cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High Mobility Group-I(Y) Protein Facilitates Nuclear Factor-κB Binding and Transactivation of the Inducible Nitric-oxide Synthase Promoter/Enhancer

Abstract Nitric oxide (NO), a free radical gas whose production is catalyzed by the enzyme NO synthase, participates in the regulation of multiple organ systems. The inducible isoform of NO synthase (iNOS) is transcriptionally up-regulated by inflammatory stimuli; a critical mediator of this process is nuclear factor (NF)-κB. Our objective was to determine which regulatory elements other than NF-κB binding sites are important for activation of the iNOS promoter/enhancer. We also wanted to identify transcription factors that may be functioning in conjunction with NF-κB (subunits p50 and p65) to drive iNOS transcription. Deletion analysis of the iNOS promoter/enhancer revealed that an AT-rich sequence (−61 to −54) downstream of the NF-κB site (−85 to −76) in the 5′-flanking sequence was important for iNOS induction by interleukin-1β and endotoxin in vascular smooth muscle cells. This AT-rich sequence, corresponding to an octamer (Oct) binding site, bound the architectural transcription factor high mobility group (HMG)-I(Y) protein. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that HMG-I(Y) and NF-κB subunit p50 bound to the iNOS promoter/enhancer to form a ternary complex. The formation of this complex required HMG-I(Y) binding at the Oct site. The location of an HMG-I(Y) binding site typically overlaps that of a recruited transcription factor. In the iNOS promoter/enhancer, however, HMG-I(Y) formed a complex with p50 while binding downstream of the NF-κB site. Furthermore, overexpression of HMG-I(Y) potentiated iNOS promoter/enhancer activity by p50 and p65 in transfection experiments, suggesting that HMG-I(Y) contributes to the transactivation of iNOS by NF-κB.
Capital Flight from Beautiful Places: the case of three Caribbean countries

This paper examines capital flight from Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago, for the period 1971–87. A simple OLS model is used to investigate econometrically the causes of Caribbean capital flight. External debt, real interest rate differentials and the level of social instability are found to be significant causes of capital flight.
Genome-wide analysis of mRNAs regulated by the nonsense-mediated and 5' to 3' mRNA decay pathways in yeast.

Abstract Transcripts regulated by the yeast nonsense-mediated and 5′ to 3′ mRNA decay pathways were identified by expression profiling of wild-type, upf1Δ, nmd2Δ, upf3Δ, dcp1Δ , and xrn1Δ cells. This analysis revealed that inactivation of Upf1p, Nmd2p, or Upf3p has identical effects on global RNA accumulation; inactivation of Dcp1p or Xrn1p exhibits both common and unique effects on global RNA accumulation but causes upregulation of only a small fraction of transcripts; and the majority of transcripts upregulated in upf/nmd strains are also upregulated to similar extents in dcp1Δ and xrn1Δ strains. Our results define the core transcripts regulated by NMD, identify several novel structural classes of NMD substrates, demonstrate that nonsense-containing mRNAs are primarily degraded by the 5′ to 3′ decay pathway even in the absence of functional NMD, and indicate that 3′ to 5′ decay, not 5′ to 3′ decay, may be the major mRNA decay activity in yeast cells.
Synthesis and characterization of nanocrystalline and mesostructured CeO2: Influence of the amino acid template

Abstract Mesostructured and nanocrystalline cerium oxide materials with a coral-like structure were self-assembled using amino acids as templates. The samples were characterized by N 2 -adsorption, XRD, SEM, and Raman spectroscopy. The influence of the amino acid structure and composition on the final CeO 2 nanodomain structure and crystal size was investigated. The XRD and Raman data indicate a direct correlation between the amino and carboxylic group positions in the structure of linear-, branched, and ring-amino acids and the crystal size of CeO 2 , which ranges from 6 to 30 nm in diameter. In contrast, the final coral-like nanodomain structures are independent on the amino acid used as template. The results demonstrate a synthetic method for hierarchical architectures in which the final CeO 2 crystal size can be controlled by the use of amino acids in the self-assembly process.
Conditioned exercise method for use with nonhuman primates.

The objective of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of using appetitive methods to train adult male olive baboons (Papio cynocephalus anubis), who were socially housed and fitted with indwelling catheter/ transducer systems, to exercise on an inclined, motorized, moving treadmill. All subjects were first trained to walk on a motorized treadmill for 30 min at a speed of approximately 1.6 km/hr on a 0 grade. Upon completion of initial exercise training, six animals were assigned to a low exercise group (LOW), six were assigned to a moderate exercise group (MOD), and six were assigned to a sedentary control group (SED). The LOW group exercised 30 min per day on an elevated treadmill, the MOD group exercised 60 min per day on an elevated treadmill and the SED group did not perform any treadmill exercise. The 12 animals comprising the LOW and MOD groups were exercised 4 days per week and their performance was increased over a subsequent 30-week experimental period. We gradually increased speed and grade demands over several weeks and produced an animal model capable of traveling at speeds up to 5.5 km/hr on a 22% grade and distances up to 3,353 m horizontally and 549 m vertically in a 1-hr session. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Implementing a Course-Embedded Résumé and Professional Employment Action Plan Preparation Program for College of Business Juniors

