cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Systematic Revision of the North American Syntropine Vaejovid Scorpion Genera Maaykuyak, Syntropis, and Vizcaino, with Description of the Adults of Syntropis williamsi

Abstract Four distinct genera, forming two monophyletic groups, are basal in the phylogeny of the North American vaejovid scorpion subfamily Syntropinae Kraepelin, 1905: Konetontli Gonzalez-Santillan and Prendini, 2013; Maaykuyak Gonzalez-Santillan and Prendini, 2013; Syntropis Kraepelin, 1900; and Vizcaino Gonzalez-Santillan and Prendini, 2013. All except the species of Konetontli, treated elsewhere, are revised in the present contribution. The two species of Maaykuyak, three species of Syntropis, and monotypic Vizcaino are redescribed; the adults of Syntropis williamsi Soleglad et al., 2007, described for the first time; keys to identification of the species of Maaykuyak and Syntropis presented; and new locality records and updated distribution maps provided for all species covered.
Quantitative characterization of the aqueous fraction from hydrothermal liquefaction of algae

Abstract The aqueous fraction generated from hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of algae contains approximately 20–35% of the total carbon present in the algal feed. Hence, this aqueous fraction can be utilized to produce liquid fuels and/or specialty chemicals for economic sustainability of HTL on an industrial scale. In this study, aqueous fractions produced from HTL of freshwater and saline-water algal cultures were analyzed using a wide variety of analytical instruments to determine their compositional characteristics. Organic chemical compounds present in eight aqueous fractions were identified using two-dimensional gas chromatography equipped with time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Identified compounds include organic acids, nitrogen compounds and aldehydes/ketones. Conventional gas chromatography and liquid chromatography methods were utilized to quantify the identified compounds. Inorganic species in the aqueous stream from HTL of algae also were quantified using ion chromatography and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. The concentrations of organic chemical compounds and inorganic species are reported. The amount quantified carbon ranged from 45 to 72% of the total carbon in the aqueous fractions.
Penile Duplex Doppler Ultrasonography

The duplex Doppler ultrasound is a procedure to evaluate erectile hemodynamics. Doppler ultrasound is combined with an intracavernosal injection of vasoactive agents to evaluate penile blood flow. This test evaluates arterial inflow, as well as venous outflow.
Variable model reference high precision position control of dual solenoid actuator

This paper presents a new control method for high precision positioning of a dual solenoid actuator system which contains circuital nonlinearities as well as Coulomb friction. A balance control strategy is first applied to control the position actuator consisting of two unipolar solenoids. Variable Model Reference Zero Vibration Balance (VMRZVB) control which combines the advantages of balance control, model reference and input shaping, is introduced to control the position of this actuator and to improve transient response and performance. It is shown that by systematically varying the reference model, settling time of the system can be quantitatively adjusted. Experimental results confirm the effectiveness and practicality of this dual solenoid position actuator with proposed VMRZVB method.
Origins of Regioselectivity in the Fischer Indole Synthesis of a Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator

The selective androgen receptor modulator, (S)-(7-cyano-4-(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrocyclopenta[b]indol-2-yl)carbamic acid isopropyl ester, LY2452473, is a promising treatment of side effects of prostate cancer therapies. An acid-catalyzed Fischer indolization is a central step in its synthesis. The reaction leads to only one of the two possible indole regioisomers, along with minor decomposition products. Computations show that the formation of the observed indole is most favored energetically, while the potential pathway to the minor isomer leads instead to decomposition products. The disfavored [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement, which would produce the unobserved indole product, is destabilized by the electron-withdrawing phthalimide substituent. The most favored [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement transition state is bimodal, leading to two reaction intermediates from one transition state, which is confirmed by molecular dynamics simulations. Both intermediates can lead to the observed indole pr...
Control and characterization of a bistable laminate generated with piezoelectricity

Extensive research has been conducted on utilizing smart materials such as piezoelectric and shape memory alloy actuators to induce snap through of bistable structures for morphing applications. However, there has only been limited success in initiating snap through from both stable states due to the lack of actuation authority. A novel solution in the form of a piezoelectrically generated bistable laminate consisting of only macro fiber composites (MFC), allowing complete configuration control without any external assistance, is explored in detail here. Specifically, this paper presents the full analytical, computational, and experimental results of the laminate's design, geometry, bifurcation behavior, and snap through capability. By bonding two actuated MFCs in a [0MFC/90MFC]T layup and releasing the voltage post cure, piezoelectric strain anisotropy and the resulting in-plane residual stresses yield two statically stable states that are cylindrically shaped. The analytical model uses the Rayleigh–Ritz minimization of total potential energy and finite element analysis is implemented in MSC Nastran. The [0MFC/90MFC]T laminate is then manufactured and experimentally characterized for model validation. This paper demonstrates the adaptive laminate's unassisted forward and reverse snap through capability enabled by the efficiencies gained from simultaneously being the actuator and the primary structure.
A high-resolution hydrogen isotope record of behenic acid for the past 16 kyr in the northeastern United States

