cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity and alcoholism: is there a genuine association?

Monoamine oxidase (MAO) is a particle-bound flavoenzyme principally located in the outer mitochondrial membrane, which catalyzes the oxidative deamination of a variety of the amine transmitters in the central nervous system. There have been many reports from different groups around the world over the last 20 years that indicated a lower platelet MAO activity was associated with alcoholism. As there are multiple influences upon measured MAO activity, this article attempts to address each of the issues in turn for potential confounding of the reported association. These issues include: the duration of abstinence from alcohol, the substrate used for analysis, gender issues, association with different subtypes of alcoholics, the influence of other psychopathology, personality traits of alcoholics, the question of smoking, and proposed modes of transmission of MAO activity. The initial promise about MAO activity being a possible marker for alcoholism or a least a genetically predisposed subgroup has receded as the number of negative typology-based studies increases. The failure to account for a major confounding variable, e.g. smoking and other minor but possibly vital confounds in almost all these studies leaves the whole hypothesis open to criticism. However, the possible association between personality traits that might predispose to some if not all substances of addiction to low MAO activity may make it possible to reframe the hypothesized association in the setting of a generalized predisposition to addictions in particular, and to psychopathology in general. Nonetheless the association remains of great interest and may yet yield vital genetic and clinical information.
Small landslide types and controls in glacial deposits: Lower Skagit river drainage, northern cascade range, Washington

Observations of 167 small, shallow landslides spanning a 22-year period on extensively logged slopes of Quaternary terraces in the lower Skagit and Baker Valleys, Washington, shows that there is a relationship between the common slope failures in this area and the slope angle, stratigraphy, and logging practices. Landslide frequency increases upvalley, as do mean annual precipitation and the frequency of perched water tables.
Sixteen-Year Change in Acoustic-Admittance Measures Among Older Adults: Data From a Population-Based Study

Purpose The primary purpose of this study was to measure the 16-year change in peak compensated static acoustic admittance (Peak Ytm) in a population-based cohort of older adults, and to determine whether age was associated with any observed change in Peak Ytm. Other tympanometric measures also were taken and analyzed. Method Data from two examinations (1993–1995 and 2009–2010) of the population-based Epidemiology of Hearing Loss Study (n = 1,439 with data at both examinations, ages 48–84 years at baseline) were utilized to assess 16-year change. Tympanometric measures were taken using a 226-Hz probe tone, a positive-to-negative direction of pressure change, and a measured pump speed of 600/200 daPa/s. Results During the 16-year period, Peak Ytm declined an average of 0.009 mmho/year (0.009/year for women, 0.007/year for men). Among women, older baseline age was associated with greater decline in Peak Ytm. Among men, baseline age was associated with change in Peak Ytm, but in a nonlinear pattern. Other ty...
Parent Education vs. Child Psychotherapy.

The author has charged in a previous article that child psychotherapy is essentially an expensive illusion with regard to the great majority of children referred to private therapists and to clinics. Educating the significant adults, manipulating the child's environment (especially school), and using medication where indicated, were held to be ecologically the best approach. Using this approach, the author did a two-year follow-up study of effects on children referred to a community mental health clinic; 86% showed sustained improvement. The majority of the remainder who showed no improvement manifested severe pathology in the child or a neurosis in the mother. An average of 2.1 hourly sessions (largely joint) sufficed for the parents and 1.8 (largely further exploratory) sessions for the child. Proper diagnosis is crucial for this approach. A psychogenic bias in psychological and psychiatric evaluation of children can doom parent and child to a confusing and sometimes interminable ordeal.
Is interfacial activation of lipases in lipid monolayers related to thermodynamic activity of interfacial water

Interfacial activation of lipases from Candida rugosa (CRLs) and porcine pancreas (PPLs) was studied by simultaneously monitoring the rate of accumulation of the lipase in the lipid monolayer and the rate of hydrolysis of the dicaprin monolayer. The rate of accumulation of 14C-labeled lipase in the lipid monolayer was determined using a surface radiotracer technique, and the rate of hydrolysis of dicaprin at a constant surface pressure was measured using a zero-order trough. The specific activity−time profiles of these lipases in the lipid monolayer exhibited a maximum. This maximum in the specific activity profile was due to two molecular processes at the interface: One involved activation of the enzyme from an inactive configuration to an active configuration, and the other involved subsequent inactivation and/or inhibition of the enzyme. The results suggested that, upon adsorption to the interface, the enzyme progressively undergoes conformational changes from an inactive to active state and then to a...
The analysis of paternity and maternity in the marine hydrozoan Hydractinia symbiolongicarpus using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers.

