cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electronic Structure of Cob(I)alamin: The Story of an Unusual Nucleophile

The electronic structure and the ligand-field spectrum of cobalt(I) corrin is reported using complete active space multiconfigurational perturbation theory (CASPT2) to address some inconsistencies and the nature of the cobalt(I) "supernucleophile", cob(I)alamin. An assignment of six of the seven intense lines in the experimental spectrum is obtained at a root-mean-square accuracy of 0.14 eV and largest error of 0.21 eV. Agreement is significantly better for CASPT2 than density functional theory (DFT), but DFT does surprisingly well. The correlated wave function implies that the ground state of Co(I) corrin is severely multiconfigurational, with only 67% of the d(8) reference configuration and prominent contributions of 20% from open-shell metal-to-ligand charge-transfer configurations. The ground state exhibits a fascinating degree of covalency between cobalt and the nitrogen orbitals, described by the bonding and antibonding orbital pair of a cobalt d-orbital and a delta-orbital linearly combined from nitrogen orbitals. Thus, the standard description of the d(8) supernucleophile is not completely valid. From a biological perspective, the mixing in of Co(II) configurations in cob(I)alamin may be an important reason for the redox accessibility of the formal Co(I) state of the cofactor, which again provides the catalytic power for one half-reaction of enzymes such as cobalamin-dependent methionine synthase.
INSULIN-RESPONSIVE REGIONS OF THE RAT FATTY ACID SYNTHASE GENE PROMOTER

Here we show that insulin may play a role in the diet-induced regulation of the rat fatty acid synthase (FAS; EC 2.3.1.85). Transient transfection of human and rat hepatoma cell lines with successively deleted FAS/CAT promoter fusion plasmids was used to determine the effect of insulin on FAS promoter activity. Our results indicate the existence of cis-acting insulin-responsive elements in the FAS promoter; the position of one of these is coincident with the position of a previously determined diet-induced DNAse I hypersensitive site (HSi-1) at approximately −500 bp relative to the transcription start site of FAS mRNA.
[3H]Azidodantrolene: synthesis and use in identification of a putative skeletal muscle dantrolene binding site in sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Dantrolene sodium is a medically important hydantoin derivative that interferes with release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores of skeletal muscle by an unknown mechanism. Identification of the molecular target of dantrolene would greatly aid in understanding both the mechanism of action of the drug and the dynamics of intracellular Ca2+ release in muscle. [3H]Azidodantrolene was designed and synthesized as a photoaffinity analogue in order to identify a putative dantrolene receptor in skeletal muscle. Introduction of 1 mole-atom of tritium into aldehyde 5b was required during radioligand synthesis in order to ensure high enough specific activity for detection of photo-cross-linked proteins by fluorographic methods. This was accomplished by reduction of ester 3 with custom synthesized, 100% tritium-labeled lithium triethylborotritide, followed by oxidation to 5b by manganese(IV) oxide. Compound 6b was demonstrated to be ≥95% tritium-labeled at the imine position by NMR spectroscopy, and the specific radioa...
Challenges and limitations of patient-specific vascular phantom fabrication using 3D Polyjet printing

Additive manufacturing (3D printing) technology offers a great opportunity towards development of patient-specific vascular anatomic models, for medical device testing and physiological condition evaluation. However, the development process is not yet well established and there are various limitations depending on the printing materials, the technology and the printer resolution. Patient-specific neuro-vascular anatomy was acquired from computed tomography angiography and rotational digital subtraction angiography (DSA). The volumes were imported into a Vitrea 3D workstation (Vital Images Inc.) and the vascular lumen of various vessels and pathologies were segmented using a “marching cubes” algorithm. The results were exported as Stereo Lithographic (STL) files and were further processed by smoothing, trimming, and wall extrusion (to add a custom wall to the model). The models were printed using a Polyjet printer, Eden 260V (Objet-Stratasys). To verify the phantom geometry accuracy, the phantom was reimaged using rotational DSA, and the new data was compared with the initial patient data. The most challenging part of the phantom manufacturing was removal of support material. This aspect could be a serious hurdle in building very tortuous phantoms or small vessels. The accuracy of the printed models was very good: distance analysis showed average differences of 120 μm between the patient and the phantom reconstructed volume dimensions. Most errors were due to residual support material left in the lumen of the phantom. Despite the post-printing challenges experienced during the support cleaning, this technology could be a tremendous benefit to medical research such as in device development and testing.
Re-Routing Optical Fields in Channels Carved in Epsilon-Near-Zero (ENZ) Nanocircuit Boards

Optical fields may be manipulated and re-routed in arbitrarily-shaped grooves carved in near-zero-permittivity substrates. These channels act as nanoscale “wires” for optical displacement vectors with almost uniform phase, satisfying Kirchhoff’s circuit laws at optical frequencies.
Retrocalcaneal Bursitis in a Patient With Psoriatic Arthritis

This is a case report of the sonographic find-ing of retrocalcaneal bursitis seen in a patient with psoriatic arthritis. This is a common con-dition, but it is rarely diagnosed using sonog-raphy. This case report is unique because of its use of a new scanning technique that en-ables better demonstration of the entire Achil-les tendon and the bursae surrounding it.
A systematic approach to fishery planning

