cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Alternative splicing of sept9a and sept9b in zebrafish produces multiple mRNA transcripts expressed throughout development.

Background Septins are involved in a number of cellular processes including cytokinesis and organization of the cytoskeleton. Alterations in human septin-9 (SEPT9) levels have been linked to multiple cancers, whereas mutations in SEPT9 cause the episodic neuropathy, hereditary neuralgic amyotrophy (HNA). Despite its important function in human health, the in vivo role of SEPT9 is unknown. Methodology/Principal Findings Here we utilize zebrafish to study the role of SEPT9 in early development. We show that zebrafish possess two genes, sept9a and sept9b that, like humans, express multiple transcripts. Knockdown or overexpression of sept9a transcripts results in specific developmental alterations including circulation defects and aberrant epidermal development. Conclusions/Significance Our work demonstrates that sept9 plays an important role in zebrafish development, and establishes zebrafish as a valuable model organism for the study of SEPT9.
Detachment of Parasitic Water Mites from the Mosquito Anopheles Crucians (Diptera: Culicidae)

The number of larval water mites of the genus Arrenurus attached to the mosquito host Anopheles crucians was compared with the number of stylostomes present in the host tissues to determine the pattern of mite detachment from the host. All hosts carrying small and lightly pigmented mites had the same number of attached mites and stylostomes, indicating that detachment does not occur among mites that are not highly engorged. However, the number of attached mites was often less than the number of stylostomes in hosts carrying large and heavily pigmented mites, indicating that detachment does not necessarily occur synchronously at the time of oviposition of the mosquito but that some mites detach prior to oviposition. Survival of detached mites in laboratory rearings increased as individuals grew to lengths greater than 0.25 mm, a size that would place a mite in the larger and heavily pigmented class. If such mites fell into water as they left the host, they would stand a good chance of surviving.
Structural, spectral and thermal studies of N -2-(picolyl)- N ′-4-chlorophenylthioureas

Abstract N-2-(4-picolyl)-N′-4-chlorophenylthiourea, 4PicTu4ClPh, triclinic, P-1, a=7.5235(3), b=9.1585(5), c=10.5158(7) A , α=76.015(3), β=70.015(4), γ=82.010(4)°, V=1309.8(2) A 3 and Z=2; N-2-(5-picolyl)-N′-4-chlorophenylthiourea, 5PicTu4ClPh, monoclinic, P21/c, a=15.139(2), b=4.8386(3), c=17.338(2) A , β=90.661(4)°, V=1270.0(2) A 3 and Z=4 and N-2-(6-picolyl)-N′-4-chlorophenylthiourea, 6PicTu4ClPh, monoclinic, C2/c, a=33.520(6), b=4.0750(3), c=18.658(4) A , β=97.500(6)°, V=2526.8(7) A 3 and Z=8. The most striking difference between the structures of the three thioureas is the difference in planarity, and among the four N-2-(picolyl)-N′-4-chlorophenylthioureas, their values for ΔHfus.
Prevalence of spina bifida among children and adolescents in metropolitan Atlanta.

BACKGROUND: Although studies have examined the prevalence of spina bifida (SB) among births, little is known about the SB prevalence among children and adolescents. We estimated the prevalence of SB among children and adolescents in metropolitan Atlanta. METHODS: This study used data from a population-based registry of birth defects, with information on children with SB (cases) born in five Atlanta counties from 1979–2002. The population at risk was derived from United States Census data and variations in SB prevalence were examined by race/ethnicity, sex, lesion level, age group under 20 years, 4-year birth cohort, and time period using Poisson regression. RESULTS: From 1979 to 2002, SB birth prevalence decreased from 6.3 to 3.2 per 10,000 live births (p < 0.001) and SB prevalence within each age group also declined. In 2002, there were 211 children 0–19 years old surviving with SB in Atlanta (2.4 per 10,000 children 0–19 years old); prevalence of SB was higher among non-Hispanic whites and among children with lumbosacral lesion but did not vary by sex. With the exception of the most recent birth cohort (1998–2002), within each 4-year birth cohort, the prevalence of SB was generally higher among non-Hispanic whites than among non-Hispanic blacks. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides minimum prevalence estimates among children and adolescents with SB in metropolitan Atlanta, and identifies race/ethnic disparities in such prevalence estimates. This information could be useful for assessing the specialized health care needs for children with SB and the possible reasons for the racial/ethnic variation in prevalence of SB. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Uterine Fibroids Clinical Manifestations and Contemporary Management

Uterine fibroids (leiomyomata) are extremely common lesions that are associated with detrimental effects including infertility and abnormal uterine bleeding. Fibroids cause molecular changes at the level of endometrium. Abnormal regulation of growth factors and cytokines in fibroid cells may contribute to negative endometrial effects. Understanding of fibroid biology has greatly increased over the last decade. Although the current armamentarium of Food and Drug Administration-approved medical therapies is limited, there are medications approved for use in heavy menstrual bleeding that can be used for the medical management of fibroids. Emergence of the role of growth factors in pathophysiology of fibroids has led researchers to develop novel therapeutics. Despite advances in medical therapies, surgical management remains a mainstay of fibroid treatment. Destruction of fibroids by interventional radiological procedures provides other effective treatments. Further experimental studies and clinical trials are required to determine which therapies will provide the greatest benefits to patients with fibroids.
Recoil properties of fragments in 150-MeV proton fission of uranium-238—I ranges and kinetic energies

