cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Accurate and Efficient Empirical Approach for Calculating the Dielectric Self-Energy and Ion−Ion Pair Potential in Continuum Models of Biological Ion Channels

This paper presents empirical formulas for calculating the dielectric self-energy and ion−ion pair interactions in cylindrical ion channels. The proposed approach can be extended to more complex channel structures, for example, (i) a “straight” channel with variable radius and (ii) a “curved” channel with constant radius. For calibration purposes, we compare results obtained based on the approximate effective potentials developed herein to exact electrostatic calculations obtained via the algorithm of Graf et al.:1,2 the agreement is satisfactory. A dynamic lattice Monte Carlo (DLMC) technique is used to further assess the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed empirical potentials. The concentration profiles and current−voltage curves produced with our simple empirical energy formulas are in excellent agreement with numerical results obtained using the algorithm of Graf et al., which calculates all relevant electrostatic forces exactly. The use of effective ion−ion potentials greatly reduces the compute...
Chemical Stability of Indicators and Substrate-Indicators Used for the Detection of Phosphatase Activity

Summary The reagents 2, 6-dibromo-N-chloro- p -quinoneimine (BQC), N, 2, 6-trichloro- p -quinoneimine (CQC), phenolphthalein phosphate, and p -nitrophenyl phosphate, in powder form and as solutions, for use as indicators or substrate-indicators in phosphatase testing, were stored under a variety of conditions, to observe rates of deterioration. CQC reagent was remarkably superior to BQC in maintaining chemical stability over long periods of time. Storage conditions for maximum stability of the four reagents were determined. BQC and CQC powder may be stored at any temperature between −5 and 20° C. for as long as 1 yr. BQC solutions may be stored at −5° C. for not longer than 30 days. CQC solutions may be stored at 5° C. for as long as 258 days. Phenolphthalein phosphate powder may be stored at −5° C. as long as 1 yr., whereas solutions of this reagent may be stored at −5° C. as long as 258 days. Powdered p -nitrophenyl phosphate may be stored at −5° C. as long as 105 days, and solutions of this reagent may be stored at −5° C. as long as 81 days. The indicators CQC and BQC, in solution, are best kept in dark brown, well-stoppered glass containers, while the two substrate-indicators are best protected in clear glass, well-stoppered containers. CQC and BQC were compared relative to their solubilities and rate and intensity of color development in simple model systems and in actual milk phosphatase systems. In absolute methanol, absolute ethanol, and 95% ethanol, CQC was rapidly and completely soluble. BQC was readily soluble only in absolute methanol. The rate of blue color development was influenced greatly by the chemical system in which the indicators reacted with available phenol. The rate was similar for both BQC and CQC in the zinc sulfate-borate color development system associated with the Sanders and Sager method (8). In the trichloracetic acid-carbonate buffer color development system of the Cornell phosphatase method, both indicators reacted more rapidly with the available phenol. Maximum color development for each indicator was attained four times faster at 37° C. and twice as fast at 25° C. in the trichloracetic acid-carbonate system. The data show that maximum color can be developed in the Cornell method in 15min. at room temperature, rather than the earlier recommended 15min. at 37° C. In the trichloroacetic acid-carbonate system CQC developed slightly more blue color than BQC at high levels of free phenol, but at low levels no differences were observed. The chemical stability, solubility, and rate and intensity of color development indicate that CQC is more suitable for use as an indicator for phosphatase testing than is BQC. It should receive preference in the future.
Fatty acid secretion and metabolism in 'activated' rabbit alveolar macrophages.

Abstract The lipid content of bronchoalveolar lavages collected from both control rabbits and rabbits undergoing a pulmonary inflammatory response induced by intravenous injection of complete Freund's adjuvant was examined. A maximum of 4 · 108 alveolar macrophages could be recovered from the lavage of injected rabbits, a 10-fold greater number of cells than could be obtained from control rabbits. Increased amounts of unsaturated free fatty acids were present in the lavage lipids of injected rabbits, and no change in the amount and degree of saturation of lavaged phosphatidylcholine occurred. Alveolar macrophages recovered from injected rabbits contained 25 to 40% less lipid per cell, as measured by total fatty acid composition. Free fatty acids are released from phospholipids of adjuvant-induced alveolar macrophages incubated in vitro following lavage. Concentrations of N-formylmethionyl-phenylalanine similar to those which stimulate macrophage chemotaxis and bactericidal activity enhance this fatty acid release. Alveolar macrophages incorporate both saturated and unsaturated fatty acids with similar efficiency, primarily into phospholipids and triacylglycerols. Thus, activation of alveolar macrophages which results in a relative increase in internal phospholipase activity with concomitant large losses in cellular phospholipid results not only in liberation of chemokinetic fatty acids but also in considerable loss of membrane components.
Drug therapy of postprandial hyperglycaemia

