cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phosphorylation and Activation of both Iron Regulatory Proteins 1 and 2 in HL-60 Cells

Iron regulatory proteins (IRPs) are RNA-binding proteins that post-transcriptionally regulate synthesis of iron uptake (transferrin receptor) and storage (ferritin) proteins. Our previous work demonstrating that IRP1 is phosphorylated by protein kinase C supported the hypothesis that factors in addition to iron modulate IRP function. We have investigated changes in activity and expression of both IRP1 and IRP2 during phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced differentiation of HL-60 cells. In contrast to IRP1, IRP2 was highly phosphorylated in untreated cells. PMA stimulated phosphorylation of IRP1 and IRP2 by at least 2-3-fold without affecting incorporation of [35S]methionine into the proteins. IRP1 and IRP2 isolated from PMA-treated cells displayed different phosphopeptides. Phosphorylation of IRPs was associated with a 2-fold increase in high affinity RNA binding activity without altering KD, and this was accompanied by a 50% increase in transferrin receptor mRNA abundance. PMA acted on a latent pool of binding activity that is present in a nonaconitase oxidized form and is largely composed of a stable but inactive species of IRP2. Desferal and hemin modulated iron-responsive element binding activity in HL-60 cells without affecting the phosphorylation state of IRP1. Hemin appeared to reduce the abundance of phosphorylated IRP2. Thus, multiple factors affect the function of both IRPs and indicate that extracellular agents may program changes in cellular iron metabolism by altering the phosphorylation state of these regulatory RNA-binding proteins.
Two Structures of an N-Hydroxylating Flavoprotein Monooxygenase: ORNITHINE HYDROXYLASE FROM PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA.

The ornithine hydroxylase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PvdA) catalyzes the FAD-dependent hydroxylation of the side chain amine of ornithine, which is subsequently formylated to generate the iron-chelating hydroxamates of the siderophore pyoverdin. PvdA belongs to the class B flavoprotein monooxygenases, which catalyze the oxidation of substrates using NADPH as the electron donor and molecular oxygen. Class B enzymes include the well studied flavin-containing monooxygenases and Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenases. The first two structures of a class B N-hydroxylating monooxygenase were determined with FAD in oxidized (1.9 Å resolution) and reduced (3.03 Å resolution) states. PvdA has the two expected Rossmann-like dinucleotide-binding domains for FAD and NADPH and also a substrate-binding domain, with the active site at the interface between the three domains. The structures have NADP(H) and (hydroxy)ornithine bound in a solvent-exposed active site, providing structural evidence for substrate and co-substrate specificity and the inability of PvdA to bind FAD tightly. Structural and biochemical evidence indicates that NADP+ remains bound throughout the oxidative half-reaction, which is proposed to shelter the flavin intermediates from solvent and thereby prevent uncoupling of NADPH oxidation from hydroxylated product formation.
Computational methods for real-time Fourier synthesis

In Fourier synthesis, natural musical sounds are produced by summing time-varying sinusoids. Sounds from individual instruments are analyzed to find the amplitude and frequency characteristics for their sinusoids; interpolation between the characteristics of several sounds is used to produce intermediate timbres. An ensemble can be synthesized by summing all the sinusoids for several sounds, but in practice it is difficult to perform such computations in real time. To solve this problem on inexpensive hardware, the author takes advantage of the masking effects of the auditory system. By avoiding the computations for perceptually unimportant sinusoids, and by using other computation reduction techniques to achieve interpolation, a large ensemble can be synthesized in real time. Unlike existing computation reduction techniques, the techniques described in this correspondence do not sacrifice independent fine control over the amplitude and frequency characteristics of each sinusoid. >
A more accurate modeling of the effects of actuators in large space structures

The paper deals with finite actuators. A nonspinning three-axis stabilized space vehicle having a two-dimensional large structure and a rigid body at the center is chosen for analysis. The torquers acting on the vehicle are modeled as antisymmetric forces distributed in a small but finite area. In the limit they represent point torquers which also are treated as a special case of surface distribution of dipoles. Ordinary and partial differential equations governing the forced vibrations of the vehicle are derived by using Hamilton's principle. Associated modal inputs are obtained for both the distributed moments and the distributed forces. It is shown that the finite torquers excite the higher modes less than the point torquers. Modal cost analysis proves to be a suitable methodology to this end.
Selection blas and the analysis of persistence of part-time undergraduate students

Most studies of persistence behavior use path analysis or ordinary least squares regression to estimate unknown coefficients. However, estimates produced by these techniques are biased if selectivity bias contaminates choices made by individuals in the data sample. We explain this problem, argue that it is present in data samples used in persistence studies, and discuss an alternative estimation technique that controls for it. The methodology and the differences in the interpretation of coefficient estimates are illustrated with a data sample of individual students at a single university.
Composition and calcium binding of proteinpolysaccharides of calf nasal septum and scapula.

