cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mechanism of Dihydrouridine Synthase 2 from Yeast and the Importance of Modifications for Efficient tRNA Reduction

Dihydrouridine synthases (DUSs) are flavin-dependent enzymes that catalyze site-specific reduction of uracils in tRNAs. The mechanism of DUS 2 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae was studied. Previously published turnover rates for this DUS were very low. Our studies show that the catalytic cycle consists of reductive and oxidative half-reactions. The enzyme is reduced by NADPH rapidly but has a very slow oxidative half-reaction using in vitro transcribed tRNA substrates. Using tRNALeu purified from a DUS 2 knockout strain of yeast we obtained reaction rate enhancements of 600-fold over in vitro transcribed substrates, indicating that other RNA modifications are required for rapid uracil reduction. This demonstrates a previously unknown ordering of modifications and indicates that dihydrouridine formation is a later step in tRNA maturation. We also show that an active site cysteine is important for catalysis, likely in the protonation of uracil during tRNA reduction. Dihydrouridine of modified tRNA from Escherichia coli was also oxidized to uridine showing the reaction to be reversible.
The thiol oxidoreductase ERp57 is a component of the MHC class I peptide-loading complex

Abstract The proper folding and assembly of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is an intricate process involving a number of components. Nascent heavy chains of MHC class I molecules, translocated into the ER membrane, are rapidly glycosylated and bind the transmembrane chaperone calnexin [1]. In humans, after dissociation from calnexin, fully oxidized MHC class I heavy chains associate with β 2 -microglobulin ( β 2 m) and the soluble chaperone calreticulin [2]. This complex interacts with another transmembrane protein, tapasin, which is believed to assist in MHC class I folding as well as in mediating the interaction between assembling MHC class I molecules and the transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) [3,4]. The TAP heterodimer (TAP1–TAP2) introduces the final component of the MHC class I molecule by translocating peptides, predominately generated by the proteasome, from the cytosol into the ER where they can bind dimers of β 2 m and the MHC class I heavy chain [5]. Recently, the thiol oxidoreductase ERp57 –also known as GRP58, ERp61, ER60, Q2, HIP-70, and CPT [6] and first misidentified as phospholipase C- α [7] –has been shown to bind in conjunction with calnexin or calreticulin to a number of newly synthesized ER glycoproteins when their N -linked glycans are trimmed by glucosidases I and II [8,9]. It was speculated that ERp57 is a generic component of the glycan-dependent ER quality control system [10]. Here, we show that ERp57 is a component of the MHC class I peptide-loading complex. ERp57 might influence the folding of MHC class I molecules at a critical step in peptide loading.
Family quality of life in dementia: a qualitative approach to family-identified care priorities.

Objective To characterize factors contributing to quality of life (QOL) in families providing care to people with dementia.
THE POSSIBILITY OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN AN INSTRUMENTALIST AGE

In our increasingly instrumentalist culture, debates over the privatization of schooling may be beside the point. Whether we hatch some new plan for chartering or funding schools, or retain the traditional model of government-run schools, the ongoing instrumentalization of education threatens the very possibility of public education. Indeed, in the culture of performativity, not only the public school but public life itself is hollowed out and debased. Qualities are recast as quantities, judgments replaced by rubrics, teaching and learning turned into exchange values. Schools should be central to public life: key locations for the regeneration of values, the cultivation of judgment, and the creation of the conditions for positive freedom. In this article Chris Higgins, drawing on Hannah Arendt and Alasdair MacIntyre, goes beyond typical treatments of the schools as equalizer of individual opportunity to explore three aspects of educational publicity: the school as an object of communal concern, schooling as preparation for public life, and the classroom as public space.
Sulfhydryl reagent-induced insulin release and 45Ca++ fluxes in Syrian hamster insulinoma cells.

Dispersed single cell suspensions of Syrian hamster insulinoma cells were used to study the effects of a variety of sulfhydryl-binding reagents on insulin release and 45Ca++ flux. Incubation of cells with several organic mercurials resulted in a rapid increase in 45Ca++ uptake as well as increased efflux in cells which had been prelabeled with 45Ca++. Concomitant with increased calcium uptake was a 4 to 5-fold increase in insulin released into the medium. Incubation with alkylating reagents such as iodoacetamide and iV-ethyl maleimide or dithiol reagents such as 5,5′-dithiobis (2-nitrobenzoic acid) failed to stimulate either45Ca++ flux or insulin release. Elimination of medium calcium or preincubation of cells with iV-ethyl maleimide resulted in approximately 50% inhibition of mercurial-induced insulin release from these cells. 8-(N,N2-diethylamino)Octyl- 3,4,5,-trimethoxybenzoate or a-isopropyl-a [(N-methyl-iV-homoveratryl) γ-aminopropyl]3,4,5′-trimethoxyphenylacetonitrite hydrochloride, agents which blo...
Child-feeding practices and child overweight perceptions of family day care providers caring for preschool-aged children.

