cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The length, phosphorylation state, and primary structure of the RNA polymerase II carboxyl-terminal domain dictate interactions with mRNA capping enzymes

The carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD) of elongating RNA polymerase II serves as a landing pad for macromolecular assemblies that regulate mRNA synthesis and processing. The capping apparatus is the first of the assemblies to act on the nascent pre-mRNA and the one for which binding of the catalytic components is most clearly dependent on CTD phosphorylation. The present study highlights a distinctive strategy of cap targeting in fission yeast whereby the triphosphatase (Pct1) and guanylyltransferase (Pce1) enzymes of the capping apparatus do not interact physically with each other (as they do in budding yeast and metazoans), but instead bind independently to the phosphorylated CTD. In vivo interactions of Pct1 and Pce1 with the CTD in a two-hybrid assay require 12 and 14 tandem repeats of the CTD heptapeptide, respectively. Pct1 and Pce1 bind in vitro to synthetic CTD peptides containing phosphoserine uniquely at position 5 or doubly at positions 2 and 5 of each of four tandem YSPTSPS repeats, but they bind weakly (Pce1) or not at all (Pct1) to a peptide containing phosphoserine at position 2. These results illustrate how remodeling of the CTD phosphorylation array might influence the recruitment and dissociation of the capping enzymes during elongation. But how does the CTD structure itself dictate interactions with the RNA processing enzymes independent of the phosphorylation state? Using CTD-Ser5 phosphopeptides containing alanine substitutions at other positions of the heptad, we define essential roles for Tyr-1 and Pro-3 (but not Thr-4 or Pro-6) in the binding of Schizosaccharomyces pombe guanylyltransferase. Tyr-1 is also essential for binding and allosteric activation of mammalian guanylyltransferase by CTD Ser5-PO4, whereas alanine mutations of Pro-3 and Pro-6 reduce the affinity for the allosteric CTD-binding site. These are the first structure-activity relationships deduced for an effector function of the phosphorylated CTD.
Gap Junctions and Biophysical Regulation of Bone Cells

Communication between osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and osteocytes is integral to their ability to build and maintain the skeletal system and respond to physical signals. Various physiological mechanisms, including nerve communication, hormones, and cytokines, play an important role in this process. More recently, the important role of direct, cell–cell communication via gap junctions has been established. In this review, we demonstrate the integral role of gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) in skeletal physiology and bone cell mechanosensing.
Comment on Bernbach's prediction of the invariance of Type 2 d′ in confidence-rated recall

Abstract Bernbach Bernbach, 1967 , Bernbach, 1971 has claimed that empirical findings of Type 2 d′ invariance in confidence-rated recall experiments confirm a prediction of his two-state theory of recognition and disprove strength theories of memory. In order to derive this prediction from his recognition theory, Bernbach (1967) found it necessary to add to the theory an assumption concerning recall processes. However, this recall assumption is untenable, as it leads to an empirically false prediction concerning accuracy on recognition and recall tests. Moreover, an alternative recall assumption proposed by Bernbach and Kupchak (1972) does not lead to a prediction of Type 2 d′ invariance. Thus, Bernbach's theory predicts the invariance of Type 2 d′ only with the aid of an untenable recall assumption. Consequently, empirical findings of Type 2 d′ invariance cannot be regarded as supportive of Bernbach's theory.
A Study of a Neglected Portion of the Field of Learning—the Development of Sensory Organization

(1935). A Study of a Neglected Portion of the Field of Learning—the Development of Sensory Organization. The Pedagogical Seminary and Journal of Genetic Psychology: Vol. 46, No. 1, pp. 41-75.
A Short-Time Chick Assay for Unidentified Growth Factors

Abstract IT HAS been reported by many investigators that growth of chicks is improved by the presence of unidentified growth factors in fish meal, fish solubles, green feed, and corn fermentation products when these are added to the practical diets. After the availability of crystalline vitamin B12, the presence of another unidentified growth factor was first reported by Carlson et al. (1949) using a purified diet. The same observations were also reported by Sunde et al. (1950) in a diet of commercial feedstuffs. Camp et al. (1955) reported one factor in fish solubles and another in whey products which are responsible for a better growth response. Barnett and Bird (1956) developed a standard four-week chick assay to determine the unidentified growth factor activity of crude materials. This assay with slight modifications has been extensively used to measure the unidentified growth factor activity of many samples of fish meal and fish solubles.
Finite‐Element Modeling of Storm Water Runoff Using GRASS GIS

Abstract: This paper presents methodologies used in the model r.water.fea for simulating storm water runoff using the finite-element method and a raster geographic information system (GIS). The internally integrated model r.water.fea simulates storm water runoff by interfacing the raster data structure with the finite-element solution of the kinematic wave equations. The integrated system offers many advantages because the GIS and simulation model exchange input and output data internally. Distributed simulation of the spatially and temporally variable hydrologic process is possible with r.water.fea. Storm water runoff simulated with r.water.fea compares favorably with analytic solutions for a simple domain. An example simulation of a catchment demonstrates the capabilities of r.water.fea.
M&A compensation issues: Can you keep everybody happy?

