cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Building a virus from scratch: assembly of an infectious virus using purified components in a rigorously defined biochemical assay system.

The assembly of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) viruses such as poxvirus, the herpesviruses and many bacteriophages is a complex process that requires the coordinated activities of numerous proteins of both viral and host origin. Here, we report the assembly of an infectious wild-type λ virus using purified proteins and commercially available DNA, and optimization of the assembly reaction in a rigorously defined biochemical system. Seven proteins, purified procapsids and tails, and mature λ DNA are necessary and sufficient for efficient virus assembly in vitro. Analysis of the reaction suggests that (i) virus assembly in vitro is optimal under conditions that faithfully mimic the intracellular environment within an Escherichia coli cell, (ii) concatemeric DNA is required for the successful completion of virus assembly, (iii) several of the protein components oligomerize concomitant with their step-wise addition to the nascent virus particle and (iv) tail addition is the rate-limiting step in virus assembly. Importantly, the assembled virus may enter either of the developmental pathways (lytic or lysogenic) expected of a λ virion. Thus, we demonstrate for the first time that a wild-type, complex DNA virus may be assembled from purified components under defined biochemical conditions. This system provides a powerful tool to characterize, at the molecular level, the step-by-step processes required to assemble an infectious virus particle. Given the remarkable similarities between dsDNA bacteriophage and eukaryotic dsDNA viruses, characterization of the λ system has broad biological implications in our understanding of virus development at a global level.
Predominant requirement of Bax for apoptosis in HCT116 cells is determined by Mcl-1's inhibitory effect on Bak

The intrinsic mitochondrial apoptotic pathway acts through two core pro-apoptotic proteins Bax (Bcl2-associated X protein) and Bak (Bcl2-antagonist/killer 1). Although Bax and Bak seem to have redundant roles in apoptosis, accumulating evidence also suggests that they might not be interchangeable under certain conditions, at least in some human cell lines. Here we report the generation of Bak knockout as well as BaxBak double knockout HCT116 human colon carcinoma cells. We show that Bak is dispensable for apoptosis induced by a variety of stimuli including ABT-737 but not for fluorouracil-induced apoptosis. In addition, Bax deficiency only provides partial protection against camptothecin and cisplatin-induced apoptosis and no protection against killing by Puma or ABT-737 plus Noxa overexpression. Moreover, Bak is activated normally in response to many chemotherapeutic drugs in the presence of Bax, but remains kept in check by Mcl-1 in the absence of Bax. Our data suggest that Bax and Bak are functionally redundant, but they are counteracted by distinct anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins in different species.
The effect of N- or C-terminal alterations of the connector of bacteriophage phi29 DNA packaging motor on procapsid assembly, pRNA binding, and DNA packaging.

Double-stranded DNA viruses package their genomes into procapsids via an ATP-driven nanomotor. This ingenious motor configuration has inspired the development of biomimetics in nanotechnology. Bacteriophage ϕ29 DNA-packaging motor has been a popular tool in nanomedicine. To provide information for further motor modification, conjugation, labeling, and manufacturing, the connector protein gp10 of the ϕ29 DNA packaging motor was truncated, mutated, and extended. A 25-residue deletion or a 14-residue extension at the C terminus of gp10 did not affect procapsid assembly. A 42–amino acid extension at the N terminus did not interfere with the procapsid assembly but significantly decreased the DNA-packaging efficiency. DNA-packaging activity was restored upon protease cleavage of the extended region. Replacing the N-terminal peptide containing arginine and lysine with a histidine-rich peptide did not affect procapsid assembly but completely inhibited the packaging RNA (pRNA) binding to the connector and hindered subsequent DNA packaging. These results indicate that (1) the N-terminal arginine-lysine residues play a critical role in pRNA binding but are not essential for procapsid assembly; (2) the connector core, but not the flexible N- or C-terminal domains, is responsible for signaling the procapsid assembly; (3) pRNA binds to the connector as a result of electrostatic interactions between the polyanionic nature of nucleic acids and the cationic side groups of the amino acids, similar to RNA binding to Tat or polyArg.
Crack Cocaine and Cocaine Hydrochloride: Are the Differences Myth or Reality?

