cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Novel visible and ultraviolet light photogeneration of hydroxyl radicals by 2-methyl-4-nitro-quinoline-N-oxide (MNO) and 4,4'-dinitro-(2,2')bipyridinyl-N,N'-dioxide (DBD).

Chemicals that upon absorption of light generate hydroxyl radicals (·OH), free of other damaging species under physiological conditions, are useful tools for the study of the biological effects of ·OH radical and for its utilization for analytical purposes. We report the novel property of 2-methyl-4-nitro-quinoline-N-oxide (MNO) and 4, 4′-dinitro-(2, 2′) bipyridinyl-N, N′-dioxide (DBD) to act as photogenerators of ·OH with UV and visible light. Upon irradiation with 360–400 nm light MNO and DBD generate free radicals that convert coumarin carboxylic acid (CCA) to fluorescent 7-OH-CCA; the ·OH radical scavengers dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and ethanol eliminate the induction of 7-OH-CCA fluorescence. Upon 400 nm illumination in the presence of MNO, supercoiled plasmid DNA is converted to circular and strand break-age is significantly reduced in the presence of DMSO and completely absent in the absence of MNO. The conversion of CCA to 7-OH-CCA and of supercoiled plasmid to circular DNA are also observed in the absence of oxygen. Taken together, these data indicate that MNO and DBD constitute novel ·OH-generating compounds. Because currently known ·OH-photogenerating compounds require UV illumination (< 360 nm) that also damages DNA and cells directly, the property of MNO to generate ·OH upon 400 nm illumination is advantageous when studies on cells, DNA and other biomolecules are conducted.
Osteoarthritis revisited: a contemporary review of aetiology

Osteoarthritis is among the most common pathological conditions in skeletal collections and is the most frequent musculoskeletal disorder in contemporary populations. Jurmain (1991) has previously published in this journal a brief review of skeletal perspectives on osteoarthritis. Subsequent studies by osteologists and medical researchers have added considerably to understanding of the aetiology and patterning of osteoarthritis. Thus, it is timely to present an updated review that expands and supports conclusions discussed in the earlier review. In short, osteoarthritis aetiology is multifactorial, with age being the main influence on the onset and severity of osteoarthritis. Genetic influences also play a large role in the severity of osteoarthritis, especially in the lower limbs. Weight, although playing a significant role for modern populations, seems to have had very minimal effects on prehistoric populations. Sex differences may often be a consequence of hormones, body size and anatomy, rather than activity related. Finally, intense activity starting at a young age still may influence osteoarthritis, especially in the upper limbs. Future directions discussed include within-body comparisons, animal studies, and examining patterns in large populations. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Conceptual model for radionuclide release, Yucca Mountain, Nevada, USA.

A new conceptual model for release rate of radionuclides from the proposed repository for high level nuclear waste located at Yucca Mountain, Nevada is developed. The model predicts that heat generated from radioactive decay combined with the unsaturated environment will lead to an inward flow system that, under many relevant conditions, will slow the release of and sometimes sequester radionuclides at locations of higher heat release and lower water percolation. The amount of protection will be greatest for more concentrated waste forms such as spent fuel and less for glass waste forms. The redistribution and concentration of the radionuclides is anticipated to significantly delay radionuclide release and create a tendency towards gradual release over time that is independent of localized penetrations of metallic barriers.
Sphingosine Kinase Activation Mediates Ischemic Preconditioning in Murine Heart

Background— Phosphorylation of sphingosine by sphingosine kinase (SK) is the rate-limiting step in the cellular synthesis of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P). The monoganglioside GM1, which stimulates SK, is cardioprotective in part through increased generation of S1P that protects myocytes by diverse mechanisms. Because protein kinase C (PKC)e activation is necessary for myocardial ischemic preconditioning (IPC) and PKC activators increase SK activity, we tested the hypothesis that SK may be a central mediator of IPC. Methods and Results— In adult murine hearts, IPC sufficient to reduce infarct size significantly increased cardiac SK activity, induced translocation of SK protein from the cytosol to membranes, and enhanced cardiac myocyte survival. IPC did not increase SK activity in PKCe-null mice. The SK antagonist N,N-dimethylsphingosine inhibited PKCe activation and directly abolished the protective effects of IPC and the enhanced SK activity induced by IPC. Conclusions— These findings demonstrate that P...
Towards A More Cosmopolitan Political Science

The institutionalization of political science can be expected to strengthen cross-national links. The profession developed in most advanced industrialized democracies during the last half century, although the process started earlier in the United States with the creation of the American Political Science Association in 1903 (for the early history see Sniderman 1985; Ricci 1984; Farr, Dryer and Leonard 1995). The growth of the profession in Europe occurred with the creation in universities of separate departments of political science distinct from related disciplines such as law, history, social administration, philosophy, or sociology (for the development of the discipline in Europe see the special issue of EJPR 1991). The nature of the discipline today continues to bear the genes of its parentage: a more historical, sociological and philosophical orientation in many European countries compared with stronger links with social psychology and economics in the United States. Departments of political science formed the building blocks for national professional associations, and regional or international organisations. Following an initiative by UNESCO, the International Political Science Association was founded in 1949 (Trent 1979), and gradually expanded until it links together over forty national associations and about 1,000 individual members worldwide. The main focus of IPSA's activity remains the triennial World Congress which provides the major forum bringing together between 2,000-3,000 political scientists from countries all over the world. IPSA Research Committees and Study Groups, focus on the major sub-fields of research, linking smaller networks of colleagues on a more regular basis through meetings, newsletters, and occasional joint
Controle de mosca doméstica em área de disposição de resíduos sólidos no Brasil