Abstract Thick target-thick catcher recoil ranges are reported for 20 nuclides produced in 150 MeV proton fission of 238 U, of which six are shielded from β-decay by stable or long-lived parent nuclides. Ranges are converted to kinetic energies by the use of a simplified version of a universal range-energy relationship of Lindhard, Scharff and Schiott. The simplified relationship, which is calibrated with data from thermal-neutron fission, includes a specific dependence on the charge of the recoiling fragment. Such a charge dependence is important in analyzing the difference between the kinetic energies of isobaric and isotopic pairs of nuclides. It is concluded that in most cases only coulombic repulsion needs to be invoked to explain the differences. However, 138 Cs and 140 La appear to have anomalously low kinetic energies which are attributed to events in which there is unusually large distortion in the complementary fragment. In general the bombarding-energy dependence of the kinetic energy can be accounted for by pre-fission neutron evaporation. Unlike thermal fission, the total kinetic energy release in 150 MeV fission appears to be independent of mass ratio.
Differential effects of protamine sulfate on myocyte contractile function with left ventricular failure

Objectives.: This project tested two fundamental hypotheses: 1) Protamine sulfate has a direct and negative effect on myocyte contractile processes; 2) the negative effects of protamine on myocyte ...
Multicultural Feminism and Sisterhood among Women of Color in Social Change Dialogue

According to a proverb, “Two are better than one because together they can work more effectively. If one of them falls down, the other can lift her up.” This is the essence of a multicultural feminism that encourages dialogue and collective voice to benefit women of Color. Using ethnographic interviews, 24 women of Color in New York City and Los Angeles were asked to support or deny the practice of multicultural feminism as dialogue and communication among women of Color. Results of the research suggests that multicultural feminism does not facilitate dialogue or communication between or among women of Color; that without an easily recognizable reason to communicate the women do not feel the need for dialogue; and that what is communicated to women of Color is that only dialogue with those who have power and dominance can influence social change.
STUDIES IN THE MORPHOLOGY OF THE CYPERACEAE. II. THE PROPHYLL

TAXONOMIC AND morphological literature contains frequent mention of "prophylls" ("Vorbliitter," "prefeuilles"). During the author's study of the Cyperaceae, it became increasingly evident that general usage of the term is confusing and far from uniform. In attempts to locate a reasonable definition of the term, it was found that most "definitions" are either too indefinite or too restricted. For example, Jackson (1900), Rendle (1904), Strasburger and Benecke (1913), Wettstein (1917), Engler (1926), Artschwager (1930), and others use "prophyll" as the equivalent of bracteole, either on floret axes or inflorescence branches. Occasional restriction is to the lower one or two bracteoles. On the other hand, Turpin (1819), the Bravaises (1837), Pax (1890), Arber (1925), Goebel (1933), and others state that reduced leaves called "prophylls"occur at the base of both vegetative and flowering branches. Usually there are two in dicotyledons and one "addorsed" prophyll in monocotyledons. In several papers, exceptions are cited; in others the usage of the author, following the introductory statement, is frequently variable. Since the bases for studying and denoting '"prophylls" in the inflorescences of the Cyperaceae are most unsatisfactory, an extensive search in the literature was undertaken to determine if "prophylls" are morphological entities which are of value in developing concepts of inflorescence reduction. More than one hundred and fifty papers were examined, but, since many are both repetitive and contradictory, it is unnecessary to cite all. It is, however, of importance to review the theories, evidences and assumptions on which most of the confusion rests. This review will then serve the general function of showing what "prophylls" may be as well as the special function of a preface to publication concerning the cyperaceous inflorescences where the term cannot be applied with morphological significance.2 ORIGIN OF THE TERM PROPHYLL."-Probably the first anid the most persistent idea affecting the several theories of "prophyll" structure is the apparent drive to find homologies between dicotyledons and monocotyledons. The contrast of two cotyledons and two "prophylls" with one cotyledon and one "'prophyll" has naturally led to the seizure of slight evidences and "abnormalities" to demonstrate the derivation of the monocotyledons from the dicotyledons. Frequent occurrence of two veins, two teeth, a tendency to split, two keels and the so-called "ab-
Asymptotic efficiency of the Spearman estimator and characterizations of distributions

The Spearman estimator is designed to be a nonparametric estimator for the expectation of a tolerance distribution. We characterize the one-parameter families of distributions (the parameter being the mean of the distribution) for which the Spearman estimator has asymptotic efficiency one. In particular, when the parameter indexes the location, the characterizing distribution is the logistic distribution. In any other case of efficiency one, the family of distributions is given by certain transformations of a logistic distribution.
Passive Integrated Transponders for marking Free-Ranging Townsend's Ground Squirrels

We tested passive integrated transponders (PIT) as a technique for marking free-ranging Spermophilus townsendii individually and permanently. We marked 1,179 squirrels with PIT tags. No known mortalities were caused by PIT tagging, and we observed little incidence of infection at the implant site. Rates of PIT-tag loss probably were <0.05 within 1 year, with most tag loss happening shortly after tagging (≤10 days). We detected no tag losses between 2 years. We conclude that PIT tagging should be considered as an alternative to ear tagging and toe clipping for marking small mammals. PIT tagging may especially benefit long-term demographic studies intended to estimate rates of annual survival.
Gas gangrene: an unusual cause of graft failure in an orthotopic pediatric liver transplant.

