cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mechanisms of glutamate activation of axon-to-Schwann cell signaling in the squid

Abstract Membrane potentials from Schwann cells associated with giant axons of the small squid ( Alloteuthis and Loliguncula ) and the large squid ( Loligo ) were monitored with glass microelectrodes following 100 Hz/15 s axonal stimulation, or the application of 10 −7 M glutamate and ion substitutions, in the presence or absence of 10 −7 M d-tubocurarine. Glutamate or stimulation caused the membrane of the Schwann cell to depolarize to approximately −32 mV. This was rapidly replaced by a transient hyperpolarization to approximately −55 mV; the potential returning to the resting level (−40 mV) in approximately 7 min. In the presence of d-tubocurarine only the initial depolarization was evident. Nominally zero [Na + ] o or treatment with 10 −7 M tetrodotoxin (in normal [Na + ] o ) blocked the stimulation-and glutamate-induced depolarization while low Cl o − hyperpolarized the Schwann cell without effect on the glutamate- or stimulation-induced depolarization. Na o + depletion or pretreatment with tetrodotoxin in normal Na o + did not affect the development of the Schwann cell hyperpolarization. These results do not support the hypothesis that the glutamate-induced depolarization is the trigger leading to the Schwann cell hyperpolarization. Preliminary experiments to test the possibility that inositol phosphate second messenger and an increase in [Ca 2+ ] i are triggered by glutamate receptor activation showed that nominally 0 Ca o 2+ /75mM Mg o 2+ only slightly reduced the hyperpolarizing response to stimulation or glutamate while intracellular Bapta (20–30 μM) blocked the hyperpolarization but not the depolarization. [ 3 H]Myoinositol incorporation into axon-Schwann cell plasma membranes was high. Treating the preparation for a period of 1–10 min with the glutamate receptor antagonist, 2-amino-4-phosphono-butyrate (10 −5 M), in the presence of glutamate reduced membrane [ 3 H]myoinositol content to 45% of control. These observations are consistent with a glutamate-activated Na + channel for the initial depolarization and an independent inositol phosphate second messenger-Ca 2+ -dependent triggering event for the development of the Schwann cell hyperpolarization.
Vibration and flutter analysis of reusable surface insulation panels

A study has been conducted of the aeroelastic behavior of heat shield panels for the thermal protection system of the space shuttle. Questions of structural and aerodynamic modeling are considered along with the analysis of a single isotropic tile and an isotropic main substructure. Representative flutter results are presented, taking into account a rigid and a flexible metallic substructure.
A Novel Activity Associated with RNA Polymerase II Elongation Factor SIII: SIII DIRECTS PROMOTER-INDEPENDENT TRANSCRIPTION INITIATION BY RNA POLYMERASE II IN THE ABSENCE OF INITIATION FACTORS (∗)

General transcription factor SIII, a heterotrimer of 110-, 18-, and 15-kDa subunits, was shown previously to stimulate the overall rate of RNA chain elongation by RNA polymerase II by suppressing transient pausing by polymerase at many sites along DNA templates (Bradsher, J. N., Jackson, K. W., Conaway, R. C., and Conaway, J. W. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 25587-25593). In this report, SIII is shown to possesses the novel ability to direct robust but promiscuous transcription by RNA polymerase II on duplex DNA templates in the absence of initiation factors. Mechanistic studies reveal that SIII promotes RNA synthesis by substantially increasing the efficiency with which RNA polymerase II initiates promoter-independent transcription from the ends of duplex DNA. Remarkably, SIII appears to have a negligible effect on de novo synthesis of end-to-end transcripts. Instead, analysis of reaction products indicates that SIII is capable of promoting a dramatic increase in the ability of RNA polymerase II to extend the 3'-hydroxyl termini of duplex DNA fragments, in a template-directed reaction exhibiting no strong preference for 3'-protruding, 3'-recessed, or blunt DNA ends. Although RNA polymerase II has been shown previously to catalyze primer-dependent transcription, SIII is the first eukaryotic transcription factor found to promote this reaction. Based on these findings, we propose that SIII may suppress transient pausing by RNA polymerase II by helping to maintain the 3'-hydroxyl terminus of the nascent RNA chain in its proper position in the polymerase active site.
Protective effect of HO-1 against oxidative stress in human hepatoma cell line (HepG2) is independent of telomerase enzyme activity

Abstract Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a stress response protein and its induction is associated with protection against oxidative stress. Cell survival during exposure to environmental stresses is associated with elevation of HO-1. Telomerase plays an important role in cell proliferation and immortalization. Our objective was to determine whether the adaptive cellular response to survive exposure to environmental stresses is dependent on expression of HO-1 and telomerase activity in hepatoma cell line (HepG2). Exposure of HepG2 to oxidants, H2O2 (100 μM), as well as HO-1 inducers, heme (10 μM) and stannic chloride (SnCl2) (10 μM), resulted in an increased HO-1 mRNA, protein and total HO activity. On the other hand, HO activity was inhibited by addition of stannic mesoporphyrin (SnMP) (10 μM). These effects were brought about without altering endogenous HO-2 protein levels. Telomerase activity was not affected by oxidants, inducers of HO-1 or inhibitors of HO activity. Similarly, the catalytic subunit of telomerase enzyme human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), which is considered as the major regulator of telomerase activity, was not affected by oxidants, heme and H2O2, or downregulation of HO gene activity by SnMP. This study demonstrates, for the first time, that induction of HO-1 gene mediates protection against oxidants and increases cell survival by a mechanism independent of telomerase enzyme activity. Suppression of HO activity by SnMP decreased cell resistance to oxidant stressors without altering telomerase activity.
Autophosphorylation-activated protein kinase inactivates the protein tyrosine phosphatase activity of protein phosphatase 2A