A Musca domestica (L.) control method in solid waste disposal areas was developed. Two fly control products based on azamethiphos were applied to different surfaces: on vertical surfaces, the wettable powder was used as spray or paint-on and on windrows, as spray; on horizontal surfaces granular bait was used. Fly infestation was evaluated by Scudder Fly Grills. In the windrows areas, reductions of 98,5% and 100 % were achieved 18 and 30 days respectively after application. In the waste transfer station 85,6% and 98,7 % reductions were achieved over the same period of time. Application of azamethiphos in different formulations was effective against M. domestica for 30 days.
Relating one‐point concentration moments of a chemical reactant to the Lagrangian probability density

Arbitrary one‐point moments of the concentration of the chemical reactant in a turbulent flow are related to the Lagrangian position probability density. The results are extended to multicomponent reactions. Molecular diffusion effects are neglected in the analysis.
Impact of available electric vehicle battery power capacity on power system reliability

This paper focuses on estimating the available power capacity that electrical vehicles (EVs) can provide for the reserve market and evaluating its impact on power system reliability. The proposed approach estimates the available power capacity in a probabilistic manner based on traffic conditions through Markov process, which takes into account time durations when EVs are scheduled to provide the reserve services, the battery charge depletion limit and the energy needed for transportation purposes. A method to evaluate the reliability of the combined system (conventional system plus EVs) based on the probabilistic model is presented. Finally, numerical experiments are conducted to validate the effectiveness of the proposed approach and show significant impact of EVs on system's reliability through the ancillary service market.
Evidence for structure in the fo and go dipion mass regions

Abstract The combined dipion mass spectrum for 3969 events from the reactions π − p → n π + π − (8 GeV/ c ) and π + d → pp π + π − (5.4 GeV/ c ) has been studied for evidence of structure in the f o and g o mass regions. There appears to be a 4-standard deviation dip in the f o peak at ∼ 1240 MeV, although the data are not inconsistent with the assumption of a single f o resonance. We are able to resolve two distinct peaks in the g o region, at 1655 ± 4 MeV and 1764 ± 15 MeV, indicative of I = 1 and I = 0 resonances respectively. The lower-mass peak is narrow ( Λ = 20 ± 8 MeV) and is enhanced when events with low four-momenta are selected.
Memory for words in repeated sentences

Homographic nouns were presented in sentence contexts as subject and object referents, where the nouns were repeated in either the same, similar, or different semantic contexts with either 0, 4, or 16 intervening sentences (lag). When cued with subject nouns, recall of object nouns varied directly with lag for both the same- and similar-context sentences but inversely with lag for different-context sentences. Also, repetition of different-context sentences at lag 0 and similar-context sentences at all lags led to better recall than when repetition occurred in the same context. These findings suggest that the effectiveness of repetition, in part, depends jointly on the semantic context in which repetition occurs and on the lag between repeated events.
Anatomy of the hominoid wrist joint: Its evolutionary and functional implications

Observations on the behavior of living hominoids show generic differences in the use and posture of the wrist joint. Both orang-utans and hylobatids usually use the wrist in suspensory behaviors. However, orang-utans emphasize markedly adducted and flexed wrist postures, while hylobatids emphasize violent forearm and wrist rotation. African apes, especially the gorilla, use the wrist more frequently than other hominoids for terrestrial quadrupedal weight-bearing. Humans use the wrist less frequently for supportive purposes than do other hominoids. These behavioral differences correspond to structural specializations in the proximal carpal joint of each of the hominoid genera. Although each of the hominoid genera has apparently modified its proximal carpal joint best to serve its characteristic behaviors, all hominoids share a unique proximal carpal joint that permits approximately 160ℴ of forearm rotation. The hylobatid proximal carpal joint is specialized in exhibiting a marked development of those structures limiting forearm rotation, but it is in most respects the least derived— that is, closest to the nonhominoid anthropoids. Chimpanzees show a proximal carpal joint that is more generalized than those of the other great apes but more derived than that of hylobatids. The human and gorilla proximal wrist joints, on the other hand, show marked modifications for weight-bearing in terrestrial behaviors. Orang-utans have the most derived proximal carpal joint, which in many respects parallels that of the slow-climbing nonhominoid primates. The comparative anatomy and structural specializations of the wrist joint support (a) an early divergence of hylobatids from the common hominoid stock, (b) a common ancestry for gorillas and humans separate from the other hominoids, and (c) a long independent evolutionary period for orang-utans since their divergence from the common hominoid stock, or one that was marked by strong selection pressures for wrist specializations. Unfortunately, the generalized condition of the chimpanzee’s wrist joint and the very derived condition of the orang-utan wrist provide uncertain evidence as to which of the two was first to diverge from the common hominoid stock. Identification of hominoid wrist specializations as reflecting real phylogenetic relationships or parallelisms depends on how well the phytogeny inferred from wrist morphology accords with those arrived at from the study of other systems.
Whistle-Blowing Among Young Employees: A Life-Course Perspective

