cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intermolecular Forces between a Protein and a Hydrophilic Modified Polysulfone Film with Relevance to Filtration.

Correlations between intermol. forces and ultrafiltration measurements for a thin polysulfone film and membranes modified for increased hydrophilicity by graft polymn. of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and a model protein (hen egg-white lysozyme, Lz) suggest that altering either the chem. of the polymer surface or the soln. conditions should lead to a minimization of protein adhesion and hence fouling for a specific protein/polymer combination. Using the surface forces app., normalized adhesion forces were measured below, at and above the pI of Lz, and compared with corresponding permeation flux ratios from ultrafiltration expts. Simple exponential correlations were obtained relating the normalized adhesion forces to several different permeation flux ratios. Also, the amt. of protein adsorbed onto the membrane from soln. during filtration was linearly related to the adhesion force through the choice of soln. pH. The correlations imply that protein-polymer adhesive interactions are important during ultrafiltration. The results obtained for both a hydrophilic and a hydrophobic surface were compared. The hydrophilic surface exhibited lower contact angles, reduced adhesion forces, reduced adsorbed amt., and most importantly, reduced protein fouling. Long range attraction between adsorbed protein and hydrophobic polysulfone films was absent with the hydrophilic films. The results provide a fundamental mol. basis to the widely reported and obsd. phenomenon that hydrophilic membranes are known to foul less than hydrophobic ones during membrane filtration of protein solns.
The α-Syntrophin PH and PDZ Domains Scaffold Acetylcholine Receptors, Utrophin, and Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase at the Neuromuscular Junction

At the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), the dystrophin protein complex provides a scaffold that functions to stabilize acetylcholine receptor (AChR) clusters. Syntrophin, a key component of that scaffold, is a multidomain adapter protein that links a variety of signaling proteins and ion channels to the dystrophin protein complex. Without syntrophin, utrophin and neuronal nitric oxide synthase μ (nNOSμ) fail to localize to the NMJ and the AChRs are distributed abnormally. Here we investigate the contribution of syntrophin domains to AChR distribution and to localization of utrophin and nNOSμ at the NMJ. Transgenic mice expressing α-syntrophin lacking portions of the first pleckstrin homology (PH) domain (ΔPH1a or ΔPH1b) or the entire PDZ domain (ΔPDZ) were bred onto the α-syntrophin null background. As expected the ΔPDZ transgene did not restore the NMJ localization of nNOS. The ΔPH1a transgene did restore postsynaptic nNOS but surprisingly did not restore sarcolemmal nNOS (although sarcolemmal aquaporin-4 was restored). Mice lacking the α-syntrophin PDZ domain or either half of the PH1 domain were able to restore utrophin to the NMJ but did not correct the aberrant AChR distribution of the α-syntrophin knock-out mice. However, mice expressing both the transgenic ΔPDZ and the transgenic ΔPH1a constructs did restore normal AChR distribution, demonstrating that both domains are required but need not be confined within the same protein to function. We conclude that the PH1 and PDZ domains of α-syntrophin work in concert to facilitate the localization of AChRs and nNOS at the NMJ.
Thermocapillary Instabilities of Low Prandtl Number Fluid in a Laterally Heated Vertical Cylinder

Stabilities of surface-tension-driven convection in an open cylinder are investigated numerically. The cylinder is heated laterally through its sidewall and is cooled at free surface by radiation. A seeding crystal at constant temperature is in contact with the free surface. Axisymmetric base flow is solved using the high-order finite difference method. Three-dimensional perturbation is applied to the obtained base flow to determine the critical Marangoni numbers at which the axisymmetry is broken. The eigenvalue matrix equation is solved using linear fractional transformation with banded matrix structure taken into account. Critical Marangoni-Reynolds numbers are obtained at various boundary conditions.
Functional characteristics of the foot and plantar aponeurosis under tibiotalar loading.

Structurally the foot is equivalent to a twisted plate. The hindpart is located in the sagittal plane and the forepart in the transverse plane. The transition induced by the twist creates the transverse and the longitudinal arches. Under vertical loading of the foot plate by the tibiotalar column, compressive forces are created on the dorsum and tensile forces on the plantar aspect of the foot plate. The plantar aponeurosis acting as a tie-rod when under tension relieves the tensile forces from the plantar aspect of the foot plate. The increased tension in the plantar aponeurosis in the weightbearing position of the foot occurs with anterior flexion of the leg or with hyperextension of the toes. In the plantigrade position when vertical loading and external rotation are simultaneously applied by the tibiotalar column on the foot, the hindfoot and the midfoot are supinated, and the forefoot is pronated. The medial longitudinal arch is higher, the foot is shorter, and the plantar aponeurosis is relaxed. The...
The Gene Desert Mammary Carcinoma Susceptibility Locus Mcs1a Regulates Nr2f1 Modifying Mammary Epithelial Cell Differentiation and Proliferation