Phosphorylation of the catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) on threonines with a distinct autophosphorylation-activated protein kinase [Guo and Damuni (1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90, 2500-2504] inactivated the phosphatase with 32P-labelled myelin basic protein prepared by incubation with the kinase domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor, the src-family protein kinases p56lck and p60c-src, myelin basic protein kinase-1, or protamine kinase. Phosphoamino acid analysis demonstrated that the kinase domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor, p56lck and p60c-src phosphorylated myelin basic protein on tyrosines, that the protamine kinase phosphorylated myelin basic protein on serines, and that myelin basic protein kinase-1 phosphorylated myelin basic protein on threonines. The results demonstrate that the autophosphorylation-activated protein kinase not only inactivates the protein serine/threonine phosphatase, but also the protein tyrosine phosphatase activity of PP2A. This autophosphorylation-activated protein kinase-mediated inactivation of PP2A may, in response to extracellular stimuli, not only contribute to the enhanced phosphorylation of cellular proteins on serines and threonines but also on tyrosines.
Flow cytometry as a method for assaying the biological activity of phytotoxins

Abstract A flow cytometric method has been developed for the qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the biological activities of phytotoxins from plant pathogenic fungi. The method utilized fresh wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) leaf protoplast preparations treated with purified phytotoxins, triticone A-B and triticone D. Subsequently, protoplasts were exposed to fluorescein diacetate, and analyzed by flow cytometry. Information acquired included fluorescence owing to esterase activity on fluorescein diacetate, and chlorophyll autofluorescence. Results indicate that triticone A-B has a rapid dose-dependent toxic effect on wheat protoplasts but triticone D has no toxic effect. This method can also yield information on the mechanism of action of phytotoxins that are relatively unstable or available only in small quantities.
Structural Basis for the Interaction of Lipopolysaccharide with Outer Membrane Protein H (OprH) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a major nosocomial pathogen that infects cystic fibrosis and immunocompromised patients. The impermeability of the P. aeruginosa outer membrane contributes substantially to the notorious antibiotic resistance of this human pathogen. This impermeability is partially imparted by the outer membrane protein H (OprH). Here we have solved the structure of OprH in a lipid environment by solution NMR. The structure reveals an eight-stranded β-barrel protein with four extracellular loops of unequal size. Fast time-scale dynamics measurements show that the extracellular loops are disordered and unstructured. It was previously suggested that the function of OprH is to provide increased stability to the outer membranes of P. aeruginosa by directly interacting with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) molecules. Using in vivo and in vitro biochemical assays, we show that OprH indeed interacts with LPS in P. aeruginosa outer membranes. Based upon NMR chemical shift perturbations observed upon the addition of LPS to OprH in lipid micelles, we conclude that the interaction is predominantly electrostatic and localized to charged regions near both rims of the barrel, but also through two conspicuous tyrosines in the middle of the bilayer. These results provide the first molecular structure of OprH and offer evidence for multiple interactions between OprH and LPS that likely contribute to the antibiotic resistance of P. aeruginosa.
Allergen-Specific Pattern Recognition Receptor Pathways

Allergic diseases continue to plague modernized societies, underscoring the need to identify the molecular basis for the propensity of a small number of environmental proteins to provoke maladaptive, allergic responses. Recent data suggest that the ability of allergenic proteins to drive allergic responses in susceptible hosts is driven by their unique innate immune activating capabilities. Although the identification of allergen-specific pattern recognition receptors is in its infancy, studies to date have shown that allergens drive Th2-biased immune responses via directly engaging C-type lectin receptors (dectin-2, DC-SIGN, and mannose receptor) on dendritic cells and/or mimicking toll-like receptor 4 signaling complex molecules expressed on airway structural cells. Elucidation of the specific innate immune pathways activated by allergens holds great promise in defining new therapeutic targets for the treatment of allergic diseases.
Proactive secure message transmission in asynchronous networks

We study the problem of secure message transmission among a group of parties in an insecure asynchronous network, where an adversary may repeatedly break into some parties for transient periods of time. A solution for this task is needed in order to use proactive cryptosystems in wide-area networks with loose synchronization. Parties have access to a secure hardware device that stores some cryptographic keys, but can carry out only a very limited set of operations. We provide a formal model of the system, using the framework for asynchronous reactive systems proposed by Pfitzmann and Waidner (Symposium on Security & Privacy, 2001), present a protocol for proactive message transmission, and prove it secure using the composability property of the framework.
P-wave spectra of nevada test site events at near and very near distances: Implications for a near-regional body wave-surface wave discriminant

