cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Additional dystrophin fragment in Becker muscular dystrophy may result from proteolytic cleavage at deletion junctions.

Becker muscular dystrophy is usually caused by intragenic dystrophin gene deletions that result in production of an internally deleted protein. Previous studies have detected what appears to be a unique dystrophin degradation product that appears only in muscle biopsies from patients with Becker muscular dystrophy. This dystrophin fragment is always seen in addition to the “full-size” dystrophin of the expected size for a given gene deletion. It is only found in biopsies from patients with mutations in the deletion-prone region encompassing exons 45–53, but it does not appear to correlate with any observable phenotype at the clinical level. By correlating the size and locations of dystrophin gene deletions with the size of this degradation product, together with use of region-specific dystrophin antisera, we find that proteolytic cleavage may occur at the deletion breakpoints, perhaps due to alterations of the secondary and/or tertiary structures of the protein. This cleavage results in loss of the carboxy-terminal domains that are thought to be important for interactions between dystrophin and other membrane-bound proteins. © Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Glucocorticoid-induced bone loss in mice can be reversed by the actions of parathyroid hormone and risedronate on different pathways for bone formation and mineralization.

Objective. Glucocorticoid excess decreases bone mineralization and microarchitecture and leads to reduced bone strength. Both anabolic (parathyroid hormone [PTH]) and antiresorptive agents are used to prevent and treat glucocorticoid-induced bone loss, yet these bone-active agents alter bone turnover by very different mechanisms. This study was undertaken to determine how PTH and risedronate alter bone quality following glucocorticoid excess. Methods. Five-month-old male Swiss-Webster mice were treated with the glucocorticoid prednisolone (5 mg/kg in a 60-day slow-release pellet) or placebo. From day 28 to day 56, 2 groups of glucocorticoidtreated animals received either PTH (5 g/kg) or risedronate (5 g/kg) 5 times per week. Bone quality and quantity were measured using x-ray tomography for the degree of bone mineralization, microfocal computed tomography for bone microarchitecture, compression testing for trabecular bone strength, and biochemistry and histomorphometry for bone turnover. In addition, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry were performed to monitor the expression of several key genes regulating Wnt signaling (bone formation) and mineralization. Results. Compared with placebo, glucocorticoid treatment decreased trabecular bone volume (bone volume/total volume [BV/TV]) and serum osteocalcin, but increased serum CTX and osteoclast surface, with a peak at day 28. Glucocorticoids plus PTH increased BV/TV, and glucocorticoids plus risedronate restored BV/TV to placebo levels after 28 days. The average degree of bone mineralization was decreased after glucocorticoid treatment (27%), but was restored to placebo levels after treatment with glucocorticoids plus risedronate or glucocorticoids plus PTH. On day 56, RT-PCR revealed that expression of genes that inhibit bone mineralization (Dmp1 and Phex) was increased by continuous exposure to glucocorticoids and glucocorticoids plus PTH and decreased by glucocorticoids plus risedronate, compared with placebo. Wnt signaling antagonists Dkk-1, Sost, and Wif1 were up-regulated by glucocorticoid treatment but down-regulated after glucocorticoid plus PTH treatment. Immunohistochemistry of bone sections showed that glucocorticoids increased N-terminal Dmp-1 staining while PTH treatment increased both N- and C-terminal Dmp-1 staining around osteocytes. Conclusion. Our findings indicate that both PTH and risedronate improve bone mass, degree of bone mineralization, and bone strength in glucocorticoidtreated mice, and that PTH increases bone formation while risedronate reverses the deterioration of bone mineralization.
Common Ground between Form and Content: The Pragmatic Solution to the Bootstrapping Problem.

The frame of reference for this article is second or foreign language (L2 or FL) acquisition, but the pragmatic bootstrapping hypothesis applies to language processing and acquisition in any context or modality. It is relevant to teaching children to read. It shows how connections between target language surface forms and their content can be made accessible to learners. Although some theories (e.g., structuralism and universal grammar) and methods (e.g., explicit grammar-instruction and audiolingualism) have emphasized form, other theories (e.g., usage-based, connectionism, and emergentism) and methods (e.g., content-based and natural language acquisition) have stressed content. Logic and empirical evidence point to the middling common ground where form and content are pragmatically (cognitively and socially) linked. There is growing agreement and empirical evidence that developing proficiency in any language, or modality, depends on access to the dynamic referential relations between target forms and particular persons, things, events, and relations in the world of experience. If these arguments are correct, language teaching can benefit by providing access not only to targeted language forms, but to the dynamic referential relations that link those forms with particular content in authentic contexts of communication.
Fast Pressure Jumps Can Perturb Calcium and Magnesium Binding to Troponin C F29W

