cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Additive manufacturing of self-healing elastomers

Nature excels in both self-healing and 3D shaping; for example, self-healable human organs feature functional geometries and microstructures. However, tailoring man-made self-healing materials into complex structures faces substantial challenges. Here, we report a paradigm of photopolymerization-based additive manufacturing of self-healable elastomer structures with free-form architectures. The paradigm relies on a molecularly designed photoelastomer ink with both thiol and disulfide groups, where the former facilitates a thiol-ene photopolymerization during the additive manufacturing process and the latter enables a disulfide metathesis reaction during the self-healing process. We find that the competition between the thiol and disulfide groups governs the photocuring rate and self-healing efficiency of the photoelastomer. The self-healing behavior of the photoelastomer is understood with a theoretical model that agrees well with the experimental results. With projection microstereolithography systems, we demonstrate rapid additive manufacturing of single- and multimaterial self-healable structures for 3D soft actuators, multiphase composites, and architected electronics. Compatible with various photopolymerization-based additive manufacturing systems, the photoelastomer is expected to open promising avenues for fabricating structures where free-form architectures and efficient self-healing are both desirable. A soft material that can heal itself when damaged has been 3D printed by researchers in the USA. Elastomers are elastic substances that can have the unusual ability to self-heal. This makes them potentially useful in robust flexible electronics, soft robotics and biomedical implants. However, all these applications require devices and structures to be three-dimensional. Qiming Wang and colleagues from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, and colleagues have made such self-healing devices using a technology known as additive manufacturing, which creates three-dimensional objects by building them up layer by layer. The team were able to create a multiphase composite that can self-heal a fracture to return to 90% of its original toughness, and to build a three-dimensional soft robot that can lift ten times its own weight after healing a fatal fracture. A pathway for photopolymerization-based additive manufacturing of self-healable elastomer structures has been explored by Scientists in the United States.
Ecological Outcome of Allopolyploidy in Adiantum (Pteridaceae): Niche Intermediacy and Expansion into Novel Habitats

What are the ecological consequences of allopolyploid speciation in ferns? In northeastern North America, this question is relevant to the Adiantum pedatum complex. Adiantum viridimontanum (Green Mountain maidenhair fern) is an allotetraploid hybrid derived from a sterile cross between the serpentine-restricted diploid species A. aleuticum (Aleutian maidenhair fern) and the rich-woods diploid species A. pedatum (northern maidenhair fern). In this study, we characterized the ecological niche of the allotetraploid hybrid maidenhair fern relative to the niches of its two progenitors by establishing 48 survey plots at 13 sites where the three species occur in Vermont and by measuring a set of ecological attributes in each plot, including the habitat type, light availability, topography, substrate characteristics, and soil chemistry. These data were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA) to characterize the multivariate ecological niche of each species as circumscribed by the position of survey plots in environmental space. Along the first principal component, the ecological niche of the allotetraploid was situated between those of its progenitors in environmental space, closely overlapping the niche of A. aleuticum and slightly overlapping that of A. pedatum. Along the second principal component, a portion of the ecological niche of the allotetraploid was transgressive relative to the niches of its progenitors in environmental space; in geographic space, these survey plots correspond to northern hardwood serpentine-influenced forests, a habitat type that is novel for the species complex. Thus, the ecological outcome of allopolyploid speciation in the A. pedatum complex appears to include elements of both niche intermediacy and niche expansion into novel habitats.
Increased Adhesive Potential of Antiphospholipid Syndrome Neutrophils Mediated by β2 Integrin Mac-1.

OBJECTIVE While the role of antiphospholipid antibodies in activating endothelial cells has been extensively studied, the impact of these antibodies on the adhesive potential of leukocytes has received less attention. This study was undertaken to investigate the extent to which antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) neutrophils adhere to resting endothelial cells under physiologic flow conditions and the surface molecules required for that adhesion. METHODS Patients with primary APS (n = 43), patients with a history of venous thrombosis but negative test results for antiphospholipid antibodies (n = 11), and healthy controls (n = 38) were studied. Cells were introduced into a flow chamber and perfused across resting human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Surface adhesion molecules were quantified by flow cytometry. Neutrophil extracellular trap release (NETosis) was assessed in neutrophil-HUVEC cocultures. RESULTS Upon perfusion of anticoagulated blood through the flow chamber, APS neutrophils demonstrated increased adhesion as compared to control neutrophils under conditions representative of either venous (n = 8; P < 0.05) or arterial (n = 15; P < 0.0001) flow. At the same time, APS neutrophils were characterized by up-regulation of CD64, CEACAM1, β2 -glycoprotein I, and activated Mac-1 on their surface (n = 12-18; P < 0.05 for all markers). Exposing control neutrophils to APS plasma or APS IgG resulted in increased neutrophil adhesion (n = 10-11; P < 0.0001) and surface marker up-regulation as compared to controls. A monoclonal antibody specific for activated Mac-1 reduced the adhesion of APS neutrophils in the flow-chamber assay (P < 0.01). The same monoclonal antibody reduced NETosis in neutrophil-HUVEC cocultures (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION APS neutrophils demonstrate increased adhesive potential, which is dependent upon the activated form of Mac-1. In patients, this could lower the threshold for neutrophil-endothelium interactions, NETosis, and possibly thrombotic events.
Slab weakening during the olivine to ringwoodite transition in the mantle

