cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Toure v. Avis Rent a Car Systems and the Serious Injury Threshold: Court of Appeals Giveth and Taketh Away, But Giveth More

This article analyzes New York’s No Fault Law’s serious injury rule. Whether a person's injury with its resulting pain and disability is sufficient to establish prima facie a serious injury under these categories has been problematic since the enactment of the No-Fault Law, due in large measure to the substantive and proof requirement articulated for these categories by the Appellate Divisions in the absence of Court of Appeals precedent. The Court of Appeals' decision in Toure v. Avis Rent A Car Systems, Inc., which dealt with three separate cases from the Appellate Divisions, Toure v. Avis Rent A Car Systems, Inc., Manzano v. O'Neill, and Nitti v. Clerrico, has brought about needed clarification, if not outright change, to this legal landscape, both to the substantive requirements of establishing a serious injury and the proof necessary to establish a prima facie case of serious injury under these requirements. The decision is an important one not only as to its various holdings, but also as to what it portends for future serious injury appeals. With respect to the latter, the Court, as it did in Oberly, has signaled that it will give no deference to Appellate Division precedent, even if such precedent reflects unanimity among the Appellate Divisions and is of longstanding duration.
A Hierarchical Model To Understand the Processing of Polysaccharides/Protein-Based Films in Ionic Liquids

In recent years, biomaterials from abundant and renewable sources have shown potential in medicine and materials science alike. In this study, we combine theoretical modeling, molecular dynamics si...
Chapter 7 – Applications of high-resolution solution NMR

This chapter discusses the applications of high-resolution solution NMR to reflect the advances made by using the higher applied magnetic field. High-resolution solution NMR is the most important tool for the structural characterization of polymers. The information obtained from high-resolution NMR spectroscopy includes chemical composition of the main chain, microstructural defects, distribution of defect structures along the chain, comonomer composition and sequence, terminal endgroup structures, branching, abnormal structures, nature of the monomer enchainment, and tacticity. The main advantages of using NMR compared to the other analytical techniques are the high spectral selectivity and the capability of measuring quantitatively the structural components in the sample without using external calibration. The spectral sensitivity is more pronounced in 1H NMR due to the high natural abundance and higher gyromagnetic ratio of hydrogen relative to 13C. However, 13C NMR has a greater spectral selectivity due to the larger dispersion of the chemical shifts compared to 1H NMR, enabling more detailed structural characterization. 13C NMR is a very specific probe of the local environment, often capable of distinguishing between two carbons in structural moieties that differ in structure four bonds away from the site of interest. The quantitative nature of the results can be compromised in conventional solution 13C NMR by the presence of heteronuclear spin coupling; however, it can be overcome in the gated decoupling pulse mode with some sacrifice in the sensitivity. . A large number of new chemical structures are resolved including endgroups, branches, crosslinks, and stereosequences with the help of this technique.
Exogenous Monounsaturated Fatty Acids Suppress Non-Apoptotic Cell Death

The initiation and execution of cell death is regulated by various lipids. How the levels of environmental (exogenous) lipids impact cell death sensitivity is not well understood. Using a high-throughput lipid modulation screen we find that physiological levels of extracellular free fatty acids have diverse effects on non-apoptotic and apoptotic cell death induced by lethal small molecules and natural products. In particular, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) are found to suppress the non-apoptotic, iron-dependent cell death process of ferroptosis. This protective effect requires acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 3 (ACSL3) and involves suppression of toxic lipid ROS accumulation specifically at the plasma membrane. Exogenous MUFAs also protect cells from apoptotic lipotoxicity caused by the accumulation of saturated fatty acids, but through a genetically distinct mechanism. Thus, MUFAs emerge as key lipid metabolites regulating both non-apoptotic and apoptotic cell death.
A phase I trial of immediate postoperative intraperitoneal floxuridine and leucovorin plus systemic 5-fluorouracil and levamisole after resection of high risk colon cancer.

Kelsen et al.’s recent report a Phase I trial of immediate postoperative intraperitoneal floxuridine and leucovorin plus systemic 5-fluorouracil and levamisole after resection of high risk colon cancer’ provides encouraging data in support of intraperitoneal (IP) floxuridine (FUdR) to control peritoneal recurrences. However, they do not go far enough in emphasizing the advantages of IP FUdR over other agents that have been used for similar circumstances. Our experience in sequential studies with FUdR since 1985 is based on the following: (1) generally, 2-3 log greater cytotoxic potency of FUdR over 5fluorouracil (FU), (2) achievement of millimolar IP FUdR concentrations, (3) enhanced potential for modulation with leucovorin, (4) avoidance of insolubility issues at an acid intracavitary pH (as might occur with FU), and (5) a more efficient hepatic extraction relative to FU, thus maximizing peritoneal/ plasma area under the concentration X time curve ratios. We have confirmed these pharmacologic and clinical aspects in studies of IP FUdR alone’ and with (R,S)-leucovorin3 or (S)leuc~vorin.~ In addition, we have shown a favorable outcome after IP FUdR in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer after second-look laparotomy5 and in patients with gastric cancer
Financial Inclusion and Value-Added Taxes in Argentina, Brazil and Chile

