cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Association of the EF-hand and PH domains of the guanine nucleotide exchange factor SLAT with IP3 receptor 1 promotes Ca2+ signaling in T cells

The guanine nucleotide exchange factor SLAT (SWAP-70–like adaptor of T cells) regulates T cell activation and differentiation by enabling Ca2+ release from intracellular stores in response to stimulation of the T cell receptor (TCR). We found a TCR-induced association between SLAT and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) receptor type 1 (IP3R1). The N-terminal region of SLAT, which contains two EF-hand motifs that we determined bound Ca2+, and the SLAT pleckstrin homology (PH) domain independently bound to IP3R1 by associating with a conserved motif within the IP3R1 ligand-binding domain. Disruption of the SLAT-IP3R1 interaction with cell-permeable, IP3R1-based fusion peptides inhibited TCR-stimulated Ca2+ signaling, activation of the transcription factor NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T cells), and production of cytokines, suggesting that this interaction is required for optimal T cell activation. The finding that SLAT is an IP3R1-interacting protein required for T cell activation suggests that this interaction could be a potential target for a selective immunosuppressive drug.
Toxin GhoT of the GhoT/GhoS toxin/antitoxin system damages the cell membrane to reduce adenosine triphosphate and to reduce growth under stress

Summary Toxin/antitoxin (TA) systems perhaps enable cells to reduce their metabolism to weather environmental challenges although there is little evidence to support this hypothesis. Escherichia coli GhoT/GhoS is a TA system in which toxin GhoT expression is reduced by cleavage of its messenger RNA (mRNA) by antitoxin GhoS, and TA system MqsR/MqsA controls GhoT/GhoS through differential mRNA decay. However, the physiological role of GhoT has not been determined. We show here through transmission electron microscopy, confocal microscopy and fluorescent stains that GhoT reduces metabolism by damaging the membrane and that toxin MqsR (a 5′-GCU-specific endoribonuclease) causes membrane damage in a GhoT-dependent manner. This membrane damage results in reduced cellular levels of ATP and the disruption of proton motive force (PMF). Normally, GhoT is localized to the pole and does not cause cell lysis under physiological conditions. Introduction of an F38R substitution results in loss of GhoT toxicity, ghost cell production and membrane damage while retaining the pole localization. Also, deletion of ghoST or ghoT results in significantly greater initial growth in the presence of antimicrobials. Collectively, these results demonstrate that GhoT reduces metabolism by reducing ATP and PMF and that this reduction in metabolism is important for growth with various antimicrobials.
Effect of type of aversive event and warning signal duration on human avoidance performance

Sixty college Ss were given 40 leverpress avoidance trials, with omission of entertaining material or a 98-dB or a 120-dB tone serving as the aversive stimulus. Within each aversive stimulus group, one-half of the Ss received a 2-sec warning signal; for the remaining Ss the signal duration was 6 sec. Response latency was the only measure that reflected differences in avoidance performance for the variables investigated. A functional equivalence for the two types of aversive stimulus events was supported.
Magnetic properties and crystallization kinetics of a Mn-doped FINEMET precursor amorphous alloy

The kinetics of nanocrystallization of Mn-doped FINEMET alloy from its amorphous precursor is reported. The alloy studied was of composition (Fe/sub 1-x/Mn/sub x/)/sub 73.5/Nb/sub 3/CuSi/sub 13.5/B/sub 9/ where x=0.05. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed that /spl alpha/-FeSi is the product of primary nanocrystallization. Crystallization kinetics were studied using time-dependent magnetization, M(t), as a measure of the volume fraction crystallized. This data was taken using vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) and thermal analysis employing differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Primary crystallization for the Mn-doped FINEMET alloy was found to occur at 505/spl deg/C, for DSC data taken at a heating rate of 10/spl deg/C/min. Fits to the Kissinger equation for constant heating transformations yield an activation energy for crystallization of 3.4 eV. VSM measurements of isothermal M(t) show that the maximum volume fraction transformed was reached at 20 min. Measurements of magnetic anisotropy as a function of time probe the structural evolution of the material upon nanocrystallization. Measurements show stress relaxation occurring at 20 minutes at 490/spl deg/C, coinciding with the maximum volume fraction crystallized.
Guaranteed Tracking Behavior in the Sense of Input-Output Spheres for Systems With Uncertain Parameters

A class of dynamical systems containing uncertain elements and subject to uncertain inputs is considered. The plant parameter uncertainties are assumed to be “unknown-but-bounded.” Design criteria are given for the synthesis of controllers for such systems, which guarantee that every input within a certain neighborhood of a nominal input gives rise to a corresponding output or system response in a prespecified neighborhood of a nominal output. These tracking specifications are formulated in terms of topological neighborhoods in normed function spaces, and feedback controllers are constructed by nonlinear state observers related to the uncertain plants and utilizing the measured output. These results, based primarily on fixed-point and operator norm techniques, provide quantitative servo designs and precise error bounds for the specified tracking behavior. The applicability of such derived criteria are demonstrated through synthesized controllers for two examples: a vibration isolation problem and a speed controller.
A Review of: “Ann George and Jack Selzer, Kenneth Burke in the 1930s”

