cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simulation and Analysis of High-Speed Droplet Spray Dynamics

An experimentally validated computer simulation model has been developed for the analysis of gas-phase and droplet characteristics of isothermal sprays generated by pressure jet atomizers. Employing a coupled Euler-Lagrange approach for the gas-droplet flow, secondary droplet breakup (based on the ETAB model), was assumed to be dominant and the k-e model was selected for simulating the gas flow. Specifically, transient spray formation in terms of turbulent gas flow as well as droplet velocities and size distributions are provided for different back pressures. Clearly, two-way coupling of the phases is important because of the impact of significant gas entrainment, droplet momentum transfer, and turbulent dispersion. Several spray phenomena are discussed in light of low back-pressure (1atm) and high back-pressure (30atm) environments. At low back-pressure, sprays have long thin geometric features and penetrate faster and deeper than at high back-pressures because of the measurable change in air density and hence drag force. Away from the nozzle exit under relatively high back pressures, there is no distinct droplet size difference between peripheral and core regions because of the high droplet Weber numbers, leading to very small droplets which move randomly. In contrast to transient spray developments, under steady-state conditions droplets are subject to smaller drag forces due to the fully-developed gas entrainment velocities which reduce gas-liquid slip. Turbulent dispersion influences droplet trajectories significantly because of the impact of random gas-phase fluctuations.
Vincent van Gogh's early years as an artist

Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890) was an artist for 10 years, from 1880 to 1890. As a mature artist, he was capable of executing works in a rapid fashion, sometimes up to three a day and requiring less than an hour for each. But it took him 9 years of deliberate repetition to evolve the competencies with which to execute his works rapidly. This paper examines the first 2 years of his artistic development, a period when he consciously set about to establish the foundations for his later production, including having an overall plan, establishing a skill for drawing before proceeding to painting, experimenting judiciously in a controlled manner, and amplifying novelty by varied repetition. All these factors are considered as “work objectivity,” which is the notion that regardless of how far-ranging his motivations might have been, he was objective and planful in an approach to the creative enterprise.
Ultrastructure of Minchinia sp. spores from shipworms (Teredo spp.) in the western North Atlantic, with a discussion of taxonomy of the Haplosporidiidae.

Electron microscopy of haplosporidan spores from Teredo navalis and T. furcifera revealed 4 distinct membrane-bound extensions, 1 apical extension opposite the opercular hinge, 1 terminal and 2 opposing lateral extensions. These extensions were not continuous with the spore wall, but contained microtubule-like structures and degrading epispore cytoplasm. No other known species in the family Haplosporidiidae is characterized by spores possessing four epispore extensions. There are currently two genera in this family, Minchinia and Haplosporidium. The genus Minchinia includes spores such as those of M. chitonis which bear two epispore cytoplasm extensions. Spores of the genus Haplosporidium have been characterized by spore wall derived filaments. A 3rd group of haplosporidan species with spores ornamented by wrappings have traditionally also been assigned to the genus Haplosporidium. Based on the presence of epispore cytoplasm extensions rather than spore wall filaments, the haplosporidan of Teredo spp. can be placed in the genus Minchinia.
Are topic-specific measures of socio-political control justified? Exploring the realm of citizen participation in natural resource decision making

This study extends the socio-political control scales developed by Zimmerman and Zahniser (1991) to the context of citizen participation in natural resource agency decision making. The study shows that a natural resource-specific scale is more appropriate for behaviors related to participation in natural resource decision making. These results confirm the usefulness of topic-specific measures of socio-political control. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Measurement of long-range 1H-19F scalar coupling constants and their glycosidic torsion dependence in 5-fluoropyrimidine-substituted RNA.

Long range scalar 5J(H1',F) couplings were observed in 5-fluoropyrimidine substituted RNA. We developed a novel S3E-19F-alfa/beta-edited NOESY experiment for quantitation of these long range scalar 5J(H1',F), where the J-couplings can be extracted from inspection of intraresidual (H1',H6) NOE crosspeaks. The 5J(H1',F) couplings can be used to restrict the glycosidic torsion angle which defines the orientation of the base with respect to the ribose sugar moiety. Quantum chemical calculations were exploited to investigate the relation between scalar couplings and conformations around the glycosidic bond in oligonucleotides. The theoretical dependence of the observed 5J(H1',F) couplings on the torsion angle O can be described by a generalized Karplus relationship. The corresponding density functional theory (DFT) analysis is outlined. Additional NMR experiments facilitating the resonance assignments of 5-fluoropyrimidine substituted RNAs are described and chemical shift changes due to altered shielding in the presence of fluorine-19 (19F) are presented.
DBC2 resistance is achieved by enhancing 26S proteasome-mediated protein degradation.

