cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of stage of the porcine estrous cycle and method of collection on folliculostatin in porcine follicular fluid

Abstract To determine if the concentration of folliculostatin (Fst) in porcine follicular fluid (pFF) is correlated with stage of the estrous cycle, pFF was collected from one ovary of each of four gilts at laparotomy on days 7, 11, 15, and 19 of the cycle and frozen immediately. To determine if collection of pFF under simulated slaughterhouse conditions alters the amount of Fst present, pFF was collected from the other ovary in each gilt after removal and maintenance of the ovary at 37° C for 30 min. The level of Fst in each sample was measured in an in vitro bioassay employing female rat pituitary cells. The concentration and specific activity of Fst were lower (P
3D Timelapse Analysis of Muscle Satellite Cell Motility

Skeletal muscle repair and regeneration requires the activity of satellite cells, a population of myogenic stem cells scattered throughout the tissue and activated to proliferate and differentiate in response to myotrauma or disease. While it seems likely that satellite cells would need to navigate local muscle tissue to reach damaged areas, relatively little data on such motility exist, and most studies have been with immortalized cell lines. We find that primary satellite cells are significantly more motile than myoblast cell lines, and that adhesion to laminin promotes primary cell motility more than fourfold over other substrates. Using timelapse videomicroscopy to assess satellite cell motility on single living myofibers, we have identified a requirement for the laminin-binding integrin α7β1 in satellite cell motility, as well as a role for hepatocyte growth factor in promoting directional persistence. The extensive migratory behavior of satellite cells resident on muscle fibers suggests caution when determining, based on fixed specimens, whether adjacent cells are daughters from the same mother cell. We also observed more persistent long-term contact between individual satellite cells than has been previously supposed, potential cell-cell attractive and repulsive interactions, and migration between host myofibers. Based on such activity, we assayed for expression of “pathfinding” cues, and found that satellite cells express multiple guidance ligands and receptors. Together, these data suggest that satellite cell migration in vivo may be more extensive than currently thought, and could be regulated by combinations of signals, including adhesive haptotaxis, soluble factors, and guidance cues. Stem Cells 2009;27:2527–2538
The effect of DN (dominant-negative) Ku70 and reoxygenation on hypoxia cell-kill: Evidence of hypoxia-induced potentially lethal damage

Purpose: To study the effect of DN (dominant-negative) Ku70 and reoxygenation on the hypoxia-induced cell-kill.Materials and methods: Cell lines were human colorectal carcinoma HCT8 and HT29 cells and their respective derivatives, v-HCT8 and v-HT29 infected with DNKu70-containing adenovirus. Cells were plated in glass tubes and made hypoxic by flushing N2 gas containing 0, 0.1 or 0.5% O2. Cell survival was determined by colony formation assay immediately after 0–96 h hypoxia. To reoxygenate medium were replaced fresh following 48 or 72 h in hypoxia and cells were incubated in aerobic environment for 2–24 h before survival assay.Results: When incubated in hypoxia, cells lost reproductive capability ∼ exponentially as a function of time in hypoxia, and depending on the O2 concentration. DNKu70 rendered cells more prone to hypoxia-induced cell-kill. Following reoxygenation cell survival increased rapidly but without detectable cell proliferation during first 24 hours. This evinced hypoxia-induced potentially...
Antioxidant properties of dihydropyridines in isolated rat hearts.

Abstract Isolated Sprague-Dawley rat hearts were perfused under constant flow conditions. Hearts were treated with vehicle or treatment buffers, including nisoldipine, nifedipine, or the optical isomers (+)- or (−)-nisoldipine. H2O2 (500–600 μM) was then added to the treatment buffer for 12 min. H2O2 was removed and perfusion continued with treatment buffers (10 min) followed by control buffer (20 min). Contractile function decreased following perfusion with H2O2. Contractile function was protected in a concentration-dependent manner (nisoldipine = 19, 26, 50, 63, and 78%; nifedipine = 23, 37, 55, 61, and 63% of pre-peroxide function, 0, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and 5 nM, respectively). There were no significant differences between equal concentrations of nisoldipine and nifedipine. Contractile function was equally protected by both (+)- and (−)-nisoldipine compared with vehicle-treated hearts (56, 67, and 16% of pre-peroxide function, respectively). Biochemical analyses indicated that H2O2 damaged plasma membranes (increased lactate dehydrogenase leak) and caused lipid peroxidation (elevated tissue thiobarbituric acid reactive substances). Biochemical changes were equally reduced by nisoldipine and nifedipine treatments and by (+)- and (−)-nisoldipine. The treatment groups have widely differing ic 50 values as calcium channel antagonists, yet they had equal effects in reducing oxidative injury, suggesting that this beneficial effect is not mediated by calcium antagonism.
Negative difference potential isolates scalp potentials generated by activity in supraspinal nociceptive pathways

