cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The telomeres of Tetrahymena ribosomal DNA are not sufficient for stabilizing linear DNA in Xenopus oocytes.

Abstract Restriction fragments that include the telomeres of ribosomal DNA from Tetrahymena thermophila (TtrDNA) were ligated to the ends of linearized simian virus 40 (SV40) DNA. The linear SV40 DNA with TtrDNA ends, circular SV40 DNA, linear SV40 DNA, and intact TtrDNA were injected into the nuclei of Xenopus laevis oocytes and assayed for stability. The intact linear 21-kb TtrMDNA and circular SV40 DNA were maintained stably for at least 72 h after injection while the linearized SV40 DNA, either with or without telomeric ends, was degraded rapidly. Limited digestion with micrococcal nuclease revealed that neither the intact TfrDNA nor the SV40 DNA with telomeric ends reconstituted into chromatin containing regularly spaced nucleosomes. Another linearized plasmid DNA (pBamC), 14 kb in length, also was not stable in Xenopus oocytes with or without the addition of TYrDNA telomeres. Therefore, Th-DNA telomeres by themselves are not sufficient for stabilization of linear DNA in Xenopus oocytes. Rather, linear TrrDNA is maintained stably because of additional sequence or structural information encoded within the molecule.
Flaking of co-deposited hydrogenated carbon layers on the TFTR limiter

Flaking of co-deposited layers on the inner limiter tiles was recently observed in TFTR. This phenomenon was unexpected and has occurred since the termination of plasma operations on 4 April 1997. Flaking affects approximately 15% of the observable tiles and appears on isotropic graphite but not on carbon fibre composite tiles. Photographic images of the flakes and precise measurements of the limiter geometry are reported. The mobilizability of tritium retained in co-deposited layers is an important factor in safety analyses of future DT reactors. A programme to analyse the flakes and tiles is underway.
Sodium arsenite induces heat shock protein 70 expression and protects against secretagogue-induced trypsinogen and NF-κB activation

Heat shock proteins (HSPs), induced by a variety of stresses, are known to protect against cellular injury. Recent studies have demonstrated that prior beta-adrenergic stimulation as well as thermal or culture stress induces HSP70 expression and protects against cerulein-induced pancreatitis. The goal of our current studies was to determine whether or not a non-thermal, chemical stressor like sodium arsenite also upregulates HSP70 expression in the pancreas and prevents secretagogue-induced trypsinogen and NF-kappaB activation. We examined the effects of sodium arsenite preadministration on the parameters of cerulein-induced pancreatitis in rats and then monitored the effects of preincubating pancreatic acini with sodium arsenite in vitro. Our results showed that sodium arsenite pretreatment induced HSP70 expression both in vitro and in vivo and significantly ameliorated the severity of cerulein-induced pancreatitis, as evidenced by the markedly reduced degree of hyperamylasemia, pancreatic edema, and acinar cell necrosis. Sodium arsenite pretreatment not only inhibited trypsinogen activation and the subcellular redistribution of cathepsin B, but also prevented NF-kappaB translocation to the nucleus by inhibiting the IkappaBalpha degradation both in vivo and in vitro. We also examined the effect of sodium arsenite pretreatment in a more severe model of pancreatitis induced by L-arginine and found a similarly protective effect. Based on our observations we conclude that, like thermal stress, chemical stressors such as sodium arsenite also induce HSP70 expression in the pancreas and protect against acute pancreatitis. Thus, non-thermal pharmacologically induced stress can help prevent or treat pancreatitis.
Infrared optical properties of graphite

The complex dielectric constant $\ensuremath{\epsilon}(\ensuremath{\omega})={\ensuremath{\epsilon}}_{1}+i{\ensuremath{\epsilon}}_{2}$ for graphite is derived in the energy range 1 to 0.001 eV by Kramers-Kronig analysis of reflectance data with a suitable extrapolation of the curve to $R\ensuremath{\rightarrow}1$ for $\ensuremath{\hbar}\ensuremath{\omega}l0.01$ eV. The results are decomposed into intraband and interband terms. The free-electron contribution to $\ensuremath{\epsilon}$ can be quantitatively described by Drude theory with plasma frequency $\ensuremath{\hbar}{\ensuremath{\omega}}_{p}=0.44$ eV and relaxation time ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{c}=2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}13}$ sec. Strong interband transitions set in at $\ensuremath{\hbar}\ensuremath{\omega}\ensuremath{\sim}0.01$ eV and are associated with a peak in ${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}_{2}$ at 0.02 eV.
The effect of European red mite, Panonychus ulmi, on chlorophyll content and chlorophyll a/b ratios of apple, malus domestica borkh., leaves in a growth chamber study (acarina: tetranychidae)

