cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Immobilization of glycoenzymes through carbohydrate side chains.

Abstract Glucoamylase, peroxidase, glucose oxidase, and carboxypeptidase Y were covalently bound to water-insoluble supports through their carbohydrate side chains. Two approaches were used. First, the carbohydrate portions of the enzymes were oxidized with periodate to generate aldehyde groups. Treatment with amines (ethylenediamine or glycyltyrosine) and borohydride provided groups through which the protein could be immobilized. Ethylenediamine was attached to glucoamylase, peroxidase, glucose oxidase, and carboxypeptidase Y to the extent of 24, 20, 30, and 15 mol/mol of enzyme, respectively. These derivatives were coupled to an aminocaproate adduct of CL-Sepharose via an N -hydroxysuccinimide ester or to CNBr-activated Sepharose. Coupling yields were in the range of 37–50%. Retained activities of the bound aminoalkyl-enzymes were 41% (glucoamylase), 79% (peroxidase), 71% (glucose oxidase), 83% (carboxypeptidase Y). A glycyltyrosine derivative of carboxypeptidase Y was bound to diazotized arylamine-glass. Coupling yield was 42% and retained esterase activity was 84%. In the second approach, the enzyme was adsorbed to immobilized concanavalin A and the complex was crosslinked. Adsorption of carboxypeptidase Y on immobilized concanavalin A followed by crosslinking with glutaraldehyde was also effective. The bound enzyme retained 96% of the native esterase activity and showed very good operational stability.
Accumulating evidence supports a taste component for free fatty acids in humans

The requisite criteria for what constitutes a taste primary have not been established. Recent advances in understanding of the mechanisms and functions of taste have prompted suggestions for an expanded list of unique taste sensations, including fat, or more specifically, free fatty acids (FFA). A set of criteria are proposed here and the data related to FFA are reviewed on each point. It is concluded that the data are moderate to strong that there are: A) adaptive advantages to FFA detection in the oral cavity; B) adequate concentrations of FFA to serve as taste stimuli; C) multiple complimentary putative FFA receptors on taste cells; D) signals generated by FFA that are conveyed by gustatory nerves; E) sensations generated by FFA that can be detected and scaled by psychophysical methods in humans when non-gustatory cues are masked; and F) physiological responses to oral fat/FFA exposure. On no point is there strong evidence challenging these observations. The reviewed findings are suggestive, albeit not definitive, that there is a taste component for FFA.
CARBON NANOTUBE PROBE FOR SCANNING TUNNELING MICROSCOPY

A simple technique was developed to fabricate carbon nanotube (CNT) probes for scanning tunneling microscope (STM). Multi-walled nanotubes were grown on the apex of the electro-chemically etched tungsten (W) tip using thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD) at normal pressure with H2 and C2H2. Nickel (Ni) nanoparticles, which were used as the catalyst for CNT synthesis, were applied to the tip apex by dipping the W tip into the Ni nanopowder suspension in ethanol. The diameters of grown nanotubes were in the range of 20 nm to 100 nm. Their lengths were generally less than 1 μm and controlled by growth time. The technique can be readily applied to mass production of CNT STM probes without the use of any sophisticated and expensive equipments. The performance of the fabricated CNT tips was assessed by producing STM images of atomic-resolution.
Activation of reovirion-associated poly(A) polymerase and oligomer methylase by cofactor-dependent cleavage of μ polypeptides

Abstract The factors influencing activation of the reovirion-associated enzymes which synthesize or modify reovirus oligonucleotides in vitro were studied. These are the poly(A) synthetase (Stoltzfus et al. 1974), and several methyltransferases (Carter 1977 1978). In the presence of chymotrypsin, enzyme activity appeared to be associated with particles possessing fragments of μ polypeptides of molecular weight ≈60,000 and 64,000. Reaction conditions which promoted generation of these polypeptides and oligomer-modifying or synthesizing activities failed to promote synthesis of complete transcripts of the viral genome. Conversion of subviral particles possessing the proteins associated with oligomer-dependent enzyme activity occurred only in reaction mixtures containing nucleoside triphosphates and an ATP-generating system in addition to chymotrypsin and Mn 2+ . This observation suggested that conversion might be dependent on the presence of nucleoside triphosphate in reaction mixtures. All of the products of nucleoside triphosphate hydrolysis exhibited a specific effect on μ cleavage and resulted in generation of particles which demonstrated either oligomer-dependent enzyme activities or transcriptase. These observations support the hypothesis that the pathway of uncoating may be modulated by cofactors of the virion-associated enzymes, resulting in activation of a specific subset of virion-associated activities.
Stereoselective Syntheses of the C(1)-C(9) Fragment of Amphidinolide C

Stereoselective syntheses of the C(1)−C(9) fragments 18 and 28 of amphidinolide C have been developed. The first-generation sequence involves a diastereoselective chelate-controlled [3 + 2]-annulation reaction of 6 and 7, while the second-generation synthesis involves an intramolecular hetero-Michael cyclization of 8.
Severe self-neglect: an epidemiological and historical perspective.