For organisms in which direct observation of mating and subsequent dispersal of offspring and relatives is impossible, patterns of reproductive success and genealogical relationship can only be established using genetic markers. The ideal genetic assay would (1) employ highly polymorphic genetic markers for distinguishing among individuals; (2) use little tissue f or analysing early lif e-history stages; and (3) require minimal investment in time and money for population level studies. From this perspective, DNA polymorphisms revealed by PCR amplification using random ten-base primers [Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (PCR-RAPD) or Arbitrarily Primed DNA (APPCR)] have great potential. However, the evidence that RAPDIAP markers are both heritable and can be repeatably amplifiedremains controversial. This study characterizes patterns of inheritance and polymorphism of RAPD markers in the free-spawning, colonial marine hydrozoanHydractinia symbiolongicavpus. In all cases, the amplification products were identical among extractions from the same clone. Of 56 primers screened, 13 had sufficient polymorphism and scoreability for an analysis of parentage and higherorder genetic relationships in three matings. These primers generated 156 unique amplificationproducts (putative loci), of which 133 were polymorphic. All but four of these loci were inherited as dominant mendelian markers. Our study suggests that the presence of a marker represents a single allele at a locus; however, what appear to be single null alleles may actually comprise several segregating alleles. When the identity of neither parent was known a priori, inclusion (unique markers present in offspring and only one of the potential parents) proved to be more efficient than exclusion for assigning offspring to parents. The most powerful approach, however, was cluster analysis of all presence1 absence information for the marker bands. Clustering avoided the pitfalls caused by the appearance of occasional nonparental bands, and constructed a hierarchical framework that correctly reflected all genealogical relationships.
Effect of low-level impurities on low-temperature performance properties of biodiesel

Biodiesel, a renewable fuel consisting of fatty acid methyl esters and made from lipid feedstocks, has presented persistent cold weather operability problems that are not predicted using the standards tests common in the petroleum refining industry. These problems have been referred to as “precipitate formation above cloud point” and are known to be caused by minor impurities. This study investigates the fundamental causes of this issue. To this end, water, steryl glucosides (SG), and saturated monoglycerides (SMGs) were spiked into 100% biodiesel (B100) from various feedstock sources. Only SMGs were found to have a significant effect on the cloud point (CP) and final melting temperature (FMT) in four B100 samples with a range of CP. A large difference between FMT and CP indicates that a metastable phase of SMG forms initially and can transform into a more stable, less soluble polymorph over time or upon heating. This occurred for SMG content above approximately 0.2 to 0.3 wt%. For more saturated B100, a large FMT–CP difference was only observed at slower heating rates, suggesting a slower rate of phase transformation. β-monostearin solubility (the most stable phase) in B100 was measured as a function of temperature. CP measurements suggest the metastable phase is as much as 10 times more soluble than the β phase. Differential scanning calorimetry experiments suggest that the metastable phase is a hydrated α-gel. SMGs at concentrations above 0.24 wt% caused failure of the cold soak filtration test (ASTM D7501); however, at higher water concentrations (∼1200 ppm), the effect of SMGs was significantly reduced. Addition of SGs had no effect on cold soak filterability.
The Retarded Acceptance of the Marginal Utility Theory

Introduction, 564. — I. Importance of religious backgrounds in seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, 565. — II. Place of work in social theology, 566. — III. Delayed acceptance in the nineteenth century, 570. — IV. Conclusion, 573.
Regulation of Fasciclin II and synaptic terminal development by the splicing factor Beag

Pre-mRNA alternative splicing is an important mechanism for the generation of synaptic protein diversity, but few factors governing this process have been identified. From a screen for Drosophila mutants with aberrant synaptic development, we identified beag, a mutant with fewer synaptic boutons and decreased neurotransmitter release. Beag encodes a spliceosomal protein similar to splicing factors in humans and Caenorhabditis elegans. We find that both beag mutants and mutants of an interacting gene dsmu1 have changes in the synaptic levels of specific splice isoforms of Fasciclin II (FasII), the Drosophila ortholog of neural cell adhesion molecule. We show that restoration of one splice isoform of FasII can rescue synaptic morphology in beag mutants while expression of other isoforms cannot. We further demonstrate that this FasII isoform has unique functions in synaptic development independent of transsynaptic adhesion. beag and dsmu1 mutants demonstrate an essential role for these previously uncharacterized splicing factors in the regulation of synapse development and function.
Exact self-propagators for quasiparticle motion on a chain with alternating site energies or intersite interactions

Abstract We present exact calculations of the amplitude and the probability self-propagators for two model systems. Both systems consist of a quasiparticle moving among the sites of an infinite linear chain via nearest-neighbour matrix elements. In one model, the site energies alternate in space but the intersite interactions are all the same. In the other model, the interactions alternate but the site energies are all the same. Similarities and differences are explored and the extreme parameter limits are studied.
The impact of a multidisciplinary educational intervention to reduce PEG tube placement in patients with terminal-stage dementia: A translation of research into practice

Abstract The purpose of this translation of research into practice (TRIP) project was to to determine the impact of a multidisciplinary education-consultation intervention to reduce percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube placement in patients with terminal-stage dementia at a single urban hospital in a city characterized by numerous health care transitions. We attempted a “just-in-time” approach to educate busy clinicians through explicit recommendations offered during routine and requested consultation. The project results showed that the intervention had a modest positive clinical impact.
Separation of Microsomal RNA into Five Bands during Agar Electrophoresis