It is widely accepted that the most challenging goal in the management of patients with diabetes mellitus is to achieve blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible. In general, normalising postprandial blood glucose levels is more difficult than normalising fasting hyperglycaemia. In addition, some epidemiological studies suggest that postprandial hyperglycaemia (PPHG) or hyperinsulinaemia are independent risk factors for the development of macrovascular complications of diabetes mellitus. Recently, several drugs with differing pharmacodynamic profiles have been developed which target PPHG. These include insulin lispro, amylin analogues, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors and meglitinide analogues. Insulin lispro has a more rapid onset of action and shorter duration of efficacy compared with regular human insulin. In clinical trials, the use of insulin lispro was associated with improved control of PPHG and a reduced incidence of hypoglycaemic episodes. Repaglinide, a meglitinide analogue, is a short-acting insulinotropic agent which. when given before meals, stimulates endogenous insulin secretions and lowers postprandial hyperglycaemic excursions. Both insulin lispro and repaglinide are associated with postprandial hyperinsulinaemia. In contrast, amylin analogues reduce PPHG by slowing gastric emptying and delivery of nutrients to the absorbing surface of the gut. Alpha-Glucosidase inhibitors such as acarbose, miglitol and voglibose also reduce PPHG primarily by interfering with the carbohydrate-digesting enzymes and delaying glucose absorption. With the availability of agents which preferentially reduce postprandial blood glucose excursions, it is now possible to achieve glycaemic goals in a larger proportion of individuals with diabetes mellitus.
Monitoring for pornography and sexual harassment

The legal basis for workplace surveillance when dealing with two particular Internet abuses.
A Theoretical Investigation Into the Optimal Longitudinal Profile of a Horizontal Pin Fin of Least Material Under the Influence of Natural Convection

Fundamental level research is presented in this paper discovering the optimum pin fin profile maximizing material utilization (maximum heat transfer with minimum volume) in the case of natural convection. Although this problem has been studied in the past, the current research allows for an axially variable convective heat transfer coefficient due to the axially variable diameter in such pin fins. The current model is compared with previous studies assuming a constant convective heat transfer coefficient. The comparison shows the prior solutions to be special cases of the model in the current research.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Progesterone triggers the rapid activation of phospholipase D in the amphibian oocyte plasma membrane when initiating the G2/M transition.

Abstract Previous reports indicate that, in the Rana pipiens oocyte, progesterone triggers a rapid rise in 1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG) derived from phosphatidylcholine (PC) in the plasma membranes. This DAG transient, which appears and is terminated within 60–90 s, is derived both from a phospholipase which we assumed to be phospholipase C and from sphingomyelin (SM) synthase. We now find that progesterone stimulates PC and DAG turnover primarily via the phospholipase D (PLD) and phosphatidic acid phosphohydrolase (PAP) pathways as well as via the SM-ceramide pathway. Rana oocytes were prelabeled with [ 3 H]choline chloride under conditions in which about 70% is incorporated into PC of the plasma membrane of the intact oocyte or with [ 3 H]lysoplatelet activating factor (1- O -octadecyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, lysoPAF) which is selectively incorporated into plasma membrane PC. Progesterone induced the release of [ 3 H]choline from intact oocytes into the medium within 60–90 s. This choline release was dose-dependent and was not inhibited by a putative PC-specific phospholipase C inhibitor, D609. Progesterone also induced a transient rise in [ 3 H]lysoPAF-derived [ 3 H]DAG within 1–2 min followed by a rise in [ 3 H]PA. In the presence of 20 mM ethanol, progesterone stimulated formation of [ 3 H]lysoPAF-derived phosphatidylethanol, indicating progesterone activation of PC-specific PLD and concomitant formation of PA. A DGK inhibitor (D102) reduced the level of [ 3 H]PA, produced a sustained rise in [ 3 H]DAG and was a weak inducer of meiosis in oocytes not exposed to progesterone. A PA phosphohydrolase inhibitor (propranolol) elevated [ 3 H]PA and completely inhibited the progesterone-induced rise in DAG. Progesterone thus acts at oocyte plasma membrane receptors to release PC-derived DAG via both SM synthase and PC-PLD. The duration of the DAG signal is regulated by the coordinate action of DGK and PAP.
Electrical coupling between the human Serotonin Transporter and Voltage-Gated Ca2+ Channels

Monoamine transporters have been implicated in dopamine or serotonin release in response to abused drugs such as methamphetamine or ecstasy (MDMA). In addition, monoamine transporters show substrate-induced inward currents that may modulate excitability and Ca(2+) mobilization, which could also contribute to neurotransmitter release. How monoamine transporters modulate Ca(2+) permeability is currently unknown. We investigate the functional interaction between the human serotonin transporter (hSERT) and voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels (CaV). We introduce an excitable expression system consisting of cultured muscle cells genetically engineered to express hSERT. Both 5HT and S(+)MDMA depolarize these cells and activate the excitation-contraction (EC)-coupling mechanism. However, hSERT substrates fail to activate EC-coupling in CaV1.1-null muscle cells, thus implicating Ca(2+) channels. CaV1.3 and CaV2.2 channels are natively expressed in neurons. When these channels are co-expressed with hSERT in HEK293T cells, only cells expressing the lower-threshold L-type CaV1.3 channel show Ca(2+) transients evoked by 5HT or S(+)MDMA. In addition, the electrical coupling between hSERT and CaV1.3 takes place at physiological 5HT concentrations. The electrical coupling between monoamine neurotransmitter transporters and Ca(2+) channels such as CaV1.3 is a novel mechanism by which endogenous substrates (neurotransmitters) or exogenous substrates (like ecstasy) could modulate Ca(2+)-driven signals in excitable cells.
OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA IS ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED SEVERITY OF CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE AND WORSE CARDIOVASCULAR OUTCOMES

