cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Macronutrient Selection in Experimental Animals

To address the question of how animals choose diets from an array of nutritionally different foods, researchers have designed experiments in which animals are provided with separate sources of the three macronutrients, protein, fat and carbohydrate. These experiments are useful for investigating the neuroanatomical and neurochemical mechanisms involved in food choice, as well as for assessing the effects of changes in physiological status (e.g., pregnancy; lactation and increased energy expenditure) or disease states (e.g., diabetes; and obesity) on nutrient intakes.
Effects of Lifetime Copper, Zinc, and Manganese Supplementation and Source on Performance, Mineral Status, Immunity, and Carcass Characteristics of Feedlot Cattle12

Two calf crops (n = 140, yr 1; n = 130, yr 2) from the same cowherd were used to evaluate the effects of lifetime Cu, Zn, and Mn supplementation and source on performance, status, immunity, and carcass traits of feedlot cattle. Dams were supplemented with trace mineral treatments from approximately 80 d pre-calving through 120 d post-calving. Treatments included 1) control (no supplemental Cu, Zn, or Mn), 2) organic (ORG; 50% organic and 50% inorganic Cu, Zn, and Mn), or 3) inorganic (ING; 100% inorganic CuSO4, ZnSO4, and MnSO4) trace minerals. In the feedlot, calves were maintained on the same treatments, except that ORG contained 33% organic and 67% inorganic Cu, Zn, and Mn. Cattle received a growing diet for 56 d and a finishing diet for 140 d (yr 1) and 145 or 181 d (yr 2) prior to harvest. There was a tendency for a growing-phase year × treatment interaction (P=0.10), and a finishing-phase year × treatment interaction was present (P<0.04) for BW gain to feed ratio (G:F). In yr 1, G:F was greater (P<0.05) in ORG cattle than in ING cattle during both feeding phases; non-supplemented controls had a greater (P<0.01) finishing phase G:F than did supplemented cattle. Supplemented cattle had greater (P<0.01) liver Cu concentrations than non-supplemented controls throughout both feeding phases, and liver Mn concentrations were greater (P<0.02) in supplemented cattle than in non-supplemented controls at the end of the finishing phase.
Muscle A-Kinase Anchoring Protein-α is an Injury-Specific Signaling Scaffold Required for Neurotrophic- and Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate-Mediated Survival

Neurotrophic factor and cAMP-dependent signaling promote the survival and neurite outgrowth of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) after injury. However, the mechanisms conferring neuroprotection and neuroregeneration downstream to these signals are unclear. We now reveal that the scaffold protein muscle A-kinase anchoring protein-α (mAKAPα) is required for the survival and axon growth of cultured primary RGCs. Although genetic deletion of mAKAPα early in prenatal RGC development did not affect RGC survival into adulthood, nor promoted the death of RGCs in the uninjured adult retina, loss of mAKAPα in the adult increased RGC death after optic nerve crush. Importantly, mAKAPα was required for the neuroprotective effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and cyclic adenosine-monophosphate (cAMP) after injury. These results identify mAKAPα as a scaffold for signaling in the stressed neuron that is required for RGC neuroprotection after optic nerve injury.
HIV-Infected Patient Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs Regarding the Affordable Care Act

We evaluated patient knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs regarding changes present with the Affordable Care Act (ACA). HIV-infected adults attending an academic medical center HIV clinic in Omaha, Nebraska were asked to complete a self-administered survey between November 2013 and March 2014. Information collected included demographics, knowledge regarding healthcare reform policies, as well as attitudes and beliefs regarding the potential impact of the ACA on patient access to healthcare. Basic descriptive statistics were used to assess demographic characteristics of respondents and outcomes of interest. Chi-square tests were used for comparisons of interest among participants; some trends were evaluated with Cochran-Armitage trend tests. Four hundred and six patients completed the questionnaire. Of the respondents 90% were between the ages of 27 and 64, 61% were white, 27% had no health insurance, and 21% reported that they felt they had or will eventually benefit from the ACA. The proportion who responded "I don't know" to this question decreased over the study period (p=0.036). Overall, 57% reported they do not believe that they are informed enough to make decisions about the ACA. In answering four knowledge-based questions, only 3% answered all of them correctly. Knowledge about the ACA was significantly associated with perception of benefit (p=0.018). HIV-infected patients are not well informed about the ACA and few perceive that they will benefit from healthcare reform. Targeted education and outreach are necessary to reduce the knowledge gap for this population that stands to benefit greatly from the ACA.
Risk Factors Associated with Retrolental Fibroplasia

