cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Association and linkage analysis of the α-adducin gene and blood pressure

In Milan hypertensive rats, a variant in the α-adducin gene has been shown to account for approximately 50% of the interindividual variation in blood pressure levels between these animals and their normotensive counterparts. Additional studies have suggested that a polymorphism within exon 10 of the human α-adducin gene (Gly-460-Trp) may be associated with hypertension and salt sensitivity. On the basis of these observations, we investigated variation within or near the human α-adducin gene for linkage and association with a locus influencing blood pressure levels in 281 nuclear families (774 siblings aged 5 to 37 years; 380 parents aged 26 to 57 years), selected from the white population of Rochester, Minnesota, without regard to health. Sib pair linkage analyses (n = 852 sibling pairs) using a dinucleotide repeat marker (D4S43) that maps approximately 660 kb from the α-adducin gene provided no evidence of linkage between this marker locus and a locus influencing systolic, diastolic, or mean blood pressure levels. Allele frequencies for the Gly-460-Trp polymorphism were similar to those reported in other white populations (Gly = 0.812, Trp = 0.188); however, this polymorphism was not associated with any measure of blood pressure level in either parents or siblings. Therefore, variation within the α-adducin gene does not appear to have a major influence on measures of blood pressure in white families from Rochester, Minnesota.
Conformational searching methods for small molecules I: study of the SYBYL SEARCH method

Several methods are available in the literature for the conformational analysis of small molecules. Each of these methods has some advantages and some disadvantages. Also, each of these methods may be expected to perform better or worse on different types of molecules. There is no clear calibration of each of these methods against a “standardized” set of molecules available in the literature. Such a reference work would be useful to the community because it would allow the choice of methods to be based on some facts. We attempted to provide a start to such a calibration in this article with an examination of the SYBYL SEARCH method. Methods for evaluating the performance of this method are described in detail and will be applied to all other available conformational analysis methods in future papers. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Allocative inefficiency and measures of market power

This paper has shown that under conditions of both linear and constant price elasticity demand functions, market power as measured by the Lerner index and profit rates may easily move in the opposite direction of the welfare losses from monopoly. This means that changes in monopoly power, as measured by either Lerner indexes or profit rates, are not adequate to predict qualitative changes in allocative inefficiency. More (less) market power does not necessarily imply more (less) allocative inefficiency whether one is comparing different industries at a point in time or a given industry at different points in time. For these reasons, interpretation of the relation between market power as measured by the Lerner index or profit rates and market performance must proceed with caution.
Exposure to Mycobacterium avium primes the immune system of calves for vaccination with Mycobacterium bovis BCG

The objective of the investigation was to provide data on how a prior exposure of cattle to Mycobacterium avium, used here as a model of exposure to an environmental mycobacterium, affected the cellular immune response that follows vaccination with Mycobacterium bovis BCG. The assessment of cellular immune responses included lymphocyte proliferation assays, the delayed hypersensitivity skin test and IFN-γ synthesis in whole blood cultures. One group of calves was inoculated subcutaneously with M. avium followed 12 weeks later by M. bovis-BCG. The other group was vaccinated subcutaneously with BCG alone. Calves previously exposed to M. avium responded more rapidly, as assessed in the in vitro assays, to purified protein derivative (PPD) from M. avium (PPD-A) or M. bovis (PPD-B) than did calves inoculated with BCG only, indicating that the exposure to M. avium had primed the immune response in these calves. Following inoculation of BCG the intensity of the in vitro responses and the delayed hypersensitivity skin test to PPD-A was higher for the M. avium-primed animals while the responses to PPD-B were similar in the M. avium-primed and BCG-only groups. The results are consistent with a model in which prior exposure to environmental mycobacteria does not necessarily inhibit the immune response to the vaccine strain, BCG. They suggest that M. avium infection primes the immune system of calves and that the detection of an immune response specific for M. bovis BCG is masked by reactivity to antigens also present in M. avium.
Knowledge production and nanotechnology: Characterizing American dissertation research, 1999–2009

Abstract Understanding the emergence and evolution of nanoscience research is important for economic competitiveness and development as well as public policies concerning higher education and research and development. Assessing the emerging state of knowledge about nanotechnology is a significant step in enriching understandings of existing and future research capacities. To this end, we utilized bibliometric methods to characterize the profile and distribution of recent dissertations awarded at U.S. institutions. Our finding suggest that dissertations on nanotechnology experienced secular growth and were concentrated in engineering departments at established research universities and stimulated by federal funding. Finally, graduate research was geographically stratified and clustered in metropolitan areas with dense research infrastructures and ties to hi-technology industries. The implications for policymakers and social scientists interested in nanotechnology are assessed.
Prevalence, patterns and predictors of substance use among Latino migrant men in a new receiving community

Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, patterns and predictors (individual, social, cultural, and environmental) of illicit drug use and binge drinking in a cohort of Latino migrant men (LMM) in a new receiving community.
First-principles simulations of native point defects and ionic diffusion in high-pressure polymorphs of silica

