cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regulation of signal transduction by protein targeting: the case for CaMKII.

Protein targeting is increasingly being recognized as a mechanism to ensure speed and specificity of intracellular signal transduction in a variety of biological systems. Conceptually, this is of particular importance for second-messenger-regulated protein kinases with a broad spectrum of substrates, such as the serine/threonine protein kinases PKA, PKC, and CaMKII (cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase, Ca2+-phospholipid-dependent protein kinase, and Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II). The activating second messengers of these enzymes can be produced or released in response to a large variety of “upstream” signals, and they can, in turn, regulate a large variety of “downstream” proteins. Targeting, e.g., via anchoring proteins, can link certain incoming stimuli with specific outgoing signals by restricting the subcellular compartment at which activation and/or action of a signaling molecule can take place. Elegant research on PKA and PKC reinforced the biological importance of such mechanisms. We will focus here on CaMKII, as recent advances in the understanding of its targeting have some significant general implications for signal transduction. The interaction of CaMKII with the NMDA receptor, for instance, shows that a targeting protein can not only specify the subcellular localization of a signaling effector, but can also directly influence its regulation.
An alternative approach to using biographical data for predicting job success

An experimental technique for developing scoring keys for a biographical inventory was applied to the analysis of responses on a questionnaire completed by applicants for refinery operating jobs. The technique differed from more traditional empirical methods used to key biographical data in that it was not dependent on item–criterion relationships. The chief aims were to determine whether relatively independent and homogeneous keys could be constructed with this method and whether the resulting keys were useful in predicting job success. The analysis yielded 12 keys which were relatively independent and homogeneous. The results tentatively suggested that such keys may be comparable in predictive power to empirically derived keys which are less easily interpretable.
Chancroid: Diagnosis and treatment

Chancroid is a venereal disease caused by the microorganism Haemophilus ducreyi . Herein we present two cases of chancroid, with a review of the diagnostic laboratory tests, the treatment of this disease, and the differential diagnosis of genital ulcers.
Kinetic Analysis of the Cyclin-dependent Kinase-activating Kinase (Cak1p) from Budding Yeast

Abstract Cak1p, theCyclin-dependent kinase-activatingkinase from budding yeast, is an unusual protein kinase that lacks many of the highly conserved motifs observed among members of the protein kinase superfamily. Cak1p phosphorylates and activates Cdc28p, the major cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) in yeast, and is thereby required for passage through the yeast cell cycle. In this paper, we explore the kinetics of CDK phosphorylation by Cak1p, and we examine the role of the catalytic step in the reaction mechanism. Cak1p proceeds by a sequential reaction mechanism, binding to both ATP and CDK2 with reasonable affinities, exhibitingK d values of 7.2 and 0.6 μm, respectively. Interestingly, these values are approximately the same as the K M values, indicating that the binding of substrates is fast with respect to catalysis and that the most likely reaction mechanism is rapid equilibrium random. Cak1p is a slow enzyme, with a catalytic rate of only 4.3 min− 1. The absence of a burst phase indicates that product release is not rate-limiting. This result, and a solvent isotope effect, suggests that a catalytic step is rate-limiting.
Parallel Implementations of FGMRES for Solving Large, Sparse Non-symmetric Linear Systems

Abstract The Flexible Generalized Minimal Residual method (FGMRES) is an attractive iterative solver for non-symmetric systems of linear equations. This paper presents several methods for parallelizing FGMRES for a variety of archi- tectures including multi-core CPU, Graphics Processing Units (GPU), and multi-GPU systems. The parallel imple- mentations utilize OpenMP and CUDA kernels, and are organized according to thread scope. The linear systems employed in this study correspond to the discrete analogues of realistic three-dimensional convection-diffusion problems, and range in size to nearly 107 linear equations. All of the parallel implementations, particularly the novel hybrid approach, show a significant speedup over the sequential version. Theoretical insight and perfor- mance data is provided to allow informed decisions as to the most effective parallelization method for a given architecture.
Thyrotropin-releasing hormone in the blood of the frog, Rana pipiens: its nature and possible derivation from regional locations in the skin.

Immunoreactive TRH (IR-TRH) circulates in the blood of the leopard frog (Rana pipiens) in high concentrations [227 ± 57 ng/ml (mean ± SEM of individual estimations in 35 animals]. Ethanol extracts of blood from this amphibian show parallelism with standard TRH in the RIA and elute from a Sephadex G-10 column identically with synthetic TRH. Further evidence of the authenticity of this immunoreactive substance is shown by its biological activity. Injection of an extract of blood containing 100 ng IR-TRH produced a serum TSH rise in the rat comparable to that after 100 ng synthetic TRH, whereas a similar quantity of blood, allowed to incubate at 37 C before extraction, contained only 12 pg IR-TRH and caused no change in rat TSH levels. The turnover of TRH in the circulation appears to be very fast, as endogenous blood TRH is degraded in vitro with a t1/2 of 0.95 min at 37 C and 1.8 min at 26 C, while [3H]TRH rapidly disappears from the blood in vivo after injection. The rate of TRH secretion into the blood e...
Identification and optimization of short helical peptides with novel reactive functionality as catalysts for acyl transfer by reactive tagging

