cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Expression of Stretch-Activated Two-Pore Potassium Channels in Human Myometrium in Pregnancy and Labor

Background We tested the hypothesis that the stretch-activated, four-transmembrane domain, two pore potassium channels (K2P), TREK-1 and TRAAK are gestationally-regulated in human myometrium and contribute to uterine relaxation during pregnancy until labor. Methodology We determined the gene and protein expression of K2P channels in non-pregnant, pregnant term and preterm laboring myometrium. We employed both molecular biological and functional studies of K2P channels in myometrial samples taken from women undergoing cesarean delivery of a fetus. Principal Findings TREK-1, but not TREK-2, channels are expressed in human myometrium and significantly up-regulated during pregnancy. Down-regulation of TREK-1 message was seen by Q-PCR in laboring tissues consistent with a role for TREK-1 in maintaining uterine quiescence prior to labor. The TRAAK channel was unregulated in the same women. Blockade of stretch-activated channels with a channel non-specific tarantula toxin (GsMTx-4) or the more specific TREK-1 antagonist L-methionine ethyl ester altered contractile frequency in a dose-dependent manner in pregnant myometrium. Arachidonic acid treatment lowered contractile tension an effect blocked by fluphenazine. Functional studies are consistent with a role for TREK-1 in uterine quiescence. Conclusions We provide evidence supporting a role for TREK-1 in contributing to uterine quiescence during gestation and hypothesize that dysregulation of this mechanism may underlie certain cases of spontaneous pre-term birth.
Temperature-dependent energetics of Chaoborus populations : hypothesis for anomalous distributions in the great lakes of East Africa

Chaoborus, the phantom midge (Insecta, Diptera, Chaoboridae), has a widespread distribution, commonly occurring in lakes and ponds all over the world. In the great lakes region of East Africa Chaoborus is present in Lakes Victoria, Albert, Edward, Malawi and George, but absent from Lakes Tanganyika, Kivu and Turkana. Tropical lakes typically have water temperatures in the range of 22–26 °C year round. Lakes Tanganyika and Kivu have only 20% of their bottom sediments oxygenated during full circulation, contrary to 95–100% in all of the other lakes, excluding Lake Malawi (45%) (Hecky & Kling, 1987). Planktivorous fish are present in all lakes (Lehman, 1995). We hypothesized that the absence of Chaoborus larvae from some lakes of East Africa may be the result of interaction among high temperatures, low oxygen levels, and fish predation.
Has the Sun a companion star

PULSARS are accurate timekeepers. They are believed to be rotating neutron stars, with strong magnetic fields, and the energy they radiate is at the expense of their rotational kinetic energy1. As each pulsar ages, its period P (relative to the Solar System barycentre) slowly increases, and its period derivative P( = dP/dt) slowly decreases. Certain interesting pulsars (displayed in Table 1) have anomalously small period derivatives, and rather surprisingly, are found grouped together in the same region of the sky (shown in Fig. 1). I suggest here, as an explanation of the peculiar properties of these pulsars, that the barycentre of the Solar System is accelerated, possibly because the Sun is a member of a binary system and has a hitherto undetected companion star.
Non-covalent calixarene–amino acid complexes formed by MALDI-MS

Non-covalent inclusion complexes formed between amino acids and derivatized calix[6]arenes are observed in MALDI mass spectrometry. The methyl, ethyl, and propyl ester derivatives of calix[6]arene yielded amino acid complexes, while the smaller calix[4]arene analogs did not. Similarly the underivatized calix[6]arene and calix[4]arene did not produce complexes. Amino acid complexes were observed for nearly all 20 amino acids in time-of-flight (TOF) analysis. In Fourier transform mass spectrometry (FTMS) analysis, however, only the most basic amino acids arginine, histidine, and lysine formed stable adducts. The complexes were abundant under matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) conditions, which suggested favorable interactions between host and guest.
Histone methyltransferase Suv39h1 represses MyoD-stimulated myogenic differentiation.

Suv39h1 is a histone H3 lysine-9 (H3-K9) specific methyltransferase (HMT) that is associated with gene silencing through chromatin modification. The transition from proliferation into differentiation of muscle cell is accompanied by transcriptional activation of previously silent muscle genes. I report Suv39h1 interaction with myogenic regulator MyoD in proliferating muscle cells and its HMT activity, which is associated with MyoD, diminishes as differentiation proceeds. The Suv39h1–MyoD complex was detected on the chromatin regulatory regions of a silent differentiation signal muscle gene myogenin and that Suv39h1 presence correlated with H3-K9 methylation. Increased Suv39h1 expression repressed MyoD-dependent muscle gene expression and this property required its HMT activity. This repression required Suv39h1 association with MyoD as well as sustained methylation of H3-K9 on myogenin promoter. Suv39h1 was required for muscle gene repression because its abrogation by siRNA activates these gene expressions by MyoD. These findings suggest that Suv39h1 presence in association with MyoD on the promoter of muscle genes silences gene transcription, providing a necessary checkpoint between proliferation and differentiation.
2009 Special Issue: MicroRNA expression profile based cancer classification using Default ARTMAP

