cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Factor VIIa and Thrombin Induce the Expression of Cyr61 and Connective Tissue Growth Factor, Extracellular Matrix Signaling Proteins That Could Act as Possible Downstream Mediators in Factor VIIa·Tissue Factor-induced Signal Transduction

Abstract Extracellular interactions of plasma clotting factor VIIa (FVIIa) with tissue factor (TF) on cell surfaces trigger the intracellular signaling events. At present, it is unclear how these signals influence phenotype. To elucidate this, we have used cDNA microarray technology to examine changes in transcriptional program in human fibroblasts in response to exposure to FVIIa. cDNA microarrays revealed that FVIIa binding to TF up-regulated the expression of Cyr61 and CTGF (connective tissue growth factor), the genes that encode extracellular matrix signaling proteins Cyr61 and CTGF, respectively. Northern blot analysis confirmed that FVIIa binding to TF markedly increased the expression ofCyr61 and CTGF in a time- and dose-dependent manner. FVIIa catalytic activity is required for the gene induction. In addition to FVIIa, thrombin also induced the expression of Cyr61 and CTGF. Hirudin abolished the thrombin-induced expression of these mRNAs but not the FVIIa-induced expression. FVIIa-induced expression of Cyr61appears not to involve the currently known protease-activated receptors (PARs), whereas thrombin-induced expression involves the activation of PAR1 and possibly an additional PAR. Various intracellular signaling pathway inhibitors exhibited different inhibitory pattern on FVIIa and thrombin-induced up-regulation of Cyr61. Cyr61 and CTGF could act as downstream mediators of FVIIa·TF in affecting various biological processes.
The Prevention of Postoperative Urinary Retention by Hypnosis

(1961). The Prevention of Postoperative Urinary Retention by Hypnosis. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis: Vol. 3, No. 4, pp. 235-237.
Identification of PINCH in Schwann cells and DRG neurons: shuttling and signaling after nerve injury.

Particularly interesting new cysteine-histidine rich protein (PINCH) is a double zinc finger domain (LIM)-only adapter protein that functions to recruit the integrin-linked kinase (ILK) to sites of integrin activation. Genetic studies have shown that PINCH and ILK are required for integrin signaling. Since integrin activation is associated with Schwann cell migration, neurite outgrowth and regeneration, this study examined PINCH in the normal peripheral nervous system and after chronic constriction injury (CCI) in adult Sprague-Dawley rats. Immunohistochemistry identified PINCH immunoreactivity in cell bodies of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons, axons, satellite cells, and Schwann cells. PINCH immunostaining was localized to the membrane of uninjured DRG cell bodies consistent with its localization at a site of integrin activation. In contrast, 5 days following CCI, PINCH immunostaining was diffuse throughout the DRG cell cytoplasm. Confocal microscopy of primary and transformed Schwann cells localized PINCH in cytoplasmic, perinuclear and nuclear areas. Examination of the PINCH sequence revealed a putative leucine-rich nuclear export signal (NES) and an overlapping basic nuclear localization signal (NLS). To demonstrate nuclear export of PINCH, rabbit anti-PINCH IgG was microinjected into Schwann cell nuclei and allowed to combine with PINCH contained within the nucleus. Immunofluorescence showed that the PINCH and anti-PINCH IgG complex rapidly translocated to the cytoplasm. Treatment with leptomycin B caused nuclear accumulation of PINCH, indicating that the CRM1 pathway mediates nuclear export of PINCH. ILK activity in Schwann cells was enhanced by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and tumor necrosis factor α. PINCH immunoprecipitates from PDGF- and TNFα-stimulated Schwann cells contained several high-molecular-weight threonine-phosphorylated proteins. Taken together, these results indicate that PINCH is an abundant shuttling/signaling protein in Schwann cells and DRG neurons. GLIA 41:213–223, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A terminology proposal

It has been suggested that we need some new words in our industry. For example, consider the following two definitions of the term random access: Access to storage under conditions in which the next position from which information is to be obtained is in no way dependent on the previous one.Feature of certain internal memory systems, particularly magnetic drum type.(In both cases the italics are the author's.)of a set of publication standards suitable for use by the Association for Computing Machinery, based on the standards adopted by the Machine Computation Committee of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. The writer, as a member of this Committee, is acting merely as agent of the Committee in presenting the following upon the request of the Editor for Standards of the ACM. This article is only a summary of the standards adopted by the AIChE; further details are contained in a pamphlet entitled “Guide to Abstracts and Manuals for Computer Program Interchange”, prepared by the Machine Computation Committee of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.1
Determination of ATP using chelation-enhanced fluorescence.

Abstract A method for the direct determination of ATP that exhibits reasonable sensitivity, and responds to very few interferants, has been developed. The chelation-enhanced fluorescence between N -(anthracen-9′-yl methyl)tris(3-aminopropyl) amine and adenosine 5′-triphosphate is utilized in this determination. The method was tested in batch and flow-injection analysis (FIA) modes. The typical detection limit for FIA determination of ATP is 1 μ M, with a linear range of 0.5–100 ppm. A typical relative standard deviation at 20 ppm is 2.3%.
Maternal obesity alters feto-placental cytochrome P4501A1 activity.

Cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1), an important drug metabolizing enzyme, is expressed in human placenta throughout gestation as well as in fetal liver. Obesity, a chronic inflammatory condition, is known to alter CYP enzyme expression in non-placental tissues. In the present study, we test the hypothesis that maternal obesity alters the distribution of CYP1A1 activity in feto-placental unit. Placentas were collected from non-obese (BMI 30) women at term. Livers were collected from gestation day 130 fetuses of non-human primates fed either control diet or high-fat diet (HFD). Cytosol and microsomes were collected using differential centrifugation, and incubated with 7- ethoxyresorufin. The CYP1A1 specific activity (pmoles of resorufin formed/min/mg of protein) was measured at excitation/emission wavelength of 530/590 nm. Placentas of obese women had significantly reduced microsomal CYP1A1 activity compared to non-obese women (0.046 vs. 0.082; p < 0.05); however no such effect was observed on cytosolic activity. Similarly, fetal liver from HFD fed mothers had significantly reduced microsomal CYP1A1 activity (0.44 � 0.04 vs. 0.20 � 0.10; p < 0.05), with no significant difference in cytosolic CYP1A1 activity (control, 1.23 � 0.20; HFD, 0.80 � 0.40). Interestingly, multiple linear regression analyses of placental efficiency indicate cytosolic CYP1A1 activity is a main effect (5.67 � 2.32 ( bSEM); p ¼ 0.022) along with BMI (� 0.57 � 0.26; p ¼ 0.037), fetal gender (1.07 � 0.26; p < 0.001), and maternal age (0.07 � 0.03; p ¼ 0.011). In summary, while maternal obesity affects microsomal CYP1A1 activity alone, cytosolic activity along with maternal BMI is an important determinant of placental efficiency. Together, these data suggest that maternal lifestyle could have a significant impact on CYP1A1 activity, and hints at a possible role for CYP1A1 in feto-placental growth and thereby well-being of fetus.
Simulation and Classification of Multi-State Diffusion on Arbitrary, Non-Euclidean Surfaces

Signaling and trafficking of membrane proteins in response to binding of extracelluar ligand proceeds through various steps that may include free diffusion, confined diffusion, immobilization, internalization, and intracellular trafficking. The rate at which a protein proceeds through such a sequence may reflect the efficacy of signaling. Each of these steps manifest as distinct types of motion that can be used to identify the state from single-particle tracking data. In order to develop methods for classification of trajectories into distinct states, we have developed a method to simulate the trajectory of a particle as it undergoes various types of motion while confined to a realistic 3D cell membrane geometry.By applying traditional cubic spline surface fitting algorithms to 3D point cloud data, we have constructed realistic surfaces upon which to simulate multi-state diffusion. We simulated single-particle diffusion on these surfaces via a random walk with a step size determined by the diffusion constant of the state in question. At each step, the random walker is allowed to move a distance equal to the step size in an arc along the fitted surface in the direction of motion. For efficiency, we precomputed the simulated state sequence using the Gillespie algorithm, which has been shown to accurately reproduce, in an ensemble of state sequences, the rates at which the particle changes state.We investigate the performance of hidden Markov model approaches for classification of states and rate constant estimation from observed trajectories. We also investigate the effect of membrane geometry on state classification when information about axial position is lost, as is typically the case when performing 2D single particle tracking.
The VOODOO experience

This short paper addresses what we have learned from Virtual Open Office Dynamic Open Office (VOODOO), an existing CSCW system that was built by the author and associates as part of his Master thesis in 1992. Our system identifies one specific set of issues for the on-line community. We have developed a set of design requirements for this class of system and have found how different media affect the way people interact.
Hyperthyroidism in a patient with a pituitary adenoma

Thyrotoxicosis is reported in an 11-year-old girl who was found to have a chromophobeadenoma of the pituitary. It is proposed that this tumor and the small number of others that have been reported were composed of thyrotropic cells, analogous to the chromophobic thyrotropic tumor cells of mice. The hyperthyroidism is considered to be secondary to the secretion of the pituitary tumor. The possibility of a pituitary tumor should be considered in patients with Graves' disease, especially in childhood, and may be recognized by examination of the visual fields and roentgenograms of the skull.
The influence of psychic costs on rural-urban migration.

Psychic costs reflect differences in interregional utility, an important determinant of population among regions. Following Sjaastad's definition of psychic costs, the consumer surplus foregone by Appalachian migrants in two urban areas was measured as the difference between current urban income and an acceptable income level in eastern Kentucky. Psychic costs varied significantly with the size of the city of destination; migrants' demographic characteristics; and their satisfaction with jobs, city services, and interpersonal relationships in the city. Mobility which reduces psychic costs contributes to social well-being but will not be measured in national economic accounts.
Genetics of eosinophilic esophagitis (EOE)