ABSTRACT Older adults with severe self-neglect have multiple deficits in various social, functional and physical domains, and often live insqualor. These individuals often present with poor personal hygiene, domestic squalor and hoarding which results in a threat to their own health as well as personal and public safety. Severe self-neglect occurs along a continuum with older adults often having cognitive and affective disorders compared with younger individuals presenting with psychiatric illnesses. In cases of severe self-neglect with hoarding, evidence has shown this behavior occurs in diverse social strata and not among the wealthy and professionals alone as believed earlier. Due to the multiple conditions associated with severe self-neglect, this population will require an interdisciplinary, multidimensional approach to reduce morbidity and mortality rates including nursing home placement. Research on this group has been limited and is rarely described in the medical and nursing literature. Future re...
The effect of simulated elbow contracture on temporal and distance gait parameters

Abstract Background Elbow contractures can be functionally debilitating. Extensive research has been published on treatments to restore elbow motion, but few have discussed clinical implications beyond the affected extremity. Reciprocal arm swing in normal gait has been shown to increase stability and reduce energy expenditure. The importance of arm swing has been clinically demonstrated in patients with cerebral palsy, stroke and Parkinson's disease. We hypothesized that elbow contractures would result in an abnormal spatio-temporal gait parameters. Methods Forty volunteer subjects walked on the Gaitmat II which provided real-time analysis of temporal and distance gait parameters. Five conditions were tested: no brace (control 1), elbow brace unlocked (control 2) and brace locked in 30°, 90° or 120° flexion (simulating fixed elbow contractures). Condition order was randomized for each subject. Each condition consisted of five walking trials. Results All three fixed elbow conditions (120°, 90° and 30°) demonstrated significantly decreased gait velocity (1.37, 1.39 and 1.39 m/s) and stride length (1.45, 1.46 and 1.46 m) compared to the control condition (1.42 m/s and 1.48 m, respectively). Single limb stance and double support times were decreased and increased, respectively, compared to control. There was no significant difference in cadence or limb asymmetry in the three fixed elbow conditions. Conclusions Despite well-established functional limitations in elbow contracture patients and importance of arm swing in normal gait, the impact of elbow contractures on gait is unknown. This study demonstrates that simulated elbow contracture results in significant differences in spatio-temporal gait parameters suggesting that elbow contractures have a broader functional impact beyond the affected extremity. Level of evidence II.
A clustering method that uses lossy aggregation of data

Wireless sensor networks are characterized by dense deployment of sensor nodes which collectively communicate sensed data to the sink. However, due to the spatial correlation between sensor observations, it is not necessary for every node to transmit its data. We propose a clustering method which exploits the above observation. We do not make any assumption on the nature of data, and hence the algorithm will be valid for a broad range of conditions. The paper shows how to calculate the optimal cluster size. We also discuss the structure of the complete architecture which is still under development.
Place and the Politics of Loss in Mercedes Álvarez’s El cielo gira (2004)

AbstractWhat does it mean to return to a place where, to quote Derrida’s famous aphorism, ‘time is out of joint’? What are the political and social implications of depicting seemingly barren landscapes as narratives that reconfigure history, or as texts in which conflicting temporalities, memories, and modes of existence reside? To address these questions and to explore the intersection between origins, landscape, loss, and return as four defining concepts of contemporary Spanish culture, this essay offers a close reading of Mercedes Alvarez’s 2004 documentary El cielo gira, a film first and foremost about the director’s own return to her family’s now abandoned village in northern Spain. However, rather than read El cielo gira within the framework of nostalgia and melancholic return, this essay contemplates the ways in which the film, in visualizing loss, invites the spectator to see otherwise invisible corners of Spain’s ever-evolving landscapes, and to engage with ruins not as obsolete structures but as...
How to optimize binding of coated nanoparticles: coupling of physical interactions, molecular organization and chemical state

One of the key challenges in the development of nano carriers for drug delivery and imaging is the design of a system that selectively binds to target cells. A common strategy is to coat the delivery device with specific ligands that bind strongly to overexpressed receptors. However such devices are usually unable to discriminate between receptors found on benign and malignant cells. We demonstrate, theoretically, how one can achieve enhanced binding to target cells by using multiple physical and chemical interactions. We study the effective interactions between a polymer decorated nano micelle or nanoparticle with three types of model lipid membranes that differ in the composition of their outer leaflet. They are: i) lipid membranes with overexpressed receptors, ii) membranes with a given fraction of negatively charged lipids and iii) membranes with both overexpressed receptors and negatively charged lipids. The coating contains a mixtures of two short polymers, one neutral for protection and the other a polybase with a functional end-group to optimize specific binding with the overexpressed receptors and electrostatic interactions with charged lipid head-groups. The strength of the binding for the combined system is much larger than the sum of the independent electrostatic or specific interactions binding. We find a range of distances where the addition of two effective repulsive interactions become an attraction in the combined case. The changes in the strength and shape of the effective interaction are due to the coupling that exists between molecular organization, physical interactions and chemical state, e.g., protonation. The predictions provide guidelines for the design of carrier devices for targeted drug and nanoparticle delivery and give insight in the competing and highly non-additive nature of the different effective interactions in nanoscale systems in constrained environments that are ubiquitous in synthetic and biological systems.
The role of executive attention in deliberate self-harm

