cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
237 CHARACTERIZATION OF CYTOPLASMIC POLYADENYLATION SITES DURING PORCINE EMBRYOGENESIS

During the development of a germinal vesicle (GV) stage porcine oocyte to the 4-cell stage embryo, there is a transcriptionally silent period during which the oocyte/embryo relies completely on the maternal contribution of mRNA. Regulation of transcription and degradation of the maternal mRNA is at least partially dependent on cytoplasmic polyadenylation elements (CPE) within the 3′ untranslated region of the mRNA. The goal of this study was to determine how single, double, and triple CPE sites affect the transcript levels of mRNA during embryogenesis. Expressed sequence tags from oocytes and 4-cell stage embryos were scanned for the presence of consensus CPE (TTTAAAA, TTAAAAA, ATAAAAA, TTAAAAT, ATTAAAA). We choose 19 different transcripts containing 1 to 3 CPE sites to examine their mRNA levels in GV, metaphase II (MII), and 2-cell and 4-cell stage embryos via real-time PCR. Ovaries were collected from a local slaughterhouse and aspirated, and those oocytes surrounded by cumulus cells were matured in vitro, fertilized, and cultured to the 2-or 4-cell stage. At each stage, 30 oocytes/embryos were pooled and flash frozen in liquid nitrogen, followed by storage at -80°C. RNA from oocyte/embryo pools was then extracted and reversed transcribed into cDNA using an oligo dT primer accompanied with purification using Tris. Real-time PCR was performed with primers designed for the corresponding transcripts using 3 biological and 2 technical replicates for each stage. Starting quantities were calculated based on the standard curve method and standardized to the housekeeping gene, YWHAG, and then MII, 2-cell, and 4-cell were compared to the GV stage. One-way ANOVA was done on the individual samples using proc GLM and proc power in Statistical Analysis System (SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC). Individual comparisons were made by a protected (P < 0.05) least squares means. The relative abundance of one of the two clones that contained the consensus TTAAAAA decreased after MII, whereas the other did not change. One of the two clones that contained the consensus TTTAAAA decreased (c-MOS) after MII, whereas the other did not change. One of the two clones with the consensus ATAAAAA decreased after the GV stage, whereas the other did not change. Of the two clones with the consensus TTAAAAT, one increased after the 2-cell stage, whereas the other decreased after GV The two clones that contained the ATTAAAA consensus did not change over the stages of embryos evaluated. Two of five clones with 2 CPE showed no change during these stages, whereas all four clones with 3 CPE decreased from GV through the 4-cell stage. Our results show that there was no significant trend when comparing 2 transcripts that contained the same type and number of CPE sites and that combinations of CPE sites can change the exact nature of when the transcript is available for translation. Thus, CPE might not be the only factors that regulate message stability. Funding was received from Food for the 21st Century at the University of Missouri.
The Value of Noise-Excluder Shells in Reducing Overreferrals from a School Audiometric Screening Program

Audiometric screening conducted in noisy environments can result in overreferrals to specialty clinics. A follow-up study, conducted to investi gate referral rates as related to the type of headset used in screening programs, showed that noise-excluding shells reduced overreferrals without increasing underreferrals.
CHOICE BETWEEN DELAYED REINFORCERS AND FIXED‐RATIO SCHEDULES REQUIRING FORCEFUL RESPONDING

This experiment measured pigeons' choices between delayed reinforcers and fixed-ratio schedules in which a force of approximately 0.48 N was needed to operate the response key. In ratio-delay conditions, subjects chose between a fixed-ratio schedule and an adjusting delay. The delay was increased or decreased several times a session in order to estimate an indifference point--a delay duration at which the two alternatives were chosen about equally often. Each ratio-delay condition was followed by a delay-delay condition in which subjects chose between the adjusting delay and a variable-time schedule, with the components of this schedule selected to match the ratio completion times of the preceding ratio-delay condition. The adjusting delays at the indifference point were longer when the alternative was a fixed-ratio schedule than when it was a matched variable-time schedule, which indicated a preference for the matched variable-time schedules over the fixed-ratio schedules. This preference increased in a nonlinear manner with increasing ratio size. This nonlinearity was inconsistent with a theory that states that indifference points for both time and ratio schedules can be predicted by multiplying the choice response-reinforcer intervals of the two types of schedules by different multiplicative constants. Two other theories, which predict nonlinear increases in preference for the matched variable-time schedules, are discussed.
Temporal trends in medical therapies for ST- and non-ST elevation myocardial infarction: (from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities [ARIC] Surveillance Study).

