cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Glucose starvation inhibits autophagy via vacuolar hydrolysis and induces plasma membrane internalization by down regulating recycling

Cellular energy influences all aspects of cellular function. Although cells can adapt to a gradual reduction in energy, acute energy depletion poses a unique challenge. Because acute depletion hampers the transport of new energy sources into the cell, the cell must use endogenous substrates to replenish energy after acute depletion. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, glucose starvation causes an acute depletion of intracellular energy that recovers during continued glucose starvation. However, how the cell replenishes energy during the early phase of glucose starvation is unknown. In this study, we investigated the role of pathways that deliver proteins and lipids to the vacuole during glucose starvation. We report that in response to glucose starvation, plasma membrane proteins are directed to the vacuole through reduced recycling at the endosomes. Furthermore, we found that vacuolar hydrolysis inhibits macroautophagy in a target of rapamycin complex 1-dependent manner. Accordingly, we found that endocytosis and hydrolysis are required for survival in glucose starvation, whereas macroautophagy is dispensable. Together, these results suggest that hydrolysis of components delivered to the vacuole independent of autophagy is the cell survival mechanism used by S. cerevisiae in response to glucose starvation.
Peanut Response to Prohexadione Calcium in Three Seeding Rate–Row Pattern Planting Systems

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in the USA is generally grown in single rows spaced 91 to 102 cm apart. Research suggests that pod yield can be increased by growing peanut in twin rows (18-23 cm spacing) on beds spaced 91 to 102 cm apart. Prohexadione Ca (Ca salt of 3,5-dioxo-4-propionylcyclohexanecarboxylic acid) increases row visibility and in some instances increases pod yield and improves market grade factors. Research was conducted to determine response of peanut grown in three seeding rate-row pattern planting systems (single rows at a seeding rate of 120 kg ha -1 or twin rows spaced 18 cm apart on beds spaced 91 cm apart at seeding rates of 145 and 190 kg ha -1 ) to prohexadione Ca applied at 50% row closure. Row visibility increased and main stem height was shorter at the end of the season when prohexadione Ca was applied in most environments and for most seeding rate-row pattern combinations when compared with nontreated peanut. Pod yield and gross economic value increased 160 kg ha -1 and $96 ha -1 , respectively, when prohexadione Ca was applied irrespective of the seeding rate-row pattern combination or environment. Prohexadione Ca also increased the percentage of extra large kernels (% ELK) but did not affect percentages of sound mature kernels (SMK), other kernels (OK), sound splits (SS), or total sound mature kernels (TSMK). Seeding rate-row pattern combination affected pod yield, market grade, and gross economic value although a consistent trend was not apparent.
Automated Atomicscale Construction

An automation scheme for atom/molecule manipulations with the scanning tunneling microscope tip is developed. The program recognizes the type of particles to be manipulated such as atoms, molecules, or nanoparticles based on their sizes and shapes. It also determines the obstacles to be avoided during manipulation such as defects, steps, and clusters. The shortest manipulation paths are then computed by the program and finally, the manipulations are performed according to the computed paths. This method allows automated construction of nanostructures using single atoms or molecules as basic building blocks.
Biopsy of the Superficial Cortex: Predictors of Effectiveness and Outcomes

Brain biopsy of the superficial cortex is a commonly performed procedure for the diagnosis of neurological illness. However, the decision to pursue an open brain biopsy is not always straightforward. One patient may present with a neurological deficit and a corresponding lesion on brain magnetic resonance image (MRI). Intuitively, biopsy of this lesion would likely produce a successful diagnosis to affect management. Meanwhile, biopsy of a patient with neurological deterioration such as cognitive decline and no specific lesion on imaging may have lower diagnostic yield. Numerousstudies have evaluated the use of both stereotactic and frameless brain biopsies for malignancy and human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV)–related diseases.1-4 In patients with discrete intracranial lesions, stereotactic needle biopsies have a reported pathology diagnostic yield of 91.7%.4 Frameless needle biopsy techniques boast similar diagnostic yields.3 Complication rates for stereotactic needle biopsies vary from 0 to 10%.1,5-12 Complications have been associated with hypertension, HIV, biopsy of the pineal region, and thrombocytopenia.5,7,10,13,14 In contrast, the utility of brain biopsies in patients with worsening neurological conditions without focal imaging findings remains unclear. Open brain biopsies for dementia and neurological decline produce nondiagnostic pathology including normal tissue and nonspecific changes in 5% to 71% of cases.15-20 Normal brain tissue is seen in 1% to 45% of biopsy specimens.15-18 Previous reports show that brain biopsies for cognitive decline affects management in 8% to 12% of patients.17,20 Complication rates vary from 2% to 14%.18 This report details the retrospective analysis of our institution's experiences with brain biopsy of the superficial cortex to develop predictors of diagnostic pathology affecting clinical management, outcomes, morbidities, and mortalities. We specifically studied biopsies of the cortical surface (both lesional and nonlesional) rather than needle biopsies. Through this analysis, we developed models that may help estimate the effectiveness and outcomes for patients being evaluated for possible brain biopsy.
Hemodynamics of Large and Small Vessels in Peripheral Vascular Disease