Gas gangrene of the liver is a very unusual cause of graft failure, and gas gangrene caused byEnterobacter cloacae is also exceedingly rare. Although Clostridial infection could not be excluded in this case, the literature and our case show thatEnterobacter cloacae can be present in gas gangrene tissue whether or not it is the only infecting organism.
Weight and Quality of the Yolks of Eggs of Chickens Fed Diets Containing Vegetable Oils

Abstract LITTLE is known about the utilization of different fats and oils in the formation of egg yolk by the laying chicken. Almquist, Lorenz, and Burmester (1934) concluded that depot fat is not utilized to any important extent in the formation of yolk. However, the results obtained by Denton (1940) from feeding hexyl blue dye suggest that depot fat is utilized for this purpose. Cruickshank (1933) found that the composition of the fat in the yolk is affected by the diet. The studies of Titus, Byerly, and Ellis (1933) supplied evidence that the percentage of fat in the yolk may be influenced to a slight extent by diet. The effect of different vegetable oils in the diet on the weight of the yolk has not been determined. Apparently, no experimental studies, with the exception of some made with cottonseed oil, have been made to ascertain the effect of vegetable oils on . . .
Ultrastructure of the white sponge nevus

An electron microscope study of tissue diagnosed as white sponge nevus suggested a more advanced process of cellular keratinization in the buccal mucosa than may be appreciated in histologic sections. Ultrastructural features which are normally associated with keratinizing epithelium were observed in the lesion and included (1) a marked increase in the intracellular content of tonofilaments, (2) numerous tonofilament-related keratohyaline granules, (3) membrane-coating granules that possessed an internal striated appearance, (4) the apparent accumulation in the intercellular space of the contents of the striated microgranules, and (5) the presence within some cells of a keratin-like material. Other features included the formation of perinuclear electron-lucent zones and the presence of elongated cytoplasmic processes which produced a complex pattern of interdigitation among the epithelial cells.
The regulation of hippocampal dynorphin by neural/neuroendocrine pathways: Models for effects of aging on an opioid peptide system

Abstract Previous research has demonstrated increased messenger RNA expression and peptide content in an opioid system localized to hippocampal dentate granule cells in aged rats. This altered regulation of dynorphin was correlated with the emergence of an age-related impairment in spatial learning. Considerable evidence exists for additional effects of aging on systems that provide input to the dynorphin-containing dentate granule cells. Such changes have been well documented for loss of perforant path innervation from entorhinal cortex, deterioration in septohippocampal cholinergic neurons, and high amounts of glucocorticoids that have, among their targets, receptors located in the dentate gyrus. Similar to the effects of aging on hippocampal dynorphin, age-related changes in each of these systems correlate with the severity of spatial learning impairment in aged rats. This raises the possibility that dysregulation of dynorphin in the aged brain is a reactive response to antecedant change(s) in this circuitry, a hypothesis that was examined by separately manipulating in young rats the three neural/neuroendocrine systems identified above. Of the three models examined only removal of the perforant path reproduced the effect of aging on dynorphin in the hippocampal formation. An immunotoxin was used in Experiment 1 to selectively remove septo-hippocampal cholinergic neurons in young rats. No alteration in hippocampal opioid peptides was produced by this treatment. Experiment 2 examined effects of exposure to excess corticosterone. Adrenalectomized rats exhibited a significant decrease in hippocampal dynorphin-A (1–8) content, which was reversed by corticosterone replacement at a concentration approximating normal basal levels. Dynorphin-A (1–8) content, however, was not reliably increased by exposure to excess corticosterone. In contrast, perforant path removal was found to reproduce the effect of aging on dynorphin content; either aspiration of the entorhinal cortex or knife-cut transections of the perforant path reliably increased hippocampal dynorphin content. These results support the conclusion that age-related deterioration in the septohippocampal cholinergic system and evaluated exposure to corticosterone are not sufficient to induce an elevation in hippocampal dynorphin content. Only removal of the perforant path innervation was found to reproduce the elevation in hippocampal dynorphin content observed in aged rats with hippocampal-dependent learning impairment.
Electromagnetic and Thermal Properties of a Conductively Loaded Epoxy

We discuss the mechanical, thermal, and electromagnetic properties of a castable microwave absorber consisting of a mixture of stainless steel powder suspended in a commercially available epoxy. The resulting mixture is well suited for cryogenic applications. Its coefficient of thermal expansion closely matches most metals to reduce mechanical strain during cool down. The absorption can be tuned by varying the volume filling fraction of the stainless steel powder in the mixture and exhibits little change from room temperature to 4 K. We provide simple expressions for the real and imaginary parts of the dielectric permittivity as a function of frequency and the stainless steel filling fraction.
Hypoglycemia rebound migraine.