Microsomal RNA from rabbit livers and lymph nodes separate into five major bands during agar-gel electrophoresis. The electrophoretic method may be used either as an analytical or preparative tool. The 33S and 19S peaks of microsomal RNA from sucrose-gradient zone centrifugation divide into two bands each during simple agar electrophoresis.
Isolation and characterization of bovine, canine and ovine α-crystallins☆

Abstract 1. 1. α-Crystallins were isolated from bovine, canine and ovine ocular lenses by chemical methods. 2. 2. An alkaline-modified bovine α-crystallin was prepared by subjecting normal bovine α-crystallin to pH > 9·5 with subsequent precipitation at pH 5·1. 3. 3. Electrophoretic mobilities of the various α-crystallins were determined by moving boudary electrophoresis in Na-veronal and Tris-veronal buffers. Canine α-crystallin had the highest mobility. 4. 4. The α-crystallins were characterized by sedimentation, viscosity and partial specific volume determinations. 5. 5. Molecular weights were determined by means of sedimentation equilibrium. The values were: bovine, 1,035,000; alkaline-modified bovine, 499,000; ovine, 1,047,000; and canine, 924,000. 6. 6. Molecular weights and dimensions were calculated assuming prolate and oblate ellipsoidal and spherical models from sedimentation, viscosity and partial specific volume data.
Colchicine Effects on the Mouse Liver

With histochemical methods an instantaneous and marked inhibitory effect of a single dose of colchicine on the activity of succinic-, lactic-, glucose-6-phosphate-, NADH- and NADPH-dehydrogenase in the mouse liver was observed. This effect was essentially the same as that previously described in the intestinal mucosa and not dependent on or a consequence of the inhibitory effect of colchicine on cell division.The enzymatic inhibitory effect of colchicine was qualitatively similar regardless of the dose of the drug given, although a single large dose (1.5 mg/kg body weight) produced alterations and depression of dehydrogenase activity more marked and not so rapidly repaired as those appearing after a small dose of colchicine (0.24 mg/kg body weight).Following repeated doses of colchicine the degree of histochemically demonstrable depression of dehydrogenase activity was not obviously different from that found after a single dose. After large repeated doses morphological alterations and prolonged depression...
Interactive Videoconferencing as a Medium for Special Education Knowledge Acquisition in Preservice Teacher Education

Interactive videoconferencing (IVC) consists of live, synchronous audio and video communication via a computer or digital phone network among sites in different physical locations. Many productive but not always obvious benefits, such as increased learning opportunities, student motivation, and instructor—student communication, are possible through IVC. This article discusses IVC as a useful medium for teaching and learning in higher education teacher preparation programs.
Liquid-vapor fractionation of oxygen and hydrogen isotopes of water from the freezing to the critical temperature

The equilibrium fractionation factors of oxygen and hydrogen isotopes between liquid water and water vapor have been precisely determined from 25 to 350°C on the VSMOW-SLAP scale, using three different types of apparatus with static or dynamic techniques for the sampling of water vapor. Our results for both oxygen and hydrogen isotope fractionation factors between 25 and 100°C are in excellent agreement with the literature (e.g., Majoube, 1971). Our results for the hydrogen isotope fractionation factor above 100°C also agree quantitatively with the literature values of Merlivat et al. (1963) and Bottinga (1968). The results for the hydrogen isotope fractionation factor obtained in this study and from most of the literature were regressed to the equation, 103Inα1−v(D) = 1158.8(T3109) −1620.1 (T2106) + 794.84(T103) −161.04 + 2.9992(109T3), from 0°C to the critical temperature of water (374.1°C) within ± 1.2(1σ) (n = 157); T(K). The cross- over temperature is 229 ± 13°C (1σ). Our values for the oxygen isotope fractionation factor between liquid water and water vapor are, however, at notable variance with the only dataset available above 100°C in the literature (Bottinga, 1968), which is systematically higher (av. + 0.15 in 103 In α1−v(18O)) with large errors (± 0.23 in 1σ). Our results and most of the literature data below 100°C were regressed to the equation, 103 In α1−v(18O) = −7.685 + 6.7123(103T) − 1.6664(106T2) + 0.35041 (109T3), from 0 to 374.1°C within ± 0.11 (1σ)(n = 112); T(K). A third water-steam isotope geothermometer, using the ratio of ΔδD/Δδ18O given by water and steam samples, is readily obtained from the above equations. This geothermometer is less affected by incomplete separation of water and steam, and partial condensation of steam than those employing the oxygen and hydrogen isotopic compositions alone.
ADAR1 Is Involved in the Development of Microvascular Lung Injury