Several native point defects including vacancies, interstitials, and their complexes were studied in high-pressure polymorphs of silica (stishovite, ${\text{CaCl}}_{2}$, $\ensuremath{\alpha}{\text{-PbO}}_{2}$, and pyrite types) up to 200 GPa within density-functional theory. The formation enthalpies of the individual defects strongly depend on atomic chemical potentials and the Fermi level. Their values were shown to increase by a factor of 2 over the entire pressure range studied with large differences in some cases between different phases. The Schottky defects are energetically most favorable at zero pressure whereas O-Frenkel pairs become systematically more favorable at pressures higher than 20 GPa. The activation enthalpies of ionic migrations obtained by the nudged-elastic-band method suggest that the interstitial mechanisms are favored over the vacancy hoping mechanisms. The geometric and electronic structures of defects and migrating ions vary largely among different types of defects. In particular, the O defects introduce localized electronic states. These structures remain qualitatively unchanged with compression showing similar trends among different polymorphs.
Simulations of the three-dimensional Hubbard model: Half-filled band sector.

We present results of Monte Carlo simulations of the three-dimensional half-filled Hubbard model on simple-cubic ${4}^{3}$ lattices and some ${6}^{3}$ lattices with periodic boundary conditions, as well as of small clusters embedded in an effective medium. Magnetic properties were studied for values of the Hubbard repulsion U ranging from 0 to the bandwidth W=12t (t is the hopping matrix element). Our results show that antiferromagnetism is enhanced up to U\ensuremath{\sim}(5/6)W and then suppressed. The q=0 magnetic susceptibility is enhanced by U, although much less than predicted by the random-phase approximation. The transition temperature to an antiferromagnetic state is found to have a broad maximum around U\ensuremath{\sim}(5/6)W, with a maximum value of approximately W/18. The implications of our results for superconductivity in the attractive Hubbard model are also discussed.
Generalized Rank Functions and an Entropy Argument

A rank function is a function f:2[d]?N such that f(?)=0 and f(A)? f(A?x)?f(A)+1 for all A?[d], x?[d]\A. Athanasiadis conjectured an upper bound on the number of rank functions on 2[d]. We prove this conjecture and generalize it to functions with bounded jumps.
Projecting Pornography and Mapping Modernity in Mexico City

Drawing on Elizabeth Grosz’s and Doreen Massey’s insights that place and gender are mutually constitutive, this article examines the articulation among the embodied city, sexual desire, and changing gender norms in the wake of the Mexican Revolution. At this time, a newly governing revolutionary elite sought to reinvigorate and “civilize” Mexico City through a series of urban reforms and public works, partly in response to their concern over women in public as a social problem. By analyzing depictions of female nudity as conversant with urban landscapes in the banned magazine Vea, the author argues that pornography connected Mexico City to transnational ideas of the early twentieth century that held that sexually liberated women were part and parcel of cosmopolitan modernity. Vea exemplified and fueled concerns over “public women” and helps scholars understand larger debates on the gendered effects of revolution, urbanization, and transnational currents of global modernity.
Healing of laser incisions in rat dermis: comparisons of the carbon dioxide laser under manual and computer control and the scalpel.

Background and Objective The Computer-Assisted Surgical Techniques (CAST) program was researched to decrease lateral tissue damage and improve wound healing subsequent to laser incision. CAST differs from the traditional laser because it makes the incision in a discontinuous manner, allowing tissue to cool during the incision process. Study Design/Material and Methods: The transient temperature changes in the tissue adjacent to the incision were measured with a thermocouple in a rat model. The subsequent wound healing was studied with histology and tensiometry. Results The thermal measurements demonstrated that all CAST settings were cooler than the continuous mode of laser incision. However, histology and tensiometric studies showed mixed results. Conclusion This research demonstrates that CAST can be used in future surgical applications with no delay in wound healing as compared to the manually controlled laser. However, this study also finds no decrease in the wound healing time when using the CAST program. Lasers Surg Med 20:90–96, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Coherent beam combining and optical space-time division multiple access

We have developed an approach to multiple-access lasercom that adopts the commercial paradigm of sharing the most expensive terminal resources among all users. Space-time division multiple access (STDMA), analogous to an optical space-time switch, hops the transmit beam and receive direction among multiple users and exchanges data while the beam dwells on a user. A key enabler of STDMA is electronic beam steering using liquid crystal optical phased arrays, which provides fast, precise, and agile beam re-pointing. We have built the first optical STDMA terminal, combining beam hopping between remote terminals with coherent combining of both transmit and receive apertures, which is an effective means for increasing antenna gain in systems for which large aperture components are impractical. Coherent beam combining provided the expected increase in antenna gain, and the terminal was found to re-point the beam among users quickly and precisely enough to suffer only minor throughput degradation. Communications test were performed using 10 Gb/s Ethernet for a single-aperture configuration. Performance is presented as a function of angle scan speed and STDMA dwell time per remote terminal. The results suggest that STDMA is a viable technology for supporting multiple-access space-based laser communication.
Localization of tubulin in the mitotic apparatus of mammalian cells by immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy

Antitubulin antibody was used as an immunofluorescent and immunoelectron microscopic probe to localize tubulin in components of the mitotic apparatus of rat kangaroo (strain PtK1) cells in vitro. In addition to the detection of tubulin in the spindle microtubules and centrioles, other structures were found to display specific staining including kinetochores, amorphous pericentriolar material and small virus-like particles associated with the centrioles. The kinetochores consisted of a densely stained outer layer about 400 A thick which is separated from an inner layer of the same dimension by a lightly staining middle layer. Microtubules were primarily associated with the outermost plate of the kinetochore but tubulin was uniformly distributed in both outer and inner plates. Colcemid treatment prevented the assembly of spindle microtubules and resulted in specific alterations of the kinetochore but failed to diminish the staining of the kinetochores. These observations suggest that tubulin molecules may comprise an important structural component of the kinetochore.
Study of exchange reaction in polycarbonate-modified polybenzoxazine via model compound

The chain fragmentation in polycarbonate (PC) and polybenzoxazine blend upon thermal polymerization is investigated by size exclusion chromatography with the aid of monofunctional benzoxazine model compound. Molecular weight reduction of PC polymer via transesterification between the hydroxyl groups of ring-opened benzoxazine and the carbonate groups from PC was observed. In addition, excess heat of reaction compared to the expected value is detected from differential scanning calorimetry and is assigned to the exotherm associated with the exchange reaction. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 83: 1848–1855, 2002
BEYOND THE HORIZON TO UNKNOWN TERRITORIES: THE SINGULARITY INSIDE BLACK HOLES

We study the Cauchy horizon singularity inside a spherical charged black hole, coupled to a self-gravitating scalar field. We show that all the radial causal geodesics terminate at a weak singularity according to the Tipler classification. Our result is valid anywhere along the singularity, in particular in the regime where nonlinear effects are crucial.
Paramagnetic resonance and relaxation of the electron cavities in quantum crystals

Abstract The hyperfine interaction and relaxation of the electron cavities have been investigated. An experiment is suggested.
Organizational Justice and Employee Work Attitudes: The Federal Case

Organizational scientists have claimed that organizational justice is an essential requirement for effective organizational management. Perceived justice in the organization is predicted to influen...
Application of Operant Token Reinforcement to Academic Performance of an Institutionalized Delinquent

Operant techniques were employed to strengthen the academic performance of Nick, a glib, manipulative, delinquently-identified, 16-yr.-old boy with an IQ of 108, committed for stealing four cars. Reports stated he felt “dumb” in school and resisted the educational process. Nick “rented” the use of his mattress at night and the right to wear his clothes instead of institutional clothes and purchased canteen items (cigarettes, candy, gum, etc.) with tokens. He earned tokens with daily and weekly school grades. Over 30 wk., average weekly grades improved slightly. Previous grade point averages were: .60, 1.00, .50, and 1.20; with reinforcement, averages rose to 3.00. Grading bias of teachers was in the opposite direction. Teachers reported Nick disliked school but still worked for tokens. It v/as concluded that token reinforcement improved academic performance, but better controlled studies are needed to develop and validate this approach.
Error analysis of a relativity test with counter-orbiting satellites

Abstract In 1974 R. A. Van Patten and C. W. F. Everitt proposed an experiment to measure the Lense-Thirring effect of general relativity to about 1.1% in 2.5 yr. Satellite-to-satellite Doppler slant range measurements (made over the Earth's poles as the satellites pass) must be processed to separate the relativistic and non-relativistic effects on orbit plane nodal precessions. Using the results of a recent covariance analysis, it is shown that this can be done with sufficient accuracy to permit a change in the mission error estimate to about 0.7%. The satellite-to-satellite ranging measurements also yield new information about tesseral harmonic and Earth tidal orbit perturbations.
Evolutionary conservation of protein regions in the protonmotive cytochrome b and their possible roles in redox catalysis.

The amino acid sequences of the protonmotive cytochromeb from seven representative and phylogenetically diverse species have been compared to identify protein regions or segments that are conserved during evolution. The sequences analyzed included both prokaryotic and eukaryotic examples as well as mitochondrial cytochromeb and chloroplastb 6 proteins. The principal conclusion from these analyses is that there are five protein regions-each comprising about 20 amino acid residues—that are consistently conserved during evolution. These domains are evident despite the low density of invariant residues. The two most highly conserved regions, spanning approximately consensus residues 130–150 and 270–290, are located in extramembrane loops and are hypothesized to constitute part of the Qo reaction center. The intramembrane, hydrophobic protein regions containing the heme-ligating histidines are also conserved during evolution. It was found, however, that the conservation of the protein segments extramembrane to the histidine residues ligating the low potential b566 heme group showed a higher degree of sequence conservation. The location of these conserved regions suggests that these extramembrane segments are also involved in forming the Qo reaction center. A protein segment putatively constituting a portion of the Qi reaction center, located approximately in the region spanned by consensus residues 20–40, is conserved in species as divergent as mouse andRhodobacter. This region of the protein shows substantially less sequence conservation in the chloroplast cytochromeb 6. The catalytic role of these conserved regions is strongly supported by locations of residues that are altered in mutants resistant to inhibitors of cytochromeb electron transport.
An experimental study of synthetic fibre reinforced cementitious composites