This paper outlines a systematic approach to fishery management. A model is presented that attempts to bring together many of the biological, economic, and political factors that must be considered in setting fishery policy. In addition to yield, the output of the model gives a number of factors that determine in part the political attractiveness of the arrangements under study. The use of the model is demonstrated with a simple study of national quota systems.
YabA of Bacillus subtilis controls DnaA-mediated replication initiation but not the transcriptional response to replication stress.

yabA encodes a negative regulator of replication initiation in Bacillus subtilis and homologues are found in many other Gram-positive species. YabA interacts with the β-processivity clamp (DnaN) of DNA polymerase and with the replication initiator and transcription factor DnaA. Because of these interactions, YabA has been proposed to modulate the activity of DnaA. We investigated the role of YabA in regulating replication initiation and the activity of DnaA as a transcription factor. We found that YabA function is mainly limited to replication initiation at oriC. Loss of YabA did not significantly alter expression of genes controlled by DnaA during exponential growth or after replication stress, indicating that YabA is not required for modulating DnaA transcriptional activity. We also found that DnaN activates replication initiation apparently through effects on YabA. Furthermore, association of GFP-YabA with the replisome correlated with the presence of DnaN at replication forks, but was independent of DnaA. Our results are consistent with models in which YabA inhibits replication initiation at oriC, and perhaps DnaA function at oriC, but not with models in which YabA generally modulates the activity of DnaA in response to replication stress.
Does differing metabolism by cytochrome p450 have clinical importance

The cytochrome P450 (CYP) is a group of enzymes that oxidatively modify drugs to a more water-soluble form for renal excretion. Nearly 50% of all clinically used medications and endogenous steroids are metabolized by the CYP enzyme 3A4, which explains why many of the important potential drug interactions involved this enzyme. Despite an excellent safety record, CYP 3A4 statins (lovastatin, simvastatin, atorvastatin) taken concomitantly with a potent CYP 3A4 inhibitor may increase the risk for adverse events (myopathy, rhabdomyolysis). This article describes the clinical significance of CYP metabolism as the pathways relate to the use of statins, including brief discussions on statins, fibrates, cyclosporine, and calcium channel blockers. In light of these potential interactions, continued vigilance by physicians is necessary to ensure the safe use of statins.
THERMAL DESORPTION INDUCED BY KILOELECTRONVOLT ION BOMBARDMENT OF THIOL-BOUND SELF-ASSEMBLED MONOLAYERS ON GOLD

Time distributions of neutral molecules desorbed from a chemisorbed self-assembled monolayer of phenylethanethiol on gold have been measured subsequent to 8 keV Ar+ and H2+ ion bombardment. These d...
The beta decay of titanium 42

Abstract The ground-state β + decay of 42 Ti has been investigated through tthe reaction 40 Ca( 3 He, n). The half-life was found to be 173± 14 ms. The branching ratios to the 1 + level at 615 keV and to the 0 + ground state in 42 Sc are 56± 14% and 44± 14%, respectively. The calculated log ft values are 3.11 ± 0.14 for the 0 + → 1 + transition and 3.43 ± 0.12 for the 0 + → 0 + transition.
Biogeochemistry of the stable isotopes of hydrogen and carbon in salt marsh biota.

Deuterium to hydrogen ratios of 14 plant species from a salt marsh and lagoon were 55‰ depleted in deuterium relative to the environmental water. Carbon tetrachloride-extractable material from these plants was another 92‰ depleted in deuterium. This gave a fractionation factor from water to CCl_4, extract of 1.147. This over-all fractionation was remarkably constant for all species analyzed. Plants also discriminate against ^(13)C, particularly in the lipid fraction. Data suggest that different mechanisms for carbon fixation result in different fractionations of the carbon isotopes. Herbivore tissues reflected the isotopic ratios of plants ingested. Apparently different metabolic processes are responsible for the different degrees of fractionation observed for hydrogen and carbon isotopes.
Cortisol, Biochemical, and Galvanic Skin Responses to Music Stimuli of Different Preference Values by College Students in Biology and Music:

The purpose of this study was to examine biochemical and galvanic skin responses to music stimuli. Specifically, 30 university biology and 30 music students' plasma levels of norepinephrine and cortisol and their galvanic skin responses were measured before and after listening to two different musical selections, one of which was preferred (liked) by the music students and not preferred (disliked) by the biology students. The music-listening sessions and the controlled silent sessions were done in an anechoic chamber. 30 biology majors and 30 music majors were in the experimental groups; 14 biology and 17 music majors comprised the control group. Analysis indicated that the cortisol levels and galvanic skin responses were significantly higher for the music majors than the biology majors. The data indicate that music majors listen more critically and analytically to music than biology majors, and cortisol levels are associated with this as increases in music majors and decreases in biology majors after the music.
Computational Model of Nitrogen Vibrational Relaxation by Electron Collisions