Genome-wide association studies have revealed that many low-penetrance breast cancer susceptibility loci are located in non-protein coding genomic regions; however, few have been characterized. In a comparative genetics approach to model such loci in a rat breast cancer model, we previously identified the mammary carcinoma susceptibility locus Mcs1a. We now localize Mcs1a to a critical interval (277 Kb) within a gene desert. Mcs1a reduces mammary carcinoma multiplicity by 50% and acts in a mammary cell-autonomous manner. We developed a megadeletion mouse model, which lacks 535 Kb of sequence containing the Mcs1a ortholog. Global gene expression analysis by RNA-seq revealed that in the mouse mammary gland, the orphan nuclear receptor gene Nr2f1/Coup-tf1 is regulated by Mcs1a. In resistant Mcs1a congenic rats, as compared with susceptible congenic control rats, we found Nr2f1 transcript levels to be elevated in mammary gland, epithelial cells, and carcinoma samples. Chromatin looping over ~820 Kb of sequence from the Nr2f1 promoter to a strongly conserved element within the Mcs1a critical interval was identified. This element contains a 14 bp indel polymorphism that affects a human-rat-mouse conserved COUP-TF binding motif and is a functional Mcs1a candidate. In both the rat and mouse models, higher Nr2f1 transcript levels are associated with higher abundance of luminal mammary epithelial cells. In both the mouse mammary gland and a human breast cancer global gene expression data set, we found Nr2f1 transcript levels to be strongly anti-correlated to a gene cluster enriched in cell cycle-related genes. We queried 12 large publicly available human breast cancer gene expression studies and found that the median NR2F1 transcript level is consistently lower in ‘triple-negative’ (ER-PR-HER2-) breast cancers as compared with ‘receptor-positive’ breast cancers. Our data suggest that the non-protein coding locus Mcs1a regulates Nr2f1, which is a candidate modifier of differentiation, proliferation, and mammary cancer risk.
Controlling aquifer nitrogen levels when fertilizing crops: A study of groundwater contamination and denitrification

Nitrogen levels in groundwater are a safety concern because many of the aquifers are below intensive agricultural production areas. This paper uses a dynamic model of groundwater flow and denitrification to determine if cropping practices with heavy nitrogen use, such as continuous corn, cause the aquifer nitrogen level to exceed the EPA limit. In many instances, high nitrogen use by farmers does not lead to excessive nitrogen levels in the aquifer. However, in those situations where aquifer levels are too high, a reduction in fertilizer can lower aquifer nitrogen without a similar loss in profitability. A key point for aquifer nitrogen levels is the rate of denitrification. If this rate is too low, then nitrogen will likely be a problem no matter what farmers do. The effects of a nitrogen standard versus a nitrogen tax are also addressed and results show that information about the aquifer is needed for either to be effective. In addition, an input tax would have to be relatively large to be effective.
Pendent Polyimides using Mellitic Acid Dianhydride. IV. Effect of Increased Zirconium-Pendent Group Content on Polymer Properties

For co-polyimides (PIs) of mellitic acid dianhydride, 1,3-aminophenoxybenzene and 4,4′-oxydiphthalic anhydride, Zr-pendent group content could be increased to 50% (mol) improving atomic oxygen (AO) resistance while retaining good film properties. Spectral data are consistent with expected structures. Intrinsic viscosities of 0.54—0.60 dL g—1 and average molecular weights of 111 000—122 000 g mol— 1 estimated from gel permeation chromatography confirm the polymeric nature of co-polyamic acid precursors. Nuclear magnetic resonance integrations and amounts of thermogravimetric analysis residue verify pendent group concentrations. Increasing Zr-pendent group concentration from 10 to 50% (mol) caused glass transition temperatures to increase (198—245 °C), decomposition temperatures to decrease (518—455 °C), and the number of film layers able to be fabricated prior to crack formation to decrease (10 to 8). These numbers of layers were much higher than those for other PIs with comparable Zr-pendent group concent...
ULTRASTRUCTURAL BASIS FOR GENE EXPRESSION AT THE SYNAPSE : SYNAPSE-ASSOCIATED POLYRIBOSOME COMPLEXES

This review summarizes what is known about the protein synthetic machinery that is selectively localized beneath postsynaptic sites on the dendrites of CNS neurons. This machinery, made up of polyribosomes and associated membranous cisterns, allows a local synthesis of key proteins at individual postsynaptic sites.
Autophagy: A Critical Regulator of Cellular Metabolism and Homeostasis

Autophagy is a dynamic process by which cytosolic material, including organelles, proteins, and pathogens, are sequestered into membrane vesicles called autophagosomes, and then delivered to the lysosome for degradation. By recycling cellular components, this process provides a mechanism for adaptation to starvation. The regulation of autophagy by nutrient signals involves a complex network of proteins that include mammalian target of rapamycin, the class III phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/Beclin 1 complex, and two ubiquitin-like conjugation systems. Additionally, autophagy, which can be induced by multiple forms of chemical and physical stress, including endoplasmic reticulum stress, and hypoxia, plays an integral role in the mammalian stress response. Recent studies indicate that, in addition to bulk assimilation of cytosol, autophagy may proceed through selective pathways that target distinct cargoes to autophagosomes. The principle homeostatic functions of autophagy include the selective clearance of aggregated protein to preserve proteostasis, and the selective removal of dysfunctional mitochondria (mitophagy). Additionally, autophagy plays a central role in innate and adaptive immunity, with diverse functions such as regulation of inflammatory responses, antigen presentation, and pathogen clearance. Autophagy can preserve cellular function in a wide variety of tissue injury and disease states, however, maladaptive or pro-pathogenic outcomes have also been described. Among the many diseases where autophagy may play a role include proteopathies which involve aberrant accumulation of proteins (e.g., neurodegenerative disorders), infectious diseases, and metabolic disorders such as diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Targeting the autophagy pathway and its regulatory components may eventually lead to the development of therapeutics.
Women Bound to Be Active: One Year Follow-Up to an Innovative Pilot Intervention to Increase Physical Activity and Self-Worth in Women