Deamination of adenosine on pre-mRNA to inosine is a recently discovered process of posttranscription modification of pre-mRNA, termed A-to-I RNA editing, which results in the production of proteins not inherent in the genome. The present study aimed to identify a role for A-to-I RNA editing in the development of microvascular lung injury. To that end, the pulmonary expression and activity of the RNA editase ADAR1 were evaluated in a mouse model of endotoxin (15 mg/kg IP)-induced microvascular lung injury (n=5) as well as in cultured alveolar macrophages stimulated with endotoxin, live bacteria, or interferon. ADAR1 expression and activity were identified in sham lungs that were upregulated in lungs from endotoxin-treated mice (at 2 hours). Expression was localized to polymorphonuclear and monocytic cells. These events preceded the development of pulmonary edema and leukocyte accumulation in lung tissue and followed the local production of interferon-gamma, a known inducer of ADAR1 in other cell systems. ADAR1 was found to be upregulated in alveolar macrophages (MH-S cells) stimulated with endotoxin (1 to 100 microg/mL), live Escherichia coli (5x10(7) colony-forming units), or interferon-gamma (1000 U/mL). Taken together, these data suggest that ADAR1 may play a role in the pathogenesis of microvascular lung injury possibly through induction by interferon.
A comparison of North American avian conservation priority ranking systems

The need to prioritize species based on their perceived endangerment has led to the development of systems for categorizing and assessing their degree of vulnerability. Systems with divergent biological and geographical scopes can result in conflicting lists of high-priority species, potentially confusing conservationists and hampering the efficient allocation of resources. To assess conservation priorities for North American birds, we compare three priority-setting systems; those of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), NatureServe, and Partners in Flight (PIF). We found highest correspondence among the three systems in the highest and lowest categories of the respective systems with lower levels of correspondence in intermediate categories. We suggest that this is because the systems, while using different formulations of criteria, are based on the major factors known to be correlated with extinction risk. The few examples of species listed as a high conservation priority by one group but not one or both of the others appear to be the result of differences in availability or interpretation of data. Better communication and collaboration among those responsible for compiling the priority lists for each system is needed. A primary difference among the systems was the total number of species identified as conservation priorities. IUCN identified the fewest species (47) and PIF the most (157). This difference is the result of differences in geographic and taxonomic scope of each system. However, when considered as the percent of the total number of taxa evaluated by each system, all systems identified approximately 20% of species as of conservation concern. To reconcile disparate lists, we urge that conservationists use a hierarchical approach that first considers species that meet thresholds for endangerment under global systems, followed by species considered most vulnerable relative to all continental biota. 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
When gene therapy marries immunology: an important vow

Comment on Miao et al, page [19][1] A potent immune response to gene therapy vectors, including naked DNA, creates a daunting problem. Miao and colleagues now present data showing that a combination of therapies that disrupt costimulation may obviate this immune response and induce tolerance to the
The Role and Future of State Educational Coalitions

As the tax crisis at the local level intensifies, there will be increasing pressure for additional state support for education. The success which educational interests will have in competing with o...
Pharmacological Properties of Naproxen

An initial survey of the anti-inflammatory activity of various naphthylpropionic acids indicated that naproxen is probably the most potent among these (Harrison et al., 1970). This was subsequently verified (Roszkowski et al., 1971), and the present discussion deals in detail with the various pharmacological properties of naproxen.
Determination of absolute orientation-dependent TiN(001) and TiN(111) step energies

Abstract We employ in situ high-temperature (1030– 1250 K ) scanning tunneling microscopy to measure adatom island coarsening/decay kinetics and temporal fluctuations around the equilibrium shapes of two-dimensional TiN vacancy islands on atomically-smooth (0 0 1) and (1 1 1) TiN terraces. Using inverse Legendre transformations of the equilibrium island shapes, we obtain relative step energies as a function of step orientation within an orientation-independent scale factor λ , the equilibrium chemical potential of the island per unit TiN molecular area. We then use either quantitative island coarsening measurements [in the case of TiN(0 0 1)] or an exact approach for the analysis of shape fluctuations, applicable to highly anisotropic TiN(1 1 1) islands, to determine λ and, hence, absolute orientation-dependent step energies and step stiffnesses.
Instant messages: a framework for reading between the lines

A framework is described for analyzing keystroke level data from instant messages (IM). This is unlike other analyses of IM which employ server-based logs of messages. This framework can be used to identify metrics for evaluating the usability of IM during message composition. The current objective is evaluating awareness features. The model also identifies quantifiable factors that can be computed automatically during IM usage that could allow the system to adapt to different styles of IM usage. Data from a representative usability evaluation scenario is utilized to illustrate some results of using this framework. Computational aspects of the framework have been implemented in GLogger.
Group I metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonists alter select behaviors in a mouse model for fragile X syndrome

Studies in the Fmr1 knockout (KO) mouse, a model of fragile X syndrome (FXS), suggest that excessive signaling through group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs), comprised of subtypes mGluR1 and mGluR5, may play a role in the pathogenesis of FXS. Currently, no studies have assessed the effect of mGluR1 modulation on Fmr1 KO behavior, and there has not been an extensive behavioral analysis of mGluR5 manipulation in Fmr1 KO mice. The goals for this study were to determine if pharmacologic blockade of mGluR1 may affect Fmr1 KO behavior as well as to expand on the current literature regarding pharmacologic blockade of mGluR5 on Fmr1 KO behavior. Reduction of mGluR1 or mGluR5 activity was evaluated on a variety of behavioral assays in wild-type (WT) and Fmr1 KO mice through the use of antagonists: JNJ16259685 (JNJ, mGluR1 antagonist) and MPEP (mGluR5 antagonist). JNJ and MPEP decreased marble burying in both WT and Fmr1 KO mice without reductions in activity. Neither JNJ nor MPEP affected the prepulse inhibition in either WT or Fmr1 KO mice. JNJ did not affect Fmr1 KO motor coordination but did impair WT performance. MPEP improved a measure of motor learning in Fmr1 KO but not WT mice. While both JNJ and MPEP decreased the audiogenic seizures in the Fmr1 KO, MPEP completely abolished the manifestation of seizures. These data illustrate that, while the manipulation of either mGluR1 or mGluR5 can affect select behaviors in the Fmr1 KO, we observe greater effects upon mGluR5 reduction.
Pipe‐line design for non‐newtonian fluids in streamline flow