We have used rapid pressure jump and stopped-flow fluorometry to investigate calcium and magnesium binding to F29W chicken skeletal troponin C. Increased pressure perturbed calcium binding to the N-terminal sites in the presence and absence of magnesium and provided an estimate for the volume change upon calcium binding (-12 mL/mol). We observed a biphasic response to a pressure change which was characterized by fast and slow reciprocal relaxation times of the order 1000/s and 100/s. Between pCa 8-5.4 and at troponin C concentrations of 8-28 muM, the slow relaxation times were invariant, indicating that a protein isomerization was rate-limiting. The fast event was only detected over a very narrow pCa range (5.6-5.4). We have devised a model based on a Monod-Wyman-Changeux cooperative mechanism with volume changes of -9 and +6 mL/mol for the calcium binding to the regulatory sites and closed to open protein isomerization steps, respectively. In the absence of magnesium, we discovered that calcium binding to the C-terminal sites could be detected, despite their position distal to the calcium-sensitive tryptophan, with a volume change of +25 mL/mol. We used this novel observation to measure competitive magnesium binding to the C-terminal sites and deduced an affinity in the range 200-300 muM (and a volume change of +35 mL/mol). This affinity is an order of magnitude tighter than equilibrium fluorescence data suggest based on a model of direct competitive binding. Magnesium thus indirectly modulates binding to the N-terminal sites, which may act as a fine-tuning mechanism in vivo.
Reperfusion of specific brain regions by raising blood pressure restores selective language functions in subacute stroke.

We report a series of six single subject studies examining the effects of pharmacological blood pressure elevation on regional brain perfusion and language function. Previous reports indicate that hypoperfusion of specific brain regions, as delineated by magnetic resonance perfusion weighted imaging (PWI), is associated with disruption of selective lexical functions. On this basis, we hypothesized that reperfusion of the same regions, in the absence of infarct in that region, would restore the associated lexical function. We present five patients with impaired lexical-semantics associated with poor perfusion, but not infarction, of Brodmann's area 22 (BA 22), and one patient with impaired lexical-semantics and a superimposed deficit in retrieving the phonological representations of words, associated with poor perfusion Brodmann's area 37 (BA 37) as well as BA 22. Each patient was treated with induced blood pressure elevation to increase perfusion of the ischemic and dysfunctional tissue. Daily testing of naming and comprehension, with stimulus sets matched for frequency, familiarity, and length, showed improved lexical-semantics in the patients who showed reperfusion of BA 22 and improved oral naming (but not lexical-semantics) in the patient who showed reperfusion of BA 37. These cases illustrate that loss of function with hypoperfusion of a circumscribed area of the brain, and recovery of the same function with improved perfusion of that brain region, can reveal brain/language relationships prior to reorganization after brain injury.
Motivational and Emotional Influences on Cognitive Control in Depression: A Pupillometry Study

Depressed people perform poorly on cognitive tasks; however, under certain conditions they show intact cognitive performance, with physiological reactivity consistent with needing to recruit additional cognitive control. We hypothesized that this apparent compensation is driven by the presence of affective processes (e.g., state anxiety), which in turn are moderated by the depressed individual's motivational state. Clarifying these processes may help researchers identify targets for treatment that if addressed may improve depressed patients' cognitive functioning. To test this hypothesis, 36 participants with unipolar depression and 36 never-depressed controls completed a problem-solving task that was modified to elicit anxiety. The participants completed measures of motivation, anxiety, sadness, and rumination, while pupillary responses were continuously measured during problem-solving, as an index of cognitive control. Anxiety increased throughout the task for all participants, whereas both sadness and rumination were decreased during the task. In addition, anxiety more strongly affected planning accuracy in depressed participants than in controls, regardless of the participants' levels of motivation. In contrast, differential effects of anxiety on pupillary responses were observed as a function of depressed participants' levels of motivation. Consistent with the behavioral results, less-motivated and anxious depressed participants demonstrated smaller pupillary responses, whereas more highly motivated and anxious depressed participants demonstrated larger pupillary responses than did controls. Strong effects of sadness and rumination on cognitive control in depression were not observed. Thus, we conclude that anxiety inhibits the recruitment of cognitive control in depression and that a depressed individual's motivational state determines, in part, whether he or she is able to compensate by recruiting additional cognitive control.
Mechanisms of visual loss in papilledema

The term "papilledema" indicates swelling of the optic discs secondary to increased intracranial pressure. Papilledema can be caused by an intracranial mass lesion or by other factors. Visual symptoms frequently accompany papilledema, which can lead to permanent visual loss if left untreated. Starting with an illustrative case, the authors review the pathophysiology of the visual signs and symptoms of papilledema. They also briefly review potential treatment options, focusing on the role of the neurosurgeon in the treatment of patients with papilledema.
Temperature instability of low‐temperature deposited a‐Si:H TFTs fabricated on plastic substrate

— Low-temperature deposited a-Si:H TFTs have been successfully fabricated on colorless polyimide (CPI) substrate for flexible-display applications. A serious degradation in threshold voltage was observed after applying external thermal stress. The threshold-voltage shift saturates after applying several thermal stress cycles. In addition, the TFTs show instability under long periods of thermal stress with fixed temperature. This phenomenon was composed of thermally induced traps and substrate-expansion-induced mechanical stress. Finally, the a-Si:H TFT backplane fabricated on a PI substrate at low temperature has been successfully demonstrated for flexible AMLCDs.
Kinetics of the reaction of oh radicals with a series of branched alkanes at 297 ± 2 K

