cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Proteomic analysis of proteins associated with body mass and length in yellow perch, Perca flavescens

The goal of commercial yellow perch aquaculture is to increase muscle mass which leads to increased profitability. The accumulation and degradation of muscle-specific gene products underlies the variability in body mass (BM) and length observed in pond-cultured yellow perch. Our objective was to apply a combination of statistical and proteomic technologies to identify intact and/or proteolytic fragments of muscle specific gene products involved in muscle growth in yellow perch. Seventy yellow perch randomly selected at 10, 12, 16, 20, and 26 wk of age were euthanized; BM and length were measured and a muscle sample taken. Muscle proteins were resolved using 5-20% gradient SDS-PAGE, stained with SYPRO ® Ruby and analyzed using TotalLab™ software. Data were analyzed using stepwise multiple regression with the dependent variables, BM and length and proportional OD of each band in a sample as a potential regressor. Eight bands associated with BM (R 2 = 0.84) and nine bands with length (R 2 = 0.85) were detected. Protein sequencing by nano-LC/MS/MS identified 20 proteins/peptides associated with BM and length. These results contribute the identification of gene products and/or proteolytic fragments associated with muscle growth in yellow perch.
Application of dense microemulsions to magnetic resonance imaging

Microemulsions have recently been proposed as the signal-bearing solution for use in a magnetic resonance imaging phantom. We have attempted to characterize the hydrogen nuclear spin system of paramagnetically doped water, n-decane, bis(2-ethylhexyl_ sulfosuccinate (AOT) reverse micelle solutions. Overall spin-lattice and spin-spin relaxation times, T1 and T2, respectively, are presented for volume fractions in the range 0.50 < φ < 0.75 at temperatures between 0 and 40°C. Measurement of the room temperature spin-lattice relaxation times for the individual water and decane components of the reverse micelle are also presented.
Expert and referent power: A framework for understanding and maximizing consultation effectiveness

Abstract This paper describes consultation as an influence process and, in particular, describes the two forms of social power—expert and referent power—which allow school psychologists or any mental health professional to influence the consultees with whom they work. Several hypotheses are presented derived from social psychology research and theory on these forms of power which have practical importance for the school psychologist.
Computational model for protein-mediated biomineralization of the diatom frustule

The mechanism of silicification from which the intricate cell walls of diatoms emerge, as well as the stereochemical relationship between the wall's organic casing and the siliceous materials within, continue to elude current technology. The present study further develops Hecky et al.'s standing model of the organicinorganic interface with semi-empirical computer simulations of a biosilicification pathway. Polycondensation reactions between silicic acid molecules and a hydroxyl-rich β-sheet protein template results in a stereochemically-compatible chemisorbed tetrasiloxane ring. The 24-stage reaction pathway has an activation barrier of +15.4 kcal mol-1 and results in a net stabilization of-28.0 kcal mol-1. Spatial matching and favorable thermodynamics support the theory of protein-mediated biomineralization of the diatom.
A comparison of volume conductor effects on body surface Laplacian and potential ECGS: a model study

The objective of this investigation is to study, using a computer model, the torso volume conductor effects on body surface potential electrograms and body surface Laplacian electrograms. A spherical volume conductor model was used to approximate the torso and the heart. Myocardial electrical events were approximated by two distributed dipole-layers representing activation wavefronts propagating from the endocardium to the epicardium. The present computer simulation results indicate that the body surface Laplacian maps provide enhanced performance over the body surface potential maps in resolving the configurations of two activation wavefronts over the anterior wall of the heart.
The lupine alkaloids of the genus Baptisia (leguminosae)

Abstract The lupine alkaloids of the sixteen species comprising the genus Baptisia are reported. Cytisine, N -methylcytisine and anagyrine were found to be the major alkaloids occurring in nearly all of the species; thermopsine, lupanine, sparteine, 13-hydroxysparteine, and baptifoline occurred irregularly among the species and were usually, when present, minor alkaloids.
Terahertz Time-Domain Spectroscopy of D 2 O

The dielectric spectrum of D2O between 45 GHz and 1.7 THz is measured using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. The data is modeled as a sum of Debye relaxations and Lorentzian oscillators. Similar to previous studies on H2O, evidence is shown of anti-correlated effects in bulk D2O. Work is being done to extend spectrometer bandwidth to 10 GHz to measure a possible low frequency oscillation at 11.2degC, the temperature of maximum density.
AUTOMATED SPECTRUM SIMULATION METHODS FOR CARBON-13 NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY BASED ON DATABASE RETRIEVAL AND MODEL-BUILDING STRATEGIES