Some 140 P -wave spectra of explosions, earthquakes, and explosion-induced aftershocks, all within the Nevada Test Site, have been computed from wide-band seismic data at close-in (< 30 km) and near-regional (200 to 300 km) distances. Observed near-regional corner frequencies indicate that source corner frequencies of explosions differ little from those of earthquakes of similar magnitude for 3 < ML < 5. Plots of 0.8 to 1.0 Hz Pg spectral amplitude versus 12-sec Rayleigh-wave amplitude show a linear trend with unit slope over three orders of magnitude for explosions; earthquakes fail to be distinguished from explosions on such a plot. These spectra also indicate similar source spectra for explosions in different media (tuff, alluvium, rhyolite) which corroborates Cherry et al. (1973). Close-in spectra of three large explosions indicate that: (1) source corner frequencies of explosions scale with yield in a way significantly different from previously published scaling laws; (2) explosion source spectra in tuff are flat from 0.2 to 1.0 Hz (no overshoot); (3) the far-field source spectrum decays at least as fast as frequency cubed. Taken together, these data indicate that the following factors are not responsible for Peppin and McEvilly's (1974) near-regional discriminant: (a) source dimension, (b) source rise time, or (c) shape of the source spectrum.
Respiratory reovirus 1/L induction of diffuse alveolar damage: pulmonary fibrosis is not modulated by corticosteroids in acute respiratory distress syndrome in mice.

Abstract Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a clinical syndrome characterized by diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) secondary to an intense host inflammatory response of the lung to a pulmonary or extrapulmonary infectious or noninfectious insult. We have previously described a unique animal model in which CBA/J mice infected with reovirus 1/L develop ARDS. This model recapitulates the histopathological changes observed in human ARDS, which consist of the overlapping phases of exudation, including the formation of hyaline membranes, regeneration, and healing via repair with fibrosis. In this report, we show that the development of DAD in the acute phase of the disease and intraalveolar fibrosis in the late phase of the disease was not modulated by treatment with methylprednisolone (MPS). In the presence or absence of MPS, the majority of cells infiltrating the lungs after reovirus 1/L infection were polymorphonuclear leukocytes and macrophages. A number of key proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines that are observed in the BAL fluid of ARDS patients were also found in the lungs of mice after reovirus 1/L infection and were not modulated by MPS. These include interferon-γ, interleukin-10, and monocyte chemoattractant protein. The histopathology, cytokine/chemokine expression, and response to corticosterids in reovirus 1/L-induced ARDS are similar to what is observed in human patients, making this a clinically relevant model.
Translation of a Tobacco Survey into Spanish and Asian Languages: The Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey

Because of the vital need to attain cross-cultural comparability of estimates of tobacco use across subgroups of the U.S. population that differ in primary language use, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Tobacco Use Special Cessation Supplement to the Current Population Survey (TUSCS-CPS) was translated into Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), Korean, Vietnamese, and Khmer (Cambodian). The questionnaire translations were extensively tested using an eight-step process that focused on both translation procedures and empirical pretesting. The resulting translations are available on the Internet at http://riskfactor.cancer.gov/studies/tus-cps/translation/questionnaires.html for tobacco researchers to use in their own surveys, either in full, or as material to be selected as appropriate. This manuscript provides information to guide researchers in accessing and using the translations, and describes the empirical procedures used to develop and pretest them (cognitive interviewing and behavior coding). We also provide recommendations concerning the further development of questionnaire translations.
Clocks not winding down: unravelling circadian networks

An intrinsic clock enables an organism to anticipate environmental changes and use energy sources more efficiently, thereby conferring an adaptive advantage. Having an intrinsic clock to orchestrate rhythms is also important for human health. The use of systems biology approaches has advanced our understanding of mechanistic features of circadian oscillators over the past decade. The field is now in a position to develop a multiscale view of circadian systems, from the molecular level to the intact organism, and to apply this information for the development of new therapeutic strategies or for enhancing agricultural productivity in crops.
How aggressive should lipid lowering be among patients with acute coronary syndromes

Results from recent clinical trials have advanced our understanding of the role of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) in the management of patients following acute coronary syndrome (ACS) episodes. In aggregate, these trials have demonstrated the safety and efficacy associated with initiation of intensive statin therapy prior to hospital discharge following an ACS episode, independent of baseline low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentrations. Based on the results of these trials, there is now compelling evidence to support intensive lipid lowering with high-dose statins initiated prior to hospital discharge for all patients suffering ACS episodes with a target for LDL cholesterol of 70 mg/dL or lower, recommendations that have been incorporated into clinical practice guideline recommendations in the most recent position statement from the National Cholesterol Education Panel.
The Dynamics of Land Development in Resort Communities: A Multiagent Simulation of Growth Regimes and Housing Choice

Over the past thirty years, recreation communities in many parts of the globe have gone through cycles of diversification and integration into complex recreation regions. As resort communities matu...
UNIX for microcomputers: an alternative to better management of microcomputer resources and higher productivity