Reports from large studies using administrative data sets and event registries have characterized recent temporal trends and treatment patterns for acute myocardial infarction. However, few were population based, and fewer examined differences in patterns of treatment for patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). The aim of this study was to examine 22-year trends in the use of 10 medical therapies and procedures by STEMI and NSTEMI classification in 30,986 definite or probable myocardial infarctions in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Community Surveillance Study from 1987 to 2008. Weighted multivariate Poisson regression, controlling for gender, race and center classification, age, and Predicting Risk of Death in Cardiac Disease Tool score, was used to estimate average annual percentage changes in medical therapy use. From 1987 to 2008, 6,106 hospitalized events (19.7%) were classified as STEMIs and 20,302 (65.5%) as NSTEMIs. Among patients with STEMIs, increases were noted in the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (6.4%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 5.7 to 7.2), antiplatelet agents other than aspirin (5.0%, 95% CI 4.0% to 6.0%), lipid-lowering medications (4.5%, 95% CI 3.1% to 5.8%), β blockers (2.7%, 95% CI 2.4% to 3.0%), aspirin (1.2%, 95% CI 1.0% to 1.3%), and heparin (0.8%, 95% CI 0.4% to 1.3%). Among patients with NSTEMIs, the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (5.5%, 95% CI 5.0% to 6.1%), antiplatelet agents other than aspirin (3.7%, 95% CI 2.7% to 4.7%), lipid-lowering medications (3.0%, 95% CI% 1.9 to 4.1%), β blockers (4.2%, 95% CI 3.9% to 4.4%), aspirin (1.9%, 95% CI 1.6% to 2.1%), and heparin (1.7%, 95% CI 1.3% to 2.1%) increased. Among patients with STEMIs, decreases in the use of thrombolytic agents (−7.2%, 95% CI −7.9% to −6.6%) and coronary artery bypass grafting (−2.4%, 95% CI −3.6% to −1.2%) were observed. Similar increases in percutaneous coronary intervention and decreases in the use of thrombolytic agents and coronary artery bypass grafting were noted among all patients. In conclusion, trends of increasing use of evidence-based therapies were found for patients with STEMIs and those with NSTEMIs over the past 22 years.
Dynamic Prognostic Prediction of Defect Propagation on Rolling Element Bearings

Rolling element bearing failure is a major factor in the failure of rotating machinery. Current methods of bearing condition monitoring focus on determining any existing fault presence on a bearing as early as possible. Although a defect can be detected when it is well below the industry standard of a fatal size of 6.25 mm2 (0.01 in2), the remaining life of a bearing (the time it takes to reach the final failure size) from the point where a defect can be detected can vary substantially. As a fatal defect is detected, it is common to shut down machinery as soon as possible to avoid catastrophic consequences. Performing such an action, which usually occurs at inconvenient times, typically results in substantial time and economics losses. It is, therefore, important that the bearing's remaining life be more precisely forecasted, in a prognostic rather than diagnostic manner, so that maintenance can be optimally scheduled. Unfortunately, current bearing remaining life prediction methods have not been well dev...
Classical Solutions for Diffusion-Induced Grain-Boundary Motion

We prove existence and uniqueness of classical solutions for the motion of hypersurfaces driven by mean curvature and diffusion of a solute along the surface. This free boundary problem involves solving a coupled system of nonlinear partial differential equations.
Unique reactions of glycosyl iodides with oxa- and thiocycloalkane acceptors.

Glucosyl-, galactosyl-, and mannosyl iodides efficiently react with strained oxacycloalkane acceptors to afford O-glycosides with high β-selectivity. The mechanism of ring opening was investigated by reacting mannosyl iodides with pure enantiomers of propylene oxide and styrene oxide. Competition experiments between three- and five-membered oxacycloalkanes were also investigated. Finally, β-thiomannosides were synthesized from thiocycloalkane acceptors.
Modulation of oxidative phosphorylation of human kidney 293 cells by transfection with the internal rotenone-insensitive NADH–quinone oxidoreductase (NDI1) gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In contrast to the mitochondrial proton-translocating NADH–quinone oxidoreductase (complex I), which consists of at least 43 different subunits, the internal rotenone-insensitive NADH–quinone oxidoreductase (Ndi1) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a single polypeptide enzyme. The NDI1 gene was stably transfected into the human embryonal kidney 293 (HEK 293) cells. The transfected NDI1 gene was then transcribed and translated in the HEK 293 cells to produce the functional enzyme. The immunochemical and immunofluorescence analyses indicated that the expressed Ndi1 polypeptide was located to the inner mitochondrial membranes. The expression of Ndi1 did not alter the content of existing complex I in the HEK 293 mitochondria, suggesting that the expressed Ndi1 enzyme does not displace the endogenous complex I. The NADH oxidase activity of the NDI1-transfected HEK 293 cells was not affected by rotenone but was inhibited by flavone. The ADP/O ratios coupled to NADH oxidation were lowered from 2.4 to 1.8 by NDI1-transfection while the ADP/O ratios coupled to succinate oxidation (1.6) were not changed. The NDI1-transfected HEK 293 cells were able to grow in media containing a complex I inhibitor such as rotenone and 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion. The potential usefulness of incorporating the Ndi1 protein into mitochondria of human cells is discussed.
On the Structure of the Nuclei Between Helium and Oxygen