The 2003 National Business Ethics Survey, conducted by the Ethics Resource Center, found that respondents who were both young and had short organizational tenure were substantially less likely than other respondents to report misconduct that they observed in the workplace to an authority. We propose that the life-course model of deviance can help account for this attenuation of acquiescence in misbehavior. As employees learn to perceive informal prosocial control during their socialization into the workforce, we hypothesize that they will become more willing to blow the whistle on misconduct. Analysis of the 2003 NBES (n = 1,417, with a subset of 314 who observed misconduct) reveals that young and short-tenured employees do perceive less informal prosocial control, and that informal prosocial control does boost whistle-blowing; however, tests for mediation of the relationship between youth and short-tenure and whistle-blowing by informal social control were largely negative, suggesting that other explanations are still needed.
Three-part partition games on rectangles

A partition game on a rectangle is a two-person zero-sum game in which the rectangle is partitioned into a finite number of regions and the payoff function is constant in each region. A special case with four regions is essentially Silverman's game, which has been extensively studied in recent years. In this paper, we examine three-part partition games where the boundaries separating the regions are the graphs of two continuous functions. Various conditions under which optimal mixed strategies and game value do or do not exist are found, as are optimal strategies and value in case they exist. Some games of this type have in the classical game theory literature been interpreted as continuous Colonel Blotto games.
Coulometric Analysis Experiment for the Undergraduate Chemistry Laboratory.

An undergraduate experiment on coulometric analysis of four commercial household products is presented. A special type of coulometry cell made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymer is utilized. The PDMS cell consists of multiple analyte compartments and an internal network of salt bridges. Experimental procedure for the analysis of the acid in a toilet bowl cleaner, base in household clear ammonia, Fe2+ in iron supplement tablets, and iodine in povidone–iodine is provided. Samples were titrated against coulometrically generated reagents, and the end point was detected by a visual color change of the indicator. Experimental results obtained by coulometric titration were in agreement with the results obtained by the volumetric titration and with the data on the manufacturer’s label. The experiments highlight the real-world significance of Faraday’s laws of electrolysis and the mole ratios.
Centralization and Decentralization in American Education Policy

This issue examines the trend toward centralization in American education policy over the last century through a variety of lenses. The overall picture that emerges is one of a continuous tug-of-wa...
Induction of Autophagy and Inhibition of Melanoma Growth In Vitro and In Vivo by Hyperactivation of Oncogenic BRAF

Activating mutations in NRAS and BRAF are found frequently in cutaneous melanomas. Because concurrent mutations of both BRAF and RAS are extremely rare, it is thought that transformation by RAS and BRAF occurs through a common mechanism. Also, there is evidence for a relationship of synthetic lethality between NRAS and BRAF oncogenes that leads to selection against cells with a hyperactive mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. However, it is not known whether the hyperactivation of the MAPK pathway by overexpression of either oncogene alone could also inhibit melanoma tumorigenesis. Here, we show that in melanoma cells with oncogenic BRAF (mBRAF), high levels of mBRAF induce hyperactivation of ERK and senescence-like phenotype and trigger autophagy by inhibiting the mammalian target of rapamycin complex signaling. Growth inhibition and cell death caused by high mBRAF levels are partially rescued by downregulation of BRAF protein or inhibition of autophagy, but not by inhibition of the MAPK or apoptotic pathways. In nude mice, growth of mBRAF-overexpressing tumors is inhibited. Quantitative immunohistochemical analysis of human melanomas and cell lines showed a significant positive correlation between the levels of BRAF protein and autophagy marker light chain 3. Our data suggest that high oncogenic BRAF levels trigger autophagy, which may have a role in melanoma tumor progression.
Chronic mianserin treatment decreases 5-HT2 receptor binding without altering 5-HT2 receptor mRNA levels

Abstract Rats were injected with 15 mg/kg (i.p.) mianserin or vehicle (saline) for 4, 10 or 21 days and 5-HT 2 receptor binding and mRNA levels measured. Treatment with mianserin induced a substantial decrease in 5-HT 2 radioligand binding (44–59% decrease; P 2 or, as a control, β-actin mRNAs were found (P > 0.05 vs. control). These results indicate that mianserin decreases 5-HT 2 radioligand binding without altering steady-state 5-HT 2 mRNA levels.
Extraversion and intelligence: A meta-analytic investigation