Abstract The effect of European red mite feeding on the total chlorophyll content and the chlorophyll a/b ratios on 5 selections of apple were determined using potted grafts. The study was conducted in a growth chamber with initial infestation levels of 0, 30, 60 or 120 mites/graft, respectively. Significant differences (P< .05) were found among selections in the number of mites following infestation. Selection 2175-7 supported the fewest and selection 1769-3 had the most mites. In the presence of mites leaf chlorophyll content decreased with time and total chlorophyl content was inversely related to the chlorophyll a/b ratios. Pre-infestation chlorophyll values were not significantly different among selections, but they were lower (P< .05) after the 28th day of infestation and thereafter when mites were present. A recovery of leaf chlorophyll content after the removal of mites was not evident. The results suggested that chlorophyll changes due to European red mite feeding were different between resistant...
Flame synthesis of carbon nanostructures on stainless steel anodes for use in microbial fuel cells

Abstract Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) offer a promising alternative energy technology, but suffer from low power densities which hinder their practical applicability. In order to improve anodic power density, we deposited carbon nanostructures (CNSs) on an otherwise plain stainless steel mesh (SS-M) anode. Using a flame synthesis method that did not require pretreatment of SS-M substrates, we were able to produce these novel CNS-enhanced SS-M (CNS-M) anodes quickly (in a matter of minutes) and inexpensively, without the added costs of chemical pretreatments. During fed batch experiments with biomass from anaerobic digesters in single-chamber MFCs, the median power densities (based on the projected anodic surface area) were 2.9 mW m −2 and 187 mW m −2 for MFCs with SS-M and CNS-M anodes, respectively. The addition of CNSs to a plain SS-M anode via flame deposition therefore resulted in a 60-fold increase in the median power production. The combination of CNSs and metallic current collectors holds considerable promise for power production in MFCs.
Topographic steep central islands following excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate that topographic irregularities in the form of central islands of higher refractive power can be seen following excimer laser refractive surgery. We reviewed the computerized corneal topographic maps of 35 patients undergoing excimer laser PRK for compound myopic astigmatism or anisometropia from 8/91 to 8/93 at the USC/Doheny Eye Institute. The topographic maps were generated by the Computed Anatomy Corneal Modeling System, and central islands were defined as topographic areas of steepening of at least 3 diopters and 3 mm in diameter. A grading system was developed based on the presence of central islands during the postoperative period. Visually significant topographic steep central islands may be seen in over 50% of patients at 1 month following excimer laser PRK, and persist at 3 months in up to 24% of patients without nitrogen gas blowing. Loss of best corrected visual acuity or ghosting is associated with island formation, and may prolong visual rehabilitation after excimer laser PRK.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Effects of topical 2% dorzolamide hydrochloride alone and in combination with 0.5% timolol maleate on intraocular pressure in normal feline eyes.

Objective To evaluate the effect of topical 2% dorzolamide alone, and in combination with topical 0.5% timolol, on intraocular pressure (IOP) in normal cats. Animals Twenty-four healthy Domestic Short-haired cats. Procedure Baseline values of IOP were established at 7 am, 10 am, 1 pm, 5 pm and 9 pm during pretreatment phase (days 1–2). During treatment phase (days 3–10) cats received 2% dorzolamide HCl q 12 h in group A (n = 6), q 8 h in group B (n = 6), and combined with 0.5% timolol maleate q 12 h in group C (n = 6). Cats in control group D (n = 6) received artificial tears q 8 h. During treatment phase IOP measurements were continued at the same time-points as in the pretreatment phase. Results Mean pretreatment IOP in all cats was 18.46 ± 2.99 mmHg. Mean IOP decreased significantly (P < 0.0086) in all treatment groups compared to pretreatment values (group A: 16.40 ± 0.49 mmHg, group B: 16.04 ± 0.49 mmHg, group C: 17.76 ± 0.49 mmHg). IOP did not decrease in control group D (18.55 ± 0.49 mmHg). The difference in IOP between treatment groups (A, B, C) was not statistically significant, but comparison of IOP between each treatment group and the control group was statistically significant (A–D; P = 0.0057; B–D, P = 0.0012; C–D, P = 0.0212). Conclusion Topical 2% dorzolamide significantly lowers IOP in normal cats but the effect is mild. Concomitant application of 2% dorzolamide and 0.5% timolol does significantly decrease IOP, but the effect is not significantly greater than q 8 h administration of dorzolamide alone.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Pediatric Pelvic Masses

Both benign and malignant pelvic masses are encountered in the pediatric population. Although ultrasonography remains the modality of choice for initial evaluation of a pediatric pelvic mass, in selected cases magnetic resonance (MR) imaging can add important diagnostic information. MR imaging has several advantages over ultrasonography and computed tomography, including superior contrast resolution and an ability to characterize abnormalities based on unique tissue characteristics. MR evaluation assists in lesion characterization, presurgical planning, and staging when a malignancy is suspected. MR imaging also offers a nonionizing imaging modality for long-term follow-up of patients undergoing therapy for malignant pelvic masses.
Understanding the Role of Amphipathic Helices in N-BAR Domain Driven Membrane Remodeling

