cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High-performance polyvinyl chloride gel artificial muscle actuator with graphene oxide and plasticizer

A transparent and electroactive plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC) gel was investigated to use as a soft actuator for artificial muscle applications. PVC gels were prepared with varying plasticizer (dibutyl adipate, DBA) content. The prepared PVC gels were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and dynamic mechanical analysis. The DBA content in the PVC gel was shown to have an inverse relationship with both the storage and loss modulus. The electromechanical performance of PVC gels was demonstrated for both single-layer and stacked multi-layer actuators. When voltage was applied to a single-layer actuator and then increased, the maximum displacement of PVC gels (for PVC/DBA ratios of 1:4, 1:6, and 1:8) was increased from 105.19, 123.67, and 135.55 µm (at 0.5 kV) to 140.93, 157.13, and 172.94 µm (at 1.0 kV) to 145.03, 191.34, and 212.84 µm (at 1.5 kV), respectively. The effects of graphene oxide (GO) addition in the PVC gel were also investigated. The inclusion of GO (0.1 wt.%) provided an approximate 20% enhancement of displacement and 41% increase in force production, and a 36% increase in power output for the PVC/GO gel over traditional plasticizer only PVC gel. The proposed PVC/GO gel actuator may have promising applications in artificial muscle, small mechanical devices, optics, and various opto-electro-mechanical devices due to its low-profile, transparency, and electrical response characteristics.
Association of Obesity Phenotypes with Electrocardiographic Markers of Poor Outcomes in the General Population.

Objective This study aimed to investigate the association of metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) and other obesity phenotypes with electrocardiographic (ECG) markers to understand the pathophysiological basis of increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk associated with these phenotypes. Methods A total of 3,700 participants (58.7 ± 13.6 years, 52% women) without CVD from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) were included. Logistic regression was used to examine the cross-sectional association between obesity phenotypes (metabolically healthy without obesity [MHNO; reference], metabolically unhealthy without obesity, MHO, and metabolically unhealthy obesity) with ECG markers (PR interval, P-wave duration, QRS duration, and QT interval). Results Higher odds of prolonged PR interval, P-wave duration, and QRS duration were observed among all phenotypes compared with MHNO, with the highest in participants with obesity with or without metabolic syndrome. However, for QT interval, the trend of association with obesity phenotypes was as follows, from the strongest to the least strong: metabolically unhealthy obesity, metabolically healthy without obesity, and then MHO, compared with MHNO. Conclusions An association of obesity phenotypes with ECG abnormalities further raises doubt about the concept of MHO as a healthy state. Variations in associations with ECG markers may suggest that metabolic syndrome and obesity have a different relationship with different CVD outcomes and may explain some of the inconsistent CVD estimates for MHO.
Experimental effects of elevated temperature and nitrogen deposition on high-elevation aquatic communities

Two widespread drivers of change in high-elevation lakes are climate warming and atmospheric nitrogen deposition, which may have interactive effects on aquatic ecosystems. Using an outdoor mesocosm experiment at 2900 m above-sea level along the Colorado Front Range, we investigated the individual and combined effects of realistic increases in temperature (ambient versus 2.4 °C increase) and nitrogen concentrations (three levels) on lake plankton and hydrochemistry. Relative to the low temperature treatment, enhanced temperatures decreased the overall density of Daphnia pulicaria by ~ 40% and of gravid females specifically by ~ 20%. Increased nitrogen also reduced Daphnia density, especially in the low-temperature treatments, leading to a significant nitrogen-by-temperature interaction. The calanoid copepod Hesperodiaptomus shoshone, in contrast, was unaffected by experimental manipulations of temperature and nitrogen, and declined in abundance over time regardless of treatment. Chlorophyll-a increased to a maximum in week 4 and was unaffected by the temperature manipulation, suggesting that observed effects on Daphnia were likely direct physiological responses to warming rather than bottom-up effects. Nitrate additions caused transient increases in chlorophyll-a, which converged across treatments by the end of the study as nutrients were assimilated. Nitrogen additions also led to progressive increases in dissolved organic carbon concentrations throughout the experiment. Our results suggest that warming has the potential to reduce zooplankton production, consistent with observed decreases in large-bodied Daphnia density with decreasing elevation in the Colorado Rockies. Future work should evaluate how the observed effects on plankton communities scale-up to natural lakes, particularly the relative importance of species-specific stress responses versus indirect food web effects.
What Do We Know About Prevalence and Management of Intoxicated Women During Labor and Delivery

Objective. To review the published literature on women who were intoxicated at delivery and outcomes for their infants. Methods. A systematic literature review was utilized to identify articles mee...
Quantum superposition of massive bodies

I describe the work done in collaboration with A. Belenchia, F. Giacomini, E. Castro-Ruiz, C. Bruckner and M. Aspelmeyer that analyzes a gedanken experiment involving a massive body that is put int...
Inclusion of processed cell metadata improves single cell sequencing analysis reproducibility and accessibility