Objective. —To review and discuss the differences and similarities between the use of crack cocaine and cocaine hydrochloride; and to determine how these findings might affect policies on the imprisonment and treatment of cocaine users. Data Sources. —English-language publications were identified through a computerized search (using MEDLINE) between 1976 and 1996 using the search terms "smoked cocaine," "crack cocaine," "freebase," and "cocaine-base." In addition, manual searches were conducted on references cited in original research articles, reviews, and an annotated bibliography, and on selected journals. Study Selection. —Only those articles that compared various routes of cocaine administration or types of cocaine (cocaine base or crack cocaine vs cocaine hydrochloride) were examined. Data Extraction. —Studies were reviewed to obtain information on the composition of the 2 forms of cocaine, and the prevalence, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, abuse liability, pattern of use, and consequences across the various routes of cocaine administration and forms of cocaine. Conclusion. —Cocaine hydrochloride is readily converted to base prior to use. The physiological and psychoactive effects of cocaine are similar regardless of whether it is in the form of cocaine hydrochloride or crack cocaine (cocaine base). However, evidence exists showing a greater abuse liability, greater propensity for dependence, and more severe consequences when cocaine is smoked (cocainebase) or injected intravenously (cocaine hydrochloride) compared with intranasal use (cocaine hydrochloride). The crucial variables appear to be the immediacy, duration, and magnitude of cocaine's effect, as well as the frequency and amount of cocaine used rather than the form of the cocaine. Furthermore, cocaine hydrochloride used intranasally may be a gateway drug or behavior to using crack cocaine. Based on these findings, the federal sentencing guidelines allowing possession of 100 times more cocaine hydrochloride than crack cocaine to trigger mandatory minimum penalties is deemed excessive. Although crack cocaine has been linked with crime to a greater extent than cocaine hydrochloride, many of these crimes are associated with the addiction to cocaine. Therefore, those addicted individuals who are incarcerated for the sale or possession of cocaine are better served by treatment than prison.
Focus on fleas

The Rothschild Collection of Fleas: The Ceratophyllidae. By Robert Traub, Miriam Rothschild and John Haddow. Published privately (distributed by Academic Press): 1983. Pp.494. 60, 99.
Memory and context for language interpretation

1. Introduction 2. The mechanisms 3. Solving interpretation problems 4. Related research in a summary 5. Introduction to the Capture system 6. Supplying the mechanisms in Capture 7. Performing database capture 8. Techniques for efficient retrieval.
Temperature control of autorefrigerated reactors

Abstract Autorefrigerated or evaporatively cooled chemical reactors use the heat of vaporization to remove the heat generated by exothermic chemical reactions. Liquid in the reactor is at its bubblepoint. The vapor boiled from the liquid is condensed in a heat exchanger and the condensate is returned to the reactor. One of the major advantages of this type of reactor is that the area for heat transfer is not limited by reactor size because the heat exchanger can be specified to be any desired size. This aids in scale-up since heat-transfer area can be scaled directly with reactor volume and heat generation. Despite their widespread use in industry, little has appeared in the literature dealing with this type of reactor. This paper presents a quantitative study of temperature control of boiling-liquid reactors. The effects of conversion and activation energy are explored. The major contribution of this paper is a demonstration that the condenser heat-transfer area required for dynamic stability can be an order of magnitude larger than that suggested by conventional steady-state heat-transfer design heuristics.
Oxidation of hemoglobin: mechanisms of control in vitro and in vivo

SUMMARY Hemoglobin (Hb) within red blood cells (RBC) is protected from oxidative processes by enzymatic and small molecule antioxidants as well as the RBC membrane that provides a physical barrier against oxidation. When Hb is introduced into the circulation as a result of hemolysis or following infusion of Hb-based oxygen carriers (HBOCs; ‘blood substitutes’), the control of oxidative processes becomes dependent on plasma oxidative status. In vitro studies clearly demonstrate that Hb and HBOCs undergo oxidative modification at the site of heme iron and at multiple amino acid sites as a result of autoxidation, nitrosylation and peroxidation. Recent findings from in vitro studies provide a strong basis for understanding of potential toxicity in vivo. The antioxidative status of both plasma and tissue becomes an important factor in the control of Hb and HBOC oxidation and nitrosylation in the circulation. Several studies that performed ex vivo and in vivo have demonstrated a critical role for plasma antioxidants such as ascorbic acid and uric acid in maintaining Hb and HBOCs in functional non-oxidized states. In the present review we discuss mechanisms of Hb and HBOC autoxidation, nitrosylation and peroxidation in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, we explore the role(s) of plasma antioxidants in maintaining functional HBOC status that may potentially be exploited as part of protective strategies against Hb and HBOC oxidative toxicity.
On detection of pseudo‐nitzschia (bacillariophyceae) species using whole cell hybridization: sample fixation and stability