Ann George and Jack Selzer, KENNETH BURKE IN THE 1930S. Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina Press, 2007; pp. xiv + 320, $49.95, ISBN 9781570037009. Among the many gems in the Burke papers at...
De novo ACTG2 mutations cause congenital distended bladder, microcolon, and intestinal hypoperistalsis

Megacystis-microcolon-intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome (MMIHS) is characterized by prenatal-onset distended urinary bladder with functional intestinal obstruction, requiring extensive surgical intervention for survival. While it is believed to be an autosomal recessive disorder, most cases are sporadic. Through whole-exome sequencing in a child with MMIHS, we identified a de novo mutation, p.R178L, in the gene encoding the smooth muscle gamma-2 actin, ACTG2. We subsequently detected another de novo ACTG2 mutation, p.R178C, in an additional child with MMIHS. Actg2 transcripts were primarily found in murine urinary bladder and intestinal tissues. Structural analysis and functional experiments suggested that both ACTG2 mutants interfere with proper polymerization of ACTG2 into thin filaments, leading to impaired contractility of the smooth muscle. In conclusion, our study suggests a pathogenic mechanism for MMIHS by identifying causative ACTG2 mutations.
Stoichiometry effects on the deformation of binary TiAl alloys

The room temperature deformation behavior and microstructure of Ti 48 Al 52 and Ti 52 Al 48 alloys are compared. The material was fabricated by rapid solidification melt spinning, and examined in both as-cast and consolidated forms. The Ti 52 Al 48 alloy exhibited enhanced strength and ductility in both forms in bend tests compared with the Ti 48 Al 52 alloy. The microstructure of the Ti 52 Al 48 alloy was two-phase γ–TiAl and α 2 –Ti 3 Al. The Ti 48 Al 52 alloy was single-phase γ–TiAl and had a larger grain size than the previous alloy. The microstructure of the Ti 52 Al 48 alloy after room temperature deformation consisted primarily of {111} mechanical twins and a /2〈110〉 perfect dislocations. The comparable Ti 48 Al 52 alloy microstructure contained fewer twins, and many more a 〈101〉 and a /2〈112〉 superdislocations were present in addition to a /2〈110〉 dislocations. The superdislocations had dissociated and formed sessile faulted dipoles. The possible reasons for the differences in microstructure and mechanical behavior between these two alloys are discussed.
Cubic spline collocation method for the simulation of turbulent thermal convection in compressible fluids

A collocation method using cubic splines is developed and applied to simulate steady and time-dependent, including turbulent, thermally convecting flows for two-dimensional compressible fluids. The state variables and the fluxes of the conserved quantities are approximated by cubic splines in both space direction. This method is shown to be numerically conservative and to have a local truncation error proportional to the fourth power of the grid spacing. A ''dual-staggered'' Cartesian grid, where energy and momentum are updated on one grid and mass density on the other, is used to discretize the flux form of the compressible Navier-Stokes equations. Each grid-line is staggered so that the fluxes, in each direction, are calculated at the grid midpoints. This numerical method is validated by simulating thermally convecting flows, from steady to turbulent, reproducing known results. Once validated, the method is used to investigate many aspects of thermal convection with high numerical accuracy. Simulations demonstrate that multiple steady solutions can coexist at the same Rayleigh number for compressible convection. As a system is driven further from equilibrium, a drop in the time-averaged dimensionless heat flux (and the dimensionless internal entropy production rate) occurs at the transition from laminar-periodic to chaotic flow. This observation ismore » consistent with experiments of real convecting fluids. Near this transition, both harmonic and chaotic solutions may exist for the same Rayleigh number. The chaotic flow loses phase-space information at a greater rate, while the periodic flow transports heat (produces entropy) more effectively. A linear sum of the dimensionless forms of these rates connects the two flow morphologies over the entire range for which they coexist. For simulations of systems with higher Rayleigh numbers, a scaling relation exists relating the dimensionless heat flux to the two-seventh's power of the Rayleigh number, suggesting the existence of ''hard'' turbulence in two-dimensional compressible convection.« less
Nuclear-cytosol interactions that facilitate release of RNA from mouse brain nuclei.

— Mouse brain nuclei were incubated in vitro under conditions that primarily lead to the synthesis of radioactive polydisperse and messengerlike nuclear RNA. After incubation the effects of Mg2 concentrations, nucleoside triphosphate levels and brain cytosol were examined with regard to their ability to influence the release of RNA from brain nuclei. The presence of 8 mM-MgCl2 and a total of 0.3 mM-nuclcoside triphosphates during the labelling procedure allowed only a minimal amount of RNA to be released. However, when the MgCl2 was decreased to 2 mM and the nucleoside triphosphates were increased to 1 mM, a stimulation of RNA release was observed. The addition of unfractionated brain cytosol under these conditions resulted in an inhibition of RNA release. G-100 Sephadex filtration removed detectable RNase activity from the cytosol preparations and allowed the identification of fractions that were able to facilitate nuclear RNA release by 3-fold. The fractions that stimulated release did not have detectable levels of RNase, protease or DNA-dependenl RNA polymerase. Under conditions that provided maximum nuclear RNA release by both labelled mouse brain and neuroblastoma nuclei, no release of DNA could be measured. The cytosol fractions that facilitated RNA release did not have a high affinity for nuclear RNA or an ability to stimulate nuclear RNA synthesis. However, other components in the cytosol were shown to stimulate RNA metabolism in isolated mouse brain nuclei and to have a relatively high binding affinity to nuclear RNA. Further purification of the RNA release components in the brain cytosol by DEAF. Sephadex chromatography allowed an increase in specific activity of at least 40-fold. The thermal lability, effective filtration size, and solubility in phenol suggested that the cytosol factors that facilitiated nuclear RNA release were associated with cellular proteins.
Genetic variation in a metabolic signaling pathway and colon and rectal cancer risk: mTOR, PTEN, STK11, RPKAA1, PRKAG2, TSC1, TSC2, PI3K and Akt1