Single cell RNA sequencing provides an unprecedented view of cellular diversity of biological systems. Thousands of scRNA-seq datasets have been generated, providing a wealth of biological data on the diversity of cell types across different organisms, developmental stages, and disease states. But while a tremendous number of publications and datasets have been generated using this technology, we found that a minority (< 25%) of studies provide sufficient information to enable direct reuse of their data for further studies. This problem is common across journals, data repositories, and publication dates. The lack of appropriate information not only hinders exploration and knowledge transfer of reported data, but also makes reproducing the original study prohibitively difficult and/or time-consuming. Correcting this problem is not easy but we encourage investigators, reviewers, journals, and data repositories to take steps to improve their standards and ensure proper documentation of these valuable datasets.
Twistors, Self-Duality, and Spin$^c$ Structures

The fact that every oriented 4-manifold admits spin$^c$ structures was proved long ago by Whitney, Hirzebruch, and Hopf. However, the usual proof is indirect, and can seem rather opaque. This article gives a new proof using twistor spaces that is conceptually more direct. After using these ideas to clarify various fundamental facts concerning 4-dimensional geometry, we go on to explain how related ideas can be used to understand both spin and spin$^c$ structures in any dimension.
The Debate Between Two of the Founders of American Psychiatric Genetics, Aaron Rosanoff and Abraham Myerson, on Mendelian Models for Psychiatric Illness: 1911-1917.

ABSTRACT In 1911, Aaron Rosanoff published among the first pedigree studies of psychiatric illness, and the first ever in the United States, claiming that the neuropathic constitution was transmitted in as a Mendelian recessive disorder. In 1917, Abraham Myerson harshly critiqued that study, focusing on the very wide phenotypic definition of neuropathic constitution. Here, I describe Rosanoff and Myerson's backgrounds, the details of Rosanoff's study, and Myerson's critique and put this controversy in the context of the history of psychiatric genetics, emphasizing four themes: a) the close interrelationship between psychiatric diagnosis and models of genetic transmission, b) the strong attraction of Mendelian models to psychiatric geneticists after their 1900 rediscovery, c) the controversy about whether familial transmission of psychiatric illness is largely homogeneous or heterogeneous, and d) the methods taken by researchers to the problems of psychiatric genetics that typically emerged as part of their broader approach to the nature of psychiatric illness.
Androgen Receptor Pathway Gene Expression After High Dose Rate Prostate Brachytherapy.

Purpose/objective(s) Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is commonly used after radiation therapy in the treatment of prostate cancer. Though radiation has generally been shown to upregulate androgen receptor (AR) expression, the effect of high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy on AR expression is unknown. We hypothesize that expression of AR and corresponding target genes will be altered by HDR brachytherapy. Materials/methods 10 Patients with intermediate risk prostate cancer (age 51-78; 7 GS 3+4, 3 GS 4+3) underwent HDR brachytherapy (2 implants, 13.5 Gy per implant, 1 week apart). Patients consented to biopsies before each fraction at the first and second implant. Tumor content percentage was evaluated on stained H&E slides. Bulk RNA-seq gene expression was performed on the formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded pre- vs. post-RT tumor samples, and differential gene expression was performed to assess changes in AR, KLK2, KLK3, TMPRSS2. Results AR pathway genes showed significant downregulation (log2 fold change, adjusted P-value): AR (-0.83, 2.38E-4), KLK2 (-1.65, 2.09E-5), KLK3 (-1.76, 9.7E-4), TMPRSS2 (-1.98, 4.13E-7). Therefore, AR pathway gene expression was 25-56% of baseline expression 1 week after radiation treatment with 13.5 Gy. Meanwhile, post-radiation tumor content (mean fold change +/- standard deviation) was observed to remain 73% +/- 25% of baseline content. Conclusion Differential gene expression analysis of prostate tumor suggests AR and its target genes may be downregulated relative to tumor content after HDR brachytherapy.
Queen Anne's Body in Stuart Court Sermons

This article aligns the 1605, 1606, and 1609 court sermons of Lancelot Andrewes with Ben Jonson's Masque of Blackness and Masque of Beauty (performed in 1605 and 1608, respectively) in order to arg...
Adenosine Neuromodulation of Selectively Vulnerable CA1 Neurons

Adenosine is one of the most potent inhibitory modulators of neuronal activity in the hippocampus. This purine nucleoside acts as an endogenous anticonvulsant and its effects are mediated by specific, high-affinity, A1-type receptors that are concentrated in the selectively vulnerable CA1 area. The regional density of adenosine A1 receptors has been shown to be a critical factor controlling the strength of adenosine inhibition and the number of these receptors is reduced rapidly in CA1 following transient ischemia. The hypothesis is discussed that a postischemic attenuation of adenosine neuromodulation contributes to the destabilization of sensitive CA1 neurons.
What Does it Mean to Speak Dynamically About Democracy

