cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Isolated ocular disease is associated with decreased mucolipin-1 channel conductance

PURPOSE. To evaluate a 15-year-old boy with MLIV (mucolipidosis type IV) and clinical abnormalities restricted to the eye who also had achlorhydria with elevated blood gastrin levels. METHODS. In addition to a detailed neuro-ophthalmic and electrophysiological assessment, his mutant mucolipin-1 was experimentally expressed in liposomes and its channel properties studied in vitro. RESULTS. The patient was a compound heterzygote for c.920delT and c.1615delG. Detailed neuro-ophthalmic examination including electroretinography showed him to have a typical retinal dystrophy predominantly affecting rod and bipolar cell function. In vitro expression of MCOLN1 in liposomes showed that the c.1615delG mutated channel had significantly reduced conductance compared with wild-type mucolipin-1, whereas the inhibitory effect of low pH and amiloride remained intact. CONCLUSIONS. These findings suggest that reduced channel conductance is relatively well tolerated by the brain during development, whereas retinal cells and stomach parietal cells require normal protein function. MLIV should be considered in patients with retinal dystrophy of unknown cause and screened for using blood gastrin levels. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2008;49:3134‐3142) DOI:10.1167/iovs.07-1649
Breeding System of Ruellia succulenta Small (Acanthaceae)

This study examines the breeding system of Ruellia succulenta (Acanthaceae), an herbaceous perennial found in the pine rockland habitat of southern Florida. Hand pollination treatments were performed on 75 plants, 25 from each of three sites. Treatments applied to test plants included: 1) control (no manipulation), 2) anthers-removed, 3) self-pollinated, and 4) cross-pollinated. The pollination protocol investigated facultative autogamy, apomixis, and self-compatibility. Fruit set and seed number per fruit were recorded. In addition to determining breeding system, the data were used to evaluate inbreeding depression at the earliest life history stages (i.e., fruit and seed set), and to identify the mechanism of self-pollination. Results showed R. succulenta to be fully self-compatible and facultatively autogamous. Plants were unable to set fruit without pollen deposition, indicating the lack of apomixis. There is no evidence of inbreeding depression in fruit set or seed set for the self- vs. cross-pollinated treatments. The mechanism of autofertility appeared to be delayed self-pollination as the corolla abscised and the anthers were dragged past the persistent stigma.
Manganese neurotoxicity: Connecting the dots along the continuum of dysfunction☆

Three different manifestations of manganese neurotoxicity have been described. The first, and historically most prominent, is often termed manganism: a dramatic extrapyramidal syndrome following acute, overwhelming exposure. While resembling Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease (IPD), most authorities have regarded the two conditions as clinically and pathophysiologically distinct. The second manifestation, reported by several investigators starting in the 1980s, consisted of subclinical and subfunctional declines in the performance of specialized neuropsychological tests. The implication of these cross-sectional findings was that, when superimposed upon age-related attritional effects, increased rates of clinical disease could result. In this decade, it has been proposed that manganese exposure may play a role in the development of IPD itself. Investigating the relationship between these three manifestations should be a priority for future research.
Sliding mode control design for hysteretic ferroelectric materials

Ferroelectric materials are attractive for use in a wide range of applications due to their unique transduction capabilities. However, taking full advantage of these capabilities requires a control design which accounts for the materials' inherent hysteretic behavior. A common approach is to partially cancel the hysteretic effects in the system by employing an approximate inversion algorithm in the control input, resulting in an almost linear system. Using a recently developed modification to the homogenized energy model for ferroelectric materials, we combine this method with a sliding mode control design to track a reference trajectory even in the presence of modeling and inversion errors. Numerical simulations illustrate the effectiveness of the design.
Detecting financially troubled property-liability insurers

Abstract The financial failure of property-liability insurers results in unpaid claims amounting to approximately $25 millions annually. A more effective system must be developed to detect these troubled firms at an earlier date and reduce this cost to society. The current system employed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners relies primarily on loss reserves and loss ratios. It appears that most failures result from dishonesty and the removal of assets from the company into the possession of management. This study presents a model which incorporates variables designed to detect this draining of assets and identify companies which show a high probability for failure. This model is tested on an independent sample and is successful in correctly classifying 88% of the firms three years prior to liquidation. This study differs from prior studies by using a new approach to selecting the variables for the model.
Genetic characterization of dipeptidase activity modifiers inDrosophila melanogaster from natural populations

An examination ofDrosophila melanogaster from natural populations revealed genetic variation for dipeptidase-A (DIP-A) and dipeptidase-B (DIP-B) activities within sets of lines that differed from one another only in the second or the third chromosome. Analyses of diallel crosses indicate that both activities are inherited additively, and coordinate control of expression is suggested by the significant positive correlation between the two activities. Electrophoresis and thermal denaturation studies failed to detect structural differences among lines with different levels of DIP-A activity. No characteristic level of activity could be associated with any DIP-A allozyme. Mapping experiments revealed the presence of activity modifiers that are in tight linkage with the structural gene, as well as those that manifest their effects from a distance. The maximum genetic distance between a high-activity effect on DIP-A and the structural gene was determined to be 0.029 map unit. These results are in accordance with the prevalence of activity modifiers for various enzymes inDrosophila melanogaster.
Can unstructured P2P protocols survive flash crowds

