cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Activation of the interleukin-5 promoter by cAMP in murine EL-4 cells requires the GATA-3 and CLE0 elements.

Interleukin-5 (IL-5) plays a central role in the growth and differentiation of eosinophils and contributes to several disease states including asthma. Accumulating evidence suggests a role for cAMP as an immunomodulator; agents that increase intracellular cAMP levels have been shown to inhibit production of cytokines predominantly produced by T helper (Th) 1 cells such as IL-2 and interferon γ (IFN-γ). In contrast, the production of IL-5, predominantly produced by Th2 cells, is actually enhanced by these agents. In this report, we have performed transient transfection experiments with IL-5 promoter-reporter gene constructs, DNase I footprinting assays, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays to investigate the key regulatory regions necessary for activation of the IL-5 promoter by dibutyryl cAMP and phorbol esters in the mouse thymoma line EL-4. Taken together, our data demonstrate the critical importance of two sequences within the IL-5 5′-flanking region for activation by these agents in EL-4 cells: one, a highly conserved 15-base pair element present in genes expressed by Th2 cells, called the conserved lymphokine element 0 (CLE0; located between −53 and −39 in the IL-5 promoter), and the other, two overlapping binding sites for the transcription factor GATA-3 (but not GATA-4) between −70 and −59. Taken together, our data suggest that activation via the unique sequence combination GATA/CLE0 results in selective expression of the IL-5 gene in response to elevated levels of intracellular cAMP.
Non-native Species DO Threaten the Natural Environment!

Sagoff [Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics 18 (2005), 215–236] argues, against growing empirical evidence, that major environmental impacts of non-native species are unproven. However, many such impacts, including extinctions of both island and continental species, have both been demonstrated and judged by the public to be harmful. Although more public attention has been focused on non-native animals than non-native plants, the latter more often cause ecosystem-wide impacts. Increased regulation of introduction of non-native species is, therefore, warranted, and, contra Sagoff’s assertions, invasion biologists have recently developed methods that greatly aid prediction of which introduced species will harm the environment and thus enable more efficient regulation. The fact that introduced species may increase local biodiversity in certain instances has not been shown to result in desired changes in ecosystem function. In other locales, they decrease biodiversity, as they do globally.
Stomatal resistance and the ratio of intercellular to ambient carbon dioxide in container-grown yellow-poplar seedlings exposed to chronic ozone fumigation and water stress

Abstract One-year old container-grown seedlings of yellow-poplar ( Liriodendron tulipifera L.) were exposed to 0.15 ppm ozone (O 3 ) fumigation and water stress (two l-week drying cycles) in continuously stirred tank reactors prior to measuring stomatal resistance ( R s ), intercellular carbon dioxide [CO 2 ( C i )], and the ratio of C i and ambient CO 2 ( C a ) after 20 and 36 days. Water stress increased R s by more than 250% and reduced C i and the C i C a ratio by just over 20%. There were no significant effects of 0.15 ppm O 3 on C i and the C i C a ratio but R s was significantly increased by the interaction of water stress and O 3 fumigation. For water-stressed seedlings fumigated with charcoal-filtered air, C i and the C i C a ratio were significantly lower than those of the other treatments. The data show that interactions involving low levels of ozone and short periods of water stress may have a substantial influence on stomatal physiology.
Effects of nano-patterned versus simple flat active layers in upright organic photovoltaic devices

A scalable procedure for nano-patterning the bulk heterojunction layer in organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices is reported. Nano-patterning is shown to increase light absorption in poly(3-hexylthiophene) : [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT : PCBM) devices (ITO\WO3\P3HT : PCBM\Ca\Al). Nano-patterning also modifies electric fields in OPV devices, thus affecting charge harvesting. Nano-patterned OPV devices with a power conversion efficiency of 4% are presented. Comparable efficiencies are also obtained by optimization of thicknesses in a flat-layer device. Trade-offs between absorption enhancement and charge harvesting deterioration induced by nano-patterning are discussed as well as possible optimization strategies.
Novel Ca2+-binding protein (CAPS) related to UNC-31 required for Ca2+-activated exocytosis.

Abstract Exocytotic secretion in neuroendocrine cells is activated by cytoplasmic Ca2+ increases. Late post-docking events in dense core vesicle exocytosis in permeable PC12 cells require cytosolic factors for sequential ATP-dependent priming and Ca2+-dependent triggering steps. The cytosolic proteins phosphatidylinositol transfer protein and phosphatidylinositol (4)-phosphate 5-kinase, as well as membrane-boundN-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor, are required for the ATP-dependent priming step. Following priming, the Ca2+-dependent triggering of vesicle fusion requires an additional cytosolic factor, CAPS, which was purified as a 145-kDa protein. To clarify late Ca2+-dependent events in vesicle fusion, the sequence of rat CAPS cDNA was determined and found to encode a novel protein that is the vertebrate homologue of the Caenorhabditis elegans UNC-31 protein shown genetically to be required for neurosecretion. Recombinant CAPS substituted for cytosol in the Ca2+ triggering step in permeable PC12 cells and exhibited moderate affinity (K d = 270 μm) Ca2+binding (2 mol Ca2+/mol CAPS dimer), consistent with a role at a Ca2+-regulated step in exocytosis.
A nonlinear stochastic rational expectations model of exchange rates