EoE is a global health condition, with an incidence of ~1 per 10,000 people in the US. Symptoms of EoE greatly impar quality of life. Individuals with EoE are predominantly young males with a high rate of atopic disease, and the diagnosis of EoE is made by endoscopy and biopsy findings of isolated eosinophils in the esophagus. Although the underlying cause remains unknown, EoE as other atopic diseases is recognized as complex genetic disorders, where multiple genes interact with each other and with the environment to trigger variable expression of the atopic phenotype. Accumulating evidence suggests that EoE has a strong familial association. Molecular analysis of esophageal biopsies and mouse models have indicated a clear role for the T helper 2 pathway, in particular interleukins 5 and 13, in this disease. In recent years, the genetics of atopy, asthma and EoE have been investigated using genome-wide linkage analyses and candidate gene association studies. Using such approach a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the human eotaxin-3 gene has been found to be associated with EoE in about 15% of the patients. Such research approach in EoE as in atopy and asthma, while providing certain valuable insights into the genetics of atopic diseases, has achieved only limited success in identifying the genetic determinants of these related disorders. More recently, however, critical information provided by the Human Genome Project and the International HapMap Project has prompted the development of unprecedented genotyping technology and tools such as genome-wide association (GWA) studies to more comprehensively investigate the genetic basis of complex diseases such as atopy and EoE. In the past year, such research approach has led to the identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the gene encoding thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), and subsequently in the gene encoding its receptor, as disease susceptibility markers for EoE. Identification of this molecule and its receptor suggest the potential for new treatment options in the future.
Blood groups of the I system in pigs: association with variants of serum amylase.

The Am I variant of porcine serum amylase was detected only in pigs having the red-cell antigen I b , whereas several I b positive pigs were found without Am I. Family and population studies show that the chromosomal loci, I and Am, are identical or closely linked. The phenotype of one exceptional progeny from a double backcross mating possibly was a result of paternal irradiation or genetic recombination during oogenesis.
The sensitized photooxygenation of methyl substituted 1,2-diphenylcyclobutenes

Abstract A series of Me substituted 1,2-diphenylcyclobutenes was subjected to dye-sensitized photooxidanon in the presence ofmethylene blue. In the case of the 3,3-dimcthyl-, 3,3,4-tnmethyl- and 3,3,4,4tetramcthyl, 2-diphcnylcyclobutencs, the sensitized oxidations arc accompanied by ring-contraction with concomitant ortho hydroxylation of one aromatic nucleus. When electron transfer induced photooxidation techniques utilizing 9,10-dicyanoanthraccne (DCA) as a sensitizer are employed with the series of Me substituted diphcnykyclobutenes, the reactions take a markedly different course and a broad spectrum of oxidation products are obtained including, most notably, ozonides of the cyclobutencs. The mechanisms of these conversions are addressed and the significance of the results discussed.
A Risk-Dominant Allocation: Maximizing Coalition Stability

This paper presents a rule to allocate a coalition’s worth for superadditive games with positive externalities. The allocation rule awards each member their outside payoff, plus an equal share of the surplus. The resulting allocation maximizes coalition stability. Stable coalitions are Strong Nash equilibria since no subset of members has an incentive to leave. Similarly, no subset of non-members has an incentive to join a stable coalition if the game is concave in this region. The allocation is risk-dominant. All stable coalitions are robust to the maximum probability of 50% that players’ deviate from their individual best-responses. The paper compares the allocation to the Shapley value and the Nash bargaining solution, and illustrates why these traditional rules result in small coalitions when applied to issues such as international environmental agreements.
SYMMETRY BREAKING AND THE PIONIC DECAYS OF K MESONS.

Symmetry-breaking corrections to the current-algebra formulas for $K\ensuremath{\rightarrow}2\ensuremath{\pi}$ and $K\ensuremath{\rightarrow}3\ensuremath{\pi}$ decays are calculated in the framework of a general form of the linear SU(3) $\ensuremath{\sigma}$ model.
Onset of Turbulence in a Rotating Fluid

Light-scattering measurements of the time-dependent local radial velocity in a rotating fluid reveal three distinct transitions as the Reynolds number is increased, each of which adds a new frequency to the velocity spectrum. At a higher, sharply defined Reynolds number all discrete spectral peaks suddenly disappear. Our observations disagree with the Landau picture of the onset of turbulence, but are perhaps consistent with proposals of Ruelle and Takens.
State Variations in Hospital Expenditures: An Ecological Approach

Hospital expenditures vary across states both in terms of the levels and growth rates. Economic status, insurance coverage (or lack thereof), health risk factors, and demographic factors are used to explain these differences. Interestingly, the prevalence of poverty rates across states does not seem to be a good predictor of differences in hospital expenditures but the percent without health insurance does relate to higher hospital expenditures, when the factors listed above are all considered. Policy discussions about universal health insurance may be missing a point if better health care coverage resulted in lower hospital costs.
Real-world applications of qualitative reasoning

Qualitative reasoning has attracted much interest from the artificial intelligence research community in the last decade. The emphasis in qualitative reasoning on making inferences about the behavior of physical systems where there is incomplete information makes the technology relevant to many real-world industrial problems. Many applications of qualitative reasoning technology have emerged for such tasks as diagnosis, design, tutoring, real-time monitoring and hazard identification. This article showcases some of these recent applications.
The prospects of combined action: Lessons from Vietnam

