of early America.
Separation of 'glycosphingolipid signaling domain' from caveolin- containing membrane fraction in mouse melanoma B16 cells and its role in cell adhesion coupled with signaling

Two membrane subfractions, one enriched in GM3 ganglioside and the other containing caveolin, were separated from low density detergent-insoluble membrane fraction prepared by sucrose density gradient centrifugation of postnuclear fraction of mouse melanoma B16 cells. The GM3-enriched subfraction, separated by anti-GM3 monoclonal antibody DH2, contained sphingomyelin, cholesterol, c-Src, and Rho A but not caveolin. In contrast, the caveolin-containing subfraction, separated by anti-caveolin antibody, contained neither GM3, c-Src, nor Rho A but did contain glucosylceramide, Ras, a very small quantity of sphingomyelin, and a very large quantity of cholesterol. The GM3/c-Src-enriched membrane subfraction was characterized by (i) maintenance of GM3-dependent adhesion and (ii) susceptibility to being activated for signal transduction through GM3. 32P-Phosphorylation of c-Src (Mr 60,000) together with two other components (Mr 45,000 and 29,000) was enhanced in the fraction bound to dishes coated with asialo-GM2 (Gg3) or with anti-GM3 monoclonal antibody DH2, detected by incubation with [gamma-32P]ATP at 37 degreesC for 5 min. GM3-dependent adhesion of B16 cells to Gg3-coated dishes and associated signaling were not reduced or abolished in the presence of either filipin or nystatin, which are cholesterol-binding reagents known to abolish caveolae structure and function. B16 melanoma cells incubated with filipin (0.16-0.3 micrograms/ml) or with nystatin (25 micrograms/ml) for 30 min showed depletion of cholesterol in detergent-insoluble membrane fraction but were still capable of binding to Gg3-coated plate and capable of the associated signaling. Thus, the GM3-enriched subfraction, involved in cell adhesion and capable of sending signals through GM3, represents a membrane domain distinguishable from caveolin-containing subfraction or caveolae. This microdomain is hereby termed the "glycosphingolipid signaling domain" or "glycosignaling domain".
A Review of Seven Years' Experience with Silicone Gastric Banding

Since January 1983, silicone gastric banding (SGB) has been used with very low morbidity in 311 extremely obese patients to produce and maintain significant weight loss for as long as 7 years. A small meal-sizing pouch with reinforced small stoma is created with placement of the silicone band around the stomach. The basic operative technique involving no cutting or crushing of either the stomach or the small intestines has not changed. Strict quality control of the banding is permitted by specially designed calibration devices and other instruments. To permit correction of changes in stoma diameter occurring with the passage of time, the band was modified in 1986 by adding an adjustable portion (stoma adjustable silicone gastric banding or SASGB). Adjustment to proper size is done percutaneously through the injection port. SASGB allows corrections of most stoma-related problems non-operatively and significantly improved weight loss. One hundred and seventy-three original SGB patients (125 primary, 48 conversion) and 138 SASGB patients (93 primary, 45 conversion) were operated. At 60 months, 65 primary SGB patients averaged 47% excess weight loss (EWL). At 36 months, average EWL was significantly greater for 37 primary SASGB patients than for 94 primary SGB (64.3% vs 49.4%, p = 0.01); 84% of SASGB patients had EWL > 40% and 57% achieved EWL > 60%. SASGB generates weight loss comparable to that produced by more extensive bariatric procedures. Excellent weight loss and maintenance combined with the stoma size non-surgical adjustment ability makes SASGB attractive for use in treating bariatric patients.
A potential transcriptional adaptor(s) may be required in thyroid hormone-stimulated gene transcription in vitro

Thyroid hormone (T3) stimulates gene transcription by activation of thyroid hormone receptors (TRs), which bind to thyroid hormone response elements in T3-regulated genes. Retinoid-X receptors (RXRs), major members of the TR auxiliary proteins, have recently been shown to form TR-RXR heterodimers, to enhance the binding of the TRs to thyroid hormone response elements, and to augment TR-mediated transcriptional activation. In this report, we provide evidence that a putative adaptor(s), other than RXR, may be involved in T3-stimulated gene transcription. First, T3-stimulated, but not basal, transcription from the rat GH promoter was progressively and specifically inhibited by the addition of increasing amounts of either GST-TR beta or GST-RXR beta in a cell-free in vitro transcription. Second, this specific transcriptional inhibition is not due to disruption of the DNA-binding activity of the endogenous TR-RXR complex. These results suggest that inhibition of T3-stimulated transcription may be due to the se...
Dreaming and Daydreaming about Dreadful Possibilities: Primal Fears versus Existential Fears

One hundred eighteen subjects, on average, reported the frequency of dreams portraying primal fears to be higher than either the frequency of dreams portraying existential fears or the frequency of daydreams portraying primal fears. For the 25 subjects seeking “symbolic immortality” through their children's and grandchildren's memories of them, primal fears of death were significantly less intense than existential fears of having no offspring or of being predeceased by offspring. For the 18 subjects seeking “symbolic immortality” through work products presumed to have lasting value, primal fears of death were marginally less intense than existential fears of goals not being achieved or of work products having no impact.
Specificity determinants for lipids bound to β-barrel proteins

The family of proteins accountable for the intracellular movement of lipids is characterized by a 10-stranded beta-barrel that forms an internalized cavity varying in size and binding preferences. The loop connecting beta-strands E and F (the fifth and sixth strands) is the most striking conformational difference between adipocyte lipid binding protein (ALBP; fatty acids) and cellular retinoic acid binding protein type I (CRABP I). A three-residue mutation was made in wild-type (WT)-ALBP [ALBP with a three-residue mutation (EF-ALBP)] to mimic CRABP I. Crystal structures of ligand-free and EF-ALBP with bound oleic acid were solved to resolutions of 1.5 A and 1.7 A, respectively, and compared with previous studies of WT-ALBP. The changes in three residues of one loop of the protein appear to have altered the positioning of the C18 fatty acid, as observed in the electron density of EF-ALBP. The crystallographic studies made it possible to compare the protein conformation and ligand positioning with those found in the WT protein. Although the cavity binding sites in both the retinoid and fatty acid binding proteins are irregular, the ligand atoms appear to favor a relatively planar region of the cavities. Preliminary chemical characterization of the mutant protein indicated changes in some binding properties and overall protein stability.