cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Comprehensive Map of mRNAs and Their Isoforms across All 14 Renal Tubule Segments of Mouse.

Background The repertoire of protein expression along the renal tubule depends both on regulation of transcription and regulation of alternative splicing that can generate multiple proteins from a single gene. Methods A full-length, small-sample RNA-seq protocol profiled transcriptomes for all 14 renal tubule segments microdissected from mouse kidneys. Results This study identified >34,000 transcripts, including 3709 that were expressed in a segment-specific manner. All data are provided as an online resource (https://esbl.nhlbi.nih.gov/MRECA/Nephron/). Many of the genes expressed in unique patterns along the renal tubule were solute carriers, transcription factors, or G protein-coupled receptors that account for segment-specific function. Mapping the distribution of transcripts associated with Wnk-SPAK-PKA signaling, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone signaling, and cystic diseases of the kidney illustrated the applications of the online resource. The method allowed full-length mapping of RNA-seq reads, which facilitated comprehensive, unbiased characterization of alternative exon usage along the renal tubule, including known isoforms of Cldn10, Kcnj1 (ROMK), Slc12a1 (NKCC2), Wnk1, Stk39 (SPAK), and Slc14a2 (UT-A urea transporter). It also identified many novel isoforms with segment-specific distribution. These included variants associated with altered protein structure (Slc9a8, Khk, Tsc22d1, and Scoc), and variants that may affect untranslated, regulatory regions of transcripts (Pth1r, Pkar1a, and Dab2). Conclusions Full-length, unbiased sequencing of transcripts identified gene-expression patterns along the mouse renal tubule. The data, provided as an online resource, include both quantitative and qualitative differences in transcripts. Identification of alternative splicing along the renal tubule may prove critical to understanding renal physiology and pathophysiology.
A White Paper on America's Family Values: The Facts About Child Maltreatment and the Child Welfare Financing System

This White Paper identifies shortcomings in the current federal child welfare financing system, and recommends changes for improvement. It calls for a funding system that allows effective implementation of child welfare laws by government at the state and federal levels. It also recommends required longitudinal independent studies of each major program receiving federal funds and a specified appropriation for that purpose. Such empirical testing would include sunset dates terminating each program where data fails to warrant continuation. Such sunset proceedings are commonly used in evaluating regulatory agencies in many states. Based on the studies they compel, programs that do not perform will be discontinued and those that do may be continued, expanded and replicated in analogous settings. The understandable reticence to expend monies on social welfare among many in Congress should be assuaged by that assured accountability. Nelson Mandela was famously quoted as observing, “There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.” But federal child welfare spending is a step above such general humanitarian sentiments. This is not funding for children in general. Rather, it is funding to protect and promote the well-being of those who are more than our children in a metaphorical sense. These children have been removed from their homes and their parents and are in state custody. We delegate their care to our publicly appointed and paid judges who serve as their legal parents. And their seizure by the state and their subsequent fate is largely determined by laws enacted by our elected officials and funded by us through mandatory taxation. For those who politically cite “family values” as a basic moral tenet, the status that these children hold as a direct legal part of our “family” makes their treatment a basic test of the bona fides of that stated value.
Time-varying materials in the presence of dispersion: plane-wave propagation in a Lorentzian medium with temporal discontinuity

We study the problem of a temporal discontinuity in the permittivity of an unbounded medium with Lorentzian dispersion. More specifically, we tackle the situation in which a monochromatic plane wave forward-traveling in a (generally lossy) Lorentzian-like medium scatters from the temporal interface that results from an instantaneous and homogeneous abrupt temporal change in its plasma frequency (while keeping its resonance frequency constant). In order to achieve momentum preservation across the temporal discontinuity, we show how, unlike in the well-known problem of a nondispersive discontinuity, the second-order nature of the dielectric function now gives rise to two shifted frequencies. As a consequence, whereas in the nondispersive scenario the continuity of the electric displacement D and the magnetic induction B suffices to find the amplitude of the new forward and backward wave, we now need two extra temporal boundary conditions. That is, two forward and two backward plane waves are now instantaneously generated in response to a forward-only plane wave. We also include a transmission-line equivalent with lumped circuit elements that describes the dispersive time-discontinuous scenario under consideration.
Sounding the climate alarm—scientists and politics

Abstract The Catch-22 in U.S. politics is the unattainability of reforms needed for sustainability, and the inadequacy of those that are attainable. This stalemate is not the result of scientific uncertainty. Until the Industrial Revolution, humanity’s main energy source was biomass, which did not affect the composition of the atmosphere. Now, a few generations are burning the fossil fuels that were generated over millions of years, thus destroying the natural life-support systems upon which animals, plants, and humans depend. Not long ago, climate science was a technical, not a political, challenge. Activist governments with bipartisan support passed numerous environment bills. Conferences marshaled international support. Now, decarbonizing is fiercely resisted by powerful vested interests that, dreading the disruption and the cost, cast doubt on the underlying science. A fact-based rational discourse is difficult in an ideologically inflamed atmosphere. Scientists must communicate the dangers facing human civilization and evaluate emerging solutions.
Pregnancy in Chronic Liver Disease: Before and After Transplantation.