Asrac Caeor: 2. Chroc CAD/Sale Ischemc Hear Dsease: Clcalreseao Numer: 120-398Auhors: Nicholas A. Mantini, Danny Eapen, Frank Corrigan, Suliman Alradawi, Pankaj Manocha, Riyaz Patel, Muhammad Hammadah, Mohammad Tarek Kabbany, Ravi Nanjundappa, Rostam Zafari, James C. Lee, Hatem Al Kassem, Revanth Yendamuri, Ying X. Liu, Naureen Farook, Aliy M. Ahmed, Mohammad S. Qadir, Laurence Sperling, Arshed Quyyumi, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USAIntroduction: sruce sleep apea (SA) s assocae wh oxae sress, rs acors clu hpereso, a wh ar presece o coroar arer sease (CAD). Howeer, wheher SA corues o he seer o CAD a o uure aerse ees paes wh CAD remas uow. We hpohesze ha SA wll e assocae wh reaer seer o coroar aheroscleross a worse caroascular oucomes.Methods: I a case-corol su o 893 paes recrue o he Emor Carolo oa who uerwe coroar aoraph, 402 ha ocumee SA a 491 were ree o SA. Seer o CAD was ocumee us he Ges score. aes were ollowe-up or 2.5 ears or prospece occurrece o maor aerse caroascular ees eie as eah, mocaral arco (MI) or reascularzao. Mularae lear reresso a Cox proporoal hazar moels were perorme o eerme he assocaos o SA wh CAD seer a oucomes.Results: Aer mularae ausme or ae, eer, smo, slpema, aees, o mass ex (MI), mecao, MI/SA eraco a eeco raco, SA remae a epee precor o hher Ges coroar seer score (p=.00). resece o SA was assocae wh a 3.4 (CI 1.48-8.2, p=0.007) reaer hazar or uure aerse CVD oucomes. Us Cox proporoal moel, here was worsee sural or hose wh SA compare o hose whou (p=.044).Conclusions: I uals wh ow CAD or a hh rs or aheroscleross, presece o SA s assocae wh a reaer seer o CAD a s prece o worse caroascular oucomes.
Steam effect on NOx reduction over lean NOx trap Pt–BaO/Al2O3 model catalyst

The effect of steam on NO x reduction over lean NO x trap (LNT) Pt–Ba/Al2O3 and Pt/Al2O3 model catalysts was investigated with reaction protocols of rich steady-state followed by lean–rich cyclic operations using CO and C3H8 as reductants, respectively. Compared to dry atmosphere, steam promoted NO x reduction; however, under rich conditions the primary reduction product was NH3. The results of NO x reduction and NH3 selectivity versus temperature, combined with temperature programmed reduction of stored NO x over Pt–BaO/Al2O3 suggest that steam causes NH3 formation over Pt sites via reduction of NO x by hydrogen that is generated via water gas shift for CO/steam, or via steam reforming for C3H8/steam. During the rich mode of lean–rich cyclic operation with lean–rich duration ratio of 60 /20 s, not only the feed NO, but also the stored NO x contributed to NH3 formation. The NH3 formed under these conditions could be effectively trapped by a downstream bed of Co2+ exchanged Beta zeolite. When the cyclic operation was switched into lean mode at T < 450 °C, the trapped ammonia in turn participated in additional NO x reduction, leading to improved NO x storage efficiency.
Paradoxical production of target protein using antisense RNA expression vectors.

We used antisense RNA in a protocol designed to reduce estrogen receptor (ER) content in human breast cancer cells and observed paradoxical increases in ER levels. ER protein activity was measured using a highly sensitive reporter gene assay that relies on the ability of functional ER to bind a consensus estrogen response element ( ERE ) and drive the production of chloramphenicol acetyl-transferase (CAT). Upon transient transfection of ER-positive cell lines with three different vectors containing the full-length ER cDNA cloned in an antisense orientation, we observed unexpected increases in ER -driven CAT activity. To further investigate this phenomenon, expression from the antisense ER vectors was studied in an ER-negative breast tumor cell line, MDA-MB-453. ER activity was observed in these ER-negative cells upon transient transfection with each of three antisense ER vectors, but not from control vectors. Expression of ER from antisense contructs was 30–100-times less efficient than ER expression from isogenic sense constructs. The paradoxical ER activity was consistent with expected ER behavior in that it exhibited characteristic binding to the natural ligand, 17β-estradiol (E2), and it was inhibited by the antiestrogens, 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen (OHT) and ICI 164384 (ICI). Control vectors containing a truncated antisense ER cDNA produced no ER activity. Although the mechanism for this ER expression has not been determined, it appears likely that it is due to transcription off the opposite strand of the antisense construct. These observations should alert investigators to the possibility of unwanted expression of target protein when antisense vectors constructed with a full-length cDNA are used to generate intracellular antisense RNA.
Coherent-state parametrization of the QCD long-distance dynamics

Abstract A parametrization of long-distance effects in perturbative QCD is proposed based on the concept of coherent-state scattering, that follows from the asymptotic properties of the S-matrix in massless theories. The resulting perturbation theory is free of mass singularities and independent of mass regulators. As an application, the flavour-singlet axial anomaly is perturbatively calculated and proven non-zero and mass-regulator independent.
A Pair of Resonant Planets Orbiting GJ 876