An automated method for the prediction of carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (13C NMR) chemical shifts which involves the combined use of database retrieval and multivariate calibration methods is described. A commercial database of chemical structures and experimentally measured and assigned 13C NMR spectra is used to implement this methodology. The chemical environment of each of the carbons in the database is encoded as a vector, and Euclidean distance comparisons are made between these vectors and the similarly encoded environment of a target carbon whose chemical shift is to be predicted. This procedure yields a calibration set of carbon atoms with chemical environments similar to that of the target carbon. If the environment of the closest match is very similar to that of the target carbon, the predicted chemical shift is assigned as the chemical shift of that closest match (i.e., a direct chemical shift retrieval is performed). Otherwise, a chemical shift model based on spectra−structure relation...
Gastric Sarcoidosis: A Rare Clinical Presentation

Gastrointestinal (GI) sarcoidosis is a very rare disease, which clinically presents along with systemic disease or as an isolated finding. Gastric sarcoidosis is the most common form of GI sarcoidosis. Symptomatic gastric sarcoidosis is rare and only few case reports have been described in the literature with well-documented histological evidence of noncaseating granulomas. We present an interesting case of gastric sarcoidosis in a 39-year-old Caucasian man with symptoms of epigastric pain and profound weight loss. His endoscopic gastric mucosal biopsies revealed noncaseating granulomas consistent with gastric sarcoidosis. Treatment with oral steroids alleviated his symptoms with no recurrence in 2 years. Gastric sarcoidosis should be considered in patients with history of sarcoidosis and GI symptoms.
Hormonal induction of secondary sexual coloration and rejection behaviour in female keeled earless lizards, Holbrookia propinqua

Abstract Hormonal bases of chromatic and behavioural changes in female Holbrookia propinqua were studied. Bright orange and yellow pigmentation were induced by progesterone or testosterone. Oestrogen treatment induced significant deposition only of the orange pigment, which did not attain full brightness. Progesterone and testosterone induced agonistic behaviour by females towards males; oestrogen did not. However, frequency of aggression was lower for females treated simultaneously with oestrogen and progesterone. Induction of bright reproductive coloration and activation of agonistic responses towards males by the same hormones suggests a close correlation between the signal value of the colour pattern and female aggression towards males.
Perceptions of national AAA meetings

Abstract Professional conferences, such as those conducted by the American Accounting Association, are vehicles that can provide new information to people who share common interests. There has been little formal study of what should be the purpose of such gatherings. This paper uses questionnaire responses to focus specific attention on the perceptions tenure track faculty members have about paper sessions and other activities at both national and regional meetings. Particular attention is given to how different backgrounds and interest areas appear to influence impressions.
Empirically guided software development using metric-based classification trees

The identification of high-risk components early in the life cycle is addressed. A solution that casts this as a classification problem is examined. The proposed approach derives models of problematic components, based on their measurable attributes and those of their development processes. The models provide a basis for forecasting which components are likely to share the same high-risk properties, such as being error-prone or having a high development cost. Developers can use these classification techniques to localize the troublesome 20% of the system. The method for generating the models, called automatic generation of metric-based classification trees, uses metrics from previous releases or projects to identify components that are historically high-risk. >
Seasonal variation in biofouling of gels containing extracts of marine organisms

Many benthic marine organisms have no obvious physical defenses against propagule settlement, and yet remain free of epibionts, suggesting that they are chemically defended against fouling. Crude organic extracts of four marine organisms were assayed for antifouling properties by incorporating them into hard, stable gels that served as substrata for propagule settlement in the field. Half of the gel replicates were maintained in darkness and half were subjected to natural lighting while suspended from floating docks at Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, for 28 d. The assay was repeated 7 times over 2 years to examine seasonal variation in settlement. Crude organic extracts from the sponge Aplysilla longispina deterred settlement of a variety of invertebrates and algae relative to control gels, while extracts from the sponge Hymenacidon heliophila, the ascidian Eudistoma hepatkum, and the alga Codium decorticatum were not deterrent. In one assay (March 1994), gels containing an extract of C. decorticatum ...
Quaternary silicic pyroclastic deposits of Atitlán Caldera, Guatemala

Abstract Atitlan caldera has been the site of several silicic eruptions within the last 150,000 years, following a period of basalt/andesite volcanism. The silicic volcanism began with 5–10 km3 of rhyodacites, erupted as plinian fall and pyroclastic flows, about 126,000 yr. B.P. At 85,000 yr. B.P. 270–280 km3 of compositionally distinct rhyolite was erupted in the Los Chocoyos event which produced widely dispersed, plinian fall deposits and widespread, mobile pyroclastic flows. In the latter parts of this eruption rhyodacite and minor dacite were erupted which compositionally resembled the earliest silicic magmas of the Atitlan center. As a result of this major eruption, the modern Atitlan (III) caldera formed. Following this event, rhyodacites were again erupted in smaller (5–13 km3) volumes, partly through the lake, and mafic volcanism resumed, forming three composite volcanoes within the caldera. The bimodal mafic/silicic Atitlan volcanism is similar to that which has occurred elsewhere in the Guatemalan Highlands, but is significantly more voluminous. Mafic lavas are thought to originate in the mantle, but rise, intrude and underplate the lower crust and partly escape to the surface. Eventually, silicic melts form in the crust, possibly partly derived from underplated basaltic material, rise, crystallize and erupt. The renewed mafic volcanism could reflect either regional magmato-tectonic adjustment after the large silicic eruption or the onset of a new cycle.
The cubical poset is additive