A negative difference potential (75-240 ms poststimulus) was computed by subtracting the sural nerve-evoked somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) elicited at the pain threshold level from SEPs elicited at noxious levels. The effects of stimulus intensity and interstimulus interval on the negative difference potential amplitude plus conduction velocity measurements and a dipole source localization analysis all suggest that the negative difference potential reflects the response of neurons in the primary somatosensory cortex to inputs that arise from the nociceptive A delta peripheral afferents. Furthermore, a comparison of these results with our earlier sural nerve-evoked SEP studies suggests that these pain-related inputs to the primary somatosensory cortex are largely inhibitory.
THE LIQUIDITY ROUTE TO A LOWER COST OF CAPITAL

The managements of many public companies do not pay much attention to the liquidity of their securities. Many if not most CEOs and CFOs feel powerless to affect what goes on in financial markets, and a common attitude among top executives is that maintaining liquidity is the concern of the securities exchanges and the Securities and Exchange Commission. This approach may work for those companies whose stocks are already highly liquid—a group made up mainly of large-cap companies, as well as a number of smaller high-flying, high-tech firms. But, for the vast majority of public companies—especially smaller and mid-sized firms—this is likely to be the wrong policy. As the authors of this article demonstrated in their pioneering study (published in the Journal of Financial Economics in 1986), liquidity appears to be a major determinant of a company's cost of capital. As their theory suggests and their empirical tests confirmed, the more liquid a company's securities, the lower its cost of capital and the higher its stock price. And, as discussed in this article, academic research since then has produced a large and impressive body of evidence linking greater liquidity to higher stock prices. Although recent technological innovations such as Internet-based trading have increased liquidity generally, not all companies appear to have benefited equally. The authors offer a number of suggestions for companies intent on increasing the liquidity of their stock. Specifically, they propose that managers do the following: (1) consider measures, such as stock splits, designed to increase their investor base by attracting small investors; (2) seek trading venues for their securities that promise to increase liquidity; and (3) take advantage of the new Internet technology to provide more and better information to investors. Moreover, for smaller companies with little or no analyst coverage, the authors offer the radical suggestion that such companies actually pay analysts to cover their stock, much as companies pay Moody's or Standard & Poors to rate their bonds. This, in the authors' view, would be a more efficient alternative to the current practice of using stock splits to encourage intermediaries to make markets in the firm's shares.
Preservation of functional mammalian polysomes by lyophilization.

LYOPHILIZATION has been used to preserve viable microorganisms for extended periods of time1. Recently, it has been reported that ribosomes functional in in vitro protein synthesis can be isolated from lyophilized fungi2 and that lyophilized Escherichia coliribosomes retain fully their capacity for poly U-directed phenylalanine incorporation after 5 months storage at room temperature over P2O5 (ref. 3). We have now compared the sedimentation profiles and poly U-directed phenylalanine incorporating activity of three types of rabbit reticulocyte ribosome preparations immediately after isolation and after freezing or lyophilization and storage for various times.
Toll-like receptor signaling in HIV-1 infection: a potential target for therapy?

Chronic immune activation is a hallmark of progressive HIV-1 infection. Pattern recognition receptors have recently been proposed to contribute to the persistent immune activation in HIV-1 infectio...
Abstract 1037: Agents that target the PI3K/mTOR pathway decrease oxygen consumption, reduce tumor hypoxia and improve radiation response in solid tumors.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Hypoxia/anoxia is a well-characterized component of the solid tumor microenvironment and has profound consequences for patient outcome. In particular, clinical data indicate that patients with certain types of tumors treated with radiotherapy have a significantly better outcome if the tumors are less hypoxic. Therefore, we are interested in finding agents that can improve tumor oxygenation. In this study, we investigated the effects of two drugs on tumor oxygenation, NVP-BEZ235 (Novartis), a dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor, and nelfinavir, an HIV protease inhibitor that inhibits PI3K signaling. Treatment of mice bearing SQ20B head and neck squamous cell carcinoma xenografts with either drug led to a decrease in tumor hypoxia as measured by binding of the 2-nitroimidazole EF3. In vitro O2 consumption measurements of cells grown in tissue culture using a Clark electrode showed that both drugs led to decreased O2 consumption. This result was confirmed using a XF Extracellular Flux Analyzer (Seahorse Bioscience). Using this technique, we found that incubation with NVP-BEZ235 caused a 30- 50% decrease in the oxygen consumption rate (OCR). O2 consumption was stimulated by addition of the uncoupling agent CCCP in both controls and NVP-BEZ235-treated cells, which indicates that they were not killed by NVP-BEZ235 treatment. Similar results were obtained with nelfinavir. In order to identify whether components of the PI3K/mTOR pathway could contribute to the decrease in O2 consumption, we used siRNA directed against either mTOR or the p110alpha subunit of PI3K. Knockdown of either protein led to a decrease in O2 consumption. Studies are ongoing to determine whether the mitochondria are a direct target of NVP-BEZ235 or nelfinavir and if so, which mitochondrial respiratory complex might be affected. In summary, we show that NVP-BEZ235 and nelfinavir, both of which inhibit PI3K signaling, decrease O2 consumption and ameliorate tumor hypoxia. We have found both of these agents to increase radiation response in vivo in animal models, and nelfinavir is currently being used in combination with radiotherapy in clinical trials. These findings offer insight as to how these agents act as radiation response modifiers. Citation Format: George J. Cerniglia, Natalie Daurio, Shannon M. Gallagher-Colombo, Theresa M. Busch, Stephen W. Tuttle, Cameron J. Koch, Alexander Lin, Constantinos Koumenis, Amit Maity. Agents that target the PI3K/mTOR pathway decrease oxygen consumption, reduce tumor hypoxia and improve radiation response in solid tumors. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1037. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-1037
Rehabilitation of surgically traumatized paranasal sinus mucosa using retinoic acid.