Serine/threonine protein kinase 11 (STK11) and phosphatase tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) link insulin sensitivity and metabolic signaling to inflammation and other hormonal factors and colorectal cancer. We evaluate genetic variation in nine genes in a candidate pathway as follows: STK11 (3 tagSNPs), PTEN (9 tagSNPs), FRAP1 (mTOR) (4 tagSNPs), TSC1 (14 tagSNPs), TSC2 (8 tagSNPs), Akt1 (2 tagSNPs), PIK3CA (7 tagSNPs), PRKAA1 (13 tagSNPs) and PRKAG2 (68 tagSNPs) in two population-based case-control studies of colon (n = 1574 cases, 1940 controls) and rectal (n = 91 cases, 999 controls) cancer. FRAP1, PRKAA1, PRKAG2 and TSC2 genes were significantly associated with colon cancer; risk estimates ranged from 1.21 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05-1.38] for FRAP1rs1057079 for the AG/GG genotype to 1.51 (95% CI 1.09-2.09) for PRKAG2rs9648723 CC genotype. PIK3CA, PRKAG2, PTEN, STK11 and TSC1 were significantly associated with rectal cancer overall. The strongest association was observed for PIK3CA rs7651265 GG genotype (odds ratio 2.32 95% CI 1.02-5.30). FRAP1 was associated with microsatellite instability (MSI)+ colon tumors; PRKAA1, CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP)+ and MSI+ colon tumors; PRKAG2 and KRAS2 colon tumors; TSC1 and CIMP+ and MSI+ colon tumors; TSC2 with MSI+ colon tumors; PIK3CA with KRAS2-mutated rectal tumors; PRKAG2 (rs6964824) with KRAS2- and TP53-mutated rectal tumors and with PRKAG2 (rs412396 and rs4725431) with CIMP+ rectal tumors. These data suggest that genetic variation in a predefined candidate pathway for colorectal cancer contributes to both colon and rectal cancer risk. Associations appear to be strongest for CIMP+ and MSI+ tumors.
Malleable skin coloration in cephalopods: selective reflectance, transmission and absorbance of light by chromatophores and iridophores

Nature's best-known example of colorful, changeable, and diverse skin patterning is found in cephalopods. Color and pattern changes in squid skin are mediated by the action of thousands of pigmented chromatophore organs in combination with subjacent light-reflecting iridophore cells. Chromatophores (brown, red, yellow pigment) are innervated directly by the brain and can quickly expand and retract over underlying iridophore cells (red, orange, yellow, green, blue iridescence). Here, we present the first spectral account of the colors that are produced by the interaction between chromatophores and iridophores in squid (Loligo pealeii). Using a spectrometer, we have acquired highly focused reflectance measurements of chromatophores, iridophores, and the quality and quantity of light reflected when both interact. Results indicate that the light reflected from iridophores can be filtered by the chromatophores, enhancing their appearance. We have also measured polarization aspects of iridophores and chromatophores and show that, whereas structurally reflecting iridophores polarize light at certain angles, pigmentary chromatophores do not. We have further measured the reflectance change that iridophores undergo during physiological activity, from "off" to various degrees of "on", revealing specifically the way that colors shift from the longer end (infra-red and red) to the shorter (blue) end of the spectrum. By demonstrating that three color classes of pigments, combined with a single type of reflective cell, produce colors that envelop the whole of the visible spectrum, this study provides an insight into the optical mechanisms employed by the elaborate skin of cephalopods to give the extreme diversity that enables their dynamic camouflage and signaling.
Insulating gate III-N heterostructure field-effect transistors for high-power microwave and switching applications

Describes the properties of novel III-N-based insulating gate heterostructure field-effect transistors (HFETs). For the gate isolation, these devices use either SiO/sub 2/ layer (in metal-oxide-semiconductor HFET (MOSHFET) structures) or Si/sub 3/N/sub 4/ layer (in metal-insulator-semiconductor HFET structures). These insulating gate HFETs have the gate-leakage currents 4-6 orders of magnitude lower than HFETs, even at elevated temperatures up to 300/spl deg/C. A double-heterostructure MOSHFET with SiO/sub 2/ gate isolation exhibits current collapse-free performance with extremely low gate-leakage current. Insulating gate devices, including large periphery multigate structures, demonstrate high-power stable operation and might find applications in high-performance power amplifiers and microwave and high-power switches with operating temperatures up to 300/spl deg/C or even higher.
The involvement of cyclic AMP in the hormonal regulation of protein synthesis in rat adipocytes.

