cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of twinning on dystocia, calf survival, calf growth, carcass traits, and cow productivity.

This paper reports results from a long-term experiment with a primary objective to increase twinning rate in cattle at the Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center. Survival of singles was 13% higher (P < .01) than that of twins at birth, and the difference in survival in favor of singles was of similar magnitude at 72 h (12.9%, P < .01), 150 d (14.8%, P < .01), and 200 d (15.2%, P < .01). Survival of calves with no dystocia was higher than survival of calves with dystocia: 8.6% (P < .01) at birth, 10.8% (P < .01) at 72 h, 12% (P < .01) at 150 d, and 12.2% (P < .01) at 200 d. The effect of dystocia on survival was greater (P < .01) in twins than in singles at birth and at 72 h. Least squares means for dystocia were 20.4% in singles compared with 42.2% in twins. Most of the dystocia in singles resulted from a traction requirement (84.7%) of normal presentations, whereas most of the dystocia in twins (77.8%) resulted from malpresentations, with 59.2% of the malpresentations accompanied with a requirement for traction. Survival in singles ranged from 10.7% to 15.3% greater than in twins at different ages when there was no requirement for assistance in either singles or twins. Calves born as singles were 8.8 kg heavier (P < .01) at birth and 28 kg heavier (P < .01) at 200 d than calves born and reared as twins. Calf weight produced per cow calving was 53.1%, 54.7%, and 58.4% greater (P < .01) at birth, 150 d, and 200 d, respectively, in cows producing twins than in cows producing singles. Cows producing twins had 65.2% more (P < .01) live calves at 200 d than cows producing singles. Single male calves gained 74 g more per day than twin males from birth to 200 d, 45 g more (P < .01) per day from 200 d to slaughter and 57 g more (P < .01) per day from birth to slaughter. Differences between twin and single males in carcass traits were small. A sample of steers from the Twinning Project gained significantly faster and produced significantly more desirable carcasses than a sample of steers from a high performance reference population. Freemartins did not differ (P < .05) from normal females in growth traits, but freemartins had higher (P < .05) scores for marbling with a higher percentage (P < .05) of USDA Choice or better quality grade carcasses and lower estimated percentage retail product.
Abstract 18122: Reduction of Scar Tissue after GHRH-Agonist Treatment in a Swine Model of Sub-acute Ischemic Cardiomyopathy

Introduction: Growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor agonists (GHRH-A) stimulate cardiac repair following myocardial infarction (MI) in rats through the activation of the GHRH signaling pathway within the heart. Hypothesis: We tested the hypothesis that the administration of GHRH-A prevents ventricular remodeling in a swine sub-acute MI model. Methods: Twelve female Yorkshire swine (25-30 Kg) underwent transient occlusion of the LAD coronary artery (MI). Two-weeks post-MI, swine were randomized to receive injections of either 30 μg/Kg GHRH-A (MR-409) (GHRH-A group; n=6) or vehicle (placebo group; n=6). Cardiac MRI, pressure volume loops and measures of endothelial function were obtained at multiple time points. Infarct-, border- and remote- (non-infarcted) zones were assessed for growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor (GHRHR) by immunohistochemistry. Results: Four-weeks of GHRH-A treatment resulted in reduced scar mass (GHRH-A: –21.9±6.42%; p=0.02; placebo: 10.9±5.88%; p=0.25; Two-way ANOVA; p=0.003...
Modeling of the thermal plasma in the outer plasmasphere - A magnetospheric heat source

A case study has been carried out using data from the Dynamics Explorer 1 and 2 spacecraft to study the effect of Coulomb interactions between ring current and suprathermal O(+) and thermal protons on the plasmasphere. Results from a one-dimensional plasmaspheric model suggest that heating due to Coulomb collisions may be sufficient to raise the ion and electron temperatures to observed values. The resultant high temperature produced enhancements in the model O(+) and O(++) densities in agreement with observations.
Decentralized control of satellite formations

SUMMARY A decentralized architecture is proposed for autonomous establishment and maintenance of satellite formations. Such an architecture does not require a central supervisor, as the spacecraft can cooperatively track planned maneuvers and trajectories in the face of disturbances and uncertainties, while processing only local measurement information. If the planned maneuvers and trajectories are themselves optimal, the decentralized framework generates a neighbouring optimal control. Use of such a controller simplifies and improves the robustness of formation operations, since it distributes an autonomous capability for orbit determination and relative navigation, formation maintenance, and maneuver trim among all of the spacecraft. In an example formation flying scenario, the decentralized approach successfully maintains the formation in the face of uncertainties and nonlinear perturbations, and produces identical results to those of a corresponding centralized controller. Published in 2002 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Using One- and Two-Dimensional NMR Techniques to Characterize Reaction Products Bound to Chiron SynPhase Crowns

Solid-phase MAS techniques have proved to be very useful in characterizing compounds bound to resin; however, little has been reported on using NMR to characterize compounds attached to Chiron SynPhase crowns. We have used proton, carbon, and COSY spectra obtained with a Varian Nano•nmr probe to characterize products from a published reaction sequence attached to MD (methacrylic acid/dimethylacryl-amide copolymer) crowns. We have also performed solvent surveys to determine the best solvents for acquiring spectra of materials bound to both MD and PS (polystyrene) crowns.
Modeling Nasal Physiology Changes Due to Septal Perforations

ObjectiveTo use computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technology to help providers understand (1) how septal perforations may alter nasal physiology and (2) how these alterations are influenced by per...
Burst-error-correcting convolutional codes with short constraint length (Corresp.)