Abstract Additivity is a useful property of the multiset (or divisors-of-an-integer) poset. It is shown here that another class of poset, which includes the cubical poset, also has this property.
Preattentively grouped tones do not elicit MMN with respect to each other

To promote preattenive grouping of two sets of tones, one set of tones with a combination of frequency and ear of delivery was intermixed with another set of tones with a different combination of frequency and ear of delivery. The ERPs elicited by tones delivered to one ear that were preceded by three or four tones delivered in a row to the other ear were associated with an enhanced N1, due to the changes in frequency and ear of delivery with respect to the immediately preceding tones. However, no mismatch negativity (MMN) was obtained, even though these tones differed from the previious tones on the two dimensions of frequency and ear of delivery. The data were interpreted to signify that preattentively grouped sets of tones do not elicit MMN with respect to one another. This implies that once acoustic input has been preattentively grouped, the MMN system is dedicated to detecting changes that occur within but not between preattentively grouped stimuli.
Automated On-Line Determination of Membrane Responsiveness Curves

A system has been designed which provides automated on-line continuous plots of membrane responsiveness curves. The system is composed of amplifiers, positive peak-detecting and sample-and-hold circuitry, control logic, and display oscilloscopes. With an intracellular recording microelectrode impaled in a cardiac Purkinje fiber, the system acquires the membrane potential and maximum upstroke velocity of an action potential elicited from the resting or take-off potential. The resulting X-Y plot of varying membrane take-off potentials versus maximum upstroke velocity gives the "membrane responsiveness" relationship. This relationship reflects the relative availability of the depolarizing sodium system at different membrane potentials.
Predicting the perceptual quality of networked video through light-weight bitstream analysis

With the exponential growth of video traffic over wireless networked and embedded devices such as mobile phones and sensors, mechanisms are needed to predict the perceptual quality of video in real time and with low complexity, based on which networking protocols can control video quality and optimize network resources to meet the quality of experience (QoE) requirements of users. This paper proposes an efficient and light-weight video quality prediction model through partial parsing of compressed video bitstreams. A set of features were introduced to reflect video content characteristics and distortions caused by compression and transmission. All the features can be obtained directly from the H.264/AVC compressed bitstream in parsing mode without decoding the pixel information in macroblocks. Based on these features, an artificial neural network model was trained for perceptual quality prediction. Evaluation results show that the proposed prediction model can achieve accurate prediction of perceptual video quality through low computation costs. Therefore, it is well-suited for real time networked video applications on embedded devices.
Modeling and Optimization of Micro-Channel Heat Sinks for the Cooling of 3D Stacked Integrated Circuits

3D IC stacking offers unique opportunities to extend the number of functions per package beyond conventional chip design architectures. A critical requirement for the reliability of such high density high heat flux devices is adequate thermal management in order to ensure the junction temperatures fall within the acceptable limit. Additional constraints are related with the through silicon via (TSV) placements and compactness of the system. Liquid cooling with integrated micro-channels is a promising technology to meet these demands; however, the modeling and determining the optimal design of these channels is challenging. In this paper, a fluid-fin coupled model for heat sink temperature has been derived in explicit and easy to use form, and its feasibility for geometrical optimization has been demonstrated with a design case of 3D IC from previous literature.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Synthesis of optically pure Cα‐methyl‐arginine

Optically pure L-(+)-C alpha-methyl-arginine and D-(-)-C alpha-methyl-arginine were synthesized. Experimental results indicated that DL-C alpha-methyl-arginine methyl ester could be resolved by trypsin, but workup posed a technical difficulty. Chemical resolution at the stage of DL-C alpha-methyl-ornithine, followed by selective guanidination using N,N'-di-Cbz-S-methylisothiourea and hydrogenolysis provided a effective and practical method for the synthesis of optically pure C alpha-methyl-arginine.
Ets proteins in biological control and cancer

The Ets family consists of a large number of evolutionarily conserved transcription factors, many of which have been implicated in tumor progression. Extensive studies on this family of proteins have focused so far mainly on the biochemical properties and cellular functions of individual factors. Since most of the Ets factors can bind to the core consensus DNA sequence GGAA/T in vitro, it has been a challenge to differentiate redundant from specific functions of various Ets proteins in vivo. Recent findings, however, suggest that such apparent redundancy may in fact be a central component of a network of differentially regulated specific Ets factors, resulting in distinct biological and pathological consequences. The programmed "Ets conversion" appears to play a critical role during tumor progression, especially in control of cellular changes during epithelial-mesenchymal transition and metastasis. Coordination of multiple Ets gene functions also mediates interactions between tumor and stromal cells. As such, these new insights may provide a novel view of the Ets gene family as well as a focal point for studying the complex biological control involved in tumor progression.
Relations between geomorphic form and sedimentologic-stratigraphic variability: Holocene ooid sand shoal, Lily Bank, Bahamas