Abstract This paper constructs an example of a nonlinear stochastic rational expectations exchange rate with an explicit solution, which is consistent with nonlinearities in short term movements in exchange rates. The model consists of risk neutral agents, who know the intervention rule of the central bank. The resulting exchange rate switches between two linear stochastic processes, one when intervention is present, and another when intervention is absent. Nonlinearity enters through the probability of intervention, which is time varying and depends on past outcomes. This model is consistent with the empirical observations that the rate of change of the exchange rate has little autocorrelation, but it exhibits strong nonlinear dependence, and its variance changes over time. (JEL J31, G15).
Loss of αCGRP Reduces Sound-Evoked Activity in the Cochlear Nerve

α-Calcitonin gene-related peptide (αCGRP) is one of several neurotransmitters immunolocalized in the unmyelinated component of the cochlear efferent innervation, the lateral olivocochlear (OC) syst...
Uncertainty quantification of MEMS using a data-dependent adaptive stochastic collocation method

Abstract This paper presents a unified framework for uncertainty quantification (UQ) in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). The goal is to model uncertainties in the input parameters of micromechanical devices and to quantify their effect on the final performance of the device. We consider different electromechanical actuators that operate using a combination of electrostatic and electrothermal modes of actuation, for which high-fidelity numerical models have been developed. We use a data-driven framework to generate stochastic models based on experimentally observed uncertainties in geometric and material parameters. Since we are primarily interested in quantifying the statistics of the output parameters of interest, we develop an adaptive refinement strategy to efficiently propagate the uncertainty through the device model, in order to obtain quantities like the mean and the variance of the stochastic solution with minimal computational effort. We demonstrate the efficacy of this framework by performing UQ in some examples of electrostatic and electrothermomechanical microactuators. We also validate the method by comparing our results with experimentally determined uncertainties in an electrostatic microswitch. We show how our framework results in the accurate computation of uncertainties in micromechanical systems with lower computational effort.
Effective estimates of invertibility intervals for linear multipoint boundary value problems

Abstract Inequalities and explicit formulas are given for Green's function for multipoint boundary value problems. These relations are combined with a new method for studying uniqueness problems to obtain explicit criteria for uniqueness in terms of the operator coefficients.
Kin recognition in Rana cascadae tadpoles: Effects of rearing with nonsiblings and varying the strength of the stimulus cues

Experiments with two clutches of Rana cascadae tadpoles were undertaken to determine if (1) rearing tadpoles exclusively with nonkin affects sibling recognition behavior and (2) if tadpoles are capable of distinguishing between groups of varying sibling/nonsibling composition. Individual tadpoles reared from embryonic stages with 12 nonsiblings behaved as tadpoles reared with siblings by exhibiting a preference for siblings over nonsiblings in choice tests. This suggests that experience with siblings is not a necessary prerequisite for the development of sibling recognition in this species. Tadpoles reared with siblings preferred to associate with a group composed of 50% siblings and 50% nonsiblings over a group of 100% nonsiblings, but exhibited no preference for a group composed of 25% siblings and 75% nonsiblings versus one composed of nonsiblings only. Thus tadpoles are capable of discriminating between mixed groups of siblings and nonsiblings, but probably require some minimum proportion of siblings to do so.
Behavioral measurements of rat spectral sensitivity.

Abstract Behavioral measurements of visual sensitivity were obtained from hooded rats on a threechoice discrimination task. Increment threshold measurements reveal the occurrence of a distinct Purkinje shift. Photopic spectral sensitivity functions for this animal have peaks at 500 and 580 nm. The results of chromatic adaptation suggest that this photopic sensitivity function results from interactions between two mechanisms with peak sensitivities near 520 and 540 nm. Along with previous behavioral and electrophysiological results, these findings suggest that the rat possesses at least three different spectral mechanisms—a scotopic mechanism with a peak sensitivity at 500 nm and two photopic mechanisms whose peak sensitivities may be about 520 and 540 nm.
Adult learning theory and the pursuit of adult degrees

This chapter describes a four-lens model for understanding adult learning theories and provides adult educators and administrators with a useful conceptual framework for working with adult learners in adult degree programs.
How persistent is ADHD? A controlled 10-year follow-up study of boys with ADHD

The main aim of this study was to examine the age-dependent persistence of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in boys transitioning from adolescence into early adulthood attending to different definitions of persistence. We conducted a 10-year follow-up study (mean follow-up time=11 years) of 110 boys with ADHD and 105 non-ADHD controls. Both groups were 6-17 years of age at ascertainment. ADHD was considered persistent at follow-up if subjects met full or subthreshold (more than half of the symptoms required for a full diagnosis) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, (DSM-IV) diagnostic criteria, failed to attain functional remission (Global Assessment of Functioning, GAF score < or =60) or were receiving treatment for ADHD. While 65% of children with ADHD no longer met full DSM-IV criteria for ADHD at the 10-year follow-up, 78% of subjects met at least one of our definitions of persistence. Persistence as described above was associated with more psychiatric co-morbidity, more familiality with mood disorders and higher levels of educational and interpersonal impairments than controls. This 10-year longitudinal follow-up study shows that the majority of ADHD boys experience persistent symptoms and functional impairments into early adulthood. Persistence of ADHD is associated with greater psychiatric comorbidity, familiality and functional impairments.
Electronic structure of the N-V center in diamond: Experiments