Compensation is an important issue in all mergers and acquisitions. But executives and employees worry about different things. How should you handle it? © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc
Optical Modeling of Fire Hazards Arising from Sunlight Focused by Water

Anecdotal accounts of water-filled containers starting fires by focusing sunlight occasionally appear in the popular press, typically as curiosity items. This paper demonstrates the use of optical modeling tools and methodologies to explore situations under which water-filled containers can concentrate sunlight sufficiently to start fires, and proves the existence of a real hazard with an experimental demonstration.
An example of a wave forecast based on energy spectrum methods

A method is presented for wave forecasting based upon the energy spectrum of the wave system. Detailed descriptions of the forecasting graphs are given and the forecasting procedure explained. A numerical example, involving generation and decay of waves in an East Coast storm, is discussed.
Galoismodulstruktur und elliptische funktionen

Abstract Let K be a quadratic imaginary number field, an integral ideal in K and K( ) the ray class field modulo over K. For certain extensions K( )/K( ∗), ∗| , it is shown that the ring of integers in K( ) is a free rank one module over the associated order (1.2) of K( )/K( ∗) in the group ring of Gal(K( )/K( ∗)) on K( ∗). The associated order and generating elements are both constructed by elliptic functions.
Elemental, infra-red spectrophotometric and electron spin resonance investigations of non-chemically isolated humic material

Abstract Naturally occurring organic material from a lake in the southeastern United States was isolated by ultrafiltration and analyzed by i.r. spectrophotometry and electron spin resonance spectrometry, and for its elemental composition without chemical pretreatment. The results of the study indicate the isolate is an apparent high molecular weight fulvic acid with associated, hydrated Mn 2+ ion which does not appear strongly bound to the organic moiety.
END GROUP TRANSFORMATION OF POLYMERS PREPARED BY ATRP, SUBSTITUTION TO AZIDES

Polystyrenes, polyacrylates and poly(methyl methacrylate) prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) have predictable molecular weights, low polydispersities and well-defined halogen end groups. The halogen end groups have been substituted by other functionalities such as azides and amines. In order to predict the feasibility and selectivity of nucleophilic substitution reactions, the reactivities of the end groups of the different polymers were studied. First, model studies with benzyl halide (BzX), 1-phenylethyl halide (1-PEX), methyl 2-halopropionate (MXP), ethyl 2-bromoisobutyrate (EBiB) and 2-halopropionitrile (2-XPN) were performed. The models compounds were dissolved in DMF and after adding sodium azide (1.1 eq.), the reaction mixtures were stirred at 25°C. The relative magnitude of the rate constants for the reactions with the chlorinated substrates were found to be BzCl > MClP > 1-PECl ≈ 2-ClPN:22 > 6 > 1. Increased substitution at the carbon center decreased the rate of reaction, be...
Coordination and reactivity of acetonitrile in tungsten(IV) complexes: oxidation, methylation and dimerization of coordinated acetonitrile

Abstract Reaction of Tp′W(O)(CO)(I) (1) with silver trifluoromethanesulfonate (silver triflate, AgOTf) in dichloromethane generates Tp′W(O)(CO)(OTf) (2) with triflate in the coordination sphere. Dissolution of neutral triflate adduct 2 in acetonitrile immediately produces the cationic tungsten(IV) nitrile complex [Tp′W(O)(NCMe)(CO)][OTf] (3). Exchange of the triflate anion in 3 for the large, non-coordinating tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate anion, [BAr′4]−, produces the isolable salt [Tp′W(O)(NCMe)(CO)][BAr′4] (4). Photolysis of Tp′W(O)(CO)(I) complex (1) in acetonitrile promotes loss of carbon monoxide and generates the neutral tungsten(IV) nitrile complex Tp′W(O)(I)(NCMe) (5). Spectroscopic data for 5 is consistent with formation of an η2-bound nitrile ligand. Chromatography of complex 5 on alumina led to oxidation to form an acylimido complex, Tp′W(O)(I)(NC(O)Me) (6). A dimeric complex, Tp′(O)(I)W(NC(Me)C(Me)N)W(I)(O)Tp′ (7) resulting from reductive coupling of two nitrile ligands was also isolated following alumina chromatography. Methylation of η2-nitrile complex 5 by MeOTf generates the cationic η2-iminoacyl complex [Tp′W(O)(I)(MeNCMe)][OTf] (9).
Nucleation rate of critical droplets on an elastic string in a ϕ 6 potential