Although the linkages among surface sediments, geomorphic forms, and hydrodynamics in Holocene ooid tidal sand shoals have been evaluated recently, how these factors are reflected in the geomorphic evolution and stratigraphic record of shoals is less constrained. Yet, such understanding is essential to developing meaningful predictive conceptual models of three-dimensional architecture of ancient reservoir analogs. Integrating remote-sensing imagery, high-frequency seismic data, and core characterization from Lily Bank, a modern tidally dominated Bahamian ooid shoal in which sedimentologic processes are well documented, reveals the stratigraphic record of geomorphic change. An irregular, gently dipping rocky surface (interpreted as the top Pleistocene) with no pronounced topographic high underlies the Holocene oolitic succession. A 6-m (20-ft)–thick poorly sorted, gravelly muddy sand with few ooids overlies this basal surface. This lower interval is overlain by sand with an upward increase in proportion of ooids, sorting, and grain size. The uppermost unit, present only under active bar forms, is well-sorted oolitic medium sand with accretionary foresets. Sediments vary stratigraphically and geomorphically; the lower unit is finer and less well sorted than the upper units, and in the oolitic upper unit, sediment size and sorting on bar crests are distinct from bar flanks. Collectively, these results suggest that a marked antecedent bump is not necessary for occurrence of ooid shoals and that the stratigraphic record of analogous ooid shoal systems may preserve clues of geomorphic position, as well as geobody size and orientation.
Achieving Sustained Competitive Advantage: A Family Capital Theory

Although it has been long asserted that family businesses hold advantages over nonfamily businesses, to date, there have been very few theories developed as to exactly why family businesses hold competitive advantages over nonfamily businesses. This article introduces the concept of family capital and proposes that family capital has potential impact on business performance. Specifically, this article suggests that family businesses with high levels of family capital possibly do hold a sustained competitive advantage over family businesses with low levels of family capital and/or nonfamily businesses.
Monolignol biosynthesis and genetic engineering of lignin in trees, a review

This paper summarizes our previous and current research on genetic engineering of lignin biosynthesis for the purposes of improving wood pulping and bleaching efficiency. For these purposes, our targets were to produce transgenic trees with low content of lignin that is also chemically reactive (high lignin S/G ratio). Using aspen as a model species, we have characterized the biochemical functions of various genes and the kinetic properties of these gene products involved in monolignol biosynthetic pathway. The results of these characterizations proved strong evidence for a principle phenolic flux leading to the formation of monolignols. Biochemical evidence further demonstrated that, in this principle flux, 4CL could be the enzyme limiting total lignin accumulation, whereas CAld5H might control the lignin S/G ratio. These propositions were fully supported by the in vivo functions of these enzymes. Transgenic trees with inhibited 4CL enzyme activity exhibited 5–45% reduction in lignin contents. The chemical structure of the resulting lignin remained essentially unchanged. More importantly, the lignin reduction was compensated for by a concomitant increase in cellulose content. When antisense 4CL and sense coniferaldehyde 5-hydroxylase (CAld5H) genes were simultaneously transferred into aspen via Agrobacterium, transgenic trees expressing each one and both of the transgenes were produced. Lignin reductions up to 55% were achieved in antisense 4CL plants and up to 3-fold S/G increases were observed in sense CAld5H plants. These effects were independent but additive, with plants expressing both transgenes having less lignin and higher S/G ratio. Consistent with our previous results, lignin reduction has always resulted in an increase in cellulose content. These transgenics could be potentially valuable for pulp production. But more importantly, these benchmark transgenics are rich sources of information for functional genomics and metabolic engineering, allowing the generation of the ultimate raw materials for wood pulp production.
Purification and some properties of inorganic pyrophosphatase from human erythrocytes.

Abstract Inorganic pyrophosphatase was purified 1800-fold from human erythrocytes by a procedure involving complete hemolysis of the cells, removal of hemoglobin, ammonium sulfate fractionation, diethylaminoethyl cellulose column chromatography, and gel filtration. Magnesium chloride and 2-mercaptoethanol stabilized the activity. The procedure yielded an enzyme with an optimal pH of 7.7, and an apparent Michaelis constant of 9.7 x 10-6 m. Magnesium was essential for activity with an optimal Mg2+ PPi ratio of 1. These data suggest that the natural substrate for the erythrocyte pyrophosphatase is MgPP2-i. The enzyme showed very strict specificity for inogranic pyrophosphate. Adenosine triphosphate, adenosine diphosphate, inosine triphosphate, and inorganic tripolyphosphate were not acted upon in the presence of Mg2+ or Zn2+ as activator. Moreover, unlike the mitochondrial and the microsomal pyrophosphatases, the erythrocyte enzyme showed no PPi-glucose transphosphorylase activity. The Arrhenius plot of the erythrocyte pyrophosphatase exhibited a transition at 29° with an activation energy of 8,560 cal per mole above this temperature and 12,900 cal per mole below it. The activity was inhibited by p-hydroxymercuribenzoate, but was much less sensitive to alloxan, N-ethylmaleimide, and iodoacetamide. In the erythrocyte, inorganic pyrophosphatase probably plays a role in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide formation by hydrolyzing the PPi produced in its three synthetic steps.
Big secrets do not necessarily cause hills to appear steeper

