cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Molecular transport in Neurospora crassa. I. Biochemical properties of a phenylalanine permease.

Abstract 1. 1. Neurospora crassa has a constitutive transport system for phenylalanine which is energy dependent, temperature dependent, shows stereospecificity, has an optimum pH of 5.0–5.5 and a Km of 10−4 M. 2. 2. The system can transport phenylalanine against a concentration gradient and produce a 700-fold concentration over the exterior concentration. This concentration gradient can be maintained for long periods of time and is energy-requiring. 3. 3. A decrease in the rate of transport and diminution of the free amino acid pool in the presence of glucose has been observed. 4. 4. The action of the permease system can be competitively inhibited by several amino acids. 5. 5. The free amino acid pool has been shown to be large and expandable but has a definite size limit. 6. 6. Competition between phenylalanine and other amino acids for both the permease and occupation of the free amino pool are discussed.
Treatment of nocturia in the elderly.

The aging process, behavioural habits and a multitude of pathological conditions are the main contributors to the development of nocturia in the elderly. Age-related physiological changes can alter the regular pattern of urine excretion and lead to increased nocturnal frequency of voiding. In addition, aging is associated with anatomical and physiological changes of the urinary tract itself that predispose to increased urinary frequency without affecting urine volume. Several urinary and extra-urinary tract conditions may have nocturia as a prominent symptom. These conditions can be grouped as those associated with bladder overactivity, bladder outlet obstruction, bladder hypotonicity and an increased urine volume. A detailed assessment that gathers clues from the medical history, physical examination and laboratory is of utmost importance in identifying the specific causes. Overactive bladder can be idiopathic or associated with different triggers such as UTI, bladder stones, bladder tumours and CNS diseases that disrupt the normal inhibitory signals to the bladder. It may be cured by the successful elimination of the trigger conditions. Therapeutic modalities include behavioural therapies with scheduled voiding, anticholinergic drugs and in women the use of transvaginal electrical stimulation. Benign prostatic hyperplasia is the most common cause of bladder outlet obstruction in men. Different drug classes (e.g. peripheral alpha-adrenoceptor blockers and 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors) are now available for the treatment of mild to moderate symptoms. Surgery is reserved for patients with severe symptoms or with complications, with new and less invasive surgical techniques being preferred. Bladder hypotonicity is usually caused by peripheral neuropathies, spinal cord lesions and the indiscriminate use of drugs with anticholinergic actions. Treatment involves discontinuation of implicated drugs, short term use of cholinergic drugs and urinary catheterisation. Increased urine volumes and nocturia are frequently seen in hyperosmolar and oedematous states. Excessive ingestion of fluids, caffeinated or alcoholic beverages are habits that commonly produce nocturia. Although more definitive studies are awaited, low dose loop diuretics given a few hours prior to bedtime and desmopressin nasal spray or tablets may be useful alternatives for the control of nocturic symptoms in elderly patients with nocturnal polyuria syndrome. Whenever nocturia is present, clinicians should try to identify its causes by means of a thorough history, physical examination and pertinent complimentary tests. Once the specific cause or causes are found, most cases can be satisfactorily managed with behavioural, pharmacological or surgical therapies.
Original Research: Men's awareness and knowledge of male breast cancer.

ObjectiveThis article reports on the findings of a qualitative study that explored the awareness and knowledge of male breast cancer among English-speaking men. The primary goal was to elicit information to guide both clinical practice and the development of gender-specific educational interventions
Gene expression profiling of Duchenne muscular dystrophy skeletal muscle

The primary cause of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a mutation in the dystrophin gene, leading to absence of the corresponding protein, disruption of the dystrophin-associated protein complex, and substantial changes in skeletal muscle pathology. Although the primary defect is known and the histological pathology well documented, the underlying molecular pathways remain in question. To clarify these pathways, we used expression microarrays to compare individual gene expression profiles for skeletal muscle biopsies from DMD patients and unaffected controls. We have previously published expression data for the 12,500 known genes and full-length expressed sequence tags (ESTs) on the Affymetrix HG-U95Av2 chips. Here we present comparative expression analysis of the 50,000 EST clusters represented on the remainder of the Affymetrix HG-U95 set. Individual expression profiles were generated for biopsies from 10 DMD patients and 10 unaffected control patients. Two methods of statistical analysis were used to interpret the resulting data (t-test analysis to determine the statistical significance of differential expression and geometric fold change analysis to determine the extent of differential expression). These analyses identified 183 probe sets (59 of which represent known genes) that differ significantly in expression level between unaffected and disease muscle. This study adds to our knowledge of the molecular pathways that are altered in the dystrophic state. In particular, it suggests that signaling pathways might be substantially involved in the disease process. It also highlights a large number of unknown genes whose expression is altered and whose identity therefore becomes important in understanding the pathogenesis of muscular dystrophy.
The graviton luminosity of the sun and other stars