Abstract Introduction The purpose of this study was to evaluate the attitudes, feeding practices, and child overweight perceptions of family day-care providers caring for preschool-aged children and to examine whether child feeding practices differ based on child weight perceptions. Method One hundred twenty-three family day-care providers participated in this cross-sectional exploratory study and completed a self-administered survey measuring feeding attitudes and practices from the Child Feeding Questionnaire, demographic information, and self-reported height and weight. Participants selected a cut point to identify childhood overweight using male and female child figure drawings. Results Participants reported a high level of responsibility in feeding and monitoring of children's food intake. Differences were found in child feeding practices between family day-care providers based on their child weight perceptions for girls. Providers who selected the smaller girl figures as the cut point for overweight were more concerned about the children becoming overweight and used more restriction in child feeding compared with the providers who selected the larger girl figures. Discussion Health professionals should continue working with this population to promote positive feeding environments.
Re A0 and Re A2 from quenched lattice QCD

Abstract We have used domain wall fermions to calculate K → π and K → 0 matrix elements which can be used to study the Δ I = 1 2 rule for K decays in the Standard Model. Nonlinearities in the Δ I = 3 2 matrix elements due to chiral logarithms are explored and the subtractions needed for the Δ I = 1 2 matrix elements are discussed. Using renormalization factors calculated using non-perturbative renormalization then yields values for real A 0 and A 2 . We present the details of our quenched 16 3 × 32 × 16, β = 6.0, M 5 = 1.8 simulation, where a previous calculation showed that the finite L s chiral symmetry breaking effects are small ( m res ≈ 4MeV).
An experimental and kinetic study of syngas/air combustion at elevated temperatures and the effect of water addition

Abstract Laminar flame speeds of premixed syngas/air mixtures were measured at various fuel equivalence ratios (0.6–3.0), H 2 content of the fuel, and preheat temperatures (298–500 K) using a spherically expanding flame configuration. The measured laminar flame speeds were compared with simulations using with three existing chemical kinetic models – GRI Mech 3.0, H 2 /CO Davis Mechanism and San Diego mechanism. Reasonable agreement between computations and measurements was achieved at room temperature that validated the new experimental configuration. However, at higher preheat temperatures discrepancies between computed and measured values were large, especially for fuel rich mixtures. Addition of H 2 O to two fuels (H 2 /CO = 5/95 and 50/50) up to 40% in the fuel–air mixture was studied to understand the effect of moisture in coal derived syngas. For the H 2 /CO = 5/95 fuel, flame speed was observed to increase with up to 20% H 2 O addition and then to decrease with any further water addition. However, the higher H 2 content fuel (H 2 /CO = 50/50) only showed a decrease in flame speed with an increasing water concentration in the fuel–air mixture. The different trends have been explained as a result of the competing chemical and physical (dilution and thermal) effects of H 2 O addition on the syngas flames using sensitivity analyses and by analyzing reaction rates and radical concentrations.
Questioning the observation of laser-assisted ionization in fast collisions of He(2 (1),3S) with He.

In four recent papers Pradel et al. (Phys. Rev. Lett. 54, 2600 (1985); Phys. Rev. A 35, 1062 (1987)) and Monchicourt et al. (Phys. Rev. A 33, 3515 (1986); Chem. Phys. Lett. 152, 336 (1988)) give arguments claiming the observation of laser-assisted ionization of the short-lived collision complex formed during collisions of He/sup */(2 /sup 1,3/S) with He. However, estimates of the relative sizes of the assisted and unassisted ion signals observed make it very unlikely that laser-assisted ionization has been observed in those experiments. Collisional excitation to higher He/sup */ states, followed by (single-photon) ionization of the excited states, seems a more likely explanation at all energies considered.
Post-ovulatory ageing of the human oocyte and embryo failure

We carried out a prospective study of 221 healthy women who were attempting pregnancy. During the study, women collected daily urine samples and kept daily records of intercourse. Ovulation and early pregnancy losses were later identified by immunoassays of urinary human chorionic gonadotrophin and steroid metabolites. We have used these data to examine whether the risk of early pregnancy loss was higher with post-ovulatory ageing of the oocyte. 192 pregnancies were ranked by the probability that the oocyte might have aged before fertilization. There was a statistically significant increase in the risk of early loss as the likelihood of oocyte ageing increased (P < 0.05). No similar risk was observed for clinical miscarriages. Post-ovulatory ageing of the oocyte prior to fertilization may cause early pregnancy failure in humans as it does in several other mammalian species.
Identification, characterization, and bioconversion of a new intermediate in valanimycin biosynthesis.