BackgroundParanasal sinus mucosa that regenerates after surgical stripping is characterized by sparse, dysmorphic cilia. Although such dysfunctional mucosal changes are thought to be irreversible, ...
The process trellis architecture for real-time monitors

The process trellis is a parallel software architecture for building heuristic real-time monitors. These programs, for example Intelligent Cardiovascular Monitors, must process massive quantities of data in real time. It is natural to turn to parallelism to meet these computational requirements. The process trellis software architecture is intended to simplify the creation and maintenance of heuristic real-time monitors. To do this it must be 1) modular, 2) efficient and 3) predictable.This paper presents the goals and an overview of the process trellis. We have implemented a process trellis shell, which we describe. It is in use as the frame for an Intelligent Cardiovascular Monitor (ICM) which we are building with colleagues from the Yale School of Medicine. An analytical model is able to produce an upper bound on the time required by arbitrary trellis programs. Finally, we report on the predicted and actual performance of the ICM and synthetic programs consisting of roughly 7000 processes.
Differential rates of reversibility of ecteinascidin 743-DNA covalent adducts from different sequences lead to migration to favored bonding sites.

Ecteinascidin 743 (Et 743), one of a series of structurally related antitumor antibiotics isolated from a marine tunicate, is currently in phase II clinical trials. Et 743 alkylates guanine N2 through the minor groove of DNA. Hydrogen-bonding networks that associate the drug with a three base pair DNA recognition site have been proposed to contribute to both the reactivity and the stability of the Et 743−DNA adduct. Here, we report that the reaction of Et 743 with DNA is reversible under nondenaturing conditions and that the rate of this reverse reaction depends critically upon the DNA-modified sequence. Quite unexpectedly, it was found that although the rates of alkylation are similar for the 5‘-AGT and 5‘-AGC sequences, reversal from the 5‘-AGT sequence occurs faster than from the 5‘-AGC sequence. Consequently, it is the differences in the rate of the reverse reaction that dictate the sequence selectivity of Et 743 toward its favored target sequence. As a direct consequence of the reversible nature of E...
Association mapping in Populus reveals the interaction between Pto-miR530a and its target Pto-KNAT1.

We used transcript profiling and multi-SNP association to investigate the genetic regulatory relationship between miRNA Pto-miR530a and its target Pto-KNAT1, identifying additive, dominant, and epistatic effects. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in the post-transcriptional regulation of plant growth and development; indeed, many studies have described the importance of miRNA–target interactions in herbaceous species. However, elucidation of the miRNA–target interactions in trees may require novel strategies. In the present study, we describe a strategy combining expression profiling by reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and association mapping with multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to evaluate the interaction between Pto-miR530a and its target Pto-KNAT1 in Populus tomentosa. RT-qPCR analysis showed a negative correlation (r = −0.62, P < 0.05) between expression levels of Pto-miR530a and Pto-KNAT1 in eight tissues. We used a Bayesian hierarchical model to identify allelic variants of Pto-miR530a and Pto-KNAT1 that associated with eight traits related to growth and wood properties, in a population of 460 unrelated individuals of P. tomentosa. This analysis identified 27 associations, with the proportions of phenotypic variance (R 2) contributed by each SNP ranging of 0.82–15.81 %, the additive effects of each SNP ranging of 0.16–18.09, and the dominant effects ranging from −14.09 to 19.00. Epistatic interaction models showed a strong interaction among SNPs in the miRNA target with R 2 of 0.1–3.56 %, and information gain of significant SNP pairs of −3.09 to 0.93 %, representing the regulatory interactions between the miRNA and the mRNA. Thus, we used a new strategy that combines association genetics and expression profiling based on SNPs to study the regulatory relationship between this miRNA and its target mRNA, thereby providing novel advances in our understanding of the genetic architecture of important traits.
India-Asia collision: Implications from the geology of the eastern Karakoram

The Shyok tectonic belt of Ladakh, northwest India, bridges the important geologic gap between the Kohistan block of Pakistan and the Lhasa block of Tibet. The geology of the Shyok tectonic belt supports the model of successive collision and accretion of Gondwana fragments along the southern margin of the Asian plate. Tectonic continuity is established between Gondwana fragments of Afghanistan, Kohistan, Shyok, and Tibet on the basis of new geologic data from the Shyok tectonic belt, and various plate-tectonic models for the India-Asia collision are discussed. 24 references, 3 figures, 1 table.
An extended Harry Dym hierarchy

An extended Harry Dym hierarchy is constructed by using eigenfunctions and adjoint eigenfunctions of the spectral problems of the Harry Dym hierarchy associated with the pseudo-differential operator L = u? + u0 + u1??1 + . The corresponding Lax presentation possesses a self-consistent source involving squared eigenfunctions. The resulting extended Harry Dym hierarchy is reduced to the Harry Dym hierarchy with self-consistent sources under the n-reduction, Ln = (Ln)?2, and the k-constrained Harry Dym hierarchy under the k-constraint, Lk = (Lk)?2 + ?Ni = 1qi??1ri?2. A few particular examples are computed, together with their Lax pairs.
Abstract 783: Mutational status of the p53 tumor suppressor gene is associated with expression of GSTP1 allelic variants in human GBM..