We obtain the nucleation rate of critical droplets for an elastic string moving in a ${\ensuremath{\phi}}^{6}$ local potential and subject to noise and damping forces. The critical droplet is a bound soliton-antisoliton pair that carries a section of the string out of the metastable central minimum into one of the stable side minima. The frequencies of small oscillations about the critical droplet are obtained from a Heun equation. We solve the Fokker-Planck equation for the phase-space probability density by projecting it onto the eigenfunction basis obtained from the Heun equation. We employ Farkas' ``flux-overpopulation'' method to obtain boundary conditions for solving the Fokker-Planck equation; these restrict the validity of our solution to the moderate to heavy damping regime. We present results for the rate as a function of temperature, well depth, and damping.
Principal architectural changes in polar transmitter in DRP design for WLAN

In Digital Radio Processor(DRP) an All-digital Phase Locked Loop(ADPLL) forms the core of the architecture with a digitally controlled oscillator(DCO) being the counterpart of Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) in a conventional PLL design. In addition to this, the RF modulation is also performed digitally by feeding Frequency Control Word(FCW) into the ADPLL. This implies that the DCO should be able to support the frequency range requirements for the modulation technique. DCO modulation range for GSM and Bluetooth systems is few hundreds of KHz. However, in order to support WLAN in both 2.4 GHz (ISM band) and 5–5.9 GHz(UNII) bands the DCO needs to have 1.2 GHz modulation range at 12 GHz frequency. Such a DCO becomes extremely sensitive to supply voltage fluctuations. We propose an algorithm which reduces the modulation range requirement of the DCO and hence its sensitivity to supply voltage. In DRP, the modulated clock output of the ADPLL is used as the sampling clock for the digital logic. For GSM and Bluetooth systems the drift introduced in phase samples by using the modulated clock is negligible. However, for WLAN, merely using the modulated clock for sampling is disastrous as it will introduce intolerable drift in the phase samples when compared to phase samples generated by using a constant uniform clock. We propose a predistortion scheme for frequency control words(FCW) to correct this effect of modulated clock.
Analogy, explanation, and proof.

People are habitual explanation generators. At its most mundane, our propensity to explain allows us to infer that we should not drink milk that smells sour; at the other extreme, it allows us to establish facts (e.g., theorems in mathematical logic) whose truth was not even known prior to the existence of the explanation (proof). What do the cognitive operations underlying the (inductive) inference that the milk is sour have in common with the (deductive) proof that, say, the square root of two is irrational? Our ability to generate explanations bears striking similarities to our ability to make analogies. Both reflect a capacity to generate inferences and generalizations that go beyond the featural similarities between a novel problem and familiar problems in terms of which the novel problem may be understood. However, a notable difference between analogy-making and explanation-generation is that the former is a process in which a single source situation is used to reason about a single target, whereas the latter often requires the reasoner to integrate multiple sources of knowledge. This small-seeming difference poses a challenge to the task of marshaling our understanding of analogical reasoning in the service of understanding explanation. We describe a model of explanation, derived from a model of analogy, adapted to permit systematic violations of this one-to-one mapping constraint. Simulation results demonstrate that the resulting model can generate explanations for novel explananda and that, like the explanations generated by human reasoners, these explanations vary in their coherence.
In silico evolution of functional modules in biochemical networks

Understanding the large reaction networks found in biological systems is a daunting task. One approach is to divide a network into more manageable smaller modules, thus simplifying the problem. This is a common strategy used in engineering. However, the process of identifying biological modules is still in its infancy and very little is understood about the range and capabilities of motif structures found in biological modules. In order to delineate these modules, a library of functional motifs has been generated via in silico evolution techniques. On the basis of their functional forms, networks were evolved from four broad areas: oscillators, bistable switches, homeostatic systems and frequency filters. Some of these motifs were constructed from simple mass action kinetics, others were based on Michaelis-Menten kinetics as found in protein/protein networks and the remainder were based on Hill equations as found in gene/protein interaction networks. The purpose of the study is to explore the capabilities of different network architectures and the rich variety of functional forms that can be generated. Ultimately, the library may be used to delineate functional motifs in real biological networks.
Linkage heterogeneity for the IBD1 locus in Crohn's disease pedigrees by disease onset and severity

Abstract Background & Aims: There is evidence for the IBD1 Crohn's disease (CD) susceptibility locus on chromosome 16 in several but not all populations studied. Genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity may underlie ability to replicate IBD1 . We determined if age and severity stratification could identify a clinical subgroup at risk for IBD1 . Methods: Linkage analysis at microsatellites spanning chromosome 16 was performed in 2 groups of CD pedigrees: group 1, 57 pedigrees with at least one affected relative classified as having "severe" disease, by history of surgical resection or immunomodulator therapy, and with disease diagnosed before age 22; and group 2, 33 pedigrees with no history of early-onset, severe CD. Results: Group 1 pedigrees demonstrated genomewide significant linkage evidence for the IBD1 locus (nonparametric multipoint logarithm of the odds [Mlod], 3.84; P = 1.3 × 10 −5 ) with linkage evidence greater than all 90 pedigrees (Mlod, 2.12; P = 9.0 × 10 −4 ). Group 2 pedigrees had near zero nonparametric 2-point and Mlod scores for the IBD1 region. Heterogeneity between groups 1 and 2 was significant ( P = 0.002). Conclusions: Presence of early-onset, more severe CD identifies pedigrees at high risk for IBD1 . These pedigrees will have more power to refine the IBD1 locus and identify the causative gene. GASTROENTEROLOGY 2000;119:1483-1490
A psychologist's response to the case study: application of theory and measurement.