Military commanders, policymakers, and analysts have recently embraced the concept of combined action as a powerful tool to improve the effectiveness of Afghan security forces in the fight against the Taliban. In doing so, they explicitly draw inspiration from the Combined Action Program employed by US Marines during the Vietnam War. This program is widely considered to have greatly improved the effectiveness of South Vietnamese government forces and contributed to increased population security in its area of operations and is considered a model worthy of emulation. This study finds that the success of the Vietnam-era Combined Action Program was more qualified than contemporary proponents argue. It argues that successes were tempered, and conditioned, by the choice of junior commanders, the level of operational control enjoyed by the US Marines, and the way the local forces were recruited and deployed. These conditions offer valuable lessons for those seeking to employ combined action not only in present-...
Nitrogenase-catalyzed acrylonitrile reductions

Abstract Reduction of acrylonitrile is catalyzed by Azotobacter vinelandii nitrogenase (N 2 ase); products are propylene, propane, and ammonia but not amines or imines; H 2 evolution occurs concurrently. ATP, Mg ++ , and reductant (sodium dithionite) are required. The apparent K m for acrylonitrile is 10–50 mM. Acrylonitrile is a better N 2 ase substrate than its saturated analogs propionitrile and acetonitrile. Acrylonitrile reduction is inhibited by N 2 and CO but not by H 2 ; substrate inhibition occurs at high acrylonitrile concentrations. The partitioning of electron flow through N 2 ase between acrylonitrile reduction and H 2 production from H 3 O + was directly measured by simultaneous gas chromatographic analyses of hydrocarbons and H 2 . The effect of pH, Γ/2, and Na 2 S 2 O 4 concentrations on partitioning suggests the need for a more specific structure of or additional site on N 2 ase for acrylonitrile reduction than for H 2 evolution. D 2 O promotes acrylonitrile reduction by increasing the proportion of the total electron flow which reduces acrylonitrile. Neither the binding of acrylonitrile to N 2 ase nor the propylene/propane product ratio is significantly affected by D 2 O. The isotope effect on acrylonitrile reduction is explained in terms of relative activation energies of fast steps involved in the transfer of electrons to acrylonitrile and to H 2 O + or D 3 O + . The acrylic double bond shifts during reduction of acrylonitrile to propylene and reduction of the acrylic double bond to propane occurs in ca. 15% of the product. The propylene/propane product ratio shows major sensitivity to pH and ionic strength. Propane formation is suggested to arise from reduction of an allyl-enzyme intermediate or from reduction of acrylonitrile to enzyme-bound propionitrile and subsequent reduction of enzyme-bound propionitrile. Nitrogenase also catalyzes acrylonitrile reduction in vivo . Product ratios are similar in vivo and in vitro and are the best indication of similarity between isolated N 2 ase and in vivo N 2 ase. Compared with normal molybdenum-containing N 2 ase, N 2 ase from A. vinelandii cells grown on vanadium in place of molybdenum exhibits a larger apparent K m for acrylonitrile, a less favorable partitioning of electron flow toward acrylonitrile reduction, and a lower propylene/propane product ratio in vitro and in vivo . Molybdenum- and vanadium-containing N 2 ases show the same D 2 O enhancement of acrylonitrile reduction. In vivo and in vitro results imply a substrate site containing at least molybdenum and a close competition between acrylonitrile and H 3 O + for reducing equivalents, and are consistent with a substrate site containing both iron and molybdenum.
Analysis and Design of Reliable Computer Networks

In the design of a computer network, one of the fundamental considerations is the reliability and availability of the communication paths between all pairs of centers in the network. These characteristics are strongly dependent on the topological layout of the communication links in addition to the reliability and availability of the individual computer systems and communication facilities. Based on graph theoretic models for computer and communication networks, many different reliability measures have been defined. Attempts have been made to characterize networks that are optimal with respect to these measures. In this paper, the most significant reliability criteria and their relevance to different applications will be discussed. Furthermore, we survey the status of current research on the different criteria. The difficulties and limitations on each reliability measure will be pointed out and what seem to be the most fruitful areas for further investigation will be indicated.
Finding Sampling Distributions by a Recognition Method

Abstract Let [ttilde] be a statistic sufficient for a parameter θ and let L[θ;t) be the likelihood function of θ for given t. Suppose we recognize a function φ(t) such that L(θ;t) φ(t) regarded as a function of t for a given θ, is a density function. We show here that this is the sampling density of [ttilde] if the family of recognized densities is complete. Examples are given to illustrate that in many situations this recognition method provides a neat way of finding sampling distributions.
Phycobiliprotein synthesis in protoplasts of the unicellular cyanophyte, Anacystis nidulans.