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC The tumor suppressor and transcription factor, p53, regulates the transcription of a large number of genes that control key cellular functional, such as, cell cycle arrest, DNA repair, senescence and apoptosis, and its mutational inactivation of p53 has been implicated in tumor development and progression. Mutation in p53 is a common genetic abnormality in GBM and other cancers and several studies have associated wild type p53 with high tumor drug resistance. Our laboratory previously reported that the polymorphic human GSTP1 gene is a transcriptional target of and is activated by p53 via a canonical p53 binding motif located in intron 4 of the GSTP1 gene. The ability of the p53 wild type to transcriptionally activate the GSTP1 gene, thus, defines a novel mechanism of protecting the genome and enhancement tumor drug resistance. The ability of the different GSTP1 alleles to protect against the toxicity of anticancer agents plays an important factor in this GSTP1-mediated tumor drug resistance. In a previous study, we showed that p53 mutations in GBM spanned the entire p53 gene, with the majority of the mutations in the DNA binding domain and that GSTP1 expression correlated, in most cases with wild type p53. In the present study, we examined the relationship between p53-dependent GSTP1 gene activation genetic polymorphism and expression in human GBM. We sequenced the p53 gene in 52 primary human GBMs, genotyped these tumors for their GSTP1 allelic status and determined the expression of the GSTP1 gene transcripts by quantitative PCR. The results showed the GSTP1*A allele to most highly (40%) expressed in the tumors and of these 27% harbored wild-type p53. In contrast, GSTP1*C allele was not only the least prevalent allele but also had the least association with wild-type p53. GSTP1*B, as well as, heterozygous GSTP1 alleles were intermediate in their association with p53 mutational status of the tumors. The level of expression of the individual genes also correlated with the presence of wild-type p53 in inversely with mutant p53. These results demonstrate a significant impact of p53 mutational status, not only in mediating the level of GSTP1 gene expression but also that it is related to the specific allelic form of GSTP1 that is expressed. This suggest that p53 mutational status and both GSTP1 expression and allele polymorphism may interact together to mediate glioma drug resistance. Citation Format: Gamil R. Antoun, Francis Ali-Osman. Mutational status of the p53 tumor suppressor gene is associated with expression of GSTP1 allelic variants in human GBM. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 783. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-783
Structures of E. coli peptide deformylase bound to formate: insight into the preference for Fe2+ over Zn2+ as the active site metal.

E. coli peptide deformylase (PDF) catalyzes the deformylation of nascent polypeptides generated during protein synthesis. While PDF was originally thought to be a zinc enzyme, subsequent studies revealed that the active site metal is iron. In an attempt to understand this unusual metal preference, high-resolution structures of Fe−, Co−, and Zn−PDF were determined in complex with its deformylation product, formate. In all three structures, the formate ion binds the metal and forms hydrogen-bonding interactions with the backbone nitrogen of Leu91, the amide side chain of Gln50, and the carboxylate side chain of Glu133. One key difference, however, is how the formate binds the metal. In Fe−PDF and Co−PDF, formate binds in a bidentate fashion, while in Zn−PDF, it binds in a monodentate fashion. Importantly, these structural results provide the first clues into the origins of PDF's metal-dependent activity differences. On the basis of these structures, we propose that the basis for the higher activity of Fe−PD...
Ionic Hydrogen Bonds in Bioenergetics. 3. Proton Transport in Membranes, Modeled by Ketone/Water Clusters

Hydrogen bond networks in protonated acetone/water clusters are stabilized by H3O+(Me2CO)2 centers, and the stabilizaton increases with further acetone content. For example, proton transfer from neat water (H2O)6H+ clusters to form mixed (Me2CO)3(H2O)3H+ clusters is exothermic by 80 kJ/mol (19 kcal/mol), due to strong hydrogen bonding of the carbonyl groups; in a series of mixed clusters B3(H2O)3H+, the stability of the hydrogen bond network correlates with the proton affinities PA(B). In diketone models of adjacent peptide links, the proton is stabilized by internal hydrogen bonds between the carbonyl groups. The internal bonds can be significant, for example, 31 kJ/mol (7 kcal/mol) in (MeCOCH2CH2COMe)H+, but proton transfer through the internal bond has a high barrier. However, water molecules can bridge between the CO groups. In these bridges, the proton remains on an H3O+ center, in both acetone/water and diketone/water systems. With a further H2O molecule, the diketone/water cluster (MeCOCH2CH2COMe)(...
An effective up quark mass from new light particles