This article represents a psychologist's perspective on the case study of Doris, a middle-aged woman with metastatic breast cancer who is initially referred to Chaplain Rhonda for assistance with death anxiety. In the field of psychology, it has long been accepted that good clinical research is informed by theory. As such, Chaplain Rhonda's intervention with Doris will be examined through the lens of object relations theory. Specifically, we will see how Rhonda's relationship and interaction with Doris improves her image of God and, by doing so, decreases her death anxiety. In psychological research, it is also important to accurately measure the effects or outcomes of clinical interventions. In this light, several suggestions are offered for the measurement of constructs relevant to the case of Doris, namely God image and death anxiety. Finally, a simple case study research design, applying the aforementioned theory and measurement, is provided as a suggested starting point for research on the efficacy o...
Immigration from Mexico, School Composition, and Adolescent Functioning

The rapid growth of the Mexican American population and its young age structure have focused increased attention on the long-term prospects of Mexican American youth. This study explores generational differences among these youth, both within and across schools, to determine whether assimilation has positive or negative consequences in the long term for the Mexican American population as a whole. A series of logistic regression models with the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health revealed that rates of academic failure and risk of obesity were higher in the second generation of Mexican American youth, although these generational patterns varied by the interpersonal, behavioral, and demographic characteristics of the student bodies of the schools they attended. Assimilation, therefore, appeared to have different outcomes depending on the time point and local context in question.
Use of time lapse microscopy to visualize anoxia-induced suspended animation in C. elegans embryos.

Caenorhabdits elegans has been used extensively in the study of stress resistance, which is facilitated by the transparency of the adult and embryo stages as well as by the availability of genetic mutants and transgenic strains expressing a myriad of fusion proteins1-4. In addition, dynamic processes such as cell division can be viewed using fluorescently labeled reporter proteins. The study of mitosis can be facilitated through the use of time-lapse experiments in various systems including intact organisms; thus the early C. elegans embryo is well suited for this study. Presented here is a technique by which in vivo imaging of sub-cellular structures in response to anoxic (99.999% N2; <2 ppm O2) stress is possible using a simple gas flow through setup on a high-powered microscope. A microincubation chamber is used in conjunction with nitrogen gas flow through and a spinning disc confocal microscope to create a controlled environment in which animals can be imaged in vivo. Using GFP-tagged gamma tubulin and histone, the dynamics and arrest of cell division can be monitored before, during and after exposure to an oxygen-deprived environment. The results of this technique are high resolution, detailed videos and images of cellular structures within blastomeres of embryos exposed to oxygen deprivation.
CMB polarization systematics due to beam asymmetry: Impact on cosmological birefringence

The standard cosmological model is assumed to respect parity symmetry. Under this assumption the cross correlations of the cosmic microwave background's temperature anisotropy and ``gradient''-like polarization, with the ``curl''-like polarization, identically vanish over the full sky. However, extensions of the standard model which allow for light scalar field or axion coupling to the electromagnetic field, or coupling to the Riemann gravitational field strength, as well as other modifications of field theories, may induce a rotation of the cosmic microwave background polarization plane on cosmological scales and manifest itself as nonvanishing $TB$ and $EB$ cross correlations. Recently, the degree of parity violation (reflected in polarization rotation) was constrained using data from BOOMERANG, WMAP, and QUAD. Forecasts have been made for near-future experiments (e.g. PLANCK) to further constrain parity- and Lorentz-violating terms in the fundamental interactions of nature. Here we consider a real-world effect induced by a class of telescope beam systematics which can mimic the rotation of polarization plane or otherwise induce nonvanishing $TB$ and $EB$ correlations. In particular, adopting the viewpoint that the primary target of future experiments will be the inflationary $B$-mode signal, we assume the beam systematics of the upcoming PLANCK and POLARBEAR experiments are optimized towards this goal, and explore the implications of the allowed levels of beam systematics on the resulting precision of polarization-rotation measurements.
Template-Directed Synthesis, Excited-State Photodynamics, and Electronic Communication in a Hexameric Wheel of Porphyrins

To investigate new architectures for molecular photonics applications, a shape-persistent cyclic hexameric architecture (cyclo-Zn3Fb3U-p/m) has been prepared that is comprised of three free base (F...
Functional Regulation of the Anti-Apoptotic Protein BCL-xL through Post-Translational Modification of its Intrinsically Disordered Loop