Abstract Tumor suppressor gene DBC2 stops growth of tumor cells through regulation of CCND1. Interference of CCND1 down-regulation prevented growth arrest caused by DBC2 [T. Yoshihara, D. Collado, M. Hamaguchi, Cyclin D1 down-regulation is essential for DBC2’s tumor suppressor function, Biochemical and biophysical research communications 358 (2007) 1076–1079]. It was also noted that DBC2 resistant cells eventually arose after repeated induction of DBC2 with muristerone A treatment [M. Hamaguchi, J.L. Meth, C. Von Klitzing, W. Wei, D. Esposito, L. Rodgers, T. Walsh, P. Welcsh, M.C. King, M.H. Wigler, DBC2, a candidate for a tumor suppressor gene involved in breast cancer, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 99 (2002) 13647–13652]. In order to elucidate the mechanism of resistance acquisition, we analyzed DBC2 sensitive and resistant cells derived from the same progenitor cells (T-47D). We discovered that DBC2 protein was abundantly expressed in the sensitive cells when DBC2 was induced. In contrast, it was undetectable by western blot analysis in the resistant cells. We confirmed that the inducible gene expression system was responsive in both cells by detecting induced GFP. Additionally, inhibition of 26S proteasome by MG132 revealed production of DBC2 protein in the resistant cells. These findings indicate that the resistant T-47D cells survive DBC2 induction by rapid destruction of DBC2 through 26S proteasome-mediated protein degradation.
Factors shaping the probability of community vs. four-year college entrance and acquisition of the B.A. degree

Abstract The author explores factors shaping community vs. four-year college entrance and acquisition of the B.A. degree for a sample of young men and women who entered college between the years 1966 and 1978. The sample was drawn from the National Longitudinal Survey of Labor Market Experiences data. As expected, students coming from lower measured ability and from a less advantaged parental socioeconomic background have higher odds of entering a community than a four year institution. Living outside the South is also positively associated with community college entrance. This effect holds much stronger among blacks than whites. Women who perform well on IQ tests are more likely to enter a community college than comparable men. Community college entrants have lower odds of achieving the B.A. degree compared to comparable four year college entrants. An argument is made that community college entrance introduces a structural barrier to completion of the B.A. degree. This poses equality of opportunity questions as community college entrants are drawn from less advantaged segments of our society.
The top genes: on the distance from transcript to function in yeast glycolysis.

Abstract With its abundant components and extensive study, the glycolytic pathway in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae would appear ideal to obtain and reconcile the ‘omes of transcript, protein, metabolite and flux. But to do so is challenging and, as is often the case, close correlation of gene expression and function is elusive, even in this organism.
Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Thiazoles Targeting Flavivirus Envelope Proteins

A series of third-generation analogues of methyl 4-(dibromomethyl)-2-(4-chlorophenyl)thiazole-5-carboxylate (1), which had the most potent antiviral activity among the first- and second-generation compounds, have been synthesized and tested against yellow fever virus using a cell-based assay. The compounds were designed with the objectives of improving metabolic stability, therapeutic index, and antiviral potency. The biological effects of C4 and C5 substitution were examined. The methylthio ester and the dihydroxypropylamide analogues had the best antiviral potencies and improved therapeutic indices and metabolic stabilities relative to the parent compound 1.
Comparison of MOBILE4.1 and MOBILE5 predictions with measurements of vehicle emission factors in Fort McHenry and Tuscarora mountain tunnels

Abstract Measurements of motor vehicle emissions at Tuscarora Tunnel in Pennsylvania and Fort McHenry Tunnel in Maryland were compared with predictions of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) mobile-source emission models MOBILE4.1 and MOBILE5. Both models usually agreed to within ± 50% with the observed emission rates, with MOBILES consistently predicting higher emission factors than MOBILE4.1. At Tuscarora, which is level, both models tended to overpredict. At Fort McHenry, which has grades, MOBILE4.1 underpredicted, and MOBILE5 overpredicted.
New Tricks for an Old Dogma: Riboswitches as cis-Only Regulatory Systems

Riboswitches are mRNAs that can act as direct sensors of small molecules to control their own expression. In the May 30, 2003, issue of Cell, Mandal et al. show that cis elements in mRNAs involved in purine metabolism measure the effector molecule concentration with sensitivity and specificity, and control expression of adjacent genes. Analysis of several recently discovered riboswitches suggests that this may be a common, efficient mechanism for regulating the synthesis of proteins required for the production of important metabolites.
Adsorption of Positively-Charged β-Lactoglobulin Derivatives to Casein Micelles

Abstract Positively-charged β -lactoglobulin derivatives prepared by amidation or esterification of available carboxyl groups of the native protein were bound strongly by casein micelles. Increasing amounts of these additives progressively decreased rennet coagulation time of casein micelles. Higher concentrations of positively-charged proteins coagulated casein micelles without addition of rennet extract. Of the modified proteins tested, approximately 1.0g amidated β -lactoglobulin, 2.0g ethyl-esterified β -lactoglobulin, or 1.0g methyl-esterified β -lactoglobulin would be required to coagulate 100ml of casein micelles at concentrations in milk.
A national chimpanzee breeding plan

Steps taken by the Interagency Primate Steering Committee (IPSC) to ensure adequate and continuing supplies of primates for biomedical research and other essential health activities are described. Specifically, recommendations regarding implementation of a National Chimpanzee Breeding Plan are reported, including information in the areas of demographics, reproduction, and behavior.
Grain-Size Dependence of the Hardness of Submicrometer and Nanometer Hydroxyapatite

Dense hydroxyapatite (HA) bodies (at 99% of the theoretical density or higher) with grain sizes ranging from 67 to 732 nm have been obtained via a process of morphology-enhanced low-temperature sintering at temperatures as low as 850°C. The Knoop indentation study reveals that the hardness of HA exhibits a linear dependence on the inverse square root of the grain diameter, consistent with the Hall–Petch relationship. This is the first report of the grain-size dependence of the HA hardness in the nanometer range, and the phenomena observed suggest that the deformation of HA under indentation is dislocation mediated.
Variability in TRBV haplotype frequency and composition in Caucasian, African American, Western African and Chinese populations.

