cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Histamine-Evoked Signaling in Human Primary Keratinocytes

Itch, the unpleasant sensation that evokes a desire to scratch, is mediated by a subset of primary afferent C-fibers. Several lines of evidence suggest that keratinocytes also play an active role in itch signaling. First, keratinocytes release nerve growth factor (NGF), a molecule implicated in chronic itch. Second, keratinocytes secrete a number of pruritogens, including histamine, endothelin-1 (ET-1) and leukotriene B4. Third, keratinocytes are directly activated by a number of pruritogens. To elucidate the role of keratinocytes in the transduction of itch, we are probing the mechanisms underlying itch-evoked calcium signaling in primary human keratinocytes. Using ratiometric Ca2+ imaging, we found that keratinocytes respond robustly to three pruritogens: histamine (10 μM), ET-1 (100 nM) and the peptide activator of PAR2, SLIGRL (10 μM). These pruritogens trigger both Ca2+ release from stores and Ca2+ influx across the plasma membrane. Histamine signaling requires the histamine receptor 1 (H1R), as the H1R-specific antagonist, diphenhydramine (10 μM), completely blocks all calcium signals. Pruritogen-evoked calcium signals also require functional store-operated channels (SOCs), as 2-Aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB; 50 μM), Gd3+ (10 μM) and La3+ (50 nM) inhibit pruritogen-evoked calcium influx. Consistent with our pharmacological findings, real time qPCR and microarray gene expression analysis demonstrate that Orai1 is highly expressed in both human and mouse primary keratinocytes. Thus, Orai1 may be a channel onto which multiple itch pathways converge to trigger pruritus.
Governmental Risk Management in Public Policy and Legislation: Problems and Options

Governments, like business organizations, are exposed to risks of many kinds and have a wide range of options how to respond–from bearing the full risk themselves to obtaining full insurance coverage. The author discusses some of the traditional approaches to governmental risk management in the light of new and increasing risks–such as the liability risk–and the growing sophistication of risk management methods. He notes in particular how a government's risk management decisions differ from those of a business organization because of the unique characteristics of government entities: perpetual existence; taxing power; the need to prevent nepotism, bribery, and corruption in government administration; and political mandates and pressures of all kinds. These forces account for restrictive procurement rules and for various forms of “self-insurance” arrangements. The author finds, among other things, that in most states the rules have not kept pace with the multiplication of risks and the development of new risk management and insurance techniques, and that small and medium municipalities, especially, suffer from inadequate access to sound risk management services. On the basis of an examination of European municipal risk management practices, the author then suggests as an appropriate solution the formation of special mutual insurance organizations for municipal governments, controlled and administered by local government officials.
Medicine, socialism, and totalitarianism: lessons from Chile.

Abstract Under Salvador Allende (himself a physician), Chile's socialist government achieved health reforms that emphasized nutrition, maternal and infant care, environmental health, increased services for the poor, and improved distribution of care. The government also encouraged worker and consumer control over health policy in neighborhood health centers and hospitals. The Chilean medical profession opposed democratization in the health system, participated in periodic strikes and work stoppages, and criticized the government for shortages of medical supplies and consumer goods that resulted from an international boycott of new loans and credits to Chile. The present totalitarian regime has dismantled the health system; political repression has severely affected physicians and other health workers. Three implications for health care and social change in the Third World emerge from the Chilean experience: that health care is inextricably linked to a nation's political and economic systems; that conflict...
Archiving with Athamas: A Framework for Optimized Handling of Domain Knowledge

Continuous changes in requirements of a multi-tiered project can significantly deteriorate the maintenance process. This is mainly due to incompatibility between application design and newly introduced requirements. This paper presents a potential application framework, Athamas, which provides a scalable way to agilely adapt to changing data requirements. A currently functional initiative of Athamas is to allow domain knowledge generation from application components without users or business processes dictating data handling and integration requirements. This development allows the framework to be used 1) today as a use case alternative to relational databases for archiving domain knowledge into storage containers and 2) in the future for optimally extracting the knowledge from the storage containers. Evaluations of Athamas-based applications are made against applications using MySQL’s MyISAM and ARCHIVE database storage engines for data archival purposes. Athamas using a zlib compression layer significantly reduces the storage size utilization to 3% of MyISAM and 24% of ARCHIVE, along with publishing time improvements by a factor of 4.9 and 2.6 respectively. Using Athamas with bzip2 compression, storage usage is down to 8% of ARCHIVE usage but at a cost of slower performance up to 4.5 times. The paper also discusses future enhancements to Athamas allowing users to efficiently query domain knowledge.
The nature and mechanism of superoxide production by the electron transport chain: Its relevance to aging