When the AACSB/EBI Undergraduate Business Exit Survey (Survey)1 is administered to graduating business students, the results tend to be similar for all participating institutions. Of the 14 areas measured through the Survey, "placement and career services" receives the lowest ratings from students. Because the Survey ratings for graduating College of Business (COB) students at one regional university were significantly lower than those from the other colleges of business, the authors of this article developed a program to help COB students have more positive career planning and placement experiences.
Laser Treatment of Choroidal Neovascularization in Patients With Angioid Streaks

The benefit of laser photocoagulation to choroidal neovascularization secondary to angioid streaks remains controversial. To further expand our knowledge, we reviewed the records of 20 patients (24 eyes) with classic (well-defined) choroidal neovascularization secondary to angioid streaks, who were treated with laser between 1982 and 1991 at the Retinal Vascular Center of the Wilmer Institute. The choroidal neovascularization was extrafoveal in 18 (75%), juxtafoveal in two, subfoveal in three, and indeterminate in one eye. Seventeen of the 24 fellow eyes (71%) had a disciform scar or choroidal neovascularization, or both. Follow-up ranged from three months to nine years (mean, 3.5 years; median, two years). Lines of visual acuity change averaged -2.5 at three, -2.6 at six, -2.4 at 12, and -4.8 lines at 24 months. Choroidal neovascularization persisted in five of 24 eyes and recurred in nine of the remaining 19 eyes at risk. When the fellow eye had choroidal neovascularization, scar, or both, at the time of treatment, the rate of persistence or recurrence was 65% vs 33% if the fellow eye had no choroidal neovascularization, scar, or both. An average of four lines of visual acuity was lost when fellow eyes had choroidal neovascularization, scar, or both, vs one line when the fellow eye had no choroidal neovascularization or scar. Laser photocoagulation of choroidal neovascularization in patients with angioid streaks can result in closure of the choroidal neovascularization and stabilization of visual acuity.
Theoretical calculation of the potential curves of the states of HF below 14 eV

Abstract Potential energy curves obtained through extensive ab initio configuration interaction calculations are reported for the states of HF below 14 eV as well as that for the ground state of HF + . Agreement with ultraviolet absorption data is obtained to within 0.2 eV. The disagreement between the reported UV absorption and electron scattering data is examined.
Sequential events in the morphogenesis of Japanese encephalitis virus

In Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV)-infected Vero cells, the first ultrastructural evidence of viral replication occurred at 15 hr postinfection (PI) with the appearance of spherical smooth membrane structures (SMS), within the cistenae of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Subsequently (18–21 hr PI), mature virions were found associated with these structures and were also apparent in the Golgi apparatus. A close examination of the SMS suggested that they bud from the ER and condense to form mature virions. Analysis of subcellular fractions revealed that the SMS were always retained in association with the ER. The viral envelope appeared to be derived from the SMS and virions were released from the cell by exocytosis.
Prenatal diagnosis using fetal genetic material in maternal circulation

Summary In this paper, we review the major highlights in the development of clinical noninvasive prenatal diagnostic approaches analyzing fetal genetic material recovered from maternal circulation.
Alternative obturation for the maxillectomy patient with severely limited mandibular opening

F abrication of an obturator prosthesis may be complicated by limited oral opening as a result of postsurgical scarring, trismus and fibrosis of the muscles of mastication after radiation therapy, or a combination of these factors. Limited mandibular opening may be treated by exercise, mechanical muscle stretchers, or surgical release of muscle attachments and scar tissue. There are instances in which exercise and mechanical stretching do not prevent or correct limited oral opening. Failure of conventional treatment methods may result from excessively rapid and severe fibrosis, or it may be a result of the patient’s failure to perform the prescribed exercise and stretching regimen regularly. The patient for whom conservative therapy has failed may be treated surgically, but surgical release of scarred tissue is subject to relapse and may not provide permanent correction of limited oral opening. In addition, many patients with acquired maxillary defects have also been treated with preor postoperative irradiation. Reduced vascularity in the area of radiation suggests that these patients may not be candidates for surgical intervention to relieve limited mandibular opening. The prosthodontist may therefore be asked to fabricate a prosthesis with limited extension, which compromises the relative degree of successful rehabilitation. In some patients the limitation of oral opening may be so severe that it is not possible to make an impression for fabrication of an obturator prosthesis. Several methods have been described for fabrication of obturator prostheses without making an intraoral impression. Interim prostheses that can no longer he inserted can be changed to flexible prostheses by the use of methods suggested by Lauciello et al.’ The
Effects of rate variation on the counting statistics of dead-time-modified Poisson processes