Today's Internet periodically suffers from hot spots, a.k.a., flash crowds. A hot spot is typically triggered by an unanticipated news event that triggers an unanticipated surge of users that request data objects from a particular site, temporarily overwhelming the site's delivery capabilities. During this time, the large majority of users that attempt to get these objects face the frustrating experience of not being able to retrieve the content they want while still being able to communicate effectively with all other parts of the network. In this paper, we examine whether simple, undirected peer-to-peer search protocols can be used as a backup to deliver content whose popularity suddenly spikes. We model a simple, representative, undirected peer-to-peer search protocol in which clients cache only those objects they have explicitly requested. Because the object that becomes hot initially has limited popularity, the number of cache points, were they to remain fixed, would be insufficient to handle the level of demand during the flash crowd. However, as searches complete, more copies of the object become available. We analyze this natural scaling phenomenon and show that during the flash crowd, copies are distributed to requesting clients at a fast enough rate such that these simple protocols can indeed be used to scalably retrieve content that suddenly becomes "hot".
Effect of estrogen on gene expression in the chick oviduct. III. Hybridization studies with [3H] messenger RNA and [3H] complementary DNA under conditions of DNA excess

A kinetic analysis of the hybridization of a pulse-labeled polysomal mRNA fraction and a 3H-complementary DNA copy of ovalbumin mRNA with an excess of chick DNA is described. The 8–18S RNA fraction has previously been characterized (Means et al., 1972) and has been translated in a cell-free system into immunologically-identifiable ovalbumin. The majority of the polysomal mRNA fraction formed hybrids at Cot values greater than 100. This suggests that these molecules were transcribed from unique sequence DNA and are coded for by a limited number of gene copies. The pulse-labeled mRNA fraction was also incubated with an excess of fractionated chick unique sequence DNA. The extent of hybridization with both the isolated unique sequences and total chick DNA was quite similar at a Cot value of 10,000. The mean thermal stability of these hybrids also indicates little base mismatching, as would be expected for unique sequence hybrids. Purification of a specific mRNA coding for ovalbumin from a hen magnum total nucleic acid extract was accomplished by a combination of Millipore filtration and sucrose gradient centrifugation. The resulting mRNA fraction had approximately 110 times more ovalbumin mRNA activity than the initial nucleic acid preparation in the heterologous rabbit reticulocyte cell-free translation system, and a corresponding 56-fold increase in poly A content. A [3H] DNA copy of the enriched mRNA fraction was synthesized using a partially purified RNA-directed DNA polymerase isolated from avian myeloblastosis virus. Approximately 70% of the [3H] DNA copy reannealed to chick DNA under conditions of vast DNA excess with an apparent Cot12 of 480, characteristic of chick unique sequence DNA. Therefore, our data suggest that ovalbumin mRNA may be coded by as few as a single gene copy.
Electrocardiographic cancellation: some observations concerning the nondipolar fraction of precordial electrocardiograms.

Abstract Nondipolar (local influence) components of the electrocardiographic generator were investigated by comparing leads derived from the apical portion of the precordium with Lead aV R . An advanced type of four-electrode cancellation technique was employed for this purpose. The data were interpreted on the basis of an ancillary study of cancellation in electrocardiographic models, in which deviations from simple dipolar behavior were represented as translocation of the equivalent cardiac dipole during depolarization. Both studies appeared to confirm predictions based on the null-lead theory of cancellation that (1) the inherent properties of cancellation networks render them relatively insensitive to the electromotive forces of the heart, and (2) there is prior assurance of complete cancellation at numerous pairs of instants during depolarization. The location of the equivalent cardiac dipole is not necessarily identical at each instant of complete cancellation. On the contrary, progressive translocation of the dipole is likely to have occurred between two such instants. The 2-channel registration technique employed in this study revealed definite electrocardiographic nondipolarities over the apical precordium, the clinical significance of which requires further clarification. Unfortunately, it appears that the cancellation technique, at least in its present form, will provide relatively little detailed information about deviation of cardiac behavior from the simple fixed-location dipolar schema.
Spatial arrangement of homologous chromosomes during anaphase in early embryos of Drosophila melanogaster studied by three-dimensional fluorescence microscopy