Although a wealth of literature has examined the role of emotion-related factors in deliberate self-harm (DSH), less is known about neurocognitive factors and DSH. In particular, despite theoretical literature suggesting that deficits in executive attention may contribute to engagement in DSH, studies have not yet examined the functioning of this attentional network among individuals with DSH. The present study sought to address this gap in the literature by examining the functioning of the alerting, orienting, and executive attentional networks among participants with a recent history of DSH (n=15), a past history of DSH (n=18), and no history of DSH (n=21). Controlling for borderline personality pathology and depression symptoms, participants with a recent history of DSH exhibited deficits in executive attention functioning relative to participants without any history of DSH. No differences were found in terms of performance on the alerting or orienting attentional networks. These results provide preliminary support for the association between executive attention deficits and DSH.
Tetraethylammonium ion sensitivity of a 35-pS CA2(+)-activated K+ channel in GH3 cells that is activated by thyrotropin-releasing hormone.

Single Ca2+-activated K+ channels were studied in membrane patches from the GH3 anterior pituitary cell line. We have previously demonstrated the coexistence of large-conductance and small-conductance (280 pS and 11 pS in symmetrical 150 mM K+, respectively) Ca2+-activated K+ channels in this cell line (Lang and Ritchie 1987). Here we report the existence of a third type of Ca2+-activated K+ channel that has a conductance of about 35 pS under similar conditions. In excised inside-out patches, this channel can be activated by elevations of the internal free Ca2+ concentration, and the open probability increases as the membrane potential is made more positive. In excised patches, the sensitivity of this 35-pS channel to internal Ca2+ is low; at positive membrane potentials, this channel requires Ca2+ concentrations greater than 10 μM for activation. However, 35-pS channels have a much higher sensitivity to Ca2+ in the first minute after excision (activated by 1 μM Ca2+ at −50 mV). Therefore, it is possible that the Ca2+ sensitivity of this channel is stabilized by intracellular factors. In cell-attached patches, this intermediate conductance channel can be activated (at negative membrane potentials) by thyrotropin-releasing hormone-induced elevations of the intracellular Ca2+ concentration and by Ca2+ influx during action potentials. The intermediate conductance channel is inhibited by high concentrations of external tetraethylammonium ions (Kd=17 mM) and is relatively resistant to inhibition by apamin.
Higher-ordered and intraconnected bidirectional associative memories

The relationship between autocorrelators and heterocorrelators is examined. A review of the encoding algorithms, recall operations, stability proofs, and capacity arguments of first- and higher-order autocorrelator, commonly referred to as Hopfield associative memories (HAMs), and referred to as bidirectional associated memories (BAMs), is presented. Higher-ordered BAM's and first- and higher-ordered intraconnected BAM's are introduced. The encoding, recall, and stability procedures of each are discussed. Simulation results that compare the storage capacity and storage efficiency of three heterocorrelators, the heteroassociative HAM (HHAM), the BAM, and the intraconnected BAM (IBAM), are presented. The simulation suites were conducted for first-order, direct second-order, and general second-order heterocorrelators with a total pattern dimensionality of 4, 10, 20, 50, and 100. Each suite consisted of between 150 and 1000 separate program executions. >
Evolutionary Convergence to Ideal Free Dispersal Strategies and Coexistence

We study a two species competition model in which the species have the same population dynamics but different dispersal strategies and show how these dispersal strategies evolve. We introduce a general dispersal strategy which can result in the ideal free distributions of both competing species at equilibrium and generalize the result of Averill et al. (2011). We further investigate the convergent stability of this ideal free dispersal strategy by varying random dispersal rates, advection rates, or both of these two parameters simultaneously. For monotone resource functions, our analysis reveals that among two similar dispersal strategies, selection generally prefers the strategy which is closer to the ideal free dispersal strategy. For nonmonotone resource functions, our findings suggest that there may exist some dispersal strategies which are not ideal free, but could be locally evolutionarily stable and/or convergent stable, and allow for the coexistence of more than one species.
An α-tocopherol dose response study in Paramecium tetraurelia

Abstract Vitamin E ( d,l -α-tocopherol) was administered to Paramecium tetraurelia in doses of 10, 100, 1000 and 10,000 mg/l throughout its clonal lifespan. ANOVA revealed significant differences in clonal lifespan between groups, whether lifespan was measured in total fissions, or in days (P
The gravitational factor from mid-continental body tides and its statistical analysis

Abstract A total length of 99 days of data selected from a period of five months (September 1967–January 1968) of the tidal variations of gravity recorded at Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Miss., U.S.A., are utilized in the determination of the gravitational factor G = 1 + h − 3 k 2 at this location in the mid-continent of North America where the influence of oceanic tides is negligible. The mean G-value thus determined is 1.144 ± 0.006, generally lower than those previously determined in coastal areas. Statistical techniques are applied in the data processing in order to obtain statistically more reliable values, and an error analysis is then performed to check their reliability. Various techniques are devised for this purpose and a combination of the techniques of cross-correlation, bandpass filtering and auto-correlation is effective in the elimination of errors.
On the determination of the critical level of market concentration in education