To speak about any subject in dynamic terms is to give a description of how it changes. At the same time, the way in which changes are described also has a significant impact upon the outcome of the study. The purpose of this chapter is to elaborate upon the use of mathematical analysis in the description of democratic dynamics. In particular, the chapter argues that the objections raised against the use of mathematics in social theory are based upon an inappropriate model of science. It is possible to employ the tools of mathematics in the description of social phenomena and not be confined to an unduly restrictive view of social phenomena. Chapter two will establish the boundaries which follow from the use of mathematics in social analysis, and it will argue these boundaries are much broader than previously expected. The chapter is divided into four sections. Section one contrasts the modern to the classical view of change. Social theory in the modern era is derivative in the sense that it parallels the immense transformation Newton brought about in our understanding of the natural world. It becomes important as a consequence to examine the results of this change, for stemming from it is the issue of whether or not the social world is amenable to the same set of techniques. Section two introduces the dynamical system as a formal tool, section three presents the standard objections to the use of mathematics in social theory, and section four argues how these objections are met. A summary reviews the material and states what it means to speak dynamically about democracy from a mathematical point of view.
SU-E-T-562: Motion Tracking Optimization for Conformal Arc Radiotherapy Plans: A QUASAR Phantom Based Study

Purpose: This study is to use plan parameters optimization (Dose rate, collimator angle, couch angle, initial starting phase) to improve the performance of conformal arc radiotherapy plans with motion tracking by increasing the plan performance score (PPS). Methods: Two types of 3D conformal arc plans were created based on QUASAR respiratory motion phantom with spherical and cylindrical targets. Sinusoidal model was applied to the MLC leaves to generate motion tracking plans. A MATLAB program was developed to calculate PPS of each plan (ranges from 0–1) and optimize plan parameters. We first selected the dose rate for motion tracking plans and then used simulated annealing algorithm to search for the combination of the other parameters that resulted in the plan of the maximal PPS. The optimized motion tracking plan was delivered by Varian Truebeam Linac. In-room cameras and stopwatch were used for starting phase selection and synchronization between phantom motion and plan delivery. Gaf-EBT2 dosimetry films were used to measure the dose delivered to the target in QUASAR phantom. Dose profiles and Truebeam trajectory log files were used for plan delivery performance evaluation. Results: For spherical target, the maximal PPS (PPSsph) of the optimized plan was 0.79: (Dose rate: 500MU/min, Collimator:more » 90°, Couch: +10°, starting phase: 0.83π). For cylindrical target, the maximal PPScyl was 0.75 (Dose rate: 300MU/min, Collimator: 87°, starting phase: 0.97π) with couch at 0°. Differences of dose profiles between motion tracking plans (with the maximal and the minimal PPS) and 3D conformal plans were as follows: PPSsph=0.79: %ΔFWHM: 8.9%, %Dmax: 3.1%; PPSsph=0.52: %ΔFWHM: 10.4%, %Dmax: 6.1%. PPScyl=0.75: %ΔFWHM: 4.7%, %Dmax: 3.6%; PPScyl=0.42: %ΔFWHM: 12.5%, %Dmax: 9.6%. Conclusion: By achieving high plan performance score through parameters optimization, we can improve target dose conformity of motion tracking plan by decreasing total MLC leaf travel distance and leaf speed.« less
Are deep underground detectors good gamma -ray telescopes?

We have calculated the production of high-energy (E/sub ..mu../>250 GeV) muons in ..gamma..-initiated showers. We discuss all processes which contribute to the muon production and show their yields. These yields are folded with the ..gamma..-ray flux observed from the direction of Cygnus X-3 to estimate the rate of ..gamma..-induced muons in deep-underground detectors. The fluxes of such muons are very low in magnitude, as well as in comparison with the muon background due to isotropic cosmic rays. The conclusion is that deep-underground muon detectors, even of very large area, will hardly detect any ..gamma..-induced muons.
The least statistically-dependent basis and its applications

Statistical independence is one of the most desirable properties of a coordinate system for representing and modeling images. In this paper we propose an algorithm to rapidly construct a coordinate system "closest" to the statistically independent one from a dictionary of bases such as the wavelet packets and local Fourier bases. The criterion is to minimize the sum of the coordinate-wise differential entropy and is quite different from the joint best basis (JBB) of Wickerhauser (1994). We demonstrate the use of the LSDB for image approximation and modeling, and compare its performance with Karhunen-Loeve basis (KLB) and JBB.
Innate immune responses elicited by Reovirus and Rotavirus.

