cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of antisense in kidney cells.

Publisher Summary Antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (AS-ODNs) have emerged as potential agents for blocking gene expression. Specifically, deoxynucleotides are composed of a nucleic acid sequence that is complementary to the ribonucleic acid (RNA) target with which it is designed to interact. AS-ODNs used in the kidney cells are typically 15 to 30 nucleotides long and approximately 5 to 9 kDa in size. The high affinities of these deoxynucleotides for their RNA targets prevent the production of a single protein. Once protein production has been altered, the effect of this maneuver on cell behavior can be measured. AS-ODNs modulate the information transfer from gene to the protein: in essence, they alter the intermediary metabolism of RNA. AS-ODNs can alter transcription (by preventing binding of transcription factors), RNA processing (by binding to sequences necessary for RNA splicing), or translation (by binding to the translational initiation codon). There can, however, be nonspecific binding to RNA or deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and there may be unintended effects of these agents or metabolites on transcription factors. The ability of antisense technology to prevent the expression of specific proteins provides an effective tool not only for the study of normal transport processes in the normal kidney but also for the study of the pathogenic mechanisms by which cell behavior is modified in disease. There are, however, many biological effects of AS-ODN that cannot be attributed to the antisense mechanism alone, and therefore such effects may limit the conclusions that can be drawn and may also compromise the usefulness of deoxynucleotides as therapeutic agents. Studies have shown that these limitations may be overcome and that in vivo targeting of certain proteins holds great promise in the treatment of kidney diseases.
Continuous Wave Laser Behavior

In previous chapters, we have discussed several features of the components that make up a laser. These are the laser medium itself, whose interaction with an e.m. wave was considered in Chaps. 2 and 3, the passive optical resonator (Chap. 5) and the pumping system (Chap. 6). In this chapter we will make use of results from these earlier chapters to develop the theoretical background required to describe the continuous wave, c.w., laser behavior. The case of transient laser behavior will be considered in the next chapter. The theory developed here uses the so-called rate-equation approximation and the laser equations are derived on the basis of a simple notion that there should be a balance between the total atoms undergoing a transition and total number of photons which are being created or annihilated (1, 2). This theory has the advantage of providing a rather simple and intuitive picture of laser behavior. Furthermore, it gives sufficiently accurate results for most practical purposes. For a more refined treatment one should use either the semiclassical approach (in which the matter is quantized while the e.m. radiation is treated classically, i.e., through Maxwell’s equations) or the full quantum electrodynamics approach (in which both matter and radiation are quantized). We refer the reader elsewhere for these more advanced treatments (3).
Nano wires by self assembly

We present a technique to fabricate nano wires on silicon substrates without any lithography. The wires are 50 nm or less in width, but their lengths can be 10 s of micro meters. They can be formed by a single or multiple layers of metals. The wires can be designed to form a network which can be partially released from the substrate to form 3D structures. Such structures may serve as actuators or sensors.
Effectiveness of Contact Precautions Against Multidrug-Resistant Organism Transmission in Acute Care: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Contact precautions are widely recommended to prevent multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) transmission. However, conflicting data exist regarding their effectiveness. Prior systematic reviews examined contact precautions as part of a larger bundled approach, limiting ability to understand their effectiveness. The aim of this review was to characterize the effectiveness of contact precautions alone against transmission of any MDRO among adult acute care patients. Directed by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement, comprehensive searches of four electronic scientific literature databases were conducted for studies published in English from January 2004 to June 2014. Studies were included if interventional, original research, evaluating contact isolation precautions against MDRO transmission among inpatients. Searches returned 284 studies, six of which were included in the review. These studies measured four different MDROs with one study showing a reduction in transmission. Whereas studies were of high quality regarding outcome operationalization and statistical analyses, overall quality was moderate to low due to poor intervention description, population characterization and potential biases. Where compliance was measured (N = 4), it presented a threat to validity because it included select parts of the intervention, ranged from 21% to 87%, and was significantly different across study phases (N = 2). The poor quality of evidence on this topic continues to limit interpretation of these data. Hence, this conflicting body of literature does not constitute evidence for or against contact precautions. We recommend that researchers consider power calculation, compliance monitoring, non-equivalent concurrent controls when designing future studies on this topic.
Conversation Pieces: Science and Politeness in Eighteenth-Century England

La politesse et l'instruction apparaissent au XVIII e siecle comme des marqueurs sociaux de la societe anglaise, au meme moment ou la philosophie naturelle apparait egalement dans la vie culturelle et intellectuelle
Reading: Do the Eyes Have It?

IntroductionPediatric ophthalmologists often will see children in their office who are being evaluated for school-related difficulties. Parents may be misinformed or uninformed and thus are turning...
Volatility and compositional changes of Japanese beetle attractant mixtures and means of dispensing sufficient vapor having a constant composition.