The strength of subducted slabs in the mantle transition zone influences the style of mantle convection. Intense deformation is observed particularly in relatively old subducted slabs in the deep mantle transition zone. Understanding the cause of this regional and depth variation in slab deformation requires constraint of the rheological properties of deep mantle materials. Here, we report results of in situ deformation experiments during the olivine to ringwoodite phase transformation, from which we infer the deformation process under the conditions of cold slabs deep in the mantle transition zone. We find that newly transformed fine-grained ringwoodite deforms by diffusion creep and that its strength is substantially smaller than that of coarser-grained minerals but increases with time. Scaling analysis, based on a model of transformation kinetics and grain-size evolution during a phase transformation, suggests that a cold slab will be made of a mixture of weak, fine-grained and strong, coarse-grained materials in the deep transition zone, whereas a warm slab remains strong because of its large grain size. We propose that this temperature dependence of grain size may explain extensive deformation of cold slabs in the deep transition zone but limited deformation of relatively warm slabs. In relatively cold subducted slabs, olivine may transform to finer-grained, weaker ringwoodite than in warm slabs, according to deformation experiments under conditions analogous to those in the mantle transition zone and scaling analysis.
Quantum Zentanglement: Combining Picbreeder and Wave Function Collapse to Create Zentangles®

This paper demonstrates a computational approach to generating art reminiscent of Zentangles by combining Picbreeder with Wave Function Collapse (WFC). Picbreeder interactively evolves images based on user preferences, and selected image tiles are sent to WFC. WFC generates patterns by filling a grid with various rotations of the tile images, placed according to simple constraints. Then other images from Picbreeder act as templates for combining patterns into a final Zentangle image. Although traditional Zentangles are black and white, the system also produces color Zentangles. Automatic evolution experiments using fitness functions instead of user selection were also conducted. Although certain fitness functions occasionally produce degenerate images, many automatically generated Zentangles are aesthetically pleasing and consist of naturalistic patterns. Interactively generated Zentangles are pleasing because they are tailored to the preferences of the user creating them.
Das Altenheim – Vergangenheit, Gegenwart und Zukunft einer sozialen Fürsorgeinstitution

Der Artikel bearbeitet die fur den hiesigen Sammelband konstitutive Frage nach dem Alter(n) als sozialem Prozess entlang einer genealogischen Rekonstruktion desjenigen institutionellen Kontextes, der in unserer Gegenwartsgesellschaft als ‚pflegebedurftig‘ kategorisierte (und damit als legitim unterstutzungs- und hilfebedurftig ausgewiesene) alte Menschen zuvorderst professionell versorgt: dem (Alten-)Pflegeheim. An dessen historischer Transformation wird exemplarisch die Ubersetzung gesellschaftlicher Vorstellungen eines ‚gelingenden Alterns‘ in organisatorische Versorgungslogiken verdeutlicht. Dabei wird nach und nach eine fur das 21. Jahrhundert charakteristische Institution erkennbar, die vor der elementaren Herausforderung steht, sich als Organisation neu zu erfinden, um so dem prognostizierten zunehmend komplexer werdenden Pflegebedarf von hochaltrigen, multimorbiden Menschen einerseits wie auch den sich in einer hoch-individualisierten Gesellschaft notgedrungen ergebenden Forderungen nach (starkerer) Offnung, Privatisierung und Flexibilisierung gleichermasen begegnen zu konnen.
Association Between Pediatric Inpatient Rehabilitation Services and Children's Functional Outcomes: King Fahad Medical City Experience.

Background:Disability may affect children’s performance of functional activities. This may translate to difficulties in returning to home and/or school. It has been documented that intensive rehabi...
Historical, Doctrinal, and Empirical Insights into Latter-day Saint Sexual Minorities’ Psychological and Interpersonal Functioning

There is a growing need for culturally specific information regarding the intersections of religion, spirituality, and various sexual orientations/attractions. In this article, we attempt to provid...
Real-Time Voltage Stability Analysis for IROL Assessment

This chapter introduces Peak RC’s experience, in collaboration with vendor and impacted operating entities, on implementation of a Real-Time Voltage Stability Analysis (RT-VSA) tool in the control rooms to calculate the Interconnection Reliability Operating Limits (IROLs) across the Western Interconnection (WI). Major technical challenges and technical resolutions, including modeling aspects, software improvements, validation approaches, and integration efforts, are presented in detail. A number of RT-VSA case studies and some lessons learned are reviewed in the chapter. Key findings and several recommendations for future work are summarized in the end.
Everyday Resilience Strategies of Haitian Immigrant-Serving NGOs in the Dominican Republic: An Analysis of Community Work Experiences

An organization that has everyday resilience can withstand ongoing adversities. Previous studies on organizational resilience commonly examine capabilities to bounce back from acute disturbances su...
Press Reporting of Debt Choices: Bank, Non-Bank Private, and Public Debt