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the effectiveness of a lifestyle intervention (a women's book club; Women Bound to be Active) in promoting long-term physical activity. Thirty-five women (26–70 years; mean age 50.6 years) completed the 8-month intervention and participated in the one-year follow-up. At follow-up, physical activity returned to baseline levels; however, self-worth and body mass index significantly improved. Women were more knowledgeable about physical activity at follow-up; however, they failed to maintain physical activity after the intervention. Components of the intervention were effective in improving self-worth and lowering BMI at one-year follow-up. To enhance long-term physical activity adherence, continued research and intervention modifications are needed.
Altered ventricular mechanics in cardiac allografts: a tissue Doppler study in 30 children without prior rejection events.

Background Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI), a non-invasive echocardiography technique, permits quantitative analysis of the regional distribution pattern of myocardial velocities. During normal childhood development, regional function changes markedly, including an increasing predominance of longitudinal velocities. This study analyzed the impact of heart transplantation on ventricular mechanics in growing children. Methods TDI was performed in 30 pediatric heart transplant recipients (7.1 ± 6.2 years) and 32 age-matched healthy children (6.8 ± 5.4 years). Patients had no rejection history and were 3.1 years (median) post-transplant. Color TDI images from apical and parasternal views were stored as echocardiographic raw data. Off-line analysis was used to measure peak systolic and diastolic myocardial velocities in 6 basal cardiac segments for longitudinal (anterior, inferior, lateral, septal, right ventricle) and radial velocities (posterior). Isovolumic acceleration, a load-insensitive function marker, was determined as slope of the upstroke of the isovolumic contraction wave. Multiple regression modeling was used for statistics. Results Systolic myocardial velocities still increased with age after transplantation, but the velocity distribution pattern was changed. In transplanted hearts, left ventricular longitudinal velocities were lower and radial velocities were higher than in the controls, but isovolumic acceleration was similar. In the right ventricle, longitudinal velocities and isovolumic acceleration were significantly decreased after transplantation. Wall motion abnormalities were present in 50% of patients. Conclusions Regional wall motion analysis shows significant alterations of the fundamental biomechanical pump function of the left ventricle after heart transplantation in children, with a shift from longitudinal to radial fibers and depressed right ventricular wall motion. This may have important implications for the long-term graft function required in children.
Role of Amino Acid Side Chains in Region 17–31 of Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) in Binding to the PTH Receptor

The principal receptor-binding domain (Ser17–Val31) of parathyroid hormone (PTH) is predicted to form an amphiphilic α-helix and to interact primarily with the N-terminal extracellular domain (N domain) of the PTH receptor (PTHR). We explored these hypotheses by introducing a variety of substitutions in region 17–31 of PTH-(1–31) and assessing, via competition assays, their effects on binding to the wild-type PTHR and to PTHR-delNt, which lacks most of the N domain. Substitutions at Arg20 reduced affinity for the intact PTHR by 200-fold or more, but altered affinity for PTHR-delNt by 4-fold or less. Similar effects were observed for Glu substitutions at Trp23, Leu24, and Leu28, which together form the hydrophobic face of the predicted amphiphilic α-helix. Glu substitutions at Arg25, Lys26, and Lys27 (which forms the hydrophilic face of the helix) caused 4–10-fold reductions in affinity for both receptors. Thus, the side chains of Arg20, together with those composing the hydrophobic face of the ligand's putative amphiphilic α-helix, contribute strongly to PTHR-binding affinity by interacting specifically with the N domain of the receptor. The side chains projecting from the opposite helical face contribute weakly to binding affinity by different mechanisms, possibly involving interactions with the extracellular loop/transmembrane domain region of the receptor. The data help define the roles that side chains in the binding domain of PTH play in the PTH-PTHR interaction process and provide new clues for understanding the overall topology of the bimolecular complex.
Magnetic susceptibility and nuclear resonance studies of TbxY1−xP☆

Magnetic susceptibility and nuclear resonance of 31P studies have been made for TbxY1−xP (x = 0.005, 0.05, 0.10, and 0.30) in the temperature range from 4 to 300°K. In this concentration range cooperative magnetic effects are small and the susceptibility is essentially determined by free Tb spins. However, the resonance lines are very broad and the uniform spin polarization model is found inapplicable.
Stability of the verbal exchange structure of medical consultations

Abstract A verbal exchange is a set of speech act categories that occur together and are used to accomplish some task within a particular type of encounter. A review of research suggests that the repertoire of verbal exchanges used in medical consultations is remarkably stable across settings, across varied types of medical problems, and even across countries, but that it changes systematically when the presenting problem is psychological rather than physical.
Changing concepts concerning mastocytosis