Abstract The eyes of infants who were premature or had exposure to increased ambient oxygen from 1979 to 1981 were examined. Of 1012 neonates, 19 were found to have acute retrolental fibroplasia (RLF) grade III or worse in at least one eye. Sixteen also had chronic lung disease (CLD), and when compared to 25 control patients who had CLD but not grade III or more RLF, they were found to consistently have lower blood CO 2 tensions (P CO2 ), lower pH values, higher inspired oxygen concentrations (F IO2S ) and a higher incidence of seizure disorders (100% vs. 48%). We could not show that an elevated PC02 increased the risk for developing RLF. Infants with either chronic lung disease or chronic lung disease and seizures had a high risk for developing RLF grade III (39% and 57%, respectively).
Phase correlation processing for DPIV measurements

A novel digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV) correlation method is presented, the Gaussian transformed phase correlation (GTPC) estimator, using nonlinear filtering techniques coupled with the phase-transform (PHAT) generalized cross-correlation filter. The use of spatial windowing is shown to be ideally suited for the use of phase correlation estimators, due to their invariance to the loss of correlation effects. Error analysis demonstrates the increased valid vector detection and measurement accuracy of the windowed GTPC over the traditional Fourier based estimator in a series of uniform displacement Monte Carlo simulations. Analysis of the GTPC performance in the PIV standard image sets shows error reductions on the order of 15–45% over the range of simulations. Experimental DPIV images from a turbulent rib roughened channel flow are used to validate the use of the GTPC, which shows a strong reduction in peak locking effects, background noise errors, and erroneous vectors. Together, these results demonstrate the coupled benefits provided by the use of advanced filtering techniques applied to the phase correlation estimator. With the correct implementation of these filters, the GTPC is able to provide substantial improvements to the robustness of DPIV estimation.
PcP and ScP beneath the western Pacific detected by a deep ocean‐Bottom hydrophone array

A deep ocean-bottom hydrophone array near Wake Island in the western Pacific has detected PcP and ScP from several deep-focus earthquakes that occurred beneath the Sea of Okhotsk and beneath the Fiji Basin. Two representative events have been analyzed. The PcP of the Okhotsk event is very strong and sharp, with a predominant frequency of 2 Hz, whereas the PcP of the Fiji event is weak, with a predominant frequency closer to 1 Hz. The strong contrast between PcP from these two deep-focus earthquakes demonstrates differences in reflectivity at the core-mantle boundary as well as heterogeneities in seismic velocity and attenuation in the lower mantle. Travel times and spectral analyses show that seismic velocity, attenuation factor Q, and reflectivity are all high beneath the Northwest Pacific Basin and normal beneath the equatorial Pacific.
An interactive system for aircraft design and optimization

A system for aircraft design utilizing a unique analysis architecture, graphical interface, and suite of numerical optimization methods is described in this paper. The non-procedural architecture provides extensibility and efficiency not possible with conventional programming techniques. The interface for analysis and optimization, developed for use with this method, is described and its application to example problems is discussed.
Filamin Redistribution in an Endothelial Cell Reoxygenation Injury Model