A new class of B 1 codes which have an information rate of (b-1)/b for b=2,3,4, \cdots is presented. These codes correct error bursts up to b bits long when followed by a guard space of 3b^{2} - 2b - 1 bits. It is assumed that a hard decision is made on the fii sub-block of b bits after one constraint length of the code is received and then feedback is used to modify the syndrome bits. One simplified decodhg scheme is described which uses simple logic for error correction. A detailed example is presented showing an application of the results. Several new B 1 codes which meet the Wyner-Ash bound for minimum guard space are given. These codes were found by computer search.
Kept at arm's length: questioning the organizational desirability of member identification

Current managerial practices such as downsizing and the use of temporary labor require scholars to reconsider the organizational desirability of member identification. Maintaining an identified workforce takes time, energy, and resources that organizations may not always be willing to provide. This study examines the temporary help industry in order to analyze the ways in which contemporary labor strategies might complicate our existing theories of organizational identification. Drawing upon interview data from 39 temps and their supervisors, this study highlights communicative strategies that prevent rather than promote member identification with organizations.
Effect of pyridoxal deficiency on pancreatic DNA damage and nodule induction by azaserine

The effects of pyridoxal deficiency on the genotoxicity and nodule inducing ability of azaserine in rat pancreas were examined. Azaserine at a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight which causes substantial DNA damage in normal rat pancreas, failed to induce DNA damage detectable by alkaline elution in the pancreas of pyridoxal-deficient rats. Studies of the distribution of [14C]azaserine in rat tissues revealed that uptake of azaserine in pancreas of pyridoxal deficient rats was not significantly different from that of normal rats. The ability of a structurally unrelated amino acid carcinogen N delta-(N-methyl-N- nitrosocarbamoyl )-L-ornithine to damage rat pancreatic DNA was not affected by pyridoxal deficiency. In another study, the pyridoxal antagonist 4'-deoxypyridoxine was administered i.p. to rats prior to and during azaserine treatment. Four months later, quantitative sterological analysis of atypical acinar cell nodules revealed that there was a significant reduction in the number but not size of nodules in the pancreases of 4'-deoxypyridoxine-treated rats. These results confirm the relationship of the induction of DNA damage by azaserine to its ability to induce pancreatic tumors, and support previous studies of azaserine metabolism, strongly suggesting that the in vivo activation of this carcinogen is pyridoxal dependent.
How reliable are informal reading inventories

Informal Reading Inventories (IRI) are often recommended as instructionally relevant measures of reading. However, they have also been criticized for inattention to technical quality. Examination of reliability evidence in nine recently revised IRIs revealed that fewer than half report reliability. Several appear to have sufficient reliability for lower stakes decisions such as selection of classroom reading materials, but not for higher stakes purposes such as identification of reading difficulties. This article provides recommendations for improving IRI reliability and addresses the need for expanded guidelines for evaluating reliability, particularly for measures of score agreement. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 42: 593–603, 2005.
Differential Coding of Conspecific Vocalizations in the Ventral Auditory Cortical Stream

The mammalian auditory cortex integrates spectral and temporal acoustic features to support the perception of complex sounds, including conspecific vocalizations. Here we investigate coding of vocal stimuli in different subfields in macaque auditory cortex. We simultaneously measured auditory evoked potentials over a large swath of primary and higher order auditory cortex along the supratemporal plane in three animals chronically using high-density microelectrocorticographic arrays. To evaluate the capacity of neural activity to discriminate individual stimuli in these high-dimensional datasets, we applied a regularized multivariate classifier to evoked potentials to conspecific vocalizations. We found a gradual decrease in the level of overall classification performance along the caudal to rostral axis. Furthermore, the performance in the caudal sectors was similar across individual stimuli, whereas the performance in the rostral sectors significantly differed for different stimuli. Moreover, the information about vocalizations in the caudal sectors was similar to the information about synthetic stimuli that contained only the spectral or temporal features of the original vocalizations. In the rostral sectors, however, the classification for vocalizations was significantly better than that for the synthetic stimuli, suggesting that conjoined spectral and temporal features were necessary to explain differential coding of vocalizations in the rostral areas. We also found that this coding in the rostral sector was carried primarily in the theta frequency band of the response. These findings illustrate a progression in neural coding of conspecific vocalizations along the ventral auditory pathway.
Second-class currents and very light quarks

We consider induced second-class nucleon currents in a light-quark model generated by unequal u and d quark masses. The effect produced by gluon vertex corrections is strikingly large without confinement effects. Restricting the quarks to the limited spatial region of a physical nucleon changes the energy scale from the quark mass to the quark bound-state energy and thereby reduces the second-class form factors well below their first-class counterparts. (AIP)
The innervation of the human upper esophageal sphincter