Endophilin N-BAR (N-terminal helix and Bin/amphiphysin/Rvs) domain tubulates and vesiculates lipid membranes in vitro via its crescent-shaped dimer and four amphipathic helices that penetrate into membranes as wedges. Like F-BAR domains, endophilin N-BAR also forms a scaffold on membrane tubes. Unlike F-BARs, endophilin N-BARs have N-terminal H0 amphipathic helices that are proposed to interact with other N-BARs in oligomer lattices. Recent cryo-electron microscopy reconstructions shed light on the organization of the N-BAR lattice coats on a nanometer scale. However, because of the resolution of the reconstructions, the precise positioning of the amphipathic helices is still ambiguous. In this work, we applied a coarse-grained model to study various membrane remodeling scenarios induced by endophilin N-BARs. We found that H0 helices of N-BARs prefer to align in an antiparallel manner at two ends of the protein to form a stable lattice. The deletion of H0 helices causes disruption of the lattice. In addition, we analyzed the persistence lengths of the protein-coated tubes and found that the stiffness of endophilin N-BAR-coated tubules qualitatively agrees with previous experimental work studying N-BAR-coated tubules. Large-scale simulations on membrane liposomes revealed a systematic relation between H0 helix density and local membrane curvature fluctuations. The data also suggest that the H0 helix is required for BARs to form organized structures on the liposome, further illustrating its important function.
The influence of age and cycling status on sexual arousability in women

The effects of age and hormonal status on sexual response were quantitatively assessed by the use of a vaginal photoplethysmograph to measure changes in pulse amplitude in response to erotic film and fantasy. In young, regularly cycling women (mean age, 31 years) there were no significant differences in sexual response between the follicular, ovulatory, and luteal phases. The older premenopausal women (mean age, 51 years) showed responses not significantly different from those of the young cycling women. However, both the younger cycling women and older premenopausal women had significantly higher responses to erotic film than the postmenopausal women (mean age, 57 years). It was concluded that the menopause does result in a decrease in sexual response as assessed by vaginal pulse amplitude. However, it was not established that the magnitude of change noted is sufficient to cause any sexual dysfunction.
Evaluation of the Hare P-SCAN in a non-clinical population ☆

Abstract Using 100 university undergraduates as participants, this study examined the structural reliability and construct validity of Hare and Herve's P-SCAN (Hare & Herve, 1999) a 90-item measure that purports to serve as an “… early warning system” or “rough screening device” (p. 1) for identifying individuals with substantial psychopathic features. Internal consistency indices (e.g. Cronbach's α, mean inter-item correlations) for the three P-SCAN subscales (Interpersonal, Affective, Lifestyle) suggested excellent reliability. Statistically significant, though modest correlations (range 0.21–0.33) were obtained in 5 of 6 comparisons with the self-report Primary psychopathy and Secondary psychopathy scales developed by Levenson, Kiehl, and Fitzpatrick (1995) for use with non-institutional populations. Evidence for the external validity of the P-SCAN was obtained via significant positive correlations (range 0.22–0.24) with participants' scores on a self-report measure of antisocial activity. Limitations of this study and interpretations of P-SCAN as a measure of psychopathic features are discussed.
Decomposition of silicon hydrides following disilane adsorption on porous silicon surfaces

Disilane (Si2H6) is used for silicon chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and is a potential precursor for atomic layer epitaxy (ALE) on silicon surfaces. In this study, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) transmission spectroscopy was employed to examine the adsorption and decomposition of disilane on high surface area porous silicon surfaces. The FTIR spectra revealed that disilane dissociatively adsorbs on porous silicon surfaces at 200 K to form a large fraction of SiH3 surface species and some SiH2 and SiH surface species. The SiHx stretching modes between 2125–2156 cm−1, the SiH3 degenerate deformation mode at 862 cm−1 and the SiH2 scissor mode at 907 cm−1 were then employed to monitor the decomposition of the surface hybride species during thermal annealing. Between 200–600 K, the SiH3 species decreased and were depleted from the silicon surface. Concurrently, the SiH2 surface species were observed to increase between 200–440 K and subsequently to decrease between 440–620 K. Only monohydride species remained on the porous silicon surface at 620 K. Above 640 K, the SiH surface species decreased concurrently with H2 desorption. Adsorption studies were also conducted at various isothermal temperatures. These disilane adsorption and decomposition experiments provide important insights to the surface chemistry during silicon CVD and ALE processing.
Dislocation Velocities in a Linear Chain

Dislocation velocities as a function of applied stress are computed for a modified Frenkel-Kontorova model. The analysis is approximate in that only localized normal modes of motion (local modes) are considered and it is found that steady-state velocities are attained because of imperfect transfer of energy between successive local modes. The significant stress parameter for this model is found to be the dynamic Peierls stress ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{PD}}$ with the property that dislocation motion will be maintained for any stress $\ensuremath{\sigma}g{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{PD}}$, without the aid of thermal motion, upon condition that the dislocation has surmounted one potential barrier while the stress is applied. For the model parameters here considered, ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{PD}}\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}2}{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{P}$, where ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{P}$ is the static Peierls stress. The model calculations show the extreme stress sensitivity of dislocation velocity at low velocities which has been observed experimentally. Finite-difference calculations show that the local-mode approximation gives reasonably good accuracy up to dislocation velocities approximately 0.7 the speed of wave propagation for infinite wave length in the linear chain.
Improving the Productivity of Volunteer Computing by Using the Most Effective Task Retrieval Policies