Quantum-beat spectroscopy has been used to observe excited states of the N-V center in diamond. For the 1.945-eV optical transition, direct evidence is presented for the existence of GHz-scale fine structure, together with a much larger 46-${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ level splitting in the E state. An interference effect observed in transient four-wave-mixing response is explained with a polarization selection rule involving Zeeman coherence among magnetic sublevels. Also, detailed dephasing measurements versus temperature and wavelength have identified the decay mechanisms operative among the various states. A comparison of these results with ab initio calculations of excited electronic structure and interactions based on several multielectron models supports the conclusion that the N-V center is a neutral, two-electron center governed by a strong Jahn-Teller effect and weak spin-spin interactions. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
Prolyl hydroxylase inhibition during hyperoxia prevents oxygen-induced retinopathy in the rat 50/10 model.

Purpose To study the effect of systemic hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibition (HIF PHDi) in the rat 50/10 oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) model. Methods Oxygen-induced retinopathy was created with the rat 50/10 OIR model. OIR animals received intraperitoneal injections of dimethyloxalylglycine (DMOG, 200 μg/g), an antagonist of α-ketoglutarate cofactor and inhibitor for HIF PHD, on postnatal day (P)3, P5, and P7. Control animals received intraperitoneal injections of PBS. On P14 and P21, animals were humanely killed and the effect on vascular obliteration, tortuosity, and neovascularization quantified. To analyze HIF and erythropoietin, rats at P5 were injected with DMOG (200 μg/g). Western blot or ELISA measured the levels of HIF-1 and Epo protein. Epo mRNA was measured by quantitative PCR. Results Alternating hyperoxia and hypoxia in untreated rats led to peripheral vascular obliteration on day P14 and P21. Rats that were treated with systemic DMOG by intraperitoneal injections had 3 times less ischemia and greater peripheral vascularity (P = 0.001) than control animals treated with PBS injections. Neovascularization similarly decreased by a factor of 3 (P = 0.0002). Intraperitoneal DMOG administration increased the levels of HIF and Epo in the liver and brain. Serum Epo also increased 6-fold (P = 0.0016). Systemic DMOG had no adverse effect on growth of rats treated with oxygen. Conclusions One of the many controversies in the study of retinopathy of prematurity is whether hyperoxia or alternating hyperoxia and hypoxia creates the disease phenotype in humans. We have previously demonstrated that PHDi prevents OIR in mice exposed to 5 days of sustained 75% oxygen followed by 5 days of 21% oxygen. The 50/10 rat experiments demonstrate that PHDi is also effective in a 24-hour alternating hyperoxia-hypoxia model. The rat OIR model further validates the therapeutic value of HIF PHDi to prevent retinopathy of prematurity because it reduces oxygen-induced vascular obliteration and retinovascular growth attenuation in prolonged and/or alternating hyperoxia.
Nucleoside diphosphate kinase associated with membranes modulates μ-opioid receptor-mediated []GTPγS binding and agonist binding to μ-opioid receptor

Abstract The role of nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDKP), which converts GDP to GTP, in the coupling of μ-opioid receptors to G protein was investigated in membranes of Chinese hamster ovary cells stably transfected with the cloned rat μ-opioid receptor (rmor). Endogenous NDPK activity in membranes was determined to be 0.60±0.02 μmol/mg protein/30 min UDP (at 10 mM), a competitive substrate of NDPK for GDP with no effect on guanine nucleotide binding to G proteins, reduced basal [ 35 S ]GTPγS binding and unmasked morphine-stimulated [ 35 S ]GTPγS binding to pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins, indicating that [ 35 S ]GTPγS binding to NDPK accounts for part of its high basal binding. UDP increased the extent of morphine-induced increase in [ 35 S ]GTPγS binding in the presence of GDP, most likely by reducing basal binding and inhibiting conversion of GDP to GTP. ATP greatly reduced morphine-induced increase in [ 35 S ]GTPγS binding, whereas AMP-PCP (adenylyl-(β,γ-methylene)-diphosphoate tetralithium salt), which cannot serve as the phosphate donor for NDPK, did not, demonstrating that effects of ATP is mediated by the NDPK product GTP. In addition, GDP and ATP increased the Kd and lowered the Bmax of the agonist [ 3 H ]DAMGO ([ d -Ala2,N-Me-Phe4,Gly5ol]-Enkephalin) for the μ-opioid receptor and GDP alone increased Kd, most likely through their conversion to GTP by NDPK. Addition of exogenous NDPK enhanced the inhibitory effects of GDP and combined GDP and ATP on [ 3 H ]DAMGO binding. Thus, NDPK appears to play a role in modulating signal transduction of and agonist binding to μ-opioid receptors.
Strategic Public Planning: External Orientations and Strategic Planning Team Members