Most biogerontologists agree that oxygen (and nitrogen) free radicals play a major role in the process of aging. The evidence strongly suggests that the electron transport chain, located in the inner mitochondrial membrane, is the major source of reactive oxygen species in animal cells. It has been reported that there exists an inverse correlation between the rate of superoxide/hydrogen peroxide production by mitochondria and the maximum longevity of mammalian species. However, no correlation or most frequently an inverse correlation exists between the amount of antioxidant enzymes and maximum longevity. Although overexpression of the antioxidant enzymes SOD1 and CAT (as well as SOD1 alone) have been successful at extending maximum lifespan in Drosophila, this has not been the case in mice. Several labs have overexpressed SOD1 and failed to see a positive effect on longevity. An explanation for this failure is that there is some level of superoxide damage that is not preventable by SOD, such as that initiated by the hydroperoxyl radical inside the lipid bilayer, and that accumulation of this damage is responsible for aging. I therefore suggest an alternative approach to testing the free radical theory of aging in mammals. Instead of trying to increase the amount of antioxidant enzymes, I suggest using molecular biology/transgenics to decrease the rate of superoxide production, which in the context of the free radical theory of aging would be expected to increase longevity. This paper aims to summarize what is known about the nature and mechanisms of superoxide production and what genes are involved in controlling the rate of superoxide production.
Financial Deregulation and Stability of Money Demand: The Australian Case

This paper analyses the Australian economy in the post-war period. The analysis examines stationarity and cointegrating relationship among output, interest rate and money. The analysis shows that Australia has had a stable cointegrating relationship among output, interest rate and money during the post-war period although the country deregulated its financial sector in the 1980's. Australia's money demand function fails to reject the hypothesis that the interest elasticity of money demand is 0.5. In addition, one specification of the country's money demand function fails to reject the hypothesis that the income elasticity of money demand is unity. The specification is the Vector Error Correction Model that includes real output, real balances, an interest rate, and a deregulation dummy variable, with the lag length of three.
Microphysical Characteristics of Three Anvils Sampled during the Central Equatorial Pacific Experiment

Abstract In situ microphysical measurements of three anvils were made 17 March, 1 April, and 4 April 1993 during the Central Equatorial Pacific Experiment for several constant altitude penetrations, in the same direction or opposite the ambient wind, from 7 to 14 km. Ice water contents (IWCs), derived from an optical array probe, increased downward in the anvil; concentrations also increased, but not as quickly. Median mass dimensions, defined as the ice crystal maximum dimension below which half of the mass is contained, increased from averages of less than 0.1 mm near the tops to averages of about 0.5 mm near the bases. Substantial variations in cloud parameters occurred in the horizontal direction as well, with larger IWCs and concentrations closer to the convective core and its remnants. Small crystals were measured and categorized according to their shapes with the Video Ice Particle Sampler, which detects particles with dimensions greater than 5 µm. For small IWCs, especially prevalent at cloud tops...
Clinical signs and symptoms in a large hereditary spastic paraparesis pedigree with a novel spastin mutation.

The most common form of autosomal dominant hereditary spastic paraparesis (HSP), SPG4, is caused by mu- tations in the spastin gene on chromosome 2p. This disease is characterized by intra- and interfamilial phenotypic variation. To determine the predictive values of clinical signs and symp- toms in SPG4, we examined 43 members of a large pedigree with autosomal dominant HSP. We then identified the genetic etiology of the disorder in this family, a novel nonsense muta- tion in exon 1 of spastin, carried by 24 of the examined family members. The best clinical predictors of positive gene status were the presence of hyperreflexia in the lower extremities, 2 beats of ankle clonus, pes cavus, bladder symptoms and in- creased tone in the legs. The mean age of onset was 32.2 7.4 years, but the age of onset was earlier in children from 10 of 12 child-parent gene-positive pairs, with a mean difference of 10.8 3.3 years. The finding of leg weakness was especially common in older-onset affected family member with leg hy- perreflexia. These results suggest that specific clinical signs and symptoms may be of value in differentiating individuals af- fected with SPG4 from family members with nonspecific neu- rological findings. © 2004 Movement Disorder Society
Dissociation energies of ground-state HgX molecules (X = I, Br, Cl) from analysis of vibrational level spacings

Abstract Wieland's spectroscopic data on the mercury monohalides have been reexamined and analyzed via the LeRoy-Bernstein modified Birge-Sponer extrapolation procedure to yield improved values for their ground (X2Σ+) state dissociation energies. The result obtained for HgI is D0 = 3120 ± 50 cm−1. For HgBr and HgCl the extrapolations are less secure, but the best estimated D0 values are 6000 and 8600 cm−1, respectively. Each of these dissociation energies is significantly higher than the current literature value. Further experimental investigations are recommended to confirm the present results.
Development of the functional visual field.