Fibre reinforcement is one of the effective ways of improving the properties of concrete. However, current studios on fibre -reinforced concrete (FRC) have focused mainly on reinforcements with steel and glass fibres. Thin paper reports on an experimental programme on the properties of various synthetic fibre reinforced cementitious composites and the properties of the reinforcing fibres. Acrylic, polyester, and aramid fibres were tested in uniaxial tension, both in their original state as we!! as after ageing in nerO*nL Samples of these fibres were found to lose varying amounts of strength with time, depending on the ageing temperature. Two different test methods were used to measure the fibre-cement interfacial bond strength. The tensile properties of concrete reinforced with acrylic, nylon, and aramid fibres, in the form of random distribution or unioxial alignment, were studied by means of three different tests: compact tension, flexural, and splitting tensile tests. The properties of concrete, particularly that of apparent ductility, were found to be greatly improved by the inclusion of such fibre reinforcement.
Clinical Vignette in Antiretroviral Therapy: Rash Illness

This clinical vignette focuses on intercurrent illness following antiretroviral therapy and unexplained rash. It uses tables to identify specific highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)-related adverse events, and to assist clinicians in interpreting cutaneous clinical findings in physiologic terms.
Single- versus Multifraction Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: Outcomes and Toxicity

Purpose We report updated outcomes of single- versus multifraction stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for unresectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Methods and Materials We included 167 patients with unresectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma treated at our institution from 2002 to 2013, with 1-fraction (45.5% of patient) or 5-fraction (54.5% of patients) SBRT. The majority of patients (87.5%) received chemotherapy. Results Median follow-up was 7.9 months (range: 0.1-63.6). The 6- and 12-month cumulative incidence rates (CIR) of local recurrence for patients treated with single-fraction SBRT were 5.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.2%-10.4%) and 9.5% (95% CI, 2.7%-16.2%), respectively. The 6- and 12-month CIR with multifraction SBRT were 3.4% (95% CI, 0.0-7.2%) and 11.7% (95% CI, 4.8%-18.6%), respectively. Median survival from diagnosis for all patients was 13.6 months (95% CI, 12.2-15.0 months). The 6- and 12- month survival rates from SBRT for the single-fraction group were 67.0% (95% CI, 57.2%-78.5%) and 30.8% (95% CI, 21.9%-43.6%), respectively. The 6- and 12- month survival rates for the multifraction group were 75.7% (95% CI, 67.2%-85.3%) and 34.9% (95% CI, 26.1%-46.8%), respectively. There were no differences in CIR or survival rates between the single- and multifraction groups. The 6- and 12-month cumulative incidence rates of gastrointestinal toxicity grade ≥3 were 8.1% (95% CI, 1.8%-14.4%) and 12.3% (95% CI, 4.7%-20.0%), respectively, in the single-fraction group, and both were 5.6% (95% CI, 0.8%-10.5%) in the multifraction group. There were significantly fewer instances of toxicity grade ≥2 with multifraction SBRT ( P =.005). Local recurrence and toxicity grade ≥2 were independent predictors of worse survival. Conclusions Multifraction SBRT for pancreatic cancer significantly reduces gastrointestinal toxicity without compromising local control.
Identification of 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexabromocyclohexane as a small molecule inhibitor of Jak2 tyrosine kinase autophophorylation

The commercially available Jak2 inhibitor, alpha-cyano-3,4-dihydroxy-N-benzylcinnamide (AG490), has been used extensively to study Jak2 kinase function. While alpha-cyano-3,4-dihydroxy-N-benzylcinnamide is a potent Jak2 inhibitor, it can inhibit a number of other kinase signaling pathways as well. To circumvent this problem, we sought to identify novel small molecule inhibitors of Jak2 tyrosine kinase activity. For this, we constructed a homology model of the Jak2 kinase domain and identified solvent accessible pockets on the surface of the structure. Using the DOCK program, we tested 6451 compounds of known chemical structure in silico for their ability to interact with a pocket positioned adjacent to the activation loop. We attained the top seven scoring compounds from the National Cancer Institute and tested their ability to inhibit Jak2 autophosphorylation in vitro. Using Western blot analysis, we found that one of the compounds, 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexabromocyclohexane, was able to potently, and directly, inhibit Jak2 autophosphorylation. Characterization of this compound revealed that it inhibits Jak2 tyrosine autophosphorylation in both a time- and concentration-dependent manner. It greatly reduced growth hormone-mediated Jak2 autophosphorylation but did not block autophosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor receptor. Furthermore, doses as high as 100 muM were not toxic to cells as measured by their ability to exclude propidium iodide. As such, we believe that this compound could serve as a lead compound for a new generation of Jak2 inhibitors and, perhaps, be useful in elucidating the mechanisms of Jak2 kinase function.
Reconsidering the mechanism of polyglutamine peptide aggregation.