High-throughput messenger RNA (mRNA) expression profiling with microarray has been demonstrated as a more effective method of cancer diagnosis and treatment than the traditional morphology or clinical parameter based methods. Recently, the discovery of a category of small non-coding RNAs, named microRNAs (miRNAs), provides another promising method of cancer classification. miRNAs play a critical role in the tumorigenic process by functioning either as oncogenes or as tumor suppressors. Here, we apply a neural based classifier, Default ARTMAP, to classify broad types of cancers based on their miRNA expression fingerprints. As the miRNA expression data usually have high dimensionalities, particle swarm optimization (PSO) is used for selecting important miRNAs that contribute to the discrimination of different cancer types. Experimental results on the multiple human cancers show that Default ARTMAP performs consistently well on all the data, and the classification accuracy is better than or comparable to that of the other popular classifiers. Also, the selection of informative miRNAs can further improve the performance of classifiers and provide meaningful insights into cancer researchers.
Ciguatoxin: effects on the sodium-potassium activated adenosine triphosphatase of human erythrocyte ghosts.

Abstract Effects of highly purified and partially purified ciguatoxic extracts on the sodium-potassium activated adenosine triphosphatase (NaK ATPase) of human erythrocyte ghosts have been evaluated and compared with the effects of a similarly prepared extract from a nontoxic eel. No inhibition of NaK ATPase was found with the most highly purified extract at an estimated ciguatoxin concentration as high as 10 −4 m and with an erythrocyte membrane protein to toxin ratio of 0.66. In contrast, three of five partially purified extracts studied gave significant inhibition ( p
Girls on Film: An Examination of Gendered Vocational Socialization Messages Found in Motion Pictures Targeting Teenage Girls

Anticipatory organizational socialization begins in childhood as girls and boys are exposed to various messages from a range of sources. One of these sources is the film. The following study examines eighteen films, released between 2000 and early 2004, targeting teenage girls to explore messages that they receive about gender and possible vocational roles. The results indicate that girls are presented with messages suggesting that careers in general are relatively unimportant. Instead, they are asked to continue to look toward their fathers and boyfriends for protection, guidance, and financial support. The essay concludes with suggestions to future filmmakers for improving current messages within the limitations of film production.
The influence of arterial oxygenation on cerebral venous oxygen saturation during hyperventilation

Cerebral venous oxygen desaturation may occur when hyperventilation is employed during neurosurgical procedures. In this study, we examined the effect of arterial hyperoxia (PaO2 > 200 mmHg) on jugular bulb venous oxygen tension (PjvO2), saturation (SjvO2) and content (CjvO2) in 12 patients undergoing anaesthesia for neurosurgical procedures. Under stable anaesthetic conditions, the inspired oxygen fraction (FlO2) was varied to give four different levels of arterial oxygen tension (PaO2 100–200, 201–300, 301–400, and > 400 mmHg), at two levels of controlled hyperventilation (PaCO2 25 and 30 mmHg). In five patients, a transcranial Doppler probe was used to insonate the middle cerebral artery throughout the study period. Regression lines were constructed for each patient for the PjvO2, SjvO2 and the corresponding PaO2 for both levels of PaCO2 (all PjvO2-PaO2 and SjvO2-PaO2 regression lines r2 > 0.85, P 200 mmHg) sur la tension en oxygene du bulbe jugulaire (PjvO2), sa saturation (SjvO2) et son contenu (CjvO2) chez 12 patients soumis a une anesthesie generale pour une intervention neurochirugicale. Sous des conditions stables d’anesthesie, la fraction en oxygene inspire (FlO2) a ete variee pour produire quatre niveaux differents de tension arterielle en oxygene (PaO2 100–200, 201–300, 301–400 et > 400 mmHg) a deux niveaux d’hyperventilation (PaCO2 25 et 30 mmHg). Une sonde de Doppler intracrânienne a ete inseree a cinq patients pour explorer l’artere meningee moyenne. A chaque patient, nous avons construit des lignes de regression de la PjvO2, de la SjvO2 pour la PaO2 correspondante, aux deux niveaux de PaCO2 (toutes les lignes de regression PjvO2-PaO2 et SjvO2-PaO2 r2 > 0,85, P < 0,0001). A partir de ces lignes, nous avons calcule chez chaque patient la PjvO2, la SjvO2 et le CjvO2 aux PaO2 de 100, 250 et 400 mmHg, pour chaque niveau de PaCO2. A la PaCO2 de 25 mmHg, l’hyperoxemie a augmente la PjvO2 (de 27,6 ±1,1 mmHg pour une PaO2 de 100 mmHg a 30 ± 1,4 et 33,6 ± 1,8 mmHg aux PaO2 de 250 et 400 mmHg respectivement, P < 0,05). L’hyperoxemie a eu le meme effet sur la SjvO2 et la PjvO2 a la PaCO2 de 30 mmHg. Pour une PaO2 donnee, la PjvO2, la SjvO2 et le CjvO2 ont ete plus bas a la PaCO2 de 25 mmHg qu’a celle de 30 mmHg (P < 0,01). La CjvO2 predite lorsque la PaO2 augmente et que le taux metabolique cerebral demeure inchange a aussi ete calculee et n’a pas ete trouvee differente de la CjvO2 mesuree en hyperoxemie. La velocite du courant sanguin de l’artere cerebrale moyenne n’a pas change avec l’hyperoxemie mais a diminue avec l’hypocarbie (de 48 ± 7 a 35 ± 4 cm·sec−1, P < 0,01). Nous concluons que chez le sujet anesthesie, l’hyperoxie produite pendant une hyperventilation aigue ameliore l’apport en oxygene de la circulation cerebrale, comme l’ont montre l’augmentation du contenu veineux cerebral et de la saturation en oxygene. On doit envisager d’augmenter la PaO2 des patients qu’il faut ventiler agressivement.
On the transmuted extreme value distribution with application