Abstract Andries Sanders' dissertation examined selective mechanisms in the functional visual field, and much of his work since has been concerned with the stages that underlie visual information processing particularly while making saccades. We argue that the study of orienting in the functional visual field is timely because it deals with the relation of covert attention shifts, eye movements and head movements to their underlying neurology. In our paper we develop a method to study learning of sequences at all ages from infants to adults. Our studies focus on how learning influences anticipatory eye movements. We examined the learning of unambiguous and context dependent sequences by 4-, 10-, and 18-month-old infants and undergraduates. We found clear learning of unambiguous sequences at 4 months, but learning of context dependent associations was found only in 18-month-olds and in adults. We hypothesize that the learning of unambiguous sequences by 4-month-olds reflects maturation of a basal ganglia–parietal circuit related to adult implicit learning, while the learning of context dependent sequences requires development of frontal structures underlying more general attentional abilities.
Fertility considerations in the management of gynecologic malignancies

Abstract Goals Gynecologic cancers represent a significant proportion of malignancies affecting women. Historically, cancer treatment focused primarily on eradicating disease, irrespective of the impact on fertility. The implementation of early detection protocols and advanced treatment regimens has resulted in improved prognosis for gynecologic cancer patients. With this improvement, more attention is now paid to quality-of-life issues. Fertility preservation (FP) has become an integral component in the selection and execution of gynecological cancer management. In this report we address gynecologic malignancies as they relate to future fertility potential. Methods We review reproductive principles such as ovarian reserve, uterine function, cervical competence, and early obstetrical management, as well as available FP methods. In addition, we discuss the potential damage that cancer and cancer treatments can impart on the female reproductive system. We offer general recommendations regarding baseline screening tests useful in assessing the feasibility of FP. Lastly, cancer-specific FP methods are presented. Results Oocyte quantity and quality naturally decline with advancing age. In most patients, the slope of decline steepens significantly after the age of 35. Reliable ovarian reserve measures exist and should be utilized to assess and triage potential candidates for FP. Advancements in FP, particularly in oocyte cryopreservation (OC), have improved the success rates associated with the techniques available to cancer patients. Currently, where successfully available, OC appears to be the preferred method for single women diagnosed with a gynecologic malignancy as it affords reproductive autonomy, whereas embryo cryopreservation using a donor gamete remains an alternative. Conclusions In gynecologic oncology, effective treatments to achieve cancer survival can compromise the ability to subsequently conceive and/or carry a child. Therefore, as the field of oncofertility continues to expand, a discussion regarding FP should be initiated when tailoring a cancer treatment protocol.
Quadratic forms corresponding to the generalized Schrodinger semigroups

Suppose that Xt is the standard Brownian motion in Rd, d ≥ 3, that ρ ∈ H1(Rd) is a bounded continuous function such that |∇ρ|2 belongs to the Kato class and μ is a measure belonging to the Kato class. Let A[ρ]t be defined as A[ρ]t = ρ(Xt) − ρ(X0) − ∫t0 ∇ρ(Xs) · dXs, and let Aμt be the continuous additive functional with μ as its Revuz measure. Define At as the sum of the two additive functionals above. Then the semigroup defined as Ttf(x) = Ex{eAtf(Xt)} is called a generalized Schrodinger semigroup. In this paper we identify the quadratic form corresponding to (Tt) as (E, H1(Rd)) with E(u, v) = 12 ∫ ∇u(x) · ∇v(x) dx + ∫Rd ∇(uv)(x) · ∇ρ(x) dx − ∫Rdu(x) v(x) μ(dx).
The seasonally-varying influence of ENSO on rainfall and tropical cyclone activity in the Philippines

An observational study covering the period 1950–2002 examines a seasonal reversal in the ENSO rainfall signal in the north-central Philippines. In boreal Summer of El Nino (La Nina) events, above (below) average rainfall typically occurs in this area. Rainfall anomalies of opposite sign develop across the country in the subsequent fall. This study investigates the seasonal evolution of the anomalous atmospheric circulation over the western North Pacific (WNP) during both El Nino and La Nina and places these features in the context of the large-scale evolution of ENSO events, including an analysis of changes in tropical cyclone activity affecting the Philippines. The results show that during boreal summer of El Nino (La Nina) events, a relatively narrow, zonally elongated band of enhanced (reduced) low-level westerlies develops across the WNP which serves to increase (decrease) the summer monsoon flow and moisture flux over the north-central Philippines and is associated with an increase (decrease) in the strength of the WNP monsoon trough via the anomalous relative vorticity. Tropical cyclone activity is shown to be enhanced (reduced) in the study region during boreal summer of El Nino (La Nina) events, which is related to the increase (decrease) of mid-level atmospheric moisture, as diagnosed using a genesis potential index. The subsequent evolution shows development of an anomalous anticyclone (cyclone) over the WNP in El Nino (La Nina) and the well-known tendency for below (above) average rainfall in the fall. Prolonged ENSO events also exhibit seasonal rainfall sign reversals in the Philippines with a similar evolution in atmospheric circulation.
The effects of continuous application of the TASER X26 waveform on sus scrofa