Ischemia-reperfusion injury increases vascular permeability in part by generating reactive oxygen species that disassemble the endothelial cell actin dense peripheral band. This is followed by an increase in the number and diameter of intercellular gaps. Millimolar concentrations of reactive oxygen metabolites lead to nonspecific endothelial cell injury, but micromolar concentrations activate inflammatory second messenger cascades which produce distributional changes in endothelial cell cytoskeletal proteins. H2O2 (100 microM) causes translocation of filamin, from the membrane to the cytosol within 1 min. Subsequently, gap formation occurs within 10-25 min, which is attributed to rearrangement of the dense peripheral band of F-actin. Plasma membrane blebbing occurs after 90 min and decreases in mitochondrial activity occur after 1-2 h. Deferoxamine (iron chelator) and TEMPO (nonspecific free radical scavenger) inhibit these changes. H2O2 (100-1000 microM) does not increase endothelial cell intracellular Ca2+ through 30 min and pretreating cells with a Ca2+-calmodulin kinase inhibitor or an intracellular Ca2+ chelator does not prevent filamin translocation. Filamin redistribution and actin rearrangement are early events in H2O2-mediated endothelial cell injury that appear to occur through Ca2+-independent pathways.
Closer asymptotic approximations for the distributions of the power divergence goodness-of-fit statistics

The members of the power divergence family of statistics\(2\left( {\lambda \left( {\lambda + 1} \right)} \right)^{ - 1} \sum\limits_{j = 1}^k {X_j \left[ {\left( {{{X_j } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{X_j } {n\pi _{0j} }}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {n\pi _{0j} }}} \right)^2 - 1} \right]} \) all have an asymptotically equivalent χ2 distribution (Cressie and Read [1]). An asymptotic expansion for the distribution function is derived which shows that the speed of convergence to this asymptotic limit is dependent on λ. Known results for Pearson'sX 2 statistic and the log-likelihood ratio statistic then appear as special cases in a continuum rather than as separate (unrelated) expansions.
An inventory system with Markovian demands, phase type distributions for perishability and replenishment

In this paper we consider a version of (s, S)-type inventory system in which the demands occur according to a Markovian arrival process (MAP). The shelf life times of the items in the inventory as well as the replenishment times are assumed to be of (possibly different) phase type. Demands that are not met immediately are stored in an unmet buffer of finite capacity. Any arriving demand finding the inventory level at zero and the unmet buffer to be full is considered lost. Demands in the unmet buffer compete for the inventory after waiting for a random amount of time that is exponentially distributed. The steady state analysis of the inventory model is performed using the well-known matrix analytic methods. An optimization along with a couple of illustrative numerical examples are presented.
A modular particle-continuum numerical method for hypersonic non-equilibrium gas flows

A modular particle-continuum (MPC) numerical method for steady-state flows is presented which solves the Navier-Stokes equations in regions of near-equilibrium and uses the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method to simulate regions of non-equilibrium gas flow. Existing, state-of-the-art, DSMC and Navier-Stokes solvers are coupled together using a novel modular implementation which requires only a limited number of additional hybrid functions. Hybrid functions are used to adaptively position particle-continuum interfaces and update boundary conditions in each module at appropriate times. The MPC method is validated for 2D flow over a cylinder at various hypersonic Mach numbers where the global Knudsen number is 0.01. For the cases considered, the MPC method is verified to accurately reproduce DSMC flow field results as well as local particle velocity distributions up to 2.2 times faster than full DSMC simulations.
The S1 factor in peptide chain elongation.

Aminoacyl-tRNA becomes attached to the ribosome as part of an S3 factor–GTP–aminoacyl-tRNA complex. GTP is then cleaved and an S3 factor–GDP complex is released. The S1 factor promotes the re-formation of the S3 factor–GTP–aminoacyl-tRNA complex from the S3 factor–GDP complex, aminoacyl-tRNA and GTP.
Cardiac ganglia in spiders (Arachnida: Araneae)

La presence d'un ganglion cardiaque a ete recherchee chez des araignees par une etude histologique. Dans 11 familles, un ganglion cardiaque a ete mis en evidence dans la region dorsale moyenne de la surface externe du cœur. La presence reguliere d'un ganglion dans les familles etudiees indique qu'il existe tres probablement chez toutes les araignees.
Effects of Court Officials on Sentence Severity: Do Judges Make a Difference?