In order to test the present assumptions on nuclear forces, the theory is applied to the nuclei in which the first $p$ shell of protons and neutrons is being built up, i.e., to the nuclei with masses between 5 and 16. The Hartree-Fock approximation is used for the numerical calculations, but the more qualitative results are independent to a large degree of the approximations used. The angular momenta of the ground states appear to be given correctly by the theory. Although the wave functions used do not correspond to preformed alpha-particles, the first-order energies exhibit a marked four-shell structure. The experimental energy difference between the nuclear pairs ($N,N+1$), ($N+1,N$) may possibly be somewhat larger than the difference in the electrostatic energies. Support for the use of spin exchange (Heisenberg) forces to account for the singlet-triplet separation in the deuteron is found in the singlet-triplet separation inferred from the ${\mathrm{Li}}^{6}$-${\mathrm{He}}^{6}$ normal state energy difference. However, the ${\mathrm{B}}^{10}$-${\mathrm{Be}}^{10}$ and ${\mathrm{N}}^{14}$-${\mathrm{C}}^{14}$ normal state differences do not fit the simple theory which is adequate for the singlet-triplet spacing in the two and six particle problems.
Incorporation of cis-hydroxyproline into collagen by tendon cells. Failure of the intracellular collagen to assume a triple-helical conformation

Abstract Matrix-free cells from the tendons of chick embryos were incubated with cis-4-hydroxy-L-proline, a proline analogue previously shown to be incorporated into collagen and other proteins. The analogue (200 μg/ml) decreased the secretion of 14C-labeled collagen by the cells by about 60% and produced a small increase in the amount of intracellular 14C-labeled collagen. The small amount of 14C-labeled protein still secreted in the presence of the analogue consisted of small peptides which were at least in part derived from 14C-labeled collagen. Limited pepsin digestion of the 14C-labeled protein from the cell fraction indicated that the incorporation of the proline analogue into collagen interfered with the formation of the triple-helical conformation.
Transition from Charge‐Transfer to Largely Locally Excited Exciplexes, from Structureless to Vibrationally Structured Emissions

Exciplexes of 9,10-dicyanoanthracene (DCA) with alkylbenzene donors in cyclohexane show structureless emission spectra, typical of exciplexes with predominantly charge-transfer (CT) character, when the donor has a relatively low oxidation potential (Eox ), e.g. hexamethylbenzene (HMB). With increasing Eox and stronger mixing with a locally excited (LE) state, vibrational structure begins to appear with 1,2,3,5-tetramethylbenzene and becomes prominent with p-xylene (p-Xy). A simple theoretical model reproduces the spectra and the radiative rate constants, and it reveals several surprises: Even in this nonpolar solvent, the fractional CT character of a highly mixed exciplex varies widely in response to fluctuations in the microscopic environment. Environments that favor the LE (or CT) state contribute more to the blue (or red) side of the overall spectrum. It is known that sparsely substituted benzene radical cations, e.g., p-Xy(•+) , are stabilized more in acetonitrile than the heavily substituted HMB(•+) . Remarkably, ion pairing with DCA(•-) in cyclohexane leads to even larger differences in the stabilization of these radical cations. The spectra of the low-Eox donors are almost identical except for displacements that approximately equal the differences in Eox , even though the exciplexes have varying degrees of CT character. These similarities result from compensation among several nonobvious, but quantified factors.
Molding of the regenerate in mandibular distraction: clinical experience.

Initial clinical experience with distraction osteogenesis has demonstrated the risk of developing postdistraction malocclusion that requires secondary orthodontic correction. In addition, optimal mandibular form is not always achieved. Both animal studies and preliminary clinical investigations have suggested that the regenerate can be successfully molded during active mandibular distraction. The anthers have applied this concept clinically to obtain a more desirable occlusal relationship in a group of mandibular distraction patients. Eleven patients are described in whom angulation of the distraction device or intermaxillary/interdental elastics were employed to mold the regenerate. Two representative case studies are provided to illustrate the principles. When using elastic traction to close an anterior open bite, care must be taken that extrusion of individual teeth is minimized by distributing the force over the entire dental arch, especially the basder portions of the jaws. The authors demonstrate that molding of the regenerate can he successfully accomplished not only during device activation but also early in the consolidation period. The outer limit of the time window in which molding is effective remains to be defined.
Survey Article: Citizen Panels and the Concept of Representation*

ARTICIPATION by lay citizens in technically complex political controversies often raises questions about the competence of participants and the quality of their contributions to decision-making. One way of addressing such concerns has been to establish temporary advisory bodies that involve lay people in cooperative deliberation informed by expert advice. Citizen juries, consensus conferences, planning cells and deliberative polls—referred to here collectively as “citizen panels”—seek to enhance both the rational justification for and popular sanction of political decisions. Citizen panels present a genuine conundrum for theories of political representation. Both conceptually and institutionally, they fall into a gap between the informal deliberative institutions of the public sphere and the formal decision-making bodies of the state. Unlike many civic associations and interest groups, citizen panels do not have continuing members who develop loyalty to each other and commitment to a cause; unlike most standing advisory committees or public hearings, they restrict interest group representatives to a supporting role; and unlike referenda, negotiated rule-making or juries in the US legal system, they have no authority to make legally binding decisions. And yet it seems clear that citizen panels are representative in some sense—but which? This article examines two distinct aspects of this question. First, viewed in isolation, in what sense are citizen panels representative institutions? Second, seen in terms of their relationship to other political institutions, what specific contribution can citizen panels make to the broad network of values and practices that comprise representative democracy? A number of studies have developed typologies of forms of citizen participation in complex policy areas. 1 Although the following discussion may be relevant for various types of citizen panels, this article examines only the
Intraperitoneal chemotherapy in the treatment of ovarian cancer