Proteinpolysaccharide (PP-L) of “resting” and “ossifying” zones of calf scapular cartilage and of calf nasal septum cartilage was extracted with aqueous 0.15 M KCl and fractionated into a series of products: PP-L3, PP-L4, PP-L5, PP-L6. An additional proteinpolysaccharide fraction, PP-L2, was extracted from the cartilage residues with hydroxylamine. Differences in chemical composition among corresponding proteinpolysaccharides obtained from the three cartilage sources were, in general, small. The calcium binding capacity of the PP-L, PP-L2, and PP-L3 samples, as measured by equlibrium dialysis, appeared to reflect principally their uronic acid and exchangeable sulfate contents. Application of a cation exchange technique indicated that PP-L from “resting” and “ossifying” zones of scapular cartilage had similar affinities for tracer quantities of calcium. However, the affinity of PP-L from both zones of scapular cartilage for tracer quantities of calcium was greater than that of PP-L from nasal septum. The data obtained from this study do not indicate sufficient differences between the chemical composition and calcium affinity of proteinpolysaccharides from “resting” and “ossifying” scapular cartilage to account for the calcium uptake in the “ossifying” zone.
Caveolar microdomains of the sarcolemma: compartmentation of signaling molecules comes of age.

For more than two decades, investigators who have been studying signal transduction in the heart (and other tissues) have struggled to explain data implicating the existence of “compartmentation.” The data have included evidence for selective effects of certain types of hormonal and neurotransmitter agonists on “downstream” events, in spite of their utilization of common “upstream” second messenger pathways.1 2 The concept of compartmentation arose, at least partially, as an explanation for such phenomena. Yet progress in defining the physical nature of these compartments has, until recently, been rather slow. One problem has been that the biochemical paradigm, which typically involves destroying cells, isolating subcellular fractions, and assaying enzymatic or other activity, is not particularly well suited for precise identification of signaling domains responsible for compartmentation. Consider the folly of this type of approach if one were to use it to identify each of the parts of an appliance, such as a television set. One would smash the appliance, breaking it down into smaller pieces and then attempt to assemble these “fractions” in order to try and learn the function of each component. Nevertheless, progress has recently accelerated in this area, in part because of evolving notions regarding the existence of specialized regions of the sarcolemmal membrane. Early work in a variety of cell types focused on the role of clathrin-coated pit regions that were involved in receptor-mediated endocytosis, in particular of transport proteins and certain receptors.3 More recently, such coated pit regions have been implicated in receptor-promoted internalization of G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs).4 5 Another specialized region of the plasma membrane that has attracted increasing attention is the caveola, a specialized membrane invagination (“little cave”), whose morphology was originally described in the 1950s. These structures were first identified in endothelial cells and were described as having an …
Ophthalmologic stem cell transplantation therapies

Vision loss is a major social issue, with more than 20 million people over the age of 18 years affected in the USA alone. Loss of vision is feared more than premature death or cardiovascular disease, according to a recent Society for Consumer Research group survey. The annual direct cost of medical care for the most prevalent eye disease, age-related macular degeneration, was estimated at US$255 billion in 2010 with an additional economic impact of US$88 billion due to lost productivity and the burden of family and community care for visual disability. With the blossoming of human stem cell research, regenerative treatments are now being developed that can help reduce this burden. Positive results from animal studies demonstrate that stem cell-based transplants can preserve and potentially improve vision. This has led to new clinical trials for several eye diseases that are yielding encouraging results. In the next few years, additional trials and longer-term results are anticipated to further develop ocular regenerative therapies, with the potential to revolutionize our approach to ophthalmic disease and damage.
Static timing: back to our roots

Existing static timing methodologies apply various techniques to address increasingly larger process variations. The techniques include multi-corner timing, on-chip variation (OCV) derating coefficients, and path-based common path pessimism removal (CPPR) procedures. These techniques, however, destroy the benefits of linear run-time and incrementality possessed by classical static timing. The major contribution of this work is an efficient statistical timing methodology with comprehensive modeling of process variations, while at the same time retaining those key benefits. Our methodology is compatible with existing characterization methods and scales well to large chip designs. To achieve this goal, three techniques are developed: (1) building the statistical delay model based on existing multi-corner library characterization; (2) modeling spatial correlation in a scalable manner; and (3) avoiding the time-consuming CPPR procedure by removing common path pessimism in the clock network by an incremental block- based technique. Experimental results on industrial 90 nm ASIC designs show that the proposed timing methodology correctly handles all types of process variation, achieves high correlation with traditional multi-corner timing with more than 4x speedup, and is a vehicle for pessimism reduction.
Atrophia maculosa varioliformis cutis

Atrophia maculosa varioliformis cutis is a rare disease characterized by spontaneously formed facial scars in young adults. Its etiology is unknown; there may be an underlying defect of dermal elastin. We discuss a patient with this unusual disorder and review its literature.
Tumor Microenvironment Controls the Rate of Cancer Progression and Metastasis