Summary The polymorphic T-cell receptor Vβ (TRBV) genes encode much of the variable region of the T-cell receptor β chain. Analysis of allele frequencies of three closely linked polymorphic TRBV genes, TRBV7-3, TRBV9 and TRBV6-4, was undertaken in several populations. The frequencies of these alleles are not significantly different in populations of Caucasians, African Americans and Western Africans. However, Chinese population is extremely homogenous at all three loci. The current study identifies the existence of haplotypic relationships between alleles of these genes in the Caucasian population. The ORF allele TRBV7-3*A3 is found exclusively on chromosomes bearing TRBV9*A2 and TRBV6-4*A2 in this cohort. In contrast, TRBV7-3*A1 and the null allele TRBV7-3*A2 are associated only with TRBV9*A1 and TRBV6-4*A1. This pattern of linkage disequilibrium (LD) is altered in the African American and Western African populations. In these cohorts, there is a marked reduction in LD between alleles of TRBV7-3 and TRBV9. This study is consistent with previous population genetic studies wherein African-derived samples have a greater level of genetic diversity compared to Caucasians. These data also demonstrate that patterns of LD are not consistent across the entire TRBV locus.
Simulation modelling in archaeology: Reflections and trends

Abstract Early simulation models in archaeology were imitative: they were adopted from other fields, and used to explore problems similar to those in other fields. More recently theoretical archaeologists have been formulating their own models for problems situated within an archaeological framework. Of central importance have been the generation and testing of systems models to explain societal changes by endogenous dynamics rather than exogenous forces. Simulations of the cognitive processes of prehistoric peoples, to take another example, are compelling them to penetrate the dynamics of complex systems. These and other new modelling approaches now might be usefully employed in other fields.
Vitamin and carotenoid intake and risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin

Our objective was to examine prospectively the intake of vitamins A (including retinol and total vitamin A), C and E; folate; total carotene; and several individual carotenoids (alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin and lutein/zeaxanthin) in relation to incidence of SCC of the skin in 2 large cohorts of men and women. We used a prospective cohort study design with up to 14 years of follow-up in women and 10 years in men. Diet was measured with FFQs every 2-4 years; cases of SCC of the skin were ascertained on biennial questionnaires and confirmed by medical records. Participants were female nurses and male health professionals, from the Nurses' Healthy Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study in the United States, without a history of any cancer in 1982 (n = 85,944 women) and 1986 (n = 43,867 men). Follow-up response was achieved for over 90% of potential person-years. Relative risks and 95% confidence intervals for development of SCC of the skin are reported. We recorded 369 cases of SCC in women and 305 cases in men. After multivariate adjustment for various known behavioral, sun-exposure and sun-sensitivity risk factors for SCC, there were no significant inverse associations between these dietary factors and SCC incidence. No evidence was found that vitamins A, C and E; folate; or carotenoids play an important protective role against incident SCC.
Concerning the hypothesis of thermally-activated deformation

Abstract The majority of materials of commercial significance possess concentration fluctuations when they are subjected to certain deformation temperatures and degrees of strain. These concentration fluctuations are great enough in most cases to produce clusters, zones, metastable precipitate, and even equilibrium precipitate when the material is strained. The nature and intensity of these strain-induced transformations are a function of the degree of strain, the deformation temperature, and the strain rate, as well as of the character of the alloy system itself. These strain-induced transformations affect the dislocation structure produced and, therefore, affect the flow stress obtained. The variation of the flow stress with deformation temperature and strain rate is a direct consequence of these constitutional structural instabilities. Thus, the thermally-activated nature of deformation of materials is associated with the dynamic nature of structures other than the dislocations, i.e. , solute, vacancies, etc. The dislocations in themselves are not thermally activated. There is, therefore, no thermal component to the flow stress that is associated with the dynamic nature of dislocations, dislocations simply behave athermally.
Chromosome X and 17‐linked lissencephaly (smooth brain) syndromes

Lissencephaly (smooth brain) is a severe malformation of neuronal migration with a relatively smooth cerebral surface, thick and poorly organized cortex, and clinical signs of severe neurologic dysfunction. Subcortical band heterotopia is part of the lissencephaly malformation spectrum now referred to as the agyriapachygyria-band spectrum. Chromosome 17-linked lissencephaly (patients with Miller-Dieker syndrome) have classical lissencephaly, characteristic facial features, and perhaps other associated birth defects. The critical region for the lissencephaly phenotype has been mapped to 17 p 13.3, but the identity of the chromosome 17 lissencephaly gene remains unknown. The gene responsible for X-linked lissencephaly has been mapped to Xq22.3. Autosomal recessive classical lissencephaly is thought to exist, although it is considered rare. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Effect of selenite on tumor cell invasiveness