A method is presented for determining the flow-rate—pressure-gradient relationship for the streamline flow of the large class of non-Newtonian, nonthixotropic fluids to which the Powell-Eyring equation applies. The general procedure and assumptions required in developing this method are the same as used in deriving the Hagen-Poiseuille equation except that the Powell-Eyring equation is used in place of Newton's equation to relate shear stress to shear rate. The method can be used to predict pipe-flow pressure gradients from both precision viscometer data and pipe-flow data. Its applicability is demonstrated for three typical non-Newtonian fluids, 3% carboxymethylcellulose in water, 15% napalm in kerosene, and 33% hydrated lime in water. When used with pipe-flow data, it resembles the method of Alves and associates, compensating for the inconvenience of an additional step in calculation procedure by providing a means of extrapolating beyond the range of the experimental data. The relationships developed facilitate the application of shear-stress—shear-rate data in the design of conduits for non-Newtonian fluids.
Mechanisms leading to net drag reduction in manipulated turbulent boundary layers

Turbulent boundary layers have been manipulated successfully using passive devices called BLADES (boundary-layer alteration devices) leading to net drag reduction. Measurements of various turbulence quantities including intermittency have led to the identification of some of the mechanisms involved in skin-friction reduction. Velocity and vorticity fluctuations associated with oncoming large scales are inhibited significantly by the manipulator blades and the vorticity shed in their wake. The manipulated boundary layers exhibit a reduced intermittency in the outer part of the layer. The effects of manipulation relax with downstream distance and the boundary layer returns toward normal conditions after 100 or 150 boundary-layer thicknesses.
Inhibition of the receptor for tetrodotoxin in nerve membranes by reagents modifying carboxyl groups.

Abstract Tetrodotoxin binding to crab nerve fibers was measured by the bio-assay technique. Modification of fibers by a carbodiimide and nucleophile at acid ph resulted in a loss of 85% of the normal tetrodotoxin binding. Results of control experiments suggested that the inhibition of tetrodotoxin binding may be due to modification of carboxyl groups at or near the tetrodotoxin receptor.
CF4/O2 plasma simulation and comparison with quartz etch experiment

In order to study the behavior of fluorine based CF4/O2 plasma in an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) reactor, 2-D axisymmetric simulations are carried out by using Plasmator. The modeling results have provided the spatial distributions of some important plasma and neutral species in the dry etch process. It is found that the prevailing species of the plasma is CF3+ ion. The negative ion density has been proved not significant in the current process. To find the effects of mass flow rate and ICP power, three examples have been calculated. Based on the assumption of that the etch rate is proportional to the ion flux, the comparison between the simulation results and experimental data has been conducted. The results of the trend agree reasonably well. The model paves a way to find the direction of design optimization for plasma etch process experiments.
The Role of Oxygen Uptake and Scale Formation on the Embrittlement of Vanadium Alloys

Vanadium alloys are of interest in fusion energy systems, however, their environmental durability is a major concern. Specimens of V–4Cr–4Ti were exposed to air and oxygen (105,Pa), low pressure (10−3−10−6 Pa) oxygen and high purity He environments (105−101 Pa) it at 500−700°C in order to characterize the surface oxide, determine oxidation kinetics and quantify effects on mechanical properties at 25 and 600°C. At low oxygen pressures (PO_2.10−5 Pa), linear reaction kinetics were measured for exposures up to 2000 hr and the data were used to develop a mathematical expression for the oxidation rate as a function of temperature and oxygen pressure. At higher pressures, linear–parabolic reaction kinetics were associated with high oxygen uptake and the formation of an external oxide layer. Room-temperature and 600°it C tensile ductility was reduced by these exposures, but specimens which formed an external oxide were found to retain some tensile ductility after exposure. However, similar specimens with an external oxide that were subsequently annealed for 2000 hr at 700°C became severely embrittled demonstrating that a surface oxide will not prevent degradation of this refractory alloy. Exposures in He were performed to determine the effect of total gas pressure on oxygen uptake.
RECOVERY and SPECIATION of LISTERIA FROM RAW and COOKED MEAT and POULTRY PRODUCTS