Summary The majority of papers dealing with urticaria pigmentosa in the past few years have emphasized the concept that the skin lesion is but one manifestation of a systemic reticulosis to which the term “mastocytosis” has been aptly applied. Accumulations of autopsy reports, biopsies, surgical specimens, and some 600 clinical observations in the medical literature indicate that mastocytosis is a disorder which may present itself as a solitary mastocytoma, a benign disseminated disease, or an acute or subacute, malignant-appearing, leukemia-like state. Two illustrative cases of the typical localized form are reported. There is an intimate interrelationship among all of the cellular elements of the connective tissue and reticuloendothelial system, and a marked histiogenic and morphologic similarity between the mast cell and the histiocyte. An attempt is made to show the expected similarities which, therefore, exist between mastocytosis and “histiocytosis X”, both morphologically, and to some extent, clinically.
Mayor Daniel Estrada and the Plaza de Armas of Cuzco, Peru

Between 1984–86 and 1990–95, Mayor Daniel Estrada conducted an ideologically driven public works and development project in Cuzco, Peru, former capital of the Inca empire. This paper focuses on Estrada’s unfulfilled plan to remove a decorative late nineteenth century European-style fountain in the center of the Plaza de Armas and replace it with a new sculpture that would refer to the Incas. The problems Estrada encountered raise important issues in the field of heritage management such as the role of international conventions, the nature of authenticity, and discordant multiple stakeholders. The paper also considers the next mayor’s attempt to reveal the actual Inca archaeological presence in the center of the plaza and why this effort was stymied. Comparison is made to Mexico City’s embrace of the Aztec remains discovered in its main plaza. The paper concludes with a discussion of Cuzco’s significance for the study and practice of heritage management in historic cities.
Synthesis and characterization of poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) filled by monodispersed silver clusters with controlled size

Dispersions of very small metal particles in polymeric matrixes are scientifically and technologically important. Here, poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) filled with nanometric silver particles characterized by a narrow size distribution and a controlled average dimension has been obtained using a modification of the polyol process. In particular, the nanocomposite material was prepared by reduction of silver nitrate in ethylene glycol in the presence of ultrasound and PVP as a protective agent. The final particle size was controlled by removing the silver-PVP system from the reactive mixture by addition of acetone. The UV-visible spectrum of the material shows a very strong plasmon resonance band centred at 410 nm. The band position depends on the particle size and, consequently, the control of the particle growth process allows one to modulate the nanocomposite absorption wavelength. Such an important characteristic offers the possibility to use Ag-PVP nanocomposites to produce UV-absorbers and colour filters for advanced optical devices.
Service Class Driven Dynamic Data Source Discovery with DynaBot

Dynamic Web data sources on the Deep Web provide intuitive access to real-time information and large data repositories anywhere that Web access is available. Although recent studies suggest that the dynamic Web is larger and growing faster than static Web, dynamic content is often ignored by existing search engine indexers owing to technical challenges inherent in searching dynamic sources. To address these challenges, we present DynaBot, a service-centric crawler for discovering and clustering Deep Web sources. Dyna- Bot has three unique characteristics. First, DynaBot utilizes a service class model implemented through the construction of service class descriptions (SCDs). Second, DynaBot employs a modular architecture for focused crawling of the Deep Web. Third, DynaBot incorporates algorithms for efficiently probing, discovering, and clustering Deep Web sources through SCD-based service analysis. Experimental results demonstrate DynaBotâ€™s effectiveness and suggest techniques for efficiently managing service discovery given the immense scale of the Deep Web.
The relative reactivity of external observations and self-monitoring

To compare the relative reactivity of self-monitoring and external-monitoring, trained observers (from behind a one-way mirror) recorded the face-touching frequency of 14 college students in a classroom situation through five experimental conditions: baseline, observer-present, observer-absent, self-recording, and return-to-baseline. Although external-monitoring reduced face-touching frequency, self-monitoring was more reactive and produced more consistent reactivity across subjects. These results were discussed in terms of possible mechanisms explaining the reactivity of self-monitoring and possible variables affecting the reactivity of external observations.
Running-in of aluminum/steel contacts under starved lubrication: Part I: surface modifications

Abstract In Part I of this two part paper, extensive surface analysis is done to examine surface changes caused by different run-in procedures on 390-T6 aluminum pins sliding against 1018 carburized steel disks. The area contact is lubricated by a base polyalkylene glycol (PAG) lubricant mist carried by a tetrafluoroethane (R134a) refrigerant gas under starved lubrication conditions. Surface traces and elemental analysis through Auger Spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction are conducted on virgin and run-in specimens to determine whether surface smoothing or film formation dominates the running-in process. Run-in pressure, velocity and time as well as the effect of the friction coefficient during run-in are examined. Limited data are also obtained for different degrees of starvation. The results show that surface smoothing increases with run-in pressure and occurs within the first minutes of sliding. Longer run-in times allow for the formation of iron oxides as well as Al–Fe intermetallic compounds on the aluminum pins. The iron transfer to the pin is due to the abrasive action of the silicon particles on the steel disk.
Non-Consumptive Predator Effects Shape Honey Bee Foraging and Recruitment Dancing

