cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of Krill Hydrolysate as a Feed Attractant for Fish Larvae and Juveniles

Abstract.— We determined the effect of krill hydrolysate as a feed attractant in three freshwater fish species: yellow perch Perca flavescens. walleye Stizostedion vitreium. and lake whitefish Coregonus clupeaformis. Growth trials were conducted using a commercial trout starter diet (control) and the diet that was coated with liquid krill hydrolysate. The krill hydrolysate coated diet increased growth of yellow perch juveniles by 31% compared to control diet (average final wet weight, 734 ± 33 mg and 559 ± 82 mg, respectively). Moreover. weight gains were not significantly different than for tish Id exclusively live Artemiu nauplii. Similar results were obtained with walleye juveniles fed either a trout starter diet or 5% krill hydrolysate coated diet (8.9 ± 0.25 g and 11.6 ± 5.1 g wet weight, respectively). The food conversion ratio (FCR) was lower in fish fed the control diet, although not significantly different (2.95 ± 0.18 and 3.69 ± 0.39. for control and coated diet. respectively). The effect of krill hydrolysate on dry diet ingestion rates of lake whitefish and yellow perch larvae was also determined using radioactive (14C) labelling. A commercial starter diet was coated with krill hydrolysate or the soluble fraction of krill hydrolysate was added to the experimental tank water. In both species. coating the diet with 5% krill hydrolysate resulted in significantly higher ingestion rates. Supplementation of krill hydrolysate soluble fraction to the tank water resulted in 200% increase in ingestion rate in comparison to control (uncoated starter diet), although it was not significantly different from krill coated diet and live Artemia nauplii ingestion rates.
Redundant Microcomputer-Controlled 3-Stage Clos Network For System-Availability Enhancement

This paper analyzes a redundant microcomputer-controlled 3-stage Clos network to enhance system availability. Lower bound of number of Middle Switch Segments is established for the existence of one backup path to support each primary path which connects each pair of input/output ports to the switch network. This lower bound also satisfies the strictly non-blocking condition established by Marcus in 1977. The paper proves that a full-loaded network with single loads is the worst case for availability analysis. Upper bounds on the number of I/0 ports are established for networks of several switch-card designs to enhance availability. An availability model for redundant microcomputer-controlled network is presented with numerical results. The approach is unique and new.
Steroid control of steroidogenesis in isolated adrenocortical cells: molecular and species specificity.

Abstract The molecular and species specificity of glucocorticoid suppression of corticosteroidogenesis was investigated in isolated adrenocortical cells. Trypsin-isolated cells from male rat, domestic fowl and bovine adrenal glands were incubated with or without steroidogenic agents and with or without steroids. Glucocorticoids were measured by radioimmunoassay or fluorometric assay after 1–2 h incubation. Glucocorticoids suppressed ACTH-induced steroidogenesis of isolated rat cells with the following relative potencies: corticosterone > cortisol = cortisone > dexamethasone. The mineralocorticoid, aldosterone did not affect steroidogenesis. Suppression by glucocorticoids was acute (within 1–2 h), and varied directly with the glucocorticoid concentration. Testosterone also suppressed ACTH-induced steroidogenesis. Glucocorticoid-type steroids have equivalent suppressive potencies, thus suggesting that these steroids may induce suppression at least partly by a common mechanism. Although corticosterone caused the greatest suppression, testosterone was more potent. The steroid specificity of suppression of cyclic AMP (cAMP)-induced and ACTH-induced steroidogenesis were similar, suggesting that suppression is not solely the result of interference with ACTH receptor function or the induction of adenylate cyclase activity. Exogenous glucocorticoids also suppressed ACTH-induced steroidogenesis of cells isolated from domestic fowl and beef adrenal glands, thus suggesting that this observed suppression may be a general mechanism of adrenocortical cell autoregulation.
Molecular Site Specificity of Pyridinoline and Pyrrole Cross-links in Type I Collagen of Human Bone

Compared with soft tissue collagens, bone type I collagen displays a distinctive pattern of covalent cross-linking, with evidence of preferred sites of molecular interaction and a prominence of both immature, divalent cross-links and mature, trivalent cross-links in the adult tissue. In this study the site-specificity of the mature cross-links in human bone collagen was examined. Peptides containing fluorescent pyridinoline cross-links and Ehrlich's-reactive pyrrole cross-links were isolated from a bacterial collagenase digest of demineralized bone matrix. The digest was fractionated by molecular sieve chromatography, monitoring for peptide absorbance, pyridinoline fluorescence, pyrroles by Ehrlich's reagent, and immunoassay for cross-linked N-telopeptides. Individual cross-linked peptides were resolved by ion-exchange and reverse-phase HPLC. Structures were established by NH2-terminal microsequencing, cross-link analysis, electrospray mass spectrometry, and immunoassay. Two, about equally occupied, sites of pyridinoline cross-linking were identified, N-telopeptide to helix and C-telopeptide to helix. Pyrroles were alternative cross-linking products at the same sites, but concentrated (85%) at the N-telopeptide end. Only one combination of chains was cross-linked by pyridinolines at the C-telopeptide to helix site, [alpha1(I)C]2alpha1(I)helix. Several peptide combinations arose from the N-telopeptide to helix site, but the main source of pyridinolines was from the locus, alpha1(I)Nalpha2(I)Nalpha1(I)helix. Pyridinolines linking two alpha1(N) telopeptides were a minor component. Pyrroles were concentrated at the locus, alpha1(I)Nalpha2(I)Nalpha2(I)helix. The cross-link ratio of hydroxylysylpyridinoline to lysylpyridinoline differed between N-telopeptide and C-telopeptide sites, and between the individual interchain combinations. Cross-linked N-telopeptides accounted for two-thirds of the total lysylpyridinoline in bone. N-telopeptide pyridinoline fluorescence was quenched on chromatography, so that reliance on peptide fluorescence alone can underestimate the level of N-telopeptide pyridinoline cross-linking.
Correspondence of environmental tolerances with leaf and branch attributes for six co-occurring species of broadleaf evergreen trees in northern California