Recovery of Listeria from raw and cooked meat products was compared using Fraser broth (FB) enrichment incubated at 30 and 35C for 24 and 48 h. the Micro-ID Listeria test strip for biochemical characterization of Listeria was also compared with conventional tests. Listeria spp. were recovered from 33, 47, and 20 of the raw chicken, raw beef and cooked meat products, respectively. No false-negative reactions were observed and more total Listeria-positive samples were found using FB incubated for 48 h compared with 24 h. Samples incubated at 35C had fewer false negative tubes than those incubated at 30C. More false-positive FB tubes were observed after 48 h than after 24 h incubation. Over half of the cooked samples did not hydrolyze the esculin and turn the tubes black, and therefore did not have to be streaked onto selective plates. However, with raw chicken or beef because of the large number of false-positive FB tubes, almost all tubes had to be streaked onto selective plates and very little advantage was gained from using the FB. the Micro-ID Listeria test kit gave a 100% correlation with conventional biochemical reactions for pure cultures of Listeria isolated from the three categories of meat products in this study. When used in conjunction with hemolysis plates and CAMP reactions, this test identifies species of Listeria isolates within 24 h of visible colony formation.
Electrode surface process in gaseous plasma

Abstract The effect of dense oxygen plasma on the electrode surface was studied by means of an electron microscope. Copper and aluminum films of several hundred angstroms thick obtained by evaporation under vacuum were used as anode in the Self Sustaining Dipole Discharge (S.S.D.D.). The interesting feature of this new type of discharge is to provide a local intense electric field at the electrode surface which enhances the outward migration of metal ions and, therefore, produces a strong surface corrosion. This phenomenon is similar to the anodic oxidation in the electrolytic cell. The only difference would be that in electrolysis a liquid plasma is created at low applied voltage and high electric current, while in the S.S.D.D. a gaseous plasma is produced at relatively low discharge current and high applied voltage. The electrical breakdown over the newly formed oxide layer is, therefore, dominant in the latter case while the thermal breakdown seems to be more important in the electrolysis case. The thick oxide film formed in the present experiment was torn into fissures by both electrical and thermal breakdowns over the entire surface. At some places matter was even completely evaporated, leaving holes on the metal film. Diffraction patterns of selected areas revealed the existence of δAl 2 O 3 with aluminum film and Cu 2 O and CuO with copper film. Nucleation and growth of oxide is expected in the depth of the metal as a result of oxygen ion bombardment from the plasma.
The structure of isometric capsids of bacteriophage T4

The three-dimensional structure of DNA-filled, bacteriophage T4 isometric capsids has been determined by means of cryoelectron microscopy and image reconstruction techniques. The packing geometry of protein subunits on the capsid surface was confirmed to be that of the triangulation class T = 13. The reconstruction clearly shows pentamers, attributed to capsid protein gp24*, surrounded by hexamers of the major capsid protein, gp23*. Positions of the accessory proteins, Hoc and Soc, are also clearly delineated in the surface lattice. The Hoc protein is the most prominent surface feature and appears as an extended molecule with a rounded base from which a thin neck and a globular head protrude. One Hoc molecule associates with each hexamer. Nearly continuous "ridges" are formed at the periphery of the gp23* hexamers by an association of 12 Soc molecules; however, Soc is absent along the boundaries between the hexamers and the pentamers. The duplex DNA genome forms a highly condensed series of concentric layers, spaced about 2.36 nm apart, that follow the general contour of the inner wall of the protein capsid.
Speech enhancement based on auditory spectral change

In this paper, an adaptive approach to the enhancement of speech signals is developed based On auditory spectral change. The algorithm is motivated by sensitivity of aural, biologic systems to signal dynamics, by evidence that noise is aurally masked by rapid changes in a signal, and by analogies to these two aural phenomena in biologic visual processing. Emphasis is on preserving nonstationarity, i.e., speech transient and time-varying components, such as plosive bursts, formant transitions, and vowel onsets, while suppressing additive noise. The essence of the enhancement technique is a Wiener :filter that uses a desired signal spectrum whose estimation adapts to stationarity of the measured signal. The degree of stationarity is derived from a signal change measurement, based on an auditory spectrum that accentuates change in spectral bands, The adaptive filter is applied in an unconventional overlap-add analysis/synthesis framework, using a very short 4-ms analysis Window and a 1-ms frame interval. In informal listening the reconstructions are judged to be “crisp” corresponding to good temporal resolution of transient and rapidly-moving speech events.
Repeated treatment of apple fruit with 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) prior to controlled atmosphere storage

Abstract The effect of multiple 1-MCP treatments prior to the establishment of controlled atmosphere (CA) storage on the quality of ‘McIntosh’ and ‘Empire’ apples [Malus × sylvestris (L.) Mill. var. domestica (Borkh.) Mansf.] was investigated. Fruit were harvested on three occasions over a 1 week period, and at each harvest cooled overnight and 1-MCP applied the following day. Fruit from the first or second harvests were treated again or for the first time when fruit from each successive harvest was treated. CA conditions were established after the last 1-MCP treatment and fruit were stored for up to 8 months. Delays in 1-MCP application generally resulted in progressively higher internal ethylene concentrations (IECs) at the time of treatment and lower firmness both at the time of treatment and after storage. Multiple 1-MCP applications kept IECs low and maintained firmness compared with single applications that were applied after 4 d. For ‘McIntosh’, external CO2 injury was more prevalent after storage if fruit were treated without delays after harvest for earlier harvests while later harvests were less affected. For ‘Empire’, flesh browning was more prevalent in fruit from later harvests and 1-MCP treated fruit had higher levels than untreated fruit. Either early 1-MCP treatment or multiple treatments reduced senescent breakdown in ‘McIntosh’, and core browning and greasiness in ‘Empire’.
OSCILLATORY INTEGRALS RELATED TO CARLESON'S THEOREM