Predators can reduce bee pollination and plant fitness through successful predation and non-consumptive effects. In honey bees, evidence of predation or a direct attack can decrease recruitment dancing and thereby magnify the effects of individual predation attempts at a colony level. However, actual predation attempts and successes are relatively rare. It was not known if a far more common event, just detection of a predator, could inhibit recruitment. We began by testing honey bees' avoidance of the praying mantis (Tenodera sinensis). Larger predators (later mantis instars, ≥4.5 cm in body length) elicited significantly more avoidance (1.3 fold) than smaller mantis instars. Larger instars also attempted to capture honey bees significantly more often than did smaller instars. Foragers could detect and avoid mantises based upon mantis odor (74% of bees avoided an odor extract) or visual appearance (67% avoided a mantis model). Finally, foragers decreased recruitment dancing by 1.8 fold for a food source with a live adult mantis, even when they were not attacked. This reduction in recruitment dancing, elicited by predator presence alone, expands our understanding of predator non-consumptive effects and of cascading ecosystem effects for plants served by an important generalist pollinator.
CHRONIC PULMONARY INSUFFICIENCY OF PREMATURITY (CPIP)

The purpose of this report is to describe a syndrome of delayed respiratory distress occurring in premature infants, usually under 1250 gms. at birth. Unlike hyaline membrane disease (HMD), this syndrome occurs after 5-10 days of life in a previously healthy infant; unlike HMD it persists for 2-4 weeks. Chronic pulmonary insufficiency of prematurity (CPIP) carries a 10-20% mortality. The infants are frequently apneic and require supplemental oxygen, but lack the characteristic radiologic findings of HMD, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, Wilson-Mikity syndrome, or oxygen toxicity. Compared to healthy infants under 1250 gm. at birth (nl) infants with CPIP demonstrate the following abnormalities: Recovery is usually complete in 60 days. An awareness of CPIP can eliminate a false sense of security, often communicated to anxious parents, during the 5-10 day period before the onset of CPIP. The physiologic similarity between CPIP and HMD suggests lack of surfactant as the etiology of CPIP.
Sexual Orientation Disparities in Purging and Binge Eating From Early to Late Adolescence

Purpose To describe patterns of purging and binge eating from early through late adolescence in female and male youth across a range of sexual orientations.
Micro sequential injection: environmental monitoring of nitrogen and phosphate in water using a "Lab-on-Valve" system furnished with a microcolumn.

A “Lab-on-Valve” manifold operated in the micro sequential injection (µSI) mode was adopted to accommodate EPA-approved methods for spectrophotometric determinations of nitrate, nitrite and orthophosphate in the ppb (N or P) concentration range. A computer programmable µSI protocol, utilizing stopped-flow within a copperized Cd-foil filled microcolumn was developed for nitrate reduction to nitrite with subsequent colorimetric measurement, yielding concentration ranges for nitrate of 100.0–4000.0 ppb (N) and for nitrite of 30.0–4000.0 ppb (N) and linear calibration responses of r2 = 0.9999 for nitrate and 0.9995 for nitrite. Using a stopped-flow reaction rate measurement, phosphate was determined in the range 1.0–30.0 ppb (P) with a calibration response of r2 = 0.9997. The technical improvement of this methodology, apart from micro miniaturization, is the use of the stopped-flow technique, that resulted in improved detection limits and allowed reagent consumption to be reduced 1500-fold compared with conventional procedure while the amount of metallic cadmium was reduced 20-fold compared with the EPA-approved continuous-flow assay.
Electron spin-flip scattering in graphene due to substrate impurities

Graphene is a promising material for electronic and spintronic applications due to its high carrier mobility and low intrinsic spin-orbit interaction. However, extrinsic effects may easily dominate intrinsic scattering mechanisms. The scattering mechanisms investigated here are associated non-magnetic, charged impurities in the substrate (e.g. SiO2) beneath the graphene layer. Such impurities cause an electric field that extends through the graphene and has a non-vanishing perpendicular component. Consequently, the impurity, in addition to the conventional elastic, spin-conserving scattering can give rise to spin-flip processes. The latter is a consequence of a spatially varying Rashba spin-orbit interaction caused by the electric field of the impurity in the substrate. Scattering cross-sections are calculated and, for assumed impurity distributions, relaxation times are estimated.
Power Management Verification An Evolving Discipline

Power management has fast become specialized in different spaces. There are different schools of thought and methodologies of verification, depending on whether youpsilare looking at server, desktop, mobile or ultra-mobile spaces. For pre-silicon verification, the challenges are unique, and numerous tools and methodologies are used to ensure that as many bugs are found pre-silicon. This paper outlines some of those methodologies used, and describes why this discipline now has a face of its own.
cDNA cloning and gene expression analysis of human myo-inositol 1-phosphate synthase☆☆☆