The present article examines the effects on sentencing of a number of variables measuring court actors and their traits. Sentencing patterns were shown to vary substantially from judge to judge but the differences were found to be related more to the types of cases judges received than to sentencing styles of individual judges. Independent of traditional sociodemographic traits of offenders and legal variables, individual judges do not appear to sentence differently. Moreover, when we estimated equations which included judicial background characteristics, there were no discernible independent effects. These findings differ from both informed intuition and inferences one might draw from previous research. Consideration of subcultures of justice and cases on which court officials disagree about sentences may help explain differences between present and past research.
ANP-mediated inhibition of distal nephron fractional sodium reabsorption in wild-type and mice overexpressing natriuretic peptide receptor

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) elicits natriuresis; however, the relative contributions of proximal and distal nephron segments to the overall ANP-induced natriuresis have remained uncertain. This study was performed to characterize the effects of ANP on distal nephron sodium reabsorption determined after blockade of the two major distal nephron sodium transporters with amiloride (5 μg/g body wt) plus bendroflumethiazide (12 μg/g body wt) in male anesthetized C57/BL6 and natriuretic peptide receptor-A gene (Npr1) targeted four-copy mice. The lower dose of ANP (0.1 ng·g body wt−1·min−1, n = 6) increased distal sodium delivery (DSD, 2.4 ± 0.4 vs. 1.6 ± 0.2 μeq/min, P 0.05), thus limiting the magnitude of the natriuresis. In contrast, the higher dose (0.2 ng·g body wt−1·min−1, n = 6) increased DSD (2.8 ± 0.3 μeq/min, P 0.05). These results provide in vivo evidence that ANP-mediated increases in DSD alone exert modest effects on sodium excretion and that inhibition of fractional reabsorption of distal sodium delivery is requisite for the augmented natriuresis in response to the higher dose of ANP or in Npr1 gene-duplicated mice.
Copper uptake and depuration by juvenile and adult Florida apple snails (Pomacea paludosa)

The present study characterized copper (Cu) uptake and depuration by juvenile and adult Florida apple snails (Pomacea paludosa) from water, soil, and diet. During a 28-day uptake period, juvenile apple snails were exposed to aqueous Cu and adult apple snails were exposed to Cu-contaminated soil, water, and food. In the follow-up 14-day depuration period, both juvenile and adult apple snails were held in laboratory freshwater with background Cu concentrations<4 microg/l. For juvenile apple snails, whole body Cu concentrations increased with time and reached a plateau after 14 days. The data followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics rather than a one compartment first order kinetics model. The mean Cu bioconcentration factor (BCF) for juvenile apple snails was 1493 and the depuration half-life was 10.5-13.8 days. For adult snails, dietary uptake of Cu resulted in higher bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) compared to uptake from soil. Most of the accumulated Cu was located in soft tissue (about 60% in the viscera and 40% in the foot). The shell contained <1% of the total accumulated copper. Soft tissue is usually consumed by predators of the apple snail. Therefore, the results of the present study show that Cu transfer through the food chain to the apple snail may lead to potential risk to its predators.
SEQUESTRATION OF STAPHYLOCOCCI AT AN INACCESSIBLE FOCUS

Abstract The persistence of staphylococcal arthritis in a patient treated with nafcillin was attributed to intracellular sequestration of staphylococci. These intraphagocytic organisms were protected against bactericidal activity. The infection was cleared by rifampin—an agent which can penetrate leucocyte membranes. When clinical infections do not respond to seemingly adequate antimicrobial treatment, intracellular persistence of bacteria should be considered.
Comparison of the Synoptic Conditions in Midlatitudes Accompanying Cold Surges over Eastern Asia for the Months of December 1974 and 1978. Part II: Relation of Surge Events to Features of the Longer Term Mean Circulation

Abstract This is the second of two papers dealing with midlatitude initiation of East Asian cold surges. The effects of individual cold surges on the circulation an the East Asian coast are studied for the months of December 1974 and December 1978. These months represent a contrast with respect to the strength of cold surges occurring in that month. The surges occurring in December 1978 were weak, those in 1978 were strong. The circulation features and processes that were considered were: 1) the 200 mb zonal momentum budget, 2) the 400 mb frontogenesis forcing, 3) the low-level meridional eddy heat fluxes, and 4) the thermally direct circulation cell in the entrance region to the East Asian jet maximum. The times of the surge events are shown to be periods which dominate in computing the longer term monthly statistics of the aforementioned circulation features. The monthly mean features computed here are also typical of other studies using even much longer term winter averages. The implication is that sur...
Exercise-Induced Bronchospasm: Coding and Billing for Physician Services