now define the corresponding maximal operator by taking the sup over all the coefficients λ = (λα), that is with each λα ranging over R. What are the chances that such a wider result holds? There are a number of specific facts that suggests that this may be true. First is the situation which occurs when, in effect, the “stopping times” involved are themselves polynomials in x. This means we consider operators of the form T (f)(x) = ∫
EBV Persistence in Memory B Cells In Vivo

Epstein-Barr virus establishes latency in vitro by activating human B cells to become proliferating blasts, but in vivo it is benign. In the peripheral blood, the virus resides latently in resting B cells that we now show are restricted to the sIgD memory subset. However, in tonsils the virus shows no such restriction. We propose that EBV indiscriminately infects B cells in mucosal lymphoid tissue and that these cells differentiate to become resting memory B cells that then enter the circulation. Activation to the blastoid stage of latency is an essential intermediate step in this process. Thus, EBV may persist by exploiting the mechanisms that produce and maintain long-term B cell memory.
Parental Presence During Pediatric Resuscitation: The Use of Simulation Training for Cardiac Intensive Care Nurses

Sherry Pye, Janie Kane, and Amber Jones Column Editor: Bonnie Gance-Cleveland Family-Centered Care provides a forum for sharing information about basic components of caring for children and families, including respect, information sharing, collaboration, family-to-family support, and confidence building.
Transient grating of laser-induced 1 Deltag O2 production by photodynamic therapy agents

The transient grating method acts as a monitor of the evolution of thermal energy following optical excitation of an absorbing molecule. The signals produced by a photodynamic therapy agent are shown to be strongly dependent on presence of oxygen in solution indicating transfer of energy from a triplet state of the dye to form excited 1Δg oxygen. Analysis of the data shows that the efficiency of excited oxygen production can be determined by a recording of the diffracted light intensity versus time.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Visual search is slowed when visuospatial working memory is occupied

Visual working memory plays a central role in most models of visual search. However, a recent study showed that search efficiency was not impaired when working memory was filled to capacity by a concurrent object memory task (Woodman, Vogel, & Luck, 2001). Objects and locations may be stored in separate working memory subsystems, and it is plausible that visual search relies on the spatial subsystem, but not on the object subsystem. In the present study, we sought to determine whether maintaining spatial information in visual working memory impairs the efficiency of a concurrent visual search task. Visual search efficiency and spatial memory accuracy were both impaired when the search and the memory tasks were performed concurrently, as compared with when the tasks were performed separately. These findings suggest that common mechanisms are used to process information during difficult visual search tasks and to maintain spatial information in working memory.
Kinetic mechanism for the binding of eIF4F and tobacco Etch virus internal ribosome entry site rna: effects of eIF4B and poly(A)-binding protein.

The wheat germ eukaryotic translation initiation factor (eIF) 4F binds tightly to the mRNA internal ribosome entry site (IRES) of tobacco etch virus (TEV) to promote translation initiation. When eIF4F is limiting, TEV is preferentially translated compared with host cell mRNA. To gain insight into the dynamic process of protein synthesis initiation and the mechanism of binding, the kinetics of eIF4F binding to TEV IRES were examined. The association rate constant (kon) and dissociation rate constant (koff) for eIF4F binding to IRES were 59 ± 2.1 μm−1 s−1 and 12.9 ± 0.3 s−1, respectively, comparable with the rates for capped RNA. Binding of eIF4E or eIF4F to the cap of mRNA is the rate-limiting step for initiation of cap-dependent protein synthesis. The concentration dependence of the reactions suggested a simple one-step association mechanism. However, the association rate was reduced more than 10-fold when KCl concentration was increased from 50 to 300 mm, whereas the dissociation rate constant was increased 2-fold. The addition of eIF4B and poly(A)-binding protein enhanced the association rate of eIF4F ∼3-fold. These results suggest a mechanism where eIF4F initially binds electrostatically, followed by a conformational change to further stabilize binding. Poly(A)-binding protein and eIF4B mainly affect the eIF4F/TEV association rate. These results demonstrate the first direct kinetic measurements of translation initiation factor binding to an IRES.
Paraffin disproportionation catalyzed by aluminum chloride/sulfonic acid resin

The disproportionation of n-butane and of n-pentane was investigated as reactant vapors flowed over beads of a solid superacid catalyst (an aluminum chloride/sulfonic acid resin) at 1 atm and 70–143 °C. n-Butane reacted in the presence of HCl to give equimolar ratios of propane and pentanes; the butane isomerization reaction took place simultaneously, occurring at an order-of-magnitudehigher rate than the disproportionation. The observed i- to n-pentane ratios were less than the equilibrium ratios predicted from literature data. The conversion of n-pentane under similar conditions yielded products ranging from methane to hexanes. The main products were propane and isobutane, which indicates that extensive β-scission occurred. The results are broadly consistent with classical carbenium-ion mechanisms involving hydride and methyl shifts and CC bond-forming and -breaking steps, although some details of the mechanism of the n-butane disproportionation remain unexplained.
Intracerebroventricular infusions of angiotensin II increases sodium excretion.

