cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Determinants of the heightened activity of glucocorticoid receptor translational isoforms.

Translational isoforms of the glucocorticoid receptor α (GR-A, -B, -C1, -C2, -C3, -D1, -D2, and -D3) have distinct tissue distribution patterns and unique gene targets. The GR-C3 isoform-expressing cells are more sensitive to glucocorticoid killing than cells expressing other GRα isoforms and the GR-D isoform–expressing cells are resistant to glucocorticoid killing. Whereas a lack of activation function 1 (AF1) may underlie the reduced activity of the GR-D isoforms, it is not clear how the GR-C3 isoform has heightened activity. Mutation analyses and N-terminal tagging demonstrated that steric hindrance is probably the mechanism for the GR-A, -B, -C1, and -C2 isoforms to have lower activity than the GR-C3 isoform. In addition, truncation scanning analyses revealed that residues 98 to 115 are critical in the hyperactivity of the human GR-C3 isoform. Chimera constructs linking this critical fragment with the GAL4 DNA-binding domain showed that GR residues 98 to 115 do not contain any independent transactivation activity. Mutations at residues Asp101 or Gln106 and Gln107 all reduced the activity of the GR-C3 isoform. In addition, functional studies indicated that Asp101 is crucial for the GR-C3 isoform to recruit coregulators and to mediate glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis. Thus, charged and polar residues are essential components of an N-terminal motif that enhances the activity of AF1 and the GR-C3 isoform. These studies, together with the observations that GR isoforms have cell-specific expression patterns, provide a molecular basis for the tissue-specific functions of GR translational isoforms.
Using the built environment to oversample walk, transit, and bicycle travel

Abstract Characteristics of the built environment (BE) have been associated with walk, transit, and bicycle travel. These BE characteristics can be used by transportation researchers to oversample households from areas where walk, transit, or bicycle travel is more likely, resulting in more observations of these uncommon travel behaviors. Little guidance, however, is available on the effectiveness of such built environment oversampling strategies. This article presents measures that can be used to assess the effectiveness of BE oversampling strategies and inform future efforts to oversample households with uncommon travel behaviors. The measures are sensitivity and specificity, positive likelihood ratio (LR+), and positive predictive value (PPV). To illustrate these measures, they were calculated for 10 BE-defined oversampling strata applied post-hoc to a Seattle area household travel survey. Strata with an average block size of
Ge(011)-c(8×10) surface structure and hydrogen desorption pathways: a temperature-programmed desorption and scanning tunneling microscopy study

Abstract Temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) were used to probe the atomic arrangement on clean Ge(011)-c(8×10), as well as the desorption kinetics and pathways from hydrogen-adsorbed surfaces. For the TPD measurements, the samples were heated at 2°C s−1 after adsorbing atomic deuterium at 100°C to coverages θD ranging up to saturation. Low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) and STM show that saturation deuterium coverage results in a (1×1) structure with the surface composed of randomly distributed adatom islands. TPD spectra exhibit three second-order peaks corresponding to D2 desorption from multideuterides, adatom monodeuterides and rest-atom monodeuterides. Desorption from the multideuteride phase (with an activation energy Ea of 1.61 eV) begins at 200°C and, by 270°C, only the D–adatom and D–rest-atom monodeuteride phases remain. D2 begins to desorb from adatom sites (Ea=1.76 eV) above 230°C and from rest-atom sites (Ea=1.83 eV) above 240°C. From quantitative analyses of the TPD spectra, the adatom density on the clean surface is ≥0.47. This high adatom density — similar to that of Si(111)-(7×7), Si(011)-(16×2) and Ge(111)-c(2×8), all of which contain adatoms and rest atoms as primary building blocks — appears to rule out previously proposed models for the Ge(011)-c(8×10) surface structure, for which the adatom density is 0.064.
Intestinal, Segmented, Filamentous Bacteria and Colonisation Resistance of Mice to Pathogenic Bacteria

We examined the possibility that segmented, filamentous bacteria (FBs) in the ileum of mice play a role in host resistance to pathogens by comparing four groups of mice, namely germ-free mice, mice mono-associated with FBs, FB-free mice with a specified pathogen-free (SPF) flora, and FB-positive SPF mice, after oral administration of viable cells of either Salmonella enteritidis or Enterobacter cloacae . The SPF gut flora with or without FBs reduced colonisation of host tissues by pathogens to a similar extent. FBs alone did not reduce mean colonisation, except for salmonella counts in spleen. Mice mono associated with FBs had a lower incidence of animals with salmonella-positive livers and spleens than did germ-free mice. When compared with the germ-free status, both the SPF flora and FBs raised the serum IgA concentration irrespective of the type of pathogen challenge. The SPF flora consistently raised the concanavalin A-induced proliferative response of isolated mesenteric lymph node cells (MLNC). In MLNC from FB-positive SPF mice, the concanavalin A-induced proliferative response was lower than in FB-free SPF mice, but the salmonella antigen-induced response of spleen cells (SC) was higher; these effects were independent of the type of pathogen challenge. The in vitro proliferative response of Peyer’s patch cells to various antigens was not affected by the type of gut flora of mice challenged with either Salmonella enteritidis or Enterobacter cloacae . Keywords: Segmented filamentous bacteria; Colonisation resistance; Translocation; Mouse intestine; Enteropathogens; Salmonella; Enterobacter.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A LYSOZYME‐LIKE ENZYME AND FROG ADENOCARCINOMA*