For the angiosperm dominants of northern California’s mixed evergreen forests, this study compares the display of photosynthetic tissue within leaves and along branches, and examines the correspondence between these morphological attributes and the known environmental tolerances of these species. Measurements were made on both sun and shade saplings of six species: Arbutusmenziesii (Ericaceae), Chrysolepischrysophylla (Fagaceae), Lithocarpusdensiflorus (Fagaceae), Quercuschrysolepis (Fagaceae), Quercuswislizenii (Fagaceae), and Umbellulariacalifornica (Lauraceae). All species had sclerophyllous leaves with thick epidermal walls, but species differed in leaf specific weight, thickness of mesophyll tissues and in the presence of a hypodermis, crystals, secretory idioblasts, epicuticular deposits, and trichomes. The leaves of Arbutus were 2 – 5 times larger than those of Chrysolepis, Lithocarpus and Umbellularia and 4 – 10 times larger than those of both Quercus species. Together with differences in branch architecture, these leaf traits divide the species into groups corresponding to environmental tolerances. Shade-tolerant Chrysolepis, Lithocarpus, and Umbellularia had longer leaf lifespans and less palisade tissue, leaf area, and crown mass per volume than the intermediate to intolerant Arbutus and Quercus. Having smaller leaves, Quercus branches had more branch mass per leaf area and per palisade volume than other species, whereas Arbutus had less than other species. These differences in display of photosynthetic tissue should contribute to greater growth for Quercus relative to the other species under high light and limited water, for Arbutus under high light and water availability, and for Chrysolepis, Lithocarpus, and Umbellularia under limiting light levels.
Targeting epidermal growth factor receptor in head and neck cancer.

It is well known that growth factors play an important role in normal cell proliferation by means of stimulation of growth factor receptors located on the surface of cells. Tumor cells express high levels of growth factor receptors that can theoretically serve as therapeutic targets in cancer treatment. Tyrosine kinase (type 1) growth factor receptors include the family of erbB receptors. The most extensively studied receptor in the erbB family is the human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), also known as erbB1. Studies have shown that overexpression of EGFR is involved in the development and progression of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Blocking this receptor in HNSCC cell lines and animal models inhibits tumor growth. Strategies have been developed to target EGFR, including monoclonal antibodies, tyrosine kinase-specific inhibitors, ligand-linked immunotoxins, and antisense approaches. Laboratory studies and clinical trials are under way to explore the safety and efficacy of these various approaches in a variety of cancers, including HNSCC. Preliminary results from early phase clinical trials are encouraging and may lead to the incorporation of these EGFR targeting strategies into the management of HNSCC.
Shoaling transformation of wave frequency‐directional spectra

[1] A Boussinesq model for the nonlinear transformation of the frequency-directional spectrum and bispectrum of surface gravity waves propagating over a gently sloping, alongshore uniform beach is compared with field and laboratory observations. Outside the surf zone the model predicts the observed spectral evolution, including energy transfers to harmonic components traveling in the direction of the dominant waves, and the cross-interactions of waves traveling in different directions that transfer energy to components with the vector sum wavenumber. The sea surface elevation skewness and asymmetry, third-order moments believed to be important for sediment transport, also are predicted well. Effects of surf zone wave breaking are incorporated with a heuristic frequency-dependent dissipation term in the spectral energy balance equation and an empirical relaxation of the bispectrum to Gaussian statistics. The associated coefficients are calibrated with observations that span a wide range of surf zone conditions. With calibrated coefficients, the model predicts observed surf zone frequency spectra well and surf zone skewness and asymmetry fairly well. The observed directional spectra inside the surf zone are broader than the predicted spectra, suggesting that neglected scattering effects associated with the random onset of wave breaking or with higher-order nonlinearity may be important.
Self-disclosure and anxiety change