When mixtures of chemicals having ingredients that differ widely in volatility are dispensed as lures from the standard dental roll wick and reservoir used in traps for popillia japonica Newman, the composition changes during the evaporation process. Since mixtures of chemicals in different ratios are not equally attractive, a wick was devised to maintain the composition of the lure mixture fairly constant and at a level giving maximum attraction despite gross differences in the volatilities of the ingredients. The wick incorporated a restriction that prevented back diffusion of lure from the exposed section and thereby prevented changes in lure composition.
Polar redistribution of Na+K+ATPase in aggregating MDCK cells

The distribution of Na+K+ATPase was examined immunoelectronmicroscopically along the plasma membranes of aggregating MDCK cells grown in tissue culture. Na+K+ATPase was localized with the use of affinity-purified antibodies employing the double-antibody immunoperoxidase technique. Na+K+ATPase-like immunoreactivity was uniformly distributed along the plasmalemma of cells grown in suspension. Once attached to the substratum, individual MDCK cells exhibited Na+K+ATPase immunoreactivity limited to the microvilli-laden mucosal surface. This exclusive mucosal distribution of Na+K+ATPase disappeared and a basolateral immunoreactivity became apparent once intercellular contacts and the formation of tight junctions occurred between neighboring cells. Thus, both cellular attachment to the substratum, and tight junction formation between aggregating MDCK cells are essential to the genesis of Na+K+ATPase polar distribution. These two events, however, appear to induce opposing distribution patterns for Na+K+ATPase.
Management Implications for a Poplar Phytoremediation Plantation

Phytoremediation with poplar trees has recently shown promise for remediating many types of contaminants. However, the management of phytoremediation plantations has not been optimized for maximum remediation performance. It was hypothesized that increased management of a poplar plantation can improve poplar root development and reduce the time to gain hydraulic control of a landfill leachate plume. In order to sufficiently understand the potential of increased management to increase hydraulic control of a ground water plume, a field study site was used. This site, located in Manhattan, Kansas, focused on the impacts of tree management by exploring the differences in nutrient applications. A plantation composed of two varieties of poplar trees (Populus L.) was planted in the spring of 2006. Half of the trees received only fresh water and the other half received a treatment of 50% fresh water and 50% lagoon effluent. Measurements taken included tree height, trunk diameter, tree crown area and soil moisture (tensiometers and neutron probe). After receiving treatments over the course of the summer, the data indicated that there were no significant differences in the trees receiving lagoon treatments and the trees receiving only fresh water. The expected irrigation treatment effect was most likely masked by the inherent high fertility of the site. However, all trees were effective at reducing soil moisture. It is thought that after several years of growth the trees receiving nutrient applications will be more effective at drying out the soil as the existing soil nutrients are utilized. In addition to phytoremediation applications, this management strategy can be used to reduce the ecological impacts of animal feeding operations.
Effects of absolute and relative sunk costs on the decision to persist with a course of action

Abstract Two experiments were designed in order to examine how D. Kahneman and A. Tversky's (1979, 1984) assertions from prospect theory, that mental accounts are organized topically, might relate to sunk cost effects in decision-making. In each experiment, the absolute magnitude (dollars) and the relative magnitude (dollars in proportion to an overall project budget) of sunk costs were manipulated independently across four different decision problems. Subjects responded to each problem with the probability that if faced with the situation described, they would commit the remaining funds to the action that they had initiated. The subjects in Experiment 1 were undergraduate business students, fulfilling a course requirement. Those in Experiment 2 were MBA students, participating on a purely voluntary basis. Very consistent findings emerged across both experiments, where relative rather than absolute magnitude of sunk costs had a significant impact on subjects' reported likelihood of committing additional funds to some action. These findings support the idea that a topical organization of mental accounts, where existing investments are compared with a reference state in a manner consistent with that prescribed by prospect theory, underlies sunk cost effects in decision-making.
The use of achromycin and neomycin in the treatment of actinomycosis

Abstract 1. 1. A review of the therapy of actinomycosis has been made, with emphasis on the sulfa and antibiotic drugs. 2. 2. A case has been described in which Achromycin and neomycin were used with most satisfactory results. 3. 3. Although this was, in the strict sense, “experimental therapeutics,” the excellent clinical results warrant further investigation of this antibiotic regimen in the treatment of cervicofacial actinomycosis. 4. 4. Full use of the bacteriologic and sensitivity tests now available should be made to confirm early diagnosis and aid in effecting an early cure.
Interaction of Typhoons with the Taiwan Orography. Part I: Upstream Track Deflections

Abstract A combined observational and numerical modeling approach is used to study the upstream track deflections of westward-moving tropical cyclones approaching the mountainous terrain of Taiwan. Although the standard deviations are large, the mean track deflections are larger and have a different orientation for storms approaching the southern end of the island from those approaching the northern end. The deflections tend to be larger for weaker and slower-moving storms. Two distinct regions of upstream track deflections that are detected in the observations are explored in a sensitivity study with a 45-km horizontal resolution and 16-layer numerical model. As the outer circulation of the tropical cyclone begins to interact with the mountain barrier, the zonal decelerations and southward track deflections are explained by an enhanced blocking and deflection of the environmental flow advecting the cyclone. The larger effect for southern-approaching storms compared to northern storms is because the stron...
Vapor pressure osmometry studies of osmolyte-protein interactions: implications for the action of osmoprotectants in vivo and for the interpretation of "osmotic stress" experiments in vitro.

