cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Calmodulin-dependent and -independent activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase by heat shock protein 90

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), which generates the endogenous vasodilator, nitric oxide (NO), is highly regulated by post-translational modifications and protein interactions. Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) binds directly to eNOS, augmenting NO production. We have used purified proteins to characterize further the mechanism by which HSP90 increases eNOS activity at low (100 nm) and high (10 microm) Ca(2+) levels. In the presence of calmodulin (CaM), HSP90 increased eNOS activity dose dependently at both low and high Ca(2+) concentrations. This effect was abolished by the specific HSP90 inhibitor geldanamycin (GA) at both calcium concentrations. The EC(50) values of eNOS for both Ca(2+) and CaM were decreased in the presence of HSP90. HSP90 also significantly increased the rate of NADPH-dependent cytochrome c reduction by eNOS at both low and high Ca(2+) concentrations. HSP90 bound to eNOS in a dose-dependent manner, and the amount of bound HSP90 also increased with increasing Ca(2+)/CaM. At 100 nm Ca(2+), HSP90 promoted dose-dependent CaM binding to eNOS that was fully inhibitable by GA. At high calcium, HSP90 did not affect CaM binding to eNOS, but GA inhibited HSP90 binding to eNOS. At high Ca(2+), HSP90 caused the V(max) of eNOS for l-arginine to increase by 2-fold, but the K(m) of eNOS was unchanged. HSP90 bound preferentially to CaM-prebound eNOS and significantly increased both its NO synthesis and reductase activities. These data support that HSP90 promotes eNOS activity by two mechanisms: (i) a CaM-dependent mechanism operative at low Ca(2+) concentrations, characterized by an increase in the affinity of eNOS for CaM and (ii) a CaM-independent mechanism apparent at high Ca(2+) concentrations, characterized by stimulation of eNOS reductase activity without further change in CaM binding. These studies contribute to our understanding of eNOS activation by HSP90 and provide a basis for in vitro studies of other eNOS-interacting proteins.
Identification of metabolites with anticancer properties by computational metabolomics

Certain endogenous metabolites can influence the rate of cancer cell growth. For example, diacylglycerol, ceramides and sphingosine, NAD+ and arginine exert this effect by acting as signaling molecules, while carrying out other important cellular functions. Metabolites can also be involved in the control of cell proliferation by directly regulating gene expression in ways that are signaling pathway-independent, e.g. by direct activation of transcription factors or by inducing epigenetic processes. The fact that metabolites can affect the cancer process on so many levels suggests that the change in concentration of some metabolites that occurs in cancer cells could have an active role in the progress of the disease. CoMet, a fully automated Computational Metabolomics method to predict changes in metabolite levels in cancer cells compared to normal references has been developed and applied to Jurkat T leukemia cells with the goal of testing the following hypothesis: Up or down regulation in cancer cells of the expression of genes encoding for metabolic enzymes leads to changes in intracellular metabolite concentrations that contribute to disease progression. All nine metabolites predicted to be lowered in Jurkat cells with respect to lymphoblasts that were examined (riboflavin, tryptamine, 3-sulfino-L-alanine, menaquinone, dehydroepiandrosterone, α-hydroxystearic acid, hydroxyacetone, seleno-L-methionine and 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole), exhibited antiproliferative activity that has not been reported before, while only two (bilirubin and androsterone) of the eleven tested metabolites predicted to be increased or unchanged in Jurkat cells displayed significant antiproliferative activity. These results: a) demonstrate that CoMet is a valuable method to identify potential compounds for experimental validation, b) indicate that cancer cell metabolism may be regulated to reduce the intracellular concentration of certain antiproliferative metabolites, leading to uninhibited cellular growth and c) suggest that many other endogenous metabolites with important roles in carcinogenesis are awaiting discovery.
Nephropathic Cystinosis in Adults: Natural History and Effects of Oral Cysteamine Therapy

Background: The full burden of nephropathic cystinosis in adulthood and the effects of long-term oral cysteamine therapy on its nonrenal complications have not been elucidated.Objective: To assess the severity of cystinosis in adults receiving and not receiving oral cysteamine therapy.Design: Case series.Setting: National Institutes of Health Clinical Center.Patients: 100 persons (58 men and 42 women) age 18 to 45 years with nephropathic cystinosis examined between January 1985 and May 2006.Measurements: Historical data were collected on renal transplantation, administration of oral cysteamine, and time and cause of death. Patients were evaluated for height and weight; thyroid, pulmonary, and swallowing function; muscle atrophy; hypogonadism (in men); retinopathy; vascular and cerebral calcifications; diabetes mellitus; and homozygosity for the common 57-kb deletion in CTNS. Laboratory studies were also performed.Results: Of 100 adults with nephropathic cystinosis, 92 had received a renal allograft and 33 had died. At least half of the patients had hypothyroidism, hypergonadotropic hypogonadism (in men), pulmonary insufficiency, swallowing abnormalities, or myopathy. One third of the patients had retinopathy or vascular calcifications, and 24% had diabetes. Homozygosity for the 57-kb CTNS deletion was associated with an increased risk for death and morbidity. The 39 patients who received long-term ( >= 8 years) oral cysteamine therapy were taller and heavier, had a renal allograft later in life, had lower cholesterol levels, and experienced fewer complications and deaths than patients who received cysteamine for fewer than 8 years. The frequency of diabetes mellitus, myopathy, pulmonary dysfunction, hypothyroidism, and death increased as time off cysteamine treatment increased, and it decreased as time on cysteamine therapy increased.Limitations: The study was retrospective and not randomized. The criteria used to measure adequacy of treatment were arbitrary.Conclusions: Untreated nephropathic cystinosis causes extensive morbidity and death in adulthood. Long-term oral cysteamine therapy mitigates these effects.
Fostering Neighborhood Involvement in Workforce Development