The neuroanatomy and physiology of the human upper esophageal sphincter (UES) has long been controversial. As a result, there has been little progress in diagnosing and treating dysphagias involving this area. In this study, three specimens of the UES obtained from human autopsies were examined by Sihler's stain. This stain clears soft tissue while counterstaining the nerves, thereby allowing nerve supply to each muscle of the UES to be demonstrated. It was found that the nerve supply to each component of the UES is substantially different. The inferior pharyngeal constrictor (IPC) is supplied by a dense linear plexus which is about 1.0–1.5 cm wide and 10 cm long and located about 1.5 cm lateral to the attachment of the IPC on the thyroid lamina. The cricopharyngeal (CP) muscle receives its innervation from below via the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) and from above via the pharyngeal plexus. Neural connections between the RLN and the pharyngeal plexus were observed. Finally, the upper esophagus (UE) is innervated by the RLN. The innervation pattern of each component of the UES suggests functional differences between these muscles. These observations help clarify the innervation of the UES. Accurate knowledge of the neuroanatomy of the UES is necessary for advances in diagnosis and treatment of pharyngeal dysphagia.
The Role of Radiation Therapy in the Palliation of Gastrointestinal Malignancies

Radiation therapy can provide significant palliation in many patients who have unresectable, metastatic, or incurable malignancies of the gastrointestinal tract and is a modality that can be used in many clinical situations. In considering radiation therapy, the radiation oncologist should be mindful of the actual expectation of palliation, the potential degree of relief of symptoms, and the time involved for the patient and those involved in his or her care and transport. When a course of radiation is planned, the dose per fraction, total number of fractions, and total dose delivered should all be taken into account. The use of concurrent systemic chemotherapy needs to be reviewed with respect to chances for augmentation of palliation as well as morbidity. Although long-term disease control is often not achieved, there are reasonable expectations for control of symptoms of bleeding and pain. The side effects associated with radiation are generally well tolerated and, if they occur, usually can be controlled with conservative measures. Significant late effects, although uncommon, are generally a function of the volume of the organ treated, the total dose used, and whether systemic therapy is used in conjunction with radiation. When considering the options for palliation in these situations, multidisciplinary collaboration among all those involved in a patient's care, surgeon, radiation oncologist, medical oncologist, primary care provider, and palliative care specialist, is ideal to address each situation in each patient, for whom there may be a variety of options for palliative treatment. Generally, combinations of interventions are needed to optimize the palliation of a patient's various problems. The goal of providing relief to the patient in the least amount of time with the least amount of morbidity and the greatest expectation for durability of response is paramount.
Neighbors and neibu: An anthropological reflection of intergroup communication in a predeparture program in China

Abstract In the last decade, China has recruited and invited foreign teachers and experts to teach a variety of subjects, particularly English language. Such teachers must face alien cultural constraints in their teaching strategies, reflecting factors as widely varied as incompatible educational paradigms to intimate personal culture shock. The intercultural interaction may yield conflicts that need to be understood and resolved. Based on 18 months of teaching and anthropological fieldwork in a Chinese university, I will analyze the communications dynamics of the Chinese and foreign educational communities and their underlying concepts of pedagogy and fairness, considering reactions to the diverse political, economic, and ideological constraints in China, 1988 to 1990.
Robust and distributed stochastic localization in sensor networks: Theory and experimental results

We present a robust localization system allowing wireless sensor networks to determine the physical location of their nodes. The coverage area is partitioned into regions and we seek to identify the region of a sensor based on observations by stationary clusterheads. Observations (e.g., signal strength) are assumed random. We pose the localization problem as a composite multihypothesis testing problem, develop the requisite theory, and address the problem of optimally placing clusterheads. We show that localization decisions can be distributed by appropriate in-network processing. The approach is validated in a testbed yielding promising results.
The effects of conduction delay on temporal ordering in leaky integrate and fire neuronal networks

Neurons in the mammalian cortex have conduction latencies that can scale up an order of magnitude or more with myelination and axon radius. These latencies can be categorized into two groups: distance dependent latencies associated directly with axonic/dendritic length and distance independent latencies due to intrinsic delays on synapses themselves. This paper focuses on the distance dependence of conduction latency, attempting to elucidate its effects on the temporal ordering of the network activity patterns. We use various statistical measures to characterize the temporal patterning behavior of the networks: mean phase coherence, a pairwise measure of phase locking between neuron spike trains averaged over the network and synchronous bursting, which quantifies the coincidence of spikes as it deviates from a Poisson process. We find that distance dependent delays and distance independent delays can lead to significantly different spatio-temporal patterning of network wide activity. The introduction of distance dependent delays into the network can drive temporal dynamics toward a more synchronous state. This synchronization enhancement can decrease as the topology of the network shifts towards a random graph and as the conduction speed moves out of an optimal range.
Preclinical regulatory validation of a 3-stage amniotic mesenchymal stem cell manufacturing protocol.