To evaluate the hemodynamics of large and small vessels in patients with complete arterial occlusion and patients with vasospasm, digital flow, digital pulse contour, small-vessel resistance, flow-to-pulse ratio, large-vessel pressure drop, pulse velocity, and distensibility were compared to values found in normal subjects. [see figure in the PDF file] In the normal subject following orally administered alcohol, small-vessel resistance decreased but large-artery pressure drop, pulse velocity, and distensibility of the capacity vessels were not altered significantly. In arterial occlusive disease, small-vessel resistance was essentially normal in the absence of small-vessel occlusion; a high large-artery pressure drop, rounded pulse contour, and decreased pulse amplitude were observed. These are interpreted as being due to the damping effect of the narrowed, elongated collateral flow pathway that develops around the site of the occlusion. Pulse velocity also was decreased whereas flow-to-pulse ratio was in...
Secretion of Proinsulin C-Peptide by Pancreatic β Cells and its Circulation in Blood

BIOSYNTHETIC studies with human islet cell tumours1,2, rat2,3 and codfish4 islets, and foetal calf pancreas5 have shown that insulin is formed from proinsulin, a single-chain polypeptide precursor. This protein has subsequently been purified from commercial preparations of crystalline insulin6, and the amino-acid sequences of porcine7 and bovine8 proinsulin have been determined. The molecule begins at the N-terminus with the B-chain sequence of insulin, terminates with the insulin A-chain and bears a connecting segment of thirty (bovine) or thirty-three (porcine) amino-acids linking the two chains. Although 30 per cent of the amino-acid sequences of these connecting segments differ, identical pairs of basic amino-acids occur at each end in both species. Limited tryptic digestion in each case liberates desalanyl–insulin, alanyl–arginine, free arginine and the remainder of the connecting segment as an intact peptide6,7.
End-to-End Network Reliability Modeling of Enterprise VoIP Services

Practical reliability models are developed to support the engineering of carrier-class networks that provide VoIP service to enterprise customers. The focus is on end-to-end measures of service reliability. The paper first describes the typical architecture of large-scale carrier-class VoIP networks, the message flows that exist therein, and use case variations that arise in practice. Reliability measures of interest are then defined and models are developed in terms of the call flows and element reliabilities. The failover and repair mechanisms that may be employed in the various protocol layers are also surveyed. An example analysis illustrates the modeling of a particular use case. The developed models provide a convenient practical means to estimate end-to-end VoIP service reliability prior to field trials or network deployments. Such proactive modeling is an important step in the planning and engineering of new VolP networks.
Nephrology Crossword: Dyskalemias

Varun Agrawal, Alan Segal and Kenar D. Jhaveri Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Fletcher Allen Health Care, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont, USA and Division of Kidney Diseases and Hypertension, Hofstra Medical School, North Shore LIJ Health System, Great Neck, New York, USA Correspondence: Kenar D. Jhaveri, Division of Kidney Diseases and Hypertension, Hofstra Medical School, North Shore LIJ Health System, Great Neck, New York 11021, USA. E-mail: kdj200@gmail.com
Science Signaling Podcast: 30 September 2014

This Podcast features an interview with Amnon Altman, senior author of a Research Article that appears in the 30 September 2014 issue of Science Signaling , about how the guanine nucleotide exchange factor SLAT promotes calcium signaling in T cells. Binding of antigen to the T cell receptor leads to production of the second messenger IP 3 , which binds to IP 3 receptor 1 (IP 3 R1) to stimulate calcium release from the endoplasmic reticulum. This initial release of calcium causes calcium channels at the plasma membrane to open, resulting in a sustained rise in intracellular calcium that triggers T cell activation. Fos et al . report that the guanine nucleotide exchange factor SLAT bound to IP 3 R1 to promote calcium release from the endoplasmic reticulum. Blocking the interaction between SLAT and IP 3 R1 with a peptide inhibited T cell activation. Drugs that block this interaction might be useful for reducing T cell activation in patients with diseases of autoimmunity or inflammation.
Role of Intravenous Immunoglobulin in Prevention of Late-Onset Infection in Low-Birth-Weight Neonates

As a result of inadequate placental transport of maternal IgG, preterm neonates of less than 32 weeks' gestation, especially those with birth weights less than 1,500 g, are profoundly hypogammaglobulinemic at birth, a condition that worsens during the first several weeks of life. This hypogammaglobulinemia is believed to contribute to their high frequency of late-onset sepsis, with its accompanying morbidity and mortality. Animal studies suggest that human immunoglobulin prepared for intravenous use (IVIG) improves host defense against pathogens that cause neonatal infections, but studies of IVIG in human neonates have been inconclusive because of the small numbers of infants included, lack of suitable controls, use of clinical rather than strict microbiologic definition of sepsis, and performance only in a single hospital outside the United States. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled multicenter trial in the United States is in progress to determine the efficacy of IVIG in the prevention of late-onset infections in infants with birth weights between 500 and 1,750 g. Infants are infused with 500 mg of IVIG/kg or albumin-saline placebo at 3-7 days of age, 7 days later, and every 14 days for five doses. Efficacy parameters include mortality, number of proved infectious episodes (bacterial, fungal, or viral), and infection-related morbidity. Definitive guidelines for the possible use of prophylactic IVIG in low-birth-weight neonates should result from this evaluation of 500 to 700 infants in the United States.
PRENATAL ULTRASOUND FINDINGS IN HYDROLETHALUS: CONTINUING DIFFICULTIES IN DIAGNOSIS