It is commonly argued that public strategic planning should be led by a small team of individuals committed to the process; however, little guidance is provided on how to construct such a team. Prior straegic management and public administration literature has examined the differentiation between internal and external managerial orientation. Building on that differentiation, this research found that those individuals who possess a greater external orientation are the most likely to be committed to planning. Therefore, externally oriented managers would be the most appropriate for building a strategic management team.
Evaluation of thin metal foils as targets and windows for heavy-ion experiments

Abstract The mechanical limits of thin metal foils were studied under conditions which simulated heavy-ion beam experiments. The properties of He and N 2 as cooling gases were evaluated; helium was found to be superior to nitrogen in all cases. The most durable foils were found to be molybdenum and tantalum.
Achieving blood pressure goals: is fixed-dose combination therapy the answer?

SUPPLEMENT 3 VOL. V NO. IV JULY/AUGUST 2003 2 Many patients being treated for hypertension continue to have high blood pressure levels. Consensus has been mounting regarding the need to initiate antihypertensive therapy with a combination of two agents from different antihypertensive classes in selected patients—a strategy endorsed in the recently published seventh report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7). Although it is now evident that bringing blood pressure to goal as quickly as possible is important, it is still unclear which combinations of antihypertensive agents constitute optimal therapy. Unfortunately, the recently completed Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT) failed to shed additional light on this question. In fact, following the ALLHAT conclusion—initiate antihypertensive therapy with a thiazide diuretic for virtually all patients—might deprive a substantial number of high-risk patients with hypertension from receiving medications from other classes for which there are specific or compelling indications. This collection of articles is based on presentations made at a satellite symposium held May 14, 2003, at the American Society of Hypertension Eighteenth Annual Scientific Meeting in New York, NY. The articles explore the theoretic and clinical practice evidence for using combination antihypertensive therapy. Thomas D. Giles, MD, initiates the discussion by exploring the rationale for selecting combination therapy as initial therapy for patients with hypertension. He presents interesting data from a clinical study in which a fixed-dose combination product including an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and calcium channel blocker (CCB) (amlodipine besylate/ benazepril HCl) proved more successful as I n t r o d u c t i o n
The genus of a module II. Roiter's theorem, power cancellation and extension of scalars

Abstract Roiter proved that for a given Z -order Λ in a semisimple Q -algebra, there is a positive integer n = n(Λ) such that there are at most n nonisomorphic Λ-lattices which are all locally isomorphic. The main result of this article is to extend this result to finitely generated Λ-modules. One can work over other Dedekind domains D. If it is only assumed that the residue fields of D are finite, then it is shown that M ⊕ X ≅ N ⊕ X implies e copies of M are isomorphic to e copies of N for some e = e(Λ) for M, N, and X finitely generated Λ-Modules. Jacobinski proved there is an extension field k (depending only on Λ) such that two Λ-lattices become isomorphic under an extension of scalars to the integers of k if and only if they are locally isomorphic. This result is extended to modules, and also an analog of this result is proved for arbitrary Dedekind domains.
Prospects for Measurements of Rare B Decays and Other Heavy Flavour Physics at CMS

The Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) is a multi-purpose detector operating at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. Its excellent tracking system, combined with low momentum muon trigger capabilities, allows for precise studies of heavy flavour physics. The capabilities of the CMS experiment in this field have been studied in several benchmark processes. These studies are based on a full detector simulation and show the capability of CMS to identify, select and reconstruct heavy flavour decays, which present a significant challenge due to the high backgrounds and relatively low particle momenta. After a description of the detector, the trigger system, and the trigger strategy for B physics, four heavy flavour analyses in CMS are presented: exclusive B s 0 decays to J / ψ ϕ and to μ + μ − ; a study of the B c + meson; and the decay τ − → μ − μ − μ + .
Abnormal brain iron homeostasis in human and animal prion disorders.

Neurotoxicity in all prion disorders is believed to result from the accumulation of PrP-scrapie (PrPSc), a β-sheet rich isoform of a normal cell-surface glycoprotein, the prion protein (PrPC). Limited reports suggest imbalance of brain iron homeostasis as a significant associated cause of neurotoxicity in prion-infected cell and mouse models. However, systematic studies on the generality of this phenomenon and the underlying mechanism(s) leading to iron dyshomeostasis in diseased brains are lacking. In this report, we demonstrate that prion disease–affected human, hamster, and mouse brains show increased total and redox-active Fe (II) iron, and a paradoxical increase in major iron uptake proteins transferrin (Tf) and transferrin receptor (TfR) at the end stage of disease. Furthermore, examination of scrapie-inoculated hamster brains at different timepoints following infection shows increased levels of Tf with time, suggesting increasing iron deficiency with disease progression. Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD)–affected human brains show a similar increase in total iron and a direct correlation between PrP and Tf levels, implicating PrPSc as the underlying cause of iron deficiency. Increased binding of Tf to the cerebellar Purkinje cell neurons of sCJD brains further indicates upregulation of TfR and a phenotype of neuronal iron deficiency in diseased brains despite increased iron levels. The likely cause of this phenotype is sequestration of iron in brain ferritin that becomes detergent-insoluble in PrPSc-infected cell lines and sCJD brain homogenates. These results suggest that sequestration of iron in PrPSc–ferritin complexes induces a state of iron bio-insufficiency in prion disease–affected brains, resulting in increased uptake and a state of iron dyshomeostasis. An additional unexpected observation is the resistance of Tf to digestion by proteinase-K, providing a reliable marker for iron levels in postmortem human brains. These data implicate redox-iron in prion disease–associated neurotoxicity, a novel observation with significant implications for prion disease pathogenesis.
Mechanism of hepatotoxicity due to black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa): histological, immunohistochemical and electron microscopy analysis of two liver biopsies with clinical correlation.