ABSTRACT One of the challenges in welfare reform implementation is to provide neighborhood outreach and assistance to unemployed individuals. This case study tells the story of three neighborhoods as they implemented a public-private neighborhood jobs pilot initiative (NJPI). The Rockefeller Foundation, in partnership with Alameda County Social Services Agency, supplied seed money for the NJPI to develop “one-stop” employment resource centers. The article describes how the neighborhoods implemented the NJPI, as well as common strengths and challenges, and lessons learned from the NJPI experience.
Thomas Rogers and the English Sabbath: The Case for a Reappraisal

From the publication of Peter Heylyn's History of the Sabbath in 1636 to the most recent studies of this doctrine, sabbatarianism has been treated as an important and controversial issue in the post-Reformation period. These studies portray sabbatarianism as a puritan innovation, which that party introduced in an effort to reform the church from below, having failed to covert the English church to presbyterianism. This doctrinal innovation has been described by Professor Collinson as “something more than a certain ethical and social attitude to the use of Sunday: it implies the doctrinal assertion that the fourth commandment is not an obsolete ceremonial law of the Jews but a perpetual, moral law, binding on Christians; in other words, that the Christian observance of Sunday has its basis not in ecclesiastical tradition but in the decalogue.”
Is p53 the Long-Sought Molecular Trigger for Cyclophilin D–Regulated Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore Formation and Necrosis?

An article recently published in Cell concluded that p53 is necessary and sufficient to induce mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP)–dependent necrosis through inducible p53 translocation to the matrix with cyclophilin D (CypD) binding. The results and implications are very provocative. The physiological significance of the proposed paradigm, however, is uncertain because calcium itself, which is a fundamental regulator of MPTP, is independent of p53, as shown by the authors. In addition, purified mitochondria from any unstimulated cell type or tissue, which presumably lacks p53 given the inducible mechanism proposed, have a fully functional MPTP to all the classic modes of stimulation as analyzed in vitro. Myocardial infarction produces an area of myocyte loss that is a mixture of apoptotic and necrotic cell death. Recent data from multiple laboratories have shown that necrosis can be a programmed event and that specific molecular inhibitors of this process can be potently cardioprotective. During ischemic injury, both reactive oxygen species (ROS) and calcium levels increase within cells, triggering a type of programmed necrosis through MPTP opening that is CypD-dependent.1–5 Indeed, treatment with cyclosporine A, a CypD inhibitor, as well as genetic deletion of CypD, reduces ischemia/reperfusion injury in both the brain and the heart.3–5 Thus, mitochondria are central regulators of ischemic cell death through a mechanism involving the MPTP, but until recently we have lacked an understanding of how CypD is activated and potentially induces MPTP directly. However, Moll et al6 recently published an interesting article in the journal Cell , which shows that p53 can open the MPTP leading to necrotic cell death (Figure). They propose that upon ROS stimulation, p53 translocates to the matrix of the mitochondria where it binds to CypD and somehow opens the MPTP (Figure). This function of p53 was independent of …
Platelet counting by the coulter LH 750, sysmex XE 2100, and advia 120: a comparative analysis using the RBC/platelet ratio reference method.

We compared the accuracy and precision of the impedance platelet counts generated by the Beckman Coulter LH 750 and the Sysmex XE 2100 and the optical platelet counts produced by the Advia 120 and the Sysmex XE 2100 with flow cytometric reference platelet counts. Samples analyzed had platelet counts less than 150 × 10 3 /µL (150 × 10 9 /L) with a platelet flag or less than 75 × 10 3 /µL (75 × 10 9 /L) on the Sysmex SE 9500. The 105 samples were run sequentially through each analyzer. Anti-CD41 and anti-CD61 monoclonal antibodies were used for flow cytometric determination of the reference platelet count by the RBC/platelet ratio method. The Beckman Coulter and the Sysmex impedance platelet counts showed better correlation with the reference method than the optical platelet counts by the Advia and the Sysmex. At platelet transfusion thresholds of 10 and 20 × 10 3 /µL (10 and 20 × 10 9 /L), the precision of the impedance methods was somewhat better than that of the optical methods. Current methods of optical platelet counting may not be superior to impedance platelet counts for all patient populations. Despite tremendous advancements in automated hematology analyzers, the reporting of accurate platelet counts continues to pose difficulties for the hematology laboratory. Factors that contribute to problems with platelet count accuracy and precision include the following: (1) limitations of instrument technologies for eliminating cellular and particulate interference; (2) unsatisfactory reproducibility of manual platelet counting methods; and (3) preanalytic interference, such as platelet clumping, that precludes accurate platelet
Migration Barriers and Evolution of Mechanical Properties of Oxide Nanoclusters Containing Helium