There are at least nine neurodegenerative diseases associated with proteins that contain an unusually expanded polyglutamine domain, the best known of which is Huntington's disease. In all of these...
Mouse Vα14i natural killer T cells are resistant to cytokine polarization in vivo

Abstract Under different circumstances, natural killer T (NKT) cells can cause a T helper (Th) 1 or a Th2 polarization of immune responses. We show here, however, that mouse NKT cells with an invariant Vα14 rearrangement (Vα14i NKT cells) rapidly produce both IL-4 and IFN-γ, and this pattern could not be altered by methods that polarize naive CD4+ T cells. Surprisingly, although cytokine protein was detected only after activation, resting Vα14i NKT cells contained IL-4 and IFN-γ mRNAs. Despite this finding, in vivo priming of mice with the glycolipid antigen recognized by Vα14i NKT cells resulted in a more Th2-oriented response upon antigen re-exposure. The Vα14i NKT cells from primed mice retain the ability to produce IL-4 and IFN-γ, but they are less effective at activating NK cells to produce IFN-γ. Our data therefore indicate that Vα14i NKT cells have a relatively inflexible immediate cytokine response, but that changes in their ability to induce IFN-γ secretion by NK cells may determine the extent to which they promote Th1 responses.
Kinetics of serotonin accumulation into synaptosomes of rat brain--effects of amphetamine and chloroamphetamines.

Abstract Synaptosomes from whole brain of rats accumulated serotonin by means of a high affinity process and a low affinity process, distinguishable kinetically. The high affinity process was stronly inhibited by 4-chloroamphetamine. 3-Chloroamphetamine, 2-chloroamphetamine and amphetamine were progressively weaker inhibitors of that process. 4-Chloroamphetamine was a less potent inhibitor of the low affinity process (about equal to amphetamine). When 4-chloroamphetamine was administered to rats and synaptosomes were isolated from whole brain, the high affinity uptake of serotonin was inhibited for as long as 22·5 hr after drug administration. In vitro, 4-chloroamphetamine but not chloroimipramine at 5 μM caused a release of serotonin from synaptosomes preincubated with radioactive serotonin. The ability of 4-chloroamphetamine to inhibit the high affinity uptake of serotonin by synaptosomes and to release serotonin from synaptosomes is probably related to the prolonged lowering of brain serotonin levels in rats treated with 4-chloroamphetamine.
Assessing the microstructure of written language using a retelling paradigm.

Purpose The primary goal of this study was to document the progression of the microstructural elements of written language in children at 4 grade levels. The secondary purpose was to ascertain whet...
Prenatal exposure to moderate levels of ethanol can have long‐lasting effects on hippocampal synaptic plasticity in adult offspring

Prenatal ethanol exposure has been associated with long-lasting intellectual impairments in children. Previous studies using animal models of fetal ethanol exposure suggest that these deficits are, at least in part, linked to neurochemical abnormalities in the hippocampal formation. We explored whether prenatal exposure to moderate quantities of ethanol produced functional deficits at the entorhinal cortical perforant path-dentate granule cell connection by examining some electrophysiological properties, including the induction of long-term potentiation (LTP). Rat dams consumed one of three diets throughout gestation: 1) a BioServ liquid diet containing 5% (v/v) ethanol (26% ethanol-derived calories), which produces a maternal peak blood ethanol concentration of 83 mg/dl; 2) pair-fed an isocalorically equivalent amount of 0% ethanol liquid diet; or 3) Purina rat chow ad libitum. Adult offspring (120-150 days of age) from each experimental diet group were anesthetized with urethane and field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) and population spikes were measured in the dentate gyrus in response to ipsilateral perforant path stimulation. We examined input-output functions using a wide range of single pulse stimulation intensities and induction of LTP using high-frequency stimulation. In the 50-500 microA range of single pulse intensities, there were no significant differences among the diet groups in dentate gyrus evoked potentials. In response to high-frequency stimulation, prenatal ethanol-exposed rats showed a smaller increase in field EPSPs and population spikes compared with rats from either of the two control groups. Thus, prenatal exposure to moderate ethanol levels can produce a long-lasting deficit in synaptic enhancement in a neural pathway believed to be critical in certain forms of learning and memory. This deficit in hippocampal synaptic plasticity may, in part, account for cognitive impairments seen in children whose mothers consumed ethanol during pregnancy.
Oscillatory stretch effects on the structure and extinction of counterflow diffusion flames