Abstract Expressions are obtained for the mean and variance of the number of events in a fixed sampling time for a nonparalyzable dead-time counter. The input process is assumed to be Poisson with a rate that is a known function of time. The mean and variance are shown to depend explicitly on the details of the rate variation during the sampling time; by contrast, in the absence of dead time the mean and variance are uniquely determined by the statistics of the rate integrated over the sampling time (total energy). Experiments performed with triangularly and sinusoidally modulated laser radiation provide results that are in accord with the theory.
A Current-Induced Ekman Spiral in the St. Lawrence Estuary

Abstract Current-meter measurements indicate the presence of a mean Ekman spiral imposed upon the dominant tidal oscillation of the St. Lawrence estuary. Estimates of vertical eddy coefficients are consistent with previous estimates. It is hypothesized that the spiral results from a steady, fresh, river-outflow layer flowing over the tidal prism.
Uptake, distribution and diffusivity of reactive fluorophores in cells: implications toward target identification.

There is much recent interest in the application of copper-free click chemistry to study a wide range of biological events in vivo and in vitro. Specifically, azide-conjugated fluorescent probes can be used to identify targets which have been modified with bioorthogonal reactive groups. For intracellular applications of this chemistry, the structural and physicochemical properties of the fluorescent azide become increasingly important. Ideal fluorophores should extensively accumulate within cells, have even intracellular distribution, and be free (unbound), allowing them to efficiently participate in bimolecular reactions. We report here on the synthesis and evaluation of a set of structurally diverse fluorescent probes to examine their potential usefulness in intracellular click reactions. Total cellular uptake and intracellular distribution profiles were comparatively assessed using both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The intracellular diffusion coefficients were measured using a fluorescence ...
Labor Support for Incarcerated Pregnant Women: The Doula Project

Women of childbearing age are the fastest growing segment of the incarcerated population, but few resources exist for women who deliver an infant while in jail. This article presents data from a multiagency, collaborative study providing trained labor and birth support (doulas) to pregnant women who delivered while in jail custody. Satisfaction surveys and qualitative interviews showed high program feasibility and satisfaction and low program costs. The most compelling findings of the study were the interviews with the inmate mothers that outlined a grim and repetitive trajectory of childhood abuse, violence, and neglect that led to school failure, problematic relationships with men, early drug use, arrest, incarceration, and eventual loss of children. Policy recommendations centered around early intervention, harm reduction, and reunification conclude the article.
Hormonal effects on the development of rat brain gangliosides--I. Cortisol.

Abstract Ganglioside N -acetylneuraminic acid (NANA) content and distribution and that of incorporated radionuclide from 1-[ 14 C]glucosamine were investigated under conditions of normal development and after administration of 500 μg of cortisol at 1 day of age. Cortisol delayed significantly the rise in tissue concentration of NANA usually occurring between 2 and 20 days of age. Cerebellum was most severely affected and brainstem least. The incorporation of radionuclide was depressed during the developmental lag then increased beyond controls from 6 to 10 days, and was again below that of controls in cerebrum and brainstem at 20 days. Individual study of seven chromatographically distinct resorcinol-positive compounds indicated that cortisol treatment favored accumulation and labeling of the more polar gangliosides initially, but resulted at 20 days of age in an abnormal ganglioside pattern with less polar compounds present disproportionately.
System#: High-level synthesis of physical simulations for FPGA-based real-time execution

FPGA-accelerated real-time simulations of physical phenomena gain importance in the area of Hardware-in-the-Loop tests for electrified powertrain components. Especially the challenging timing requirements demand dedicated hardware solutions. We propose System#, which is a highly modular, flexible and extensible open source environment for synthesizing physical computations to FPGAs. We demonstrate its capabilities by using an existing model of a squirrel-cage induction machine. We oppose several design variants, using fixed point and floating point arithmetic, and various settings for schedule length and pipelining depth of arithmetic operators. We conclude that the synthesized designs are on the par with a manually optimized implementation. Moreover, our approach scales well by allowing a time/area tradeoff over a wide range.
Number Theory and Semigroups of Intermediate Growth

(1999). Number Theory and Semigroups of Intermediate Growth. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 106, No. 7, pp. 666-669.
A Theory of Liquid Surface Rupture by a Uniform Electric Field

Surface distortion and rupture permits field emission from liquid surfaces at field strengths less than those effective for equally smooth solid surfaces. An approximate mathematical theory of the rupture of a plane liquid surface in a uniform electric field has been developed. The relation between initial distortion, rupture time, and field strength has been calculated for fields large compared to that which just renders the surface unstable. This critical field is ${E}_{m}=2{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\frac{1}{2}}{(\ensuremath{\rho}gT)}^{\frac{1}{4}}=53$ kv ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ for mercury, where $\ensuremath{\rho}$ is density and $T$ is surface tension. Typically, the theory shows that a hump initially 4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}$ cm high and of diameter 9\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}$ cm will lead to rupture in 5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}6}$ sec. in a field of ${10}^{6}$ v ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. Relative to initial humps in the surface whose linear dimensions vary inversely as the square of the field, the time to rupture varies inversely as the cube of the field strength. This calculation shows that a lowered sparking potential to liquid mercury can be ascribed to surface rupture and shows that it is possible that surface rupture plays a part in Beams' low field emission from liquid mercury. Possible application of the theory to the high field condition at the cathode spot of the Hg arc is not clear.
Abdominal venous system in the normal fetus.