Slepian, Masicampo, Toosi, and Ambady (Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 141, 619–624, 2012, Study 1) found that individuals recalling and writing about a big, meaningful secret judged a pictured hill as steeper than did those who recalled and wrote about a small, inconsequential secret (with estimates unrelated to physical effort unaffected). From an embodied cognition perspective, this result was interpreted as suggesting that important secrets weigh people down. Answering to mounting calls for the crucial need of independent direct replications of published findings to ensure the self-correcting nature of our science, we sought to corroborate Slepian et al.’s finding in two extremely high-powered, preregistered studies that were very faithful to all procedural and methodological details of the original study (i.e., same cover story, study title, manipulation, measures, item order, scale anchors, task instructions, sampling frame, population, and statistical analyses). In both samples, we were unsuccessful in replicating the target finding. Although Slepian et al. reported three other studies supporting the secret burdensomeness phenomenon, we advise that these three other findings need to be independently corroborated before the general phenomenon informs theory or health interventions.
Heterogeneity in the differentiation and function of memory B cells

Vaccines that induce neutralizing antibodies have led to the eradication of small pox and have severely reduced the prevalence of many other infections. However, even the most successful vaccines do not induce protective antibodies in all individuals, and can fail to induce lifelong immunity. A key to remedying these shortcomings may lie in a better understanding of long-lived memory B cells. Recent studies have revealed novel insights into the differentiation and function of these cells, and have shown that the memory B cell pool is much more heterogeneous than previously appreciated.
Closed‐loop behavior of nonlinear model predictive control

Model predictive control (MPC) relies on real-time optimization to determine open-loop control profiles and state estimates given process measurements. When the underlying process model is nonlinear, the MPC system exhibits unique behavior not seen in linear MPC. Some of the characteristics are highlighted of nonlinear models in the context of closed-loop performance. The effects are examined of disturbance models on closed-loop performance and necessary conditions are shown for how and where steady states of the closed-loop system may be found. These conditions are demonstrated on a simple example to show that the input disturbance model can lead to failure of the control system, and that linear MPC is inadequate for controlling this class of systems. Additionally, due to nonconvexity, the optimization problems solved in nonlinear MPC may have local optima. These local minima may lead to undesirable performance, particularly in the state estimator. The existence is studied of these optima in the regulator and estimator and their potential effects are examined on the performance of the closed-loop system. To avoid unwanted local minima, the use is advocated of constraints in the estimator and regulator formulations and it is shown how a shorter prediction horizon in the regulator leads to better control profiles for some nonlinear models. © 2004 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 50: 2142–2154, 2004
Candida albicans Biofilms Produce Antifungal-Tolerant Persister Cells

Fungal pathogens form biofilms that are highly recalcitrant to antimicrobial therapy. The expression of multidrug resistance pumps in young biofilms has been linked to increased resistance to azoles, but this mechanism does not seem to underlie the resistance of mature biofilms that is a model of in vivo infection. The mechanism of drug resistance of mature biofilms remains largely unknown. We report that biofilms formed by the major human pathogen Candida albicans exhibited a strikingly biphasic killing pattern in response to two microbicidal agents, amphotericin B, a polyene antifungal, and chlorhexidine, an antiseptic, indicating that a subpopulation of highly tolerant cells, termed persisters, existed. The extent of killing with a combination of amphotericin B and chlorhexidine was similar to that observed with individually added antimicrobials. Thus, surviving persisters form a multidrug-tolerant subpopulation. Interestingly, surviving C. albicans persisters were detected only in biofilms and not in exponentially growing or stationary-phase planktonic populations. Reinoculation of cells that survived killing of the biofilm by amphotericin B produced a new biofilm with a new subpopulation of persisters. This suggests that C. albicans persisters are not mutants but phenotypic variants of the wild type. Using a stain for dead cells, rare dark cells were visible in a biofilm after amphotericin B treatment, and a bright and a dim population were physically sorted from this biofilm. Only the dim cells produced colonies, showing that this method allows the isolation of yeast persisters. Given that persisters formed only in biofilms, mutants defective in biofilm formation were examined for tolerance of amphotericin B. All of the known mutants affected in biofilm formation were able to produce normal levels of persisters. This finding indicates that attachment rather than formation of a complex biofilm architecture initiates persister formation. Bacteria produce multidrug-tolerant persister cells in both planktonic and biofilm populations, and it appears that yeasts and bacteria have evolved analogous strategies that assign the function of survival to a small part of the population. In bacteria, persisters are dormant cells. It remains to be seen whether attachment initiates dormancy that leads to the formation of fungal persisters. This study suggests that persisters may be largely responsible for the multidrug tolerance of fungal biofilms.
β-Adrenergic treatment of C6 glioma cells produces opposite changes in c-fos and c-jun mRNA levels