The occurrence of macromolecular change accompanying differentiation in embryonic or neoplastic development is well recognized, even if poorly understood.'+ In the course of immunochemical studies on macromolecular changes related to differentiation in the amphibian,".' we have had occasion to examine the antigenic composition of the f rog kidney and of the f rog renal adenocarcinoma, which is believed to be of viral origin.", I" The following is a report of observations on antigenic differences between the normal and tumor kidney of the frog, on the possible identity of one of these antigens, and on some differences between tumor-susceptible and resistant f rogs.1'-*3
Candidates for transcatheter aortic valve replacement: fitting the PARTNERS criteria.

Objectives To determine an estimate patient volume with severe AS meeting PARTNER-B criteria, with the objective of providing insights into the annual volume needed to sustain a TAVR program. Background While the prevalence of AS is well documented, potential TAVR candidates remains less established. A better understanding of this population is critical for the development of TAVR programs. Though no clear volume has been determined, societies suggest a minimum of 20–24 annual cases to establish a TAVR program. Methods A total of 21,652 patients were screened from a single center echocardiography registry over a 3-year period. From them, 833 patients with AS were identified representing our study population. Severity was stratified by echocardiographic criteria. Those identified to have moderate-to-severe and severe AS were further investigated to determine clinical status and surgical candidacy. Nonsurgical candidates were cross referenced with the PARTNER-B exclusion criteria to determine eligibility for TAVR. Results Symptomatic AS was present in 133 patients (16%). Fifty (38%) were considered nonsurgical candidates. Nonsurgical patients had higher STS score (11.1 ± 10.8 vs. 4.0 ± 3.3, P < 0.001). After applying PARTNERS-B exclusion criteria, only 18 patients (14%) were considered TAVR candidates. These findings indicate that to meet the recommended annual volume of 20–24 TAVR cases, a minimum of 150–170 symptomatic severe AS patients are required. Conclusion In real world clinical practice, the prevalence of AS meeting PARTNERS-B criteria for TAVR can be low. These findings suggest that either high volume valvular centers or regional referral centers will need to be considered as part of the strategy to incorporate this new technology into clinical practice. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Divergence in morphology, calls, song, mechanical sounds, and genetics supports species status for the Inaguan hummingbird (Trochilidae: Calliphlox “evelynae” lyrura)

ABSTRACT The Bahama Woodstar (Calliphlox evelynae), a hummingbird endemic to the Bahama Archipelago, comprises two currently recognized subspecies: Calliphlox e. evelynae, found throughout the Bahamas and in the Turks and Caicos Islands, except on Great and Little Inagua; and C. e. lyrura, named for its unique, lyre-shaped outer tail feathers and found only on the islands of Great and Little Inagua. The two were originally described as separate species, partly on the basis of their divergent tail morphology, but were subsequently lumped by Peters (1945). These taxa are members of the North American “bee” hummingbird clade, which produce mechanical sounds with their tails during courtship displays. Changes in tail shape may produce significant acoustic divergence. To determine the extent of differentiation between lyrura and evelynae, we collected field recordings of calls, songs, and courtship displays from New Providence and Great Inagua islands and surveyed morphological variation across the archipelago...
Peering into an ATPase ion pump with single-channel recordings

In principle, an ion channel needs no more than a single gate, but a pump requires at least two gates that open and close alternately to allow ion access from only one side of the membrane at a time. In the Na+,K+-ATPase pump, this alternating gating effects outward transport of three Na+ ions and inward transport of two K+ ions, for each ATP hydrolysed, up to a hundred times per second, generating a measurable current if assayed in millions of pumps. Under these assay conditions, voltage jumps elicit brief charge movements, consistent with displacement of ions along the ion pathway while one gate is open but the other closed. Binding of the marine toxin, palytoxin, to the Na+,K+-ATPase uncouples the two gates, so that although each gate still responds to its physiological ligand they are no longer constrained to open and close alternately, and the Na+,K+-ATPase is transformed into a gated cation channel. Millions of Na+ or K+ ions per second flow through such an open pump–channel, permitting assay of single molecules and allowing unprecedented access to the ion transport pathway through the Na+,K+-ATPase. Use of variously charged small hydrophilic thiol-specific reagents to probe cysteine targets introduced throughout the pump's transmembrane segments allows mapping and characterization of the route traversed by transported ions.
Optical flow switching

Present-day networks are being challenged by dramatic increases in bandwidth demand of emerging applications. We will explore a new transport, “optical flow switching”, that will enable significant growth and cost-effective scalability of next-generation data networks.
Engineering and mechanistic studies of the Arabidopsis FAE1 β‐ketoacyl‐CoA synthase, FAE1 KCS