Abstract Chronic liver disease poses various challenges for women of reproductive age. Cirrhosis, particularly if decompensated, and liver transplantation may impact gestation and perinatal outcomes. Tailored management of underlying liver disease is critical to optimize maternal and fetal wellbeing. Early education, timely intervention, close monitoring, and a multidisciplinary approach are key elements required to minimize complications and increase chances of a safe and successful pregnancy. In this review, we focus on the pregnancy-related implications of chronic liver disease and liver transplantation on women of reproductive age and highlight disease-specific management considerations.
Tertiary and quaternary structure of tobacco mosaic virus and protein. II. Emission, excitation, polarization and position of 2-p-toluidinylnaphthalene-6-sulfonate binding.

Abstract The emission, excitation and polarization spectra of tobacco mosaic virus protein were identical for the aggregated protein and disaggregated protein (A Protein) with the exception that the quantum yield of fluorescence decreased 25% on aggregation. This decrease in the absence of other spectral changes suggests a quenching interaction between adjacent subunits. The aggregation apparently produces, at most, minor conformational changes within subunits. The polarization of fluorescence is low but does not decrease on aggregation, indicating that energy migrates efficiently within subunits but not between subunits. Intersubunit space must be large, relative to intrasubunit space. Fluorescence from the tyrosine residues in tobacco mosaic virus protein is not observable, and evidence from the excitation spectrum of tobacco mosaic virus protein is given which suggests that tyrosine energy is efficiently transferred to the tryptophans in tobacco mosaic virus protein. These results and the low polarization indicate that tobacco mosaic virus protein subunits are rather compact. 2-p- Toluidinylnaphthalene -6- sulfonate (TNS), a hydrophobic probe, bound more strongly to aggregated protein than to A Protein. This was shown to be due to the charge change associated with the aggregation as TNS sulfonamide (TNSA) a neutral probe, was bound with equal efficiency to A Protein and aggregated protein. As exposure of the intersubunit regions led to no increase in hydrophobic binding of TNS or TNSA, the hydrophobicity of the intersubunit surface is weak.
Direct Solution of Equations by Frontal and Variable Band, Active Column Methods

The variable band, active column and the frontal methods for the solution of linear algebraic equations are compared. Areas considered in the comparison of the two methods are: 1. The number of numerical operations required for the triangular decomposition and resolution for different load vectors. 2. Logical operations and data transfer requirements associated with the formation of equations, decomposition and resolution. 3. Use of the methods for nonlinear problems, dynamics and substructure analyses. 4. Ease of computer implementation on mini-computers, micro-computers and vectorized computers.
Resting discharge and response dynamics of horizontal semicircular canal afferents of the toadfish, Opsanus tau

The response dynamics of 66 primary afferents of the horizontal semicircular canal were studied in the toadfish using sinusoidal, rotational stimuli from 0.001–10 Hz at amplitudes of 5–100 degrees/sec. Twelve afferents were also tested to constant velocity trapezoids. Responses to sinusoids were used to classify afferents into 3 broad groups: (1) low-gain afferents that maintain a relatively linear response re: stimulus velocity across most of the frequency and amplitude spectra tested; (2) high-gain afferents that have a velocity sensitivity but also show a high-frequency gain enhancement and phase advance; and (3) so-called acceleration afferents that have a response more in phase with stimulus acceleration than velocity across the tested bandwidth. The afferent's background discharge was examined in relation to its rotational response. Low-gain afferents have regular spacing of interspike intervals. High-gain and acceleration afferents have a widely variable discharge regularity that is apparently unrelated to their rotational responses. Input/output transfer models were fit to the response data to describe the low- and high-pass filtering properties of the 3 afferent groups.
The crystal structure of 4-iodoacetophenone azine

4-Iodoacetophenone azine crystallizes in the space group Pbcn with cell parametersa = 34.5187(19), b = 7.2638(4), and c = 6.3736(3) A. The azine shows a gauche conformation with regard to the N—N bond and the phenyl rings are twisted in a way that leads to the largest possible twist between the benzene rings of each azine. This azine conformation allows for intermolecular arene–arene T-contacts between pairs of benzene rings and these double-T contacts involve only molecules within the same layer. All azines are perfectly colinear within each layer and this results in a quadrilateral kite-shaped arrangement of iodine atoms at the interface of each layer. The iodine-iodine distances within each layer are 4.5 and 5.1 A, and the three unique angles of the kite-shaped quadrilaterals are 97.1, 76.9, and 88.8°. The iodine atoms in adjacent layers pack such that atoms of one layer fill the square interstices of the next layer. The distances between iodine atoms in adjacent layers are 4.5 and 4.1 A. The C—I bonds are not orthogonal to the I-planes and the direction of the molecules in adjacent layers causes a deviation of about 40° from colinearity
Spiritual needs of couples facing pregnancy termination because of fetal anomalies.