Some species within the genus Pseudo-nitzschia H. Peragallo are associated with production of domoic acid, the agent responsible for amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP). Identification and enumeration of particular Pseudo-nitzschia in natural populations is often difficult and time consuming because of the need for detailed morphological observations, which often require scanning or transmission electron microscopy. In earlier publications we described the development of large subunit ribosomal RNA (LSU rRNA)-targeted fluorescent DNA probes for discriminating among a variety of Pseudo-nitzschia species collected from Monterey Bay, California. Probes are applied using whole cell hybridization and a custom filtration manifold, enabling rapid identification and quantification of target species in cultured as well as field samples. In this work we compared a variety of preservation techniques and assessed the stability of stored samples with respect to their reactivity towards the probes. Of the preservatives tested, a saline ethanol-based treatment gave the best results in terms of probes yielding a bright and uniform cell label. Culture samples treated with this fixative continued to react well with the probes for at least 6 weeks post-fixation whether stored in the preservative or dried post-preservation, with samples being kept at either room temperature or −20° C. Likewise, field samples containing a variety of diatoms and dinoflagellate species stored in the saline ethanol solution at room temperature were also stable for at least 4–6 weeks, reacting brilliantly towards a positive control probe. After prolonged storage, however, cell reactivity towards the probes diminished dramatically. Post-hybridization, samples stored at 4° C were found to retain their fluorescence for at least 1 week. These results indicate a wider window of opportunity for Pseudo-nitzschia analysis using whole cell hybridization than previously reported. Sample collection, preservation, and probing protocols optimized for Pseudo-nitzschia are also applicable to a wide range of phytoplankton species. The time required to execute the whole cell hybridization protocol was reduced by premixing probe with hybridization buffer. The premixed probe solutions as well as fixative and wash solutions are all stable at room temperature for at least 6 weeks. Application of two different species-specific probes, each labeled with a different fluorochrome, allowed detection of two species on a single filter. The latter could be adopted in the future to increase the rate of sample processing and decrease the cost of sample analysis.
Predictors of outcome of tricuspid valve replacement in carcinoid heart disease.

Abstract The cardiac valvular surgical experience of patients in the Duke Carcinoid Database was reviewed to assess operative outcome. Of the 604 patients in the database, 19 patients with carcinoid heart disease were identified by cardiac catheterization or echocardiography, or both. Eight of these underwent tricuspid valve replacement surgery with bioprostheses (2 also had open pulmonic valvuloplasty). Compared with patients medically managed, surgically treated patiente were similar with the exception that they had higher right atrial mean (17 ± 6 vs 9 ± 4 mm Hg, p = 0.03) and v-wave (27 ± 6 vs 17 ± 7 mm Hg, p = 0.04) pressures. Of the 8 surgical patients, 5 (63%) died within 30 days. Causes of death included tricuspid valve thrombosis, cerebral vascular accident, coagulopathy, renal failure, and intractable right heart failure. High comorbidity was present in all 8 patients. There was a weak trend (p = 0.17) toward lower Charlson comorbidity indexes in survivors (6.7 ± 0.6) compared with nonsurvivors (7.6 ± 0.9). Age was significantly lower (p = 0.036) in survivors (46 ± 13 years) compared with nonsurvivors (69 ± 4 years). Extended follow-up revealed 2 patients who survived beyond a decade. Review of 47 carcinoid valve replacement cases (Duke Carcinoid Database and 39 published cases) revealed a 30-day mortality of 56% for patients > 60 years of age, and 0% for those ≤60 years of age (p
Helping Children With the Psychosocial Effects of a Parent's Deployment: Integrating Today's Needs With Lessons Learned From the Vietnam War

Social workers who treat children of deployed servicemembers may feel poorly prepared to work competently with military families and will benefit from understanding the immediate and long-term effects of parental deployment upon children. This review consolidates a substantial, shifting knowledge base and establishes a coherent theoretical framework for social workers to learn about the effects of war-specific deployment cycles for servicemembers, and the relationship among family members' and children's experiences with deployment separation. The author considers important lessons learned during the Vietnam War and the unique experiences specific to current wars. This article compares the Vietnam War and the more recent wars' characteristics of military deployment, demographic characteristics of service members, servicemembers' family characteristics, and research findings about the psychosocial effects of deployment on children. A case vignette is presented to clarify how an understanding of deployment ...
Assessing Capacity for Self-Care among the Aged:

Data drawn from the Supplement on Aging (SOA) to the 1984 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) were used to identify correlates of older persons' assessments of their capacity to provide self-ca...
Functional identity of a purified proximal tubule anion exchanger protein: Mediation of chloride/formate and chloride/bicarbonate exchange

Based on the transport activities and inhibitor sensitivities, different functional modes of anion exchangers have been identified in the kidney proximal tubule including chloride/formate, chloride/oxalate, chloride/hydroxyl, and chloride/bicarbonate exchange. There is little information on the molecular structure and properties of the protein(s) involved in these processes. Previously, using stilbene affinity matrix and Pac Q chromatography, we partially purified a protein with anion exchange properties in brush border membranes (BBM) isolated from rabbit kidney proximal tubules. This protein has a molecular weight of 162 kDa. When reconstituted into liposomes, the fraction containing the 162 kDa protein demonstrated Cl-/Cl- exchange activity. In the current experiments, the 162 kDa protein was purified to homogeneity using a combination of affinity, ion exchange, and size exclusion chromatography. This protein has binding affinity for known inhibitors of anion exchangers. When reconstituted in liposomes, the 162 kDa protein showed anion exchange activity as assayed by 36Cl-/Cl- exchange. Functional studies in liposomes reconstituted with the purified 162 kDa protein in revealed that this protein mediates the transport of Cl-/formate and Cl-/HCO3-. The Cl-/formate and Cl-/HCO3- exchange activities in the reconstituted liposomes were inhibited in the presence of DIDS and furosemide, two known inhibitors of renal anion exchangers. We conclude that Cl-/formate exchange and and Cl-/HCO3- exchange in kidney proximal tubules are mediated via the same protein. This protein is distinct from the known anion exchanger proteins (AE1, AE2, and AE3) and may represent another isoform from this family of transporters.
Differential developmental pathways: Configural moderator models