Precise Doppler measurements during 6 yr from the Lick and Keck observatories reveal two planets orbiting GJ 876 (M4V). The orbital Ðt yields companion masses of M sin i \ 0.56 and 1.89 orbital M J , periods of P \ 30.1 and 61.0 days, semimajor axes of a \ 0.13 and 0.21 AU, and eccentricities of e \ 0.28 and 0.10, respectively. The orbital periods are nearly in the ratio of 2:1, unprecedented among major planets but common among moons and asteroids. Moreover, the axes of the elliptical orbits appear to be nearly aligned. The inner companion was not recognized previously owing to the 2:1 ratio of periods, which allowed its signature to masquerade as added orbital eccentricity of the outer planet. Dynamical simulations show that the system is stable within a subset of the observed orbital parameters. The stability may be provided by a mean-motion resonance and the apparent alignment of the major axes. These planets pose unsolved questions about their formation and dynamical evolution, which brought them within 0.08 AU of each other and locked them in resonance. Subject headings : planetary systems E stars : individual (GJ 876)
The thermal decomposition of poly-4,4'-oxydiphenylene pyromellitimide

Abstract The thermal decomposition of Vespel SP-l (poly-4,4'-oxydiphenylene pyro- mellitimide) has been investigated using thermogravimetry. Weight versus temperature curves in dry air, in dry argon and under vacuum are reported. Vespel SP-l undergoes a partial decomposition (carbonization) above 470°C in argon and under vacuum resulting in a weight loss of approximately 35‰ In air a second decomposition step (oxidation) is observed which results in a weight loss of nearly 100‰ Samples were decomposed isothermally in argon to investigate the carbonization step and these partially decomposed samples were then heated in air to study the oxidation process. Activation energies determined are 76.5 ± 1.3 kcal/mole for the first step in argon and 24.5 ±0.7 kcal/mole for the final decomposition in air.
The relative participation of liver microsomal amine oxidase and cytochrome P-450 in N-demethylation reactions

N-Demethylation of benzphetamine and p-chloro-N-methylaniline measured in the presence and absence of specific antibodies to NADPH-cytochrome c (P-450) reductase demonstrates that part of the formaldehyde formed from the sec-N-methylamine arises from non-cytochrome P-450-dependent oxidation catalyzed by pig, hamster, and rat liver microsomes. The additional formaldehyde formed can be inhibited by adding methimazole, a non-formaldehyde-producing substrate specific for the microsomal mixed-function amine oxidase, to the reaction media. Purified amine oxidase catalyzes the oxidation of sec-N-methylamines to sec-N-methylhydroxylamines that, upon oxidation and hydrolysis, yield formaldehyde. Approximately 65, 40, and 15% of total formaldehyde is formed by this route during oxidation of p-chloro-N-methylaniline catalyzed by pig, hamster, and rat liver microsomes, respectively.
Development and Evaluation of a Urethane Jacketed Tail Roller for Continuous Mining Machines

Occupational noise-induced hearing loss continues to be one of the most pervasive health problems in the mining industry, despite over 25 years of regulation. One of the loudest pieces of equipment used in underground mining is the continuous mining machine. Noise sample data collected by the Mine Safety and Health Administration indicate that 42% of noise overexposures between 2000 and 2005 involved continuous mining machine operators. Previously conducted field and laboratory tests have determined that the continuous mining machine conveyor system is a dominant noise source. Loud impacts occur as the conveyor chain flight bars, used to move the mined aggregate, traverse their path from the top to the underside of the conveyor deck. Various noise control treatments have been applied to abate noise caused by the conveyor system. A durable polyurethane coating has been developed for the conveyor flight bars, resulting in a time-weighted average reduction of 3 dB(A) for an eight-hour work shift. In an attempt to further reduce continuous mining machine operator overexposures, a similar urethane coating has been applied to the tail roller component of the conveyor system. Laboratory results showed a 2 dB(A) reduction in sound power levels, but the component failed during underground durability testing. An outer steel sleeve has been added to the urethane coating of the tail roller to enhance wear resistance during mining. The urethane jacketed tail roller is the latest effort, combined with previous noise treatments, to bring the continuous mining machine into compliance with federal noise regulations.
Medical Propaganda andCultural Revolution in Soviet Kazakhstan, 1928–41

In the spring of 1928 a doctor entered a remote village in southern Kazakhstan. Like hundreds of other physicians sent to the region, he came bearing information about germ theory, disease transmission, and ways to improve the Kazakhs' health and well-being. He found a world very different from his own. Lying south of Siberia and east of the Caspian Sea, these arid steppes bore no resemblance to the dense birch forests his eyes knew well. The Turkic-speaking, Muslim, nomadic Kazakhs neither physically nor culturally reminded him of the Russian villagers that we can imagine he grew up with or visited during the summers of his youth. Shortly after setting up shop in a felt tent, the doctor summoned the villagers to hear a series of lectures on topics ranging from syphilis to prenatal care to sanitation. Somewhat skeptical and at times quite reluctant, Kazakh men and women gathered and listened to these talks that the doctor's assistant haltingly interpreted into their native tongue. In reports back to his superiors, the physician noted the filth and squalor in which his would-be patients lived, their resistance to the notions he brought with him, and the distrust that forged a gulf between him and those he served. I While his medical methods and theories were unfamiliar, his appearance and way of life probably were not entirely unknown to the local population. Beginning in the late nineteenth century, large numbers of Russians and Ukrainians settled in northern Kazakhstan, where they established large farms. Their traditional migratory routes disrupted, Kazakhs
Brain functional magnetic resonance imaging response to glucose and fructose infusions in humans

