cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regulation of RpoS by a novel small RNA: the characterization of RprA

Translational regulation of the stationary phase sigma factor RpoS is mediated by the formation of a double-stranded RNA stem-loop structure in the upstream region of the rpoS messenger RNA, occluding the translation initiation site. The interaction of the rpoS mRNA with a small RNA, DsrA, disrupts the double-strand pairing and allows high levels of translation initiation. We screened a multicopy library of Escherichia coli DNA fragments for novel activators of RpoS translation when DsrA is absent. Clones carrying rprA (RpoS regulator RNA) increased the translation of RpoS. The rprA gene encodes a 106 nucleotide regulatory RNA. As with DsrA, RprA is predicted to form three stem-loops and is highly conserved in Salmonella and Klebsiella species. Thus, at least two small RNAs, DsrA and RprA, participate in the positive regulation of RpoS translation. Unlike DsrA, RprA does not have an extensive region of complementarity to the RpoS leader, leaving its mechanism of action unclear. RprA is non-essential. Mutations in the gene interfere with the induction of RpoS after osmotic shock when DsrA is absent, demonstrating a physiological role for RprA. The existence of two very different small RNA regulators of RpoS translation suggests that such additional regulatory RNAs are likely to exist, both for regulation of RpoS and for regulation of other important cellular components.
Direct Fabrication of Highly Conductive Micro Silver Tracks Using Electrohydrodynamic Jet Printing for Sub-20 µM Micro-Manufacturing

This paper presents a direct fabrication method of highly conductive silver tracks with sub-20 μm microstructures on glass substrate by using electrohydrodynamic jet printing (EHDJP) with alternative current (AC) voltage. Traditional ink jet printing fabrication approaches are limited in the achievable resolution. EHDJP has been used in directly printing by generating a fine jet through a large electrical potential between nozzle and substrate. When charge accumulates on the ink meniscus at the nozzle, a fine jet down to nano scale can be generated. In the paper, we successfully applied EHDJP for fabrication of highly conductive silver tracks using AC voltage. It was the first time that sub-20 μm silver tracks were demonstrated and printed with resistivity about 3.16 times than bulk silver. The variables of fabrication process were investigated to achieve reliable jet printing of conductive silver tracks. The topography of printed tracks was characterized and verified in the study. The presented technique can be used for micro-manufacturing of three-dimensional microstructures and biomedical device fabrications.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Muscle and tendon force-length properties and their interactions in vivo

Many attempts have been made to model muscle and/or muscle-tendon (MT) behavior for the purpose of predicting muscle forces in vivo. One important parameter often considered in such models is muscle length. This study was conducted to evaluate (1) the force-length properties of a MT complex and the range of these properties over which the muscle operates in vivo, and (2) the effect that tendon compliance has on a muscle's force-length behavior. The rat tibialis anterior (TA) MT complex was used as the experimental model. Muscle and tendon lengths as they occurred in the body during ankle joint motion ranging from 20 degrees to 90 degrees of flexion were determined for both passive and active muscle. Force-length (FL) properties for the tendon, passive muscle, and active muscle were determined from a partially isolated MT preparation. Results suggest that during movement involving a normal range of joint motion, the TA muscle operates within an optimal region of its FL relationship, generating minimal passive force and nearly constant active force. However, the passive force increases rapidly for extreme foot extension while the active force decreases for both extreme foot flexion and extension. For the rat TA muscle, the effect of tendon compliance does not alter the active force generated by the muscle over a normal joint range of motion. However, tendon compliance does effect the muscle's ability to generate force at the extremes of joint motion.
Impact of Rule Accuracy on Productivity and Rumor in an Organizational Analog

This study examined the effects of inaccurate rules on generation of rumor among participants and their productivity in an organizational analog setting. Dyads of participants were given an explicit rule that described a contingency (i.e., number of points earned for correct responses). Experiments 1 and 2 utilized quasirandom and counterbalanced alternating treatments designs, respectively, in which conditions alternated such that participants were exposed to the rule-stated contingency (accurate condition) or a variation of the contingency that was stated in the rule (i.e., different number of points awarded, inaccurate conditions). Results indicate that exposure to inaccurate rules increases frequency and duration of rumor behavior. Participants exposed to alternating rules and only inaccurate rules exhibit lower correct responding on work tasks relative to those exposed to only accurate rules.
CMIP5 Projection of Significant Reduction in Extratropical Cyclone Activity over North America