Abstract myo-Inositol 1-phosphate synthase (EC 5.5.1.4) (IPS) is a key enzyme in myo-inositol biosynthesis pathway. This study describes the molecular cloning of the full length human myo-inositol 1-phosphate synthase (hIPS) cDNA, tissue distribution of its mRNA and characterizes its gene expression in cultured HepG2 cells. Human testis, ovary, heart, placenta, and pancreas express relatively high level of hIPS mRNA, while blood leukocyte, thymus, skeletal muscle, and colon express low or marginal amount of the mRNA. In the presence of glucose, hIPS mRNA level increases 2- to 4-fold in HepG2 cells. hIPS mRNA is also up-regulated 2- to 3-fold by 2.5 μM lovastain. This up-regulation is prevented by mevalonic acid, farnesol, and geranylgeraniol, suggesting a G-protein mediated signal transduction mechanism in the regulation of hIPS gene expression. hIPS mRNA expression is 50% suppressed by 10 mM lithium ion in these cells. Neither 5 mM myo-inositol nor the three hormones: estrogen, thyroid hormone, and insulin altered hIPS mRNA expression in these cells.
Expression of the Muscle Atrophy Factor Muscle Atrophy F-Box Is Suppressed by Testosterone

The ubiquitin ligase muscle atrophy F-box (MAFbx; also called atrogin-1) is thought to play important roles in muscle loss. Conversely, testosterone reduces atrophy from glucocorticoids or denervation associated with repression of MAFbx. To characterize mechanisms of such repression, the effects of testosterone on MAFbx expression in C2C12 cells were tested. Testosterone reduced MAFbx mRNA levels as well as expression of a reporter gene under the control of 3.1 kb of the human MAFbx promoter. Repression required the androgen receptor (AR) as well as sequences within the first 208 bases upstream of the first codon of the MAFbx gene. This sequence is downstream of known forkhead transcription factor binding sites and testosterone did not alter Forkhead box O 3A phosphorylation. The AR associated with sequences conferring repression in a manner that was stimulated by testosterone and was independent of DNA binding. In gel shift studies, octamer binding transcription factor (Oct)-1 bound two predicted Oct-1 sites within these sequences. Deletion of Oct-1 sites from reporter genes prevented repression by testosterone. Gene knockdown of Oct-1 blocked repression of MAFbx reporter gene activity by testosterone and binding of AR to sequences conferring repression. In conclusion, testosterone represses MAFbx expression via interactions of the AR with Oct-1 that are associated with sequences within the 5' untranslated region of the MAFbx promotor located just upstream of the first codon. This action of testosterone may contribute to beneficial actions of testosterone on muscle.
Difference in Effects of Gibberellins and Auxins on Wall Extensibility of Cucumber Hypocotyls

GIBBERELLINS and auxins are both capable of enhancing the growth of plant stems1. It has been suggested2–4, however, that the gibberellins are not directly involved in this process but act, instead, by modifying the concentration of endogenous auxin in the stems. This suggestion is supported by the fact that in certain tissues gibberellins can cause an increase in the synthesis2,3 or a decrease in the destruction4 of auxin.
Porcine aortic endothelial cell membranes contain a LPAF:CoA-independent transacylase

Abstract Membranes isolated from porcine aortic endothelial cells (PAEC) contain a CoA-independent transacylase enzyme (CoA-IT). CoA-IT, an integral membrane protein, transfers an acyl moicty to added [3H]alkylhydroxyglycerophosphocholine (LPAF) to generate [3H]alkylacylglycerophosphocholine (alkylacyl-GPC). This enzyme exhibits an apparent Km of 0.7 μM and a Vmax of 0.8 nmol/min per mg for the transfer of an acyl group to added [3H]LPAF. The addition of the nonionic detergent Triton X-100 (TX-100) (0.5 mg/ml), the sulfhydryl reagents N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) (200 μM) or thimerosal (200 μM), or pre-incubating the membranes at 95°C for 10 min all decreased LPAF:CoA-IT activity by more than 95%. The inhibitory action of NEM or thimerosal suggests that sulfhydryl group(s) are involved in or are close to the catalytic site of LPAF:CoA-IT.
A role for aromatic amino acids in the binding of Xenopus ribosomal protein L5 to 5S rRNA.

The formation of the Xenopus L5-5S rRNA complex depends on nonelectrostatic interactions. Fluorescence assays with 1-anilino-8-naphthalenesulfonate demonstrate that a hydrophobic region on L5 becomes exposed upon removal of bound 5S rRNA by treatment with ribonucleases. Several conserved aromatic amino acids, mostly tyrosines, were identified by comparative sequence analysis and changed individually to alanine. Substitution with alanine at any of three positions, Y86, Y99, or Y226, essentially abolishes RNA-binding activity, whereas those made at Y95 and Y207 have more modest effects. Replacement with phenylalanine at Y86 and Y226 does not change binding affinity, indicating that the aromatic ring of the side chain, not the hydroxyl group, is the critical functionality for binding. Alternatively, the phenolic hydroxyls at Y99 and Y207 do contribute to binding. The structural integrity of the mutant proteins was assessed using thermal denaturation and limited digestion with proteases. The Tm of Y99A is 10 °C lower than that of the wild-type protein, and there are some differences in the protease digestion patterns that together indicate the structure of this mutant has been significantly perturbed. The structures of the other variants are not detectably different from the wild-type protein. These results provide evidence that intermolecular stacking interactions involving at least two tyrosine residues, Y86 and Y226, are necessary for formation of the L5-5S rRNA complex and can account, at least in part, for the contribution nonelectrostatic interactions make to the free energy of binding.
Ethanol from corn: clean renewable fuel for the future, or drain on our resources and pockets?