Abstract Background Consumption of herbal supplements in the developed world remains high. Cimicifuga racemosa (C. racemosa) extract, or black cohosh, is widely used as a hormone replacing and an anti-inflammatory agent, and has been shown to cause idiosyncratic hepatitis. The mechanism of acute liver injury in those cases is unclear. To date, hepatotoxic effects of C. racemosa have been studied mostly in vitro and in animal models. Data on human tissue is extremely limited, and mostly confined to histological findings of explanted livers. Methods We evaluated clinical data and examined surgical diagnostic liver biopsy specimens obtained from two female patients, who developed acute submassive liver necrosis, following consumption of C. racemosa. Both patients presented with acute elevation of liver enzymes, cholestasis, absence of reactivity to hepatitis A, B and C antibodies, and weak non-specific positivity for autoimmune serological markers. Initial histological interpretation of the biopsies, with focus on hepatic parenchyma and portal tracts, was done by light microscopy, followed by special stain series and immunohistochemical studies, including Cam 5.2, AE1/AE3, reticulin, α-actin, sirius red, and PAS with diastase. Areas of prominent lymphocytic infiltration of the periportal liver plate, observed microscopically, were further evaluated by electron microscopy (EM). 4HNE adduction study, an immunofluorescent assay, was performed to detect products of the oxidative damage and their localization in the liver parenchyma. Results Oxidative damage was evident by accumulation of 4HNE protein adducts in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes, secondary lysosomes and macrophages. We hypothesize that the adducted proteins, accumulated in the liver parenchyma, serve as autoantigens, which provoke an autoimmune response, and cause migration of lymphocytes to the affected regions. The formation of immunological synapses between hepatocytes and lymphocytes, predominantly T-lymphocytes, is demonstrated by electron microscopy. The autoimmune response induces piecemeal, or troxis necrosis of hepatocytes, a well described biological phenomenon, where lymphocytes gradually remove hepatocytes in a piecemeal fashion, slowly consuming them and leaving fragments of liver cells, or nubbins of anuclear cytoplasm of liver cell, at the interface between lymphocytes and hepatocytes. Conclusion The pattern of pathological injury of liver cells in both patients, following consumption of black cohosh, is identical to troxis necrosis, seen during autoimmune hepatitis. Recognition of the possibility of the acute hepatic injury by the herbal supplement black cohosh is essential for early accurate diagnosis, and timely patient management.
Enhanced task-oriented training in a person with dementia with Lewy bodies

Despite the inevitable loss of function seen in people with progressive dementias, interventions for reversing or minimizing functional loss are understudied. Research supports task-oriented training, but practical gaps in how to best evaluate clients for this training and how to implement it in clinical settings may be thwarting translation to occupational therapy practice. We structured an intervention model called STOMP (Skill-building through Task-Oriented Motor Practice) using a unique blend of task-oriented training and motor-learning principles. In this article, we describe through a case study the process and outcome of using STOMP to improve functional skills in a woman with moderate dementia with Lewy bodies. Our findings suggest that STOMP has the potential to serve as a structure for the evaluation and treatment of occupational performance deficits in people with dementia and that this model warrants further investigation.
Bringing architecture back to computing: an interview with Daniel A. Menascé

Over the past 10 or 20 years, the subject of machine organization and system architecture has been deemphasized in favor of the powerful abstractions that support computational thinking. We have grown accustomed to slogans like "computing is bits, not atoms"---suggesting that bits are not physical and the properties of the physical world are less and less important for understanding computation.
Copy correlation direction-of-arrival estimation performance

The mean squared error performance of a copy weight correlation (CC) based method of angle estimation proposed by Forsythe and Richmond is studied via application of the method of interval error (MIE). It is demonstrated that at low SNRs the CC method leans heavily on the a priori information embedded in the copy weight, but at high SNRs reverts to the Capon algorithm estimate. This prior information can be quite advantageous when accurate (e.g. it can mitigate the threshold effect altogether), but possibly detrimental if either inaccurate or difficult to match (e.g. due to poorly known array calibration). It is shown here that the error probabilities used in MIE capture the threshold effects induced by mismatch, and correctly predict MSE performance over a wide range of scenarios.
Sedimentation behavior of solubilized gonadotropin receptor from plasma membranes of bovine corpus luteum.