Abstract I consider a model where an effective current mass for the up quark is provided by the interactions of a new neutral light colored scalar and a charge 1 3 colorless fermion. The model has no strong CP problem. A new confining U (1) prevents the occurence of physical states with fractional charges. There are new light (a few GeV) states which rapidly decay into hadrons. Contributions to R and to the Z hadronic width are within experimental bounds.
Case report 442

Pied de Madura chez une femme de 31 ans qui depuis 20 ans presente une ulceration du bas de la jambe et vivant au Mexique
Cell and species differences in metabolic activation of chemical carcinogens

Metabolic activation and DNA binding of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), N-nitrosodimethylamine (DMN) and benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) were compared in human, rat and mouse hepatocytes and human pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAM). The degree of carcinogen activation by hepatocytes and PAM was measured by cell-mediated mutagenesis assays in which co-cultivated Chinese hamster V79 cells were used to monitor mutagenic metabolites. Hepatocytes from human, mouse and rat metabolized DMN and released the active metabolites to induce either ouabain- or 6-thioguanine-resistant mutation. The mutation frequencies mediated by hepatocytes of the 3 animal species were approximately 3-9 mutants/10(5) survivors at a concentration of 0.2 mM DMN. The variations of radioactivity bound to liver cell DNA were relatively small in cultured mouse, rat, and human hepatocytes exposed to 14C label DMN (0.5 mM) and the binding values were in a range of 6-12 X 10(3) pmoles/mg DNA. However, rat hepatocytes were at least 10-fold more effective than either human or mouse hepatocytes in generating mutagenic metabolites of AFB1 and also had a much higher AFB1 metabolite DNA-binding value. The AFB1 DNA-binding levels were 4.1, 12-27 (range), 120 pmoles/mg DNA respectively in mouse, human, and rat liver cells following AFB1 (3.3 microM) exposure for 20 h. Hepatocytes from the 3 animal species were unable to mediate mutation in the presence of 4 microM B[a]P; PAM activated B[a]P and effectively mediated mutation in the co-cultivated V79 cells. In contrast to results with hepatocytes, PAM failed to generate enough mutagenic metabolites of AFB1 (3.3 microM) and the mediation of mutations was seen only at very high concentration of DMN (80 mM). The genotoxic effects of the 3 carcinogens on hepatocytes from different species in vitro were in agreement with the in vivo animal experiments in that mice are relatively resistant to AFB1 carcinogenesis whereas rats are sensitive; B[a]P is not effective as a complete liver carcinogen in adult rat and mouse whereas DMN induces liver cancer.
Prison survey for the XYY karyotype in tall inmates

Cytogenetic analysis of tall Alabama prisoners showed two of 100 Caucasian and none of 108 Negroes to have the XYY karyotype. Convictions were numerous for each XYY prisoner, with robbery, burglary, and automobile theft being the most common offenses. Psychological evaluation indicated IQs of 105 and 108.
Using hybrid simulation/emulation for experimental assessment of routing policy on mission outcomes

As tactical military networks deploy new IP-capable radios (e.g., JTRS), it is expected that network connectivity will increase both within and among Service and Coalition networking domains (e.g., Army, Navy, NATO). Joint commanders will likely desire control of this increased connectivity to complete their mission goals. One mechanism known to (coarsely) manage multiple disparate IP networks is BGP routing policy. As such, this paper presents an experimental framework to estimate BGP's policy impacts on mission outcomes (e.g., expected Blue/Red casualties). In support of this effort, a testing platform was developed by integrating an agent-based combat simulation tool with a large-scale network emulation platform. Here, the simulation tool provides military mission modeling (e.g., force movements) and metrics (e.g., casualties counts) while the network emulation platform models the mission's underlying communications network (e.g., link characteristics, protocols, policy). Using this testbed, a sample military mission was evaluated over three communication architectures. The first architecture connected (Blue) mission units together using (fixed) point-to-point circuits, whereas the latter two used shortest-path (dynamic) routing and policy-based (dynamic) routing, respectively. It was found that both dynamically routed network architectures provided better Blue/Red casualty ratios and higher network reachability than the fixed, point-to-point network architecture. However, the addition of BGP policy did degrade performance relative to short-path routing. Furthermore, the degradation in mission and network performance did vary based on the BGP policies implemented. This paper's results imply that if policy-based routing is to be considered as a network management element for newly deployed joint IP networks, further experimental assessment is needed to understand the inter-relationships between BGP policy, mission outcomes, and network performance.
Diphenylphosphinodithioic acid: A reagent for the conversion of nitriles to thioamides

Abstract Diphenylphosphinodithioic acid is a reagent useful for a sequence effecting the hydrolysis of nitriles under mild conditions.
Counselman Receives 2008 Charles A. Whitten Medal

Charles C. Counselman III was awarded the 2008 Charles A. Whitten Medal at the AGU Fall Meeting Honors Ceremony, held 17 December 2008 in San Francisco, Calif. The medal is for “outstanding achievements in research on the form and dynamics of the Earth and planets.”
3-D MHD simulations of pellet injection and disruptions in tokamak plasmas

