cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Induction of DNA damage, alteration of DNA repair and transcriptional activation by stress hormones

Stress is associated with increased production of sympathetic and other adrenal hormones. Epinephrine (E), norepinephrine (NE) and cortisol are produced during psychological stress and may affect many cells directly. These effects may be transient (e.g. heart rate, immune cell trafficking) or they can have more long-lasting consequences, such as permanent DNA damage which may result in increased cell transformation and/or tumorigenicity. Here, the molecular effects of short term in vitro exposure of these stress hormones were analyzed on murine 3T3 cells by measuring effects on DNA damage and repair, cell transformation and changes in mRNA expression of genes specifically involved in DNA damage signaling pathways. Short-term exposure (<30 min) to physiological concentrations of either cortisol, NE or E induced at least five-fold increases in DNA damage in treated cells compared to untreated controls. Pre-treatment with blocking agents such as the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU486, or the beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist propranolol, eliminated this increase in damage. Both cortisol and NE interfered with repair of DNA damage in cells exposed to UV and resulted in an increase in the transformed phenotype. In contrast, E had none of these effects on 3T3 cells. Stress hormones had no significant effects on cell cycle regulation. Targeted gene arrays showed that cortisol, NE and E modulated the transcription of 21, 14 and 18 genes, respectively. These genes were directly related to DNA damage signaling pathways, and included up-regulation of DNA damage sensors Chk1 and Chk2, and the proto-oncogene CDC25A, which is involved in cell cycle delay following DNA damage. Taken together, these data show that stress hormones can increase DNA damage and transformation and alter transcriptional regulation of the cell cycle.
Segregation of the Huntington disease region of human chromosome 4 in a somatic cell hybrid.

Abstract We have developed an X-irradiation: cell fusion procedure that segregates segments of human chromosomes lacking selectable markers and have used this approach to construct somatic cell hybrids retaining fragments of human chromosome 4 as the only human material. To identify hybrids retaining a small chromosomal fragment in the region of the Huntington disease (HD) gene, we used Southern blot analysis to screen 72 hybrid lines for the presence or absence of seven chromosome 4 single-copy loci. These data, combined with in situ hybridization experiments, identified three hybrids of interest. One of these cell lines, C25, stably retains a 10,000- to 20,000-kb fragment of distal 4p in the vicinity of the HD gene, translocated to a hamster chromosome. Field-inversion gel electrophoresis revealed no evidence of rearrangements in the human DNA present in C25. In combination with similar radiation hybrids, C25 is a valuable tool for isolating DNA probes near the HD gene.
The metaphorical journey of evaluation theory

The theoretical evolution of educational evaluation in this century parallels the development of education as a field of study. Moving from a 19th‐century reliance on expert opinion, through a long effort to “scientize” the field through an objectives‐based approach, contemporary trends in evaluation now reflect poststructural and naturalistic thinking. Scriven, Stake, House, Hamilton, and Parlett all contribute to this redefinition. Methods have changed, and so, too, has the field's concept of its audience and function, becoming at once more pragmatic and more open to experimentation. Metaphors that have guided evaluators continually have been superseded by ones drawn from increasingly diverse fields. On both sides of the Atlantic, evaluation has assumed a more responsive, less positivistic form that portends a path of theoretical development which education at large may follow.
Computer Programs for AGS Injection

Since the injection system of the AGS requires very tight control over many parameters, computer programs were written to achieve this. One program initiates an emittance measurement device and reduces its output data to provide the characteristics of the linac beam. The second program utilizes these results to set six quadrupoles and four bending magnets so that requested beam parameters are obtained at the inflector exit. A third program measures the circulating beam and attempts to maximize it by adjustment of quadrupoles and bending magnets. These programs and our experience in using them on-line are described.
Scattering of elastic waves by a 3D anisotropic basin

Scattering of elastic waves by a three-dimensional transversely isotropic basin of arbitrary shape embedded in a half-space is considered using an indirect boundary integral equation approach. The unknown scattered waves are expressed in terms of point sources distributed on the so-called auxiliary surfaces. The sources are expressed in terms of the full-space Green's functions with their intensities determined from the requirement that the boundary and the continuity conditions are to be satisfied in the least-squares sense. Steady-state results were obtained for incident plane pseudo-P-, SH-, SV-, and Rayleigh waves. Using the Radon transform the Green's functions are obtained in the form of finite integrals over a unit sphere or a unit circle which can be numerically evaluated very efficiently. Detailed analysis of the method includes the discussion on the shape of the auxiliary surfaces and the distribution of the collocation points and sources. The convergence criteria is defined in terms of transparency tests, isotropic limit test, and minimization of a certain norm. The isotropic limit tests show excellent agreement with the isotropic results available in literature. For anisotropic materials the numerical results are given for a semispherical basin. The results show that presence of an anisotropic basin may result in significant amplification of surface motion atop the basin. While the amplitude of peak surface motion may be similar to the corresponding isotropic results, the difference in the displacement patterns may be quite different between the two. Therefore, this study clearly demonstrates that material anisotropy may be very important for accurate assessment of surface ground motion amplification atop basins.
A flip-flop switch in polarity signaling