Abstract Although there are many studies in which attempts have been made to determine the effects of market power on the various aspects of market conduct and performance, there are few that test for the existence of a critical level of concentration, and none other than this study that test for such a critical level in the market for education. For the sample and time period, the results of this study suggest that the critical Herfindahl index was 0.50. Those educational markets with an associated Herfindahl index at or above 0.5% can expect, on average, a 1.6 percentage point decrease or 3% reduction in student achievement scores. Policy issues are addressed.
Spatial memory impairment and central muscarinic receptor loss following prolonged treatment with organophosphates

Memory impairment is one of the recurrent complaints of agricultural workers repeatedly exposed to organophosphorus insecticides. In an effort to establish an animal model for such behavioral effects, which would allow studying its underlying biochemical mechanism(s), in this study we evaluated spatial memory in animals following repeated organophosphate exposure. Male Long-Evans rats were given daily i.p. injections of either diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP; 1 mg/kg/day) or disulfoton (O,O-diethyl S-[2-(ethylthio)ethyl] phosphorodithioate; 2 mg/kg/day) for 14 days. Acetylcholinesterase activity was inhibited 71–77% in the cortex, hippocampus, and striatum of rats treated with DFP, and 73–74% in those treated with disulfoton. Binding of [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H]QNB) to cholinergic muscarinic receptors in the same brain areas was reduced 16–28% in organophosphate-treated rats. This decrease was due to a reduction in muscarinic receptor density (Bmax) with no changes in receptor affinity. At the end of the treatment rats were tested for spatial memory using the spontaneous alternation task in a T-maze. Rates of true spontaneous alternation were 64.4, 45.0, and 44.8% in animals which received corn oil, DFP, or disulfoton, respectively (P<0.05). These results indicate that prolonged inhibition of acetylcholinesterase caused by repeated organophosphate exposure alters spatial memory functions in rats, as well as causing a loss of muscarinic receptors. Considering the role of the cholinergic system in cognitive processes, these biochemical alterations could be related to the observed behavioral changes and may offer a potential explanation of the memory impairment reported by workers chronically exposed to organophosphates.
Childhood-Onset Spastic Paraplegia With NIPA1 Gene Mutation

Hereditary spastic paraplegia is a heterogeneous group of inherited neurodegenerative disorders in which the predominant clinical feature is gait disturbance owing to spasticity and weakness of the lower limbs. Autosomal dominant hereditary spastic paraplegia is the predominant form of the disorder. To date, 10 autosomal dominant hereditary spastic paraplegia gene loci and genes for 6 of them have been identified. Spastic paraplegia 6, with a typical teenage onset and considered to be one of the more severe forms of the disease, is due to mutations in the gene NIPA1. We report a childhood-onset, aggressive, spastic paraparesis in a North American family with a c.316G>A mutation of the NIPA1 gene, confirming c.316 as a mutational hot spot.
Parameter Sensitivity Analysis of Stochastic Models Provides Insights into Cardiac Calcium Sparks

We present a parameter sensitivity analysis method that is appropriate for stochastic models, and we demonstrate how this analysis generates experimentally testable predictions about the factors that influence local Ca2+ release in heart cells. The method involves randomly varying all parameters, running a single simulation with each set of parameters, running simulations with hundreds of model variants, then statistically relating the parameters to the simulation results using regression methods. We tested this method on a stochastic model, containing 18 parameters, of the cardiac Ca2+ spark. Results show that multivariable linear regression can successfully relate parameters to continuous model outputs such as Ca2+ spark amplitude and duration, and multivariable logistic regression can provide insight into how parameters affect Ca2+ spark triggering (a probabilistic process that is all-or-none in a single simulation). Benchmark studies demonstrate that this method is less computationally intensive than standard methods by a factor of 16. Importantly, predictions were tested experimentally by measuring Ca2+ sparks in mice with knockout of the sarcoplasmic reticulum protein triadin. These mice exhibit multiple changes in Ca2+ release unit structures, and the regression model both accurately predicts changes in Ca2+ spark amplitude (30% decrease in model, 29% decrease in experiments) and provides an intuitive and quantitative understanding of how much each alteration contributes to the result. This approach is therefore an effective, efficient, and predictive method for analyzing stochastic mathematical models to gain biological insight.
Isolation and characterization of osteoblast precursor cells from human bone marrow