Author(s): Purnell, JQ; Klopfenstein, BA; Stevens, AA; Havel, PJ; Adams, SH; Dunn, TN; Krisky, C; Rooney, WD | Abstract: AimsIn animals, intracerebroventricular glucose and fructose have opposing effects on appetite and weight regulation. In humans, functional brain magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies during glucose ingestion or infusion have demonstrated suppression of hypothalamic signalling, but no studies have compared the effects of glucose and fructose. We therefore sought to determine if the brain response differed to glucose vs. fructose in humans independently of the ingestive process.MethodsNine healthy, normal weight subjects underwent blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) fMRI measurements during either intravenous (IV) glucose (0.3 mg/kg), fructose (0.3 mg/kg) or saline, administered over 2 min in a randomized, double-blind, crossover study. Blood was sampled every 5 min during a baseline period and following infusion for 60 min in total for glucose, fructose, lactate and insulin levels.ResultsNo significant brain BOLD signal changes were detected in response to IV saline. BOLD signal in the cortical control areas increased during glucose infusion (p = 0.002), corresponding with increased plasma glucose and insulin levels. In contrast, BOLD signal decreased in the cortical control areas during fructose infusion (p = 0.006), corresponding with increases of plasma fructose and lactate. Neither glucose nor fructose infusions significantly altered BOLD signal in the hypothalamus.ConclusionIn normal weight humans, cortical responses as assessed by BOLD fMRI to infused glucose are opposite to those of fructose. Differential brain responses to these sugars and their metabolites may provide insight into the neurologic basis for dysregulation of food intake during high dietary fructose intake.
Tracking water's response to structural changes in Nafion membranes.

As the water content of Nafion membranes increases, the local environments of water molecules change due to reorganization of the pendant side chains in the hydrophilic domains. Changes in local structure as a function of water content are studied by measuring the IR spectra and the vibrational lifetimes of the hydroxyl stretch of dilute HOD in H2O. The main features of the IR spectra are fit well by a weighted sum of the spectra of bulk water and almost dry Nafion, suggesting a two-environment model. An additional small peak on the high frequency side of the main band associated with non-hydrogen-bonded water embedded in the polymer near the interface is analyzed quantitatively as a function of the membrane water content. The spectra of this peak show that a significant reorganization of the interfacial region occurs when the water content of the membrane exceeds the threshold for ion conduction. Vibrational excited state population relaxation times (lifetimes) of the main band lengthen substantially as ...
THE SYNTHESIS AND STRUCTURAL ANALYSES OF RUTHENIUM CARBONYL CLUSTER COMPLEXES CONTAINING THE BIS-(TRIMETHYLSILYL)HEXATRIYNE LIGAND

Abstract Two ruthenium carbonyl cluster complexes: Ru3(CO)10[μ3-η2-C2(CCSiMe3)2], 2 (6% yield) and Ru4(CO)12[μ4-η2-C2(CCSiMe3)2], 3 (36% yield) were obtained from the reaction of the 1,6-bis-(trimethylsilyl)-1,3,5-hexatriyne, 1 with Ru(CO)5 at 25°C. Both compounds were characterized by a single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. In both cases the Ru cluster is located on the central alkyne unit of the triyne 1. Compound 2 contains a Ru3 triangle with the alkyne coordinated in the common μ3-∣ ∣ mode. In compound 3 the alkyne is coordinated in a μ4-mode. The lengths of the coordinated alkyne C–C bonds are considerably longer than the uncoordinated alkyne C–C bond lengths. Compound 2 was also obtained in a better yield (60%) from the reaction of 1 with Ru3(CO)10(NCMe)2. Compound 2 reacts with Ru(CO)5 to yield compound 3, indicating that it is probably a precursor to 3 in the original reaction.
Estimates of learning by watching and endogenous technical progress in six OECD countries

A testable model of ‘learning by watching’, where the rate of technical progress is related to the investment rate, is formulated and estimated.
A situated view of representation and control

Intelligent agents are systems that have a complex, ongoing interaction with an environment that is dynamic and imperfectly predictable. Agents are typically difficult to program because the correctness of a program depends on the details of how the agent is situated in its environment. In this paper, we present a methodology for the design of situated agents that is based on situated-automata theory. This approach allows designers to describe the informational content of an agent's computational states in a semantically rigorous way without requiring a commitment to conventional run-time symbolic processing. We start by outlining this situated view of representation, then show how it contributes to design methodologies for building systems that track perceptual conditions and take purposeful actions in their environments.
Interest groups and the regulation of pesticides: Congress, coalitions, and closure

This article is essentially a rejoinder to Christopher Bosso's piece, ‘Transforming Adversaries Into Collaborators: Interest groups and the regulation of chemical pesticides,’ which appeared in this journal (21: 3–22). The case of pesticides regulation is re-examined and some new insights are offered. At the center of Bosso's argument is the contention that Congress is passive. John Kingdon's agenda/alternative distinction is utilized to arrive at an alternative way to think about the role of Congress in today's ‘permeable pressure system.’
Cardiac Troponin I Threonine 144: Role in Myofilament Length–Dependent Activation