To interpret or to predict the responses of biopolymer processes in vivo and in vitro to changes in solute concentration and to coupled changes in water activity (osmotic stress), a quantitative understanding of the thermodynamic consequences of interactions of solutes and water with biopolymer surfaces is required. To this end, we report isoosmolal preferential interaction coefficients (Γμ1) determined by vapor pressure osmometry (VPO) over a wide range of concentrations for interactions between native bovine serum albumin (BSA) and six small solutes. These include Escherichia coli cytoplasmic osmolytes [potassium glutamate (K+Glu-), trehalose], E. coli osmoprotectants (proline, glycine betaine), and also glycerol and trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO). For all six solutes, Γμ1 and the corresponding dialysis preferential interaction coefficient Γμ1,μ3 (both calculated from the VPO data) are negative; Γμ1,μ3 is proportional to bulk solute molality ( ) at least up to 1 m (molal). Negative values of Γμ1,μ3 indic...
Stochastic Dynamics of Sea Surface Height Variability

Sea surface height anomalies measured by the Ocean Topography Experiment (TOPEX)/Poseidon satellite altimeter indicate high values of skewness and kurtosis. Except in a few regions, including the Gulf Stream, the Kuroshio Extension, and the Agulhas Retroflection, that display bimodal patterns of sea surface height variability, kurtosis is uniformly greater than 1.5 times the squared skewness minus an adjustment constant. This relationship differs substantially from what standard Gaussian or double-exponential noise would produce. However, it can be explained by a simple theory in which the noise is assumed to be multiplicative, meaning that a larger background state implies larger random noise elements. The existence of multiplicative noise can be anticipated from the equations of motion, if ocean dynamics are split into a slowly decorrelating deterministic component and a rapidly decorrelating contribution that is approximated as noise. Such a model raises the possibility of predicting the probabilities of extreme sea surface height anomalies from first physical principles and may provide a useful null hypothesis for non-Gaussian sea surface height variability.
Methods for reconstructing density maps of "single" particles from cryoelectron micrographs to subnanometer resolution.

Recently the resolution attainable in density maps calculated from cryo-electron micrographs of free-standing virus capsids has advanced to resolutions below 1 nm. This represents a significant milestone in that resolutions of this order potentially allow direct visualization of individual elements of protein secondary structure (i.e., alpha-helices), in addition to the shapes and connectivity of subdomains. We describe here a computational strategy for structural analyses at this level of detail: its principal innovation is a procedure for correcting the contrast transfer function of the electron microscope. Also important is the practice of combining data from pairs of differently defocused micrographs to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the images, thereby allowing more precise determinations of the particles' orientations and origins and contributing to higher resolution reconstructions. These procedures proved instrumental in our analysis of the capsid of hepatitis B virus at 9-A resolution (Conway et al., 1997, Nature 386, 91-94). Finally, we discuss the prospects for achieving comparable resolutions for isolated macromolecular complexes with lower symmetry or no symmetry and for further extension of the resolution.
Structural elements contribute to the calcium/calmodulin dependence on enzyme activation in human endothelial nitric-oxide synthase.

Two regions, located at residues 594-606/614-645 and residues 1165-1178, are present in the reductase domain of human endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (eNOS) but absent in its counterpart, inducible nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS). We previously demonstrated that removing residues 594-606/614-645 resulted in an enzyme (Delta45) containing an intrinsic calmodulin (CaM) purified from an Sf9/baculovirus expression system (Chen, P.-F., and Wu, K.K. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 13155-13163). Here we have further elucidated the differential requirement of Ca2+/CaM for enzyme activation between eNOS and iNOS by either deletion of residues 1165-1178 (Delta14) or combined deletions of residues 594-606/614-645 and 1165-1178 (Delta45/ Delta14) from eNOS to mimic iNOS. We measured the catalytic rates using purified proteins completely free of CaM. Steady-state analysis indicated that the Delta45 supported NO synthesis in the absence of CaM at 60% of the rate in its presence, consistent with our prior result that CaM-bound Delta45 retained 60% of its activity in the presence of 10 mm EGTA. Mutant Delta14 displayed a 1.5-fold reduction of EC50 for Ca2+/CaM-dependence in l-citrulline formation, and a 2-4-fold increase in the rates of NO synthesis, NADPH oxidation, and cytochrome c reduction relative to the wild type. The basal rates of double mutant Delta45/Delta14 in NO production, NADPH oxidation, and cytochrome c reduction were 3-fold greater than those of CaM-stimulated wild-type eNOS. Interestingly, all three activities of Delta45/ Delta14 were suppressed rather than enhanced by Ca2+/CaM, indicating a complete Ca2+/CaM independence for those reactions. The results suggest that the Ca2+/CaM-dependent catalytic activity of eNOS appears to be conferred mainly by these two structural elements, and the interdomain electron transfer from reductase to oxygenase domain does not require Ca2+/CaM when eNOS lacks these two segments.
A divergent clade of circular single-stranded DNA viruses from pig feces.