Abstract The spiritual needs of parents (n = 14) who were planning to terminate wanted second trimester pregnancies because of serious fetal anomalies were surveyed. Their greatest needs were for a “guidance from a higher power” and for “someone to pray for them.” Unlike other reported groups of patients, they did not want or expect their healthcare team to discuss their faith, or to pray with them. Most would prefer support from their own pastors, but their religious community was involved to only a small extent. They would welcome support from hospital chaplains, who could play a substantive and unique pastoral role in this clinical context.
Take Advantage of Your Diaspora Network

Diaspora networks (DNs) are an important resource for global entrepreneurs. Discusses several features of DNs, combining both academic and practitioner perspectives. Describes the history and prevalence of DNs in many ethnicities, documents the broad resources DNs can provide to founders, and specifies potential pitfalls or traps from working through DNs. Closes with some practical advice for entrepreneurs accessing and utilizing their DNs
Paleostresses associated with faults of large offset

Abstract In order to test empirically the limitations of paleostress analysis, we used Etchecopar's computer program to compute the orientations and relative magnitudes of paleostress principal values in two southern Appalachian (U.S.A) thrust zones from minor fault and slickenside attitudes. In both thrust zones, faults are closely spaced, many faults have offsets whose magnitudes exceed the distance to adjacent faults of comparable size, and deformation was strongly non-coaxial. While even in the less-deformed thrust zone bulk strains due to fault movement have axial ratios as high as 10:1, nearly 75% of the fault-slickenside pairs in each thrust zone conform with paleostress tensors that indicate: (1) sequential transport-parallel compression, transport-parallel extension and extension oblique to transport; and (2) low resolved shear stresses on the thrusts. Finite strains measured in one thrust zone share a principal plane with the first two tensors, and the inclinations of the paleostress and finite strain principal directions in that plane are consistent with thrust-parallel shearing. Relative magnitudes of paleostress and strain principal values do not correlate well. Moreover, the locations and inferred origins of fault-slickenside pairs inconsistent with paleostress tensors suggest that stresses in rocks between faults were not, as is assumed in paleostress analyses, uniform; this complexity may also occur in faulted rocks where bulk strains are small. Paleostress tensors from rocks with large bulk strains may be viable, but they must be interpreted cautiously.
Introduction: Dimensions of Interstate Relations

By dividingpolitical power between the national government and multiple constituent governments, a federal system automatically produces relations among the constituent governments. This article describes six provisions of the U.S. Constitution for handling relations between the states: (1)federal judicial settlement ofinterstate disputes, (2) cooperative action by states, (3) privileges and immunities within each statefor out-of-state citizens of the United States, (4)fullfaith and creditfor thepublic acts, records, and judicial proceedings of each state, (5) interstate rendition, and (6) free interchange of commerce among the states.
Beyond ROC curvature: Strength effects and response time data support continuous-evidence models of recognition memory

A classic question in the recognition memory literature is whether retrieval is best described as a continuous-evidence process consistent with signal detection theory (SDT), or a threshold process consistent with many multinomial processing tree (MPT) models. Because receiver operating characteristics (ROCs) based on confidence ratings are typically curved as predicted by SDT, this model has been preferred in many studies of recognition memory (Wixted, 2007). Recently, Broder and Schutz (2009) argued that curvature in ratings ROCs may be produced by variability in scale usage; therefore, ratings ROCs are not diagnostic in deciding between the two approaches. From this standpoint, only ROCs constructed via experimental manipulations of response bias (‘binary’ ROCs) are predicted to be linear by threshold MPT models. The authors claimed that binary ROCs are linear, consistent with the assumptions of threshold MPT models. We compared SDT and the double high-threshold MPT model using binary ROCs differing in target strength. Results showed that the SDT model provided a superior account of both the ROC curvature and the effect of strength compared to the MPT model. Moreover, the bias manipulation produced differences in RT distributions that were well described by the diffusion model (Ratcliff, 1978), a dynamic version of SDT.
The Islamic Work Ethic in Arabia

ABSTRACT In an examination of the Islamic Work Ethic and the Individualism Scale (Ali, 1988) among 117 managers in Saudi Arabia, I found that the managers were highly committed to the Islamic Work Ethic and showed a moderate tendency toward individualism. In addition, the results provided further evidence of the reliability of both measures and that they were significantly and positively related to each other. Demographic and organizational variables had a minimal influence on managerial orientations.
To continue or discontinue: Comparisons of continuous and discontinuous Galerkin formulations in a spectral element ocean model

Abstract The discontinuous Galerkin method is implemented in the spectral element ocean model to replace a continuous Galerkin discretization of the continuity and the tracer evolution equations. The aim is to improve the model’s local conservation properties, and thus its performance in advection-dominated flows. The new model is validated against several oceanic benchmark problems, particularly ones that feature frontal structures and under-resolved features. Comparisons confirm the advantages of the DGM, including enhanced model robustness.
Visual land use compatibility as a significant contributor to visual resource quality