Pre-exposure of HeLa or NIH:OVCAR-3 cells to selenite resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in the ability of the cells to invade a layer of Matrigel, a reconstituted basement membrane preparation. In contrast, selenate, selenomethionine and sulfite had no significant effect on cell invasiveness. Exposure of HeLa cells to selenite also resulted in a decrease in two of the necessary steps of the invasion process, attachment and mobility; in contrast, exposure of OVCAR cells decreased attachment but not mobility. There was an apparent correlation between the processes that are affected by selenite and those that involve the cellular fibronectin receptor (α5β1 integrin).
Presence of Acute Phase Response in Normal and Milk Fever Dairy Cows Around Parturition

Milk fever is a metabolic disease of dairy cows occurring at the onset of lactation and characterized by a rapid decline in the concentrations of calcium in plasma. Significant advances have been made during the last decade in the understanding of the pathogenesis of milk fever. The etiology of the disease, however, still remains unclear. The goal of the present study was to search for the presence of an acute phase response (APR) during the peripartal period in normal and milk fever dairy cows and the role that APR might play in the etiology of milk fever. Eight clinically healthy, pregnant Holstein dairy cows were selected. Approximately 3 wk before the expected date of calving as well as 2 wk after calving, animals were brought into individual tie stalls to be fed a diet with a cation-anion difference of +40 meq/100g. Three cows showed clinical signs of milk fever and were treated intravenously with a solution containing calcium borogluconate and magnesium gluconate, whereas the rest of the cows showed no clinical signs of postparturient diseases. Blood samples were obtained from jugular vein at 10, 5, and 1 d before parturition, on the day of parturition, as well as at 1, 5, and 10 d after parturition. Plasma samples were analyzed for serum amyloid A (SAA), calcitonin generelated peptide (CGRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), lactate, iron, and total calcium. Results show that concentrations of SAA in plasma from all cows increased from 706 µg/dL at 10 d before calving to 3096 µg/dL 1 d after calving and then declined to prepartal values. Concentrations of lactate in plasma also increased from 0.5 mmol/L at 10 d before parturition to 1.3 mmol/L on the day of parturition and then dropped to precalving values. Concentrations of iron and total calcium in plasma declined in both control and milk fever cows from 57 µg/dL and 8.7 mg/dL at 10 d before calving to 41 µg/dL and 6.4 mg/dL, respectively, on the day of parturition and then increased to precalving concentrations. Analysis showed detectable amounts of TNF-α in plasma of only one clinically normal cow. Concentrations of CGRP in plasma were high in both milk fever and normal cows before parturition at 59 pg/mL and then declined after calving at 27 pg/mL. Concentrations of SAA and iron in plasma were greater in milk fever cows compared with clinically normal ones at the day of parturition. Overall, data from the present study indicate the presence of an APR in both normal and milk fever cows. Calcitonin gene-related peptide, a 37-amino acid peptide generated by alternative tissue-specific splicing of the transcript of the calcitonin gene and a well-known inhibitor of calcium mobilization from bone in rodents, might play a significant role in regulation of calcium homeostasis as well as in the etiology and pathogenesis of milk fever in dairy cows. Further investigation is warranted to better understand the role of APR in the etiology and pathogenesis of milk fever of dairy cows.
Redox recipes. VII. A recipe with ferric versenate, hydrazine, and hydroperoxide as activating system (veroxazine recipe)†

A new initiating system, named the “Veroxazine” system, for the copolymerization of butadiene (75)–styrene (25) is described. Ferric versenate is reduced by hydrazine to the ferrous complex which in turn reacts with hydroperoxide to produce the radicals which initiate polymerization. At 5°C., with 5 parts of K-fatty acid soap, 0.1 part of Diox D, 0.1 part of N2H4·H2SO4, 0.0615 part of sodium hydroxide (to give free hydrazine base from the salt), 0.0005 M ferric iron (equivalent to 0.036 part ferric nitrate nonahydrate per 100 parts monomers), 0.0005 M versene, 1 part of K4P2O7 and 0.3 part sulfole, 70% conversion is reached in 12 hours. The rate of conversion can be varied within wide limits by changing the concentration of ferric iron, versene, or hydrazine. Typical conversion–time data at 5°C. with K-fatty acid soap, 0.1 Diox D, and 1 part of K4P2O7 are summarized below. Text Table Text. Fe(III) V N2H4·H2SO4, part Conversion, % 1 2 4 8 12 hrs. 0.005 M 0.002 M 0.1 14 25 47 90 — 0.002 M 0.001 M 0.1 11 22 44 75 — 0.001 M 0.0008 M 0.1 9 19 32 64 85 0.0005 M 0.0005 M 0.1 6 16 28 48 70 0.0003 M 0.0002 M 0.1 4 10 19 38 53 0.001 M 0.0005 M 0.4 17 31 52 92 — 0.001 M 0.0005 M 0.2 15 27 40 81 — 0.001 M 0.0005 M 0.1 11 21 33 62 83 0.001 M 0.0005 M 0.05 6 14 27 47 66 With a given concentration of ferric iron the maximum rate is found with a molar concentration of versene slightly smaller than that of ferric iron. The excess of ferric iron over versene is kept in aqueous solution as the complex with pyrophosphate. The addition of potassium pyrophosphate up to one part increases the rate of conversion and yields a normal latex free from precoagulation. In the absence of pyrophosphate a viscous latex subject to precoagulation is obtained. The effects of kind and amounts of soap, of free acid or base, of kind and concentration of hydroperoxide, kind and concentration of mercaptan, of oxygen, of methanol, and of shortstops have been investigated. Veroxazine recipes which give from 55 to 70% conversion in 12 hours at −5°C. are described.
Clostridium difficile: causes and interventions