Abstract A functional composition of the cumulative distribution function of one probability distribution with the inverse cumulative distribution function of another is called the transmutation map. In this article, we will use the quadratic rank transmutation map (QRTM) in order to generate a flexible family of probability distributions taking extreme value distribution as the base value distribution by introducing a new parameter that would offer more distributional flexibility. It will be shown that the analytical results are applicable to model real world data.
EBSD studies on wear-induced subsurface regions in LIGA nickel

Abstract The application of focused ion beam techniques to prepare cross-sections of wear tracks is presented. Electron backscatter diffraction analysis of wear scars on electroformed Ni revealed the formation of two subsurface zones, each with its own characteristic features. Formation of low-angle grain boundaries and spread in the orientation of pole figures were also observed.
The influence of experience on mating preferences of the gynogenetic Amazon molly

Abstract The role of experience in shaping individual female mating preferences has been relatively neglected. The goal of this study was to examine how female mating preferences are shaped through male–female interactions in the clonally reproducing female gynogenetic fish, Poecilia formosa . In visual choice tests, some P. formosa preferred P. latipinna males and others preferred males of another poeciliid species, Xiphophorus multilineatus . After interacting with the same males, but without a transparent barrier between them, females originally preferring X. multilineatus switched their preference to P. latipinna males. Females can therefore change their preferences based on experience. The degree of male sexual behaviour may contribute to this change in preferences, but the direct cause is unknown. As a control, we examined how experience influenced preferences of P. latipinna and P. formosa females that had originally preferred P. latipinna . males. Female preferences of the sexual species P. latipinna were statistically indistinguishable from preferences of P. formosa with an initial preference for P. latipinna males. The preferences of these two female groups were not influenced by interactions with their preferred male ( P. latipinna ). The post-encounter preferences of P. formosa females that originally preferred X. multilineatus also became statistically indistinguishable from these two groups of females. Female preference changes based on experience may also be generalized to males with similar traits. Poecilia formosa initially preferring X. multilineatus did not revert back to their original preference when exposed to a new pair of males, but demonstrated a significant decrease in the amount of time spent with X. multilineatus males compared with P. latipinna males. 1997 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour
Measurement-based characterization of global memory and network contention, operating system and parallelization overheads

This study presents a characterization of (1) the global memory and interconnection network contention overhead, (2) the operating system overheads, and (3) the runtime system parallelization overheads for the Cedar shared-memory multiprocessor. The measurements were obtained using five representative compute-intensive, scientific, loop parallel applications from the Perfect Benchmark Suite. The overheads were measured for a range of Cedar configurations from 1 processor to the full 4-cluster/32-processor configuration, thus characterizing the effect of this scaling on the overheads. For the full 4-cluster Cedar, the operating system overhead was found to constitute 5--21% of the total completion time of an application. The parallelization overhead accounts for 10--25% of the application completion time, and the overhead due to global memory and network contention contributes 8--21% of the application completion time.
Infrared Spectra of Cyclic Phosphonate Esters

A number of medium to strong bands were found in the infrared spectra of heterocyclic esters of 1,3 and 1,4 glycols with phosphonic acids. A set of such bands appears to be characteristic of the esters of a given glycol with all the phosphonic acids. Some of the bands of each set were also observed for esters of phenylphosphoric acid. Such sets of bands do not appear to have been reported for other organophosphorus compounds.
A single genomic copy of an engineered methionyl-tRNA synthetase enables robust incorporation of azidonorleucine into recombinant proteins in E. coli.

Engineered aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases have been used to enable the incorporation of many unnatural amino acids into recombinant proteins in vivo. In the majority of these studies, the engineered synthetase is harbored on a plasmid while the host retains a wild-type copy of the synthetase in its genome. Herein, we construct a strain carrying a single genomic copy of a methionyl-tRNA synthetase (MetRS) gene, metG*, engineered to enable the incorporation of azidonorleucine (ANL) into proteins. The resulting strain, M15MA metG*, is capable of both supporting robust cell growth and enabling the production of >20 mg/L culture of a recombinant protein, murine dihydrofolate reductase, containing ANL. The extent of replacement of methionine with ANL in this protein is 90%. Using this strain, we also produce ANL-containing OmpC, an outer membrane protein, and demonstrate that the surface of cells displaying this protein can be covalently modified using copper-catalyzed azide−alkyne cycloaddition. Since this mutant ...
Mass-Produced Ionophore-Based Fluorescent Microspheres for Trace Level Determination of Lead Ions