Relative rate constants for the reaction of OH radicals with a series of branched alkanes have been determined at 297 ± 2 K, using methyl nitrite photolysis in air as a source of OH radicals. Using a rate constant for the reaction of OH radicals with n-butane of 2.58 × 10−12 cm3/molecule · s, the rate constants obtained are (× 1012 cm3/molecule · s): isobutane, 2.29 ± 0.06; 2-methylbutane, 3.97 ± 0.11; 2,2-dimethylbutane, 2.66 ± 0.08; 2-methylpentane, 5.68 ± 0.24; 3-methylpentane, 5.78 ± 0.11; 2,2,3-trimethylbutane, 4.21 ± 0.08; 2,4-dimethylpentane, 5.26 ± 0.11; methylcyclohexane, 10.6 ± 0.3; 2,2,3,3-tetramethylbutane, 1.06 ± 0.08; and 2,2,4-trimethylpentane, 3.66 ± 0.16. Rate constants for 2,2-dimethylbutane, 2,4-dimethylpentane, and methylclohexane have been determined for the first time, while those for the other branched alkanes are in generally good agreement with the literature data. Primary, secondary, and tertiary group rate constants at room temperature have been derived from these and previous data for alkanes and unstrained cycloalkanes, with the secondary and tertiary group rate constants depending in a systematic manner on the identity of the neighboring groups. The use of these group rate constants, together with a previous determination of the effect of ring strain energy on the OH radical rate constants for a series of cycloalkanes, allows the a priori estimation of OH radical rate constants for alkanes and cycloalkanes at room temperature.
Photo-tautomer of Br-porphyrin: a new frequency-selective material for ultrafast time–space holographic storage

We study spectral hole burning in the unstable tautomer form of free-base Br-tetraethylporphyrin in poly(vinyl butyral) "lm, which is created by photo-transformation of the stable tautomer form at low temperature.We report a Debye}Waller factor a"0.7 at 4 K, burning quantum e$ciency u&10~3 and thermal stability up to 115 K for this system. We observe for the "rst time that narrow-band illumination in the educt band leads to the formation of vibronic holes in the photoproduct band. Because the oscillator strength of the unstable form is at least one order of magnitude larger than that of the stable form, this new material is well suited for recording ultrafast time-and-space-domain holograms. Spectral hole burning with femtosecond pulses was achieved. ( 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
An investigation of “Cu(100)-c(2×2)Au”: LEED, AES, ISS, ARUPS and XPS results

An ordered Cu−Au surface corresponding to one described by Palmberg and Rhodin as Cu(100)-c(2×2)Au has been prepared by vapor-deposition of Au onto Cu(100) and characterized by means of low energy electron diffraction, Auger electron, ion scattering, and photoelectron spectroscopies. While a simple c(2×2) pattern was not reproduced, observations are consistent with a reconstruction of the sort proposed by Palmberg and Rhodin where half of the Cu atoms in the surface layer are replaced by Au atoms. A Au concentration of 50% in the surface layer is supported by both Auger electron and low energy ion scattering spectroscopy measurements using ordered Cu 3 Au(100) for calibration. The Cu−Au valence d-bandwidth was deduced from the dispersion of Au-induced surface bands obtained from angle-resolved photoemission measurements using Ne I, He I, and He II; reflection symmetry of some of these bands was also determined. These results, together with results of a smaller set of photoemission measurements performed on Cu 3 Au(100), show that the Cu−Au valence d-band of the ordered Cu−Au surface is narrower and less tightly bound than the overall (bulk plus surface) Cu−Au valence d-band of ordered Cu 3 Au. In addition, the Au4f core-level binding energies were found to be the same as those of the surface Au atoms of ordered Cu 3 Au(100). The ordered Cu−Au surface thus appears to closely resemble the (100) surface of ordered Cu 3 Au.
Genome-Wide Profiling of TRACK Kidneys Shows Similarity to the Human ccRCC Transcriptome.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common cancer arising fromthekidneyinadults,withclearcellRCC(ccRCC)representing
Strukturbestimmung regelloser Strukturen mittels Streustrahlung

Streustrahluntersuchungen mit Licht und Rontgenstrahlen ermoglichen die Strukturbeschreibung regellos angeordneter Materie durch Angabe statistischer Mittelwerte der Dimensionen. Die abgeleiteten Gesetzmasigkeiten konnen u. a. zur Bestimmung der inneren Oberflache poroser Substanzen (die z. B. fur Katalyseprobleme wichtig ist), zur Ermittlung von Teilchengrose und -gestalt in idealisierten (verdunnten) Systemen, als auch zur Interpretation der „kritischen Opaleszenz” verwendet werden.
Evidence That Msh1p Plays Multiple Roles in Mitochondrial Base Excision Repair