Abstract Aspects of the Ackerman and Heggestad (1997) meta-analysis were updated and expanded to address the complex, contradictory findings of the extraversion–intelligence relation. Although the estimated effect sizes in the current study remained slightly positive, there was a decrease in the magnitude of the effect across extraversion–intelligence pairs in comparison to the 1997 meta-analytic results. Correlations between the date of publication of the study and the observed extraversion–intelligence correlations were generally negative, which suggested a change in the magnitude of the extraversion–intelligence relation over time. Furthermore, the estimated effect size between extraversion and intelligence for studies conducted in the year 2000 and later was ρ ˆ = - . 04 (p
WE-C-BRC-07: Image Quality QA for Three Radiotherapy Cone-Beam CT Systems

Purpose: With the increased presence of volumetric radiotherapy cone beam CT (RT‐CBCT) systems, the importance of high grade image quality is crucial to achieve daily image‐guided adaptive radiotherapy (IGART) capabilities. We subjected three commercially available RT‐CBCT systems to a battery of standard diagnostic image quality tests acquired under clinical conditions. This study reports on the evaluation of image qualities for RT‐CBCT's and a diagnostic CT.Methods and Materials: RT‐CBCT scans were performed on Elekta XVI, Nucletron Simulix, and Varian OBI Advanced Imaging using clinical pelvis scan settings on a CATPHAN Model 600. They were then compared to results from a GE Lightspeed CT scanner. The phantom contained modules allowing measurement of low contrast resolution, slice thickness, Hounsfield Unit (HU) sensitivity, spatial resolution, and image uniformity. Results: No CBCT system was able to detect any targets in the low contrast module. Six targets could be seen on diagnostic CT's. All RT‐CBCT systems had greater than 33% variations in slice thickness reconstruction. The HU sensitometry test showed absolute differences between accepted HU values and measured values for XVI and Simulix systems to be on average 6 times and 3 times the error seen in a diagnostic CT respectively. HU sensitivity for OBI is within 15% of a diagnostic CT. Both OBI and Simulix had spatial resolution twice that of XVI but were 3 lp/cm worse than a diagnostic CT. Measurements of image uniformity showed that all three RT‐CBCT systems have a standard deviation of HU values on the order of 10 times that of a diagnostic CT.Conclusions: The image qualities of three evaluated RT‐CBCT systems are relatively comparable, yet still inferior to those from helical CT. It is important to note that dosimetric settings can have a clear impact on image quality, and dose measurements were not done for this work.
Alcohol Consumption While Viewing Alcoholic Beverage Advertising

Three hypotheses related to viewing alcoholic beverage advertising were examined: (1) alcohol advertising cues drinkings, (2) alcohol advertising prompts faster drinking, and (3) drinkers are more influenced by alcohol advertising when they are drinking. Alcoholic beverage advertisements did not increase either the quantity of liquor poured in mixed drinks or the rate of drinking. However, subjects with an alcoholic predrink who viewed alcohol advertisements second, drank more and reached higher blood alcohol concentrations than alcohol predrinkers who viewed the alcohol advertisements first. In some situations, distilled spirits advertisments may encourage continued drinking.
Gemins modulate the expression and activity of the SMN complex

Reduction in the expression of the survival of motor neurons (SMN) protein results in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a common motor neuron degenerative disease. SMN is part of a large macromolecular complex (the SMN complex) that includes at least six additional proteins called Gemins (Gemin2-7). The SMN complex is expressed in all cells and is present throughout the cytoplasm and in the nucleus where it is concentrated in Gems. The SMN complex plays an essential role in the production of spliceosomal small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs) and likely other RNPs. To study the roles of the individual proteins, we systematically reduced the expression of SMN and each of the Gemins (2-6) by RNA interference. We show that the reduction of SMN leads to a decrease in snRNP assembly, the disappearance of Gems, and to a drastic reduction in the amounts of several Gemins. Moreover, reduction of Gemin2 or Gemin6 strongly decreases the activity of the SMN complex. These findings demonstrate that other components of the SMN complex, in addition to SMN, are critical for the activity of the complex and suggest that Gemin2 and Gemin6 are potentially important modifiers of SMA as well as potential disease genes for non-SMN motor neuron diseases.
Design and optimization of a novel hybrid transverse / longitudinal flux, wound-field linear machine for ocean wave energy conversion

This paper develops an analytical model for a novel double-sided hybrid transverse / longitudinal flux linear machine for use in ocean wave energy converter (WEC) applications. While several machine topologies exist for direct-drive power take-off in buoy-type WECs, the intent of this paper is to introduce a new type of linear machine for possible use as a direct-drive in future WECs. The topology considered consists of a short primary (stator) and a long secondary (translator). The translator is sandwiched between two stators that carry flux in the longitudinal direction, while the translator carries flux in the transverse direction. Operating conditions for WECs require low speeds, yielding machine characteristics such as a large number of coil turns, high inductance, and high force density. Finite element analysis (FEA) is used to optimize and validate analytical results as well as calculate leakage and magnetizing inductance.
Tunable Preemption Controls for a Cellular Emergency Network