Abstract Stable and metabolically active protoplasts were prepared from the unicellular cyanophyte, Anacystis nidulans , by enzymatic digestion of the cell wall with 0.1% lysozyme. The yield of protoplasts from intact algal cells was approx. 50%. Incorporation of l -[U- 14 C]leucine into cold trichloroacetic acid-insoluble material from protoplasts preparations was linear for 1.5 h and continued for an additional 2.5 h. Incorporation of radiolabeled leucine into hot trichloroacetic acid-insoluble material from protoplast preparations demonstrated protein synthesis in protoplasts in vitro. Phycocyanin is the principal phycobiliprotein and allophycocyanin is a minor phycobiliprotein in A. nidulans cells. The light-absorbing chromophore of both of these phycobiliproteins is the linear tetrapyrrole (bile pigment), phycocyanobilin. Radiolabeled phycocyanin and allophycocyanin were isolated from protoplast preparations which had been incubated with l -[U- 14 C]leucine or δ-amino[4- 14 C] levulinic acid (a precursor of phycocyanobilin). The radiolabeled phycobiliproteins were purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation and ion-exchange chromatography on brushite columns. The specific radioactivity of phycocyanin and allophycocyanin in brushite column eluates (protoplasts incubated with radiolabeled leucine) was 106 000 and 82 000 dpm/mg, respectively. The specific radioactivity of phycocyanin and allophycocyanin in brushite column eluates (protoplasts incubated with radiolabeled δ-aminolevulinic acid) was 33 000 and 38 000 dpm/mg, respectively. Phycobiliproteins from protoplasts incubated with radiolabeled leucine were examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. 25% of the incorporated radioactivity in protoplast lysates and approx. 60% of the incorporated radioactivity in phycocyanin and allophycocyanin (in brushite column eluates) comigrated with the subunits of these phycobiliproteins on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. Chromic acid degradation of phycobiliproteins from protoplast preparations incubated with δ-amino[4- 14 C] levulinic acid yielded radiolabeled imides which were derived from the phycocyanobilin chromophore. Imides from radiolabeled phycobiliproteins isolated from protoplast preparations incubated with l -[U- 14 C]leucine did not contain radioactivity. These results show that both the apoprotein and tetrapyrrolic moieties of phycocyanin and allophycocyanin were synthesized in A. nidulans protoplasts in vitro.
Spinal sepsis due to Streptococcus milleri: two cases and review

We have recently cared for two patients with spinal sepsis secondary to infection with Streptococcus milleri. One patient had a spinal epidural abscess and the other had meningitis as well as a spinal subdural empyema. A review of the English-language literature revealed only two previously reported cases of spinal epidural abscess due to S. milleri and no cases of spinal subdural empyema due to S. milleri. We report two cases of spinal sepsis due to S. milleri and discuss pertinent literature.
Local Control of Leg Movements and Motor Patterns during Grooming in Locusts

This study demonstrates that the thoracic and abdominal nervous system of locusts is sufficient to mediate several site-specific and distinct grooming leg movements. Locusts can use a hindleg or middle leg to groom at least four ipsilateral thoracic and abdominal sites, without input from the brain, subesophageal ganglion, or prothoracic ganglion. The hindleg is used to groom the posterior abdomen, the ventral or posterior hindleg coxa, and the ear; the middle leg is used to groom the anterior hindleg coxa. Grooming movements are often rhythmic and display site-specific intralimb coordination patterns. During grooming of the posterior abdomen or ventral hindleg coxa, for example, hindleg tibial extension occurs nearly simultaneously with femur elevation, in contrast with locust hindleg movements during walking. Electromyographic (EMG) recordings during these movements show that rhythmic bursts of tibial extensor activity occur nearly in-phase with those of trochanteral levators, in contrast to hindleg EMGs during walking. During grooming of the ear, hindleg tibial extension/flexion and tibial extensor/flexor muscle bursts can occur independently of the femur elevation/depression and trochanteral levator/depressor muscle bursts, suggesting that the neural modules controlling tibial and femoral movements can be uncoupled during this behavior. Tibial extension can occur before, or even in the absence of, tibial extensor muscle activity, suggesting that spring-like properties of the leg and energy transfer from femur motion may play important roles in such leg movements. Adjacent legs sometime show coordinated femur movement during grooming with one hindleg, suggesting that grooming may also involve interlimb coordination.
Bartonella henselae IgG antibodies are prevalent in dogs from southeastern USA.

In contrast to the large body of literature regarding Bartonella henselae in humans and cats, there is little information about B. henselae as an infectious agent in dogs. Due to the paucity of information regarding the B. henselae serology in dogs, we performed a cross-sectional serosurvey using B. henselae antigen in order to compare the seroprevalence between sick and healthy dogs from the south-eastern USA. Ninety-nine sera were collected from clinically healthy dogs. Three hundred and one sera from sick dogs were submitted to North Carolina State University for serologic screening against a panel of arthropod-transmitted organisms. Serological tests were performed using B. henselae (Bh), Rickettsia rickettsii (Rr), Ehrlichia canis (Ec), Bartonella vinsonii subspecies berkhoffii (Bvb), Babesia canis (Bc) and Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) antigens. Serum B. henselae IgG antibodies were detected in 10.1% of healthy dogs and in 27.2% of sick dogs. The difference in seroprevalence between the two groups was statistically significant. The majority of seroreactive dogs (80%) had low titers of 1:64 or 1:128. In healthy dogs, seroprevalence for Rr was 14.1% and for Bvb was 1%. In sick dogs, Rr seroprevalence was 29.7%, Ec 6.5%, Bvb 4.7%, Bb 1.7% and Bc was 0.85%. Of the sick dogs that were seroreactive to B. henselae antigens, 40.6% were also seroreactive to Rr, 15.0% reactive to Bvb antigens, 14.8% reactive to Ec antigens, 1.8% reactive to Bc antigens and 1.75% reactive to Bb antigens. Sera from dogs experimentally infected with B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii, E. canis or R. rickettsii did not cross react with B. henselae antigens, by IFA testing. This study indicates that B. henselae IgG antibodies are prevalent in healthy and sick dogs living in the south-eastern USA. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to evaluate the epidemiological, clinical and zoonotic relevance of B. henselae infection in dogs. Bartonella henselae / dog / serology / vector-borne diseases
Submarine hydrothermal fossils confirmed