Abstract From laptops to supercomputers, UNIX 1 is leading the way to better management of resources and higher productivity, particularly in multiuser systems and open multivendor computing environments. The UNIX philosophy which is responsible, in part, for this success is captured in the phrase ‘small is beautiful’, which refers to the concept of providing a set of small, well-defined utilities which can be easily combined to develop application programs and solve computation problems. In this paper, we provide a brief introduction to the UNIX operating system and present a short history of operating systems for the PCs and describe the central role that operating systems play in providing a user-friendly environment for the users. We then compare the UNIX and DOS operating systems and argue that UNIX in many ways is superior to DOS. The advantages of UNIX over DOS are enumerated. The potential disadvantages of UNIX are discussed. The road ahead for personal computing and UNIX-based microcomputers is briefly discussed. The paper concludes by suggesting that microcomputer users should strongly consider using UNIX as an alternative to DOS.
Proline-induced enantioselective heterogeneous catalytic hydrogenation of isophorone on basic polymer-supported Pd catalysts

The mode of enantioselection in the proline-modified asymmetric hydrogenation of isophorone (3,5,5-trimethyl-2-cyclohexenone) on polymer-supported Pd catalysts has been studied. Based on earlier results, polymers of basic nature, such as poly(vinyl-pyridine) (PVP), aminomethylated polystyrene (AMPS) and Amberlyst-OH (AOH), have been applied. The study has been focused on the early events in the reaction. The effect of different parameters such as hydrogen pressure and proline configuration and concentration has been studied. The pristine and proline pretreated catalysts have also been investigated with FT-IR spectroscopy. In the case of the AMPS-supported catalyst, the spectra indicated the formation of an amido group-anchored proline, which was potentially formed by the reaction of the surface amino groups with the carboxylic acid unit of proline. Our results provide convincing support for the existence of heterogeneous enantioselection in this system. These studies indicate that the basic nature of the support is clearly able to contribute to the observed enantioselectivities through the strong, potentially covalent, adsorption of the modifier.
919-10 Coronary Hemodynamics After Rotational Atherectomy

The effects of Rotational Athereclomy (PTCRA) and adjunctive balloon angioplasty on the coronary microcirculation were studied with a Doppler-Flow wire in 10 patients (Pts) with single discrete subtotal stenoses in one coronary artery (LAD = 5, RCA = 4, LCX = 1). Methods TIMI-grade Flow was determined for each vessel. Using a cine proyeclor equipped with fra me counter, the number of cineframes required from initiation of the contrast injection 10 opacification of a specified distal landmark were recorded before and after PTCRA. Doppler measurements were made before and after PTCRA and adjunctive balloon. Average Peak Velocity (APV) and Diastolic/Systolic Velocity ratio (DSVR) were measured distal to the lesion. Coronary Flow Reserve (CFRI was assessed with adenosine (24 to 30 JLg i.c.). Estimated coronary blood flow (CBF) and coronary vascular resistances were calculated by standard formulae. Resu/ts: Before PTCRA, all Pts had TIMI-III Flow. Immediately after PTCRA, 2 Pts had TIM I-I Flow, 4 Pts had TIMI-II Flow, and 4 Pts had TIMI-III Flow. In all Pts however, the frame to opacification increased significantly from 49 ± 12 to 118 ± 47 frames (p l 0.05). After the administration of nitroglycerin i.e. (10/10 Pts) and verapamil. i.e. (2/10 Ptsl. TIMI-III Flow was restored in all Pts and the frame to opacification returned to baseline (50 ± 9 frames). The following are the coronary hemodynamics after PTCRA + adjunctive balloon + nitroglycerin + verapamil. Results (mean ± semi): Before After p value MAP (mmHg) 101 ± 5 94 ± 4 ns HR (bts/min) 72 ± 2 74 ± 3 ns Prox. Lumen Diam (mm) 3.44 ± 01 3.50 ± 0.2 ns Minimal Lumen Diam (mm) 1.3 ± 01 2.6 ± 02 005 APV(cm/s) 20 ± 3 36 ± 5 0.05 DSVR (ratio) 1.8 ± 0.8 15 ± 0.6 ns CSF (ml/min) 81 ± 14 154 ± 18 0.05 CVR (mmhg/ml/min) 1.74 ± 0.4 0.74 ± 0.4 005 CFR (ratio) 1.24 ± 01 1.6 ± 0.1 ns Conclusions 1) Immediately after PTCRA, the reduction in CBF is likely due to coronary spasm since this spasm was rapidly reversed by of coronary vasodilators. 2) Immediately after PTCRA + adjunctive balloon, there is an increase in APV, estimated CBF and a fall in CVR. Despite this beneficial hemodynamic profile, the CFR remained abnormal. suggesting either ischemic reactive hyperemia or a persistent abnormality in the microcirculatuion.
An Evaluation of Behavioral Approach in Adults with ADHD

Motivational models emphasizing altered reinforcement sensitivity have been increasingly implicated in etiological accounts of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Overactive behavioral approach tendencies are identified among these motivational models and are addressed within reinforcement sensitivity theory (RST). RST proposes that overactive behavioral approach is associated with over responsiveness to immediately reinforcing stimuli and results from an overactive appetitive motivational subsystem of the brain—the behavioral approach system. The current study tested the hypothesis that behavioral approach would be higher in a clinical sample of adults diagnosed with ADHD relative to a control group. Experimental and self-report measures of behavioral approach were administered. Behavioral approach was higher in the ADHD group across both methods of assessment. Effect size estimates fell within the medium to large range. Implications for how these findings might be incorporated into future ADHD models are discussed.
Behavioural treatment of non-compliance in adolescents with newly acquired spinal cord injuries.