Herein we describe the screening and subsequent optimization of peptide catalysts for ester activation. A combinatorial methodology using dye-tagged substrate analogs is described for determining which components of a His-containing helical library display acyl transfer activity. We found that helical peptides display high activity, and amino acids that reinforce this propensity are advantaged. Through this approach two new structural motifs have been discovered that are capable of activating esters in organic solvents. Unlike most acyl transfer catalysts functioning in organic solvents, these catalysts are histidine- rather than N-alkyl histidine-based. Longer peptides with localization of reactive groups on the C-terminal end of the peptide were found to further enhance catalytic activity up to ∼2800-fold over background.
Proanthocyanidin A2 purification and quantification of American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) products

Abstract In this study, five common proanthocyanidin purification techniques were evaluated prior to phloroglucinolysis, followed by HPLC analysis. An optimized purification method was then used to identify and quantify the proanthocyanidins (extension and terminal units of epigallocatechin, catechin, epicatechin, A type trimer, and A type dimer) of commercially available cranberry products (juices, concentrates, tablets, and capsules; n = 17). Two size exclusion beads (Toyopearl 4 TSK HW-40C and Sephadex LH-20) were found suitable for proanthocyanidin purification, though proanthocyanidin extension and terminal unit composition was contingent upon the cleanup procedure utilized. These data illustrate that purification methods require consideration prior to conducting any cranberry proanthocyanidin analyses, and have to be accounted for when comparing values between studies. Total proanthocyanidin levels ranged from 11.7 (juice) to 436.4 (tablet) mg/100 mL or 100 g values obtained from Sephadex LH-20 purification, while total anthocyanin levels ranged from 0.54 (juice) to 98.00 (tablet) mg/100 mL or 100 g.
A cirrus cloud climatology from NOAA/HIRS

Abstract A climatology of upper trospospheric semi-transparent cirrus clouds is being compiled front multispectral infrared data collected by the HIRS on the NOAA polar orbiting satellites. This is a report on the first year of data analyzed (June 1989–May 1990). Semi-transparent clouds were found in 43% of the observations. Large seasonal changs were found in these clouds in many geographical areas. Previous studies restricted to the continental United States, indicated that semi-transparent clouds occurred in nearly the same frequency in all seasons. However, the global data from the NOAA/HIRS show that large changes occur in areas dominated by three major weather features; the ITCZ, the sub-tropical high pressure systems, and the mid-latitude storm belts. Semi-transparent clouds associated with these features, move latitudinally with the seasons. These clouds also are more frequent in the summer hemisphere than the winter hemisphere. They appear to be linked to convective cloud development and the mid-latitudinal frontal weather systems.
Analysis of solvent-mediated conformational changes of insulin by radioimmunoassay (RIA) techniques.

Abstract Stationary phase radioimmunoassay (RIA) (i.e. antibodies bound to polystyrene test tubes) techniques are used as an analytical probe of secondary and tertiary structural changes of radiolabelled 125 I porcine insulin. The effects of temperature, buffer composition, pH and ionic strength and solvents on insulin binding are studied. Optimum insulin—antibody binding occurred at 22°C, pH 6 and a buffer strength of 0.1 M or less. Results of experiments with three pH 6 buffers (0.005 M phosphate, 0.1 M acetate and 0.1 M Tris) showed no statistical difference in binding properties. For all solvents tested, increasing the solvent concentration decreased the amount of insulin binding. Comparison of the various solvents tested indicated that ethylene glycol and methanol are the least denaturant whilst 1-propanol and acetonitrile are among the most denaturant.
Carbon isotope ratios of methyl bromide and methyl chloride emitted from a coastal salt marsh

[1] Methyl bromide (CH3Br) and methyl chloride (CH3Cl) play important roles in stratospheric ozone depletion, but their atmospheric budgets have large uncertainties. The analysis of stable isotope composition of methyl halides may provide useful independent information for further constraining their budgets. Here we report the first measurements of CH3Br and CH3Cl stable carbon isotope ratios emitted from a biogenic source under in situ conditions. CH3Br and CH3Cl emissions from the salt marsh plant Batis maritima showed a strong diurnal variation in δ13C, from −65‰ during the daytime to −12‰ at night. The minimum δ13C values were observed at midday, coinciding with the time of greatest emissions and ambient temperature. At night, when the emissions were much smaller, the stable carbon isotopic ratios of CH3Br and CH3Cl became enriched in 13C. The daily mean δ13C of CH3Br and CH3Cl emissions, weighted by emission rate, were −43‰ and −62‰ respectively.
Protein Kinase A (PKA) Isoform RIIβ Mediates the Synergistic Killing Effect of cAMP and Glucocorticoid in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cells