Objective.—To describe a patient with specific hypoglycemia rebound migraine. Background.—There is an increased prevalence of headache in persons with diabetes. Although hypoglycemia may precipitate headache in some diabetic (and nondiabetic) patients, it is not a universal pathogenetic mechanism responsible for headache in those individuals or in normal fasting subjects. Methods.—Clinical history, review of past medical records, neurologic examination, follow-up evaluation, electroencephalogram, and computerized tomography of the head. Results.—A 56-year-old man with unstable diabetes mellitus had recurrent monthly episodes of profound hypoglycemia for 40 years. These episodes were followed by severe, global, pulsatile headache after glycemia became normal subsequent to intravenous infusion of glucose and the patient was no longer confused and lethargic. He had no headache preceding or throughout the actual hypoglycemic phase. His neurologic examination was normal when asymptomatic. His baseline electroencephalogram was normal, but showed mild slowing of the background in the immediate posthypoglycemic state. Computerized tomography of the head demonstrated mild atrophic changes. His severe bouts of hypoglycemia and migraine were ameliorated by prophylactic treatment with valproic acid. Conclusion.—Posthypoglycemic migraine may occur exceptionally in patients with unstable diabetes as a rebound phenomenon, caused by an unidentified mechanism.
Cenomanian and Turonian (Early Late Cretaceous) multituberculate mammals from southwestern Utah

Multituberculate faunas from the Dakota Formation (upper Cenomanian) and the Smoky Hollow Member of the Straight Cliffs Formation (middle or upper Turonian) are described. The presence of Cimolodon is established in the Cenomanian; a new genus, possibly cimolodontid, is present as well. A new genus (Dakotamys) is described from the Dakota Formation, and another (Bryceomys) from the Smoky Hollow Member. Neither of the new genera are assigned to suborder or family, and both are morphologically closer to Paracimexomys than to other described taxa. Paracimexomys and, possibly, cimolomyids are present in both faunas. The difference in composition of mammalian faunas from the Cenomanian to Turonian may reflect ecologic changes causing geographic shifts in mammalian faunas rather than an episode of catastrophic extinction.
Fate and plasticity of renin precursors in development and disease.

Renin-expressing cells appear early in the embryo and are distributed broadly throughout the body as organogenesis ensues. Their appearance in the metanephric kidney is a relatively late event in comparison with other organs such as the fetal adrenal gland. The functions of renin cells in extra renal tissues remain to be investigated. In the kidney, they participate locally in the assembly and branching of the renal arterial tree and later in the endocrine control of blood pressure and fluid-electrolyte homeostasis. Interestingly, this endocrine function is accomplished by the remarkable plasticity of renin cell descendants along the kidney arterioles and glomeruli which are capable of reacquiring the renin phenotype in response to physiological demands, increasing circulating renin and maintaining homeostasis. Given that renin cells are sensors of the status of the extracellular fluid and perfusion pressure, several signaling mechanisms (β-adrenergic receptors, Notch pathway, gap junctions and the renal baroreceptor) must be coordinated to ensure the maintenance of renin phenotype—and ultimately the availability of renin—during basal conditions and in response to homeostatic threats. Notably, key transcriptional (Creb/CBP/p300, RBP-J) and posttranscriptional (miR-330, miR125b-5p) effectors of those signaling pathways are prominent in the regulation of renin cell identity. The next challenge, it seems, would be to understand how those factors coordinate their efforts to control the endocrine and contractile phenotypes of the myoepithelioid granulated renin-expressing cell.
Analysis of forces on ferromagnetic components used in magnetic fusion reactors

Abstract The magnetic forces on the coolant pipe of the MARS mirror reactor are calculated and analyzed. The magnitude of these forces is shown to be smaller than those associated with the coolant pressure, but they are not uniform. Such nonuniformity could lead to pipe deformations. It is also shown that the magnetic forces on an equivalent beam with the same material volume provide a reasonable estimate for the total forces on the pipe.
Correlation of Hexokinase Content and Basal Energy Metabolism in Discrete Regions of Rat Brain

: Brain hexokinase (ATP:D-hexose 6-phospho-transferase, EC 2.7.1.1) levels in seven regions of rat brain were estimated by photometric measurement of im-munofluorescence in cryostat-cut sections. When compared with basal rates of glucose metabolism in these regions, estimated by the 6-[14C]glucose method, a significant correlation was observed. Thus, hexokinase content reflects metabolic energy demands.
VLCAD enzyme activity determinations in newborns identified by screening: a valuable tool for risk assessment