Graviton production in electron-electron (e-e) and electron-ion (e-z) scattering is evaluated in the Born approximation. The calculation is compared with that for photon production, that is, Coulomb quadrupole bremsstrahlung, and a number of results are taken over from that problem. Application is made to the sun, and it is found that for the solar plasma the main contribution to the graviton luminosity comes from the central core at r/R approximately 0.1. The total luminosity (Lg) in gravitons is about 7.9 x 10 to the 14th ergs/s, close to an earlier estimate by Weinberg (1965, 1972); about 33 percent of the total results from e-e collisions with the rest from e-z collisions (mainly e-p and e-alpha). Approximate corrections to Born formulas are evaluated, and this Lg includes the associated (approximately + or - 10 percent, respectively) modification. The quantum-mechanical aspects of the solar Lg problem are discussed, and it is shown why a previous classical calculation overestimated Lg by about an order of magnitude. Production of gravitons in binary collisions in other types of stars is discussed briefly. It is found that Lg varies very little along the main sequence. White dwarfs have a typical graviton luminosity LWD approximately 10 to the 19th ergs/s, while neutron stars have LNS approximately 10 to the 25th ergs/s; these estimates are very rough.
Diversity in T Cell Memory: An Embarrassment of Riches

The adaptive immune response meets the needs of the organism to generate effector cells capable of controlling pathogens but also leads to production of memory cells, which mediate more effective protection during rechallenge. In this review, we focus on the generation, maintenance, and function of memory T cells, with a special emphasis on the increasing evidence for great diversity among functional memory T cell subsets.
MUMPS--an evolutionary commentary.

A computer language is like a living organism: it must be able to adapt to a variety of environments and to evolve to meet changing needs if it is to survive. On the other hand, survival of a species or of a computer language also requires stability of patterns of effective behavior. In the evolution of computer languages as in biological evolution, there is a continuing tension between adaptibility and continuity. No programming language is perfect, and there should be a continuing effort to improve the capability of MUMPS (Massachusetts General Hospital Utility Multi-Programming System). Unfortunately, it is far easier to make recommendations for further modification than it is to demonstrate in a convincing fashion that a specific modification would be justified by the realized benefits. A host of alternative strategies have been the subject of innumerable hours of discussion in the MUMPS community, particularly in the MDC (MUMPS Development Committee) which has the formal responsibility for the specification of enhancements and modifications to the language (as specified by the protocol of ANSI-the American National Standards Institute). A critical analysis of any programming language is almost certain to be controversial, since there are usually disagreements on both underlying philosophy and surface details. Such an analysis is often dominated by the unique, personal experiences of the author, since there are few well-defined and universally accepted criteria for the ideal computer language. It is not a simple issue of determining to what degree the analysis is technically correct, or of determining whether the particular proposal represents the optimal course of development-there is the additional dilemma of reconciling the need for a language that evolves to take advantage of new developments in computer science with the equally valid need to preserve the desirable features of the language as it now exists. Since the original developmental work in this laboratory in the early 1960’s that led to the creation of MUMPS, there have been many changes in computer
Environmental and ethical aspects of international migration.

"U.S. immigration policy has a beneficent intent. However, recent work suggests that the signal it sends internationally--that emigration can be relied upon to relieve local (Third World) population pressure--tends to maintain high fertility rates in the sending country. This effect is counterproductive because high fertility is the primary driver of rapid population growth. In addition, it appears that the relatively open U.S. immigration policy has resulted in a rate of domestic population growth that threatens both the well-being of American labor and cherished environmental values."
Is the West Karmøy complex igneous or metasedimentary

Abstract The island of Karmoy in southwestern Norway is famous among geologists for the Ophiolite, one of the first ophiolites to be recognized and described in the Scandinavian Caledonides. Much of the island is underlain by the West Karmoy Complex, presently interpreted as an igneous complex that intrudes the Karmoy Ophiolite. There is a striking resemblance of some rocks of the Complex with the Sykesville “granite” of Maryland, which was shown by Cloos and by Hopson (1964) to be a metadiamictite. After local examination of the rocks and after comparison with the 1980 report of Ledru, the conclusion was drawn that — except for the Risdal granodiorite, pegmatite and aplite dikes — the Complex is a metasedimentary, compositionally variable succession of meta-arkose (the “quartz-augen gneiss”—Ledru's Diorite quartzique et Granodiorite du nord) and metadiamictite (his various inclusion-rich “granite” units). Both units were derived by erosion from advancing thrust sheets, including the Karmoy Ophiolite, which then overrode the sedimentary succession. The high modal quartz and normative corundum contents of the “granitic” rocks resemble those of the Sykesville and favor a metasedimentary origin; the chemistry is also similar and rather far from a granite minimum melt, though certain mixtures of quartz-sandy matrix and mafic blocks may have melted locally while being overridden by the Ophiolite. Reports that quartz diorite of the West Karmoy Complex intrudes metagabbro of the Karmoy Ophiolite could not be confirmed, although trondhjemite dikes belonging to the Ophiolite do intrude the metagabbro; the contact of the Ophiolite with the Complex was faulted wherever observed. As recognized by almost all observers, both Ophiolite and Complex are overlain unconformably by Upper Ordovician sediments of the Skudeneset Group, which was later deformed and metamorphosed in the greenschist facies; at least a great part of the fault separating the Karmoy Ophiolite and the West Karmoy Complex dates from that later episode.
Collective behavior of dislocations