Protein kinase A (PKA) or cAMP-dependent protein kinase (cAPK) mediates the synergistic effects of cAMP- and glucocorticoid (GC)-induced apoptosis in lymphoid cells. Using two human acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell (CEM) clones with respective GC-sensitive and GC-resistant phenotypes, we discovered that the PKA regulatory subunit isoform RIIβ is preferentially expressed in the GC-sensitive clone C7–14 cells, whereas other intracellular cAMP receptors, including the exchange proteins directly activated by cAMP (Epac), are expressed at similar levels in both GC-sensitive and GC-resistant clones. High RIIβ expression level in C7–14 cells is associated with elevated total PKA cellular activity and cAMP sensitivity, which consequently lead to an increased basal PKA activity. cAMP analogs that selectively activate type II PKA recapitulate the effects of forskolin of promoting apoptosis and antagonizing AKT/PKB activity in both GC-sensitive and GC-resistant clones, whereas type I PKA-selective agonists do not. Furthermore, down-regulation of RIIβ leads to increased AKT/PKB activation and enhanced GC resistance in C7–14 cells. These results demonstrate that PKA RIIβ is responsible for increased GC sensitivity, critical for cAMP-mediated synergistic cell killing in CEM cells, and may represent a novel therapeutic target for GC-resistant lymphoid malignancy.
Maintenance of certification: where we are, why we are here, and where we need to be.

In this issue of the American Journal of Neuroradiology , Yousem and Nidecker[1][1] reports on their survey, which revealed increased involvement in and compliance with the American Board of Radiology (ABR) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) process by members of the American Society of
A Prediction and Selection System for Radiation Effects in Planar Transistors

Radiation tests on a wide range of planar silicon bipolar transistors under high-energy radiation indicate that the degradation of gain due to the ionizing component of radiation is due to a "surface effect" namely, an increase in the surface recombination velocity near the emitter-base junction. This effect is dominant in many real-life operating environments encountered by space electronic systems, and can produce quite serious losses of gain. The authors have devised a practical prediction technique for the surface effect and applied it to a wide range of space-approved bipolar transistor devices. Specifications of the expected levels of surface damage, devised from such data, have only rarely been exceeded in subsequent sampling tests. The prediction technique requires data from a Cobalt-60 gamma-ray test of 10 to 20 samples of each device type. Progress in using this prediction technique is reported. During testing of many devices under Cobalt-60 gamma radiation, infrequent cases have been noted where the surface damage levels exceed those predicted. Some devices are anomalously sensitive, with damage levels falling well outside the normal statistical distribution of sensitivity. It is thus important to discover a method of detecting these rare, but excessively sensitive units. The authors describe a detection or "preselection" method for such anomalously sensitive devices. The conclusion of the investigation is that the "irradiate-anneal" form of component preselection cycle can produce, from a commercial batch of planar transistors, a set of devices possessing a uniform, minimized sensitivity to ionizing radiation.
The Geology of Gaspra

The surface of Gaspra can be divided into several facets separated by ridges. Superimposed on the facets and ridges are two populations of craters. Type 1 craters are crisply defined and constitute a production function of impact origin. Type 2 craters are mostly irregular shallow depressions and probably of various origins. Some of the type 2 craters may have formed by impact and be remnants of a crater population that predates the type 1 population. The number of type 1 craters suggests that they started to accumulate 2 × 107 to 3 × 108 years ago. The freshest craters have a depth/diameter ratio of 1:7, as compared with 1:5 typically observed on other bodies. The craters appear to have become shallower with age at a rate of 10-6 to 10-7 m/year. The shallow depth of newly formed craters and the progressive degradation with age are ascribed to downslope movement of poorly coherent surface materials, the movement being aided by seismic shaking as a result of impact. The surface shows subtle color differences. The most prominent differences are observed around craters on ridges, where the surface has a stronger 1-μm absorption than elsewhere. The contrast is not observed around craters on the facets. The color differences are attributed to alteration of the materials brought to the surface. The unaltered material is estimated to be located at least 50 m below the surface on the facets. Only on the ridges is unaltered material at a shallow enough depth to be excavated by the observed craters. The rate of degradation of craters, the rounded form of the ridges, the depth of altered material on the facets, and the presence of old degraded craters all suggest that Gaspra is covered with a regolith a few tens to several tens of meters thick.
Plot-scale modeling of soil water dynamics and impacts of drought conditions beneath rainfed maize in Eastern Nebraska

Abstract Intermittent drought periods pose major challenges to the management of rainfed agricultural systems because their productivity is sensitive to water stress during crop development. The objective of this study was to assess soil water dynamics and crop stress patterns during the drought year of 2012, which was among the most severe on record in the US Corn Belt. The study utilized a continuous matric potential profile monitoring record from June 2008–December 2012 beneath a rainfed corn plot in Eastern Nebraska to provide a direct comparison of the 2012 growing season with moderate to relatively wet periods within 2008–2011. The analysis was based on a transient unsaturated zone model that was calibrated with laboratory-measured water retention functions and matric potential measurements from heat dissipation sensors. In each year of the model simulation, soil water storage volumes steadily decreased during the growing season and increased episodically following precipitation events outside of the growing season. Precipitation during the 2012 growing season was
Peritoneal lavage treatment of experimental pancreatitis.