Tandem mass spectrometry-based newborn screening correctly identifies individuals with very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (VLCADD). However, a great number of healthy individuals present with identical acylcarnitine profiles during catabolism in the first three days of life. We routinely perform an enzyme activity assay as confirmation analysis in newborns identified by screening. Whereas VLCAD residual activities of less than 10% are clearly diagnostic and indicate patients at risk of clinical disease, the clinical relevance of higher residual activities is unclear. In this study we assess the molecular basis in 34 individuals with residual activities of 10-50%. We identify two pathogenic mutations in patients that result in residual activities as high as 22%, while individuals with residual activities of 25-50% either present with a heterozygous or no mutation in the VLCAD gene. In addition, confirmed heterozygous parents present with residual activities as low as 32%.
Hand hygiene strategies

Hand hygiene is one of the major players in preventing healthcare associated infections. However, healthcare workers compliance with hand hygiene continues to be a challenge. This article will address strategies to help improving hand hygiene compliance.
Interactive Enhancement of Handwritten Text through Multi-resolution Gaussian

Handwritten text found in historical documents is often difficult to read due to issues such as contrast, noise and degradation. There has been much work on how to process such documents including improvements on binarization of these images. Despite the different advances in this area, improving the quality and readability of these documents is still an open research area. In this paper a novel approach is proposed to improve the text of historical documents through interactive stroke enhancement. This approach utilizes user interaction to indicate parts in the image where stroke enhancement is needed. The algorithm uses a difference of multi-resolution Gaussians to detect text at different scales and to modulate the amount of enhancement needed. This approach could be used for manually restoring text images or for improving readability of the text. Results are given in this paper that show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
The ethics of robot servitude

Assume we could someday create artificial creatures with intelligence comparable to our own. Could it be ethical use them as unpaid labor? There is very little philosophical literature on this topic, but the consensus so far has been that such robot servitude would merely be a new form of slavery. Against this consensus I defend the permissibility of robot servitude, and in particular the controversial case of designing robots so that they want to serve (more or less particular) human ends. A typical objection to this case draws an analogy to the genetic engineering of humans: if designing eager robot servants is permissible, it should also be permissible to design eager human servants. Few ethical views can easily explain even the wrongness of such human engineering, however, and those few explanations that are available break the analogy with engineering robots. The case turns out to be illustrative of profound problems in the field of population ethics.
Distribution and aspects of the production and biomass of eelgrass, Zostera marina L., at Roscoff, France

Abstract A survey is given of the changes since 1909 on the area covered with eelgrass at Roscoff, France. In 1976, Zostera marina L. was distributed from mean low water mark at neap tide (MLWN) down to a depth of 4 m below mean low water mark at spring tide (MLWS). In these meadows, a relation existed between the aboveground biomass, length of leaves, number of shoots m−2 and the time of water coverage. Biomass and production were studied from February 1976 to February 1977. The biomass of leaf blades, leaf sheaths, rhizomes and roots followed the same pattern with increasing total values from February (190 g dry wt. m−2) to August (470 g dry wt. m−2) and a decline in autumn and winter. Production was measured by a leaf marking technique together with the determination of the plastochrone interval, i.e. the time interval between the initiation of two successive leaves; on the average, this value amounted to 19.3 days. As the production of rhizome segments occurred at the same rate as that of the leaves, it was possible to estimate separately the production of leaf blades, leaf sheaths, rhizomes and roots during the year. The course of the production process, especially of the aboveground parts, seemed to be controlled by insolation. Annual net production was 1608 g dry wt. m−2; 69% of this was aboveground production. Turnover rate of aboveground parts (1.5% per day) was higher than of underground parts (0.5% per day), corresponding with a turnover time of 68 and 193 days, respectively.
Aqueous humor dynamics during the day and night in juvenile and adult rabbits.

Purpose To determine the day and night differences in intraocular pressure (IOP), aqueous flow, outflow facility, uveoscleral outflow, and central corneal thickness (CCT) in juvenile and adult rabbits. Methods Studies were performed on twelve 3-month-old and ten 12-month-old male New Zealand White rabbits. Daytime measurements were made between 9 AM (3 hours after lights on) and 3 PM, and nighttime measurements were made between 11 PM and 5 AM. IOP was measured by pneumotonometry and aqueous flow by fluorophotometry. Outflow facility was determined by both fluorophotometry and tonography. Uveoscleral outflow was calculated by the Goldmann equation. CCT was measured by ultrasound pachymetry. Repeated-measures ANOVAs and Student's two-tailed t-tests were used for statistical comparisons. Results When nighttime versus daytime readings were compared, IOP, aqueous flow and uveoscleral outflow were higher, fluorophotometric outflow facility was lower, and CCT was thinner in both age groups. When the juvenile rabbits were compared to adult rabbits, IOP was lower, aqueous flow and uveoscleral outflow were higher, and fluorophotometric outflow facility and CCT were not different during the day or night. Tonographic outflow facility did not change in a 24-hour period in the juvenile rabbits. Conclusions The increased IOP at night in rabbits can be explained mainly by a decrease in outflow facility. An increase in aqueous flow at night is counterbalanced by an increase in uveoscleral outflow. Although the rates of aqueous flow and uveoscleral outflow slow with maturity, their relative day/night differences remain the same.
SoxB1 downregulation in vegetal lineages of sea urchin embryos is achieved by both transcriptional repression and selective protein turnover