AbstractProjections of storm-track changes over the continental United States and southern Canada made by 23 models from phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) have been compared to changes projected by 11 models from phase 3 of CMIP (CMIP3). Overall, under representative concentration pathway 8.5 (RCP8.5) forcing, CMIP5 models project much more significant decreases in North American storm-track activity than CMIP3 models under the Special Report on Emission Scenarios (SRES) A2 scenario, with the largest decrease in summer and the smallest decrease in spring. The decrease is found both in temporal variance and cyclone statistics, with the frequency of strong cyclones projected to decrease by 15.9%, 6.6%, 32.6%, and 16.9% for winter, spring, summer, and fall, respectively. There is a strong consensus among the 23 models regarding the sign of the projected change, with less than 20% of the models projecting changes in the opposite sign in any of the storm-track parameters examined. Ne...
Graph theoretical analysis of resting-state MEG data: Identifying interhemispheric connectivity and the default mode

Interhemispheric connectivity with resting state MEG has been elusive, and demonstration of the default mode network (DMN) yet more challenging. Recent seed-based MEG analyses have shown interhemispheric connectivity using power envelope correlations. The purpose of this study is to compare graph theoretic maps of brain connectivity generated using MEG with and without signal leakage correction to evaluate for the presence of interhemispheric connectivity. Eight minutes of resting state eyes-open MEG data were obtained in 22 normal male subjects enrolled in an IRB-approved study (ages 16-18). Data were processed using an in-house automated MEG processing pipeline and projected into standard (MNI) source space at 7mm resolution using a scalar beamformer. Mean beta-band amplitude was sampled at 2.5second epochs from the source space time series. Leakage correction was performed in the time domain of the source space beam formed signal prior to amplitude transformation. Graph theoretic voxel-wise source space correlation connectivity analysis was performed for leakage corrected and uncorrected data. Degree maps were thresholded across subjects for the top 20% of connected nodes to identify hubs. Additional degree maps for sensory, visual, motor, and temporal regions were generated to identify interhemispheric connectivity using laterality indices. Hubs for the uncorrected MEG networks were predominantly symmetric and midline, bearing some resemblance to fMRI networks. These included the cingulate cortex, bilateral inferior frontal lobes, bilateral hippocampal formations and bilateral cerebellar hemispheres. These uncorrected networks however, demonstrated little to no interhemispheric connectivity using the ROI-based degree maps. Leakage corrected MEG data identified the DMN, with hubs in the posterior cingulate and biparietal areas. These corrected networks demonstrated robust interhemispheric connectivity for the ROI-based degree maps. Graph theoretic analysis of MEG resting state data without signal leakage correction can demonstrate symmetric networks with some resemblance to fMRI networks. These networks however, are an artifact of high local correlation from signal leakage and lack interhemispheric connectivity. Following signal leakage correction, MEG hubs emerge in the DMN, with strong interhemispheric connectivity.
Growth of CaTiSiO5 by the Czochralski method

Abstract Crystals of CaTiSiO5 suitable for physical property measurements have been grown by the Czochralski method. Best results were obtained with relatively high rotation rates (100–150 rpm) and a linear growth rate of 0.15 cm/hr. The crystals are monoclinic with space group P21/n, the symmetry previously observed for anhydrous synthetic CaTiSiO5, as compared with space group C2/c reported for natural sphene (titanite) minerals of general formula CaTiSiO4(O, OH, F).
Midline “nonhealing” granuloma

Abstract Destructive processes of the midface can occur in a wide variety of diseases. Intrinsic in consideration of these is a cluster of lesions, including Wegener's granulomatosis (WG), idiopathic midline granuloma (IMG), polymorphic reticulosis (PR), and lymphoma. Although there is still confusion as to whether the latter three represent a spectrum of the same malignant process, there is general agreement that WG is a separate entity on the basis of clinical presentation and therapeutic response. It is probable that PR is an emergent lymphoma, with the same prognostic and therapeutic features. Idiopathic midline granuloma is clinically similar to PR and lymphoma, but histologically it appears to be inflammatory in nature with no clearly definable malignant cell type present. At this point in time these three diseases are best collectively referred to as midline “nonhealing” granuloma. The cases presented represent the spectrum of this enigmatic process.
Biphasic solid and liquid gastric emptying in normal controls and diabetics using continuous acquisition in LAO view.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the various phases of gastric emptying using a dual-isotope liquid-solid meal ([99mTc]Sc egg sandwich and [111In]DPTA in water) and continuous acquisition in the left anterior oblique view. The study groups consisted of 10 normal controls and 20 diabetics with symptoms suggestive of diabetic gastroparesis. Solid-phase emptying in both groups almost always had a lag phase followed by linear emptying. Liquid-phase emptying was biexponential in 4/10 normals and 12/20 diabetics, with a short early rapid emptying rate (meanT1/2=48 min in normals and 79 min in diabetics). Solid emptying was delayed in 10, normal in eight, and rapid in two diabetics. Liquid emptying was delayed in 9/10 diabetics who had delayed solid emptying. Diabetics as a group had a significantly delayed solid lag phase (P<0.025), rate of emptying (P<0.05) and percent emptying at 90 min (P<0.025) compared to normal controls. Diabetic liquid emptying was also significantly delayed (P<0.025). The second component of liquid emptying strongly correlated with the solid rate of emptying (r=0.826 in normals and 0.855 in diabetics). Continuous acquisition of gastric emptying studies in the LAO view has allowed us to better define the various phases of solid and liquid gastric emptying.
Aptamers for Targeted Drug Delivery