This study investigated and evaluated the safety margins of the continuous long duration (up to 30 min) effect of the TASER X26 waveform, using a Sus scrofa model. Long duration continuous stimulus has not been evaluated on humans or human surrogates prior to this study. Swine were used as models due to similarities with humans in their skin and cardiovascular systems. Very long duration was used to determine both exposure dose and possible adverse physiological effects of dose. The trial began with an application of 10 min, and subsequent animals received increasing exposure time up to a survived maximum duration of 30 min. At the onset of this work, it was hypothesized that there would be a time limit after which most animals would not survive consistent with increased dose response. However, this hypothesis was not supported by the experimental results. All animals (10 of 10) survived up to 3 min. Seven of the 10 animals survived up to a 10-min exposure and 3 of 5 animals with a 30-min target exposure survived the full exposure. Surviving animals were recovered and observed for 24 h, with no postrecovery deaths. This suggests that swine (based on physiology) will not experience a fatal event when exposed to the TASER X26 for a continuous 3 min. Conclusions regarding longer duration (10-30 min) are not as certain due to the small sample sizes at these time intervals.
Looking Outward or Turning Inward? Motivations for Development Decisions in California Central Cities and Suburbs

The author probes for differences among central cities, suburbs, and rural communities in the perceived importance of various motivations for development decisions, drawing on a mail survey of city managers/administrators in California. Central-city respondents are more inclined to “look outward” in making land-use decisions, attributing greater importance to certain regional economic and development challenges, whereas suburbs are somewhat more inclined to “turn inward” and focus on localistic concerns. Multivariate analysis is employed to examine whether the distinctive land-use motivations of central cities and suburbs reflect differences in composition (internal characteristics such as demographics and fiscal health) or differences in position (central cities’ status as the economic and political hubs of metropolitan areas and suburbs’ more specialized roles).
Robust Monolithic Multiscale Nanoporous Polyimides and Conversion to Isomorphic Carbons

This paper describes a generalizable approach to the synthesis of monolithic multiscale micro/meso/macro-porous polymers with potential use in catalysis, gas separations and gas storage. The model system is based on hyperbranched polyimides synthesized via an unconventional route from dianhydrides and triisocyanates. Simulations reproducing experimental observables (e.g., XRD, skeletal densities) indicate that relatively small hyperbranched oligomers pack into inherently microporous primary nanoparticles. The latter phase-separate, react through their dangling surface functionality and form robust, monolithic, meso/macro-porous networks. Macroporosity is controlled mainly by the concentration of the reactants; mesoporosity by the chemical identity of the monomers that directs the way particles fill space, e.g., as strings of beads versus globular clusters. Microporosity, being an inherent property of the molecular network, survives pyrolysis and is transferred along with meso and macroporosity to multiscale nanoporous carbons. The materials described herewith are classified as polyimide and carbon aerogels.
Nuclear Dimorphism: Two Peas in a Pod

The macro- and micronuclei of Tetrahymena reside in the same cytoplasm but are about as different as night and day. This extreme case of nuclear dimorphism can now be partially attributed to differences in the subunit compositions of their nuclear pore complexes.
Probabilistic fatigue life analysis of highway steel bridges

Abstract The purpose of this paper was to calculate the fatigue lives of highway steel bridges using a reliability-based methodology. An HS20-44 truck model with 12 degrees of freedom was developed and used in the analysis. Both noncomposite and composite steel beam, 60 ft (18.3 m) long, highway bridges were adopted in this study. Two percent of critical damping was assumed for the bridges. The road surface roughness of the approach roadways and bridge decks was generated from a power spectral density (PSD) function for very good, good, average, and poor roads in accordance with International Organization for Standardization (ISO) specifications. The fatigue life of both noncomposite and composite steel beam bridges for different vehicle speeds and classes of road surface roughness is calculated from the generated stress time-histories.
Alternatives to Surgery for Early Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer-Ready for Prime Time?

Surgery is the standard of care for early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with lobectomy being the most oncologically sound resection. Medically inoperable patients and high-risk surgical candidates require effective alternatives to surgery; even operable patients may opt for less invasive options if they are proven to achieve similar outcomes to surgery. Minimally invasive local treatment modalities including dose-intensified conformal radiation therapy, most notably stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR; also known as stereotactic body radiation therapy), and thermal ablation methods such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA) are emerging as promising treatment options whose roles in the treatment of early stage lung cancer are being defined. Early clinical experience and a rapidly growing body of prospective clinical trials, primarily in medically inoperable patients, are demonstrating encouraging effectiveness and safety outcomes in some cases approaching historical results with surgery. Given the very poor prognosis of the medically inoperable patient population, these alternatives to surgery, particularly SABR, are starting to be considered appropriate first-line therapy in properly selected patients, and prospective cooperative group trials to evaluate and optimize RFA and SABR in specific patient subsets are being conducted. For operable patients, prospective multi-center and cooperative groups trials of SABR are ongoing or completed, and international randomized trials of SABR vs. surgery have been initiated. Thus, promising alternatives to surgery for early stage NSCLC are ready for prime time evaluation in the setting of clinical trials, and participation in ongoing trials for both operable and medically inoperable patients is strongly encouraged.
Analyzing the Hysteresis of the Lumbar Spine