The development and characterization of small, uniform, and mass-produced plasticized PVC-based sensing microspheres in view of rapid trace level analysis of lead ions is reported. Micrometer-sized particles obtained via an automated casting process were rendered selective for lead ions by doping them with highly selective components in a manner analogous to traditional optode sensing films. Single particles that contained the lipophilic ionophore N,N,N‘,N‘-tetradodecyl-3-6-dioxaoctane-1-thio-8-oxodiamide (ETH 5493), the chromoionophore ETH 5418 together with a lipophilized indocarbocyanine derivative as internal reference dye (DiIC18), and lipophilic ion-exchanger sites sodium tetrakis[3,5-bistrifluoromethylphenyl]borate, yielded measurable lead responses at the low nanomolar level in pH buffered solutions. The detection limit for single particles was 3 × 10-9 M at pH 5.7. The microspheres were fabricated via a reproducible formation of polymer droplets within a flowing aqueous phase followed by collecti...
Relationship between 24-H blood pressure and sleep disordered breathing in a normotensive community sample

Abstract Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) and hypertension are commonly associated. In this study, we assessed how longitudinal measures of SDB predict a 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) profile. Participants ( n = 82) were recruited from a community-based urban (26% African American) sample and included family members of patients with laboratory diagnosed SDB (cases) and family members of neighborhood control subjects evaluated at baseline and at 5 years. Nearly all participants were normotensive and were not receiving therapy for SDB. During both examinations, the respiratory distress index (RDI) was assessed with overnight in-home polysomnography. Seated blood pressure (BP) was assessed at a baseline examination (t 1 ) and after a 5-year follow-up period (t 5 ), when 24-h ABPM also was performed. The change in RDI (t 5 −t 1 ) over 5 years was significantly associated with 24-h mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) ( P = .04), 24-h maximum diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ( P = .03), sleep mean SBP ( P = .05), sleep mean DBP ( P P = .02). Regression analysis revealed that average 24-h mean arterial pressure (MAP) and mean 24-h DBP were each best predicted by change in RDI, explaining 5% of the variance in these 24-h BP readings, and by current smoking status. After accounting for these variables, BP was not predicted by any of the other potential confounders (all P > .10). Mean RDI (averaged between t 5 and t 1 ) was associated with mean MAP, mean SBP, and maximal SBP measured during sleep. This study documents for the first time the association between changes in sleep apnea activity and BP and in a community-based normotensive sample. Further long-term evaluation of the effects of these findings and the long-term consequences of hypertension are needed.
Large amplitude vibration of circular plates including transverse shear and rotatory inertia

Abstract This study is an analytical investigation of large amplitude flexural vibration of clamped circular plates with stress-free and immovable edges. The effects of transverse shear deformation and rotatory inertia are included in the governing equations. Solutions are formulated on the basis of Galerkin's method and the Runge-Kutta numerical procedure. An excellent agreement is found between the present results and those reported earlier for nonlinear static and dynamic cases. Numerical results indicate that the effects of transverse shear deformation and rotatory inertia are significant in the nonlinear dynamic analysis of circular plates, particularly for moderately thick plates.
A two-stage molecular model for control of mini-F replication.

Abstract It is known that mini-F replication requires production of a 29,000-Da protein, protein E, and origin of replication sequences mapping around 45.0 kb. Further, control of replication is determined by two genes, copA and copB . In the present work a description is given of the cloning of an F restriction fragment containing the amino terminal portion of the protein E gene, repE , and associate promoter activity. It is shown that expression of this promoter is negatively regulated in trans by sequences taken from the F replication region of copA + plasmids. However, the same sequences taken from six different copA − plasmids failed to repress expression of the promoter. Since prior studies have shown that copA + determines a repressor of replication, it is now suggested that the above results are an accounting of where this repressor works. A hypothesis is also proposed to explain control of F replication by the copA and copB regulatory genes.
Regulation of matrix biology by matrix metalloproteinases

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are endopeptidases that contribute to growth, development and wound healing as well as to pathologies such as arthritis and cancer. Until recently, it has been thought that MMPs participate in these processes simply by degrading extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules. However, it is now clear that MMP activity is much more directed and causes the release of cryptic information from the ECM. By precisely cleaving large insoluble ECM components and ECM-associated molecules, MMPs liberate bioactive fragments and growth factors and change ECM architecture, all of which influence cellular behavior. Thus, MMPs have become a focal point for understanding matrix biology.
Identification of a DtxR-Regulated Operon That Is Essential for Siderophore-Dependent Iron Uptake in Corynebacterium diphtheriae