In this paper an alternative to landscape complexity as a measure of visual landscape quality is presented. This alternative is called visual land use compatibility and is defined as the relationship between adjacent land uses. The research described is part of an interdisciplinary project at the University of Massachusetts called the Metropolitan Landscape Planning Model (METLAND). The Paper discusses man's concern for the relationships between land uses, tracing that concern through history to the present. A procedure that was designed to measure perceptions of the visual aspects of these land use relationships is described. The paper concludes that it appears to be valid to extend the concept of “misfits” into a more general model of both desirable and undesirable aspects of land use relationships and calls for further research to develop that model.
Sudden death from noninsulin secreting islet cell tumor of the pancreas (“glucagonoma”)

Abstract A case is presented in which a young female died suddenly and unexpectedly eight months following two episodes of hospitalization in which the clinical diagnoses were postpartum thromboembolic phenomena and cardiopulmonary disease. The suggestion of a diabetic-like condition was also apparent, but not confirmed. The autopsy revealed a small pancreas containing an islet cell tumor of the head region. Histochemical and electron micrographic studies demonstrated the presence of alpha cells suggesting a glucagon-secreting tumor, which can perhaps be termed a “glucagonoma.” Postmortem chemical studies of the vitreous humor assisted in initially recognizing the underlying process. Radioimmunoassay determination of insulin was performed on the blood and bile but glucagon was not analyzed. This condition should be considered in the differential diagnosis of sudden death in a young adult with a potential carbohydrate abnormality.
Smokeless tobacco as a nicotine delivery device: harm or harm reduction?

Smokeless tobacco (ST) delivers nicotine in doses similar to those received in cigarette smoking but does not expose the user to the toxic combustion gases and particles that are responsible for most tobacco-induced disease. This Opinion piece discusses the controversies pertaining to ST and health, the pros and cons of ST in harm reduction, and progress in treatment for those who would like to quit ST use. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2011) 90 4, 491–493. doi:10.1038/clpt.2011.191
Susceptibility of Strawberry Varieties to Post‐harvest Fungal Spoilage

The susceptibility of strawberry fruits from eleven varieties, Cambridge Favourite, Cambridge Vigour, Cambridge Prizewinner, Red Gauntlet, Chanil, Domanil, Grandee, Litessa, Tamella. Senga Gigana and Precosana, to post-harvest spoilage fungi was investigated over the 1974 and 1975 seasons. Although the fruit from the different varieties from each of two sites at each harvest was contaminated with a similar level of fungi, the pattern of development of the spoilage fungi revealed marked differences between some varieties. Botrytis cinerea and Mucor mucedo were the predominant spoilage fungi on all varieties with Rhizopus sexualis and R. stolonifer being of minor importance. The relative importance of these fungi changed on all varieties as the season progressed, although to a different degree according to variety, site and season. Cambridge Vigour, Senga Gigana, and Chanil were the most susceptible varieties, while Red Gauntlet was the most resistant, especially to the Phycomycetes.
A second order, non-linear elliptic boundary value problem with generalized Goursat data

In this paper the case of generalized Goursat data is considered for the non-linear partial differential equation Δu = f(x, y, u, ux, uy). The existence and uniqueness of a solution is demonstrated, under certain conditions, by employing the contraction mapping method in a suitable Banach space.
Comorbidity of Pain and Depression Among Persons With Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract Objective To assess the prevalence of pain, depression, and comorbid pain and depression among a civilian sample of persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Design Longitudinal survey design with 1-year follow-up. Setting Inpatient rehabilitation and the community. Participants Participants (N=158) admitted to inpatient rehabilitation after moderate to severe TBI. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Depression was assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9); pain was assessed with a numerical rating scale from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain). Participants who reported average pain ≥4 were classified as having pain, and participants with PHQ-9 scores ≥10 were classified as depressed. Results Both pain and depression were more prevalent at baseline assessment (pain: 70%; depression: 31%) than at year 1 (pain: 34%; depression: 22%). Comorbid pain and depression declined from 27% at baseline to 18% at year 1. Pain was significantly associated with depression at baseline (relative risk: 2.62, P =.003) and at year 1 (relative risk: 7.98, P Conclusions Pain and depression are common and frequently co-occur in persons with TBI. Although their frequency declined over the first year after injury, the strength of their association increased. Assessment and treatment of both conditions simultaneously may lead to improved outcomes, both early after TBI and over time.
Cooperative binding of adenosine by polyuridylic acid: a further analysis.