Abstract This paper presents an analogue study of self-disclosure therapy. Change in anxiety self-report was examined in relation to two variables extracted from Mowrer's theory of neurosis and therapy. One variable consisted of instructions to disclose only negative personal traits or instructions to disclose only positive ones. The other variable consisted of conveying information to subjects that the disclosures would be examined by a person of significance to them or by a person of no significance. The negative disclosure instructions produced significant decrements in subsequent anxiety self-report relative to positive instructions. It was suggested that the absence of an effect associated with the second variable tends to disconfirm Mowrer's contention that “significant others” must be involved in productive therapeutic change.
Power, Postcolonialism and International Relations: Reading Race, Gender and Class

Power, Postcolonialism and International Relations: Reading Race, Gender and Class. Edited by Geeta Chowdhry and Sheila Nair. London: Routledge, 2004. 324p. 34.95 paper.What do a French-educated Algerian revolutionary, a Lakota traditionalist, Kim Dae Jung, a Romanian sex worker in Cyprus, a Guyanese cricket star of South Asian origin and his Afro-Guyanese fans, a Muslim living in Europe, a Tibetan nationalist, a child rug maker in India, and Aung San Suu Kyi have in common? Mainstream theorists of international relations would say: nothing. According to Geeta Chowdhry and Sheila Nair, however, the members of this unlikely crowd expose the incapacity of IR to explain or usefully contribute to some of the most important debates taking place within and between countries and regions. The stories they compile also reveal the complicity of IR in the justification and reproduction of the class, race, and gender inequalities constitutive of European and U.S. domination from the fifteenth century to today. Power, Postcolonialism and International Relations argues that although the last decade has seen much criticism of the ahistorical gender- and race-neutral rational actor model that dominates IR scholarship, its critics have neither adequately explained why this model persists nor analyzed its effects on both the participants in and the objects of international conflicts.
Channel and Perennial Flow Initiation in Headwater Streams: Management Implications of Variability in Source-Area Size

Despite increasing attention to management of headwater streams as sources of water, sediment, and wood to downstream rivers, the extent of headwater channels and perennial flow remain poorly known and inaccurately depicted on topographic maps and in digital hydrographic data. This study reports field mapping of channel head and perennial flow initiation locations in forested landscapes underlain by sandstone and basalt lithologies in Washington State, USA. Contributing source areas were delineated for each feature using a digital elevation model (DEM) as well as a Global Positioning System device in the field. Systematic source area–slope relationships described in other landscapes were not evident for channel heads in either lithology. In addition, substantial variability in DEM-derived source area sizes relative to field-delineated source areas indicates that in this area, identification of an area–slope relationship, should one even exist, would be difficult. However, channel heads and stream heads, here defined as the start of perennial flow, appear to be co-located within both of the lithologies, which together with lateral expansion and contraction of surface water around channel heads on a seasonal cycle in the basalt lithology, suggest a controlling influence of bedrock springs for that location. While management strategies for determining locations of channel heads and perennial flow initiation in comparable areas could assign standard source area sizes based on limited field data collection within that landscape, field-mapped source areas that support perennial flow are much smaller than recognized by current Washington State regulations.
Resonance Electron Exchange in Large-Angle Scattering of He + on He at kev Energies

Recent differential scattering measurements at 5 deg scattering angle of He/sup +/ on He at energies of 2 to 250 kev show several pronounced resonance peaks when the fraction of the scattered particles which were neutral (electron exchange) was plotted as a function of incident energy. A detailed comparison of those experimental data is made with the theoretical predictions of the impact parameter method for resonance electron capture. The agreement between the theory and experiment is found to be quite good at high energies despite experimental indications of a large amount of excitation. The contribution of electron exchange with excitation is then considered in the light of this fact. (auth)
Polyacrylates in Flame-Retardant Treatments of Textile Fabrics

Durable phosphorus-based flame retardants containing polyacrylate emul sions were applied to cotton, cotton-polyester, and cotton-wool twill fabrics to study the effect of the added polyacrylates on the physical properties and flame retardancy. The Thps-urea-TMM flame retardant with added polyacrylate im parted better overall physical properties to 100% cotton fabric than to cotton blend fabrics. Treatments containing polyacrylates with low glass transition temperatures produced fabrics with the highest abrasion resistance, tearing strength and wrinkle recovery. The flame retardancy of treated fabrics was not adversely affected by the addition of polyacrylates to the flame retardant treatments.
Direct observation of neutron irradiation damage in niobium

Abstract Polycrystalline sheets of pure niobium were irradiated to a dose of 2 × 1013 neutrons/cm2 (E>1 Mev). Defects appearing as black spots, as well as black-white contrasts, were observed by transmission electron microscopy. The density of the black spots was estimated as 5 × 1015/cm3. The defects were identified as small dislocation loops. Slip traces free of black spots were observed after plastic deformation. Attempts are now being made to determine the nature of the loops.
Effects of interactions among crystals on the inhomogeneous deformations of polycrystals