The antibiotic valanimycin is a naturally occurring azoxy compound isolated from Streptomyces viridifaciens. Detailed investigations have shown that valanimycin is derived from l-valine and l-serine via the intermediacy of O-(l-seryl)isobutylhydroxylamine. Sequence analysis of the valanimycin biosynthetic genes provides relatively few clues concerning the nature of the later stages of the pathway. Two exceptions are provided by the vlmJ and vlmK genes. The translation product of vlmJ exhibits similarity to diacylglycerol kinases, while the translation product of vlmK exhibits a weak similarity to the MmgE/PrpD superfamily of proteins. This superfamily includes 2-methylcitrate dehydratase. This communication describes the isolation and structure elucidation of valanimycin hydrate from vlmJ and vlmK mutants of S. viridifaciens. Additional studies have shown that the conversion of valanimycin hydrate into valanimycin by S. viridifaciens requires both the vlmJ and vlmK genes and that VlmJ catalyzes the ATP-de...
Music Videos and National Identity in Post-Soviet Kazakhstan

Media exert a pervasive influence on personal and national identity. Kazakh independence in 1991 necessitated forming national identity where only limited common identity existed previously. This paper examines the socio-political context of Kazakhstan, explores how images in Kazakh music videos assist in conveying national identity, and addresses ongoing challenges that shape how Kazakh identity continues to develop.
Lower than expected maraviroc concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid exceed the wild-type CC chemokine receptor 5-tropic HIV-1 50% inhibitory concentration

To measure maraviroc total cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations and compare them with total and unbound plasma concentrations. Total maraviroc was measured by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry, whereas ultrafiltration was used for unbound maraviroc. Maraviroc was detected in all nine CSF/plasma pairs with a median CSF total concentration of 2.4 ng/ml. CSF concentrations exceeded the 50% inhibitory concentration of wild-type CC chemokine receptor 5-tropic HIV-1 in all specimens. CSF concentrations are lower than expected based on plasma concentrations and physicochemical characteristics. Unbound maraviroc plasma concentrations may be informative in estimating concentrations in CSF.
Administration of transforming growth factor-α enhances anatomical and behavioral recovery following olfactory nerve transection

Abstract Although replacement of olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) and subsequent reinnervation of the olfactory bulb occur following ORN injury, the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that contribute to the regulation of this dynamic process have not yet been fully identified. Recent research indicates that several growth factors have neurogenic effects on ORNs in vitro, and that chronic in vivo administration of either basic fibroblast growth factor, epidermal growth factor, or transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α) following chemical lesion can enhance the normal rate of ORN reinnervation of the olfactory bulb. The primary goal of the present experiments was to further assess the extent to which growth factor-related enhancements in the rate of anatomical recovery during ORN reconstitution and subsequent reinnervation of olfactory bulb are accompanied by enhancements in the rate of recovery of odor-guided behavior. A series of experiments in rats was conducted to initially characterize the time course of the anatomical and behavioral recovery normally observed following ORN reconstitution as a consequence of olfactory nerve transection, and to subsequently characterize the anatomical and behavioral effects of TGF-α administration on this normal rate of recovery. Consistent with a host of prior studies, olfactory nerve transection produced consistent and substantial deafferentation of olfactory bulb followed by a time-dependent anatomical recovery which was significantly enhanced by administration of TGF-α. The effect of TGF-α on functional recovery following olfactory nerve transection was also assessed using an odor-guided fear conditioning task. ORN lesioned animals receiving injections of TGF-α during recovery were found to display enhanced conditioned responding to an olfactory stimulus compared to untreated subjects. Further behavioral analyses suggested that this enhanced functional recovery was likely not due to non-specific effects of TGF-α on cognition or motor activity, but rather to enhanced olfactory input to the CNS. Future studies will likely reveal the exact mechanism of action mediating the anatomical and concomitant behavioral effects of this growth factor. Since ORNs are one of only a few populations of neurons capable of regeneration or replacement, the continued study of the cellular and molecular factors that coordinate this regenerative process may ultimately lead to the development of therapeutic strategies to promote an enhanced functional recovery following injury to other neuronal populations.
Slit molecules prevent entrance of trunk neural crest cells in developing gut

Neural crest cells emerge from the dorsal neural tube early in development and give rise to sensory and sympathetic ganglia, adrenal cells, teeth, melanocytes and especially enteric nervous system. Several inhibitory molecules have been shown to play important roles in neural crest migration, among them are the chemorepulsive Slit1-3. It was known that Slits chemorepellants are expressed at the entry to the gut, and thus could play a role in the differential ability of vagal but not trunk neural crest cells to invade the gut and form enteric ganglia. Especially since trunk neural crest cells express Robo receptor while vagal do not. Thus, although we know that Robo mediates migration along the dorsal pathway in neural crest cells, we do not know if it is responsible in preventing their entry into the gut. The goal of this study was to further corroborate a role for Slit molecules in keeping trunk neural crest cells away from the gut. We observed that when we silenced Robo receptor in trunk neural crest, the sympathoadrenal (somites 18-24) were capable of invading gut mesenchyme in larger proportion than more rostral counterparts. The more rostral trunk neural crest tended not to migrate beyond the ventral aorta, suggesting that there are other repulsive molecules keeping them away from the gut. Interestingly, we also found that when we silenced Robo in sacral neural crest they did not wait for the arrival of vagal crest but entered the gut and migrated rostrally, suggesting that Slit molecules are the ones responsible for keeping them waiting at the hindgut mesenchyme. These combined results confirm that Slit molecules are responsible for keeping the timeliness of colonization of the gut by neural crest cells.
Development of glucocorticoid-responsiveness in mouse intestine