The Arabidopsis FAE1 β-ketoacyl-CoA synthase (FAE1 KCS) catalyzes the condensation of malonyl-CoA with long-chain acyl-CoAs. Sequence analysis of FAE1 KCS predicted that this condensing enzyme is anchored to a membrane by two adjacent N-terminal membrane-spanning domains. In order to characterize the FAE1 KCS and analyze its mechanism, FAE1 KCS and its mutants were engineered with a His6-tag at their N-terminus, and expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The membrane-bound enzyme was then solubilized and purified to near homogeneity on a metal affinity column. Wild-type recombinant FAE1 KCS was active with several acyl-CoA substrates, with highest activity towards saturated and monounsaturated C16 and C18. In the absence of an acyl-CoA substrate, FAE1 KCS was unable to carry out decarboxylation of [3–14C]malonyl-CoA, indicating that it requires binding of the acyl-CoA for decarboxylation activity. Site-directed mutagenesis was carried out on the FAE1 KCS to assess if this condensing enzyme was mechanistically related to the well characterized soluble condensing enzymes of fatty acid and flavonoid syntheses. A C223A mutant enzyme lacking the acylation site was unable to carry out decarboxylation of malonyl-CoA even when 18:1-CoA was present. Mutational analyses of the conserved Asn424 and His391 residues indicated the importance of these residues for FAE1-KCS activity. The results presented here provide the initial analysis of the reaction mechanism for a membrane-bound condensing enzyme from any source and provide evidence for a mechanism similar to the soluble condensing enzymes.
Sequencing and Transcriptional Analysis of the Chlorite Dismutase Gene of Dechloromonas agitata and Its Use as a Metabolic Probe

The dismutation of chlorite into chloride and O2 represents a central step in the reductive pathway of perchlorate that is common to all dissimilatory perchlorate-reducing bacteria and is mediated by a single enzyme, chlorite dismutase. The chlorite dismutase gene cld was isolated and sequenced from the perchlorate-reducing bacterium Dechloromonas agitata strain CKB. Sequence analysis identified an open reading frame of 834 bp that would encode a mature protein with an N-terminal sequence identical to that of the previously purified D. agitata chlorite dismutase enzyme. The predicted translation product of the D. agitata cld gene is a protein of 277 amino acids (aa), including a leader peptide of 26 aa. Primer extension analysis identified a single transcription start site directly downstream of an AT-rich region that could represent the −10 promoter region of the D. agitata cld gene. Northern blot analysis indicated that the cld gene was transcriptionally up-regulated when D. agitata cells were grown in perchlorate-reducing versus aerobic conditions. Slot blot hybridizations with a D. agitata cld probe demonstrated the conservation of the cld gene among perchlorate-reducing bacteria. This study represents the first description of a functional gene associated with microbial perchlorate reduction.
Electromechanical imaging of biomaterials by scanning probe microscopy.

The majority of calcified and connective tissues possess complex hierarchical structure spanning the length scales from nanometers to millimeters. Understanding the biological functionality of these materials requires reliable methods for structural imaging on the nanoscale. Here, we demonstrate an approach for electromechanical imaging of the structure of biological samples on the length scales from tens of microns to nanometers using piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM), which utilizes the intrinsic piezoelectricity of biopolymers such as proteins and polysaccharides as the basis for high-resolution imaging. Nanostructural imaging of a variety of protein-based materials, including tooth, antler, and cartilage, is demonstrated. Visualization of protein fibrils with sub-10 nm spatial resolution in a human tooth is achieved. Given the near-ubiquitous presence of piezoelectricity in biological systems, PFM is suggested as a versatile tool for micro- and nanostructural imaging in both connective and calcified tissues.
Ozone exposure, food restriction and protein deficiency: Changes in collagen and elastin in rodent lung

Two groups of weanling or young adult rats were fed ad lib casein-based diets containing 4 or 16% protein. Food was restricted in a third group (fed the 16% protein diet) to the amount consumed daily by rats (adult or weanlings) fed the 4% diet. After 3 weeks (weanlings) or 1, 3 or 5 weeks (adults), one-half of the rats in each group were exposed to 0.64 ppm (1.28 mg/m3) of ozone for 7 days (23.5 h each day). Several parameters were then evaluated related to lung connective tissue metabolism including: (1) total lung hydroxyproline, (2) total lung elastin, (3) apparent rates for lung collagen synthesis and elastin accumulation and (4) lung and body weights. In general, the response to protein deficiency and food restriction was more pronounced than to ozone exposure. Protein deficiency and food restriction resulted in decreased lung size and collagen content. However, the ability of lung to respond to ozone (in relative terms) was not altered by changes in diet as assessed by changes in lung weight or the collagen synthetic rate.
Conceptual Modeling for Distributed Ontology Environments

As ontologies become common in more applications and as those applications become larger and longer-lived, it is becoming increasingly common for ontologies to be developed in distributed environments by authors with disparate backgrounds. Ontologies that are expected to be collaboratively created and maintained over time by authors in many locations present special challenges to the problem of conceptual modeling. In this paper, we will discuss conceptual modeling issues and focus on those topics with elevated importance in distributed environments. We will draw on our experience creating and maintaining ontologies in differing knowledge representation and reasoning environments over the last decade. Many of our recent observations are drawn from our experiences in the DARPA High Performance Knowledge Base Program. This program generated dozens of knowledge bases authored by people of varying expertise in both knowledge representation and reasoning as well as domain experience. Our efforts in merging the ontologies, loading them for coordinated use, and modifying them to meet evolving needs shape much of the material in this paper. Additional sources of observations are from designing and building a number of e-commerce ontologies (with content merged from multiple sources) and also from a few families of description logic applications including the PROSE/QUESTAR family of configurators and the FindUR knowledge-enhanced search applications.
Red Hot Chili Peppers Rock Obesity Research