Deformation of a crystal involves the motion of dislocations. Since dislocations interact, a short range and at long range, it is basic to understanding plasticity to establish if dislocations move singly or collectively. If deformation involves the collective motion of dislocations how does it manifest itself or equivalently how can it be measured? While a variety of techniques measure the positions of single dislocations before and after a stress is applied to a crystal, giving an average dislocation velocity, these techniques do not related directly to what happens during deformation, that is the collective behavior of dislocations. The mobile dislocation density is measured as follows: Lead-10% indium crystals are deformed at 4.2K, while in a magnetic field in the range H{sub c1} < H < H{sub c2} where H{sub c1} is the lower critical field, H the applied field and H{sub c2} the upper critical field. During deformation changes n the flux are observed; the changes in flux are proportional to the mobile dislocation density. These changes in flux show the following characteristics: When the deformation process changes from elastic to plastic deformation there is a pronounced increase in flux noise, well above the background noise level. In addition superposedmore » on this noise are pronounced bursts of magnetic flux, corresponding to dislocation bursts or avalanches of dislocations. A number of checks establish that these pulses are solely related to dislocations. These include the fact that they are not reproducible in terms of time from test to test, ruling out systematic instabilities in the circuit. Also, they occur when the crystal is unloaded and then reloaded at times, after plasticity is reinitiated, which are inconsistent with any time constant of the circuit. Finally, the measuring circuit shows no instabilities or ringing in this frequency range.« less
Bioconcentration of four pure PCB isomers by Chlorella pyrenoidosa

Chlorella pyrenoidosa ATTC #7516 was obtained from the American Type Culture Collection and maintained axenically in liquid Bristol's medium. Cultures were maintained in continuous log growth phase by shaking under continuous flourescent illumination of 165 foot-candles at 20-25~ Cell numbers were determined either by counting in a hemocytometer or by measuring the amount of light absorbed at 540 nm.
The Anasazi cribbed domes

Abstract Between A.D. 900 and A.D. 1250 the Anasazi Indians of the north-western United States covered some underground round kivas with wooden domes, whose structure consisted of a series of super-imposed horizontal regular polygons, successively rotated by the same angle and with progressively shorter beams. This unusual and possibly unique structure is herewith analyzed.
Ehrlichia subversion of host innate responses

Anaplasma (formerly Ehrlichia) phagocytophilum and Ehrlichia chaffeensis, upon infection of humans, replicate in host leukocyte granulocytes and monocytes/macrophages, respectively. These unusual Gram-negative bacteria lack genes for biosynthesis of the lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycan that activate host leukocytes. Caveolae-mediated endocytosis directs A. phagocytophilum and E. chaffeensis to an intracellular compartment secluded from oxygen-dependent and -independent killing. Furthermore, these bacteria orchestrate a remarkable series of events that culminate in suppression of NADPH oxidase, phagocyte activation and differentiation pathways, apoptosis, and interferon-γ signaling in host leukocytes. They offer a fascinating example of how pathogens employ intricate strategies to usurp and subvert host cell function.
A Meta-Analytical Review of Selective Exposure to and the Enjoyment of Media Violence

A primary argument for the widespread production of media violence is that audiences want to watch violent content. This assumption is examined in this meta-analytic review of existing research on both selective exposure to and enjoyment of violence. The results show that violence has a significant effect on both selective exposure and enjoyment, but in different directions. Specifically, violence increases selective exposure but decreases enjoyment of content. Potential explanations for these effects and moderators that could influence the results (e.g., sex, aggressive personality traits, type of content) are considered, and the practical implications of these findings are discussed.
Faculty Governance in Neoliberal Educational Contexts: Challenges for Democratic Decision Making

Few faculty members are immune from the deleterious impact of neoliberal values, policies and practices that have resulted in the “corporatization” of universities, with the reduction of teaching and research to “products” and faculty to “producers,” and students to “clients.” The role of faculty governance in this process has been debated yielding diverse perspectives on its effectiveness in challenging this influence, particularly, in regard to the role of democratic decision making at the college-level of governance where administrators may push for furthering market-driven agendas. This critical action research project highlights how two faculty assembly leaders facilitated participatory decision making as they re-conceptualized their leadership roles as team-based representatives, and developed multiple communicative networks that supported faculty voice and leadership listening at the grassroots level—two processes that may thwart corporatization and marketization at the college-level. This article highlights how characteristics of desired communication practices for more democratic decision making at the college-level lay the groundwork for building the collective faculty capacity to respond in a timely manner to neoliberal agendas.
Reactions to Tamboer's “Sport and Motor Actions”

(1992). Reactions to Tamboer's “Sport and Motor Actions”. Journal of the Philosophy of Sport: Vol. 19, No. 1, pp. 47-53.
Pharmacokinetics of danofloxacin and N-desmethyldanofloxacin in adult horses and their concentration in synovial fluid.