It is shown here that one burns 1 gallon of gasoline equivalent in fossil fuels to produce 1 gallon of gasoline equivalent as ethanol from corn. When this corn ethanol is burned as a gasoline additive or fuel, its use amounts to burning the same amount of fuel twice to drive a car once. Therefore, the fuel efficiency of those cars that burn corn ethanol is halved. The widespread use of corn ethanol will cause manifold damage to air, surface water, soil and aquifers. The overall energy balance of corn conversion to ethanol demonstrates that 65% of the input energy is lost during the conversion. Carbon dioxide sequestration by corn is nullified when corn ethanol is burned, and there will be additional carbon dioxide, nitrous oxides, and sulfur oxide emissions from the fossil fuels used to produce the ethanol.
Rapid Identification and Estimation of Gitoxin in Digitoxin and Digoxin Tablets by TLC

A rapid TLC procedure was developed for the identification and estimation of gitoxin in digitoxin and digoxin tablets. A solution of tablet material is spotted on a TLC plate directly, and the gitoxin is estimated by visual comparison of fluorescence with that of standards after spraying with acid-ferric chloride T.S. USP XVII. The method can detect 0.5% of gitoxin in the presence of 1 mcg. of cardiac glycosides.
An Intervention Focus for Inclusionary Practice.

eaders are now faced with some decision making concerning the types and contexts of service delivery available to support the needs of students with language learning impairment (LLI) in school-based settings. Six perspectives were offered as frameworks for developing the role of a speech-language pathologist in an inclusion classroom and determining the level of shared responsibility with other educational staff for planning, instruction, and evaluation. However, in adopting any combination of the six perspectives, the speech-language pathologist still must be responsible for (a) designing classroom activities that reflect the student’s individualized educational program (IEP) goals and objectives, (b) identifying specific oral language or literacy targets in classroom instruction, (c) developing performance criteria, (d) providing constructive feedback, and (e) ensuring sufficient opportunities for students to respond. Reexamination is now warranted of certain questions posed throughout the articles in this clinical forum.
On the choice of condition to apply at the boundary of the geomagnetic field in the steady‐state Chapman Ferraro problem

On the choice of condition to apply at the boundary of the geomagnetic field in the steady state chapman-ferraro problem
Measurement of short crack lengths by an a.c. potential method

Abstract An alternating current (a.c.) potential technique was developed for the measurement of short cracks in single-edge-cracked specimens. For a constant crack length, the potential difference ( V ) between two probes located at the crack mouth was found to be directly proportional to the square-root of the operating a.c. frequency ( f ), for the higher values of f . The value of V approached that of the d.c. (direct current) system with decreasing frequency. A linear relationship between the values of V and the crack lengths was obtained at each frequency, so that crack lengths can be evaluated by interpolation from the initial and final values of crack length and potential difference. For real-time crack length measurement, a theoretical equation derived for d.c. potential was adapted, with suitable modifications, for use at an operating frequency of 93 Hz.
Electron Transport Properties of a Carotene Molecule in a Metal−(Single Molecule)−Metal Junction

Using a recently developed method for tethering gold contacts to single molecules, we have measured current versus voltage (I−V) data for single carotenedithiol molecules with a total length of 28 carbons (18 in the conjugated alkene chain). The molecules are inserted into a docosanethiol monolayer (C22H45SH) on Au(111), and a Au nanoparticle is tethered to each molecule via the protruding thiol group. Electrical contact is made by placing a gold-coated AFM probe in contact with the nanoparticle. The I−V curves are relatively insensitive to contact probe force and cluster around integer multiples of a fundamental curve, suggesting that members of the smallest set correspond to data obtained from a single molecule. First principles calculations based on tunnel transport yield results that are remarkably close (within a factor of 4) to the measured data. The remaining small discrepancy can be well accounted for by taking account of the effects of charging caused by a probe-to-gold particle contact resistanc...
Enzymatic production of L-malate from maleate by Alcaligenes sp.

Alcaligenes sp. T501, which has the ability to produce l-malate from maleate at a concentration of 20% in a molar yield of 98.4%, was isolated from soil. Analysis of the reaction mixture components...
Competent fathers: Their personalities and marriages.

The adolescent personality and adult maturity, competence and quality of marital relations associated with paternal competence were assessed by a longitudinal study of highly educated fathers. Paterna
Chronic ethanol feeding inhibits plasma levels of insulin-like growth factor-1.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine whether the generalized catabolic effects of chronic ethanol may be associated with a decline in plasma levels of insulin-like growth factor−1 (IGF−1). Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a liquid diet containing 5% ethanol or pair-fed a diet made isocaloric with maltose-dextrin. Animals were maintained on this diet for either 12 days or 4.5 months. Another group of animals were fed control diet ad libitum for 2 weeks. After 12 days of feeding, plasma concetrations of IGF−1 in ad libitum fed rats were 771± 41 ng/ml which was greater than concentrations in either pair-fed (595±23 ng/ml) or ethanol-fed (680±40 ng/ml) rats (P
EFFECTS OF VARIOUS CONCENTRATIONS OF SODIUM NITRITE AND POTASSIUM SORBATE ON NITROSAMINE FORMATION IN COMMERCIALLY PREPARED BACON