The deformations of model fcc polycrystals are studied using finite element simulations in which each element of the discretization is treated as a single crystal. The extent to which interactions between a crystal and its neighbors influence its deformation is examined by conducting a series of simulations. For each of these simulations the model polycrystal is constructed using a different spatial arrangement of the same set of crystals, so as to alter the neighborhood of each crystal. The deformation rate data for all the crystals obtained from these simulations are analyzed using the method of empirical eigenfunctions and using statistical methods. Variation of the deformation rate data with the Taylor factors of the crystal orientations as well as over three-dimensional space of Rodrigues' parameters is examined to study the dependence on orientation. The results show that interactions among crystals play a crucial role in determining the distribution of the applied deformation among them. Such interactions should be incorporated in averaging assumptions of polycrystal plasticity models to obtain improved predictions of crystallographic texture evolution.
Engineering physiologically regulated insulin secretion in non-β cells by expressing glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is released from neuroendocrine cells in the intestine in the postprandial state and augments glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from pancreatic β cells. To develop non-β cells that exhibit physiologically regulated insulin secretion, we coexpressed the GLP-1 receptor and human insulin in primary rat pituitary cells using adenovirus-mediated gene transfer. The transduced cells were analyzed in a perifusion system and after transplantation into mice. Normal pituitary cells do not express the GLP-1 receptor as shown by the absence of GLP-1 receptor mRNA and the inability of GLP-1 to stimulate pituitary hormone secretion. Following transduction with an adenovirus carrying the GLP-1 receptor cDNA, the pituitary cells expressed functional GLP-1 receptors as reflected by the ability of GLP-1 to stimulate secretion of pituitary hormones. When both the GLP-1 receptor and human insulin were introduced, GLP-1 stimulated cosecretion of human insulin and endogenous pituitary hormones. GLP-1 was similar in potency to the hypothalamic-releasing hormones and stimulated hormone secretion in a dose-dependent fashion. In contrast to pancreatic β cells, the hormone-releasing effect of GLP-1 on transduced pituitary cells was not dependent on the concentration of extracellular glucose. After transplantation of pituitary cells coexpressing human insulin and GLP-1 receptor into mice, enteral glucose stimulated insulin secretion. These results demonstrate a new approach to engineer physiologically regulated insulin secretion by non-β cells.
Extracellular and intracellular regulation of oligodendrocyte development: Roles of Sonic hedgehog and expression of E proteins

Recent advances in understanding oligodendrocyte development have revealed the importance of both extra- and intracellular molecules in regulating the induction, survival, and proliferation of early oligodendrocyte progenitors. The signaling molecule Sonic hedgehog (Shh) is critical for normal development of oligodendrocytes, although the precise influences of Shh on cells of the oligodendrocyte lineage are unclear. The present study shows that Shh increased the number of oligodendrocyte precursors in both pure cultures of oligodendrocyte precursors and mixed cultures from embryonic rat spinal cord. In pure precursor cultures Shh increased cell survival. In mixed cultures, Shh increased both the survival and proliferation of oligodendrocyte precursors in a concentration dependent manner. One intracellular consequence of exposure to Shh is the activation of transcription factors in oligodendrocyte lineage cells, which are critical for oligodendrocyte development, helix-loop-helix (HLH) transcription factors, Olig1 and 2. In many cases, HLH proteins such as Olig1 and Olig2 heterodimerize with other HLH proteins, such as members of the E subfamily, which are critical regulators of cell proliferation and differentiation. Immature (A2B5+) and more mature (O4+) rat oligodendrocyte precursors in dissociated cell culture expressed Olig1 as well as E proteins, HEB and E2A. Similarly, cells bearing the morphology of oligodendrocyte precursors expressed both Olig1 and HEB or E2A. We propose that E2A and/or HEB, possibly in combination with Olig1 and 2, are critical components of oligodendrogenesis and may regulate cell survival, proliferation, and fate decisions in the oligodendrocyte lineage. GLIA 40:55–64, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
MMP-2 null mice exhibit an early onset and severe experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis due to an increase in MMP-9 expression and activity

Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2; gelatinase A) is known to degrade a broad range of extracellular matrix components and chemokines, and has important roles in the processes of cell migration, invasion, and involution during development, as well as during tumor growth and metastasis and in inflammation and repair. To better elucidate the roles of this matrix metalloproteinase in the development and progression of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, we used MMP-2-deficient (KO) mice. Surprisingly, we found that MMP-2 KO mice exhibited an earlier onset and more severe disease than did their wild-type (WT) counterparts. WT mice engrafted with MMP-2 KO bone marrow exhibited a similar earlier onset and more severe clinical disease score than WT mice engrafted with WT bone marrow. Lymphocytes derived from MMP-2 KO mice exhibited increased transmigration through endothelial cell monolayers as well as through collagen type IV and laminin-coated BD BIOCOAT inserts, which correlated with a 3-fold increase in expression of MMP-9 and was abrogated by inhibition of MMP activity. We demonstrated a correlation between expression levels of MMP-9 and MT1-MMP expression and suggest a signaling pathway involving tethering of MMP-2 to MT1-MMP as a modulator of MMP-9 expression. Last, we discuss other possible MMP-2-mediated mechanisms which may contribute to the observed phenotype.
TNFα and reactive oxygen species in necrotic cell death