The AP1 transcriptional complex is a heterodimer composed of proteins encoded by the fos and jun proto-oncogene families. Changes in the concentration and composition of AP1 occur after cells are perturbed in a variety of different ways (Curran, in Reddy et al., eds. “The Oncogene Handbook,” Amsterdam: Elsevier, pp 307–325, 1988; Sonnenberg et al., Neuron 3:359–365, 1989). Transient changes in AP1 conlent presumably result in altered expression of AP1-regulated targel genes, that help to mediate the cell's long-term response to changes in its environment. One factor that may be important in determining which target genes are regulated by AP1 in a given context is the identity of the jun family member present in the complex (Chiu et al., Cell 59:979–986, 1989; Schutte et al., Cell 59:987–997, 1989). Fos induction has been demonstrated after binding of β-adrenergic ligands to their cell surface receptors (Barka et al., Mol Cell Biol 6:2984–2989, 1986; Gubits et al., Mol Brain Res 6:39–45, 1989; Arenander et al., J Neurosci Res 24:107–114, 1989; Mocchetti et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 86:3891–3895, 1989). However, the response of the jun gene family to this treatment has not been reported. We have therefore examined the effect of β-adrenergic receptor activation on the expression of c-fos, c-jun, and junB mRNA levels in C6 glioma cells. Our results indicate that c-fos and junB mRNA levels are increased by 52- and 2.7-fold, respectively, after 45 min of isoproterenol (IPR) treatment. Unexpectedly, we found a concomitant decrease in c-jun mRNA levels of about 2.5-fold. The changes in c-fos and c-jun mRNAs were found to be dose dependent and specifically mediated by β- rather than alpha-adrenergic receptors. The alterations in AP1 composition implied by our findings suggest a role for this transcriptional complex in mediating late gene responses lo β-adrenergic receptor activation.
Applications of Degree Theory to Linear Complementarity Problems

In this paper, we consider two applications of degree theory to linear complementarity problems. In the first application, we study the stability of an LCP at a solution point. Specifically we prove the stability of an LCP corresponding to a P0-matrix at an isolated solution. Using a recent degree formula due to Stewart 1991, we strengthen a stability result of Gowda and Pang 1992. In the second application, we use the same degree formula of Stewart to describe the number of solutions of LCPM, q when M is a negative almost N-matrix. This analysis leads to a Lipschitzian characterization of the solution map I¦: q â¦ SOLM, q corresponding to a nondegenerate negative matrix.
Sigma receptor antagonists attenuate acute methamphetamine-induced hyperthermia by a mechanism independent of IL-1β mRNA expression in the hypothalamus

Methamphetamine is currently one of the most widely abused drugs worldwide, with hyperthermia being a leading cause of death in methamphetamine overdose situations. Methamphetamine-induced hyperthermia involves a variety of cellular mechanisms, including increases in hypothalamic interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) expression. Methamphetamine also interacts with sigma receptors and previous studies have shown that sigma receptor antagonists mitigate many of the behavioral and physiological effects of methamphetamine, including hyperthermia. The purpose of the current study was to determine if the attenuation of methamphetamine-induced hyperthermia by the sigma receptor antagonists, AZ66 and SN79, is associated with a concomitant attenuation of IL-1β mRNA expression, particularly in the hypothalamus. Methamphetamine produced dose- and time-dependent increases in core body temperature and IL-1β mRNA expression in the hypothalamus, striatum, and cortex in male, Swiss Webster mice. Pretreatment with the sigma receptor antagonists, AZ66 and SN79, significantly attenuated methamphetamine-induced hyperthermia, but further potentiated IL-1β mRNA in the mouse hypothalamus when compared to animals treated with methamphetamine alone. These findings suggest sigma receptor antagonists attenuate methamphetamine-induced hyperthermia through a different mechanism from that involved in the modulation of hypothalamic IL-1β mRNA expression.
Matrix metalloproteinases and their tissue inhibitors in severely burned children

Severe burns cause not only skin injury but several marked systemic derangements. During wound healing, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases play an important role in tissue regeneration and remodeling processes. Therefore, in the present study, we determined the serum levels of MMPs and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 in burn patients over time. Serum samples from 12 severely burned children (mean age 7.9 +/- 2.5 years) with >40% total body surface area burns were obtained within 0.5 hours, 3, 7, and 21 days after injury. Pro-MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-9, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 serum levels were assayed by enzyme-linked immunoassay and compared to normal healthy volunteers. Two-way analysis of variance and Bonferroni's test were used for statistical analysis. Pro-MMP-1 levels in the serum were significantly elevated by the seventh day after burn. MMP-3 and MMP-9 levels showed significant increases by day 3 and 21 compared to normals, respectively. Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 levels did not change with time after burn but were significantly higher by 3 days after burn compared to normal serum. In conclusion, changes in MMPs and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 occur in burn patients and those changes may be a mechanism beneficial to wound healing.
Distributed Knowledge Construction in an Online Community of Inquiry