In this paper we introduce the preemption threshold based strategy to cellular networks for supporting emergency traffic. With the new strategy, in addition to providing immediate access for emergency traffic, a certain amount of resources can be protected for public traffic by tuning the preemption threshold. Also, with the assumption that preempted users will restart the session after resumption, we find that a conservation law holds for the average duration of calls that succeed or fail to finish. Numerical results about the evaluation of this strategy are presented and show an obvious improvement over related strategies.
Principles of Cell/Tissue Injury

The viability of a cell is dependent on its ability to produce energy, to manufacture essential proteins, to maintain its structural integrity and, in most cases, to replicate. Interference with any of these functions can affect the entire cell and may be reflected by structural, biochemical, or molecular changes within the cell which may ultimately be expressed as clinical signs and symptoms of “disease”. “Health”, therefore, depends on the ability of cells to maintain structural and functional stability (a steady state) in the face of a constantly changing microenvironment, a process termed homeostasis.
Crucial elements that maintain the interactions between the regulatory TnaC peptide and the ribosome exit tunnel responsible for Trp inhibition of ribosome function

Translation of the TnaC nascent peptide inhibits ribosomal activity in the presence of l-tryptophan, inducing expression of the tnaCAB operon in Escherichia coli. Using chemical methylation, this work reveals how interactions between TnaC and the ribosome are affected by mutations in both molecules. The presence of the TnaC-tRNAPro peptidyl-tRNA within the ribosome protects the 23S rRNA nucleotide U2609 against chemical methylation. Such protection was not observed in mutant ribosomes containing changes in 23S rRNA nucleotides of the A748–A752 region. Nucleotides A752 and U2609 establish a base-pair interaction. Most replacements of either A752 or U2609 affected Trp induction of a TnaC-regulated LacZ reporter. However, the single change A752G, or the dual replacements A752G and U2609C, maintained Trp induction. Replacements at the conserved TnaC residues W12 and D16 also abolished the protection of U2609 by TnaC-tRNAPro against chemical methylation. These data indicate that the TnaC nascent peptide in the ribosome exit tunnel interacts with the U2609 nucleotide when the ribosome is Trp responsive. This interaction is affected by mutational changes in exit tunnel nucleotides of 23S rRNA, as well as in conserved TnaC residues, suggesting that they affect the structure of the exit tunnel and/or the nascent peptide configuration in the tunnel.
Load Sharing In Hierarchical Distributed. Systems

Load sharing has been the focus of a great deal of research as a means of enhancing the performance of distributed systems. In this paper we evaluate the potential benefits of load sharing in hierarchical distibuted systems. A hierarchical system consists of sub-systems, each of which is a distributed system in its own right. Our goal is to determine the level(s) at which load sharing may be exercised to improve the system performance at minimum overhead. Our simulation results indicate that most of the potential benefits can be achieved by employing load sharing locally. The additional benefit gained from global load sharing is minimal and does not justify the cost associated with it.
On the maximum entropy method for interval covariance sequences

Given an interval covariance sequence, the existence of a maximum-entropy spectral estimate is considered. It is shown that a maximum-entropy spectral estimate does exist, and moreover, it is unique. >
Quantitative analysis of small molecules by desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry from polytetrafluoroethylene surfaces

Desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (DESI-MS) is an emerging technique for ambient analysis. However, its application to routine quantitation has not been explored extensively and this is undertaken here. We present studies that utilize a particularly suitable surface, porous polytetrafluoroethylene (porous PTFE), which shows less cross contamination between samples and improved sensitivity and signal stability compared to other surfaces. Quantitative experiments for 1 microL spotted solutions of the beta-blocker propranolol, using isotopically labeled propranolol as internal standard, showed a good linear correlation (r2 > 0.996) over the range 0.01-100 microM. The inter-day precision, based on the relative standard deviation, for replicates analyzed on three different days was 13% for 0.01 microM and better than 7% for the remainder of the calibration points. The inter-day accuracy, expressed as relative error, was better than +/-7% for all calibration points along the curve. These day-to-day measurements suggest that DESI-MS can be successfully employed for routine quantitative analysis. The use of the analog atenolol as an internal standard and further considerations that should improve quantitation by DESI-MS are also presented.
Comparative Genomic Analyses of the Bacterial Phosphotransferase System