Volunteer computing projects have been used to make significant advances in knowledge since the 1990s. These projects use idle CPU cycles donated by people to solve computationally intensive problems in medicine, the sciences and other disciplines. It is important to use the donated cycles as efficiently as possible because participation in volunteer computing is low and the number of volunteer computing projects keeps increasing. Task retrieval policies, policies describing when a volunteered computer requests additional work from a server, can have an effect on the number of wasted CPU cycles and consequently, the number of tasks completed by clients. We present the results of simulating different task retrieval policies for clients under realistic conditions, including clients running on computers with one single-core CPU, clients running on computers with multi-core CPUs, and clients running on computers that are put into a power save mode by environmentally conscious owners.
Cancer-Associated Thrombosis

Venous thromboembolic events are common in patients with malignancy, producing both morbidity and mortality. Although the underlying mechanisms by which cancer might promote a procoagulant state are multifaceted and incompletely understood, recent translational research has significantly advanced our understanding of the relationship between cancer and thrombosis. The occurrence of a thromboembolic event in a patient with an active malignancy should be regarded as a life-threatening complication, and decisions regarding prevention and treatment are usually complex. Outcomes may be improved by an evidence-based approach to management with consideration of practice guidelines.
Targeted Therapies in Melanoma

Advances in understanding the biology of melanoma have provided great insights about the mechanisms of chemoresistance and its genetic heterogeneity in parallel with advances in drug design culminating in recent major treatment breakthroughs using small molecules inhibitors in metastatic melanoma (MM). While clinical benefit of targeted therapies has been unquestionable, future advances can only be possible if we better understand the interplay between genetic aberrations and role of other crucial non-genetic changes yet to be identified by such projects as the Cancer Genome Atlas Project (TCGA) in Melanoma. Combination therapies, either among small molecule inhibitors themselves and/or with immunotherapies may be the optimal strategy to prevent development of drug resistance that is inherently linked with such targeted therapies.
Chitosan hydrogel for localized gene silencing.

Objective: To achieve effective delivery of siRNA into target cells in vivo, we have developed a novel approach of siRNA delivery by using local drug delivery systems.Results: The chitosan hydrogel (CH-HG) displayed a liquid-solid phase transition in a temperature-dependent manner and formed an endothermic hydrogel in tumor tissue after intra-tumoral injection. Additionally, we tested the extent of in vivo delivery following a single intra-tumoral injection of Alexa555 siRNA/CH-HG into A375SM-bearing mice. The Alexa555 siRNA demonstrated higher localization into tumor cells compared to control. The Alexa555 siRNA delivery extends to tumor cells outside of CH-HG and some tumor cells also infiltrated into CH-HG. For therapeutic proof-of-concept studies, CH-HG including TG2-targeted siRNA significantly inhibited tumor growth in melanoma (A375SM) and breast (MDA-MB231) tumor models compared to control (A375SM: 72% reduction and MDA-MB231: 92% reduction, p<0.001).Experimental Design: we prepared a CH-HG sys...
Gauge-Including Atomic Orbital Proton Chemical Shifts of Strong Hydrogen Bonds: The Importance of Electron Correlation

The effects of electron correlation are often of little importance in theoretical 1H NMR chemical shift calculations. Indeed, the differences between uncorrelated and correlated values are typically ca. 0.2 ppm or less for organic compounds. Here we demonstrate a very important case where this assumption breaks down; protons involved in strong hydrogen bonds. We found that the isotropic shifts calculated with the gauge-including atomic orbital (GIAO) approach at the RHF level overestimate the corresponding MP2 values by well over 1 ppm and commonly by 2 ppm. This is true for minimum energy geometries as well as for the transition states for proton transfer. In contrast, electron correlation effects are an order of magnitude smaller for the non-hydrogen-bonding protons in the structures we studied. The systems treated theoretically were FHF-, N2H7+, H3O2-, the enol of 2,4-pentanedione, the monoanion of cis-maleic acid, and the monoanion of dimethylmalonic acid. Geometries were calculated at either the MP2/...
The Disclosure Experiences of Male-to-Female Transgender Individuals: A Systems Theory Perspective

Transgender individuals experience their gender identity, their sense of being male, female, or other, as different from their biological sex. Disclosing as transgendered is an emergence that is an internal psychological process but also intimately involves family, friends, and all social relationships. In this study, the authors explored the disclosure experiences of transgender individuals with focus on the changes that occurred in their relationships. Participants discussed the impact of their disclosure on various relationships including spouses, family, friends, as well as greater systems including the medical and mental health field and other community agencies.
On the performance of air-based solar heating systems utilizing phase-change energy storage