Osteoblasts are derived from precursor cells present in low frequency in the stromal element of bone marrow. Because of the lack of a practical procedure to isolate osteoblast precursors from early cultures of plastic adherent cells from bone marrow, previous studies of marrow stromal cells have been made in confluent cultures of bone marrow when the osteoblast (OB) precursors are already differentiated. Also these studies utilized cultures containing mixed populations of cells including hematopoietic cells. Thus we have employed a negative immunoselection procedure to remove contaminating hematopoietic cells and to isolate nearly homogeneous populations of early human stromal cells derived from the plastic-adherent mononuclear marrow cells cultured in the presence of serum. By reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis for mRNA, and by immunocytochemical study for protein, we studied the sequential expression in culture of multiple markers of the osteoblast phenotype--alkaline phosphatase, osteopontin, parathyroid hormone receptor, types I and III procollagen, and osteocalcin--as well as lipoprotein lipase (LPL), a marker of the adipocyte phenotype. At an early stage of culture (7-9 days), human OB precursors formed colonies of variable sizes that expressed low levels of mRNA and protein concentrations of OB markers, and their concentration increased on growth to a confluent monolayer (approximately 14 days). LPL mRNA was expressed at high levels in the colony stage, and its level decreased upon confluency, suggesting a loss of potential for commitment to the adipocyte lineage. Interestingly, treatment with dexamethasone at 10(-8) M increased the expression for some of the osteoblast markers and for the LPL gene and was required for the deposition of mineralized matrix and for the formation of adipocytes containing cytoplasmic lipid droplets in confluent cultures. Cloned single early colonies were able to coexpress the osteoblast and adipocyte markers (as assessed by RT-PCR). Thus these immunoselected marrow stromal cells have the characteristics of authentic human osteoblast precursor cells which also are capable of differentiating into adipocytes.
Functional participation of a nifH-arsA2 chimeric fusion gene in arsenic reduction by Escherichia coli.

Abstract The NifH (dimer) and ArsA proteins are structural homologs and share common motifs like nucleotide-binding domains, signal transduction domains and also possible similar metal center ligands. Given the similarity between two proteins, we investigated if the NifH protein from Azotobacter vinelandii could functionally substitute for the ArsA1 half of the ArsA protein of Escherichia coli. The chimeric NifH–ArsA2 protein was expressed and detected in the E. coli strain by Western blotting. Growth comparisons of E. coli strains containing plasmids encoding for complete ArsA, partial ArsA (ArsA2) or chimeric ArsA (NifH–ArsA2) in media with increasing sodium arsenite concentrations (0–5 mM) showed that the chimeric NifH–ArsA2 could substitute for the ArsA. This functional complementation demonstrated the strong conservation of essential domains that have been maintained in NifH and ArsA even after their divergence to perform varied functions.
Sources of Self-Perceptions of Career-Related Abilities:

Barak (1981) identified self-perceived ability as a determinant of career interest. The purpose of the present study was to identify sources of perceptions of career-related abilities. The Self-Directed Search (SDS; Holland, 1985) was administered to college students to obtain self-ratings of career abilities. Parents of these students also completed the SDS ability ratings, as they applied to their children. A series of hierarchical regression analyses was conducted in which parent ratings of their children's abilities were entered after measures of general cognitive ability. The parents' ratings accounted for substantial amounts of variance in self-perceptions of career- related abilities for female and male students. These findings are discussed in relation to Barak's (1981) cognitive theory of career interests and counseling interventions to change career interests.
Impacts of Adjusting Environmental Regulations When Enforcement Authority Is Diffuse: Confined Animal Feeding Operations and Environmental Quality

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently adjusted regulations governing confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs), significantly increasing the number of regulated firms. A theoretical model is developed to analyze how changes to the number of regulated firms, monitoring effort, and compliance standards affect environmental quality. The model suggests increasing the number of regulated firms, ceteris paribus, has an ambiguous effect on environmental quality, and may actually reduce it. The impact of increasing compliance standards depends on how violations are prosecuted and sanctions are set. Greater monitoring effort increases environmental quality.
A Unified Approach to Semiparametric Transformation Models Under General Biased Sampling Schemes

We propose a unified estimation method for semiparametric linear transformation models under general biased sampling schemes. The new estimator is obtained from a set of counting process-based unbiased estimating equations, developed through introducing a general weighting scheme that offsets the sampling bias. The usual asymptotic properties, including consistency and asymptotic normality, are established under suitable regularity conditions. A closed-form formula is derived for the limiting variance and the plug-in estimator is shown to be consistent. We demonstrate the unified approach through the special cases of left truncation, length bias, the case-cohort design, and variants thereof. Simulation studies and applications to real datasets are presented.
Stress induced phase transformation of a cesium stabilized leucite porcelain and associated properties.