Abstract D/H ratios of leaf lipids from lacustrine aquatic macrophytes have been shown to record precipitation δD values, which can reflect precipitation-weighted mean annual temperature (MAT) in the northeastern United States. Here we report a high-resolution hydrogen isotopic record from Little Pond, Massachusetts, USA, which we compare with other paleoclimate data from the region, including a similar δD record from Blood Pond, Massachusetts. Together the two datasets provide a >16 ka record of δD variability in the region, affording new insights into Holocene climate history. First, the long-term trends in δD correlate significantly with regional temperatures inferred from alkenone records from nearby areas of the North Atlantic and lake-level inferred changes in precipitation and evaporation. The long-term δD trends reflect a period of maximum regional warmth at ca. 8–6 ka after the collapse of the Laurentide Ice Sheet. Second, unlike the positive relationship between temperature and δD observed over the long-term and during early events like the Younger Dryas, we find that a series of warm and dry events at 4.9–4.6, 4.2–3.9, 2.9–2.1, and 1.3–1.2 cal kya BP coincide with negative δD excursions from the long trends. These events were likely driven by summer drought dynamics.
FTO genotype and weight status among preadolescents: Assessing the mediating effects of obesogenic appetitive traits

Abstract Polymorphisms in the Fat Mass and Obesity Associated ( FTO ) gene are robustly associated with overweight and obesity among children, although the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. We tested if appetitive traits partially mediated the association between FTO genotype and increased BMI among a sample of US preadolescents. Data were from 178 unrelated 9–10 year olds who participated in an experimental study between 2013 and 2015. Children's DNA was isolated from buccal swabs, and the rs9939609 SNP in the FTO gene was genotyped. Children's age- and sex-adjusted BMI z-scores were computed using height and weight measured at the laboratory. Parents completed the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire that includes three validated scales of habitual appetitive traits related to drive and regulation: satiety responsiveness, enjoyment of food and food responsiveness. Structural equation modeling was used to assess if those traits mediated the relationship between FTO and BMI z-score. The sample of children was 48.9% male and 91.0% non-Hispanic white. FTO distribution was in Hardy Weinberg equilibrium, and 16.3% of participants were homozygous for the high-risk allele. Mean BMI z-score was greatest among those with the high-risk genotype (ANOVA P P -value for each indirect effect
The Evolution and Implications of Human Resources Regulations and Policies

The primary focus of this chapter is on a summarized review of the evolution and implications of human resources regulations and policies. A thorough reading of the contents of this chapter will guide the reader towards gaining a much deeper understanding of the primary reasons regarding why management rules, human resources (HR) laws, were primarily fashioned and aggressively implemented, and the main reasons why these laws lack the potency as well as the authority to provide effective and long-term solutions to the various problems at the workplace. In this chapter, the reader is led to become much more familiar with the main thrust and the key teething problems of HR laws. The implications and evolution of HR laws are presented and analyzed. The primary genesis, performance effectiveness, and the primary as well as secondary implications of management rules and HR regulations and policies in the various marketplaces are also discussed in this chapter. This discussion is presented from a critical human factor perspective.
Cholecystokinin receptor antagonist alters pancreatic cancer microenvironment and increases efficacy of immune checkpoint antibody therapy in mice.

Advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has typically been resistant to chemotherapy and immunotherapy; therefore, novel strategies are needed to enhance therapeutic response. Cholecystokinin (CCK) has been shown to stimulate growth of pancreatic cancer. CCK receptors (CCKRs) are present on pancreatic cancer cells, fibroblasts, and lymphocytes. We hypothesized that CCKR blockade would improve response to immune checkpoint antibodies by promoting influx of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and reducing fibrosis. We examined the effects of CCKR antagonists or immune checkpoint blockade antibodies alone or in combination in murine models of PDAC. Monotherapy with CCKR blockade significantly decreased tumor size and metastases in SCID mice with orthotopic PDAC, and in C57BL/6 mice, it reduced fibrosis and induced the influx of TILs. Immune-competent mice bearing syngeneic pancreatic cancer (Panc02 and mT3-2D) that were treated with the combination of CCK receptor antagonists and immune checkpoint blockade antibodies survived significantly longer with smaller tumors. Tumor immunohistochemical staining and flow cytometry demonstrated that the tumors of mice treated with the combination regimen had a significant reduction in Foxp3+ T-regulatory cells and an increase in CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes. Masson’s trichrome stain analysis revealed 50% less fibrosis in the tumors of mice treated with CCKR antagonist compared to controls and compared to checkpoint antibody therapy. CCKR antagonists given with immune checkpoint antibody therapy represent a novel approach for improving survival of PDAC. The mechanism by which this combination therapy improves the survival of PDAC may be related to the decreased fibrosis and immune cells of the tumor microenvironment.
Impact of residential customer classification on demand response results under high renewable penetration