The involvement of cyclic 3′,5′ AMP has been examined in the regulation of protein synthesis by ACTH, epinephrine and insulin in fat cells isolated from rat epididymal adipose tissue. Cyclic AMP was measured in fat cell suspensions by radioimmunoassay and found to be 7.9 ± 0.63 pmoles/mg protein. The cyclic 3′,5′ GMP level was an order of magnitude lower at 0.46 ± 0.07 pmoles/mg protein and was unaffected by ACTH, epinephrine or insulin. Increasing doses of theophylline, ACTH and epinephrine produced a progressive increase in cyclic AMP levels and glycerol release coupled with a reciprocal inhibition of protein synthesis. For the same elevation of cyclic AMP levels, ACTH inhibited protein synthesis to a greater degree than epinephrine while theophylline produced an inhibition much greater than either of the lipolytic hormones. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP, 0.05–5.0 mM, produced an increasing rate of lipolysis with a concomitant decrease in the rate of protein synthesis. Time course studies revealed that cyclic AM...
Personal Dashboards: A Cutting Edge Faculty Performance Evaluation System

Northwest Missouri State University, a two-time winner of the Missouri Quality Award and two-time finalist for the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award, has a long history of quality in higher education. Dr. Dean Hubbard, university President for the last 20 years, has pioneered the quality movement in higher education. Northwest’s Seven-Step Planning Process has become a benchmark process that many other institutions have mimicked through the years. Quality is truly the guiding force for our institution. Many years ago, President Hubbard and his staff brainstormed the most important indicators of quality at the institutional level. These indicators are continuously monitored and revised through a data management device that became known as the University’s “Dashboard” system, not dissimilar in concept to the dashboard of indicators one can find in any automobile or aircraft. We have taken this institutional approach of driving and managing quality, and applied it to individual faculty performance measurement. We have developed a series of job performance indicators designed to help faculty continuously improve their own performance, and to help administers monitor, track and reward high-achievers, and motivate those in need of assistance.
Satellite Tracking of Bowhead Whales: The Planning Phase

4 Introduction 4 Methods 6 Results 6 Discussion 10 Acknowledgements 11 Study Products 11 References 11 Appendix A — Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission Meeting Handout 15 Appendix B — Agenda for the Bowhead Tagging Work Session 17 Appendix C — Summary of Bowhead Satellite Tracking Work Session 19 Appendix D — Bowhead Whale Satellite Tagging Project Update to AEWC 24
Abstract 3956: Outcomes of Patients Undergoing Endovascular Treatment for Mycotic Intracranial Aneurysms

Background: Mycotic intracranial aneurysms are rare with primary treatment focusing on underlying infection to reduce the high mortality rates. Treating these aneurysms remains challenging and obli...
Integrated multimodal interaction using normal maps

In this paper, we explore texture mapping as a unified representation for enabling realistic multimodal interaction with finely-detailed surfaces. We first present a novel approach to modifying collision handling between textured rigid-body objects; we then show how normal maps can be adopted as a unified representation to synthesize complex sound effects from long-lasting collisions and perform rendering of haptic textures. The resulting multimodal display system allows a user to see, hear, and feel complex interactions with textured surfaces. By using normal maps as a unified representation for seamlessly integrated multimodal interaction instead of complex triangular meshes otherwise required, this work is able to achieve up to 25 times performance speedup and reduce up to six orders of magnitude in memory storage. We further validate the results through a user study which demonstrates that the subjects are able to correctly identify the material texture of a surface through interaction with its normal map.
Measuring representation: rethinking the role of exclusion

Jane Mansbridge (see Chapter 2) recommends understanding the “core” of democratic political representation as a selection model. More speciﬁcally, she envisions representation as a principal-agent relationship, for example the principal are the constituents and the agent is the representative. The selection model assumes that the potential agent already has “self-motivated, exogenous reasons” for doing what the principal wants. Such a model presupposes that democratic representation primarily requires getting the right people with the right motivations into politics. Inclusion is the central and constitutive feature of democratic representation. Following Mansbridge’s logic, democratic citizens need better mechanisms, for example deliberative forums, for selecting their representatives aswell as institutional incentives that support aligning the interests of constituents with their representatives’. In this way, Mansbridge argues for bringing “more selection” into the democratic processes. Mansbridge’s argument partially turns on her scepticism about the eﬃciencyand desirability of the sanctioning model. The sanctioning model, which she claims is a predominant model many political scientists use for understanding representation, assumes that constituents’ interests conﬂict with those of their representatives. Such conﬂicts require constituents to punish representatives who fail to act in their constituents’ interests, for example voting a corrupt politician out of oﬃce. Such sanctioning mechanisms, which are diﬃcult to enact and costly, ensure accountability and transparency in democratic politics. Admittedly, Mansbridge recognizes that selection is always mixed with sanc-tions and that the selection model should be equal partners with the sanctions model. Nevertheless, she still contends that:it helps to think of the selection model as having selection at its core and sanctions at its periphery. In this core-periphery conﬁguration, most of the congruence between the principals’ desires and the agent’s behaviour is accomplished by the voters selecting a representative who is honest, competent, and already has policy goals much like the constituents’. The strongest and most central mechanism for representing the constituent’sviews is selection, while sanction works at the edges of the system, disciplining the selected representative’s tendencies to deviation only lightly and in the most important places [my emphasis; see Chapter 2].
Assured identity for the cloud