The dialysis data of Huang and Ts'o for the cooperative binding of adensine to polyuridylic acid are analyzed here using a grand-partition function Ising model method similar to that originally employed for polyelectrolytes by Rice and Nagasawa. An appropriate modification permitting the treatment of the sliding degeneracy of the two polyuridylic acid strands is also included. In addition to the previously estimated stacking energy of about −6 kcal/mole one also obtains the free energy change F for the transfer of a single adenosine molecule from a fixed site in solution to a fixed site on the polyuridylic acid. This binding energy falls in the range F = −140 to +620 cal/mole, indicating that binding in the 1:2 (purine: pyrimidine) complex is either very weak or repulsive. The absence of any comparable cooperative stacking of adenosines in solution at the same concentration together with the likely repulsive character of the binding implies that the stacking energy must contain a significant contribution from other processes than simple stacking of adenosines. A generalization of the theory to treat multicomponent binding and longer-range interactions is effected, and the form applicable to simultaneous binding of both adenosine and guanosine by polyuridylic acid is presented.
Comparative Studies of the β Disturbance of Electrophoretic Patterns in Disease

Summary1. Electrophoretic patterns of approximately 1100 plasma and 500 serum samples have been examined for changes in the length of the β spike. These samples were obtained from normal children and adults and from patients with poliomyelitis, diabetes, rheumatic fever, arthritis, and liver disease. 2. Minor changes occurred in the average length of the β spike in electrophoretic patterns from plasma and serum when patients with disease were compared with normal individuals. These changes were also observed when patterns from patients with one disease were compared to patterns from other diseases. These changes were not marked enough to differentiate between diseases or between normal individuals and those with disease.
Time and strain rate dependent mechanical behavior of individual polymeric nanofibers

Abstract In this work, the small and large strain mechanical behavior of nanofibers electrospun from glassy polymers was shown to be diameter and time-dependent. Specifically, the creep compliance of as-elecrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers increased with increasing diameter, while the tangent modulus, yield stress and tensile strength followed decreasing trends, which were attributed to increased molecular orientation with reduced nanofiber diameter. Furthermore, the nanofiber capacity for energy dissipation increased dramatically with the applied strain rate, as the yield and ultimate tensile strengths increased steadily with increasing strain rate. The effect of strain rate was less significant on the ductility of PAN nanofibers, and insignificant on the ductility of polystyrene (PS) nanofibers. This outstanding mechanical response was demonstrated by homogeneously deforming PAN nanofibers at strain rates as high as 200 s −1 and by PS nanofibers exhibiting necking at local plastic strain rates as high as 27,000 s −1 . The small strain time-dependent response of PAN nanofibers was modeled with a linear viscoelasticity model with diameter dependent constants, which provided a good description of the creep and strain rate behavior. The large deformation behavior was modeled via a modified rubber elasticity model which predicted quite well the overall mechanical response of PAN nanofibers.
Reduced Serotonin Reuptake Transporter (SERT) Function Causes Insulin Resistance and Hepatic Steatosis Independent of Food Intake

Serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT) is a key regulator of serotonin neurotransmission and a major target of antidepressants. Antidepressants, such as selectively serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), that block SERT function are known to affect food intake and body weight. Here, we provide genetic evidence that food intake and metabolism are regulated by separable mechanisms of SERT function. SERT-deficient mice ate less during both normal diet and high fat diet feeding. The reduced food intake was accompanied with markedly elevated plasma leptin levels. Despite reduced food intake, SERT-deficient mice exhibited glucose intolerance and insulin resistance, and progressively developed obesity and hepatic steatosis. Several lines of evidence indicate that the metabolic deficits of SERT-deficient mice are attributable to reduced insulin-sensitivity in peripheral tissues. First, SERT-deficient mice exhibited beta-cell hyperplasia and islet-mass expansion. Second, biochemical analyses revealed constitutively elevated JNK activity and diminished insulin-induced AKT activation in the liver of SERT-deficient mice. SERT-deficient mice exhibited hyper-JNK activity and hyperinsulinemia prior to the development of obesity. Third, enhancing AKT signaling by PTEN deficiency corrected glucose tolerance in SERT-deficient mice. These findings have potential implications for designing selective SERT drugs for weight control and the treatment of metabolic syndromes.
Amplitude and rate of decay of post-tetanic potentiation are controlled by different mechanisms

Abstract Evidence is presented that post-tetanic potentiation (PTP) of the cholinergic, fast, C1− dependent IPSP seen in cell L5 of the abdominal ganglion of Aplysia californica upon eliciting a spike in cell L10 is due to an increase in spike-evoked transmitter release. The magnitude of the post-tetanic change in spike-evoked release is inversely correlated with the amount of transmitter released by an isolated presynaptic spike. This was found whether the latter was increased by injection of tetraethyl ammonium (TEA) into the soma of L10 or decreased by hyperpolarization of the soma of L10. Neither of these manipulations affected the rate of decay of PTP. The magnitude of PTP was increased and the rate of decay reduced by increasing either the number of frequency of stimuli in the tetanus. Under all conditions PTP decayed with a single exponential time course, asymptotically approaching the unpotentiated magnitude. It is concluded that while both the amplitude and rate of decay of PTP are affected by the frequency and number of stimuli in the tetanus, the underlying mechanism controlling the amplitude of PTP is different from the mechanism controlling the rate of decay of PTP.
The effects of severity of initiation on liking for a group: A replication

Abstract This epperiment represents an attempt to rule out a number of alternative explanations of an effect found in a previous experiment by Aronson and Mills. This effect, that the more a person suffers in order to obtain something, the greater will be the tendency for him to evaluate it positively, was predicted from dissonance theory. By modifying the original experiment in a number of ways, and applying additional treatment variations, these other hypotheses were effectively ruled out, thus lending considerable additional support to the original “suffering-leading-to-liking” hypothesis.
A novel Xenopus homologue of bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7).