Human infection with Clostridium difficile can take many forms. It can exist in many patients who are relatively well or who have symptoms similar to irritable bowel syndrome. It can also infect the patient in the acute care facility. These patients typically have received antibiotics for more than 3 days and begin to experience foul-smelling, watery stools within a few days of initiation of antibiotic coverage. Good hand washing and environmental cleanliness remain the primary ways of preventing the spread of this infection from patient to patient. The possibility of using probiotics to replace the beneficial bacteria should be pursued.
How female barking treefrogs, Hyla gratiosa, use multiple call characteristics to select a mate

Female mate choice is an important mechanism of sexual selection, and in many species, females assess multiple characteristics of potential mates. Numerous studies have documented individual traits that females use to select a mate, but few have investigated how females use multiple male sex traits to choose a mate. In this study, we tested four hypotheses to determine how female barking treefrogs use multiple call characteristics concurrently to select a mate: (1) females may perceive as a single trait characteristics that researchers have defined as separate; (2) females may assess traits hierarchically, using the lower-level trait only when the higher-level trait is difficult to distinguish between males; (3) one trait may not be directly assessed by females, but may amplify another trait that is directly assessed; and (4) females may assess several traits at once, weighting them either equally or differently. We tested these hypotheses with two-speaker playback experiments that varied call rate, duration, or both. We also compared preference functions for rate and duration using a logistic regression model. Playback experiments supported simultaneous assessment and refuted the other three hypotheses. Females weighted duration more heavily than rate when percentage difference between stimuli was 29%, but not when percentage difference was 100%. Preference functions revealed that, for a given percentage difference between stimuli, percentage preferences were greater for higher call rates than for longer calls. Thus, female barking treefrogs appear to treat rate and duration as two separate traits and combine preferences for these traits nonadditively.
Continuum Modeling of Biological Tissue Growth by Cell Division

A framework is formulated for continuum modeling of biological tissue growth that explicitly addresses cell division, using a homogenized representation of cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM). The essential elements of this model rely on the description of the cell as containing a solution of water and osmolytes, and having osmotically inactive solid constituents that may be generically described as a porous solid matrix. The division of a cell into two nearly identical daughter cells normally starts with the duplication of cell contents during the synthesis phase, followed by cell division during the mitosis phase. Thus, ultimately, cell division is equivalent to doubling of the cell solid matrix and osmolyte content, and a resulting increase in water uptake via osmotic effects. In a homogenized representation of the tissue, the geometry of individual cells is not modeled explicitly, but their solid matrix and intracellular osmolyte content can be suitably incorporated into the analysis of the tissue response, thereby accounting for their osmotic effects. Thus, cell division can be described by the growth of these cell constituents, including the accumulation of osmotically active content, and the resultant uptake of water.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Dietary Zinc Deficiency Exaggerates Ethanol-Induced Liver Injury in Mice: Involvement of Intrahepatic and Extrahepatic Factors

Clinical studies have demonstrated that alcoholics have a lower dietary zinc intake compared to health controls. The present study was undertaken to determine the interaction between dietary zinc deficiency and ethanol consumption in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease. C57BL/6N mice were subjected to 8-week feeding of 4 experimental liquid diets: (1) zinc adequate diet, (2) zinc adequate diet plus ethanol, (3) zinc deficient diet, and (4) zinc deficient diet plus ethanol. Ethanol exposure with adequate dietary zinc resulted in liver damage as indicated by elevated plasma alanine aminotransferase level and increased hepatic lipid accumulation and inflammatory cell infiltration. Dietary zinc deficiency alone increased hepatic lipid contents, but did not induce hepatic inflammation. Dietary zinc deficiency showed synergistic effects on ethanol-induced liver damage. Dietary zinc deficiency exaggerated ethanol effects on hepatic genes related to lipid metabolism and inflammatory response. Dietary zinc deficiency worsened ethanol-induced imbalance between hepatic pro-oxidant and antioxidant enzymes and hepatic expression of cell death receptors. Dietary zinc deficiency exaggerated ethanol-induced reduction of plasma leptin, although it did not affect ethanol-induced reduction of white adipose tissue mass. Dietary zinc deficiency also deteriorated ethanol-induced gut permeability increase and plasma endotoxin elevation. These results demonstrate, for the first time, that dietary zinc deficiency is a risk factor in alcoholic liver disease, and multiple intrahepatic and extrahepatic factors may mediate the detrimental effects of zinc deficiency.
A complex of methylthioadenosine/S-adenosylhomocysteine nucleosidase, transition state analogue, and nucleophilic water identified by mass spectrometry.