Significant advances have been made in the field of spine biomechanics with the introduction of continuous testing machines and new testing protocols. [1] Despite all the technological achievements, range of motion (RoM) continues to be the only widely agreed upon, standardized metric for data analysis. In load-controlled flexibility testing, displacement is typically recorded over three loading cycles between established limits in specific modes of loading. The first two cycles are intended for preconditioning, and the data from the third cycle is used for analysis. [2] Plotting displacement versus load defines the hysteresis inherent to the motion segment.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
SPT AND CPT TESTING FOR EVALUATING LATERAL LOADING OF DEEP FOUNDATIONS

Current design software (FloridaPier, Com624P) requires p-y curves to estimate the foundation lateral load resistance. Input parameters used to develop these curves can be obtained from in situ [standard penetration test (SPT) and cone penetration test (CPT)] correlations. This paper presents an evaluation of predictions using input soil parameters from SPT and CPT correlations versus field measured values. A lateral load test database consisting of 24 SPT and 6 CPT data sets was developed. The comparisons showed that four different SPT correlations for ϕ coupled with three different k-values all produce similar R-values. (R-value = measured/predicted × 100%). Therefore, little difference exists between the SPT correlation combinations, albeit the estimated k value has a greater effect on predicted deformation. Similar combinations of CPT correlations also show little effect among the commonly used correlations. SPT predictions are quite conservative at low load levels (R-values ≈ 53%) and remain conserva...
Computational Investigation of Graphene Nano Pore DNA Detection

Recently, voltage-induced transport of dsDNA molecules through nano pores in graphene membranes has been demonstrated experimentally. Graphene, due to its sub-nanometer thickness, shows great potential to realize DNA sequencing at single-base resolution. The kinetics of electrophoretically driven DNA translocation through graphene nanopores was studied using molecular dynamics simulations (Sathe et al., ACS Nano, in press). The simulations provide guidance in the design of graphene-based DNA sequencing devices and single molecule sensors. We report the effects of applied voltage, DNA conformation, pore charge as well as sequence on the translocation characteristics of DNA revealed in the simulations. Simulations yield also, consistent with recent measurements, the characteristics of ion currents passing pores alongside with DNA. The simulations demonstrate, furthermore, that under suitable voltage bias conditions A-T and G-C base pairs can be discriminated using graphene nanopores.
The effects of magnitude and direction of stimulus change on auditory event-related potentials elicited by deviant signal stimuli.

Abstract The present study sought to identify components of the auditory event-related potential (ERP) elicited by stimuli that serve as signals for overt discriminative responses. Sokolov's view of a selective neural filter for deviant stimuli predicts that responses to deviant signal stimuli will be graded in proportion to the amount of change from the standard and independent of the direction of that change. The demonstration of a bi-directional and graded ERP response requires at least two levels of stimulus change in each direction. The present study incorporated two deviants that were lower in pitch (lowest, low) and two that were higher in pitch (high, highest) in order to evaluate the degree (linear, quadratic, etc.) of the function relating ERP response to tonal deviance. Stimulus changes on both the direction and magnitude dimensions were also varied on a trial-by-trial, rather than on a block-by-block, basis which eliminated potential confounds with block or session differences, and discriminative responses were required to both standard and deviant tones, thereby investing both categories of stimuli with signal value. The amplitude of the P3 component associated with deviant stimuli showed close correspondence to the (quadratic) function predicted from the selective filter model. A late negative slow wave (NSW) at Fz and a positive slow wave (PSW) at Pz differentiated deviant tones from the standard but did not distinguish between the deviants themselves. A fronto-central NSW observed at Fz and Cz for initial standard tones was greater than the predominantly frontal NSW elicited by the deviant tones. The topographical differences in NSW elicited by the initial standard tone and by all deviant tones suggest that different processes are reflected in the NSW response to these stimuli.
Two-photon line shapes with near-resonant enhancement☆

Abstract We have studied a number of Doppler-free two-photon lines in Na2 that are strongly enhanced by very nearly resonant intermediate states. Both experimentally and theoretically, it is found that the ratio of the height of the Doppler-free line to the Doppler-broadened background is a maximum when the offset of the enhancing level is about equal to the Doppler half-width.
The development of the transferrin-transferrin receptor system in relation to astrocytes, MBP and galactocerebroside in normal and myelin-deficient rat optic nerves.