This paper examines sustained, socially-situated engagement in online learning communities. We propose three levels of engagement that are examined through an empirical study of joint knowledge construction in an online community of inquiry. We find that the social, informational, and/or pedagogical content of peer-interaction is related to specific types of problem-structure and its relationship to learner experience. We discuss online course design indicators, based on the social engagement construct
On the statistical efficiency of the LMS algorithm with nonstationary inputs

A fundamental relationship exists between the quality of an adaptive solution and the amount of data used in obtaining it. Quality is defined here in terms of "misadjustment," the ratio of the excess mean square error (mse) in an adaptive solution to the minimum possible mse. The higher the misadjustment, the lower the quality is. The quality of the exact least squares solution is compared with the quality of the solutions obtained by the orthogonalized and the conventional least mean square (LMS) algorithms with stationary and nonstationary input data. When adapting with noisy observations, a filter trained with a finite data sample using an exact least squares algorithms will have a misadjustment given by M=\frac{n}{N}=\frac{number of weights}{number of training samples} If the same adaptive filter were trained with a steady flow of data using an ideal "orthogonalized LMS" algorithm, the misadjustment would be M=\frac{n}{4\tau_{\mse}}=\frac{number of weights}{number of training samples} Thus, for a given time constant \tau_{\mse} of the learning process, the ideal orthogonalized LMS algorithm will have about as low a misadjustment as can be achieved, since this algorithm performs essentially as an exact least squares algorithm with exponential data weighting. It is well known that when rapid convergence with stationary data is required, exact least squares algorithms can in certain cases outperform the conventional Widrow-Hoff LMS algorithm. It is shown here, however, that for an important class of nonstationary problems, the misadjustment of conventional LMS is the same as that of orthogonalized LMS, which in the stationary case is shown to perform essentially as an exact least squares algorithm.
Two-dimensional delta-operator formulated discrete-time systems: analysis and synthesis of minimum roundoff noise realizations

The roundoff noise performance of a /spl delta/-operator formulated 2-D state space digital filter is investigated. Synthesis procedures are developed and it is shown that unlike in the q-operator case, the optimum realizations are different for single-length accumulator and double-length accumulator based filters. A method is presented to find the sampling times so that the probability of overflow of the state derivatives is less than that of the state variables. A numerical example is presented to compare different schemes.
MECHANISTIC ENZYMOLOGY OF OXYGEN ACTIVATION BY THE CYTOCHROMES P450

The P450 cytochromes represent a universal class of heme-monooxygenases. The detailed mechanistic understanding of their oxidative prowess is a critical theme in the studies of metabolism of a wide range of organic compounds including xenobiotics. Integral to the O2 bond cleavage mechanism by P450 is the enzyme's concerted use of protein and solvent-mediated proton transfer events to transform reduced dioxygen to a species capable of oxidative chemistry. To this end, a wide range of kinetic, structural, and mutagenesis data has been accrued. A critical role of conserved acid-alcohol residues in the P450 distal pocket, as well as stabilized waters, enables the enzyme to catalyze effective monooxygenation chemistry. In this review, we discuss the detailed mechanism of P450 dioxygen scission utilizing the CYP101 hydroxylation of camphor as a model system. The application of low-temperature radiolytic techniques has enabled a structural and spectroscopic analysis of the nature of critical intermediate states ...
Gender, Genocide, and Ethnicity The Legacies of Older Armenian American Mothers

Women use legacies to help family members articulate family identity, learn family history, and provide succeeding generations with information about family culture. Using feminist standpoint theory and the life-course perspective, this qualitative study examined the intergenerational transmissions that 30 older Armenian American mothers received and transmitted to succeeding generations within the sociohistorical experience of genocide. Mothers passed on legacies that included family stories, rituals/activities, and possessions. Because of multiple losses during the Armenian Genocide, they emphasized legacies that symbolized connection to family, underscored family cohesion, and accentuated ethnic identity. Tensions were evident as well because women's sense of responsibility for legacies clashed with their limited cultural knowledge, few inherited possessions, and the inevitable assimilation of their children and grandchildren into the dominant U.S. culture.
Constellation topologies for a space-based information network backbone using optical intersatellite links

The design of a space-based information network backbone to provide high-speed space-to-space communications for space-based assets and shared on-orbit processing resources is considered. The architecture requires a design of the physical network to satisfy a collection of traffic needs defining communications on that physical network. The communications architecture for the space-based information network is intended to satisfy a spectrum of mission requirements (e.g., high data rates, high connectivity, and low latency) at a reasonable cost. In order to achieve a cost-effective design for a space network architecture, the design process consists of defining traffic models, modeling the communications cost, defining the intersatellite backbone constellation and its routing and switching mechanisms, and studying the costs of deploying the network to meet those traffic demands.
Strategic Management of Expectations: The Role of Disconfirmation Sensitivity and Perfectionism