Abstract Simulation techniques are used to examine the performance of air-based solar heating systems utilizing phase change energy storage (PCES). The effects of storage size, melting temperature, and latent heat on the thermal performance of the system are quantified for various load characteristics, collector types, and control strategies. The effect of semi-congruent melting of the phase-change material (PCM) on system performance is also examined. Based on these simulations, 1. (1) optimum physical properties of the PCM have been identified, 2. (2) an empirical method for sizing PCES units has been developed, 3. (3) a system-oriented figure of merit for comparing different PCMs has been established, and 4. (4) the economic gains associated with the storage volume reductions achieved with PCES, vis-a-vis sensible heat storage in rock beds, have been quantified.
The mutation Ser511Asn leads to N-glycosylation and increases the cleavage of high molecular weight kininogen in rats genetically susceptible to inflammation

Crohn disease is immunologically mediated and characterized by intestinal and systemic chronic inflammation. In a rat model, injection of peptidoglycan-polysaccharide complexes into the intestinal wall induced chronic inflammation in Lewis but neither Fischer nor Buffalo rats, indicating a differential genetic susceptibility. Proteolysis of plasma high molecular weight kininogen (HK) yielding bradykinin and cleaved HK (HKa) was faster in Lewis than in Fischer or Buffalo rat plasma. A single point mutation at nucleotide 1586 was found translating from Ser511 (Buffalo and Fisher) to Asn511 (Lewis). The latter defines an Asn-Xaa-Thr consensus sequence for N-glycosylation. We expressed these domains in Escherichia coli and found no differences in the rate of cleavage by purified kallikrein in the 3 strains in the absence of N-glycosylation. We then expressed these domains in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, which are capable of glycosylation, and found an increased rate of cleavage of Lewis HK. The Lewis mutation is associated with N-glycosylation as evidenced by a more rapid migration after treatment with N-glycosidase F. When CHO cells were cultured in the presence of tunicamycin, the kallikrein-induced cleavage rate of Lewis HK was not increased. This molecular alteration might be one contributing factor resulting in chronic inflammation in Lewis rats.
Integrating tax and financial accounting concepts into the partnership accounting curriculum

Abstract The integration of partnership financial accounting and tax accounting into the accounting curriculum has become very important in the current environment of increased partnership activity. The primary purpose of this article is to assist accounting educators in both financial and tax courses with this integration process. To accomplish this objective, a partnership's life cycle is detailed from formation to liquidation. Journal entries are presented to enable the reader to quickly assimilate the transactions involved in the life cycle. Supporting worksheets and partners' tax basis tables are also presented to depict the position of the partnership and partners, respectively, at the end of each stage of the life cycle. This article's example is designed to permit accounting instructors to integrate both tax and financial accounting concepts when teaching either advanced accounting or partnership taxation in the most efficient manner.
Neonatal and maternal fibrinolysis: Activation at time of birth

Utilizing chromogenic synthetic substrate-based methods, determination of the plasma concentration of plasminogen, alpha 2-antiplasmin, alpha 2-macroglobulin, and B beta 15-42-related peptides were made at the time of birth in both newborns and mothers. Plasminogen levels were increased in the maternal group (150 +/- 26%), and markedly decreased in the newborn group (67 +/- 14%). The major inhibitors of fibrinolysis, alpha 2-antiplasmin and alpha 2-macroglobulin, were within normal range in both groups. Determination of B beta 15-42-related peptide showed markedly increased levels in the maternal group above control values (115 +/- 102, normal 29 +/- 12); the newborn group showed values only mildly elevated above control values (39 +/- 21). The results demonstrate increased fibrinolytic activity in both groups, though the degree of activation is significantly higher in the maternal group, as reflected by the higher levels of B beta 15-42-related peptides. Fibrinopeptide A levels confirm an activation of coagulation in both maternal and newborn groups (22 +/- 4 ng/ml and 138 +/- 22 ng/ml, respectively) with a significantly increased level in newborns (2-5 ng/ml normal).
ELAVL1 Modulates Transcriptome-wide miRNA Binding in Murine Macrophages

Posttranscriptional gene regulation by miRNAs and RNA binding proteins (RBP) is important in development, physiology, and disease. To examine the interplay between miRNAs and the RBP ELAVL1 (HuR), we mapped miRNA binding sites at the transcriptome-wide scale in wild-type and Elavl1 knockout murine bone-marrow-derived macrophages. Proximity of ELAVL1 binding sites attenuated miRNA binding to transcripts and promoted gene expression. Transcripts that regulate angiogenesis and macrophage/endothelial crosstalk were preferentially targeted by miRNAs, suggesting that ELAVL1 promotes angiogenesis, at least in part by antagonism of miRNA function. We found that ELAVL1 antagonized binding of miR-27 to the 3' UTR of Zfp36 mRNA and alleviated miR-27-mediated suppression of the RBP ZFP36 (Tristetraprolin). Thus, the miR-27-regulated mechanism synchronizes the expression of ELAVL1 and ZFP36. This study provides a resource for systems-level interrogation of posttranscriptional gene regulation in macrophages, a key cell type in inflammation, angiogenesis, and tissue homeostasis.
Supply network structure and firm innovation