Myofilament length-dependent activation is the main cellular mechanism responsible for the Frank-Starling law of the heart. All striated muscle display length-dependent activation properties, but it is most pronounced in cardiac muscle and least in slow skeletal muscle. Cardiac muscle expressing slow skeletal troponin (ssTn)I instead of cardiac troponin (cTn)I displays reduced myofilament length-dependent activation. The inhibitory region of troponin (Tn)I differs by a single residue, proline at position 112 in ssTnI versus threonine at position 144 in cTnI. Here we tested whether this substitution was important for myofilament length-dependent activation; using recombinant techniques, we prepared wild-type cTnI, ssTnI, and 2 mutants: cTnI(Thr>Pro) and ssTnI(Pro>Thr). Purified proteins were complexed with recombinant cardiac TnT/TnC and exchanged into skinned rat cardiac trabeculae. Force-Ca2+ relationships were determined to derive myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity (EC50) at 2 sarcomere lengths: 2.0 and 2.2 microm (n=7). Myofilament length-dependent activation was indexed as deltaEC50, the difference in EC50 between sarcomere lengths of 2.0 and 2.2 microm. Incorporation of ssTnI compared with cTnI into the cardiac sarcomere reduced deltaEC50 from 1.26+/-0.30 to 0.19+/-0.04 micromol/L. A similar reduction also could be observed when Tn contained cTnI(Thr>Pro) (deltaEC50=0.24+/-0.04 micromol/L), whereas the presence of ssTnI(Pro>Thr) increased deltaEC50 to 0.94+/-0.12 micromol/L. These results suggest that Thr144 in cardiac TnI modulates cardiac myofilament length-dependent activation.
Superplastic Nanowires Pulled from the Surface of Common Salt

Superplastic nanowires were formed by touching the NaCl(100) surface with a Au tip in a transmission electron microscope. The nanowires were stretched ≤2.2 μm, or 280%, and bent >90° upon compression, when showered with the electron beam. More surprisingly, no dislocations were observable during the elongation due to fast diffusion. Mechanical measurements in humid atmospheres suggest that salt nanowires also form in ambient environments.
Thermal Recuperation Modeling of a Solar Thermochemical Reactor

The United States spends over 700 billion dollars on foreign oil every year. A promising method to reduce this dependence, and be carbon-neutral as well, is concentrated solar thermochemical technology. Concentrated solar thermochemical technology has the potential to directly convert sunlight into a useable, carbon-neutral fuel that can be easily stored and integrated into our existing forms of energy demand such as transportation and heating fuels. Research is being performed by several groups at Sandia National Laboratories to fundamentally understand the complex physics and chemistry occurring within a solar thermochemical reactor prototype named the CR5 [counter-rotating-ring receiver/reactor/recuperator]. The objective of the work presented in this paper is to understand recuperative heat transfer within the CR5 as a function of reactor geometry and operational conditions. The CR5 vessel utilizes counter-rotating disks to provide for thermal energy recuperation, which is a necessity for an efficient reactor. Initially a simplified steady-state two-dimensional recuperation analysis was made to evaluate the relationship between the reactive material fin height and recuperation. The results from the simplified two-dimensional model indicate that recuperation is a strong function of fin height. Next, a more detailed, but still simplified, transient, three-dimensional model was developed. The initial three-dimensional simulations presented in this paper were performed to determine recuperator effectiveness and mesh density requirements for a generic case that had 2.5 kW energy input, fin height to gap ratio of 0.9, and finned reactor disks rotating at 1 rpm. A recuperator effectiveness of 88% and 85% was calculated from the finer and coarser meshes, suggesting that the coarser mesh (lumped in the fin thickness direction) is adequate for future parametric analysis simulations. This analysis will lead to a better understanding of recuperation as a function of reactor geometry, energy input, rotational speed, and thermophysical properties.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Disease-associated Mutations at Copper Ligand Histidine Residues of Superoxide Dismutase 1 Diminish the Binding of Copper and Compromise Dimer Stability

A subset of superoxide dismutase 1 (Cu/Zn-SOD1) mutants that cause familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS) have heightened reactivity with -ONOO and H2O2 in vitro. This reactivity requires a copper ion bound in the active site and is a suggested mechanism of motor neuron injury. However, we have found that transgenic mice that express SOD1-H46R/H48Q, which combines natural FALS mutations at ligands for copper and which is inactive, develop motor neuron disease. Using a direct radioactive copper incorporation assay in transfected cells and the established tools of single crystal x-ray diffraction, we now demonstrate that this variant does not stably bind copper. We find that single mutations at copper ligands, including H46R, H48Q, and a quadruple mutant H46R/H48Q/H63G/H120G, also diminish the binding of radioactive copper. Further, using native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and a yeast two-hybrid assay, the binding of copper was found to be related to the formation of the stable dimeric enzyme. Collectively, our data demonstrate a relationship between copper and assembly of SOD1 into stable dimers and also define disease-causing SOD1 mutants that are unlikely to robustly produce toxic radicals via copper-mediated chemistry.
Simplified methods for equation-of-motion coupled-cluster excited state calculations