Abstract The factor(s) which control the onset of myelination are unknown. It is now accepted that transferrin (Tf), the major iron transport protein in vertebrates, is found in oligodendrocytes in the adult brain. Because of the importance of iron in basic cell metabolism we have hypothesized that iron (mobilized by Tf) may be a permissive agent in the process of myelination. The present study was designed to determine with immunohistochemistry the relationship of Tf receptor expression, Tf accumulation, and the expression of myelin components myelin basic protein (MBP) and galactocerebroside (GalC) in the developing rat optic nerve. In addition to Tf and its receptor, the developmental pattern for GalC reported in this study has not been examined in the rat optic nerve. Furthermore, a myelin mutant strain of rats was used to determine if a lack of myelin production affects the Tf-Tf receptor system. Our study found that Tf receptor was expressed from birth on blood vessels and was first seen in the parenchyma of the nerve at 8 days of age. The expression of the Tf receptor preceded that of Tf, MBP or GalC. The accumulation of Tf by oligodendrocytes occurred about the same time as the intracellular appearance of MBP and GalC which was shortly after the onset of myelination. Tf-positive cells as well as MBP- and GalC-positive cells increased in number and staining intensity with age whereas the expression of the Tf receptor declined after reaching a peak at 15 days of age. In the optic nerves of myelin-deficient rats, the Tf receptor expression and Tf accumulation was confined to the vasculature. The results of this study suggest that the expression of the Tf receptor is an early event in oligodendrocytic maturation and is followed by the intracellular accumulation of myelin components and Tf. The temporal association of Tf and myelin production suggests that further study is warranted regarding the possibility that the Tf—iron system supports or perhaps even permits the initiation of the process of myelination.
Design of a Three Channel Septum Magnet

A three channel septum magnet has been designed to service the three primary beam lines at the exit of the SuperHILAC. A pulsed switching magnet located in the next to last drift tube in the SuperHILAC poststripper diverts the beam ± 1.09° into either the north or south port of the septum magnet. The central channel allows an undiverted beam to pass into another distribution magnet downstream. All channels may be active simultaneously and each may be tuned independently. Each septum channel contains four separate field regions and bends the beam 14.91°. Various important aspects of the design, including geometry, material selection, thermal characteristics and power requirements, are discussed.
Surgical revascularization of left main coronary artery stenosis: determinants of perioperative and long-term outcome in the 1980s.

The postoperative courses of 176 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery for significant left main coronary artery stenosis were analyzed to determine which preoperative clinical and angiographic factors correlated best with outcome. Clinical variables included age, sex, New York Heart Association (NYHA) anginal class, presence of unstable angina, and surgical class. The angiographic variables included percentage of left main stenosis, presence of right coronary artery stenosis, coronary dominance, number of vessels diseased, myocardial jeopardy score, and ejection fraction. The overall perioperative mortality rate was 9.1%. There was a significant increase in perioperative mortality among female patients (p < 0.05) and patients undergoing emergency surgery (p < 0.05). Patients with left main stenosis of 80% or more or with balanced or left dominant circulation showed trends toward increased perioperative mortality. Life-table analysis showed that emergency surgery and left main stenosis of 80% or more correlated with increased long-term mortality (p < 0.05). No other variable tested showed a significant correlation with either perioperative or long-term mortality. A comparison of these results with studies performed in the 1970s shows that there has been considerable change in those factors which place a patient at increased risk for mortality during surgical treatment of left main coronary artery stenosis.
Methacholine-induced pulmonary gas trapping in a mouse model of allergic asthma: effect of inhaled budesonide and ciglitazone.

Abstract Previously, we found pulmonary gas trapping to be a rapid, simple and objective measure of methacholine-induced airway obstruction in naive mice. In this study we extended that finding by using methacholine-induced pulmonary gas trapping to differentiate airway responses of ovalbumin-sensitized, ovalbumin-exposed (Positive Control) and ovalbumin-sensitized, sodium chloride-exposed (Negative Control) mice. Additionally, pulmonary gas trapping and enhanced pause were compared following methacholine exposure in sensitized and nonsensitized mice. Finally, we examined by nose-only inhalation the ability of the glucocorticosteroid budesonide and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ agonist ciglitazone to modify methacholine-induced airway responses in ovalbumin-sensitized mice. Positive Controls exhibited a 7.8-fold increase in sensitivity and a 2.4-fold enhancement in the maximal airway obstruction to methacholine versus Negative Controls. Following methacholine, individual Positive and Negative Control mouse enhanced pause values overlapped in 9 of 9 studies, whereas individual Positive and Negative Control mouse excised lung gas volume values overlapped in only 1 of 9 studies, and log[excised lung gas volume] correlated ( P = 0.023) with in vivo log[enhanced pause] in nonsensitized mice. Finally, budesonide (100.0 or 1000.0 μg/kg) reduced methacholine-mediated airway responses and eosinophils and neutrophils, whereas ciglitazone (1000.0 μg/kg) had no effect on methacholine-induced pulmonary gas trapping, but reduced eosinophils. In conclusion, pulmonary gas trapping is a more reproducible measure of methacholine-mediated airway responses in ovalbumin-sensitized mice than enhanced pause. Also, excised lung gas volume changes can be used to monitor drug interventions like budesonide. Finally, this study highlights the importance of running a positive comparator when examining novel treatments like ciglitazone.
Enumeration of antigen-specific IgE responses at the single-cell level by an ELISA plaque assay.