Death receptors, including the TNF receptor-1 (TNF-RI), have been shown to be able to initiate caspase-independent cell death. This form of “necrotic cell death” appears to be dependent on the generation of reactive oxygen species. Recent data have indicated that superoxide generation is dependent on the activation of NADPH oxidases, which form a complex with the adaptor molecules RIP1 and TRADD. The mechanism of superoxide generation further establishes RIP1 as the central molecule in ROS production and cell death initiated by TNFα and other death receptors. A role for the sustained JNK activation in necrotic cell death is also suggested. The sensitization of virus-infected cells to TNFα indicates that necrotic cell death may represent an alternative cell death pathway for clearance of infected cells.
Death receptors and melanoma resistance to apoptosis

Impaired ability to undergo programmed cell death in response to a wide range of external stimuli acquires melanomas a selective advantage for progression and metastasis as well as their notorious resistance to therapy. Better understanding of mechanisms that govern apoptosis has enabled identification of diverse routes by which melanomas manage to escape stimuli of apoptosis. Changes at genomic, transcriptional and post-translational levels of G-proteins and protein kinases (Ras, B-Raf) and their transcription factor effectors (c-Jun, ATF2, Stat3 and NF-kappaB) affects TNF, Fas and TRAIL receptors, which play important roles in acquiring melanoma's resistance to apoptosis. Here, we summarize our current understanding of changes that alters the regulation of death receptors during melanoma development.
A hopeful path for development in Africa

Abstract Africa faces many more barriers to development over the next two generations than any other global region. Food supply, population growth, city expansion and political stability are especially troublesome. A strategy is proposed here for using new, low-cost information technology for erasing the educational deficit and accelerating food production. Hope for doing this quickly lies with the rapidly expanding women's NGOs. Acceleration of the education of girls has the highest priority, because more education is needed in Africa than elsewhere to achieve fertility at replacement levels. To be sustainable, an African society should be service-oriented, with much reduced emphasis on manufacturing capital goods. It would be very knowledgeable about economizing, and so would need to achieve a relatively low GDP. The principal aim would be for society members to declare themselves to be happy, and feel they have a high quality of life.
Rotational barriers and thermodynamic functions for CF3CH2X molecules

Abstract Potential barriers to internal rotation were determined from observed Raman torsional frequencies for the CF 3 CH 2 X ( X = F, Cl, Br, and I) series of molecules. The variation of rotational barrier as a function of the X substituent is established and discussed. The results for these CF 3 top molecules have also been compared to published results for the corresponding CH 3 top molecules. Thermodynamic functions, including torsional contributions, for each molecule were calculated at 100° intervals from 298.15 to 1000°K for the ideal gas state at one atmosphere.
Cellulose IIII Crystal Structure and Hydrogen Bonding by Synchrotron X-ray and Neutron Fiber Diffraction

The crystal and molecular structure, together with the hydrogen-bonding system in ammonia-mercerized cellulose IIII, has been determined using synchrotron X-ray and neutron fiber diffraction data. The structure has a one-chain monoclinic unit cell with an asymmetric unit that contains only one glucosyl residue and with the hydroxymethyl group in the gt conformation. The hydrogen-bonding system is well-defined with no evidence of disorder. A bifurcated hydrogen bond links a donating secondary alcohol O3 atom to a ring O5 atom (major) and a primary alcohol O6 atom (minor) of an adjacent residue in the same chain. Two hydrogen bonds are present between neighboring chains, perpendicular to the chain direction. A detailed comparison of the crystal structure and hydrogen-bonding system reported here for cellulose IIII and those reported previously for the other cellulose polymorphs is given. The conformation of the chain in cellulose IIII has features similar to that of the center chain in the highly stable cel...
Stereotactic radiosurgery for brain metastases from breast cancer.

Background: Stereotactic radiosurgery is an alternative to resection or to radiotherapy alone for patients with brain metastases. Outcomes after radiosurgery for patients with brain metastases specifically from breast cancer have not been defined.
Optical fiber manufacturing techniques

The cost of fiber has been steadily decreasing because of the experience learned in production and developments in fiber processing. In this paper we will review the processes for making optical fibers, dwelling mostly on the fiber drawing process. Our results show that the fiber draw rate has been increased to more than 10 m/s without any degradation in fiber performance and specifications. The technology is not fully mature and it is likely that even higher rates should be achievable.
Intramolecular dephosphorylation of ERK by MKP3.

The dual specificity mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase MKP3 downregulates mitogenic signaling through dephosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Like other MKPs, MKP3 consists of a noncatalytic N-terminal domain and a catalytic C-terminal domain. ERK binding to the N-terminal noncatalytic domain of MKP3 has been shown to increase (up to 100-fold) the catalytic activity of MKP3 toward small artificial substrates. Here, we address the function of the N-terminal domain of MKP3 in either inter- or intramolecular dephosphorylation of pERK (phosphorylated ERK) and the stoichiometry of the MKP3/pERK Michaelis complex. These are important mechanistic distinctions given the observation that ERK exists in a monomer/dimer equilibrium that is shifted toward the dimer when phosphorylated and given that MKP3 undergoes catalytic activation toward other substrates when bound to ERK. Wild-type and engineered mutants of ERK and MKP3, binding analyses, reaction kinetics, and chemical cross-...
Guidelines toward more uniformity in measuring and reporting calf experimental data.