The large scale deployment of renewable generation is generally seen as the most promising option for displacing fossil fuel generators, especially coal-fired power plants. A key challenge in integrating Renewable Energy Resources (RERs) is to find approaches that ensure long term sustainability and economic profit. The appropriate design of Demand Response (DR) could control both the increase in peak demand and volatility of prices. An essential part of good DR design, especially in the residential sector, is understanding diverse customer behavior. In this paper, an Incentive Based Demand Response (IBDR) is proposed segregating the elasticity of household appliances. The proposed elasticity approach provides a more accurate model of both the load shift and load reduction potential in the residential sector. Customer classification is explored to understand the diversity of customer behavior. In the presented case study, the retirement of seven coal-fired power plants and expansion of RERs is simulated using data from the reduced WECC 240-bus system. Results show although renewable expansion could lead to benefit loss for utilities and abrupt changes in market prices, the proposed IBDR program could minimize such impacts.
Oral Health Promotion and Smoking Cessation Program Delivered via Tobacco Quitlines: The Oral Health 4 Life Trial

Objectives. To assess the effects of a novel oral health promotion program (Oral Health 4 Life; OH4L) delivered through state-funded tobacco quitlines.Methods. Using a semipragmatic design to balance experimental control and generalizability, we randomized US quitline callers (n = 718) to standard care or standard care plus OH4L. We followed participants for 6 months to assess effects on professional dental care and smoking abstinence. We collected data between 2015 and 2017.Results. Participants were racially diverse (42% non-White) and socioeconomically disadvantaged. Most (71%) reported fair or poor oral health, and all were overdue for routine dental care. At 6 months, professional dental care and abstinence did not significantly differ between arms, but abstinence favored the experimental arm and was significantly higher among experimental participants at 2 months in a complete case sensitivity analysis.Conclusions. OH4L was not effective for promoting dental care, but integrating oral health counsel...
Hydrophobic interactions modulate antimicrobial peptoid selectivity towards anionic lipid membranes.

Abstract Hydrophobic interactions govern specificity for natural antimicrobial peptides. No such relationship has been established for synthetic peptoids that mimic antimicrobial peptides. Peptoid macrocycles synthesized with five different aromatic groups are investigated by minimum inhibitory and hemolytic concentration assays, epifluorescence microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray reflectivity. Peptoid hydrophobicity is determined using high performance liquid chromatography. Disruption of bacterial but not eukaryotic lipid membranes is demonstrated on the solid supported lipid bilayers and Langmuir monolayers. X-ray reflectivity studies demonstrate that intercalation of peptoids with zwitterionic or negatively charged lipid membranes is found to be regulated by hydrophobicity. Critical levels of peptoid selectivity are demonstrated and found to be modulated by their hydrophobic groups. It is suggested that peptoids may follow different optimization schemes as compared to their natural analogues.
Automatically Distributing Eulerian and Hybrid Fluid Simulations in the Cloud

Distributing a simulation across many machines can drastically speed up computations and increase detail. The computing cloud provides tremendous computing resources, but weak service guarantees force programs to manage significant system complexity: nodes, networks, and storage occasionally perform poorly or fail. We describe Nimbus, a system that automatically distributes grid-based and hybrid simulations across cloud computing nodes. The main simulation loop is sequential code and launches distributed computations across many cores. The simulation on each core runs as if it is stand-alone: Nimbus automatically stitches these simulations into a single, larger one. To do this efficiently, Nimbus introduces a four-layer data model that translates between the contiguous, geometric objects used by simulation libraries and the replicated, fine-grain objects managed by its underlying cloud computing runtime. Using PhysBAM particle-level set fluid simulations, we demonstrate that Nimbus can run higher detail simulations faster, distribute simulations on up to 512 cores, and run enormous simulations (10243 cells). Nimbus automatically manages these distributed simulations, balancing load across nodes and recovering from failures. Implementations of PhysBAM water and smoke simulations as well as an open source heat-diffusion simulation show that Nimbus is general and can support complex simulations. Nimbus can be downloaded from https://nimbus.stanford.edu.
Honey bees overwintering in a southern climate: longitudinal effects of nutrition and queen age on colony-level molecular physiology and performance

Honey bee colony nutritional ecology relies on the acquisition and assimilation of floral resources across a landscape with changing forage conditions. Here, we examined the impact of nutrition and queen age on colony health across extended periods of reduced forage in a southern climate. We measured conventional hive metrics as well as colony-level gene expression of eight immune-related genes and three recently identified homologs of vitellogenin (vg), a storage glycolipoprotein central to colony nutritional state, immunity, oxidative stress resistance and life span regulation. Across three apiary sites, concurrent longitudinal changes in colony-level gene expression and nutritional state reflected the production of diutinus (winter) bees physiologically altered for long-term nutrient storage. Brood production by young queens was significantly greater than that of old queens, and was augmented by feeding colonies supplemental pollen. Expression analyses of recently identified vg homologs (vg-like-A, -B, and -C) revealed distinct patterns that correlated with colony performance, phenology, and immune-related gene transcript levels. Our findings provide new insights into dynamics underlying managed colony performance on a large scale. Colony-level, molecular physiological profiling is a promising approach to effectively identify factors influencing honey bee health in future landscape and nutrition studies.
Immunologic Tolerance as Taught by Allografts