Non-linear MHD simulation results of pellet injection show that MHD forces can accelerate large pellets injected on the high field side of a tokamak to the plasma centre. Magnetic reconnection can produce a reverse shear q profile. Ballooning instability caused by pellets is also reduced by high field side injection. Studies are also reported of the current quench phase of disruptions, which can cause 3-D halo currents and runaway electrons.
Quality of Health Care in Seven Countries: An Implication for Health Reform in the United States

Survey findings of health care systems in seven countries show that health care performance in the United States, despite spending twice as much as other developed countries, is no better than other countries and that there is room for substantial improvement in the United States. The data show that the quality of care in the United States was only adequate at best and was rated inadequate in the areas of waiting time for treatment, and administration of the service. This article recommends several reform measures to improve the health system in the United States.
Amino acid sequence and thermostability of xylanase A from schizophyllum commune

The amino acid sequence (197 residues) of xylanase A from the fungus, Schizophyllum commune, was determined by automated analysis of peptides from proteolytic and acid cleavage. The sequence is similar to two Trichoderma xylanases (approximately 56% identical amino acids), but also shows at least 40% identities with xylanases from Bacillus subtilis, B. pumilus and B. circulans. The conserved regions of the enzyme contain only two glutamic acid residues which implicates their possible involvement in catalysis. The disulfide bond in xylanase A is not conserved in this family. In spite of this, the B. subtilis xylanase was found to be more thermostable than xylanase A.
Timing of 6-hydroxydopamine administration influences its effects on visual cortical plasticity

We recorded from the visual cortex of 4 groups of monocularly deprived kittens. Three groups were treated with intraventricular 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) at different times relative to monocular deprivation (MD). One group received only vehicle solution and MD. 6-OHDA caused the greatest decrease in plasticity in the kittens receiving 6-OHDA throughout the deprivation period; that is, these kittens were the least affected by MD. 6-OHDA caused a smaller decrease in plasticity in kittens receiving 6-OHDA just prior to eyelid suture and a still smaller decrease in kittens waiting a week between 6-OHDA treatment and eyelid suture. The kittens in all groups receiving 6-OHDA were equally depleted of norepinephrine (NE). We conclude that 6-OHDA decreases plasticity in the visual cortex; however, the time course of this decrease is better related to the time course of the 6-OHDA treatment than to the time course of NE depletion.
Effects of ambient lighting and the albino gene on the developing visual evoked potential of the mouse.

C57BL/6J inbred mice, congenic for the c (albino) gene, were bred and reared under cyclic conditions of either bright or dim ambient lighting. At 53 days postpartum, the cortical visual evoked potential (VEP) was measured in the light-adapted subject. The P2 latency was shortest in the +/+ (pigmented) genotype, longest in the c/c (albino) mouse, and intermediate in the +/c (pigmented heterozygote). In agreement with another experiment involving the albino rat, mice reared in dim light had smaller P1N2 amplitudes than those reared in bright light. However, the effects of environmental lighting on the VEP amplitudes in the present study were primarily due to the presence of the albino gene. Melanin, per se, is considered not to be the primary relevant factor, because of intermediate latencies of the pigmented heterozygote. However, enzymes altered by the c gene are considered as a possible factor. The data were discussed in terms of DeFries’ (1969) concept of pleiotrophism of the albino gene for visual and other behaviors.
Acoustics of clear speech: effect of instruction.

Purpose This study investigated how different instructions for eliciting clear speech affected selected acoustic measures of speech. Method Twelve speakers were audio-recorded reading 18 different ...
Quantum well excitons in strong pulsed magnetic fields

Abstract The shift in the exciton peak as a function of magnetic field has been measured in a GaAs/Ga1-xAlxAs multiple quantum well sample for pulsed magnetic fields up to 26T using photoluminescence spectroscopy. The shift in the peak is in good agreement with variational calculations of the energy of 2D excitons as a function of magnetic field if we take the reduced mass of the exciton to be 0.041m0.
Multivariate time series analysis with state space models

Abstract The paper proposes a method for estimating linear, time-invariant state space models from multiple time series data. The approach is based on stochastic realization theory. The coefficient matrices of the state space model are derived from the estimated Markov parameters that are associated with the different system inputs, such as lagged endogenous variables, observable exogenous variables, and unobservable noise.
The problem of the organic individual: Ernst Haeckel and the development of the biogenetic law.

Une etude attentive des travaux de H. sur l'individualite montre que les idees de ses maitres A. Braun et J. Muller lui ont servi dans l'elaboration de sa loi biogenetique. Considerations biographiques et aspects de l'oeuvre de ces auteurs.
Internal external control of reinforcement as a determinant of study habits and academic attitudes

Abstract This study tested Rotter's hypothesis that internals would show more achievement-striving behaviors than externals using a direct measure of such behavior. Rotter's I-E scale and the Survey of Study Habits and Attitudes (SSHA) were administered to 123 male and 130 female undergraduate subjects. Significant sex differences were found on the SSHA scales but not on the I-E scale. Results indicated significant differences between internals and externals within each sex in terms of the average SSHA profiles and the individual SSHA scales. Using H. L. Mirels' (Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1970, 34 , 226–228) I-E subscales, similar results were obtained with the personal-control scale but not the political-control scale. Results provide additional evidence supporting the multidimensional interpretation of the I-E scale.
Multiplicities of the eigenvalues of the Schrödinger equation in any dimension