Patterning of cell fates along the sea urchin animal-vegetal embryonic axis requires the opposing functions of nuclear β-catenin/TCF-Lef, which activates the endomesoderm gene regulatory network, and SoxB1, which antagonizes β-catenin and limits its range of function. A crucial aspect of this interaction is the temporally controlled downregulation of SoxB1, first in micromeres and then in macromere progeny. We show that SoxB1 is regulated at the level of protein turnover in these lineages. This mechanism is dependent on nuclear β-catenin function. It can be activated by Pmar1, but not by Krl, both of which function downstream of β-catenin/TCF-Lef. At least partially distinct, lineage-specific mechanisms operate, as turnover in the macromeres depends on entry of SoxB1 into nuclei, and on redundant destruction signals, neither of which is required in micromeres. Neither of these turnover mechanisms operates in mesomere progeny, which give rise to ectoderm. However, in mesomeres, SoxB1 appears to be subject to negative autoregulation that helps to maintain tight regulation of SoxB1 mRNA levels in presumptive ectoderm. Between the seventh and tenth cleavage stages, β-catenin not only promotes degradation of SoxB1, but also suppresses accumulation of its message in macromere-derived blastomeres. Collectively, these different mechanisms work to regulate precisely the levels of SoxB1 in the progeny of different tiers of blastomeres arrayed along the animal-vegetal axis.
Presentation processing support for adaptive multimedia applications

This paper describes the design of and implementation of Presentation Processing Engines (PPEs) that provide flexible control over QoS to manage heterogeneity in networks, end- systems and compression formats. Development of PPEs is facilitated by a framework that provides the modular architecture, data types, and transformations common to most codecs, filters, transcoders, etc. to facilitate the implementation of emerging compression standards and their integration into media processing applications. By allowing fine-grained composition of compression and image processing modules, the framework facilitates the development of extensible presentation processing engines that can be dynamically configured to adapt to changes in resource availability and user preferences.
Radiant-interchange configuration factors between various selected plane surfaces

The radiant-interchange configuration factor F$\_{1-2}$ (later referred to simply as 'factor') is defined as the fraction of the energy leaving an isothermal area A$\_1$ that is incident upon another area A$_2$. The validity of Lambert's law of diffuse radiation is assumed. The calculation of such factors in the case of two rectangles having a common edge and forming an arbitrary angle is discussed, and a table of calculated values is presented. It is shown how the factors for two parallel, convex polygons, forming the bases of a right prism, can be derived from the results obtained for the rectangles. Values of such factors for a number of regular polygons are tabulated. A separate table gives factors for the honeycomb structure, much used in aviation and aerospace. The importance of much greater accuracy in the calculations than is generally thought necessary is shown by an example.
Molecular form follows function: (un)snaring the SNAREs.

Exocytotic release of transmitters is mediated by the ternary SNARE complex. The form of this complex is consistent with its function in the positioning of vesicles to the plasma membrane and their fusion to it. Recent advances in single-molecule techniques, however, bring an additional layer of complexity to this process, implicating that there might be various modes of operation. For example, the binary syntaxin–synaptobrevin 2 complex, in addition to the ternary complex containing SNAP25, might enable vesicular docking. Single-molecule techniques allow direct measurements of the distance/extension, rupture force, spontaneous dissociation times and interaction energy for SNARE protein–protein interactions. These measurements are complementary to results and conclusions drawn from other techniques. Consequently, single-molecule techniques promise tremendous opportunities for in vitro investigations of SNARE proteins to improve our understanding of their role in exocytosis.
The Seasat-A synthetic aperture radar system

The objective of the Seasat-A synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system was to detect ocean waves from orbital altitudes. An SAR system operating at 1275 MHz (23-cm wavelength) was designed and built to meet this objective. The choice of wavelength was the result of imagery obtained by aircraft during 1972 to 1974 and ease of implementation. The Seasat. A SAR system was turned on in orbit on July 4, 1978, and gathered imagery until the spacecraft bus failed in orbit in October 1978.
Manganese and copper fluxes from continental margin sediments

Total dissolvable Cu and Mn have been measured in seawaters collected from the continental shelf of the eastern Bering Sea. Copper concentrations of 4 nmole kg−1 inshore of a hydrographie front over the 100 m isobath. Manganese concentrations also were low over the shelf break, 10 nmole kg−1 inshore of the hydrographic front. Depth distributions of Mn at all continental shelf stations showed gradients into the sediments, with concentrations typically >20 nmole kg−1 in a bottom layer extending about 30 m off the bottom. Benthic Cu and Mn fluxes are indicated by cross-shelf pore water profiles that show interfacial concentrations more than an order of magnitude greater than in bottom water. These data and the results of a model of metal transport across the shelf suggest that Cu and Mn fluxes, estimated at 2 and 18 nmole cm−2y−1, respectively, from continental shelf sediments may be one “source” of these metals to the deep sea.
Coronary Artery Spasm During Radiofrequency Ablation of a Left Lateral Accessory Pathway

A 16-year-old female patient with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and supraventricular tachycardia underwent radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation of an accessory pathway in the left lateral area. During RF ablation she developed reversible ST segment elevation secondary to coronary artery spasm. Coronary angiography demonstrated the ablation catheter in close proximity to the circumflex coronary artery, with no evidence of coronary artery injury. Subsequently, conduction by way of the accessory pathway was successfully eliminated with cryoablation with no further coronary spasm or injury.
Dual role of calcium in steroidogenesis in the isolated adrenal cell of rat.