Previous studies on incremental financing compare a subset of reported bank loans to full samples of public debt and non-bank private debt. However, if reported loans are a non-representative subset of the loan universe, the analysis of incremental financing decisions should also consider non-reported loans. In order to address this issue, the reporting frequency and determinants of a set of bank, public and non-bank private debt agreements are examined. Overall, between 1996 and 2004, and although reported loans and borrowers differ significantly from non-reported loans and borrowers, the factors that determine the choice between bank, public debt and non-bank private debt do not change whether reported loans or all loans are considered. In consequence, one could argue that non-reported loans are, though more transactional, still substantially different from public debt
HIPEs to PolyHIPEs

Abstract The aim of this article is to provide a comprehensive and consistent overview of structural transitions during polymerization of high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs). The obtained polymerized HIPEs (known as polyHIPEs) usually have an interconnected porous structure consisting of pores (also called voids) and interconnecting holes, known as pore throats (or windows). We describe how emulsification process and stability of HIPEs affect the pore size of polyHIPEs. The pore throat size is mainly controlled by the interdroplet interaction (affecting flattened area and interdroplet layer thickness between neighboring droplets as well as the interdroplet layer drainage) and interfacial film strength. The processing and molding of polyHIPEs are evaluated from rheological and chemorheological behaviors. It is also discussed how the porogen effect of surfactants, polymerization-induced phase separation, and crystallization induce heterogeneity in polymer phase of polyHIPEs.
Ab initio thermochemistry study of polymorphism in the Si2N2(NH) analog of Si2N2O

Abstract We present a systematic density functional theory (DFT) study of the structural, bonding and electronic properties of the Si2N2(NH) polymorphs. This recently synthesized compound is a direct analog of Si2N2O in which the oxygen is replaced by an NH group. We show that a local-density approximation (LDA) description in the static lattice approximation gives a good account of the lowest energy orthorhombic phase of both the parent oxide and imide analog. In this work we extend our systematic comparisons between Si2N2O and Si2N2(NH) to denser tetragonal and monoclinic polymorphs. For Si2N2(NH) we find that the tetragonal and monoclinic polymorphs have energies 0.8 and 1.8 eV higher than (respectively) that of the orthorhombic ground state, similar to their Si2N2O counterparts (0.6 and 1.4 eV, respectively). We elucidate differences in chemical binding in Si2N2O and Si2N2(NH) polymorphs using Bader charge analysis and conclude that the imide systems possess slightly less ionic character than their oxide counterpart. Using the modified Becke-Johnson (MBJ) meta-LDA approach we find that orthorhombic Si2N2O and Si2N2NH have direct gaps of 5.65 and 5.75 eV, respectively, in excellent agreement with experiment. Relative to the orthorhombic Si2N2O (5.65 eV, direct), the band gaps in the denser polymorphs increase and become indirect (tetragonal: 5.72 eV, monoclinic: 6.06 eV). We find more complex trends in Si2N2NH in which the band gaps are also indirect in character, but decrease to 3.91 eV in the tetragonal phase, and then increase to 4.18 eV (Γ → D) in the monoclinic case.
Area and Gradient Mismatch: The Discordance of a Small Valve Area and Low Gradients

While the clinical severity of aortic stenosis (AS) is based largely on symptoms, indications for surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and/or transcutaneous (TAVR) rely upon calculated estimates of the hemodynamic significance and degree of valvular stenosis. Severe AS is defined as an aortic valve area (AVA) 40 mmHg, and/or peak trans-aortic velocity >4 m/s by Doppler echocardiography. Whether the above conditions must be met individually or collectively remains unclear. As noted, “area/gradient match” occurs when both the AVA and ∆P fall within the severe range. This may occur regardless of the presence of normal or abnormal ejection fraction and regardless of the presence or absence of low flow (defined as a stroke volume index on echocardiography <35 ml/m2). However, the AVA may be in the severe range, while the gradient may be in the non-severe range. This has been referred to as area/gradient mismatch and will be discussed further in this chapter.
Response of rat liver glutaminase to pH. Mediation by phosphate and ammonium ions.

Abstract The activity of rat liver glutaminase from sedimented fractions of freeze-thawed mitochondria is strongly affected by variation in pH over a physiologically relevant range at approximate physiological concentrations of activators. As pH increases from 7.1 to 7.7 at 0.7 mM ammonium and 10 mM phosphate, the S0.5 for glutamine decreases 3.5-fold, from 38 to 11 mM. This results in an 8-fold increase in reaction velocity at 10 mM glutamine. In addition, the M0.5 for phosphate activation decreases from 21 to 8.9 mM as pH increases from 7.1 to 7.7. This apparent effect of pH on the affinity of glutaminase for phosphate is similar to previous reports of the pH effect on activation by ammonium (Verhoeven, A. J., Van Iwaarden, J. F., Joseph, S. K., and Meijer, A. J. (1983) Eur. J. Biochem. 133, 241-244; McGivan, J. D., and Bradford, N. M. (1983) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 159, 296-302). Glutaminase does not respond to variation in pH between 7.1 and 7.7 when phosphate and ammonium are saturating. The effects of the two modifiers are additive. Each is still effective, as is pH, when the other is saturating. Therefore, it appears that the effects of pH on the apparent affinity of the enzyme for ammonium and phosphate account for the enzyme's response to pH. These results may help explain previous reports of minimal effects of pH on glutaminase at saturating concentrations of related substances (McGivan, J. D., Lacey, J. H., and Joseph, K. (1980) Biochim. J. 192, 537-542; Horowitz, M. L., and Knox, W. E. (1968) Enzymol. Biol. Clin. 9, 241-255; McGivan, J. D., and Bradford, N. M. (1983) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 759, 296-302). Glutaminase binds glutamine cooperatively with Hill coefficients ranging from 1.7 to 2.2, which suggests at least two and probably three or more interacting binding sites for glutamine. The strong response of liver glutaminase to pH and the fact that the reaction can supply metabolites for urea synthesis suggest a possible regulatory role of glutaminase in ureagenesis.
Kinetic enhancement of NF-κB·DNA dissociation by IκBα