Over the past decade the intraperitoneal administration of chemotherapeutic agents has evolved from a pharmacokinetic concept into a rational treatment strategy for a selected group of women with advanced ovarian cancer. A recently reported large randomized controlled clinical trial has confirmed that the intraperitoneal administration of cisplatin is associated with superior efficacy and less toxicity than intravenous cisplatin in patients receiving initial chemotherapy for advanced small-volume residual ovarian cancer. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy is also a reasonable therapeutic option in women with very-small-volume residual disease following an initial response to a platinum-paclitaxel systemic chemotherapy programme. On the basis of the data available to date, further exploration of a role for intraperitoneal chemotherapy in the management of ovarian cancer is indicated.
Alternating Cooperative Transmission for Energy-Efficient Broadcasting

We propose a broadcast protocol that is based on a form of cooperative diversity called the opportunistic large array (OLA). In the initial broadcast, an SNR ("transmission") threshold is used to define mutually exclusive sets of OLAs, such that the union of the sets includes all the nodes in the network. The broadcast protocol then basically alternates the transmitting set of nodes (or OLAs) during each broadcast cycle and is called alternating OLA with transmission threshold (A- OLA-T). Under A-OLA-T, broadcasting drains the energies of the nodes in the network efficiently and uniformly, extending the network life relative to broadcasts that use simple OLA or non-alternating OLAs with a transmission threshold. In this paper, we optimize the A-OLA-T protocol under the continuum assumption (very high node density).
Brain Lipid Changes Following Hypoxia

Biochemical changes signaling irreversible damage in brain cells following hypoxia are incompletely understood. Disruption of membrane structure may play a role in this process. Lipids and long-chain fatty acids are important constituents of neural membranes and could serve as markers of membrane breakdown. The present study was undertaken to assess the brain lipid profile and the process of fatty acid elongation in adult rats subjected to hypoxia and unilateral carotid ligation. Following functional recovery from hypoxia, the brain lipids were analyzed in both hemispheres and disclosed a significant reduction of inositide glycerophosphatide (PI) and serine glycerophosphatide (PS). Mitochondrial fatty acid elongation was increased by more than 100% and the pattern of elongation more closely resembled that seen during myelination rather than maturity. Although the degree of brain hypoxia is not predictable in the rat model, the lipid alterations indicate a reparative process following a suppression of lipid metabolism during hypoxia. Delineation of biochemical processes signaling irreversible brain damage will await further studies on regional and subcellular changes.
A novel repression module, an extensive activation domain, and a bipartite nuclear localization signal defined in the immediate-early transcription factor Egr-1.

Abstract Egr-1 is an immediate-early response gene induced transiently and ubiquitously by mitogenic stimuli and also regulated in response to signals that initiate differentiation. The Egr-1 gene product, a nuclear phosphoprotein with three zinc fingers of the Cys2His2 class, binds to the sequence CGCCCCCGC and transactivates a synthetic promoter construct 10-fold in transient-transfection assays. We have analyzed the structure and function of the Egr-1 protein in detail, delineating independent and modular activation, repression, DNA-binding, and nuclear localization activities. Deletion analysis, as well as fusions to the DNA-binding domain of GAL4, indicated that the activation potential of Egr-1 is distributed over an extensive serine/threonine-rich N-terminal domain. In addition, a novel negative regulatory function has been precisely mapped 5' of the zinc fingers: amino acids 281 to 314 are sufficient to confer the ability to repress transcription on a heterologous DNA-binding domain. Specific DNA-binding activity was shown to reside in the three zinc fingers of Egr-1, as predicted by homology to other known DNA-binding proteins. Finally, nuclear localization of Egr-1 is specified by signals in the DNA-binding domain and basic flanking sequences, as determined by subcellular fractionation and indirect immunofluorescence. Basic residues 315 to 330 confer partial nuclear localization on the bacterial protein beta-galactosidase. A bipartite signal consisting of this basic region in conjunction with either the second or third zinc finger, but not the first, suffices to target beta-galactosidase exclusively to the nucleus. Our work shows that Egr-1 is a functionally complex protein and suggests that it may play different roles in the diverse settings in which it is induced.
A fourth parameter for the vapor pressure and entropy of vaporization of polar fluids