The diphtheria toxin repressor (DtxR) uses Fe(2+) as a corepressor and inhibits transcription from iron-regulated promoters (IRPs) in Corynebacterium diphtheriae. A new IRP, designated IRP6, was cloned from C. diphtheriae by a SELEX-like procedure. DtxR bound to IRP6 in vitro only in the presence of appropriate divalent metal ions, and repression of IRP6 by DtxR in an Escherichia coli system was iron dependent. The open reading frames (ORFs) downstream from IRP6 and previously described promoter IRP1 were found to encode proteins homologous to components of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transport systems involved in high-affinity iron uptake in other bacteria. IRP1 and IRP6 were repressed under high-iron conditions in wild-type C. diphtheriae C7(beta), but they were expressed constitutively in C7(beta) mutant strains HC1, HC3, HC4, and HC5, which were shown previously to be defective in corynebactin-dependent iron uptake. A clone of the wild-type irp6 operon (pCM6ABC) complemented the constitutive corynebactin production phenotype of HC1, HC4, and HC5 but not of HC3, whereas a clone of the wild-type irp1 operon failed to complement any of these strains. Complementation by subclones of pCM6ABC demonstrated that mutant alleles of irp6A, irp6C, and irp6B were responsible for the phenotypes of HC1, HC4, and HC5, respectively. The irp6A allele in HC1 and the irp6B allele in HC5 encoded single amino acid substitutions in their predicted protein products, and the irp6C allele in HC4 caused premature chain termination of its predicted protein product. Strain HC3 was found to have a chain-terminating mutation in dtxR in addition to a missense mutation in its irp6B allele. These findings demonstrated that the irp6 operon in C. diphtheriae encodes a putative ABC transporter, that specific mutant alleles of irp6A, irp6B, and irp6C are associated with defects in corynebactin-dependent iron uptake, and that complementation of these mutant alleles restores repression of corynebactin production under high-iron growth conditions, most likely as a consequence of restoring siderophore-dependent iron uptake mediated by the irp6 operon.
Urinary marking in female house mice: effects of ovarian steroids, sex experience, and type of stimulus.

The frequency of urination by female house mice was investigated during exposure to a variety of stimulus situations. Urination rates were compared in (a) naive and sexually experienced females, (b) diestrous and proestrous females, and (c) ovariectomized and estradiol benzoate-treated ovariectomized females, all when exposed to the presence of a male, an ovariectomized female, or an empty chamber. Females deposited urine at mean rates varying from 25–95 marks/hr depending on the stimulus situation. All females deposited urine at significantly higher rates in the presence of males than in the presence of ovariectomized females or the empty chamber. Sexual experience did not significantly alter the frequency of urination by females. There was no significant difference between the urination responses of proestrous and diestrous females or between ovariectomized females and estradiol benzoate-treated ovariectomized females indicating that this is an ovarian hormone-independent response. A second experiment demonstrated that the high rates of urine deposition by females in the presence of males could be elicited using only urine from intact but not castrated males. The data taken as a whole strongly suggest that female mice urine mark, i.e., use urine in a communicatory capacity.
Hemodilution for Acute Ischemic Stroke

Ischemic stroke involves focal hypoperfusion of the central nervous system. Hemodilution could theoretically improve perfusion to the affected area and, therefore, reduce infarct size. To assess the effects of hemodilution on clinical outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke. We searched the Cochrane Stroke Group Trials Register (February 2014), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Issue 1, 2014), MEDLINE (January 2008 to October 2013), and EMBASE (January 2008 to October 2013). We also searched trials registers, scanned reference lists, and contacted authors. We included randomized trials of hemodilution treatment in acute ischemic stroke, started within 72 hours …
Line Variability in the High-Resolution X-Ray Spectrum of MCG –6-30-15

The recent 540 ks Chandra HETGS spectrum of the well-studied, variable active galactic nucleus (AGN) MCG -6-30-15 shows strong 1s-2p absorption lines from many ions. The spectrum was obtained over a period of about 10 days, and the large number of counts in the spectrum makes it ideal for testing variability on short timescales. We apply quantitative tests for line variability to the 1s-2p absorption lines of H- and He-like Ne, Mg, Si, and S. We find significant correlations and anticorrelations between lines as a function of time, much as we would expect if ionization levels in the absorber were varying. We also find evidence for variation in at least one 1s-2p resonance absorption line as a function of luminosity. We consider several possibilities to explain the line variation. First we consider factors that could change ionization levels in the absorber: radial motion, density variation, luminosity variation, and continuum shape variation. None of these individually can explain the line variation, although we cannot completely constrain continuum shape variation without simultaneous knowledge of the ultraviolet (UV) continuum. Other factors, considered individually, are also unable to explain all the variation: multiple changing continuum components, variable obscuration, and changes in velocity dispersion. Changes in line emission are an unlikely cause of significant variation in absorption-line measurements, but we are unable to fully constrain them. Variability could be due to a changing line of sight through a structured absorber. Modeling such scenarios should produce useful constraints on continuum emission mechanisms and absorber structure.
A distributed lagrange multiplier based computational method for the simulation of particulate-Stokes flow

Abstract In this paper we present a distributed lagrange multiplier (DLM) based Stokes flow algorithm for particulate flows. The entire fluid–particle domain is treated as a fluid. The “fluid” in the particle domain is ensured to move rigidly by adding a rigidity constraint. We modify the SIMPLER (Semi-Implicit Method for Pressure Linked Equations—Revised) algorithm for fluids (by Patankar [Numerical Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow, Taylor and Francis, London, 1980]), to account for the presence of the particle. The modification pertains to the presence of the rigidity constraint in the particle domain. We validate the algorithm with suitable test cases.
A NEW SYNTHESIS AND STUDY OF DIFERROCENYLSULFIDE

Abstract Diferrocenylsulfide (I) has been prepared in 76% yield via a new simple route involving bromoferrocene and the reactive bis(phenylsulfonyl)sulfide. Cyclic voltammetry of diferrocenylsulfide in CH 2 Cl 2 shows two reversible one electron processes at 0.61 V and 0.90 V. The mixed valence diferrocenylsulfide species was prepared by controlled current oxidation and two bands in the visible region at λ max 800 nm (ϵ 442) and λ 410 nm (ϵ 1548) are observed, no near IR band is detected.
Evidence that OH. production by human PMNs is related to prostaglandin metabolism.