Abstract The gonadotropin receptors associated with plasma membrane fractions were solubilized by detergents, including Triton X-100, Lubrol WX, Lubrol PX and sodium deoxycholate before and after equilibration with 125 I-labelled human chorionic gonadotropin. The binding activity remained in solution even after centrifugation at 300 000 × g for 3 h. The solubilized gonadotropin receptor or gonadotropin receptor complex was characterized by gel filtration and sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Sucrose density gradient centrifugation of solubilized gonadotropin-receptor complex in the presence of Triton X-100 had a sedimentation coefficient of 6.5 S whereas the solubilized uncomplexed receptor had a sedimentation coefficient of 5.1 S. In the absence of the detergent, solubilized hormone receptor complex from plasma membrane fractions I and II sedimented with a apparent sedimentation coefficient of 6.6 S and 7.4 S, respectively. Similary, the free receptor also showed higher sedimentation profile with a apparent sedimentation coefficient of 6.7 S for fraction I and 7.2 S for fraction II. Treatment of plasma membranes with phospholipase A and C inhibited the binding of 125 I-labelled human chorionic gonadotropin in a dose dependent manner, whereas phospholipase D was without any effect. Doses of 1.4 mI.U. of phospholipase A or 0.6 mI.U. of phospholipase C were required to produce 50% inhibition of the binding activity. These phospholipases had no effect on the performed 125 I-labelled human chorionic gonadotropin-receptor complex nor on the sedimentation profile of solubilized gonadotropin receptor complex.
N-terminal Extension of N-Methylpurine DNA Glycosylase Is Required for Turnover in Hypoxanthine Excision Reaction

Abstract N-Methylpurine DNA glycosylase (MPG) initiates base excision repair in DNA by removing a wide variety of alkylated, deaminated, and lipid peroxidation-induced purine adducts. In this study we tested the role of N-terminal extension on MPG hypoxanthine (Hx) cleavage activity. Our results showed that MPG lacking N-terminal extension excises hypoxanthine with significantly reduced efficiency, one-third of that exhibited by full-length MPG under similar conditions. Steady-state kinetics showed full-length MPG has higher Vmax and lower Km than NΔ100 MPG. Real time binding experiments by surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy suggested that truncation can substantially increase the equilibrium binding constant of MPG toward Hx, but under single-turnover conditions there is apparently no effect on catalytic chemistry; however, the truncation of the N-terminal tail affected the turnover of the enzyme significantly under multiple turnover conditions. Real time binding experiments by surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy further showed that NΔ100 MPG binds approximately six times more tightly toward its product apurinic/apyrimidinic site than the substrate, whereas full-length MPG similarly binds to both the substrate and the product. We thereby conclude that the N-terminal tail in MPG plays a critical role in overcoming the product inhibition, which is achieved by reducing the differences of MPG binding affinity toward Hx and apurinic/apyrimidinic sites and thus is essential for the Hx cleavage reaction of MPG. The results from this study also affirm the need for reinvestigation of full-length MPG for its enzymatic and structural properties, which are currently available mostly for the truncated protein.
Gender Differences in the Residential Origins of the Homeless: Identification of Areas with High Risk of Homelessness

Abstract This article offers a gender perspective on homelessness concerning residential origins. Data were obtained through the 2005 homelessness survey in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The residential origins of homeless women are more widespread and less concentrated in the neighborhoods of high poverty than those of homeless men. Areas with lack of low-rent housing units are at greatest risk of generating homeless men and women. The rate of residential origins of homeless men increases with the proportion of Hispanics and African Americans, particularly those living below poverty level. Areas with a high proportion of female-headed households with young children and unemployed females are strongly significant in producing more homeless women. Planners should take into account a geographic and population-targeted strategy in designing homelessness prevention interventions.
Comparisons between an Upland and a Pima Cotton Cultivar: II. Nutrient Uptake and Partitioning

Uptake and partitioning of N, P, and K by Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) have been studied, but no such work has included American Pima cotton (G. barbadense L.). Our objective was to describe the N, P, and K uptake and partitioning into various plant parts for two representative Upland and Pima cotton cultivars. Upland 'Deltapine 90' (DPL 90) and Pima 'S-6'were grown at two south-central Arizona locations for 3 yr. Beginning 14 to 20 d after emergence, the aboveground portions of cotton plants were harvested and separated into stems, leaves (including petioles), burs (carpel walls), lint, and seeds. The bur fraction also included squares, flowers, immature bolls, and burs from mature bolls. Total N, P, and K analyses were conducted on each fraction (except lint). Nutrient concentration, uptake, and partitioning by cotton was modeled on a heat unit accumulation basis (HUAP). Up to about 1500 HUAP, leaves were major N sinks, leaves and the bur fraction were major P sinks, and leaves and stems were major K sinks for both cultivars. After 1500 HUAP, the bur fraction and seeds were major N and P sinks and the bur fraction was the major K sink. For DPL 90, the total N, P, and K uptake was 201, 31, and 254 kg ha -1 and for Pima S-6, it was 201, 32, and 226 kg ha -1 , respectively. Nutrient requirements for producing 100 kg lint ha -1 were 15-2.3-19 kg ha -1 N-P-K for Upland cotton and 21-3.3-23 kg ha -1 for Pima cotton.
Understanding Institutional Change Legislative Staff Development and the State Policymaking Environment