We identified aXenopus gene closely related to mammalian bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-7 (also termed osteogenic protein-1 or OP-1). It resembles the mammalian gene in primary structure and expression pattern much more closely than does a previously described Xenopus homologue, originally termed XBMP-7 [Nishimatsu, Suzuki, Shoda, Murakami and Ueno (1992) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 186, 1487–1495]. The novel gene has therefore been designated XBMP-7 and the gene described earlier has been renamed XBMP-7R (M. Moos and N. Ueno, unpublished work). It has a broad distribution, primarily in the anterior and posterior ventral regions during gastrulation, subsequently becoming prominent at different stages in a wide variety of structures (eyes, neural structures, heart, pronephros, posterior ventral region and other structures), paralleling the distribution of XBMP-4 closely. However, its expression begins later than that of XBMP-4 during gastrulation. Lithium treatment of embryos concentrates the XBMP-7 expression in the expanded eye and heart structures. Ventral overexpression of XBMP-7 produces large protrusions that ultimately develop colouration characteristic of haemoglobin, which is confirmed by markedly expanded expression of α-globin. Dorsal overexpression suppresses dorsal anterior structures. Molecular analysis of animal caps overexpressing XBMP-7 reveals induction of markers associated with ventral and haematopoietic tissue, which is consistent with whole-embryo overexpression results. Globin induction by XBMP-7 can be blocked by a truncated BMP receptor previously shown to interrupt BMP-4 signalling, indicating XBMP-7 also interacts with this receptor. Our data support the concept that XBMP-7 may play a variety of roles during embryogenesis, and suggest a possible role in haematogenesis.
A novel insertion sequence, IS1642, of Mycobacterium avium, which forms long direct repeats of variable length.

A new insertion sequence (IS), IS1642, was identified in a Mycobacterium avium strain isolated from a human patient. IS1642 had a size of 1642 bp and contained a single ORF encoding a probable transposase of 503 amino acid residues homologous (79% identity) to that of IS1549 found in Mycobacterium smegmatis. The IS1642 included imperfect inverted repeats (5′-cctgacttttatca-3′, 5′-tgataaaagtcggg-3′) on its ends, and was flanked by direct repeats of variable length ranging from 5 to 161 bp. It was suggested that the IS1642 was widely distributed in many M. avium strains of human patients, and the Southern blot profile of IS1642 was very diverse among the strains examined. The transposition event of IS1642 was observed by in vitro repeated passages, showing that the IS1642 is actually a transposable element. In light of these characteristics, IS1642 could be a new useful marker when genotyping with high discrimination is required.
Improving MiRNA prediction accuracy by deep learning strategies

MiRNAs are small non-coding RNAs, but perform important function in regulating the translation of mRNAs into proteins. Experimental identification of miRNAs is still challenging due to the fact that the biogenesis of miRNAs is a complex process and is regulated by many factors that have not been completely characterized. Therefore, developing knowledge-based computational predictors provides an alternative strategy to discover novel miRNAs. While many computational predictors have been developed, a perpetual theme in this field is to improve the prediction performance continuously. Inspired by the success of deep leaning strategies in many other fields, we developed novel miRNA meta-predictors by integrating several deep learning techniques, including: preprocessing of input features based on principal component analysis and non-linear transformation, and meta-strategy. The newly designed meta-predictors improved the prediction accuracy of miRNAs consistently by ~10% from the middle of 80% to the middle of 90%.
A Strategy for Suppressing Redox Stress within Mitochondria

An aza analogue (1) of the experimental neuroprotective drug idebenone has been prepared and evaluated. The compound quenches lipid peroxidation more effectively than α-tocopherol and potently suppresses reactive oxygen species in cells under oxidative stress. It is thought to do so via a catalytic cycle in which both forms of oxidative stress are suppressed simultaneously. Consequently, the compound effectively protects cultured CEM leukemia cells and Friedreich's ataxia fibroblasts from oxidative stress more effectively than idebenone or idebenol.
Phase Transition of Traffic Overloading Failures in Large Wireless Networks