There are conflicting data from human studies regarding the ability of exogenous glucocorticoids to stimulate maturation of the small intestine. The discrepancies may relate to differences in hormone doses and age administered. To explore this general concept, we have used a mouse model to determine intestinal responsiveness to dexamethasone (DEX) at various times during development. We first showed that trehalase mRNA is a sensitive marker of intestinal maturation in the mouse; being undetectable (by Northern blotting) in the prenatal period, expressed at low levels during the first 2 postnatal weeks and then displaying a marked increase in the 3rd postnatal week. DEX was unable to elicit detectable trehalase mRNA in fetal mice, but caused significant increases in the postnatal period. The use of a range of DEX doses (0.0125-2.5 nmol/g BW per day) established that there is no change in sensitivity between the 1st and 2nd postnatal weeks, but there is a significant increase in maximal responsiveness of trehalase mRNA to the hormone. Similar results were obtained when sucrase-isomaltase mRNA was assayed in the same animals. Thus, in this rodent model, there appears to be at least three phases in the DEX responsiveness of the developing intestine: an early phase (prenatal) when DEX is unable to elicit intestinal maturation; then a phase (first postnatal week) of modest responsiveness; then a transition to increased responsiveness. These findings point to the need for careful attention to dose and age in analyses of glucocorticoid effects in human infants.
Characterization of postsynaptic Ca2+ signals at the Drosophila larval NMJ.

Postsynaptic intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) has been proposed to play an important role in both synaptic plasticity and synaptic homeostasis. In particular, postsynaptic Ca2+ signals ca...
Further comments on estimating the motion of a planetary wind field

Abstract It is found that the best estimate of the magnitude and shape of the meridional profile of the westerly winds in the terrestrial atmosphere is obtained from the daily displacements of the most longitudinally elongated cyclones. These elliptical systems, by themselves, do not effectively trace out the eddy structure embedded in the upper troposphere that accounts for most of the meridional momentum flux. The best estimate of that transport is obtained only when the covariance of the daily displacement of all the cyclones is used.
Cost-effectiveness of various interventions for newly diagnosed diabetic macular edema.

Objective Anti–vascular endothelial growth factor therapies have revolutionized the treatment of clinically significant diabetic macular edema (CSDME); yet these agents are expensive, and whether they are cost-effective is unclear. The purpose of this study is to determine the most cost-effective treatment option for patients with newly diagnosed CSDME: focal laser photocoagulation alone (L), focal laser plus intravitreal ranibizumab (L+R), focal laser plus intravitreal bevacizumab (L+B), or focal laser plus intravitreal triamcinolone (L+T) injections. Design Cost-effectiveness analysis. Participants Hypothetical cohort of 57-year-old patients with newly diagnosed CSDME. Methods By using a Markov model with a 25-year time horizon, we compared the incremental cost-effectiveness of treating patients with newly diagnosed CSDME using L, L+R, L+B, or L+T. Data came from the DRCRnet randomized controlled trial, the Medicare fee schedule, and the medical literature. Main Outcome Measures Costs, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), and incremental costs per QALY gained. Results Compared with L, the incremental cost-effectiveness of L+R and L+B was $89 903/QALY and $11 138/QALY, respectively. L+T was dominated by L. A probabilistic sensitivity analysis demonstrated that, at a willingness to pay (WTP) of $50 000/QALY, L was approximately 70% likely to be the preferred therapy over L+R and L+T. However, at a WTP of $100 000/QALY, more than 90% of the time, L+R therapy was the preferred therapy compared with L and L+T. In the probabilistic sensitivity analysis, L+B was found to be the preferred therapy over L and L+T for any WTP value >$10 000/QALY. Sensitivity analyses revealed that the annual risk of cerebrovascular accident would have to be at least 1.5% higher with L+B than with L+R for L+R to be the preferred treatment. In another sensitivity analysis, if patients require Conclusions With bevacizumab and ranibizumab assumed to have equivalent effectiveness and similar safety profiles when used in the management of CSDME, bevacizumab therapy confers the greatest value among the different treatment options for CSDME. Financial Disclosure(s) The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.
Experimental force analysis of the contraction utility arch wire

An experimental apparatus consisting of a metal framework, a strain gauge, and a Wheatstone bridge was used to measure the retraction force delivered to the mandibular incisors by a contraction utility arch wire (0.016 by 0.016 inch blue Elgiloy). The contraction utility arch wire was activated 1 mm. and retraction forces were recorded as the deflection of a point image on an oscilloscope. The results indicated that the retraction forces at the incisor positions were reasonably within an optimal force range to move teeth quickly with minimal tissue damage and discomfort. However, the lateral incisor positions in both ovoid and narrow arch forms received significantly more force than the central incisor positions, and the narrow tapered arch form delivered more retraction force than the ovoid arch form.
FunciSNP: an R/bioconductor tool integrating functional non-coding data sets with genetic association studies to identify candidate regulatory SNPs