Tumors are unorganized organs that contain many different cell types that communicate with cancer cells (Kalluri NRC 2006). The central goal of our laboratory is to evaluate the role of these non-cancer cells in cancer progression and metastasis. Cancer progression significantly depends on the influence of many different host cells. Whether such host responses are recruited to control cancer progression or further aid in tumor growth (or both) is still unclear. This lecture will highlight the role of extra-cellular matrix, angiogenesis, and mesenchymal cells in cancer progression and metastasis, and discuss treatment strategies.
Concept Analysis of Acculturation in Filipino Immigrants Within Health Context

Although acculturation has been widely used as a health research variable among other immigrant populations, it is nonexistent to the Filipino immigrant population. Accurate assessment, measurement, and exploration of acculturation of Filipinos in the United States can help improve the overall health care of this population. The work of Walker and Avant is used as a guide to analyze and clarify the operational definition of acculturation of this group within the context of health.
Viability of Frozen-Thawed Mouse Embryos is Affected by Genotype

Embryos from mice of five different genotypes were evaluated for their ability to survive cryopreservation as measured by post-thaw in vitro development. In Study 1, ovulation was induced with a standardized pregnant mares' serum gonadotropin (PMSG)/human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) regimen, after which females were mated with males of the same genotype to produce incrossed embryos. Four- to 8-cell embryos were frozen in 1.5 M dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) at a rate of 0.5 degrees C/min to -80 degrees C and stored in liquid nitrogen. Following thawing at room temperature, embryos were cultured and development was evaluated 24 h later. The mean (+/- SEM) number of 4- to 8-cell embryos/pregnant female by stock/strain were: N:NIH(S), 6.8 +/- 0.8; N:NIH(S)-B, 5.8 +/- 0.5; N:GP(S), 6.5 +/- 0.6; C57BL/6N, 9.7 +/- 1.0; C3H/HeN MTV-, 9.5 +/- 0.9 (P less than 0.05). Post-thaw in vitro development was related to genetic background; the proportion of embryos culturing after thawing was: N:NIH(S), 49%; N:NIH(S)-B, 61%; N:GP(S), 66%; C57BL/6N, 75%; C3H/HeN MTV-, 56% (P less than 0.05). Study 2 was conducted to evaluate the influence of mating various females to males of a genotype known to have a lower post-thaw embryo survival rate. N:NIH(S)-B, N:GP(S), C57BL/6N, and C3H/HeN MTV- female mice were mated with N:NIH(S) males to produce hybrid embryos. Post-thaw embryo survival was reduced (P less than 0.05) in three of the four hybrid groups. Fresh incrossed and hybrid embryos from each study were cultured for 24 h and yielded culture rates ranging from 95% to 99% (P greater than 0.05) among all groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Expression of the Poliovirus Receptor in Intestinal Epithelial Cells Is Not Sufficient To Permit Poliovirus Replication in the Mouse Gut

Although the initial site of poliovirus replication in humans is the intestine, previously isolated transgenic mice which carry the human poliovirus receptor (PVR) gene (TgPVR mice), which develop poliomyelitis after intracerebral inoculation, are not susceptible to infection by the oral route. The low levels of PVR expressed in the TgPVR mouse intestine might explain the absence of poliovirus replication at that site. To ascertain whether PVR is the sole determinant of poliovirus susceptibility of the mouse intestine, we have generated transgenic mice by using the promoter for rat intestine fatty acid binding protein to direct PVR expression in mouse gut. Pvr was detected by immunohistochemistry in the enterocytes and M cells of transgenic mouse (TgFABP-PVR) small intestine. Upon oral inoculation with poliovirus, no increase in virus titer was detected in the feces of TgFABP-PVR mice, and no virus replication was observed in the small intestine, although poliovirus replicated in the brain after intracerebral inoculation. The failure of poliovirus to replicate in the TgFABP-PVR mouse small intestine was not due to lack of virus binding sites, because poliovirus could attach to fragments of small intestine from these mice. These results indicate that the inability of poliovirus to replicate in the mouse alimentary tract is not solely due to the absence of virus receptor, and other factors are involved in determining the ability of poliovirus to replicate in the mouse gut.
Combining switches for the NYU Ultracomputer

A pairwise combining switch has been implemented for use in the 16*16 processor/memory interconnection network of the NYU Ultracomputer prototype. The switch design may be extended for use in very large systems by providing greater combining capability. Methods for doing so are discussed. >
Insight into how molecular structures of thiophene-based conjugated polymers affect crystallization behaviors