Abstract Standardized procedures for measuring and reporting calf performance data are presented. The North Central Regional Research Committee on Improving Large Dairy Herd Management (NC-119) encourages researchers to consider these guidelines in designing, conducting, and reporting results of calf experiments. Greater uniformity in defining the conditions and results of the studies would aid in making more meaningful comparisons.
Assessing personal work goals in the organizational setting: Development and evaluation of the Work Concerns Inventory.

Abstract This article reports on the development of an instrument for assessing the personal work goals of employees. The Work Concerns Inventory (WCI) combines idiographic and nomothetic methods to obtain a list of employee work goals and characterizations of those goals on behavior-relevant variables. The goal characteristics assessed on the WCI come from expectancy-value and behavioristic models of goal choice. The internal structure and validity of the WCI for predicting goal-directed behavior were examined in a field study involving 172 employees. The results indicated support for most hypotheses. The hypothesized relationships among the instrument's scales were supported. Goal characteristics predicted the frequency of goal-directed behavior, indicating that optimal prediction of behavior was achieved through the use of both cognitive and operant variables. The findings support the validity of the WCI and promote future research on how personal work goals influence organizational behavior.
The sucrose permease of Escherichia coli: functional significance of cysteine residues and properties of a cysteine-less transporter

The sucrose (CscB) permease belongs to the oligosaccharide:H(+) symporter family of the Major Facilitator Superfamily and is homologous to the lactose permease from Escherichia coli. Sucrose transport in cells expressing sucrose permease is completely inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), suggesting that one or more of the seven native Cys residues may be important for transport. In this paper, each Cys residue was individually replaced with Ser, and transport activity, membrane expression, and NEM sensitivity are documented. All seven single Cys-->Ser mutants are expressed normally in the membrane and catalyze sucrose transport with activities ranging from 80% to 180% of wild type. Six of the seven Ser mutants are completely inactivated by NEM, while Cys122-->Ser permease is insensitive to the sulfhydryl reagent, indicating that NEM inhibition results from alkylation of Cys122. Subsequently, a sucrose permease devoid of Cys residues (Cys-less) was constructed in which all Cys residues were replaced with Ser simultaneously by using a series of overlap-extension PCRs. Membrane expression and kinetic parameters for Cys-less [K(m) 4.8 mM, V(max) 192 nmol min(-1) (mg of protein)(-1)] are essentially identical to those of wild type [K(m) 5.4 mM, V(max) 196 nmol min(-1) (mg of protein)(-1)]. However, Cys-less permease catalyzes sucrose accumulation to steady-state levels that are approximately 2-fold higher than those of wild type. As anticipated, Cys-less permease is completely resistant to NEM inhibition. The observations demonstrate that Cys residues play no functional role in sucrose permease. Furthermore, the approach described to create the Cys-less transporter is generally applicable to other proteins. An application of Cys-less permease in the study of the substrate binding site is presented in the accompanying paper.
Numerical approximation of electromagnetic signals arising in the evaluation of geological formations

The integration of complicated oscillatory functions arises in computational electromagnetics when evaluating signals produced by the propagation of electromagnetic radiation through the anisotropic layers of a geological formation. The computation of exact integrals involves the evaluation of Sommerfeld integrals. The matrix-pencil method is used for the numerical approximation of such signals. Numerical results show accuracy and robustness of the method for the approximation of these signals, and efficiency in their numerical integration. Sampling frequency is discussed and numerical efficiency is improved by down-sampling.
Reproduction of Planted Lake Trout in Lake Michigan

Abstract Although lake trout planted in Lake Michigan survive well and many spawn, there has been little evidence of successful reproduction except for the capture of a few sac fry in a power-plant intake. To determine if other reproduction occurred, I examined eight natural reefs and three artificial structures in northeastern Lake Michigan in 1973-1979. I used pumps, a beam trawl, and emergent fry traps to sample either for eggs, fry, or both. A few viable eggs were found on three of the natural reefs and many were collected from the artificial structures. Fry were not found on the natural reefs and one artificial structure; they were rare on one artificial structure but very abundant on another. The fry collected were 24-36 mm (TL) long.
677 LUMINOL ENHANCED CHEMILUMINESCENCE OF NEONATAL GRANULOCYTES AND MONOCYTES