The Rho GTPase Cdc42 is essential for polarized growth of budding yeast. Temporal control of Cdc42 depends partly on the activity of its GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs). In this issue of Developmental Cell , Saito et al. report that Cdc42 GAP activity is regulated by the phospholipid composition of the bud-tip membrane, under control of the phospholipid flippases Lem3-Dnf1 and Lem3-Dnf2.
Volatile liquid hydrocarbons in the surface coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico

Abstract A sampling and analysis procedure has been developed to determine quantitatively volatile liquid C 6 C 14 hydrocarbons, the most immediately toxic components of petroleum hydrocarbons, at the ng/l level characteristically found in marine waters. The method of analysis involves dynamic headspace sampling; continuous stripping of volatile hydrocarbons from heated seawater by an ultrapure inert gas, and trapping of volatile components on a solid polyphenyl ether adsorbent, Tenax-GC. The trapped components are subsequently desorbed from the Tenax-GC by heating to 250°C, with cryogenic (liquid nitrogen) trapping of the volatile hydrocarbons on a SE-30 pre-column. After the cryogenic trapping, the pre-column is then heated rapidly which ‘injects’ the trapped components onto a non-polar GC column for separation. The stripping system is uniquely designed in that the stripping of the volatiles is done in the sample bottle itself. Components are identified by means of GC-MS analyses and GC retention times. The reproducibility based on replicates is ±12%. The use of conventional oceanographic samplers is found to be unsuitable for liquid hydrocarbon sampling at the ng/l level. Distributions of liquid hydrocarbons were determined in coastal surface waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Total volatile n-alkane concentrations range from 7 ng/l to 50 ng/l, whereas total volatile aromatics (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes) range from 20 ng/l to 450 ng/l. At most sample stations, 80–90% of the total liquid hydrocarbons in surface water is aromatic. The contribution in seawater of these volatile hydrocarbons to the total solvent-extractable hydrocarbon budget is a few percent at most. A direct correlation exists between liquid hydrocarbon concentrations and C 1 C 5 hydrocarbon concentrations. Surface-water samples which show high liquid hydrocarbon concentrations (500 ng/l) are also extremely high in methane and ethane relative to open-ocean levels. Samples which are lowest in liquid hydrocarbons (30 ng/l) have concentrations of methane and ethane close to baseline or open-ocean concentrations.
A note on spatial-motor deficits in patients with Huntington's Disease: A test of a hypothesis☆

Abstract It has been previously demonstrated that the caudate nucleus plays a role in a system for ego-centric spatial localization. It was hypothesized that the caudate would also be involved in the compensation for self-produced movement required by such a system. A direct test of this hypothesis revealed that patients with Huntington's Disease, which affects the caudate nucleus, were impaired in a task embodying this compensation function but were unimpaired in other equally difficult spatial-motor tasks not involving this function.
Test method for determining the efflorescence potential of masonry materials based on soluble salt content

A single test method that is capable of determining the efflorescence potential for all materials in a masonry system is needed. The need for preconstruction testing is referenced in ASTM C1400-1—“Standard Guide for Reduction of Efflorescence Potential in New Masonry Walls”—but the standard acknowledges that there is not a suitable test method for all masonry materials. In the past, soluble salt measurements have been used to quantitatively access the efflorescence potential of masonry materials. To determine the water-soluble salt content of masonry materials, a simple leaching procedure was developed to remove the salts followed by quantification of the water-soluble salt content by ion chromatography. A series of modified efflorescence tests using salt solutions and real masonry materials has been used to determine the significance of water-soluble salt measurements. A clear threshold for soluble sulfate content that indicates a high potential for the development of visible efflorescence has been identified. Sulfate salts are the most common water-soluble compounds associated with efflorescence complaints.
Extensions of Priest-da Costa Logic

In this paper, we look at applying the techniques from analyzing superintuitionistic logics to extensions of the cointuitionistic Priest-da Costa logic daC (introduced by Graham Priest as "da Costa logic"). The relationship between the superintuitionistic axioms- definable in daC- and extensions of Priest-da Costa logic (sdc-logics) is analyzed and applied to exploring the gap between the maximal si-logic SmL and classical logic in the class of sdc-logics. A sequence of strengthenings of Priest-da Costa logic is examined and employed to pinpoint the maximal non-classical extension of both daC and Heyting-Brouwer logic HB . Finally, the relationship between daC and Logics of Formal Inconsistency is examined.
Intracellular Association of FGF-2 with the Ribosomal Protein L6/TAXREB107