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are increasingly used to tag genetic loci associated with phenotypes such as risk of complex diseases. Technically, this is done genome-wide without prior restriction or knowledge of biological feasibility in scans referred to as genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Depending on the linkage disequilibrium (LD) structure at a particular locus, such tagSNPs may be surrogates for many thousands of other SNPs, and it is difficult to distinguish those that may play a functional role in the phenotype from those simply genetically linked. Because a large proportion of tagSNPs have been identified within non-coding regions of the genome, distinguishing functional from non-functional SNPs has been an even greater challenge. A strategy was recently proposed that prioritizes surrogate SNPs based on non-coding chromatin and epigenomic mapping techniques that have become feasible with the advent of massively parallel sequencing. Here, we introduce an R/Bioconductor software package that enables the identification of candidate functional SNPs by integrating information from tagSNP locations, lists of linked SNPs from the 1000 genomes project and locations of chromatin features which may have functional significance. Availability: FunciSNP is available from Bioconductor (bioconductor.org).
The Effect of Cyclophosphamide on Bursal and Splenic Dendritic Cells

Abstract The effect of in ovo and posthatch administration of cyclophosphamide, an immunosuppressive drug, on avian dendritic cells was examined in New Hampshire chickens. The Small Bursa line of New Hampshire chickens was more sensitive to the toxic effects of this drug than the line from which it was selected, the Lester J. Dreesen line. The bursal secretory dendritic cells, which may effect B cell differentiations, were left intact and appeared more prominent after treatment. The ellipsoid-associated cells, the dendritic cells of the spleen that bind and carry antigen, became vacuolated after treatment, but normal ellipsoid-associated cells were found within 1 wk. Ellipsoid-associated cells were able to bind and move carbon away from the ellipsoid areas of the spleen 5 wk after in ovo treatment with cyclophosphamide. However, the ability of treated birds to mount an antibody response to SRBC was compromised. The present study revealed that bursal dendritic cells were resistant to cyclophosphamide treatment during embryogenesis and the same embryonic treatment did not influence the migrating capability of ellipsoid-associated cells.
Glucose, Blood Pressure, and Cardiovascular Risk

Diabetes mellitus remains a formidable public health issue, affecting 171 million people worldwide as of 2000, a number estimated to more than double, up to 366 million, by 2030. The majority (>90%) have type 2 diabetes (T2DM), which is linked to westernized diets, obesity, and inactivity. This condition is associated with decreased survival, predominately due to cardiovascular disease (CVD), which appears earlier and more extensively than in nondiabetic persons. A recent large epidemiological study from Denmark found diabetes to be associated with greater mortality from virtually all specific causes. Impressively, at the age of 30 years, a diagnosis of diabetes was associated with a 9-year reduction in life span.1 Although the typical patient with T2DM possesses other CVD risk factors, such as obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, increased mortality and morbidity persist, even after adjustment for these factors. Diabetes is, therefore, widely recognized as an independent CVD risk factor. Indeed, many authorities consider diabetes to be a coronary heart disease (CHD) “risk equivalent,”2,3 although this concept has recently been challenged by others.4 Article see p 153 Perhaps one of the most perplexing aspects of diabetes care, however, is our inability to affect this excess CVD risk through glucose control alone. Addressing the cardinal manifestation of the disease (namely, hyperglycemia) has had either no or minimal impact on the future risk of cardiovascular events. Major clinical trials have conclusively determined that more intensive glycemic control significantly reduces the risk of micro vascular complications (ie, retinopathy and nephropathy).5 In contrast, however, and despite a strong positive epidemiological association between CVD and measures of chronic hyperglycemia, there is little evidence that reducing circulating glucose concentrations translates to a significant improvement in macro vascular outcomes. Specifically, the recent Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD), Action in Diabetes …
Differential Localization of the Streptococcal Accessory Sec Components and Implications for Substrate Export

The accessory Sec system of Streptococcus gordonii is comprised of SecY2, SecA2, and five proteins (Asp1 through -5) that are required for the export of a serine-rich glycoprotein, GspB. We have previously shown that a number of the Asps interact with GspB, SecA2, or each other. To further define the roles of these Asps in export, we examined their subcellular localization in S. gordonii and in Escherichia coli expressing the streptococcal accessory Sec system. In particular, we assessed how the locations of these accessory Sec proteins were altered by the presence of other components. Using fluorescence microscopy, we found in E. coli that SecA2 localized within multiple foci at the cell membrane, regardless of whether other accessory Sec proteins were expressed. Asp2 alone localized to the cell poles but formed a similar punctate pattern at the membrane when SecA2 was present. Asp1 and Asp3 localized diffusely in the cytosol when expressed alone or with SecA2. However, these proteins redistributed to the membrane in a punctate arrangement when all of the accessory Sec components were present. Cell fractionation studies with S. gordonii further corroborated these microscopy results. Collectively, these findings indicate that Asp1 to -3 are not integral membrane proteins that form structural parts of the translocation channel. Instead, SecA2 serves as a docking site for Asp2, which in turn attracts a complex of Asp1 and Asp3 to the membrane. These protein interactions may be important for the trafficking of GspB to the cell membrane and its subsequent translocation.
Molecular Profiling of Stomatal Meristemoids Reveals New Component of Asymmetric Cell Division and Commonalities among Stem Cell Populations in Arabidopsis