Abstract Purpose Because of the 4 to 6-month interval between a diagnostic amniocentesis and birth, clinical application of amniotic mesenchymal stem cell (AMSC)-based therapies demands a 3-stage cell manufacturing process, including isolation/primary expansion, cryopreservation, and thawing/secondary expansion. We sought to determine the feasibility and cell yield of such a staged cell manufacturing process, within regulatory guidelines. Methods Human AMSCs isolated from diagnostic amniocentesis samples (n = 11) were processed under Food and Drug Administration-accredited good manufacturing practice. Expanded cells were characterized by flow cytometry and cryopreserved for 3 to 5 months. Cell release criteria included more than 90% CD29+, CD73+, and CD44+; less than 5% CD34+ and CD45+; negative mycoplasma quantitative polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) and endotoxin assay; and at least 70% viability. Results Isolation and ample expansion of AMSCs was achieved in 54.5% (6/11) of the samples. Early processing and at least a 2-mL sample were necessary for reliable cell manufacturing. Cell yield before cryopreservation was 223.2 ± 65.4 × 10 6 cells (44.6-fold expansion), plus a 14.7 × 10 6 -cell backup, after 36.3 ± 7.8 days. Cell viability postthaw was 88%. Expanded cells maintained a multipotent mesenchymal progenitor profile. Conclusions Human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells can be manufactured in large numbers from diagnostic amniocentesis, by an accredited staged processing, under definite procurement guidelines. These data further support the viability of clinical trials of amniotic mesenchymal stem cell-based therapies.
An instantaneous inelastic energy loss algorithm for use in molecular dynamics simulations

We have developed an instantaneous inelastic energy loss algorithm for use in molecular dynamics simulations of sputtering. This algorithm uses distance-of-closest-approach (DCA) criteria to initiate inner-shell electronic excitation, and subsequent removal of the excitation energy following hard atom-atom and ion-atom collisions. The DCA criteria used in the algorithm are based on the electron promotion models of Fano and Lichten [Phys. Rev. Lett. 14 (1965) 627] and Barat and Lichten [Phys. Rev. A 6 (1972) 211]. The amount of energy removed in these hard atom-atom and ion-atom collisions is determined by the energy needed to excite one or more inner-shell electrons to the continuum. This algorithm has been used to stimulate inelastic energy loss effects for the Ar^+-Cu(100) and Ar^+-Cu(111) systems at bombarding energies between 1 keV and 5 keV. Significant reductions in sputtering yields are produced above a bombarding energy threshold of approximately 2 keV. Polar-angle distributions of atoms sputtered from the Cu(100) surface also are changed significantly by this instantaneous inelastic energy loss model.
The environment and its relationship to the Type A behavior pattern in middle and old age, a pilot study.

Summary.-21 men and 76 women between the ages ol 68 0 and 97.0 yr. were administered the Geriatric Scale of Recent Life Events, the Jenluns Activity Survey, the Framingham Type A Scale, and a measure designed to assess factors in the environment believed to contribute to [he development and maintenance of the Type A Behavior Pattern. Differences were found between the environment of old age and the retrospective middle-age environment. Results support that Type A behavior emerges in response to environmental elicitors. The Type A behavior pattern is known to be an independent risk factor in the development of coronary heart disease; it has been described as a "characteristic action-emotion c3mplex whch is exhibited by those individuals who are engaged in a relatively chronic scruggle to obtain an unlimited number of poorly defined things from their environment in the shortest period of time, and if necessary against the opposing efforts of other things or persons in the same environment" (3, p. 84). However, almost all studies have treated the environment as a trait variable, thereby ignoring the eliciting situations. The few studies done to examine the environments of Type A individuals support the concept that the environment plays a role in the development and maintenance of the pattern with priests, monks, and white collar males (1, 2, 5). This study focuses on a model which viewed the environment as a mediating factor in the development and maintenance of the pattern. The purpose was to identify differences in the perception of the Type A environment at retrospective middle-age compared to old age. The question was explored by gathering qualitative descriptive data contrasting the retrospective perceptions of middle-age with the current perceptions of the physical and social environment in old age. METHOD Participants were 21 men and 76 women between 68 and 97 yr. of age (mean age of men 81 yr., SD 7.1 yr.; mean age of women 81 yr., SD of 5.5 yr.) who were residents of a life-care community. Mean number of years of education for men was 17.3 and 16.1 for women. With few exceptions, subjects were retired from white-collar or professional occupations. Three standardized measures and one environmental questionnaire were administered. The Jenkins Activity Survey-Form N (8) and the Framingham Type A Scale (4) were the two measures of Type A Behavior. The Geriatric Scale of Recent Lie Events (6) was used to measure subjects' perceptions of life events as important and over which they had no control. The measure of the environment was a list of factors, arranged in a yes-no format of questions, believed to contribute to the development and maintenance of the behavior pattern as affirmed in a literature review (7). The factors, organized to allow a simple analysis of differences between present
Studies on a biphasic lipolytic response to catecholamines in isolated fat cells.