Purpose: To demonstrate the efficacy of using differential reinforcement to treat non-compliance in adolescents with spinal cord injury. Method: A case series design was used to examine three adolescents (aged 14–16 years) with tetraplegia who received multi-disciplinary rehabilitation treatment and a behavioural contract programme during an in-patient hospital admission. Assessment included collecting data on each patient's weekly percentage of compliance with all rehabilitation goals, weekly percentage of negative affect observed in therapy sessions and scores on a measure of mobility in physical therapy. Results: Compliance with rehabilitation demands improved from a baseline of 20–65% to 80% or greater after the patients received differential reinforcement for participating in the rehabilitation regimen. Patients exhibited less anger, sadness and frustration during therapy sessions once contracts were started. Conclusions: The adolescents demonstrated greater compliance after the implementation of a b...
Maternal smoking and the retinoid pathway in the developing lung.

Maternal smoking is a risk factor for pediatric lung disease, including asthma. Animal models suggest that maternal smoking causes defective alveolarization in the offspring. Retinoic acid signaling modulates both lung development and postnatal immune function. Thus, abnormalities in this pathway could mediate maternal smoking effects. We tested whether maternal smoking disrupts retinoic acid pathway expression and functioning in a murine model. Female C57Bl/6 mice with/without mainstream cigarette smoke exposure (3 research cigarettes a day, 5 days a week) were mated to nonsmoking males. Cigarette smoke exposure continued throughout the pregnancy and after parturition. Lung tissue from the offspring was examined by mean linear intercept analysis and by quantitative PCR. Cell culture experiments using the type II cell-like cell line, A549, tested whether lipid-soluble cigarette smoke components affected binding and activation of retinoic acid response elements in vitro. Compared to tobacco-naive mice, juvenile mice with tobacco toxin exposure had significantly (P < 0.05) increased mean linear intercepts, consistent with an alveolarization defect. Tobacco toxin exposure significantly (P < 0.05) decreased mRNA and protein expression of retinoic acid signaling pathway elements, including retinoic acid receptor alpha and retinoic acid receptor beta, with the greatest number of changes observed between postnatal days 3–5. Lipid-soluble cigarette smoke components significantly (P < 0.05) decreased retinoic acid-induced binding and activation of the retinoic acid receptor response element in A549 cells. A murine model of maternal cigarette smoking causes abnormal alveolarization in association with altered retinoic acid pathway element expression in the offspring. An in vitro cell culture model shows that lipid-soluble components of cigarette smoke decrease retinoic acid response element activation. It is feasible that disruption of retinoic acid signaling contributes to the pediatric lung dysfunction caused by maternal smoking.
Lifetime optimization of Wireless Sensor Networks with packet propagation table

In this paper, we explore two specific Wireless Sensor Network applications of environmental monitoring and motion capturing, where the traditional methods of energy-balanced data propagation are not ideally suited. These solutions are either too generic to exploit the specific characteristic of our application or are too complex to be implemented for simplistic requirements of our application. We propose and analyse a simple, energy efficient and energy balanced algorithm for the propagation of data in our specific application which can be used in other Wireless Sensor Networks with similar characteristics and requirements. We first model our problem using Integer Programming to find an optimal solution which is NP hard to solve. Subsequently, we also provide a heuristic solution that prolongs the lifetime of our network to near the optimal value.
Asymptotic-freedom scales

Using Monte Carlo methods with Wilson's lattice cutoff, the asymptotic-freedom scales of SU(2) and SU(3) gauge theories without quarks are calculated.
Distribution and stratigraphy of basaltic units in Maria Tranquillitatis and Fecunditatis: A Clementine perspective

Maria Tranquillitatis and Fecunditatis have been mapped based on Clementine image mosaics and derived iron and titanium maps. Impact craters served as stratigraphic probes enabling better delineation of compositionally different basaltic units, determining the distribution of subsurface basalts, and providing estimates of total basalt thickness and the thickness of the surface units. Collected data indicate that volcanism in these maria started with the eruption of low-Ti basalts and evolved toward medium- and high-Ti basalts. Some of the high-Ti basalts in Mare Tranquillitatis began erupting early and were contemporaneous with the low- and medium-Ti basalts; these units form the oldest units exposed on the mare surface. Mare Tranquillitatis is mostly covered with high- Ti basalts. In Mare Fecunditatis, the volume of erupting basalts clearly decreased as the Ti content increased, and the high-Ti basalts occur as a few patches on the mare surface. The basalt in both maria is on the order of several hundred meters thick and locally may be as thick as 1600 m. The new basalt thickness estimates generally fall within the range set by earlier studies, although locally differ. The medium- to high-Ti basalts exposed at the surfaces of both maria are meters to tens of meters thick.
Photon mass and the field B (3)