It has been widely reported the largest security concerns with cloud computing design and implementation are centered on identity and access management. Pearson (2009) identifies open security challenges such as where processing takes place, auditability of transactions, and data sensitivity in distributed systems. Cloud computing builds on prior research in virtualization, distributed computing, utility computing, networking, and web services (Vouk, 2008). A recent study conducted by the Office of Homeland Security found that cyber security is a national problem (Homeland Security, 2009). The study recommended that "managing identities" must be part of a comprehensive national cyber security strategy. The Department of Defense Cyber, Identity, and Information Assurance Strategic Plan calls for systems and security to be united. In this research project, an approach to enabling assured identity and access management controls specifically in cloud computing environments was evaluated. The research designed and implemented the Assured Identity Management Systems (AIMS) using the systems engineering process (SEP). The evaluation of use cases and sequence diagrams demonstrated the capability for identity assurance with lifecycle events in cloud computing environments. The dissertation study designed an extensible model including requirements, use cases, context diagrams, sequence diagrams, reusable components to further the adoption of cloud computing, and a prototype built using interoperable cloud and virtualization technologies. The research supports the 2011 U.S. Federal Cloud Computing Strategy as well as the Standards Acceleration to Jumpstart Adoption of Cloud Computing (SAJACC) initiative. The dissertation research contributes to the body of knowledge in systems management, security, cloud computing and virtualization.
Universal quantifier derived from AFM analysis links cellular mechanical properties and cell-surface integration forces with microbial deposition and transport behavior.

In this study, we employed AFM analysis combined with mathematical modeling for quantifying cell–surface contact mechanics and magnitude and range of cell–surface interaction forces for seven bacterial strains with a wide range of cell morphology, dimension, and surface characteristics. Comprehensive cell–surface characterization including surface charge, extracellular polymeric substance content, hydrophobicity, and cell–cell aggregation analyses were performed. Flow-through column tests were employed to determine the attachment efficiency and deposition–transport behavior of these bacterial strains. No statistically significant correlation between attachment efficiency and any single-cell surface property was identified. Single-cell characterization by atomic force microscopy (AFM) yielded the mechanical deformation and elastic modulus, penetration resistance to AFM probe penetration by cellular surface substances (CSS), range and magnitude of the repulsive–attractive intersurface forces, and geometry o...
THE ADAPTIVE SIGNIFICANCES OF INTRASPECIFIC TRENDS OF VARIATION IN WING LENGTH AND BODY SIZE AMONG BIRD SPECIES

This paper describes the various trends of clinal variation in wing length (usually thought to be an indicator of body size; see Amadon, 1943) in continental bird species having wide distributions. Attempts are made to evaluate the several hypotheses put forward by various workers as possible explanations for the actions and interactions of the selection forces apparently responsible for these trends. Recently there has been a renewed interest in the old, and still unresolved, evolutionary problem of the adaptive meanings of intraspecific variation in body size. This interest in the adaptation of homeothermic animals at the population or intraspecific level has been shown by two groups of workers differing in methodology of approach: adaptation physiologists (e.g., Scholander, et al., 1950a, 1950b; Scholander, 1955, 1956; Irving, 1957, 1960) studying heat conservation and dissipation in individuals of mammalian and avian species; and population evolutionists (e.g., Traylor, 1950; Snow, 1954; Salomonsen, 1955; Mayr, 1956; Moreau, 1957; Hamilton, 1958) studying intraspecific variations of biological characters of wide-ranging species of birds. The former group, rediscovering the long-known rule that body insulation is relatively greater in homeothermic individuals of colder regions (see, e.g., Rensch, 1939a), have criticized the old concept that heat conservation is one of the physiological principles underlying Bergmann's rule, and have gone so far as to deny the validity of the ecogeographical rules. Starting from the studies and summaries of Rand (1936), Huxley (1939, 1942), Rensch (1939a), Miller (1941), Mayr (1942), and Pitelka (1951)1, the evolutionists, working with population samples, have concentrated on determining the statistical validity and degree of expression of ecogeographic variation. Secondarily they have speculated on the factors responsible for the often noticeable correlations between biological character clines and gradients of the environment. Geographic variations of biological characters such as wing, bill, and tail lengths are generally not random, but orderly, for wide-ranging, continuously distributed, sedentary species. It follows then that selection forces-admittedly operating through unknown mechanisms-are responsible for the non-random nature of ecogeographic variation. A corollary of this statement is that the characters involved are genotypic adjustments to geographically differential selection pressures. However, whether the biological characters manifested as clines are genotypic or phenotypic is not a problem that necessarily strikes at the foundation of the theory of ecogeographic adaptation. As will be discussed below (p. 191), the theory of initial phenotypic adjustments followed by genotypic control is one explanation (the Baldwin effect) for the occurrence of climatic adaptation at the intraspecific level. Much of the confusion concerning the interpretation of ecogeographical rules stems from a misunderstanding of the
Observation of Multiple, Identical Binding Sites in the Exchange of Carboxylic Acid Ligands with CdS Nanocrystals.