Objective To assess flow velocity waveforms of the abdominal venous system in the normal fetus. Methods Sixty-seven normal fetuses between 17–42 weeks' gestation were each studied once. Flow velocity waveforms were obtained from the following: 1) umbilical vein at the entrance into the abdomen, 2) umbilical sinus, 3) portal vein before its division, 4) anterior division of the portal vein, 5) posterior division of the portal vein, 6) ductus venosus at its origin from the umbilical vein, 7) splenic vein at its origin, 8) splenic vein close to the umbilical sinus, 9) renal vein, 10) adrenal vein, 11) common iliac vein before the origin of the inferior vena cava, 12) inferior vena cava, and 13) left hepatic vein. Results Five different patterns were noted on the velocity waveforms of the abdominal venous system: continuous, monophasic, biphasic, triphasic, and tetraphasic. Conclusion In the normal fetus, all veins leading to the liver have continuous flow, except the umbilical sinus, which has a monophasic pattern. The ductus venosus has a biphasic pattern. The veins that open into the inferior vena cava have triphasic flow velocity waveforms. The left hepatic vein occasionally has a tetraphasic pattern.
Validation studies for a new supercritical fluid extraction method for the isolation of hydrophobic organic compounds from filtered suspended solids

Abstract A newly developed SFE scheme (consisting of filtration, drying, and extraction steps optimized in two earlier studies) for the isolation of hydrophobic organic compounds from filtered suspended solids has been validated. Accuracy and precision data for the method were obtained for selected polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons relative to certified and in-house Soxhlet values, using a standard reference material sample (EC-1 from Environment Canada). Compared to in-house results using EPA Method 3561, the recoveries from the optimized SFE step alone were much better, with an overall average accuracy of 101% and precision of 9% R.S.D., versus 74 and 13% for Method 3561, respectively. Unlike most SFE validation studies which validate only the SFE step, this study was able to validate the SFE scheme starting from the drying step to the final SFE step. The combined steps showed an overall average accuracy of 91%, with a precision of 8% R.S.D.. With this accuracy and precision, the newly developed SFE scheme has been proven to be acceptable.
Analysis of osmotic hemolysis of erythrocytes including mechanical and transport effects

Abstract Although the osmotic fragility test is frequently used to ascertain red blood cell pathology, the relationship that this measurement bears to the transport properties and mechanics of the membrane is poorly understood. An analysis of osmotic red blood cell swelling has been developed that considers the effect of tangential membrane stresses generated by the water transport. This analysis has been applied to the existing data from gradual hemolysis and osmotic fragility experiments by employing a three-parameter equation to describe membrane mechanics and by assuming that hemolysis occurs at a critical recoverable membrane energy. The analysis is consistent with the data of these experiments and the results indicate that membrane permeability does not affect the outcome of the gradual osmotic hemolysis experiment, but has a crucial effect on the osmotic fragility experiment.
Charge inversion at position 68 of the glucagon and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptors supports selectivity in hormone action

Glucagon and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)are two structurally related hormones that acutely regulate glucose control in opposite directions through homologous receptors. The molecular basis for selectivity between these two hormones and their receptors is of physiological and medicinal importance. The application of co-agonists to enhance body weight reduction and correct multiple abnormalities associated with the metabolic syndrome has recently been reported. Substitution of amino acids 16, 18, and 20 in glucagon with those found in GLP-1 and exendin-4 were identified as partial contributors to balanced, high potency receptor action. The amidation of the C-terminus was an additional glucagon-based structural change observed to be of seminal importance to discriminate recognition by both receptors. In this work, the molecular basis for receptor selectivity associated with differences in C-terminal peptide sequence has been determined. A single charge inversion in glucagon and GLP-1 receptor sequence at position 68* was determined to significantly alter hormone action. Changing E68* in GLP-1R to the corresponding Lys of GCGR reduced receptor activity for natural GLP-1 hormones by eightfold. The enhanced C-terminal positive charges in GLP-1 peptides favor the native receptor's negative charge at position 68*, while the unfavorable interaction with the C-terminal acid of native glucagon is minimized by amidation. The extension of these observations to other glucagon-related hormones such as oxyntomodulin and exendin, as well as other related receptors such as GIPR, should assist in the assembly of additional hormones with broadened pharmacology.
Urban productivity, urban unemployment, and labor market policies