Several studies reported functional down-regulation of the anti-apoptotic protein BCL-xL as a consequence of phosphorylation or deamidation of amino acids within its large intrinsically disordered loop. We meant to elucidate these poorly understood mechanisms of apoptotic regulation, and at the same time develop a case study of functional interplay between folded and disordered segments within the same protein. We present here preliminary results towards a structural and mechanistic understanding of these phenomena. Our studies suggest that the post translational modification of its intrinsically disordered loop may trigger conformational rearrangements in the folded core of BCL-xL that decrease its affinity for BH3-only protein partners.
Psychoneuroimmunology and the pediatric surgeon

The mind–body connection is receiving increasing scrutiny in a large number of clinical settings, although research has lagged in the pediatric specialties. Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is a novel interdisciplinary scientific field that examines the relationship of the mind to the patient's neurologic, endocrine, and immune systems by examining critical parameters such as the effects of mental stress on wound healing and infection rates. Techniques that modify a patient's emotional and mental responses to illness and surgery have positive effects on their physiology resulting in improved recoveries and higher patient satisfaction rates. In the appropriate clinical settings, an awareness of PNI can enhance outcomes for pediatric surgical patients.
Adaptation of Agriculture to the Cost‐Price Squeeze

It is based on a talk given to the Staff Conference of the Victorian Soil Conservation Authority in December 1969.
Lyotropic mesomorphic formation of cellulose in trifluoroacetic acid-chlorinated-alkane solvent mixtures at room temperature

Mixtures of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA)-1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCE); TFA-dichloromethane (CH2Cl2); and TFA-trichloromethane (CHCl3) are excellent cellulose solvents at room temperature. TFA-1,2-DCE and TFA-CH2Cl2 are superior to pure TFA. Lyotropic cellulose mesophases were obtained in (20% w/v) solutions of cellulose in these solvent mixtures. The optical and optical rotatory powers of the solutions suggest that the lyotropic mesophase of cellulose is cholesteric. This implies that cellulose molecules are arranged in helical form in these solvent systems.
Putting a human face on proportional representation: Early experiences in Scotland and Wales

The additional member system used for elections to the Scottish Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales has been controversial for electing two types of representatives, those elected by list PR in multi‐member regions and others elected by plurality ‘first‐past‐the‐post’ in single‐member constituencies. Members elected by list PR are taking on a constituency role, despite apparent institutional incentives to the contrary, although list members seem more inclined to ‘represent’ organised interests. The ‘shadowing’ of constituency members by regional party list members has been a source of strain in the relations between the two types of representative as they come to terms with the new electoral system.
Effect of Experimental Diabetes Mellitus on the Pharmacokinetics of Atenolol Enantiomers in Rats

The effect of streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus on the pharmacokinetics of the enantiomers of atenolol (AT) was investigated in rats 3 and 9 days after induction of the disease. Occurrence of diabetes was confirmed by a significant increase (p 0.05). The changes in CLcr paralleled those in renal clearance (CLr) values of the AT enantiomers; 9-day diabetes induced a significant increase in CL, of the AT enantiomers (82.4 and 81.6% increase for S(−)- and R(+(− enantiomers, respectively). An increase in CL, values of the AT enantiomers in 3-day diabetic rats, on the other hand, did not reach statistical significance. Furthermore, a significant increase (55.4 and 52.6% for S(−)- and fl(+)-AT, respectively) in the nonrenal clearance values of the AT enantiomers was observed in the 3-day, but not 9-day diabetic rats. The increases in the clearance values of the enantiomers of AT resulted in lower AUC values for the enantiomers in both the 3- and 9-day diabetic rats. Our results indicate that diabetes-induced kidney hyperfiltration in rats causes a significant increase in renal clearance of the AT enantiomers. Because AT is a recommended drug for control of hypertension in diabetic patients, further studies on the pharmacokinetics of the drug in diabetic patients are warranted.
Synthesis and Characterization of a Polymer-Supported Salen Ligand for Enantioselective Epoxidation

We report the synthesis of a covalently linked salen complex onto the surface of a 98 vol % styrene/2 vol % divinylbenzene polymeric support. The solid-phase method allows manipulation of the substituents on the salen complex in a more versatile manner than can be done for the homogeneous ligand and the production of a support for catalysis that guarantees accessibility to the supported active sites. The ligand was constructed in a stagewise manner that allows the possibility for combinatorial syntheses. Immobilized salen complex 1 was formed by the sequential treatment of the resin with 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzaldehyde, a chiral trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane, and 3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylaldehyde. After loading the immobilized ligand with Mn, the support effected the enantioselective epoxidation of 1,2-dihydronaphthalene, cis-β-methylstyrene, and styrene as test olefins with enantiomeric excesses of 46%, 79% (cis-epoxide), and 9%, respectively, using aqueous sodium hypochlorite as the oxidant. The heterogeneou...
Cardiomyopathic Tropomyosin Mutations That Increase Thin Filament Ca2+ Sensitivity and Tropomyosin N-domain Flexibility