Using metagenomics and molecular cloning methods, we characterized five novel small, circular viral genomes from pig feces that are distantly related to chimpanzee and porcine stool-associated circular viruses, (ChiSCV and PoSCV1). Phylogenetic analysis placed these viruses into a highly divergent clade of this rapidly growing new viral family. This new clade of viruses, provisionally named porcine stool-associated circular virus 2 and 3 (PoSCV2 and PoSCV3), encodes a stem–loop structure (presumably the origin of DNA replication) in the small intergenic region and a replication initiator protein commonly found in other biological systems that replicate their genomes via the rolling–circle mechanism. Furthermore, these viruses also exhibit three additional overlapping open reading frames in the large intergenic region between the capsid and replication initiator protein genes.
SU‐E‐T‐61: Improvements to Ion Chamber Array Spatial Resolution at Extended SSD

Purpose: Two‐dimensional ion chamber arrays are widely used in the clinical setting for the verification of MLC dose planes for IMRT treatment plans. However, the sampling resolution of these arrays has been shown to break down during the measurement of small, highly‐modulated fluences as seen with IMRS. These fields generally fail due to spatial frequency contributions exceeding the necessary sampling rate as defined by the Nyquist criteria. A study was performed to examine the effects of an extended SSD measurement technique on chamber array resolution. Methods: HD‐MLC line pair patterns with decreasing slit openings from 1.25 to 0.25 cm at isocenter, corresponding to line pairs of increasing frequency (0.4 to 2 cm−1), were used to examine an I'mRT MatriXX phantom at various SSDs. A Varian TX accelerator was used to apply 200 MU of 6X photons on the array set at 89, 119, and 208 cm SSD. Additionally, an IMRS patient plan with a poor gamma passing rate (90% of pixels passing 3%, 3mm) at conventional SSD was re‐measured with the MatriXX placed at 208 cm SSD. Results: At 208 cm SSD, this technique increased the number of sampling points per field a factor of 4.8 while improving the spatial resolution by a factor of 2.2 in any direction. Frequency contributions up to 2 cm−1 at isocenter were resolved by an effective chamber sampling rate of 3 cm−1 at extended SSD. This technique was able to increase the gamma passing rates of all ten IMRS fields to above 95%. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that an extended SSD measurement can improve the sampling resolution of the MatriXX device with little alteration to existing IMRT QA calculations or procedures. This method allows for the successful measurement of highly modulated fields without using EPID, film or array‐shifting QA techniques for improved resolution.
Hand response differences in a self-face identification task

Evidence has indicated that the right frontal cortex is preferentially involved in self-face recognition. To test this further, we employed a face identification task and examined hand response differences (N=10). Pictures of famous faces were combined with pictures of the participants' faces (self) and their co-workers' faces (familiar). These images were presented as a 'movie' in which one face transformed into another. Under the first instruction set, the movies began with either the participant's face or a co-worker's face, and the sequences gradually morphed into a famous face. When told to stop the movie when the face in the sequence became famous, a significantly later 'frame' was identified when the movies were composed of self-faces and the participants responded with their left hand. When the movies started with the famous faces and participants had to stop the movie when it became their own or their familiar co-worker's image (Instruction set 2), a significantly earlier frame was identified in the 'Self: Left hand' condition. The data suggest that participants are inclined to identify images as their own when the right hemisphere is preferentially accessed.
Psychological contracts and fairness: The effect of violations on customer service behavior

A conceptual model of the effect of psychological contracts and associated fairness perceptions on customer service organizational citizenship behaviors (CSOCB) is presented. Psychological contracts, individually held beliefs regarding employer-employee reciprocal expectations and obligations, provide a basis for the comprehensive perception of organizational justice. In turn, justice perceptions result in CSOCB, or externally directed extra-role behaviors. When customer contact employees perceive violations, these behaviors are likely to be either negative or a reduction of positive behaviors. Future research is discussed.
The Adenine Nucleotide Translocator: Regulation And Function During Myocardial Development And Hypertrophy

SUMMARY 1. The present review focuses on the adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT), which facilitates exchange of cytosolic ADP for mitochondrial ATP. This protein serves a central role in regulating cellular oxidative capacity. 2. The ANT, a nuclear-encoded mitochondrial protein, is developmentally regulated and, thus, accumulates within the mitochondrial membrane during maturation. 3. Accumulation of ANT parallels changes in kinetics of myocardial respiration determined from 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies. 4. Thyroid hormone modulates developmental transitions in ANT content, as well as respiratory control patterns. These transitions are linked to quantitative ANT changes, not to alterations in functionality at individual exchanger sites. 5. Developmental programming for ANT and parallel alterations in oxidative phosphorylation kinetics are relevant to the heart, which exhibits remodelling in response to pathological processes. Maladaptive hearts exhibiting ANT deficits demonstrate ADP-dependent respiratory kinetics similar to the newborn heart. Thus, ANT deficits and alterations in mitochondrial respiratory function may contribute to the pathogenesis of myocardial remodelling and heart failure.
Nucleotide Sequence of a Human Blym Transforming Gene Activated in a Burkitt's Lymphoma