Abstract Objectives. The addition of Cs2O to dental porcelains might provide a means for controlling the thermal expansion and toughness of feldspathic porcelains. The purpose of this investigation was to determine for a leucite porcelain the effect of Cs2O content upon its coefficient of thermal expansion (α), toughness, hardness, and content of low (tetragonal) leucite and high (cubic) leucite. Methods. In order to determine the amount of low leucite in the specimens, an x-ray calibration curve for low leucite and an internal standard of copper was obtained using quantitative x-ray diffraction techniques. Utilizing a stress induced phase transformation between low and high leucite, an x-ray intensity conversion ratio (r) was determined for high leucite so that the calibration curve for low leucite could be used to determine the amount of high leucite present in the experimental porcelains. Specimens were prepared with various amounts of Cs2O (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 mol%) so that, except for the as-received porcelain (A), all had the same thermal history. Specimens were tested for content of low and high leucite, hardness (Vickers), toughness (indentation-strength method), and coefficient of thermal expansion (α) over two temperature ranges (30–500°C and 30–640°C). Fractured surfaces were examined with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). For each property, specimen groups were compared for statistical differences. These comparisons were statistically analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Fisher's protected least significant differences (PLSD). Results. Quantitative x-ray examination of abraded and heat-treated specimens demonstrated that a stress induced phase transformation occurred which could be reversed by heat treatment. The conversion ratio was determined as r=1.93±0.29. The addition of Cs2O lowered the wt% of low leucite from 63±6% to 0% and increased the amount of high leucite from 0% to 62±5%. ANOVA showed that the addition of Cs2O had a significant effect on α (p Significance. A stress induced phase transformation of high leucite to low leucite was demonstrated and, as a consequence, suggested the potential for phase transformation toughening. The α of a leucite porcelain could be controlled by stabilizing high (cubic) leucite to room temperature with the fraction of high leucite dependent upon the amount of Cs2O added. A method was developed to determine the amount of high leucite present in a porcelain.
Reconfigurable CMOS Oscillator Based on Multifrequency AlN Contour-Mode MEMS Resonators

This paper reports on the first demonstration of a reconfigurable complementary-metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) oscillator based on microelectromechanical system (MEMS) resonators operating at four different frequencies (268, 483, 690, and 785 MHz). A bank of multifrequency switchable AlN contour-mode MEMS resonators was connected to a single CMOS oscillator circuit that can be configured to selectively operate in four different states with distinct oscillation frequencies. The phase noise (PN) of the reconfigurable oscillator was measured for each of the four different frequencies of operation, showing values between -94 and - 70 dBc/Hz at a 1-kHz offset and PN floor values as low as -165 dBc/Hz at a 1-MHz offset. Jitter values as low as a 114-fs root mean square (integrated 12 kHz-20 MHz) and switching times as fast as 20 μs were measured. This first prototype represents a miniaturized solution (30 times smaller) over commercially available voltage-controlled surface-acoustic-wave oscillators and potentially has the advantage of generating multiple stable frequencies without the need of cumbersome and power-consuming phase-locked-loop circuits.
REARRANGEMENT AND EXPRESSION OF MDM2 ONCOGENE IN CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIA

Since trisomy 12 is the most common chromosome abnormality found in CLL and MDM2 has been mapped to this chromosome, we examined the possible association of MDM2 in the pathogenesis of CLL. A rearrangement of the MDM2 gene was observed in 4 of 11 peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with CLL by Southern blot hybridization. Expression of MDM2 was detected in all of the CLL samples examined by Northern blot. However, neither gross amplification nor overexpression of the MDM2 gene was found in CLL. The data suggest that MDM2 may play a role in the pathogenesis of CLL and may help to explain how abnormalities of chromosome 12 are related to CLL.
Enhancing Scalability and Performance of Mashups Through Merging and Operator Reordering

Recently, mashups are gaining tremendous popularity as an important Web 2.0 application. Mashups provide end-users with an opportunity to create personalized Web services which aggregate and manipulate data from multiple diverse sources distributed across the Web. However, this increase in personalization also results in new scalability and performance challenges. Surprisingly, there are very few studies on the performance aspect of mashups. In this paper, we propose two novel techniques to enhance the scalability and performance of mashup platforms. The first is an efficient mashup merging scheme that avoids duplicate computations and unnecessary data retrievals by detecting common operator sequences in different mashups and executing them together. Second, we propose a canonical form-based mashup reordering scheme that not only transforms individual mashups to their most efficient forms but also increases the effectiveness of mashup merging. This paper also reports a number of experiments studying the benefits and costs of the proposed techniques.
A simple helix based on 2,2′-biimidazole. Crystal and molecular structure of [Ag(NO3)(H2biim)]n

Abstract Silver(I) nitrate and 2,2′-biimidazole (H2biim) crystallize from an aqueous solution to afford a single-strand helix, as evidenced by X-ray crystallography. This assemblage is based on an approximate cis conformation of H2biim acting in concert with the preferred linear two-coordinate nature of the ligated silver(I) atom.
Origin of an alkaline protease associated with the capsule of a granulosis virus of the armyworm,Pseudaletia unipuncta (Haworth)

The larval digestive juice of the armyworm, Pseudaletia unipuncta (Haworth), has extremely high alkaline protease activity. No protease or negligible protease activity is present in the hemolymph and in extracts of the body wall. The digestive juice protease is absorbed by the capsules of a granulosis virus under low ionic condition. The protease degrades the capsule matrix proteins at alkaline conditions. The absorption of digestive juice protease by capsules occurs when capsules are obtained by triturating the whole infected larvae. On the other hand, capsules, which have been collected from the triturated body walls of infected larvae whose digestive tracts have been removed, are not degraded when the incubation in an alkaline solution is for less than 24 hours at 25 degrees C. The results suggest that the protease associated with the capsule is derived from the digestive juice of the insect.
Biochemical studies of the excitable membrane of Paramecium tetraurelia. II. Phospholipids of ciliary and other membranes