Abstract In vitro elicitation and enumeration of antigen-specific IgE-secreting cells in antigen-primed murine lymophocyte cultures can be reproducibly and accurately quantitated. Rat anti-mouse IgE monoclonal antibodies (Mab anti-ϵ) were developed. Antigen-specific IgE-secreting cells can be detected on antigen or MAb anti-ϵ coated nitrocellulose discs pasted to 24-well cultures plates. This IgE ELISA-plaque assay (EPϵ) is more reliable than antigen capture or total IgE ELISAs in monitoring de novo induction of antigen-specific IgE memory responses in cultures of antigen-primed lymphocytes elicited with antigens.
IT Professionals and Their Psychological Contract in the IT Profession

The last decade has been unstable for the Information Technology (IT) professional. In the early millennium, an increased demand for ecommerce systems appeared in part because of increased use of information and communication technologies (ICT). However, the dotcom bust, the 2001 and 2007 recessions have created an increase concern on IT spending. Organizations have reduced not only IT purchases but also IT staff. These cutbacks threaten the relationship between the organization and their IT professionals. Moreover, given enough negative events, IT professionals may consider another career outside the IT field. The purpose of this research is to explore the possible influencers to psychological contract violation (PCV) in the IT profession by extending psychological contract theory to specifically address psychological contact breach with the IT profession (PCVP) and psychological contract violation with the IT profession (PCVP).
Bovine prostacyclin synthase: purification and isolation of partial cDNA.

Abstract Prostacyclin synthase (PGIS) from bovine aorta was purified using conventional purification procedures including detergent solubilization, Sephacryl S-300 gel filtration and Mono Q high performance liqud chromatography. Polyclonal antiserum raised against the 52-kDa protein bound specifically to PGIS. After immobilization to Protein A-sepharose, the PGIS-antibody complex displayed PGIS activity. Results based on (1) elution profile of the Mono Q column, (2) two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and (3) N-terminal amino acid sequence suggested that PGIS is heterogenous. Amino acid sequences of N-terminus and a tryptic peptide led us to isolate a partial cDNA fragment.
Surface roughness due to residual ice in the use of low power deicing systems

Thicknesses of residual ice are presented to provide information on surface contamination and associated roughness during deicing events. Data was obtained from low power ice protection systems tests conducted in the Icing Research Tunnel at NASA Lewis Research Center (LeRC) with nine different deicing systems. Results show that roughness associated with residual ice is not characterized by uniformly distributed roughness. Results also show that deicing systems require a critical mass of ice to generate a sufficient expelling force to remove the ice.
Catalysis in Polymerization

Abstract Hardly a single polymerization process exists in which certain accelerating, regulating, and modifying ingredients are not used with great advantage even though they might be present only in very small quantities. In the early years of the art, when there did not yet exist a well-founded understanding of the mechanism of polymerization processes, the action of these ingredients and additives so much resembled the phenomenon of normal catalysis that the name catalysts was used for them. Today, in the clarifying hindsight of a rather well-developed theory of polymerization reactions, it is evident that in most cases the role of these substances during the formation of macromolecules does not fall in the domain of the classical definitions of the words catalysis and catalyst.
Larval behavior of predacious sister-species: orientation, molting site, and survival in Chrysopa

Field and laboratory studies compared two features of larval behavior in a pair of predacious sisterspecies of green lacewings: one (Chrysopa slossonae) a specialist on a single species of colonial aphids (the woolly alder aphid) that occur on branches and trunks of alder trees, the other (C. quadripunctata) a general aphid feeder whose primary prey is dispersed on foliage of diverse types of trees. First, a few hours after hatching, larvae of the two species develop significantly different phototactic responses; the differences correspond well with the spatial distributions of their prey. Most C. slossonae exhibited negative phototaxis, a response that helps move hatchlings inward on alder trees toward the woolly alder aphid colonies, whereas most C. quadripunctata hatchlings showed positive orientation to light, a response that tends to keep them in tree canopies with their prey. Second, in greenhouse experiments, a significantly greater proportion of C. slossonae larvae (second instars) molted within woolly alder aphid colonies and remained with the aphids than did C. quadripunctata larvae. These differences indicate that the specialist larvae have evolved a high degree of behavioral fidelity to their prey. However, larvae (second instars) of the two species that were released near ant-tended woolly alder aphid colonies in the field had similar recovery (= survival) rates. Consequently, natural selection may not act on behavioral traits that influence larval fidelity to prey during the late second and early third instars.
Progress on Detection of Liquid Explosives Using Ultra-Low Field MRI