Traffic overloading failures are infectious due to the correlations in their occurrence. When a node fails at excessive load, the re-routed traffic may fail other nodes in the network. We present in this paper a mathematical characterization of the resilience of large wireless networks to the traffic overloading failures. We show that as the number of failed nodes increases, the network transits from a failure-resistant phase to a failure-prone phase at certain time. We derive an upper bound on this phase transition time to provide an estimation of the maximum network resilience to traffic overloading failures.
“Joining peptide” of pro-opiomelanocortin. II. Interspecies heterogeneity of the joining peptide fragment

Abstract The use of an antiserum raised against the joining peptide sequence −23 to −14 of bovine pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) enabled the detection of related immunoreactive sequences of peptides in bovine, porcine, mouse and guinea-pig pituitaries, as well as in mouse brain and cerebral cortex, guinea-pig cerebral cortex, and bovine hypothalamus. Gel chromatography of pituitary extracts (Sephadex G-75 and Bio-Gel P-4) indicated the presence of several immunoreactive joining peptide fragments ranging in the molecular weight range (Mr) of 1,500 to 2,300. Furthermore, high molecular weight ( Mr >22,500 ) immunoreactive-precursor from bovine anterior pituitary was readily digested with trypsin into an immunoreactive fragment of approximately Mr 1,500. Analyses of these immunoreactive peptides by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) led to their resolution into six distinct peptides. The only apparent correspondence in the elution profiles of immunoreactive peptide profiles between different mammalian species was the identification of a similar fragment (Mr 2,000) from bovine and guinea-pig pituitaries. Thus, we conclude that immunoreactivity to the joining peptide region of POMC from various mammalian species exhibits a degree of heterogeneity in its composition. The relatively low levels of immunoreactivity in comparison to that of ACTH also suggest that the joining peptide domain may be further processed. The hormonal status of the joining peptide region remains to be determined.
The Paradox of Collaboration in Inventive Activities

The strategy literature portrays collaboration in a firmâ€™s inventive activities as a strategy that enables recombinant search and firm growth. This paper shows that, contrary to what is commonly ...
Single Molecule Content Mixing Analysis of SNARE-Mediated Membrane Fusion

A single liposome fusion assay has been developed in our lab to unambiguously detect different stages of fusion including docking, hemi and full fusion via fluorescence resonance energy transfer. [1, 2] While this assay provides the extent of lipid mixing, the presence of the fusion pore opening cannot be detected. In order to further push the technique and to reveal the minimal machinery of SNARE-mediated membrane fusion, we have developed a single molecule assay based on content mixing of a large DNA probe. It has been confirmed that yeast SNARE proteins are enough to produce large and stable fusion pores for content mixing. For the neuronal case, our results show that SNARE complexes are not enough to expand fusion pores, and the fusion regulator protein synatotagmin is necessary for the completion of content mixing via pore expansion.References[1] Yoon, T.-Y., Okumus, B., Zhang, F., Shin, Y.-K., Ha, T. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U S A103, 19731 (2006).[2] Yoon, T.-Y., Lu, X., Diao, J., Lee, S.-M., Ha, T., Shin, Y.-K. Nat. Struct. Mol. Bio.15, 707 (2008).
Comments on the thermodynamic properties of weak ferromagnets; Theory of forced magnetostriction

Abstract The thermodynamic properties of weak ferromagnets are discussed without resort to the Stoner model of ferromagnetism. We derive a simple and general expression for the volume change induced by an external magnetic field (forced magnetostriction). The expression involves only the susceptibility, magnetization, and the volume derivative of these quantities. If this general result is applied to the Stoner model, we recover an earlier result obtained by Wohlfarth. We comment on the behavior of the phenomena near the Curie temperature, and note that one may obtain the volume dependence of the Curie temperature from data on the low field susceptibility and the magnitude of the volume change induced by the external field, when the sample is at the Curie temperature.
Two-Dimensional Hybrid Image Coding And Transmission

Image data compression is achieved through the use of a two-dimensional (2-D) transform operation on the gray-level pixels within an image subsection followed by 2-D DPCM encoding of common transform coefficients from disjoint image subsections. Earlier results for this 2-D hybrid scheme employing the Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) indicate an overall improvement in image source coding gain vis-a-vis conventional 2-D transform coding. Hybrid system performance dependence on transform block size is demonstrated along with the rank-ordering of the relative performance obtained when using the Haar, Walsh, Slant and DCT 2-D orthogonal transforms. It is shown that performance gains over conventional block 2-D transform coding are realized for transforms which are less efficient than the DCT. This hybrid system will provide a means of substantially improving existing hardware transform coding systems with a minimal increase in hardware complexity.
Shell-Burrowing Barnacles

Acrothoracican cirripeds burrow in a variety of shelly materials dating back to the Carboniferous. The burrow is usually less than 5 mm in depth, with a smaller, tapered, slit-shaped aperture. Chemical action is proposed for initial penetration, and as an aid to the abrasive action of the teeth on the mantle and along the lateral bar. The burrowed shell is usually dead, and varies markedly in hardness.
The Process and Role of Conflict in the Community