We report analyses of 202 fully sequenced genomes for homologues of known protein constituents of the bacterial phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system (PTS). These included 174 bacterial, 19 archaeal, and 9 eukaryotic genomes. Homologues of PTS proteins were not identified in archaea or eukaryotes, showing that the horizontal transfer of genes encoding PTS proteins has not occurred between the three domains of life. Of the 174 bacterial genomes (136 bacterial species) analyzed, 30 diverse species have no PTS homologues, and 29 species have cytoplasmic PTS phosphoryl transfer protein homologues but lack recognizable PTS permeases. These soluble homologues presumably function in regulation. The remaining 77 species possess all PTS proteins required for the transport and phosphorylation of at least one sugar via the PTS. Up to 3.2% of the genes in a bacterium encode PTS proteins. These homologues were analyzed for family association, range of protein types, domain organization, and organismal distribution. Different strains of a single bacterial species often possess strikingly different complements of PTS proteins. Types of PTS protein domain fusions were analyzed, showing that certain types of domain fusions are common, while others are rare or prohibited. Select PTS proteins were analyzed from different phylogenetic standpoints, showing that PTS protein phylogeny often differs from organismal phylogeny. The results document the frequent gain and loss of PTS protein-encoding genes and suggest that the lateral transfer of these genes within the bacterial domain has played an important role in bacterial evolution. Our studies provide insight into the development of complex multicomponent enzyme systems and lead to predictions regarding the types of protein-protein interactions that promote efficient PTS-mediated phosphoryl transfer.
Complete Rations for Dairy Cattle. V. Interaction of Sugarcane Bagasse Quantity and Form with Soybean Meal, Urea, and Starea

Abstract Sugarcane bagasse quantities (30 and 40%), form of bagasse pellet (bagasse pelleted right after processing or after ensiling), and soybean meal, urea, and Starea as sources of protein in complete rations were studied in a factorialized, incomplete block design with 36 lactating cows fed different rations in each of three 4-wk periods. Rations had crude protein of 12.1 to 13.9% (6.71% gross metabolizable protein) and crude fiber of 13.2 or 16%. Feed intake was lower for regular than for fermented bagasse pellets and for urea than for soybean meal and Starea rations. Milk fat percents were higher for 40% than for 30% bagasse rations which resulted in greater solids-corrected milk yields. Soybean meal and Starea rations effected lower milk fat percents than urea rations. Milk protein yield was similar for soybean meal and Starea and higher than urea. Weight gains were greater with rations containing fermented pellets and less for urea. Rumen ammonia was higher for all rations at 1 h after feeding than 2 h. Rumen ammonia was similar for urea and Starea but higher than soybean meal at 1 h and 2 h. Rumen pH, molar proportions of acetate, and acetate propionate ratios were higher and propionate lower for urea than for soybean meal and Starea.
CD8 T cell mediated immunity to neurotropic MHV infection.

Neurological disease induced by neurotropic coronaviruses has received considerable attention not only as a model for virus induced demyelination, but also of immune regulation and viral persistence within the central nervous system (CNS). The neurotropic JHM strain (JHMV) of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) produces an acute CNS infection characterized by encephalomyelitis and demyelination. Several strains and variants have been derived from the lethal, parental JHMV to better study the demyelinating process as a subacute disease resembling the human CNS disease, Multiple Sclerosis. A concise overview of historical aspects, derivation of neurotropic Coronavirus strains and variants, together with types of neurological disease and immune responses associated with these viruses is provided in the previous volume of this series (Perlman, 1998) and in several other recent reviews (Houtman and Fleming 1996, Lane and Buchmeier 1997, Stohlman et al 1999). Advances in molecular immunology techniques, combined with the use of selective exclusion of immune components, either using antibody (Ab) mediated depletion or genetic disruption, has resulted in significant progress in dissecting the interactions between virus, CNS cells, and immune responses and their role in demyelination. This chapter therefore focuses on advances of the past 3-4 years in elucidating interactions between CNS infection and immune responses leading to persistence. As MHV variants differ vastly in tropism, spread, clinical symptoms and mortality, this review focuses largely on a murine model of infection using the neuroattenuated 2.2v-l variant of JHMV (Fleming et al 1986). This mAb selected variant establishes a persistent infection associated with extensive, subacute, ongoing CNS demyelination in the absence of infectious virus. During acute infection this virus replicates primarily in microglia, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. Although the immune response of immunocompetent hosts generally eliminates infectious virus within 14 days post infection (p.i.), survivors remain persistently infected as evidenced by the detection of viral RNA (vRNA). Despite suffering from varying degrees of encephalitis and paralysis during acute infection, mice generally recover from clinical symptoms and remain asymptomatic during viral CNS persistence.
Long-Term Changes in the Avifauna of Barro Colorado Island, Panama, a Tropical Forest Isolate

Since its isolation from the mainland more than 85 years ago, 65 bird species have disappeared from Barro Colorado Island, Panama. Because of these extinctions the island is often used as a model for the study of faunal relaxation, or loss of species through time. The most recent survey of the island’s bird community was completed in 1970. Between June 1994 and May 1996 I surveyed the island and observed 218 species, including 5 species never before recorded. Three relatively sedentary species have experienced severe population declines since Willis’s 1970 survey and may be on the brink of disappearing from the island. Willis estimated 500 Slate-colored Grosbeaks (Pitylus grossus), whereas I found only two pairs of this conspicuous midstory-dwelling finch. Two cotingas—Speckled Mourner (Laniocera rufescens) and Rufous Piha (Lipaugus unirufus)—have declined by 85–95%. I did not locate any individuals of 36 other species that were present during the 1970s. Most (21) of these are uncommon aquatic or nocturnal species, which I may have missed during my surveys, or are rare to uncommon edge species that probably move frequently to and from the island. Seven species, however, are primarily inhabitants of second-growth forest and have been lost probably because of continuing successional maturation of the forest, including changes in land use around the laboratory clearing. Seven forest-dwelling species disappeared during the 1970s and have not recolonized. I detected only one sedentary forest-dwelling species, Great Currasow (Crax rubra), that previously had been reported as missing from the island. The nearly complete lack of recolonizations by such forest-interior species suggests that local extinction from tropical forest isolates may be extremely persistent. Tropical forest reserves as small as Barro Colorado Island (1600 ha) may not preserve high levels of regional avian diversity over long periods of time.
Measurement of free cupric ion concentration in seawater by a ligand competition technique involving copper sorption onto C18 SEP-PAK cartridges1