We present the prenatal ultrasound findings in a case of hydrolethalus. This case illustrates ongoing problems in differentiating hydrolethalus, both pre- and postnatally, from other midline malformation syndromes including Pallister-Hall, Smith-Lemli-Opitz, pseudo-trisomy 13, oral facial-digital syndrome, and Meckel syndrome. Hydrolethalus can also be difficult to distinguish from certain skeletal dysplasias such as the short rib-polydactyly syndromes and campomelic dysplasia. Tests which can aid in diagnosis are presented.
Breaking America's Dependence on Imported Molybdenum

Approximately 9 million nuclear cardiology studies performed each year in the U.S. use technetium-99m, which is produced from the decay of molybdenum-99. The fragility of the worldwide technetium-99m supply chain has been underscored by current shortages caused by an unplanned shutdown of Europe's largest reactor. The majority of the U.S. supply derives from a reactor in Canada that is nearing the end of its lifespan and whose planned replacements have been cancelled recently. In this article, the clinical importance of technetium-99m and our tenuous dependence on the foreign supply of molybdenum are addressed, along with potential measures that may be taken to ensure that America's supply chain remains unbroken.
Lateral variations in mylonite zone thickness as influenced by fluid-rock interactions, Linville Falls fault, North Carolina

Abstract Over a distance of approximately 20 km, along strike, the Linville Falls mylonite varies in thickness from 1 m at Linville Falls to >60 m at Banner Elk. Along strike, pressure, temperature and displacement variations are minimized, allowing this study to focus on the influences of fluid behavior and protolith mineralogy on fault zone development. The protolith at Linville Falls contains mainly K-feldspar, perthite and quartz, while at Banner Elk the protolith contains plagioclase and quartz. At Linville Falls, quartz deformed by dynamic recrystallization, feldspar by intragranular fracturing and alteration to quartz and mica, and mica by sliding along cleavage planes. Modal mineralogies change from the protolith to the mylonite with quartz decreasing from 39 to 19% and feldspar from 59 to 1.5%; muscovite increases from Mass-balance calculations, based on major- and trace-element geochemistry, indicate approximately 75% volume loss at Linville Falls and 20% at Banner Elk. Fluid-rock ratios estimated from the calculated depletions of Si are an order of magnitude higher at Linville Falls than at Banner Elk. Fluids infiltrated the fault zone over a thicker zone at Banner Elk than at Linville Falls because the plagioclase altered more readily than K-feldspar, creating new pathways for fluids. Fluids migrated preferentially through channels along the fault zone, creating a three-dimensional network of higher fluid flow.
Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration from cotyledons of walnut, Juglans regia L.

Abstract Immature cotyledons of open-pollinated seeds from five walnut (Juglans regia L.) cultivars were excised from fruits at 6–11 weeks after full pistillate bloom and grown on a sequence of media to induce somatic embryogenesis. Globular, heart, cotyledonary and complete somatic embryos were obtained. Embryogenic cultures were maintained for more than a year by repetitive embryogenesis in which the roots, cotyledons and hypocotyls of somatic embryos formed additional adventive somatic embryos. Mature somatic embryos required a cold treatment of 8–10 weeks at 2–4°C to overcome apical dormancy. Selected plantlets derived from these somatic embryos were grown to young plants in soil. In addition, somatic embryogenesis was induced in J. hindsii (Jeps.), Jeps., and in Pterocarya sp., another member of the Juglandaceae.
Use of Arabidopsis recombinant inbred lines reveals a monogenic and a novel digenic resistance mechanism to Xanthomonas campestris pv campestris

Summary Infiltration of the Arabidopsis thaliana accession Landsberg erecta (Ler) with Xanthomonas campestris pv campestris isolate 2D520 results in extensive necrosis and limited chlorosis within 5-6 days post-inoculation (d.p.i.}, which can lead to systemic necrosis within 23 d.p.i. In contrast, the accession Columbia (Col) remains asymptomatic after infiltration. Although both accessions support bacterial growth, 5-28-fold more bacteria are present in Let than in Col leaf tissue. Inheritance studies indicate that three independent, dominant or partially dominant, nuclear genes condition resistance to X. c. campestris 2D520. The major gene, termed RXC2, conditions monogenic resistance to X. c. campestris and was mapped to a 5.5 cM interval of chromosome V. Segregation data indicate that the locus RXC3 in conjunction with RXC4 confers digenic resistance to X. c. campestris. The combined action of RXC3 and RXC4 is correlated with a suppression of in planta bacterial levels and a suppression of symptoms relative to Ler. The RXC3 + RXC4-mediated resistance is novel in that although the Col allele of RXC4 contributes positively to resistance, it is the Ler and not the Col allele of RXC3 that contributes positively to resistance. RXC3 was mapped to the bottom arm of chromosome V in a 2.7 cM interval within the major recognition gene complex MRC-J, a cluster of genes involved in disease resistance. RXC4 was mapped to a 12 cM interval on chromosome II that also contains RXCl, a gene conferring tolerance to X. c. campestris.
Microfluidic Device for Synthesis of Lipid Bi-Layers