Using a computer-controlled fluorescence microscope system, spatial arrangement of homologous chromosomes was analyzed in fixed and living embryos of Drosophila melanogaster at the syncytial blastoderm stage. In fixed embryos, chromosomes were stained with a DNA-specific fluorescent dye, 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole; the arrangement of anaphase chromosomes was determined with their identification by high-resolution analysis. In living embryos, the behavior of chromosomes during anaphase was examined by the use of a strain carrying a long translocated chromosome as a cytological marker to identify the chromosome while the chromosomes were stained by microinjection of rhodamine-conjugated histones into the embryos. Chromosome arrangement was also examined in nuclei that had swollen artificially under anoxic conditions for better spatial separation of individual chromosomes in such nuclei. All these experiments consistently showed that homologous chromosomes were not associated with each other in syncytial blastoderm embryos of Drosophila melanogaster. Our studies also demonstrated that cytological tools greatly facilitate the dissection of nuclear structures when used in combination with imaging technology.
CAP interacts with cytoskeletal proteins and regulates adhesion-mediated ERK activation and motility

CAP/Ponsin belongs to the SoHo family of adaptor molecules that includes ArgBP2 and Vinexin. These proteins possess an N-terminal sorbin homology (SoHo) domain and three C-terminal SH3 domains that bind to diverse signaling molecules involved in a variety of cellular processes. Here, we show that CAP binds to the cytoskeletal proteins paxillin and vinculin. CAP localizes to cell–extracellular matrix (ECM) adhesion sites, and this process requires binding to vinculin. Overexpression of CAP induces the aggregation of paxillin, vinculin and actin at cell–ECM adhesion sites. Moreover, CAP inhibits adhesion-dependent processes such as cell spreading and focal adhesion turnover, whereas a CAP mutant that is unable to localize to cell–ECM adhesion sites is incapable of exerting these effects. Finally, depletion of CAP by siRNA-mediated knockdown leads to enhanced cell spreading, migration and the activation of the PAK/MEK/ERK pathway in REF52 cells. Taken together, these results indicate that CAP is a cytoskeletal adaptor protein involved in modulating adhesion-mediated signaling events that lead to cell migration.
Experimental comparisons in the electrical performance of long and ultrashort gate length GaAs MESFET's

Electrical properties of GaAs single-gate and dual-gate MESFET's with gate lengths of 1.2 µm and 0.2 µm have been compared. By reducing the gate length to 0.2 µm, a very high zero-gate-bias drain current I dss and a large increase in the pinchoff voltage were observed in both single-gate and dual-gate devices, I dss in the shorter gate FET was found to be very close to the full channel current. Only a slight improvement in the maximum intrinsic g m was noted in the 0.2 µm FET's. The knee voltage for the zero-gate-bias curve was larger in the shorter gate FET. At low current levels, soft pinchoff and soft saturation behaviors were observed in the very short gate FET's. A striking feature of the GaAs MESFET is that its output conductance at large drain voltages does not degrade with shorter gate lengths.
Prediction and comparison of outcome in systematic desensitization and implosion.

Abstract Thirty-nine first-year theology students displaying marked public speaking anxiety were randomly assigned to three groups: systematic desensitization therapy, implosive therapy and control. Subjects in the two treatment groups received five 1-hr treatment sessions, all treatment being pre-recorded on audio tape and administered by technicians. Subjective units of disturbance (SUD) scores and number of hierarchy items completed with low levels of anxiety were used as predictors of extra-therapy behavior. The predictors were only moderately successful. Both at post-therapy and at 1-month follow-up subjects receiving desensitization and implosion showed greater anxiety reduction and behavioral changes than did the control subjects. There were no consistent differences in the effectiveness of desensitization and implosion.
Phosphorus Sorption, Desorption, and Buffering Capacity in a Biosolids-Amended Mollisol

To investigate the impact of biosolids amendments to soil on the sorption, desorption, and buffering capacity of P, laboratory experiments were conducted on soil samples collected from a field study on a Mollisol amended with three levels of biosolids. The potential for sorption of additional P and the binding intensity of P were evaluated by applying the two-surface Langmuir model to sorption isotherms. Over the range of equilibrium P concentrations in this study, the ability of the soil to sorb added P decreased due to biosolids amendment. Addition of biosolids to the soil also decreased indices of the P-binding intensity at both the high- and low-affinity sites. The P equilibrium buffering capacity (PEBC) significantly decreased and the equilibrium P concentration (EPC) significantly increased after biosolids amendment. P desorption from soil samples with and without biosolids amendment was investigated for different equilibration periods and at various liquid/solid ratios. The amount of P that could be desorbed from the soil significantly increased after biosolids amendment. The effects of biosolids amendments on indices of soil P sorption-desorption phenomena (binding energy, PEBC, and EPC) imply a large increase in the P concentration of the soil solution. The increase of soluble forms of P in soil solution of this soil, which was heavily amended with biosolids, could enhance the loss of P in runoff and P movement below the root zone.
Spatial variations in broadband and air passenger service provision in the United States