Recent studies indicate that human granulocytes generate OH· during the phagocytosis of zymosan particles. Several theoretical considerations suggested to us that this OH· production might be related to prostaglandin metabolism, particularly the observation that OH· is generated by the reduction of hydroperoxides in microsomal systems. In our studies, we tested the importance of prostaglandin metabolism in the production of OH· by human granulocytes (PMNs). Indomethacin and aspirin at concentrations known to impair cyclooxygenase activity decreased OH· production by PMNs during the phagocytosis of zymosan particles. Phenol, which is known to alter prostaglandin metabolism, ablated OH· completely. None of these drugs at the concentrations used impaired the generation of O2- or H2O2 by PMNs, as indicated by their failure to diminish significantly the generation of chemiluminescence. Thus, the decrement in OH· production by these drugs could not be attributed to a nonspecific effect on the production of O2- or H2O2. These experiments therefore, indicate that the model for OH· production observed during prostaglandin synthesis with microsomal systems applies to human granulocytes.
Stability theorems for infinitely constrained mathematical programs

The primary concern of this paper is to investigate stability conditions for the mathematical program: findx ∈En that maximizesf(x):gj(x)≦0 for somej ∈J, wheref is a real scalarvalued function and eachg is a real vector-valued function of possibly infinite dimension. It should be noted that we allow, possibly infinitely many, disjunctive forms. In an earlier work, Evans and Gould established stability theorems wheng is a continuous finite-dimensional real-vector function andJ=1. It is pointed out that the results of this paper reduce to the Evans-Gould results under their assumptions. Furthermore, since we use a slightly more general definition of lower and upper semicontinuous point-to-set mappings, we can dispense with the continuity ofg (except in a few instances where it is implied by convexity assumptions).
Mammalian Mip/LIN-9 interacts with either the p107, p130/E2F4 repressor complex or B-Myb in a cell cycle-phase-dependent context distinct from the Drosophila dREAM complex.

Mammalian Mip/LIN-9 is a cell cycle regulatory protein that is negatively regulated by CDK4/cyclin D. It has been demonstrated that Mip/LIN-9 collaborates with B-Myb during S and G2/M in the induction of cyclins A and B, and CDK1. The ortholog of Mip/LIN-9 in D rosophila, Mip130, is part of a large multisubunit protein complex that includes RBF, repressor E2Fs and Myb, in what was termed the dREAM complex. A similar complex, although lacking B-Myb, was also described in Caenorhabditis elegans. Here, we demonstrate that unlike Drosophila, Mip/LIN-9 has mutually exclusive and cell cycle-phase-specific interactions with the mammalian orthologs of the dREAM complex. In G0/early G1, Mip/LIN-9 forms a complex with E2F4 and p107 or p130, while in late G1/S phase, it associates with B-Myb. The separation of Mip/LIN-9 from p107,p130/E2F4 is likely driven by phosphorylation of the pocket proteins by CDK4 since Mip/LIN-9 fails to interact with phosphorylated forms of p107,p130. Importantly, the repressor complex that Mip/LIN-9 forms with p107 takes functional precedence over the transcriptional activation linked to the Mip/LIN-9 and B-Myb interaction since expression of p107 blocks the activation of the cyclin B promoter triggered by B-Myb and Mip/LIN-9.
Enthalpies of dilution of aqueous electrolytes: The NaCl/H2O system

Analysis of enthalpy of dilution data for the system NaCl/H2O at 298.15°K with correlating equations presently in widespread use shows that these do not satisfactorily fit the data at the lowest available concentrations. A new approach based on the extended Debye-Huckel theory is suggested. It is shown that a plot of the ratio of the apparent molar enthalpy of dilution to the change in ionic strength, ΔϕL/ΔI, versus (I i 1/2 −I f 1/2 )/ΔI, should give a straight line at low enough concentration with a slope 2SH/3. The intercept is related to the Debye distance parameterA′ and the coefficient of the first virial correction term. The quantitySH is the limiting Debye slope as calculated from the properties of the pure solvent. These expectations are substantiated by the fits. Values of the parameters are compared with older estimates, and it is concluded that the choiceA′=0 is reasonable.
Race and the histologic grade of prostate cancer

We collected data on the histologic grade, stage, and age at diagnosis of 4,114 cases of prostate cancer (1,380 blacks, and 2,734 whites) in the Chicago area. The relationship between histologic grade (high = poorly or undifferentiated vs. low = well or moderatly differentiated) and race (black vs. white) was examined using logistic regression. After adjusting for stage (localized, regional, and distant), the odds of high histologic grade prostate cancer in blacks compared to whites equaled 1.7 (95% CI [1.4, 2.0], P < 0.0001). These data suggest that blacks have a significantly higher burden of high histologic grade prostate cancer than whites, even after adjustment for stage at presentation. This higher burden may explain, in part, their higher mortality rate from prostate cancer given the U.S. black vs. white difference in prostate cancer mortality of a similar magnitude. Prostate 30: 74–84, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
In Beethoven's and Wagner's footsteps: Phrase structures and Satzketten in the instrumental music of Béla Bartók