Brown fat, a heat-producing organ in human infants and hibernating mammals, was shown recently to be present in human adults and to participate in energy expenditure. Although brown fat seems to be a logical target for obesity treatments that enhance the organ’s ability to burn energy, disappointing studies show that most obese people display undetectable levels of brown-fat metabolism. Now, a study by Yoneshiro et al . shows that hope remains in the quest to target brown fat for weight loss. The authors treated participants who displayed low or undetectable brown-fat metabolism (as assessed by fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography) with 6 weeks of daily exposure to cold (17°C for 2 hours), which resulted in significant activation of brown fat—and thus energy expenditure—in 50% of the study participants. These individuals lost an average of 5.2% of their body fat mass over a 6-week period after cold treatment. Cold exposure is known to be a powerful physiological stimulus for brown-fat metabolism, which is mediated through activation of the sympathetic nervous system by transient receptor potential (TRP) channels in the periphery. Capsinoids—small molecules that are naturally present in red chili peppers—were also shown to activate TRP channels in both in vitro and in animal models and, therefore, might mimic the effect of cold exposure on activation of brown fat. Indeed, daily ingestion of capsinoids for 6 weeks resulted in an increase in brown-fat metabolic activity and energy expenditure among a second cohort with low or undetectable brown-fat activity before treatment. This study demonstrates loss of body fat in humans by recruitment of brown fat and provides a rationale for long-term studies to assess the safety and efficacy of capsinoid therapeutics as a weight-loss strategy. Although chronic exposure to cold is not a practical treatment approach, an odorless and tasteless chili-pepper extract may be a convenient alternative. T. Yoneshiro et al ., Recruited brown adipose tissue as an antiobesity agent in humans. J. Clin. Invest. , published online 15 July 2013 (10.1172/JCI67803). [[Full Text]][1] [1]: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/67803
Use of the Ear Oximeter for Assay of Pulmonary Disability

SUMMARY An oximetric method for assessing pulmonary impairment has been devised. The decrease in arterial oxygen saturation, measured by an ear oximeter, and the work performed by stepping up and down on an 8-inch step 30 times per minute not to exceed five minutes are correlated. An index of disability is calculated as follows: DI = Decrease % arterial O2 saturation after exercise Total foot pounds work done × 10 5 Fifteen normal subjects had scores ranging from +14 to −20 (median= −1) and 14 patients with pulmonary diseases not expected to interfere with pulmonary function had scores ranging from +142 to −12 (median=+9). Thirty-six of the 51 patients with diseases expected to interfere with function and who were receiving therapy had scores from −24 to −1112 (median= −126). The remaining 15 had scores in the range of the normal subjects. Had these 51 patients not been receiving treatment, the number of patients responding to the test would probably have been nearer 100 per cent. Studies in another 16 patients showed that changes in arterial blood saturation by oximetry agreed well with changes obtained by arterial blood gas analysis. The correlation coefficient r=0.944. The method is easy, simple, rapid and causes little or no anxiety in the subject tested. The testing equipment can be easily set up in a plant dispensary or in a field location.
Cell Differentiation In Vitro: Model Systems

Because conditions of culture in vitro cannot be identical to those in the living system, cell lines cultured in vitro are referred to as ‘model systems’. Not all cell types are capable of differentiation in vitro. Procedures for studying differentiation in model systems depend on the type of culture that can be employed. Techniques employed include liquid suspension cultures, monolayer cultures and complex culture systems involving semisolid matrices or liquid overlay methods. Such in vitro culture techniques have applications to the study of differentiation in basic research and clinical applications.
Structural basis for nematode eIF4E binding an m2,2,7G-Cap and its implications for translation initiation

Metazoan spliced leader (SL) trans-splicing generates mRNAs with an m2,2,7G-cap and a common downstream SL RNA sequence. The mechanism for eIF4E binding an m2,2,7G-cap is unknown. Here, we describe the first structure of an eIF4E with an m2,2,7G-cap and compare it to the cognate m7G-eIF4E complex. These structures and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) data indicate that the nematode Ascaris suum eIF4E binds the two different caps in a similar manner except for the loss of a single hydrogen bond on binding the m2,2,7G-cap. Nematode and mammalian eIF4E both have a low affinity for m2,2,7G-cap compared with the m7G-cap. Nematode eIF4E binding to the m7G-cap, m2,2,7G-cap and the m2,2,7G-SL 22-nt RNA leads to distinct eIF4E conformational changes. Additional interactions occur between Ascaris eIF4E and the SL on binding the m2,2,7G-SL. We propose interactions between Ascaris eIF4E and the SL impact eIF4G and contribute to translation initiation, whereas these interactions do not occur when only the m2,2,7G-cap is present. These data have implications for the contribution of 5′-UTRs in mRNA translation and the function of different eIF4E isoforms.
Geography and Energy: The Quest for Roles and Missions