The connection between finite photon mass and the fieldB(3) is developed with reference to special relativity in the vacuum. The existence of the physical and longitudinal fieldB(3) implies that there are three degrees of polarization associated with the photon, which cannot therefore be a massless boson. The fieldB(3) can be observed experimentally through the magnetization of a plasma with microwave pulses, and this experiment serves to demonstrate unequivocally the existence of photon mass.
Treatment of Aphasia

Approximately 1 million people have aphasia in the United States today, yet with properly targeted therapy in selected patients effective communication can be restored. Current approaches to treatment of aphasia include psycholinguistic theory-driven therapy, cognitive neurorehabilitation, computer-aided techniques, psychosocial management, and (still on an experimental basis) pharmacotherapy.
An indium-phosphorus heterocubane as a new type of indium phosphide precursor

Abstract The first indium-phosphorus cubane, [ i PrIn(μ 3 -PSiPh 3 )] 4 ( 1 ) has been prepared via the reaction of Li 2 [PSiPh 3 ] with i PrInI 2 . The structure of 1 has been determined by X-ray analysis: monoclinic, space group P 2 1 / c with a = 15.611(3), b = 25.767(2), c = 22.541(6) A, β = 96.19(2)°, and Z = 4. Polycrystalline films of indium phosphide have been grown on Si(100) wafers from 1 in a horizontal hot-wall reactor at 500°C. Compound 1 is unstable with respect to photolysis and electrochemical oxidation; however it is relatively stable toward alcoholysis.
Parametric analysis of volume distributions of Schizosaccharomyces pombe and other cells.

Abstract Time-lapse photomicrographic data have been obtained on mating strains of the yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe to evaluate the effect of the variability of the patterns of cell cycle behavior on population structure. These have been used to design a computer model which accepts volume distribution data from exponential cultures of a cell and yields estimates of the mean and standard deviation of daughter cell volume and telophase cell volume, as well as a stop-grow point, and the degree of cell volume doubling. Given a cell population's volume distribution and a volume distribution from a subpopulation, the program will estimate the mean age and display how the age is distributed in the subpopulation. Several cell types have been examined.
Dethroning Fibonacci Sequence (abstract only)

The purpose of this presentation is to demonstrate some properties and applications of Fibonacci numbers. We present Binet's Formula and its proof. By using Binet's Formula, we show that the Fibonacci sequence is not a special sequence. The Fibonacci sequence has a closed form solution which can be expressed analytically in terms of a bounded number of certain "well-known" functions, which indicates that the Fibonacci sequence is not unique.
Effect of modal noise on single mode fiber optic networks

Abstract Modal noise may arise in single mode fiber optic networks from the random coupling of the fundamental model LP01 and the higher order mode LP11. The higher mode LP11 is generated in the fiber optic link from imperfect connectors. A model for the modal noise generated in a single mode fiber optic network consisting of a number of connectors or splices is presented. The effect of modal noise on the link is discussed and expression for signal to noise ratio has been obtained. Suggestions for the reduction of modal noise are given.
Does dietary sugar and fat influence longevity

Simultaneous consideration of the influence of the different types of carbohydrates and fats in human diets on mortality rates (especially the diseases of aging), and the probable retardation of such diseases by caloric restriction (CR) leads to the hypothesis that restriction of foods with a high glycemic index and saturated or hydrogenated fats would avoid or delay many diseases of aging and might result in life extension. Many of the health benefits of CR might thereby be available to humans without the side effects or unacceptability of semi-starvation diets.
Private attending physician status and the withdrawal of life-sustaining interventions in a medical intensive care unit population.

Objective : To assess the influence of private attending physician status on the withdrawal of life-sustalning interventions among patients dying within a medical intensive care unit (ICU). Design : Retrospective cohort analysis. Setting : An academic tertiary care center. Patients : One hundred fifty-nine consecutive patient deaths occurring in the medical ICU during a 12-month period. interventions : None. Measurements and Main Results : Withdrawal of life-sustaining interventions (i.e., mechanical ventilation, dialysis, and/or vasopressors), duration of mechanical ventilation, length of intensive care unit stay, medical care costs, and patient charges were recorded. Life-sustaining interventions were actively withdrawn from 69 (43.4%) patients prior to death. Patients without a private attending physician were significantly more likely to undergo the withdrawal of life-sustaining interventions compared with patients having a private attending physician (odds ratio = 2.5 ; 95% confidence interval = 1.8, 3.6, respectively ; p =.005). A correlation was found between the possession of private health insurance and private attending physician status (r 2 =.39, p <.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis was subsequently used to control for demographic factors and severity of illness. Three independent predictors for the withdrawal of life-sustaining Interventions were identified in this patient cohort (p <.05) : having a planned therapeutic trial of life-sustaining Interventions outlined in the medical record (adjusted odds ratio = 9.4 ; 95% confidence interval = 5.6 to 15.6 ; p <.001) ; lack of a private attending physician (adjusted odds ratio = 4.4 ; 95% confidence interval = 2.9 to 6.5 ; p <.001) ; and the presence of clearly defined advance directives regarding patient preferences for medical care (adjusted odds ratio = 3.6 ; 95% confidence interval = 2.3 to 5.7 ; p =.005). Patients with private attending physicians had significantly greater medical care costs and medical care charges compared with patients without a private attending physician. Conclusion : Among patients dying within a medical ICU, those patients without a private attending physician are more likely to undergo the active withdrawal of life-sustaining interventions.
Biodegradation of Chemicals of Environmental Concern