Abstract Combining the structural characterization of solution crystals fabricated from thiophene-based conjugated polymers with different molecular structures and a theoretical investigation of the polymer conformational transformability leads to an interesting discovery of the relationship between the molecular structures and their crystallization behaviors. The chain folding or nonfolding behavior of thiophene-based conjugated polymers in crystallization, an important factor to shape polymer crystals, is determined by their molecular structures, and can be estimated by the inter-ring rotation energy barriers of the polymer backbones. A quantitative theoretical calculation is proposed to evaluate the inter-ring rotation energy barriers, and the values are correlated with the experimentally observed chain folding or nonfolding behavior. The higher percentage of type I inter-ring σ bond (CH 3 and H are at 3 and 3′ position of adjacent aromatic rings, respectively) or the lower average rotation barrier in polymer backbones creates higher capability of polymer conformational transformation and higher tendency of chain folding. Our study provides a valid prediction of the crystallization behavior of thiophene-based conjugated polymers through a theoretical evaluation of conjugated polymer molecular structures, and offers an essential understand of the structure–property relationship of conjugated polymers.
Bioactive compounds in cranberries and their role in prevention of urinary tract infections

Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) ingestion has long been associated with prevention of urinary tract infections. The beneficial mechanism was historically thought to be due to the fruit acids causing a bacteriostatic effect in the urine. However, recently, a group of proanthocyanidins (PACs) with A-type linkages were isolated from cranberry which exhibit bacterial antiadhesion activity against both antibiotic susceptible and resistant strains of uropathogenic P-fimbriated Escherichia coli bacteria. The link between cranberry ingestion and maintenance of urinary tract health as well as the structural diversity, pharmacokinetics, quantification, and bacterial antiadhesion bioactivity of the A-linked cranberry PACs are reviewed.
A Polynomial Chaos-Based Kalman Filter Approach for Parameter Estimation of Mechanical Systems

Background. Mechanical systems operate under parametric and external excitation uncertainties. The polynomial chaos approach has been shown to be more efficient than Monte Carlo for quantifying the effects of such uncertainties on the system response. Many uncertain parameters cannot be measured accurately, especially in real time applications. Information about them is obtained via parameter estimation techniques. Parameter estimation for large systems is a difficult problem, and the solution approaches are computationally expensive. Method of Approach. This paper proposes a new computational approach for parameter estimation based on the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) and the polynomial chaos theory for parameter estimation. The error covariances needed by EKF are computed from polynomial chaos expansions, and the EKF is used to update the polynomial chaos representation of the uncertain states and the uncertain parameters. The proposed method is applied to a nonlinear four degree of freedom roll plane model of a vehicle, in which an uncertain mass with an uncertain position is added on the roll bar. Results. The main advantages of this method are an accurate representation of uncertainties via polynomial chaoses, a computationally efficient update formula based on EKF, and the ability to provide aposteriori probability densities of the estimated parameters. The method is able to deal with non-Gaussian parametric uncertainties. The paper identifies and theoretically explains a possible weakness of the EKF with approximate covariances: numerical errors due to the truncation in the polynomial chaos expansions can accumulate quickly when measurements are taken at a fast sampling rate. To prevent filter divergence we propose to lower the sampling rate, and to take a smoother approach where a set of time-distributed observations are all processed at once. Conclusions. We propose a parameter estimation approach that uses polynomial chaoses to propagate uncertainties and estimate error covariances in the EKF framework. Parameter estimates are obtained in the form of a polynomial chaos expansion which carries information about the aposteriori probability density function. The method is illustrated on a roll plane vehicle model.
CRITICAL BEHAVIOR OF LAYERED SUPERCONDUCTING FILMS IN A PARALLEL MAGNETIC FIELD

The equilibrium magnetization for layered superconducting films that experience a nonzero component, $H_{\parallel}$, of magnetic field applied parallel to the layers is computed at temperatures and at perpendicular field components in the vicinity of the decoupling transition. A fermion analogy is exploited for this purpose, whereby it is found that the parallel magnetization shows an anomalous $H_{\parallel}^{-1}$ tail at high fields due to entropic fluctuations of the (parallel) lattice of Josephson vortices. A collective pinning effect is also identified for $c$-axis transport limited by a single planar defect oriented parallel to both $c$ and to the applied magnetic field.
Preliminary data on voluntary food sharing in brown capuchin monkeys.

Spontaneous interactions over fruits and vegetables were observed in a captive group of Cebus apella. The group lacked fully grown males; 3 adult females dominated the remaining 11 individuals, most of which were adolescents and late juveniles. Apart from expressions of interest and unsuccessful attempts to claim food, interactions over food included two types of interindividual food transfer: forced claims (i.e., involuntary transfers) and peaceful sharing. These two categories represented 7.2% and 20.3% of 3,389 observed food interactions, respectively. Sharing of food was subdivided into four categories; the most frequent category was the collection of discarded food items from within reach of the possessor, and the least frequent was active giving of food items by the possessor. The voluntary nature of food transfers was further investigated in an experiment in which two monkeys were placed in adjacent cages with a wire-mesh partition between them. One subject received food; the other did not. Although this setup made it easy for possessors to prevent food transfers, sharing occurred in all 18 tests on different combinations of individuals. In 10 of the tests, possessors were observed to actively push food through the mesh partition to their partner. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A class of web-based facets for the generalized vertex packing problem