Pitzer's acentric factor approach has been extended to the vapor pressure and entropy of vaporization of polar fluids. Normal fluid vapor pressure functions have been determined for 0.44 ≤ TR < 0.56. A polarity factor has been defined and polar correction terms established for the vapor pressure for 0.44 ≤ TR < 0.70 and for the entropy of vaporization for 0.56 < TR < 0.72. The polar correction terms enable the accurate calculation of the vapor pressure and entropy of vaporization of a polar fluid from its normal boiling point and normal latent heat of vaporization. The results of this study also form the basis for the extension of this approach to other thermodynamic properties of polar fluids.
Effects of a 60 Hz magnetic field on central cholinergic systems of the rat

The authors studied the effects of an acute exposure to a 60 Hz magnetic field on sodium-dependent, high-affinity choline uptake in the brain of the rat. Decreases in uptake were observed in the frontal cortex and hippocampus after the animals were exposed to a magnetic field at flux densities [>=] 0.75 mT. These effects of the magnetic field were blocked by pretreating the animals with the narcotic antagonist naltrexone, but not by the peripheral opioid antagonist, naloxone methiodide. These data indicate that the magnetic-field-induced decreases in high-affinity choline uptake in the rat brain were mediated by endogenous opioids in the central nervous systems.
Anemia Management in Patients with Chronic Viral Hepatitis C

OBJECTIVE:To review the literature regarding current strategies for the management of anemia associated with treatment for chronic viral hepatitis C (HCV) in adults.DATA SOURCES:The MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched (January 1980-October 2012) for articles in English using the search terms anemia, ribavirin, dose reduction, erythropoietin stimulating agents, hepatitis C, HIV, liver transplant, telaprevir, and boceprevir.STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION:All relevant original studies, meta-analyses, systematic reviews, guidelines, and review articles were assessed for inclusion. References from pertinent articles were examined for additional content not found during the initial search.DATA SYNTHESIS:Standard of care for patients infected with HCV genotype 1 now requires a triple therapy regimen including an HCV NS3 protease inhibitor. These regimens lead to significantly higher rates of anemia compared to prior dual therapy regimens. Development of an optimal management strateg...
Minimizing Separable Convex Objectives on Arbitrarily Directed Trees of Variable Upper Bound Constraints

An extension of the Economic Order Quantity EOQ model to multi-stage production-distribution systems and the isotonic regression problem are known to be equivalent and to be solvable in ON4 time. The following specializations of the model are solvable in ON log N time: joint replenishment systems, pure assembly systems, nested policies in pure distribution systems, nonnested policies in one-warehouse multi-retailer systems, nested policies in multi-item, one-warehouse, multi-retailer systems, and systems in which the underlying network is a series-parallel digraph. We show here that a generalization of this problem is solvable in ON log N time whenever the undirected version of the underlying network is a tree. The algorithm we propose is used as a subroutine in an algorithm solving the EOQ problem on general circuitless directed graphs, the subject of a companion paper.
What residualizing predictors in regression analyses does (and what it does not do)

Psycholinguists are making increasing use of regression analyses and mixed-effects modeling. In an attempt to deal with concerns about collinearity, a number of researchers orthogonalize predictor variables by residualizing (i.e., by regressing one predictor onto another, and using the residuals as a stand-in for the original predictor). In the current study, the effects of residualizing predictor variables are demonstrated and discussed using ordinary least-squares regression and mixed-effects models. Some of these effects are almost certainly not what the researcher intended and are probably highly undesirable. Most importantly, what residualizing does not do is change the result for the residualized variable, which many researchers probably will find surprising. Further, some analyses with residualized variables cannot be meaningfully interpreted. Hence, residualizing is not a useful remedy for collinearity.
LGA: a method for finding 3D similarities in protein structures

We present the LGA (Local-Global Alignment) method, designed to facilitate the comparison of protein structures or fragments of protein structures in sequence dependent and sequence independent modes. The LGA structure alignment program is available as an online service at http://PredictionCenter.llnl.gov/local/lga. Data generated by LGA can be successfully used in a scoring function to rank the level of similarity between two structures and to allow structure classification when many proteins are being analyzed. LGA also allows the clustering of similar fragments of protein structures.
Training the Helpers

In reflecting on training, respondents to the future survey called for higher standards in preparing practitioners and researchers and zeroed in on deficiencies in training program content. On a broader level, they stressed the importance of education and consultation programs for the general public and for those professionals who come into contact with the LD population. Picking up on several themes raised in the survey, Selma Sapir shares ideas based on her scholarly activity and personal experiences related to improving the field's approach to training. She argues for preparing personnel to have a broad theoretical understanding of individual differences; she stresses the training implications of interdisciplinary collaboration and of working with families. In keeping with these perspectives, she opts for generic training programs with specialization only in terms of severity of learning impairment. To illustrate her points, she offers an outline for such a core program. Because of the importance and c...
A bar magnet approach to controlling multirobot systems

In this paper, we present a novel strategy for organizing groups of robots into a formation utilizing artificial potentials which behave like a bar magnet. A mathematical surface is defined that will “pull” the robots into formation controlling the overall geometry. Nonlinear limiting functions are defined to attract and hold members in a geometric formation. By adjusting control parameters, the shape and the extent of the formation is controlled. Formations can dynamically change and adapt accordingly by making the control parameters time varying. This approach is computationally efficient and scales well to large team sizes. Simulation studies are presented for ten robots in wedge, inverted ‘vee’, and column formations.
The bilaterally asymmetrical larval form of Stomopneustes variolaris (Lamarck).