Nitrogen vibrational relaxation by electron collisions has been studied by developing a complete vibrational state-to-state rate coefficient database for electron temperatures of 0.1-5.0 eV. This database was used to model a wide range of N 2 -e vibrational relaxation processes by solving and numerically integrating the master equation with respect to time. These results were used to develop a simple set of equations that accurately model nitrogen vibrational relaxation by electron collisions for electron and nitrogen vibrational temperatures ranging from 0.0 to 5.0 eV. The results are presented in the form of polynomial equations that could be easily incorporated into numerical models of more complex systems.
Effects on NaeI-DNA Recognition of the Leucine to Lysine Substitution That Transforms Restriction Endonuclease NaeI to a Topoisomerase: A Model for Restriction Endonuclease Evolution

Substituting lysine for leucine at position 43 (L43K) transforms NaeI from restriction endonuclease to topoisomerase and makes NaeI hypersensitive to intercalative anticancer drugs. Here we investigated DNA recognition by Nael-L43K. Using DNA competition and gel retardation assays, NaeI-L43K showed reduced affinity for DNA substrate and the ability to bind both single- and double-stranded DNA with a definite preference for the former. Sedimentation studies showed that under native conditions NaeI-L43K, like NaeI, is a dimer. Introduction of mismatched bases into double-stranded DNA significantly increased that DNA's ability to inhibit NaeI-L43K. Wild-type NaeI showed no detectable binding of either single-stranded DNA or mismatched DNA over the concentration range studied. These results demonstrate that the L43K substitution caused a significant change in recognition specificity by NaeI and imply that NaeI-L43K's topoisomerase activity is related to its ability to bind single-stranded and distorted regions in DNA. A mechanism is proposed for the evolution of the NaeI restriction-modification system from a topoisomerase/ligase by a mutation that abolished religation activity and provided a needed change in DNA recognition.
In-line pressure-flow module for in vitro modelling of haemodynamics and biosensor validation.

An in-line pressure-flow module for in vitro modelling of haemodynamics and biosensor validation has been developed. Studies show that good accuracy can be achieved in the measurement of pressure and of flow, in steady and pulstile flow systems. The model can be used for development, testing and evaluation of cardiovascular-mechanical-electrical anlogue models, cardiovascular prosthetics (i.e. valves, vascular grafts) and pressure and flow biosensors.
Learning in a Man's World: Examining the Perceptions of Undergraduate Women in Male-Dominated Academic Areas

This study examined the perceptions of undergraduate women in male-dominated academic areas. First-year and final-year female undergraduates in a male-dominated academic area (i.e., math, science, or engineering) reported higher levels of discrimination and stereotype threat than women in a female-dominated academic area (i.e., arts, education, humanities, or social science), and men in either a male-or female-dominated academic area. Moreover, women in a male-dominated academic area were most likely to report thinking about changing their major. These findings suggest that female college students majoring in math, science, and engineering continue to perceive additional gender-based obstacles in their field.
Transient behavior of a resonant structure containing semiconductors

Terabit pulse generation can be realized with a mode locked semiconductor laser resonator.The combination of high gain values and large gain bandwidth make semiconductor materials an ideal ultrahigh speed medium. Unfortunately, standard frequency domain techniques ingore transient solutions and become numerically intensive with large bandwidth calculations. Therefore, it is necessary to directly model the response of an electromagnetic field within such media in the time domain. Futhermore, the understanding of resonant structures is critical not only for modeling semiconductor lasers but for periodic resonant structures and photonic bandgap devices as well. As a first step, we examine electromagnetic modes in a semiconductor medium inside a standing wave resonator. Because of the large bandwidth of the field and gain medium, a direct time-domain solution to the wave equation is desireable. Also, since the laser output power is proportional to pump current, conduction properties of the gain medium are emphasized. For this problem an exact solution to the time domain wave equation is obtained for a medium containing bound charges and free-carriers. Specific examples, which illustrate the transient and steady state nature of the fields, are given for doped GaAs.
Grazing incidence pumping for high efficiency x-ray lasers

Over the last decade, most laser-driven collisional excitation x-ray lasers have relied on the absorption of the pump energy incident at normal incidence to a pre-formed plasma. The main advantage is that the inversion can be created at various plasma regions in space and time where the amplification and ray propagation processes are best served. The main disadvantage is that different plasma regions regardless of the contribution to the inversion have to be pumped simultaneously in order to make the laser work. This leads to a loss of efficiency. The new scheme of grazing incidence pumping (GRIP) addresses this issue. In essence, a chosen electron density region of a pre-formed plasma column, produced by a longer pulse at normal incidence onto a slab target, is selectively pumped by focusing a short pulse of 100 fs-10 ps duration laser at a determined grazing incidence angle to the target surface. The exact angle is dependent on the pump wavelength and relates to refraction of the drive beam in the plasma. The controlled use of refraction of the pumping laser in the plasma results in several benefits: The pump laser path length is longer and there is an increase in the laser absorption in the gain region for creating a collisional Ni-like ion x-ray laser. There is also an inherent traveling wave, close to c, that increases the overall pumping efficiency. This can lead to a 3-30 times reduction in the pump energy for mid-Z, sub-20 nm lasers. We report several examples of this new x-ray laser on two different laser systems. The first demonstrates a 10 Hz x-ray laser operating at 18.9 nm pumped with a total of 150 mJ of 800 nm wavelength from a Ti:Sapphire laser. The second case is shown where the COMET laser is used both at 527 nm and 1054 nm wavelength to pump higher Z materials with the goal of extending the wavelength regime of tabletop x-ray lasers below 10 nm.
The Link Between Financial Strain, Interparental Discord and Children’s Antisocial Behaviors