In this study, we demonstrate the value in assessing the formal structural properties of supply chains as networks when considering the innovation performance of a firm. We hypothesize that firms w...
Editor's Introduction: Understanding Regulatory Enforcement

This issue of Law & Policy adds to the growing body of empirical case studies of decision-making and enforcement in regulatory agencies. Summarizing that research, regulatory enforcement styles can be described in terms of two dimensions, one concerning the ways in which regulatory violations are defined and punished, the other concerning outcomes, described in policy-evaluative terms. In explaining variation in enforcement style, existing studies point to three sets of factors: characteristics of the regulatory “legal design”; features of agencies' “task environment”; and the regulatory “political environment.” Weighting the relative importance of these factors, however, is difficult because of the number and fluidity of variables and the adaptiveness of regulatory agencies.
Bicarbonate promotes BK-α/β4-mediated K excretion in the renal distal nephron.

Ca-activated K channels (BK), which are stimulated by high distal nephron flow, are utilized during high-K conditions to remove excess K. Because BK predominantly reside with BK-β4 in acid/base-tra...
A New Type of Alum

THE close external crystallographic similarity between potassium sulphate and potassium beryllium fluoride, K2BeF4, has previously been pointed out by Fedorov and Barker. Both salts crystallise in the orthorhombic system, and are pseudo-hexagonal. Adopting standard orientation, the respective axial elements are: For K2SO4, a: b: c = 0.7418: 1: 0.5727, and for K2BeF4, a: b: c = 0.7395: 1: 0.5708. It has further been suggested that, since the salts exhibited some structural analogies as indicated by the formulae, this external similarity might be accompanied by true physical isomorphism. (The well-established isomorphism in the exactly analogous series NaNO3 – calcite and KBF4 – KClO4 – BaSO4 is of interest in this connexion.)
A Mixtures Model with Inverse Terms

The published mixture models are briefly recapitulated and a type of model which combines Scheffe polynomials and inverse terms is suggested. This model is applied to an example of published data and found to be a potentially useful one.
Online Homotopy Algorithm for a Generalization of the LASSO

The LASSO is a widely used shrinkage method for linear regression. We propose an online homotopy algorithm to solve a generalization of the LASSO in which the l1 regularization is applied on a linear transformation of the solution, allowing to input prior information on the structure of the problem and to improve interpretability of the results. The algorithm takes advantage of the sparsity of the solution for computational efficiency and is promising for mining large datasets.
Redefining the primary objective of phase I oncology trials.

Cytotoxic agents are conventionally dosed on the basis of the maximum tolerated dose defined in phase I trials. A study assessing adverse events in over 2,000 patients treated with molecularly targeted agents suggests a need to redefine criteria for dosing of molecularly targeted agents, which should be based on randomized, dose-ranging phase II trials.
Behavior and psychophysics of hearing in birds

It is generally agreed that birds and mammals share a common ancestry in the class Reptilia dating back about 250 million years (Brodkorb 1971). In considering the evolution of vertebrate auditory systems, it is therefore not uncommon to find birds placed between reptiles and mammals, particularly on the basis of anatomical criteria. For instance, the basilar membrane is generally short in reptiles, longer in birds, and longest in mammals, with some degree of overlap (Manley 1971, 1973).
Detection of genital HPV types in fingertip samples from newly sexually active female university students.

Background: Little is known about detection of genital human papilloma virus (HPV) types in women's fingertips. The study objectives were to determine the presence of genital HPV types in fingertip samples and the agreement between fingertip and genital samples for detecting HPV. Methods: At triannual visits, genital and fingertip samples were collected from female university students and tested for 37 HPV genotypes by PCR-based assay. Type-specific concordance between paired fingertip and genital samples was evaluated using κ statistics for percent positive agreement ( κ +). Paired samples with type-specific concordant fingertip and genital results were selected for variant characterization. Results: A total of 357 fingertip samples were collected from 128 women. HPV prevalence in fingertip samples was 14.3%. Although percent positive agreement between fingertips and genitals for detecting type-specific HPV was low (17.8%; κ + = 0.17; 95% confidence interval, 0.10-0.25), 60.4% of type-specific HPV detected in the fingertips was detected in a concurrent genital sample. All but one of 28 paired concordant samples were positive for the same type-specific variant in the fingertip and genital sample. Redetection of HPV types at the subsequent visit was more common in genital samples (73.3%) than in fingertip samples (14.5%; P < 0.001). Conclusions: Detection of genital HPV types in the fingertips was not uncommon. Although impossible to distinguish between deposition of DNA from the genitals to the fingertips and true fingertip infection, the rarity of repeat detection in the fingertips suggests that deposition is more common. Impact: Finger-genital transmission is plausible but unlikely to be a significant source of genital HPV infection. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 19(7); 1682–5. ©2010 AACR.
J. S. Mill on Oriental Despotism, including its British Variant