Energy has emerged as an important field of specialization in geography, offering geographers the opportunity to have an important impact on public policy as the world struggles through the transition to non-fossil sources of energy services. To take advantage of this potential, energy geographers need to focus on the real problems, to establish their credentials as experts on energy as well as geography and to communicate effectively with those who take actions to resolve issues and solve problems.
The mobility gaps in a-Si:H and its effects on solar cell performance

Internal photoemission of both electrons and holes was used to investigate the movement of mobility edges in a-Si:H. Shifts of the electron mobility edges were observed with changes in the optical gap, E/sub opt/ due to temperature and incorporation of hydrogen. Mobility gaps of 1.8 to 1.9 eV were measured for plasma-assisted CVD (chemical-vapor-deposited) films with optical gaps from 1.73 to 1.76 eV. The large effects of the differences between E/sub opt/ and the mobility gap in a-Si:H on solar cell performance are demonstrated using detailed numerical modeling of the maximum open-circuit voltage. The results obtained show that, for the commonly used a-Si:H materials with E/sub opt/ from 1.70 to 1.75 eV, the maximum open-circuit voltage that can be obtained, even with p-i-n homojunction cells, is 1.0 eV. This indicates that the V/sub oc/ in present solar cells is not limited by the intrinsic properties of the a-Si:H. >
Optimization of Teleprocessing Networks with Concentrators and Multiconnected Terminals

In this paper we consider the optimization of teleprocessing (TP) networks with concentrators. Each terminal may in general have multiple connections to several concentrators. The first part of the paper is concerned with the optimal assignment of terminals to a given set of concentrators. A sequential assignment algorithm is presented with its efficiency and optimality established. The second part of the paper is concerned with the optimal number and location of the concentrators to be installed. A generalized "ADD" algorithm is suggested. It is shown that the total cost function is convex with respect to the nwnber of concentrators installed in such an algorithm.
Collective behavior of particle-like chemical waves

Stabilized waves in weakly excitable media propagate with constant velocity and can be directionally controlled with applied excitability gradients. Multiple waves with directional control governed by pairwise interaction potentials form cohesive groups. Processional modes arise in collections of waves with random initial conditions, in which spontaneous alignment plays an essential role. Rotational modes occur with special initial conditions, and highly complex orbits are exhibited in larger groups. The ordered behavior is associated with waves following paths of minimum potential.
A New Perspective on O(n) Mass-Matrix Inversion for Serial Revolute Manipulators

This paper describes a new algorithm for the efficient mass-matrix inversion of serial manipulators. Whereas several well-known O(n) algorithms already exist, our presentation is an alternative and completely different formulation that builds on Fixman’s theorem from the polymer physics literature. The main contributions here are therefore adding a new perspective to the manipulator dynamics literature and providing an alternative to existing algorithms. The essence of this theory is to consider explicitly the band-diagonal structure of the inverted mass matrix of a manipulator with no constraints on link length, offsets or twist angles, and then build in constraints by appropriate partitioning of the inverse of the unconstrained mass matrix. We present the theory of the partitioned mass matrix and inverse of the mass matrix for serial revolute manipulators. The planar N-link manipulator with revolute joints is used to illustrate the procedure. Numerical results verify the O(n) complexity of the algorithm. Exposure of the robotics community to this approach may lead to new ways of thinking about manipulator dynamics and control.
FGILP: an integer linear program solver based on function graphs

Edge-valued binary-decision diagrams (EVBDDs) are directed acyclic graphs which can represent and manipulate integer functions as effectively as ordered binary-decision diagrams (OBDDs) do for Boolean functions. They have been used to perform logic verification and compute the decomposability of Boolean functions. In this paper, we present a new EVBDD application for solving integer linear programs (ILP), which is an NP-hard problem that appears in many applications. Our approach is to combine the benefits of the EVBDD data structure (in terms of subgraph sharing and caching of computational results) with the state-of-the-art ILP solving techniques. Our program, called FGILP (Function Graph ILP) has been implemented in C under the SIS environment. The preliminary results of FGILP are comparable to those of LINDO.
Strengthening suicide prevention networks: Interorganizational collaboration and tie strength

One explanation for the continued high rates of suicide in the United States may be insufficient coordination between organizations involved in prevention. Therefore, the factors that promote interorganizational collaboration should be identified and fostered. Surveys were administered to 37 organizations involved in suicide prevention in one Colorado community to: (1) assess the nature of collaboration and (2) identify relationship strength indicators associated with different types of collaboration. Results were examined using social network and regression analyses. Organizations reported more sharing information and resources and sending and receiving referrals than developing service infrastructure and coordinating training and screening activities. Some types of organizations were more connected than others, and the influence of relationship strength indicators was mostly consistent across different types of collaboration. This study offers new insight into the structural and relational aspects of interorganizational collaboration in suicide prevention and may serve as a model to better understand networks within other community health settings.
A Phase II study of the efficacy and tolerability of Lapatinib in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinomas.