Abstract Some important effects of government policies on urban labor productivity are absent from Harris and Todaro's popular two-region development model. Revising their model using efficiency wages allows for these effects and for endogenous urban wages, employment, and unemployment. It also reverses many standard Harris–Todaro welfare and policy conclusions. For example, an urban wage increase raises welfare and income in both the urban and rural regions, even though the wage already exceeds the urban market-clearing rate and exceeds the rural wage. Income and welfare also rise with migration into the urban region, even though there are already unemployed workers there.
Localization in an almost periodically modulated array of potential barriers

It is argued that an array of potential barriers modulated in position and strength in a manner incommensurate with the barrier spacing can be replaced by a $\ensuremath{\delta}$-function Kronig-Penny model. With this equivalence it is shown, with use of renormalization-group arguments as well as known results from other calculations, that this model possesses both localized and extended states separated by mobility edges.
Effects of age, sex, and menopausal status on plasma lipoprotein(a) levels. The Framingham Offspring Study.

BACKGROUNDLipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is an atherogenic particle that structurally resembles a low density lipoprotein (LDL) particle but contains a molecule of apolipoprotein(a) attached to apolipoprotein B-100 by a disulfide bond. Because elevated plasma levels of Lp(a) have been shown to be an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease, it is important to define normal ranges for this lipoprotein.METHODS AND RESULTSWe have measured Lp(a) in 1,284 men (mean age, 48 +/- 10 years) and 1,394 women (mean age, 48 +/- 10 years) free of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease and not on medications known to affect lipids who were seen at the third examination cycle of the Framingham Offspring Study. Plasma Lp(a) levels were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, which uses a "capture" monoclonal anti-apo(a) antibody that does not cross-react with plasminogen, and a polyclonal anti-apo(a) antibody conjugated to horseradish peroxidase. The assay was calibrated to total Lp(a) mass. The Lp(a) fre...
Massive Scrotal Edema: An Unusual Manifestation of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Obesity-Hypoventilation Syndrome

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may occur in association with obesity-hypoventilation (Pickwickian) syndrome, a disorder of ventilatory control affecting individuals with morbid obesity. Through the pressor effects of chronic hypercapnia and hypoxemia, this syndrome may result in pulmonary hypertension, right heart failure, and massive peripheral edema. We present a case of severe scrotal edema in a 36-year-old male with OSA and obesity-hypoventilation syndrome. A tracheostomy was performed to relieve hypoxemia and led to dramatic improvement of scrotal edema. No scrotal surgery was necessary. Followup at two months showed complete resolution of scrotal edema, improvement in mental status, and normalization of arterial blood gas measurements. This case demonstrates that OSA and obesity-hypoventilation syndrome may present with massive scrotal edema. Furthermore, if OSA is recognized as the cause of right heart failure, and if the apnea is corrected, the resultant improvement in cardiac function may allow reversal of massive peripheral, including scrotal, edema.
Abdominal Visceral Lesions in von Hippel-Lindau Disease: Incidence and Clinical Behavior of Pancreatic and Adrenal Lesions at a Single Center

Von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL) is a dominantly inherited multi-system syndrome. Although pheochromocytoma is the hallmark endocrine neoplasm, pancreatic lesions occur frequently, and their management can be complex. This report describes 26 patients from a single institution with pancreatic or adrenal lesions (or both) in the background of VHL. We reviewed records for all patients treated for adrenal (type 2 VHL) or pancreatic manifestations of VHL at our institution from 1990 to 2004. Forty patients with VHL were identified from 24 pedigrees; 26 (65%) had adrenal or pancreatic involvement (or both). Seven patients had isolated pheochromocytomas, 16 had isolated pancreatic lesions, and 3 had both. Of the 10 patients with pheochromocytomas, 4 had bilateral adrenal involvement. All but three pheochromocytomas were diagnosed in patients aged 40 years or younger. Of the 19 patients with pancreatic lesions, 8 had cystic lesions, 8 had neuroendocrine tumors, and 3 had both. Of 11 patients with neuroendocrine tumors, 4 had metastases (3 hepatic, 1 nodal). No patient with cystic pancreatic lesions developed carcinoma. VHL should be familiar to the endocrine surgeon because of the high incidence (65% in our series) of visceral endocrine lesions (pancreas 40%, adrenal gland 18%, both 7%). As seen in other hereditary endocrinopathy syndromes, pheochromocytomas are frequently bilateral; therefore,close follow-up of the contralateral gland in young patients with a unilateral lesion is critical. Cystic lesions of the pancreas may be closely monitored, whereas neuroendocrine tumors should be removed because of the risk of metastasis. Pancreatic pathology is not uncommon in VHL patients with pheochromocytoma and should be sought during the preoperative assessment.
Micro-electrospray: zeptomole/attomole per microliter sensitivity for peptides