Aptamers are a class of therapeutic oligonucleotides that form specific three-dimensional structures that are dictated by their sequences. They are typically generated by an iterative screening process of complex nucleic acid libraries employing a process termed Systemic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX). SELEX has traditionally been performed using purified proteins, and cell surface receptors may be challenging to purify in their properly folded and modified conformations. Therefore, relatively few aptamers have been generated that bind cell surface receptors. However, improvements in recombinant fusion protein technology have increased the availability of receptor extracellular domains as purified protein targets, and the development of cell-based selection techniques has allowed selection against surface proteins in their native configuration on the cell surface. With cell-based selection, a specific protein target is not always chosen, but selection is performed against a target cell type with the goal of letting the aptamer choose the target. Several studies have demonstrated that aptamers that bind cell surface receptors may have functions other than just blocking receptor-ligand interactions. All cell surface proteins cycle intracellularly to some extent, and many surface receptors are actively internalized in response to ligand binding. Therefore, aptamers that bind cell surface receptors have been exploited for the delivery of a variety of cargoes into cells. This review focuses on recent progress and current challenges in the field of aptamer-mediated delivery.
PI3K/AKT inhibition induces caspase-dependent apoptosis in HTLV-1-transformed cells

The phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) and AKT (protein kinase B) signaling pathways play an important role in regulating cell cycle progression and cell survival. In previous studies, we demonstrated that AKT is activated in HTLV-1-transformed cells and that Tax activation of AKT is linked to p53 inhibition and cell survival. In the present study, we extend these observations to identify regulatory pathways affected by AKT in HTLV-1-transformed cells. We demonstrate that inhibition of AKT reduces the level of phosphorylated Bad, an important member of the pro-apoptotic family of proteins. Consistent with the decrease of phosphorylated Bad, cytochrome c is released from the mitochondria and caspase-9 is activated. Pretreatment of the cells with caspase-9 specific inhibitor z-LEHD-FMK or pan caspase inhibitor Ac-DEVD-CHO prevented LY294002-induced apoptosis. Of interest, p53 siRNA prevents LY294002-induced apoptosis in HTLV-1-transformed cells, suggesting that p53 reactivation is linked to apoptosis. In conclusion, the AKT pathway is involved in targeting multiple proteins which regulate caspase- and p53-dependent apoptosis in HTLV-1-transformed cells. Since AKT inhibitors simultaneously inhibit NF-kappaB and activate p53, these drugs should be promising candidates for HTLV-1-associated cancer therapy.
Expression of Constitutive and Inducible Chemical Defenses in Native and Invasive Populations of Alliaria petiolata

The Evolution of Increased Competitive Ability (EICA) hypothesis posits that invasive plants in introduced habitats with reduced herbivore pressure will evolve reduced levels of costly resistance traits. In light of this hypothesis, we examined the constitutive and inducible expression of five chemical defense traits in Alliaria petiolata from four invasive North American and seven native European populations. When grown under common conditions, significant variation among populations within continents was found for trypsin inhibitors and peroxidase activity, and glucosinolates and trypsin inhibitors were significantly jasmonate-inducible across populations. Across populations, constitutive levels of glucosinolates and trypsin inhibitors were negatively correlated with their degree of induction, with three North American populations tending to have lower constitutive levels and higher inducibility of glucosinolates than the seven European populations. Alliarinoside and isovitexin 6″-O-β-d-glucopyranoside levels were both higher in North American plants than in European plants, but levels of these compounds were generally increased by jasmonate in European plants and decreased by the same treatment in North American plants. Aside from the tendency for invasive populations to have reduced constitutive glucosinolate levels coupled with increased inducibility, little support for the predictions of EICA was evident in the chemical defenses that we studied.
The Extreme Orient: The Construction of ‘Tantrism’ as a Category in the Orientalist Imagination

Abstract Although it has now come to be accepted as a basic part of the vocabulary of historians of religions, the category of ‘Tantrism’, as a singular abstract, and clearly defined entity is largely a product of nineteenth-century Orientalist and colonial discourse. Very quickly, moreover, this category was identified as the most extreme form of that tendency toward passion, licentiousness and moral depravity which was thought to characterize the ‘Indian Mind’. Indeed, we might say that Tantrism came to embody the ‘extreme Orient’, the most Other, that which was most diametrically opposed to the rational and progressive mind of the West. This paper traces the genealogy of the category of ‘Tantrism’ within the British colonial imagination, as it was constructed, not only in Orientalist scholarship, but also in administrative writings and in popular Victorian novels. As we will see, the discourse about Tantrism and its sexual licentiousness was part of the much broader discourse about sexuality, which, as...
Removal time: a factor in the accuracy of irreversible hydrocolloid impressions