Abstract The phospholipids of cilia and deciliated bodies of Paramecium tetraurelia were isolated and characterized. 1-alkyl-2-acyl- sn -glycero-3-(2′-aminoethyl) phosphonate (GAEPL), phosphatidylethanolamine, and 1-alkyl-2-acyl- sn -glycero-3-phosphorylcholine (GPC) were the major lipids of Paramecium , and the minor lipids included phosphatidylinositol, cardiolipin, ceramide-(2-aminoethyl) phosphonate (CAEP), ceramide phosphorylethanolamine (COPE) and four sphingolipids whose identity was not established. The deciliated bodies contained 4% cardiolipin, 15% GAEPL, 41% phosphatidylethanolamine, 30% GPC and 3% each of CAEP and phosphatidylinositol; the cilia contained no cardiolipin, 24% GAEPL, 37% phosphatidylethanolamine, 15% GPC, 15% CAEP, 3% phosphatidylinositol, 2% COPE and small amounts (approx. 1%) of the four uncharacterized sphingolipids. No alteration in phospholipid composition was found among cells harvested in the various stages of growth. The phospholipids of six Paramecium mutants of three distinct phenotypes (pawn, paranoiac and fast) were also examined. Only one significant difference was found on comparison of the whole cell, deciliated body and cilia fraction of the mutants with the analogous fractions from wild type cells: the fast mutant, fA 97, had two extra, minor phospholipids (approx. 2%) in the deciliated body fraction that were tentatively identified as 1,2-diacyl- sn -glycero-3-(2′-aminoethyl) phosphonate (AEPL) and 1-alkyl-2-acyl- sn -glycero-3-phosphorylethanolamine (GPE).
The Iodine Stabilized Laser As A Realization Of The Length Unit

The iodine stabilized helium-neon laser is the most accurate and stable standard of length that is available for general metrological use today. Although the krypton discharge lamp is still the basis for international agreements which define the meter as the length standard, the independent reproducibility of the iodine stabilized helium-neon laser has been shown to exceed that of the krypton lamp when international intercomparisons are made. Because of its superior performance, the iodine stabilized helium-neon laser is used in most national standards laboratories to realize the standard of length. A value for its wavelength which is consistent with the value for the wavelength of the krypton lamp has been agreed upon by the metrological community through consultation with the International Bureau of Weights and Measures.© (1978) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
O Amor Irrealizável em "José Matías"

A opiniao critica concorda em falar do conceito negativo do amor que Eca de Queiroz revela nas suas obras de ficcao. O Juizo, porem, e Inexacto com respeito aos contos, onde, ao contrario de desacreditar o amor, Eca condena a incapacidade do homem de amar completamente, alma e corpo. E' sobretudo no conto "Jose Matias" que ele trata com maior complexidade e originalidade da polarizacao dos aspectos fisico e espiritual no homem e das consequencias do desequilibrio resultante. Para expressar essa dicotomia, Eca elabora uma versao moderna de amor cortes, utilizando todos os elementos principais da tradicao medieval ao narrar o caso singular de um homem que foge da posse fisica da mulher amada. O conto, porem, contem um significado mais serio. Atraves do ambiente romântico e aparentemente idealista criado pela adaptacao do mito provencal e das explicacoes subjectives e contraditorias do narrador, "Jose Matias" expoe uma profunda aberracao psicologica. Sem dever nada a Sigmund Freud, que so uma decada depois do aparecimento do conto portugues publicara sobre o mesmo assunto. Eca consegue revelar com aguda percepcao e exactldao os diversos aspectos reconditos de uma Impotencia psiquica que atormenta e finalmente destroi o seu heroi.
Effects of slight orientation of fibre on fracture toughness of unidirectional fibre reinforced composites in mode II

Abstract Experimental investigations were performed on unidirectional glass fibre reinfbrced/ epoxy laminates having fibre oriented at θ = 0°, ± 1.2° and ±2.4° , respectively, in mode II (forward shear) in the presence of a crack parallel to the neutral axis of the beam. An end-cracked beam was used. The stress-intensity factor at instability K 11R(INS) was obtained by the method developed by Giare. Engng Fract. Mech. 20, 11–21 (1984). The crack growth resistance at instability and the corresponding critical strain-energy release rate were independent of the initial crack in the range of the crack length investigated. Fracture toughness in mode II was found to increase considerably with fibre orientation for θ = ±1.2° and θ = ± 2.4° , as compared to fibre orientation at θ = 0° . Slight fibre orientation increased the crack propagating area, thus causing an increase in the fracture toughness of the composite in mode II. The path of crack propogation is shown in Figs 11–13. Slight fibre orientation had no effect on the longitudinal strength of the laminates. In composite materials, fibre-matrix interfacial shear stress plays an important role in the load transfer mechanism. Hence, if mode II fracture toughness is increased. then mode I fracture toughness may be improved.
Testing the Packer Theorem: The Efficiency of Florida’s Criminal Circuit Courts