Abstract A biphasic lipolytic response was elicited in isolated fat cells by increasing concentrations of epinephrine, norepinephrine and isoproterenol. The first phase of lipolysis (Lipolysis I) occurred with concentrations of the catecholamines from 3·3 × 10 -8 M to 10 -5 M and is thought to be equivalent to the lipolytic response often reported in the literature. It was inhibited competitively by the beta-adrenergic blocking agents and noncompetitively by an alpha-adrenergic blocking agent. The second phase of lipolysis (Lipolysis II) occurred with concentrations of catecholamines from 10 -5 M to 10 -3 M and was not inhibited by beta-adrenergic blocking agents, but was noncompetitively inhibited by an alpha-adrenergic blocking agent. Both phases of lipolysis appear to be the result of a stimulation of a triglyceride lipase.
The Partial Agonist Activity of Antagonist-Occupied Steroid Receptors Is Controlled by a Novel Hinge Domain-Binding Coactivator L7/SPA and the Corepressors N-CoR or SMRT

Steroid receptor antagonists, such as the antiestrogen tamoxifen or the antiprogestin RU486, can have inappropriate agonist-like effects in tissues and tumors. To explain this paradox we postulated that coactivators are inadvertently brought to the promoters of DNA-bound, antagonist-occupied receptors. The human (h) progesterone receptor (PR) hinge-hormone binding domain (H-HBD) was used as bait in a two-hybrid screen of a HeLa cDNA library, in which the yeast cells were treated with RU486. We have isolated and characterized two interesting steroid receptor-interacting proteins that regulate transcription in opposite directions. The first is L7/SPA, a previously described 27-kDa protein containing a basic region leucine zipper domain, having no known nuclear function. When coexpressed with tamoxifen-occupied estrogen receptors (hER) or RU486-occupied hPR or glucocorticoid receptors (hGR), L7/SPA increases the partial agonist activity of the antagonists by 3- to 10-fold, but it has no effect on agonist-med...
Static properties of a Fermi gas of cooled atoms near a wide Feshbach resonance

We introduce the Global Spin Model (GSM) to study the static properties of the ultracold fermionic gas near the broad Feshbach resonance. We solve the model and find the densities of the BE and BCS condensates as well as their correlation in the vicinity of the Feshbach resonance.
Growth regulator and seed storage effects on switchgrass germination

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a warm season perennial grass that shows potential as a forage in the southeastern USA. Problems with switchgrass establishment from seed are often due to inherent seed dormancy from seeds harvested in fall and seeded the following spring. The objectives of this study were to determine (i) the effects of wet prechill (PC) treatment (5°C for 14 d) and scarification (8 M H 2 SO 4 for 5 min) on germination of five switchgrass cultivars and (ii) the effect of plant growth regulators (ethylene, gibberellin, and kinetin), CO 2 , PC, and influence of storage temperature and duration on germination of four selected lots of Blackwell (BW) and Cave-in-Rock (CIR) seeds. Storage treatments were initiated 1 February using seeds harvested the previous fall [...]
The White House crusade against ... MGUS

From the White House, the First Lady is leading a well-publicized campaign against childhood obesity that has the potential to impact not only the health of children, but also one of the most frequent hematologic disorders of the elderly, MGUS. In this issue of Blood , Landgren and colleagues
Preparing Single-Phase Nanocrystalline Anatase from Amorphous Titania with Particle Sizes Tailored by Temperature

Series of samples of nanoparticles with discrete sizes are needed for studies of the particle size dependence of materials properties. In this study, phase relations during heat treatment of initially amorphous titania were determined. Heating amorphous titania in air at specific temperatures for specific lengths of time resulted in single-phase nanocrystalline anatase powders with average particle sizes between 7 and 50 nm. An important pathway for anatase growth involved nanocrystal reorientation within particle aggregates. Large quantities of single phase solids can be produced via this method.
Multimodality Therapy for Esophageal Cancer

Over the past decade and a half, several strategies have been developed to improve the survival of patients with esophageal cancer. Two strategies employ either neoadjuvant chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery to improve local-regional control and decrease the incidence of distant metastases. A third strategy uses nonsurgical therapy as definitive treatment for patients without metastatic disease. Single-institution pilot trials and randomized comparative trials have been conducted evaluating each approach. The rationale for these trials, results, and current recommendations are presented.
Political geography and corporate political strategy

Abstract We examine the relationship between political geography and corporate political strategy by considering lobbying expenditures. We find that firms increase their lobbying intensity when local politicians cannot provide a direct link to the governing elite, i.e. when firm location on the political map shifts to an area that is not closely aligned with the president. Our results indicate that firm lobbying is a means for exerting influence on political power and is primarily geared toward building valuable political capital in order to exploit short-term opportunities. Lobbying expenditures are a matter of expediency for politically active firms that tend to spend less on lobbying when there is an alignment of power and more when there is misalignment of power. We also find that more sophisticated, better informed institutional investors recognize and/or encourage corporate political strategies that involve adjusting lobbying efforts in response to changes in political geography.
Structures of the Siroheme- and Fe4S4-Containing Active Center of Sulfite Reductase in Different States of Oxidation: Heme Activation via Reduction-Gated Exogenous Ligand Exchange†,‡