Summary Corticosterone synthesis in isolated rat adrenal cells in response to ACTH and dibutyryl cyclic-AMP (dcAMP) and formation of cyclic-AMP (cAMP) from prelabeled 8- 14 C-adenine have been studied in the presence of varying Ca ++ concentrations. At physiologic concentrations of ACTH steroidogenesis is proportional to Ca ++ . In the absence of Ca ++ , 10 4 higher concentrations of ACTH is necessary. cAMP formation is detectable only at supraphysiologic concentrations of ACTH. Maximum corticosterone formation in response to dcAMP is dependent upon Ca ++ concentration. Action of Ca ++ may be both prior to and following elaboration of the second messenger; other compounds besides cAMP may be the mediators of ACTH action at physiologic concentrations.
Relaxing Pareto optimality in economic environments

The individual preference domain is the family of profiles of economic preferences on the set of allocations of public or private goods, or both. The agenda domain assumption allows for a finite lower bound on the size of a feasible set. If a social choice correspondence satisfies nonimposition, Arrow’s choice axiom, and independence of infeasible alternatives then it is directly or inversely dictatorial, or null.
Stem cells: Dual response to Ras mutation

Proliferation-driving mutations in haematopoietic stem cells often result in the loss of stem-cell properties. But at least one common oncogenic mutation seems to enhance both proliferation and stem-cell self-renewal. See Letter p.143 The Nras oncogene is often mutated at an early stage in the development of some forms of myeloproliferative disease and leukaemia. Sean Morrison and colleagues now show in a mouse model that activation of Nras in haematopoietic stem cells exerts a bimodal effect, increasing the likelihood of cell division in some, but decreasing it in other cells. This allows this single pre-leukaemic mutation to clonally expand the more rapidly dividing cell population, yet also to promote long-term self-renewal in the more slowly dividing cells. The authors suggest that by shepherding its resources in this way, Nras-mutated cells can outcompete wild-type rivals and increase the chance of acquiring further mutations and at the same time sustain long-term clonal dominance.
Use of optimization to develop a correlation model for predicting residual NAPL saturation

Predicting the residual saturation of a trapped non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) contaminant is critical to estimate the region of contamination, the design of remediation strategies, and risk assessment. Models were developed to predict residual NAPL saturation utilizing optimization and non-linear functions, consequently allowing for a broader mathematical approach to model development. The input parameters evaluated represent soil and fluid properties; the uniformity coefficient (C u), the coefficient of gradation, the capillary number (Nc), the bond number (Nc), and the total trapping number (Nt). Overall, the model that performed the best was based on a second-order equation with the independent variables C u and Nt1 using the sum of the squares of the errors. The non-linear error function based on a derivative of Marquardt's percent standard deviation performed the best for three other cases.
The Politics of Structural Change Swedish Social Democracy and Thatcherism in Comparative Perspective

The 1930s and the 1980s were decades of significant political economic change in the capitalist democracies. Depression and the rise of the industrial working class created opportunities for the establishment of social democracy in the 1930s. Stagflation and the decline of the working class made possible waves of radical rightist reform. However, this article suggests that only governments that do not have to concentrate myopically on the exigencies of winning the next election have the political space to undertake structural changes, the benefits of which may only be manifest in the medium term. In turn, successful reforms are likely to entail changes in underlying social structural conditions—such as the strengthening or weakening of organized labor movements—that both expand the electoral constituencies of the government's partisanpreferred policies and improve their macroeconomic efficacy. These propositions are examined with respect to the construction social democracy in Sweden in the 1930s and the ...
The St. James Infirmary: A history

St. James Infirmary (SJI), located in San Francisco, California is a peer-led occupational health and safety clinic for sex workers that opened on June 2, 1999. This reserch looks at the political and cultural events that led to the creation of this unique clinic. I will draw from the research I conducted, inclusive of one-on-one interviews with leaders of the organizations that came together to form St. James Infirmary, a review of archival material, and an exploration of the preexisting literature on sex workers rights movements and social rights movements to tell the story of SJI. The existence of the Infirmary results in an acknowledgement that sex work is a legitimate occupation. It also challenges cultural values and political institutions, and creates a community for sex workers.
131I hippuran camera renogram for detection of urologic pathology in the newborn