The nucleotide sequence of a human Blym-1 transforming gene activated in a Burkitt's lymphoma cell line was determined. This sequence predicts a small protein of 58 amino acids that is 33 percent identical to the predicted product of chicken Blym-1, the activated transforming gene of chicken B cell lymphomas. Both the human and chicken Blym-1 genes exhibit significant identity to an amino-terminal region of transferrins.
Finding extremal sets in less than quadratic time

We consider the problem of finding the minimal and maximal sets in a family F of sets, i.e. a collection of subsets of some domain. For a family of sets of size N we give an algorithm which finds these extremal sets in expected time O(N2/log N), and worst case time O(N2/√log N). All previous algorithms had worst case complexity of ω(N2). We also present a simple algorithm for dynamically recomputing the minimal and maximal sets as elements are inserted to and deleted from the subsets. This algorithm has a worst case bound of O(N) per update, and this bound is tight.
Superresolution Imaging of Targeted Proteins in Fixed and Living Cells Using Photoactivatable Organic Fluorophores

Superresolution imaging techniques based on sequential imaging of sparse subsets of single molecules require fluorophores whose emission can be photoactivated or photoswitched. Because typical organic fluorophores can emit significantly more photons than average fluorescent proteins, organic fluorophores have a potential advantage in super-resolution imaging schemes, but targeting to specific cellular proteins must be provided. We report the design and application of HaloTag-based target-specific azido DCDHFs, a class of photoactivatable push−pull fluorogens which produce bright fluorescent labels suitable for single-molecule superresolution imaging in live bacterial and fixed mammalian cells.
A technique to evaluate the thickness and density of nonvascular smooth muscle in the suburethral fibromuscular layer.

Abstract Objective: The suburethral fibromuscular layer (SUFML) contains nonvascular smooth muscle that may play an important role in the continence mechanism. This study was undertaken to develop a method to systematically quantify differences in the thickness and density of nonvascular smooth muscle within the SUFML and to demonstrate its use in assessing variation. Study Design: Urethral and anterior vaginal wall sections from the urethrovesical junction of fresh cadavers were stained to define alpha actin in smooth muscle cells. The thickness of the SUFML was microscopically measured and the density of the nonvascular smooth muscle was determined with computer-aided analysis. Results: The mean thickness of the SUFML was 3.04 mm (range 1.74-3.78 mm, SD ±0.63 mm). The mean density of nonvascular smooth muscle within it was 17.94% (range 10.48%-42.84%, SD ±9.4%). The mean age was 55 years (range 36-69 years, SD ±10.75 years). Conclusion: The thickness and density of the nonvascular smooth muscle within the SUFML can be quantified and there is variation among individuals. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2003;188:1183-5.)
Ion selectivity from local configurations of ligands in solutions and ion channels

Probabilities of numbers of ligands proximal to an ion lead to simple, general formulae for the free energy of ion selectivity between different media. That free energy does not depend on the definition of an inner shell for ligand-counting, but other quantities of mechanistic interest do. If analysis is restricted to a specific coordination number, then two distinct probabilities are required to obtain the free energy in addition. The normalizations of those distributions produce partition function formulae for the free energy. Quasi-chemical theory introduces concepts of chemical equilibrium, then seeks the probability that is simplest to estimate, that of the most probable coordination number. Quasi-chemical theory establishes the utility of distributions of ligand-number, and sharpens our understanding of quasi-chemical calculations based on electronic structure methods. This development identifies contributions with clear physical interpretations, and shows that evaluation of those contributions can establish a mechanistic understanding of the selectivity in ion channels.
Disability and cross-border mobility: comparing resettlement experiences of Cambodian and Somali refugees with disabilities

This paper explores disabled people’s access to cross-border mobility within the context of refugee resettlement. The research presented in this paper stems from an ethnographic study involving in-depth interviews, focus groups and participant observations with 15 disabled Somali and Cambodian refugees resettled in the United States. The study combined ethnographic data with information obtained from key experts and interpretive analysis of refugee resettlement policies and guidelines. The findings revealed some shifts within refugee resettlement policies, both domestically within the United States and internationally within the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees(UNHCR). Corresponding to these policy shifts, the two refugee groups in the study reported disparate resettlement experiences. While the Cambodian participants reported delays and complications with getting approved for resettlement, the Somali participants described a smooth and streamlined resettlement process. The impl...
On the cyclic to acyclic scheme transformation and solving cyclic queries