Lipid bi-layers are ubiquitous components of biological cells — and are found in variety of cell components ranging from cell membranes to membranes of organelles inside the cells. In biological membranes, lipid bi-layer membranes carry membrane proteins, which serve as single channel nanopores that are used to study transport of proteins and characterize the properties of proteins. However, lipid bi-layers have very short half lives, which are usually less than an hour. The lipid bi-layers are usually obtained by physico-chemical interactions between a lipid containing organic solvent, an aqueous buffer solution and a hydrophobic surface. We have developed a continuous flow through microfluidic device using pressure driven flow (by means of a tandem syringe pump system) for synthesis of lipid bi-layers. The microfluidic device consists of two glass substrates with micro-channels and microchambers microfabricated using photolithography and wet glass etching. The microchannels in each substrate is in the form of “+” shape and form a mirror image of each other. A Teflon sheet (∼200 microns thickness) is sandwiched between the glass substrates with a ∼200 microns diameter hole etched in the center to communicate with the two sets of microchannels. A lipid solution in an organic solvent (Pentane) and KCl buffer solution are alternately flown through the legs of the microchannel. The conductivity of the buffer is monitored using a current amplifier. The formation of the lipid bi-layer is confirmed by monitoring the resistivity and the impedance to high frequency electrical oscillations. The flow rate in the microfluidic device is optimized to obtain the lipid bi-layer.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Literacy skills and the wages of young black and white males in the U.S.

Abstract This paper provides empirical evidence on the link between skills and wages using the 1985 Young Adult Literacy Survey. It is found that basic literacy skills have a substantial effect on wages for both Blacks on Whites in the sample.
HELPING STUDENTS TO MAKE INFERENCES ABOUT THE ATOMIC REALM BY DELAYING THE PRESENTATION OF ATOMIC STRUCTURE

The presentation in many introductory college chemistry courses jumps around in an unsystematic fashion among the domains of macroscopic observation, sub-microscopic particles, and symbolic representation, making it difficult for students to construct a coherent picture of the discipline. Such presentations usually pay little attention to the intellectual struggle that led to fundamental knowledge in chemistry. Topics like atomic and molecular structure are often introduced early in the course, even though they are far removed from direct experience, and historically were elucidated relatively late in the history of chemistry. This paper describes a freshman chemistry curriculum, in which the topic of atomic structure is delayed until the second semester. Concept development is linked to the observable behavior of matter, while the sub-microscopic and symbolic realms are introduced by engaging students in some of the detective work that established the relative atomic masses of the elements and formulas of simple compounds. In this way, students have an opportunity to become familiar with the relationships among facts, definitions, hypotheses, deductions, and predictions, which are central to the enterprise of science. A brief review of literature dealing with relevant history and educational research is included. [Chem. Educ. Res. Pract. Eur.: 2001, 2, 183-202]
Actin filament bundling by fimbrin is important for endocytosis, cytokinesis and polarization in fission yeast

Through the coordinated action of diverse actin-binding proteins, cells simultaneously assemble actin filaments with distinct architectures and dynamics to drive different processes. Actin filament cross-linking proteins organize filaments into higher order networks, although the requirement of cross-linking activity in cells has largely been assumed rather than directly tested. Fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe assembles actin into three discrete structures: endocytic actin patches, polarizing actin cables, and the cytokinetic contractile ring. The fission yeast filament cross-linker fimbrin Fim1 primarily localizes to Arp2/3 complex-nucleated branched filaments of the actin patch and by a lesser amount to bundles of linear antiparallel filaments in the contractile ring. It is unclear whether Fim1 associates with bundles of parallel filaments in actin cables. We previously discovered that a principal role of Fim1 is to control localization of tropomyosin Cdc8, thereby facilitating cofilin-mediated filament turnover. Therefore, we hypothesized that the bundling ability of Fim1 is dispensable for actin patches but is important for the contractile ring and possibly actin cables. By directly visualizing actin filament assembly using total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, we determined that Fim1 bundles filaments in both parallel and antiparallel orientations and efficiently bundles Arp2/3 complex-branched filaments in the absence but not the presence of actin capping protein. Examination of cells exclusively expressing a truncated version of Fim1 that can bind but not bundle actin filaments revealed that bundling activity of Fim1 is in fact important for all three actin structures. Therefore, fimbrin Fim1 has diverse roles as both a filament "gatekeeper" and as a filament cross-linker.
The Control of Pain in Peripheral Tissue by Opioids

Pain can be effectively diminished by various endogenous mechanisms within the central nervous system. One region where these mechanisms have been well characterized is the dorsal horn of the spina...
AI, anthropocentrism, and the evolution of ‘intelligence’

Intuitive conceptions guide practice, but practice reciprocally reshapes intuition. The intuitive conception of intelligence in AI was originally highly anthropocentric. However, the internal dynamics of AI research have resulted in a divergence from anthropocentric concerns. In particular, the increasing emphasis on commonsense knowledge and peripheral intelligence (perception and movement) in effect constitutes an incipient reorientation of intuitions about the nature of intelligence in a non-anthropocentric direction. I argue that this conceptual shift undermines Joseph Weizenbaum's claim that the project of artificial intelligence is inherently dehumanizing.
Decoupling BGP policy from routing with programmable reactive policy control