Soit l'equation de Schrodinger sur une region bornee D⊆R d avec des conditions aux limites de Dirichlet: −Δu+qu=λu, u/∂ D =0 ou q∈L R ∞ (D) et la frontiere ∂D de D est suffisamment lisse. On montre que l'ensemble Q de tous les potentiels q dans L R ∞ (D) qui sont tels qu'il y ait au moins une valeur propre multiple est de premiere categorie
The geometry of space–time–matter

Abstract We formulate a global, differential geometric structure for the space–time–matter theory introduced by Wesson and coworkers. In addition to giving a coordinate-free, intrinsic approach to the theory, we extend the discussion from 5-dimensions to arbitrary dimensions. Our model for space–time–matter is a Ricci flat, semi-Riemannian manifold ( E , g ¯ ) , where E is a fiber bundle over M (the spacetime) and g ¯ is a Kaluza–Klein metric on E . Each space–time–matter manifold ( E , g ¯ ) generates spacetimes ( M , g ˜ ) , one for each embedding of M in E , with stress–energy tensor for M determined by the geometry of E and the nature of the embedding. The use of a fiber bundle E (with fibers isomorphic to the gauge groups) affords a natural way of incorporating the gauge-field potentials into the metric g ¯ (perhaps the only global way to do so). The gauge field potentials determine a horizontal bundle orthogonal to the vertical bundle V E of T E and when the spacetime M is embedded horizontally, the gauge fields F vanish when restricted to M . Thus, the fiber bundle approach clarifies how F = 0 arises from the geometry rather than from the usual assumptions on the metric in traditional space–time–matter theory.
A performance model with a fixed point for a molecular dynamics kernel

Analysis of a timing formula for a molecular dynamics kernel reveals an equivalence class of parallel machines with a fixed point that is independent of the particular machine in the class. Three different machines, CRAY, IBM and SGI, are self-similar in that they follow the same path along a performance surface as the processor count and problem size change. The path is attracted to a fixed point that limits performance, the same fixed point for all three machines. An analytic formula, with two parameters determined from measured data, reproduces the path along the surface.
Migratory drift of larval freshwater shrimps in two tropical streams, Puerto Rico

Summary 1. Migratory shrimps are often major biotic components of tropical stream communities, yet spatial and temporal patterns of their migration have yet to be described. This information is of increasing importance given the continued fragmentation of tropical streams by damming and water abstraction/diversion, which can disrupt migratory life cycles. 2. Larval amphidromous shrimps are released by adult females in freshwater streams. They then drift passively to an estuarine habitat where they metamorphose before migrating back upstream. Drift of larval shrimps was sampled over two to five 24-h periods at each of three sites along two rivers that drain the Luquillo Experimental Forest in Puerto Rico: the Espiritu Santo (10, 135 and 335 m a.s.l.) and the Mameyes (10, 90 and 290 m a.s.l.). A total of seventeen diel samplings were conducted. 3. Shrimp drift increased in the downstream direction in both catchments, and had a significant positive exponential relationship with length of stream channel above each site. There was no significant difference between catchments with respect to mean daily drift rate per km of stream channel. Maximum observed larval shrimp density was 69 102 larvae 100 m–3 (1.7 g dry mass 100 m–3), which is high relative to published invertebrate drift studies. 4. The pattern of shrimp drift agreed with the ’risk of predation hypothesis‘. In stream reaches with predatory fish, drift of larval shrimps occurred at night and was slight during the day. A nocturnal peak in drift occurred between 19.00 and 22.00 h. At a high-altitude site, where predatory fish were absent, no diel pattern was discernible. 5. The present study provides information on the timing of migratory drift of larval shrimps, which can minimize the adverse effects of water abstraction from streams draining the Luquillo Experimental Forest. Elimination of water withdrawal during peak larval drift after dark will significantly reduce shrimp mortality.
Simulations of Redox Mediation within Bioactive Hydrogels of Amperometric Biosensors

Highly hydrated bioactive hydrogels containing immobilized oxidoreductase enzymes and immobilized redox mediators were simulated as the biorecognition layer of amperometric biosensors. The linear dynamic range of the amperometric response of mediated biosensors increases and moves to higher concentration brackets with an increase in the concentration of mediator. This informs the design of biosensors that target the same analyte but possesses several independently addressable electrodes modified with hydrogels that contain different concentrations of mediator. Increases in enzyme concentration increase the linear dynamic range but does not alter the sensitivity of amperometric biosensors. Both sensitivity and linear dynamic range of mediated amperometric enzyme biosensors may be “tuned” by varying the concentrations of the enzyme and the mediator. Simulations effectively guide the initial domains of study of complex systems such as implantable biosensors.
Predator Avoidance of Transgenic Channel Catfish Containing Salmonid Growth Hormone Genes