An enzyme-stabilized nucleophilic water molecule has been implicated at the transition state of Escherichia coli methylthioadenosine nucleosidase (EcMTAN) by transition state analysis and crystallography. We analyzed the EcMTAN mass in complex with a femtomolar transition state analogue to determine whether the inhibitor and nucleophilic water could be detected in the gas phase. EcMTAN–inhibitor and EcMTAN–inhibitor–nucleophilic water complexes were identified by high-resolution mass spectrometry under nondenaturing conditions. The enzyme–inhibitor–water complex is sufficiently stable to exist in the gas phase.
Photo-Disintegration of the Deuteron

A study of the photo-disintegration of the deuteron using a cloud chamber as a detector has been made for gamma-ray energies of 6.14 and 7.00 Mev from the $F(p,\ensuremath{\alpha}){\mathrm{O}}^{16*}$ reaction. By observing the number of photo-disintegration protons and the number of electron pairs formed in the gas (C${\mathrm{D}}_{4}$) of the cloud chamber, the ratio of the photo-disintegration cross section to the pair cross section is obtained. Assuming a calculated value for the pair cross section these data yield $\ensuremath{\sigma}[D(\ensuremath{\gamma},p)n]=25.7(14 \mathrm{percent}\mathrm{P}.\mathrm{E}.)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}28}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ at an average gamma-ray energy of 6.55 Mev.
Wirksamkeit des Glyzins und Alanins auf die unlöslichen Salze von Silber und Blei

1. Es wurde die Wirkung des Glyzins und Alanins auf die Fallung von Silber- und Bleichloriden,-bromiden, -jodiden und -chromaten durch Zusatz loslicher Kaliumsalze untersucht. 2. Es wurde gefunden, das bei Konstanz der Menge des Fallungsmittels (seine Menge war immer groser, als zur vollstandigen Fallung notig war) sich die Menge des Nichtelektrolyten, die notig ist, die Fallung zu hemmen, mit der Konzentrationssteigerung der Salzlosung vermehrt. 3. Weiter wurde gefunden, das Alanin nach dem Molverhaltnis ein besseres Hemmungsmittel ist als Glyzin. 4. Es wurde gezeigt, das bei Zusatz wachsender Mengen des Fallungsmittels oder bei Anderung des Volumens des Systems die Menge der erforderlichen Nichtelektrolyte konstant bleibt. 5. Es wurde dargelegt, das die Wirkung der Nichtelektrolyte eine hemmende und keine peptisierende ist. 6. Es wurde gezeigt, das mit den angewendeten Nichtelektrolyten keine einfache chemische Verbindung des Kaliums, Silbers oder Bleis entsteht; die Bildung einer Komplexverbindung wurde wahrscheinlich gemacht.
Species richness of urban forest patches and implications for urban landscape diversity

The vascular plant species richness of upland urban forest patches in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota, was found to be positively related to their size. There was no significant relationship between species richness and the distance of these patches to other patches. Mowing and trampling reduced species richness of patches, whereas planting increased richness. Landscape richness can be maintained at a relatively high level by leaving even small unmown forested patches within a more disturbed matrix. However, maximizing landscape diversity would require leaving large forest stands unmown. It is suggested that cultivation be deliberately used as a mechanism for increasing native species richness in urban forests.
Mechanisms shaping the naïve T cell repertoire in the elderly - Thymic involution or peripheral homeostatic proliferation?

The ability of the human immune system to repel infections is drastically diminished with age. Elderly individuals are more susceptible to new threats and are less able to control endogenous infections. The thymus, which is the sole source of new T cells, has been proposed as a target for regenerative efforts to improve immune competence, as thymic activity is dramatically reduced after puberty. In this review, we review the role of the thymus in the maintenance of T cell homeostasis throughout life and contrast the differences in mice and humans. We propose that in humans, lack of thymic T cell generation does not explain a decline in T cell receptor diversity nor would thymic rejuvenation restore diversity. Initial studies using next generation sequencing are beginning to establish lower boundaries of T cell receptor diversity. With increasing sequencing depth and the development of new statistical models, we are now in the position to test this model and to assess the impact of age on T cell diversity and clonality.
Quasiequilibrium binary black hole sequences for puncture data derived from helical Killing vector conditions

We construct a sequence of binary black hole puncture data derived under the assumptions (i) that the Arnowitt-Deser-Misner (ADM) mass of each puncture as measured in the asymptotically flat space at the puncture stays constant along the sequence, and (ii) that the orbits along the sequence are quasicircular in the sense that several necessary conditions for the existence of a helical Killing vector are satisfied. These conditions are the equality of the ADM and Komar mass at infinity and the equality of the ADM and a rescaled Komar mass at each puncture. In this paper we explicitly give results for the case of an equal mass black hole binary without spin, but our approach can also be applied in the general case. We find that up to numerical accuracy the apparent horizon mass also remains constant along the sequence and that the prediction for the innermost stable circular orbit is similar to what has been found with the effective potential method.
Cross-Cultural Attachment, Internationalization, and Systems Theory An Interview With Kok-Mun Ng

In this article, Regina R. Moro and Rebecca G. Scherer interview Dr. Kok-Mun Ng on the topics of cross-cultural attachment, the internationalization of the counseling profession, and the importance of systems theory.
Is SAARC a viable economic block? evidence from gravity model