Abstract Twenty-three newborn infants with congenital malformations of various types were screened for the presence of possible associated abnormalities of the genitourinary system. For this purpose, the infusion pyelogram and the 131 I Hippuran camera renogram were used, and the results compared in order to determine which was the best screening method. The camera renogram proved to be more reliable in terms of the quality of the study, if at least 30 μCi of isotope were utilized. Moreover, in three instances the renogram demonstrated findings not demonstrated by the infusion pyelogram. The camera renogram involves less radiation than the pyelogram. Since these studies indicate that the renogram may be more reliable than pyelography in the newborn, it is suggested that camera renography deserves further evaluation as a screening tool to be utilized in those neonates in whom such studies are indicated.
Interpreting the Impact of Culture on Structure The Role of Change Processes

Research in multinational organizational structures has traditionally used either a rational, conscious perspective in which decision makers, through a single-loop change process, strategically choose to interpret the environmental culture to shape the organization’s structure or a nationalistic view, in which through a double-loop change process, organizational members of one culture impose their favored structures on organizational members of a different culture. This article considers a third perspective, one in which organizational culture and structure are socially constructed phenomena. Through a case study of a multinational office staffed by members of two distinct national cultures (Japanese and American), this research demonstrates how cultures and structures can be simultaneously created through single-, double-, and triple-loop change processes. These processes can lead to a third-order level of change. Ideas for “actionizing” this concept are discussed.
Advances in Glaucoma Treatment and Management: Outflow Drugs

Intraocular pressure (IOP) rises when the balance between aqueous humor formation and outflow resistance is compromised. In a normal eye, ciliary muscle (CM) and trabecular meshwork (TM) contraction and relaxation function in synchrony to provide fine control of outflow. Recent investigations of the role of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)1 suggest TM mechanosensitivity as a homeostatic mechanism mediated in part by NO to maintain normal outflow facility and IOP. The active role of TM contraction and relaxation in the regulation of IOP is also likely to be mediated in part by the actomyosin contractility/cytoskeleton/cell–cell and cell–matrix adhesion system. The cytoskeleton and contractility mechanisms may be the efferent “execution” arm of the reflexive and regulatory mechanism; their arrangement governs the final facility. The eNOS/NO system appears to be a signal/transduction arm that mediates response to the stressors. It is generally agreed that the greatest resistance to outflow resides in the juxtacanalicular region and inner wall of Schlemm’s canal (SC)—areas that are directly affected by contractile changes in the CM and TM.2 The CM plays a major role, but the TM has its own active contractile/relaxant role executed efferently by the system noted above, modulated afferently by the various sensors in the CM tendons, the CM apex, and the TM, mediated by CTGF3,4 and NOS/NO,1 among others, and further modulated by TGFβ2 and consequent downstream mediators and their effects on the ECM and other tissues. The interactions of this system are just now being appreciated. Understanding how this system functions is critical for determining how to effectively and efficiently manipulate elements of the system to therapeutic effect. The molecular pathways that modulate uveoscleral and trabecular outflow are complex. Advances in identifying the most salient therapeutic elements in such complicated systems are best catalyzed in small, focused meetings. These are a valuable complement to the larger research meetings, and more are needed.
Nursing Leaders' Experiences With the Ethical Dimensions of Nursing Education

This pilot study explores four nursing leaders' experiences with the ethical dimensions of leadership in education. Gathering and interpreting such data of experience fosters greater understanding of the nature of moral leadership as it is lived in nursing education. A phenomenological approach was used to collect and analyze the data. The results revealed four major themes: integrity, justice, wrestling with decisions in the light of consequences, and the power of information. These themes clarify the values that direct these leaders' actions as they mediate community needs common to educational and health care institutions.
A radical proposal to improve instruction in the small college professional programs

The author proposes a separation between professional training centers and liberal arts institutes at small colleges. The professional institute could contract with the liberal arts unit to supply courses in philosophy, history, writing skills, and whatever other nontechnical subjects the institute deemed to be a part of a complete professional education. The novelty would be that the institute would decide just how much of the nontechnical knowledge and skills it wished to include in the training of a student whose goal was a productive job in industry. This proposal is directed toward bringing about close-knit cooperation between industry and the colleges. >
Task force on software productivity and the automated software factory

A short problem or topic description is given by the task force leader, followed by the title, author, and short abstract of the working papers that were prepared in advance. The papers were: reusable components and critical success factors. >
Detection of Yersinia pestis over time in seeded bottled water samples by cultivation on heart infusion agar

The viable persistence of Yersinia pestis seeded in bottled spring water was evaluated by performing 2 studies that involved inoculating a total of 21 different test strains into individual 500 mL reservoirs. Approximately 2 × 104 CFU/mL of Y. pestis was inoculated into each reservoir and held for sampling at 26 °C ± 1 °C. In study No. 2, 9 strains (Harbin, Nepal, UNH 1A, UNH 1B, ZE94, CO92, PB6, PB6 DP, and Pexu) could no longer be recovered using a plate count assay between 79 and 138 days post-seeding; other strains (K25 lcr, O19 Ca–6, and K25 pst) could no longer be recovered between 112 and 160 days post seeding. The data generated in this study demonstrate that certain strains of Y. pestis can remain viable in bottled water for extended periods of time.