Abstract By using the yeast two-hybrid system, we identified the ribosomal protein L6/TAXREB107 as an intracellular partner for FGF-2. L6/TAXREB107 also mediates the DNA binding of the HTLV-1 transactivator Tax.In vitrobinding experiments indicated that both the high-molecular-weight forms (HMW) and the 18-kDa form of FGF-2 bind to L6/TAXREB107. Deletion analysis suggested that L6/TAXREB107 has two binding sites for HMW FGF-2 and one binding site for 18-kDa FGF-2, implying that the unique N-terminal extension of the HMW FGF-2 is one of the binding domains for L6/TAXREB107. Transfection assays showed that high expression of either HMW or 18 kDa FGF-2 stimulates Tax-mediated transactivation in NIH 3T3 cells. This result suggests a possible role of FGF-2 in Tax-mediated HTLV-1 transformation as well as FGF-2 binding to ribosomes and/or their precursors.
Effects of predator fecal odors on feed selection by sheep and cattle

The effectiveness of predator fecal odors in modifying feeding selection by sheep and cattle was investigated in two trials. In trial 1, animals could select from feed bins contaminated with coyote, fox, cougar, or bear fecal odor, and oil of wintergreen, or select the control feed. All odors were rejected (P<0.01) by sheep and cattle, except bear odors by sheep. In trial 2, animals could select feed during 10-min periods in an open 11-m × 16-m arena. Fecal odor did not influence approaches to feed bins, or head entries into bins. Only coyote fecal odor reduced (P<0.05) the time spent feeding in the contaminated bin, and increased (P<0.05) consumption from the control bin by both cattle and sheep. Some animals on some test days refused to feed from either feed bin, although cattle and sheep closely inspected bins. Results suggest that fecal odors may not prevent livestock from entering a treated area but may reduce the time spent grazing in such an area.
Fractional quantum Hall effect in a periodic potential.

The fractional quantum Hall effect in a periodic potential or modulation of the magnetic field is studied by symmetry, topological, and Chern-Simons field-theoretic methods. With periodic boundary conditions, the Hall conductance in a finite system is known to be a fraction whose denominator is the degeneracy of the ground state. We show that in a finite system, translational symmetry predicts a degeneracy that varies periodically with system size and equals 1 for certain commensurate cases which we argue are physically representative. However, this analysis may overlook gaps due to finite-size effects that vanish in the thermodynamic limit. This possibility is addressed using a fermionic Chern-Simons field theory in the mean-field approximation. In addition to solutions describing the usual Laughlin or Jain states whose properties are only weakly modified by the periodic background, we also find solutions whose existence depends on the presence of the background. In these incompressible states, the Hall conductance is a fraction not equal to the filling factor, and its denominator is the same as that of the fractional charge and statistics of the elementary quasiparticle excitations.
Bridge Life Extension Using Semi-Active Vibration Control

The fatigue life of a bridge can be extended by fifty years just by reducing the peak strain levels it experiences by 33%. This paper utilizes a dynamic model of the Cedar Avenue tied arch steel bridge in Minnesota to investigate active control technologies for peak strain reduction. Simulations show that the use of passive structural modification devices such as stiffeners and dampers is inadequate to reduce the key resonant peaks in the frequency response of the bridge. Both active and semi-active vibration control strategies are then pursued. Active vibration control can effectively reduce all resonant peaks of interest, but is practically difficult to implement on a bridge due to power, size, and cost considerations. Semi-active control with a variable orifice damper in which the damping coefficient is changed in real-time using bridge vibration feedback can be practically implemented. Simulation results show that the proposed semi-active control system can reduce many of the resonant peaks of interest, but is unable to reduce the response at one key resonant frequency. Further analysis reveals that the location of the actuator on the bridge chosen for the semi-active controller is inappropriate for controlling the specific resonant frequency of issue. By modifying the actuator location, it would be possible to obtain control of all bridge resonant frequencies with the semi-active control system.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Toward an Understanding of Aggregate Death Penalty Opinion Change: A Possible Role for Popular Music

This study examines the relationship between popular music; specifically, death penalty songs, and aggregate death penalty opinion change utilizing an exploratory time series analysis. An assumption of this study is that the public is made conscious of the death penalty as a salient issue through the popular media, e.g., newspaper stories, magazine articles, movies, television programs, and music. Results of this study support the hypotheses that public consciousness about the death penalty as well as changes in aggregate death penalty opinion are associated with the content of popular media in the form of death penalty songs. As the number of death penalty songs increases in a year, death penalty support decreases two years later. Keywords: Death penalty opinion, capital punishment, media, death penalty songs, music.
Organic geochemistry of a lower jurassic synrift lacustrine sequence, Hartford Basin, Connecticut, U.S.A.