The active center of the Escherichia coli sulfite reductase hemoprotein (SiRHP) is exquisitely designed to catalyze the six-electron reductions of sulfite to sulfide and nitrite to ammonia. Refined high-resolution crystallographic structures of oxidized, two-electron reduced, and intermediately reduced states of SiRHP, monitored by single-crystal electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, reveal that a bridging cysteine thiolate supplied by the protein always covalently links the siroheme (iron isobacteriochlorin) to the Fe4S4 cluster, facilitating their ability to transfer electrons to substrate. The reduction potential and reactivity of the cluster are tuned by association with the siroheme, accessibility to solvent, and hydrogen bonds supplied by the protein loops containing the four cluster-ligating cysteines. The distorted conformation of the siroheme recognized by the protein potentially destabilizes the electronic conjugation of the isobacteriochlorin ring and produces axial configurations for some propionate side chains that promote interactions with exogenous ligands and active-site residues. An extensive hydrogen-bond network of positively charged side chains, ordered water molecules, and siroheme carboxylates coordinates, polarizes, and influences the protonation state of anionic ligands. In the oxidized (siroheme Fe3+, Fe4S42+) SiRHP crystal structure, the high density of positive charges in the binding pocket is stabilized by the siroheme's sixth axial ligand-an exogenous phosphate anion. Binding assays with H32PO42- demonstrate that oxidized SiRHP binds phosphate in solution with a dissociation constant of 14 microM at pH 7.7, suggesting that phosphate anions play an important role in stabilizing and sequestering the active-site of the oxidized enzyme in vivo. Reduction of the cofactors couples changes in siroheme iron coordination geometry to changes in active-site protein conformation, leading to phosphate release both in the crystal and in solution. An intermediately reduced enzyme, where the siroheme is mainly ferrous (+2) and the cluster cubane is mainly oxidized (+2), appears to have the lowest affinity for phosphate in the crystal. Reduction-gated release of phosphate from the substrate-binding site may explain the 10(5)-fold increase in rates of ligand association that accompany reduction of SiRHP.
5,10,15,20‐Tetrakis(4‐N‐methylpyridyl)porphyrinatopalladium(II) as a differentiation probe for sensing binding modes with B‐DNA duplexes: Electronic MCD and CD spectra

We report our detailed electronic MCD, CD, and optical spectroscopic measurements and analysis of the porphyrin Soret (B(o)) region of four-coordinate 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-N-methylpyridyl)porphyrinatopalladium( II), PdP(4), and its bound states with B-DNA duplexes poly(A-T)2, poly(G-C)2, and calf thymus DNA (CT DNA). For system PdP(4)/poly(A-T)2 it was possible to conclude that the porphyrin is bound edge-on in the major groove, specifically at the 5'AT3' site. For this orientation the porphyrin's electric dipole transition moments (edtm), mu(x) (most perturbed direction) and mu(y) (least perturbed direction), have tilt angles alpha approximately 90 degrees and approximately 45 degrees , respectively, relative to the helix axis. It was further concluded from the small shifts of B(o) optical and MCD band intensities and wavelengths and from the net MCD (+) A-term sign retention upon binding that the porphyrin's frontier ppi MOs (1a(1u) 3a(2u) 4eg) are only weakly perturbed by the heterocyclic bases of poly(A-T)2, and therefore that the LUMO (4eg) splitting is less than the |1a(1u)-3a(2u| energy separation, deltaHOMO, that is, deltaLUMO deltaHOMO, which gives rise to a (-) pseudo-A-term. Also, the findings demonstrate (1) the potential of PdP(4) as a sensitive, discriminating analytical probe of DNA sequences and (2) the diagnostic capability of the composite of five spectra [net MCD, CD, and optical of free and bound PdP(4)] in differentiating the site and sequence selectivity and preferred binding mode of this porphyrin.
Digitalis as an Antianginal Agent

The effect of a 0.25 mg daily digoxin dose was evaluated in a double-blind crossover study in 17 anginal patients with a normal sized heart, 9 of whom had nocturnal angina. The frequency of anginal episodes was decreased at least 50 percent in 2 of 17 patients (12 percent) and increased at least 100 percent in 2 of 17 patients (12 percent) on digoxin compared to placebo. The frequency of nocturnal angina decreased at least 50 percent in four of nine patients (44 percent) and increased at least 100 percent in three of nine patients (33 percent) on digoxin compared to placebo. Exercise performance until angina was significantly decreased in one of eight patients (12 percent) without nocturnal angina and significantly improved in three of nine patients (33 percent) with nocturnal angina on digoxin compared to placebo. These results indicate that digitalis is of no benefit in anginal patients with a normal sized heart without nocturnal angina but should be given a therapeutic trial in patients with nocturnal angina.
The use of blending procedures and of nickel additions in the compaction of an acicular electrowon tungsten powder

Abstract The possibilities of obtaining a dense compact from acicular tungsten powder through the use of hydrogen-reduced powder as a blend and/or the use of nickel as an activating agent were explored. It was found that with a 10% blend and 0.5 wt. % nickel a compact of 90% theoretical density could be obtained at 1580°C. Observations in the optical microscope suggested that the grain boundary film formed by the nickel-rich phase was not continuous.
Reversible uncoupling of inactivation in N-type calcium channels.