Transgenic channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) containing salmonid growth hormone genes can grow 33% faster than normal channel catfish under aquaculture conditions. However, before transgenic catfish are released and utilized by the private sector, their genetic impact on the natural environment must be examined. Predator avoidance is one of the major fitness traits determining potential environmental risk. To determine the predator avoidance ability and growth performance of transgenic catfish in a natural habitat, various densities of transgenic and nontransgenic channel catfish were communally stocked in 0.04-ha earthen ponds without supplemental feeding. Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) and green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus) were stocked as predators. Nontransgenic fry had better predator avoidance than transgenic channel catfish when data were pooled (p < .01). When data were not pooled, nontransgenic catfish had better predator avoidance in six trials and transgenic individuals had better predator avoidance in four trials. There was no difference in predator avoidance in three trials. Overall predator avoidance was also better for nontransgenic individuals (p < .01) when the fish were evaluated as 3.5-g fingerlings, more clearly than as fry, as transgenic individuals were more vulnerable in 3 of 4 trials at this life stage. There was no significant difference in growth performance between transgenic and nontransgenic channel catfish in ponds without supplemental feeding. These findings indicate that transgenic channel catfish could be used for commercial aquaculture without affecting the natural environment. Although transgenic channel catfish may be released to nature by accident, any ecological effect would be unlikely because the increased susceptibility of transgenic channel catfish to predators would most likely decrease or eliminate the transgenic genotype.
Coesite from Wabar Crater, near Al Hadida, Arabia

The third natural occurrence of coesite, the high pressure polymorph of silica, is found at the Wabar meteorite crater, Arabia. The Wabar crater is about 300 feet in diameter and about 40 feet deep. It is the smallest of three craters where coesite has been found.
An in vitro biomechanical investigation of an MP35N intramedullary interlocking nail system for repair of third metacarpal fractures in adult horses.

Objective— To compare monotonic mechanical properties of gap-ostectomized third metacarpal bones (MC3) stabilized with an MP35N interlocking nail system with contralateral intact bones. Animals or sample population— Twenty-four pairs of cadaveric equine MC3s. Methods— Third metacarpal bones were divided into 4 mechanical testing groups (6 pairs per group): compression, palmarodorsal (PD) and mediolateral (ML) 4-point bending, and torsion. One MC3 from each pair was randomly selected as an intact specimen, and the contralateral gap ostectomized bone was stabilized with a 4-hole, 14-mm-diameter, 250-mm-long, MP35N intramedullary nail, and four, 7-mm-diameter, 60-mm-long MP35N interlocking screws (constructs). Mechanical testing properties were compared between intact specimens and constructs with a paired t test (significance set at P < .05). Results— Intact specimens were significantly stronger and stiffer than constructs in all testing modes except PD bending. Constructs achieved mean yield strengths that were 57% (compression), 81% (PD bending), 68% (ML bending), and 78% (torque) of intact specimens. Constructs achieved mean stiffnesses that were 53% (compression), 58% (PD bending), 41% (ML bending), and 47% (torque) of intact specimens. Conclusion— Monotonic yield mechanical properties of MP35N intramedullary interlocking nail-stabilized, gap-ostectomized MC3 were lower than those of paired intact bones but exceeded reported in vivo loads for dorsopalmar bending and compression and estimated in vivo torsional loads. Clinical relevance— Considering the benefits associated with intramedullary interlocking nail fixation of fractures, this system should be considered for use for repair of MC3 fractures with applicable fracture configurations.
Some Aspects of Pyrotechnic Modeling

Several aspects of pyrotechnic devices used to produce smoke, flash and sound are discussed quantitatively. The main aim of this paper is to demonstrate economical techniques to tailor pyrotechnic formulations to meet specific needs. It is seen that the cloud size is independent of the charge weight in the range of 2-80 gm, a theoretical result that is verified by experimental data. The noise is found to bein good agreement with experimental data, especially after allowance is made for absorption in the atmosphere. Several formulations are tested and the results are presented. Tailoring of pyrotechnics to achieve specific effects of cloud size, shape and longevity is discussed. Applications of pyrotechnics for gas generation purposes are also mentioned. It is seen that these studies complement more extensive testing; mutually, they introduce great economy and provide insight not possible with empirical approaches.
Goldfinger: a non-anthropomorphic, dextrous robot hand

In this paper, we describe the hardware and control architecture of a novel four-fingered dextrous robot hand. The benefits of the unusual arrangement of the fingers (which resembles that in raptors and other birds) in the hand are discussed. Kinematic models for the fingers and transmission system are presented. A simulation and real-time control environment has been developed for the hand, and is discussed in the paper. Experiments in dextrous and dynamic manipulation using the hand are also detailed.
An analog VLSI chip emulating polarization vision of octopus retina

Biological systems provide a wealth of information which form the basis for human-made artificial systems. In this work, the visual system of Octopus is investigated and its polarization sensitivity mimicked. While in actual Octopus retina, polarization vision is mainly based on the orthogonal arrangement of its photoreceptors, our implementation uses a birefringent micropolarizer made of YVO/sub 4/ and mounted on a CMOS chip with neuromorphic circuitry to process linearly polarized light. Arranged in an 8/spl times/5 array with two photodiodes per pixel, each consuming typically 10 /spl mu/W, this circuitry mimics both the functionality of individual Octopus retina cells by computing the state of polarization and the interconnection of these cells through a bias-controllable resistive network.