This chapter shows how government financial inclusion policies increased bank participation rates in Argentina, Brazil and Chile, and this in turn increased access to (and use of) debt and credit cards. In Argentina and Chile in particular, financial inclusion along with card-based consumption grew drastically and is positively correlated with higher value-added tax (VAT) collection. VAT compliance strengthens at intermediate stages (VAT receipt needed to receive a tax benefit) and weakens at final consumption (VAT receipt garners no value to retailers), yet card transactions occur at this final stage. In recent years, we observe an anomaly where VAT revenue has increased despite unchanged VAT rates and stagnant economies, something we link to more formal and less informal final consumption. Fixed-effects regression is used to test the influence of changes in the banked population, card-based consumption and size of the informal economy on VAT revenue from 2002 to 2015.
Core Rhizosphere Microbiomes of Dryland Wheat Are Influenced by Location and Land Use History.

The Inland Pacific Northwest is one of the most productive dryland wheat production areas in the United States. We explored the bacterial and fungal communities associated with wheat in a controlled greenhouse experiment using soils from multiple locations to identify core taxa consistently associated with wheat roots and how land-use history influences wheat-associated communities. Further, we examined microbial co-occurrence networks from wheat rhizospheres to identify candidate hub taxa. Location of origin and land-use history (long-term no-till vs non-cropped Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) of soils were the strongest drivers of bacterial and fungal communities. Wheat rhizospheres were especially enriched in many bacterial families while only a few fungal taxa were enriched in the rhizosphere. There was a core set of bacteria and fungi that was found in >95% of rhizosphere or bulk soil samples, including members of Bradyrhizobium, Sphingomonadaceae, Massilia, Variovorax, Oxalobacteraceae, and Caulobacteraceae. Core fungal taxa in the rhizosphere included Nectriaceae, Pleosporaceae, Trichocomaceae, Mortierellaceae and Ulocladium, Microdochium, Macroventuria, and Cadophora. Overall, there were fewer core fungal taxa, and the rhizosphere effect was not as pronounced as with bacteria. Cross-domain co-occurrence networks were used to identify hub taxa in the wheat rhizosphere, which included bacterial and fungal taxa (eg. Sphingomonas, Massilia, Knufia, Microdochium). Our results suggest that there is a relatively small group of core rhizosphere bacteria that were highly abundant on wheat roots regardless of soil origin and land use history. These core communities may play important roles in nutrient uptake, suppressing fungal pathogens, and other plant health functions. IMPORTANCE Plant associated microbiomes are critical for plant health and other important agroecosystem processes. We assessed the bacterial and fungal microbiome of wheat grown in soils from across a dryland wheat cropping systems in Eastern Washington to identify the core microbiome on wheat roots that is consistent across soils from different locations and land use histories. Moreover, cross-domain co-occurrence network analysis identified core and hub taxa that may play important roles in microbial community assembly. Candidate core and hub taxa provide a starting point for targeting microbiome components likely to be critical to plant health and for constructing synthetic microbial communities for further experimentation. This work is one of the first examples of identifying a core microbiome on a major field crop grown across 100s of square kilometers over a wide range of biogeographical zones.
Comprehensive genomic sequencing of high-grade neuroendocrine neoplasms.

624Background: Grade 3 neuroendocrine neoplasms (G3 NENs), if poorly differentiated, have a median survival of only 10-19 months. Little is known regarding their underlying genomics. Methods: We ap...
The real promise of federalism: A case study of Arendt’s international thought:

For Hannah Arendt, the federal system is an effective mode of organizing different sources of power while avoiding sovereign politics. This article aims to contribute two specific claims to the bur...
Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing in Clinical Microbiology

Abstract Identification of causative pathogens in infectious disease is a critical component of health care, as infectious diseases continue to be a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. In addition, the detection of drug resistance by traditional and novel antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods is becoming ever more important as antimicrobial resistance continues to emerge and spread. While culture-based methods are the current reference standard for identifying microbes, the time required to achieve results and the difficulty in culturing certain fastidious organisms have led to the development of multiple alternatives. Alternatives to culture, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays, serologic assays, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), and 16S rRNA gene sequencing have been used in clinical laboratories, and positive impacts on patient care have been documented. Nonetheless, such methods require either presumption about the type of microbes present in the sample or growth of the organism(s) before analysis. Subsequently, there are some documented limitations in the routine detection methods for clinically relevant organisms. In contrast to the routine alternatives listed above, modern nucleic acid sequencing platforms support sequencing of random DNA strands, an approach known as “shotgun” sequencing of the DNA, also known as metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) present in the sample. The mNGS approach offers an unbiased and hypothesis-free approach to pathogen identification with the future potential to (i) achieve results in 12 to 24 hours; (ii) avoid the challenges associated with growth of fastidious organisms; (iii) avoid the biased growth that occurs when only routine culture medium is used; (iv) detect viral, fungal, and parasitic organisms in the same assay; and (v) detect the presence of drug resistance genes. Advances in mNGS technology and data analysis have reduced testing costs to the point where the potential advantages of mNGS over culture and other methods warrant its development for use in clinical settings. In this review, the mNGS approach is discussed, along with a comparison to other methods, limitations, and suggestions for further development and overcoming hurdles to adoption in the clinical setting.
Deep learning applied to polysomnography to predict blood pressure in obstructive sleep apnea and obesity hypoventilation: a proof-of-concept study