Abstract Synrift terrestrial strata of the Lower Jurassic East Berlin Formation (Hanford basin, Connecticut, U.S.A.) record cyclical expansion and contraction of major lakes, six of which were deep enough to develop anoxic bottom waters. We have studied one representative lacustrine sequence in detail, sampling a new roadcut near the village of East Berlin. The section examined is 4 m thick, with a gray silstone at the base, deposited in shallow water, overlain by an organic-rich black shale (deep water), succeeded in turn by another gray siltstone, deposited as the lake waters gradually receded. The upper gray siltstone is chemically distinct from the lower siltstone, as it contains small amounts of corrensite, analcime and gypsum, reflecting the increasing salinity and alkalinity of the contracting lake. The samples in the center of the black shale unit contain laminae of thermally-altered, yellowish orange-fluorescing, mottled telalginite. The fluorescence properties indicate a peak oil generation maturity level, confirmed by a vitrinite reflectance of 1.13% and a Methylphenanthrene Index of 1.08. The other samples have less organic matter, becoming increasingly lean towards the top and bottom of the sequence. Samples in the middle of the black shale unit are distinguished by the presence of an homologous series of tricyclic terpanes extending from C20 to at least C41, and by the near absence of hopanes and steranes. Moving upsection into the gray siltstone, the samples contain markedly lessextractable organic material (EOM) and the concentration of tricyclic terpanes relative to hopanes steadily decreases. In the uppermost sample, hopanes are the predominant terpanes. Moving downsection from the black shale into the lower gray siltstone, EOM and the ratio of tricyclic terpanes also decrease, except in the lowermost samples, which contain terpane distributions like those of the middle part of the black shale. This likely is migrated material, because bitumen fills microfractures and extensive megafractures. The lack of hopanes and steranes in the black shales cannot simply be a maturation effect, as these biomarkers appear in the adjacent beds. Instead, the manual terpane distributions may indicate a changing depositional environment, documenting the geochemical evolution of the lake. Or, more likely, they may result from fractionation during expulsion of petroleum from these mature source rocks.
Text structure and reading time for sentences

Two experiments examining the influence of a story's structure on the comprehension of its sentences are presented. It was expected that sentences at high levels in a story would take longer to encode than those at low levels, either because cues to the sentences' roles exist within the story or because of differential difficulty of integrating the sentences into the prior context. Moreover, the greater density of new information early in stories might result in comprehension being affected by the serial position of a sentence within a story. The reading times for the individual sentences (or clauses) of stories were measured where a particular sentence appeared at one hierarchical (and/or serial) position in one story and at a different hierarchical (and/or serial) position in another story. In both experiments high-level sentences took longer to read than low-level ones and early-occurring sentences longer than late-occurring ones. Recall data supported the structural assignment of the critical sentences. These results were discussed both in terms of the initial hypotheses and in terms of W. Kintsch and T. A. van Dijk's (Psychological Review, 1978, 85, 363–394) theory of text comprehension.
Helium isotopes, neon and tritium in the Black Sea: A comparison with the 1975 observations

Abstract Measurements of dissolved helium, neon and tritium in the Black Sea are described. A comparison of the present measurements with those made in 1975 reveals some permanent and transitory characteristics of the basin. Helium, with a large source from the sediments, is found to have essentially the same profile as in 1975, whereas neon shows small deviations from the previous profile, probably as a result of variations in the influence of the Mediterranean input. The present temperature-salinity structure also appears to have changed from that in 1975. In the preliminary set of analyses no measurable tritium was found below about 500 m, in contrast to the 1975 measurements which showed a small concentration below 1700 m. The maximum in 3 He, the radioactive decay product of tritium, was found to have migrated from a depth of 70 to 130 m since 1975. 3 He concentrations in some bottom samples from stations near the southern coast are slightly elevated. This may be related to the tectonic structure of the region.
Direct Implementation of Asynchronous Control Units

The "one-hot" row assignment for asynchronous circuits, in which every row in a flow table has exactly one of the feedback variables that equals the value 1, provides a straightforward method for circuit synthesis. Once a flow table has been constructed, the state equations can be directly written, without requiring any procedure to ensure a race-free assignment. Furthermore, it can implement any arbitrary fundamental mode asynchronous circuit, not depending on a specific signaling protocol for its correct operation. An alternate view of one-hot asynchronous circuits is given, with a simple set-reset flip-flop for each state. Although this may seem excessive compared to implementations with encoded state variables, for many circuits their one-hot implementation is comparable in cost to other asynchronous implementations.
Flow structure transition mechanisms in thermal convection of air in rectangular containers

Abstract Transition of convection roll patterns is evaluated empirically for horizontal moderate size containers of air heated below and cooled above. Characteristics of the transitions are of interest in the study of nonlinear dynamical systems, since the regime of convection roll flow structures precedes the appearance of turbulent convection in experiments with increasing buoyancy.
The Concept of Private Property and the Limits of the Environmental Imagination

An absolutist concept of property has the power to shape and constrain the public imagination. Libertarian theorists normatively embrace this concept. Yet its influence extends far beyond these proponents, shaping the views of an otherwise diverse array of theorists and activists. This limits the ability of environmentalists, among others, to respond coherently to challenges from property rights advocates in the U.S. I sketch an alternative concept—rooted in practice—that understands private property as necessarily embedded in social and ecological relations, rather than constrained by these relations. I argue that this concept can prefigure a more robust environmentalism.
Process development for PWB compatible embedded capacitors