Mitochondrial DNA is thought to be especially prone to oxidative damage by reactive oxygen species generated through electron transport during cellular respiration. This damage is mitigated primarily by the base excision repair (BER) pathway, one of the few DNA repair pathways with confirmed activity on mitochondrial DNA. Through genetic epistasis analysis of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we examined the genetic interaction between each of the BER proteins previously shown to localize to the mitochondria. In addition, we describe a series of genetic interactions between BER components and the MutS homolog MSH1, a respiration-essential gene. We show that, in addition to their variable effects on mitochondrial function, mutant msh1 alleles conferring partial function interact genetically at different points in mitochondrial BER. In addition to this separation of function, we also found that the role of Msh1p in BER is unlikely to be involved in the avoidance of large-scale deletions and rearrangements.
Sequential and Simultaneous Decision Making for Optimizing Health Care Resource Flexibilities

Health care administrators commonly employ two types of resource flexibilities (demand upgrades and staffing flexibility) to efficiently coordinate two critical internal resources, nursing staff and beds, and an external resource (contract nurses) to satisfy stochastic patient demand. Under demand upgrades, when beds are unavailable for patients in a less acute unit, patients are upgraded to a more acute unit if space is available in that unit. Under staffing flexibility, nurses cross-trained to work in more than one unit are used in addition to dedicated and contract nurses. Resource decisions (beds and staffing) can be made at a single point in time (simultaneous decision making) or at different points in time (sequential decision making). In this article, we address the following questions: for each flexibility configuration, under sequential and simultaneous decision making, what is the optimal resource level required to meet stochastic demand at minimum cost? Is one type of flexibility (e.g., demand upgrades) better than the other type of flexibility (e.g., staffing flexibility)? We use two-stage stochastic programming to find optimal resource levels for two nonhomogeneous hospital units that face stochastic demand following a continuous, general distribution. We conduct a full-factorial numerical experiment and find that the benefit of using staffing flexibility on average is greater than the benefit of using demand upgrades. However, the two types of flexibilities have a positive interaction effect and they complement each other. The type of flexibility and decision timing has an independent effect on system performance (capacity and staffing costs). The benefits of cross-training can be largely realized even if beds and staffing levels have been determined prior to the establishment of a cross-training initiative.
Auditory representational momentum: Musical schemata and modularity

Memory for the final position or orientation of a moving target is often shifted or displaced in the direction of anticipated motion, but whether this memory shift is produced by a cognitively impenetrable or modular process is less clear. Previous research induced expectations regarding future target behavior by presenting examples of that behavior or by verbally instructing the subject about future target behavior; in this experiment, no induction occurs, and subjects tap previously existing expectations. The subjects are presented with highly schematic ascending sequences of three discrete tones corresponding to the tonic (I), dominant (V), and octave (VIII) of a major scale. The third inducing tone (i.e., the octave) is either flattened slightly, sharpened slightly, or in tune. When the third inducing stimulus is slightly mistuned, the subjects’ musical schemata would be predicted to shift their memory for the final pitch closer to a proper tuning. The direction of mistuning is varied so that the direction of schema-driven shift is either consistent or inconsistent with the direction of implied pitch motion, thus allowing examination of whether representational momentum is influenced by schemata effects. When the third inducing tone is flattened, memory shift is upward, but when the third inducing tone is sharpened, memory shift is downward. This pattern supports the claim that representational momentum is cognitively penetrable to top-down influence and thus cannot result from a completely modular process.
Diffusion-weighted MRI in diffuse axonal injury of the brain

The goal of this study was to identify and describe the different types and patterns of tissue injury which are encountered by diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in diffuse axonal injury (DAI) of the brain. The DWI data sets of 98 patients who suffered from a closed-head injury were retrospectively evaluated. Medical records were reviewed to rule out pre-existing neurological diseases. Lesions were studied for their DWI signal characteristics and lesion size or extension. Traumatic lesions were classified into three categories depending on their signal characteristica on DWI and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps: type 1, DWI- and ADC-hyperintense most likely representing lesions with vasogenic edema; type 2, DWI-hyperintense, ADC-hypointense indicating cytotoxic edema; type 3, central hemorrhagic lesion surrounded by an area of increased diffusion. According to the size and extent of lesions, injury was classified into three groups: group A, focal injury; group B, regional/confluent injury; and group C, extensive/diffuse injury. Our study showed that diffusion-weighted imaging differentiates between lesions with decreased and increased diffusion in patients with DAI. Different degrees of tissue injury extent were noticed. Future prospective studies should study if this additional information can be used as a predictor of injury reversibility, final outcome and prognosis.
SEAES-GEO: A spacecraft environmental anomalies expert system for geosynchronous orbit

[1] Indications of the space environment hazard at any point in space and time along geosynchronous orbit (GEO) can be obtained using the set of rules described in this paper. These rules are implemented using real-time Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite particle sensor data and the magnetic index Kp. These rules should be useful for both real-time and posthoc analysis of GEO spacecraft anomalies. The hazards covered are surface charging, internal charging, single-event effects due to solar particle events, and total dose (solar arrays). The system provides a “hazard quotient,” the ratio of the instantaneous to mission-averaged likelihood of an anomaly due to each hazard, based on environmental measurements. With the exception of total dose, the hazard quotients are derived from lists of on-orbit anomalies or their proxies, and it is assumed that the probability of future anomalies will share the same functional dependence on the environment exhibited by the anomalies in the lists. Hazard quotients are potentially more valuable to satellite operators than are raw measurements, as hazard quotients directly convey the statistical relationship between the radiation environment and the likelihood of an anomaly.
Reconfigurable RTD-based circuit elements of complete logic functionality