Researchers from Princeton University (D. Crerrar et al, Econ. Geol., May 1982) have documented, in considerable detail, evidence for the formation of some of the 800 or more manganiferous chert deposits occurring in the central belt of the Fransiscan formation in northwestern California. They confirm the surprisingly old conclusion o f Tiaferro and Hudson (Cal. Div. Mines Bull., 125, 217–276, 1943) that the Fransiscan chert deposits probably represent the fossil remains of submarine hydrothermal vents. The deposits resemble recently discovered hydrothermal mounds near the Galapagos rift, the Gulf of Aden, and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. As the Princeton investigators point out, there are important implications of the existence of deep hydrothermal circulation systems at oceanic spreading centers throughout geologic time. They note that the calculated annual flow of hydrothermal fluids in such processes is about 1017 g, which implies that the entire volume of the oceans could circulate completely every 10 million years. With such circulation, the hydrothermal processes along midocean ridges could control the composition of seawater and strongly influence the geochemical flux of elements in the marine environment.
Reconnecting psychoanalysis to mainstream psychology. Challenges and opportunities.

Although psychoanalysis was once central to mainstream psychology, in recent years psychodynamic models of personality and psychopathology have become increasingly marginalized. The factors that combined to “disconnect” psychoanalysis from contemporary psychological science and clinical practice are examined, and strategies that can help reconnect psychoanalysis to mainstream psychology are described. These are (a) the use of nomothetic research methods to test and refine psychoanalytic concepts and (b) the communication of psychoanalytic principles and findings to colleagues, students, and members of the public. Opportunities and challenges that arise during this reconnection process are discussed, and prospects for the rebirth of a truly heuristic, integrative psychoanalysis are considered.
A two level finite difference scheme for one dimensional Pennes' bioheat equation

We develop a new two level finite difference scheme for the 1D Pennes' bioheat equation. We further prove that the scheme is stable and convergent unconditionally. Numerical experiments for a skin-heating model are conducted.
SLAW: A scalable locality-aware adaptive work-stealing scheduler

This paper introduces SLAW, a Scalable Locality-aware Adaptive Work-stealing scheduler. The SLAW scheduler is designed to address two common limitations in current work-stealing schedulers: use of a fixed task scheduling policy and locality-obliviousness due to randomized stealing. Past work has demonstrated the pros and cons of using fixed scheduling policies, such as work-first and help-first, in different cases without a clear win for one policy over the other. The SLAW scheduler addresses this limitation by supporting both work-first and help-first policies simultaneously. It does so by using an adaptive approach that selects a scheduling policy on a per-task basis at runtime. The SLAW scheduler also establishes bounds on the stack and heap space needed to store tasks. The experimental results for the benchmarks studied in this paper show that SLAW's adaptive scheduler achieves 0.98× to 9.2× speedup over the help-first scheduler and 0.97× to 4.5× speedup over the work-first scheduler for 64-thread executions, thereby establishing the robustness of using an adaptive approach instead of a fixed policy. In contrast, the help-first policy is 9.2× slower than work-first in the worst case for a fixed help-first policy, and the work-first policy is 3.7× slower than help-first in the worst case for a fixed work-first policy. Further, for large irregular recursive parallel computations, the adaptive scheduler runs with bounded stack usage and achieves performance (and supports data sizes) that cannot be delivered by the use of any single fixed policy. It is also known that work-stealing schedulers can be cache-unfriendly for some applications due to randomized stealing. The SLAW scheduler is designed for programming models where locality hints are provided to the runtime by the programmer or compiler, and achieves locality-awareness by grouping workers into places. Locality awareness can lead to improved performance by increasing temporal data reuse within a worker and among workers in the same place. Our experimental results show that locality-aware scheduling can achieve up to 2.6× speedup over locality-oblivious scheduling, for the benchmarks studied in this paper.
Low-order-complexity vision-based docking

This paper reports on a reactive docking behavior which uses a vision algorithm that grows linearly with the number of image pixels. The docking robot imprints (initializes) on a two-colored docking fiducial upon departing from the dock, then uses region statistics to adapt the color segmentation in changing lighting conditions. The docking behavior was implemented on a marsupial team of robots, where a daughter micro-rover had to reenter the mother robot from an approach zone with a 2 m radius and 140/spl deg/ angular width with a tolerance of /spl plusmn/5 and /spl plusmn/2 cm. Testing during outdoor conditions (noon, dusk) and challenging indoor scenarios (flashing lights) showed that using adaptation and imprinting was more robust than using imprinting atone.
Alphabetic Data Entry via the Touch-Tone Pad: A Comment

Computer analysis indicates the feasibility of single-stroke keying for data entry of alphabetic names using the standard touch-tone telephone pad. In many practical job situations little ambiguity...
Strategies for encouraging individual achievement in introductory computer science courses

Students in introductory computer science courses often vary widely in background and ability. As a result, some students are bored by the pace of presentation, while others struggle to keep up. This paper describes our experience using open-ended assignments and programming contests to capture the interest of our strongest students without adversely affecting the educational experience for the other students in the class. This approach has been markedly successful, particularly for highly motivated students, who are often able to work well beyond the level of the class. The paper also includes a survey of student reactions to the various extra-credit opportunities, which indicates that many student value this component of the class even if they do not participate directly in these activities.
Education and Labor Market Risk: Understanding the Role of Data Cleaning.