Relational database schemes can be partitioned into acyclic (tree) schemes and cyclic schemes. This partitioning also classifies the natural join queries into tree queries and cyclic queries. The problems of determining the minimum number of joins needed (i) to transform a cyclic scheme into an acyclic one, and (ii) to solve a cyclic query are shown [GS1 82, GS2 82] to be two different NP-complete problems. We consider a class of database schemes, called simple schemes. We show that the two problems above are equivalent but remain to be NP-complete when they are restricted to simple schemes. We give a polynomial time algorithm for both problems on simple schemes whose qual graphs are chordal. As a by-product, we also show that an edge contraction problem on undirected graphs is NP-complete and it is polynomial when the graph is chordal.
Leucine and isoleucine requirements of the kitten

1. In separate experiments the isoleucine and leucine requirements of the kitten were determined on the basis of growth and nitrogen retention. The dietary concentrations of isoleucine tested were (g/kg diet) 1.4, 2.2, 3.0, 3.8, 4.6 and 9.0 with adequate (12.0 g/kg diet) leucine. The levels of leucine tested were (g/kg diet) 5.0, 7.5, 9.0, 10.5, 12.0 and 20.0 in diets containing adequate (9.0 g/kg diet) isoleucine. In both experiments six male and six female kittens received each dietary level of isoleucine or leucine for periods of 10 d in a balanced 6 x 6 Latin-square experimental design.2. Asymptotic curves were fitted to the response relationships and the minimal dietary requirements for maximal response were estimated from the values at 0.95 of the asymptote. On this basis, the requirements for maximal growth were 6.2 g isoleucine/kg and 7.8 g leucine/kg diet. The requirements for maximal N retention were higher; 8.4 g isoleucine and 10.6 g leucine/kg diet. The isoleucine requirements suggested by this method are probably overestimations and might be slightly above 4.6 g/kg diet.3. Plasma isoleucine and leucine concentrations were not useful in estimating the requirements. Plasma leucine increased rectilinearly with increasing dietary leucine while the response of plasma isoleucine to increasing dietary isoleucine was non-rectilinear. Neither response relationship exhibited a breakpoint at the level of requirement. Below the suggested minimal requirement for leucine there were significant increases in the concentrations of isoleucine and valine in the plasma. Dietary isoleucine below the level of requirement had no effect on plasma valine and leucine. Dietary leucine had no effect on the plasma concentrations of methionine, phenylalanine and threonine, suggesting that the effect of decreasing dietary leucine on plasma isoleucine and valine is a result of decreased oxidation rather than decreased protein anabolism.4. In a separate experiment six kittens, presented a diet containing 2.2 g isoleucine/kg, developed crusty exudates around their eyes within 27 d and six kittens, presented diets containing 3.8 g isoleucine/kg, showed this clinical sign but with less severity within 47 d. Cultures of conjunctival swabs taken from the most severely affected kittens showed the presence of staphylococcal species, suggesting that in isoleucine-deficient kittens there was impaired resistance to these dermal microbes.
Androgen and glucocorticoid regulation of androgen receptor cDNA expression

Abstract Androgen receptor (AR) levels are regulated by androgens, other steroids and non-steroidal hormones via complex, tissue-specific processes. Since alterations in receptor levels may influence cellular sensitivity to androgens, understanding AR regulation is of fundamental and potentially therapeutic significance. In most target tissues and AR-containing cell lines, AR mRNA is down-regulated in response to androgens. We have reconstituted this androgen-mediated down-regulation of AR mRNA in COS 1 cells transfected with a human AR cDNA under the control of the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter. The sequences mediating receptor mRNA down-regulation are represented within the AR cDNA and not within the CMV promoter. Androgenic down-regulation of AR cDNA expression was time- and dose-dependent, resembling native AR mRNA down-regulation. In addition, androgenic regulation of the receptor cDNA was not dependent on protein synthesis suggesting that AR and/or another pre-existing protein(s) is involved in this process. In COS 1 cells co-transfected with androgen and glucocorticoid receptor cDNAs, dexamethasone mimicked the action of androgen in down-regulating AR mRNA. This response depended on glucocorticoid receptors. Androgen had little effect on steady-state levels of AR protein consistent with reports that androgen down-regulates AR mRNA but increases AR protein half-life (Kemppainen et al. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 968–974; Zhou et al. (1995) Mol. Endocrinol. 9, 208–218). However, glucocorticoids decreased AR protein levels in cells that co-expressed androgen and glucocorticoid receptors. These results indicate that sequences represented in the AR cDNA mediate AR mRNA down-regulation by both androgens and glucocorticoids. Inhibition of AR mRNA and protein by glucocorticoids suggests that these steroids may modulate androgen action in tissues, such as mammary gland and prostate, which express both androgen and glucocorticoid receptors.
Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition and angiotensin II receptor blockers on cardiac angiotensin-converting enzyme 2.