The study of state legislative change is dominated by concerns with the development of professional legislatures, but do the components of a professional legislature develop in the sameway? If not, what accounts for change in state legislative institutions? We separate legislative staff from the larger concept of professionalism and offer a theory that explains staff development and its impact on both legislative activity and conflict with the governor. We demonstrate that staff size and organizational structure respond to internal and external competitive pressures and they in turn have an affect on the larger policy environment separate from professionalism.
Experimental Validation of Robust Resonance Entrainment for CPG-Controlled Tensegrity Structures

Rhythmic motion employed in animal locomotion is ultimately controlled by neuronal circuits known as central pattern generators (CPGs). It appears that these controllers produce efficient oscillatory command signals by entraining to a resonant gait via sensory feedback. This property is of great interest in the control of autonomous vehicles. In this paper, we experimentally validate synthesized CPG control of tensegrity structures. The prestressed cables in a tensegrity structure provide a method of simultaneous actuation and sensing, analogous to the biological motor control mechanism of regulating muscle stiffness through motoneuron activation and sensing the resulting motion by stretch receptors. A three-cell class-two tensegrity structure is designed, built, and modeled to predict the structure's dynamic response. The models are experimentally validated using open-loop control tests. Next, a simple CPG, called a reciprocal inhibition oscillator (RIO), is designed and synthesized in real time. The RIOs outputs are used as actuation commands, while sensory signals from the tensegrity are fed back to the RIO. Multiple controller configurations are tested to validate an RIO design method developed and reported in a complementary study. Finally, the tensegrity dynamics are perturbed by altering the mass of the tensegrity, and the robustness of RIO control is demonstrated through its ability to entrain to the perturbed system.
On the associated primes of the third power of the cover ideal

An algebraic approach to graph theory involves the study of the edge ideal and the cover ideal of a given graph. While a lot is known for the associated primes of powers of the edge ideal, much less is known for the associated primes of the powers of the cover ideal. The associated primes of the cover ideal and its second power are completely determined. A configuration called a wheel is shown to always appear among the associated primes of the third power of the cover ideal.
WE‐D‐220‐05: Development of Autoscanning 3D Ultrasound Technology for Radiotherapy Simulation, Planning and IGRT

Purpose: 3D ultrasound (3DUS) can be used to provide soft‐tissue visualization in both CT‐sim and treatment rooms. Fused CT/3DUS datasets provide complementary information for contouring, and 3DUS‐to‐3DUS comparisons are used for soft‐tissue based IGRT. To date, 2DUS probes have been used in combination with a position sensor to reconstructimages from a freehand sweep. In this work we describe the development of a mechanically sweeping autoscan probe for acquisition, with a focus on transperineal prostate imaging. Methods: A calibration algorithm was developed for reconstruction of 3D autoscan images in room coordinates. To ensure images are consistently centered, a Hall sensor was used to tag the central position of the sweep within the probe casing. The accuracy was measured by comparing 3DUS and CTimages of the same phantom. Precision was measured by scanning a sphere within the phantom 32 times. The effect of treatment and CTradiationdose on probe homing was measured by delivering 8000 MU of 6 and 18 MV beams with the probe 1 cm outside of the field edge, as well as CT scans of the entire probe, between successive acquisitions. Preliminary patient images were acquired to show the feasibility of scanning prostates transperineally. Results: Accuracy of the system was found to be within 1 mm, and precision within 0.5 mm with 95% confidence. Neither CT nor treatmentdose affected the spatial accuracy. Preliminary images showed feasibility of imaging the prostate and surrounding structures. Conclusions: A mechanically sweeping probe can reconstruct 3DUS images accurately and precisely in CT and treatment room coordinate systems and is not affected by radiationdose. Transperineal imaging of the prostate with the probe is shown to be feasible. Future work will enable continuous image acquisitions during treatment to track intrafractional motion of the prostate and critical structures. All authors except H J. Wallace III are employed by Elekta/Resonant Medical
Pyridine-Ag20 cluster: a model system for studying surface-enhanced Raman scattering.

This work presents a detailed analysis of enhanced Raman scattering of the pyridine−Ag20 model system using time-dependent density functional theory. A consistent treatment of both the chemical and electromagnetic enhancements (EM) is achieved by employing a recently developed approach based on a short-time approximation for the Raman cross section. A strong dependence of the absolute and relative intensities on the binding site and excitation wavelength is found. The analysis of the Raman scattering cross sections shows the importance of different contributions to the enhancements, including static chemical enhancements (factor of 10), charge-transfer enhancements (103), and EM enhancements (105). The largest enhancement found (105−106) is due to the EM mechanism, with a small contribution from the chemical interaction. This suggests that the enhanced Raman scattering due to atomic clusters is comparable to findings on single nanoparticles. A combination of information about the vibrational motion and th...
Ultrasonic attenuation of anisotropic superconductor in ql < 1 limit

The ultrasonic attenuation coefficient αs, for an anisotropic superconductor in ql < 1 limit, is expressed in terms of power series expansion of the parameter of anisotropy, a. We showed that the αs anomaly as proposed by Kadanoff and Pippard cannot occur. This is because there exist geometrical factors in the expression ofαs, which are sufficient to compensate the divergence in the relaxation time.
Nanoparticle crystallinity: is perfect better?