The objectives of this study were to investigate the pharmacokinetics of danofloxacin and its metabolite N-desmethyldanofloxacin and to determine their concentrations in synovial fluid after administration by the intravenous, intramuscular or intragastric routes. Six adult mares received danofloxacin mesylate administered intravenously (i.v.) or intramuscularly (i.m.) at a dose of 5 mg/kg, or intragastrically (IG) at a dose of 7.5 mg/kg using a randomized Latin square design. Concentrations of danofloxacin and N-desmethyldanofloxacin were measured by UPLC-MS/MS. After i.v. administration, danofloxacin had an apparent volume of distribution (mean ± SD) of 3.57 ± 0.26 L/kg, a systemic clearance of 357.6 ± 61.0 mL/h/kg, and an elimination half-life of 8.00 ± 0.48 h. Maximum plasma concentration (Cmax ) of N-desmethyldanofloxacin (0.151 ± 0.038 μg/mL) was achieved within 5 min of i.v. administration. Peak danofloxacin concentrations were significantly higher after i.m. (1.37 ± 0.13 μg/mL) than after IG administration (0.99 ± 0.1 μg/mL). Bioavailability was significantly higher after i.m. (100.0 ± 12.5%) than after IG (35.8 ± 8.5%) administration. Concentrations of danofloxacin in synovial fluid samples collected 1.5 h after administration were significantly higher after i.v. (1.02 ± 0.50 μg/mL) and i.m. (0.70 ± 0.35 μg/mL) than after IG (0.20 ± 0.12 μg/mL) administration. Monte Carlo simulations indicated that danofloxacin would be predicted to be effective against bacteria with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ≤0.25 μg/mL for i.v. and i.m. administration and 0.12 μg/mL for oral administration to maintain an area under the curve:MIC ratio ≥50.
Flaws in the Marxian Explanations of the Great Recession

Marxist views of the relationship between financial and real cycles suffer from three major weaknesses: (a) financial developments are almost always reactions to real sector developments; (b) financial crises can trigger but not cause real sector crises; and (c) the 2008 financial crash played only a triggering, not causal, role in the ensuing Great Recession. I would argue, by contrast, that (a) in the era of big finance, finance capital does not necessarily shadow or merely react to industrial capital, it also behaves independently; (b) financial sector crises can be transmitted (through debt deflation) to the real sector; and (c) the 2008 financial crash played not only a triggering but also a causal role in the ensuing Great Recession.
Satellite-based peatland mapping: Potential of the MODIS sensor

Peatlands play a major role in the global carbon cycle but are largely overlooked in current large-scale vegetation mapping efforts. In this study, we investigated the potential of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) to capture the extent and distributionofpeatlandsintheSt.PetersburgregionofRussiabyanalyzingtherelationshipsbetweenpeatlandcoverfractionsderived from reference maps and ∼1-km resolution MODIS Nadir BRDF-Adjusted Reflectance (NBAR) data from year 2002. First, we characterized and mapped 50 peatlands from forest inventory and peat deposit inventory data. The peatlands represent three major nutritional types (oligotrophic, mesotrophic, eutrophic) and different sizes (0.6–7800 ha). In addition, parts of 6 peatlands were mined for peat and these were mapped separately. The reference maps provided information on peatland cover for 1105 MODIS pixels. We performed regression analysis on 50% of the pixels and reserved the remainder for model validation. Canonical correlation analysis on the MODIS reflectance bands and the peatland cover fractions produced a multi-spectral peatland cover index (PCI), which served as the predictor in a reduced major axis (RMA) regression model. The results suggest a high potential for mapping peatlands with MODIS. The RMA regression models explained much of the variance in the PCI (r 2 =0.74 for mined and r 2 =0.81 for unmined peatlands). Model validation showed high correlation between observed versus predicted peatland cover (mined: r=0.87; unmined: r=0.92). We used the models to derive peatland cover estimates for the St. Petersburg region and compared the results to current MODIS land cover maps. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Cyclooxygenase inhibition and hyperthermia for the potentiation of the cytotoxic response in ovarian cancer cells