The micro-electrospray ionization source has been optimized for the specific analysis of neuropeptides such as neurotensin and methionine enkephalin. The source has the option of integrating nanoliter flow-rate desalting and preconcentration techniques into the micro-electrospray spray needle, eliminating post-column dead volumes. For neurotensin, the most sensitive neuropeptide analyzed thus far in this work, the injection of 10 μL of a solution containing 320 zeptomolesy/gmL gave an [M + 3H]+3 ion at m/z 558.4 with S/N of > 8∶1. The MS/MS analysis of this peptide for the fragment ion at m/z 578.9 gave a S/N > 20∶1 for a solution containing 32 attomoles/μL.
The dilemmas of managing transitions in weak states: The case of Mozambique

This article reviews donor initiatives in Mozambique in decentralization policy and intergovernmental relations. Against the background of earlier donor initiatives in the country and the government's transition, it identifies the complexities confronted in working outside the centre and in the periphery, in the midst of economic and political liberalization. The lessons learned from the project experiences described emphasize the extensiveness of the changes necessary in government and the donor community if subnational authorities, governors and local administrators, in this instance, are to be empowered to resolve local development issues at the grass-roots level rather than await authorization to act from the centre, be it a government ministry or donor organization. The dilemma posed by such initiatives concerns how to enable subnational governments to respond to unmet development needs locally (through the transfer of economic and skilled human resources to the provinces), without undercutting endeavours to strengthen the capacity of the central government to implement economic and social policy (through the concentration of the same resources in the centre).
Testing larval fish dispersal hypotheses using maximum likelihood analysis of otolith chemistry data

Otolith chemical analyses enable researchers to follow the dispersal pathways of individual fish through time. Given that water masses have spatially or temporally variable chemical signatures (or correlates thereof) and that this variability can be modelled statistically, we have the potential to describe a fish’s dispersal history by examining a temporal transect of elemental concentrations throughout the otolith generated from laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Statistical analyses tend to focus on temporal trajectories of individual elements or analyse multiple elements at single points in time. We have developed a customised statistical technique allowing detailed exploration of elemental signatures using maximum likelihood methods. The benefit of this approach is the ability to model chronological series of otolith measurements for all sampled fish and all elements simultaneously, while providing explicit treatment of variability in the data. We used data from a Caribbean fish population to compare traditional analysis techniques with this likelihood-based approach, showing their relative capacities to test among alternative hypotheses regarding the dispersal trajectories of individual fish. By incorporating information specific to the species’ natural history and to the analytical techniques, we can explore more detailed models of fish movement than were possible using pre-existing approaches.
Writing and Low-Temperature Characterization of Oxide Nanostructures

Oxide nanoelectronics is a rapidly growing field which seeks to develop novel materials with multifunctional behavior at nanoscale dimensions. Oxide interfaces exhibit a wide range of properties that can be controlled include conduction, piezoelectric behavior, ferromagnetism, superconductivity and nonlinear optical properties. Recently, methods for controlling these properties at extreme nanoscale dimensions have been discovered and developed. Here are described explicit step-by-step procedures for creating LaAlO3/SrTiO3 nanostructures using a reversible conductive atomic force microscopy technique. The processing steps for creating electrical contacts to the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface are first described. Conductive nanostructures are created by applying voltages to a conductive atomic force microscope tip and locally switching the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface to a conductive state. A versatile nanolithography toolkit has been developed expressly for the purpose of controlling the atomic force microscope (AFM) tip path and voltage. Then, these nanostructures are placed in a cryostat and transport measurements are performed. The procedures described here should be useful to others wishing to conduct research in oxide nanoelectronics.
Micropole Undulators In Synchrotron Radiation Technology: Design And Construction Of A Submillimeter Period Prototype With A 3 Kilogauss Peak Field At SSRL

The availability of undulators with submillimeter periods will profoundly affect the future development of soft x-ray sources and their attendant instrumentation. Outputs comparable to those of present-day conventional undulators, obtainable with much lower energy storage rings, is only one promising aspect of such devices. This paper critically examines some of the future prospects of such devices and describes the design and practical construction of a 1" long prototype consisting of 35 periods. A proposed experiment to test this device on a linac is described.
The influence of membranes on the temperature-induced changes in the kinetics of some respiratory enzymes of mitochondria.

Abstract Disruption and fragmentation of mitochondria from rat liver and sweet potato tissue by sonication, hypotonic swelling, and freezing and thawing is shown to have little or no effect on the discontinuity in the Arrhenius plot exhibited by the mitochondrial respiratory enzymes of these tissues. After disruption of the mitochondrial membranes with detergent, however, the succinate oxidase system, succinate dehydrogenase and cytochrome c oxidase of both tissues each exhibits a uniform activation energy over the temperature range of 1 to 36 °. The results suggest that the temperature-induced change in activation energy of the membrane-bound enzymes is associated with a phase change in the lipid component of the membranes which induces a configurational change in the enzyme proteins.
Growth Failure as the Presenting Symptom of Crohn's Disease