A hallmark of the NF-κB transcription response to inflammatory cytokines is the remarkably rapid rate of robust activation and subsequent signal repression. Although the rapidity of postinduction repression is explained partly by the fact that the gene for IκBα is strongly induced by NF-κB, the newly synthesized IκBα still must enter the nucleus and compete for binding to NF-κB with the very large number of κB sites in the DNA. We present results from real-time binding kinetic experiments, demonstrating that IκBα increases the dissociation rate of NF-κB from the DNA in a highly efficient kinetic process. Analysis of various IκB mutant proteins shows that this process requires the C-terminal PEST sequence and the weakly folded fifth and sixth ankyrin repeats of IκBα. Mutational stabilization of these repeats reduces the efficiency with which IκBα enhances the dissociation rate.
Anti-TCR Antibody Treatment Activates a Novel Population of Nonintestinal CD8αα+TCRαβ+ Regulatory T Cells and Prevents Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

CD8alphaalpha+CD4-TCRalphabeta+ T cells are a special lineage of T cells found predominantly within the intestine as intraepithelial lymphocytes and have been shown to be involved in the maintenance of immune homeostasis. Although these cells are independent of classical MHC class I (class Ia) molecules, their origin and function in peripheral lymphoid tissues are unknown. We have recently identified a novel subset of nonintestinal CD8alphaalpha+CD4-TCRalphabeta+ regulatory T cells (CD8alphaalpha Tregs) that recognize a TCR peptide from the conserved CDR2 region of the TCR Vbeta8.2-chain in the context of a class Ib molecule, Qa-1a, and control- activated Vbeta8.2+ T cells mediating experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Using flow cytometry, spectratyping, and real-time PCR analysis of T cell clones and short-term lines, we have determined the TCR repertoire of the CD8alphaalpha regulatory T cells (Tregs) and found that they predominantly use the TCR Vbeta6 gene segment. In vivo injection of anti-TCR Vbeta6 mAb results in activation of the CD8alphaalpha Tregs, inhibition of the Th1-like pathogenic response to the immunizing Ag, and protection from experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. These data suggest that activation of the CD8alphaalpha Tregs present in peripheral lymphoid organs other than the gut can be exploited for the control of T cell-mediated autoimmune diseases.
Transgenic mice with pigmented intraocular tumors: Tissue of origin and treatment

PURPOSE. To describe the cell of origin, tumor progression, light and electron microscopic appearance, immunohistochemical properties, and response to frequently used anticancer therapies in two transgenic models of intraocular melanoma. METHODS. Two lines of transgenic mice that develop pigmented intraocular tumors were produced with the SV40 T and t antigens under the control of the mouse tyrosinase gene. Tumors were sequentially studied and characterized by light microscopy, electron microscopy, and immuno-histochemistry stains. Tumor response to two cycles of dacarbazine was assessed on the basis of tumor size in one group of animals. Response to external beam irradiation was measured by survival time in other animals. RESULTS. Two lines of transgenic mice developed bilateral intraocular tumors with complete penetrance and without primary cutaneous melanomas. Tumors developed first in the retinal pigment epithelial layer, with subsequent retinal and choroidal invasion, extraocular extension, and metastasis. Tumors stained positive for S-100, HMB-45, and Fas-ligand. Electron microscopy revealed polarization of tumor cells with basement membrane formation, microvilli, immature melanosomes, and abundant endoplasmic reticulum. Dacarbazine significantly reduced tumor size in these mice, and a trend toward dose-dependent decrease in survival was found with external beam irradiation. CONCLUSIONS. Tumors developed from the retinal pigment epithelium. Their histology and growth, however, closely resembled that of human choroidal melanoma. This model may be a useful tool for future studies of endogenous primary pigmented tumors limited to the eye. Response to standard therapies suggests it can serve as a model with which to evaluate therapeutic modalities.
Persistent Homology Over Directed Acyclic Graphs

We define persistent homology groups over any set of spaces which have inclusions defined so that the corresponding directed graph between the spaces is acyclic as well as along any subgraph of this directed graph. This method simultaneously generalizes standard persistent homology, zigzag persistence, and multidimensional persistence to arbitrary directed acyclic graphs (DAGs), and it also allows the study of more general families of topological spaces or point-cloud data. We give an algorithm to compute the persistent homology groups simultaneously for all subgraphs which contain a single source and a single sink in O(n4) arithmetic operations, where n is the number of vertices in the graph. We then demonstrate as an application of these tools a method to overlay two distinct filtrations of the same underlying space, which allows us to detect the most significant barcodes using considerably fewer points than standard persistence.
Some Applications of the CramÉr-Rao Inequality