Study Objectives:Nocturnal blood pressure (BP) profile shows characteristic abnormalities in OSA, namely acute postapnea BP surges and nondipping BP. These abnormal BP profiles provide prognostic c...
Who Ya Gonna Call? Networks of Rural School Administrators

When they need help or advice, who are rural school administrators going to call? Relationships among rural school administrators develop into networks that can affect the success of administrators and their schools. Understanding the structure and content of these networks provides insights into how resources, innovations, and communication flow both within and between rural district administrators. Based on network theory and analysis, this study examines the structure, content, and strategic implications of the administrative networks within and across six contiguous rural school districts in the Western United States. Network graphs are included, illustrating both individual district and the combined six-district rural administrator networks. While acquaintance ties and active work ties are evident both within and across districts, relationally embedded ties and greater cohesion of ties are more evident within districts than across districts. Analyses include consideration of administrative assignment, gender, and geographical location of the network structures. Strategic implications of the network structures and content are discussed.
Advanced Methods for Determining Prediction Uncertainty in Model-Based Prognostics with Application to Planetary Rovers

Prognostics is centered on predicting the time of and time until adverse events in components, subsystems, and systems. It typically involves both a state estimation phase, in which the current health state of a system is identified, and a prediction phase, in which the state is projected forward in time. Since prognostics is mainly a prediction problem, prognostic approaches cannot avoid uncertainty, which arises due to several sources. Prognostics algorithms must both characterize this uncertainty and incorporate it into the predictions so that informed decisions can be made about the system. In this paper, we describe three methods to solve these problems, including Monte Carlo-, unscented transform-, and first-order reliability-based methods. Using a planetary rover as a case study, we demonstrate and compare the different methods in simulation for battery end-of-discharge prediction.
Corticosteroid Use in Severely Hypoxemic COVID-19 Patients: An Observational Cohort Analysis of Dosing Patterns and Outcomes in the Early Phase of the Pandemic

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION Hypoxemia in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome due to Novel Coronavirus of 2019 (SARS-CoV-2) is mediated by severe inflammation that may be mitigated by corticosteroids. We evaluated pattern and effects of corticosteroid use in these patients during an early surge of the pandemic. METHODS Observational study of 136 SARS-CoV-2 patients admitted to the Intensive care Unit between March 1 and April 27, 2020 at a tertiary care hospital in Indianapolis, USA. Statistical comparison between cohorts and dosing pattern analysis was done. Outcome measures included number of patients requiring intubation, duration of mechanical ventilation, length of ICU stay and inpatient mortality. RESULTS Of 136 patients, 72 (53%) received corticosteroids. Groups demographics: Age (60.5 vs. 65; p .083), sex (47% male vs. 39% female; p .338) and comorbidities were similar. Corticosteroid group had increased severity of illness: PaO2/FiO2 (113 vs. 130; p .014) and SOFA (8 vs. 5.5; p CONCLUSION Corticosteroids were used more frequently in SARS CoV-2 patients with higher severity of illness. Early administration of corticosteroids improved survival in non-mechanically ventilated patients; decreased ICU stay and may have prevented intubation.
Bilirubin inhibits lipid raft dependent functions of L1 cell adhesion molecule in rat pup cerebellar granule neurons.

The mechanism of bilirubin neurotoxicity is poorly understood. We hypothesize that bilirubin inhibits the function of lipid rafts (LR), microdomains of the plasma membrane critical for signal transduction. To test this hypothesis, we measured the effect of free bilirubin (Bf) between 7.6 and 122.5 nM on LR-dependent functions of L1 cell adhesion molecule (L1). Cerebellar granule neurons (CGN) were plated on poly-l-lysine overnight, and neurite length was determined after 1 h treatment with L1 alone or L1 and bilirubin. L1 activation of ERK1/2 was measured in CGN in the presence or absence of bilirubin. The effect of bilirubin on L1 distribution in LR was quantitated, and the localization of bilirubin to LR was determined. The addition of bilirubin to CGN treated with L1 significantly decreased neurite length compared to L1 alone. L1 activation of ERK1/2 was inhibited by bilirubin. Bilirubin redistributed L1 into LR. Bilirubin was associated only with LR-containing fractions of a sucrose density gradient. Bf significantly inhibits LR-dependent functions of L1 and are found only associated with LR, suggesting one mechanism by which bilirubin may exert neurotoxicity is through the dysfunction of protein–LR interactions.
Outcome of Pain Management

Summary The practice of anesthesiology continues to mature as evidenced by the increased involvement of anesthesiologists in the total perioperative care of surgical patients. That care now extends well into the postoperative period with the utilization of new and more powerful techniques for the control of pain. The technique chosen for pain control after operation may have a significant influence on several aspects of recovery. These include postoperative pulmonary function and complications, the neuroendocrine response to surgery and its metabolic consequences, and thromboembolic complications. Other aspects of recovery for which encouraging but less conclusive data are available include postoperative cardiovascular function, gastrointestinal function, and mental status. It seems that the very definition of anesthesia practice is changing. The focus and benefit of our care were previously apparent primarily in the operating room. We now find that directing our efforts towards the period following operation may be of equal, or even greater, benefit to our patients.
Associations of mental health and chronic physical illness during childhood with major depression in later life.

This study examined whether childhood chronic physical illness burden was associated with major depression in later life (>50 years) and whether this relationship was mediated by childhood mental h...
Brain serotonergic neuronal activity in behaving cats

A series of studies was conducted on the electrophysiological activity of brain serotonergic neurons in behaving cats. The studies explored a wide variety of behavioral and physiological conditions. In general, neuronal activity of both rostral (mesencephalic and pontine) and caudal (medullary) groups of serotonergic neurons was strongly related to spontaneous changes in behavioral state (highest in active waking and lowest during REM sleep). Across a wide variety of behavioral and physiological conditions (including stressors), the activity of these neurons was relatively unperturbed. However, one condition, motor activity, strongly affected neuronal activity. A general relationship exists between level of tonic motor activity and serotonergic neuronal activity across all groups of serotonergic neurons. Superimposed upon this in some neurons is an additional relationship in which a further, often dramatic, activation is seen in association with repetitive, central motor program-mediated behaviors (e.g., feeding, licking, respiration, and locomotion). The exact nature of this relationship varies both with the serotonergic neuronal group (e.g., locomotor-related medullary neuronal activity versus grooming-related mesencephalic neuronal activity) and within a particular group (e.g., respiratory-related and feeding-related medullary neuronal activity). We hypothesize that the primary function of this increased serotonergic neuronal activity in association with tonic and repetitive motor activity is to facilitate behavioral output by coordinating autonomic and neuroendocrine function in association with the existing motor demand, and by concomitantly suppressing activity in most sensory information processing channels.
Dimensions of Culture (Shalom H. Schwartz) – Intellectual Autonomy

Described two types of autonomy: affective and intellectual autonomy. Intellectual autonomy refers to the independent pursuit of ideas, intellectual directions, and rights (e.g., creative work and curiosity). Intellectual autonomy also motivates individuals to follow their ideas and paths through values like broadmindedness, creativity, and curiosity. Keywords: cross-cultural psychology; Shalom H. Schwartz
Growable FPGA Macro Generator

Because FPGA designs have routing delays that can be larger than logic-cell delays, it is important to generate optimum designs for different macros. This paper describes an FPGA macro generator for growable macro designs using the IBM FPGA architecture. The IBM Macro Generator (MacGen) automatically creates the optimum designs in terms of higher performance and fewer logic-cell counts. Its output includes physical design layout, CAE front-end models and, for schematic users, macro symbols. An automatic place-and-route tool will implement the macro as generated when it is encountered in a netlist. Currently, 17 different macro types can be generated using MacGen.
Miniature five-hole pressure probe for measurement of three mean velocity components in low-speed flows

A miniature five-hole pressure probe is described which has a probe tip diameter of 1.22 mm. The probe was developed to measure three mean velocity components using a non-nulling procedure at individual locations in a curved channel where differential pressures are low, flow is three-dimensional and laminar, and spatial resolution and flow blockage effects are important considerations. Calibration coefficients are presented for Reynolds numbers based on probe tip diameter ranging from 80 to 400. Coefficients for yaw angle, pitch angle, total pressure and total minus static pressure are independent of Reynolds number within experimental uncertainties. Experimental details unique to the use of the miniature probe are also given along with distributions of mean velocity and mean vorticity over a portion of the 12.7 mm*508.0 mm cross section of a curved channel. At a Dean number of 119 (mean streamwise velocity approximately 1.2 m s-1), structural characteristics of Dean vortices are evident from contours of the streamwise velocity, the total pressure and the streamwise component of mean vorticity determined from secondary flow vectors.
Cigarette smoking during external beam radiation therapy for prostate cancer is associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer-specific mortality and treatment-related toxicity.