Moderator analysis in developmental research is concerned with the conditionals of development. When conditionals are known, developmental trajectories can be predicted, and the conditionals can be interpreted as moderators of development. In this article, we start from a standard definition of the term moderator, and present configural models that allow researchers to test hypotheses that are compatible with moderation. The methods that are discussed enable researchers to take person- as well as variable-oriented perspectives by using configural frequency analysis or logit models, respectively. We then proceed and propose a hierarchy of moderator models for configural analysis. The three levels of this hierarchy differ in the roles played by the variables under study and type as well as amount of information that decisions about moderation are based on. At the highest level, moderation hypotheses are analysed in the Baron and Kenny sense. Application examples use data from a study on the development of a...
Necrotizing fasciitis: A complication of squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva

Necrotizing fasciitis is an often fatal, often initially unrecognized condition. Although it was first described over 60 years ago, occurrence in the vulva was only first recognized in 1972. The condition is most often associated with diabetes, prior injury, surgery, or irradiation. Aggressive surgical excision is required, early in the course of the disease, to salvage the patient. An association with vulvar carcinoma in a nondiabetic patient has not been previously reported. We report such a case, with a poor outcome, because surgical intervention was not possible until late in the course of the disease.
Active and passive fatigue in simulated driving: Discriminating styles of workload regulation and their safety impacts

Despite the known dangers of driver fatigue, it is a difficult construct to study empirically. Different forms of task-induced fatigue may differ in their effects on driver performance and safety. Desmond and Hancock (2001) defined active and passive fatigue states that reflect different styles of workload regulation. In 2 driving simulator studies we investigated the multidimensional subjective states and safety outcomes associated with active and passive fatigue. Wind gusts were used to induce active fatigue, and full vehicle automation to induce passive fatigue. Drive duration was independently manipulated to track the development of fatigue states over time. Participants were undergraduate students. Study 1 (N = 108) focused on subjective response and associated cognitive stress processes, while Study 2 (N = 168) tested fatigue effects on vehicle control and alertness. In both studies the 2 fatigue manipulations produced different patterns of subjective response reflecting different styles of workload regulation, appraisal, and coping. Active fatigue was associated with distress, overload, and heightened coping efforts, whereas passive fatigue corresponded to large-magnitude declines in task engagement, cognitive underload, and reduced challenge appraisal. Study 2 showed that only passive fatigue reduced alertness, operationalized as speed of braking and steering responses to an emergency event. Passive fatigue also increased crash probability, but did not affect a measure of vehicle control. Findings support theories that see fatigue as an outcome of strategies for managing workload. The distinction between active and passive fatigue is important for assessment of fatigue and for evaluating automated driving systems which may induce dangerous levels of passive fatigue. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved). Language: en
Cross-subsidization Due to Inframarginal Support in Agriculture: A General Theory and Empirical Evidence

A general theory of cross-subsidization due to inframarginal support is developed. Two sources of output distortion are identified: exit deterrence and extramarginal output. Some firms would not be in business without the subsidy. Cost savings due to declining average costs are always greater than the losses incurred where price equals marginal cost. Moreover, it is theoretically possible for inframarginal subsidies to expand output more than equivalent fully coupled subsidies. Empirical analysis of U.S. dairy subsidies isolates these components of cross-subsidization and finds distortions from inframarginal support to be substantial, with implications for trade negotiations, dispute settlement, and policy formulation. Copyright 2008, Oxford University Press.
The structure of the lighter N = 82 nuclei☆

Abstract Shell-model predictions for nuclei which can be characterized as 1, 2 and 3 protons outside the doubly-magic N = 82, Z = 50 core give a good accounting for recently discovered features of 133 Sb, 134 Te and 135 I.
Teachers in Early Christianity

This article presents the idea that the Early Church supported teachers as one of the ministry offices within the local church. These teachers worked to mature the spiritual life of the congregation and so helped to free the pastoral ministry to focus on other duties, many of which fall on pastors. Most ministers, pastors, and others teach at one time or another, but the main task of teaching in the Early Church was carried on by (not merely overseen or administrated by) highly qualified Christian teachers. Three questions help explore the position of teachers in early Christianity: How does the New Testament define the teacher? How did the early church employ teachers? What principles helped to direct the Christian “Life of the Mind” in the Early Church?
Challenges in Creating an Infrastructure for Physics-Based Simulation of Biological Structures