This paper addresses materials and processes for printed wiring board compatible embedded capacitors using polymer/ceramic nanocomposites and hydrothermal barium titanate. Polymers allow low temperature fabrication appropriate to the board (MCM‐L) technology. The lower dielectric constants of the commercially available polymers can be greatly compensated by incorporating higher permittivity ceramic fillers. Materials requirements for higher capacitance density (>30 nF/cm2) have been addressed through implementation of a novel low‐temperature processable hydrothermal barium titanate film on a patterned titanium foil laminated to the PWB. Application of hydrothermal grown barium titanate is currently being evaluated using a multi‐layer system‐on‐package demonstration.
A Sound that Never Sounded The Historical Construction of Sound Fidelity

/ Cylinder recordings as an early form of reproducible sound media were first used in 1877 and continued to be produced commercially up until 1929 by Edison. The many cylinders that exist today in various states of decomposition have become objects of concern for those with an interest in historical sound recordings. With this concern leading to preservation efforts converting cylinder sounds into digital form, how should a cylinder sound and with the transformative potential for digital manipulation readily available, how should a digital file of a cylinder record sound? This article discusses the production process of both cylinder recordings and their digital conversions, revealing how fidelity never actually existed in the production process. The University of California Santa Barbara's Cylinder Preservation and Digitization Project exemplifies a digital preservation project that reveals what is valued during the digital conversion process. By describing how the cylinders are imbued with meaning throu...
Venous thromboembolic events in isolated severe traumatic brain injury.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of prophylactic anticoagulation on the incidence of venous thromboembolic events (VTE) in patients suffering from isolated severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Materials and Methods: Retrospective matched case-control study in adult patients sustaining isolated severe TBI (head AIS ≥3, with extracranial AIS ≤2) receiving VTE prophylaxis while in the surgical intensive care unit from 1/2007 through 12/2009. Patients subjected to VTE prophylaxis were matched 1:1 by age, gender, glasgow coma scale (GCS) score at admission, presence of hypotension on admission, injury severity score, and head abbreviated injury scale (AIS) score, with patients who did not receive chemical VTE prophylaxis. The primary outcome measure was VTE. Secondary outcomes were SICU and hospital length of stay (HLOS), adverse effects of anticoagulation, and mortality. Results: After propensity matching, 37 matched pairs were analysed. Cases and controls had similar demographics, injury characteristics, rate of craniotomies/craniectomies, SICU LOS, and HLOS. The median time of commencement of VTE prophylaxis was 10 days. The incidence of VTE was increased 3.5-fold in the controls compared to the cases (95% CI 1.0-12.1, P =0.002). The mortality was higher in patients who did not receive anticoagulation (19% vs. 5%, P =0.001). No adverse outcomes were detected in the anticoagulated patients. Conclusion: Prophylactic anticoagulation decreases the overall risk for clinically significant VTE in patients with severe isolated TBI. Prospective validation of the timing and safety of chemical VTE prophylaxis in these instances is warranted.
Influx of Ca ion in cultured excitable cells studied by fluorescence microscope imaging technique

The spatial distribution and temporal variation of intracellular Ca ion in differentiated Neuroblastoma-Glia Hybridoma 108–15 cells (NG108–15) were investigated using a fluorescence microscope imaging technique. Fura-2 was used as a probe. Electrical current pulses of 10–20 µA were applied to axons connecting to NG cells in order to elicit the influx of Ca ion. The concentration of intracellular Ca is usually 50–80 nM in NG cells in the resting state. Upon stimulation, the Ca level increases by a factor of 2–5. The entry of Ca++ across cell membranes is followed by intracellular diffusion and the propagation of a wave front is clearly seen in digital images. The diffusion constant was calculated to be approximately 1.66×10−6 cm2/sec. This value is about one-fifth of the free diffusion coefficient of Ca ion in aqueous solution (7.82 × 10−6 cm2/sec). Cd ion, at the concentration of 1–2 mM, blocks the influx of Ca as expected whereas the influx is unaffected by TTX at the concentration of 0.1 – 0.2µM.
The type 2 inositol (1,4,5)-trisphosphate (InsP3) receptor determines the sensitivity of InsP3-induced Ca2+ release to ATP in pancreatic acinar cells.

Calcium release through inositol (1,4,5)-trisphosphate receptors (InsP3R) is the primary signal driving digestive enzyme and fluid secretion from pancreatic acinar cells. The type 2 (InsP3R2) and type 3 (InsP3R3) InsP3R are the predominant isoforms expressed in acinar cells and are required for proper exocrine gland function. Both InsP3R2 and InsP3R3 are positively regulated by cytosolic ATP, but InsP3R2 is 10-fold more sensitive than InsP3R3 to this form of modulation. In this study, we examined the role of InsP3R2 in setting the sensitivity of InsP3-induced Ca2+ release (IICR) to ATP in pancreatic acinar cells. IICR was measured in permeabilized acinar cells from wild-type (WT) and InsP3R2 knock-out (KO) mice. ATP augmented IICR from WT pancreatic cells with an EC50 of 38 μm. However, the EC50 was 10-fold higher in acinar cells isolated from InsP3R2-KO mice, indicating a role for InsP3R2 in setting the sensitivity of IICR to ATP. Consistent with this idea, heterologous expression of InsP3R2 in RinM5F cells, which natively express predominately InsP3R3, increased the sensitivity of IICR to ATP. Depletion of ATP attenuated agonist-induced Ca2+ signaling in WT pancreatic acinar cells. This effect was more profound in acinar cells prepared from InsP3R2-KO mice. These data suggest that the sensitivity of IICR to ATP depletion is regulated by the particular complement of InsP3R expressed in an individual cell. The effects of metabolic stress on intracellular Ca2+ signals can therefore be determined by the relative amount of InsP3R2 expressed in cells.
The Pathomechanics Of Calcaneal Gait

The data acquisition system employed in our laboratory includes optical, electronic and computer subsystems. Three movie camera freeze the motion for analysis. The film is displayed on a motion analyzer, and the body segment positions are recorded in a three dimensional coordinate system with Graf/pen sonic digitizer. The angular rotations are calculated by computer and automatically plotted. The force plate provides measurements of vertical force, foreaft shear, medial-lateral shear, torque, and center of pressure. Electromyograms are superimposed upon gait movies to permit measurement of muscle phasic activity. The Hycam movie camera si-multaneously films (through separate lens) the subject and oscilloscope. Movement measurements, electromyograms, and floor reaction forces provide the data base for analysis. From a study of the gait changes in five normal subjects following tibial nerve block, and from additional studies of patients with paralysis of the ankle plantar flexors, the pathomechanics of calcaneal gait can be described. Inability to transfer weight to the forward part of the foot produces ankle instability and reduction of contralateral step length. Excessive drop of the center of mass necessitates com-pensatory increased lift energy output through the sound limb to restore the height of the center of mass. Excessive stance phase ankle dorsiflexion produces knee instability requiring prolonged quadriceps muscle phasic activity.
A new method for detection of distant supernova neutrino bursts

Abstract We suggest a new method for detection of neutrino bursts generated by distant supernovas in our galaxy and in the local group of galaxies. This new method is based on the detection of neutrons produced in the inelastic scattering of νμ and ντ neutrinos with nuclei via the neutral current channel. The advantages of such a detector are (1) the enhancement of neutrino scattering cross sections due to nuclear collective effects, (2) the selective detection of νμ and ντ supernova neutrinos, and (3) the existence of large geological deposits of suitable neutrino detector materials in nature.
The Radioracemization of Amino Acids by Ionizing Radiation: Geochemical and Cosmochemical Implications

A number of optically active amino acids, both in the solid state and as sodium or hydrochloride salts in aqueous solution, have been exposed to ionizing radiation from a 3000 Ci60Co γ-ray source to see if radioracemization might accompany their well-known radiolysis. γ-Ray doses causing 55–68% radiolysis of solid amino acids typically engendered 2–5% racemization, while aqueous solutions of the sodium salts of amino acids which underwent 53–66% radiolysis showed 5–11% racemization. Amino acid hydrochloride salts in aqueous solution, on the other hand, showed little or no radioracemization accompanying their radiolysis. Both radiolysis, and radioracemization were roughly proportional to γ-ray dose in the range studied (1–36×106 rads). Mechanisms for the radioracemization of amino acids in the solid state and as aqueous sodium salts are discussed, and the absence of radioracemization for aqueous hydrochloride salts is rationalized. Isovaline, a non-protein amino acid which has been isolated from the Murchison meteorite, contains no α-hydrogen atom and is therefore incapable of racemizationvia the chemical mechanisms by which ordinary amino acids racemize. Nevertheless, isovaline suffers radioracemization in the solid state to an extent comparable to that shown by ordinary amino acids, as do its sodium and hydrochloride salts in the solid state. The sodium salt of isovaline in aqueous solution, however, fails to racemize during its radiolysis. Several implicaitons of the newly described phenomenon of radiomization are pointed out for the fields of geochemistry and cosmochemistry.
Assessing Protection from Suicidal Risk: Psychometric Properties of the Suicide Resilience Inventory.

This study investigated psychometric properties of the Suicide Resilience Inventory-25 (SRI-25) in a diverse sample of 239 college students. Participants completed the SRI-25, Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Confirmatory factor analysis supported the 3 dimensions described by SRI-25 authors (A. Osman et al., 2004): internal protective, emotional stability, and external protective. Correlations with the BHS (r = - .68) and SIQ (r = - .67) supported the scale's validity, although the external protective subscale and MSPSS were only moderately correlated (r = .47). Overall, the SRI-25's reliability and validity support its use in suicide research. Implications for exploring young adults' resilience in the face of suicidal thoughts via clinical interview or administration of the SRI-25 are discussed as they create an opportunity to potentially infuse hope, tap into strengths, and identify avenues for positive change.
Assembly of the vesicular stomatitis virus envelope: Transfer of viral polypeptides from polysomes to cellular membranes

Abstract The lipoprotein envelope of vesicular stomatitis virus contains two polypeptides, M and G. Both are inserted into the host cell plasma membrane and are incorporated into virions as the nucleocapsid buds from the cell surface. These experiments concern the transfer of newly synthesized M and G polypeptide chains from polysomes to the plasma membrane. Infected cells were pulse-labeled for 2 min with radioactive amino acids in order to label completed M and G molecules and their nascent chains. Nascent M chains were associated with soluble polysomes while nascent G chains were associated with membrane-bound polysomes. Completed G polypeptide chains were found exclusively in the cytoplasmic membrane fraction while completed M chains were found in the membrane fraction and the postribosomal supernatant. These radioactive M polypeptide chains disappeared from the supernatant upon further incubation with nonradioactive amino acids. If pulse-labeled cells were incubated with puromycin so that polysomes were dissociated, nascent G peptide chains remained associated with the cytoplasmic membrane fraction. Our results suggest that newly synthesized M polypeptides are released into the soluble phase of the cytoplasm before reaching the plasma membrane while newly synthesized G polypeptides pass directly from membrane-bound polysomes to the membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum system. The G polypeptide appears to become membrane-associated prior to peptide chain completion.
Estimating Spatially Varying Defocus Blur From A Single Image

Estimating the amount of blur in a given image is important for computer vision applications. More specifically, the spatially varying defocus point-spread-functions (PSFs) over an image reveal geometric information of the scene, and their estimate can also be used to recover an all-in-focus image. A PSF for a defocus blur can be specified by a single parameter indicating its scale. Most existing algorithms can only select an optimal blur from a finite set of candidate PSFs for each pixel. Some of those methods require a coded aperture filter inserted in the camera. In this paper, we present an algorithm estimating a defocus scale map from a single image, which is applicable to conventional cameras. This method is capable of measuring the probability of local defocus scale in the continuous domain. It also takes smoothness and color edge information into consideration to generate a coherent blur map indicating the amount of blur at each pixel. Simulated and real data experiments illustrate excellent performance and its successful applications in foreground/background segmentation.
CLINICAL EVALUATION OF THE ELBOW IN THROWERS

Abstract The elbow is a vital part of the complicated and intricate mechanism known as throwing. The athlete that participates in a throwing sport walks a fine line between success and injury. It is this line that the clinician must monitor. When an athlete admits that an injury has occurred, it is up to the physician to listen, observe, and examine the player in great detail. Injuries that involve the elbow are complex and difficult to evaluate; therefore, it is essential that a thorough, complete, and reproducible evaluation be performed every time. Not only is this important initially, but is invaluable when following up on the athlete over the course of the injury. The patient's history is the initial tool used to narrow the differential diagnoses. Questioning is concise, structured, and not leading. The result is a workable list of possible diagnosis that will aid the examiner when the physical examination is performed. The physical, like the history, is well outlined and defined. This methodology allows the clinician to be structured when evaluating the results. In the end, a complete history and physical examination may not be enough to draw a final conclusion to the etiology of the athlete's elbow injury. Ancillary studies should then be evaluated for their value and effectiveness in aiding the examiner to achieve a correct diagnosis. The purpose of this report is to provide the clinician a template that will give consistent results and aid in the diagnosis of elbow injuries.
Corrosive effects of supercritical carbon dioxide and cosolvents on metals

Abstract With the eventual phase-out of chlorofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons, and restrictive regulations concerning the use of other volatile organic compounds as cleaning solvents, it is essential to seek new, environmentally acceptable cleaning processes. We are investigating supercritical carbon dioxide (C02) as an alternative solvent for precision cleaning of machined metal parts in governmental and industrial cleaning processes. The compatibility of metals in supercritical-fluid cleaning media with respect to corrosion must be addressed. In this work, a screening study of the corrosive effects of supercritical CO 2 and several supercritical cosolvents on selected metals was conducted. Sample coupons of stainless steel (grades 304LSS, 316SS), aluminum (grades 2024, 6061, 7075), carbon steel (1018), and copper (CDA 101) were statically exposed to pure supercritical C0 2 , water-saturated supercritical C02, 10 wt % methanol/CO 2 cosolvent, and 4 wt % tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (THFA)/C0 2 at 24,138 kPa (3500 psig) and 323 K (50 °C) for 24 h. Gravimetric analysis and magnified visual inspection of the coupons were performed before and after the exposure tests. Surface analyses including electron microprobe analysis (EMPA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) were done where visual and gravimetric changes were indicative of corrosive attack. The metal alloys were found to be compatible with the supercritical test media barring a few exceptions. Corrosive attack was observed on 1018 carbon steel in the water-saturated CO 2 environment, and also on 2024 aluminum and CDA 101 copper, both in the 10 wt % methanol-CO 2 cosolvent. The results of all compatibility testing are reported, and hypotheses are formed in an attempt to explain possible corrosion mechanisms.
The induction of an angiogenic response in corneal myofibroblasts by platelet-activating factor (PAF).

Purpose: Although the exact mechanisms underlying corneal neovascularization remain unclear, cytokines and growth factors play an important role in their development. We have shown previously that the inflammatory mediator platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a potent inducer of corneal neovascularization in vivo. In this study, we investigate the role of stromal myofibroblasts in neovascularization and the effect of PAF on this process.Methods: Myofibroblasts were obtained from rabbit corneal keratocytes and identified with anti-α-SMA antibody. Cells were treated with PAF (100 nM) for 24 hr. In some experiments, cells were pre-treated with the PAF antagonist LAU-0901 (150 nM). Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) was examined by immunofluorescence and immunoblotting. To study the effect of myofibroblasts on vessel formation in vitro, Vybrant® CM-DiI labeled human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured on myofibroblasts in a thin layer of col...
Dnmt1-dependent DNA methylation is essential for photoreceptor terminal differentiation and retinal neuron survival

Epigenetic regulation of the genome is critical for the emergence of diverse cell lineages during development. To understand the role of DNA methylation during retinal network formation, we generated a mouse retinal-specific Dnmt1 deletion mutation from the onset of neurogenesis. In the hypomethylated Dnmt1-mutant retina, neural progenitor cells continue to proliferate, however, the cell cycle progression is altered, as revealed by an increased proportion of G1 phase cells. Despite production of all major retinal neuronal cell types in the Dnmt1-mutant retina, various postmitotic neurons show defective differentiation, including ectopic cell soma and aberrant dendritic morphologies. Specifically, the commitment of Dmnt1-deficient progenitors towards the photoreceptor fate is not affected by DNA hypomethylation, yet the initiation of photoreceptor differentiation is severely hindered, resulting in reduction and mislocalization of rhodopsin-expressing cells. In addition to compromised neuronal differentiation, Dnmt1 deficiency also leads to rapid cell death of photoreceptors and other types of neurons in the postnatal retina. These results indicate that Dnmt1-dependent DNA methylation is critical for expansion of the retinal progenitor pool, as well as for maturation and survival of postmitotic neurons.
Gastric emptying of solids but not liquids is decreased in rats with chronic renal failure

Severe gastric complications occur in uremic patients, yet few studies have addressed the effect of chronic renal failure (RF) on gastric physiology. In the present study, we investigated: (1) the effect of RF on gastric emptying of liquids and solids in awake rats, (2) the motor function in the gastric corpus, and (3) the role of nitric oxide in any alterations in gastric motor function in uremic rats. RF was induced by partial kidney infarction. RF had no effect on gastric emptying of liquids but significantly inhibited gastric emptying of solids by 68%.N-Nitro-l-arginine, an inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, had no effect on the reduced gastric emptying of solids in RF rats. RF rats showed an altered pattern of gastric motility compared to sham-operated rats. These data suggest that RF induced an inhibition of gastric emptying of solids, but not liquids. However, NO does not seem to play a role in this inhibition.
Soil Evolution Along an Altitudinal Transect in the Eastern Mojave Desert of Nevada, U.S.A.

Amundson, R.G., Chadwick, O.A., Sowers, J.M. and Doner, H.E., 1989. Soil evolution along an altitudinal transect in the eastern Mojave Desert of Nevada, U.S.A. Geoderma, 43: 349-371. Six soil profiles were examined along an altitudinal transect, from 840 to 2170 m, in the eastern Mojave Desert of southern Nevada. The soils formed on gravelly limestone alluvium which varied in age from Holocene to mid-Pleistocene. Climate and vegetation varied from an arid, desert scrub community at the low elevation to a sub-humid, coniferous forest at the highest elevation. Silicate clay mineralogy was similar to that of the parent material in all the Holocene soils but differed with elevation in the mid-Pleistocene soils, these being dominated by palygorskite at 1400 m and smectite at 2150 m. Pedogenic carbonate content of the Bk horizons and morphologic stage of carbonate accumulation increased with soil age with the exception of the 2150 m site where excess moisture leaches carbonate out of the profile. DCB-extractable iron increased with both age and elevation whereas soil organic C and C02 increased primarily with elevation, reflecting the gradient in moisture regime and biologic productivity. Aeolian dust may have a strong role in the formation of the vesicular, platey surface horizons at many of the sites.
Z b ( 10610 ) and Z b ( 10650 ) decays to bottomonium plus pion

We consider the transitions from the ${Z}_{b}(10610)$ and ${Z}_{b}(10650)$ resonances to the states of bottomonium with emission of a pion. The ${Z}_{b}$ resonances are viewed as ``molecular'' objects of a large spatial size made of heavy ${B}^{(*)}$ mesons, while the states of bottomonium are considered to be compact, so that an application of the leading (dipole) term in the QCD multipole expansion is assumed to be justified. In this way we calculate the ratios of the decay rates to the final states $\ensuremath{\Upsilon}(nS)\ensuremath{\pi}$ with $n=1$, 2, 3, and the ratio of the decay rates to ${h}_{b}(kP)\ensuremath{\pi}$ with $k=1$ and 2. We find our estimates in reasonable agreement with recent experimental data.