Using data from the Fragile Families and Child Well-Being Study, I examine the impact of interparental discord on children’s antisocial behaviors in families facing financial hardship. Structural Equation Modeling analysis of 1222 pairs of parents shows that financial hardship can create turmoil in families’ lives by increasing discord between parents. The findings are consistent with the notion that children who experience interparental discord have a higher disposition toward displaying antisocial behaviors. Multiple group analysis also reveals unique differences between mothers and fathers in terms of their conceptualization of strain, discord, and child outcome. While both mothers and fathers may attribute different meanings to financial adversity, their relationships with each other are significantly likely to suffer from household financial insecurity.
Bacterial GRAS domain proteins throw new light on gibberellic acid response mechanisms

Summary: Gibberellic acids (GAs) are key plant hormones, regulating various aspects of growth and development, which have been at the center of the ‘green revolution’. GRAS family proteins, the primary players in GA signaling pathways, remain poorly understood. Using sequence-profile searches, structural comparisons and phylogenetic analysis, we establish that the GRAS family first emerged in bacteria and belongs to the Rossmann fold methyltransferase superfamily. All bacterial and a subset of plant GRAS proteins are likely to function as small-molecule methylases. The remaining plant versions have lost one or more AdoMet (SAM)-binding residues while preserving their substrate-binding residues. We predict that GRAS proteins might either modify or bind small molecules such as GAs or their derivatives. Contact: aravind@ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Supplementary Information: Supplementary Material for this article is available at Bioinformatics online.
Cardiac-specific overexpression of GTP cyclohydrolase 1 restores ischaemic preconditioning during hyperglycaemia

Aims Hyperglycaemia (HG) decreases intracellular tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) concentrations, and this action may contribute to injury during myocardial ischaemia and reperfusion. We investigated whether increased BH4 by cardiomyocyte-specific overexpression of the GTP cyclohydrolase (GTPCH) 1 gene rescues myocardial and mitochondrial protection by ischaemic preconditioning (IPC) during HG through a nitric oxide (NO)-dependent pathway. Methods and results Mice underwent 30 min of myocardial ischaemia followed by 2 h of reperfusion with or without IPC elicited with four cycles of 5 min ischaemia/5 min of reperfusion in the presence or absence of HG produced by d-glucose. In C57BL/6 wild-type mice, IPC increased myocardial BH4 and NO concentrations and decreased myocardial infarct size (30 ± 3% of risk area) compared with control (56 ± 5%) experiments. This protective effect was inhibited by HG (48 ± 3%) but not hyperosmolarity. GTPCH-1 overexpression increased myocardial BH4 and NO concentrations and restored cardioprotection by IPC during HG (32 ± 4%). In contrast, a non-selective NO synthase inhibitor NG -nitro-l-arginine methyl ester attenuated the favourable effects of GTPCH-1 overexpression (52 ± 3%) during HG. Mitochondria isolated from myocardium subjected to IPC required significantly higher in vitro Ca2+ concentrations (184 ± 14 µmol mg−1 protein) to open the mitochondrial permeability transition pore when compared with mitochondria isolated from control experiments (142 ± 10 µmol mg−1 protein). This beneficial effect of IPC was reversed by HG and rescued by GTPCH-1 overexpression. Conclusion Increased BH4 by cardiomyocyte-specific overexpression of GTPCH-1 preserves the ability of IPC to elicit myocardial and mitochondrial protection that is impaired by HG, and this action appears to be dependent on NO.
The Qur’anists

Stories relating the words and deeds of the Prophet Muhammad, known as Hadith in Arabic, have long been esteemed by the vast majority of Muslims as a source of law and guidance second only to the Qur'an in authority. In recent years, an increasingly vocal Muslim opposition to Hadith insists that the Qur'an alone should be the sole source of religious law and guidance in Islam. Rashad Khalifa, Kassim Ahmad, Edip Yuksel, and Ahmad Subhy Mansour are among the most important rejecters of the Hadith, whose arguments influence a wide variety of groups popularly labeled Ahl al-Qur'an, Qur'niyyun or Qur'anists.
DE‐repression of Seed Germination by GA Signaling