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 12-16, 2008; San Diego, CA LB-306 Abstract LB-306 has been selected for inclusion in the AACR’s Annual Meeting press program and is therefore embargoed until date and time of press briefing or scientific presentation, whichever comes first. The abstract is scheduled for scientific presentation and will be posted to this site at or after the following date and time: 4/15/2008 1:00 PM.
The Solution of Equations by the Method of Successive Approximations

(1925). The Solution of Equations by the Method of Successive Approximations. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 32, No. 6, pp. 272-287.
Standardized posterior pelvic imaging: Use of CT inlet and CT outlet for evaluation and management of pelvic ring injuries

OBJECTIVES The null hypothesis of this study states that routine axial computed tomography (CT) images are obtained at a consistent and reproducible orientation relative to the sacrum. The secondary null hypothesis states that there is no difference in the measurement of the safe zone for placement of iliosacral screws when using routine axial CT images and standardized reconstructions in defined planes perpendicular and parallel to the sacrum. DESIGN Retrospective review. SETTING University Level 1 Trauma Center. PATIENTS Sixty-eight consecutive trauma patients evaluated with routine pelvic CT, without pelvic ring injury. INTERVENTION Retrospective radiographic review and measurement. METHODS Sixty-eight consecutive adult patients with routine axial pelvic CT scans, without injury to the pelvic ring, and obtained as part of a trauma evaluation were retrospectively identified. The orientation of the axial slices relative to the sacrum was measured for each patient and compared. The maximal cross-sectional distance at the smallest section of the sacral ala (safe zone) was measured using the routine axial CT images, and these measurements were compared with similar measurements taken on standardized images perpendicular (CT inlet) and parallel (CT outlet) to the body of the sacrum. Additional data referencing the orientation of multiple sacral radiographic landmarks were also collected. RESULTS The orientation of routine axial CT image planes relative to the sacrum spanned a wide range. The angle between the routine axial CT plane and the sacrum varied from 43.5 to 82.0 degrees (SD = 9 degrees). Significant differences were found in measured safe zones of routine axial CT images compared with standardized CT inlet and CT outlet images. Compared with CT inlet images, routine axial CT images underestimated safe zones for transverse sacral screws at both S1 (P < 0.01) and S2 (P < 0.01). When compared with CT outlet images, routine axial CT images overestimated safe zones for oblique sacroiliac screws (P < 0.01) and underestimated the safe zone for S2 transverse sacral style screws (P < 0.01). No significant differences in measured variables were found between genders and sacral morphology. CONCLUSIONS Our null hypotheses were rejected: routine axial CT images were found to be at widely ranging orientations relative to the sacrum, and standardized CT images (CT inlet and CT outlet) demonstrated statistically significant differences in measurements of safe zones compared with routine axial CT images. Furthermore, the CT inlet and CT outlet views provide additional information regarding sacral landmarks that could be useful for preoperative planning.
Boundary element transient analysis of problems with random boundary conditions

Fhundary ele~rle~ll forr~~nla t ions for the t,reatrnent of bounditry vitlue problerl~s i t ] 2-D elast,icit,y with random boundary cm~~ditions are presented. It is assumed that ritr~doin boundary conditions may be described as second order rar~dorn fields that possess finite moments up to the second order. Spatially ~orre la t~ed ti111eilldependent and time-dependent houndary condit,ions are c:o~~sidrred. For tinre-independent boundary corltlitions, a stochastic equivalei~t of Somigliana's idew tity is utilized to obtain detern~inistic integral equa~ i o r ~ s for matl~ernatical expectations and covariances of t11e response variables. T l ~ e r a ~ ~ d o r r ~ field used tjo drscrihe the boundary conditions is discretized into a bite set of randoni variables defined a t the element nodes. Quadratic, conforming boundary elements itre used L O arrive at discretized equations for the response statistics of u r ~ k t ~ o w ~ l houndary variables. These values lllay t1le11 he used to calculate the response statistics of internal variables itntf b o u ~ ~ d a r y stresses. The ;tl)ove procedure is next extended for the t,reatrr~e~iL of tin~e-dependent, spatially correlated boundary conditions. A stochast,ic equivalelir of St,okes' time-domitin integral represent at ion is utilized to obtain deterministic i ~ ~ t e g r a l equalioris for the response stmatistics of unktlowrl b o u ~ ~ d x r y vitriahles. Arl approximate procedure for the ca lcu la t io~~ of t,lw covariitl~c:e matrix, tha t reducrs the r~urrlber of matrix operations and comput,er storage reqriiren~ents, is developed. The derivations for the treat melit o f hour~ditry ~ond i t ions tha t are random in tilne and nlay be described as it11 evolutionary wltit,e 'Associate: Professor ' Rrscarch lZssistar~t Copyright @ 1993 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. All rights reserved. noise are also presented.
A study on the therapy of ganciclovir for the children with infectious mononucleosis

Objective: To investigate the clinical curative effect and safety of Ganciclovir (GCV) on treatment of children with infectious mononucleosis (IM). Methods: A comparative study on GCV group and interferon-alpha (IFN-α) one was done. Results: The duration of fever and angina of IM in GCV group was shorter than IFN-α group (P 0.05). Conclusion: GCV therapy is safe and efficacious for children with IM, and it is helpful in shortening the period of progress.
Leveraging ontologies for lifted probabilistic inference and learning