The mammalian orthoreoviruses (called simply reoviruses) are the type species of the Orthoreovirus genus, which also contains viruses that infect birds and reptiles. The reoviruses and rotaviruses are the subject of this chapter. The effect of NSP1 can be linked to its role as an antagonist of interferon (IFN) expression. Application of global approaches for identification of reovirus-induced IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) should provide additional ISG candidates responsible for IFN’s effects on viral replication and possibly apoptosis induction. Recent reports point to NSP1 as the sole rotavirus gene product responsible for countering IFN-dependent innate immune responses. Rotavirus NSP1 is an antagonist of the IFN signaling pathway, most likely functioning through an E3 Ub ligase activity that induces the ubiquitination and proteasomal proteolysis of several members of the IRF family. Many viruses encode proteins that interfere with Jak-Stat signaling. However, there is no published evidence for similar disruption by reoviruses. Like analysis of strain-specific differences in IFN-β induction, genetic analyses using reassortant reoviruses identified the M1, L2, and S2 genes as determinants of strain-specific differences in sensitivity to the antiviral effects of IFN-β in cardiac myocytes.
Discontinuous Stabilization of Brockett’s Canonical Driftless System

R. Brockett [1981] derived a canonical form for a class of controllable systems of the form $$ \dot x = B(x)u. $$ He showed later that such systems cannot be stabilized by smooth state feedback. In this paper we analyze a discontinuous stabilizing feedback for this class of systems which uses the underlying geometry of the problem.
Serial liver biopsies in parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis of early infancy.

Abstract The clinical course and liver biopsy pathology of 11 infants with parenteral nutrition (PN)-associated cholestasis were reviewed. All infants developed cholestatic jaundice shortly after beginning PN and had a liver biopsy at the height of clinical liver disease (average age 3 mo). The duration of PN averaged 1.5 mo (range 2 wk–6 mo). All infants showed a distinctive cholestatic hepatitis, with bile stasis in hepatocytes, canaliculi, and Kupffer cells, as well as portal inflammation, bile duct proliferation, and portal fibrosis. Two had ductular cholestasis and bridging fibrosis mimicking extrahepatic biliary atresia. In all patients except one, parenteral nutrition was discontinued after the first biopsy. Clinical and biochemical improvement was noted within 2 wk, and recovery appeared complete within 5 mo. Six of the patients had a second biopsy after recovery (average age 10 mo). All second biopsies showed complete resolution of portal inflammation and duct proliferation, but all 6 had mild persistent cholestasis, and 4 had periportal fibrosis and ultrastructural abnormalities, including collagen in the space of Disse and distinctive lamellar bodies. Parenteral nutrition was not discontinued in one infant with a short gut syndrome; he died of chronic liver disease at 5.5 mo of age, without a second biopsy. Thus, although infants with PN-associated cholestasis will recover if the infusion is discontinued, subtle abnormalities on liver biopsy persist months later. There was no relationship between severity of pathologic findings and duration of PN, total amino acid dose, or lipid administration. The etiology of liver damage in this condition is unknown, but there are some pathologic similarities to toxic liver disease.
The effect of prophylactic ampicillin on pelvic infection following vaginal hysterectomy

One hundred patients undergoing vaginal hysterectomy at the University of Kentucky Medical Center were given prophylactic ampicillin and compared to one hundred control patients. The use of prophylactic ampicillin caused significant reduction in both postoperative pelvic infection and hospital stay. However, two patients in the prophylactic antibiotic group later required readmission for infections resistant to ampicillin. Prophylactic antibiotics are beneficial in vaginal hysterectomy, but careful follow-up of all patients is mandatory.
A fast, high-order integral equation solution for the scattering by inhomogeneous objects

A fast solution for the electromagnetic scattering by inhomogeneous objects is presented. The method is based on a locally corrected Nystrom solution of the volume electric field integral equation. The matrix-vector multiplication is accelerated via the quadrature sampled precorrected FFT (QSPCFFT) (Gedney, S.D. et al., 2003). The QSPCFFT method preserves the high-order properties of the Nystrom solution, and has a complexity that scales as O(N log N) and memory that scales as O(N).
Association of rheumatic diseases with symptom severity, quality of life, and treatment outcome in patients with fibromyalgia

Objectives: To evaluate the frequency of rheumatic diseases and their association with symptom severity, quality of life (QoL), and treatment outcome in patients with fibromyalgia (FM).Method: Our study contained 536 FM patients who completed a brief, interdisciplinary fibromyalgia treatment programme (FTP) at our institution, with emphasis on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) and the 36-item Short Form Health Status Questionnaire (SF-36) were completed at initial evaluation and at 6 and 12 months after the FTP. The presence of inflammatory rheumatic disease (IRD) was determined by physician diagnoses. A two-sample t-test and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to compare the rheumatic and non-rheumatic groups.Results: Thirty-six patients (6.7%) had documented IRD. At baseline, the rheumatic group had poorer scores in SF-36 physical functioning (p = 0.02), pain index (p = 0.01), and physical component summary (p = 0.009) than the non-rheuma...
Direct Electrochemical Immunosensor for Polychlorinated Biphenyls