Microorganisms in soils and waters convert many synthetic organic chemicals to inorganic products. Other compounds are transformed only by cometabolism. These microbial processes may lead to environmental detoxication, the formation of new toxicants, or the biosynthesis of persistent products. Type reactions are proposed for major categories of enzymatic transformation of synthetic chemicals in soils, natural waters, and sewage. Some organic molecules are resistant to microbial attack, and explanations for the persistence of such compounds are suggested.
Escherichia coli FtsH (HflB) degrades a membrane-associated TolAI-II-beta-lactamase fusion protein under highly denaturing conditions.

Abstract TolAI–II-β-lactamase, a fusion protein consisting of the inner membrane and transperiplasmic domains of TolA followed by TEM-β-lactamase associated with the inner membrane but remained confined to the cytoplasm when expressed at high level in Escherichia coli . Although the fusion protein was resistant to proteolysis in vivo , it was hydrolyzed during preparative SDS-polyacrylamide electrophoresis and when insoluble cellular fractions unfolded with 5 M urea were subjected to microdialysis. Inhibitor profiling studies revealed that both a metallo- and serine protease were involved in TolAI–II-β-lactamase degradation under denaturing conditions. The in vitro degradation rates of the fusion protein were not affected when insoluble fractions were harvested from a strain lacking protease IV, but were significantly reduced when microdialysis experiments were conducted with material isolated from an isogenic ftsH1 mutant. Adenine nucleotides were not required for degradation, and ATP supplementation did not accelerate the apparent rate of TolAI–II-β-lactamase hydrolysis under denaturing conditions. Our results indicate that the metalloprotease active site of FtsH remains functional in the presence of 3–5 M urea and suggest that the ATPase and proteolytic activities of FtsH can be uncoupled if the substrate is sufficiently unstructured. Thus, a key role of the FtsH AAA module appears to be the net unfolding of bound substrates so that they can be efficiently engaged by the protease active site.
Autonomous robotic inspection and manipulation using multisensor feedback

A six-degree-of-freedom industrial robot to which was added a number of sensors-vision, range, sound, proximity, force/torque, and touch-to enhance its inspection and manipulation capabilities is described. The work falls under the scope of partial autonomy. In teleoperation mode, the human operator prepares the robotic system to perform the desired task. Using its sensory cues, the system maps the workspace and performs its operations in a fully autonomous mode. Finally, the system reports back to the human operator on the success or failure of the task and resumes its teleoperation mode. The feasibility of realistic autonomous robotic inspection and manipulation tasks using multisensory information cues is demonstrated. The focus is on the estimation of the three-dimensional position and orientation of the task panel and the use of other nonvision sensors for valve manipulation. The experiment illustrates the need for multisensory information to accomplish complex, autonomous robotic inspection and manipulation tasks. >
A Novel Soft-Switching Scheme for an Isolated DC/DC Converter with Pulsating DC Output for a Three-Phase High-Frequency-Link PWM Converter

This paper outlines a soft-switching mechanism based on zero-voltage-zero-current-switching (ZVZCS) principle for the front-end isolated DC/DC converter of a isolated three-phase rectifier-type high-frequency-link (RHFL) bi-directional power converter. In conjunction with a back-end AC/AC converter operating with a novel patent-filed hybrid modulation scheme outlined in [1], [2] that reduces the number of hard-switched commutation per switching cycle , the proposed ZVZCS scheme can leads to less overall switching losses than other conventional switching schemes. The proposed ZVZCS scheme is effective for various load conditions, operates seamlessly with a simple active- clamp circuit, and is suitable for applications where low-voltage dc to high-voltage three-phase AC power conversion is required.
Detailed investigation of ion exchange in ball-milled LiH + MgB2 system using ultra-high field nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

The present study with the detailed 1H-6Li cross polarization NMR analysis confirms the formation of a ternary compound, (Mg1-xLi2x)B2, during ball milling of LiH + ½ MgB2 at room temperature. The 6Li sites in (Mg1-xLi2x)B2 exhibit spinning sidebands (SSBs), whereas the 6Li sites in LiH do not. The SSBs and the very short spin-lattice relaxation time manifested by the 6Li sites in (Mg1-xLi2x)B2 indicate that the Li ions in (Mg1-xLi2x)B2 are located between the layered boron structures and close to Mg ions. The formation of (Mg1-xLi2x)B2 explains the previous observation that the LiH + ½ MgB2 mixture ball milled effectively has a greatly enhanced hydriding kinetics at temperatures below the melting point of LiBH4.
Radhasoami Reality: The Logic of a Modern Faith