The relationship between tropomyosin thermal stability and thin filament activation was explored using two N-domain mutants of α-striated muscle tropomyosin, A63V and K70T, each previously implicated in familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Both mutations had prominent effects on tropomyosin thermal stability as monitored by circular dichroism. Wild type tropomyosin unfolded in two transitions, separated by 10 °C. The A63V and K70T mutations decreased the melting temperature of the more stable of these transitions by 4 and 10 °C, respectively, indicating destabilization of the N-domain in both cases. Global analysis of all three proteins indicated that the tropomyosin N-domain and C-domain fold with a cooperative free energy of 1.0–1.5 kcal/mol. The two mutations increased the apparent affinity of the regulatory Ca2+ binding sites of thin filament in two settings: Ca2+-dependent sliding speed of unloaded thin filaments in vitro (at both pH 7.4 and 6.3), and Ca2+ activation of the thin filament-myosin S1 ATPase rate. Neither mutation had more than small effects on the maximal ATPase rate in the presence of saturating Ca2+ or on the maximal sliding speed. Despite the increased tropomyosin flexibility implied by destabilization of the N-domain, neither the cooperativity of thin filament activation by Ca2+ nor the cooperative binding of myosin S1-ADP to the thin filament was altered by the mutations. The combined results suggest that a more dynamic tropomyosin N-domain influences interactions with actin and/or troponin that modulate Ca2+ sensitivity, but has an unexpectedly small effect on cooperative changes in tropomyosin position on actin.
Self-Scattering Path-Variable Formulation of High-Field, Time-Dependent, Quantum Kinetic Equations for Semiconductor Transport in the Finite-Collision-Duration Regime

Quantum kinetic equations for describing transport in submicron semiconducting devices in the finite collision duration regime are developed which are nonlocal in time and momentum. Utilizing a projected self-scattering formulation, a retarded path-integral equation is obtained. Quantum kinetic equations are usually exceedingly difficult to solve. The formulation found here presents a powerful technique to achieve these solutions even in the case where nonlocal effects are important.
The power of problem‐based learning in teaching introductory science courses

In its use of complex, real-world problems to introduce concepts and motivate learning in an active and cooperative learning environment, problem-based learning provides a powerful alternative to the passive lecture tradition in introductory science courses in biology, physics, and chemistry.
Impacts of groundwater pumping and climate variability on groundwater availability in the Rio Grande Basin

Groundwater is a critical resource for sustainable economic growth in an arid and semi-arid region such as the Rio Grande Basin because it provides water for municipal, industrial, and domestic, and agricultural users. The water is also important for the health of riparian ecosystems in the Rio Grande basin. Historic groundwater pumping has resulted in large groundwater level drawdown, water quality deterioration, depletion of surface water and subsidence in El Paso/Ciudad Juarez area, which in turn will limit groundwater availability in the future. Therefore, securing future groundwater availability involves a multi-spectrum of efforts, including minimizing net losses from the underground reservoir, managing groundwater as an integrated part of the hydrologic cycle, developing infrastructure based on an understanding of the natural hydrologic system, using water wisely and efficiently, and allocating and monitoring water fairly for human as well as environmental and ecological needs. This paper focuses on the current status of groundwater quantity and geochemistry—groundwater hydrology, key aquifers, water quantity and chemistry, impacts of groundwater pumping and climate variability on groundwater availability within the Rio Grande Basin along river reaches between Elephant Butte Dam and Amistad Dam. This paper is part of a larger effort to summarize the state of the science relative to water sustainability in the region. This information can be used to plan research and education agendas aimed at water sustainability under climate and social changes. Current water uses and estimates of groundwater availability are summarized for the selected regional aquifers that underlie or are located adjacent to the Rio Grande. Several research topics are identified and recommended in terms of gaining better understanding of groundwater availability and impacts of future groundwater pumping and climate variability on the regional aquifer systems.
Trading Industry Clusters amid the Legacy of Industrial Land-Use Planning in Southern California:

This paper tests for excessive employment agglomeration among twenty southern California manufacturing industry clusters using two methods claiming to control for the natural and planned geography constraining industrial location generally. We find broad consistency across the alternative tests; although fewer industry clusters test statistically significant for agglomeration or dispersion using the weighted kernel density estimator than when we use the more established weighted case-control approach. Similarly, the observed values for the former statistic test significant over a subset of the spatial scales over which the case-control method tests significant.
Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in hybridizing California and Gambel's quail (Callipepla californica and C. gambelii)