A direct electrochemical immunosensor has been developed for the determination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in water. The assay is based on the measurement of the current due to the specific binding between PCB and anti-PCB antibody-immobilized conducting polymer matrix. The linear dynamic range of the immunosensor is between 0.3 and 100 ng/mL with a correlation coefficient of 0.997 for Aroclor 1242. The method detection limits for Aroclors 1242, 1248, 1254, and 1016 were 3.3, 1.56, 0.39, and 1.66 ng/ mL respectively, and at a signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio of 3. The immunosensor exhibited high selectivity for PCBs in the presence of potential interference such as chlorinated anisoles, benzenes, and phenols. The highest cross-reactivity measured for chlorinated phenolic compounds relative to Aroclor 1248 was less than 3%. Recoveries of spiked Aroclors 1242 and 1254 from industrial effluent water, rolling mill, and seafood plant pretreated water at 0.5 and 50 ng/mL ranged from 103 to 106%. The effect of ionic compounds on detection indicates that no significant change in immunosensor signal was observed within the uncertainty of the assay procedure. The detection method may be applied for continuous monitoring of effluent such as waste streams and groundwater.
The effects of transdermal nicotine on cognition in nonsmokers with schizophrenia and nonpsychiatric controls

Abundant evidence indicates that the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) system is integral to regulation of attentional processes and is dysregulated in schizophrenia. Nicotinic agonists may have potential for the treatment of cognitive impairment in this disease. This study investigated the effects of transdermal nicotine on attention in individuals with schizophrenia (n=28) and healthy controls (n=32). All participants were nonsmokers in order to eliminate confounding effects of nicotine withdrawal and reinstatement that may occur in the study of smokers. Subjects received 14 mg transdermal nicotine and identical placebo in a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover design. A cognitive battery was conducted before and 3 h after each patch application. The primary outcome measure was performance on the Continuous Performance Test Identical Pairs (CPT-IP) Version. Nicotine significantly improved the performance on the CPT-IP as measured by hit reaction time, hit reaction time standard deviation and random errors in both groups. In addition, nicotine reduced commission errors on the CPT-IP and improved the performance on a Card Stroop task to a greater extent in those with schizophrenia vs controls. In summary, nicotine improved attentional performance in both groups and was associated with greater improvements in inhibition of impulsive responses in subjects with schizophrenia. These results confirm previous findings that a single dose of nicotine improves attention and suggest that nicotine may specifically improve response inhibition in nonsmokers with schizophrenia.
Relation of Principal Transformational Leadership to School Staff Job Satisfaction, Staff Turnover, and School Performance.

In the present study, the direct effect of principal transformational leadership to school staff turnover and school performance was examined, in addition to its indirect effect through school staff job satisfaction. Survey data were obtained from elementary school staff and students, and school‐aggregated student achievement test scores were obtained from school archives. Results showed that staff reports of principal behaviors could be described in terms of the three components of transformational leadership: inspiration or charisma, individualized consideration, and intellectual stimulation. Principal transformational leadership was not associated directly with either school staff turnover or school‐aggregated student achievement progress. Rather, principal transformational leadership showed an indirect effect, through staff job satisfaction, on school staff turnover (negative) and on school‐aggregated student achievement progress (positive). Finally, higher levels of school staff job satisfaction were associated with smaller achievement gaps between minority and non‐minority students. This result was more evident among schools having higher levels of principal transformational leadership. Results are discussed in relation to the role of transformational leadership in school performance and in recruiting, training, and evaluating school principals.
Interleukin-10 mediated autoregulation of murine B-1 B-cells and its role in Borrelia hermsii infection.

B cells are typically characterized as positive regulators of the immune response, primarily by producing antibodies. However, recent studies indicate that various subsets of B cells can perform regulatory functions mainly through IL-10 secretion. Here we discovered that peritoneal B-1 (B-1P) cells produce high levels of IL-10 upon stimulation with several Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands. High levels of IL-10 suppressed B-1P cell proliferation and differentiation response to all TLR ligands studied in an autocrine manner in vitro and in vivo. IL-10 that accumulated in cultures inhibited B-1P cells at second and subsequent cell divisions mainly at the G1/S interphase. IL-10 inhibits TLR induced B-1P cell activation by blocking the classical NF-κB pathway. Co-stimulation with CD40 or BAFF abrogated the IL-10 inhibitory effect on B-1P cells during TLR stimulation. Finally, B-1P cells adoptively transferred from the peritoneal cavity of IL-10−/− mice showed better clearance of Borrelia hermsii than wild-type B-1P cells. This study described a novel autoregulatory property of B-1P cells mediated by B-1P cell derived IL-10, which may affect the function of B-1P cells in infection and autoimmunity.
In Search of Tools that Inform Practice: Utilizing Program Accountability Data to Guide Program Improvement

In light of the fact that policy makers are attempting to build accountability systems that will hold teachers, and the teacher education programs that prepared them, accountable for student achiev...
How fatty acids bind to proteins: the inside story from protein structures

The interactions of fatty acids with proteins have been probed with a great variety of techniques and strategies. Many approaches have substituted covalently labeled fatty acids or structurally related molecules. Information from such studies ultimately requires validation by studies with natural fatty acids. However, even the best conventional approaches with natural fatty acids generally have revealed only limited aspects of fatty acid-protein interactions. In contrast, recent crystallographic and NMR studies of several proteins with bound fatty acids provide complete three-dimensional structures with molecular details of these interactions. This presentation reviews three examples of proteins that are indirectly or directly involved in cell signaling: a protein in the plasma compartment (human serum albumin); a protein family in the cytosolic compartment of mammalian cells (fatty-acid-binding proteins), and a nuclear protein (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor): it also discusses the structures of these proteins and their binding pocket(s), compares their specific modes of interactions with fatty acids, and discusses established and potential roles of fatty acid-protein interactions in cell signaling.
Mobilities of thermal electrons in π-electron containing organic gases☆