We study ligand exchange between the carboxylic acid group and 5.0 nm oleic-acid capped CdS nanocrystals (NCs) using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). This is the first measurement of the initial binding events between cadmium chalcogenide NCs and carboxylic acid groups. The binding behavior can be described as an interaction between a ligand with single binding group and a substrate with multiple, identical binding sites. Assuming Poissonian binding statistics, our model fits both steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence (SSPL and TRPL, respectively) data well. A modified Langmuir isotherm reveals that a CdS nanoparticle has an average of 3.0 new carboxylic acid ligands and binding constant, Ka, of 3.4 × 105 M–1.
The “Doc Fix” — Another Missed Opportunity

Congress has once again temporarily overridden Medicare's physician-fee cuts mandated by the sustainable growth rate formula, rather than permanently eliminating the formula. But recent bills providing a permanent fix may provide hope for more definitive action soon.
Life-History Studies of Amblyseius limonicus, with Comparative Observations on Amblyseius hibisci (Acarina: Phytoseiidae)

Amblyseius limonicus Garman and McGregor fed readily on both adults and immatures of the spider mites Panonychus citri (McGregor), Oligonychus punicae (Hirst), and Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval) on excised avocado leaves, but became entangled in the webbing and died when introduced to a dense colony of the latter species on excised castor bean leaves. The citrus rust mite, Phyllocoptruta oleivora (Ashmead), was fed on but was not a satisfactory food for development or oviposition. Several kinds of pollens were readily fed on. At 72°F, a generation was completed in 8–9 days and females laid about 2 eggs per day on a diet of either citrus red mites (P. citri) or Mesembryanthemum pollen. At 80° F, an average of 2.7 eggs per female per day was laid. Citrus nectar and mealybug honeydew induced a limited amount of reproduction and greatly increased survival of adult females. A. limonicus had a greater capacity for consuming mite prey and a higher rate of reproduction when feeding on mites than A. hibisci (Chant). Eggs of A. limonicus required a higher humidity for hatching than those of A. hibisci.
ATPase activity of the erythrocytic membrane in anaplasmosis and of Anaplasma marginale.

SummaryThe erythrocytic AT Pase activity of uninfected calves and calves infected with Anaplasma marginale was determined. Samples from infected animals showed increased ATPase activity during the initial appearance of marginal bodies in the erythro-cytes and at the peak of infection. In view of this increase the possibility of enzyme activity in the Anaplasma bodies per se was investigated. Marginal bodies were purified and subjected to sucrose density-gradient sedimentation procedures. It was demonstrated that fractions containing purified marginal bodies possessed significant ATPase activity. The possible relationship between this activity and the pathology of anaplasmosis was discussed.
Time Trends, Predictors, and Outcome of Emergency Department Use for Gout: A Nationwide US Study.

Objective. To assess gout-related emergency department (ED) use/charges and discharge disposition. Methods. We used the US National ED Sample (NEDS) data to examine the time trends in total ED visits and charges and ED-related hospitalizations with gout as the primary diagnosis. We assessed multivariable-adjusted predictors of ED charges and hospitalization for gout-related visits using the 2012 NEDS data. Results. There were 180,789, 201,044, and 205,152 ED visits in 2009, 2010, and 2012 with gout as the primary diagnosis, with total ED charges of $195 million, $239 million, and $287 million, respectively; these accounted for 0.14%–0.16% of all ED visits. Mean/median 2012 ED charges/visit were $1398/$956. Of all gout-related ED visits, 7.7% were admitted to the hospital in 2012. Mean/median length of hospital stay was 3.9/2.6 days and mean/median inpatient charge/admission with gout as the primary diagnosis was $22,066/$15,912 in 2012. In multivariable-adjusted analyses, these factors were associated with higher ED charges: older age, female sex, highest income quartile, being uninsured, metropolitan residence, Western United States hospital location, heart disease, renal failure, heart failure, hypertension (HTN), diabetes, osteoarthritis (OA), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). These factors were associated with higher odds of hospitalization: older age, Northeast location, metropolitan teaching hospital, higher income quartile, heart disease, renal failure, heart failure, hyperlipidemia, HTN, diabetes, COPD, and OA, whereas self-pay insurance status was associated with lower odds of hospitalization, following an ED visit for gout. Conclusion. Absolute ED use and charges for gout increased over time, but relative use remained stable. Modifiable comorbidity factors associated with higher gout-related use should be targeted to reduce morbidity and healthcare use.
Thoracic influence on upper airway patency