Short stature is a common symptom of Crohn's disease in children, but it is rarely the chief complaint. We have encountered 5 patiȩnts whose major complaint was stunted growth and poor weight gain. Only one patient had moderately severe diarrhea, abdominal pain and weight loss, while the remaining patients exhibited mild abdominal symptoms elicited only by probing questions. Bone age was retarded in all. Sedimentation rate was elevated in 3 patients, and 4 had anemia. Small bowel series revealed typical findings of Crohn's disease in all. Two patients had surgical treatment, and 3 received nutritional supplement and steroid therapy. It is concluded that in the patient with stunted growth, careful history taking is essential. A work-up to rule out inflammatory bowel disease is indicated, especially if an elevated sedimentation rate and/or anemia are present, even in the absence of clear-cut abdominal compliants.
Neuroprotective Mechanisms Activated in Non-seizing Rats Exposed to Sarin

Exposure to organophosphate (OP) nerve agents, such as sarin, may lead to uncontrolled seizures and irreversible brain injury and neuropathology. In rat studies, a median lethal dose of sarin leads to approximately half of the animals developing seizures. Whereas previous studies analyzed transcriptomic effects associated with seizing sarin-exposed rats, our study focused on the cohort of sarin-exposed rats that did not develop seizures. We analyzed the genomic changes occurring in sarin-exposed, non-seizing rats and compared differentially expressed genes and pathway activation to those of seizing rats. At the earliest time point (0.25 h) and in multiple sarin-sensitive brain regions, defense response genes were commonly expressed in both groups of animals as compared to the control groups. All sarin-exposed animals activated the MAPK signaling pathway, but only the seizing rats activated the apoptotic-associated JNK and p38 MAPK signaling sub-pathway. A unique phenotype of the non-seizing rats was the altered expression levels of genes that generally suppress inflammation or apoptosis. Importantly, the early transcriptional response for inflammation- and apoptosis-related genes in the thalamus showed opposite trends, with significantly down-regulated genes being up-regulated, and vice versa, between the seizing and non-seizing rats. These observations lend support to the hypothesis that regulation of anti-inflammatory genes might be part of an active and sufficient response in the non-seizing group to protect against the onset of seizures. As such, stimulating or activating these responses via pretreatment strategies could boost resilience against nerve agent exposures.
Welfare, Autonomy, and the Autonomy Fallacy

In this article, I subject the claim that autonomous choice is an intrinsic welfare benefit to critical scrutiny. My argument begins by discussing perhaps the most influential argument in favor of the intrinsic value of autonomy: the argument from deference. In response, I hold that this argument displays what I call the ‘Autonomy Fallacy’: the argument from deference has no power to support the intrinsic value of autonomy in comparison to the important evaluative significance of bare self-direction (autonomous or not) or what I call ‘self-direction tout court’. I defend the claim that the Autonomy Fallacy really is a fallacy, and show that my examination of the argument from deference has wider reverberations. Once we clearly distinguish between autonomy and self-direction tout court, it becomes much less plausible to say that autonomy of itself is an intrinsic welfare benefit.
Adaptive discovery of sparse signals in noise

A multi-step adaptive resampling procedure is proposed, and shown to be an effective approach when detecting high-dimensional sparse signals in noise. Each step of the proposed procedure refines an estimate of the true signal subspace, allowing sensing energy to be focused more directly into the subspace of interest and significantly improving the performance of the final detection test. Large-sample analysis shows that for the sparse signal detection problems considered, the proposed adaptive sensing procedure outperforms the best possible detection methods based on non-adaptive sensing, allowing for the detection of signals that are exponentially weaker than what can be detected using non-adaptive samples.
Modulation of epileptiform burst frequency by the metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype mGluR3

Spontaneous epileptiform burst activity occurs in acute hippocampal slice dentate granule cells perfused with 10mM potassium and 0.5mM calcium [J. Neurophys. 68 (1992) 2016]. We report that activation of the group II metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 3 (mGluR3) induces an increase in spontaneous burst duration, whereas inhibition of mGluR3 reversibly reduces spontaneous burst frequency. Neither activation, nor inhibition, of group II mGluR had any effects on spontaneous negative dc shifts, or the number of spikes per burst, as compared to control. We conclude that mGluR3 can modulate high potassium, low calcium-induced spontaneous epileptiform burst activity in acute rat hippocampal slice dentate granule cells.
Occupancy Estimation Using Only WiFi Power Measurements

In this paper, we are interested in counting the total number of people walking in an area based on only WiFi received signal strength indicator (RSSI) measurements between a pair of stationary transmitter/receiver antennas. We propose a framework based on understanding two important ways that people leave their signature on the transmitted signal: blocking the line of sight (LOS) and scattering effects. By developing a simple motion model, we first mathematically characterize the impact of the crowd on blocking the LOS. We next probabilistically characterize the impact of the total number of people on the scattering effects and the resulting multipath fading component. By putting the two components together, we then develop a mathematical expression for the probability distribution of the received signal amplitude as a function of the total number of occupants, which will be the base for our estimation using Kullback-Leibler divergence. To confirm our framework, we run extensive indoor and outdoor experiments with up to and including nine people and show that the proposed framework can estimate the total number of people with a good accuracy with only a pair of WiFi cards and the corresponding RSSI measurements.
pH Control of weak electrolyte toxicity to fish