The generalized vertex packing problem seeks to identify a largest subset of nodes from an undirected graph, such that the subgraph induced by this subset of nodes contains no more than some threshold number of edges. This paper derives a class of valid inequalities based on certain special subgraphs called webs, which are general structures that subsume cliques, matchings, odd holes, and odd anti-holes. We also provide a set of conditions for this class of valid inequalities to be facet-inducing for the web subgraph polytope. Finally, we prescribe a web subgraph identification procedure, and test the computational benefits obtained by solving generalized vertex packing instances with formulations augmented by these web-based valid inequalities.
Earthquake Source Dynamics from Farfield Amplitude and Phase Spectra of Body Waves

Summary Farfield amplitude and phase spectra for a longitudinal shear fault with constant or linearly varying dislocation is considered. The spectral comer frequencies are explained in terms of two characteristic source times, related to the displacement time function Tr, and rupture time, Tr., The relative position of the latter comer frequency for P and SH waves are shown to be azimuth dependent, the P wave corner frequency being lower, in the half space toward which rupture front moves, and higher in the opposite direction. The structural features of the phase spectrum are shown to contain information relevant to the dynamics of faulting at the source. For unilateral faulting, the general trend of the phase spectrum exhibits as much sensitivity to Tr, as the position of the related corner frequency in the amplitude spectrum does. Assuming a cosine ramp displacement time function, the farfield amplitude and phase spectra are computed for trial source models of two shallow continental earthquakes in Turkey and Iran, and the results are compared with observations. It is concluded that simultaneous utilization of observed amplitude and phase spectra imposes additional constraints on the adopted source models, and may serve to discriminate between a predominantly unilateral and bilateral advancement of failure at the source.
POTASSIUM AND CESIUM ION SELECTIVITY IN RELATION TO CLAY MINERAL STRUCTURE

Selectivity of a number of vermiculites, montmorillonites and micas for K and Cs ions was determined by sorption of these ions from equilibrium solutions of diverse concentrations. The selec- tivity coefficients were related to the layer charge density and the area of the frayed edges in layer silicates. Montmorillonites had the smallest selectivity for the two ions, while biotite and illite had the great- est selectivity. Selectivity of biotite and illite was limited to small concentrations of K, however. At greater concentrations the selectivity of vermiculite for K exceeded the selectivity of the micas. The greater selectivity of vermiculites than montmorillonites for K and Cs ions was attributed to the greater layer charge density in vermiculites. The greater selectivity of micas than montmorillonites and vermiculites was attributed to the frayed edges of micas in addition to their larger layer charge density. As the frayed edRes in illite were increased in area by removal of the interlayer K, the selec- tivity of illite for K also increased; thus confirming the selectivity of frayed edges for the K ions.
Collaborative target tracking using distributed Kalman filtering on mobile sensor networks

In this paper, we introduce a theoretical framework for coupled distributed estimation and motion control of mobile sensor networks for collaborative target tracking. We use a Fisher Information theoretic metric for quality of sensed data. The mobile sensing agents seek to improve the information value of their sensed data while maintaining a safe-distance from other neighboring agents (i.e. perform information-driven flocking). We provide a formal stability analysis of continuous Kalman-Consensus filtering (KCF) algorithm on a mobile sensor network with a flocking-based mobility control model. The discrete-time counterpart of this coupled estimation and control algorithm is successfully applied to tracking of two types of targets with stochastic linear and nonlinear dynamics.
The Cultural Adjustment of Saudi Women International Students: A Qualitative Examination

The current study is a qualitative exploration of the adjustment experiences of Saudi women students in the United States, using quotes of the participants to demonstrate the variety and complexity of responses. Participants included 25 Saudi women international students who were attending colleges and universities across the United States. Grounded theory was used to explore the adjustment experience of these Saudi women international students. Participant responses were grouped into the following themes: expectations about the United States versus the reality, acculturative stress or cultural adjustment, cultural differences between the United States and Saudi Arabia, experiences of discrimination and/or curiosity, English language proficiency, relationships, social support and help-seeking behavior, and being a Saudi woman in the United States. The adjustment of Saudi women students was affected by their proficiency in English, their relationships and social support, and their ability to successfully n...
Rice Inhibits Intestinal Secretions

Rice-based oral rehydration solutions have been found to be effective in decreasing stool output and improving intestinal absorption in acute infectious diarrhea. Recent tests of the ability of a rice extract to inhibit intestinal secretions were undertaken, and it was shown that an isolated fraction of rice extract decreased intestinal losses by actively inhibiting the chloride channel.
Print to Electronic: The Library Perspective

For publishers and librarians to work well together it will help for publishers have a good idea of the circumstances and challenges currently facing libraries. This includes but is not limited to budget; libraries also struggle with a complex technology environment, quickly changing licensing, pricing and content options, and incomplete adoption of standards by publishers and software vendors. This paper is a short introduction to these issues and includes a brief overview of what publishers can do to help librarians, and what librarians can do to help publishers.
Study of Surface Morphological, Phytochemical and Structural Characteristics of Rhodium (III) Oxide (Rh2O3) Nanoparticles

In the current research, Rhodium (III) Oxide (Rh2O3) nanoparticles were produced in various sizes using ultrasonic waves and by adding various concentrations of linoleic acid as capping agent. Using X–Ray Diffraction (XRD) methods, phytochemical and structural characteristics of the produced samples were studied and the mean particle size was calculated by Debye – Scherer equation. The phytochemical characteristics of the produced nanoparticles were studied by Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR–FTIR). The surface morphology of these structures shows that the Rhodium (III) Oxide (Rh2O3) nanoparticles are formed in a spherical shape.
Acquisition of the English Voicing Contrast By Arab Children

Children are typically more proficient than adults in learning the phonetic detail of a second language. The purpose of this study was to investigate the acquisition of the English voicing contrast as cued by voice onset time in syllable-initial position and preconsonantal vowel duration in final position in the speech of children whose native language is Arabic. The children, 24 to 135 months in age, were recorded producing minimal pairs differing in the voicing of consonants. Voice onset time and vowel duration were measured from spectrograms. Children were highly variable in their mastery of the voicing contrast. For this sample, neither age nor experience with English could predict phonetic proficiency.
Systemic Nonurological Symptoms in Patients with Overactive Bladder.

Purpose: We compare the systemic (nonurological) symptoms between patients with overactive bladder and subjects without overactive bladder. We also compare the urinary symptoms, quality of life and psychosocial measures between the 2 subgroups of patients with overactive bladder with a high vs low systemic symptom burden.Materials and Methods: Patients diagnosed with overactive bladder (51) and age matched individuals without overactive bladder (30) were administered the polysymptomatic, polysyndromic questionnaire to assess the numbers and distribution of systemic symptoms across multiple organ systems. Validated instruments were administered to evaluate urinary symptoms (ICIQ-UI, ICIQ-OAB, OAB-q, USS), quality of life (UDI-6, IIQ-7, OAB-q) and psychosocial difficulties (depression, anxiety, stress, sexual trauma, sleep, fatigue). Patients with overactive bladder were divided into 2 subgroups (with and without widespread systemic symptoms) and their responses were compared.Results: Patients with overacti...
Elucidating the Role of Defects for Electrochemical Intercalation in Sodium Vanadium Oxide

Na1.25+xV3O8 (with x 0) was synthesized via a wet chemical route involving the reduction of V2O5 in oxalic acid and NaNO3 followed by calcination. It was possible to control the sodium composition in the final product by adjusting the amount of sodium precursor added during synthesis. It was revealed that deficient and excessive sodium contents, with respect to the ideal stoichiometry, are accommodated or compensated by the respective generation of oxygen vacancies and partial transition metal reduction, or cation disordering. When examined as NIB electrode material, the superior performance of the cation disordered material with excessive sodium was clearly demonstrated, with more than 50% higher storage capacity and superior rate capacity and cyclic stability. The formation of oxygen vacancies initially seemed promising but was coupled with stability issues and capacity fading upon further cycling. The disparity in electrochemical performance was attributed to variations in the electroni...
Two Remarks on Fuchsian Groups of Widom Type

For groups of Widom type we prove that the direct integral of the spaces of character automorphic forms of weight 1 with the Haar measure on the group of characters is the space of automorphic forms of weight 1 with respect to commutator of the given group. It gives us an explanation why the whole set of ergodic Jacobi matrices with a fixed homogeneous (absolutely continuous) spectrum can be parameterized by the group of characters of the fundamental group of common resolvent set. Besides, it is shown that a Fuchsian group Γ is of Widom type if and only if the conditional entropy of the partition of the unit circle into singleton sets with respect to the partition into Γ-equivalent classes is finite.
Immunological Properties of Bacterial Cell Wall Mucopeptides.

SummarySpecific antibodies to cell wall mucopeptide can be obtained which should be useful in elucidating and comparing the structure among microorganisms. Also significant is the observation that nearly all animal sera studied react with most mucopeptide preparations, regardless of source. This represents a “natural” immunological response against an ubiquitous antigenic moiety common to a variety of microbial muco-peptides. In addition to this response, serum from immunized rabbits contains antibodies which react with groupings of smaller available concentration on the intact mucopeptide and hence requires addition of 10-20 times as much antigen for maximal precipitation.
Disseminated Saksenaea vasiformis Infection

Herein reported is a second case of human Saksenaea vasiformis infection. This unusual zygomycete was isolated postmortem from the tissues of an immunocompromised woman. The patient died of a disseminated infection that caused cutaneous, pulmonary, and renal infarcts. Clinical and pathologic features of the case and manifestations of zygomycete infection are discussed.
Deploying an Ecological Model to Stem the Rising Tide of Firearm Suicide in Older Age

A central objective of the Surgeon General's National Strategy for Suicide Prevention is to focus on older adults. We review individual risk-factors for suicide in late life and then introduce an ecological model to expand conceptualization of elder suicide. We first look at the role of firearms, providing evidence that firearm availability increases the means of elder suicide and gun access policies can contribute to reducing risk. Next, we focus on primary care providers, documenting how older adults often come into contact with these professionals before ending their lives and how these providers could take a more active role in mediating individual-level risk factors. We then turn our attention to the intersection between gun access and primary care and consider how advancing standards of care concerning gun access and suicide risk might be an effective policy alternative for blocking the pathway to suicide among older adults.
Energy Streamlines in Near-Field Thermal Radiation

In the present paper, we investigate the energy propagation direction in near-field thermal radiation between two semi-infinite surfaces separated by a vacuum gap. Based on the fluctuational electrodynamics, we demonstrate in detail that Poynting vectors for each parallel wavevector component (β) are decoupled due to the randomness of thermal radiation. The results reveal that the spectral radiative energy is transferred in infinite directions. By separately tracing the Poynting vector for each given β, the energy propagation direction in the vacuum gap is visualized. Depending on β values, there exist considerable lateral shifts of the energy streamline. The range of β values dominantly contributing to the spectral energy flux is identified for different wavelengths. Furthermore, the effect of surface polaritons on the lateral shift is also discussed.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Ovulation rate and litter size of Barbados, Targhee and crossbred ewes.

Ovulation rate was measured in Barbados Blackbelly (United States strain; B), Targhee (T), Barbados X Targhee (B X T) and Barbados X Dorset-Targhee (B X DT) ewes at first and second estrus following synchronization of cycles early in the breeding season. Body weight at sponge removal differed (P less than .001) between B (30.9 kg) and T ewes (54.9 kg) and was intermediate for B X T (44.9 kg) and B X DT (43.5 kg) ewes. Ovulation rate was higher (P less than .01) at first and second estrus for B (1.86, 2.04), B X T (1.93, 2.04) and B X DT (1.72, 1.80) than for T (1.29, 1.40) ewes. Regressions of ovulation rate on body weight within the breed groups did not differ significantly from each other and the average was significant (b = .049 +/- .014 CL/kg at first estrus and b = .046 +/- .011 CL/kg at second estrus, where CL = number of corpora lutea), but differences between the groups in body weight did not explain the differences in ovulation rate. Litter size for B, B X T, B X DT and T groups was 1.71, 1.84, 1.84 and 1.28, respectively. The B X T ewes were superior to the average of the B and T ewes for ovulation rate (P less than .05) and litter size (P less than .01); there was no direct estimate of embryo survival, but the results indirectly indicate superiority of the crossbreds for this component also.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Computed tomography in orthopedics.

SUMMARY This article has tried to put in perspective the expanding role of computed tomography in a variety of orthopedic conditions. This role should increase as continuing investigations with improved scanners reveal even further applications of this diagnostic imaging modality.
Zero Net Energy At A Community Scale: UC Davis West Village

The chapter shows how the zero net energy (ZNE) concept has been implemented on a large scale at the UC Davis West Village, a new ecological neighborhood for 4,200 students, faculty, and staff of the University of California, Davis. The first phase of the project, inaugurated in 2011, aims for ZNE status using highly energy efficient construction, passive solar design, and photovoltaic arrays on roofs and parking canopies. The technology required for the project was readily available in the late 2000s, although it took creative partnerships to develop and implement the concept. Several additional features are in the development stage. This chapter’s main conclusion is to show that ZNE status can be achieved through collaborative public/private partnership with no increased costs to the residents. This advanced eco-district bears similarities to some European examples such as BedZED in London, Hammarby in Sweden, and Vauban in Germany, and points the way toward a new generation of ZNE neighborhoods in North America.extended
Voting and Agenda Setting in Political Science and Economics

Abstract: In this chapter, I detail a canonical type of experiment in the social sciences. A key question for the social sciences is how groups make collective decisions. Often, a group has to make a single choice, and all individuals are bound to that choice. It turns out that there is no mechanism that guarantees a consistent, fair collective choice. The spatial committee experiment was designed to test different theories about collective choice. Such an experiment has a group of people voting across different alternatives. It is a highly stylized version of a committee in which the final outcome is applied to all of the subjects. Experiments using this design have shed light on the importance of differing voting rules and agenda mechanisms.
A complete molecular phylogeny of Claravis confirms its paraphyly within small New World ground‐doves (Aves: Peristerinae) and implies multiple plumage state transitions

The three species in the genus Claravis (Aves: Peristerinae) are unique among members of the small New World ground-dove clade. All three species inhabit forested areas rather than open scrubby habitat, and exhibit obvious sexual dichromatism. However, the phylogenetic relationships within Claravis remain unknown. The only molecular phylogenetic study to include more than one species of Claravis indicated the genus is paraphyletic. Here we include molecular data from all three Claravis species, including sequences from a museum skin of the previously unsampled Claravis geoffroyi (purple-winged ground-dove). Using both mitochondrial and nuclear loci, we estimate phylogenies and divergence times for the small New World ground-dove clade. We also use ancestral state reconstruction methods to infer the evolution of male blue plumage (and thus sexual dimorphism) in the clade. As in the previous study we recover Claravis as a paraphyletic group, but with Claravis geoffroyi as the sister species to Claravis mondetoura (maroon-chested ground-dove). This result has important implications for the evolutionary history of the small New World ground-dove clade. In particular, we recover multiple independent transitions between the monomorphic and dimorphic plumage states, which perhaps indicates sexual dimorphism arose twice in the group. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Analogies Between Cancer-Derived Extracellular Vesicles and Enveloped Viruses with an Emphasis on Human Breast Cancer.