Objective To evaluate whether a history of smoking or smoking during therapy after external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for clinically localised prostate cancer is associated with increased treatment-related toxicity or disease progression. Patients and Methods Of 2358 patients receiving EBRT for prostate cancer between 1988 and 2005, 2156 had chart-recorded smoking histories. Patients were classified as ‘never smokers’, ‘current smokers’, ‘former smokers’, and ‘current smoking unknown’. Variables considered included quantity of tobacco use in pack-years, duration of smoking, and, for former smokers, how long before initiation of RT the patient quit smoking, when available. The median EBRT dose was 8100 Gy and the median follow-up was 95 months. Toxicity was graded according to the National Cancer Institute's Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events. Results Current smoking significantly increased the risks of both prostate-specific antigen relapse [hazard ratio (HR) 1.4, P = 0.02] and distant metastases (HR 2.37, P < 0.001), as well as prostate cancer-specific death (HR 2.25, P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that smoking was also associated with increased risk of EBRT-related genitourinary toxicities (current smoker, HR 1.8, P = 0.02; former smoker, HR 1.45, P = 0.01). Smoking did not increase gastrointestinal toxicity. Conclusions Current smokers with prostate cancer are at increased risk of biochemical recurrence, distant metastasis, and prostate cancer-related mortality after definitive RT to the prostate. Current and former smokers, regardless of duration and quantity of exposure, are at an increased risk of long-term genitourinary toxicity after EBRT. Oncologists should encourage patients to participate in smoking-cessation programmes before therapy to potentially lower their risk of relapsing disease and post-treatment toxicities.
A Phase II Study of AT-101 to Overcome Bcl-2–Mediated Resistance to Androgen Deprivation Therapy in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Castration-Sensitive Metastatic Prostate Cancer

Abstract Background We conducted a phase II study in men with castration-sensitive metastatic prostate cancer to test the hypothesis that AT-101, a small molecule Bcl-2 inhibitor, has clinical activity in patients initiating androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for metastatic prostate cancer. Materials and Methods Patients with metastatic prostate cancer scheduled to start, or who had recently (within 6 weeks) initiated, ADT were enrolled. ADT with a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist and bicalutamide was started 6 weeks before initiation of oral AT-101, 20 mg/day for 21 days of a 28-day cycle. The primary endpoint of the study was the percentage of patients with an undetectable prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level (≤ 0.2 ng/mL) after 7.5 months (1.5 months of ADT alone plus 6 months of combined ADT and AT-101). To assess for an association between chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 1 (CHD1) and drug sensitivity, fluorescence in situ hybridization with confocal microscopy was assessed in a subgroup of patients. Results A total of 55 patients were enrolled, with median age of 61 years and a median PSA level of 27.6 ng/dL. Of the 55 patients, 72% had a Gleason score ≥ 8. Three patients had visceral metastases, and the remaining patients had bone or nodal metastasis. An undetectable PSA level was achieved in 31% of the patients. Of the 31 patients, 12 experienced serious adverse events, 7 of which were considered related to study therapy. Most of the related adverse events were gastrointestinal and nervous system disorders. CHD1 assessment was feasible, with a nonsignificant association with therapeutic sensitivity in a small number of patients. Conclusion The combination of ADT and AT-101 did not meet the prespecified level of activity for further development of this combination.
Ca2+ channel blockers distinguish between G protein-coupled pharmacomechanical Ca2+ release and Ca2+ sensitization

The effects of Ca2+ channel blockers on two modes of G protein-mediated pharmacomechanical coupling, Ca2+ release and modulation of Ca2+ sensitivity of the contractile apparatus, were investigated....
Evolutionary Conservation of the Larval Serotonergic Nervous System in a Direct Developing Sea Urchin

Development of the larval serotonergic nervous system is examined by indirect immunofluorescence in two congeneric species of sea urchins that exhibit divergent embryonic and larval development. Heliocidar is tuberculata undergoes indirect planktotrophic development via a pluteus larva, whereas Heliocidaris erythrogramma develops directly, passing through a brief, highly derived lecithotrophic larval stage. We have cleared the opaque embryos of H. erythrogramma and discuss internal features of its development. The serotonergic nervous system of H. tuberculata arises in the apical plate at the end of gastrulation and develops into a bilaterally symmetric ganglion lying between the anterolateral arms in the preoral hood. Putatively homologous neurons appear at the apical end of the modified larva of H. erythrogramma well after the completion of gastrulation, coincident with development of the primary podia of the adult rudiment. The neurons form a bilaterally symmetric ganglion whose orientation relative to the vestibule is conserved with respect to that found in planktotrophic larvae. This allows us to define a left and right side for this larva which lacks external points of asymmetry such as a larval mouth. The alteration in the time of nervous system development in H. erythrogramma relative to that of H. tuberculata, and other indirect developers, implicates heterochronies in cellular differentiation as an important component of the evolution of direct development.
The distribution and targeting of neuronal voltage-gated ion channels