The effects of oscillatory stretch on atmospheric laminar counterflow diffusion flames are investigated both numerically and experimentally. Measurements indicate that, at high excitation frequencies, the peak extinction strain rates of oscillating CH 4 +N 2 versus air flames can be extended well beyond steady-state extinction limits. Hydroxyl radical concentrations are measured in a CH 4 +N 2 versus air flame excited at moderate frequencies and are compared to numerical simulations including complex chemistry and detailed transport. Measurements and simulations of OH concentration oscillations show similar phase delays. However, the measurements indicate a larger variation of OH concentration. AT moderate frequencies, the time-dependent OH variation is quasi-steady where the time-dependent flame can be described by a series of steady-state flames. However, the time-dependent flame does not quite recover to its steady-state structure at the low-strain-rate extreme.
Transforming Growth Factorβ Gene Expression and Action in the Seminiferous Tubule: Peritubular Cell-Sertoli Cell Interactions

The potential role of transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta) as a mediator of cell-cell interactions within the seminiferous tubule was investigated through an examination of the local production and action of TGF beta. Sertoli cells and peritubular (myoid) cells were isolated and cultured under serum-free conditions. Secreted proteins from Sertoli cells and peritubular cells were found to contain a component that bound to TGF beta receptors in RRA. Reverse-phase chromatography of Sertoli cell and peritubular cell secreted proteins fractionated a protein with similar biochemical properties as TGF beta 1. This fractionated protein also contained TGF beta bioactivity in its ability to inhibit growth of an epidermal growth factor-dependent cell line. Both peritubular cells and Sertoli cells contained a 2.4 kilobase mRNA species that hybridized in a Northern blot analysis with a TGF beta 1 cDNA probe. TGF beta 1 gene expression was not detected in freshly isolated germ cells. TGF beta 1 alone was not found to influence Sertoli cell nor peritubular cell proliferation with cells isolated from a midpubertal stage of development. The effects of hormones and TGF beta on Sertoli cell differentiation and function were assessed through an examination of transferrin production by Sertoli cells. TGF beta 1 had no effect on transferrin production nor the ability of hormones to influence transferrin production. The presence of peritubular cells in a coculture with Sertoli cells also did not affect the inability of TGF beta 1 to act on Sertoli cells. Although Sertoli cell function did not appear to be influenced by TGF beta 1, peritubular cells responded to TGF beta 1 through an increase in the production of a number of radiolabeled secreted proteins. TGF beta 1 also had relatively rapid effects on peritubular cell migration and the promotion of colony formation in culture. Cocultures of Sertoli cells and peritubular cells responded to TGF beta 1 by the formation of large cell clusters with ball-like structures. Data indicate that TGF beta may have an important role in influencing the differentiation and migration of peritubular cells. Observations demonstrate the local production of TGF beta within the seminiferous tubule by Sertoli cells and peritubular cells and suggest that TGF beta may have a role as a paracrine-autocrine factor involved in the maintenance of testicular function.
Equilibrium Vapor Pressure of Frozen Bovine Muscle

SUMMARY An experimental study of the equilibrium vapor pressure of frozen bovine muscle is presented for a temperature range of −23°C to −1°C. Measurements are presented for round, sirloin, and T-bone steak. The results show that the equilibrium vapor pressure of beef is approximately 20% lower than the vapor pressure of pure ice at the same temperature. An interpretation of the experiments attributes the vapor-pressure depression to dissolved solute species in the frozen liquid phase of the beef muscle. To determine the role of the solid meat matrix in the vapor-pressure depression, experimental measurements are also presented for the vapor pressure of the frozen liquid phase, which can be mechanically removed from the meat by squeezing at room temperature. The vapor pressure of this phase at a given temperature lies between that of beef muscle and pure ice. This result is interpreted by the use of a simple model which idealizes the beef muscle as a cross-linked ionic network which contains not only soluble and mobile ionic species but also ions and other hydrophilic groups which are permanently attached to the network. Because of the presence of these permanently attached groups, more solute particles are present in the frozen liquid phase when it is incorporated in the meat matrix than when it is removed. Since the magnitude of the vapor-pressure depression increases with the concentration of dissolved solute species, the depression is greater when the meat matrix is present. These ideas are consistent with the observed temperature coefficient of the vapor pressure, which is larger for frozen beef muscle than for the separate frozen liquid phase.
Preparation of pyridine nucleotide analogs by the carbonyl addition reaction.