Physics-based simulation provides a powerful framework for understanding biological form and function. Physical simulations may be used by biologists to study macromolecular assemblies and by clinicians to examine disease mechanisms. Simulations help biomedical researchers understand the physical constraints on biological systems as they engineer novel drugs, drug delivery systems, synthetic tissues, medical devices, and surgical interventions. Although individual investigators have made elegant contributions to physics-based modeling in biomedicine, the field is fragmented. Modeling applications are typically limited to a single physical scale, and individual investigators frequently must create their own software. These conditions create a major barrier to advancing simulation capabilities, and its general availability to biomedical researchers working on problems critical to health. We have established a National Center for Physics-Based Simulation of Biological Structures (Simbios, http://simbios.stanford.edu/) to help integrate the field and accelerate future research. Simbios is developing, disseminating, and supporting a simulation tool kit, SimTK, (http://www.simtk.org/) that will enable biomedical scientists to develop and share accurate models and simulations of biological structures from molecules to organisms. The challenges to this effort include (1) the creation of an open-source, extensible, object-oriented framework for manipulating data, models, and simulations, (2) encouraging a culture of sharing among scientists who develop innovative methods for physics-based simulation, (3) balancing the needs of biomedical researchers who want end-to-end applications, with tool builders who want access only to key algorithms, and (4) ensuring that our models, methods, and applications are disseminated and applied to important problems in biomedicine, thus accelerating progress in understanding and fighting disease. In order to guarantee that real biomedical problems inform the creation of SimTK, the first set of driving biological problems for Simbios have been selected across physical scales and include RNA folding & dynamics, myosin dynamics, biomechanics, and cardiovascular fluid dynamics. The software we create is built by teams working to innovate and push the frontiers of science in these four areas, but will be applicable to a much wider range of application areas. We have an active set of additional collaborations to ensure generality.
Sonographic evaluation of the abdomen in henoch-schonlein purpura

This study evaluates the role of ultrasound in the monitoring of abdominal symptoms of Henoch-Schonlein purpura. Clinical and radiological records of patients with gastrointestinal symptoms necessitating ultrasound scans were reviewed. Forty-four patients attended The Children's Hospital, Dublin, between August 1989 and December 1992, 15 (34%) of whom had abdominal ultrasound scans. There were 13 boys and two girls, ranging in age from 3.75 to 13.5 years. Abdominal radiographs in 13 patients did not add any significant information. Ultrasound detected thickened bowel wall in all 15 patients (0.4–1.1 cm), free peritoneal fluid in 10, ileus of affected loops in five, and bowel dilatation in eight. Serial ultrasound examinations in 12 patients followed the progress of bowel involvement, with resolution of mural thickening, return of peristalsis, reduction in ascites and bowel dilatation. There were seven intussusceptions in five patients, measuring 2.18–7.4 cm, which were documented as loose in four (i.e. where air or fluid lay between the intussusceptum and the intussuscipiens). Surgery was performed in three patients in the earlier years of the study; serial ultrasound monitoring has enabled a more conservative approach to be adopted in the latter years of the study. We conclude that ultrasound is the imaging modality of choice in evaluating the bowel manifestations of Henoch-Schonlein purpura. It provides an easy, noninvasive, objective method of monitoring patient progress. It allows direct visualization of bowel involvement and detection of complications such as intussusception. Routine abdominal radiographs are not recommended, unless perforation is clinically suspected.
Female germ cells of man.

Abstract Present studies on man, considered with previous reports on other mammals [6, 7, 9, 10] indicate that the prophase stages of meiosis in the female occur during late fetal life or in the first few days of postnatal life. Meiosis is then held in abeyance until the time when individual oocytes are ovulated. In man, many years may elapse between diplotene and the completion of meiosis. Oocyte nuclei in dictyotene are sex-chromatin-negative, and the XX-bivalent in pachytene shows no sign of positive heteropycnosis. Thus it has been concluded that in females, positive heteropycnosis of one of the two X-chromosomes, resulting in formation of the sex chromatin body, is characteristic of somatic cells but not of germ cells in those mammalian species observed.
Tuberculosis in Pacific Green Sea Turtles, Chelonia mydas

Abstract Six cases of tuberculosis were found in captive Pacific green sea turtles, Chelonia mydas. The diagnoses were based on detection of gross lesions in lungs and livers, positive acid-fast bacilli in impression smears, characteristic lesions on microscopic examinations of tissues, and the isolation of the bacilli. The bacilli were identified as Mycobacterium avium, Serotype 8, and represent the first instance of M. avium in cold-blooded species. Tuberculosis has not previously been reported in the green sea turtle.
Immunomodulatory effect of the purine nucleoside inosine following spinal cord contusion injury in rat.

Immunomodulatory effect of the purine nucleoside inosine following spinal cord contusion injury in rat
Purkinje cell responses to pontine stimulation CS during rabbit eyeblink conditioning.