In this book, Mark Juergensmeyer seeks to explain why the religious logic of Radhasoami, which is based on the teachings of medieval Hindu saints, is so compelling to hundreds of thousands of businessmen, intellectuals, office managers, and other urban professionals in North India. Juergensmeyer addresses the perplexing relationship between modernity and religious faith and examines it from historical, sociological, and phenomenological points of view.In this book, Mark Juergensmeyer seeks to explain why the religious logic of Radhasoami, which is based on the teachings of medieval Hindu saints, is so compelling to hundreds of thousands of businessmen, intellectuals, office managers, and other urban professionals in North India. Juergensmeyer addresses the perplexing relationship between modernity and religious faith and examines it from historical, sociological, and phenomenological points of view.
Superconducting thin-film absolute field magnetometer

We report on the design of an absolute field magnetometer being developed to measure the ultra-low magnetic fields (<10–7 Gauss) produced for the Gravity Probe B Relativity Mission. The hysteretic behavior of fluxon motion in thin-film Niobium is used to devise a superconducting thin-film fluxgate magnetometer. Comparisons with conventional fluxgate and SQUID systems will be discussed. (Research supported by NASA, contract number NAS8-39225)
The Manipulability of Resource Allocation Mechanisms

The vulnerability to manipulate behaviour of resource allocation mechanisms is evaluated by determining the Nash equilibria of associated manipulation games. Under manipulation, all monotonic correspondences are essentially equivalent to the Walrasian correspondence. For most non-monotonic correspondences of interest, the initial position appears at equilibrium to be efficient.
Optical Considerations for Infrared Reflection Spectroscopic Analysis in the C-H Stretching Region of Monolayer Films at an Aqueous/Metal Interface

This paper describes the optical analysis, construction, testing, and application of a cell for measuring in situ IR reflection spectra in the C-H stretching region of monolayer films of long-chain alkanethiolates on evaporated Au films beneath a thin overlayer (∼1 μm) of aqueous solution. The cell facilitates the interchange of sample (monolayer-coated) and reference substrates—a major improvement over previous designs. This allows the acquisition of an IR reflection spectrum of a monolayer without the application of electrochemical or polarization-modulation methods. The optical properties of the cell are analyzed within the context of classical electromagnetic theory; the effects of angle of incidence, solution layer thickness, and solution composition (H2O and D2,O) and the refractive indices of the IR-transparent window material on the observed spectrum are specifically examined. Calculations of both the mean-square electric fields and the reflection spectra for a monolayer of octadecanethiolate on Au are presented. From these results, conditions to achieve high surface detectability are identified, and optically induced alterations in the intensities and shapes of the monolayer spectrum are delineated. Spectra for the same monolayer are measured to test these predictions as well as to assess the practical limitations of the experimental technique.
The Werner syndrome protein is a DNA helicase.

Werner syndrome (WS) is an uncommon autosomal recessive disorder characterized by premature aging. The clinical manifestations of WS, including atherosclerosis and osteoporosis, appear early in adulthood, and death in the fourth to sixth decade commonly ensues from myocardial infarction or cancer1,2. In accord with the aging phenotype, cells from WS patients have a reduced replicative life span in culture3. Genomic instability is observed at the cytogenetic level in the form of chromosome breaks and translations4 and at the molecular level by multiple large deletions5. The Werner syndrome gene (WRN) has recently been cloned6. The predicted product is a 1,432-amino-acid protein whose central domain is homologous to members of the RecQ family of DNA helicases. Such homology does not necessarily mean that WRN encodes an active helicase. For example, the Saccharomyces cerevisiae RAD26 gene protein7 and the human transcription-repair coupling factor CSB (Cockayne syndrome B)8 are highly homologous to known helicases, yet neither encodes an active helicase. Moreover, the Bloom's syndrome gene (BLM)9, discovered before WRN, is also homologous to the RecQ family of DNA helicases, though we still await demonstration that it encodes an active helicase. Here we report that the WS protein does indeed catalyze DNA unwinding.
Frequent Substring-Based Sequence Classification with an Ensemble of Support Vector Machines Trained Using Reduced Amino Acid Alphabets

We propose a frequent pattern-based algorithm for predicting functions and localizations of proteins from their primary structure (amino acid sequence). We use reduced alphabets that capture the higher rate of substitution between amino acids that are physiochemically similar. Frequent sub strings are mined from the training sequences, transformed into different alphabets, and used as features to train an ensemble of SVMs. We evaluate the performance of our algorithm using protein sub-cellular localization and protein function datasets. Pair-wise sequence-alignment-based nearest neighbor and basic SVM k-gram classifiers are included as comparison algorithms. Results show that the frequent sub string-based SVM classifier demonstrates better performance compared with other classifiers on the sub-cellular localization datasets and it performs competitively with the nearest neighbor classifier on the protein function datasets. Our results also show that the use of reduced alphabets provides statistically significant performance improvements for half of the classes studied.