In this extended abstract, we propose an SDN-based interdomain policy control methodology. Our main focus is on ASes built entirely on SDN architecture, but we will also provide methods for integrating ASes built fully on traditional packet forwarding devices. We seek to support the three basic AS relationships traditionally supported by BGP. They are (i) customer-provider: one AS pays another to forward traffic, (ii) peer-to-peer: both ASes mutually benefit from forwarding each others' packets, and (iii) redundancy: one AS uses another as backup in case of path failure.
Transactional Engineering Analysis and Foreign Language Teaching: A Reply to Ney.

I have observed that this relationship is treated in the FL literature in two ways. One is in a forward direction, viz. from theory to practice: a theoretical development suggests a practical application in the form of an instructional technique. The other is in a backward direction, viz. from practice to theory: a particular practice in language teaching pedagogy is being justified or attacked on the basis of new theoretical developments. As it emerges from Ney's spirited analysis, it appears clear that I, along with the others he mentions, am guilty of having contributed to both directions in the treatment of this problem. Taking a fresh look at this old issue, I am emboldened to propose now a third possibility that appears to me to be superior to the other two. It involves a redefinition or rethinking of the notion of "theory" in its relation to the practice of FL teaching. In the current prevalent notion, "theory" in language pedagogy refers to the work on language and verbal behavior by linguists and psychologists. The essential weakness of the current link between this kind of "theory" and practice is that actual classroom conditions are not "controllable" in the same sense as that notion has in research in linguistics and psychology. Attempts at extrapolating laboratory developed techniques, materials, and tests to the classroom reflect the uncertainty of this enterprise, and is displayed, as we know, in the polemical character of much of the FL teaching literature. The resolution I propose avoids this essential weak ess by defining practice as instructional performance and theory as analysis of instrucional performance. By "instructional performance" I mean to refer, plainly and simply, to what's actually going on in the classroom: the teacher's performances, the performances of the pupils, and the instructional transactions between teacher and pupil. In order to determine what actual instructional transactions do occur in the classroom, or in order to assess the effects of a particular instructional strategy, it is necesary to do an analysis of instructional performances. Theory and practice are thus made to be related in a real rather than a hypothetical way, as in the current extrapolation process. It remains for me to outline the character of
General concepts in full-scale simulation : getting started

Over the past decade, medical simulation has developed to a point where it now is poised to become ubiquitous in teaching curricula. Despite this experience, there is little up-to-date information to help new instructors and operators learn the general principles of simulation. The purpose of this article is to provide prospective simulation instructors with basic concepts and a practical approach to patient simulation. The main focus is on full-scale or high fidelity simulation. The article is intended to (a) prepare instructors to use full-scale simulation to educate students; (b) teach some of the complexities and terminology of simulation; (c) prepare for and complement the curriculum of a formal instructor course; and (d) teach the basic elements required to run a successful simulation. This article should be used as an adjunct to practical experience gained from using simulation units.
Rational intuition and understanding

Rational intuitions involve a particular form of understanding that gives them a special epistemic status. This form of understanding and its epistemic efficacy are not explained by several current theories of rational intuition, including Phenomenal Conservatism (Huemer, Skepticism and the veil of perception, 2001; Ethical intuitionism, 2005; Philos Phenomenol Res 74:30–55, 2007), Proper Functionalism (Plantinga, Warrant and proper function, 1993), the Competency Theory (Bealer Pac Philos Q 81:1–30, 2000; Sosa, A virtue epistemology, 2007) and the Direct Awareness View (Conee, Philos Phenomenol Res 4:847–857, 1998; Bonjour, In defense of pure reason, 1998). Some overlook it; others try to account for it but fail. We can account for the role of understanding in rational intuition by returning to the view of some of the early Rationalists, e.g. Descartes and Leibniz. While that view carries a prohibitive cost, it does contain an insight that may help us solve the problem of giving understanding its due.
Nanoscale growth twins in sputtered metal films

This article reviews recent studies on the mechanical properties of sputtered copper and 330 stainless-steel films with {111} nanoscale growth twins preferentially oriented perpendicular to growth direction. The mechanisms of formation of growth twins during sputtering, unusually high strengths, and excellent thermal stability of nanotwinned structures are highlighted.
Effects of selected chemical treatments on quality of fats used for deep frying

Maintaining quality of fats and oils used for deep frying is important in food preparation. In this study, commercially used shortenings were treated with various adsorbents and/or additives with a view to extending their useful life. Quality parameters monitored were increases in dielectric constant, free fatty acids, color (absorbance at 420 nm) and total polar materials. Bleaching clay, charcoal, magnesium oxide and Celite, and their mixtures, effectively reduced one or more of these parameters in used vegetable and animal-vegetable shortenings. However, when the treated fats were used to fry more french fried potatoes in the laboratory, they often deteriorated more rapidly than the untreated control fats. The daily addition of 200 ppm ascorbyl palmitate to fresh, partially hydrogenated soybean oil shortening used to fry french fries retarded free fatty acid development but increased color development and dielectric constant. Treatments employed to extend the useful life of frying fats improved quality parameters, but continued frying after treatment led to greater deterioration than occurred in the untreated control samples.
Responsiveness in Parent‐Adolescent Relationships: Are Influences Conditional? Does the Reporter Matter?