Abstract Peritoneal dialysis improved the survival rate in experimentally induced pancreatitis in guinea pigs without the use of any adjunctive therapy. Thirty-two percent of guinea pigs ( 12 37 ) survived without dialysis while 77% ( 30 39 ) survived when dialysis was employed after the induction of pancreatitis.
Excellent quality of life after Nissen fundoplication depends on successful elimination of reflux symptoms and not the invasiveness of the surgical approach.

Abstract Background Quality of life, poor in patients with reflux disease, improves significantly after an antireflux operation. The aim of this study was to determine the relative importance of the operative approach used for a fundoplication, as well as the successful elimination of reflux symptoms on long-term quality of life in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. Methods A questionnaire, including the medical outcome study short-form health survey (SF-36), was completed by 105 patients who had undergone either a laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (n = 72) or a transthoracic Nissen fundoplication (n = 33); median follow-up was 25 and 31 months, respectively. Patients were classified as completely or incompletely relieved of reflux symptoms based on the frequency of reflux symptoms and the use of acid-suppression medication. Results Patients selected for transthoracic Nissen fundoplication had significantly worse preoperative gastroesophageal reflux disease based on the presence of a large hiatal hernia, Barrett's esophagus, or stricture. Long-term quality of life was similar for the two approaches, but was significantly decreased in patients with recurrent reflux symptoms. Compared with laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication patients, transthoracic Nissen fundoplication patients were less likely to use acid-suppression medication and tended to be more satisfied with their operation. Conclusions Long-term quality of life was independent of the invasiveness of the procedure, but significantly dependent on successful elimination of reflux symptoms and the necessity for acid suppression medication. Patients who underwent a transthoracic Nissen fundoplication, despite having more advanced disease preoperatively, tended to have less reflux symptoms and less long-term acid-suppression medication usage after their procedure. These findings support the continued use of a transthoracic antireflux procedure in patients with advanced gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Emotional Facial Expressions in European-American, Japanese, and Chinese Infants

Abstract: Charles Darwin was among the first to recognize the important contribution that infant studies could make to our understanding of human emotional expression. Noting that infants come to exhibit many emotions, he also observed that at first their repertoire of expression is highly restricted. Today, considerable controversy exists regarding the question of whether infants experience and express discrete emotions. According to one position, discrete emotions emerge during infancy along with their prototypic facial expressions. These expressions closely resemble adult emotional expressions and are invariantly concordant with their corresponding emotions. In contrast, we propose that the relation between expression and emotion during infancy is more complex. Some infant emotions and emotional expressions may not be invariantly concordant. Furthermore, infant emotional expressions may be less differentiated than previously proposed. Together with past developmental studies, recent cross-cultural research supports this view and suggests that negative emotional expression in particular is only partly differentiated towards the end of the first year.
A probabilistic formulation and statistical analysis of guttman scaling

By proposing that the latent or true nature of subjects is identified with a limited number of response patterns (the Guttman scale patterns), the probability of an observed response pattern can be written as the sum of products of the probability of the true type multiplied by the chance of sufficient response error to cause the observed pattern to appear. This model contains the proportions of the true types as parameters plus some misclassification probabilities as parameters. Maximum likelihood methods are used to make estimates and test the fit for some examples.
Evaluation of baseline structural factors for predicting glaucomatous visual-field progression using optical coherence tomography, scanning laser polarimetry and confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy

Evaluation of baseline structural factors for predicting glaucomatous visual-field progression using optical coherence tomography, scanning laser polarimetry and confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy
An ab initio study of the thermal decomposition of dichlorosilane

The reactants, products and transition states for the two lowest channels of the thermal decomposition of dichlorosilane were optimized at the MP2/6–311 + G(2df, 2p) and QCISD/6–311 + G(2df, 2p) levels of theory. Corrections to the energy were calculated at the QCISD(T)/6–311G(2df, 2p) and MP2/6–311 + + G(3df,3pd) levels of theory and were used to estimated the QCISD(T)/6–311 + + G(3df,3pd) energies. The barrier for the SiH2Cl2 → SiHCl + HCl decomposition channel is found to be 1.9 kcal/mol lower than for SiH2Cl2 → SiCl2 + H2.
US Physicians in International Health: Report of a Current Survey

Little is known about the magnitude and specifics of current involvement of US physicians in international health. This report presents results of a survey of 1,257 organizations with interests in international health work and discusses career opportunities and needed training for US physicians in international health. ( JAMA 1984;251:502-504)
Surgical removal of a branch retinal artery embolus: a case report

A patient with embolic retinal artery occlusion of sixty-hour duration underwent a surgical procedure resulting in the removal of one embolus and the fragmentation with distal flow of a second. Visual acuity improved from counting fingers to 20/200 and was stable 3 months postoperatively.
Special and General Education Teachers in Public Schools: Sources of Supply in National Perspective:

In view of the chronic shortage of qualified special education teachers and the pauciij, of data on the sources of supply of entering teachers, this research provides such data from a national probability sample of 46,599 public-school teachers from the 1990-91 Schools and Staffing Survey. The analysis focused on two main teaching fields (special and general education) and five main sources of supply of public school teachers (first-time teachers who recently graduated, first-time teachers who delayed entry to the teaching profession, reentering experienced teachers, teachers migrating from private to public schools, and public school teachers continuing from the prior year). Results showed significantly, greater annual inflow of entering teachers in special education (8.5%) than in general education (5.9%). The main source of entering public teachers in 1990-91 was the reserve pool (68% in special education; 69% in general education), composed of (a) delayed entry first-time teachers and (b) reentering e...
Renal response to repetitive exposure to heme proteins: chronic injury induced by an acute insult.