Abstract The addition products of diphosphopyridine nucleotide with dihy-droxyacetone, glyceraldehyde, and acetone have been isolated as barium salts. The ultraviolet absorption spectra of all of these compounds are similar, having 260-mμ and 340-mμ maxima. All are decomposed in acid solution to yield similar products which have 290–300-mμ peaks replacing the 340-mμ maximum of the addition compound. The addition compounds formed by the reaction of diphosphopyridine nucleotide with carbonyl compounds are at the same oxidation level as reduced diphosphopyridine nucleotide. Reduced diphosphopyridine nucleotide can be oxidized by mild oxidizing agents, such as potassium ferricyanide. The addition compounds of diphosphopyridine nucleotide can be similarly oxidized. It was found that ferricyanide oxidation of DPN-dihydroxyacetone and DPN-glyceraldehyde formed two products each, indicated by DPN-Dox(I) and DPN-Dox(II), and DPN-Gox(I) and DPN-Gox(II), respectively. DPN-acetone yields only one product, DPN-Aox(I). These analogs can be separated from the other reaction products by means of a Dowex 1 ion-exchange resin. Ionophoresis of the analogs shows that DPN-Dox(I), DPN-Gox(I), and DPN-Aox(I) possess the same net charge as diphosphopyridine nucleotide (−1 at pH 7), while DPN-Dox(II) and DPN-Gox(II) possess twice the charge (−2 at pH 7). Potassium ferricyanide will oxidize DPN-Dox(I) to DPN-Dox(II) and DPN-Gox(I) to DPN-Gox(II) probably by partially oxidizing the dihydroxyacetone or glyceraldehyde side chain of the analogs to a carboxylic acid. The possible structures of these analogs are presented. The ultraviolet absorption spectra of these compounds are presented and discussed.
Microbial biosynthesis of wax esters during desiccation: Adaptation for colonization of the earliest terrestrial environments?

Intense fluctuations in precipitation govern seasonal cycles of ephemeral lakes, controlling hydration stresses and producing changes in the biochemical composition of endemic microbes. The lipid compositions of emergent and desiccated mats with comparable microbial communities from evaporative alkaline lakes reveal increases in the abundance and average chain length of wax esters (WE) that may represent an evolutionary strategy to survive desiccation in evaporative environments. Subsequent rehydration naturally saponifies WE, regenerating alcohol and acid moieties that can be utilized as membrane lipids for the next viable microbial generation. The antiquity of this biosynthetic innovation suggests that WE production likely facilitated microbial migration to lake environments in the earliest terrestrial ecosystems as well as their survival through hydration-dehydration cycles.
The rupture of radiation-induced anaphase bridges*

Abstract As the frequency of radiation-induced dicentrics increases, the proportion that give rise to anaphase bridges decreases. Conger has shown that this decrease is not the result of a changing centromere segregation, but rather results from an increased frequency of ruptured bridges at larger radiation doses. He has suggested that rupture occurs at weak spots in the chromosomes where breaks have been repaired. At higher doses a bridge would contain more repaired breaks and so have a higher probability of rupture. If this were true, then the probability of rupture should be dependent only on total dose and not on dose rate since breaks are induced linearly with dose. In contrast, our data obtained at two dose rates show that the probability of rupture is not simply a function of the total dose, but is related more directly to the frequency of exchange.
Intrinsic coupling of lagging-strand synthesis to chromatin assembly

Fifty per cent of the genome is discontinuously replicated on the lagging strand as Okazaki fragments. Eukaryotic Okazaki fragments remain poorly characterized and, because nucleosomes are rapidly deposited on nascent DNA, Okazaki fragment processing and nucleosome assembly potentially affect one another. Here we show that ligation-competent Okazaki fragments in Saccharomyces cerevisiae are sized according to the nucleosome repeat. Using deep sequencing, we demonstrate that ligation junctions preferentially occur near nucleosome midpoints rather than in internucleosomal linker regions. Disrupting chromatin assembly or lagging-strand polymerase processivity affects both the size and the distribution of Okazaki fragments, suggesting a role for nascent chromatin, assembled immediately after the passage of the replication fork, in the termination of Okazaki fragment synthesis. Our studies represent the first high-resolution analysis--to our knowledge--of eukaryotic Okazaki fragments in vivo, and reveal the interconnection between lagging-strand synthesis and chromatin assembly.
The changes of lumbar muscle flexion-relaxation response due to laterally slanted ground surfaces.

Lifting tasks performed on uneven ground surfaces are common in outdoor industries. Previous studies have demonstrated that lifting tasks performed on laterally slanted ground surfaces influence lumbar muscle activation and trunk kinematics. In this study, the effect of laterally slanted ground surfaces on the lumbar muscle flexion–relaxation responses was investigated. Fourteen participants performed sagittal plane, trunk flexion–extension tasks on three laterally slanted ground surfaces (0° (flat ground), 15° and 30°), while lumbar muscle activities and trunk kinematics were recorded. Results showed that flexion–relaxation occurred up to 6.2° earlier among ipsilateral lumbar muscles with an increase in laterally slanted ground angle; however, the contralateral side was not affected as much. Our findings suggest that uneven ground alters the lumbar tissue load-sharing mechanism and creates unbalanced lumbar muscle activity, which may increase the risk of low back pain with repeated exposure to lifting on...
Social identities and response to treatment for alcohol and cocaine abuse