Voltage-gated ion channels have to be at the right place in the right number to endow individual neurons with their specific character. Their biophysical properties together with their spatial distribution define the signalling characteristics of a neuron. Improper channel localization could cause communication defects in a neuronal network. This review covers recent studies of mechanisms for targeting voltage-gated ion channels to axons and dendrites, including trafficking, retention and endocytosis pathways for the preferential localization of particular ion channels. We also discuss how the spatial localization of these channels might contribute to the electrical excitability of neurons, and consider the need for future work in this emerging field.
The Tail Binds To The Head-Neck Domain To Form A Folded-Back Conformation That Inhibits The Actin-Activated ATPase Activity Of Drosophila Myosin VIIA

Myosin VIIA is an unconventional myosin, responsible for human Usher Syndrome type 1B, which causes hearing and visual loss. We have analyzed the molecular mechanism of regulation of myosin VIIA, which is not yet understood. While it was originally thought that myosin VIIA is a dimeric myosin, our electron microscopic (EM) observations revealed that full-length Drosophila myosin VIIA (DM7A) is monomeric. Interestingly, the tail domain markedly inhibits the actin-activated ATPase activity of tail-less DM7A in the absence of Ca2+ but not below pCa 6. By examining various deletion constructs, we found that deletion of the distal IQ domain, the C-terminal domain of the tail, or the N-terminal domain of the tail abolishes the tail-induced inhibition of ATPase activity.EM study of full-length DM7A suggests that the tail domain folds back on to the head, such that the tail and the head/neck domain contact each other. Single particle analysis of full-length DM7A and of tail-less molecules to which exogenous tail has been added reveals that the tail contacts the head/neck domain at two sites, the motor core domain and the neck domain. These observations, together with the functional results, suggest that DM7A is inactivated by forming an inhibited conformation, in which the tail interacts with the motor and lever-arm domains. This is the first report to identify the regulatory mechanism of a single-headed unconventional myosin.
Multiple promoters for transcription of the Escherichia coli DNA topoisomerase I gene and their regulation by DNA supercoiling.

Abstract There are four transcriptional promoters present in the 5′ control region of the Escherichia coli DNA topoisomerase I ( topA ) gene. These were identified with Bal 31 nuclease-generated deletions and mapping of the 5′ ends of the mRNAs with avian reverse transcriptase. Recombinant plasmids with all or some of these promoters fused to the galactokinase ( galK ) gene-coding region have been constructed and used to study transcription from the promoters both in vitro and in vivo . The promoter (P1) closest to the starting ATG codon has a near consensus — 35 sequence (GTTGATA) but unusual — 10 (CATATCG) sequence. The other three promoters (P2, P3 and P4) are clustered together 60 base-pairs further upstream. Negative DNA supercoiling is required for efficient transcription from P1, P1 + P2 + P3 + P4, P2 + P3 + P4, P3 + P4 and P4 alone. The combination of all four promoters demonstrates greater supercoiling deppendence than does any of the other subsets tested.
Production Cost Modeling to Support Product Family Design Optimization

Product family design involves carefully balancing the commonality of the product platform with the distinctiveness of the individual products in the family. While a variety of optimization methods have been developed to help designers determine the best design variable settings for the product platform and individual products within the family, production costs are thought to be an important criterion to choose the best platform among candidate platform designs. Thus, it is prerequisite to have an appropriate production cost model to be able to estimate the production costs incurred by having common and variant components within a product family. In this paper, we propose a production cost model based on a production cost framework associated with the manufacturing activities. The production cost model can be easily integrated within optimization frameworks to support a Decision-Based Design approach for product family design. As an example, the production cost model is utilized to estimate the production costs of a family of cordless power screwdrivers.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Removal of an Intraocular Foreign Body from the Optic Nerve Head

Summary A 29-year-old man sustained a metallic (98% iron) foreign body in the optic nerve head, which resulted in a massive vitreous hemorrhage and a secondary branch retinal artery occlusion. An initial pars plana vitrectomy was successful in removing the vitreous hemorrhage, but numerous attempts with pars plana and intravitreal electromagnets failed to dislodge the foreign body. A second operation using a microscalpel and foreign body forceps with the bimanual pars plana technique was successful in removing the steel foreign body from the optic nerve-head.
Structure and rheology of wormlike micelles

In a semi-dilute aqueous solution under certain conditions, surfactant molecules will self assemble to form wormlike micelles. The micelles are dynamic in structure since they can break and reform, providing an additional mode of relaxation. The viscoelastic properties of the wormlike micelles can be predicted using simple theological models. For many surfactant solutions the mechanical data can be related to the optical data by the stress-optical rule. From the viscoelastic data it is possible to estimate the breaking time of the micelle. The techniques of birefringence and small angle light scattering are used to study the microstructure of a surfactant solution under simple shear and extensional flow. The sample under investigation is a solution of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and sodium salicylate in water, with a salt to surfactant ratio of 7.7. Below a critical shear rate, the birefringence increases linearly with shear rate and the stress-optical rule is valid. The SALS patterns reveal distinctive butterfly patterns indicating that scattering is a result of concentration fluctuations that moderately couple to the flow. However, above a critical shear rate the birefringence plateaus and the stress-optical rule is no longer valid. SALS patterns show both a bright streak and a butterfly pattern. The bright streak is caused by elongated structures aligned in the direction of the flow. The oriented structures occur when the characteristic time of flow is faster than the breaking time of the micelles.
Ion Conductance Microscopy of Nanometer Pores