This chapter explores evidence that the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway plays a role in gibberellin (GA) stimulation of germination via proteolysis of DELLA proteins (named after conserved amino acids). GA stimulates germination, stem elongation, transition to flowering, and fertility. DELLA proteins are repressors of GA responses defined by the presence of conserved DELLA and GRAS (named after GAI [GA-INSENSITIVE], RGA [REPRESSOR OF GAI], and SCARECROW proteins) domain amino acid sequences. It is clear that the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway relieves DELLA repression of stem elongation in response to GA signaling. The paradigm is that GA stimulates an SCF (named after the Skp1, Cullin, and F-box subunits) E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, which in turn stimulates degradation of the DELLA proteins, negative regulators of GA response, by the proteasome pathway. This induces the downstream events necessary for seed germination, which were under repression in the absence of GA. However, interpretation of the evidence for DELLA regulation of seed germination has been somewhat contentious. Work in Arabidopsis thaliana suggests that the DELLA protein RGL2 (RGALIKE2) is the main negative regulator of GA response in germination, and that the SCFSLY1 E3 ubiquitin ligase complex is required for GA-stimulated disappearance of RGL2.
Do Compensation Clawback and Holdback Provisions Change Executive Reporting Choices

The Dodd-Frank Act requires firms to include a clawback or holdback clause in executive compensation contracts. Using an experiment, we examine how executives react to the enforcement of these clauses after a restatement. We find that executives generally reduced the riskiness of their financial reporting choices after enforcement. An exception was executives who made relatively conservative reporting choices prior to the restatement. Amongst these executives, those covered by a clawback clause made riskier reporting choices after the restatement than those covered by a holdback clause. Theory argues and supplemental analysis supports that this effect is due to executives becoming angry when they did not feel responsible for the restatement, but were nevertheless required to physically return their bonus. Our results are important because they provide evidence about how executives react to the enforcement of a clawback or holdback clause, and where their reactions might produce unintended consequences.
Microneedle-based automated therapy for diabetes mellitus.

This article discusses the use of microneedles in automated diabetes therapy systems. Advanced bioengineered systems have the potential to close the loop between diagnostic and therapeutic elements of diabetes treatment, thus constituting a “smart” system. Prevalent insulin therapies, and most glucose sensing techniques, involve the transfer of physical entities through the skin. Micromachined needles (microneedles) can achieve this in a noninvasive or minimally invasive manner while contributing various other technological merits. The dynamics of autonomous diabetes therapy systems include highly complex interdependencies between the various physical and biological entities involved, thus warranting multidisciplinary research initiatives. The iterative development of a noninvasive, bioengineered interface such as microneedles necessitates a better understanding of the human skin, its molecular architecture as a polymer film, and its role as a functional biological unit. This review addresses application-specific requirements of a microneedle-based interface system specifically for autonomous diabetes therapy. Key design issues and related parametric interdependencies specific to this application are discussed.
Topology and Computation of the Generalized Transportation Problem

The topology of the Generalized Transportation Problem, at the end of each iteration of the stepping-stone method, is characterized by a variable number of loops to which are attached multiple branched side chains or trees. An efficient computer representation of this structure and methods for updating it are described in this paper.
Push to talk over cellular (PoC) server

Push to talk is implemented on 2.5G networks. Using VoIP, it is a technology that merges circuit-switched networks and packet communication. By using Push to talk on their cell-phones, users would communicate in packets instead of any channel being reserved. This paper discusses a prototype implementation of a Push to talk server as a Java application. Using the server, clients can register and communicate through the Internet. The server also provides call-initiation and call-termination facility. The functional implementation of the server is divided so that features can be added to it to make it accommodate functionality such as call-redirection, one-to-many conversations and presence information in the near future. In its present implementation, the server supports one-to-one communication. However, the implementation can be easily adapted for one-to-many communication.
Acute nicotine improves cognitive deficits in young adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Abstract Objective The strong association between ADHD and cigarette smoking and the known effects of nicotine on cognition has lead to interest in the role of cholinergic function in ADHD cognitive deficits. We have previously demonstrated that acute nicotine improves behavioral inhibition in adolescents with ADHD. This study examined acute nicotine in young adults with ADHD-Combined type on cognitive domains including behavioral inhibition, delay aversion, and recognition memory. Methods 15 non-smoking young adults (20 ± 1.7 years) diagnosed with ADHD-C received acute nicotine (7 mg patch for 45 min) and placebo on separate days. Cognitive tasks included the Stop Signal Task, Choice Delay task, and the High–Low Imagery Task (a verbal recognition memory task). Three subjects experienced side effects and their data was excluded from analysis of cognitive measures. Results There was a significant (p Conclusions Non-smoking young adults with ADHD-C showed improvements in cognitive performance following nicotine administration in several domains that are central to ADHD. The results from this study support the hypothesis that cholinergic system activity may be important in the cognitive deficits of ADHD and may be a useful therapeutic target.
Reduction of fiber chromatic dispersion effects in fiber-wireless and photonic time-stretching system using polymer modulators

We have investigated the general characteristics of the power penalty due to the fiber chromatic dispersion effects in both fiber-wireless and photonic time-stretching systems. Two different modulation schemes have been demonstrated to reduce this penalty using our novel polymer modulators incorporating a multimode interference (MMI) structure. A single-sideband (SSB) modulator configuration has almost completely eliminated this penalty without a bandwidth limit. A double-sideband (DSB) modulator configuration with an appropriate quadrature bias has also shown significant improvement in bandwidth limitations for a given fiber link length.
Low temperature partly ionized plasma in magnetic fusion devices: present status and prospects