Abstract Objectives. The progression of chemotherapy-resistant cancer confers poor prognosis and decreases overall survival in ovarian cancer patients. Adjuvants to traditional chemotherapy regimens have become attractive modalities for the clinical treatment of refractory or resistant ovarian cancer. We evaluated whether the addition of NSAID to hyperthermic chemotherapy would increase cytotoxicity in cisplatin- and taxane-treated ovarian cancer cells. Methods. Western blot analysis was utilized to determine COX-2 protein expression levels in the 2008, cisplatin-sensitive, and C13 ⁎ , cisplatin-resistant, cell lines. PGE 2 levels were determined and analyzed as a function of cyclooxygenase activity by LC/MS/MS. Cells were treated with cisplatin, docetaxel or paclitaxel in combination with either NS-398 or sulindac sulfide at 37°C, 41°C or 43°C. Cell viability was determined by a MTS cell proliferation assay. Results. Both cell lines expressed COX-2 protein, and NS-398 and sulindac sulfide effectively blocked PGE 2 production. The addition of a NSAID to cisplatin treatment in 2008 and C13 ⁎ cells offered enhanced cytotoxicity and this effect was further enhanced at 41°C. In docetaxel-treated 2008 cells, both NS-398 and sulindac sulfide offered enhanced cell kill; however, this result was not observed in paclitaxel-treated cells. Hyperthermia appeared to play no additional role in taxane cytotoxicity enhancement, however no antagonism was detected. Conclusions. Our results suggest that the combination treatment (cisplatin or docetaxel in combination with NSAID) cause a dose-dependent enhancement of cytotoxicity. Hyperthermia may improve the results of intraperitoneal cisplatin therapy, thus warranting further evaluation in clinical studies.
A new approach to position and contact force regulation in constrained robot systems

A feedback control problem for regulation of contact force and position in constrained robot systems is considered. The nonlinear differential-algebraic equations which describe the dynamics of a constrained robot system are linearized about a constrained equilibrium. A method of obtaining an equivalent state realization for the resulting linear differential-algebraic equations is developed. This method is numerically efficient since it is based on a singular value decomposition. A linear quadratic optimal control problem associated with the linearized differential-algebraic equations is solved. The resulting linear feedback control law guarantees good regulation of both contact force and position of the constrained robot. Since the method is based on the linearization of the nonlinear differential-algebraic equations, it is valid only in a neighborhood about the point of linearization. Two robot examples are considered in order to illustrate the proposed method. >
Effectiveness of cable barriers, guardrails, and concrete barrier walls in reducing the risk of injury

Roadway departure crashes tend to be severe, especially when the roadside exposes the occupants of errant vehicles to excessive injury hazards. As a cost-effective method when the clear zone width is insufficient, road barriers are often installed to prevent errant vehicles from colliding with dangerous obstacles or traversing steep slopes. This paper focuses on the safety performance of road barriers in Indiana in reducing the risk of injury. The objective of the study presented here is to compare the risk of injury among different hazardous events faced by an occupant in a single-vehicle crash. The studied hazardous events include rolling over, striking three types of barriers (guardrails, concrete barrier walls, and cable barriers) with different barrier offsets to the edge of the travelled way, and striking various roadside objects. A total of 2124 single-vehicle crashes (3257 occupants) that occurred between 2008 and 2012 on 517 pair-matched homogeneous barrier and non-barrier segments were analyzed. A binary logistic regression model with mixed effects was estimated for vehicle occupants. The segment pairing process and the use of random effects were able to handle the commonality within the same segment pair as well as the heterogeneity across segment pairs. The modeling results revealed that hitting a barrier is associated with lower risk of injury than a high-hazard event (hitting a pole, rollover, etc.). The odds of injury are reduced by 39% for median concrete barrier walls offset 15-18ft from the travelled way, reduced by 65% for a guardrail face offset 5-55ft, reduced by 85% for near-side median cable barriers (offset between 10ft and 29ft), and reduced by 78% with far-side median cable barriers (offset at least 30ft). Comparing different types of barriers is useful where some types of barriers can be used alternatively. This study found that the odds of injury are 43% lower when striking a guardrail instead of a median concrete barrier offset 15-18ft and 65% lower when striking a median concrete barrier offset 7-14ft. The odds of injury when striking a near-side median cable barrier is 57% lower than the odds for a guardrail face. This reduction for a far side median cable barrier is 37%. Thus, a guardrail should be preferred over a concrete wall and a cable barrier should be preferred over a guardrail where the road and traffic conditions allow. In the light of the results, installing median cable barriers on both sides of the median to reduce their lateral offset is beneficial for safety. The study also found that the unexplained heterogeneity across vehicles is much larger than it was across matched segment pairs.
Signaling to a CD5+ B‐Cell Clone through Surface Ig and MHC Class II Moleculesa

Cells of the CD5+ mouse B-cell clone CH12.LX are induced to become antibody-secreting cells by costimulatory signals delivered by binding of their surface Ig and MHC class II molecules. Class II-mediated signals can be delivered by the binding of either T cells or class II-specific monoclonal antibodies. Divalent, but not monovalent antigen-binding fragments of mAbs are effective in signalling, and cross-linking intact anti-class II mAbs with isotype-specific Ab enhance class II-mediated signaling. Class II-mediated signaling is accompanied by a rise in cAMP and is blocked by an adenyl cyclase inhibitor. The cAMP analogue dibutyryl cAMP, can partially but not completely substitute for the class II-mediated signal. The costimulatory Ig-mediated signal can be delivered by binding of either antigen or antiidiotype Ab, but anti-IgM Abs are much less effective. Antibodies specific for Ig constant regions are much more effective, however, if they engage both the mIgM and mIgD molecules; anti-kappa Abs or a combination of anti-IgM and anti-IgD Abs were more effective in signaling.
Uncertainty in Temperature and Precipitation Datasets over Terrestrial Regions of the Western Arctic