This study describes the echinopluteus and ju- veniles of the Indo-Pacific echinoid Stomopneustes vari- olaris. Late 4-armed larvae had left postoral arms that were longer and more deeply red pigmented than the right arms. Two weeks into development, the sixth pair of arms, the posterolaterals, began to form as these larvae achieved an arbacioid form. The right posterolateral arm grew long, was heavily pigmented at the tip, and was oriented perpendicu- larly or obliquely to the main body axis. The left postero- lateral arm was relatively short, with little pigment. Two of several hundred larvae examined showed different patterns. One, with a juvenile rudiment on the right side, had arms that were a mirror image of those of typical larvae. A second larva, without a rudiment, had equal postoral arms and long, deeply pigmented posterolateral arms. These patterns sug- gest a developmental link between the asymmetry of the larval arms and the formation of the juvenile rudiment. Adult Stomopneustes also often showed a fixed asymmetry, with the test higher and spines shorter on the side toward interambulacrum 3 and the test lower and spines longer on the opposite side (ambulacrum I). Cleared 1- and 2-day juveniles did not show any obvious asymmetry in the loca- tion of apical plates that form from the larval spicules, so there is no evidence for a morphological link between asymmetrical larvae and adults.
The cobZ Gene of Methanosarcina mazei Gö1 Encodes the Nonorthologous Replacement of the α-Ribazole-5′-Phosphate Phosphatase (CobC) Enzyme of Salmonella enterica

Open reading frame (ORF) Mm2058 of the methanogenic archaeon Methanosarcina mazei strain Go1 was shown in vivo and in vitro to encode the nonorthologous replacement of the alpha-ribazole-phosphate phosphatase (CobC; EC 3.1.3.73) enzyme of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium LT2. Bioinformatics analysis of sequences available in databases tentatively identified ORF Mm2058, which was cloned under the control of an inducible promoter and was used to support growth of an S. enterica strain under conditions that demanded CobC-like activity. The Mm2058 protein was expressed with a decahistidine tag at its N terminus and was purified to homogeneity using nickel affinity chromatography. High-performance liquid chromatography followed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry showed that the Mm2058 protein had phosphatase activity that converted alpha-ribazole-5'-phosphate to alpha-ribazole, as reported for the bacterial CobC enzyme. On the basis of the data reported here, we refer to ORF Mm2058 as cobZ. We tested the prediction by Rodionov et al. (D. A. Rodionov, A. G. Vitreschak, A. A. Mironov, and M. S. Gelfand, J. Biol. Chem. 278:41148-41159, 2003) that ORF HSL01294 (also called Vng1577) encoded the nonorthologous replacement of the bacterial CobC enzyme in the extremely halophilic archaeon Halobacterium sp. strain NRC-1. A strain of the latter carrying an in-frame deletion of ORF Vng1577 was not a cobalamin auxotroph, suggesting that either there is redundancy of this function in Halobacterium or the gene was misannotated.
Power laws reveal phase transitions in landscape controls of fire regimes

Understanding the environmental controls on historical wildfires, and how they changed across spatial scales, is difficult because there are no surviving explicit records of either weather or vegetation (fuels). Here we show how power laws associated with fire-event time series arise in limited domains of parameters that represent critical transitions in the controls on landscape fire. Comparison to a self-organized criticality model shows that the latter mimics historical fire only in a limited domain of criticality, and is not an adequate mechanism to explain landscape fire dynamics, which are shaped by both endogenous and exogenous controls. Our results identify a continuous phase transition in landscape controls, marked by power laws, and provide an ecological analogue to critical behaviour in physical and chemical systems. This explicitly cross-scale analysis provides a paradigm for identifying critical thresholds in landscape dynamics that may be crossed in a rapidly changing climate.
Twelve-hour canine heart preservation with a simple, portable hypothermic organ perfusion device