Clinical investigations of the functional activity of neonatal phagocytes have been inconclusive, partly due to difficulties obtaining sufficient numbers of cells from clinical samples. Luminol enhanced chemiluminescence (CL) has been useful in assessing intracellular and opsonphagocytic function with small numbers of purified cell populations (ICAAC-Oct 1977; Abst #209 & 210). We adapted an assay to allow accurate CL measurements using 5×105 phagocytes (2.5 ml blood samples) in a 1 ml reaction mixture of PBS (pH 7.2), 10μl BSA (1 mg/ml) or superoxide dismutase (5 mg/ml) luminol [10-8] and preopsonized zymosan (Z:P-50:1). Phagocytosis associated CL correlated with ingestion of zymosan particles. Phagocytosis-associated peak CL values for neonatal PMNs & monocytes was less (p<.01) than corresponding adult values. CL by phagocytizing monocytes of both neonates and adults was ∼ 50% of PMN CL values. (Healthy neonates(12) PMN=1.1×105 CPM, Mono-.55 × 105 CPM. Adults(20) PMN=2.5×105 CPM, Mono=1.1×105 CPM.) The contribution of superoxide (O2−) to CL responses, as assessed by superoxide dismutase CL inhibition, in concurrent experiments was similar in neonatal and adult phagocytes (∼50% reduction of PMN and Mono CL). These observations demonstrate that in healthy neonates phagocytosis-related CL and O2− generation is less than in adults. Since spontaneous PMN CL values are also less than corresponding adult values, it would appear that the reported enhanced oxidative metabolism of neonatal PMNs is dependent in part on factors other than those determining CL activity.
AGU selects 2012–2013 Congressional Science Fellows

AGU has selected Erica Bickford and Kevin Reed as its 2012–2013 Congressional Science Fellows. This term will mark the 35th year that AGU has sponsored fellows to serve in Congress. Bickford and Reed will be part of a cohort comprising more than 30 fellows working on Capitol Hill in the coming year and contributing their scientific knowledge to the policy-making process. Erica Bickford is working toward finalizing her Ph.D. in environment and resources from the University of Wisconsin this summer.
Infection experiments with the hookworm (Bunostomum phlebotomum) in calves.

SummaryThese experiments indicate that infection with the hookworm parasitic in calves takes place by way of the skin as well as orally and that the larval stages are capable of producing severe symptoms of parasitosis. The prepatent period may be as short as the 57th day and may extend to at least 79 days.
Research as the Researcher's Story

When we were given the challenge of expressing our views of research as the researcher?s story, we intended to talk primarily about the ways in which our personal lives mediated our research work. While this remains one of the aspects of what we want to share, in our negotiations and conversations about writing this column we became aware of what brought us together to write a common article on this topic. We both share a commitment to research that is grounded in the ideals associated with participatory inquiry or what has been described as the participatory worldview (Reason & Bradbury, 2001).
Tbx2/3 is an essential mediator within the Brachyury gene network during Ciona notochord development

T-box genes are potent regulators of mesoderm development in many metazoans. In chordate embryos, the T-box transcription factor Brachyury (Bra) is required for specification and differentiation of the notochord. In some chordates, including the ascidian Ciona, members of the Tbx2 subfamily of T-box genes are also expressed in this tissue; however, their regulatory relationships with Bra and their contributions to the development of the notochord remain uncharacterized. We determined that the notochord expression of Ciona Tbx2/3 (Ci-Tbx2/3) requires Ci-Bra, and identified a Ci-Tbx2/3 notochord CRM that necessitates multiple Ci-Bra binding sites for its activity. Expression of mutant forms of Ci-Tbx2/3 in the developing notochord revealed a role for this transcription factor primarily in convergent extension. Through microarray screens, we uncovered numerous Ci-Tbx2/3 targets, some of which overlap with known Ci-Bra-downstream notochord genes. Among the Ci-Tbx2/3 notochord targets are evolutionarily conserved genes, including caspases, lineage-specific genes, such as Noto4, and newly identified genes, such as MLKL. This work sheds light on a large section of the notochord regulatory circuitry controlled by T-box factors, and reveals new components of the complement of genes required for the proper formation of this structure.
The evicted-address filter: a unified mechanism to address both cache pollution and thrashing

Off-chip main memory has long been a bottleneck for system performance. With increasing memory pressure due to multiple onchip cores, effective cache utilization is important. In a system with limited cache space, we would ideally like to prevent 1) cache pollution, i.e., blocks with low reuse evicting blocks with high reuse from the cache, and 2) cache thrashing, i.e., blocks with high reuse evicting each other from the cache.
Quantitative antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae by using the E-test.

The E-test (PDM Epsilometer; AB Biodisk, Solna, Sweden) is an antimicrobial agent gradient-coated plastic test strip which allows MIC determinations on agar media. The test is performed in a manner similar to the agar disk diffusion procedure. A collection of Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae strains possessing various resistance mechanisms was used to evaluate the E-test method. H. influenzae strains were tested with both Haemophilus test medium (HTM) and PDM ASM II chocolate agar, while the S. pneumoniae strains were tested on Mueller-Hinton sheep blood agar. E-test MICs for a total of 10 antimicrobial agents were compared with broth microdilution MICs determined according to National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards methods. In general, E-test MICs for both species were quickly and easily interpreted and agreed within one log2 MIC increment in 89.8% of tests with H. influenzae and in 80.4% of pneumococcal tests. The majority of disagreements between the E-test and conventional MICs occurred with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole because of trailing and diffuse E-test MIC endpoints with both species. Ampicillin MICs for beta-lactamase-producing H. influenzae determined by the E-test differed at times from those determined by conventional testing because of the vagaries of interpreting colonies growing within the E-test inhibition ellipses. E-test penicillin MICs for pneumococci tended to be 1 to 2 log2 dilutions lower than those determined by using Mueller-Hinton broth supplemented with lysed horse blood. Nevertheless, strains of both species with documented resistance to the study drugs were detected by E-tests, i.e., 0.7% of the tests had very major errors with H. influenzae and 0.8% had very major errors with S. pneumoniae. Thus, the E-test represents a potential alternative method for antimicrobial susceptibility testing of these two fastidious bacterial species. Images
Bipolar-to-monopolar spindle collapse in human eggs.