Abstract A better understanding of the interannual variability in temperature and precipitation datasets used as forcing fields for hydrologic models will lead to a more complete description of hydrologic model uncertainty, in turn helping scientists study the larger goal of how the Arctic terrestrial system is responding to global change. Accordingly, this paper investigates temporal and spatial variability in monthly mean (1992–2000) temperature and precipitation datasets over the Western Arctic Linkage Experiment (WALE) study region. The six temperature datasets include 1) the fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University–National Center for Atmospheric Research Mesoscale Model (MM5); 2) the 40-yr European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Re-Analysis (ERA-40); 3) the Advanced Polar Pathfinder all-sky temperatures (APP); 4) National Centers for Environmental Prediction– National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP–NCAR) reanalyses (NCEP1); 5) the Climatic Research Unit/University of ...
Collision Avoidance Operations in a Multi-Mission Environment

With the increasing number of manmade object orbiting Earth, the probability for close encounters or on-orbit collisions is of great concern to spacecraft operators. The presence of debris clouds from various disintegration events amplifies these concerns, especially in lowEarth orbits. The University of California, Berkeley currently operates seven NASA spacecraft in various orbit regimes around the Earth and the Moon, and actively participates in collision avoidance operations. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory provide conjunction analyses. In two cases, collision avoidance operations were executed to reduce the risks of on-orbit collisions. With one of the Earth orbiting THEMIS spacecraft, a small thrust maneuver was executed to increase the miss distance for a predicted close conjunction. For the NuSTAR observatory, an attitude maneuver was executed to minimize the cross section with respect to a particular conjunction geometry. Operations for these two events are presented as case studies. A number of experiences and lessons learned are included.
Combining Results from Lectin Affinity Chromatography and Glycocapture Approaches Substantially Improves the Coverage of the Glycoproteome

Identification of glycosylated proteins, especially those in the plasma membrane, has the potential of defining diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets as well as increasing our understanding of changes occurring in the glycoproteome during normal differentiation and disease processes. Although many cellular proteins are glycosylated they are rarely identified by mass spectrometric analysis (e.g. shotgun proteomics) of total cell lysates. Therefore, methods that specifically target glycoproteins are necessary to facilitate their isolation from total cell lysates prior to their identification by mass spectrometry-based analysis. To enrich for plasma membrane glycoproteins the methods must selectively target characteristics associated with proteins within this compartment. We demonstrate that the application of two methods, one that uses periodate to label glycoproteins of intact cells and a hydrazide resin to capture the labeled glycoproteins and another that targets glycoproteins with sialic acid residues using lectin affinity chromatography, in conjunction with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry is effective for plasma membrane glycoprotein identification. We demonstrate that this combination of methods dramatically increases coverage of the plasma membrane proteome (more than one-half of the membrane glycoproteins were identified by the two methods uniquely) and also results in the identification of a large number of secreted glycoproteins. Our approach avoids the need for subcellular fractionation and utilizes a simple detergent lysis step that effectively solubilizes membrane glycoproteins. The plasma membrane localization of a subset of proteins identified was validated, and the dynamics of their expression in HeLa cells was evaluated during the cell cycle. Results obtained from the cell cycle studies demonstrate that plasma membrane protein expression can change up to 4-fold as cells transit the cell cycle and demonstrate the need to consider such changes when carrying out quantitative proteomics comparison of cell lines.
Neuropsychobiological Evidence for the Functional Presence and Expression of Cannabinoid CB2 Receptors in the Brain

For over a decade, until recently, it was thought that marijuana acts by activating brain-type cannabinoid receptors called CB1, and that a second type called CB2 cannabinoid receptor was found only in peripheral tissues. Neuronal CB2 receptors in the brain had been controversial. We reported the discovery and functional presence of CB2 cannabinoid receptors in the mammalian brain that may be involved in depression and drug abuse and this was supported by reports of identification of neuronal CB2 receptors that are involved in emesis. RT-PCR, immunoblotting, hippocampal cultures, immunohistochemistry, transmission electron microscopy, and stereotaxic techniques with behavioral assays were used to determine the functional expression of CB2 cannabinoid receptors in the rat brain and mouse brain exposed to chronic mild stress or treated with abused drugs. RT-PCR analyses supported the expression of brain CB2 receptor transcripts at levels much lower than those of CB1 receptors. In situ hybridization revealed CB2 mRNA in cerebellar neurons of wild-type but not of CB2 knockout mice. Abundant CB2 receptor immunoreactivity (iCB2) in neuronal and glial processes was detected in the brain. The effect of direct CB2 antisense oligonucleotide injection into the brain and treatment with JWH015 in motor function and plus-maze tests also demonstrated the functional presence of CB2 cannabinoid receptors in the central nervous system. In humans, there was a high incidence of Q63R polymorphism in the CB2 gene in Japanese alcoholics and depressed subjects. Contrary to the prevailing view that CB2 cannabinoid receptors are restricted to peripheral tissues and predominantly in immune cells, we demonstrated that CB2 cannabinoid receptors and their gene transcripts are widely distributed in the brain. This multifocal expression of iCB2 in the brain suggests that CB2 receptors may play broader roles than previously anticipated and may therefore be exploited as new targets in the treatment of depression and substance abuse.
Clinical trials and financial reimbursement.