Abstract The mobility, μ, of thermal electrons in π-electron containing organic molecules (linear, cyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons) decreases with increasing number of doubly-occupied π-orbitals. For linear hydrocarbons with two doubly-occupied π-orbitals, μ increases with increasing separation of the two π-orbitals
Psychiatric heterogeneity in antisocial alcoholics: relation to familial alcoholism.

There is some indication that addicts who qualify for a diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder (ASP) do not comprise a homogeneous group with respect to psychopathology. This preliminary study attempted to determine the extent to which DSM-III diagnosed ASP alcoholics with alcoholism on both sides of their family could be differentiated with respect to childhood behavioral problems and additional adult psychopathology from ASP alcoholics with low degrees of familial alcoholism. Two groups of ASP alcoholic patients were compared: (1) 11 high familial (bilineal) alcoholics, and (2) 22 low familial (nonfamilial or unilineal) alcoholics. Few group differences were found in sociodemographic or alcohol-related characteristics, although the high familial group tended to be younger. However, the high familial alcoholism group tended to report more childhood antisocial behaviors and more childhood behavior problems overall. The high familial alcoholism group also reported more psychopathology on three of the 10 Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) clinical scales, paranoia (P < .05), schizophrenia (P < .06), and masculine-feminine (P < .025). Effect sizes for these three variables were in the moderate range. The group MMPI profile of the high familial alcoholism group was indicative of serious characterological disturbances, while that of the low familial alcoholism group was much more normal. The results of this preliminary study provided evidence suggesting that antisocial individuals with a high degree of familial alcoholism are more likely to manifest psychopathology than antisocial individuals with a lesser degree of familial alcoholism.
Rabies virus binding to an acetylcholine receptor α‐subunit peptide

The binding of 125I-labeled rabies virus to a synthetic peptide comprising residues 173-204 of the alpha 1-subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor was investigated. Binding of rabies virus to the receptor peptide was dependent on pH, could be competed with by unlabeled homologous virus particles, and was saturable. Synthetic peptides of snake venom, curaremimetic neurotoxins and of the structurally similar segment of the rabies virus glycoprotein, were effective in competing with labeled virus binding to the receptor peptide at micromolar concentrations. Similarly, synthetic peptides of the binding domain on the acetylcholine receptor competed for binding. These findings suggest that both rabies virus and neurotoxins bind to residues 173-204 of the alpha 1-subunit of the acetylcholine receptor. Competition studies with shorter alpha-subunit peptides within this region indicate that the highest affinity virus binding determinants are located within residues 179-192. A rat nerve alpha 3-subunit peptide, that does not bind alpha-bungarotoxin, inhibited binding of virus to the alpha 1 peptide, suggesting that rabies binds to neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. These studies indicate that synthetic peptides of the glycoprotein binding domain and of the receptor binding domain may represent useful antiviral agents by targeting the recognition event between the viral attachment protein and the host cell receptor, and inhibiting attachment of virus to the receptor.
Accomodation of misfit between single-crystal films of nickel and copper

Abstract Face-centered cubic cobalt films, in which there were thickness gradients, were grown in high vacuum ( -8 torr) on the (001) surfaces of copper films prepared inside the vacuum chamber. Examination of the specimens in an electron microscope-fitted with an X-ray microanalysis attachment-revealed that the cobalt was strained to match the copper lattice until an overgrowth thickness of 18.5 ± 5 A was reached. This result agrees with theoretical predictions. At 18.5 ± 5 A, misfit dislocations were formed: some of these were partial dislocations, the remainder were complete. The density of misfit dislocations increased as film thickness increased beyond 18.5 +- A but did so less rapidly than predicted by theory. It is suggested that this discrepancy between theory and experiment resulted from two processes which impeded the generation of misfit dislocation lines. The first was impaction of partial dislocations against stacking faults on intersecting slip planes and hindered the generation of partial misfit dislocations. The second was interaction between dislocations and hampered the generation of complete misfit dislocation lines.
Community complexity and knowledge of facilities

This research examines the relationships among three sets of variables: the amount of differentiation (or complexity) of a community, individual characteristics of its residents, and residents' knowledge of available facilities. A sample of 144 communities in upstate New York was drawn. Community differentiation was measured by means of the Medical Specialties Scale. A subsample of 32 communities was drawn, and in each of these a random sample of 40 noninstitutionalized men and women was interviewed. Multiple regression analysis was the statistical procedure used to test the hypothesis of the study. The findings uncovered an interaction effect, i.e., the relationship between community complexity and knowledge is different within different categories of communities. There is a negative relationship between community complexity and knowledge of facilities for rural communities, but for large cities the relationship is positive. The findings are interpreted as resulting from different sources of knowledge in different types of communities.
Architectural Effect on ANFIS for Machine Condition Assessment