Summary form only given. We review a modem physical picture of plasma detachment in fusion devices with magnetic confinement and in linear machines, and discuss new results on the stability of detached plasmas. Experimental observations and 2D modeling show that the impurity radiation, neutral gas ionization and plasma recombination regions (fronts) "jump" from the target towards the bulk plasma when detachment occurs. Simultaneously this affects core plasma confinement. This indicates that the localization of the fronts close to the target is unstable. We show analytically that detached plasma can be unstable with respect to both ionization-recombination instability and thermal bifurcations of impurity radiation front. We show that this instability and bifurcation, driven by violation of the plasma energy balance at low power coming from core to the edge plasma, can restrict the achievable edge plasma density in magnetic fusion devices. We discuss implications of this theoretical insight for the interpretation of experimental data on detached plasmas and density limit.
Mining Colossal Frequent Patterns by Core Pattern Fusion

Extensive research for frequent-pattern mining in the past decade has brought forth a number of pattern mining algorithms that are both effective and efficient. However, the existing frequent-pattern mining algorithms encounter challenges at mining rather large patterns, called colossal frequent patterns, in the presence of an explosive number of frequent patterns. Colossal patterns are critical to many applications, especially in domains like bioinformatics. In this study, we investigate a novel mining approach called pattern-fusion to efficiently find a good approximation to the colossal patterns. With Pattern-Fusion, a colossal pattern is discovered by fusing its small core patterns in one step, whereas the incremental pattern-growth mining strategies, such as those adopted in Apriori and FP-growth, have to examine a large number of mid-sized ones. This property distinguishes pattern-fusion from all the existing frequent pattern mining approaches and draws a new mining methodology. Our empirical studies show that, in cases where current mining algorithms cannot proceed, pattern-fusion is able to mine a result set which is a close enough approximation to the complete set of the colossal patterns, under a quality evaluation model proposed in this paper.
Prostate Cancer Screening

of the Clinical Problem Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed noncutaneous malignancy in the United States, affecting 233 000 men annually and the second most common cancer-related cause of death among US men.1 Because local disease is amenable to definitive local therapy and metastatic prostate cancer has a 5-year survival of 20% to 25%, early diagnosis to improve overall mortality is the goal. Prostate-specific antigen was approved in 1994 to screen asymptomatic men for prostate cancer. Together with digital rectal examination (DRE), PSA screening has led to increased prostate cancer detection, and many have argued this has directly contributed to the 40% reduction in prostate cancer–related mortality over the last 2 decades.2 However, widespread PSA screening has also led to a surge in men diagnosed and treated for clinically insignificant disease.2
Hepatozoon Species of the Timber Rattlesnake in Northern Florida: Description of a New Species, Evidence of Salivary Gland Oocysts, and a Natural Cross-Familial Transmission of an Hepatozoon Species

Two species of Hepatozoon, i.e., H. sauritus and H. horridus n. sp., were present in 1 of 8 timber rattlesnakes, Crotalus horridus. The narrow gamonts of H. sauritus are 15.0–19.0 × 3.5–5.0 μm, with LW 58–86 μm2 and L/W 3.2–4.7, with a narrow, rounded anterior end. The spherical to slightly ovoid oocysts produce ovoid to elongate sporocysts, 21–43 × 12–24 μm, L/W 1.20–2.7, containing on average 22.1 (10–34) sporozoites. This is the first report of a natural cross-familial transfer of a Hepatozoon species. Gamonts of H. horridus n. sp. are 13.0–17.0 × 4.0–6.0 μm, with LW 63–102 μm2 and L/W 2.6–4.0, and have broadly rounded ends. The gamont cytoplasm is vacuolated. The spherical to ovoid oocysts form spherical to elongate sporocysts 14–45 × 11–25 μm, L/W 1.0–2.3, producing an average of 13.0 (8–21) sporozoites. The salivary gland in 1 of 5 mosquitoes dissected contained 1 mature oocyst.
The Baculovirus GP64 Protein Mediates Highly Stable Infectivity of a Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Lacking Its Homologous Transmembrane Glycoproteins