Cancer cells utilize extracellular vesicles (EVs) as a means of transferring oncogenic proteins and nucleic acids to other cells to enhance the growth and spread of the tumor. There is an unexpected amount of similarities between these small, membrane-bound particles and enveloped virions, including protein content, physical characteristics (i.e., size and morphology), and mechanisms of entry and exit into target cells. This review describes the attributes shared by both cancer-derived EVs, with an emphasis on breast cancer-derived EVs, and enveloped viral particles and discusses the methods by which virions can utilize the EV pathway as a means of transferring viral material and oncogenes to host cells. Additionally, the possible links between human papilloma virus and its influence on the miRNA content of breast cancer-derived EVs are examined. The rapidly growing field of EVs is allowing investigators from different disciplines to enter uncharted territory. The study of the emerging similarities between cancer-derived EVs and enveloped virions may lead to novel important scientific discoveries.
Rho-associated kinase 1 inhibition is synthetically lethal with von Hippel-Lindau deficiency in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CC-RCC) is the most lethal of all genitourinary cancers. The functional loss of the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene occurs in 90% of CC-RCC, driving cancer progression. The objective of this study was to identify chemical compounds that are synthetically lethal with VHL deficiency in CC-RCC. An annotated chemical library, the library of pharmacologically active compounds (LOPAC), was screened in parallel on VHL-deficient RCC4 cells and RCC4VHL cells with re-introduced VHL. The ROCK inhibitor, Y-27632, was identified and validated for selective targeting of VHL-deficient CC-RCC in multiple genetic backgrounds by clonogenic assays. Downregulation of ROCK1 by small interfering RNA (siRNA) selectively reduced the colony-forming ability of VHL-deficient CC-RCC, thus mimicking the effect of Y-27632 treatment, whereas downregulation of ROCK2 had no effect. In addition, two other ROCK inhibitors, RKI 1447 and GSK 429286, selectively targeted VHL-deficient CC-RCC. CC-RCC treatment with ROCK inhibitors is cytotoxic and cytostatic based on bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) assay, propidium iodide (PI) staining and growth curves, and blocks cell migration based on transwell assay. On the one hand, knockdown of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) β in the VHL-deficient CC-RCC had a protective effect against Y-27632 treatment, mimicking VHL reintroduction. On the other hand, CC-RCCVHL cells were sensitized to Y-27632 treatment in hypoxia (2% O2). These results suggest that synthetic lethality between ROCK inhibition and VHL deficiency is dependent on HIF activation. Moreover, HIF1α or HIF2α overexpression in CC-RCCVHL cells is sufficient to sensitize them to ROCK inhibition. Finally, Y-27632 treatment inhibited growth of subcutaneous 786-OT1 CC-RCC tumors in mice. Thus, ROCK inhibitors represent potential therapeutics for VHL-deficient CC-RCC.
Cell-Autonomous Excitation of Midbrain Dopamine Neurons by Endocannabinoid-Dependent Lipid Signaling

The major endocannabinoid in the mammalian brain is the bioactive lipid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). The best-known effects of 2-AG are mediated by G-protein-coupled cannabinoid receptors. In principle, 2-AG could modify neuronal excitability by acting directly on ion channels, but such mechanisms are poorly understood. Using a preparation of dissociated mouse midbrain dopamine neurons to isolate effects on intrinsic excitability, we found that 100 nM 2-AG accelerated pacemaking and steepened the frequency-current relationship for burst-like firing. In voltage-clamp experiments, 2-AG reduced A-type potassium current (IA) through a cannabinoid receptor-independent mechanism mimicked by arachidonic acid, which has no activity on cannabinoid receptors. Activation of orexin, neurotensin, and metabotropic glutamate Gq/11-linked receptors mimicked the effects of exogenous 2-AG and their actions were prevented by inhibiting the 2-AG-synthesizing enzyme diacylglycerol lipase α. The results show that 2-AG and related lipid signaling molecules can directly tune neuronal excitability in a cell-autonomous manner by modulating IA.
Patient selection for mechanical thrombectomy in posterior circulation emergent large-vessel occlusion:

Triage of posterior circulation stroke from emergent large-vessel occlusion (pc-ELVO) is challenging owing to the stuttering clinical course and potential for rapid decline. Growing clinical data s...