This paper examines conditional and reporter effects of parental responsiveness using survey data from White 8th to 12th graders (N = 440) and their parents (N = 511). Adolescent reports of maternal and paternal responsiveness predicted higher GPAs, fewer delinquent behaviors, and less internal distress. Mothers’ and fathers’ reports of responsiveness were positively associated with adolescent responsibility. Looking within families, the more dissimilar mother and adolescent reports were, the more internal distress daughters reported. Looking across families, mothers’ responsiveness was associated with higher GPAs and fathers’ responsiveness was associated with lower substance use, but only for adolescents who reported less responsiveness than their parents and peers. The findings suggest using a single reporter to describe a relationship property is incomplete.
Estradiol inhibits growth hormone receptor gene expression in rabbit liver

We studied the ontogeny of GH receptor mRNA levels and the effect of exogenous estradiol administration on GH receptor mRNA levels in rabbit liver. A solution hybridization-RNase protection assay revealed a predominant 370-base long protected band corresponding to the mRNA encoding the transmembrane GH receptor, and a 241-base long protected band, representing about 9.0%, with the predicted size for the truncated form of the GH receptor. To study the developmental profile of GH receptor expression, we studied 12 female rabbits, at ages 1, 3, 5 and 7 months. Maximal GH receptor mRNA levels were observed in 3-month-old animals and decreased in 7-month-old animals. To investigate the effect of estradiol, 8-week-old immature female rabbits were randomly divided into five groups, and received subcutaneous pellets containing either placebo or estradiol at doses of 0.1, 0.5, 1.5 and 5.0 mg for 3 weeks. Exogenous administration of estradiol, at doses that resulted in physiological circulating levels, induced a reduction in GH receptor expression, measured both by GH binding (36 and 46%), and GH receptor mRNA levels (38 and 87%), in animals receiving pellets containing 1.5 and 5.0 mg of estradiol, respectively. We conclude that estradiol decreases GH receptor expression in rabbit liver. The results of our study suggest that there is an inverse relationship between circulating estrogen concentrations and liver GH receptor expression.
Attenuation of Waste Water Elutriated Through Glacial Outwash

Secondarily treated waste water was added to plastic columns filled with calcareous glacial outwash soil for a period of 10 weeks. More than 99 percent of the phosphorus was retained in the upper 50 centimeters of the soil, primarily due to adsorption. Ammonia, nitrite, and organic nitrogen were biologically nitrified to nitrate nitrogen. There was no measurable mercury in the column effluent, and it was present in only two samples of the waste water. About 30 percent of the cadmium was removed by ion exchange in the soil columns. Lead was not removed, probably due to the prior exhaustion of the lead exchange sites.
Anisotropy in selective metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy of CdTe on GaAs and Si substrates

CdTe epitaxial layers are grown by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE) on patterned (100) Si and (100) GaAs substrates using SiO2, Si3N4 or CaF2 masks. Selective epitaxy of CdTe can be achieved by using Si3N4 and CaF2 masks and by controlling the growth conditions during MOVPE. The selectively grown CdTe layers show strong anisotropy depending on the orientation of the window pattern on the mask, as well as on the orientation of the starting substrates. CdTe with smooth atomically flat surfaces and vertical side walls can be obtained on (100) GaAs substrates by suitably orienting the window pattern directions and optimizing the growth conditions. For the growth conditions that are suitable for the selective growth, the growth is mass-transfer limited. The lateral growth rate depends on the ratio of the window width to the mask width. Use of CaF2 allows wider temperature window for selective growth since no nucleation was observed on CaF2 even at 450°C.
Demonstration of protection in mice from a lethal challenge of three M serotypes of Streptococcus pyogenes using an M-negative vaccine

Mice were vaccinated with a temperature-sensitive, M-negative mutant (JC3) of Streptococcus pyogenes. This vaccine was found to offer protection from a lethal challenge of homologous M-negative and type 28 M-positive strains of S. pyogenes as well as heterologous M3 and M18 strains. Using an immunoblot method, hyperimmune serum from mice vaccinated with JC3 was found to contain moderate to high titres of antibody to all challenge strains. Additionally, this hyperimmune serum was used to probe Western blots of whole-cell proteins extracted from each of the above streptococcal strains. Three proteins were identified (Mr = 32, 43 and 46 kDa) as immunogenic and conserved among the three serotypes studied.
A novel HIV-1 restriction factor that is biologically distinct from APOBEC3 cytidine deaminases in a human T cell line CEM.NKR.