Abstract TRACY, J. AND J. E. STEINMETZ. Cerebellar unit response to pontine stimulation CS during rabbit eyeblink conditioning. PHYSIOL BEHAV 65 (2) 381–386, 1998.—Previous studies have shown that stimuli typically used as CSs in eyeblink conditioning converge with US information in the cerebellum. Extracellular recordings of Purkinje cells have shown learning-related as well as stimulus-related discharge patterns. Stimulation of a portion of the auditory CS pathway, the pontine nucleus, also serves as a highly effective CS. Using a short-latency pontine stimulation CS and air puff US, single Purkinje cell responses were recorded and compared to those elicited with an auditory stimulus in previous work. Purkinje cell recordings in trained and untrained rabbits revealed patterns of responses very similar to those seen in rabbits trained to a tone CS or those given unpaired-tone/air-puff training. Similarities included the proportion of stimulus-related and behavior-related cell responses. However, fewer inhibitory responses were seen than in earlier studies and these differences are considered in light of the differences between an extracellular stimulation CS and a peripherally administered auditory CS.
Conjugate reinforcement of operant responding in infants

Two studies are reported in which visual conjugale reinforcement induced operant behavior in infants. Responses diminished and increased appropriately when reinforcement was withdrawn and reintroduced. Conjugate reinforcement, involving direct control of reward intensity by S’s behavior rate, has promise in the study of infant learning processes.
Topics on Integrable Functions of Real Variables

Let \(\mu \) be the Lebesgue measure in \(\mathbb {R}^N\) and refer the notions of measurability and integrability to such a measure.
Proposed Department of Energy Budget Increases Support for Renewable Energy

In the Obama administration's proposed budget for fiscal year (FY) 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE) would get a total of $28.4 billion, up from $26.3 billion in FY 2012, an 8% increase (comparisons are to FY 2012 because final appropriations for 2013 were not available when the president released his proposed FY 2014 budget).
Constrained steepest descent in the 2-Wasserstein metric

We study several constrained variational problems in the 2-Wasserstein metric for which the set of probability densities satisfying the constraint is not closed. For example, given a probability density F0 on d and a time-step h> 0, we seek to minimize I(F )= hS(F )+W 2 2 (F0 ,F ) over all of the probability densities F that have the same mean and variance as F0, where S(F )i sthe entropy of F .W eprove existence of minimizers. We also analyze the induced geometry of the set of densities satisfying the constraint on the variance and means, and we determine all of the geodesics on it. From this, we determine a criterion for convexity of functionals in the induced geometry. It turns out, for example, that the entropy is uniformly strictly convex on the constrained manifold, though not uniformly convex without the constraint. The problems solved here arose in a study of a variational approach to constructing and studying solutions of the nonlinear kinetic Fokker-Planck equation, which is briefly described here and fully developed in a companion paper.
Public perception of pharmacists: Film and television portrayals from 1970 to 2013

Abstract Objectives To determine the percentage of pharmacists portrayed in a positive, negative, or neutral light in films and television shows available in the United States from January 1970 to July 2013. Secondary objectives were to evaluate pharmacist characters as heroes, villains, or victims; assess pharmacist characters' demographics; and determine the presence of pharmacist characters in medical-themed television shows. Design Retrospective, observational, descriptive study. Setting A review of available U.S. film and television from January 1970 to July 2013 at an academic institution. Participants 214 television episodes or films that contained at least one pharmacist portrayal. Intervention Electronic inquiries requesting submissions of known pharmacist portrayals were distributed to pharmacy professionals in national and state-affiliated pharmacy organizations and to faculty, staff, and students at the University of South Carolina. Electronic databases and search engines (Internet Movie Database [IMDb], Bing, and Google) were consulted and used to further research possible pharmacist portrayals. The study investigators developed an algorithm incorporating social norms, common pharmacist practices, and viewer perceptions to determine positive, negative, or neutral status for each pharmacist portrayal. Main outcome measures Year and genre of media, demographics of identified pharmacist characters, portrayal status of identified pharmacist characters, and number of pharmacist characters and appearances per each television show reviewed. Results In the films and television shows reviewed, there were 231 pharmacist portrayals, with 160 unique pharmacist characters. Of the 231 portrayals, 145 (63%) were negative, 30 (13%) were positive, and 56 (24%) were neutral. Of the 160 unique characters, 121 (76%) were male, 120 (75%) were Caucasian, and 86 (54%) were younger than 50years old. The name of the character was provided for 70 (44%) of the pharmacists portrayed. Conclusion The portrayal of pharmacists in U.S. film and television is primarily negative. Pharmacists and pharmacy organizations are encouraged to be vocal proponents of the profession and educate trainees on the importance of an enhanced public perception.
Deep brain stimulation: What can patients expect from it?