Summary Controversy exists regarding the correct time of removal of an alginate impression from the mouth. to investigate the effect of time of removal on accuracy, a series of alginate impressions were made of the lower left quadrant of a subject having a cast gold crown with four reference marks on tooth No. 19. The impressions were removed from the mouth at 1.5,2,3,4.5 and 7 min after the insertion of the tray. Accuracy of the impressions was assessed by comparing the distances between the reference marks in stone casts with standard measurements taken from the gold crown prior to cementation. Impressions removed at 1.5 and 7 min produced the greatest distoritions buccolingually. For the mesio-distal lengths all time intervals produced casts which were larger than the standard. The reasons for these findings are discussed and possible explanations are presented.
Vitamin D and psoriasis

Skin can serve as the source of vitamin D when exposed to sunlight so that cutaneous 7-dehydrocholesterol can be converted to the vitamin. Skin is also a target organ for the hormone form of vitamin D: 1,25-(OH)2D3. Both skin keratinocytes grown in tissue culture and samples of human skin have the nuclear receptor for 1,25(OH)2D3. New results suggest that this hormone or its analogs may be effective in treating some forms of psoriasis.
Scanning electrochemical mapping of spatially localized electrochemical reactions induced by surface potential gradients.

The influence of a surface potential gradient on the location and extent of electrochemical reactions was examined using a scanning electrochemical microscope. A linear potential gradient was imposed on the surface of a platinum-coated indium tin oxide electrode by applying two different potential values at the edges of the electrode. The applied potentials were used to control the location and extent of several electrochemical reactions, including the oxidation of Ru(NH3)62+, the oxidation of H2, and the oxidation of H2 in the presence of adsorbed CO. Scanning electrochemical mapping of these reactions was achieved by probing the feedback current associated with the oxidation products. The oxidation of Ru(NH3)62+ occurred at locations where the applied potential was positive of the formal potential of the Ru(NH3)62+/3+ redox couple. The position of this reaction on the surface could be spatially translated by manipulating the terminal potentials. The rate of hydrogen oxidation on the platinum-coated elec...
In Situ Synthesis of β-Sialon Powder from Fly Ash

β-Sialon powder was synthesized by in-situ carbothermal reduction-nitridation process, with fly ash and carbon black as raw materials. The influence of raw materials composition on synthesis process was investigated, and the phase composition and microstructure of the synthesized products were characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electronic microscope. The carbothermal reduction-nitridation reaction process was also discussed. It was found that increasing carbon content in a sample could promote the decomposition of mullite in fly ash and the formation of β-Sialon. The β-Sialon could be synthesized at 1550°C for 6h by heating the sample with the mass ratio of fly ash to carbon black of 100:56. The β-Sialon as-received in this study existed as granular with an average particle size of about 2μm. The carbothermal reduction-nitridation reaction process consisted of the nitridation processes of mullite, SiO2 and Al2O3 in fly ash as well as the conversion process of X-Sialon to β-Sialon.
Diagnosis of ambulatory schizophrenia: a case study.

It has been the writers' experience that ambulatory schizophrenics may cover up their true pathology for many years unless this condition is both specifically looked for as a diagnostic possibility, and the therapist, through interest and acceptance, makes it possible for the patient to tell him the true nature of his pathology. The present case is illustrative of a frequent problem in patients seen in the last 10 years at the Wichita and Topeka Veterans Administration mental hygiene clinics.
Presidential Legislative Priorities and Legislators' Voting Decisions: An Exploratory Analysis

This article assesses the effect that the president's revealed priority ranking of an issue had on a legislator's roll-call decision during the first year of the Carter and Reagan presidencies. Controlling for other factors believed to be important in legislators' voting decisions, presidential issue advertisement did have a statistically noticeable effect. That effect varied across the presidents and type of legislator. The most consistent positive effect was among legislators predisposed to support the president from the outset, but core opponents were not positively moved. The more often President Carter mentioned an issue the less likely legislators outside his core support group were to support his position. President Reagan's mention of issues had a positive effect on cross-pressured legislators of both parties. These results have implications for presidential leadership in the legislative arena.
The Infrared Absorption Spectra of the Linear Molecules Carbonyl Sulphide and Deuterium Cyanide