Background. Cardiac transplantation is limited to an ischemic time of around 6 hours by available preservation solution and technique. Complex organ preservation devices have been developed that extend this time to 24 hours or more, but are clinically impractical. This study evaluates a portable oxygen-driven organ perfusion device weighing approximately 13.5 kg. Methods. Organs are perfused with the University of Wisconsin solution at low perfusion pressure using less than 400 L of oxygen per 12 hours. Left ventricular parameters were measured in anesthetized adult beagles to establish control values (n = 5). Hearts were procured after cardioplegia with 4°C University of Wisconsin solution, weighed, then stored for 12 hours in University of Wisconsin solution at 4°C. Hearts were perfused (n = 3) or nonperfused (n = 2) during storage. Organ temperature, partial pressure of oxygen in the aorta and right atrium, perfusion pressure, and aortic flow were recorded hourly in perfused hearts. After 12 hours, hearts were transplanted into littermates and left ventricular parameters measured after stabilization off bypass. Results. Organ weight for both groups was unchanged. Nonperfused hearts required both pump and pharmacologic support with significantly depressed left ventricular function. Perfused hearts needed minimal pharmacologic support, with left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, cardiac output, and rate of change of left ventricular pressure showing no statistical difference from control. Conclusions. These findings confirm the potential for extended metabolic support for ischemia-intolerant organs in a small, lightweight, easily portable preservation system.
BOUNDARY EXTENSION AND STOP CRITERIA FOR EMPIRICAL MODE DECOMPOSITION

In this paper, a new idea about the boundary extension has been introduced and applied to the Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) algorithm. Instead of the traditional mirror extension on the boundary, we propose a ratio extension on the boundary. We also adopt the stop criteria by Rilling et al. for B-Spline based EMD algorithm. Numerical experiments are used for empirically assessing performance of the modified EMD algorithm. The examples indicate that the ratio boundary extension indeed improves the result of the original EMD.
State Estimation for a Large Scale System

The theory of estimation has found major applications in the aero-space field but have been rather fewer applications for the case of industrial systems, socio-economic problems, etc. The main reason for this is that the relevant models in the case of industrial and other systems are usually of much higher dimension so that practical utilization of estimation methods is hindered by computational problems. This paper derives the U-D Algorithm for measurement updates and time updates and is applied to a multi-machine power system.
ERK activation is only one role of PKC in TCR-independent cytotoxic T cell granule exocytosis

Cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) kill target cells by releasing lytic agents via regulated exocytosis. Three signals are known to be required for exocytosis: an increase in intracellular Ca(2+), activation of protein kinase C (PKC) and activation of extracellular signal regulated signal kinase (ERK). ERK activation required for exocytosis depends on activity of PKC. The simplest possibility is that the sole effect of PKC required for exocytosis is ERK activation. Testing this requires dissociating ERK and PKC activation. We did this using TCR-independent stimulation of TALL-104 human leukemic CTLs. When cells are stimulated with thapsigargin and PMA, agents that increase intracellular Ca(2+) and activate PKC, respectively, PKC-dependent ERK activation is required for lytic granule exocytosis. Expressing a constitutively active mutant MAP kinase kinase activates ERK independent of PKC. However, activating ERK without PKC does not support lytic granule exocytosis, indicating that there are multiple effects of PKC required for granule exocytosis.
Thermal catastrophe in the plasma sheet boundary layer

This letter presents a first step towards a substorm model including particle heating and transport in the plasma sheet boundary layer (PSBL). The heating mechanism discussed is resonant absorption of Alfven waves. For some assumed MHD perturbation incident from the tail lobes onto the plasma sheet, the local heating rate in the PSBL has the form of a resonance function of the one-fluid plasma temperature. Balancing the local heating by convective transport of the heated plasma toward the central plasma sheet, an 'equation of state" is found for the steady-state PSBL whose solution has the form of a mathematical catastrophe: at a critical value of a parameter containing the incident power flux, the local density, and the convection velocity, the equilibrium temperature jumps discontinuously. Associating this temperature increase with the abrupt onset of the substorm expansion phase, the catastrophe model indicates at least three ways in which the onset may be triggered. Several other consequences related to substorm dynamics are suggested by the simple catastrophe model.
Acceleration of solid hydrogen pellet using augmented railgun for magnetic fusion reactor refueling

A 1.2 m long electromagnetic railgun with separate augmentation was designed, fabricated, and tested for the purpose of injecting hypervelocity hydrogen pellets into magnetic fusion devices for refueling. A compact configuration of two pairs of coaxial rails insulated by thin Kapton films was employed. Two pulse-forming networks were used to separately control the duration, amplitude, and overlap of the current pulses. Copper sulphate resistors were employed as impedance-matching resistors and bank short resistors. The magnetic field inside the gun bore boosted by the high current on the gun augmentation rails, which in turn increased the J/spl times/B force without increasing the armature current, resulting in less ablation of the gun bore and pellet. Higher acceleration was achieved due to reduced inertial and viscous drag. Using a 1.2 m augmented railgun, hydrogen pellet velocities in excess of 2.5 km/s were achieved. Hydrogen pellet accelerations as high as 4.4/spl times/10/sup 6/ m/s/sup 2/ were achieved at a railgun current of 13.5 kA while the acceleration obtained on a conventional railgun was 2.2/spl times/10/sup 6/ m/s/sup 2/ at 14.1 kA. Computer simulations have been performed using the finite element code MSC/EMES to analyze the current density, magnetic field, Lorentz force, and inductance gradient of the conventional and augmented railguns. >
Evolutionary origin of rhopalia: insights from cellular-level analyses of Otx and POU expression patterns in the developing rhopalial nervous system.