Physician reporting of the service to insurance companies for reimbursement is multifaceted and perplexing to those who do not understand the factors to consider. Test selection should be individualized based on the patient's history and/or needs. Federal regulations concerning physician supervision of diagnostic tests mandate different levels of physician supervision based on the type and complexity of the test. Many factors play a key role in physician claim submission. These include testing location, component services, coding edits, and additional visits. Medical necessity of the service(s) must also be demonstrated for payer consideration and reimbursement. The following article reviews various tests for exercise-induced bronchospasm and focuses on issues to assist the physician in reporting the services accurately and appropriately.
A phase II trial of methotrexate, cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and leucovorin in the treatment of invasive and metastatic urothelial carcinoma.

BACKGROUND. The current treatment of advanced urothelial carcinoma generates high response rates but is associated with poor overall survival. The current study evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of a new combination of active drugs in the treatment of urothelial carcinoma. METHODS. Twenty-four patients with muscle invasive or metastatic urothelial carcinoma were enrolled. Fifteen patients (63%) had metastatic disease whereas 9 patients had T2‐T4 disease. Three patients were unevaluable for response because of significant toxicity. Patients were treated every 28 days with methotrexate, 60 mg/m 2 , intravenously (i.v.) on Day 1; cisplatin, 25 mg/m 2 /day, by continuous i.v. infusion on Days 2‐ 6; 5-flurouracil (5-FU) 800 mg/m 2 /day by continuous i.v. infusion on Days 3‐ 6; and leucovorin, 500 mg/m 2 /day, by continuous i.v. infusion on Days 2‐ 6. Dosage in subsequent cycles was adjusted according to toxicity. RESULTS. The median follow-up was 81 months (range, 53‐971 months). The overall response rate (complete response 1 partial response) for all 24 patients was 63% (95% confidence interval, 41‐ 81%). The median survival was 65 months in the patients with muscle invasive disease and 17 months in the patients with metastatic disease. The duration of response in patients with metastatic disease was 6 months (range, 4 ‐19 months). Toxicity was significant, with 82% of patients experiencing Common Toxicity Criteria Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia and 63% experiencing Grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia. However, only three patients developed febrile neutropenia and gastrointestinal and neurologic toxicity was moderate. CONCLUSIONS. The combination of methotrexate, cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and leucovorin represents an active regimen in the treatment of urothelial carcinoma with a moderate toxicity profile. As new drugs are found to treat urothelial carcinoma, further studies will be needed to evaluate the role of traditional agents such as 5-fluorouracil and methotrexate in new combination chemotherapeutic regimens. Cancer 1999;86:1329 ‐34. © 1999 American Cancer Society.
The Cell Cycle Regulatory Factor TAF1 Stimulates Ribosomal DNA Transcription by Binding to the Activator UBF

Control of ribosome biogenesis is a potential mechanism for the regulation of cell size during growth, and a key step in regulating ribosome production is ribosomal RNA synthesis by RNA polymerase I (Pol I). In humans, Pol I transcription requires the upstream binding factor UBF and the selectivity factor SL1 to assemble coordinately on the promoter. UBF is an HMG box-containing factor that binds to the rDNA promoter and activates Pol I transcription through its acidic carboxy-terminal tail. Using UBF (284-670) as bait in a yeast two-hybrid screen, we have identified an interaction between UBF and TAF1, a factor involved in the transcription of cell cycle and growth regulatory genes. Coimmunoprecipitation and protein-protein interaction assays confirmed that TAF1 binds to UBF. Confocal microscopy showed that TAF1 colocalizes with UBF in Hela cells, and cell fractionation experiments provided further evidence that a portion of TAF1 is localized in the nucleolus, the organelle devoted to ribosomal DNA transcription. Cotransfection and in vitro transcription assays showed that TAF1 stimulates Pol I transcription in a dosage-dependent manner. Thus, TAF1 may be involved in the coordinate expression of Pol I- and Pol II-transcribed genes required for protein biosynthesis and cell cycle progression.
Vapor phase bimolecular reactions of alkyl siliconium and other metal ions in mass spectrometry

The vapor phase reactions of various metal alkyl and alkoxy ions are discussed. Ions produced from suitable precursors can react with neutral molecules which contain an electronegative site. It appears that ions containing a positively charged silicon, tin, germanium or mercury center are more reactive than corresponding carbonium ions.
An axisymmetric, nonstationary electrodynamic model of the central engine in an active galactic nucleus.