Carbonyl sulphide. The discovery of new vibration-rotation bands in the infrared absorption spectrum of carbonyl sulphide has made it possible to determine the vibrational energy level scheme of the molecule. The agreement between theory and experiment is quite satisfactory. Deuterium cyanide. The fundamental bands of deuterium cyanide ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{2}$ at 570 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ and ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{3}$ at 2630 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ have been measured with grating spectrometers. The former has a strong zero branch at 570.16 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, and the fine structure lines on each side are well separated. From the line spacing the moment of inertia of the molecule is found to be 22.92\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}40}$ gram ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$. A comparison of this value with the corresponding one for HCN, i.e., 18.72\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}40}$ gram ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$, permits the calculation of the internuclear distances. From the positions of these two bands, together with those of the observed fundamentals of HCN, the zeroth order quadratic potential energy expression is computed.
Instrumentation at the W. M. Keck Observatory

Developing new instruments and upgrading existing systems continues to be an important part of our science driven strategic plan at the W. M. Keck Observatory, now in its 14th year of operation. Our emphasis remains on high angular resolution astronomy and faint-object spectroscopy. The instrument development program is now in its third generation. The first of these, OSIRIS, was delivered in February 2005 and together with NIRC2 is now in routine operation with the laser guide star adaptive optics (LGS AO) system on the Keck II telescope. During 2007 new wave front controllers were installed in the Keck I and Keck II AO systems and over 70 nights per semester are now allocated to AO science. WMKO is collaborating with the Gemini Observatory on the development of a solid state laser for the Keck I telescope. The V 2 mode of the Keck Interferometer is offered for routine observing and the 10 micron Nuller is now being used for the NASA exo-zodiacal dust survey key project. The atmospheric dispersion corrector (ADC) for the Cassegrain focus of the Keck I telescope was installed in 2007 and is now in routine use. In addition, a detector upgrade is under way for the red channel of the LRIS instrument on Keck I. Our next third generation instrument will be MOSFIRE, a near-IR multi-object spectrograph, which is currently in the fabrication phase. A Visitor Port on Keck I is now ready to receive instruments, with the first one expected to be NIRES, a cross-dispersed echellette instrument for the near-infrared. Deployment of a large suite of new acquisition, guiding and image quality monitoring systems to replace all the existing CCD guiders and acquisition cameras at the Observatory is also under way. The first system has been retro-fitted to NIRSPEC. Finally, studies are in progress on the development of a next generation AO system and an associated suite of instruments, and there has been a recent call for concepts for new seeing-limited instruments.
The effect of burn injury on CD8+ and CD4+ T cells in an irradiation model of homeostatic proliferation

Background:Homeostatic proliferation of T cells has recently been shown to be an important mechanism in the host response to infection. However, its role in the T cell response to burn injury is unknown. In this study, we examine the effect of burn injury on CD4+ and CD8+ T cell homeostatic prolifer
Quantifying second generation ethanol inhibition: Design of Experiments approach and kinetic model development.

Abstract While softwoods represent a potential feedstock for second generation ethanol production, compounds present in their hydrolysates can inhibit fermentation. In this study, a novel Design of Experiments (DoE) approach was used to identify significant inhibitory effects on Saccharomyces cerevisiae D 5 A for the purpose of guiding kinetic model development. Although acetic acid, furfural and 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) were present at potentially inhibitory levels, initial factorial experiments only identified ethanol as a significant rate inhibitor. It was hypothesized that high ethanol levels masked the effects of other inhibitors, and a subsequent factorial design without ethanol found significant effects for all other compounds. When these non-ethanol effects were accounted for in the kinetic model, R ¯ 2 was significantly improved over an ethanol-inhibition only model ( R ¯ 2 = 0.80 vs. 0.76). In conclusion, when ethanol masking effects are removed, DoE is a valuable tool to identify significant non-ethanol inhibitors and guide kinetic model development.
Cervical arachnoid cysts after craniocervical decompression for Chiari II malformations: report of three cases.

Objective and importance We describe three cases in which ventrally situated cervical arachnoid cysts led to spinal cord or cervicomedullary compression after repeat craniocervical decompression for Chiari II malformations. Clinical presentation All three patients underwent craniocervical decompression when their Chiari malformations became symptomatic. The first patient developed chronic vertiginous spells and headache and was treated with repeated craniocervical decompression procedures during several years. Seven months after undergoing her third decompression procedure, she developed severe dizzy spells, which were determined to be of brain stem origin. The second patient had a small, asymptomatic arachnoid cyst anterior to the brain stem discovered at age 6 years. After undergoing repeat craniocervical decompression for headaches 8 years after undergoing his first procedure, the patient developed severe neck pain and acute quadraparesis. A third patient underwent repeat craniocervical decompression at age 14 years for cranial nerve dysfunction. Postoperatively, he acutely developed paresis of extraocular movements and incoordination of the upper extremities. All three patients were found to have anteriorly situated arachnoid cysts compressing the brain stem and/or cervical spinal cord. Intervention and technique Fenestration of the arachnoid cyst or drainage with cystoperitoneal shunting adequately treated acute brain stem or cervical spinal cord compression. All three patients had achieved satisfactory relief from their acute symptoms of neural compression at their follow-up examinations. Conclusion An association between spinal arachnoid cysts and neural tube defects has previously been reported. However, the development of previously undetected spinal arachnoid cysts after craniocervical decompression was unexpected. We hypothesize that extensive craniocervical decompression may alter the cerebrospinal fluid pressure dynamics in such a way that the anterior subarachnoid space, previously compressed, may dilate. Occasionally, because of perimedullary arachnoiditis, the cerebrospinal fluid may become loculated and act as a mass. Direct fenestration or shunting may successfully treat this problem, and less extensive craniocervical decompression may avoid it.
Periodic jökulhlaups from Pleistocene glacial Lake Missoula-New evidence from varved sediment in northern Idaho and Washington