Abstract Simplified equation-of-motion coupled-cluster (EOM-CC) methods derived from matrix partitioning and perturbation approximations are presented and applied to a variety of molecules. By combining a partitioned EOM-CC method with an MBPT(2) treatment of the ground state, we obtain an iterative n 5 method which gives excitation energies that normally fall within 0.2 eV of the full EOM-CCSD excitation energy. Results are shown to be superior to other simplified approaches that have been proposed.
Audience and the politics of narrative

This paper explores how definitions of audience shape and are shaped by the politics of writing, in particular how the use of narrative in collaboratively constructed texts situates the texts politically. The paper describes the writing of a book of “resistance narratives,” jointly co‐authored by university‐based writers and parents of children with disabilities. The paper is not about the parents’ struggles per se, but it is about how those struggles shaped the book and about how audience assumptions shape the collaborative production of a text into a political act within a local setting.
IL-1RI (interleukin-1 receptor type I) signalling is essential for host defence and hemichannel activity during acute central nervous system bacterial infection

Staphylococcus aureus is a common aetiological agent of bacterial brain abscesses. We have previously established that a considerable IL-1 (interleukin-1) response is elicited immediately following S. aureus infection, where the cytokine can exert pleiotropic effects on glial activation and blood-brain barrier permeability. To assess the combined actions of IL-1α and IL-1β during CNS (central nervous system) infection, host defence responses were evaluated in IL-1RI (IL-1 receptor type I) KO (knockout) animals. IL-1RI KO mice were exquisitely sensitive to intracerebral S. aureus infection, as demonstrated by enhanced mortality rates and bacterial burdens within the first 24 h following pathogen exposure compared with WT (wild-type) animals. Loss of IL-1RI signalling also dampened the expression of select cytokines and chemokines, concomitant with significant reductions in neutrophil and macrophage infiltrates into the brain. In addition, the opening of astrocyte hemichannels during acute infection was shown to be dependent on IL-1RI activity. Collectively, these results demonstrate that IL-1RI signalling plays a pivotal role in the genesis of immune responses during the acute stage of brain abscess development through S. aureus containment, inflammatory mediator production, peripheral immune cell recruitment, and regulation of astrocyte hemichannel activity. Taken in the context of previous studies with MyD88 (myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88) and TLR2 (Toll-like receptor 2) KO animals, the current report advances our understanding of MyD88-dependent cascades and implicates IL-1RI signalling as a major antimicrobial effector pathway during acute brain-abscess formation.
Stress and Safety for Gay Men at Work Within Masculinized Industries

Lesbians and gay men still have concerns related to being openly gay at work and maintaining health and wellness. A gay man working within a masculinized industry (historically male-dominated and higher risk, with an emphasis on authority and masculinity) may have additional concerns that are augmented by the nature of his work and related to maintaining safety and reducing stress experienced on the job. The purpose of this article is to examine some of the safety and stress concerns gay men in these industries may face. Fictional, composite cases—derived from relevant news stories and literature published in academic journals—were analyzed through a guided inquiry process based loosely on Riessman's (1993) narrative evaluation. Discussion and implications focus on policies, practices, and future directions for research that may help to ameliorate some of the issues faced by gay men at work within masculinized industries.
Some statistical and regulatory issues in the evaluation of genetic and genomic tests.

Abstract The genomics revolution is reverberating throughout the worlds of pharmaceutical drugs, genetic testing and statistical science. This revolution, which uses single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and gene expression technology, including cDNA and oligonucleotide microarrays, for a range of tests from home-brews to high-complexity lab kits, can allow the selection or exclusion of patients for therapy (responders or poor metabolizers). The wide variety of US regulatory mechanisms for these tests is discussed. Clinical studies to evaluate the performance of such tests need to follow statistical principles for sound diagnostic test design. Statistical methodology to evaluate such studies can be wide ranging, including receiver operating characteristic (ROC) methodology, logistic regression, discriminant analysis, multiple comparison procedures resampling, Bayesian hierarchical modeling, recursive partitioning, as well as exploratory techniques such as data mining. Recent examples of approved genetic ...
Treatment of localized prostatic cancer

Discovery of a localized prostatic cancer frequently creates a therapeutic dilemma. A significant number of patients do well for an extended period of time without treatment, while others suffer rapid tumor progression and death from prostatic cancer. Without treatment nearly one third of patients with stage B prostatic cancer can be expected to develop distant metastatic disease or death from prostatic cancer within 10 years. In patients who otherwise have a reasonable life expectancy of 10 years or more, aggressive therapy is justified. Long-term disease-free survival has been reported after both radical prostatectomy and external irradiation. The fact that nearly 50% of patients treated with external irradiation for stage B prostatic cancer have positive postirradiation biopsies is of concern, but the impact of this finding on overall survival is yet to be determined. The only randomized prospective study comparing radical prostatectomy with external irradiation showed a statistically significant decrease in the time to evidence of disease progression in the radical prostatectomy group. Nevertheless, as evidenced by the National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Panel, further randomized prospective trials are needed to determine the relative value of radical prostatectomy versus external irradiation for localized prostatic cancer. For the forseeable future, definitive scientific data on which to base treatment recommendations will not be available. Therefore, patients should be well informed of the various treatment options available, and the wishes of the patient are paramount. The clinician's roles are to interpret the data, present it in a meaningful manner to patients, be guided in discussions by patient preferences, and make recommendations. In this manner, the most appropriate form of therapy can be selected that provides the greatest chance of prolonged disease-free survival with morbidity that is acceptable for an individual patient.
Vertical and Lateral Extent of the Influence of a Rain Garden on the Water Table