European portraits of the great Asian states, China, India, and Persia, remained remarkably constant from the establishment of the Chinese silk trade in the first century B.C. until the religious and mercantile expeditions to the Orient prominent in the late Middle Ages. For more than a millenium, the Eastern empires had been classified by Europeans as stable despotisms – stationary societies governed by custom and tradition and devoid of economic, political, or cultural dynamism. Only during the Enlightenment did the proper interpretation of the merits of ‘Oriental despotism’ become a matter of controversy. To some Enlightenment figures, the paternalistic despotisms of Asia appeared to be superior to the nations of Europe ethically and in the quality of their political, legal, and educational institutions. Many social philosophers of the period agreed that the example afforded by Asia could contribute much to the rejuvenation of European society they hoped to effect.
A correlation between cyclophosphamide induced leukopenia in mice and the presence of alkylating metabolites.

SummaryCyclophosphamide (75, 100, and 300 mg/kg, ip) produced a significant decrease in total white blood cell counts between 1 and 5 days after drug treatment. There was a significant dose-related effect 3 days after treatment. Phenobarbital pretreatment significantly increased both the in vitro production of alkylating metabolites and cyclophosphamide-induced leukopenia 2 days after treatment. SKF 525-A pretreatment significantly reduced both the in vitro formation of alkylating metabolites and the drug-induced leukopenia at 4 and 6 days after treatment. These observations indicate that alkylating metabolites of cyclophosphamide are responsible for the dose-related leukopenic effect of this antineoplastic agent.
Planar bipedal robot with impulsive foot action

A planar bipedal robot with an impulsive actuator at each foot is considered. The analysis extends previous work on a model with unactuated point feet (E.R. Westervelt et al., 2003) to include the actuator model of A.D. Kuo, (2002). The impulsive actuator at each foot is active only during the double support phase, which results in the model being identical to the model with unactuated point feet for the single support phase. However, the impulsive foot actuation results in a different model for the double support map. Conditions for the existence of a hybrid zero dynamics for the robot with foot actuation are studied. A feedback design method is proposed that integrates actuation in the single and double support phases. A stability analysis is performed using a Poincare return map.
The nerves of the umbilical cord in man and the rat

A thiocholine technique was used to visualize nerves in human and rat umbilical cords. The allantoic part of the rat umbilical cord was found to be separate from the vitelline part of the cord and its vessels were not innervated. However, acetylcholinesterase-positive nerves formed a plexus around the vessels of the vitelline part of the 21-day rat umbilical cord. These nerves displayed fusiform swellings and terminated as simple endings close to the yolk sac wall. The findings suggest that the vitelline circulation in the rat may function under neural control. An investigation of full-term human umbilical cords revealed extrafetal acetylcholinesterase-positive nerves. Nerve bundles passed from the fetus into the cord and split into a plexus. Beaded nerve terminals were found about 15–20 cm from the fetus. Some of these endings touched the media of the vein; others ended freely in the cord substance between the arteries and the vein. There were no periarterial terminals and no nerves were found in the maternal half of the cord. The free nerve endings in the human cord may have been sensory, since they made no terminal effector contact. However, it should be noted that similar terminals touched the media of the umbilical vein. The endings described could be sensory receptors for the sphincter of the ductus venosus that controls venous return from the fetus.
Light quark energy loss in strongly coupled N = 4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills plasma

We compute the penetration depth of a light quark moving through a large ${N}_{\mathrm{c}}$, strongly coupled $\mathcal{N}=4$ supersymmetric Yang-Mills plasma using gauge/gravity duality and a combination of analytic and numerical techniques. We find that the maximum distance a quark with energy $E$ can travel through a plasma is given by $\ensuremath{\Delta}{x}_{\mathrm{max}﻿}(E)=(\mathcal{C}/T)(E/T\sqrt{\ensuremath{\lambda}}{)}^{1/3}$ with $\mathcal{C}\ensuremath{\approx}0.5$.
A Cross-Level Investigation of the Relationship Between Career Management Practices and Career-Related Attitudes:

>> The relationship between an organization’s use of various career management practices and career attitudes was examined in a multisource, cross-level field study using organization-level data from 65 companies and individual-level data from 1,876 employees. A bundle approach was used to categorize 16 career management practices into clusters. As expected, the career management bundle associated with future strategic planning was positively related to satisfaction with the promotion process and negatively related to perceptions of job content plateauing. Consistent with research on strategic human resource management, significant interactions were found between some of the career management bundles in predicting satisfaction with the promotion process. A significant interaction was also found between the career management bundle of future strategic planning and sex, in terms of predicting satisfaction with the promotion process. Implications for theory and applied research are discussed.
Cytonuclear genetic structure of a hybrid zone in lizards of the Sceloporus grammicus complex (Sauria, Phrynosomatidae).