The bipolar spindle is an integral part of the cell division machinery required for faithful chromosome segregation. During meiosis in mammalian females, this machinery must function sequentially during a reductive (meiosis I) and equational (meiosis II) cell division to ultimately produce a haploid egg that can be fertilized and give rise to the next generation. Errors in this process can result in aneuploidy (incorrect chromosome number), which can have adverse reproductive outcomes such as infertility, miscarriages, and birth defects. In human eggs arrested at metaphase of meiosis II (MII), the bipolar meiotic spindle is dependent on the function of EG5, a molecular motor protein in the kinesin family. Treatment of a human MII egg with monastrol, a pharmacological inhibitor of EG5, results in the formation of a monopolar spindle (green: α-tubulin) and spreading of sister chromatids (blue: DNA; red: CREST). Such chromosome spreading occurs in the context of an intact cell. Therefore treatment of eggs with monastrol has recently become a robust tool for obtaining accurate chromosome counts in several mammalian species, including mouse and human. The spindle in this image, which is approximately 12 microns in diameter, comes from a human egg from a 19.3 year-old subject. This egg was obtained following in vitro maturation of a cumulusoocyte-complex isolated directly from ovarian tissue from a small antral follicle (< 5 mm in diameter). This ovarian tissue was surgically removed for ovarian tissue cryopreservation in the context of fertility preservation, and a portion was donated to research according to IRB-approved protocols.
On the second-order statistics of a new simple model for land mobile satellite channels

A new simple model has been proposed for land mobile satellite channels. We study the second-order statistics of the new model. First we develop a characteristic function-based approach for calculating the level crossing rate of the new model in diversity systems, where the branches can have different fading statistics. Then we compare the level crossing rate and the average fade duration of the new model with measured data. Similar to the first-order statistics, our results show that the second-order statistics of the new model can be expressed in compact closed forms, convenient for both mathematical analysis and numerical calculations.
Targeted interrogation of copy number variation using SCIMMkit

Summary: Copy number variants (CNVs) contribute substantially to human genomic diversity, and development of accurate and efficient methods for CNV genotyping is a central problem in exploring human genotype–phenotype associations. SCIMMkit provides a robust, integrated implementation of three previously validated algorithms [SCIMM (SNP-Conditional Mixture Modeling), SCIMM-Search and SCOUT (SNP-Conditional OUTlier detection)] for targeted interrogation of CNVs using Illumina Infinium II and GoldenGate SNP assays. SCIMMkit is applicable to standardized genome-wide SNP arrays and customized multiplexed SNP panels, providing economy, efficiency and flexibility in experimental design. Availability: Source code and documentation are available for noncommercial use at http://droog.gs.washington.edu/scimmkit. Contact: troyz@u.washington.edu Supplementary information:Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
DC-XA engine plume diagnostics: data collection utilizing a COTS PC

Marshall Space Flight Center's Optical Plume Anomaly Detection (OPAD) systems have been developed for the purpose of monitoring rocket engine health by identifying and quantifying trace elements in exhaust plumes. The opportunity to put an OPAD instrument aboard the DC-XA test vehicle afforded a valuable first chance to test the technology in an environment for which it is ultimately intended. Methods used to accomplish this are discussed herein, with a focus on the miniaturized personal computer used for data collection. Also, a brief examination is made of test results.
Input-output analysis of the 2D/3C model in channel flows of viscoelastic fluids

Energy amplification in streamwise constant channel flows of viscoelastic fluids is studied from an input-output point of view by analyzing the responses of the velocity components to spatio-temporal body forces. These inputs into governing equations are assumed to be harmonic in spanwise direction and stochastic in the wall-normal direction and in time. An explicit Reynolds number scaling of frequency responses from different input to different output components is developed. It is found that some of the components of frequency response peak at nonzero temporal frequencies. This is in contrast to the Newtonian fluids, where peaks are always observed at zero frequency, suggesting that viscoelastic effects introduce additional timescales and promote development of flow patterns with smaller time constants than in Newtonian fluids. The frequencies, corresponding to the peaks in the components of frequency response, decrease with an increase in viscosity ratio and show maximum for non-zero elasticity number. At low Reynolds numbers, the energy density decreases monotonically when the elasticity number is sufficiently small, but shows a maximum when the elasticity number becomes sufficiently large, suggesting that elasticity can amplify disturbances even when inertial effects are weak.