Abstract This paper examines whether conclusions about the relationship between education and labor market risk depend on the use of commonly applied procedures to clean data of extreme values. The analysis uses fifteen years of data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics to demonstrate that conclusions about the relationship between education and labor market risk are sensitive to how extreme values of labor income are treated. The untrimmed estimates imply that college graduates experience 75% less transitory labor market risk than high school dropouts. However, applying commonly used trimming procedures results in estimates of a one standard deviation transitory labor market shock for high school dropouts being reduced by between $2700 and $4500, or 14% and 24% of annual earnings. The results demonstrate that seemingly innocuous sample selection procedures can have substantive implications.
Coupling Amplification in 2D MAS NMR and Its Application to Torsion Angle Determination in Peptides

A technique for amplifying the apparent magnitudes of 13 C‐ 1 H v r /2 pud d/ 3, where dd is the dipolar coupling strength, the and 15 N‐ 1 H dipolar interactions in magic-angle spinning experi- dipolar spectrum is dominated by an uninformative cenments is described. By inserting rotor-synchronized 1807 pulses in terband. For a one-bond N ‐ H dipolar coupling measured the evolution period of a 2D dipolar-chemical shift experiment, with MREV-8 homonuclear decoupling, dd E 4.5 kHz and heteronuclear dipolar couplings are doubled or quadrupled rela- the centerband dominates for spinning speeds as low as vr / tive to the spinning speed. The increased number of dipolar side- 2pE 1.5 kHz. While low spinning speeds are desirable for bands is desirable for retaining structural information in the indi- extracting structural information, the necessity of resolving rectly detected dipolar dimension while resolving inequivalent sites different chemical moieties through isotropic chemical shifts in the isotropic chemical shift dimension at relatively high spinresults in an opposing constraint. Higher spinning speeds ning speeds. This coupling amplification method is incorporated into an experiment that determines the peptide torsion angle f average the chemical shift anisotropy (dCSA) more comthrough the relative orientation of the C a ‐H a and N‐H N bonds. pletely and thus yield better-resolved spectra. This conflict It is shown both experimentally and theoretically that the angular is exacerbated at higher magnetic field strengths, since shift resolution of the measurement is enhanced significantly by the anisotropies scale linearly with the field strength while the selective doubling of the N‐H N coupling. q 1997 Academic Press dipolar couplings are field-independent. Thus, the desirable
A critical evaluation of clinical trials in adverse reactions to foods in children

“. Wolf S. Pinsky RH: Effects of placebo administration and occurrence of toxic reactions. JAMA 1X5:339. I954 3. Lasagtn 1,. Mosteller F, von Felsinger JM, Beecher HK: A study 01 the placebo response. Am J Med 16:770. 1954 3. Liherman R: An experimental study of the placebo response under th:-ec different situations of pain. J Psychiatr Res Z3.3, I063 5. Lasagna L: A comparison of hypnotic agents. J Pharmacol Exp Thcr 1 1 1:9. 1954 6. Beecher HK: Surgery as placebo, a quantitative study of bias. JAMA 1’6:1102. 1961 7. Lasagna L. Lanes V, Dohan L: Further studies on the “pharmacology” of placebo administration. J Clin Invest 37533, 195x 7a. Ader R: Personal communication 8. Vinar 0: Dependence on a placebo: a case report. Br J Psych 115:11X9. 1969 9. Mintz I: A note on the addictive personality: addiction to placebos. Am .I Psychiatr 134:3, 1977 IO. Reidenberg NM, Lowenthal DT: Adverse nondrug reacttons. N Engl J Med 27:678. 1968 I I Lasagna L: The doctors’ dilemmas. New York, 1962. Harper & Row. Publishers Inc I?. hey NS: Diagnostic problems and methods in drug induced disea.res. American Registry of Pathology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington. DC. Part I. 1966: Part 11, 1967. Part 111, 1968 13. Bianchine JR, Macaraeg PVJ Jr. Lasagna L, Azarnoff DL. Brunk SF, Hvidberg EF, Owen JA Jr: Drugs as etiologic factors in the Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Am J Med 34:390, 1968
Design and Analysis of Microprocessor-Controlled Peak-Power-Tracking System

Stability and dynamics of a series configuration peak-power tracking (PPT) system are analyzed. The operating modes of the system, as well as mode transitions, are investigated based on qualitative graphical representations of dc load lines at various interfaces of the system. Analysis of multiloop control in the PPT mode is discussed. This includes the design of the inner voltage loop and analysis of the closed-loop system stability around the peak-power point. For an optimum dynamic performance and stability, design parameters of the inner voltage loop and the outer PPT loop are identified. Experimental verifications, supported by simulation results, are performed.
Stable isotope analysis of Dacryoconarid carbonate microfossils: a new tool for Devonian oxygen and carbon isotope stratigraphy