Exploiting ontologies for efficient inference is one of the most widely studied topics in knowledge representation and reasoning. The use of ontologies for probabilistic inference, however, is much less developed. A number of algorithms for lifted inference in first-order probabilistic languages have been proposed, but their scalability is limited by the combinatorial explosion in the sets of objects that need to be considered. We propose a coarse-to-fine inference approach that leverages a class hierarchy to combat this problem. Starting at the highest level, our approach performs inference at successively finer grains, pruning low-probability atoms before refining. We provide bounds on the error incurred by this approach relative to full ground inference as a function of the pruning threshold. We also show how to learn parameters in a coarse-to-fine manner to maximize the opportunities for pruning during inference. Experiments on link prediction and biomolecular event prediction tasks show our method can greatly improve the scalability of lifted probabilistic inference.
Studying NB-LRR immune receptor localization by agroinfiltration transient expression

NB-LRR immune receptors in plants play dual roles as sentries and as activators of defense. The site in the cell where these activities take place can be different for different NB-LRRs. Furthermore, recognition and defense activation can occur in distinct subcellular compartments. Therefore, determining the subcellular localization of NB-LRRs is a key step toward understanding how they function. Recent advances in confocal microscopy enable high-resolution imaging of proteins in live cells. Agroinfiltration in the Nicotiana benthamiana model plant system is a convenient way of expressing proteins for localization studies. This chapter explains how to use N. benthamiana to transiently express NB-LRRs for confocal fluorescence microscopy.
RF 4H-SiC bipolar junction transistors

We report on the progress towards a silicon carbide (SiC) bipolar transistor aimed at operation at RF frequencies up to 3 GHz. Devices with a 5 /spl mu/m emitter stripe width were fabricated and tested on-chip with cascade probes and an HP8510C network analyzer. These devices have an f/sub t//f/sub max/ of 0.6/0.2GHz. To best of our knowledge the devices represent a first demonstration of an RF 4H-SiC BJT.
Emulsion Stabilized with Starch Octenyl Succinate Prolongs Nisin Activity Against Listeria Monocytogenes in a Cantaloupe Juice Model

Food safety related to fresh and fresh-cut produce, such as cantaloupe, is a great challenge in the food industry. Various processing technologies, including the use of antimicrobial materials, have been applied to reduce pathogens. Nisin, an antimicrobial peptide, shows strong inhibitory activity against Listeria monocytogenes (LM); however, it suffers from quick depletion in foods. In this study, the protective effect of starch octenyl succinate (starch-OS) stabilized emulsion on nisin was evaluated in a cantaloupe juice model. Results showed that the proteolytic enzyme in cantaloupe juice caused nisin depletion, and the adsorption of nisin in emulsion led to considerable protection of antimicrobial activity. After 1, 3, and 6 d of incorporation with cantaloupe juice, the size of LM inhibitory ring were 7.64, 7.60, and 2.97 mm, respectively for emulsion formulations, whereas it reduced from 3.60 mm to a negligible level for nisin-alone. This study showed the potential of using carbohydrate colloidal systems to prolong the efficacy of antimicrobial materials.
Examining Racial Disparities in Teacher Perceptions of Student Disabilities.

Background/ContextThe overrepresentation of some minority groups in special education in the United States raises concerns about racial inequality and stratification within schools. While many acto...
The Identifiable Victim Effect: Using an Experimental-Causal-Chain Design to Test for Mediation

The identifiable victim effect (IVE) refers to individuals’ tendency to offer greater aid to identifiable victims than to statistical victims. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether emotional reactions work to mediate IVE. In two experiments based on the experimental-causal-chain design proposed by Spencer et al. (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 89, 845–851, 2005), it was shown that an identifiable victim evokes stronger emotional reactions than does a statistical victim (Study 1). It was also demonstrated that the identifiable victim shown or described with a specific expression or information to evoke stronger emotional reactions elicited greater willingness to donate money in participants (Study 2). The results of two studies based on the experimental-causal-chain approach demonstrated that the underlying causal mechanism for the IVE is participants’ emotional reactions to identified victims. The theoretical and practical implications of the results are discussed.
Impact of a counter-rotating planetary rotation system on thin-film thickness and uniformity

Planetary rotation systems incorporating forward- and counter-rotating planets are used as a means of increasing coating-system capacity for large oblong substrates. Comparisons of planetary motion for the two types of rotating systems are presented based on point tracking for multiple revolutions as well as comparisons of quantitative thickness and uniformity. Counter-rotation system geometry is shown to result in differences in thin-film thickness relative to standard planetary rotation for precision optical coatings. This systematic error in thin-film thickness will reduce deposition yields for sensitive coating designs.
Service Characteristics and Family Involvement in an Early Childhood System of Care