N-TYPE calcium channels are thought to be expressed specifically in neuronal cells1–3 and to have a dominant role in the control of neurotransmitter release from sympathetic neurons4,5. But their unitary properties are poorly understood and the separation of neuronal Ca2+ current into components carried by N-type or L-type Ca2+ channels is controversial6. Here we show that individual N-type Ca2+ channels in sympathetic neurons can carry two kineti-cally distinct components of current, one that is rapidly transient and one that is long lasting. The mechanism that gives rise to these two components is unexpected for Ca2+ channels: a test depolarization elicits either a rapidly inactivating, single short burst with an average duration of 40 ms, or sustained, non-inactivating channel activity lasting for over 1 s. The switching between inactivating and noninactivating activity is a slow process, the occurrence of each type of unitary kinetic behaviour remaining statistically correlated over several seconds. Variable coupling of inactivation in N-type Ca2+ channels could be an effective mechanism for the modulation of neuronal excitability and synaptic plasticity.
Beyond myth and reality on the expedition to the cosmopolitan utopia: The parable of human rights

International law and jurisprudence share a certain bond: both subjects have been characterised by efforts to emerge from the hazy shadows of law. ``Proper'' lawyers do not tire of repeating the old refrain that international law is really ``not law'' at all. Nor do they forbear from asserting to jurisprudence that the recalcitrant questions into which the latter inquire oblige them to use pseudo-rational concepts such as ``morality'' and ``justice,'' leading them down a meandering garden path strewn with metaphysical superstitions. Conventional lawyers generally concern themselves with questions that can be settled by reference to ordinary legal techniques which identify the type of legal argument or evidence that is relevant. They dismiss the importance of resolving questions that are not amenable to the legal method and label them as ``jurisprudential''. It is hoped that international lawyers prove more receptive to taking seriously the jurisprudential questions in their field. What are ``human rights''? Are they the distinctive product of Western liberalism or can they lay claim to being universal in some sense? Far from being idle distractions, these questions have significant implications for the structure of international law.
Analysis of intact hopanoids and other lipids from the bacterium Zymomonas mobilis by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Abstract Hopanoids and other lipids were extracted from Zymomonas mobilis and quantitatively analyzed by highperformance liquid chromatography. Previous methods for hopanoid analysis required derivatization of the hopanoids via periodate oxidation or acetylation. The current method employs a normal-phase silica gel column, a ternary gradient of hexane-isopropanol-water-triethylamine, and detection with a flame ionization detector. Three major hopanoid classes were separated and quantified by this new method, and together they comprised 30 to 40% of the total lipid in these cells. Mass spectrometry confirmed that chemical structures of these hopanoids were consistent with those previously proposed. In addition, several other common lipid classes (free fatty acids and six classes of common phospholipids), comprising the remaining 60 to 70% of the total lipids, were also separated and quantified. This new chromatographic method represents the first technique for the analysis and purification of intact hopanoids. This method should be useful for the analysis and purification of hopanoids from other bacterial species.
711: Adverse perinatal outcomes in euploid pregnancies with double-positive first trimester prenatal screening for Trisomy 18 and 21

were selected for testing because they are not easily detectable by karyotype, their cumulative frequency is substantial, and they are not usually associated with abnormal ultrasound (US) findings. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical prenatal samples (n 80) were referred to our laboratory for testing with this assay using specimens derived from amniotic fluid and chorionic villi. All samples tested were also karyotyped. Indications for study included AMA (30/80), AMA with a positive family history (4/80), AMA with an abnormal maternal serum screen (MSS) (13/80), abnormal fetal US findings with AMA, family history, and/or abnormal MSS (12/80), abnormal fetal US findings only (11/80), family history alone (2/80), abnormal MSS alone (6/80) and anxiety non-AMA (2/80). RESULTS: For our first 80 prospective specimens, the assay detected abnormalities in 7 cases: 2 Tri-18, 3 Tri-21, 1 each of deletion 1p36 and 5p15. One case with a normal result had 69,XXX by karyotyping. One case with an ambiguous result due to maternal cell contamination had 45,X in 18/19 cells by karyotyping. The mean turnaround time was 1.85 days. Overall, our detection rate of abnormal findings utilizing this assay and karyotyping is 12.5% and a 2.5% detection rate for microdeletions that would have been missed by karyotyping. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that this new rapid assay, which is designed to avoid detection of results of unclear clinical significance, is a viable alternative to the FISH aneuploidy screening and microarray testing in low-risk pregnancies.
The effect of mercuric ions on connective tissue macromolecular synthesis