Background— Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) has emerged as a novel regulator of cardiac function and arterial pressure by converting angiotensin II (Ang II) into the vasodilator and antitrop...
Seasonal variations in the twilight enhancement of [OI]5577

Abstract Measurements of the twilight enhancement of [OI]5577 were obtained during the period September 1957 to December 1958 at Rapid City, S.D. All these measurements were normalized to the intensity at sunset or sunrise at a height of 100 km. The results obtained indicate that there was a seasonal dependence of the twilight enhancement of [OI]5577 emission. The enhancement occurred most frequently in the autumn and winter months, the maximum occurring about 1 November. The enhancement almost never occurred during the spring and summer months.
Regulation of [3H]dopamine release from mesolimbic and mesocortical areas of guinea pig brain by sigma receptors

Abstract The role of sigma (σ) receptors in brain function is poorly defined. They are located in limbic areas, including nucleus accumbens (NAC) and prefrontal cortex (PFC), both of which are thought to be involved in schizophrenia. Many antipsychotics (APs), including haloperidol, bind with high affinity to σ receptors. Dopaminergic hyperactivity in NAC is thought to underlie positive symptoms of schizophrenia, while dopaminergic hypoactivity in PFC is thought to underlie negative symptoms. Sigma receptors regulate N- methyl- d-aspartate (NMDA)- stimulated [3H]dopamine ([3H]DA) release in caudate-putamen (CP), the neuroanatomical substrate for extrapyramidal side effects resulting from chronic AP treatment. In the current study, we investigated whether σ receptors could similarly regulate DA release in mesolimbic and mesocortical tissue, and the relative participation of different σ receptor subtypes in this process. We found that, in NAC, regulation of DA release by the prototypical σ agonist (+)pentazocine was mediated predominantly by the σ1 receptor, whereas in the PFC a portion of the (+)pentazocine effect was likely mediated by the σ2 receptor. We also observed, in both the NAC and PFC, that regulation of DA release by the σ agonist BD737 was mediated primarily by the σ1 receptor. In addition, we determined that (+)pentazocine or BD737 effects on DA release were not mediated via opioid receptors, nor the phencyclidine (PCP) binding site within the NMDA receptor-operated cation channel, nor by σ receptor effects upon [3H]DA accumulated by noradrenergic terminals in PFC.
Solar flares and plasma instabilities: Observations, mechanisms and experiments

In this review the plasma-physics basis for the solar flare phenomenon is treated from three different perspectives. The discussion begins at the sun with a brief enumeration of the plasma-relevant observations and what they indicate about ambient physical conditions and possible flare mechanisms. Next, theoretical descriptions are presented of several models which have been suggested to explain these characteristics, with particular emphasis given to those processes involving magnetic field reconnection. In this context resistive tearing, the most pervasive slow magnetohydrodynamic instability, is treated at some length, and its time-scale and energy-output properties are described. Finally, the discussion ends in the laboratory, with a review of the progress of a number of experiments designed to simulate solar flares.
Synchroneity of folding and crosscutting cleavage in the Newfoundland Appalachians

Abstract Cleavage that cuts obliquely across folds is relatively common in the Appalachians/Caledonides and this has been interpreted as evidence for regional transpression, an interpretation which is only valid if contemporaneity of folding and cleavage formation can be demonstrated. Crosscutting cleavages in folds of the Early Silurian and older Exploits Group of the northeastern Newfoundland Appalachians are axial planar to rare, mesoscopic F 2 fold in the unconformably overlying Botwood Group on Change Islands. As an alternative to transected folds, it is argued that crosscutting cleavage relationships in the Exploits units are composite D 1 - D 2 structures that represent fold superimposition.
Robust Tolerance Design for Quality

Design of a product (process) includes system design, parameter design, and tolerance design. Robust design is closely applicable to parameter design and tolerance design. The current literature on robust design has focused on parameter design while the problem of tolerance design has not been adequately covered. The tolerance design literature emphasizes the use of optimization to minimize cost while little attention has been paid to minimizing the sensitivity of tolerances to the variation of manufacturing processes. This paper discusses the application of the design of experiments (DOE) approach to tolerance synthesis to minimize manufacturing variations in a probabilistic case. The DOE approach is illustrated with an example.
Nitrogen release from crimson clover in relation to plant growth stage and composition

Increased N-use efficency and economic savings may result from a better understanding of N release patterns from legume residues. A 2-yr field experiment was conducted on a Cecil fine sandy loam (clayey, kaolintic, thermic Typic Kanhapludult) to examine the effects of crimsom clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) growth stage on dry matter accumulation, N concentration, and chemical composition in relation to N release under no-tillage management. Crimson clover was harvested in the spring at four growth stages (late vegetative, early bloom, late bloom, and early seed set) (...)
Radical nitrile transfer with methanesulfonyl cyanide or p-toluenesulfonyl cyanide to carbon radicals generated from the acyl derivatives of N-hydroxy-2-thiopyridone