Participation in community-based family interventions characterized by an integrated service approach is linked to enhanced caregiver and child outcomes. However, more research is needed that examines the developmental impacts of interventions serving young children and their families, given that adversity in early childhood may predict problematic developmental trajectories. We examined potential relations among perceived characteristics of an early childhood system of care serving children with severe emotional and behavioral challenges and their families, dimensions of family involvement, and changes in child and caregiver functioning from intake to 6 months. We analyzed data from 158 caregivers of children under age 6 (M age = 3.9 years, SD = 1.11, Range = 1.4–5.9 years) who were primarily White and boys. Results indicated, for instance, that perceived cultural competence and general satisfaction were positively associated with active caregiver participation in services. Although multiple path models tested via path analyses were not statistically significant, the model that assessed the potential mediating effect of active caregiver participation on the relation between cultural competence and caregiver stress approached significance (z = −1.89, SE = .03, p = .06). Qualitative results indicated that caregivers primarily viewed receiving family support as the most helpful aspect of the SOC, followed by learning enhanced parenting skills and observing positive changes in their children’s behaviors. Our findings highlight important facets of an early childhood SOC linked to positive participant experiences and outcomes. We discuss limitations of our study and implications for future research.
Catalytic Silylation of N2 and Synthesis of NH3 and N2H4 by Net Hydrogen Atom Transfer Reactions Using a Chromium P4 Macrocycle

We report the first discrete molecular Cr-based catalysts for the reduction of N2. This study is focused on the reactivity of the Cr-N2 complex, trans-[Cr(N2)2(PPh4NBn4)] (P4Cr(N2)2), bearing a 16-membered tetraphosphine macrocycle. The architecture of the [16]-PPh4NBn4 ligand is critical to preserve the structural integrity of the catalyst. P4Cr(N2)2 was found to mediate the reduction of N2 at room temperature and 1 atm pressure by three complementary reaction pathways: (1) Cr-catalyzed reduction of N2 to N(SiMe3)3 by Na and Me3SiCl, affording up to 34 equiv N(SiMe3)3; (2) stoichiometric reduction of N2 by protons and electrons (for example, the reaction of cobaltocene and collidinium triflate at room temperature afforded 1.9 equiv of NH3, or at −78 °C afforded a mixture of NH3 and N2H4); and (3) the first example of NH3 formation from the reaction of a terminally bound N2 ligand with a traditional H atom source, TEMPOH (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-ol). We found that trans-[Cr(15N2)2(PPh4NBn4)] react...
A commercial soy-based phospholipid emulsion accelerates clot formation in normal canine whole blood and induces hemolysis in whole blood from normal and dogs with inflammatory leukograms.

Objective To compare lipid emulsion-induced hemolysis in blood from dogs with inflammatory leukograms to blood from healthy dogs, and determine the impact of a prototypical soy-based phospholipid emulsion on coagulation in whole blood from healthy dogs. Design Ex vivo study using EDTA and citrated whole blood from healthy dogs and EDTA anticoagulated whole blood from dogs with inflammatory leukograms. Setting University research laboratory. Animals Healthy dogs (total of 16, 9 for hemolysis assays and 6 for thromboelastography) included student- and staff-owned animals. Blood samples from dogs with inflammatory leukograms (8) were obtained from the clinical pathology laboratory after the complete blood count was performed as part of patient care. For the purposes of this study, an inflammatory leukogram was defined as a neutrophilia with a left-shift (minimum of 3% band neutrophils) and evidence of toxic change. Interventions None. Measurements and main results Hemolysis was measured via spectrophotometric quantification of released hemoglobin and expressed as a percent of a water-lysed control. The soy emulsion caused hemolysis in blood from healthy dogs, ranging from 3.6% to 16.4% as the dose increased, and 4.1% to 25.0% in blood from dogs with inflammatory leukograms. Hemolysis between these patient groups was significantly different at the highest dose. Coagulation was assessed by native thromboelastography. Treatment of whole blood with the lipid emulsion caused a significant decrease in the time to clot formation (R) and a shorter time to reach a clot amplitude of 20 mm (K). Conclusions Soy-based lipid emulsions cause hemolysis that is more severe in blood from dogs with inflammatory leukograms and accelerate clot formation in canine blood. The in vivo significance of these findings is not clear at this time, but warrants additional investigation given the use of these emulsions in clinical practice.
Regulation of G-Protein Coupled Receptor Cytosolic mRNA Binding Proteins

The regulation of G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) expression is an area of intense interest because GPCRs play a crucial role in many key physiological and pathological processes. Indeed, greater than 60% of all pharmaceuticals are targeted towards GPCRs. The ability to regulate GPCR protein expression at the post-transcriptional level provides a mechanism past the transcriptional regulatory point when genes are turned on or off. This allows a finer control of expression for the GPCRs that are critically involved in a myriad of critical cell functions such as growth, differentiation, and development. In the majority of instances of post-transcriptional regulation, the binding of specific proteins to defined sequences and/or structures in the target mRNA, governs splicing, nucleocytoplasmic transport, subcellular localization, translation and mRNA degradation. In this chapter, we focus on the regulation of GPCRs via cytosolic RNA binding proteins that, through interaction with specific sequences or structures in the mRNA, contribute to determining the level of protein expression by altering the rate of mRNA translation or its stability. Highlighted are our studies on RNA binding proteins that interact with the 5’ leader sequence of the angiotensin AT1 receptor, a GPCR that is critical to the control of blood pressure and fluid homeostasis.