In 1945 and 1946, Cramer [1] and Rao [2] independently investigated the problem of obtaining a simple lower bound to the variance of point estimates. In 1947 Wolfowitz [3] simplified the conditions under which Cramer had obtained this bound and extended the result to sequential estimates. In the present paper, use is made of the Cramer-Rao result, in Wolfowitz’s form, to investigate some problems of the minimax theory of estimation.
Irreversible Heat Transfer as a Source of Thermoelastic Damping

Some 50 years ago, Zener considered transverse vibrations of a homogeneous, isotropic, and thermoelastic beam. Invoking the Thomson effect, he observed that the tensile side cools while the compressional side heats up resulting in irreversible heat transfer across the neutral axis. This led him to postulate the existence of thermoelastic damping that he modeled in terms of standard anelastic solids. With the advent of metal-matrix composites, there is a need for a theory of thermoelastic damping in engineering materials that are inherently anisotropic and heterogeneous. Unfortunately, Zener's simple model cannot be easily extended to composite materials; this defines the objective of this paper. Taking the Second Law of Thermodynamics as our starting point, we calculate the thermoelastic damping from the entropy created due to irreversible heat transfer. The thermal currents can be set up either as a result of an inhomogeneous stress field in a homogeneous medium, or a homogeneous stress field in an inhomogeneous medium, or both. The exact theory is equally applicable to monolithic or composite materials. As illustrative examples, we solve three boundary value problems: 1. The damping of an isotropic and homogeneous beam undergoing flexural vibration. 2. The interface damping resulting from the longitudinal vibrations of two rods in thermomechanical contact. 3. The damping in a thermoelastic inclusion in a rod subjected to uniaxial stress.
A Review of: “Eating Disorders”

For the past five years I have taught an ‘Eating Disorders’ seminar to advanced undergraduates majoring in Psychology and/or Women and Gender Studies. Unfortunately, I could not locate a textbook t...
A TeraFLOP supercomputer in 1996: the ASCI TFLOP system

To maintain the integrity of the US nuclear stockpile without detonating nuclear weapons, the DOE needs the results of computer-simulations that overwhelm the world's most powerful supercomputers. Responding to this need, the US Department of Energy (DOE) initiated the Accelerated Strategic Computing Initiative (ASCI). This program accelerates the development of new scalable supercomputers resulting in a TeraFLOP computer before the end of 1996. In September 1995, DOE announced that it would work with Intel Corporation to build the ASCI TFLOP supercomputer. This system would use commodity commercial off-the-shelf (CCOTS) components to keep the price under control and would contain over 9000 Intel Pentium Pro processors. In this paper, we describe the hardware and software design of this supercomputer.
Non-crystalline Structure in Solidified Gold–Silicon Alloys

EXCEPT for thin films deposited at very low temperatures1, highly disordered arrangements of the atoms, similar to that of the liquid state, have never been observed in solid metals and alloys. For some metalloids, the bonding of which may actually be more covalent than metallic, such amorphous configurations have been retained in the solid state2 by cooling from the melt with sufficient celerity so as to prevent formation of the equilibrium crystalline structures.
A Common Pro-opiomelanocortin-binding Element Mediates Leukemia Inhibitory Factor and Corticotropin-releasing Hormone Transcriptional Synergy

Using murine AtT20 pituitary cells transfected with a rat pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) promoter (-706/+64) linked to the luciferase reporter, we showed leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) to strongly potentiate corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) induction of POMC gene expression. We therefore tested mechanisms for molecular interactions between LIF and CRH. Although LIF and CRH synergized to induce an 8-fold induction of POMC transcription, CRH alone (but not LIF) induced cAMP response element-binding protein phosphorylation (5-fold) or an increase of c-fos mRNA levels (>100-fold), suggesting that these pathways are not implicated in LIF transcriptional synergistic effects. Using a DNase I footprint assay, POMC promoter regions protected by AtT20 cell nuclear extracts were identified (-121/-109, and -143/-134, and -173/-160). The protected -173/-160 element fused to a heterologous promoter conferred LIF-CRH synergy (6.5-fold induction of POMC) and formed a specific complex with AtT20 cell nuclear extracts. This complex was supershifted by an anti-phosphoserine antibody, and a serine/threonine kinase inhibitor also altered both this complex and LIF-CRH transcriptional synergy on the POMC promoter-luciferase reporter construct, indicating that these events depend on post-translational serine phosphorylations. LIF-CRH synergy on POMC transcription is therefore mediated at least in part by -173/-160 sequences conferring confluent transcriptional activity of both peptides.
STXBP1: the second synaptic vesicle release gene involved in epilepsy

De novo mutations in the gene encoding STXBP1 (MUNC18-1) cause early infantile epileptic encephalopathy Saitsu et al. (2008) Nature Genetics 40: 782–788
Kinetic properties of ATP sulfurylase and APS kinase from Thiobacillus denitrificans.