With the resurgence of regions as key nodes in the global economy, there is a growing interest in better defining their competitive advantages, particularly those accrued through infrastructure provision. Two important components of this competitive landscape are information and communication technologies (ICTs) and commercial air passenger service. While the development of these two networks is frequently cited as being a critical factor in regional economic competitiveness, few empirical studies address the statistical relationship(s) between these infrastructures or the complexities associated with their spatial distribution. The purpose of this paper is to determine if an association exists between the provision of broadband telecommunication service and air passenger service in the United States. In addition, basic spatial statistical approaches are utilized to identify a suite of important social and economic determinants that play a central role in spurring infrastructure provision.
Health effects of low-level radiation

The author reviews the bases for setting and the adequacy of radiation protection standards. (PSB)
Energy-dependent uptake of benzomorphans by leukocytes

Abstract Pentazocine rapidly enters the brain after i.p. administration to rats. Using leukocytes as model mammalian cells, the uptake of this drug was studied. Morphologically intact and metabolically active rat leukocytes accumulated pentazocine in vitro against a concentration gradient. The 6- to 10-fold concentration of the drug was dependent upon the presence of glucose in the incubation medium and was strongly affected by metabolic inhibitors present in millimolar concentrations. The uptake showed saturation kinetics in the concentration range of 1.7−14 × 10 −5 M pentazocine and was competitively inhibited by analogue benzomorphan derivatives. Ouabain as well as sodium-free extracellular media had no effect on the uptake of pentazocine. The transport system for pentazocine in the leukocyte apparently differs from the relatively nonspecific amine pump which accumulates various organic bases in the blood platelet.
Gene and antigen markers of shiga-toxin producing E. coli from Michigan and Indiana river water: occurrence and relation to recreational water quality criteria.

The relation of bacterial pathogen occurrence to fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) concentrations used for recreational water quality criteria (RWQC) is poorly understood. This study determined the occurrence of Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) markers and their relation to FIB concentrations in Michigan and Indiana river water. Using 67 fecal coliform (FC) bacteria cultures from 41 river sites in multiple watersheds, we evaluated the occurrence of five STEC markers: the Escherichia coli (EC) 0157 antigen and gene, and the STEC virulence genes eaeA, stx1, and stx2. Simple isolations from selected FC cultures yielded viable EC 0157. By both antigen and gene assays, EC 0157 was detected in a greater proportion of samples exceeding rather than meeting FC RWQC (P < 0.05), but was unrelated to EC and enterococci RWQC. The occurrence of all other STEC markers was unrelated to any FIB RWQC. The eaeA, stx2, and stx1 genes were found in 93.3, 13.3, and in 46.7% of samples meeting FC RWQC and in 91.7, 0.0, and 37.5% of samples meeting the EC RWQC. Although not statistically significant, the percentage of samples positive for each STEC marker except stx1 was lower in samples that met, as opposed to exceeded, FIB RWQC. Viable STEC were common members of the FC communities in river water throughout southern Michigan and northern Indiana, regardless of FIB RWQC. Our study indicates that further information on the occurrence of pathogens in recreational waters, and research on alternative indicators of their occurrence, may help inform water-resource management and public health decision-making.
The reaction of CpRu(PPh3)2+ with trimethylenesulfide. Synthesis and molecular and crystal structure of [CpRu(PPh3)2(SC3H6)]CF3SO3

The isolation and characterization of the trimethylenesulfide-coordinated complex, [CpRu(PPh3)2(SC3H6)]CF3SO3, is reported. The structure of [CpRu(PPh3)2(SC3H6)]CF3SO3 was determined by X-ray diffraction techniques: monoclinic space group I2/a, a=23.864(10), b=14.233(3), c=24.385(7) A, β=97.10(3)°, Z=8, R=0.046, Rw=0.065. The Ru is attached to two triphenylphosphine ligands, a cyclopentadienyl and the trimethylenesulfide. The Ru-S distance is 2.3459(20) A.
Nanomechanical model of microtubule translocation in the presence of electric fields.

Research efforts in recent years have been directed toward actively controlling the direction of translocation of microtubules on a kinesin-coated glass surface with E-fields (electric fields), opening up the possibility of engineering controllable nanodevices that integrate microtubules and motor proteins into their function. Here, we present a detailed, biophysical model that quantitatively describes our observations on the steering of microtubules by electric fields. A sudden application of an electric field parallel to the surface and normal to the translocation direction of a microtubule bends the leading end toward the anode, because Coulombic (electrophoretic) forces are dominant on negatively charged microtubules. Modeling this bending as a cantilever deflection with uniform loading requires accurate mechanical and electrical properties of microtubules, including their charge density, viscous drag, and flexural rigidity. We determined the charge density of microtubules from measurements of the electrophoretic mobility in a “zero flow” capillary electrophoresis column and estimate it to be 256 e− per micron of length. Viscous drag forces on deflecting microtubules in electroosmotic flows were studied theoretically and experimentally by directly characterizing flows using a caged dye imaging method. The flexural rigidity of microtubules was measured by applying E-fields to microtubules with biotinylated segments that were bound to streptavidin-coated surfaces. From the calculated loading, and the Bernoulli-Euler curvature and moment equation, we find that the flexural rigidity of microtubules depends on their length, suggesting microtubules are anisotropic. Finally, our model accurately predicts the biophysical properties and behavior of microtubules directed by E-fields, which opens new avenues for the design of biomolecular nanotransport systems.
Black holes and structure in an oscillating universe