AbstractRain gardens use natural processes, such as infiltration and evapotranspiration, to control runoff from rain events. Although prior research has shown that rain gardens are effective at controlling the volume of runoff and pollutants associated with runoff, the extent of groundwater mounding under rain gardens remains a concern for landowners, practitioners, and regulators. A rain garden on Villanova University’s campus was instrumented with monitoring wells to observe the influence of the rain garden on the water table. This rain garden receives the runoff from approximately 0.52 ha that consists of grassy areas as well as parking lots. This paper investigates vertical and lateral behavior of localized mounding caused by infiltration in a rain garden subsequent to a storm event. The data used for the analysis were selected from 1.5 years of continuous monitoring at the site. A statistical model was developed, describing event-based peak groundwater rise as a function of radial distance from the r...
Stimulation in vitro of galactocerebroside galactosidase by N-decanoyl 2-amino-2-methylpropanol.

Amides resembling ceramide (fatty acyl sphingosine) were synthesized and tested in vitro for their effects on the rat brain β-galactosidase which hydrolyzes galactosyl ceramide. The N-decanoyl derivative of 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol was most effective, giving a 34% stimulation at 0.15 mM concentration and a 60% stimulation at maximal levels. Addition of a hydroxyl group in the 3 position reduced the degree of stimulation, as did increasing or decreasing the length of the fatty acid portion. Omission of the branched methyl group resulted in inhibition instead of stimulation. Kinetic analysis indicates that the stimulator does not affect the binding of substrate to enzyme, but does speed the rate of hydrolytic action. Stimulation was also observed with the cerebrosidase in spleen and kidney. It is suggested that the stimulators act on an enzyme site other than the substrate-active site.
Place and personal identity in old age: observations from Appalachia

Abstract This paper explores the phenomenon of attachment to place in old age. Three complementary dimensions of attachment—physical, social and autobiographical insideness—are identified from a three year in-depth study of elderly residents of an Appalachian community. It is argued that autobiographical insideness may be particularly important to old people in sustaining a sense of personal identity and may be adaptive in old age. The paper develops the hypothesis that the increasing mobility of current elderly generations is resulting in changing manifestations of attachment to place. Whereas the old-old (persons over 75 years of age) remain strongly attached to their proximate physical environment, the young-old (those under 75 years of age) appear to be developing identifications with places that involve greater emphasis upon vicarious involvement in displaced settings.
H-2 S region determined polymorphic variants of the C4, Slp, C2, and B complement proteins: a compilation.

Until approximately 5 years ago, the murine complement system had largely been neglected, and most of the advances in the understanding of the structure-function relationships of the proteins of the complement pathways have been derived from studies with human and guinea pig proteins. The demonstration in the early 1970's that the mouse serum substance (Ss) protein was the homologue of the fourth component of human complement (C4) (reviewed by Shreffler 1976, Shreffler 1981, Shreffler et al. 1981) and the finding that the structural genes for C4, the second component of complement (C2), and a component of the alternative pathway (B), were in the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) complex markedly increased the interest in this area (reviewed by Alper 1981). In the middle 1970's, however, the problems of working with mouse complement seemed formidable in view of the relatively small quantities of starting materials, difficult and untested purification procedures, unstable components, and the lack of sensitive functional assays. Several unanticipated advances led to simple methods by which most of these problems could be bypassed and have permitted a majority of these studies to be performed. These advances have included: (1) the demonstration of biosynthesis of C4 (Roos et al. 1978), sex-limited protein (Slp) (Roos et al. 1978), and B (Bentley et al. 1976) by mouse peritoneal macrophages in shortterm in vitro cultures has allowed the incorporation into murine C4 of labeled amino acids (Roos et al. 1978) and sugars (Roos et al. 1980a); (2) the availability of labeled molecules has greatly facilitated structural studies, including the analysis of precursors (Parker et al. 1979) and their intracellular processing (Parker et al. 1979, Karp et al. 1982c), and of the secreted proteins. (3) Although widely applied to other H-2 molecules, purification of complement proteins by immunoprecipitation and analysis by SDS-PAGE gels had not previously been done. The advantages of these simple techniques, especially in the mouse, are enormous in that immunoprecipiration obviates the need for extensive purification procedures for each protein, and gel technology provides a powerful tool for examining structure (Roos et al. 1978, Ferreira et al. 1978). (4) Development of sensitive and specific hemolytic assays for
Effect of wind profile on the instability of wind blowing over water

A linear stability analysis of the inviscid, parallel flow of air over water leads to an eigenvalue problem for the wave speed, which is solved numerically for air profiles typical of both laminar and turbulent flows. Comparison is made with Miles' (1957) theory; growth rates differ from those predicted from the Miles (1957) formula but are in agreement with Conte & Miles' (1959) computations for turbulent flow profiles. In the limit of a highly sheared wind profile the numerical computations retrieve the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability.