cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modulation of Intestinal Tight Junctions: A Novel Mechanism of Intestinal Secretion † 482

Zonula occludens toxin (Zot) is a novel toxin elaborated by Vibrio cholerae that modulates intestinal tight junctions. Aim of the study was to establish whether the permeabilizing effect of the toxin leads to intestinal secretion. Rabbit intestine was mounted in Ussing chambers and exposed to increasing concentrations of purified toxin. The tissues were also fixed, exposed to Zot, and then processed for fluorescence microscopy to determine the distribution of the toxin receptor within the intestine. Finally, purified toxin was simultaneously perfused in three distinct rabbit intestinal segments in vivo and water and electrolytes absorption measured. Zot induced a time- and dose-dependent decrease of rabbit intestinal tissue resistance in vitro, starting at a toxin concentration of 1.1×10-13M. When tested in vivo, the toxin induced a secretion of water and chloride and the passage of polyethylene glycole 4000 in the bloodstream. Both the in vitro and in vivo effects of the toxin were reversible, were observed only in the small intestine but not in the colon, and paralleled the distribution of the toxin receptor within the intestine. In conclusion, the intestinal secretion induced by Zot follows the opening of tight junctions caused by the toxin and may represent a novel mechanism of intestinal secretion.
Neurons of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the albino rat.

Light and electron microscopic observations were made on the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (DLGN) of 33 young adult male albino rats. Three variants of the Golgi silver impregnation technique were employed in the light microscopic studies. Neurons were classified into three categories based on location, dendritic pattern, and dendritic appendages. Type 1 and type 3 neurons were distributed throughout the DLGN. Type 2 neurons were located in the superficial zone. Dendritic appendages of type 1 and type 2 neurons indicated these cells may function as geniculocortical relay neurons. The type 3 neurons had lobulated dendritic appendages and an axon that terminated within the nucleus. Type 3 neurons may represent Golgi-type II interneurons. Camera lucida drawings, photomicrographs, and electronmicrographs illustrate the characteristics of the three cell types. The literature on ultrastructural and neurophysiological findings may substantiate the presence of three neuronal types. Initially, the rat DLGN does not appear as elaborately organized as the nucleus observed in cats and primates; however, there are notable similarities in neuronal morphology and synaptology.
Chemistry of hydrothermal vent fluids from the Main Endeavour Field, northern Juan de Fuca Ridge: Geochemical controls in the aftermath of June 1999 seismic events

[1] In June 1999, an intense swarm of earthquakes occurred on the Endeavour segment of the Juan de Fuca Ridge influencing hydrothermal activity in and around the Main Endeavour Field (MEF). Here we report the dissolved concentrations of 31 species from five high-temperature vents sampled 3 months after the seismic event. The spatial variability of vent fluid chemistry is extreme. Vapor-dominated vent fluids at Cantilever and Sully sites have high measured temperatures (375°–379°C), high dissolved gas and boron concentrations, but low SiO2. Modeling results indicate that these fluids can be accounted for by supercritical phase separation and brine condensation. Other vent fluids have moderate temperatures (340°–366°C) and chloride concentrations (208–426 mmol/kg), and may result from mixing of supercritical, vapor-rich fluids with evolved seawater. Phase equilibria calculations indicate that in addition to chloride, redox, temperature, and especially pressure play key roles in accounting for compositional variability of vent fluids at MEF. In comparison with earlier (1988) data, the 1999 data set reveals significantly lower chloride concentrations and higher boron, whereas alkali and alkaline earth cations are lower by 10–20% in keeping with chloride decrease. That dissolved chloride, boron, and other elements returned to preevent levels when again sampled in 2000 provide additional data documenting the inherently dynamic nature of hydrothermal systems at mid-ocean ridges.
Designing and Implementing the First Environmental and Science Journalism Course for an Uzbekistan Journalism School

Uzbekistan faces severe ecological problems including the rapidly shrinking Aral Sea, desertification, residues of biochemical weapons, and environmentally related respiratory disease. Even so, the country's print and broadcast media do little in-depth or analytical reporting on environmental issues, nor are journalists trained to cover such topics. In Spring 2002, a U.S. Fulbright lecturer at the Uzbek State World Languages University and his Uzbek colleague developed the first envirojournalism course at any university in Uzbekistan. The pilot course faced administrative and operational obstacles. It was also hindered by students' inadequate scientific backgrounds and their limited access to information and resources.
Through-thickness notch ductility and tension properties as a function of neutron exposure to a simulated pressure vessel wall of A302-B steel

Abstract Notch ductility and tension property measurements have been made using specimens irradiated within a large steel test assembly simulating the pressure vessel wall of a light-water moderated power reactor. The A302-B steel-specimens, spaced at intervals through the 6-inch thickness of the assembly, showed the greatest embrittlement and tensile property changes from irradiation locations nearest the fuel core, and correspondingly smaller changes farther from the core. Measured fluxes, stated in terms of neutrons > 1 MeV based upon an assumed fission spectrum, compared well with calculated neutron fluxes > 1 MeV for all test assembly locations, thus providing the basis for future estimates of property changes through the thickness of heavy-walled reactor pressure vessels.
Differential Methylation of Xite and CTCF Sites in Tsix Mirrors the Pattern of X-Inactivation Choice in Mice

During mammalian dosage compensation, one of two X-chromosomes in female cells is inactivated. The choice of which X is silenced can be imprinted or stochastic. Although genetic loci influencing the choice decision have been identified, the primary marks for imprinting and random selection remain undefined. Here, we examined the role of DNA methylation, a mechanism known to regulate imprinting in autosomal loci, and sought to determine whether differential methylation on the two Xs might predict their fates. To identify differentially methylated domains (DMDs) at the X-inactivation center, we used bisulfite sequencing and methylation-sensitive restriction enzyme analyses. We found DMDs in Tsix and Xite, two genes previously shown to influence choice. Interestingly, the DMDs in Tsix lie within CTCF binding sites. Allelic methylation differences occur in gametes and are erased in embryonic stem cells carrying two active Xs. Because the pattern of DNA methylation mirrors events of X-inactivation, we propose that differential methylation of DMDs in Tsix and Xite constitute a primary mark for epigenetic regulation. The discovery of DMDs in CTCF sites draws further parallels between X-inactivation and autosomal imprinting.
Loss of β-Catenin Impairs the Renewal of Normal and CML Stem Cells In Vivo

A key characteristic of stem cells and cancer cells is their ability to self-renew. To test if Wnt signaling can regulate the self-renewal of both stem cells and cancer cells in the hematopoietic system, we developed mice that lack beta-catenin in their hematopoietic cells. Here we show that beta-catenin-deficient mice can form HSCs, but that these cells are deficient in long-term growth and maintenance. Moreover, beta-catenin deletion causes a profound reduction in the ability of mice to develop BCR-ABL-induced chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), while allowing progression of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). These studies demonstrate that Wnt signaling is required for the self-renewal of normal and neoplastic stem cells in the hematopoietic system.
Ball lightning: What nature is trying to tell the plasma research community

Summary form only given. The energy density of a few lightning balls has been observed to be as high as 20,000 joules per cubic centimeter, well above the limit of chemical energy storage of, for example, TNT at 2000 joules per cubic centimeter. This suggests magnetic energy storage in a plasma-related phenomenon, which should be of great theoretical and practical interest to the plasma research community. If the physical processes responsible for ball lightning were understood, this would have very interesting implications for fusion research (because of their long confinement duration, high energy density, and ability to operate at one atmosphere); for industrial plasma engineering (because of their ability to exist for long durations as a glow discharge at one atmosphere, and provide active species for atmospheric surface treatment of materials); and for military applications (because of the observed ability of ball lightning to cause stunning and death), and perhaps provide a nonlethal and nonmaiming military antipersonnel weapon, as well as a potential form of portable electromagnetic pulse to distable sophisticated electronic weapons.
Effects of Age on Plasma Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) and Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases (TIMPs)

Abstract Background The mechanisms causing age-dependent changes in left ventricular (LV) structure and function are not completely understood. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) constitute one important proteolytic pathway affecting LV remodeling. However, whether these determinants of extracellular matrix (ECM) composition change as a function of age has not been examined in an aging population free of clinically significant cardiovascular disease. Methods and Results Subjects (n = 77, age 20–90 years) with no evidence of cardiovascular disease underwent echocardiography and measurement of plasma MMP-2, 7, 8, and 9 and TIMP-1, 2, and 4 (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). As subject age increased, volume/mass ratio decreased and mitral E/A ratio decreased. As subject age increased, MMP-2 increased (from 1188 ± 99 ng/mL to 1507 ± 76 ng/mL), MMP-7 increased (from 1.2 ± 0.1 ng/mL to 3.1 ± 0.6 ng/mL), MMP-9 decreased (from 29 ± 7 ng/mL to 8 ± 2 ng/mL), and TIMP-1, 2, and 4 increased (from 728 ± 46 ng/mL to 1093 ± 73 ng/mL, from 34 ± 5 ng/mL to 53 ± 6 ng/mL, and from 1.26 ± 0.22 ng/mL to 2.34 ± 0.30 ng/mL, respectively) (all P Conclusions MMPs and TIMPs changed as a function of age in the absence of clinically significant cardiovascular disease. These age-dependent alterations in MMP and TIMP profiles favor ECM accumulation and were associated with concentric remodeling and decreased LV diastolic function. Because of these age-dependent changes in this proteolytic system, the superimposition of disease processes such as myocardial infarction or hypertensive heart disease in the older subject may result in different myocardial ECM remodeling than that seen in a younger subject.
Regulation of E-C Coupling Via TβRI and FKBP12

The immunophilin FKBP12 (12-kDa FK506 Binding Protein) binds to both the type I transforming growth factor (TGF-β) receptor (TβRI) and the skeletal muscle Ca2+ release channel (RyR1). Skeletal muscle contains significant amounts of TβRI which is an integral member of the TGF-β signaling pathway that consists of the extracellular domain and the intracellular domain. The cytoplasmic domain of TβRI directly interacts with several proteins including FKBP12. FKBP12 modulates both TβRI-mediated signaling and Ca2+ release from RyR1. The functional significance of the interplay between TGF-β signaling and intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis is not known. We assessed the effects of TGFβ on excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling and the level of intracellular Ca2+ stores in primary myotubes and on fatigue in adult muscle. We found that TGFβ increases the relative gain of E-C coupling in myotubes and enhances the development of fatigue in skeletal muscle. We compared the locations of TβRI and RyR1 in isolated single fibers from wild-type and FKBP12 deficient mice and found that TβRI and RyR1 co-localized at the triad in single fibers. Other data suggest that free FKBP12 is limiting in muscle such that RyR1 is not fully saturated with FKBP12. One possible side effect of activation of local TGF-β receptors would be a local increase in FKBP12 and subsequent effects on RyR1 activity. This work was supported by grants from NIH (AR041802) and MDA to S.L.H.
Flagellar central pair assembly in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Most motile cilia and flagella have nine outer doublet and two central pair (CP) microtubules. Outer doublet microtubules are continuous with the triplet microtubules of the basal body, are templated by the basal body microtubules, and grow by addition of new subunits to their distal (“plus”) ends. In contrast, CP microtubules are not continuous with basal body microtubules, raising the question of how these microtubules are assembled and how their polarity is established. CP assembly in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was analyzed by electron microscopy and wide-field and super-resolution immunofluorescence microscopy. To analyze CP assembly independently from flagellar assembly, the CP-deficient katanin mutants pf15 or pf19 were mated to wild-type cells. HA-tagged tubulin and the CP-specific protein hydin were used as markers to analyze de novo CP assembly inside the formerly mutant flagella. In regenerating flagella, the CP and its projections assemble near the transition zone soon after the onset of outer doublet elongation. During de novo CP assembly in full-length flagella, the nascent CP was first apparent in a subdistal region of the flagellum. The developing CP replaces a fibrous core that fills the axonemal lumen of CP-deficient flagella. The fibrous core contains proteins normally associated with the C1 CP microtubule and proteins involved in intraflagellar transport (IFT). In flagella of the radial spoke-deficient mutant pf14, two pairs of CPs are frequently present with identical correct polarities. The temporal separation of flagellar and CP assembly in dikaryons formed by mating CP-deficient gametes to wild-type gametes revealed that the formation of the CP does not require proximity to the basal body or transition zone, or to the flagellar tip. The observations on pf14 provide further support that the CP self-assembles without a template and eliminate the possibility that CP polarity is established by interaction with axonemal radial spokes. Polarity of the developing CP may be determined by the proximal-to-distal gradient of precursor molecules. IFT proteins accumulate in flagella of CP mutants; the abnormal distribution of IFT proteins may explain why these flagella are often shorter than normal.
The impact of case mix on timely access to appointments in a primary care group practice.

At the heart of the practice of primary care is the concept of a physician panel. A panel refers to the set of patients for whose long term, holistic care the physician is responsible. A physician’s appointment burden is determined by the size and composition of the panel. Size refers to the number of patients in the panel while composition refers to the case-mix, or the type of patients (older versus younger, healthy versus chronic patients), in the panel. In this paper, we quantify the impact of the size and case-mix on the ability of a multi-provider practice to provide adequate access to its empanelled patients. We use overflow frequency, or the probability that the demand exceeds the capacity, as a measure of access. We formulate problem of minimizing the maximum overflow for a multi-physician practice as a non-linear integer programming problem and establish structural insights that enable us to create simple yet near optimal heuristic strategies to change panels. This optimization framework helps a practice: (1) quantify the imbalances across physicians due to the variation in case mix and panel size, and the resulting effect on access; and (2) determine how panels can be altered in the least disruptive way to improve access. We illustrate our methodology using four test practices created using patient level data from the primary care practice at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. An important advantage of our approach is that it can be implemented in an Excel Spreadsheet and used for aggregate level planning and panel management decisions.
Accelerated Bone Formation Causing Profound Hypocalcemia in Acute Leukemia

A patient with acute monocytic leukemia and fibrosis presented with severe hypocalcemia producing tetany, myocardial failure, and ventricular tachycardia with torsades de pointes configuration. Hypophosphatemia, hypomagnesemia, an elevated alkaline phosphatase level, and osteosclerosis were also present. Bone marrow biopsy samples showed fibrosis and thickened bony trabeculae lined with large osteoblasts. Tetracycline labeling showed an increased rate of calcification. Complete remission of the leukemia and fibrosis was achieved with a single 3-week course of low-dose cytarabine and hydroxyurea, with resolution of the hypocalcemia and hypophosphatemia. Calcitriol and etidronate disodium were also administered. The calculated left ventricular ejection fraction increased from 15% to 55% with correction of the hypocalcemia. The hypocalcemia and hypophosphatemia in this patient probably resulted from accelerated bone formation stimulated by the leukemic cells. The high dose of calcitriol that this patient received may have contributed to the remission of the leukemia.
Formation of Fe–Ni–Si planetary cores

THE planets may have accreted in homogeneously materials accumulating on the proto-planets in the sequence in which they condense at high temperatures (1,000–2,000 K) out of the solar nebula1. The first solids to condense from the Earth, however, are the Ca and Al oxides, silicates and titanates2,3 and not Fe or Fe-Ni alloy, which is supposed to form the Earth's core. Anderson and Hanks4 consider that such a nucleus of oxides enriched in radioactive elements could provide a mechanism for heating and melting the surrounding solid Fe layer which accretes later. Ringwood5 considers this model of core formation unsatisfactory since it may produce a layer of oxide rich material around the core for which we have no geophysical evidence. For Fe, or an alloy of Fe with other elements, to form as the first equilibrium solid, the pressure in the solar nebula at 1,800 K must be several atmospheres3,6. But, the conditions for the formation of a liquid Fe or a liquid Fe-rich alloy have not been determined. If a liquid alloy formed as the first condensate, it would solve many problems in the current models of formation of planetary cores5. The pressure required to form a liquid alloy is likely to be an order of magnitude lower than the pressure for the formation of solid Fe because metal liquid solutions of Fe, Ni and Si have a lower free energy of solution than that of an ideal solution. In particular the Fe-liquid and Si-liquid, and Ni-liquid and Si-liquid form binary solutions with a low free energy which stabilises the liquid solutions at pressures lower than that of the solid. According to Podolak and Cameron6 the models of Jupiter have an enhanced O–H ratio of ∼25–30. They consider that pressure required to form chondrules will be lowered several orders of magnitude if the O/H ratio is increased. We report here an investigation into the equilibrium condensation of the solar nebular gas at 1,900 K at varying total pressures and varying abundance of hydrogen (AH).
Concurrent use of indomethacin and dexamethasone increases the risk of spontaneous intestinal perforation in very low birth weight neonates

Concurrent use of indomethacin and dexamethasone increases the risk of spontaneous intestinal perforation in very low birth weight neonates
Mechanisms of reaction of hemeproteins with oxygen and hydrogen peroxide in the oxidation of organic substrates.

Oxygen and hydrogen peroxide react with a variety of hemeproteins to produce oxidizing agents of unusual capacity, selectivity and scope. The versatility of these adducts to effect chemical transformations is bewildering. The variety of reactions encountered is especially astonishing when the high degree of order and similarity in the bonding at the active site are considered. Indeed, all possess a highly ordered organometallic array, an iron porphyrin, at their active site. Although the redox chemistry of some of these hemeproteins has been established for some time, the corresponding iron porphyrin chemistry is still lagging. Recent advances in this latter field, principally in the past decade, do provide a basis upon which to frame reasonable mechanistic thought. Nonetheless, at this time, with few exceptions, mechanisms written for hemeproteins must be regarded as conjectural. The following is an attempt to use recent knowledge gained in metalloporphyrin chemistry to explain the chemical mechanisms by which the various hemeproteins perform their physiological tasks. While there is a consistency to the formulations, they are speculative.
Observation of the First-Order Raman Scattering in SrTiO 3 Thin Films

We have studied lattice dynamic properties of ${\mathrm{SrTiO}}_{3}$ thin films from 5 to 300 K using metal-oxide bilayer Raman scattering. First-order zone-center optical phonons, symmetry forbidden in single crystals, have been observed in the thin films, indicating strain-induced lowering of symmetry. The asymmetric line shape of the ${\mathrm{TO}}_{2}$ phonon is interpreted as evidence for micropolar regions in the thin films, likely due to oxygen vacancies. The optical phonon lines and the asymmetry persist up to room temperature.
Space-Time Localization of a Class of Geometric Criteria for Preventing Blow-up in the 3D NSE

A class of local (in the space-time) conditions on the vorticity directions implying local regularity of weak solutions to the 3D Navier-Stokes equations is established. In all the preceding results, the relevant geometric conditions, although being local in nature, have been assumed uniformly throughout the spatial regions of high vorticity magnitude, and uniformly in time. In addition, similar results are obtained assuming a less restrictive integral condition on the vorticity directions.
Differential regulation of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase mRNA expression in response to intracranial injury.

Injury to the CNS induces complex cellular and molecular interactions referred to as reactive gliosis. Alterations in the extracellular microenvironment associated with the gliotic response are believed to be the primary cause of regenerative failure of the mature CNS. For injured neurons to reestablish severed connections their processes must explore the extracellular milieu. Thus far, experiments have focused on extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins whose expression is upregulated after CNS injury and that exert inhibitory effects on neurite outgrowth. An intricate balance between ECM synthesis and degradation must be maintained during the tissue remodeling associated with injury. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are believed to be the main mediators of ECM degradation. MMP activity is tightly regulated by interaction with tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). To determine whether TIMPs are expressed during injury-induced matrix remodeling, TIMP expression was examined during reactive gliosis. A stab injury to the mature rat brain leads to the differential regulation of TIMP mRNA expression. Timp-1 and Timp-2 mRNA are significantly upregulated after injury, while the expression of Timp-3 and Timp-4 is unaltered. The expression of Timp-1 in reactive astrocytes and Timp-2 in microglia and neurons suggests these TIMPs may serve distinct functions in response to injury.
Listening to widows in rural India

(1997). Listening to widows in rural India. Women: A Cultural Review: Vol. 8, Independent India, pp. 311-318.
Electrowetting of aligned carbon nanotube films.

Electrowetting is one approach to reducing the interfacial tension between a solid and a liquid. In this method, an electrical potential is applied across the solid/liquid interface which modifies the wetting properties of the liquid on the solid without changing the composition of the solid and liquid phases. Electrowetting of aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) films is investigated by the sessile drop method by dispensing deionized (DI) water or 0.03 M NaCl droplets (contacted by Au wire) onto aligned CNT films assembled on a copper substrate. The results demonstrate that electrowetting can greatly reduce the hydrophobicity of the aligned CNTs; the contact angle saturation for DI water and 0.03 M NaCl droplets occurs at 98 and 50°, respectively. The combined effects of the geometrical roughness and the electrical potential on the contact angle are briefly discussed and modeled. Such a strategy may be invoked to controllably reduce the interfacial tension between carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and polymer precursors...
MAPS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION / A PRELIMINARY SURVEY

Within the next several years the United States of America will commemorate the bicentennials of the American Revolution and the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Appropriate recognition of these events will include research on this exciting period in American history. Particularly significant to such research are contemporary manuscript and printed maps and charts. This paper surveys some of the general and specialized cartographic materials of the Revolutionary War period, with particular emphasis on those in the collections of the Library of Congress' Geography and Map Division. Dans quelques annees, les Etats-Unis commemoreront le bicentenaire de la Revolution americaine et de la signature de la Declaration d'Independance. Une celebration convenable de ces evenements necessitera des recherches sur cette periode passionnante de l'histoire americaine. Les manuscrits et les cartes de l"epoque sont particulierement utiles a cette recherche. Dans cette etude sont examines soigneusement certains d...
Precision of an Ambient Sequential Acid Aerosol Sampling System

Abstract The repeatability (i.e., precision) of an automated sequential acid aerosol sampling system was investigated by collocating two identical systems on the roof of an air monitoring site in White Plains, New York (a suburb north of New York City) to collect 6 weeks of daily samples during August and September 1989. The variance of the resulting 41 paired samples was derived for each ion measured. The overall coefficients of variation for SO2- 4 and NH+ 4 were 7.7 percent and 13 percent, respectively, while estimates for H+ ranged from 13 percent to 19 percent. Linear regressions relating data from the paired systems resulted in high coefficients of determination (R2 > 0.93) for all ions. Also, time series plots of the daily ion differences indicated no significant difference between the systems for SO2- 4, NH+ 4, and H+. Paired t-tests of the daily differences affirmed the intersystem agreement for SO2- 4 and NH+ 4; however, this test also indicated a paired difference that was statistically signifi...
The FUSE Binding Protein Is a Cellular Factor Required for Efficient Replication of Hepatitis C Virus

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the leading cause of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma and one of the primary indications for liver transplantation. The molecular mechanisms underlying the actions of host factors in HCV replication remain poorly defined. FUSE (far upstream element of the c-myc proto-oncogene) binding protein (FBP) is a cellular factor that we have identified as a binder of HCV 3' nontranslated region (3'NTR). Mapping of the binding site showed that FBP specifically interacts with the poly(U) tract within the poly(U/UC) region of the 3'NTR. Silencing of FBP expression by small interfering RNA in cells carrying HCV subgenomic replicons severely reduced viral replication, while overexpression of FBP significantly enhanced viral replication. We confirmed these observations by an in vitro HCV replication assay in the cell-free replicative lysate, which suggested that there is a direct correlation between the cellular FBP level and HCV replication. FBP immunoprecipitation coprecipitated HCV nonstructural protein 5A (NS5A), indicating that FBP interacts with HCV NS5A, which is known to function as a link between HCV translation and replication. Although FBP is mainly localized in the nucleus, we found that in MH14 cells a significant level of this protein is colocalized with NS5A in the cytosol, a site of HCV replication. While the mechanism of FBP involvement in HCV replication is yet to be delineated, our findings suggest that it may be an important regulatory component that is essential for efficient replication of HCV.
Immunochemistry of sperm-whale myoglobin--XXI. Conformation and immunochemistry of derivatives modified at certain histidine residues.

Abstract Alkylation of myoglobin (Mb) in the presence of 10 M excess of ICH 2 COOH per histidine residue gave a heterogeneous reaction product which contained at least six components by disc electrophoresis. Chromatography on CM-cellulose yielded seven homogeneous carboxymethyl-Mb derivatives (CM-MbI—CM-MbVII). The electrophoretic mobility of each component agreed well with the number of carboxymethyl groups added. CM-MbVII migrated like MbX and corresponded to residual unreacted protein. The locations of the modifications in the derivatives were: CM-MbVI, histidine 119; CM-MbV, histidine 48 and 97; CM-MbIV, hisitidines 81 (or 82) and 116; CM-MbIII, lysine 145 and histidines 48 and 113; CM-MbII, histidines 48, 113 and 116; CM-MbI, valine 48, 113 and 116. Slight changes in absorption spectra of CM-MbI and CM-MbII were observed, while the spectra of MbX and the other components were quantitatively identical. Also, ORD and CD measurements indicated that some conformational changes were present in CM-MbI and CM-MbII and that no conformational changes existed in CM-MbIII—CM-MbVII. Immunochemical studies with antisera to MbX showed that, with a given antiserum CM-MbIII and CM-MbIV had equal antigenic reactivity which was 18–21 per cent lower than reaction of MbX with that antiserum. With CM-MbVI, the decrease in immunochemical reaction was not as large (11–13 per cent). It was concluded that histidines 113, 116 and 119 were part of one antigenic reactive region. The immunochemical reaction of CM-MbI and CM-MbII was 30–32 per cent lower than MbX. However, because these two derivatives suffered a conformational change, conclusions relating to antigenic structure were not based on these two derivatives. The immunochemical reactivity of CM-MbV was also lower (18–19 per cent) than the homologous reaction and the decrease was attributed to alkylation of histidine 97 in the previously delineated reactive region 94–99. The results also confirmed that valine 1, histidines 48 and 81 and lysine 145 were not part of a reactive region in Mb.
Mitosis in pituitary MSH/endorphin cells of adult male rat pars intermedia: Light and electron microscopic observations

Small numbers of dividing cells were observed in the pituitary intermediate lobe of normal and p-chloroamphetamine-treated adult male rats. Ultrastructural examination reveals that the mitotic elements are granulated MSH/endorphin cells. Nerve fibers providing direct innervation could be found on dividing cells. The observations illustrate a limited potential for proliferation in the adult MSH/endorphin cell population.
Crack Spacing in Brittle Films on Elastic Substrates

An approximate, analytical solution is derived for the minimum spacing that can exist between a series of parallel cracks propagating in a thin film. The analysis is pertinent to the specific case of a film and substrate having identical elastic properties. In the absence of plasticity, only three parameters govern the minimum crack spacing. The cracks are predicted to be more closely spaced if the film stress or the film thickness is increased, or if the fracture toughness of the film is decreased.
Complete classification of parallel spatial surfaces in pseudo-Riemannian space forms with arbitrary index and dimension

Abstract A spatial surface of a pseudo-Riemannian space form is called parallel if its second fundamental form is parallel with respect to the Van der Waerden–Bortolotti connection. It is well known that a surface in a pseudo-Riemannian space form is parallel if and only if it is locally invariant under the reflection with respect to the normal space at each point. Such surfaces are important in geometry as well as in general relativity since the extrinsic invariants of the surfaces do not change from point to point. Recently, parallel spatial surfaces in 4-dimensional Lorentzian space forms were classified by Chen and Van der Veken (2009) [6] . In this article, we completely classify parallel spatial surfaces in pseudo-Riemannian space forms with an arbitrary index and dimensions. As an immediate by-product, we achieve the classification of all spatial surfaces in Lorentzian space forms with arbitrary dimensions.
Formoterol fumarate inhalation powder vs albuterol inhalation for treatment of asthma in the acute setting

Abstract Rationale Although albuterol remains the standard treatment of asthma in the emergency department, formoterol fumarate may be more advantageous with its rapid and long-lasting bronchodilation for treatment of acute asthma. Methods Patients aged 18–65 years presented to Emergency Room with mild to moderate asthma (Peak flow 40–60% of predicted) were randomized to receive either formoterol fumarate aerolizer (12 μg) or albuterol nebulizer (2.5 mg) every 30 minutes for up to 2 treatments. Peak flow and symptom score were measured at each treatment (from 0 minutes at 30 and 60 minutes). Results Fifteen patients (9 albuterol arm, 6 formoterol fumarate arm) were enrolled. At 30 and 60 minutes, the formoterol fumarate group had median changes in peak flow of +54 (range 0,150) and +56 (range −50, +170) respectively while for the albuterol group these were +35 (range −40, +150) and +41(range −40, +150) respectively (non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test, One-tail p p Conclusions Formoterol fumarate is as effective as albuterol inhalation for treatment of asthma in the acute setting.
Perivascular Tissue Pharmacokinetics of Dipyridamole

The tissue diffusivity (D g) and partitioning (K) for dipyridamole were determined and a model was developed to examine the relationship between perivascular dose and local dipyridamole tissue concentrations. Experiments were performed using an in vitro perfusion apparatus that recirculated buffer through different graft samples or normal porcine femoral arteries and veins. The grafts or blood vessels were immersed in a compartment containing Krebs–Henseleit (KH) buffer and dipyridamole (30 μg/mL). The recirculating buffer was sampled at multiple time points and dipyridamole was assayed. Estimates of the effective diffusivity (D g) and partition coefficient (K) of the drug in the vessel wall were determined and used to simulate dipyridamole tissue concentration after perivascular delivery. Dipyridamole diffusivity within native femoral veins (D g = 3.87 ± 0.93 × 10−6 cm2/s) was approximately twice that within femoral arteries (D g = 2.06 ± 0.79 × 10−6 cm2/s, p < 0.01). Explanted grafts showed the lowest diffusivity. Partition coefficients of femoral arteries (K = 4.11 ± 0.99) were higher than those of femoral veins (K = 2.05 ± 0.85, p < 0.01) and explanted graft (K = 0.89 ± 0.56, p<0.01). The results demonstrate that local drug kinetics vary greatly for different types of blood vessels and grafts. The pharmacokinetic parameters and resulting computational simulations are helpful in exploring perivascular drug delivery strategies.
Optimal hedging strategies for misspecified asset price models

The Black-Scholes option pricing methodology requires that the model for the price of the underlying asset be completely specified. Often the underlying price is taken to be a geometric Brownian motion with a constant, known volatility. In practice one does not know precise values of parameters such as the volatility, and estimates from historical prices or implied volatilities must be used instead. In this paper optimal hedging strategies are constructed when the volatility of the asset price is misspecified. Optimality refers to maximizing the utility of the investor in a worst-case volatility scenario.
Comparison of Non-hurricane and Hurricane Induced Near Inertial Oscillations in Deep Water of Gulf of Mexico

By using oil platform based ADCPs on the continental slope, some time series and spectrum analyses are implemented to examine the general flow distributions including those of the near inertial oscillations and their temporal variations along the vertical water columns for the Gulf of Mexico during different time periods in the year of 2005 and 2006, particularly in 2005, when a few hurricanes struck the Gulf of Mexico coast of the US, causing tremendous amount of damages. Among these hurricanes are the infamous Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. However, during the Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, most of the acoustic Doppler current profilers from oil platforms and moorings were not functioning and only a couple of the deep water ADCPs were collecting data during the storms. This paper presents some preliminary studies analyzing the ADCP data using different methods, such as rotary spectra and wavelet analysis. The rotary spectra of the velocity showed interesting patterns of inertial oscillations before, during, and after the hurricanes.
Renewed DNA synthesis in senescent WI-38 cells by expression of an inducible chimeric c-fos construct

As normal human cells approach the end of their proliferative lifespan in vitro they lose responsiveness to a variety of growth factors, to which they respond with DNA replication when they are young. Recently it has been reported that the protooncogene c-fos is not expressed in senescent cells (Seshadri and Campisi, 1990). In this study we have found that both c-jun and jun B, partners of c-fos in heterodimeric transactivating complexes, are equivalently expressed in young and senescent cells at both early (1–6 hr) and late (12 or 16 hr) time points following serum stimulation of quiescent cells. We have also investigated the effect of the enforced expression of c-fos in senescent WI-38 cells using an inducible construct carrying the murine c-fos gene under the control of the sheep metallothionein promoter. We have found that the transient transfection and subsequent activation of the conditional promoter with Zn++ stimulated DNA synthesis in a significant fraction of senescent cells which had completed 90%–95% of their proliferative lifespan. However, populations which had completed 100% of their proliferative life span and nondividing cultures which had been selected with BrdU did not respond to the expression of the c-fos gene. These results demonstrate that one of the primary events associated with senescence in human cells is the suppression of c-fos gene expression, but additional phenotypic changes must also occur in order to explain the ultimate loss of proliferative responsiveness of these cells. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Bislactonization of unsaturated diacids using lead tetraacetate

The reaction of lead tetraacetate with unsaturated carboxylic acids (or salts) to from bislactones (γ or δ) can be controlled to produce efficiently cis addition of two carboxylic oxygens to the double bond, in consonance with an initial plumbolactonization step followed by SN2 displacement of lead.
A Study of the Effect of Module Averaging on Knitting-yarn Manufacturers

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is proposing a new cotton classification methodology called module averaging as an improvement to the existing system. AMS asserts that the module-averaging approach will increase the precision of fiber quality measurements. AMS also asserts that, owing to this increased precision, all parties, including cotton growers and knit-fabric producers, will benefit from the improved measurement process. In the following study the authors examine the statistical foundations of the methodology proposed by USDA and its likely impact on knit-fabric producers by focusing on the micronaire measurement of cotton.
Wertigkeit der MRT bei traumatischer diskoligamentärer Instabilität der unteren HWS

Die diagnostische Aussagekraft der Magnetresonanztomographie (MRT) bei frischer, traumatischer diskoligamentarer Instabilitat der unteren Halswirbelsaule (HWS) wurde untersucht. Hierzu wurden die Befunde der MRT-Diagnostik mit den intraoperativen Befunden korreliert. Die Indikation zur Operation wurde bei nachgewiesener translatorischer a.-p.-Instablitat im Rontgenbildwandler bei dynamischer Untersuchung gestellt; 15 Patienten (11 Manner, 4 Frauen, Durchschnittsalter 33 Jahre) wurden in die Studie eingeschlossen. Bei allen Patienten lag intraoperativ eine Ruptur des Discus intervertebralis vor. In der MRT-Diagnostik wurden hingegen bei 8 Patienten eine Bandscheibenprotrusion und bei 4 Patienten ein Bandscheibenprolaps nachgewiesen. Das vordere Langsband und das hintere Langsband waren intraoperativ bei jeweils 7 Patienten rupturiert. Im MRT-Befund war das vordere Langsband bei 5 Patienten und das hintere Langsband bei 3 Patienten rupturiert. Bei 3 von 15 Patienten (20 %) war die MRT unauffallig und damit falsch-negativ. Zwischen intraoperativem und MRT-Befund war keine statistisch signifikante Korrelation nachweisbar. Die MRT bietet daher fur die Indikationsstellung zur Operation zum jetzigen Zeitpunkt keine ausreichende diagnostische Sicherheit bei der Evaluation traumatischer diskoligamentarer Instabilitaten der unteren HWS.
Identification of Dynamic Vehicular Axle Loads: Theory and Simulations:

This paper presents a new method of identifying dynamic vehicular axle loads by directly using bridge measurements. To demonstrate how the proposed methodology works out, vehicle-bridge coupling equations are first established for numerical simulations. The developed vehicle-bridge coupled system contains only the modal properties of the bridge and the physical parameters of the vehicle. Using the superposition principle and influence surface concept, the dynamic interaction forces (i.e. the dynamic axle loads) can then be identified from the measured bridge responses. A series of simulations are carried out in which the effects of various factors such as bridge inertia force, measurement station, vehicle speed, traveling route, number of vehicles, road surface condition, and noise level have been investigated. The identified results show that the proposed method is able to identify dynamic axle loads with good accuracy, which can serve as a basis for dynamic bridge-weigh-in-motion. This paper also serves as a theoretical base for the companion paper in which the proposed method is applied to identify the dynamic axle loads of a real truck on an existing bridge.
Loss of function of the Fusarium oxysporum SNF1 gene reduces virulence on cabbage and Arabidopsis

Fusarium oxysporum pathogenicity is believed to require the activity of cell wall-degrading enzymes. Production of these enzymes in fungi is subject to carbon catabolite repression, a process that in yeast is mostly controlled by the SNF1 (sucrose non-fermenting 1) gene. To elucidate the role of cell wall-degrading enzymes in F. oxysporum pathogenicity, we cloned and disrupted its SNF1 homologue (FoSNF1). The fosnf1 mutants had a reduced expression of several genes encoding cell wall-degrading enzymes and grew poorly on certain carbon sources. Infection assays on Arabidopsis thaliana and Brassica oleracea revealed that progression of wilt symptoms in plants infected by fosnf1 mutants was considerably delayed, in comparison with those infected by a wild-type strain. In conclusion, mutations in FoSNF1 prevent F. oxysporum from properly derepressing the production of cell wall-degrading enzymes, compromise the utilization of certain carbon sources, and reduce its virulence on A. thaliana and B. oleracea.
Analogical reasoning with novel concepts: Differential attention of intellectually gifted and nongifted children to relevant and irrelevant novel stimuli

Abstract Intellectually gifted and nongifted students in grades 6, 7, and 8 were given a modified verbal analogies test in which typical verbal analogy problems were preceded by novel or familiar statements about one of the analogy terms. The test required subjects to integrate this new information into an otherwise familiar problem-solving task. Both gifted and nongifted students gave significantly more attention to novel information than to familiar information. Gifted students gave significantly less attention to irrelevant novel information than did nongifted students, but did not differ from nongifted students in their attention to relevant novel information. Whereas intellectually gifted students gave significantly more time to relevant than to irrelevant novel information, non-gifted students allocated as much time to irrelevant novel information as they did to relevant novel information. Performance on this task was significantly correlated with teachers' ratings of intellectual ability for gifted, but not for nongifted students.
Supporting high-performance I/O at the petascale: The event data store for ATLAS at the LHC

A key to delivering high-performance scientific data stores at multi-petabyte scales and beyond is to provide an infrastructure that allows scientists to select, read, and process only the data that they need. The ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) has deployed an event data store and an I/O framework designed from their inception to support efficient selective reading at many scales, from event-level selections to partial retrieval of the complexly-structured event data objects themselves. In-file metadata is used to accomplish the bookkeeping needed to accompany these data reduction strategies. This paper describes features of the ATLAS I/O and event data store infrastructure that make efficient selective reading possible.
Fluorescence excitation spectra and lifetimes for jet-cooled analogs of 1,8 ANS

Jet-cooled spectroscopy has been carried out on non-sulfonate containing derivatives of the fluorescence probe molecules 1,8 ANS and 2,6 TNS. The absence of the sulfonate groups makes for straightforward sample volatilization without decomposition, yet fundamental features in the excitation spectra should be largely unchanged in ANS/TNS. The analogs studied can be viewed as naphthalenes with significant perturbations due to group substituents, the most important element of which is the amino nitrogen. The ultimate interest of this work will be ANS/TNS solvent complexation experiments, where photophysical changes may be induced by specific solvent-solute interactions. An intermediate point in the project will be analogous complexation experiments with anilinonaphthalenes, where there are indications that the results might mirror the ones seen with ANS/TNS.
Cutting Edge: IL-15–Independent Maintenance of Mucosally Generated Memory CD8 T Cells

Effective vaccines against intracellular pathogens rely on the generation and maintenance of memory CD8 T cells (T(mem)). Hitherto, evidence has indicated that CD8 T(mem) use the common γ-chain cytokine IL-15 for their steady-state maintenance in the absence of Ag. This evidence, however, has been amassed predominantly from models of acute, systemic infections. Given that the route of infection can have significant impact on the quantity and quality of the resultant T(mem), reliance on limited models of infection may restrict our understanding of long-term CD8 T(mem) survival. In this article, we show IL-15-independent generation, maintenance, and function of CD8 T(mem) after respiratory infection with influenza virus. Importantly, we demonstrate that alternating between mucosal and systemic deliveries of the identical virus prompts this change in IL-15 dependence, necessitating a re-evaluation of the current model of CD8 T(mem) maintenance.