IF black holes exist in the contracting phase of a closed universe, they will give rise to a pressure and entropy catastrophe. First, the black holes absorb all the radiation; then their apparent horizons merge, and coalesce with the cosmological apparent horizon. All external observers become internal observers. It is possible that the internal metric of some of the merging black holes will be contracting, and others expanding. I suggest here that the resulting violent inhomogeneities can lead to a reexpansion in a significant portion of the universe. Global reexpansion, prompted by the merging of black holes, may thus begin in a semi-classical rather than fully quantum gravitational era, at densities greater than those at which nucleosynthesis occurs. Surviving black holes and inhomogeneities could initiate the formation of structures such as galaxies in the 'new' universe. The behaviour of such an oscillating universe would differ in detail from cycle to cycle.
Unintentional suffocation by rebreathing: a death scene and physiologic investigation of a possible cause of sudden infant death

As part of a 4-year study of sudden unexpected infant deaths in St. Louis, we performed both a specialized death scene investigation and, in selected cases, a physiologic reconstruction of the death scene with a rabbit model. Those cases in which the infant was found face down with nose and mouth covered by bedding were chosen for the physiologic testing; our goal was to assess the potential for lethal rebreathing of expired air. The physiologic studies reconstructed the infants' premortem ventilatory environment by using the head from an infant mannequin positioned on the actual bedding on which an infant had died and a rabbit breathing through the mannequin's nares. The specialized scene investigation was carried out in 31 of 32 deaths from sudden infant death syndrome, diagnosed by the usual methods. Of 31 infants, eight died with their faces downward and covered by bedding, and the bedding was obtained for further study in seven of eight cases. The bedding had low resistance to airflow (6.25 to 22.6 cm H 2 O/L per second), and caused considerable rebreathing that was lethal to the rabbits in five of seven cases. We conclude that items of bedding in common use are capable of causing lethal rebreathing by prone-sleeping infants whose nose and mouth become covered; suffocation by rebreathing was the probable mechanism of death in a substantial number of these deaths that had been attributed to sudden infant death syndrome.
EVALUATING TEACHING: LISTENING TO STUDENTS WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING BIAS

Despite questions about their reliability and validity, student evaluations of teaching (SETs) are a primary measure of instructor performance. The current study examines SETs, including a thorough list of potentially relevant variables. The findings suggest that how much students perceive they learned in a course is an important predictor of SET scores. Further, a number of variables outside of the instructor's control appear to introduce bias into SETs. Nonetheless, social work norms imply the necessity of seeking input from students. Suggestions are given for possible methods of dealing with this dilemma, and for needed future research.
Group work with women who were molested as children

Abstract Many adult women seeking therapy were sexually abused as children. This article presents a model for group treatment with this population.
Unique de novo presentation of blunt liver trauma: Multiple small intra-hepatic arterioportal fistulas

Abstract Post-traumatic arterioportal fistulas are usually large and single to few in number. Mechanism of arterioportal shunt in traumatic settings is primarily due to direct hepatic artery to portal vein communication. A unique case of multiple and small arterioportal fistulas related to blunt abdominal trauma without capsular or biliary radical involvement is presented. The mechanism of this finding is probably due to microscopic mechanical disruption of the liver parenchyma. Shunting was successfully treated with selective gelfoam embolization of the hepatic artery branch. Post-traumatic arterioportal fistulas could be the only manifestation to blunt liver trauma representing an early stage of liver trauma ahead of CT-based Injury Severity of Blunt Hepatic Trauma stages. Minimal intervention has a role in safely managing this condition and averting long-term sequelae.
Estimating Individual Feed Intake of Group-Fed Steers by Modified Weighing Design

An experimental design for estimation of feed intake of individual animals fed in pairs or groups is discussed. Procedures are given to compute 95% confidence intervals of estimates. The accuracy a researcher needs for experimentation will suggest whether he can successfully utilize this procedure for estimation of feed intake of individual animals. Disadvantages of the design appear to be related to numbers of replicates required when large numbers of animals are involved.
Contiguity And Conditioned Reinforcement In Probabilistic Choice.