Renal response to repetitive exposure to heme proteins: Chronic injury induced by an acute insult. Background Renal diseases are conventionally classified into acute and chronic disorders. We questioned whether acute, reversible, renal insults may be induced to incite a chronic scarring process, employing as an acute insult the glycerol model of heme protein-induced renal injury. Methods Rats were subjected to weekly injections of hypertonic glycerol for up to six months. Renal function was serially determined, and the effect of such insults on renal histology and renal expression of collagen and fibrogenic cytokines was assessed. Results After the first injection of glycerol, which, expectedly, induced a prompt fall in the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), subsequent injections encountered a remarkable renal resistance in that the fall in GFR was markedly blunted. This resistance to acute decline in renal function in rats subjected to repetitive injections of glycerol was accompanied by less necrosis and apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells after such injections. The attenuation in the fall in GFR in response to repetitive exposure to glycerol-induced heme protein injury was maintained for up to six months. A progressive decline in GFR appeared after three months and was accompanied by histologic tubulointerstitial injury, the latter assessed at six months. These kidneys demonstrated up-regulation of collagen I, III, and IV in conjunction with increased expression of the oxidant-inducible, chemotactic cytokine, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and the oxidant-inducible, fibrogenic cytokine, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). The exposure of the kidney to a single injection of hypertonic glycerol increased the expression of both cytokines some three to five days following this exposure, while the exposure of NRK 49F cells in culture to an iron-dependent model of oxidative stress also increased expression of TGF-β1 and collagen mRNAs. Conclusions We conclude that this nephrotoxic insult, repetitively administered, encounters a resistance in the kidney such that the expected fall in GFR does not occur. However, with time, such resistance is accompanied by a decrease in GFR, the latter associated with chronic tubulointerstitial disease. Thus, a long-term cost is exacted, either along with, or as a consequence of, such resistance. We suggest that chronic up-regulation of such oxidant-inducible genes such as TGF-β1 and MCP-1 contributes to tubulointerstitial disease, and iron-mediated oxidative stress may directly induce TGF-β1.
The elastic energy of slit cracks in hexagonal crystals

The elastic energy of a two-dimensional slit crack in an infinite linear-elastic medium may be given by E = 1/2 ..integral../sub -a//sup a/sigma/sub i2/..delta..u/sub 'i/dx/sub 1/, where a Cartesian coordinate system for the slit crack is chosen such that parallel x/sub 1/ parallel < a,x/sub 2/ = 0, - infinity < x/sub 3/ < infinity, the crack width is 2a,sigma/sub i2/ denotes a component of the applied stress, and ..delta..u/sub i/ is a component of the displacement discontinuity across the crack plane x/sub 2/ = 0. The formal treatment of the elastic energy in a general anisotropic medium has been given by Stroh who used the method of Fourier transforms and dual integral equations, and more recently by Barnett and Asaro who used the method of a double-ended pile-up of continuously distributed infinitesimal dislocations. In the special case when the applied stresses are uniform, the elastic energy is E = -..pi../2 a/sup 2/B/sub ij/sigma/sub i2/sigma/sub j2/, and the crack extension force is G = par. delta E/par. delta a = ..pi..aB/sub ij/sigma/sub i2/sigma/sub j2/, where B/sub ij/ is the symmetrical second-rank tensor, the elastic compliance factor, which depends only on the elastic constants and the orientation of a crack. Themore » crack extension forces for mode I (opening), mode II (shearing), and mode III (tearing) are G/sub I/ = ..pi..a sigma/sub 22/ (B/sub 22/sigma/sub 22/ + B/sub 23/sigma/sub 23/ + B/sub 12/sigma/sub 12/), G/sub II/ = ..pi..a sigma/sub 12/(B/sub 11/sigma/sub 12/ + B/sub 12/sigma/sub 22/ + B/sub 13/sigma/sub 23/), G/sub III/ = ..pi..a sigma/sub 23/(B/sub 33/sigma/sub 23/ + B/sub 13/sigma/sub 12/ + B/sub 23/sigma/sub 22/).« less
Information transport in spatiotemporal systems

Spatiotemporal chaos can be produced by complicated local dynamics in a small spatial region and observed globally through a process we call information transport. Information transport can be detected by computation of an information-theoretic quantity, the time-delayed mutual information, between measurements of the system at separate spatial points.
An Evaluation of Test Speededness in an Assessment for Third-Grade Gifted Students.

Reliability and validity are integral concepts in assessment design. Test speededness, the influence of time constraints on test taker performance, is often an overlooked threat to reliability and ...
Relationship of cyst nematode gene frequencies to soybean resistance.