Rationale Dacryoconarids are extinct marine zooplankton known from abundant, globally distributed calcite microfossils in the Devonian, but their shell stable isotope composition has not been previously explored. Devonian stable isotope stratigraphy is currently limited to less common invertebrates or bulk rock analyses of uncertain provenance. As with Cenozoic planktonic foraminifera, isotopic analysis of dacryoconarid shells could facilitate higher-resolution, geographically widespread stable isotope records of paleoenvironmental change, including marine hypoxia events, climate changes, and biocrises. We explored the use of Dacryoconarid isotope stratigraphy as a viable method in interpreting paleoenvironments. Methods We applied an established method for determining stable isotope ratios (δ13C, δ18O values) of small carbonate microfossils to very well-preserved dacryoconarid shells. We analyzed individual calcite shells representing five common genera using a Kiel carbonate device coupled to a MAT 253 isotope ratio mass spectrometer. Calcite shell δ13C and δ18O values were compared by taxonomic group, rock unit, and locality. Results Single dacryoconarid calcite shells are suitable for stable isotope analysis using a Kiel-IRMS setup. The dacryoconarid shell δ13C values (–4.7 to 2.3‰) and δ18O values (–10.3 to –4.8‰) were consistent across taxa, independent of shell size or part, but varied systematically through time. Lower fossil δ18O values were associated with warmer water temperature and more variable δ13C values were associated with major bioevents. Dacryoconarid δ13C and δ18O values differed from bulk rock carbonate values. Conclusions Dacryoconarid individual microfossil δ13C and δ18O values are highly sensitive to paleoenvironmental changes, thus providing a promising avenue for stable isotope chemostratigraphy to better resolve regional to global paleoceanographic changes throughout the upper Silurian to the upper Devonian. Our results warrant further exploration of dacryoconarid stable isotope proxy sensitivity, the isotopic contrast among dacryoconarids, other taxa, and bulk rock, as well as other potential dacryoconarid proxies (Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca, 87Sr/86Sr, microlaser and ion microprobe isotope techniques, and clumped isotopes) for stratigraphic research. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An interdomain sector mediating allostery in Hsp70 molecular chaperones

Allosteric coupling between protein domains is fundamental to many cellular processes. For example, Hsp70 molecular chaperones use ATP binding by their actin-like N-terminal ATPase domain to control substrate interactions in their C-terminal substrate-binding domain, a reaction that is critical for protein folding in cells. Here, we generalize the statistical coupling analysis to simultaneously evaluate co-evolution between protein residues and functional divergence between sequences in protein sub-families. Applying this method in the Hsp70/110 protein family, we identify a sparse but structurally contiguous group of co-evolving residues called a ‘sector’, which is an attribute of the allosteric Hsp70 sub-family that links the functional sites of the two domains across a specific interdomain interface. Mutagenesis of Escherichia coli DnaK supports the conclusion that this interdomain sector underlies the allosteric coupling in this protein family. The identification of the Hsp70 sector provides a basis for further experiments to understand the mechanism of allostery and introduces the idea that cooperativity between interacting proteins or
Neonatal Seizures A Survey of Current Practice

A nationwide survey of neonatologists and pediatric neurologists was conducted to ascertain their methods of evaluating and managing neonatal seizures. Of the sampled 750 physicians, 284 (38%) responded to the single mailing. Most respondents use a routine for seizure workup which includes glucose, calcium and electrolyte determinations, and a lumbar puncture. On the other hand, there was a great variation in the use of an EEG, CT scan skull x-ray, and a drug and metabolic screen. Phenobarbital was the initial drug of choice and phenytoin usually the second drug. Neurologists used higher loading doses for phenobarbital and phenytoin. Most physicians monitored blood levels to adjust maintenance doses. Drug therapy was usually continued for two months to one year after seizure control. Criteria for discontinuation were often arbitrary but included a normal electroencephalogram and the absence of seizures. The results demonstrate a lack of consensus in the evaluation and management of neonates with seizures.
A generic causal model for place latency

For a prototypical class of time-extended Petri nets it is shown that the extension does not increase their expressive power. The nets in this class have token latencies attributed to places. Place latency nets are formally defined together with their firing semantics. For any place latency system, an explicit construction of an elementary net system is given as an implementation, which is proven to be behaviourally equivalent. The adequacy problem of deciding which equivalence notion to apply is moderated by the fact that the implementation satisfies the B-condition, under which all better known equivalence notions coincide.
Controlling Polymer Properties through Dynamic Metal–Ligand Interactions: Supramolecular Cruciforms Made Easy

A straightforward methodol- ogy towards the supramolecular syn- thesis of novel organometallic poly- mers with attractive optical properties is presented. By coordinating bifunc- tional fluorescent cruciform molecules through ditopic metalated pincer com- plexes (Pd or Pt), we have synthesized a new class of well-defined coordina- tion polymers that have controllable and tunable physical and photophysical properties. The formation of these new materials by employing metal coordi- nation was monitored by 1 H NMR spectroscopy, the association strength of the metal-ligand interaction was measured by isothermal titration calo- rimetry, the solution polymeric proper- ties were evaluated by viscometry, and the optical properties were measured and observed by fluorescence spectros- copy. The fast and quantitative synthe- sis of a wide range of prefabricated monomeric cruciform and metalated- pincer-complex components will allow for the rapid generation, growth, and optimization of this new class of func- tional polymers, which have potential electronic and optical applications.