Abstract Reaction of methanesulfonyl cyanide or p-toluenesulfonyl cyanide with carbon radicals generated from the acyl derivatives of N-hydroxy-2-thiopyridone gives the corresponding nitriles in high yield. A mechanistic scheme is suggested.
The Use of ATP and Initiating Nucleotides during Postrecruitment Steps at the Activated Adenovirus E4 Promoter

Abstract Permanganate probing has been used to follow the progress and ATP dependence of promoter opening during activated adenovirus E4 initiation and clearance. Using templates designed to restrict synthesis to defined positions, formation of a 3-nucleotide-long RNA was found to be sufficient to trigger expansion of the initial transcription bubble. This occurred by a discrete transition that expanded the downstream limit of melting from position 1 to 15. Subsequent clearance of the bubble from the promoter region also occurred without detectable intermediates. Thus, initial opening, extension, and the clearance of the promoter bubble appear to occur as discrete, unique transitions. The apparent K mvalues for these three steps were determined to be near 5, 9, and 50 μm, respectively. Comparison of these values with ATPase activities within known transcription factors raises the possibility that different activities could be responsible for each step.
Autoradiography as a tool in microbial ecology.

THE importance of micro-organisms as agents of biochemical transformations in natural environments is well established. But micro-organisms are small and thus their environments are also small, so that micro-organisms can be investigated directly in Nature only by the use of the microscope. Although the microscope can be used to see where various organisms are situated in a micro-environment and how organisms are disposed with relation to one another, one cannot, however, study microscopically many of the characteristics of an organism which are of greatest ecological interest: that is to say, nutritional requirements, responses to environmental changes, production of metabolites and growth rate. The usual approach for the study of these latter phenomena has been to isolate micro-organisms in pure culture and attempt to infer from the behaviour of the pure culture the behaviour of the parent organism in Nature. However, it is clear that the behaviour of the pure culture reveals the potentiality of the organism in Nature, but does not show what the organism was actually doing, since the organism has undoubtedly adapted to the cultural conditions used. Further, even if the laboratory conditions precisely mimic the natural conditions, the laboratory environment cannot reproduce the natural environment, since the natural environment contains the additional elements of competition and co-operation with other organisms.
Institutional Choice Matters: The Poor Law and Implicit Labor Contracts in Victorian Lancashire

Abstract This paper augments previous research on the use of public relief as insurance during industrial downturns by looking at the timing of movement to public relief over the course of the Lancashire cotton famine (1861–1865). Able-bodied workers and their non-able-bodied counterparts, some of whom were the relatives of able-bodied workers, used public relief only as an assistance institution of final recourse, requesting it with a lag relative to the onset of the distress. The comovement of able-bodied and non-able-bodied recipients to public relief suggests a prevalent culture of income smoothing between the two groups and demonstrates the importance of informal assistance in the implicit labor contract in textile manufacturing.
Cloud physics. Inside history on droplets.

Upper-tropospheric clouds contain ice particles, most of which result from the freezing of liquid droplets. That freezing, it emerges, is far more complicated than had been thought.
Human Problem Solving

Abstract : The aim of the book is to advance the understanding of how humans think. It seeks to do so by putting forth a theory of human problem solving, along with a body of empirical evidence that permits assessment of the theory. (Author)
Analysis of Surface and Bulk Behavior in Ni-Pd Alloys

The most salient features of the surface structure and bulk behavior of Ni-Pd alloys have been studied using the BFS method for alloys. Large-scale atomistic simulations were performed to investigate surface segregation profiles as a function of temperature, crystal face, and composition. Pd enrichment of the first layer was observed in (111) and (100) surfaces, and enrichment of the top two layers occurred for (110) surfaces. In all cases, the segregation profile shows alternate planes enriched and depleted in Pd. In addition, the phase structure of bulk Ni-Pd alloys as a function of temperature and composition was studied. A weak ordering tendency was observed at low temperatures, which helps explain the compositional oscillations in the segregation profiles. Finally, based on atom-by-atom static energy calculations, a comprehensive explanation for the observed surface and bulk features will be presented in terms of competing chemical and strain energy effects.
Poverty as a violation of human rights: towards a right to non-poverty.

Considering the vast literature that has developed about poverty since the 1960s it should not be difficult to define it. From this literature one should be able find simple and precise criteria for formulating a synthetic and an unequivocal definition of poverty. Unfortunately the vast literature also offers too many criteria and actually makes it more difficult to define poverty. If the criteria are too many it is because of the complexity of the reality itself wherein many factors interfere. It should be enough to say that poverty is the state whereby a person is deprived of the means of providing subsistence for himself i.e. satisfying elementary needs such as food clothing housing healthcare. The poor man can be considered as a person unable to meet his "natural and necessary needs" according to Epicurus (who also distinguishes this form of needs from the "natural and unnecessary" and the "unnatural and unnecessary"). One might think that an objective and undisputable criterion has thus been identified. But it would remain difficult to establish the "objectivity" of this criterion to prove that no element of "subjectivity" and of "relativity" interfere in it. (excerpt)