Abstract Intra-South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) trade appears to be very small compared to other existing regional blocks. This might be because of normal outcome or because of unexplored trade opportunity. If the latter is the case, then increased trade within this region might be welfare improving. This study attempts to make a formal analysis of these issues, and estimates a gravity model of international trade to examine whether intra-SAARC is lower or higher than what is predicted by an economic model. This gives an idea about the structure of comparative advantage in the SAARC countries that helps to explain why intra-SAARC trade is low and how trade among them can be increased. It also helps us to understand the possibility of trade creation and trade diversion effect resulting from South Asian Preferential Trading Arrangements among SAARC countries. Whereas the gravity model has been extensively used to measure bilateral trade among countries, they have, to the best of my knowledge, never been used to measure intra-SAARC trade. Our gravity model results suggest that SAARC member countries are yet to achieve trade-creating benefits. Appropriate policies need to be formulated for more regional integration. Liberalization of trade in SAARC countries offers significant gains for all the economies in the region. Efforts should be made to liberalize border trade and strengthen bilateral trade relations through the removal of tariff and nontariff barriers in the general framework of South Asian Preferential Trading Arrangements.
Upregulation of the human alkaline ceramidase 1 and acid ceramidase mediates calcium-induced differentiation of epidermal keratinocytes.

Extracellular calcium (Cao2+) potently induces the growth arrest and differentiation of human epidermal keratinocytes (HEKs). We report that Cao2+ markedly upregulates the human alkaline ceramidase 1 (haCER1) in HEKs; and its upregulation mediates the Cao2+-induced growth arrest and differentiation of HEKs. haCER1 is the human ortholog of mouse alkaline ceramidase 1 that we previously identified. haCER1 catalyzed the hydrolysis of very long-chain ceramides to generate sphingosine (SPH). This in vitro activity required Ca2+. Ectopic expression of haCER1 in HEKs decreased the levels of D-e-C24:1-ceramide and D-e-C24:0-ceramide but elevated the levels of both SPH and its phosphate (S1P), whereas RNA interference-mediated knockdown of haCER1 caused the opposite effects on the levels of these sphingolipids in HEKs. Similar to haCER1 overexpression, Cao2+ increased the levels of SPH and S1P, and this was attenuated by haCER1 knockdown. haCER1 knockdown also inhibited the Cao2+-induced growth arrest of HEKs and the Cao2+-induced expression of keratin 1 and involucrin in HEKs. In addition, the acid ceramidase (AC) was also upregulated by Cao2+; and its knockdown attenuated the Cao2+-induced expression of keratin 1 and involucrin in HEKs. These results strongly suggest that upregulation of haCER1 and AC mediates the Cao2+-induced growth arrest and differentiation of HEKs by generating SPH and S1P.
Restricting medicaid payments for transportation: effects on inner-city patients' health care.

ABSTRACT Background: Prior approval programs have been used to control spiraling costs of Medicaid, but they are rarely formally assessed. We evaluated the effect of a change in Indiana Medicaid’s policy (effective October 1, 1993) requiring prior approval to pay transportation costs. Methods: We performed a historical cohort study comparing the health care utilization of Medicaid patients during the first 6 months of 1993 versus the first 6 months of 1994. Subjects included all Medicaid patients who visited any inpatient or outpatient site affiliated with an inner-city public hospital in the first 6 months of 1993 (N = 23,015) and 1994 (N = 23,707). Results: These Medicaid patients made 82,961 visits in the first 6 months of 1993 and 79,809 visits in the first 6 months of 1994. Visits to hospital-based primary care clinics declined 16% ( P P ≤ 0.001). Emergency and urgent visits fell by 8%; visits for medication refills fell by 18% ( P Conclusions: Requiring prior approval for transportation was associated with reductions in visits for primary care visits and refilling prescriptions without measurable shortterm effects on charges or selected clinical parameters. Neighborhood health centers partially ameliorated the decline in primary care visits.
Effects of hyperprolactinemia on the control of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone secretion in the male rat.

Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of acute hyperprolactinemia (hyperPRL) on the control of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone secretion in male rats. Exposure to elevated levels of prolactin from the time of castration (1 mg ovine prolactin 2 X daily) greatly attenuated the post-castration rise in LH observed 3 days after castration. By 7 days after castration, LH concentrations in the prolactin-treated animals approached the levels observed in control animals. HyperPRL had no effect on the postcastration rise in FSH. Pituitary responsiveness to gonadotropin hormone-releasing hormone (GnRH), as assessed by LH responses to an i.v. bolus of 25 ng GnRH, was only minimally effected by hperPRL at 3 and 7 days postcastration. LH responses were similar at all time points after GnRH in control and prolactin-treated animals, except for the peak LH responses, which were significantly smaller in the prolactin-treated animals. The effects of hyperPRL were examined further by exposing hemipituitaries in vitro from male rats to 6-min pulses of GnRH (5 ng/ml) every 30 min for 4 h. HyperPRL had no effect on basal LH release in vitro, on GnRH-stimulated LH release, or on pituitary LH concentrations in hemipituitaries from animals that were intact, 3 days postcastration, or 7 days postcastration. However, net GnRH-stimulated release of FSH was significantly higher by pituitaries from hyperprolactinemic, castrated males. To assess indirectly the effects of hyperPRL on GnRH release, males were subjected to electrical stimulation of the arcuate nucleus/median eminence (ARC/ME) 3 days postcastration. The presence of elevated levels of prolactin not only suppressed basal LH secretion but reduced the LH responses to electrical stimulation by 50% when compared to the LH responses in control castrated males. These results suggest that acute hyperPRL suppresses LH secretion but not FSH secretion. Although pituitary responsiveness is somewhat attenuated in hyperprolactinemic males, as assessed in vivo, it is normal when pituitaries are exposed to adequate amounts of GnRH in vitro. Thus, the effects of hyperPRL on pituitary responsiveness appear to be minimal, especially if the pituitary is exposed to an adequate GnRH stimulus. The suppression of basal LH secretion in vivo most likely reflects inadequate endogenous GnRH secretion. The greatly reduced LH responses after electrical stimulation in hyperprolactinemic males exposed to prolactin suggest further that hyperPRL suppresses GnRH secretion.
Averaged gene expressions for regression