Lizards of the Sceloporus grammicus complex are comprised of multiple chromosome races that form several zones of parapatric hybridization in central Mexico. We scored diagnostic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotypes and autosomal chromosome markers in a sample of 342 lizards from one well-defined zone between 2n = 34 and 2n = 46 races. A two-part analysis was performed on this data set in an attempt to infer the predominant evolutionary forces shaping the cytonuclear structure of this zone. The complications posed by its spatial structure were addressed by analysing a hierarchical series of smaller subsamples chosen to approximate single mating units. Two critical conclusions were drawn from this first-stage analysis. First and foremost, the three chromosomes have largely concordant cytonuclear disequilibrium patterns within each subsample with adequate numbers of individuals for detecting nonrandom cytonuclear associations. This suggests that the cytonuclear structure of this zone is predominantly a result of deterministic genome-wide forces rather than genetic drift or deterministic forces specific to individual chromosomes or loci. Second, the fit of a series of migration models to the data shows that the cytonuclear structure of the subsamples is well accounted for by continued gene flow from the two parental races alone, with random mating with respect to cytonuclear genotype and no other evolutionary forces. These results motivate several further empirical and theoretical investigations to refine our understanding of the relative roles of migration and other potentially important forces such as natural selection and genetic drift, in this and other hybrid zones.
Parallel edge cracks due to a phase transformation

We study the nucleation and propagation of parallel cracks in the wake of a solid–solid phase boundary. Our results are also applicable to situations where one has a sharp change of concentration or temperature. We identify conditions on the transformation strain when we expect parallel edge cracks. We show that cracks have little affect on the overall evolution of the phase boundary. We also show that cracks nucleate when the phase boundary has propagated a certain distance from the free edge. The cracks have uniform spacing and their tips reach slightly beyond the phase boundary. Subsequently all cracks propagate with the propagating phase boundary in such a manner that the spacing remains uniform and the tips reach just beyond the phase boundary. Importantly, we show that there is no period-doubling or other instabilities common to thermal cracking when the gradient is small.
Treatment of panic disorder and/or generalized anxiety disorder with a guided self-help manual: An analysis in single cases

The aim of this pilot study was to test the effectiveness and feasibility of a new, guided self-help program in five selected primary care patients with panic disorder (PD) or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Most patients achieved a clinically relevant improvement after 12 weeks of treatment with large effect sizes (Cohen's d) on all measures. Two patients could be considered as recovered according to the criteria of Jacobson and Truax (1991). Although all of the patients appeared to improve on all outcome measures, PD was easier to treat than GAD. These results suggest that a guided self-help manual treatment is an effective treatment possibility for PD and GAD in primary care. When these results can be replicated in a controlled trial in a larger sample, guided self-help treatment may be a first-line treatment in general practice in a step-by-step care approach of PD and GAD.
Soil fertility and plant growth in soils from pine forests and plantations: Effect of invasive red imported fire ants Solenopsis invicta (Buren)

Summary Through nest building and foraging activities, ants alter physical properties and nutritional status of soils through structural modifications and nutrient accumulation. In turn, these alterations may enhance soil quality for plant growth. This study examined the effect of the invasive red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, on soil properties and plant growth. In our greenhouse study, ant activity decreased soil pH and increased phosphorus (P + ) and potassium (K + ) in the soil. We collected soil from within and adjacent to randomly selected nests in two common habitats of Louisiana – longleaf-pine ( Pinus palustris ) forests and longleaf-pine plantations. After physical and chemical properties were measured, Gardenia japonicus seedlings were planted in the soil to determine growth rate. In comparison to adjacent soil, ant nest soils from both habitats were lower in moisture content and bulk density and higher in NH 4 + . Ant nest soils were also higher in Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , K + and Na + than in adjacent soils in longleaf-pine forests. G. japonicus seedlings grown in nest soil from pine forests were an average of three times taller than those grown in adjacent soil, and those from pine plantations were twice as tall as those grown in adjacent soils. These results suggest that invasive fire ants alter the physical and chemical properties of the soil. These soil modifications enhance plant growth since NH 4 + , a nutrient that limits growth, has been increased.
Active Thermal Management for Precision Positioning

Precision positioning systems are inevitably subject to various thermal disturbances including heating from motors, friction between components, and ambient temperature fluctuations. Thermal disturbances cause unwanted thermal expansion and contraction; the resulting distortion of the components in the positioning system could lead to degraded positioning accuracy. This paper explores the application of estimation and control techniques to address thermally-induced positioning error. A simplified planar system, motivated by linear stages used in semiconductor manufacturing, is considered as a case study. The goal is to estimate the displacements of the locations of interest at the top of the stage and control their positions within an acceptable error bound from the preset target positions. A linear time-invariant model is first identified from the numerical simulation of the system model. Kalman filter is applied for state estimator design and the optimal error covariance is used to guide the temperature sensor placement. It is found that the estimator performance does not significantly improve beyond a small number of well chosen temperature sensors. For the active heating control, an offset is introduced to allow for two-way (both positive and negative) control action. The linear-quadratic-Gaussian design is used for both actuator location selection as well as closed loop active heating control. It is found that the assumed boundary condition between different portions of the stage drastically affect the controllability of the locations of interest. Locations of interest far from the constrained points are well regulated, while those near the constrained points show limited improvement.