Scanning ion conductance microscopy was used to interrogate ion currents emanating from nanometer-scale pores of a polymer membrane. Transport activity of individual pores was measured from ion current images and corresponding topographic images recorded simultaneously.
SU-F-18C-02: Evaluations of the Noise Power Spectrum of a CT Iterative Reconstruction Technique for Radiation Therapy

Purpose: To quantitatively assess the noise power spectrum (NPS) of the new, commercially released CT iterative reconstruction technique, iDose4 from Philips, to compare it with filtered back-projection techniques (FBP), and to provide clinical practice suggestions for radiation therapy. Methods: A uniform phantom was CT imaged with 120kVp tube potential over a range of mAs (250-3333). The image sets were reconstructed using two reconstruction algorithms (FBP and iDose4 with noise reduction levels 1, 3, and 6) and three reconstruction filters (standard B, smooth A, and sharp C), after which NPS variations were analyzed and compared on region of interest (ROI) sizes (16×16 to 128×128 pixels), ROI radii (0–65 mm), reconstruction algorithms, reconstruction filters, and mAs. Results: The NPS magnitude and shape depended considerably on ROI size and location for both reconstruction algorithms. Regional noise variance became more stationary as ROI size decreased, minimizing NPS artifacts. The optimal 32×32-pixel ROI size balanced the trade-off between stationary noise and adequate sampling. NPS artifacts were greatest at the center of reconstruction space and decreased with increasing ROI distance from the center. The optimal ROI position was located near the phantom's radial midpoint (∼40mm). For sharper filters, the NPS magnitude and the maximum magnitude frequency increased. Higher dose scans yielded lower NPS magnitudes for both reconstruction algorithms and all filters. Compared to FBP, the iDose4 algorithm reduced the NPS magnitude while preferentially reducing noise at mid-range spatial frequencies, altering noise texture. This reduction was more significant with increasing iDose4 noise reduction level. Conclusion: Compared to pixel standard deviation, NPS has greater clinical potential for task-based image quality assessment, describing both the magnitude and spatial frequency characteristics of image noise. While iDose4 reduces the NPS magnitude more dramatically than FBP, further studies are needed to assess the impacts of noise texture alteration on its clinical usage.
Resolving the regulator's dilemma: international coordination of banking regulations

Since the early 1970s, bankers have developed a host of new financial instruments and practices. These innovations have altered the nature of banking, and this in turn has complicated the task of banking regulation. National regulations have become largely ineffective in monitoring the safety and soundness of global banks. The resulting market changes and the growth of knowledge about the risks facing the international financial system have prompted governments to hold multilateral discussions regarding banking regulation. However, the task of international regulation has been compromised by the desire of states to attract foreign and domestic investment to the financial sector. Since states wish to create or maintain competitive banking institutions, they have often deregulated in order to provide banks with a cost advantage in the international marketplace. This “competitive deregulation” undermines collaborative efforts.Under the leadership of the United States and Great Britain, a multilateral agreement on bank capital standards was reached in December 1987. This agreement suggests that the interplay of market factors, consensual knowledge, and leadership by powerful states can lead to international policy coordination. The article describes the multilateral negotiations that led to this banking accord.
Aggregates and other particles as the origin of the “extraordinary” diffusional phase in polyelectrolyte solutions

The “extraordinary” diffusional phase (EP) at low ionic strength, and the conditions for 1 its removability by filtration were investigated for dilute solutions of the following linear polyelectrolytes: poly(L-lysine), heparin, chondroitin-6-sulfate, hyaluronate, polystyrene sulfonate, and variably ionized polyacrylamide. The EP was not present for all the different types studied, and for heparin, for example, the phase was present only for samples from certain sources. In all cases the phase was removable by filtration through sufficiently small pore-size membranes. Once filtered, the EP remained absent for over one week. It is concluded that the extraordinary diffusional phase consists of fairly stable polyelectrolyte aggregates, and sometimes also includes other very small particulate impurities. These aggregates and other small particles are thought to be present, or at least nascent, in the dry polyelectrolyte material, so that their properties may depend critically on the manner in which such dry material is produced. Tests for “reversibility” of the EP by cycling between high and low Cs by dialysis further confirm these conclusions. The evidence is thus against the EP representing any type of temporal aggregates or local ordering, at least for the linear polyelectrolytes studied in this work Rather, due to the extremely feeble scattering of ordinary polyelectrolytes at low ionic strength, the weak scattering from residual aggregates and other particles, not removed by ordinary filtration and centrifugation procedures, give autocorrelable scattering signals with long decay times. The “loss” of the extraordinary phase as ionic strength increases appears to be due simply to the weak EP scattering signal getting buried in the sharply increasing scattering from the ordinary polyelectrolyte phase. Model calculations based on experimental data support this latter conclusion. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Luteal Function and Embryo Survival in the Bovine