Callipepla californica and C. gambelii are sibling species of quail that hybridize throughout Southern California where their ranges overlap. We developed seven highly polymorphic microsatellite markers that will be used to assess introgression between these species. Numbers of alleles ranged in C. californica from seven to 24 and in C. gambelii from five to 18, with high expected levels of heterozygosity in both species. Alleles exclusive to each species are present at most loci.
Folate receptor-targeted aminopterin therapy is highly effective and specific in experimental models of autoimmune uveitis and autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Abstract EC0746 is a rationally designed anti-inflammatory drug conjugate consisting of a modified folic acid-based ligand linked to a γ-hydrazide analog of aminopterin. In this report, EC0746's effectiveness was evaluated against experimental retinal S-antigen (PDSAg) induced autoimmune uveitis (EAU) and myelin-basic-protein induced autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). In both models, functional FR-β was detected on activated macrophages in local (retinal or central-nervous-system, respectively) and systemic (peritoneal cavity) sites of inflammation. In myelin-rich regions of EAE rats, an increased uptake of 99mTc-EC20 (etarfolatide; a FR-specific radioimaging agent) was also observed. EC0746 treatment at disease onset suppressed the clinical severity of both EAU and EAE, and it strongly attenuated progressive histopathological changes in the affected organs. In all parameters assessed, EC0746 activity was completely blocked by a benign folate competitor, suggesting that these therapeutic outcomes were specifically FR-β mediated. EC0746 may emerge as a useful macrophage-modulating agent for treating inflammatory episodes of organ-specific autoimmunity.
Effective Schools: Knowledge, Dissemination, Inquiry:

have become pivotal concerns in the work of a growing number of educational researchers and practitioners during the past decade. This activity has generated a rich literature describing the characteristics of effective schools (Benbow, 1980; Berliner, 1982; Clark, Lotto & McCarthy, 1980; Cohen, 1982; MacKenzie, 1982; Madaus, Airasian, & Kellaghan, 1980; Purkey & Smith, 1983). It has also stimulated the development of a wide variety of state and local school improvement programs designed to disseminate characteristics of effectiveness to schools in
The effect of adjunctive mood stabilizers on antipsychotic utilization pattern and health resource utilization for Medicaid enrollees with schizophrenia.

ABSTRACTBackground: Prescribing adjunctive mood stabilizers to manage schizophrenia is prevalent, despite the lack of substantial evidence to support the long-term use of this treatment regimen.Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the impact of using adjunctive mood stabilizers on antipsychotic utilization, total health expenditures, inpatient hospital­izations, long-term care stays, and emergency room (ER) visits for patients with schizophrenia.Methods: Georgia Medicaid claims from 1999 through 2001 were analyzed to identify recipients diagnosed with schizophrenia (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification [ICD‑9‑CM]: 295.XX). The treatment groups consisted of subjects who received combination therapy of mood stabilizers and anti­psychotics (including both atypical and typical medica­tions), while the comparison group consisted of subjects who were on antipsychotic medications without exposure to the mood stabilizers under investigation. Four treatmen...
Ordered Arrays of Raman Nanosensors for Ultrasensitive and Location Predictable Biochemical Detection

Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is sensitive enough for single-molecule biochemical detection, but it is extremely difficult to obtain a large number of SERS hotspots for sensitive and reproducible detection. It is even more challenging to assemble the hotspots at designated positions for location predictable sensing. Here, we report an original strategy for the synthesis, manipulation, and assembling of plasmonic nanocapsule SERS sensors for high-sensitivity biochemical detection at predictable locations.
Reevaluation of phylogeny in the Drosophila obscura species group based on combined analysis of nucleotide sequences.

The Drosophila obscura species group has served as an important model system in many evolutionary and population genetic studies. Despite the amount of study this group has received, some phylogenetic relationships remain unclear. While individual analysis of different nuclear, mitochondrial, allozyme, restriction fragment, and morphological data partitions are able to discern relationships among closely related species, they are unable to resolve relationships among the five obscura species subgroups. A combined analysis of several nucleotide data sets is able to provide resolution and support for some nodes not seen or well supported in analyses of individual loci. A phylogeny of the obscura species group based on combined analysis of nucleotide sequences from six mitochondrial and five nuclear loci is presented here. The results of several different combined analyses indicate that the Old World obscura and subobscura subgroups form a monophyletic clade, although they are unable to resolve the relationships among the major lineages within the obscura species group.
Glyphosate-Resistant Soybean Cultivar Response to Glyphosate

Glyphosate (N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine)-resistant (GR) soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] technology is gaining acceptance in U.S. cropping systems, yet potential yield suppression from either cultivar genetic differentials, the GR gene/gene insertion process, or glyphosate is a concern. Other work shows that the GR gene/gene insertion process may suppress soybean yield. No one has reported the effects of glyphosate on a diverse group of commercially available GR soybean cultivars, In this study we evaluated one of the potential sources of GR yield suppression-the effect of glyphosate on yield, growth, and development of GR cultivars. Field experiments were conducted at four Nebraska locations with12 GR cultivars in 1998 and 13 GR cultivars in 1999. Soybean response to glyphosate, ammonium sulfate (AMS), and water application at 21 and 42 d after soybean emergence was compared with control plots treated with AMS and water in 1998. An additional control, water alone, was added in 1999. Grain yield among cultivars differed as expected with a range of 3.44 to 3.96 Mg ha -1 in the 2-yr averages, Glyphosate did not affect the majority of the soybean growth and development characteristics measured. Grain yield of GR soybean was not affected by glyphosate at any location or when averaged over locations. Two-year average grain yield of cultivars treated with glyphosate, AMS, and water was 3.74 Mg ha 1 ; this was not different from 3.79 Mg ha -1 with AMS and water treatment.
Barrels XIV--proceedings and abstracts

Approximately 80 colleagues attended this 2-day meeting from 31 October to 1 November 2002 in Cocoa Beach, FL. Summaries of the speakers' presentations are followed by abstracts of the 44 posters shown.
Induction and indefinite extensibility: the Gödel sentence is true, but did someone change the subject?