This paper investigates the architectural effect on adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) for machine condition assessment. The study was motivated by ANFIS’s limitation in adapting its architecture to map the modeled input output relationship. Based on the grid input space partition method, two elements in defining an ANFIS architecture were studied: the type of the membership function (MF) and the MF number assigned to ANFIS inputs. A new modeling accuracy index was introduced to address the limitation of the traditional root mean square error (RMSE) in describing the effect of the MF type. The analysis showed that wide core membership functions enabled a smaller RMSE than narrow core membership functions for machine defect severity classification. It is further shown that selecting appropriate MF number is critical to ensuring accuracy of ANFIS, considering the overfitting problem. These results were experimentally investigated on a bearing test bed, where defect severity classification and dynamic load estimation were evaluated. The experiments agreed well with the theoretical analysis.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Velocity dependence of excitation transfer from Ar(43P2) to Kr

Abstract The cross section velocity dependence for the excitation transfer process Ar(4 3 P 2 ) + Kr → Ar + Kr(5p[3/2] 2 ) was studied using a crossed molecular beam time-of-flight method. The cross section increases with increasing velocity, with no apparent threshold down to 500 m/s. A curve crossing model is found to agree qualitatively with the results, and explains the state selectivity of the quenching process.
NESTING HABITS AND INCUBATION BEHAVIOR OF THE ROCK WREN

Abstract The nesting habits of Rock Wrens (Salpinctes obsoletus) were investigated at high altitude in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. Nests were built in cavities located under rocks or within rocky outcrops. The birds placed small, flat rocks inside the cavity to form a foundation for the nest cup, at the mouth of the cavity effectively decreasing the size of the entrance, and outside the nest cavity as if in a pathway. Eggs implanted with thermocouples provided records of egg temperature from which the females' incubation patterns were determined. Females roosted in the nest cavity and began diurnal incubation 3 days after beginning the clutch. Constancy of incubation was 71.0%, and mean egg temperature during full-time incubation was 34.4 C. Diurnal attentive bouts lasted a mean of 45.2 min and inattentive bouts 17.4 min.
Scanning tunneling microscopy studies of polythiophene and poly-3-bromothiophene films

Abstract The technique of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) was used to image films of tetrafluoroborate doped polythiophene and poly-3-bromothiophene films in air. Images of polythiophene showed large areas of amorphous surface, and smaller areas of semi-crystallinity with both helical and rod-like structures being observed. Films of poly-3-bromothiophene were dominated by large amorphous areas also, but contained well ordered surface areas with both helical and rod-like structures. The polythiophene and poly-3-bromothiophene rod-like structures both contained regularly spaced dislocations along the linear chains.
Integrative Genomics and Computational Systems Medicine

The exponential growth in generation of large amounts of genomic data from biological samples has driven the emerging field of systems medicine. This field is promising because it improves our understanding of disease processes at the systems level. However, the field is still in its young stage. There exists a great need for novel computational methods and approaches to effectively utilize and integrate various omics data.
An All-fiber Tunable Polarization-Dependent Loss Element

We describe the implementation of a wavelength-tunable polarization-dependent-loss element on polarization-maintaining fiber using two independently-controlled acoustic gratings. Continuous attenuation in both fast and slow axes at the same wavelength is demonstrated.
Abstract 4236: Universal homogenous bioluminescent assay to monitor the effect of modulators on various classes of methyltransferasesin vitro.

Methylation/demethylation of DNA and Proteins play major roles in modulation of the epigenome and has been implicated in a wide variety of human diseases. Recent biochemical and biological data suggest that the enzymatic activities of several of these enzymes have pathogenic roles in cancer, inflammation, and neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, pharmacological modulation of these enzymes by small molecules will be beneficial in developing novel therapeutics for multiple unmet medical needs. Towards this goal of searching for activators/inhibitors of these enzymes for the development of next generation of drugs, screening assays for these modulators are urgently needed. To address these unmet needs, we have developed a novel assay that monitors the activities of these enzymes and their modulation by small molecules. The assay is bioluminescent based, HTS formatted and highly sensitive. The assay is universal since it is based on monitoring the formation of the universal product S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), i.e., capable of detecting changes in activity of a broad range of methyltransferases such as DNA, protein, and small molecules methyltransferases. In addition, the assay has been validated for all classes of protein methyltransferases (Lysine and Arginine), and with different types of substrates (small peptides, large proteins, or even nucleosomes). This enables determining the specificity of these enzymes and their substrate requirements. The assay has high signal to background and low C.V. The assay is robust (Z’ value > 0.7) and has been validated using various plate densities such as 96-, 384, and 1536-well plates. A strong feature of this assay is its utility with broad range of substrates with no limitations on the use of high concentrations of substrates or the composition of the substrates (short vs. long peptides), thus enabling the generation of kinetic data and determining the mechanism of action of various modulators of methyltransferases of interest. Citation Format: Said A. Goueli, Kevin Hsiao, Hicham Zegzouti. Universal homogenous bioluminescent assay to monitor the effect of modulators on various classes of methyltransferases in vitro . [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4236. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-4236
Sedimentary Basins and Oil Developments in Indonesia: ABSTRACT