In a baseline condition, pigeons chose between an alternative that always provided food following a 30-s delay (100% reinforcement) and an alternative that provided food half of the time and blackout half of the time following 30-s delays (50% reinforcement). The different outcomes were signaled by different-colored keylights. On average, each alternative was chosen approximately equally often, replicating the finding of suboptimal choice in probabilistic reinforcement procedures. The efficacy of the delay stimuli (keylights) as conditioned reinforcers was assessed in other conditions by interposing a 5-s gap (keylights darkened) between the choice response and one or more of the delay stimuli. The strength of conditioned reinforcement was measured by the decrease in choice of an alternative when the alternative contained a gap. Preference for the 50% alternative decreased in conditions in which the gap preceded either all delay stimuli, both delay stimuli for the 50% alternative, or the food stimulus for the 50% alternative, but preference was not consistently affected in conditions in which the gap preceded only the 100% delay stimulus or the blackout stimulus for the 50% alternative. These results support the notion that conditioned reinforcement underlies the finding of suboptimal preference in probabilistic reinforcement procedures, and that the signal for food on the 50% reinforcement alternative functions as a stronger conditioned reinforcer than the signal for food on the 100% reinforcement alternative. In addition, the results fail to provide evi
An ensemble model of competitive multi-factor binding of the genome

Hundreds of different factors adorn the eukaryotic genome, binding to it in large number. These DNA binding factors (DBFs) include nucleosomes, transcription factors (TFs), and other proteins and protein complexes, such as the origin recognition complex (ORC). DBFs compete with one another for binding along the genome, yet many current models of genome binding do not consider different types of DBFs together simultaneously. Additionally, binding is a stochastic process that results in a continuum of binding probabilities at any position along the genome, but many current models tend to consider positions as being either binding sites or not. Here, we present a model that allows a multitude of DBFs, each at different concentrations, to compete with one another for binding sites along the genome. The result is an "occupancy profile," a probabilistic description of the DNA occupancy of each factor at each position. We implement our model efficiently as the software package COMPETE. We demonstrate genome-wide and at specific loci how modeling nucleosome binding alters TF binding, and vice versa, and illustrate how factor concentration influences binding occupancy. Binding cooperativity between nearby TFs arises implicitly via mutual competition with nucleosomes. Our method applies not only to TFs, but also recapitulates known occupancy profiles of a well-studied replication origin with and without ORC binding. Importantly, the sequence preferences our model takes as input are derived from in vitro experiments. This ensures that the calculated occupancy profiles are the result of the forces of competition represented explicitly in our model and the inherent sequence affinities of the constituent DBFs.
Prognostication of latent damage and residual life in leadfree electronics subjected to multiple thermal-environments

Electronic assemblies deployed in harsh environments may be subjected to multiple thermal environments during the use-life of the equipment. Often the equipment may not have any macro-indicators of damage such as cracks or delamination. Quantification of thermal environments during use-life is often not feasible because of the data-capture and storage requirements, and the overhead on core-system functionality. There is need for tools and techniques to quantify damage in deployed systems in absence of macro-indicators of damage without knowledge of prior stress history. The presented PHM framework is targeted towards high reliability applications such as avionic and space systems. In this paper, Sn3.0Ag0.5Cu alloy packages have been subjected to multiple thermal cycling environments including −55 to 125C and 0 to 100C. Assemblies investigated include area-array packages soldered on FR4 printed circuit cards. The methodology involves the use of condition monitoring devices, for gathering data on damage pre-cursors at periodic intervals. Damage-state interrogation technique has been developed based on the Levenberg-Marquardt Algorithm in conjunction with the microstructural damage evolution proxies. The presented technique is applicable to electronic assemblies which have been deployed on one thermal environment, then withdrawn from service and targeted for redeployment in a different thermal environment. Test cases have been presented to demonstrate the viability of the technique for assessment of prior damage, operational readiness and residual life for assemblies exposed to multiple thermo-mechanical environments. Prognosticated prior damage and the residual life show good correlation with experimental data, demonstrating the validity of the presented technique for multiple thermo-mechanical environments.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Neuropeptide Y Levels in Major Depression and Reported Childhood Trauma

Background: Neuropeptide Y (NPY) may enhance resilience to chronic stress. Low brain NPY reported in major depression may normalize in response to antidepressants. Methods: In this study, we examined the relationship of reported childhood trauma to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) NPY–like immunoreactivity (NPY-LI) in 61 medication-free major depressive disorder (MDD) patients and 20 matched healthy volunteers. Results: Higher CSF NPY-LI was found in MDD compared to the healthy volunteer group ( p = 0.01). A positive correlation of CSF NPY-LI with more adverse childhood trauma ( p = 0.001) may be indicative of an intact but insufficient NPY-related stress response. Conclusions: We hypothesize that differences in published results may be explained by the existence of two groups of MDD in terms of CSF NPY levels: MDD with low CSF NPY prior to stress or in response to stress, and those with robust NPY responses to stress. Future studies should confirm the two groups and seek the molecular mechanism for their differences.
Characterization of magnetic stability in spin valve test devices