Over the last few decades Michael Dummett developed a rich program for assessing logic and the meaning of the terms of a language. He is also a major exponent of Frege's version of logicism in the philosophy of mathematics. Over the last decade, Neil Tennant developed an extensive version of logicism in Dummettian terms, and Dummett influenced other contemporary logicists such as Crispin Wright and Bob Hale. The purpose of this paper is to explore the prospects for Fregean logicism within a broadly Dummettian framework. The conclusions are mostly negative: Dummett's views on analyticity and the logical/non-logical boundary leave little room for logicism. Dummett's considerations concerning manifestation and separability lead to a conservative extension requirement: if a sentence S is logically true, then there is a proof of S which uses only the introduction and elimination rules of the logical terms that occur in S. If basic arithmetic propositions are logically true-as the logicist contends-then there is tension between this conservation requirement and the ontological commitments of arithmetic. It follows from Dummett's manifestation requirements that if a sentence S is composed entirely of logical terminology, then there is a formal deductive system D such that S is analytic, or logically true, if and only if S is a theorem of D. There is a deep conflict between this result and the essential incompleteness, or as Dummett puts it, the indefinite extensibility, of arithmetic truth.
Comparison of Comet Assay, Electron Microscopy, and Flow Cytometry for Detection of Apoptosis

Differentiating apoptosis from necrosis is a challenge in single cells and in parenchymal tissues. The techniques available, including in situ TUNEL (Terminal deoxyribonucleotide transferase-mediated dUTP-X Nick End-Labeling) staining, DNA ladder assay, and flow cytometry, suffer from low sensitivity or from a high false-positive rate. This study, using a Jurkat cell model, initially evaluated the specificity of the neutral comet assay and flow cytometry compared to the gold standard, electron microscopy, for detection of apoptosis and necrosis. Neutral comet assay distinguished apoptosis from necrosis in Jurkat cells, as evidenced by the increased comet score in apoptotic cells and the almost zero comet score in necrotic cells. These findings were consistent with those of electron microscopy and flow cytometry. Furthermore, using rats with burn or ischemia/reperfusion injury, well-established models of skeletal and cardiac muscle tissue apoptosis, respectively, we applied the comet assay to detect apoptosis in these muscles. Neutral comet assay was able to detect apoptotic changes in both models. In the muscle samples from rats with burn or ischemia-reperfusion injury, the comet score was higher than that of muscle samples from their respective controls. These studies confirm the consistency of the comet assay for detection of apoptosis in single cells and provide evidence for its applicability as an additional method to detect apoptosis in parenchymal cells.
College Students' Understanding of Atmospheric Ozone Formation.

Research has shown that high school and college students have a lack of conceptual understanding of global warming, ozone, and the greenhouse effect. Most research in this area used survey methodologies and did not include concepts of atmospheric chemistry and ozone formation. This study investigates college students' understandings of atmospheric ozone formation using established clinical interview methodologies and qualitative data analysis techniques. Three prevalent naive conceptions were identified: (1) that there is only one atmospheric mechanism for ozone formation; (2) that pollutants and gases only react after being transported up high in the atmosphere; and (3) that concerns about ozone in the atmosphere are due primarily to its role as a greenhouse gas. The existence of these naive conceptions prevented students from forming correct mental models of atmospheric ozone formation. Existing conceptual change approaches may provide pathways for addressing these naive conceptions, but further research is required before specific solutions are proposed.
DYNAMIC TEXTURE BASED HEART LOCALIZATION AND SEGMENTATION IN 4-D CARDIAC IMAGES

In this paper we present a dynamic texture based motion segmentation approach to address the challenging problem of heart localization and segmentation in 4D spatio-temporal cardiac images. Our approach introduces time-dependent dynamic constraints into model-based segmentation, and it has the advantage of producing segmentation results that are both spatially and temporally consistent. Compared to previous methods that segment cardiac contours, our method offers the following advantages: 1) the heart can be quickly localized in 4D cardiac images with distinct dynamic signatures; 2) heart dynamics are learned online and adaptively by analyzing the dynamic texture from the video sequence of a cardiac cycle and then incorporated in the segmentation process; and 3) the proposed dynamic features can be easily integrated with model-based segmentation methods. We illustrate our framework through combining the new dynamic constraints with active contour models, and demonstrate its performance on sequences of 4D MRI and tagged MRI images of the heart. We also validate the accuracy of the segmentation results by comparing with ground truth marked by experts