In spite of retarded developments of the oil potentials in Indonesia since World War II, the Indonesian Archipelago ranks as ninth in the list of world crude production. Aside from the known oil fields in Borneo (Kalimantan), Sumatra, Java, and West-Irian (New Guinea), great possibilities exist to further develop the oil potentials of the sedimentary basins of Indonesia provided that the Indonesian Government grants liberal terms and attractive conditions for existing and new concessions to private oil companies. This summary of the stratigraphy, structure, and oil potentials of the Tertiary basins of Indonesia is based mainly on available literature (E. W. Beltz, H. M. Schuppli, G. F. Kaufmann, J. Weeda, J. H. L. Wennekers, and others) and to a smaller degree on personal experience. End_of_Article - Last_Page 281------------
Tubular Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A, Erythropoietin, and Medullary Vessels: A Trio Linked by Hypoxia

The complex architecture of the renal vasculature is essential for the organ function and comprises three capillary beds.[1][1],[2][2] Glomerular capillaries are flanked by high-resistance afferent and efferent arterioles. Two postglomerular capillary networks emerge in series from efferent
Implicit Time Integration in the Generalized Interpolation Material Point Method for Finite Deformation Hyperelasticity

In this article, a novel implicit time-integration scheme for the generalized interpolation material point method (GIMP) is discussed. The implicit algorithm discussed in this article is an extension of the algorithm introduced for the material point method (MPM) by Sulsky and Kaul [1]. In this article, the numerical solution employs the Newton-Krylov technique coupled with the conjugate gradient (CG) method to solve the governing equations in a robust, matrix-free fashion. In implicit MPM, the solution procedure needs to be re-ordered in terms of momentum if the algorithm has to solve large deformation problems [1]. This is a direct consequence of the cell-crossing issues in MPM. The solution procedure in this case uses the generalized minimum residual method to solve the resulting non-symmetric equations. However, GIMP is specifically formulated to overcome these particle cell-crossing issues in MPM; hence, a specialized procedure for large deformation is not required. The proposed implicit algorithm fo...
Copulatory Behavior of American Avocets and Black-necked Stilts

Abstract I recorded details of 231 copulations of American Avocets (Recurvirostra americana) and 39 copulations of Black-necked Stilts (Himantopus mexicanus) in northern Utah. Those data are presented as quantitative descriptions of the copulatory behavior of each species, complementing and clarifying qualitative descriptions in the literature. I observed no qualitative differences between copulatory behavior of avocets and stilts. Small quantitative differences may be related to differences in morphology and habitat preference. Across the family Recurvirostridae, the distinctive copulatory displays of avocets (Recurvirostra spp.) and stilts (Himantopus spp.) seem relatively uniform, but the behavior of the monotypic Banded Stilt (Cladorhynchus leucocephalus) of Australia appears to differ somewhat from typical recurvirostrid copulatory behavior. Attempted copulation with inanimate objects has been reported for at least 6 of the 10 recurvirostrid species.
Antenna Efficiency and the Genius of the IEEE Standard for Antenna Terms [Education Column]

At a 2007 Square Kilometre Array Design Studies (SKADS) workshop in Dwingeloo, Wim van Cappellen of the Nether lands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON) gave a presentation on figures of merit, in which he memorably compared antenna terms to apples. What seems like a simple, homogeneous fruit comes in all colors and varieties. Similarly, a survey of antenna literature and textbooks shows that authors use a wide variety of antenna figures of merit, often not in compliance with the relevant IEEE Standard Definitions of Terms for Antennas [1]. Since this standard is now in the process of revision by the Antennas and Propagation Society Antenna Standards Committee, it seems worth while to consider the standard, and clarify some common mis understandings and inconsistent usages.
Mats and fabrics for electromagnetic interference shielding

Fabrics (with continuous electrically conductive fibers) are more effective than mats (with discontinuous conductive fibers) for electromagnetic interference shielding. Conductive fibers in the form of metal-coated polymer fibers or metal-coated carbon fibers are more effective than those in the form of bare carbon fibers. The highest shielding effectiveness of 53 dB at 1.0 GHz was attained by a metal-coated polymer fabric. The shielding is due mainly to reflection. A higher shielding effectiveness correlates with a higher reflectivity and a lower electrical resistivity. Both shielding effectiveness and reflectivity decrease with increasing frequency from 300 kHz to 1.5 GHz. The shielding effectiveness increases with thickness, as shown for bare carbon fiber mats. A nickel-coated carbon fiber mat of areal weight 9 g/m2 is similar to a bare carbon fiber mat of areal weight 17 g/m2 in shielding effectiveness.