In a simple spin valve device, electrical current parallel to the layers generates magnetic fields in opposite directions in the free and reference (or pinned) layers. We exploit this to distinguish between the free layer and the pinned layer as the location of common two-state magnetic instabilities. In addition, we demonstrate a method for determining both the direction and magnitude of the difference in magnetization between the two states by varying applied field direction.
Don’t Tread on Me: Masculine Honor Ideology in the U.S. and Militant Responses to Terrorism

Using both college students and a national sample of adults, the authors report evidence linking the ideology of masculine honor in the U.S. with militant responses to terrorism. In Study 1, individuals’ honor ideology endorsement predicted, among other outcomes, open-ended hostile responses to a fictitious attack on the Statue of Liberty and support for the use of extreme counterterrorism measures (e.g., severe interrogations), controlling for right-wing authoritarianism, social dominance orientation, and other covariates. In Study 2, the authors used a regional classification to distinguish honor state respondents from nonhonor state respondents, as has traditionally been done in the literature, and showed that students attending a southwestern university desired the death of the terrorists responsible for 9/11 more than did their northern counterparts. These studies are the first to show that masculine honor ideology in the U.S. has implications for the intergroup phenomenon of people’s responses to te...
Dimerization and Ubiquitin Mediated Recruitment of A20, a Complex Deubiquitinating Enzyme

Summary A20 is an anti-inflammatory protein linked to multiple human autoimmune diseases and lymphomas. A20 possesses a deubiquitinating motif and a zinc finger, ZF4, that binds ubiquitin and supports its E3 ubiquitin ligase activity. To understand how these activities mediate A20's physiological functions, we generated two lines of gene-targeted mice, abrogating either A20's deubiquitinating activity ( Tnfaip3 OTU mice) or A20's ZF4 ( Tnfaip3 ZF4 mice). Both Tnfaip3 OTU and Tnfaip3 ZF4 mice exhibited increased responses to TNF and sensitivity to colitis. A20's C103 deubiquitinating motif restricted both K48- and K63-linked ubiquitination of receptor interacting protein 1 (RIP1). A20's ZF4 was required for recruiting A20 to ubiquitinated RIP1. A20 OTU proteins and A20 ZF4 proteins complemented each other to regulate RIP1 ubiquitination and NFκB signaling normally in compound mutant Tnfaip3 OTU/ZF4 cells. This complementation involved homodimerization of A20 proteins, and we have defined an extensive dimerization interface in A20. These studies reveal how A20 proteins collaborate to restrict TNF signaling.
Their Words, Actions, and Meaning: A Researcher's Reflection on Rwandan Women's Experience of Genocide

In this reflective account of a researcher's experience in Rwanda, the author examines how being at the place where violence occurred revealed how Rwandan women construct and name their reality in ...
Achieving high pressure shock Hugoniot measurements in cylindrical geometry utilizing a high-explosive pulsed power drive

ALT-3 (Advanced Liner Technology) is a collaboration between VNIIEF and LANL that aims to conduct high velocity material experiments and measure shock velocities at pressures near 1 TPa. The DEMG (Disk Explosive Magnetic Generator) is used to drive a >60MA current that accelerates an aluminum liner to speeds in excess of 20 km/s. A simple circuit model is presented that models the DEMG to reasonable accuracy and is then coupled with 1-D magnetohydrodynamic simulations of both the liner and target. 2-D hydrodynamic simulations of the target are also presented along with implications for measurement accuracy and expected results.
Patent ductus arteriosus in elderly patients: clinical and echocardiographic features-a case-based review.

Abstract Congenital heart disease in adults is a rapidly growing field, with many operated and unoperated infants and children surviving into adulthood. Patent ductus arteriosus is an example of a congenital cardiac defect, which may enable patients to survive well into adulthood without prior recognition or correction before symptoms arise. This case illustrates the clinical and echocardiographic manifestations of patent ductus arteriosus with special emphasis on its 2-dimensional and Doppler findings. Management options for this condition are also briefly addressed. (J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2001;14:321-4.)
Layered representation for image sequence coding

A sequence is decomposed into a set of overlapping 2-D regions, each region occupying a depth-ordered layer with specified transparency, intensity, and motion. The resulting representation is efficient and flexible. While synthesis is straightforward, the analysis problem is challenging. The authors introduce a set of analysis techniques and demonstrate their use on some of the MPEG (Motion Picture Experts Group) sequences. The MPEG flower garden sequence is decomposed into a set of four static layer images. Given these four images and a small number of motion parameters, one can resynthesize the original 30-frame sequence remarkably well. >
Measurement by self-report or mandibular cortical bone index of the association between periodontitis and osteoporosis is of questionable clinical value

Abstract Original article Persson RE, Hollender LG, Powell LV, MacEntee MI, Wyatt CC, Kiyak HA, et al. Assessment of periodontal conditions and systemic disease in older subjects: Focus on osteoporosis. J Clin Periodontol 2002;29:796-802. Level of evidence 3b Purpose To determine the association between osteoporosis and periodontit is Source of funding NIH/NIDCR Type of study/design Cross-sectional
Cardiac cavernous hemangioma