Patency of the upper airway (UA) is usually considered to be maintained by the activity of muscles in the head and neck. These include cervical muscles that provide caudal traction on the UA. The thorax also applies caudal traction to the UA. To observe whether this thoracic traction can also improve UA patency, we measured resistance of the UA (RUA) during breathing in the presence and absence of UA muscle activity. Fifteen anesthetized dogs breathed through tracheostomy tubes. RUA was calculated from the pressure drop of a constant flow through the isolated UA. RUA decreased 31 +/- 5% (SEM) during inspiration. After hyperventilating seven of these dogs to apnea, we maximally stimulated the phrenic nerves to produce paced diaphragmatic breathing. Despite absence of UA muscle activity, RUA fell 51 +/- 11% during inspiration. Graded changes were produced by reduced stimulation. In six other dogs we denervated all UA muscles. RUA still fell 25 +/- 7% with inspiration in these spontaneously breathing animals. When all caudal ventrolateral cervical structures mechanically linking the thorax to the UA were severed, RUA increased and respiratory fluctuations ceased. These findings indicate that tonic and phasic forces generated by the thorax can improve UA patency. Inspiratory increases in UA patency cannot be attributed solely to activity of UA muscles.
Preliminary Study Computer Applications of Teaching Method

At present,many colleges and universities of Computer Science students' Enrollment status are not as good as in previous years,The main reason that is the professional content is too wide,And many non-computer professional also open some of the professional-re-lated courses,This requires computer professional should be specific to a particular aspect,to embody truly the "professionalism".To foster grass-roots-oriented technology,technology management and services of all kinds of application-oriented personnel for the purpose,to employment-oriented,the computer application which professional courses and the teaching content will be characteristics.
Prevalence of HIV infection and its epidemic characteristics among pregnant women in Xinjiang,2004-2012

Objective To understand the prevalence of HIV infection and its characteristics among pregnant women in Xinjiang. Methods The reports of pregnant women HIV antibody screening and HIV positive cases in prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV management information system from 2004 to 2012 were analyzed. Results The total detection rate and the new HIV infection rates were 0. 20% and 0. 13% among pregnant women from 2004 to 2012 in Xinjiang. Since 2007,the total detection rate of HIV and new HIV infection rate showed declining trends by years,but local areas appeared serious outbreaks. HIV positive pregnant women were mainly the Uyghur's,the average age of( 28. 5 ± 5. 2) years,69. 59% of them had junior high school education level or lower. 83. 44% of them were farmers or unemployed. 58. 42% of them were infected through sexual contact,35. 92% of them were infected by unknown ways. 29. 05% of them were found in delivery or postpartum. Conclusion The rate of HIV infection in pregnant women was declined by years in Xinjiang,but it was serious in local areas. It is suggested to strengthen AIDS prevention and control work among target crowded,and to increase the intensity of prevention on mother-to-child transmission route in community health education.
Mao Zedong and Socialism with Chinese Characteristics

The celebration of the 60th anniversary of founding of new China,Mao Zedong and should be the relationship between socialism with Chinese characteristics and make a correct historical evaluation of the objective.Mao Zedong is modern China's greatest national hero,he created a new China,in order to lay the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics,the most fundamental realities of the most important historical premise.Mao Zedong was a pioneer of the socialist road with Chinese characteristics.Mao Tse-tung is the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics,a prelude to who.Mao Zedong's mistakes in his later years the building of socialism with Chinese characteristics is a valuable spiritual wealth.This is the Mao Zedong and the relationship between socialism with Chinese characteristics.
First-Principles Predictions of Structure–Function Relationships of Graphene-Supported Platinum Nanoclusters

Platinum-based materials play an important role as electrocatalysts in energy conversion technologies. Graphene-supported Pt nanoclusters were recently found to be promising electrocatalysts for fuel-cell applications due to their enhanced activity and tolerance to CO poisoning as well as their long-term stability toward sintering. However, structure–function relationships that underpin the improved performance of these catalysts are still not well understood. Here, we employ a combination of empirical potential simulations and density functional theory (DFT) calculations to investigate structure–function relationships of small PtN (N = 2–80) clusters on model carbon (graphene) supports. A bond-order empirical potential is employed within a genetic algorithm to go beyond local optimizations in obtaining minimum-energy structures of PtN clusters on pristine as well as defective graphene supports. Point defects in graphene strongly anchor Pt clusters and also appreciably affect the morphologies of small clu...
Discrete Control-System Models

This chapter discusses the development of mathematical models of control systems. As the major interest in the study of control systems is usually in the system output and other variables as functions of time, these models are of necessity dynamic. Thus, for continuous-time systems the system models are generally in the form of differential equations, for discrete-time systems, difference equation models result. As difference equations provide the basic structure of almost all the models of discrete-time control systems, it is important to define the terms that are used in discussing difference equations, such as independent variable, dependent variables, forcing function, difference, difference equation, linear difference equation, linear difference equation with constant coefficients, and order. In dealing with a generalized system where the product could be inherently either discrete or continuous and possibilities for output sampling should be maintained, it is convenient to consider the index i as related to the number of times the switch S is closed relative to the appropriate time origin.
Strategies Low-Income Parents Use to Overcome Their Children’s Food Refusal