A pharmacokinetic model was used to predict the acute toxicity of weak electrolytes to fish as a function of pH. For weak acids, the model predicted that the toxic concentration-pH profile was shifted to the right of the ionized fraction-pH profile. The relative rates of uptake of ionized and nonionized species can be calculated using toxic concentration-pH data.
Domain and stripe formation between hexagonal and square ordered fillings of colloidal particles on periodic pinning substrates

Using large scale numerical simulations, we examine the ordering of colloidal particles on square periodic two-dimensional muffin-tin substrates consisting of a flat surface with localized pinning sites. We show that when there are four particles per pinning site, the particles adopt a hexagonal ordering, while for five particles per pinning site, a square ordering appears. For fillings between four and five particles per pinning site, we identify a rich variety of distinct ordering regimes, including disordered grain boundaries, crystalline stripe structures, superlattice orderings, and disordered patchy arrangements. We characterize the different regimes using Voronoi analysis, energy dispersion, and ordering of the domains. We show that many of the boundary formation features we observe occur for a wide range of other fillings. Our results demonstrate that grain boundary tailoring can be achieved with muffin-tin periodic pinning substrates.
Co-activation of microRNAs by Zelda is essential for early Drosophila development

Transcription factors and microRNAs (miRNAs) are two important classes of trans-regulators in differential gene expression. Transcription factors occupy cis-regulatory motifs in DNA to activate or repress gene transcription, whereas miRNAs specifically pair with seed sites in target mRNAs to trigger mRNA decay or inhibit translation. Dynamic spatiotemporal expression patterns of transcription factors and miRNAs during development point to their stage- and tissue-specific functions. Recent studies have focused on miRNA functions during development; however, much remains to explore regarding how the expression of miRNAs is initiated and how dynamic miRNA expression patterns are achieved by transcriptional regulatory networks at different developmental stages. Here, we focused on the identification, regulation and function of miRNAs during the earliest stage of Drosophila development, when the maternal-to-zygotic transition (MZT) takes place. Eleven miRNA clusters comprise the first set of miRNAs activated in the blastoderm embryo. The transcriptional activator Zelda is required for their proper activation and regulation, and Zelda binding observed in genome-wide binding profiles is predictive of enhancer activity. In addition, other blastoderm transcription factors, comprising both activators and repressors, the activities of which are potentiated and coordinated by Zelda, contribute to the accurate temporal and spatial expression of these miRNAs, which are known to function in diverse developmental processes. Although previous genetic studies showed no early phenotypes upon loss of individual miRNAs, our analysis of the miR-1; miR-9a double mutant revealed defects in gastrulation, demonstrating the importance of co-activation of miRNAs by Zelda during the MZT.
Objectives and considerations for wildland fuel treatment in forested ecosystems of the interior western United States

Many natural resource agencies and organizations recognize the importance of fuel treatments as tools for reducing fire hazards and restoring ecosystems. However, there continues to be confusion and misconception about fuel treatments and their implementation and effects in fire-prone landscapes across the United States. This paper (1) summarizes objectives, methods, and expected outcomes of fuel treatments in forests of the Interior West, (2) highlights common misunderstandings and areas of disagreement, and (3) synthesizes relevant literature to establish a common ground for future discussion and planning. It is important to understand the strengths and limitations of fuel treatments to evaluate their potential to achieve an objective, develop sensible fire management policies, and plan for their effective use. We suggest that, while the potential of fuel treatment to reduce wildfire occurrence or enhance suppression capability is uncertain, it has an important role in mitigating negative wildfire effects, increasing ecosystem resilience and making wildfire more acceptable. Published by Elsevier B.V.
On the Devolution of Large-Scale Sensor Networks in the Presence of Random Failures

In battery-constrained large-scale sensor networks, nodes are prone to random failures due to various reasons, such as energy depletion and hostile environment. Random failures can substantially impact the communication connectivity, which in turn impairs the sensing coverage. Redeploying additional sensors is one effective way to maintain the connectivity; however, it may be infeasible and costly to replace failed sensors one by one. When should a redeployment be conducted is an interesting and important question in designing resilient sensor networks. In this paper, we tackle this problem by investigating the devolution process of large-scale sensor networks. We first define a new metric called the first partition time, which is the first time that a network starts to discomposes to multiple isolated small components. Then we analyze the devolution process in a geometric random graph from a percolation-based connectivity perspective and obtain the condition under which the graph is not percolated. Finally, we find out that the lower bound of the first partition time depends on the node lifetime distribution and should be of the order between log (log n) and (log n)1/rho for rho > 1. This result provides a theoretical upper bound of the latest time that a redeployment has to be carried out.