Baculovirus GP64 is a low-pH-dependent membrane fusion protein required for virus entry and cell-to-cell transmission. Recently, GP64 has generated interest for practical applications in mammalian systems. Here we examined the membrane fusion function of GP64 from Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) expressed in mammalian cells, as well as its capacity to functionally complement a mammalian virus, human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV). Both authentic GP64 and GP64/F, a chimeric protein in which the GP64 cytoplasmic tail domain was replaced with the 12 C-terminal amino acids of the HRSV fusion (F) protein, induced low-pH-dependent cell-cell fusion when expressed transiently in HEp-2 (human) cells. Levels of surface expression and syncytium formation were substantially higher at 33°C than at 37°C. The open reading frames (ORFs) encoding GP64 or GP64/F, along with two marker ORFs encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP) and β-glucuronidase (GUS), were used to replace all three homologous transmembrane glycoprotein ORFs (small hydrophobic SH, attachment G, and F) in a cDNA of HRSV. Infectious viruses were recovered that lacked the HRSV SH, G, and F proteins and expressed instead the GP64 or GP64/F protein and the two marker proteins GFP and GUS. The properties of these viruses, designated RSΔsh,g,f/GP64 or RSΔsh,g,f/GP64/F, respectively, were compared to a previously described HRSV expressing GFP in place of SH but still containing the wild-type HRSV G and F proteins (RSΔsh [A. G. Oomens, A. G. Megaw, and G. W. Wertz, J. Virol., 77:3785-3798, 2003]). By immunoelectron microscopy, the GP64 and GP64/F proteins were shown to incorporate into HRSV-induced filaments at the cell surface. Antibody neutralization, ammonium chloride inhibition, and replication levels in cell culture showed that both GP64 proteins efficiently mediated infectivity of the respective viruses in a temperature-sensitive, low-pH-dependent manner. Furthermore, RSΔsh,g,f/GP64 and RSΔsh,g,f/GP64/F replicated to higher levels and had significantly higher stability of infectivity than HRSVs containing the homologous HRSV G and F proteins. Thus, GP64 and a GP64/HRSV F chimeric protein were functional and efficiently complemented an unrelated human virus in mammalian cells, producing stable, infectious virus stocks. These results demonstrate the potential of GP64 for both practical applications requiring stable pseudotypes in mammalian systems and for studies of viral glycoprotein requirements in assembly and pathogenesis.
A New Strategy to Characterize the Extent of Reaction of Thermoset Elastomers

A new method for determining the extent of reaction of thermoset elasto- mers was developed based on equilibrium swelling and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The extent of reaction was defined based on the molecular weight between crosslinks (Mc) of a polymer sample in relation to Mc at the onset of gelation and at complete reaction. The molecular weight between crosslinks was measured using equilibrium swelling, whereas rheology and DMA were used to determine the exact point of gelation and reaction completion, respectively. The extent of reaction of poly(1,8-octanediol-co-citrate) at various polymerization conditions was investigated and this method was used to study the relationship between mechanical properties, molecular weight between crosslinks, and extent of reaction. V C 2008 Wiley Periodicals,
Circumcision—The Debates Goes On

To the Editor. The AAP circumcision policy in the March issue of Pediatrics still leaves me with the following questions concerning foreskin and penile hygiene. 1. What active interventions are recommended to ensure eventual retraction of the foreskin, if indeed such retraction is necessary for intercourse and reproduction? I understand that the production of smegma dissects free the foreskin's adhered epithelial layers over time. Does this process require the help of a caretaker's increasingly vigorous attempts to roll back the foreskin or does the genital play of the infant or masturbation of the older child assist the process? Does the 7-year-old with a long, adhered foreskin and no symptoms require surgical release of these adhesions? I've heard it rumored that “popping” the glans free of the adhered foreskin is a father-son “ritual” in some cultures. It used to be a pediatrician-patient ritual in ours. Finally, even after circumcision, the cut foreskin often readheres to the corona of the glans. One can see pearls of smegma accumulated under the adhesions. Should this rim of adhesions be manually lysed followed by application of antibiotic ointment or perhaps premarin cream, as pediatricians who lyse female labia minora adhesions have done for years (another questionable practice). Does this cause or prevent senechial adhesions between foreskin and glans? 2. What is meant by penile hygiene? Does this imply rolling back the easily retractable foreskin for a soap and water wash to remove smegma and bacteria, then replacing it to physiologic position? Should the washwater be dried from the glans? Is it possible, teleologically, that smegma by pH or bacteriostatic function has a protective function and normal sterile urine cleanses the redundant foreskin? We recommend against vaginal douching and know the pH of cerumen seems to prevent otitis externa. The AAP statement does not support smegma as carcinogenic, …
The interactions of proteins and synthetic detergents.

Publisher Summary This chapter summarizes the properties of synthetic detergents along with the studies of their interactions with proteins in relation to the effects of detergents in biological systems. The specific intramolecular structure and amphoteric nature characteristic of proteins distinguishes them from the synthetic detergents, which are dissociable colloidal electrolytes. Proteins and detergents both contain a balanced proportion of hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups and are thereby made surface active. Synthetic detergents produce diverse effects on proteins and biological systems. These include protein precipitation and denaturation; inactivation of viruses, enzymes, and toxins; splitting of natural complexes and plant virus nucleoproteins; catalytic hydrolysis of protein amide and peptide bonds; bacteriostasis; and hemolysis. These different phenomena are governed by mass relations between the reactants, by a relationship of detergent affinity to chemical structure, by the pH and ionic strength of the medium, and the corresponding sign and magnitude of the charge of the reactants. Extra bound detergent is attached by weak nonpolar forces to detergent stoichiometrically bound by electrostatic forces, giving rise to distribution of similarly charged groups along peptide chain, which repel similarly charged groups of adjacent chain.
Production of genetically stable high-titer retroviral vectors that carry a human gamma-globin gene under the control of the alpha-globin locus control region.