Isolation of novel retroviral restriction factors will open new avenues for anti-HIV/AIDS treatment. Although HIV-1 replication is restricted by APOBEC3G/APOBEC3F, TRIM5α, and CD317, none defend HIV-1 infection under natural conditions. Previously, we demonstrated a host factor from the human T cell line CEM.NKR that potently restricted wild-type HIV-1 replication. Interestingly, this restriction resembled the APOBEC3G/APOBEC3F pattern in that viral replication was inhibited from the second round of replication cycle at a post-entry step. Here, we further characterized this factor and found it distinguishable from the known anti-HIV APOBEC3 proteins. Although CEM.NKR cells expressed both APOBEC3G and APOBEC3F, their levels were at least 10 or 4-fold lower than those in H9 cells, and importantly, Vif effectively neutralized their activity. Among eight subclones isolated from CEM.NKR cells, one was relatively permissive, four were semi-permissive, and three were completely non-permissive for HIV-1 replication. When the levels of APOBEC3 expression were determined, all these clones retained similar low levels of APOBEC3DE, APOBEC3F, APOBEC3G and APOBEC3H expression, and no APOBEC3B expression was detected. Since the vif from SIVmac can effectively neutralize APOBEC3B and APOBEC3H, recombinant HIV-1 expressing this SIV gene were created. However, these viruses still failed to replicate in CEM.NKR cells. We also confirmed that HIV-1 restriction in CEM.NKR was not due to a loss of calnexin expression. Taken together, these results not only demonstrate that all these aforementioned anti-HIV APOBEC3 proteins do not contribute to this HIV-1 restriction, but also shed light on a novel and potent HIV-1 inhibitor in CEM.NKR cells.
Genetic evidence for promoter competition in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Abstract The his4-912 delta mutation is an insertion of the long terminal repeat (delta) of the yeast retrotransposon Ty into the HIS4 promoter region, such that the delta is 97 base pairs upstream of the HIS4 transcription initiation site. Strains carrying the his4-912 delta allele are His- at 23 degrees C; this phenotype can be reversed either by growth at 37 degrees C or by mutations in trans-acting SPT genes. Under conditions in which his4-912 delta confers a His- phenotype. HIS4 transcription initiates at the delta initiation site, rather than at the HIS4 initiation site, producing a longer, nonfunctional transcript. Under conditions in which the strain is His+, transcription initiates at the wild-type HIS4 initiation site. To understand how transcription is balanced between the delta and HIS4 promoters, we have selected for cis-acting suppressors of his4-912 delta. Two classes defined by six independent mutations restore synthesis of a functional HIS4 transcript. The first class is an A-to-G base change 1 base upstream of the proposed delta TATA sequence. These mutants do not synthesize the delta-initiated transcript; instead, they synthesize only the wild-type HIS4 transcript. The second class of mutations alters base pairs surrounding the functional HIS4 TATA sequence. The two strongest His+ mutants of this class synthesize the wild-type HIS4 transcript at levels consistent with their His+ phenotype. Surprisingly, these two mutants also have a reduced level of the delta-initiated transcript relative to the his4-912 delta parent. Analysis of these mutants indicates that the level of transcription from one promoter can affect the level of transcription from the other promoter and suggests that delta and HIS4 transcription signals compete for initiation of transcription from each site.
School-wide Conflict Resolution and Peer Mediation Programs: Experiences in Three Middle Schools

Effective school-wide responses to disruptive, aggressive, and violent student behaviors are critical to ensuring teacher and student safety and to increasing constructive approaches to conflict. A...
Dropped-head syndrome resulting from injury to the central spinal cord at the upper cervical level

There are many causes of paraspinal muscle weakness which give rise to the dropped-head syndrome. In the upper cervical spine the central portion of the spinal cord innervates the cervical paraspinal muscles. Dropped-head syndrome resulting from injury to the central spinal cord at this level has not previously been described. We report two patients who were treated acutely for this condition. Both presented with weakness in the upper limbs and paraspinal cervical musculature after a fracture of C2. Despite improvement in the strength of the upper limbs, the paraspinal muscle weakness persisted in both patients. One ultimately underwent cervicothoracic fusion to treat her dropped-head syndrome. While the cause of the dropped-head syndrome cannot be definitively ascribed to the injuries to the spinal cord, this pattern is consistent with the known patho-anatomical mechanisms of both injury to the central spinal cord and dropped-head syndrome.
Cyclic-radiation response of murine fibrosarcoma cells grown as pulmonary nodules☆

Abstract The radiation age response of murine fibrosarcoma (FSa) cells grown as pulmonary nodules in C 3 Hf/Kam mice was determined. FSa cells were irradiated in vivo either with 10 Gy as 14 day-old lung tumors (i.e., artificial macrometastases) prior to cell separation or with 5 Gy as single cells trapped in the lungs of recipient mice (i.e., artificial micrometastases) following cell separation and synchronization by centrifugal elutriation. Flow microfluorometry (FMF) was used to determine cell-cycle parameters and the relative synchrony of the separated populations, as well as the percent contamination of normal diploid cells in each of the tumor cell populations. Tumor populations containing up to 90% G 1 -, 60% S-, and 75% G 2 + M-phase tumor cells were obtained. Cell clonogenicity, determined using a lung colony assay, ranged from 0.7 to 6% for control FSa cells from the various elutriator fractions. The radiation sensitivity of these separated cell populations varied by a factor of 6, regardless of whether the cells were irradiated as artificial micro or macro-metastases. In each experiment, tumor populations most enriched in S-phase cells exhibited the greatest radiation sensitivity. To confirm that these populations were highly enriched in S-phase cells and to demonstrate that they were more radiosensitive than FSa cells in other parts of the cell cycle, the elutriated tumor populations were exposed to either suicide labeling by high specific activity tritiated thymidine or hydroxyurea. The resultant age response curves were qualitatively similar to those obtained following irradiation and reflected the S-phase sensitivity of FSa cells to these agents.
Modeling mGluR1 Mediated Synaptic Depression in Cerebellar Purkinje Cells