Resonant tunneling diodes (RTDs) have demonstrated promising circuit characteristics of high speed switching property and versatile functionality with negative differential resistance (NDR). In this paper, we propose novel programmable logic elements (PLEs) that can be configured to realize all three- or four-input logic functions. These simple RTD-based circuit elements are implemented with threshold gates (TGs) and multi-threshold threshold gates (MTTGs) by employing programmable monostable-bistable logic element (MOBILE) principles. We also developed a dynamically reconfigurable scheme based on our PLE structures which facilitate nanopipelining without incurring delay overheads.
Sulphur dioxide insertion

Abstract The rates of the cleavage of the metal-carbon bond in h5-C5H5Cr(NO)2R, h5-C5H5Ru(CO)2R, h5-C5H5Mo(CO)3R, Mn(CO)5R, and Re(CO)5R have been investigated in neat SO2 at −65 to −18° by infrared and 1H NMR spectroscopy. The pseudo-first-order rate constants, obtained here and elsewhere, decrease in the following orders for various groups R: h5-C5H5Fe(CO)2CH3 > Re(CO)5CH3 > h5-C5H5Ru(CO)2CH3 ∼ Mn(CO)5CH3 ≳ h5-C5H5Mo(CO)3CH3 ⪢ h5-C5H5W(CO)3CH3; h5-C5H5Cr(NO)2CH2C6H5 ⪢ h5-C5H5Mo(CO)3CH2C6H5 ≳ h5-C5H5Fe(CO)2CH2C6H5 ≳ Mn(CO)5CH2C6H5 > h5-C5H5Ru(CO)2CH2C6H5 ⪢ h5-C5H5W(CO)3CH2C6H5; h5-C5H5Fe(CO)2C2H5 > h5-C5H5Mo(CO)3C2H5 ⪢ h5-C5H5W(CO)3C2H5; and h5-C5H5Cr(NO)2C6H5 ⪢ h5-C5H5Fe(CO)2C6H5. In general, the methyl complexes undergo the cleavage more rapidly than their benzyl counterparts. The foregoing trends are compared with those reported in the literature for the CO insertion and for other electrophilic scission reactions.
Advances in Battery Technologies and Markets: Material Science Aspects

Advances in materials innovation, availability, processing, and volumetric and gravimetric utilization, have lead to dramatic changes in the technologies and markets for batteries, and other electrochemical storage devices, in recent years. The increased ability to cycle of the new materials and preparations has also resulted in a more dominant proportion of secondary batteries in the market. The growth of the various technology sectors of the battery and energy storage device industry will be compared to the relevant improvements in materials science. The developments needed in materials, composites, and processing techniques is reviewed, in order to match the ongoing changes in electronic circuits, power devices, transportation, and the growth of portable appliances. An analysis of the technical/market segments of the battery industry is presented.
Licensed user activity estimation and track in mobile cognitive radio ad hoc networks

In cognitive radio (CR) networks, a static activity model fails to capture the dynamic and time-varying behavior of the licensed or primary users (PUs). In this paper, a distributed scheme is proposed that allows mobile CR users to learn about the activity of the PUs, and disseminate this information to the neighboring nodes that also function as information repositories. In order to guarantee sensing precision and transmission efficiency, the proposed method switches between time-intensive ''fine sensing'' and quick ''normal sensing''. Our approach uses the maximum likelihood estimator to learn average busy and idle periods in the fine sensing stage. These identified activity patterns are then used during normal sensing, where the mean square error (MSE) value of PU on-off times is continuously monitored to ensure that the estimation is sufficiently accurate. When PU activity changes significantly, the MSE is considered as the indicator to re-start the fine sensing. Simulation results reveal that our proposed method can efficiently track the dynamics of the PU activity.
Improved Compressible-Jet Shear-Layer Simulations Using RANS Models for Steady Confined Jets

Shear-dominated flows generated by compressible turbulent confined jets were simulated using two-equation turbulence models. A representative test problem was selected for which reliable experimental data was available for comparison. For validation of the improved models used for this study, a confined steady round turbulent jet interacting isothermally with co-flowing air was analyzed. The method was implemented in a widely used code using a pressure-based implicit solver. Three variations of two-equation models were considered: (i) a ‘high-Reynolds-number’ k-e equations with corrections for compressibility effects and non-linearity of the governing equations, (ii) standard k-e model with correction for round jets due to vortex stretching in three dimensions, and (iii) shear stress transport (SST) k-ω model.
Collaborative design and implementation of a multisite community coalition evaluation.