The balance between maintenance and differentiation of stem cells is a central question in developmental biology. Development of stomata in Arabidopsis thaliana begins with de novo asymmetric divisions producing meristemoids, proliferating precursor cells with stem cell‐like properties. The transient and asynchronous nature of the meristemoid has made it difficult to study its molecular characteristics. Synthetic combination of stomatal differentiation mutants due to loss- or gain-of-function mutations in SPEECHLESS, MUTE, and SCREAM create seedlings with an epidermis overwhelmingly composed of pavement cells, meristemoids, or stomata, respectively. Through transcriptome analysis, we define and characterize the molecular signatures of meristemoids. The reporter localization studies of meristemoid-enriched proteins reveals pathways not previously associated with stomatal development. We identified a novel protein, POLAR, and demonstrate through time-lapse live imaging that it exhibits transient polar localization and segregates unevenly during meristemoid asymmetric divisions. The polar localization of POLAR requires BREAKING OF ASYMMETRY IN THE STOMATAL LINEAGE. Comparative bioinformatic analysis of the transcriptional profiles of a meristemoid with shoot and root apical meristems highlighted cytokinin signaling and the ERECTA family receptor-like kinases in the broad regulation of stem cell populations. Our work reveals molecular constituents of stomatal stem cells and illuminates a common theme among stem cell populations in plants.
Detection of human somatic cell structural gene mutations by two-dimensional electrophoresis.

The feasibility of detecting human somatic structural gene mutations by two dimen- sional electrophoresis has been investigated. A lym- phoblastoid cell line was grown as a mass culture in the presence of ethylnitrosourea, after which cells were regrown as single cell clones. A total of 257 polypeptide spots were analyzed in gels derived from 186 clones. Four structural mutations were detected by visual analysis of the gels. Computer analysis of gels corresponding to the mutant clones was also undertaken. At a spot size threshold of 200 spots to be matched using a computer algorithm, all four mutant polypeptides were detected. These results in- dicate the usefulness of the two-dimensional ap- proach for mutagenesis studies at the protein level.
Inferior vena cava displacement during respirophasic ultrasound imaging

Ultrasound measurement of dynamic changes in inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter can be used to assess intravascular volume status in critically ill patients, but published studies vary in accuracy as well as recommended diagnostic cutoffs. Part of this variability may be related to movements of the vessel relative to the transducer during the respiratory cycle which results in unintended comparison of different points of the IVC at end expiration and inspiration, possibly introducing error related to variations in normal anatomy. The objective of this study was to quantify both craniocaudal and mediolateral movements of the IVC as well as the vessel's axis of collapse during respirophasic ultrasound imaging. Patients were enrolled from a single urban academic emergency department with ultrasound examinations performed by sonographers experienced in IVC ultrasound. The IVC was imaged from the level of the diaphragm along its entire course to its bifurcation with diameter measurements and respiratory collapse measured at a single point inferior to the confluence of the hepatic veins. While imaging the vessel in its long axis, movement in a craniocaudal direction during respiration was measured by tracking the movement of a fixed point across the field of view. Likewise, imaging the short axis of the IVC allowed for measurement of mediolateral displacement as well as the vessel's angle of collapse relative to vertical. Seventy patients were enrolled over a 6-month period. The average diameter of the IVC was 13.8 mm (95% CI 8.41 to 19.2 mm), with a mean respiratory collapse of 34.8% (95% CI 19.5% to 50.2%). Movement of the vessel relative to the transducer occurred in both mediolateral and craniocaudal directions. Movement was greater in the craniocaudal direction at 21.7 mm compared to the mediolateral movement at 3.9 mm (p < 0.001). Angle of collapse assessed in the transverse plane averaged 115° (95% CI 112° to 118°). Movement of the IVC occurs in both mediolateral and craniocaudal directions during respirophasic ultrasound imaging. Further, collapse of the vessel occurs not at true vertical (90°) but 25° off this axis. Technical approach to IVC assessment needs to be tailored to account for these factors.
Quantification of Bt-endotoxin exposure pathways in carabid food webs across multiple transgenic events

Abstract Despite the reported specificity of Bacillus thuringiensis proteins against target pests, a number of studies have indicated that the uptake of Bt-endotoxins from bioengineered crops could have negative effects on natural enemies. It is therefore essential to quantify exposure pathways in non-target arthropod food webs across multiple transgenic events. Adult ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) were collected from transgenic corn fields expressing lepidopteran-specific Cry1Ab, coleopteran-specific Cry3Bb1, and both Cry1Ab and Cry3Bb1 (stacked event), as well as a non-transgenic isoline. Carabid gut-contents were screened for Cry1Ab Bt-endotoxin using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Significant numbers of carabids tested positive for Cry1Ab from the lepidopteran-specific field: Harpalus pensylvanicus (39%, 25 of 64), Stenolophus comma (4%, 6 of 136), Cratacanthus dubius (50%, 1 of 2), Clivina bipustulata (50%, 1 of 2), and Cyclotrachelus sodalis (20%, 1 of 5). The highest proportion of Bt-en...
Migration, Labor, and the International Political Economy