The ability to generate stable high-titer vectors that give rise to high levels of expression of transduced globin genes in erythroid cells is a prerequisite for effective retroviral-mediated globin gene therapy. The human beta-globin gene with its immediate flanking sequences does not contain all the regulatory elements necessary for regulated high-level and position-independent expression in erythroid cells. The regulatory element known as the beta-globin locus control region (BetaLCR) can provide a linked Beta-globin gene with these properties. However, addition of BetaLCR sequences to a retrovirus carrying a beta-globin gene increases its genetic instability. We have developed a new generation of retroviral vectors in which a human gamma- globin gene is placed under the control of the alphaLCR, the major regulatory element of the alpha-globin gene cluster. We demonstrate that these retroviruses are genetically stable in producer cell lines and can be produced at high titers that exceed 5 x 10(6) colony-forming units (CFU)/mL. In addition, we show that the transduced gamma-globin gene can be expressed in the adult erythroid environment of mouse erythroleukemia (MEL) cells at a level comparable to that of a single endogenous Betamaj-globin gene. These retroviruses can also transduce primary murine bone marrow progenitor cells as efficiently as retroviruses that carry the neomycin resistance (neor) gene. This new generation of globin retroviral vectors may prove useful for gene therapy of human beta-globin gene disorders such as sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia.
Insecticide Poisoning as a Possible Cause of an Aberration of Pupation Behavior in the Florida Queen Butterfly

During the summer of 1967 at the Archbold Biological Station in Lake Placid, Highland Co., Fla., we were raising many Florida queen butterflies, Danaus gilippus berenice (Cramer). For this work, we collected eggs and larvae primarily from the locally abundant queen butterfly larval food plant, Asclepias tuberosa rolfsii. This plant occurs in orange groves in the Childs Station area just north of the Biological Station, and we used it as the food plant for developing larvae. Suddenly, during the summer, larvae began showing an aberration in pupation behavior.
Social influences on use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and hookah by college students.

ABSTRACTObjectives: (1) Compare social norms and perceived peer use between college student cigarette, e-cigarette, and/or hookah users and nonusers; and (2) determine variables associated with social influences. Participants: Undergraduate students attending a large university in the Southeast United States (N = 511). Methods: An April 2013 online survey assessed use of 3 types of tobacco, social norms, perception of peer use, number of smokers in life, exposure to secondhand smoke, and demographic characteristics. Results: Participants indicated greater acceptance of emerging tobacco products than for cigarettes and consistently overestimated the percent of peers who use various tobacco products. Males and current users had higher social norm scores for all 3 forms of tobacco. Conclusion: To counter marketing of alternative tobacco products, education about the dangers of their use needs to be implemented across college campuses as part of a comprehensive tobacco control strategy that also includes toba...
Cigarette smoke in lungs evokes reflex increase in tracheal submucosal gland secretion in dogs.

Stimulation of pulmonary C-fibers (PCs) by capsaicin and of rapidly adapting receptors (RARs) by reduced lung compliance reflexly increases airway submucosal gland secretion in dogs. Because both PCs and RARs are stimulated by cigarette smoke (nicotine being the primary stimulus), we performed experiments in anesthetized open-chest artificially ventilated dogs (with aortic nerves cut) to determine whether cigarette smoke reflexly stimulates airway secretion. We measured submucosal gland secretion by counting the hillocks in a 1.2-cm2 field of tracheal epithelium coated with tantalum dust. Secretion was stimulated by delivery of 40-320 ml smoke from high-nicotine cigarettes to the lower trachea, secretion rate increasing from 7.4 +/- 1.3 to 48.1 +/- 5.1 hillocks.cm-2.min-1. Results of cutting the pulmonary vagal branches or carotid sinus nerves or both indicated that the secretory response was initiated by stimulation of lower respiratory vagal afferents and augmented several seconds later by stimulation of carotid chemoreceptors. Results of cooling the cervical vagus nerves to 7 and 0 degrees C indicated that most of the vagally mediated increase in secretion was due to stimulation of afferent lung C-fibers.
Quantitative analysis of transpleural flux in the isolated lung

Li, M. H., J. Hildebrandt, and M. P. Hlastala.Quantitative analysis of transpleural flux in the isolated lung.J. Appl. Physiol. 82(2): 545–551, 1997.—In this study, the loss of inert gas through th...
In Vitro Analysis of the Yeast Mitochondrial RNA Polymerase

Understanding the details of how genetic information is expressed from the separate mitochondrial genome requires a detailed description of the properties of the mitochondrial RNA polymerase. This nuclear-encoded enzyme is necessary and sufficient for the transcription of all mitochondrially encoded genes. Mitochondria from yeast to humans use a single-polypeptide catalytic RNA polymerase related to enzymes from bacteriophage. They also require separable transcription factors necessary for initiation at promoter sequences on the mitochondrial DNA template. It has recently become possible to work with highly purified, recombinant forms of the mitochondrial RNA polymerase subunits from yeast. This chapter describes detailed protocols for working in vitro with this purified enzyme in transcription reactions. These assays are critical for elucidating the nature of a mitochondrial promoter and for understanding how the mitochondrial RNA polymerase recognizes these DNA sequences and selectively initiates the transcription cycle, resulting in discrete transcripts.