Evaluation designs assessing community coalitions must balance measures of how coalitions do their work and evidence that the coalitions are making a difference. The Allies cross-site evaluation attempts to determine the combined effects of the seven coalitions’ work at the individual, organizational, and community levels. Principal components considered are (a) contextual factors of the coalition community, (b) coalition processes and structure, (c) planning and planning products, (d) implementation actions, (e) activities and collaborations, (f) anticipated intermediate outcomes, and (g) expected asthma related health outcomes. Measurements are quantitative and qualitative, and data generated by these methods are used as ends in themselves and as a way to confirm or inform other measures. Evaluation has been an integral part of the planning and implementation phases of the Allies coalition work, with a priority of involving all of the partners in conceiving of and deciding upon the elements of assessment.
Carboxyl-Proximal Regions of Reovirus Nonstructural Protein μNS Necessary and Sufficient for Forming Factory-Like Inclusions

Mammalian orthoreoviruses are believed to replicate in distinctive, cytoplasmic inclusion bodies, commonly called viral factories or viroplasms. The viral nonstructural protein μNS has been implicated in forming the matrix of these structures, as well as in recruiting other components to them for putative roles in genome replication and particle assembly. In this study, we sought to identify the regions of μNS that are involved in forming factory-like inclusions in transfected cells in the absence of infection or other viral proteins. Sequences in the carboxyl-terminal one-third of the 721-residue μNS protein were linked to this activity. Deletion of as few as eight residues from the carboxyl terminus of μNS resulted in loss of inclusion formation, suggesting that some portion of these residues is required for the phenotype. A region spanning residues 471 to 721 of μNS was the smallest one shown to be sufficient for forming factory-like inclusions. The region from positions 471 to 721 (471-721 region) includes both of two previously predicted coiled-coil segments in μNS, suggesting that one or both of these segments may also be required for inclusion formation. Deletion of the more amino-terminal one of the two predicted coiled-coil segments from the 471-721 region resulted in loss of the phenotype, although replacement of this segment with Aequorea victoria green fluorescent protein, which is known to weakly dimerize, largely restored inclusion formation. Sequences between the two predicted coiled-coil segments were also required for forming factory-like inclusions, and mutation of either one His residue (His570) or one Cys residue (Cys572) within these sequences disrupted the phenotype. The His and Cys residues are part of a small consensus motif that is conserved across μNS homologs from avian orthoreoviruses and aquareoviruses, suggesting this motif may have a common function in these related viruses. The inclusion-forming 471-721 region of μNS was shown to provide a useful platform for the presentation of peptides for studies of protein-protein association through colocalization to factory-like inclusions in transfected cells.
The effect of adipic acid and methylamine on alkaloid biosynthesis in certain members of the Solanaceae. I. Datura stramonium Linné.

Adipic acid administered by injection in the concentration of 0.5 per cent increased the total alkaloids (calculated as hyoscyamine) in the leaves (and flowering tops), stems, and roots by 14, 26, and 79 per cent, respectively. Methylamine in the same concentration increased the total alkaloid yield in the leaves and roots by 10 and 39 per cent while a 12 per cent decrease was observed in the total alkaloids of the stems. The plants treated with adipic acid and methylamine displayed an increase of alkaloid yields in the leaves and roots by 22 and 65 per cent while no change in alkaloid production in the stem was observed.
A Caratheodory-Fejer approach to robust multiframe tracking

A requirement common to most dynamic vision applications is the ability to track objects in a sequence of frames. This problem has been extensively studied in the past few years, leading to several techniques, such as unscented particle filter based trackers, that exploit a combination of the (assumed) target dynamics, empirically learned noise distributions and past position observations. While successful in many scenarios, these trackers remain fragile to occlusion and model uncertainty in the target dynamics. As we show in this paper, these difficulties can be addressed by modeling the dynamics of the target as an unknown operator that satisfies certain interpolation conditions. Results from interpolation theory can then be used to find this operator by solving a convex optimization problem. As illustrated with several examples, combining this operator with Kalman and UPF techniques leads to both robustness improvement and computational complexity reduction.
Handling generalized cost functions in the partitioning optimization problem through sequential binary programming

This paper proposes a framework for cost-sensitive classification under a generalized cost function. By combining decision trees with sequential binary programming, we can handle unequal misclassification costs, constrained classification, and complex objective functions that other methods cannot. Our approach has two main contributions. First, it provides a new method for cost-sensitive classification that outperforms a traditional, accuracy-based method and some current cost-sensitive approaches. Second, and more important, our approach can handle a generalized cost function, instead of the simpler misclassification cost matrix to which other approaches are limited.
Superconducting Magnet System for RHIC

The proposed Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider1 (RHIC) will operate at ion energies of 7 to 100+ GeV/Amu for ions as heavy as Au197. This paper discusses the superconducting magnet system for this machine. It will consist of 372 dipoles typically 9.7 meters long with an operating field of 3.4 Tesla, 492 quadrupoles with typical length 1.4 meters, gradient 76 T/m, and approximately 1000 sextupole and corrector magnets. A detailed design has been developed for the dipoles which will have a clear bore of 76 mm; less detailed designs are presented for the other components. A proof-of-concept magnet has been constructed and successfully tested.
The Morals of Model-Making