Newly examined exposures in northern Idaho and Washington show that catastrophic floods from glacial Lake Missoula during late Wisconsin time were repeated, brief jokulhlaups separated by decades of quiet glaciolacustrine and subaerial conditions. Glacial Priest Lake, dammed in the Priest River valley by a tongue of the Purcell trench lobe of the Cordilleran ice sheet, generally accumulated varved mud; the varved mud is sharply interrupted by 14 sand beds deposited by upvalley-running currents. The sand beds are texturally and structurally similar to slackwater sediment in valleys in southern Washington that were backflooded by outbursts from glacial Lake Missoula. Beds of varved mud also accumulated in glacial Lake Spokane (or Columbia?) in Latah Creek valley and elsewhere in northeastern Washington; the mud beds were disrupted, in places violently, during emplacement of each of 16 or more thick flood-gravel beds. This history corroborates evidence from southern Washington that only one graded bed is deposited per flood, refuting a conventional idea that many beds accumulated per flood. The total number of such floodlaid beds in stratigraphic succession near Spokane is at least 28. The mud beds between most of the floodlaid beds in these valleys each consist of between 20 and 55 silt-to-clay varves. Lacustrine environments in northern Idaho and Washington therefore persisted for two to six decades between regularly recurring, colossal floods from glacial Lake Missoula.
Inflammation, Cancer and Chemoresistance: Taking Advantage of the Toll‐Like Receptor Signaling Pathway

The association between chronic inflammation and cancer has long been observed. Furthermore, NF-kappaB activation and the subsequent production of cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and antiapoptotic proteins has been found to be involved in cancer progression and chemoresistance. However, the signals inducing NF-kappaB in cancer cells are still not well understood. Here, we reviewed the association between chronic inflammation and cancer, the role of NF-kappaB and its inhibitors as potential anticancer drugs, and Toll-like receptors as possible signal initiators for NF-kappaB activation and inflammation-induced carcinogenesis and chemoresistance. Furthermore, we propose that, the stimulation of Toll-like receptors by microbial components and/or endogenous ligands may represent the initial signal promoting a proinflammatory environment that will enhance tumor growth and chemoresistance.
DISENGAGEMENT ENERGETICS AT THE SURFACE OF AERATED REACTORS

Aerated reactors are widely used in cell culture processes. The bubbles that are introduced into such reactors provide essential mixing and oxygen, but the disengagement of those bubbles can result in the imposition of undesirable stresses upon fluid-borne cells. This occurs because some of the energy associated with interfacial tension is converted to high-velocity motions in the form of film rupture, droplet ejection and bubble cavity collapse. Obviously these effects would be amplified if there was an affinity between the cells and the gas-liquid interface. The present work was carried out in an effort to better characterize the energy, frequency of occurrence, and periodicities of these phenomena. This investigation examined the effects of fluid (medium) properties, bubble size, and gas rate upon both film and jet droplet ejection processes, as well as upon pressure disturbances measured at the reactor wall just beneath the free surface
The crystal structure of dynamin

Dynamin-related proteins (DRPs) are multi-domain GTPases that function via oligomerization and GTP-dependent conformational changes to play central roles in regulating membrane structure across phylogenetic kingdoms. How DRPs harness self-assembly and GTP-dependent conformational changes to remodel membranes is not understood. Here we present the crystal structure of an assembly-deficient mammalian endocytic DRP, dynamin 1, lacking the proline-rich domain, in its nucleotide-free state. The dynamin 1 monomer is an extended structure with the GTPase domain and bundle signalling element positioned on top of a long helical stalk with the pleckstrin homology domain flexibly attached on its opposing end. Dynamin 1 dimer and higher order dimer multimers form via interfaces located in the stalk. Analysis of these interfaces provides insight into DRP family member specificity and regulation and provides a framework for understanding the biogenesis of higher order DRP structures and the mechanism of DRP-mediated membrane scission events.
STRAIN MEASUREMENT OF MICROSAMPLES USING LASER INTERFEROMETRY.

As the specimen gets smaller and thinner, traditional strain measurement method using the strain gage is impossible. In this paper, the strain is measured using non-contact laser interferometry method. Two markers are placed on the LIGA specimens along the loading direction to reflect the laser beams to generate the interferometric fringe patterns. The markers are generated using micro-hardness indentation for the LIGA specimens. A pair of CCD cameras is used to capture the interferometric fringes during each step of the loading along the longitudinal direction. Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) is then applied to calculate the frequency and phase shift of the fringes. The displacement and strain can be obtained from the phase shift of the fringe pattern. This ISDG strain measurement technique is further developed by using multi markers to obtain fringes during the whole loading when the specimen undergoes larger motion. Biaxial strain measurement using ISDG is also developed to obtain both Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio simultaneously. A third marker is located orthogonal to the first pair of markers along the loading direction. Two pairs of CCD cameras are used to acquire the digital images of the interferometric fringes patterns along both longitudinal and transverse directions. The stress-strain curves as well as the material properties are very consistent from the different tests using ISDG.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Mining and poverty reduction: Transforming rhetoric into reality

Abstract This article critically evaluates the contribution that mining has made to poverty reduction, and assesses the prospects for better performance in the future. The article starts from the two assumptions that mineral resources are a potentially great source of wealth for poor countries, and that the various ill-effects associated with the “resource curse” are not inevitable. It then directs its attention toward the World Bank, a leading advocate of mining-led development and an institution with a core mandate to reduce poverty. Employing the World Bank's own conceptualization of poverty as an analytical framework, the article demonstrates that mining has a dismal empirical track record to date in poverty reduction. While the theoretical reasons to believe that mining can contribute to poverty alleviation are perhaps sound, the reality of mineral-led development has not lived up to its rhetorical promise. The article elucidates problems with existing approaches and evaluates the World Bank's recently concluded Extractive Industries Review as a dramatic new paradigm shift in thinking on mining and poverty reduction. It concludes that mining can positively contribute toward poverty alleviation, but only if a variety of demanding preconditions are met.
An investigation of learner‐control variables in vocabulary learning using traditional instruction and two forms of computer‐based instruction

Abstract The study investigated the ability of 60 college developmental reading students to monitor adequacy of vocabulary instruction in traditional workbook‐like tasks, as opposed to two different computer‐based formats: video game and text game exercises. Each format allowed learner‐control over time‐on‐task. Following the study, subjects were required to estimate the effectiveness level and interest level of each format. Analysis compared results of subjects who rated formats as highly and not‐highly effective. Results raised serious questions about the effectiveness of learner‐controlled instructional formats, as subjects were unable to accurately monitor the success or failure of their learning. No relationships were found between subjects’ ratings of effectiveness and their time‐on‐task or their achievement on a multiple choice posttest. Effectiveness of learner control was equal for computer‐based instruction and for traditional tasks.
Proton spin coupling in four-membered rings—I. 2:2-d2-oxetane

Abstract Proton spin coupling constants for unsubstituted four-membered heterocyclics are unknown, and unravelling of their complex A 2 B 4 -type spectra is possible only with the aid of weak double irradiation. Thus, 2:2- d 2 -oxetane was synthesized and all accessible NMR parameters were obtained from an analysis of the 4-proton band. Geminal coupling constants are in accord with predictions of the Pople and Bothner-By theory, and diagonal coupling constants are smaller than 0·3 Hz.
Single angle geometric axis flexure

Abstract In this paper experimentally verified nonlinear finite element techniques are employed in the study of equal leg single angle beams bent about the geometric axis. From the study of the results of more than 500 finite element models, conservative design equations are formulated. The new equations provide for more accurate designs as compared with the current provisions contained in section 5.2 of the Specification for the Load and Resistance Factor Design of Single-Angle Members, (American Institute of Steel Construction Inc., Chicago, IL, 1994).
What parents and their adolescent sons suggest for male HPV vaccine messaging.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this article was to identify the information parents and their adolescent sons deem important when making the decision to get vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV). METHOD Twenty-one adolescent males (ages 13 to 17), with no previous HPV vaccination, and their parents were recruited from adolescent primary care clinics serving low- to middle-income families in a large Midwestern city. Dyad members participated in separate semistructured interviews eliciting the information participants felt would increase vaccine uptake and series completion via media and clinic-based sources. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and coded using inductive content analysis. RESULTS Overall, participants felt fear-based messages would be most effective for increasing vaccination uptake through commercials. When describing clinic messages, parents and sons felt the most important component was a recommendation for vaccination from the health care provider (HCP). Additionally, parents desired more information about the vaccine from the HCP than the sons, including cost, number of shots, and time since the approval of the vaccine for males. Compared with the clinic message, the commercial message was a vector for vaccine awareness, whereas the clinic message was a source of vaccine information. Vaccine initiation messages should provide vaccine information and come from an HCP, whereas completion messages should remind the patient why they initiated the vaccine and can come from any medical staff. CONCLUSIONS Family/individual-focused interventions should be tailored to message source, timing, and target audience. This information can be used to guide public health professionals in the development of interventions to increase vaccine uptake.
Polarization of scatter and fluorescence signals in flow cytometry