Pork bellies (270) were processed under regular commercial conditions using various concentrations (five treatments) of sodium nitrite and potassium sorbate. The bacon produced was stored at 3°C, then fried and tested for nitrosamines by GC-TEA (Thermal Energy Analyzer) at 0 and 21 days after slicing. Nitrite and sorbate concentrations were determined weekly during a 49-day period of 3°C storage. Bacon processed without sodium nitrite, regardless of sorbate concentration, contained low (<4.4 ppb) levels of N-nitroso-pyrrolidine (NPYR) after being fried at 171°C for 3 min on each side. Bacon processed with 40 ppm nitrite and 0.26% potassium sorbate contained an average of 8.7 ppb NPYR at zero time (after slicing) and 5.4 ppb after 21 days of 3°C storage under vacuum packaged conditions. Bacon with 80 ppm nitrite and 0.26% potassium sorbate had average NPYR levels of 14.3 ppb at zero time and 11.4 ppb after 21 days of refrigerated storage. Bacon made with 120 ppm nitrite contained an average of 28.1 ppb NYPR at zero time and 16.2 ppb after 21 days at 3°C. After frying the bacon, 61-71% of the potassium sorbate remained in the product. Methods for nitrosamine analysis (CC-TEA) and sorbate determination are described.
High-speed cell sorting: fundamentals and recent advances

Cell sorters have undergone dramatic technological improvements in recent years. Driven by the increased ability to differentiate between cell types, modern advances have yielded a new generation of cytometers, known as high-speed cell sorters. These instruments are capable of higher throughput than traditional sorters and can distinguish subtler differences between particles by measuring and processing more optical parameters in parallel. These advances have expanded their use to facilitate genomic and proteomic discovery, and as vehicles for many emerging cell-based therapies. High-speed cell sorting is becoming established as an essential research tool across a broad range of scientific fields and is poised to play a pivotal role in the latest therapeutic modalities.
A Generalised Compactifying Garbage Collector

Languages providing dynamic storage allocation usually provide for the automatic reclamation of unused storage by garbage collection (e.g., see McCarthy, 1962). In its simplest form, a garbage collector reclaims unused storage while leaving objects in use in situ, i.e., in the same memory locations. Hence, the storage in use eventually becomes scattered throughout memory. Under common conditions, this has deleterious consequences. If blocks of storage may be required in various sizes, the fragmentation of storage may produce a situation where there is no single free block large enough to satisfy some request although the total amount of free storage is great enough. A solution to this problem is compactifying garbage collection. That is, garbage collection in which the storage in use is moved to a contiguous region of memory and all pointers are adjusted to reflect this movement. The resulting list structure has the same topology as the old, so that re-entrancy and sharing of common substructure are preserved. There are several algorithms for doing this for particular list structures. Algorithms by Minsky (1963) and Fenichel and Yochelson (1969) work for LISP, i.e., list structure represented by linked blocks of two pointers each. Algorithms by Hansen (1969) and Cheney (1970) handle one-way list structure represented as a mixture of linked two-pointer blocks and sequential blocks of list elements. Each of these algorithms is tailored to a particular class of list structure and does not generalise to the case of arbitrary nodes. This paper presents a compactifying garbage collection technique that works on arbitrary nodes, even when pointers point into the middle of nodes. The next section outlines the need for such a technique.
Optimal control of continuous tandem cold metal rolling

The continuous tandem cold rolling of metal strip is a highly nonlinear multi-variable complex process the control of which presents additional challenges over those encountered in the control of stand-alone tandem cold rolling. These challenges arise during the passage of the weld, which joins the head of the next strip to the tail of the present strip to maintain the continuity of rolling. This paper presents the results of an investigation of the application of a control technique based on the state-dependent Riccati equation (SDRE) method to continuous tandem cold rolling, particularly during passage of the weld. Two methods of control during this regime of operation are evaluated and a preferred method is selected. Using the preferred method it was determined by simulation that the SDRE-based technique has the capability for successfully controlling the mill during weld passage, so that this approach offers a strong potential for improvement in the control of the continuous tandem cold rolling processes.
Tidally induced estuarine phytoplankton patchiness

The patchiness of phytoplankton in Charleston Harbor, as measured by the distribution of chlorophyll a, is coupled to the periodicity of the tidal cycle. Phytoplankton aggregations occur at frontal zones that form on the hood when river and tidal flow are in opposition. The magnitude and variability of the chlorophyll distribution decrease during the ebb, and phytoplankton patches do not form at frontal zones. Tidal current velocities and not tidal heights appear to be the important ecological variables. This tidally driven periodic aggregation of phytoplankton represents an interaction between physical forcing functions and biological activity that may focus and locally intensify the trophodynamics of the pelagic component of the Charleston Harbor estuary. Tidally induced aggregation and subsequent offshore transport on the ebb may, in part, provide the mechanism that links the scale lengths of estuarine and coastal phytoplankton variability.
TAZ: a beta-catenin-like molecule that regulates mesenchymal stem cell differentiation.

Regulating the switch between proliferation and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells is critical for the development of normal tissues, and the prevention of tumors. How mesenchymal stem cells...