The Thiobacillus denitrificans genome contains two sequences corresponding to ATP sulfurylase (Tbd_0210 and Tbd_0874). Both genes were cloned and expressed protein characterized. The larger protein (Tbd_0210; 544 residues) possesses an N-terminal ATP sulfurylase domain and a C-terminal APS kinase domain and was therefore annotated as a bifunctional enzyme. But, the protein was not bifunctional because it lacked ATP sulfurylase activity. However, the enzyme did possess APS kinase activity and displayed substrate inhibition by APS. Truncated protein missing the N-terminal domain had <2% APS kinase activity suggesting the function of the inactive sulfurylase domain is to promote the oligomerization of the APS kinase domains. The smaller gene product (Tbd_0874; 402 residues) possessed strong ATP sulfurylase activity with kinetic properties that appear to be kinetically optimized for the direction of APS utilization and ATP + sulfate production, which is consistent with an enzyme that functions physiologically to produce inorganic sulfate.
Prospective controlled study of home and hospital therapy of cystic fibrosis pulmonary disease

A controlled prospective study was undertaken to compare the efficacy and benefits of home and hospital treatment for patients with exacerbations of pulmonary disease caused by cystic fibrosis. A total of 41 home and 41 hospital treatments were analyzed. Home and hospital patients were matched according to sex, age, pulmonary function tests, and arterial blood gas values. Both home and hospital treatments resulted in statistically significant improvement in pulmonary function. A comparison of these values did not show any statistically significant difference between groups at admission or discharge. Furthermore, the mean number of treatment days for both groups, individually determined by the primary physician, was equivalent (home 17.7±1.1 days, hospital 18.1±4.1). The mean charge for a home treatment was approximately $10,000, and for a hospital treatment $18,000. Sixty-five percent of home care patients and 68% of hospital patients required retreatment for pulmonary exacerbations within the study period; the interval between pulmonary exacerbations for the two groups was not significantly different. In addition, 85% of patients receiving treatment at home were able to maintain at least some of their school or work activities. These data indicate that home therapy for cystic fibrosis patients with pulmonary exacerbations is less costly and is as effective as in-hospital therapy.
DNA electrochemistry through the base pairs not the sugar-phosphate backbone.

Using intercalated, covalently bound daunomycin as a redox probe, ground state charge transport in DNA films with a perturbation in base pair stacking was examined in comparison with breaks in the sugar−phosphate backbone. While the introduction of one or even two nicks in the sugar−phosphate backbone yields no detectable effect on electron transfer, a CA mismatch significantly attenuates the electron transfer yield. These results confirm that the base pair stack is the pathway for DNA-mediated charge transfer, not the sugar−phosphate backbone.
A Microblog Classification Scheme Based on Partial Indexing

As a new media platform, the social network like microblog has aroused wide concern in recent years. People become more and more interested in information from microblog. How to retrieval the huge amount of newly created contents in real time is the key issue of microblog, so real-time search is a scalable indexing service that microblog must provide. Analysis on Sina microbolg, a microblog classification and indexing process has been put forward on basis of partial indexing mechanism. Instead of indexing the whole dataset, a partial index is to index the records that may be queried with high probability. The classification scheme can effectively save the real-time search costs and obtain microblog data with high quality.
Improving the efficiency of PBPC collection by pre-apheresis peripheral blood and mid-apheresis product measurements of CD34 cells.

Background The adequacy of HPC collection for BMT is typically assessed by the number of CD34 cells. However, during a series of leukapheresis procedures (LP) the CD34 value on the final HPC product may not be available for testing until late evening, sometimes resulting in additional, retrospectively unnecessary, LP in order to ensure an adequate HPC collection (>5×10 6 CD34/kg). We hypothesized that an estimate of the CD 34 content of HPC products prior to 16:00h on the day of LP would permit improved HPC collection planning. We therefore assessed the effectiveness of predicting the total amount of CD34 cells that would be collected in a given LP by either (a) the concentration of CD34 cells/μL in peripheral blood prior to LP (pre-CD34) or (b) the predicted total amount of CD34 cells to be collected based on sampling the LP product at the mid-point of each LP. We also compared the number of LP per patient and total HPC collected for the study group with data from the previous calendar year. Methods Allogeneic and autologous BMT donors who completed a 20-L HPC collection between September 2002 and February 2003 were eligible. CD34 cells were measured on blood drawn prior to LP and from the HPC product at the mid-point (10 L) of LP. The CD34 content of the final LP was predicted by doubling the value of total CD34 cells at the mid-run (MRp-CD34). The MRp-CD34/kg and the cumulative CD34/kg collected were made available before 16:00h and used to determine the need for additional LP. The true CD 34 content of each HPC collection was also measured from the final product the next day (CD34-FP). Results A 20-L LP was completed and data were available from 31 patients and nine allogeneic donors who underwent a total of 85 LP for diagnoses, including 11 myeloma, 10 lymphoma, seven HD, three acute leukemia and five others. The mean (range) and correlation (R) vs. the CD34-FP were, for pre-CD34, 54 CD34/μL (0.3–232), R2=0.66 (P 6 CD34/kg (0.04–22.48), R2=0.90 (P 6 CD34/kg (0.05–18.94). The median number of CD34 cells employed for transplant in the study group vs. controls (5.7 vs. 5.6×10 6 /kg) and the time to engraftment of neutrophils (12 vs. 11 days) and platelets (12 vs. 12 days) was similar to historical controls. However, the study group had a significantly lower median number of LP (three vs. two; P 6 CD34 cells/kg. Discussion Both the pre-CD34 and the MRp-CD34 were significantly correlated with CD34-FP. However, the CD34-FP was more reliably predicted by MRp-CD34. Early availability of mid-run CD34 values was associated with a significant reduction in the number of LP required to collect 5×10 6 CD34 cells/kg, without reduction in the number of CD34 cells for transplant or prolongation of days to neutrophil or platelet engraftment.
Theoretical study of the stability of cubic WC