Abstract Recent studies of formal structure in themes in the Classical repertoire (William Caplin) as well as the music of Wagner (Matthew BaileyShea) point towards the enormous importance and potential of the Sentence phrase structure with its hybrid forms for analyzing tonal music. Initially described by Schoenberg, a Sentence is phrase consisting two main events of equal length, a presentation phrase (consisting of one repeated basic idea) and a continuation phrase. In this paper I will demonstrate Bartok's dependence upon Classical and Romantic phrase structures, including the Sentence, and also the Classical Period (consisting of an antecedent and consequent phrase). In both his small-and large-scale works, Bartok's sentences display a Classical coherence, despite the lack of a functional harmonic framework, due to their clear formal articulation and clearly defined modal pitch centers. Bartok also utilized chains of Sentences, Satzketten, in several works including Concerto for Orchestra. I will des...
AMINOCUANIDINE IMPROVES FETAL GROWTH IN STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED MATERNAL DIABETES

When streptozotocin-induced diabetes is produced early in gestation in rats, fetal growth is markedly compromised Cross-linking of proteins is increased in the diabetic, due to formation of advanced non-enzymatic glycosylation products (AGP) Aminoguanidine (A), a nucleophilic hydrazine compound, prevents formation of AGP and cross-linking of arterial proteins in vivo in diabetic rats. We administered aminoguanidine (25 rag/Kg IP) daily to control and diabetic rats from day 5 of gestation to sacrifice on day 21. Aminoguanidine produces increased fetal growth in diabetic pregnancies, while slightly retarding fetal growth in controls. Increased placental size in diabetic pregnancies is unaffected by aminoguanidine. These data suggest that reduced fetal growth in diabetic pregnancies may result from non-enzymatic glycosylation.
Power plant information network for integrating CAE applications

The author summarizes the approach used to develop the power plant information network as outlined in EPRI Project Report PR 2514-3 specifying integrated CAE applications for electric power plants. After a review of the project's intent, the discussion focuses on the entity relationship diagramming data modeling method used to document the research. >
Direct scattering and reconstruction of internal source

Abstract Direct scattering and inverse source problems are studied for a transient electric surface source in a dispersive or nondispersive slab. Composite operators that map the source current into transmitted waves are derived and used to establish Volterra type integral equations which are applied to solve the inverse source problem for the internal source function j(t). The source function j(t) is reconstructed numerically from the transmitted electric field at one side of the medium. Green's operators that map the source function to the internal field are studied for a homogeneous dispersive medium model. Linear integrodifferential equations with initial, boundary conditions and jump conditions of those Green's operator kernels are obtained. This provides an alternative way to obtain the composite operators.
A NEW ROSTROCONCH (MOLLUSCA) FROM THE MISSISSIPPIAN OF WEST VIRGINIA

Reports on Mississippian rostroconchs from the Appalachian basin are rare. Winchell (1871), Herrick (1888, 1890, 1891), Hyde (1953), and Hoare (1990, 2004) discussed taxa from Ohio. These reports concerned pre-Chesterian occurrences with the exception of the Chesterian Bransonia hydei Hoare, 1990 and Oxyprora sp. Hoare (2004) from the Maxville Limestone. Specimens of the new taxon were reported by Busanus (1974) as Conocardium spp. from the Chesterian Reynolds Limestone in northern West Virginia. Numerous specimens have been collected by RLP from five exposures of the Bluefield Formation, Mauch Chunk Group (Chesterian), in Mercer County, West Virginia, Oakvale 7½′ quadrangle. Although many of the specimens are partially crushed or incomplete, several are well preserved and all retain the outer shell layer showing the ornamentation. Three internal molds are also present. The specimens represent a single species, Diedrorynchus dictyum new genus and species. The localities are given as Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) designations which are used in geographic areas that were not surveyed into section, township, and range parcels. Four of the localities are exposures on the north side of U.S. Route 460, UTM 17507778E, 4133641N; UTM 17507588E, 4133551N; UTM 17507301E, 4133452N; UTM 17509153E, 4134253N. The fifth locality is in the Ada Shale Member, Bluefield …
Sex-Specialized or Collaborative Mate Selection? Union Transitions among Cohabitors

Abstract Using couple-level, panel data, we examine how cohabitors' economic circumstances, domestic contributions, gender attitudes, and feelings about domestic equity affect whether they continue to cohabit, separate, or marry. We address whether the contemporary trend toward delayed marriage may be influenced by women's and men's preferences for a marital partner who will share parallel employment and homemaking duties, the difficulty in fulfilling that preference, and uncertainty about gender roles and personal relationship entitlements. Thus, we test two competing models of mate selection, traditional (sex-specialized) and egalitarian (collaborative), and evaluate whether couples' attitudes about gender equity complicate these two models. Our findings primarily support the sex-specialized model, with women's housework and men's earnings associated with higher odds of marriage, and cohabiting men's mate selection strategies seemingly consistent with an exchange of breadwinning for homemaking. Partial support for the collaborative model shows that men's egalitarian attitudes are associated with higher odds of marriage, while the interaction between women's time spent in housework and earnings is associated with higher odds of separation. Given that cohabitors have higher odds of separation if the female partner is more egalitarian than the male partner and that women's perceptions of unfairness to self about housework do not affect union outcomes, we conclude that cohabitors generally use a breadwinner–homemaker framework for evaluating partners' economic and domestic contributions as mate selection criteria.
CONVERGENCE OF PERTURBATION THEORY FOR STATIC MODELS.