To the Editor: Randomized clinical trials are the current “gold standard” for scientifically establishing the effectiveness of new therapies in medicine. Clinical investigators choose to participate in research studies for several reasons. The reasons are not mutually exclusive, and they include the following: (1) contribution to medical advances, (2) academic recognition, and (3) financial renumeration.1 The Asymptomatic …
Matrix metalloproteinase‐9 is an important factor in hepatic regeneration after partial hepatectomy in mice

Partial hepatectomy triggers hepatocyte proliferation, hepatic matrix remodeling, and hepatocyte apoptosis, all of which are important processes in the regenerating liver. Previous studies have shown an increase in the levels of matrix metalloproteinases gelatinase A (MMP-2) and gelatinase B (MMP-9) after partial hepatectomy. The goal of this study was to investigate the role of MMP-9 in liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy. A 70% hepatectomy or sham laparotomy was performed in wild-type or MMP-9-deficient (MMP-9-/-) mice. Hepatic regeneration was determined by liver weight/total body weight ratios and BrdU staining, which was used to a calculate mitotic index at several times postoperatively. Cytokine and growth factor expression was evaluated by Luminex bead-based ELISA and Western blots. Finally, the effect of MMP-9 on apoptosis was measured using TUNEL and caspase expression. The MMP-9-/- animals had a delayed hepatic regenerative response when compared with wild-type controls. The MMP-9-deficient animals expressed significantly less VEGF, HGF, and TNF-alpha between days 2 and 3 post-hepatectomy. Apoptosis, as measured by TUNEL staining and caspase expression, was decreased in the MMP-9-/-. In conclusion, MMP-9 plays an important role in liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy by affecting matrix remodeling, as well as cytokine, growth factor, and caspase expression.
Kinetics of erythrocyte plasma membrane (Ca2+, Mg2+)ATPase in familial benign hypercalcemia.

The pathogenesis of familial benign hypercalcemia (FBH) is unknown. Possible explanations for the disorder include a set-point error in parathyroid gland regulation and intrinsic renal hyperreabsorption of calcium. Thus, FBH may involve an alteration in cellular calcium transport, especially in renal and parathyroid cells. A primary mediator of cellular calcium transport is (Ca2+,Mg2+)ATPase. Therefore, we examined in detail the kinetics of (Ca2+,Mg2+)ATPase activity in erythrocyte plasma membranes from 11 patients with FBH from 7 families, 5 patients with untreated primary hyperparathyroidism, and equal numbers of age- and sex-matched normal subjects. (Ca2+,Mg2+)ATPase activity was measured in isolated membranes as a function of free calcium (0.05–300 μmol/L) in the presence or absence of calmodulin (600 nmol/L) and as a function of calmodulin (0–1800 nmol/L). We found no significant differences in calcium- or calmodulin-dependent (Ca2+,Mg2+)ATPase kinetics between patients with FBH or primary hyperparat...
Research Design and Analysis Clinic n/Cell Considerations: Asking the Wrong Question for the Right Reason

The important design implication of the n/cell question is that, whenever possible, one should have at least 2 observations per cell. We should not disregard additional factors in a study simply because they will create small cell sizes. In other words, the credibility of a study should not be questioned because of small cell size, per se. In addition to the greater information obtained from the additional factors and their interactions, their inclusion will tend to increase the power of the other significance tests in the design when any of the null hypotheses associated with the additional factor are not true. Even if all null hypotheses with which the additional factors are associated are true, the power of the other significance tested is reduced trivially, except when their inclusion reduces the degrees of freedom of the error term to perhaps 30 or less. The size of slices into which a pie is cut does not alter the size of the pie.
Fungal Disfigurement of Paper, and Soft Rot of Cedar Shingles

Abstract Disfiguration of paper by Cladosporium cladosporioides is described, and the association between “soft rot” fungi and the greying of cedar shingles in marine locations is reported.
Protection of transplant-induced hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury with carbon monoxide via MEK/ERK1/2 pathway downregulation

Carbon monoxide (CO), a product of heme degradation by heme oxygenases (HO), has been shown to provide cytoprotection in various tissue injury models. This study examined the efficacy and molecular...
Moving Object Segmentation using Scene Understanding