Soybean (S, Glycine max (L.) Merr.) lines with relatively few cysts of soybean cyst nematode (CN, Heterodera glycines Ichinohe) populations are usually called CN-resistant. The phenotype of number of cysts per plant is of the CN-S (Cyst Nematode-Soybean) association and determined by the interactions of genes for avirulence-resistance. The acronym “alins” was proposed for these alleles for incompatibility, with “xalin” representing the interaction X of one microsymbiont malin with its host h-alin. These alins are dominant in the gene-for-gene model but may be mostly recessive with CN-S. Definitive genetic studies have been hindered by the heterogeneity of sexually reproducing CN populations and lack of the appropriate genetic models. Loegering's abstract interorganismal genetic model was modified so that one model represented all four possible interactions of dominant-recessive alins for an incompatible phenotype. This involved redefining the Boolean algebra symbol 1 to represent both the alins AND their frequencies. The model was used to derive the relationship: {ie893-01} where the expectation E of cysts (of any CN-S combination, as proportion of number of cysts on a check cultivar) is proportional to the product Π of CN genotypic frequencies expressed as functions of m-alin frequencies. Each m-alin is at a different locus, i.e., {ie893-02}. The number of terms multiplied for each CN-S is equal to the number of alins in the S line (or F2 plant). There are too many unknowns in the equation to solve for any of them. The relationship does explain the continuous distributions of phenotypes that were nearly always observed. Basic genetic principles were used to concurrently derive the models and to obtain discontinuous distributions of numbers of cyst phenotypes in segregating generations due to one recessive alin in a CN-“susceptible” soybean line.
Hot Electron Extraction From Colloidal Quantum Dots

Hot electrons are created in core/shell CdSe/ZnSe colloidal quantum dots by mid-infrared intraband (4 μm) excitation and are probed by time-resolved visible spectroscopy. The hot electron, in the first excited conduction state 1Pe of the CdSe core, is efficiently extracted by tunneling through the ZnSe shell. Electron extraction times are temperature-independent. They range from ∼100 ps for thick, ∼3 nm, uniform ZnSe shells to <4 ps for high-surface-area irregular ZnSe shells, and they compete favorably with intraband relaxation. The hot electron extraction leads to a quench of the visible photoluminescence. This is a first step toward infrared detection using the intraband transitions of colloidal quantum dots.
Area and the inradius of lemniscates

Abstract We study geometric properties of filled lemniscates E ( p , c ) = { z ∈ C : | p ( z ) | ⩽ c } of a complex polynomial p ( z ) of degree n. In particular, we answer a question raised by H.H. Cuenya and F.E. Levis (2007) by showing that there is a constant C ( n ) such that μ ( E ( p , c ) ) π r 2 ( E ( p , c ) ) ⩽ C ( n ) for every lemniscate E ( p , c ) . Here μ ( E ( p , c ) ) and r ( E ( p , c ) ) denote the area and the inradius of E ( p , c ) .
Monte Carlo Schemes for Radiative Transfer in Media Represented by Particle Fields

Monte Carlo ray-tracing schemes are developed for the evaluation of radiative heat transfer for problems, in which the participating medium is represented by discrete point-masses, such as the flow field and scalar fields in PDF Monte Carlo methods frequently used in combustion modeling. Photon ray tracing in such cases requires that an optical thickness is assigned to each of the point-masses. Two approaches are discussed, the Point Particle Model (PPM), in which the shape of particle is not specified, and the Spherical Particle Model (SPM) in which particles are assumed to be spheres with constant radiation properties. Another issue for ray tracing in particle fields is the influence region of a ray. Two ways of modeling a ray are proposed. In the first, each ray is treated as a standard volume-less line. In the other approach, the ray is assigned a small solid angle, and is thus treated as a cone with a decaying influence function away from its center line. Based on these models, three different interaction schemes between rays and particles are proposed, i.e., Line-SPM, Cone-PPM and Cone-SPM methods, and are compared employing several test problems.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
The significance of pseudoaneurysms in the nonoperative management of pediatric blunt splenic trauma.

Abstract Purpose Nonoperative management is the standard of care for hemodynamically stable pediatric and adult blunt splenic injuries. In adults, most centers follow a well-defined protocol involving repeated imaging at 24 to 48 hours, with embolization of splenic pseudoaneurysms (SAPs). In children, the significance of radiologically detected SAP has yet to be clarified. Methods A systematic review of the medical literature was conducted to analyze the outcomes of documented posttraumatic SAP in the pediatric population. Results Sixteen articles, including 1 prospective study, 4 retrospective reviews, and 11 case reports were reviewed. Forty-five SAPs were reported. Ninety-six percent of children were reported as stable. Yet, 82% underwent splenectomy, splenorrhaphy, or embolization. The fear of delayed complications owing to SAP was often cited as the reason for intervention in otherwise stable children. Only one child with a documented pseudoaneurysm experienced a delayed splenic rupture while under observation. No deaths were reported. Conclusions There is no evidence to support or dispute the routine use of follow-up imaging and embolization of posttraumatic SAP in the pediatric population. At present, the decision to treat SAP in stable children is at the discretion of the treating physician. A prospective study is needed to clarify this issue.
Preliminary investigations to determine nuclear-electric spacecraft configurations for high-energy missions.

Nuclear-electric spacecraft configurations for Jupiter mission discussing radiation shielding, heat rejection radiator, spacecraft structure, etc
Internalization of metallochromic Ca2+ indicators in mammalian cells

Abstract Two new techniques for internalizing metallochromic indicators into the cytosol of mammalian cells are described. One method consists of hypertonically treating the cells in the presence of the indicator, followed by a hypoosmotic treatment. The second method consists of incubating the cells at high density in a concentrated indicator solution in physiological saline. Using either method, arsenazo III or antipyrylazo III was internalized into Ehrlich Ascites tumor (EAT) cells at concentrations yielding measurable differential absorbance changes which correspond to changes in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration. In the case of antipyrylazo III, the amount of indicator internalized ranged between 140 and 350 μM, and was dependent on the metabolic state of the cell during loading. Control and loaded cells possessed virtually identical ATP ADP ratios, as measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in cell extracts. Antipyrylazo III was also internalized by rat hepatocytes without detectable cell damage. Treatment of metabolically active EAT cells with the calcium ionophore A23187 results in only a slight increase in the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration, [Ca2+]i, whereas treatment with the calcium ionophore ionomycin induces a substantial but transient increase in the [Ca2+]i. In contrast, metabolically inhibited EAT cells show a large rise in the [Ca2+]i upon addition of A23187. Thus, these techniques offer another way of measuring intracellular free Ca2+ changes in mammalian cells and may prove useful, especially where concentrations of free cytosolic Ca2+ larger than 1 μM are expected.
The Dynamics of Phase Locking

Abstract Many low-frequency phenomena such as the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) or the El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) exhibit rapid growth where they appear to be undergoing a phase locking with other time scales such as the annual cycle. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate an example of phase locking of two different time scales. In this instance it is shown that during such epochs of phase locking a large increase in nonlinear energy exchange occurs from one time scale to the other. This paper utilizes the ECMWF Re-Analysis (ERA-40) datasets for the year 2001 to examine this problem. This study is a sequel to a recent modeling study where the maintenance of the MJO time scale was examined from scale interactions, especially with synoptic-scale waves with ∼2–7 day periods. It was shown that a pair of waves on the synoptic time scale can satisfy certain selection rules and undergo triad interactions (kinetic energy to kinetic energy exchanges) and transfer energy. This present study illustra...
Structured hole burned spectra of the primary donor state absorption region of Rhodopseudomonas viridis

Abstract Structured hole burned spectra for P960 of Rps. viridis are reported which, for appropriate burn wavelengths, exhibit four holes (including a zero-phonon hole). Burn wavelength-dependent spectra and other factors indicate that the hole structure is not contributed to by reaction center heterogeneity or impurity. The data are consistent with there being two adiabatic states, |Z>* and |X>*, which contribute significantly to the P960 absorption profile, with |X>* defined as the lower energy state (by ≈300 cm −1 ). The zero-phonon hole can be assigned as a feature belonging to the hole associated with |X>* and possesses a width of 10 cm −1 at 4.2 K. This width yields a decay time of 1 ps for |X>* and, consequently, a connection with time domain studies of the primary electron donor state. A number of models for the existence of the two absorbing states are considered. The following two models for |X>* and |Z>* appear to be plausible: that they are admixtures of the neutral exciton state and an intra-dimer charge transfer state of the special pair (P) or they are admixtures of P* and a charge transfer state between P and the bacteriochlorophyll monomer on the active side.
Errors in pH measurement with colorimetric indicators in low alkalinity waters

A series of laboratory and field studies were conducted to evaluate the reliability of colorimetric pH indicators in dilute, acidic surface waters in New England. Laboratory studies consisted of comparing colorimetric and electrometric pH results in synthetic solutions with a range of ionic strength and buffering capacity. Field studies involved simultaneous colorimetric and electrometric pH determinations in 52 New England lakes with differing water chemistry. Colorimetric indicators deviated from electrometric pH results at low alkalinities and near the end of their operating range. They agreed with electrometric values, within 0.2 unit, at alkalinities of 20 µeq 1-1 and greater, or near the center of their operating range. Changing ionic strength without changing buffering capacity did not affect results. When indicators were selected that bracketed sample pH, colorimetric determinations of pH in New England lakes agreed well with electrometric determinations.
SAR analysis of novel non-peptidic NPBWR1 (GPR7) antagonists

Abstract In this Letter we report on the advances in our NPBWR1 antagonist program aimed at optimizing the 5-chloro-2-(3,5-dimethylphenyl)-4-(4-methoxyphenoxy)pyridazin-3(2H)-one lead molecule previously obtained from a high-throughput screening (HTS)-derived hit. Synthesis and structure–activity relationships (SAR) studies around the 3,5-dimethylphenyl and 4-methoxyphenyl regions resulted in the identification of a novel series of non-peptidic submicromolar NPBWR1 antagonists based on a 5-chloro-4-(4-alkoxyphenoxy)-2-(benzyl)pyridazin-3(2H)-one chemotype. Amongst them, 5-chloro-2-(9H-fluoren-9-yl)-4-(4-methoxyphenoxy)pyridazin-3(2H)-one 9h (CYM50769) inhibited NPW activation of NPBWR1 with a submicromolar IC50, and displayed high selectivity against a broad array of off-targets with pharmaceutical relevance. Our medicinal chemistry study provides innovative non-peptidic selective NPBWR1 antagonists that may enable to clarify the biological role and therapeutic utility of the target receptor in the regulation of feeding behavior, pain, stress, and neuroendocrine function.
Activity Recognition Using Graphical Features