Introduction Parents play a key role in the development of eating habits in preschool children, as they are the food “gatekeepers.” Repeated exposure to new foods can improve child food preferences and consumption. The objective of this study was to determine parent feeding strategies used to influence child acceptance of previously rejected foods (PRF). Methods We conducted eighteen focus groups (total participants = 111) with low-income African American and Hispanic parents of preschool children (3- to 5-year-olds) in Texas, Colorado, and Washington. Through thematic analysis, we coded transcripts and analyzed coded quotes to develop dominant emergent themes related to strategies used to overcome children’s food refusal. Results We found three major themes in the data: parents most often do not serve PRF; parents value their child eating over liking a food; and parents rarely use the same feeding strategy more than once for a PRF. Desiring to reduce waste and save time, parents said they most often intentionally decided not to purchase or serve PRF to their children. Discussion Because parents’ primary goal in child feeding is getting children to eat (over acceptance of a variety of foods), strategies to help parents promote consumption of less easily accepted foods could help parents with child feeding struggles and improve children’s dietary quality.
Growing a Surrogate Organ in Lymph Node

Currently, the shortage of organs available for transplant into terminally ill patients represents a major worldwide medical, social, and economic challenge. For many years, the transplant of (stem) cells to regenerate failing organs has been proposed as an alternative to whole-organ transplantation. However, orthotopic cell-based therapy directed at a diseased organ may not be feasible for many patients. The efficacy of cell-based therapy becomes questionable in disease states which compromise the environment needed for cellular engraftment and function. This is true in many end stage organ failure scenarios such as cirrhotic or fibrotic liver. In another such example, DiGeorge syndrome patients suffer from an absence of thymic development causing severe immunodeficiency. In this instance, ectopic transplantation of allografted tissue is necessary to replace thymic function. Consequently, a critical component of cell therapy for these patients is the establishment of an optimal in vivo ectopic cell or tissue transplant site to achieve restoration of organ function. We have pioneered use of the lymph node as a site for ectopic tissue and organ development. In this chapter, we will discuss two applications, the transplantation of hepatocytes and thymic tissues in lymph node, to develop functional ectopic organs.
Firmly Planted, Always Moving.

I was a budding pianist immersed in music in Leningrad, in the Soviet Union (now Saint Petersburg, Russia), when I started over, giving up sheet music for the study of ciliates. In a second starting-over story, I emigrated to the United States, where I switched to studying carbohydrate-binding plant lectin proteins, dissecting plant vesicular trafficking, and isolating novel glycosyltransferases responsible for making cell wall polysaccharides. I track my journey as a plant biologist from student to principal investigator to founding director of the Center for Plant Cell Biology and then director of the Institute for Integrative Genome Biology at the University of California, Riverside. I discuss implementing a new vision as the first and (so far) only female editor in chief of Plant Physiology, as well as how my laboratory helped develop chemical genomics tools to study the functions of essential plant proteins. Always wanting to give back what I received, I discuss my present efforts to develop female s...
Abstract LB-064: Characterization of the tumor suppressor function of the lysine-specific methyltransferase KMT2D in follicular lymphoma

Proceedings: AACR 106th Annual Meeting 2015; April 18-22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA Follicular lymphoma (FL) is a common and incurable form indolent B-cell lymphoma. Genomic studies have now catalogued many recurrent mutations in FL. Epigenetic regulators have emerged as the most common targets of somatic point mutations. For example, the histone methyltransferase KMT2D (MLL4/MLL2) is the most frequently mutated gene in FL with reported mutational frequencies of up to 84%. However, the transcriptional and biological consequences of KMT2D loss of function are currently unknown. Using a well-described murine model of FL, we showed that deficiency of KMT2D promotes the initiation of indolent FL in vivo. To explore the mechanism of KMT2D-mediated tumor suppression we used cross species comparisons of gene expression, histone H3K4 methylation marks and KMT2D genomic occupancy. These analyses converge on a relatively small group of conserved target genes. Strikingly, they include bona fide tumor suppressors and regulators of B-cell proliferation (e.g. TNFAIP3/A20, SOCS3, ARID1A, and TNFRSF14). Our results indicate that KMT2D restrains FL development through simultaneous effects on multiple key regulators of B-cell behavior. Note: This abstract was not presented at the meeting. Citation Format: Ana Ortega-Molina, Isaac Boss, Heng Pan, Yanwen Jiang, Deqing Hu, Xin Gao, Rita Shaknovich, Ali Shilatifard, Ari M. Melnick, Hans-Guido Wendel. Characterization of the tumor suppressor function of the lysine-specific methyltransferase KMT2D in follicular lymphoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-064. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-LB-064
An Approximate Frobenius Theorem

Abstract In this paper, we consider the approximate integrability of a smooth nonsingular distribution around a manifold. We give sufficient conditions for the distribution to be order ρ -1 integrable around a manifold. If the distribution is transverse to the manifold, then the sufficient conditions are also necessary. Except for the error terms, our result is similar to the Frobenius Theorem. We also use an example to show the application of the approximate Frobenius Theorem to the approximate feedback linearization of a nonlinear control system about the equilibrium manifold.