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods are widely used in medicine, chemistry and industry. Over the past several years there has been increasing interest in performing NMR and MRI in the ultra-low field (ULF) regime, with measurement field strengths of 10-100 microTesla and pre-polarization fields of 30-50 mTesla. The real-time signal-to-noise ratio for such measurements is about 100. Our group at LANL has built and demonstrated the performance of SQUID-based ULF NMR/MRI instrumentation for classification of materials and detection of liquid explosives via their relaxation properties measured at ULF, using T1, T2, and T1 frequency dispersion. We are also beginning to investigate the performance of induction coils as sensors. Here we present recent progress on the applications of ULF MR to the detection of liquid explosives, in imaging and relaxometry.
Interaction of HCMV UL84 with C/EBPα transcription factor-binding sites within oriLyt is essential for lytic DNA replication

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) lytic DNA replication is initiated at the cis-acting oriLyt region and requires six core replication proteins along with UL84 and IE2. Although UL84 is thought to be the replication initiator protein, little is known about its interaction with oriLyt. We have now performed chromatin immunoprecipitation assays (ChIP) using antibodies specific to UL84, IE2, UL44, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBPα) and PCR primers that span the entire oriLyt region to reveal an evaluation of specific protein binding across oriLyt. UL84 interacted with several regions of oriLyt that contain C/EBPα transcription factor binding sites. Mutation of either of one of C/EBPα (92,526 or 92,535) sites inactivated oriLyt and resulted in the loss of binding of UL84. These data reveal the regions of interaction within oriLyt for several key replication proteins and show that the interaction between UL84 and C/EBPα sites within oriLyt is essential for lytic DNA replication.
Effect of plant age on potato leafhopper infestation of resistant and susceptible potato clones

The effect of age of resistant potato clones,Solarium tuberosum gp.tuberosum, on infestation by potato leafhopper,Empoasca fabae (Harris), was investigated by varying the date of planting in a naturally infested fieldtest
Isolation and characterization of prolactin-copy DNA.

Abstract The novel properties of rat pituitary tumor cells (GH-cells) in culture have been utilized to isolate prolactin-copy DNA (cDNAPRL). The cDNAPRL has been characterized by i) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis ii) by sedimentation on alkaline sucrose gradients and by iii) the kinetic study of the reassociation of “cDNAPRL” with polysomal RNA and with polysomal poly(A) RNA isolated from cells which contain mRNAPRL in abundance and from cells which do not contain any translatable mRNAPRL sequences. The cDNAPRL fraction reassociated with polysomal RNA and polysomal poly(A) RNA isolated from PRL producing cells (PRL+) with pseudo first order kinetics, whereas no significant reassociation was observed when the cDNAPRL was hybridized with the same two RNA fractions isolated from PRL-nonproducing cells (PRL−). The [3H] cDNAPRL moved as a sharp band of radioactivity when analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and sedimented in alkaline sucrose gradients in the size range of 6.7s. A mRNA fraction which is highly enriched for PRL-specific mRNA (mRNAPRL) has been isolated from PRL+ cells. The cDNAPRL hydridized with mRNAPRL with an eRot 1 2 value of 0.007–0.008. From these results it is calculated that more than 75% of the mRNAPRL enriched fraction contains mRNAPRL sequences.
Useful Bessel function identities and integrals

A number of previously unpublished Bessel function identities and indefinite integrals are listed. These are useful in solving electromagnetics problems in cylindrical coordinates, including energy and power calculations, and mode orthogonalization in lossy media. Using these integrals in conjunction with two previously published indefinite Bessel function integrals, two orthogonality integrals are derived. Values of the indefinite integrals at limits of zero and infinity are also given. >
Exercise in pediatric rheumatic diseases.

Purpose of reviewThe present review discusses the current knowledge about exercise capacity and physical activity in children with rheumatic disease and examines the role of exercise in managing these conditions.Recent findingsRecent studies suggest exercise capacity is significantly impaired in a l
K-theory of log-schemes II: Log-syntomic K-theory

Abstract We prove that suitably truncated topological log-syntomic-etale homotopy K -theory of proper semistable schemes in mixed characteristic surjects onto the Kummer log-etale p -adic K -theory of the generic fiber. As a corollary we get that the log-syntomic-etale cohomology is a direct factor of the log-syntomic-etale cohomology of homotopy K -theory sheaves. The proofs use p -adic Hodge theory computations of p -adic nearby cycles.
The effect of three pyrethroids on ATPases of insects and fish

Abstract 1. 1. Mitochondrial Mg 2+ ATPase from nervous tissue of cockroaches and fish tissues was the most sensitive to 3 pyrethroids, with Dimethrin and Resmethrin giving 50 per cent inhibition with 20 μmoles or less. Bioethanomethrin was least effective. 2. 2. Na + K + ATPase was less sensitive than mitochondrial Mg 2+ ATPase. Muscle ATPases were inhibited less than ATPases from nervous tissue. 3. 3. Oligomycin-insensitive Mg 2+ ATPase was not affected by any of the pyrethroids tested. 4. 4. A possible relationship between the knockdown effect and inhibition of ATPase by the pyrethroids is discussed.