A 49-year-old woman was referred to our laboratory for a stress echocardiogram. She had been in her usual state of health until 3 months prior, when she had palpitations and mild dyspnea on exertion. Her history was significant for ductal breast carcinoma, for which she had undergone mastectomy several years ago. Her physical examination and electrocardiography results were unremarkable. On her resting echocardiogram a very large mass (6 6 cm) was noted in the right atrium (Figure 1). The mass was solid, sessile, and occupied the entire right atrium. The interatrial septum was indented by the mass. Based on this finding the stress test was cancelled and the patient was referred for operation. The patient underwent resection of the tumor, which was attached to the right atrial wall, parallel to the atrioventricular groove, and filled the entire right atrium. The mass was resected completely with the attached atrial wall tissue, and there was reconstruction of the coronary sinus to the right atrium with closure of the surgically created atrial septal defect. The operative and postoperative course was unremarkable, and the patient was discharged home in good condition. Pathologic examination of the resected mass demonstrated proliferation of enlarged vessels filled with blood, consistent with cavernous hemangioma (Figure 2).
Phase II study of flavopiridol in patients with advanced colorectal cancer

Abstract Background Flavopiridol, a synthetic flavone that inhibits cell cycle progression, has demonstrated activity in colon cancer in xenografts and in a phase I trial. We evaluated flavopiridol in a phase II trial in patients with previously untreated advanced colorectal cancer (ACRC). Patients and methods Twenty chemotherapy-naive patients with ACRC received flavopiridol at a dose of 50 mg/m2/day via a 72-h continuous infusion every 14 days. Response was assessed by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging every 8 weeks. Results Twenty patients were enrolled; 19 were evaluable for toxicity and 18 for response. There were no objective responses. Five patients had stable disease lasting a median of 7 weeks. The median time to progression was 8 weeks. Median survival was 65 weeks. The principal grade 3/4 toxicities were diarrhea, fatigue and hyperglycemia, occurring in 21%, 11% and 11% of patients, respectively. Other common toxicities included anemia, anorexia and nausea/vomiting. Conclusions Flavopiridol in this dose and schedule does not have single-agent activity in patients with ACRC. Recent preclinical data suggest that flavopiridol enhances apoptosis when combined with chemotherapy. Trials that evaluate flavopiridol in combination with active cytotoxic drugs should help to define the role of this novel agent in ACRC.
Substrate effect on the Young’s modulus measurement of TiO2 nanoribbons by nanoindentation

The Young’s modulus of single crystalline rutile TiO2 nanoribbons was investigated using nanoindentation. During the experiments, the nanoribbons were laid on three different substrates, including 1 µm thick SiO2 layer on silicon (SiO2/Si), Si(100), and sapphire(0001). Experimental results show the substrates have significant effects on load-indenter displacement curves. To further understand the experimental findings, three-dimensional finite element modeling was carried out to simulate the indentation of nanoribbon-on-substrate systems using ABAQUS. The results show that the receding contact mechanics is a good approximation when describing the contact between the nanoribbon and the substrate. The results also demonstrate that the substrate effect must be carefully considered when performing nanoindentation on one-dimensional nanostructures. Otherwise, the Young’s modulus of the nanostructures could either be overestimated or underestimated. The Young’s modulus is about 360 GPa, comparable to that of bulk TiO2.
Parental perceptions of avoidability of their child's emergency department visit

Objectives To identify the factors associated with paediatric emergency department (ED) visits and parental perceptions of the avoidability of their child9s ED visit. Design Cross-sectional study by performing secondary analysis of 2010–2011 Iowa Child and Family Household Health Survey data. Setting State-wide representative population-based sample of families with at least one child in the state of Iowa in the USA. Patients/participants Among the eligible households, 2386 families completed the survey, yielding a cooperation rate of 80%. Exposure/intervention Presence of a medical home. Main outcome measures Child visiting an ED in the past year; parents believing that ED care could have been provided in a primary-care setting. Results Among children who needed medical care in the past year, 26% visited an ED. Younger children, non-Hispanic black children, non-Hispanic others, children whose parents were not married, children who were from food-insecure households and had poorer health status were more likely to visit an ED. Having a medical home was not associated with ED visits (OR=0.80, 95% CI 0.61 to 1.04), even after stratifying by the child9s health status. About 69% of parents who took their child to an ED agreed that ED care could have been provided in a primary-care setting. Parents of children with public insurance, those who were not referred to the ED and those who could not get routine care appointments were more likely to report a primary-care preventable ED visit. Conclusions The majority of parents believed that paediatric ED visits could be avoided if adequate primary-care alternatives were available. Expanding access to primary care could lead to a reduction in avoidable ED visits by children.