AbstractThe mechanism by which intracerebroventricular administration of angiotensin II (AII) enhances renal sodium excretion was studied in anesthetized dogs. Intraventricular infusion of AII (6 ng/min) increased sodium excretion independently of changes in renal plasma flow (RPF), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), blood pressure (BP), and plasma concentration of aldosterone. In order to evaluate the intracerebral role of endogenous AII in the control of sodium excretion, the converting enzyme inhibitor, SQ20881 (0.5 μg/min), was infused intraventricularly in another group of dogs. This infusion decreased sodium excretion; in addition, there were no changes in RPF, GFR, BP, and plasma aldosterone concentration. The mechanism of the antinatriuresis remains unclear. However, the fact that SQ20881 administration decreased sodium excretion is consistent with the hypothesis that endogenous AII is tonically active in the brain to stimulate sodium excretion.
Carbon metabolism of chloroplasts in the dark: Oxidative pentose phosphate cycle versus glycolytic pathway.

The conversion of U-labelled [14C]glucose-6-phosphate into other products by a soluble fraction of lysed spinach chloroplasts has been studied. It was found that both an oxidative pentose phosphate cycle and a glycolytic reaction sequence occur in this fraction. The formation of bisphosphates and of triose phosphates was ATP-dependent and occurred mainly via a glycolytic reaction sequence including a phosphofructokinase step. The conversion, of glucose-6-phosphate via the oxidative pentose phosphate cycle stopped with the formation of pentose monophosphates. This was found not to be because of a lack in transaldolase (or transketolase) activity, but because of the high concentration ratios of hexose monophosphate/pentose monophosphate used in our experiments for simulating the conditions in whole chloroplasts in the dark. Some regulatory properties of both the oxidative pentose phosphate cycle and of the glycolytic pathway were studied.
Regulation of photorespiration in leaves: evidence that the fraction of ribulose bisphosphate oxygenated is conserved and stoichiometry fluctuates.

Under steady-state conditions the combined system of the reductive photosynthetic cycle and the oxidative photorespiratory loop may be defined by two partitioning terms: the fraction of ribulose bisphosphate oxygenated and the fraction of glycolate carbon photorespired (the stoichiometry of photorespiration). A combination of physical and stereochemical methods [K.R. Hanson, and R. B. Peterson, (1985) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 237,300-310] has been used to estimate these partitionings for tobacco leaf discs. Inverted discs, as compared to normally oriented discs, were found to have greater net photosynthesis; their ratio of photorespiration to net photosynthesis was less, and less of their glycolate carbon was photorespired. An eightfold reduction of irradiance below that of full sunlight for inverted discs in normal air at 32 degrees C reduced both photosynthesis and photorespiration about threefold but had little effect on the partitioning of ribulose bisphosphate and glycolate. Increasing the temperature from 22 to 40 degrees C for inverted discs in normal air and 1000 microE m-2 s-1 irradiance had little effect on net photosynthesis but increased the ratio of photorespiration to net photosynthesis almost threefold; ribulose bisphosphate partitioning was little changed but the fraction of glycolate carbon photorespired more than doubled. If field-grown plants respond to temperature in a similar fashion, genetic intervention to reduce the increase in photorespiration stoichiometry with temperature could increase total daily carbon assimilation and hence improve crop yields.
Recovering Data Models via Guarded Dependences

This paper presents an algorithm for reverse engineering semantically sound object-oriented data models from programs written in weakly-typed languages like COBOL. Our inference is based on a novel form of guarded transitive data dependence, and improves upon prior semantics-based model inference algorithms by producing simpler, easier to understand, models, and by inferring them more efficiently.
Tunneled hemodialysis catheters: use of a silver-coated catheter for prevention of infection--a randomized study.

PURPOSE: To determine whether silver-coated tunneled hemodialysis catheters reduce infection and to determine the frequency of central venous thrombosis and stenosis with percutaneous placement of right internal jugular vein dialysis catheters by interventional radiologists. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-one patients were randomly assigned to a treatment (silver-coated catheter; n = 47) or control (identical catheter without silver coating; n = 44) arm. Baseline venography was performed. Catheter tips were cultured and venography was repeated at catheter removal. RESULTS: Mean duration of catheter placement was 92 days. Infection occurred in 11 patients (five in the treatment group, six in the control group). Tip cultures in 15 patients (eight treatment, seven control) were positive without clinical infection. Infection and colonization rates were slightly but not significantly higher in the treatment group than in the control group. Silver-coated catheters in two (4%) patients were removed due to reactio...