Abstract We present the results of an ab initio pseudopotential local orbital calculation on WC in the NaCl structure (β-WC). Based on total energy calculations, β-WC is found to be less stable than the hexagonal α-phase of WC. Moreover, the calculated electronic band structure and density of states show that the instability of the NaCl structure is caused by the occupation of antibonding states. By applying the rigid band model to our results, we are able to explain trends of stability and metallicity in the cubic transition metal carbides.
Connection between the photon constituent and Neuman-function forms of the dual vertex

Two i n s i g h t s i n t o t h e dua l mode l were f o u n d r ecen t ly . T h e i n t r o d u c t i o n of (~ t r ans verse s t a t e s ~) a l lowed t h e f o r m a l i s m to deal w i t h on ly the physical subspace (~) a n d l igh t cone q u a n t i z a t i o n p e r m i t t e d t h e d i rec t use of p h y s i c a l p a r t i c l e c r ea t ion ope ra to r s (2). As a resu l t , a new fo rm was f o u n d for t h e v e r t e x of t h r e e e x c i t e d phys i ca l par t i c les . ADEMOLLO, DEL GIUDICE, DI V~CCHIA a n d FUBINI (3) c o n s t r u c t e d a n exc i t ed s t a t e b y m e a n s of a (( p h o t o n ~) ope ra to r , o b t a i n i n g a (~ D f u n c t i o n >~ w h i c h depends on t he mom e n t a of t h e ) a n d t a e h y o n s c o n s t i t u t i n g t h e t h r e e reggeons. A l t e r n a t i v e l y , M&NDELST&M (a) b a s e d a d e r i v a t i o n on t h e N e u m a n n f u n c t i o n of H S U E , SAKITA a n d V m ~ s o ~ o (5) a n d GE~V~IS a n d SAKIT~ (5), b u t c o m p u t e d in t h e ( (s t r ing d o m a i n ,> of t he c o m p l e x p lane . A long p r o o f ident i f ies t h e answers (a). W e h a v e f o u n d a d i r ec t way to c o m p u t e t h e N e u m a n n f u n c t i o n in t h e fo rm of t h e D f u n c t i o n b y i n t r o d u c i n g Cauchy ' s t h e o r e m for two com pl ex var iab les . The s ame t e c h n i q u e will also d i r e c t l y i n v e r t t h e m a p p i n g f rom t h e u p p e r h a l f p l a n e d o m a i n to t h e s t r i n g doma in . The t h r e e p o i n t f u n c t i o n (ver tex) c o n n e c t s t h r e e h a d r o n s w i t h p a i r bonds . I t dep e n d s on t h e set of va r i ab les c h a r a c t e r i z i n g had rons . M o m e n t u m a n d spin are dyna mica l ly insuff ic ient in t h e dua l mode l because t h e r e ex i s t s a degene racy a t t h e h i g h e r levels of t h e C h e w F r a u t s c h i p lo t . I t h a s even been c o n j e c t u r e d t h a t t h e r e are h i t h e r t o u n d i s c o v e r e d c o n s e r v e d q u a n t u m n u m b e r s h i d d e n in d u a l i t y (3). F o r t he p r e sen t we m u s t be c o n t e n t w i t h t h e F o c k space w h i c h car r ies t h e s t a n d a r d ope ra t i ona l f ac to r i za t ion . There , a h a d r o n is v iewed as a compos i t e ob jec t in t h e i n f i n i t e m o m e n t u n l f r ame . F i r s t , one specifies t h r e e c o m p o n e n t s of i t s m o m e n t u m P in l i gh t cone coo r d i n a t e s : P ( t r ansverse ) a n d P + (6). T h e f o u r t h c o m p o n e n t P _ is d e t e r m i n e d as usua l b y t h e r e l a t i o n m 2 + p2 p 2P+
Repeated Use of the Bender Gestalt Test in a Study of an Induced Toxic State