Abstract Hg 2+ at concentrations in the μM range markedly inhibits the synthesis of DNA, RNA collagen and non-collagen proteins, and sulfated proteoglycans, in 10-day-old embryonic chick cartilage explants in vitro. These studies may explain some of the deleterious effects of Hg 2+ on connective tissues.
Stiffness characteristic and the applications of the method of lines on nonuniform grids

The method of lines is investigated for the numerical solution of the stream-function-and-vorticity form of the Navier-Stokes equations on nonuniform grids. Stiffness characteristics of a linear one-dimensional model equation are examined to establish the feasibility of applying the method to the vorticity equation in two dimensions. The governing equations are transformed from the physical domain with a highly variable grid to a computational domain with a uniform grid. The method of lines is used to solve only the vorticity equation, and the successive-over relaxation technique is used to solve the stream-function equation. It is observed that the transformed governing equations become stiffer with increased concentration of grid points and also as the number of grid points increases. It is also observed that the differencing technique affects the stiffness characteristics. The use of forward differencing is not feasible, and backward differencing is preferable to central differencing for high Reynolds numbers. The results of specific applications for the solution of flow in curved-wall diffusers and a driven cavity demonstrate that the method of lines under certain circumstances is feasible for the numerical solution of physical problems on domains covered with variable grids.
TSUNG, LINDA, & KEN CRUICKSHANK. (Eds.). Teaching and Learning Chinese in Global Contexts. London, UK: Continuum, 2011. Pp. xxiv, 232. $140.00, cloth. ISBN 978–1–4411–0039–9.

The article reviews the book "Teaching and Learning Chinese in Global Contexts" edited by Linda Tsung and Ken Cruickshank.
Electronic diary assessment of pain-related variables: Is reactivity a problem?

Abstract Reactive measures (measures that change the phenomenon assessed) cause problems in interpreting any changes observed. This study examined whether electronic daily diary measures of pain, activity interference, mood, and pain beliefs were reactive in terms of both observable data and patient-reported effects. Patients with chronic temporomandibular disorder pain (N = 71, 86% female) completed electronic diaries 3 times daily for approximately 2 weeks and subsequently reported perceived effects on symptom-related variables. Seventy-three percent of patients reported that the assessment affected their pain, whereas 51%, 45%, and 39% thought that it affected their daily activities, mood, and beliefs, respectively. In contrast, there was little objective evidence of reactivity as observed in the electronic diary ratings; changes over 14 days were small (eg, predicted changes on 0 to 10 scales: positive mood, .1; pain, −.3; perceived control, −.5) and not statistically significant. Subjective reactivity was generally not significantly related to objective reactivity. The data suggest that patients view daily assessment as having positive and negative effects on pain-related variables, but pain-related measures do not show reactive effects. Perspective Electronic daily diary assessment methods hold the potential to increase knowledge concerning patients’ experiences with pain and sequential relations between pain-related variables, but only if the measurement process is nonreactive. This study provides evidence that electronic diary assessment of pain-related variables is nonreactive.
Parallel Gauss-Jordan elimination for the solution of dense linear systems *

Abstract Any factorization/back substitution scheme for the solution of linear systems consists of two phases which are different in nature, and hence may be inefficient for parallel implementation on a single computational network. The Gauss-Jordan elimination scheme unifies the nature of the two phases of the solution process and thus seems to be more suitable for parallel architectures, especially if reconfiguration of the communication pattern is not permitted. In this communication, a computational network for the Gauss-Jordan algorithm is presented. This network compares favorably with optimal implementations of the Gauss elimination/back substitution algorithm.
Mechanism of fibrosis in experimental tacrolimus nephrotoxicity.

The clinical use of tacrolimus (FK506) is limited by nephrotoxicity. The pathogenesis of fibrosis in chronic FK506 nephrotoxicity remains unknown. Because transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta plays a key role in the fibrogenesis of many diseases, including cyclosporine nephrotoxicity, we studied a salt-depleted rat model of chronic FK506 nephropathy in which clinically relevant FK506 blood levels are obtained and which shows similarities to the lesions described in patients receiving FK506. Pair-fed rats were treated with either FK506 (1 mg/kg/day s.c.) or an equivalent dose of vehicle and were killed at 7 or 28 days. Characteristic histologic changes of tubular injury, interstitial fibrosis, and arteriolopathy developed in FK506-treated rats at 28 days and were accompanied by worsening kidney function, decreased concentrating ability, and enzymuria. FK506-treated kidneys had a progressive increase in the expression of TGF-beta1 and matrix proteins (biglycan, tenascin, fibronectin, and type I collagen). This effect seems to be specific because the expression of type IV collagen, a basement membrane collagen, was not affected. Matrix deposition was present mostly in the tubulointerstitium and vessels in accordance with the FK506 chronic lesion. The expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, a protease inhibitor influenced by TGF-beta, followed TGF-beta1 and matrix proteins, suggesting that the fibrosis of chronic FK506 nephropathy likely involves the dual action of TGF-beta1 on matrix deposition and degradation. Since both peripheral and tissue renin expression were elevated with FK506, the renin-angiotensin system may play a role in the pathogenesis of this condition.