Summary The ability of oxytocin injections to inhibit the development of the corpus luteum in the bovine was utilized to study the relationship between progesterone content of luteal tissue and embryo survival at 15 days after insemination in 70 Holstein heifers. Twenty of 27 untreated heifers (74.1%) had normal embryos and the average total progesterone in their corpora lutea was 270.2 μ g. The corpora lutea of the seven untreated heifers from which embryos were not recovered had an average of 304.1 μ g. of total progesterone. Eighteen of the 43 heifers (41.9%) injected subcutaneously with 7 U.S.P. units of oxytocin per hundred pounds of body weight per day had normal embryos and the average total progesterone content of their corpora lutea was 310.6 μ g. The total progesterone levels in the corpora lutea were not significantly different among these three groups of heifers. Fifteen oxytocin-treated heifers had a precocious ovulation prior to the 15th day and no embryos were recovered from this group; their corpora lutea contained only an average of 45.8 μ g. of total progesterone (P μ g.) than the treated heifers having embryos. The level of Δ 4 -pregnene-20- β -ol-3-one was significantly (P The data suggest that a threshold level of progesterone production represented by a luteal progesterone level of the order of 100 μ g. is necessary for embryo survival at the 15th day. The four of 15 oxytocin-treated heifers that ovulated precociously without showing signs of estrus had little or no measurable progesterone in their corpora lutea.
The rise of contested politics in central Asia: Elections in Kyrgyzstan, 1989–90

(1995). The rise of contested politics in central Asia: Elections in Kyrgyzstan, 1989–90. Europe-Asia Studies: Vol. 47, No. 5, pp. 813-833.
Proteinase-inhibitor activity and wound-inducible gene expression of the 22-kDa potato-tuber proteins.

Using a proteinase-inhibition assay, we have demonstrated that the 22-kilodalton (kDa) potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tuber proteins are strong inhibitors of serine proteinases. Two out of three purified proteins from the 22-kDa family of potato-tuber proteins were effective inhibitors of both trypsin and chymotrypsin, while the third, with a molecular mass (Mr) of approx. 24 kDa, inhibited only trypsin activity. Comparison of the amino-acid sequence of the putative reactive sites of several proteinase inhibitors with the deduced sequence of the 22-kDa protein showed that the 22-kDa protein contained sequences potentially possessing “doubleheaded” sites of inhibition, one against trypsin and another against chymotrypsin. The genes coding for the 22-kDa proteins were developmentally regulated in tubers and environmentally regulated in leaves. Wound induction of the genes coding for the 22-kDa potatotuber proteins was detected at the RNA level. In leaves, transcripts of the 22-kDa protein family were detected 6 h after wounding and were highest after 12 h in locally wounded leaves. The strongest induction occurred systemically in response to mechanical wounding in non-wounded leaves. Cross-hybridization of a cDNA, p34021, which codes for the 22-kDa tuber protein, with both proteinase-inhibitor I and II cDNAs and with a second family of 20-kDa potato-tuber cDNAs showed no cross-homology. Members of this second group of 20-kDa potato-tuber proteins also exhibited wound-induction in leaves at the RNA level.
Short-Circuit Compiler Transformation: Optimizing Conditional Blocks

We present the short-circuit code transformation technique, intended for embedded compilers. The transformation technique optimizes conditional blocks in high-level programs. Specifically, the transformation takes advantage of the fact that the Boolean value of the conditional expression, determining the true/false paths, can be statically analyzed to determine cases when one or the other of the true/false paths are guaranteed to execute. In such cases, code is generated to bypass the evaluation of the conditional expression. In instances when the bypass code is faster to evaluate than the conditional expression, a net performance gain is obtained. Our experiments with the Mediabench applications show that the short-circuit transformation yields a an average of 35.1% improvement in execution time for SPARC and an average of 36.3% improvement in execution time for ARM. We also measured an average of 36.4% reduction in power consumption for ARM.
Truth, American Culture, and Fuzzy Logic

This paper examines the history, relationships, and influences that act between concepts of truth, American culture, and fuzzy logic. We see that postmodernism is largely a reaction against the Western overemphasis on crisp mathematics. This overemphasis started with ancient Greece, but became solidified in Western culture with the Renaissance. At first glance, fuzzy logic seems to tie in nicely with postmodernism. But a closer look reveals that fuzzy logic is actually more similar to modernism, because it is based on rigorous mathematics. However, fuzzy logic does make some concessions to postmodernism by acknowledging the possibility of ambiguity, at least to some extent. Fuzzy logic therefore provides a balance in the cultural war between modernism and postmodernism. In order for fuzzy logic to take advantage of this unique position, the fuzzy logic community needs to pursue three objectives: (1) it must acknowledge its own limitations and avoid overselling itself; (2) it must develop a wider perspective on its role in modern-day culture; and (3) it must be more proactive in defining its role.