A synthetic method of producing metal nanoparticles of chosen crystallinity can help us understand how crystal defects affect their physical and chemical properties.
The corporate communication function: how well is it funded

This guest editorial article considers the extent to which the corporate communication function in the UK context is adequately funded. It concentrates on what appears to be the entirely neglected research area of whether or not organizations consider that the competitive advantage that successful communications can bring is worthy of the financial investment on which such success may well depend crucially. The article concludes that a sizeable minority receives little or no investment in the communication function. It notes that a large majority of communication executives feel that they are adequately resourced; but it questions whether their competitive advantage would be enhanced through more substantial funding. It also suggests that substantial resourcing may well go hand in hand with the controversial nature of the organization itself.
Efficient approximation of continuous wavelet transforms

An efficient algorithm is developed for computing the continuous wavelet transform or wideband ambiguity function on a grid whose samples are spaced uniformly in time but placed arbitrarily in scale. The method is based on the chirp z transform and requires the same order of computation as constant-bandwidth analysis techniques, such as the shorttime Fourier transform and narrowband ambiguity function.
The functional significance of centric relation as demonstrated by electromyography of the lateral pterygoid muscles

Summary A study was made using electromyography to determine the activity of the lateral pterygoid muscles during mastication. Results indicated that the lateral pterygoid muscles were inactive for a period of time as the mandible was elevated during mastication. During this period of inactivity, the elevating and retruding muscular forces tended to position the mandible in centric relation. Thus, centric relation is a functional as well as a reference position of mandibular movement.
A hemispherical high-pressure xenon gamma radiation spectrometer

Abstract A prototype hemispherical high-pressure xenon gamma radiation spectrometer was designed, constructed and tested. The detector consists of a pair of concentric hemispherical electrodes contained inside a thin-walled stainless steel pressure dome. Detector performance parameters such as energy resolution, linearity and vibration sensitivity were determined and compared to previous cylindrical and planar designs. Without a Frisch grid, the hemispherical detector provides a total room temperature energy resolution of 6% @ 662 keV and is relatively insensitive to acoustic interference.
Experimental and theoretical description of the isotachophoretic behavior of serum albumin.

The isotachophoretic behavior of serum albumin is examined for three anionic and one cationic electrolyte systems by (i) computer simulation, (ii) capillary isotachophoresis (ITP) and (iii) continuous flow ITP. The theoretical relationship between pH of the leading electrolyte and the steady state protein plateau concentration is presented for one of the anionic systems. With leading ion concentrations of the order of 10 mm, experimental protein plateau concentrations of 1.3–2.3 % w/v are obtained. The computer predictions are approximately half these values.
Mouse Mammary Tumors Express Elevated Levels of RNA Encoding the Murine Homolog of SKY, a Putative Receptor Tyrosine Kinase

To gain insight into the signal transduction pathways utilized by the Wnt-1-responsive mammary epithelial cell line C57MG, we screened for non-src family member tyrosine kinases expressed in these cells using a polymerase chain reaction-based technique. We identified five cDNA clones encoding receptor tyrosine kinases for which the ligand is known (fibroblast growth factor receptor, platelet-derived growth factor receptor, epithelial growth factor receptor, insulin receptor, and insulin-like growth factor receptor), two putative receptor tyrosine kinases for which the ligand remains to be identified (the products of ryk and the mouse klg homolog), and a novel tyrosine kinase. We cloned cDNAs encoding both the murine and human homologs of this kinase, the sequences of which were subsequently published under the names sky (Ohashi, K., Mizuno, K., Kuma, K., Miyata, T., and Nakamura, T. (1994) Oncogene 9, 699-705) and rse (Mark, M. R., Scadden, D. T., Wang, Z., Gu, Q., Goddard, A., and Godowski, P. J. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 10720-10728). Mouse sky RNA levels are abundant in mammary tumors derived from transgenic mice that express wnt-1, fgf-3, or both oncogenes in their mammary glands. However, little or no expression of sky is detected in mammary glands from virgin animals or in preneoplastic mammary glands from wnt-1 transgenic mice. Moreover, we find that the human homolog of sky is expressed at elevated levels when normal human mammary epithelial cells are rendered tumorigenic by the introduction of two viral oncogenes. Transient transfection of the human SKY cDNA into the quail fibrosarcoma cell line QT6 reveals that SKY is an active tyrosine kinase that augments the level of cellular phosphotyrosine. Introduction of murine Sky into RatB1a fibroblasts by retrovirus-mediated gene transfer results in morphological transformation, growth in soft agar, and the formation of tumors in nude mice. These data raise the possibility that the Sky tyrosine kinase is involved in the development and/or progression of mammary tumors.