An axisymmetric, stationary model of the central engine in an active galactic nucleus has been investigated as the background of the Blandford-Znajek process, which consists of the supermassive black hole surrounded by a magnetized accretion disk. This model was reformulated and extended by Macdonald and Thorne, and their work forms the basis for our model. Our model, however, includes the secular effects of the mass accretion, and has nonstationary characteristics. In the first part we analyze the axisymmetric, nonstationary electrodynamics of the black hole. Under the assumption that the mass accretion is confined to the equatorial plane of the black hole our results suggest that, at the equatorial zone of the black hole, the angular velocity of the magnetic field lines anchored on the accreting matter must be close to that of the black hole. In the second part we analyze the axisymmetrie, nonstationary electrodynamics of a surrounding magnetized accretion disk in a similar way. Unlike the first part, we find that the power output due to the Blandford-Znajek process can be variable even on short time scales. This follows from the fact that the physical parameters of the accreting matter itself, rather than the boundary values at the event horizon of the black hole, appear in the power equation. This may explain the observed short-time-scale variability of active galactic nuclei. In the third part we analyze the rotation of the magnetic-field lines in our model. In the original axisymmetric, stationary model each magnetic field line must rotate with constant angular velocity which will exceed the speed of light far from the centre. Even though the field lines are purely mathematical entities, this condition sets a stringent physical constraint on the motion of the magnetic field lines and the particles on them. In this paper we show that we can remove this auxiliary constraint in our model by allowing nonstationary processes. As a result the magnetic field lines can be twisted and wound up in a region lying outside of the quasi-stationary magnetosphere of the black hole. We conclude that astrophysical jets are formed in that region due to the twisted and wound magnetic field lines powered by the Blandford-Znajek process and the other driving forces.
Solid spaces and inverse particle systems for controlling the animation of gases and fluids

This paper describes a new system for controlling the animation of gases, liquids, and volume density functions. This system is extremely powerful and flexible. It allows for the control of animation effects ranging from physically based motion of gases to the choreographed motion of gases. These techniques make extensive use of three-dimensional tables, including both flow vectors and motion functions for controlling gas animation. This new system uses aninverse particle system, where each point in three-dimensional screen space (image space discretized to pixel locations) is moved through a gas space to determine which portion of the gas occupies the current location in screen space.
Thermal buckling of rectangular plates

Abstract This paper presents the results of a thermal buckling analysis for clamped, rectangular plates based on energy considerations. The analysis reveals that both of the edge length to thickness ratios ( a / h , b / h ) are independent parameters, i.e. fixing the aspect ratio ( a / b ) is not sufficient to ensure a unique problem. The results also show that predictable modal groupings and curve veering occur in the eigenvalue loci as the aspect ratio is varied. Accompanying this analysis are a series of experiments to determine the buckling temperature for plates with varying edge length. However, measurements of the critical temperature for flat plates, T cr F , are complicated by the fact that initial geometric imperfections are inherent in any real structure. In this case, the pitchfork bifurcation associated with buckling is replaced by a saddle-node bifurcation at T cr Im , which is easily measured. An analysis is performed using von Karman plate theory to determine the ratio of T cr F / T cr Im as a function of the initial imperfection size A . Knowing this functional relationship and the measured values of A and T cr Im , the flat plate buckling temperature may be determined. Comparisons between the buckling analysis and the experimental results show good agreement.
ACID-BASE BALANCE CHANGES DURING HEMODIALYSIS.