The unrenormalized perturbation series for the charged-scalar static model with finite cutoff is shown to have a finite radius of convergence. Although only the two-point function is explicitly considered, the result generalizes to three- and four-point functions.
Effects of aquatic humic substances on analysis for hydrogen peroxide using peroxidase‐catalyzed oxidations of triarylmethanes or p‐hydroxyphenylacetic acid

A sensitive procedure is described for trace analysis of hydrogen peroxide in water. The procedure involves the peroxidase‐catalyzed oxidation of the leuco forms of two dyes, crystal violet and malachite green. The sensitivity of this procedure, as well as of another procedure based on the peroxidase‐catalyzed oxidation of p‐hydroxyphenylacetic acid (POHPA), is decreased in natural water samples and in aqueous solutions of aquatic humic substances. This decrease, which is less pronounced with the POHPA method, may be caused by competititve reactions of peroxidase intermediates with phenolic components of the humic substances. (This work was performed as part of an environmental exchange agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union).
Transcription and translation initiation frequencies of the Escherichia coli lac operon.

Abstract We have calculated the number of RNA polymerase molecules transcribing the induced lac operon of Escherichia coli as well as the distance between ribosomes on the proximal z and on the distal a messages † . These values were derived from: (a) rates of induced enzyme synthesis corrected by known turnover numbers to give numbers of enzyme monomers produced per cell per second; (b) the mass of each message derived either directly by hybridization of long-labeled RNA to specific DNA or from the rates of synthesis and decay obtained by hybridization of pulse-labeled RNA; the latter gives about 13 times better resolution; (c) conversion of message mass into a number of funtioning 3′ ends (producing finished polypeptides); size analyses indicate that the z message probably decays by a net directional degradation in the 5′ to 3′ direction. From this the fraction of completed molecules that are full-length and the total number with functional 3′ ends can be derived. (d) Rates of ribosome movement. Calculated values follow. (1) With a 3.3-second interval between transcription initiations, there are 38 molecules of RNA polymerase on z DNA per cell; with 1.7 copies of lac DNA, this gives 23 on each z cistron and five or six on the y and on the a cistrons. This corresponds to a spacing of about 135 nucleotides between polymerases, which is similar to that on the ribosomal cistrons which have only 1.7 seconds separating initiations. (2) There are 20 molecules of β-galactosidase monomer produced per cell per second from 1.1 × 10−4 pg of z RNA. 38% of the message molecules are nascent and not producing enzyme. Half of the completed molecules and 70% of their mass are intact z messages to give 62 molecules of z message containing functional 3′ ends/cell. Ribosomes load onto these messages at 3.2-second intervals to give a ribosomal spacing of 110 nucleotides. An average of 40 ribosomes translate each z message with half of the message molecules translated by more than 28 ribosomes and half by less. (3) Only 2.4 molecules of galactoside acetyltransferase monomer are produced per cell per second from 1.8 × 10−5 pg of a RNA. Only 20% of these molecules are nascent and 80% of the completed ones are intact; this gives 40 molecules of functioning a messages per cell. Ribosomes load to a message at 16-second intervals to give a spacing of 580 nucleotides. These results show that the frequencies of translation initiations can differ for different messages. The faster decay of a compared to z message is consistent with a model in which a ribosome can protect a vulnerable site near the start of a message from inactivation; messages that load less frequently decay faster. The combined net effect of these causally related processes could account for natural polarity (Zabin & Fowler, 1970), i.e. there is a fourfold lower production of enzyme from the a than from the z gene.
Analysis of chlorophyll diagenesis—II. Solvent effects on metal incorporation into chlorophyll diagenetic products

We are attempting to quantify selected transitions in the diagenetic pathway of chlorophyll in deep ocean sediments. To analyze the aromatization from phorbides (less stable) to porphyrins (more stable), we used a model system which closely resembles the compounds identified in oceanic sediments. Kinetic parameters were determined for the incorporation of copper into deoxomesopyropheophorbide a methyl ester (DOMPP) and deoxophylloerythrin methyl ester (DPE) in a series of solvents ranging from highly polar and protic to non-polar and aprotic, representing varying sedimentary environments. In the reaction of copper with these two compounds, the activation parameters for the reaction with DOMPP indicate that DOMPP is more sensitive to the environment than DPE. Also, over the temperature range studied, DOMPP always reacted faster than DPE under similar conditions. These two observations lend support to our previous hypothesis that the phorbide to porphyrin transition includes the metallophorbide as a short-lived intermediate in the reaction sequence.