Deep brain stimulation has largely replaced ablative procedures for the treatment of advanced Parkinson disease, essential tremor, and dystonia. It is also approved for obsessive-compulsive disorder. Although not curative, it improves symptoms and quality of life.
Efficient buffer management for TCP services

TCP suffers from known problems in constrained environments such as satellite and wireless networks. And the problems grow more severe as networks grow increasingly integrated and diverse, where local optimization fail to suffice. One established method for dealing with these problems involves subdividing, or splitting the end-to-end TCP connection into a number of sub-connections. In this paper, we take an indepth look at the buffer requirements for "split connections". After briefly introducing the mechanics of a split connection, we proceed to identify a simple analytic model describing the behavior of the split connection and develop a number of design "rules of thumb" based on our analysis. We compare the results of simulations with the model and measure the efficacy of our design constraints, finding them to improve both the stability and performance of splitting. Finally, we discover that when used properly, oversubscribing, i.e., advertising non-existent space, may greatly reduce the required per-connection buffer-space in some situations.
Detection of the Diplodia shoot blight and canker pathogens from red and jack pine seeds using cultural methods

AbstractThe shoot blight and canker pathogens Diplodia pinea and D. scrobiculata commonly and abundantly sporulate on seed cones of red pine (Pinus resinosa) and jack pine (P. banksiana) collected from Wisconsin and Minnesota forests. Cultural methods were used to investigate the incidence of these fungi in seed lots obtained from government nurseries in these states. In each of three replicate trials, seeds of each lot were assigned to four treatments before incubation on semi-selective medium: (1) not surface-disinfested; (2) surface-disinfested; (3) surface-disinfested, then inoculated with D. pinea conidia; or (4) not surface-disinfested, then inoculated with D. pinea conidia. For red pine seeds, the mean percentage positive was 2.7% for treatment 1 and 1.3% for treatment 2. Jack pine seeds were less frequently positive than red pine seeds for both treatments 1 and 2. The Diplodia species cultured was identified as D. pinea in almost every case. Diplodia pinea was much less frequently recovered from s...
Kinetic analysis of apoptosis induction in human cell lines by UVA and 8-MOP.

Whereas previous studies have indicated that DNA damage as a result of 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) and UVA treatment leads to cell death, this study establishes the minimum concentrations of 8-MOP and UVA necessary to induce apoptosis in human T-lymphocytic and mono-cytic cell lines. In order to assess apoptosis, we used fluorescent microscopy to examine changes in light scattering as well as internucleosomal DNA fragmentation. Generation of a dose response curve showed that the minimum combination of UVA and 8-MOP that was necessary to induce greater than background levels of apoptosis within 24 h of treatment was 0.5 J/cm2 UVA and 12.5 ng/mL of 8-MOP. A striking observation was that UVA alone at doses 1.0 J/cm2, but not 8-MOP alone (6300 ng/mL), induced significant apoptosis in the Sup-T1 cell line within 24 h. Although the percentage of apoptotic Sup-T1 cells induced by UVA alone was not as great as that of 8-MOP and UVA in combination, a highly significant correlation between the product of the concentration of 8-MOP (ng/mL) times the dose of UVA (J/ cm2) and the percentage of apoptotic cells was observed. This correlation provides an important tool for studying the relationship of UVA-induced DNA damage to apoptosis induction. Moreover, it will provide a means by which early events in the apoptotic pathway can be dissected.
HIV-1 Nef protein-induced apoptotic cytolysis of a broad spectrum of uninfected human blood cells independently of CD95(Fas)

The Nef protein of HIV-1 binds to uninfected CD4+T lymphocytes and induces apoptotic cytolysis of the cells. We examined several human blood cell lines and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) for Nef-induced apoptotic cell death. Soluble Nef protein was shown to bind to the cell surface of not only CD4+T cells but also CD8+T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, macrophages and neutrophils. PBMCs from normal subjects resisted Nef binding, and activation of the cells with phytohemagglutinin or concanavalin A converted the cells to be susceptible to the binding. Cross-linking of the Nef proteins bound to the cell surfaces with anti-Nef antibody-induced apoptotic cytolysis of the cells. The Nef-mediated apoptosis occurred independently of CD95(Fas). These results suggest that soluble Nef protein, which is found in sera of HIV-1 infected patients, is involved in the destruction of a broad spectrum of uninfected blood cells leading to immune suppression.
Renewable energy today and tomorrow

Energy is essential to our society to ensure our quality of life and to underpin all other elements of our economy. Renewable energy technologies offer the promise of clean, abundant energy gathered from self-renewing resources such as the sun, wind, earth, and plants. Virtually all regions of the United States and the world have renewable resources of one type or another. Renewable resources currently account for about 10% of the energy consumed in the United States, most of this is from hydropower and traditional biomass sources. Wind, solar biomass, and geothermal technologies are cost-effective today in an increasing number of markets, and are making important steps to broader commercialization. Each of the renewable energy technologies is in a different stage of research, development, and commercialization, and all have differences in current and future expected costs, current industrial base, resource availability, and potential impact on greenhouse gas emissions. The technical status, cost, and applications of major renewable energy technologies and implications for increased adoption of renewables will be reviewed.
Ensemble-Based Adaptive Targeting of Mobile Sensor Networks