We present a novel approach to moving object detection in video taken from a translating, rotating and zooming sensor, with a focus on detecting very small objects in as few frames as possible. The primary innovation is to incorporate automatically computed scene understanding of the video directly into the motion segmentation process. Scene understanding provides spatial and semantic context that is used to improve frame-to-frame homography computation, as well as direct reduction of false alarms. The method can be applied to virtually any motion segmentation algorithm, and we explore its utility for three: frame differencing, tensor voting, and generalized PCA. The approach is especially effective on sequences with large scene depth and much parallax, as often occurs when the sensor is close to the scene. In one difficult sequence, our results show an 8-fold reduction of false positives on average, with essentially no impact on the true positive rate. We also show how scene understanding can be used to increase the accuracy of frame-to-frame homography estimates.
Definitions of quasiconformality

Summary. We establish that the infinitesimal "H-definition" for quasiconforreal mappings on Carnot groups implies global quasisymmetry, and hence the absolute continuity on almost all lines. Our method is new even in R" where we obtain that the "limsup" condition in the H-definition can be replaced by a "liminf" condition. This leads to a new removability result for (quasi)conformal mappings in Euclidean spaces. An application to parametrizations of chord-arc surfaces is also given.
Changes in Curie temperature, physical dimensions, and magnetic anisotropy during annealing of amorphous magnetic alloys

We have measured the effects of annealing in air on various properties of several amorphous alloys. Reported here are results on the changes in Curie temperature, in the physical dimensions of lengths of amorphous ribbon, and in the magnetic anisotropy. Increases in Curie temperature up to 35°C have been measured. All the alloys examined show a steady increase in T c on annealing at low temperatures, but some compositions show a smaller increase in T c on annealing near the crystallization temperature than on annealing at lower temperatures. There appear to be two competing mechanisms influencing T c . All the alloys examined show a clearly measurable decrease in length on annealing; we interpret this as an increase in bulk density. The kinetics of the annealing are similar to those of the stress relaxation. Finally, annealing experiments on the shape of 60 Hz hysteresis loops show a decrease in the anisotropy associated with non-uniform internal stresses, but in some cases also show the slow development of a fairly strong uniaxial anisotropy with its easy axis perpendicular to the ribbon axis. This uniaxial anisotropy is tentatively ascribed to the development of an oxide layer during annealing, which in turn produces a uniform compressive stress due to differential thermal contraction and therefore a stress-magnetostriction anisotropy. The changes in Curie temperature and in sample dimensions cannot be ascribed to oxidation. All the results described above are for annealing treatments that do not cause crystallization. The time for crystallization at various temperatures has been measured, and activation energies for crystallization derived.
McTaggart’s Paradox and Crisp’s Presentism

In his review of The Ontology of Time, Thomas Crisp (Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews, 2005a) argues that Oaklander's version of McTaggart's paradox does not make any trouble for his version of presentism. The aim of this paper is to refute that claim by demonstrating that Crisp's version of presentism does indeed succumb to a version of McTaggart's argument. I shall proceed as follows. In Part I I shall explain Crisp's view and then argue in Part II that his analysis of temporal becoming, temporal properties and temporal relations is inadequate. Finally, in Part III, I shall demonstrate that his presentist ontology of time is susceptible to the paradox he so assiduously sought to avoid.
Inherited Variation in Gene Expression

Variation in gene expression constitutes an important source of biological variability within and between populations that is likely to contribute significantly to phenotypic diversity. Recent conceptual, technical, and methodological advances have enabled the genome-scale dissection of transcriptional variation. Here, we outline common approaches for detecting gene expression quantitative trait loci, and summarize the insights gleaned from these studies regarding the genetic architecture of transcriptional variation and the nature of regulatory alleles. Particular emphasis is placed on human studies, and we discuss experimental designs that ensure that increasingly large and complex studies continue to advance our understanding of gene expression variation. We conclude by discussing the evolution of gene expression levels, and we explore prospects for leveraging new technological developments to investigate inherited variation in gene expression in even greater depth.
Identification of a novel transferable cis element in the promoter of an estrogen-responsive gene that modulates sensitivity to hormone and antihormone.

The estrogen receptor (ER) is a ligand-regulated transcription factor that acts at the promoters of estrogen-regulated genes to modulate their expression. In the present study, we examined three estrogen-regulated promoters, namely the rat progesterone receptor gene distal (PRD) and proximal (PRP) promoters and the human pS2 gene promoter, and observed marked differences in their sensitivity to stimulation by estrogen and repression of estrogen-stimulated transcription by antiestrogen (AE)-occupied ER. ER-containing MCF-7 human breast cancer cells were transfected with reporter gene constructs containing estrogen response elements upstream of the three gene promoters. In this system, PRP and PRD showed similar dose-response curves for stimulation by estradiol whereas pS2 was activated by even lower concentrations of estradiol. By contrast, PRD was much less sensitive to repression of estrogen-stimulated activity by all AEs studied, relative to the PRP and the pS2 promoters. Using deletion and mutational a...