Tolerance, or the remarkable ability of the immune system to recognize and destroy invading pathogens, while refraining from the destruction of self tissues, has fascinated immunologists for over half a century. It is quite clear that self-reactive T- and B-cells do exist in the peripheral immune system. What prevents the unleashing of their destructive power in normal individuals? The natural allograft of the mammalian fetus to its mother, and the clinical practice of organ and tissue transplantation between genetically distinct individuals can teach us the answer. Both feature the confrontation of two separate immune systems: the mother’s with the baby’s, or the immune system of the recipient with the “mini” immune system contained within the organ or tissue being transplanted. The work of transplant tolerance consists in reaching accommodation between these two systems (allotolerance), while avoiding autoimmunity to tissue antigens of the graft. This chapter will explore important concepts that have emerged from studies of natural and surgical transplants beginning with the discovery of acquired tolerance in the period 1945-53 up to the present. These concepts include:
Theory of Innovation

Innovation in a broad sense involves developing new processes, new products, or new organizational improvements for an industry. It can take many forms, but in every form, it tends to reduce unit costs and/or helps to expand market demand.
Metatarsophalangeal Joint Synovitis in Athletes

Metatarsophalangeal joint synovitis is a clinical entity of the forefoot with distinct findings. From a survey of 46 patients, characteristics and clinical findings are presented. Differential diagnosis and methods of treatment are discussed.
Enhancing the Dissolution Stability of Hard Gelatin Capsules Using Activated Carbon as a Packaging Component

Abstract Hard gelatin capsule (HGC) shells are widely used to encapsulate drugs for oral delivery but are vulnerable to gelatin cross-linking, which can lead to slower and more variable in vitro dissolution rates. Adding proteolytic enzymes to the dissolution medium can attenuate these problems, but this complicates dissolution testing and is only permitted by some regulatory authorities. Here, we expand the scope of our previous work to demonstrate that canisters containing activated carbon (AC) or polymeric films embedded with AC particles can be used as packaging components to attenuate gelatin cross-linking and improve the dissolution stability of hard gelatin-encapsulated products under accelerated International Council for Harmonisation conditions. We packaged acetaminophen and diphenhydramine HCl HGCs with or without AC canisters in induction-sealed high-density polyethylene bottles and with or without AC films in stoppered glass vials and stored these samples at 50°C/75% relative humidity through 3 months and at 40°C/75% relative humidity for 6 months. Samples packaged with AC canisters or AC films dissolved more rapidly than samples packaged without AC when differences were observed. These results demonstrate that different sources and formats of AC can enhance the dissolution stability of HGCs packaged in bottles and other potential packaging systems such as blister cards.
Postharvest methyl bromide fumigation of Japanese plums to control codling moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae).

Abstract Postharvest chamber fumigation with 48 mgL−1 (3.0 lbs./1000 ft3) methyl bromide (MB) for 2 h at pulp temperature (T) ≥ 21 °C and chamber load ≤50% is used to control codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), in fresh nectarine, Prunus persica (L.) var. nucipersica, and French plum, P. domestica (L.), exports from California USA to Japan. Fumigations were conducted to verify that control of C. pomonella is expected following an analogous fumigation of fresh Japanese plums, P. salicina (Lindl.). A kinetic model, based on temporal measurement of MB levels in chamber headspace and how calculated exposures varied across the fumigation trials, showed that fresh Japanese plums and French plums sorb MB at a statistically equivalent rate, which resulted in an MB exposure ca. 20% higher than that observed for fresh nectarines. Importantly, results from commercial-scale fumigations indicate that pallet shrouds do not influence the efficacy of MB toward C. pomonella eggs, as their presence did not affect the rate of MB sorption, evidence that supports the use of pallet shrouds to safeguard against the potential for post-fumigation infestation in this export scenario, and beyond. Results are discussed in the context of graduation toward optimized quarantine fumigation schedules, which will promote more strategic technical and economic Quarantine Pre-shipment (QPS) uses of MB.
Lifestyle Choices, Psychological Stress and Their Impact on Ageing: The Role of Telomeres

Telomeres are the heterochromatic repeat regions at the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes that maintain the genomic integrity of a cell. Telomere shortening with increasing age is a part of the normal ageing process. However, factors such as inflammation, oxidative stress and other genotoxic stressors may also increase the rate of telomere attrition, leading to telomere dysfunction-mediated cellular senescence and accelerating the ageing process. Once telomeres shorten to a critical length, the cell encounters a proliferation block where it either ceases to divide or undergoes programmed cell death. Thus, telomere length is considered a biological clock that limits the lifespan of a cell and an organism: people with short telomeres often have reduced lifespan. Certain lifestyle factors such as smoking, body mass index and psychological stress have been found to correlate with accelerated telomere shortening, likely because they increase DNA damage through oxidative stress. Recently, studies have identified lifestyle factors that can potentially protect telomeres. For example, people who lead a healthy lifestyle by increasing their physical activity, practising meditation, adhering to the Mediterranean diet and using multivitamins have been shown to have longer telomeres than those who do not adhere to such lifestyle changes. This chapter highlights the influence of lifestyle factors on key biological mechanisms associated with telomere maintenance.
Improved toughness and delamination resistance in continuous fiber reinforced geopolymer composites via incorporation of nano-fillers

Abstract Geopolymer matrix composites (GMC) have the potential to bridge the processing performance gap between polymer matrix and ceramic matrix composites. Yet one drawback of GMCs is their extreme brittleness and weak inter-laminar shear strength. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Silicon Carbide Whisker (SCW) nano-filler on the mechanical performance of neat unreinforced geopolymer and unidirectional fiber reinforced GMCs containing variations in fiber surface chemistry. In order to evaluate, neat and SCW populated geopolymer matrices were fabricated for comparison. Nextel 610 fiber reinforced GMCs were also fabricated with SCW for comparison to GMCs without the SCW nano-filler. The effect of the nano-filler was evaluated using three-point flexural methods to obtain strength and fracture toughness (KIC). Results indicate that the addition of SCWs up to 4 vol% improved Mode-I fracture toughness of the baseline geopolymer matrix by 113%. The improvements to the neat matrix also resulted in improved flexural strength, inter-laminar shear strength, and delamination resistance of the continuous fiber reinforced composites.
Relationship between Generalized Metacomprehension and Personality Traits

Perceptions of reading comprehension and knowledge of strategy, called generalized metacomprehension (GM), can influence study habits and metacognition accuracy, ultimately influencing academic suc...
Organic sulfur fluxes and geomorphic control of sulfur isotope ratios in rivers

Abstract Pyrite oxidation plays a critical role in the relationship between weathering and climate, and its impact on the global carbon cycle has previously been constrained through inversion models utilizing observations of river sulfate (SO 4 2 − ) and its 34S/32S isotope ratio ( δ 34 SSO4). However, measurements from some rivers have suggested that δ 34 SSO4 can be substantially impacted by processes such as microbial sulfate reduction and/or sulfur assimilation and cycling, rather than simply reflecting a weighted mixture of lithologic sulfur sources. To study the prevalence and controls on SO 4 2 − transformations, we measured dissolved major element concentrations and δ 34 SSO4 in river water samples from throughout western Iceland. Our analyses focused on samples from a small catchment hosting the Efri Haukadalsa river, a system with relatively uniform and isotopically constrained basaltic bedrock. We also measured sediment δ 34 S and sulfur speciation using sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy on sediment and vegetation samples from this catchment. Values of dissolved δ 34 SSO4 in the Efri Haukadalsa ranged from 2.5‰ to 23.7‰ and had a linear relationship with Cl−/SO 4 2 − ratios, indicating that SO 4 2 − predominantly derived from basalt weathering and meteoric precipitation. The lower δ 34 SSO4 values were found in fluvial valleys with V-shaped cross sections, while higher values of δ 34 SSO4 occurred in U-shaped, glacially eroded valleys with thick alluvial fills blanketing the valley floor. Spectroscopic observations identified organic sulfur phases in suspended river sediment, floodplain deposits, and vegetation. Mass balance calculations quantified the organic sulfur flux as less than 10% of SO 4 2 − export, and sediment δ 34 S values were comparable to river δ 34 SSO4. We interpreted these isotopic and chemical patterns as reflecting differences in the availability of unweathered bedrock across the Efri Haukadalsa catchment, with V-shaped valleys having greater access to fresh sulfide-bearing minerals than alluviated U-shaped valleys; this interpretation is in contrast to one in which the elevated δ 34 SSO4 values reflect fractionation during sulfur transformations along alluvial reaches. These results validated the application of river inversion models for constraining weathering fluxes and affirmed that pyrite oxidation globally, even in the presence of river sulfur cycling, modulates the abundance of atmospheric carbon dioxide.
A Suggested Application of the Theory of Committees in Value and Probability

In recent years a theory of committees has been worked out to some extent, and I want to suggest that this theory may be employed in discussing the problem of value. This theory of committees may infuse new life into the traditional theory of relative utility; as much by raising problems as by solving them. At the same time, it may provide the logical structure, which has never been made explicit, in the theory of value which has been dominant in Psychology and Ethics for the last eighty years. The theory of committees, as I see it, may also afford some analysis of the notion of partial belief, or likelihood, or probability.
Optimal offline extraction of irredundant motif bases

The problem of extracting a basis of irredundant motifs from a sequence is considered. In previous work such bases were built incrementally for all suffixes of the input string s in O(n3), where n is the length of s. Faster, non-incremental algorithms have been based on the landmark approach to string searching due to Fischer and Paterson, and exhibit respective time bounds of O(n2 log n log |Σ|) and O(|Σ|n2 log2 n log log n), with Σ denoting the alphabet. The algorithm by Fischer and Paterson makes crucial use of the FFT, which is impractical with long sequences. The algorithm presented in the present paper does not need to resort to the FFT and yet is asymptotically faster than previously available ones. Specifically, an off-line algorithm is presented taking time O(|Σ|n2), which is optimal for finite S.
A letter to Sarah.

DEAR SARAH, I thought of you today as I came across our high school yearbook. I smiled when I saw your note about the goals we shared, to become nurses and help others in need. You encouraged me to never stop believing that I would be a nurse, and your words resonated once again: "Let your knowledge soar but always stay where your heart is!" I never told you, but after I read your note that spring day, I wrote my own goals: complete my BSN and practice in the emergency department within five years, complete graduate school and work in a nursing leadership position within 10 years, and complete a doctorate in nursing and begin teaching within 15 years. That day, in high school, I thought I understood the value of an education, but I really had no idea. Today, after reading your words again, I want to tell you about my journey. When we last spoke, we had both completed our BSN degrees and were working as staff nurses, just as we had dreamed. Then, eight years ago, I began to feel the need to pursue graduate studies. I had forgotten my high school timeline, but apparently my heart had not. I loved working as a nurse, but I felt there was more I could do and I knew that education was the key. When I began to investigate area graduate degree programs, I was intrigued by the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) School of Nursing. As a designated National League for Nursing Center of Excellence, the UNCG School of Nursing was on the cutting edge, with a dual nursing administration and business administration program. From my first visit on, I felt encouraged and excited. The faculty were committed to guiding students through the journey of education while preparing them to become scholars and leaders. Let me tell you how the UNCG School of Nursing has given me the means to soar. There is a dynamic learning atmosphere, both in and outside the classroom, that encourages students to share life experiences and to integrate research into practice. I have been challenged to think outside my box, to critically evaluate information, to discover what nursing really means to me, and I have been offered countless opportunities for growth. For example, as a research assistant, I worked with a faculty member who wanted me to gain more research experience and who mentored me in the application of what I learned in the classroom. I learned the grant-writing process, budgeting, data collection and analysis, and other aspects of research. When I completed my master's, this same faculty member continued to serve as a mentor in my nursing practice. Her ongoing commitment to excellence has been an inspiration to me and many others. I was also invited to be a member of the UNCG School of Nursing Curriculum Committee as the graduate student representative, which allowed me see another side of the learning process. …
Molecular Characterization and Phylogeny of U2AF35 Homologs in Plants

U2AF (U2 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein auxiliary factor) is an essential splicing factor with critical roles in recognition of the 3′-splice site. In animals, the U2AF small subunit (U2AF35) can bind to the 3′-AG intron border and promote U2 small nuclear RNP binding to the branch-point sequences of introns through interaction with the U2AF large subunit. Two copies of U2AF35-encoding genes were identified in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana; atU2AF35a and atU2AF35b). Both are expressed in all tissues inspected, with atU2AF35a expressed at a higher level than atU2AF35b in most tissues. Differences in the expression patterns of atU2AF35a and atU2AF35b in roots were revealed by a promoter::β-glucuronidase assay, with atU2AF35b expressed strongly in whole young roots and root tips and atU2AF35a limited to root vascular regions. Altered expression levels of atU2AF35a or atU2AF35b cause pleiotropic phenotypes (including flowering time, leaf morphology, and flower and silique shape). Novel slicing isoforms were generated from FCA pre-mRNA by splicing of noncanonical introns in plants with altered expression levels of atU2AF35. U2AF35 homologs were also identified from maize (Zea mays) and other plants with large-scale expressed sequence tag projects. A C-terminal motif (named SERE) is highly conserved in all seed plant protein homologs, suggesting it may have an important function specific to higher plants.
Action language verifier, extended

Action Language Verifier (ALV) is an infinite state model checker which specializes on systems specified with linear arithmetic constraints on integer variables. An Action Language specification consists of integer, boolean and enumerated variables, parameterized integer constants and a set of modules and actions which are composed using synchronous and asynchronous composition operators [3,7]. ALV uses symbolic model checking techniques to verify or falsify CTL properties of the input specifications. Since Action Language allows specifications with unbounded integer variables, fixpoint computations are not guaranteed to converge. ALV uses conservative approximation techniques, reachability and acceleration heuristics to achieve convergence.
Enzymes That Hydrolyze Fungal Cell Wall Polysaccharides: I. PURIFICATION AND PROPERTIES OF AN ENDO-α-d-(1 → 3)-GLUCANASE FROM TRICHODERMA VIRIDE

Abstract An endo-α-d-(1 → 3)-glucanase capable of hydrolyzing various α-(1 → 3)-glucans has been isolated and purified from the culture filtrate of the cellulolytic fungus Trichoderma viride, and its specificity has been examined. Of the compounds tested only those with α-(1 → 3)-glucosidic linkages were attacked, and the enzymatic hydrolysis occurred with retention of configuration of the anomeric carbon atom involved in cleavage. Some properties of the enzyme have been investigated. Optimum pH and temperature for activity are 4.5 and 50°, respectively. The values of Km and Vmax under standard assay conditions are 4.6 x 10-2 m glucose equivalents and 0.16 µmole of glucose equivalent per min. The molecular weight of the enzyme estimated by column chromatography on Sephadex G-100 was found to be approximately 47,000. Zn++ and Fe++ were found to be reversible inhibitors of the enzyme while Ag+ and Hg+ abolished activity irreversibly. The use of this enzyme in structural carbohydrate chemistry is discussed.
Method for assessing stress-induced regional malperfusion during coronary arteriography: Experimental validation and clinical application

Abstract Resting myocardial regional perfusion may be normal in spite of severe coronary stenosis. Accordingly, regional perfusion was evaluated during coronary hyperemia in order to quantify maldistribution occurring at high flow rates but not at rest. In eight open chest dogs quantitative regional distribution of left coronary flow was determined by electromagnetic flowmeters on the anterior descending and circumflex coronary arteries and simultaneously by double radionuclide studies. Coronary flow was varied from basal to maximum by intracoronary injection of Hypaque-M, 75 percent, previously shown to be a potent, repeatable stimulus for maximal hyperemia. Malperfusion due to coronary stenoses quantified with the gamma camera correlated closely with results obtained by electromagnetic flowmeters ( r = 0.96). In the presence of balanced lesions on the circumflex and anterior descending arteries, hyperemic responses were equally reduced in these branches, and regional perfusion by gamma camera and electromagnetic flowmeters was normal. To demonstrate the applicability of this approach in man, patients were studied by intracoronary injection of 113m indium-macro-aggregated albumin in the resting state and 99m technetium-macro-aggregated albumin during the hyperemia following intracoronary injection of contrast medium. Scintiphotographs from patients whose angiograms revealed moderate coronary lesions demonstrated normal regional distribution at rest but maldistribution during hyperemia. The results in patients also demonstrated that collateral vessels failed to maintain normal distribution during hyperemia despite normal regional perfusion at rest.
The Reaction of Chlorite with Horseradish Peroxidase and Chloroperoxidase ENZYMATIC CHLORINATION AND SPECTRAL INTERMEDIATES

Chloroperoxidase and horseradish peroxidase use NaClO2 as both the oxidant and the halogen donor for the peroxidative chlorination of monochlorodimedone. Previous studies have shown that both horseradish peroxidase and chloroperoxidase can catalyze iodination reactions with hydrogen peroxide as the oxidant; however, only chloroperoxidase catalyzes chlorination reactions under these conditions. The chlorite chlorination reactions obey normal Michaelis-Menten kinetics with respect to chlorite. Free chloride ion is not required for the chlorite-promoted chlorination reaction and has no effect on the Km values for chlorite or the Vmax values for either enzyme. The Vmax for the chlorination of monochlorodimedone by chloroperoxidase when chlorite is the substrate is approximately 3 times greater than when hydrogen peroxide is the oxidant, suggesting that chlorite is an exceptionally good substrate. The pH optimum for the chlorination reaction with horseradish peroxidase as catalyst is 4.1 and with chloroperoxidase a broad optimum from pH 2.25 to 3.0 is observed. Chloroperoxidase can also utilize chlorite as the oxidant for the oxidation of classical peroxidase substrates such as guaiacol, pyrogallol, and thiourea. Horseradish peroxidase reacts with chlorite to form a relatively stable product (half-life greater than 20 min) which is spectrally indistinguishable from Compound I, the first detectable intermediate formed upon the reaction of horseradish peroxidase with peroxides. The reaction yielding the horseradish peroxidase-Compound I spectrum has a precise stoichiometry. The addition of increments of chlorite to horseradish peroxidase results in the generation of a family of spectra exhibiting sharp isosbestic points at 420, 450, and 540 nm. One mole of chlorite converts 2 moles of horseradish peroxidase to the intermediate product or products having the Compound I spectrum. The addition of reducing agents such as potassium ferrocyanide to the Compound I-type intermediate results in the rapid decomposition of the intermediate and regeneration of the spectrum of the native enzyme. Incorporation studies using 36Cl indicate that the chlorine atom derived from chlorite is incorporated directly into the substrate acceptor molecule during chlorination and does not undergo exchange with free chloride ion, even in the presence of exceedingly high levels of free halide. This suggests that the reaction of chlorite with both horseradish peroxidase and chloroperoxidase results in the formation of an enzyme-bound activated halogenating intermediate. These results, in conjunction with our previous studies on the chemical nature of Compound I, suggest that the activated halogenating intermediate may be represented as an enzyme-bound halogenium ion (—X+) or hypohalite ion (—OX+) coordinated to the heme prosthetic group.
Progress in the molecular understanding of central regulation of body weight by estrogens.

Objective Estrogens can act in the brain to prevent body weight gain. Tremendous research efforts have been focused on estrogen physiology in the brain in the context of body weight control; estrogen receptors and the related signals have been attractive targets for development of new obesity therapies. The objective is to review recent findings on these aspects. Methods Recent studies that used conventional and conditional knockout mouse strains to delineate the cellular and molecular mechanisms for the beneficial effects of estrogens on body weight balance are reviewed. Emerging genetic tools that could further benefit the field of estrogen research and a newly developed estrogen-based regimen that produces body weight-lowering benefits also are discussed. Results The body weight-lowering effects of estrogens are mediated by multiple forms of estrogen receptors in different brain regions through distinct but coordinated mechanisms. Both rapid signals and “classic” nuclear receptor actions of estrogen receptors appear to contribute to estrogenic regulation of body weight. Conclusions Estrogen receptors and associated signal networks are potential targets for obesity treatment, and further investigations are warranted.
High-volume mapping of maize mutants with simple sequence repeat markers

Many genes in maize (Zea mays L.) are revealed by mutations that cause phenotypic variation from normal. These mutants are valuable resources of genetic information. From among the huge collection of maize mutants, it is ultimately necessary to establish which alleles are of the same genes and which are novel genes. Although any given mutant can be subjected to complementation tests or can be mapped by using conventional techniques, the number of mutants at this time makes these approaches prohibitive to encompass the whole collection. Here we describe procedures to efficiently map large numbers of mutants. Included are methods for generating polymorphic mapping progenies, for simply and rapidly preparing samples to use in polymerase chain reaction (PCR), for tissue pooling and application of simple sequence repeat (SSR), markers, and for stepwise determination of linkage followed by mapping to chromosomal region.
Two Novel Members of the Prolactin/Growth Hormone Family Are Expressed in the Mouse Placenta

Two novel members of the mouse PRL/GH family have been identified through a search of an expressed sequence tag database. The encoded proteins do not appear to be homologs of other known members of this hormone family. One of these proteins, designated PRL-like protein E (PLP-E), is predicted to be synthesized as a precursor of 265 amino acids, modified by N-linked glycosylation, and secreted as a mature glycoprotein of 236 residues. The second clone encodes a protein of 253 residues with consensus sites for N-linked glycosylation; the secreted form of the protein, designated PRL-like protein F (PLP-F), is predicted to be 223 amino acids in length. Both of these messenger RNAs are expressed specifically in the placenta, with peak levels of PLP-E on days 10–12 and of PLP-F on days 14–16. Expression of PLP-E is restricted to the trophoblast giant cells, whereas PLP-F is synthesized only in the spongiotrophoblasts. The genes for both of these proteins map to a 700-kilobase region of mouse chromosome 13 that ...
Low-dose diethylstilbestrol for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer

Abstract Objectives The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of low-dose (1 mg) daily diethylstilbestrol (DES) for the treatment of castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Materials and methods A retrospective chart review was performed on patients treated with low-dose DES who had CRPC despite anti-androgen withdrawal. The study population consists of 63 patients treated in the pre- and post-chemotherapy settings based on a database review; 58 had sufficient data for efficacy, all were analyzed for safety. Results A PSA decrease of ≥50% was observed in 19 of 49 pre-chemotherapy patients (39%) with a median time to progression (TTP) of 30 weeks (95% CI, 21.9, 68.7). A PSA decrease of Conclusions Low-dose DES is safe and effective in a modern cohort of men with CRPC despite anti-androgen treatment. Its potential role in the post-chemotherapy setting and the suggestion of efficacy on re-challenge merits additional consideration.
Modular community structure suggests metabolic plasticity during the transition to polar night in ice-covered Antarctic lakes

High-latitude environments, such as the Antarctic McMurdo Dry Valley lakes, are subject to seasonally segregated light–dark cycles, which have important consequences for microbial diversity and function on an annual basis. Owing largely to the logistical difficulties of sampling polar environments during the darkness of winter, little is known about planktonic microbial community responses to the cessation of photosynthetic primary production during the austral sunset, which lingers from approximately February to April. Here, we hypothesized that changes in bacterial, archaeal and eukaryotic community structure, particularly shifts in favor of chemolithotrophs and mixotrophs, would manifest during the transition to polar night. Our work represents the first concurrent molecular characterization, using 454 pyrosequencing of hypervariable regions of the small-subunit ribosomal RNA gene, of bacterial, archaeal and eukaryotic communities in permanently ice-covered lakes Fryxell and Bonney, before and during the polar night transition. We found vertically stratified populations that varied at the community and/or operational taxonomic unit-level between lakes and seasons. Network analysis based on operational taxonomic unit level interactions revealed nonrandomly structured microbial communities organized into modules (groups of taxa) containing key metabolic potential capacities, including photoheterotrophy, mixotrophy and chemolithotrophy, which are likely to be differentially favored during the transition to polar night.