Choice making is a functional requirement of a democratic society, presently thwarted by inadequate understanding of cultural requirements and the social structure. Extra-community-based organizations, the vertical dimension in the community's social structure, vie with the horizontally-oriented organizations integrating the community. Conflict makes visible the social structure, and existing information becomes useful to citizens in decision-making. The development of common understanding is aided by greater "visibility" of the community's social structure. Increased awareness of the conditions affecting social life in a complex urban environment is posited here as a function of conflict.
On error systems and the servomechanism problem

This paper considers the problem of controlling a multi-input, multi-output, linear, time-invariant dynamic system subjected to disturbances belonging to a known class of signals. The objective is to find a feedback control law which makes the outputs of the system track command signals belonging to a known class with zero steady-state error and a satisfactory transient response. Necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a state feedback control law that achieves this objective are obtained. The problem of stabilizing the closed-loop system while tracking with zero steady-state error is solved, the problem of controlling the system using output feedback is discussed and sufficient conditions for its solution are obtained. In addition, it is shown that if certain of the above conditions are not satisfied for a given system and class of disturbance and command input signals, then they cannot be satisfied using dynamic (integrator) compensation.
First and second order analysis of nonlinear semidefinite programs

In this paper we study nonlinear semidefinite programming problems. Convexity, duality and first-order optimality conditions for such problems are presented. A second-order analysis is also given. Second-order necessary and sufficient optimality conditions are derived. Finally, sensitivity analysis of such programs is discussed.
Analytical Approach to Niagaran Stratigraphy, Michigan Basin: ABSTRACT

Analytical techniques utilizing very small samples make it possible to work with drill cuttings as well as cores and surface samples and obtain quantitative chemical analyses of the hydrochloric acid soluble End_Page 548------------------------------ parts of carbonate rocks. Reasonably small samples also can be used to obtain semiquantitative insoluble residue data. The combined procedures yield accurate classifications and descriptions of carbonate sediments. The data are plotted as varying ratios in obtaining curves which are susceptible to visual correlation. These procedures yield common denominators which are applicable equally to surface rocks. They also equate with electric logs so that detailed analysis of all sections is unnecessary. Reliable correlations generally place considerable dependence on a genetic interpretation of the sediments involved. The data permit some generalizations regarding the origin of carbonate rocks, particularly dolomite, as well as forming a basis for the interpretation of the carbonates in the northern part of the Michigan basin. A continuous core for beginning the study was available from Grand Traverse County and surface exposures also occur in the northern part of the basin. The core from Carter Oil Company No. 1 Lemcool included all but the top 17 ft of the Niagaran and extended into the Alexandrian. Some rotary samples and surface collections also are being analyzed. In all, approximately 475 analyses are available at the writing of this abstract. On the basis of the analytical data, subdivision of the subsurface sections into stratigraphic units is possible although this becomes difficult if formations are dolomitized extensively. The process of dolomitization appears to result in unconformity of some of the parameters and implies chemical equilibrium within these rocks so that correlation is more dependent on the residues. Although the subsurface stratigraphic units appear to correlate with surface stratigraphy, these are not necessarily time correlations in a strict sense. Layers with arenaceous foraminifers do not appear to have equivalence. The petrogenesis of the rocks can be interpreted and facies relations determined but the correlation of time-stratigraphic units, at least in this area, may be an ephemeral concept. End_of_Article - Last_Page 549------------
Allogeneic hepatic transplantation using cadaveric donors with clinical application.

Abstract Allogeneic liver grafts obtained from cadaveric donors were transplanted in 29 dogs, 3 pigs, and 1 human. Extracorporeal perfusion was used while the donor liver was excised, and asanguinous hypothermic perfusion through the hepatic artery and portal vein was continued until the venous effluent was clear. In contrast to the relatively long survival following canine hepatic allografting from anesthetized donors, the average survival following cadaveric canine orthotopic and heterotopic grafting was less than 1 1 2 days. Hepatocellular injury due to prolonged hypoxia is believed to have caused the “out-flow block” syndrome, venous congestion and death in almost all dogs. The anaerobic bacterial flora of the canine liver is believed to make it particularly susceptible to short periods of hypoxia. In contrast, the porcine and human liver appear to tolerate hypoxia for periods of over 3 hours without developing congestion. The experience with heterotopic liver grafting in a patient is presented with survival of 12 days.
Prehistoric human settlement patterns in a tectonically unstable environment: Outer shumagin islands, southwestern alaska

Human population movements into and around the outer Shumagin Islands of southwestern Alaska during the last 5000 years, and temporal gaps in Shumagin habitation correlate inversely with geologically inferred prehistoric earthquakes. Clusters of inferred seismic activity correlate with temporal gaps or with small, sparsely distributed archaeological sites; periods of relative seismic quiescence coincide with settlement florescence. Variations in terrace and archaeological site heights across the study area indicate differential uplift of the outer Shumagin Islands when corrected for the Holocene sea level rise and post-glacial isostatic adjustments.