Abstract The authors suggest that people strategically manage—specifically, lower—their expectations to increase future satisfaction. Consumers who are more disconfirmation sensitive, that is, those who are more satisfied (dissatisfied) when a product performs better (worse) than expected, are hypothesized to have lower expectations. In contrast, the authors expect that consumers who are perfectionists will have higher expectations than those who are not. Results from a laboratory experiment and a field study are consistent with the hypotheses. Furthermore, the authors identify a possible third type of expectation (“as-if”) that serves as a basis for postpurchase evaluation and provide preliminary evidence that it differs from both will and should expectations.
Arbitrage and SDEs

The heart of the modern financial aspirant never beats so quickly as in the presence of an arbitrage opportunity, a circumstance where the simultaneous purchase and sale of related securities is guaranteed to produce a riskless profit. Such opportunities may be thought of as rare, but on a worldwide basis they are a daily occurrence, although perhaps not quite as riskless as one might hope.
The Deceptive Appeal of Direct-to-Consumer Genetics

According to van der Wouden and colleagues' study, consumers who purchase direct-to-consumer genetic tests find the marketing message compelling. The editorialists discuss the findings and why they...
High power, narrow linewidth fiber amplifiers

Amplification of narrow linewidth signals in optical fibers is limited by stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS). We discuss novel fiber designs that limit SBS allowing the amplification of narrow linewidth signals to kilowatt power levels.
FUNGI ASSOCIATED WITH PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE (LYTHRUM SALICARIA) IN MINNESOTA

Purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria, is a ma? jor weed of wetlands throughout North America. In many sites it has established a monoculture that ex- cludes native plants useful to wildlife. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the potential of fungi patho? genic to purple loosestrife that will either control or aid in controlling the plant. In a 3-year study, fungi were isolated from purple loosestrife plants at 16 sites throughout Minnesota. A total of 5265 fungal isolates were obtained. Thirty-one fungal taxa identified to 22 genera were isolated from purple loosestrife that had not previously been reported as either associated with or isolated from purple loosestrife in the United States. Fungi will be selected from among these isolates and tested for pathogenicity to purple loosestrife.
Mitigation of Single Event Effects

Mitigation of single event soft errors has taken on growing importance as transistor sizes have decreased. Commercial manufacturers will soon need to address single-event effects as terrestrial radiation sources become a significant source of soft errors in ground-based applications. This chapter gives an overview of various soft error mitigation techniques. Some of the techniques discussed include spatial and time redundancy techniques, driver sizing technique and CVSL method.
Screening for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Prenatal Care: Prevalence and Characteristics in a Low-Income Population

Objectives Investigate the feasibility of using a brief, 4-item PTSD screening tool (PTSD-PC) as part of routine prenatal care in two community health care settings serving ethnically and linguistically diverse low-income populations. Report prevalence and differences by sub-threshold and clinical levels, in demographic, health, mental health, risk behaviors, and service use. Methods Women were screened as part of their prenatal intake visit over a 2-year period. Those screening positive at clinical or sub-threshold levels were recruited if they spoke English, Spanish, Portuguese, Vietnamese or Arabic. Enrolled women were interviewed about psychosocial risk factors, prior traumas, PTSD symptoms, depression, anxiety, substance use, health and services, using validated survey instruments. Results Of 1362 women seen for prenatal intakes, 1259 (92 %) were screened, 208 (17 %) screened positive for PTSD at clinical (11 %) or sub-threshold levels (6 %), and 149 (72 % of all eligible women) enrolled in the study. Those screening positive were significantly younger, had more prior pregnancies, were less likely to be Asian or black, and were more likely to be non-English speakers. Enrolled women at clinical as compared to sub-threshold levels showed few differences in psychosocial risk, but had significantly more types of trauma, more trauma before age 18, more interpersonal trauma, and had greater depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms. Only about 25 % had received mental health treatment. Conclusions The PTSD-PC was a feasible screening tool for use in prenatal care. While those screening in at clinical levels were more symptomatic, those at subthreshold levels still showed substantial symptomology and psychosocial risk.
Binary diffusion coefficients and non-premixed flames extinction of long-chain alkanes

Abstract The current study aims to resolve the experimental and modeling discrepancies previously observed for the extinction strain rates of counterflow, non-premixed n-decane and n-dodecane/nitrogen mixture versus oxygen. To achieve this goal, a recently developed transport theory of cylindrical molecular structure in dilute gases is used to model the binary diffusion coefficients of long-chain n-alkanes up to n-dodecane in N2 and He. The updated diffusion coefficients are found to be significantly different from early estimates made from the law of corresponding states. The diffusion coefficient update removes the early difficulties in modeling the extinction strain rates for non-premixed extinction of n-decane and n-dodecane. It was found that the mixture averaged transport formulation can provide good predictions provided that the Soret effect on the transport of large fuel molecules is properly accounted for.