We have previously successfully simulated mGluR1 mediated sEPSP based on experimental data. This effect is associated with parallel fiber – Purkinje cell LTD [1-3]. The mGluR1 mediated sEPSP is generated by calcium signaling through the TRPC channel which is crucial in cerebellar LTD induction [4]. Behavior study using mutant mice that lack this type of LTD has shown no motor learning impairment [5]. We hypothesize that cerebellar TRPC mediated synaptic depression shifts the excitatory and inhibitory balance to down regulate ongoing simple-spike activity. To test our hypothesis we modified our previous model of a Purkinje cell to have TRPC channel current signal linked to the AMPA channel conductance through Kinetikit. The synaptic depression mediated by TRPC channel current is successfully simulated in the local model. Synchronized train stimulation to the spines in the full model of Purkinje cell were able to cause the cell to fire then followed by a gap in spiking caused by the reduction in the gmax of AMPA channels. Once the TRPC current passed the rising phase, the firing resumed. This model will be used to guide the in vitro experiments to study the interaction of TRPC current mediated depression with simple spike activities. Once the second messenger (s) and the delay time of the plastic effects are know, this model can be further used to study the function of cerebellar LTD.
Effects of Dietary Supplementation of α-Lipoic Acid on Early Glomerular Injury in Diabetes Mellitus

Antioxidants, in particular vitamin E (VE), have been reported to protect against diabetic renal injury. alpha-Lipoic acid (LA) has been found to attenuate diabetic peripheral neuropathy, but its effects on nephropathy have not been examined. In the present study, parameters of glomerular injury were examined in streptozotocin diabetic rats after 2 mo on unsupplemented diets and in diabetic rats that received the lowest daily dose of dietary LA (30 mg/kg body wt), VE (100 IU/kg body wt), or vitamin C (VC; 1 g/kg body wt), which detectably increased the renal cortical content of each antioxidant. Blood glucose values did not differ among the diabetic groups. At 2 mo, inulin clearance, urinary albumin excretion, fractional albumin clearance, glomerular volume, and glomerular content of immunoreactive transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and collagen alpha1 (IV) all were significantly increased in unsupplemented D compared with age-matched nondiabetic controls. With the exception of inulin clearance, LA prevented or significantly attenuated the increase in all of these glomerular parameters in D, as well as the increases in renal tubular cell TGF-beta seen in D. At the dose used, VE reduced inulin clearance in D to control levels but failed to alter any of the other indices of glomerular injury or to suppress renal tubular cell TGF-beta in D. VC suppressed urinary albumin excretion, fractional albumin clearance, and glomerular volume but not glomerular or tubular TGF-beta or glomerular collagen alpha1 (IV) content. LA but not VE or VC significantly increased renal cortical glutathione content in D. These data indicate that LA is effective in the prevention of early diabetic glomerular injury and suggest that this agent may have advantages over high doses of either VE or VC.
Targeted expression of anthrax protective antigen by Lactobacillus gasseri as an anthrax vaccine.

Aim: Induction of protective immunity against pathogenic microbes, including Bacillus anthracis, requires efficient vaccines that potentiate antibody avidity and increase T-cell longevity. We recently reported that the delivery of targeted B. anthracis protective antigen (PA) genetically fused to a DC-binding peptide (DCpep) by Lactobacillus acidophilus induced mucosal and systemic immunity against B. anthracis challenge in mice. Materials & methods: Improvement of this oral vaccine strategy was attempted by use of the high copy and genetically stable q-replicating vector, pTRKH2, for expression of the targeted PA fusion protein in Lactobacillus gasseri, a common human commensal microbe, to vaccinate animals against anthrax Sterne infection. Results: Oral application of L. gasseri expressing the PA–DCpep fusion proteins elicited robust PA-neutralizing antibody and T-cell mediated immune responses against anthrax Sterne challenge, resulting in complete animal survival. Collectively, this improved expressio...
Achieving 550 MHz in an ASIC methodology

Typically, good automated ASIC designs may be two to five times slower than handcrafted custom designs. At last year's DAC this was examined and causes of the speed gap between custom circuits and ASICs were identified. In particular, faster custom speeds are achieved by a combination of factors: good architecture with well-balanced pipelines; compact logic design; timing overhead minimization; careful floorplanning, partitioning and placement; dynamic logic; post-layout transistor and wire sizing; and speed binning of chips. Closing the speed gap requires improving these same factors in ASICs, as far as possible. In this paper we examine a practical example of how these factors may be improved in ASICs. In particular we show how techniques commonly found in custom design were applied to design a high-speed 550 MHz disk drive read channel in an ASIC design flow.