Knowledge of ion speciation and free ion concentrations is important in predicting the biological availability and geochemical behavior of trace metals. Here we describe a new technique for measuring free cupric ion concentration in seawater based on sorption of copper onto SEP-PAK C,, cartridges and internal free cupric ion calibration. Calibration was achieved by adding cupric ion buffers, consisting of copper and excess concentrations of synthetic chelator, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). EDTA competes with natural organic ligands for copper complexation, but its copper chelate is not retained by the C,, cartridges. This latter property allows EDTA to bc used for free cupric ion calibration. Titrations in seawater utilizing the new technique revealed that copper was highly complexed. Fret cupric ion concentrations in three samples of seawater from lower Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, and one from off the coast of Peru were measured to be 10-12.3, 10 -120, 10 12.L, and 1O-“.5 M at total dissolved copper concentrations of 26.7, 16.5, 19.4, and 3.7 nM. From these values and from computed and experimental values for inorganic complexation, we compute that only 0.03-2% of the dissolved copper can be accounted for as inorganic species (Cu2+, CuCO,, CuOH’, etc.). The remainder, 99.97-98%, appears to bc organically complexed. These results are in general agreement with several other recent studies, using several techniques, of copper complexation in seawater.
Optical Detection of Bent Pins in a High-Density Array

This paper describes a prototype system being developed for the detection of bent pins on a high density integrated circuit module. It is a noncontact approach that relies on the detection of the specific optical diffraction patterns that result when laser light shines on a bent pin. As the module pins are passed through a fixed laser beam, the diffraction patterns are captured by an area optical array which is continuously scanned by a dedicated processor. If a bent pin is detected and the motion of the pin array is known, the approximate location of the bent pin can be determined by triangulation based on multiple passes. Information revealing the angle of bend in the scanning plane is imbedded in the diffraction pattern.
Embarking on multimodal interface design

Designers are increasingly faced with the challenge of targeting multimodal applications, those that span heterogeneous devices and use multimodal input, but do not have tools to support them. We studied the early stage work practices of professional multimodal interaction designers. We noted the variety of different artifacts produced, such as design sketches and paper prototypes. Additionally, we observed Wizard of Oz techniques that are sometimes used to simulate an interactive application from these sketches. These studies have led to our development of a technique for interface designers to consider as they embark on creating multimodal applications.
Prenatal ultrasonographic diagnosis of a simple umbilical hernia.

Umbilical hernia is one of the most common abnormalities seen in the first few months of life. The reported prevalence varies according to the age and race of the children examined. The defect appears to be significantly more common in African-American infants, with one study reporting a prevalence of 25% in black children compared with 3% in white neonates.1 The condition also is found more frequently in premature infants, occurring in 75% of those weighing less than 1500 g.2 Umbilical hernia consists of a protrusion of bowel and sometimes omentum though a defect in the linea alba. Rarely, bowel protrudes into the umbilical cord.3,4 Although some reports of the prenatal diagnosis of this complicated form of umbilical hernia have been published,5,6 the more common, benign form of umbilical hernia has not been described. We present a case in which a large bulge in a skincovered fetal abdominal wall led to the prenatal diagnosis of a simple umbilical hernia. CASE REPORT
Development of the Nucleosome Model for Chromatin Structure

A eukaryotic chromosome made out of self-assembling 70A units, which could perhaps be made to crystallize, would necessitate rewriting our basic textbooks on cytology and genetics! I have never read such a naive paper purporting to be of such fundamental significance. Definitely it should not be published anywhere! —Anonymous review of paper submitted by D.F.L. Woodcock, 1973.
Light intensity and drought stress as predisposition factors for dogwood anthracnose

Abstract Light and drought stress were studied as predisposition factors for dogwood anthracnose. Disease progression was recorded as a percentage of leaves with lesions in two-year-old potted dogwood trees (Cornus florida L.) that had been inoculated with dogwood anthracnose (Discula destructiva Redlin sp. nov.) and subjected to four light (100%, 50%, 10% and 2% ambient light) and two drought treatments. Natural vs.artificial inoculation methods were compared and found to have similar effects on disease severity. Shade increased disease severity; maximum disease progression values for trees in thoroughly watered treatments were about 5% at 100% light and 50% light, 35% at 10% light, and 26% at 2% light. Drought increased disease severity on all shaded trees, where disease progression increased 625% in 50% light, 43% in 10% light and 31% in 2% light, compared to 100% light. Drought had no effect on disease severity of unshaded trees.
Radical surgery in the management of clear cell adenocarcinoma of the cervix and vagina in young women