This work presents an efficient algorithm for an observation targeting problem that is complicated by the combinatorial number of targeting choices. The approach explicitly incorporates an ensemble forecast to ensure that the measurements are chosen based on their expected improvement in the forecast at a separate verification time and location. The primary improvements in the efficiency are obtained by computing the impact of each possible measurement on the uncertainty reduction over this verification site backwards. In particular, the approach determines the impact of a series of fictitious observations taken at the verification site back on the search space (and time), which provides all of the information needed to optimize the set of measurements to take and significantly reduces the number of times that the computationally expensive ensemble updates must be performed. A computation time analysis and numerical performance simulations using the two-dimensional Lorenz-95 chaos model are presented to validate the computational advantage of the proposed algorithm over conventional search strategies.
Understanding variation in the management of rectal cancer: the potential of a surgeon-initiated database.

Abstract Background Administrative databases oversimplify the relationship of factors such as volume or training on surgical outcomes. Methods A prospective statewide surgeon-initiated database was queried to obtain incident cases of rectal cancer in Vermont from April 1999 to June 2001. Demographics, procedure performed, method of detection, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, blood transfusions, length of stay, complications, stage, and use of adjuvant therapy were recorded by the operating surgeon. A post hoc analysis was performed on patients operated on for rectal cancer to define the specific impact of specialty training on care patterns. Results There was a marked difference in the distribution of surgical procedures, with colorectal surgeons using local excision and coloanal anastomosis in addition to anterior and abdominoperineal resection. Although the overall use of adjuvant therapy was similar, patients in the colorectal group were more likely to receive preoperative then postoperative radiation therapy (91% vs 17%, P Conclusions Colorectal specialty training in this population was a surrogate for a wider array of surgical options and preoperative radiation. Failure to use radiation when stage-appropriate was related to patient comorbidities and/or refusal and not related to failure of the surgeon to offer adjuvant therapy. Prospective, surgeon-initiated databases provide an excellent opportunity to identify and understand practice variability.
BLyF, a novel cell-type- and stage-specific regulator of the B-lymphocyte gene mb-1.

Abstract The mb-1 gene encodes an integral membrane protein that appears to be required for the surface expression and signalling function(s) of the immunoglobulin receptor on B lymphocytes. The gene is expressed in a lineage-restricted manner. It is activated early in B-cell ontogeny, continues to be expressed in mature B cells, but is turned off in terminally differentiated plasma cells. We have identified the mb-1 promoter and functionally tested its activity by transient transfections. A 737-bp promoter fragment preferentially stimulates accurately initiated transcription in mb-1-expressing B cells. Deletion analysis of the promoter suggests the presence of two functional domains, proximal and distal. Both domains independently activate transcription from a heterologous promoter. The distal domain functions in a cell-type- and stage-specific manner, activating transcription in B cells but not in T cells or plasma cells. A 25-bp element within this domain is necessary and sufficient for activity. This element is recognized by a novel cell-type- and stage-specific transcription factor termed BLyF. The binding of BLyF completely correlates with the ability of the regulatory element to stimulate transcription. Thus, BLyF appears to positively regulate transcription of the mb-1 gene. Our results also suggest that the inactivity of the mb-1 locus in plasma cells is not simply due to the loss of BLyF activity.
Phylogenetic relationships in the iguanid lizard genus Liolaemus: multiple origins of viviparous reproduction and evidence for recurring Andean vicariance and dispersal

Phylogenetic relationships within the iguanid lizard genus Liolaemus are investigated using 1710 aligned base positions (785 phylogenetically informative) of mitochondrial DNA sequences, representing coding regions for eight tRNAs, ND2, and portions of ND1 and COL Sixty new sequences ranging in length from 1736 to 1754 bases are compared with four previously reported sequences. Liolaemus species form two well-supported monophyletic groups of subgeneric status, Liolaemus and Eulaemus. These subgenera appear to have separated at least 12.6 million years ago based on the amount of molecular evolutionary divergence between them. Hypotheses that species occurring in the Andes, west of the Andes, and east of the Andes, each comprise distinct monophyletic groups are independently rejected statistically. The shortest estimate of phylogeny suggests mat Liolaemus originated either in the Andes or the eastern lowlands. Numerous evolutionary shifts have occurred between the Andes, and the eastern and western lowlands, suggesting recurring vicariance and dispersal. Species occurring at high elevations or high latitudes usually have viviparous reproduction. Depending on whether parity mode is considered reversible in Liolaemus, the most parsimonious reconstruction supports at least six independent origins of viviparity or at least three gains followed by three losses of viviparity among die 60 Liolaemus lineages examined.