Stirnrnury.-The Bender Gestalt Test was used to study the effects of an induced toxic state, ammonia intoxication, on Gestalt formation. In one experiment, an ammonium acetate vs placebo infusion cross-over design, an order effect was found in the third test period after 180 min. of infusion. Those Ss who received the ammonia infusion first did worse than they did with a later placebo, while the performance of those who received ammonia after placebo infusion was not impaired. A second experiment, in which there were no infusions, was then performed to study the effect of practice alone on the Bender Gestalt Test. No significant practice effect was found. It is then suggested that an order effect is due to hyperamrnonemia, or ammonia intoxication blocking accurate perception, integration of the percepts, and rhe recording of integrated percepts. This effect of hyperammonernia is also adduced to explain the disorientation in clinical states of ammonia intoxication such as hepatic coma. Ammonia intoxication believed to be the cause of hepatic coma was simulated by prolonged infusion of ammoniilm acetate in normal volunteers. The psychological effects of hyperammonemia, or ammonium intoxication, have been described elsewhere (Eichler, 1964). Briefly, there was an initial stimulatory effect culminating in a period of anxiety and then leading into a progressive obtundation of interaction with environment and E. Critical flicker fusion was significantly lowered. Impaired eye-hand coordination and disturbance of recognition were found. The latter was measured by the speed of closure subtest of Moran's Repetitive Psychometric Measures (Moran & Mefferd, 1959) in which fourletter words embedded in a series of letters must be encircled. The Bender Gestalt Test (BGT) (Bender, 1938) was used as part of the test battery aimed at detecting organic percept~~al impairment. Repeated use of a single form test raises the question of practice effect. While chis has been studied in part by others (Pascal & Suttell, 1951; Addington, 1952), it was felt that the conditions of this experiment with hyperammonernia necessitated repeated study of practice effect for these circumstances. In this report we will present the results obtained with the repeated use of the BGT during ammonia infusion, and the results of a smdy of practice effect on the BGT. The central problem of this report deals with the finding of an order effect in which those Ss who received ammonia infusion first did worse 'This study was supported by Public Health Service Grants MH 04867 and MH 04137. Myron Eichler is a Career Development Award recipient from the National lnsritute of Mental Health.
Teaching the Visual Learner: The Use of Visual Summaries in Marketing Education:

Approximately 40% of college students are visual learners, preferring to be taught through pictures, diagrams, flow charts, timelines, films, and demonstrations. Yet marketing instruction remains h...
Altered regional brain volumes in elderly carriers of a risk variant for drug abuse in the dopamine D2 receptor gene (DRD2)

Dopamine D2 receptors mediate the rewarding effects of many drugs of abuse. In humans, several polymorphisms in DRD2, the gene encoding these receptors, increase our genetic risk for developing addictive disorders. Here, we examined one of the most frequently studied candidate variant for addiction in DRD2 for association with brain structure. We tested whether this variant showed associations with regional brain volumes across two independent elderly cohorts, totaling 1,032 subjects. We first examined a large sample of 738 elderly participants with neuroimaging and genetic data from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI1). We hypothesized that this addiction-related polymorphism would be associated with structural brain differences in regions previously implicated in familial vulnerability for drug dependence. Then, we assessed the generalizability of our findings by testing this polymorphism in a non-overlapping replication sample of 294 elderly subjects from a continuation of the first ADNI project (ADNI2) to minimize the risk of reporting false positive results. In both cohorts, the minor allele—previously linked with increased risk for addiction—was associated with larger volumes in various brain regions implicated in reward processing. These findings suggest that neuroanatomical phenotypes associated with familial vulnerability for drug dependence may be partially mediated by DRD2 genotype.
Common command language for online interactive information retrieval

Because the Common Command Language was designed primarily with the end‐user in mind, many of the now commonly accepted principles of user‐interface design were applied in its development. A terse but English‐like syntax and vocabulary were chosen, with a verb‐object structure. This was chosen in preference to a natural language because it can express an instruction briefly, clearly, and precisely, in contrast to the often verbose ambiguity of English. The benefits of the Common Command Language are discussed, as are remaining problems that will be encountered in cross‐system searching.
New species of Gustavia (Lecythidaceae) from Panama, Colombia, and Venezuela

Gustavia monocaulis from east-central Panama,G. sessilis from the Choco of Colombia, andG. flagellata, including two varieties (var.flagellata and var.costata) from the north-central coast of Venezuela, are described and their relationships with otherGustavia species discussed.
Rate sensitivity of mode II interlaminar fracture toughness in graphite/epoxy and graphite/PEEK composite materials

Abstract This paper presents results from an experimental study of the effect of rate on the Mode II interlaminar fracture toughness, G IIC , in graphite/PEEK (APC-2) and graphite/epoxy (AS4/3501-6) laminates. The end notched flexure test geometry was employed for Mode II experiments which were performed at room temperature over a range of crosshead speeds from 4·2 × 10 −6 to 9¢2 × 10 −2 mc −1 . The APC-2 material exhibited ductile crack growth at low rates and brittle crack growth at high rates. The change in fracture mechanism resulted in a decrease in G IIC from 1·0 to 0·40 kJ m −2 at the upper range of test rates. The AS4/3501-6 material exhibited brittle crack growth at all rates. The G IIC values also decreased at higher test rates from 0·46 to 0·06 kJ m −2 .
What do we know about C28H14 and C30H14 benzenoid hydrocarbons and their evolution to related polymer strips

While critically reviewing the current status of what is known about C28H14 and C30H14 benzenoid isomers, which are ubiquitous pyrolytic constituents, some new insights will be presented. Representative isomers belonging to these benzenoid hydrocarbons are at the crossroads to homologous series that extend to infinite polymer strips that have been the object of numerous molecular modeling studies. The goal of these studies is to understand their potential electronic properties for material science applications. Along the way, some prior numerical results are supplemented.