Background The pulses of light scatter and fluorescence measured in flow cytometers exhibit varying degrees of polarization. Flow cytometers are heterogeneously sensitive to this polarization, depending on the light source(s), the optical layout, and the types of mirrors and filters used. Therefore, fluorescence polarization can affect apparent intensity ratios between particles and interfere with schemes for interlaboratory standardization. Methods We investigate the degree to which polarization affects common flow cytometry measurements. Our technique for determining polarization differs from previous methods because complete distributions of intensity versus polarization angle are measured, rather than intensities at just two orthogonal polarization angles. Theoretical models for scatter and fluorescence are presented and verified by making polarization measurements of calibration beads. Results Measurements of cells stained with a variety of dyes illustrate that fluorescence polarization occurs frequently in flow cytometry. Conclusions Consequences for quantitative cytometry are discussed, and the use of the “magic angle” to make a flow cytometer insensitive to fluorescence polarization is proposed. Cytometry 40:88–101, 2000 © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Energy coupling in lysolecithin-treated submitochondrial particles

Lysolecithin, at a level of 1.2 mg per mg protein, completely suppressed active transport of K+ and energized H+ uptake in ETPH, as well as eliminating vesicular profiles as determined by electron microscopic examination of positively stained ultrathin sections. Nonetheless, lysolecithin-treated ETPH showed essentially complete retention of two coupled functions, namely, uncoupler-stimulated ATPase activity and uncoupler-stimulated NADH oxidase activity and partial retention of ATP-Pi exchange activity and phosphorylation coupled to NADH oxidation. These results indicate that the capacity to generate a H+ gradient or a K+ gradient is not a prerequisite for energy coupling and that the basic postulate of the chemiosmotic hypothesis (1) is therefore invalid.
Coordination geometry induced control of channel morphology in divalent metal pyridinedicarboxylate coordination polymers containing a kinked tethering organodiimine

Abstract Hydrothermal synthesis has afforded two divalent metal coordination polymers incorporating tridentate 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylate (PDC) ligands and the kinked dipodal organodiimine 4,4′-dipyridylamine (dpa), {[Ni(PDC)(dpa)(H2O)] · 2H2O} (1) and {[Zn(PDC)(dpa)] · 3H2O} (2), which were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction and spectral and thermogravimetric analyses. Although both 1 and 2 display one-dimensional (1-D) polymeric chain motifs, the different coordination environments (octahedral in 1, distorted square pyramidal in 2) provoke divergence in the structures and aggregations of the chain subunits. Compound 1 manifests both polycatenation and interdigitation of its 1-D polymeric chains, while 2 exhibits only interdigitation, resulting in widely disparate morphologies for water molecule-bearing channels within the extended structures. Compound 1 possesses three distinct channel types occupied by isolated water molecules. Compound 2 presents only one type of channel, larger than those in 1, filled with D(5) discrete-chain water molecule aggregations. In both cases the co-crystallized water molecules are anchored to the coordination polymer matrix by hydrogen bonding involving PDC carboxylate oxygen atoms and the central amine unit of the dpa ligands. These supramolecular interactions are crucial for stability, as 1 and 2 both undergo irreversible loss of crystallinity upon dehydration.
Bayes Estimate and Inference for Entropy and Information Index of Fit

This article defines a quantized entropy and develops Bayes estimates and inference for the entropy and a Kullback–Leibler information index of the model fit. We use a Dirichlet process prior for the unknown data-generating distribution with a maximum entropy candidate model as the expected distribution. This formulation produces prior and posterior distributions for the quantized entropy, the information index of fit, the moments, and the model parameters. The posterior mean of the quantized entropy provides a Bayes estimate of entropy under quadratic loss. The consistency of the Bayes estimates and the information index are shown. The implementation and the performances of the Bayes estimates are illustrated using data simulated from exponential, gamma, and lognormal distributions.
Particle size dependence of the dynamic photophysical properties of NaYF_4:Yb, Er nanocrystals

The effects of the nanocrystal size on the emission spectra and decay rates of upconverting hexagonal NaYF4:Yb,Er nanocrystals are investigated. The influence of nanocrystal size is represented in terms of the surface area/volume ratio (SA/Vol). Our results show that a small nanocrystal size, or large SA/Vol ratio increases the decay rate, in particular, the green luminescence decay rate varies linearly with the SA/Vol ratio.