Herbert Packer’s models of the criminal process are criminal justice theorems, often the foundation of student introduction to the field in introductory textbooks. To date, there is little empirical analysis of the conceptual foundations of the process-based models, namely that courts are more efficient through the utilization of plea bargains, while an increase in trials necessarily decreases efficiency. The present results reveal wide variability in Florida circuit criminal court efficiency within and between circuits from 2004/05 to 2010/11. Regression analysis revealed that the year over year difference in both plea bargain (β = .14) and trial percentage (β = .13) significantly predicted (p < .05) year over year changes in efficiency, but explained a small amount of the variance (R 2 = .026) controlling for other factors (total model R 2 = .58–.62). These results show there is more capacity for trials within the Florida courts, and an increase in trials does not negatively impact court efficiency as expected but that other factors are far more relevant in explaining changes in efficiency outcomes. Furthermore, the Packer “assembly line” analogy, a basic tenet of the criminal process, is not found: plea bargains do not strongly predict or explain court efficiency, with structures playing a greater role in court outcomes than the processes conceptualized by Packer. The application to courts and impact on criminal justice education are discussed.
Imaging: refining noninvasive ultrasound evaluation of the kidneys.

For more than 20 years, Doppler ultrasound has been a valuable noninvasive imaging tool in the evaluation of several forms of kidney disease. Modifying the typical parameters used in clinical practice as shown in a study by Grun et al. may lead to a more kidney-specific Doppler value.
Learning From the Toxic Trenches The Winding Road to Healthier Organizations—and to Healthy Everyday Leaders

This article offers an insider's look at the power and consequences of high levels of workplace emotion in order to deepen understanding of the workplace relationships and practices needed for indi...
Human umbilical cord blood progenitor cells are attracted to infarcted myocardium and significantly reduce myocardial infarction size.

We are investigating the effects of human umbilical cord blood mononuclear progenitor cells (HUCBC) for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction because human cord blood is a readily available ...
Metabolic aspects of bone resorption in calcium-deficient lactating rats

Lactating female rats were fed diets containing 1.0, 0.1, or 0.04% Ca for 21 days. Fat-free dry weight, ash weight, calcium and phosphorus content of the humerus, plasma calcium levels, and bone acid and alkaline phosphatase activites were compared to those of nonlactating rats fed the same diets. Bone, plasma, and urinary cAMP levels were also studied. Dietary calcium deficiency and/or lactation caused significant loss of bone mass from experimental animals. Urinary cAMP levels reflecting increased parathyroid activity were elevated by the stresses of lactation and calcium deficiency over those of control animals. Plasma and bone levels of cAMP were not different. Bone alkaline and acid phosphatase activities were affected only by the most extreme stress. The results demonstrated that the calcium-deficient lactating rat is an excellent model for bone resorption studies.
The Chemistry of Water on Alumina Surfaces: Reaction Dynamics from First Principles

Aluminas and their surface chemistry play a vital role in many areas of modern technology. The behavior of adsorbed water is particularly important and poorly understood. Simulations of hydrated alpha-alumina (0001) surfaces with ab initio molecular dynamics elucidate many aspects of this problem, especially the complex dynamics of water dissociation and related surface reactions. At low water coverage, free energy profiles established that molecularly adsorbed water is metastable and dissociates readily, even in the absence of defects, by a kinetically preferred pathway. Observations at higher water coverage revealed rapid dissociation and unanticipated collective effects, including water-catalyzed dissociation and proton transfer reactions between adsorbed water and hydroxide. The results provide a consistent interpretation of the measured coverage dependence of water heats of adsorption, hydroxyl vibrational spectra, and other experiments.
Nuclease Resistance and Antisense Activity of Modified Oligonucleotides Targeted to Ha-ras

We have previously described structure-activity studies on a 17-mer uniform phosphorothioate antisense sequence targeted to human Ha-ras. In an effort to further improve the pharmacological properties of antisense oligonucleotides, structure-activity studies on this 17-mer sequence were expanded to examine both the effects of replacing phosphorothioate backbone linkages with phosphodiester linkages and the effects of incorporating various 2′-sugar modifications into phosphorothioate and phosphodiester oligonucleotides on oligonucleotide stability against nucleases in vitro and on antisense activity in cells. Replacement of three or more phosphorothioate linkages with phosphodiester linkages greatly compromised both nuclease resistance and antisense activity, and these effects correlated directly with the number of phosphodiester linkages incorporated into the oligonucleotide. However, substantial nuclease resistance, sufficient for obtaining potent antisense effects in cells, was conferred to phosphodiester oligonucleotides by incorporation of appropriate 2′-alkoxy sugar modifications. Nuclease stability and antisense activity imparted by these sugar modifications in phosphodiester backbones correlated with the size of the 2′-alkoxy substituent (pentoxy > propoxy > methoxy > deoxy). Furthermore, antisense activity mediated by oligonucleotides that exhibit partial resistance to nucleolytic degradation was dependent on both oligonucleotide concentration and the duration of oligonucleotide treatment.