Activity Recognition is important in order to facilitate elderly residents' and their caregivers' needs. This problem has been widely investigated using different methods including probabilistic and Markovian approaches. The focus of this paper is to perform activity recognition more accurately than existing approaches using non-intrusive sensors. We represent motion sensors of smart environments in a graph and resident's movements as edges in the graph. Then graph-based features are extracted and used as input for a Support Vector Machine. These features have been combined with motion-sensor based features. This method has been compared with three other widely used approaches, Naive Bayes, Hidden Markov Model (HMM) and Conditional Random Fields (CRF) on three different datasets from three smart apartments. In all cases, the method based on graphical features outperformed one of the state of the art methods for activity recognition.
Mechanism of enhancement by fucoidan and CNBr-fibrinogen digest of the activation of glu-plasminogen by tissue plasminogen activator.

The interactions of fucoidan with human glutamic type plasminogen (Glu-Plg), porcine pancreatic elastase digested plasminogen fractions and two chain tissue plasminogen activator t-PA) were investigated using fucoidan-Sepharose affinity chromatography. The results showed a high degree of affinity between fucoidan-Sepharose and Glu-Plg or PlgK1−3 but not with PlgK4 or mini-Plg. Fucoidan-Sepharose also showed a high affinity for t-PA, which was largely reversed by 0.002 M 6-aminohexanoic acid (6-AH). The addition of fucoidan and CNBr-fibrinogen digest (CNBr-Fbg) gave the highest enhancement of thein vitro activation of Glu-Plg by t-PA in the presence of 0.002 M 6-AH. The results of affinity chromatography and enhancement studies suggested a template mechanism, since increasing the concentrations of any one of the two cofactors reversed the enhancement. Enzyme kinetic studies, using double reciprocal plots, showed that the addition of fucoidan-6-AH increased Kcat by 7-fold without affecting Km and addition of CNBr-Fbg lowered Km by 5-fold without significantly affecting Kcat while addition of the two cofactors lowered Km by 16-fold without significantly affecting Kcat. The enhancement by fucoidan-6-AH or by CNBr-Fbg of thein vitro activation of Glu-Plg by t-PA was reversed by plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1). Fucoidan-Sepharose affinity chromatography revealed that the binding of PAI-1 with fucoidan may be responsible for the reversal of the enhancement by fucoidan-6-AH.
Multiproject planning and resource controls for facility management

Facility managers face the challenges of managing many different types of small, geographically dispersed construction projects. Depending on the complexity and distribution of projects, the time required to prepare for production consumes a large percentage of the total time required to complete the job. Increasing crews' productive hours is a key objective when planning multiproject schedules. Existing methods, however, lack the effective means to explicitly model, analyze, and optimize resource utilization for these multiple concurrent projects. As a result, few facility managers fully exploit the potential to better manage their often limited budget and resources. This paper presents an explicit model of the mobilization requirements of multiple crews performing a variety of different activities over a geographic space. The model allows the facility manager to explicitly investigate the impact of crew composition, crew specialization, and depot locations. Using work rule decisions regarding alternative crew allocations, facility managers may dynamically allocate resources to optimize resources and to complete projects in a minimum amount of time. To verify and validate this new model, a computerized system, called FIRS (Facility/Infrastructure Resource Scheduler), was created to analyze the multiproject resource plans with data from two military organizations and a university campus. FIRS utilizes a new genetic algorithm that was developed specifically to work with multiproject scheduling. Using FIRS, facility managers can develop and test alternative crew allocations based on the qualifications of the crews available and the type of operation being performed.
The Association of HLA-B8, B51, DR2, and Multiple Sclerosis in Pars Planitis

Purpose: To establish a human leukocyte antigen (HLA) association in a homogeneous population of patients with pars planitis. Methods: A strict set of inclusion parameters was established for the diagnosis of pars planitis. Forty patients with pars planitis who met these criteria underwent HLA analysis of class I and II phenotypes. Results: HLA-B8 was present in 15 (37.5%) of 40 patients versus 85 (19.7%) of 431 controls (relative risk, 2.44; P=0.011). HLA-B51 was present in 9 (22.5%) of 40 patients versus 51 (11.8%) of 431 controls (relative risk, 2.16; P = 0.049). HLA-DR2 was present in 27 (67.5%) of 40 patients versus 121 (28.0%) of 431 controls (relative risk, 5.32; P A 0.0001). HLA-DR2 has been associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). Exclusion of five patients with pars planitis in whom MS subsequently developed did not change the significance of these findings. Conclusions: The strongest association of pars planitis with HLA-DR2 and the temporal development of MS in some patients with pars planitis further supports an association between pars planitis and MS.