In the field of international political economy, workers are commonly analyzed as objects of global economic forces whose fate is determined by the profit-seeking behaviors of firms and governments. Workers, however, can also assert themselves to protect their rights, and they can emigrate to other countries to find employment. We analyze the literature on the nexus between the international economy and labor with a focus on workers on both the receiving and originating ends of global finance. Beginning with workers as inputs in multinational production, we explore the roles of economic openness, factor endowments, government policy, and unionization as drivers of workers' rights. We then shift to workers as migrant labor and explore the impact of migrants' own cross-border financial transfers—also known as remittances—on political outcomes in their home countries. Our overview not only highlights tremendous progress in explaining the agency and vulnerability of labor in the global economy but also reveal...
Rebuttal: the modern concept of the procaryote.

At issue here is the scientific validity of the procaryote concept. W. B. Whitman ([3][1]) embraces the term and concept of procaryote that were introduced into microbiology by R. Y. Stanier and his colleagues in the early 1960s. The procaryote concept was a specific hypothesis that postulated that
Interaction of nanoparticles with lipid membrane

A nanoscale range of surface feature curvatures where lipid membranes lose integrity and form pores has been found experimentally. The pores were experimentally observed in the L-r-dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine membrane around 1.2-22 nm polar nanoparticles deposited on mica surface. Lipid bilayer envelops or closely follows surface features with the curvatures outside of that region. This finding provides essential information for the understanding of nanoparticle-lipid membrane interaction, cytotoxicity, preparation of biomolecular templates and supported lipid membranes on rough and patterned surfaces.
Electrokinetic remediation of metal contaminated glacial tills

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation which studied the feasibility of using the electrokinetic process to remediate contaminated clays of glacial origin, otherwise known as glacial tills. An overview of the electrokinetic phenomena, as well as previously performed laboratory and field investigations, is first presented. The methodology of the electrokinetic experiments which were conducted to investigate the removal of metals from a glacial till is then described. A total of 16 experiments were conducted using glacial till samples obtained from a project site near Chicago. Sodium and calcium were used as the surrogate cationic metallic contaminants. These experiments demonstrated that ion transport during the electrokinetic process occurs due to both electro-osmosis and electromigration, but that due to electromigration is significantly higher than that due to electro-osmosis. Unlike other clays such as kaolinite, the glacial till used for this investigation possessed high buffering capacity because of its high carbonate content which prevented the acid front migration from the anode to the cathode during the electrokinetic process. The ion removal efficiency of the electrokinetic process was found to increase when: (1) the voltage gradient applied to the soil was increased, (2) the initial concentration of the contaminants was increased, and (3) the duration of the treatment process was increased. The ion removal efficiency was also greater for smaller ions which possess less ionic charge and when the ions existed independently in the soil as compared to when they coexisted. This investigation suggests that the electrokinetic process has significant potential for remediating glacial tills contaminated with metals. However, the properties of Na and Ca are not representative of contaminants, such as heavy metals, so further investigations are needed.
Assimilation of MODIS snow cover through the Data Assimilation Research Testbed and the Community Land Model version 4

To improve snowpack estimates in Community Land Model version 4 (CLM4), the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) snow cover fraction (SCF) was assimilated into the Community Land Model version 4 (CLM4) via the Data Assimilation Research Testbed (DART). The interface between CLM4 and DART is a flexible, extensible approach to land surface data assimilation. This data assimilation system has a large ensemble (80-member) atmospheric forcing that facilitates ensemble-based land data assimilation. We use 40 randomly chosen forcing members to drive 40 CLM members as a compromise between computational cost and the data assimilation performance. The localization distance, a parameter in DART, was tuned to optimize the data assimilation performance at the global scale. Snow water equivalent (SWE) and snow depth are adjusted via the ensemble adjustment Kalman filter, particularly in regions with large SCF variability. The root-mean-square error of the forecast SCF against MODIS SCF is largely reduced. In DJF (December-January-February), the discrepancy between MODIS and CLM4 is broadly ameliorated in the lower-middle latitudes (2345N). Only minimal modifications are made in the higher-middle (4566N) and high latitudes, part of which is due to the agreement between model and observation when snow cover is nearly 100. In some regions it also reveals that CLM4-modeled snow cover lacks heterogeneous features compared to MODIS. In MAM (March-April-May), adjustments to snowmove poleward mainly due to the northward movement of the snowline (i.e., where largest SCF uncertainty is and SCF assimilation has the greatest impact). The effectiveness of data assimilation also varies with vegetation types, with mixed performance over forest regions and consistently good performance over grass, which can partly be explained by the linearity of the relationship between SCF and SWE in the model ensembles. The updated snow depth was compared to the Canadian Meteorological Center (CMC) data. Differences between CMC and CLM4 are generally reduced in densely monitored regions.
Capacity scaling in wireless ad-hoc networks with P/sub e/