Abstract The treatment of clear cell adenocarcinoma of the cervix and vagina in young women has varied widely from one institution to another. Since 1968, 16 such patients have been treated primarily with radical surgery at the University of California, San Francisco. The operations have ranged from radical hysterectomy and bilateral pelvic lymph node dissection with preservation of the ovaries to total pelvic exenteration, depending upon the location and extent of the disease. Vaginal reconsfruction has been carried out in most of the patients who required vaginectomy. Eleven of the 16 patients are living and well. The remaining five have died of disease, two of them after relatively long disease-free intervals.
Nutritional folate status influences the efficacy and toxicity of chemotherapy in rats.

The effect of folate status on the efficacy and toxicity of chemotherapy was investigated in weanling Fischer 344 rats maintained on diets of varying folate content or supplemented with daily injections of folic acid, 50 mg/kg, for 6 to 7 weeks. MADB106 rat mammary tumor growth rate was the same in folate replete and supplemented rats, but retarded in the low folate groups. The tumor growth inhibitions in low folate, replete and high folate rats treated with cyclophosphamide were: 53%, 98%, and 97% ( P = .048); with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU): 46%, 49%, and 66%; and with doxorubicin: 25%, 55%, and 61%. Significant differences in survival were observed for cyclophosphamide ( P = .0084) and 5-FU ( P = .025) related to dietary folate content. Thus, folate deficiency impedes tumor growth rate, but supplementation does not accelerate it in folate replete animals. Correction of folate deficiency approximately doubles the efficacy of cyclophosphamide in rats with much less host toxicity. Folate repletion improves survival in 5-FU–treated animals. These studies indicate that nutritional folate status has an important influence on the efficacy and toxicity of some commonly used cancer chemotherapeutic drugs.
Expression profile and overexpression outcome indicate a role for βKlotho in skeletal muscle fibro/adipogenesis

Regeneration of skeletal muscles is required throughout life to ensure optimal performance. Therefore, a better understanding of the resident cells involved in muscle repair is essential. Muscle repair relies on satellite cells (SCs), the resident myogenic progenitors, but also involves the contribution of interstitial cells including fibro/adipocyte progenitors (FAPs). To elucidate the role of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling in these two cell populations, we previously analyzed freshly isolated cells for their FGF receptor (FGFR) signature. Transcript analysis of the four Fgfr genes revealed distinct expression profiles for SCs and FAPs, raising the possibility that these two cell types have different FGF-mediated processes. Here, we pursued this hypothesis exploring the role of the Klotho genes, whose products are known to function as FGFR co-receptors for the endocrine FGF subfamily. Isolated SC and FAP populations were analyzed in culture, exhibiting spontaneous myogenic or adipogenic differentiation, respectively. αKlotho expression was not detected in either population. βKlotho expression, while not detected in SCs, was strongly upregulated in FAPs entering adipogenic differentiation, coinciding with expression of a panel of adipogenic genes and preceding the appearance of intracellular lipid droplets. Overexpression of βKlotho in mouse cell line models enhanced adipogenesis in NIH3T3 fibroblasts but had no effect on C2C12 myogenic cells. Our study supports a pro-adipogenic role for βKlotho in skeletal muscle fibro/adipogenesis and calls for further research on involvement of the FGF-FGFR-βKlotho axis in the fibro/adipogenic infiltration associated with functional deterioration of skeletal muscle in aging and muscular dystrophy.
Food deprivation- and palatability-induced microstructural changes in ingestive behavior

The effects of 17 h food deprivation and stimulation by five concentrations (0.05-0.8 M) of sucrose solutions on the licking behavior of rats were investigated. Food deprivation increased the intake of the three lowest concentrations (0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 M) but had no effect on the volume ingested of the two highest concentrations (0.4 and 0.8 M). Food deprivation had no significant effect on the duration of the meals of any of the sucrose solutions; rather it affected the rate of ingestion. In those cases where food deprivation did affect volume intake, it did so by increasing the initial rate of ingestion. Although food deprivation had no effect on the volume ingested of the two strongest concentrations of sucrose, it nevertheless affected the ingestive behavior by increasing the duration of the sustained periods of bursts of licking and decreasing their number. Deprivation also significantly decreased the rate of licking within these sustained bouts of licking. The results indicate that food deprivation can affect the ingestive behavior of rats in ways that are not revealed by measuring volumetric intake alone. The data also support the view that food deprivation increases the palatability of the test solutions.
Understanding abdominal compartment syndrome.

Learn to recognize intra-abdominal hypertension early to avoid this potentially devastating complication.
Financial Terms of Sale and Control of Marketing Channel Conflict

As interest rates increase, financial terms of sale become a more important source of funds for customers and a more expensive cost for suppliers. As each party seeks to satisfy self-interest, chan...