SUMMARY Although averaging is a simple technique, it plays an important role in reducing variance. We use this essential property of averaging in regression of the DNA microarray data, which poses the challenge of having far more features than samples. In this paper, we introduce a two-step procedure that combines (1) hierarchical clustering and (2) Lasso. By averaging the genes within the clusters obtained from hierarchical clustering, we define supergenes and use them to fit regression models, thereby attaining concise interpretation and accuracy. Our methods are supported with theoretical justifications and demonstrated on simulated and real data sets.
Human and ovine amniotic fluid composition differences: Implications for fluid dynamics

Objective: The ovine model is frequently utilized to extrapolate data regarding fetal and amniotic fluid dynamics to human pregnancy. The ovine amnion is highly vascularized, facilitating intramembranous exchange of water and solutes between the amniotic fluid and fetal plasma. In comparison, the relatively avascular human amniotic membrane may have a reduced potential for intramembranous absorption. In view of these anatomical differences, we hypothesized that comparison of human and ovine amniotic fluid composition would provide insight into differences in the mechanisms of amniotic fluid exchange.Methods: Amniotic fluid was sampled from 43 patients upon hospital admission, and from 27 ovine ewes at five days following amniotic fluid catheter placement. Both human (32 to 39 weeks' gestation) and ovine pregnancies (125 to 136 days' gestation) were sampled during the last 20% of gestation. Samples were analyzed for osmolality and sodium, potassium and chloride concentrations. The contribution of electroly...
Structure and Immunochemistry of the Cell Wall Mannans from Saccharomyces chevalieri, Saccharomyces italicus, Saccharomyces diastaticus, and Saccharomyces carlsbergensis

The mannans of Saccharomyces chevalieri, S. italicus, S. diastaticus, and S. carlsbergensis, were acetolyzed, and the fragments were separated by gel filtration. All gave similar acetolysis fingerprints, which were distinguished from S. cerevisiae by the presence of a pentasaccharide component in addition to the mono-, di-, tri-, and tetrasaccharides. All oligosaccharide fragments were composed of mannose in alpha-linkage. From methylation analysis and other structural studies, the disaccharide was shown to be alphaMan(1 --> 2)Man; the trisaccharide was shown to be a mixture of alphaMan(1 --> 2)alphaMan (1 --> 2)Man and alphaMan(1 --> 3)alphaMan(1 --> 2)Man; the tetrasaccharide was alphaMan(1 --> 3)alphaMan(1 --> 2)alphaMan(1 --> 2)Man; and the pentasaccharide was alphaMan(1 --> 3)alphaMan(1 --> 3)alphaMan(1 --> 2)alphaMan(1 --> 2)Man. The ratios of the different fragments varied slightly from strain to strain. Mannanase digestion of two of the mannans yielded polysaccharide residues that were unbranched (1 --> 6)-linked polymers, thus establishing the structural relationship between these mannans and that from S. cerevisiae. Antisera raised against the various yeasts cross-reacted with the mannans from each, and also with S. cerevisae mannan. The mannotetraose and mannopentaose acetolysis fragments gave complete inhibition of the precipitin reactions, which indicated that, in these systems as in the S. cerevisiae system, the terminal alpha(1 --> 3)-linked mannose unit was the principal immunochemical determinant on the cell surface.
How Many Runs? Analytical Method for Optimal Scenario Sampling to Estimate Travel Time Variance in Traffic Networks

Scenario-based approaches provide an effective and practical approach to capturing the probabilistic nature of travel time in a traffic network. Scenarios that represent daily roadway conditions are generated by identifying various demand- and supply-side factors that affect travel time variability and by sampling a set of mutually consistent combinations of the associated events. The sampled scenarios are then evaluated with traffic simulation models to obtain travel time distributions to provide a basis for extracting a wide range of reliability performance metrics. A key question under this framework pertains to the number of input scenarios needed to achieve the best estimators of reliability measures of interest, given a limited computation budget. Given a stratification of the entire domain of daily scenarios into distinct scenario categories (or strata), the study addressed the optimal sample size allocation problem in connection with stratified sampling. Existing sample allocation schemes (e.g., N...