This paper describes the capacity scaling in wireless ad-hoc networks with probability error. A Rayleigh fading environment with rich scattering with a standard model of wave propagation in space is presented. The performance achieved with a decentralized implementation at the receiver clusters by using repetition coding in joint detection, thus forms a distributed MIMO architecture.
248: Tricuspid Valve Regurgitation (TR) after Heart Transplantation Using the Bicaval Anastomosis Technique

Purpose: TR is a known risk factor for survival after heart transplant. We attempt to document the natural history of TR in this setting. Methods and Materials: 670 consecutive adults received a heart transplant from January 1997 to December 2005. Echocardiogram reports were reviewed. TR was defined as present if it was observed as mild. All recipients had at least one year following time. Results: Mean recipient age was 53.4 13.2 years (18.3 to 70.5). 69.4% of recipients were male. Cardiomyopathy was diagnosed as dilated (45%), ischemic (39%), retransplant (6%) or other (10%). Mean ischemic time was 212.8 71.4 minuets. Actuarial freedom from TR was 78% at 9 years (50 remaining at risk) (figure 1); 102 recipients experienced TR at some point in their follow up. Figure 1. Actuarial freedom from tricuspid valve regurgitation.
High-quality hydrogen-diluted a-SiNx:H films deposited by hot-wire chemical vapor deposition

We have studied the effect of H dilution on silicon nitride films deposited by the hot-wire chemical vapor deposition (HWCVD) technique using SiH4, NH3, and H2 gases. We found that H dilution significantly enhances the properties at silicon nitride films. The N content in the film increases by more than 2 times compared to the film without dilution, based on FTIR measurements. As a result, we can achieve high-quality a-SiNx:H films at low substrate temperature using a much lower gas ratio of NH3/SiH4 compared to a ratio of about 100 for conventional deposition by HWCVD. We also found that dilution decreases the H content in the films. More importantly, diluted SiNx films are conformal. Scanning electron microscopy measurements show a nearly 100% surface coverage over a sharp object. Electric breakdown measurement shows a well-insulated film with more then a few MV/cm for the breakdown field.
ANALYTIC MODEL FOR ZONAL WINDS IN THE TROPICS

Abstract We consider the zonal mean circulation on an equatorial β-plane and obtain analytic solutions for small-amplitude disturbances in response to sources of heat and momentum. The effect of dissipation is roughly approximated by using assumed constant drag and radiative damping terms. We apply the model to the tropospheric zonal winds, temperatures, and meridional circulation to give simple insights into the maintenance of the observed mean state of these parameters by the existing sources of heat and momentum. The heat source consists of a relatively sharp maximum in heating at the Equator caused by latent heat release in the tropical rainbelt against a relatively smooth background of mean radiative cooling. As a momentum source, we use the convergence of horizontal eddy momentum fluxes. Numerical results are presented for an idealized annual mean circulation. The model solutions show how the thermal and momentum sources jointly maintain the zonal wind distribution. A concomitant meridional circulat...
Pulmonary Hypertension Complicating Multiple Myeloma

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is an infrequently reported complication of multiple myeloma (MM). PH has been more commonly associated with amyloidosis, myeloproliferative diseases, and the POEMS (polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal protein, skin changes) syndrome. PH in MM is typically mild to moderate and may be secondary to a variety of conditions, which include left ventricular dysfunction, high-output cardiac failure, chronic kidney disease, treatment-related toxicities, and precapillary involvement. We describe 3 patients with MM and severe PH. Each patient underwent right heart catheterization. All patients demonstrated elevated pulmonary pressures, transpulmonary gradients, and pulmonary vascular resistance. Each patient was ultimately treated with pulmonary vasodilator therapy with improvement in cardiopulmonary symptoms. Additional studies are needed to define the prevalence, prognosis, and pathogenesis of PH in this complex population and to help clarify who may benefit from targeted PH therapy.
An Identity Based Approach to Social Enterprise

Social enterprise has gained widespread acclaim as a tool for addressing social and environmental problems. Yet because social enterprises integrate social welfare and commercial logics, they face the challenge of pursuing frequently conflicting goals. Studies have begun to address how established social enterprises can manage these tensions, but we know little about how, why, and with what consequences social entrepreneurs mix competing logics as they create new organizations. To address this gap, we develop a theoretical model based in identity theory that helps to explain (1) how commercial and social welfare logics become relevant to entrepreneurship, (2) how different types of entrepreneurs perceive the tension between these logics, and (3) what implications this has for how entrepreneurs recognize and develop social enterprise opportunities. Our approach responds to calls from organizational and entrepreneurship scholars to extend existing frameworks of opportunity recognition and development to bet...