Abstract I address questions about values in model-making in engineering, specifically: Might the role of values be attributable solely to interests involved in specifying and using the model? Selected examples illustrate the surprisingly wide variety of things one must take into account in the model-making itself. The notions of system (as used in engineering thermodynamics), and physically similar systems (as used in the physical sciences) are important and powerful in determining what is relevant to an engineering model. Another example (windfarms) illustrates how an idea to completely re-characterize, or reframe, an engineering problem arose during model-making. I employ a qualitative analogue of the notion of physically similar systems. Historical cases can thus be drawn upon; I illustrate with a comparison between a geoengineering proposal to inject, or spray, sulfate aerosols, and two different historical cases involving the spraying of DDT (fire ant eradication; malaria eradication). The current geoengineering proposal is seen to be like the disastrous and counterproductive case, and unlike the successful case, of the spraying of DDT. I conclude by explaining my view that model-making in science is analogous to moral perception in action, drawing on a view in moral theory that has come to be called moral particularism.
Alkaline haematin and nitrogenous ligands.

1. Pyridine reacts with alkaline haematin to form a dipyridine dihydroxy dimeric haematin in which there is no competition between pyridine and OH− for coordination positions on the iron of haematin. 2. Imidazole competes directly with OH− to form the monomeric imidazole parahaematin in alkaline media. 3. The monomeric imidazole parahaematin aggregates readily to form a species that is precipitated on standing. 4. A structure is proposed for the haematin–pyridine compound in alkaline media.
Altered short-term synaptic plasticity and reduced muscle strength in mice with impaired regulation of presynaptic CaV2.1 Ca2+ channels.

Facilitation and inactivation of P/Q-type calcium (Ca2+) currents through the regulation of voltage-gated Ca2+ (CaV) 2.1 channels by Ca2+ sensor (CaS) proteins contributes to the facilitation and rapid depression of synaptic transmission in cultured neurons that transiently express CaV2.1 channels. To examine the modulation of endogenous CaV2.1 channels by CaS proteins in native synapses, we introduced a mutation (IM-AA) into the CaS protein-binding site in the C-terminal domain of CaV2.1 channels in mice, and tested synaptic facilitation and depression in neuromuscular junction synapses that use exclusively CaV2.1 channels for Ca2+ entry that triggers synaptic transmission. Even though basal synaptic transmission was unaltered in the neuromuscular synapses in IM-AA mice, we found reduced short-term facilitation in response to paired stimuli at short interstimulus intervals in IM-AA synapses. In response to trains of action potentials, we found increased facilitation at lower frequencies (10–30 Hz) in IM-AA synapses accompanied by slowed synaptic depression, whereas synaptic facilitation was reduced at high stimulus frequencies (50–100 Hz) that would induce strong muscle contraction. As a consequence of altered regulation of CaV2.1 channels, the hindlimb tibialis anterior muscle in IM-AA mice exhibited reduced peak force in response to 50 Hz stimulation and increased muscle fatigue. The IM-AA mice also had impaired motor control, exercise capacity, and grip strength. Taken together, our results indicate that regulation of CaV2.1 channels by CaS proteins is essential for normal synaptic plasticity at the neuromuscular junction and for muscle strength, endurance, and motor coordination in mice in vivo.
Mortality in African-Americans Following Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy: A Single Center Experience

Background Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) improves clinical outcomes and reduces mortality in heart failure patients who remain symptomatic despite optimal medical therapy. CRT trials have reported significant hemodynamic benefits, improvement in functional status, and reduced mortality and heart failure hospitalizations. However, African-American patient representation in these studies is limited thus the results may not be applicable to them. We described baseline clinical characteristics of African-American patients undergoing CRT and determined their outcomes relative to those reported in clinical trials. Methods We evaluated 131 African-American patients with New York Heart Association functional class II-IV heart failure undergoing CRT and determined predictors of all-cause mortality. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates and a Cox proportional hazards model determined mortality and risk of death. Results The mean age was 65 ± 12 years. Over a 6-year period, total mortality in African-Americans was 23% as compared with 29% in the MADIT-CRT trial. Increased mortality was associated with older age (hazard rate (HR) 1.04, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–1.07, P=.01), ischemic cardiomyopathy (HR 2.86, 95% CI 1.36-6.04, P=.006), and absence of treatment with either an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin II receptor blocker (HR 2.75, 95% CI 1.30-5.80, P=.008), or beta-blocker (HR 2.56, 95% CI 0.98-6.69, P=.05). Hydralazine plus nitrate therapy was used in a small number of patients and did not influence mortality outcomes. Conclusion African-Americans experience the same survival benefits from CRT as Caucasian patients reported in major clinical trials. Publication indices used to find publications listed in references: PubMed
FATTY ACID ESTERIFICATION AND CHYLOMICRON FORMATION DURING FAT ABSORPTION IN RAT. 3. POSITIONAL RELATIONS IN TRIGLYCERIDES AND LECITHIN.