High number densities of complex oxide nanoclusters in nanostructured ferritic alloys have been shown to act as effective trapping sites for the transmutation product helium. Density functional theory has been used to investigate the evolution of the mechanical properties of oxide nanoclusters as helium concentration increases. The migration barrier and migration path of helium in the oxide has also been tested in order to make a comparison with the barriers in BCC iron and offer insight to the helium trapping mechanisms of the oxides.
Choosing Drug Use Measures for Treatment Outcome Studies. I. The Influence of Measurement Approach on Treatment Results

Drug use is measured in a number of different ways in drug treatment outcome studies. Different measures of outcome may yield different results, making comparison across studies difficult. The utility, sensitivity, and level of measurement of five categories of measures are reviewed. It is suggested that research focus on examining the properties of existing drug use measures, on developing methods of evaluating timing and sequence in the relapse process, and on standardizing measurement approaches across studies.
Amazonian deforestation and global warming: carbon stocks in vegetation replacing Brazil's Amazon forest

Abstract Carbon stocks in vegetation replacing forest in Brazilian Amazonia affect net emissions of greenhouse gases from land-use change. A Markov matrix of annual transition probabilities was constructed to estimate landscape composition in 1990 and to project future changes, assuming behavior of farmers and ranchers remains unchanged. The estimated 1990 landscape was 5.4% farmland, 44.8% productive pasture, 2.2% degraded pasture, 2.1% 'young' (1970 or later) secondary forest derived from agriculture, 28.1% 'young' secondary forest derived from pasture, and 17.4% 'old' (pre-1970) secondary forest. The landscape would eventually approach an equilibrium of 4.0% farmland, 43.8% productive pasture, 5.2% degraded pasture, 2.0% secondary forest derived from agriculture, and 44.9% secondary forest derived from pasture. An insignificant amount is regenerated 'forest' (defined as secondary forest over 100 years old). Average total biomass (dry matter, including below-ground and dead components) was 43.5 t ha -1 in 1990 in the 410 x 10 3 km 2 deforested by that year for uses other than hydroelectric dams. At equilibrium, average biomass would be 28.5 t ha -1 over all deforested areas (excluding dams). These biomass values are more than double those forming the basis of deforestation emission estimates currently used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Although higher replacement landscape biomass decreases net emissions from deforestation, these estimates still imply large net releases.
Vertical Lobule Division in Rhinoplasty: Maintaining an Intact Strip

Objective To review the indications for, surgical techniques of, and results of vertical lobule division (VLD) of the alar cartilages. Design Prospective study of patients assigned to undergo variations of VLD of the lower lateral cartilages. Setting Private facial plastic surgery practice in a major university teaching hospital. Patients Twenty-four patients who underwent variations of VLD of the lower lateral cartilages with re-creation of an intact strip, including 4 patients undergoing revision. Main Outcome Measures Postoperative photographs were reviewed for tip projection and rotation, tip symmetry, bossae, knuckles, columellar position and length, and alar retraction. Patients were polled about their overall satisfaction with nasal aesthetics and degree of subjective nasal obstruction preoperatively and postoperatively. Results Vertical lobule division decreased projection in 22 of 22 patients, increased rotation in 12 of 12 patients, decreased rotation in 1 of 2 patients, corrected tip asymmetry in 3 of 4 patients, and shortened a long infratip lobule in 1 patient. Postoperatively, bossae and knuckling developed in 1 patient, and 2 patients demonstrated alar retraction that did not exist preoperatively. One patient undergoing revision noted worsened nasal obstruction not related to VLD. Conclusions Vertical lobule division is a reliable, safe technique with predictable outcomes in tip repositioning. It allows for preservation of a strong tip complex while adding versatility to tip refinement.
Information Graphics and Intuition Heuristics as a Techne for Visualization

Professional communication scholars have critiqued the idea that visual styles derived from cognitive theories of human perception can be universally understood by all people and thus effective in ...
Military Mobilization in Seventeenth and Eighteenth-Century China, Russia, and Mongolia

From the mid-seventeenth to the late eighteenth centuries three agrarian states—Chinese, Mongolian, and Russian—struggled for power over the heartland of the Eurasian continent. Each had dynamic central leaders mobilizing agrarian surpluses based on drastically different ecologies, institutions, and military structures. When the dust cleared, by 1760, only two survived.
Radio galaxies and their environment

The relationships between radio galaxies and their environment are varied, complex, and evolve with cosmic epoch. Basic questions are what role the environment plays in triggering and fuelling (radio) galaxy activity what the effects of this activity are on its environment, and how radio galaxies and environment evolve. Clearly, this could be the topic of a workshop all in itself and the scope of this review will necessarily be limited. A review of the connections between environment and galaxy activity in general has been given by Heckman. First, I will briefly summarize the relationships between parent galaxy and cluster environments, and radio galaxies. A more detailed discussion of various aspects of this will be given elsewhere by F. Owen, J.0. Burns and R. Perley. I will then discuss the current status of investigations of extended emission-line regions in radio galaxies, again referring elsewhere in this volume for more detailed discussions of some particular aspects (kinematics and ionization mechanisms by K. Meisenheimer; polarization and spectral index lobe asymmetries by G. Pooley). I will conclude with a brief discussion of the current status of observations of high redshift radio galaxies.
TβRIII Restores Normal Cytoskeleton Mechanics In Ovarian Cancer Cells

Changes in cellular phenotypes in cancer are characterized by alterations of the cytoskeleton and several important signaling pathways in the cell. One of the signaling pathways implicated in controlling proliferation, angiogenesis and apoptosis is the TGF-β signaling pathway. Loss of expression of the TGF- β superfamily co-receptor, TβRIII/betaglycan, occurs in a broad spectrum of cancers, including those of the breast, ovary and prostate. Recent studies have shown that restoration of TβRIII to metastatic populations of ovarian and breast cancer cells suppresses migration via alteration of the cytoskeleton. Using our 3 dimensional force microscope system (3DFM) for passive and active microrheology, we compared the response of normal ovarian surface epithelial cells, ovarian cancer cells with reduced TβRIII expression, and ovarian cancer cells with restored expression of TβRIII. We found that cancer cells lacking TβRIII were at least 3× more compliant (less stiff) than either normal epithelial or TβRIII-expressing cancer cells. Our results, are consistent with potential invasiveness being correlated with increased cell compliance, and both being regulated by the TβRIII pathway. Compliance measurements using the 3DFM could be a useful tool to measure invasiveness in the future.
Application of alternative hydrograph separation models to detect changes in flow paths in a watershed undergoing urban development

Runo} characteristics in a low!gradient central!Florida watershed were analysed using environmental d 07 O and a series of conservative!tracer mass!balance models applied to a storm event "098 mm over approximately 29 h# monitored in May and June 0882 on the Econlockhatchee River\ Florida[ The assumption of steady! state conditions implicit in the widely used two!component mixing model was tested by applying steady!state and non!steady!state models for a subcatchment "104 km 1 # of the river[ Both models indicated that about 65) of the resulting river ~ow was composed of pre!storm water[ A third mass!balance model "steady!state# was developed to separate pre!storm from storm!event runo} over a discrete reach of the river\ which had a contributing area of 024 km 1 [ This model indicated that approximately 36) of the water entering the reach could be attributed to pre!storm water[ The greater proportion of event water entering the reach was attributed to suburban development in the watershed and indicates that urbanization in watersheds not only a}ects the timing\ peak and total runo}\ but also may change ~ow!paths for runo}\ and may signi_cantly a}ect down! stream water quality[ Copyright 1999 John Wiley + Sons\ Ltd[
Ultrawide-bandwidth fully-polarimetric ground penetrating radar classification of subsurface unexploded ordnance

An ultrawide-bandwidth (UWB) ground penetrating radar (GPR) was used to collect fully-polarimetric backscattered data from 10 to 800 MHz using a dual-polarization version of the previously developed dielectric-loaded horn-fed bow-tie (HFB) antenna. Special processing algorithms were developed to extract the polarization, orientation, depth, and length features of the target under investigation. The polarization and resonance features were utilized to discriminate subsurface ordnance from false-alarm objects that do not have elongated bodies. The classification of a specific type of unexploded ordnance (UXO) was also performed using the known length information. The processed results obtained from an initial blind field test show a very encouraging discrimination performance.
Transcriptome profiling and validation of gene based single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in sorghum genotypes with contrasting responses to cold stress.

Sorghum is a versatile cereal crop, with excellent heat and drought tolerance. However, it is susceptible to early-season cold stress (12–15 °C) which limits stand-establishment and seedling growth. To gain further insights on the molecular mechanism of cold tolerance in sorghum we performed transcriptome profiling between known cold sensitive and tolerant sorghum lines using RNA sequencing technology under control and cold stress treatments. Here we report on the identification of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between contrasting sorghum genotypes, HongkeZi (cold tolerant) and BTx623 (cold sensitive) under cool and control temperatures using RNAseq approach to elucidate the molecular basis of sorghum response to cold stress. Furthermore, we validated bi-allelic variants in the form of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) between the cold susceptible and tolerant lines of sorghum. An analysis of transcriptome profile showed that in response to cold, a total of 1910 DEGs were detected under cold and control temperatures in both genotypes. We identified a subset of genes under cold stress for downstream analysis, including transcription factors that exhibit differential abundance between the sensitive and tolerant genotypes. We identified transcription factors including Dehydration-responsive element-binding factors, C-repeat binding factors, and Ethylene responsive transcription factors as significantly upregulated during cold stress in cold tolerant HKZ. Additionally, specific genes such as plant cytochromes, glutathione s-transferases, and heat shock proteins were found differentially regulated under cold stress between cold tolerant and susceptible genotype of sorghum. A total of 41,603 SNP were identified between the cold sensitive and tolerant genotypes with minimum read of four. Approximately 89 % of the 114 SNP sites selected for evaluation were validated using endpoint genotyping technology. A new strategy which involved an integrated analysis of differential gene expression and identification of bi-allelic single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was conducted to determine and analyze differentially expressed genes and variation involved in cold stress response of sorghum. The results gathered provide an insight into the complex mechanisms associated with cold response in sorghum, which involve an array of transcription factors and genes which were previously related to abiotic stress response. This study also offers resource for gene based SNP that can be applied towards targeted genomic studies of cold tolerance in sorghum and other cereal crops.
Evaporative Emissions Under Real Time Conditions

The EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) are currently examining various proposals to modify the test procedures used to measure and regulate hydrocarbon evaporative emissions. The purpose of the proposed modifications would be to approximate the ambient conditions that vehicles can encounter on high temperature days, when many exceedances of the ozone air quality standard can occur
Benign and Malignant Tumors

The gamut of benign and malignant lesions that can occur in the mediastinum or thymus is wide in spectrum and beyond the scope of a chapter dealing with this rich pathology. This chapter will focus on primary mediastinal lesions with special interest in those that are more commonly seen. Although metastatic tumors to the mediastinum, in some circumstances, may mimic primary mediastinal tumors, they will be addressed in the context of the primary mediastinal lesions.
Large-Scale Changes of Soil Wetness Induced by an Increase in Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide

Abstract The change in soil wetness in response to an increase of atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide is investigated by two versions of a climate model which consists of a general circulation model of the atmosphere and a static mixed layer ocean. In the first version of the model, the distribution of cloud cover is specified whereas it is computed in the second version incorporating the interaction among cloud cover, radiative transfer and the atmospheric circulation. The CO2-induced changes of climate and hydrology are evaluated based upon a comparison between two quasi-equilibrium climates of a model with a normal and an above normal concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide. It is shown that, in response to a doubling (or quadrupling) of atmospheric carbon dioxide, soil moisture is reduced in summer over extensive midcontinental regions of both North America and Eurasia in middle and high latitudes. Based upon the budget analysis of heat and water, the physical mechanisms responsible for th...
People of the Big Voice: Photographs of Ho-Chunk Families by Charles Van Schaick, 1879-1942

Review of: "People of the Big Voice: Photographs of Ho-Chunk Families by Charles Van Schaick, 1879–1942," by Tom Jones, Michael Schmudlach, Matthew Daniel Mason, Amy Lonetree and George A. Greendeer.
1910 Nursing Management and Care of the Children on Mechanical Circulatory Support

Background and Aims The number of children being hospitalized for heart failure (HF) is increasing and, in recent years, mechanical circulatory support (MCS) is gaining more importance in the treatment end stage HF. The use of these complex technology implies changes in nursing assistance with equally complex aspects of care. The aim of this work was to describe our experience in the management of pediatric patients supported by different devises at the cardiology department at the Bambino Gesu Children’s Hospital. Methods Within the last 5 years, the MCS have been used in children with severe circulatory failure resistant to pharmacological therapy. ECMO was used in 83 pediatric patients (aged3.4±6.0years),Ventricular assist devices in 27, Berlin Heart EXCOR Pediatric was implanted in 23 children (aged5.5±6.8years), Heart Mate II in two children (13 ages), and Jarvik 2000 in 3 adolescents. These were patients with cardiomyopathy, fulminant myocarditis, end-stage congenital cardiac defects, and acute heart failure after congenital heart surgery. Results Nursing intensive care management is very complex and includes infection and anticoagulation monitoring, wound care: surgical site and cannulas/pedestal medication, nutritional support, pain management, psychological support, mobilization and the daily nursing management of the children. Conclusions Our experience shows that management of pediatric patients on MCS requires a highly specialized pediatric team. The goal of a nurse caring for a child on MCS is to be an active participant of all aspects of the patient’s care including a deep understanding of the patient’s physiology, of the indication for mechanical support, and of the most important complication that can occur.
Comparative hemolytic complement activities of germfree and conventional guinea pig serum.

SummaryHemolytic complement levels of more than 100 1-, 2-, 3-, and 12-week-old germfree and conventional guinea pigs were compared. There was no consistent significant difference between complement levels of germfree and conventional animals, especially among older animals. All groups of 12-week-old animals had serum complement levels 2 to 3 times those of 1-week-old animals.
The surface state of hematite and its wetting characteristics

Apart from being a resource for iron/steel production, the iron oxide minerals, goethite and hematite, are used in the paint, cosmetics, and other industries as pigments. Surface characteristics of these minerals have been studied extensively both in resource recovery by flotation and in the preparation of colloidal dispersions. In this current research, the wetting characteristics of goethite (FeOOH) and hematite (Fe2O3) have been analyzed by means of contact angle, bubble attachment time, and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) measurements as well as by Molecular Dynamics Simulation (MDS). Goethite is naturally hydroxylated and wetted by water at all pH values. In contrast, the anhydrous hematite surface (001) was found to be slightly hydrophobic at natural pH values with a contact angle of about 50°. At alkaline pH hydroxylation of the hematite surface occurs rapidly and the hematite becomes hydrophilic. The wetting characteristics of the hematite surface then vary between the hydrophobic anhydrous hematite and the completely hydrophilic hydroxylated hematite, similar to goethite. The hydrophobicity can be restored by heating of the hydroxylated hematite surface at 60°C. The hydrophobic character of the anhydrous hematite (001) surface is confirmed by MDS which also reveals that after hydrolysis the hematite (001) surface can be wetted by water, similar to the goethite (001) surface.
Bounding equilibrium payoffs in repeated games with private monitoring: Bounding equilibrium payoffs

We provide a simple sufficient condition for the existence of a recursive upper bound on (the Pareto frontier of) the sequential equilibrium payoff set at a fixed discount factor in two-player repeated games with imperfect private monitoring. The bounding set is the sequential equilibrium payoff set with perfect monitoring and a mediator. We show that this bounding set admits a simple recursive characterization, which nonetheless necessarily involves the use of private strategies. Under our condition, this set describes precisely those payoff vectors that arise in equilibrium for some private monitoring structure, if either non-stationary monitoring or communication is allowed.
Cloning of bacterial DNA replication genes in bacteriophage λ

Recombinant lambda phages containing the genes for dnaZ protein (the γ subunit of DNA polymerse III holoenzyme), primase (dnaG protein) and dnaC protein from Escherichi coli and Salmonella typhimurium were isolated. Each gene cloned from S. typhimurium has extensive DNA sequence homology to the corresponding E. coli gene. Clones selected by complementation of a dnaA temperature-sensitive mutant appear similar to other isolated suppressors of dnaA (Projan and Wechsler 1981). Derivatives of each cloned fragment suitable for overproduction of the protein were constructed. Of those tested, only the phage containing the E. coli dnaZ gene resulted in significant overproduction.
From Norms to Values: Moral Agency and Creative Resistance

Black people have to be creatively responsive to the unjust and oppressive social and economic circumstances that sustain American life. In response to social and religious sanctions around heteronormativity as the moral standard for family life, many black queers expand these efforts to include nonnormative ways of enacting family. Young examines research participants’ praxis response to dynamics within families, the role of the family context in shaping subjectivity, and the moral products of a normativized concept of family. Many black queers disrupt relational norms and creatively resist them by establishing new ways to understand and enact family structures, incorporating values and exhibiting virtues that challenge the disciplinary powers of capitalism and heteropatriarchy. This resistance involves the creation of teleological goods, a process that illustrates black queer moral agency.
Electric field dependence of optical phonon frequencies in wurtzite GaN observed in GaN high electron mobility transistors

Due to the high dissipated power densities in gallium nitride (GaN) high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs), temperature measurement techniques with high spatial resolution, such as micro-Raman thermography, are critical for ensuring device reliability. However, accurately determining the temperature rise in the ON state of a transistor from shifts in the Raman peak positions requires careful decoupling of the simultaneous effects of temperature, stress, strain, and electric field on the optical phonon frequencies. Although it is well-known that the vertical electric field in the GaN epilayers can shift the Raman peak positions through the strain and/or stress induced by the inverse piezoelectric (IPE) effect, previous studies have not shown quantitative agreement between the strain and/or stress components derived from micro-Raman measurements and those predicted by electro-mechanical models. We attribute this discrepancy to the fact that previous studies have not considered the impact of the electric...
Whole-genome sequence, SNP chips and pedigree structure: building demographic profiles in domestic dog breeds to optimize genetic-trait mapping

In the decade following publication of the draft genome sequence of the domestic dog, extraordinary advances with application to several fields have been credited to the canine genetic system. Taking advantage of closed breeding populations and the subsequent selection for aesthetic and behavioral characteristics, researchers have leveraged the dog as an effective natural model for the study of complex traits, such as disease susceptibility, behavior and morphology, generating unique contributions to human health and biology. When designing genetic studies using purebred dogs, it is essential to consider the unique demography of each population, including estimation of effective population size and timing of population bottlenecks. The analytical design approach for genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and analysis of whole-genome sequence (WGS) experiments are inextricable from demographic data. We have performed a comprehensive study of genomic homozygosity, using high-depth WGS data for 90 individuals, and Illumina HD SNP data from 800 individuals representing 80 breeds. These data were coupled with extensive pedigree data analyses for 11 breeds that, together, allowed us to compute breed structure, demography, and molecular measures of genome diversity. Our comparative analyses characterize the extent, formation and implication of breed-specific diversity as it relates to population structure. These data demonstrate the relationship between breed-specific genome dynamics and population architecture, and provide important considerations influencing the technological and cohort design of association and other genomic studies.
Insights from the Whole Genome Sequence of Escherichia coli RS218 in Identifying Potential Virulence Traits Common to E. coli Causing Neonatal Meningitis and Other Extra-intestinal Diseases

Escherichia coli RS218 is the prototypic strain of neonatal meningitis causing E. coli (NMEC) that has been used in many studies relevant to NMEC pathogenesis. In the present study, the whole genome of E. coli RS218 was sequenced and compared with the genomes of eight other extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) as well as with the laboratory strain of E. coli K-12. Analysis of E. coli RS218 genome revealed that it consists of a circular chromosome of 5.087 Mb in size and a 114-Kbp plasmid with an average G+C content of 50.6%. The chromosome contains 4,658 coding sequences, 88 transfer RNAs, 22 ribosomal RNAs, one clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats array, and five noncoding RNAs. Escherichia coli RS218 genome demonstrated 98% nucleotide similarity to cystitis causing E. coli strain UTI89. Comparative genomic analysis identified a total of 51 genomic islands (GIs) in E. coli RS218 which were not present in the E. coli K-12 genome. Of these GIs, 16 were common to all NMEC strains studied whereas two GIs were common to all ExPEC. The GIs common to all NMEC encode for several sugar uptake pathways, arginine/ornithine metabolism, iron uptake systems, and putative adhesins and invasins, which may contribute to NMEC pathogenesis. This study also identified NMEC-specific traits that might play a role in initial colonization of mucosal epithelia and penetration of the intestinal and blood brain barriers by NMEC. Overall, these data will facilitate a better understanding of the genetic bases of virulence and adaptation mechanisms of ExPEC.
Chubut, Argentina: a contested Welsh ‘first-place’

AbstractIn an attempt to escape British hegemony, the Welsh established a Patagonian colony in 1865, in what is now the Chubut Province of Argentina. The historical struggles the immigrants faced upon settling the land are rooted in the landscape and commemorated in different versions of Patagonian regional history through provincial museum narratives that serve as a method of solidifying Welshness in Chubut. Contemporarily, the local tourism industry constructs the Welsh as the first settlers in the region, while minimally representing predecessor groups like the indigenous communities or Spanish colonials. Curiously, the representation of these other heritage communities throughout heritage displays actually serves to bolster the Welsh ‘first-place’ claims over the region. These tensions are seen throughout community-based museums in the region that assert a locally rooted hybrid identity by acknowledging local historical diversity, while simultaneously recalling and emphasising the [Welsh] homeland her...
Attitudes Toward Computers: The Gender Gap Revisited

From the 1994 CAIS Conference: The Information Industry in Transition McGill University, Montreal, Quebec. May 25 - 27, 1994. A survey conducted on the first day of an introductory computer class designed for business students showed that there was a attitudinal gender gap in 1984; women expressed significantly more apprehension than men about learning to use computers. In 1993, there were no statistically significant differences in the responses of men and women, but men were beginning to rep ort more concern than women. Only one specific area -concern about possible physical hazards or discomfort - showed an overall increase from 1984 to 1993.
Aseptic meningitis in adults and children: Diagnostic and management challenges

Background Aseptic meningitis represents a common diagnostic and management dilemma to clinicians.
Specification and evaluation of geofence boundary violation detection algorithms

This paper studies two methods of geofence boundary violation detection. The first method is Ray Casting, which iterates over each geofence boundary edge to determine if a given position of interest is inside the geofence. The second method, called Triangle Weight Characterization (TWC), subdivides the geofence domain into a finite number of triangles, then iterates over each triangle to determine if the given position of interest is inside the geofence. We apply the TWC and Ray Casting methods to case studies that include both keep-in and keep-out geofence boundaries.
Undergraduate Teaching Presentation of Hewlett-Packard's Purchase of Autonomy: 'Hubris at the Top' and Failure of Internal Controls

Undergraduate PowerPoint presentation to accompany "HP's Purchase of Autonomy: 'Hubris at the Top' and Failure of Internal Controls." http://ssrn.com/abstract=2357327
Intraosseous pseudomeningocele of the mobile spine: a case report and review of the literature

Pseudomeningoceles most commonly occur due to prior trauma or surgery and are often located in the posterior paraspinous tissues. Here, we report a case of an intraosseous pseudomeningocele that mimicked an intra-osseous T2 hyperintense lesion in the L1 vertebral body. A 64-year-old male presented with back, left lateral thigh and left knee pain lasting several months. He had no prior history of trauma or surgery. Radiographs of the lumbar spine showed mild levoscoliotic curvature of the lumbar spine, Baastrup’s changes between the spinous processes, multilevel degenerative disc disease and facet arthropathy. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lumbar spine performed without intravenous contrast showed severe spinal canal stenosis from L1–L2 to L3–L4 and moderate spinal canal stenosis at L4–L5. MRI also showed a 2.5-cm T2 hyperintense lesion involving the posterior aspect of the L1 vertebral body, with questionable contiguity with cerebrospinal fluid. Computed tomography (CT) myelogram was performed instead of biopsy. CT myelogram showed contiguity of the lesion with the intrathecal contrast and a rent in the posterior longitudinal ligament and anterior dura consistent with an intraosseous pseudomeningocele. The patient opted for non-operative management of the pseudomeningocele and his lumbar stenosis due to medical comorbidities. This case illustrates a rare case of an intra-osseous pseudomeningocele and highlights the importance of CT myelogram for diagnosis.
Algorithm MinWtBasis for Simplifying Conjunctions of Monomial Inequalities

Abstract : This paper defines a new algorithm "MinWtBasis" which simplifies conjunctions of monomial inequalities. The simplified equivalent formula produced by MinWtBasis minimizes the sum over all inequalities in the conjunction of the number of non-strict variables appearing, and it runs in polynomial time. For strictly non-strict conjunctions of inequalities this shows that the problem of finding a simplest equivalent formula is in P. This contrasts with the general case and the strict inequality case, in which finding the simplest equivalent formula is NP-Hard.
Bacon, Roger (c. 1214–1292/94)

The maverick English Franciscan Roger Bacon (c. 1214–92/4) was unusual in his age in promoting cross-linguistic comparison and the study of foreign languages. Paradoxically, a passage from his writing is now commonly represented as having anticipated modern generative grammar's concept of Universal Grammar.
Pyoderma Gangrenosum: What Do We Know Now?

To summarize the recent literature on the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of pyoderma gangrenosum. A complex interplay between both the innate and adaptive immune systems underlies the pathogenesis of pyoderma gangrenosum (PG). Diagnosis remains a challenge, as there is no gold standard test to confirm the presence of the disease. Efforts to establish diagnostic criteria based on clinical findings have recently been proposed. Definitive management strategies are also lacking; however, current trends in treatment have favored the use of immunosuppressive medications, wound care management, and analgesia. PG is a complex disease that continues to pose a challenge. Current research on PG is focused on improving our understanding of the pathophysiology so that we might improve our diagnostic consistency and identify treatment approaches optimized for each individual patient’s specific pathology.
p25 of the dynactin complex plays a dual role in cargo binding and dynactin regulation.

Cytoplasmic dynein binds its cargoes via the dynactin complex and cargo adapters, and the dynactin pointed-end protein p25 is required for dynein–dynactin binding to the early endosomal dynein adapter HookA (Hook in the fungus Aspergillus nidulans). However, it is unclear whether the HookA–dynein–dynactin interaction requires p27, another pointed-end protein forming heterodimers with p25 within vertebrate dynactin. Here, live-cell imaging and biochemical pulldown experiments revealed that although p27 is a component of the dynactin complex in A. nidulans, it is dispensable for dynein–dynactin to interact with ΔC-HookA (cytosolic HookA lacking its early endosome–binding C terminus) and is not critical for dynein-mediated early endosome transport. Using mutagenesis, imaging, and biochemical approaches, we found that several p25 regions are required for the ΔC-HookA–dynein–dynactin interaction, with the N terminus and loop1 being the most critical regions. Interestingly, p25 was also important for the microtubule (MT) plus-end accumulation of dynactin. This p25 function in dynactin localization also involved p25's N terminus and the loop1 critical for the ΔC-HookA–dynein–dynactin interaction. Given that dynactin's MT plus-end localization does not require HookA and that the kinesin-1–dependent plus-end accumulation of dynactin is unnecessary for the ΔC-HookA–dynein–dynactin interaction, our results indicate that p25 plays a dual role in cargo binding and dynactin regulation. As cargo adapters are implicated in dynein activation via binding to dynactin's pointed end to switch the conformation of p150, a major dynactin component, our results suggest p25 as a critical pointed-end protein involved in this process.
A fat mass and obesity-associated gene polymorphism influences fat mass in exercise-trained individuals

A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene is a strong predictor of obesity in humans. The FTO SNP (rs1421085) results in a T to C nucleotide substitution that may result in an increased risk for obesity in individuals who carry at least one C allele. The purpose of this investigation was to characterize the FTO genotype in a cohort of exercise-trained men and women. We tested 108 exercise-trained individuals that included professional mixed martial arts fighters, competitive distance runners, collegiate swimmers, stand-up paddlers as well as a cohort of recreational bodybuilders. Body composition was assessed via dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Saliva samples were collected in order to genotype participants and quantify cortisol levels. The physical characteristics of the subjects were as follows (mean±SD): body weight 74.5±15.6 kg; height 171.5±9.5 cm; bone mineral content 2.8±0.7 kg; fat mass 15.7±5.5 kg; lean body mass 55.9±14.4 kg; % body fat 21.6±7.0. Independent samples t tests showed that C allele carriers (n = 54) had significantly higher fat mass t(106) = 3.13, p < 0.01 and body fat percentage t(106) = 2.68, p < 0.01, relative to the TT group (n = 54) (i.e., fat mass: C/− 17.3 ±5.6 kg, TT 14.2±4.6 kg; body fat percentage: C/− group 23.4±7.4%, TT group 19.9±6.2). No other measures of body composition were associated with the FTO genotype (i.e., body mineral density, bone mineral content, or lean body mass). Moreover, cortisol levels were significantly higher in the TT group relative to the C allele carriers t(106) = 2.37, p = 0.02 (i.e., TT 0.35 ±0.35 μg/dL, C/− 0.22±0.16 μg/dL). Our findings demonstrate a relationship between C allele carriers on the FTO gene and a predisposition to a higher fat mass and body fat percentage. In addition, we found no relationship between cortisol and fat mass. However, due to the cross-sectional nature of this investigation, we cannot infer causality regarding the FTO gene and body composition.