SUMMARY In Cnidaria, the medusae of Scyphozoa and its sister-group Cubozoa uniquely possess rhopalia at their bell margin. These sensory centers coordinate behavior and development. We used fluorescent in situ hybridization and confocal microscopy to examine mRNA expression patterns in Aurelia sp.1 (Cnidaria, Scyphozoa) during early medusa formation, while simultaneously visualizing the developing nervous system by immunofluorescence. The genes investigated include AurOtx1, and the POU genes, AurPit1, and AurBrn3, homologs of genes known to function in cephalar neural organization and sensory cell differentiation across Bilateria. Our results show that AurOtx1 expression defines the major part of the oral neuroectodermal domain of the rhopalium, within which distinct populations of AurBrn3- and AurPit1-expressing sensory cells develop. Thus, despite the unique attributes of rhopalial evolution, we suggest that the rhopalial nervous system of scyphozoan medusae involves similar patterns of differential expression of genes that function in bilaterian cephalic structure and neuroendocrine system development. We propose that rhopalia evolved from preexisting sensory structures that developed distinct populations of sensory cells differentially expressing POU genes within Otx oral-neuroectodermal domains. This implies some commonality of developmental genetic functions involving these genes in the still poorly constrained common ancestor of bilaterians and cnidarians.
Host Selection, Development, Survival, and Reproduction of Turnip Aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae) on Green and Red Cabbage Varieties

Host selection, development, survival, and reproduction of the turnip aphid, Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach), on selected green and red cabbage varieties, Brassicae oleracea L. variety capitata, were studied in the laboratory. Although numbers of alate L. erysimi on different varieties varied generally, more alate adults and nymphs were observed on green than on red varieties on day 3; whereas, these differences were not so significant on day 15. There were no significant differences in alate adults on all six varieties on day 15. Numbers of nymphs and apterous adults of L. erysimi varied among the varieties. When mean numbers of those aphids on green varieties were compared with those on red varieties, the green varieties had more nymphs and apterous adults than those on the red varieties. Developmental durations of L. erysimi nymphs also varied among all varieties, and the nymphs fed on green varieties developed longer than those fed on red varieties. Adult longevities on these cabbage varieties were not significantly different; whereas, the adult fecundities were. Survival rates of L. erysimi varied greatly among all varieties, but there are no significant differences between the green and red varieties. Factors that might affect aphid host selection, growth, longevity, fecundity, and survivorship were discussed.
Using Tomoauto: A Protocol for High-throughput Automated Cryo-electron Tomography

Cryo-electron tomography (Cryo-ET) is a powerful three-dimensional (3-D) imaging technique for visualizing macromolecular complexes in their native context at a molecular level. The technique involves initially preserving the sample in its native state by rapidly freezing the specimen in vitreous ice, then collecting a series of micrographs from different angles at high magnification, and finally computationally reconstructing a 3-D density map. The frozen-hydrated specimen is extremely sensitive to the electron beam and so micrographs are collected at very low electron doses to limit the radiation damage. As a result, the raw cryo-tomogram has a very low signal to noise ratio characterized by an intrinsically noisy image. To better visualize subjects of interest, conventional imaging analysis and sub-tomogram averaging in which sub-tomograms of the subject are extracted from the initial tomogram and aligned and averaged are utilized to improve both contrast and resolution. Large datasets of tilt-series are essential to understanding and resolving the complexes at different states, conditions, or mutations as well as obtaining a large enough collection of sub-tomograms for averaging and classification. Collecting and processing this data can be a major obstacle preventing further analysis. Here we describe a high-throughput cryo-ET protocol based on a computer-controlled 300kV cryo-electron microscope, a direct detection device (DDD) camera and a highly effective, semi-automated image-processing pipeline software wrapper library tomoauto developed in-house. This protocol has been effectively utilized to visualize the intact type III secretion system (T3SS) in Shigella flexneri minicells. It can be applicable to any project suitable for cryo-ET.
Hydrotreating the Organic Fraction of Biomass Pyrolysis Oil to a Refinery Intermediate

The effect of the catalyst type, hydroprocessing conditions, and feed preparation on the mild hydrotreating of biomass pyrolytic lignin was examined. Pyrolytic lignin oils were produced by water separation at 1:1 and 3:1 water/oil mass ratios. Hydrotreating was performed in a semi-batch reactor at three severities using sulfided NiMo/Al2O3, Pd/C, and Pt/C catalysts. Over half of the carbon in the pyrolytic lignin could be converted to a low-oxygen (<5%), low-acid, volatile, hydrocarbon-miscible liquid product. This was achieved with all three catalysts at the most severe condition (400 °C and 2450 psig) and with Pt/C at somewhat less severe conditions. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses indicated that the remaining oxygen is largely phenolic in character. Hydrotreating of the organic fraction (pyrolytic lignin) gave oil with better properties, lower O and lower acidity, than hydrotreating of the whole oil at equivalent conditions.