Abstract The blood acid-base balance is strikingly affected by hemodialysis. A restoration of blood buffer systems, (expressed in [HCO3−]) is the most prominent change, and since reduction in pCO2 persists the initial metabolic acidosis is converted to respiratory alkalosis at the end of dialysis. The restoration of [HCO3−] occurs without concomitant change in sodium concentration and therefore hemodialysis is applicable to therapy of [H+] excess due to any cause, when such occurs in patients with a limited sodium tolerance. A finding previously not observed was a significant rise in blood lactate and pyruvate concentrations occurring during dialysis.
The effects of dietary fish oil on exercising skeletal muscle vascular and metabolic control in chronic heart failure rats.

Impaired vasomotor control in chronic heart failure (CHF) is due partly to decrements in nitric oxide synthase (NOS) mediated vasodilation. Exercising muscle blood flow (BF) is augmented with polyu...
Response of the Greenhouse Whitefly (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) and the Vegetable Leafminer (Diptera: Agromyzidae) to Photospectra

Spectral reflectance measurements were conducted on six series of color pigments to determine the photo tactic sensitivity level of the greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum (West-wood), and the vegetable leaf miner, Liriomyza sativae (Blanchard). Plywood stakes were painted with color pigments and then coated with a clear adhesive to trap insects. Results indicated that maximum response of the greenhouse whitefly occurred in the yellow-green region from 500 to 600 nm. In contrast, blue light energy from 400 to 490 nm inhibited whitefly and leaf miner capture. The direction of flight was dependent on the surface texture reflectance characteristics of the stake. The proper choice of trap material and color pigment provided evidence for a feasible whitefly-leafminer control program in greenhouses.
Ignition of a cellular machine

The Arp2/3 complex has emerged as a key regulator of signal-dependent changes in the actin cytoskeleton. Recent biochemical and structural studies provide a wealth of information about how the assembly is regulated by WASP family members and actin filaments, and raise important new questions about this cellular machine.
Uncoupler-stimulated release of Ca2+ from Ehrlich ascites tumor cell mitochondria☆

Abstract Ruthenium red-insensitive, uncoupler-stimulated release of Ca 2+ from Ehrlich ascites tumor cell mitochondria is much slower than from rat liver mitochondria under comparable conditions. In the presence of P i and at moderate or high Ca 2+ loads, ruthenium red-insensitive Ca 2+ efflux elicited with uncoupler is approximately 20 times more rapid for rat liver than Ehrlich cell mitochondria. This is attributed to resistance of tumor mitochondria to damage by Ca 2+ due to a high level of endogenous Mg 2+ that also attenuates Ca 2+ efflux. Calcium release from rat liver and tumor mitochondria is inhibited by exogenous Mg 2+ . This applies to (a) ruthenium red-insensitive spontaneous Ca 2+ efflux associated with Ca 2+ uptake and uncoupling, and (b) ruthenium red-insensitive Ca 2+ release stimulated by uncoupling agent. The endogenous Mg 2+ level of Ehrlich tumor mitochondria is approximately three times that of rat liver mitochondria. Endogenous Ca 2+ is also much greater (six fold) in Ehrlich tumor mitochondria compared to rat liver. Despite the quantitative difference in endogenous Mg 2+ , the properties of internal Mg 2+ are much the same for rat liver and Ehrlich cell mitochondria. Ehrlich ascites tumor mitochondria exhibit slow, metabolically dependent Mg 2+ release and rapid limited release of Mg 2+ during Ca 2+ uptake. Both have been observed with rat liver and other types of mitochondria. The proportions of apparently “bound” and “free” Mg 2+ (inferred from release by the ionophore, A23187) do not differ significantly between tumor and liver mitochondria. Thus, the endogenous Mg 2+ of tumor mitochondria has no unusual features but is simply elevated substantially. Ruthenium red-insensitive Ca 2+ efflux, when expressed as a function of the intramitochondrial Ca 2+ Mg 2+ ratio, is quite similar for tumor and rat liver. It is proposed, therefore, that endogenous Mg 2+ is a major regulatory factor responsible for differences in the sensitivity to damage by Ca 2+ and Ca 2+ release by Ehrlich ascites tumor mitochondria compared to mitochondria from normal tissues.
Effect of staurosporine on MOLT-4 cell progression through G2 and on cytokinesis