This study examined the relationship between social identities and response to treatment for alcohol and/or cocaine abuse. Individuals who reported more valued (i.e., positive and important) social identities were expected to have better treatment outcomes. Forty-five participants were interviewed at treatment entry and at 3 and 6 months after starting treatment. The number of valued identities increased between treatment entry and 3 months. Participants with a greater number of valued identities at treatment entry were more likely to be abstinent at 3 months. Participants who reported more interference between substance use and valued identities were also more likely to be abstinent at 3 months, suggesting a possible motivational mechanism for the link between identities and response to treatment. Neither number of valued identities nor conflict between substance use and identities predicted abstinence between 3 and 6 months. Interaction effects, specific identities, and protective and motivational functions of social identities are discussed.
Kinetics of the Diffusion Saturation of VT1-0 Titanium Alloy with Nitrogen and Oxygen at a Temperature of 950°С

We analytically describe the roles of nitrogen and oxygen as α-stabilizers in the formation of a three-layer diffusion zone (on the base of α-, (α + β)-, and β-phases) in VT1-0 titanium alloy. The constants of growth of these layers (at T = 950°С) are calculated, which enables us to predict the kinetics of changes in their thickness and the distribution of an interstitial elements (nitrogen or oxygen) in the diffusion zone. The evolution of microstructure of the surface layer of titanium after nitriding is experimentally recorded (after holding for 1 and 5 h).
A Method to Estimate the Junction Temperature of Photodetectors Operating at High Photocurrent

A method to estimate the junction temperature while operating at high photocurrent levels is presented. The relative responsivity change is measured at high operating current. Using a model for the temperature-dependence of the bandgap, a relation between the relative change in the output power and the internal junction temperature is derived. Good agreement between experimental data and simulations is achieved.
Tibial plateau fractures treated with the less invasive stabilisation system.

Thirty-six tibial plateau fractures in 35 patients were treated with the less invasive stabilisation system (LISS). Patients’ mean age was 42 years. There were 27 type C fractures and nine type B fractures according to AO/OTA classification. The average time to healing was 4.2 months (3–7 months). Deep infection developed in two cases. One patient healed in 6° of varus, and seven patients had an increased articular angulation of 6° (4–8°) in the sagittal plane. There were no cases of loss of reduction, non-union, or deep vein thrombosis. The LISS system could be considered for the management of tibial plateau fractures.
High-fluence nitrogen implantation into metals

Abstract Nitride ceramics are formed on metal surfaces by high-fluence nitrogen implantation and the mechanical and chemical properties of the surfaces are modified. However, the thickness of the nitride layer is limited by the sputtering effect and the migration of implanted nitrogen towards the surface. In this work, we studied these effects for nitrogen implantation into several kinds of metals (Al, Si, Ti, V, Fe, Co, Ni, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ta and W) by Monte Carlo simulations using the dynamic sasamal code in comparison with the experimental results obtained by NRA. The dynamic sasamal code takes into account target alterations which occur under high-fluence implantations, so that dynamic changes in composition, deposited energy, retained probability of the implanted ion, sputtering effects, etc. with fluence can be calculated. For nitrogen implantations into metals, the saturated nitrogen concentration is assumed to equal that of the saturated nitride phase and nitrogen atoms above stoichiometry are assumed to diffuse towards the surface. The depth profiles of nitrogen concentration and the retention of nitrogen obtained by the code agree very well with the experimental results for 50 keV nitrogen implantations into metals with fluences of 10 17 –10 18 ions cm −2 . The calculated sputtering yields were compared with the semi-empirical values.
Teasing apart low mindfulness: Differentiating deficits in mindfulness and in psychological flexibility in predicting symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder and depression

Abstract Background This research investigated the differential ability of three components of low mindfulness to uniquely predict symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and depression, while controlling for psychological inflexibility, a construct conceptually related to low mindfulness. Also examined was the meditational role of several mindfulness facets in the relationship between psychological inflexibility and symptoms of each disorder. Methods Using a clinical sample ( n =153) containing mostly patients with GAD or depression diagnoses, we conducted hierarchical multiple regression analyses and mediation analyses to determine unique relationships. Results Whereas deficits in adopting a non-reactive perspective exhibited incremental validity beyond psychological inflexibility in predicting symptoms of GAD, deficits in acting with awareness did so in predicting symptoms of depression. Results of mediation analyses corroborated this pattern, as the relationships psychological inflexibility exhibited with symptoms of GAD and of depression were mediated by non-reactivity and acting with awareness, respectively. Limitations The cross-sectional design of this study precludes causal interpretations of the mediation models. Conclusion Findings corroborate the following conclusions: (i) the lack of present oriented awareness experienced by individuals with symptoms of depression is not completely accounted for by psychological inflexibility nor by symptoms of GAD; (ii) the reactive approach to automatic thoughts adopted by those with symptoms of GAD is not completely accounted for by psychological inflexibility nor by symptoms of depression. These conclusions suggest that it would be profitable for mindfulness-based therapies to concentrate on these specific mindfulness deficits to ameliorate the severity of GAD and depression.