Chylomicron triglyceride and lecithin obtained after feeding mixtures of three or four free fatty acids to rats were hydrolyzed using pancreatic lipase and phospholipase A respectively. The distribution of fatty acid mass and radioactivity in the substrate materials and in the cleavage products was determined by gasȓliquid chromatography. The incorporation of exogenous (labeled) fatty acids into different positions was nearly random in the triglycerides but markedly nonrandom in lecithin where saturated acids, especially stearic acid, were predominantly esterified at the α′-position and polyunsaturated fatty acids at the Β-position. Specific radioactivity measurements were interpreted as showing greater than random amounts of endogenous (unlabeled) palmitic acid on the α′-position of lecithin and, to a small extent, of endogenous linoleic acid on the Β-position of triglyceride.
Precisely parameterized experimental and computational models of tissue organization

Patterns of cellular organization in diverse tissues frequently display a complex geometry and topology tightly related to the tissue function. Progressive disorganization of tissue morphology can lead to pathologic remodeling, necessitating the development of experimental and theoretical methods of analysis of the tolerance of normal tissue function to structural alterations. A systematic way to investigate the relationship of diverse cell organization to tissue function is to engineer two-dimensional cell monolayers replicating key aspects of the in vivo tissue architecture. However, it is still not clear how this can be accomplished on a tissue level scale in a parameterized fashion, allowing for a mathematically precise definition of the model tissue organization and properties down to a cellular scale with a parameter dependent gradual change in model tissue organization. Here, we describe and use a method of designing precisely parameterized, geometrically complex patterns that are then used to control cell alignment and communication of model tissues. We demonstrate direct application of this method to guiding the growth of cardiac cell cultures and developing mathematical models of cell function that correspond to the underlying experimental patterns. Several anisotropic patterned cultures spanning a broad range of multicellular organization, mimicking the cardiac tissue organization of different regions of the heart, were found to be similar to each other and to isotropic cell monolayers in terms of local cell–cell interactions, reflected in similar confluency, morphology and connexin-43 expression. However, in agreement with the model predictions, different anisotropic patterns of cell organization, paralleling in vivo alterations of cardiac tissue morphology, resulted in variable and novel functional responses with important implications for the initiation and maintenance of cardiac arrhythmias. We conclude that variations of tissue geometry and topology can dramatically affect cardiac tissue function even if the constituent cells are themselves similar, and that the proposed method can provide a general strategy to experimentally and computationally investigate when such variation can lead to impaired tissue function.
Lumbar corpectomy via retroperitoneal approach: a case series of 42 patients with traumatic lumbar fracture

INTRODUCTION: Epidural anesthesia has traditionally been considered the gold standard for pain control in patients with multiple rib fractures. And while it reduces pulmonary complications, pneumonia rates are still reported as high as 18%. Epidural anesthesia generally requires hospital resources such as a pain management team that are not always available. Additionally, polytrauma can often preclude the use of epidural anesthesia. Therefore, we sought to evaluate our institution’s pain control protocol for multiple rib fractures centered on infusion of low-dose ketamine. We hypothesize that ketamine is safe alternative to epidural pain management.
Notes on Distribution and Spore Ornamentation of Mycolevis Siccigleba (Basidiomycetes, Cribbeaceae)

Both of these fungi appear to be pathogenic to the host and in view of the weed potential of Argemone mexicana, further studies on the growth-limiting capabilities of these fungi would be desirable. We are most grateful to Dr. F. A. Uecker for his generous and able assistance in the preparation of prints and the photographic plate and we thank Miss Edith Cash for the Latin diagnosis, Drs. M. Gilliam and M. Farr for reviewing the manuscript and Dr. D. Farr for his suggestions.
Frontal Lobe Epilepsy: A Primer for Psychiatrists and a Systematic Review of Psychiatric Manifestations

Background Frontal lobe epilepsy (FLE) can masquerade as a primary psychiatric condition, be misdiagnosed in-lieu of a true psychiatric disorder, or may be comorbid with psychiatric illness. Objectives To (1) qualitatively review psychiatric manifestations of FLE and (2) to systematically review the cases/case series of psychiatric manifestations of FLE presented in the literature to date. Methods A systematic review of the literature was performed following the PRISMA guidelines and using PubMed/Medline, PsychInfo, and Cochrane database of systematic reviews to identify cases and case series of psychiatric manifestations of FLE. Results A total of 35 separate articles were identified. Further, 17 patients primarily presented with psychosis, 33 with affective symptoms, and 16 with personality changes. Also, 62% of cases were males and 38% were females. Ages ranged from 2–83 years with the average age of 32.7. Prior psychiatric history was reported in 27.3% of cases. Causes of seizure were known in 53%, with the most common causes being dysplasia and tumor. Only 6 cases ( Conclusions Given the complexity and multifunctionality of the frontal lobes, FLE can present with complex, psychiatric manifestations, with associated motor, cognitive, and medical changes; thus, psychiatrists should keep FLE on the differential diagnosis of complex neuropsychiatric cases.
Causal Inferences in Capital Markets Research: Preface

Causal Inferences in Capital Markets Research is an attempt to promote a broad interdisciplinary debate about the notion of causality and the role of causal inference in the social sciences. This volume allows researchers and Ph.D students in accounting, and the social sciences in general, to acquire a deeper understanding of the notion of causality and the nature, limits, and scope of empirical research in the social sciences.