Staurosporine (SSP) is an inhibitor of a variety of protein kinases with an especially high affinity towards protein kinase C. Whereas SSP has been shown to halt the cell cycle progression of various normal, nontransformed cell types in G1, most virus transformed or tumor cells are unaffected in G1 but arrest in G2 phase. SSP has also been observed to increase the appearance of cells with higher DNA content, suggestive of endoreduplication, in cultures of tumor cells. Using multivariate flow cytometry (DNA content vs. expression of cyclin B, nuclear p120 protein, or protein reactive with Ki-67 antibody) which makes it possible to discriminate cells with identical DNA content but at different phases of the cycle, we have studied the cell cycle progression of human lymphocytic leukemic MOLT-4 cells in the presence of 0.1 microM SSP. MOLT-4 cells did not arrest in G1 or G2 phase in the presence of the inhibitor. Rather, they failed to undergo cytokinesis, entering G1 phase at higher DNA ploidy (tetraploidy; G1T), and then progressed through ST (rereplication) into G2T and MT. The rates of entrance to G2 and G2T were essentially identical, indicating that the rates of cell progression through S and ST as well as through G2 and G2T, respectively, were similar. Cells entrance to mitosis and mitotic chromatin condensation were also similar at the diploid and tetraploid DNA content level and were unaffected by 0.1 microM SSP. No evidence of growth imbalance (altered protein or RNA to DNA ratio) was observed in the case of tetraploid cells. The data show that, in the case of MOLT-4 cells, all events associated with the chromosome or DNA cycle were unaffected by SSP; the only target of the inhibitor appears to be kinase(s) controlling cytokinesis.
Smith‐Lemli‐Opitz syndrome in two 46,XY infants with female external genitalia

Two infants with features of the Smith-Lemli-Opitz (SLO) syndrome were found to have a 46,XY karyotype and female external genitalia. Autopsies showed normal testes for age with normal Wolffian duct structures and without Mullerian duct derivatives. This failure of masculinization of the external genitalia is an unusual finding and may represent the extreme of a spectrum of the genital anomalies commonly seen in males with this autosomal recessive syndrome. An endocrine evaluation on one of these infants at 3 months suggested unusually low testosterone production and meagre response to stimulation with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). The failure of complete masculinization of external genitalia in some cases of SLO syndrome may be due to inadequate testosterone production in utero.
Polarization controlled output of electrohydrodynamic jet printed quantum dot embedded photonic crystals for display applications

We demonstrate a replica molded photonic crystal structure with embedded quantum dots in which electrohydrodynamic jet printing is used to control the position of the quantum dots within the device structure. This results in significantly less waste of the quantum dot material and the targeted placement of the quantum dots minimizes any emission outside of the resonant enhancement field, enabling an 8X output enhancement and highly polarized emission from the photonic crystal structure.
Role of protein concentration and protein–saliva interactions in the astringency of whey proteins at low pH

Whey protein beverages are adjusted to pH <4.5 to enhance clarity and stability, but this pH level is also associated with increased astringency. The goal of this investigation was to determine the effects of protein concentration on astringency and interactions between whey and salivary proteins. Whey protein beverages containing 0.25 to 13% (wt/wt) beta-lactoglobulin and 0.017% (wt/wt) sucralose at pH 2.6 to 4.2 were examined using descriptive sensory analysis. Controls were similar pH phosphate buffers at phosphate concentrations equivalent to the amount of phosphoric acid required to adjust the pH of the protein solution. Changes in astringency with protein concentration depended on pH. At pH 3.5, astringency significantly increased with protein concentration from 0.25 to 4% (wt/wt) and then remained constant from 4 to 13% (wt/wt). Conversely, at pH 2.6, astringency decreased with an increase in protein concentration [0.5-10% (wt/wt)]. This suggests a complex relationship that includes pH and buffering capacity of the beverages. Furthermore, saliva flow rates increased with increasing protein concentrations, showing that the physiological conditions in the mouth change with protein concentration. Maximum turbidity of whey protein-saliva mixtures was observed between pH 4.6 and 5.2. Both sensory evaluation and in vitro study of interactions between beta-LG and saliva indicate that astringency of whey proteins is a complex process determined by the extent of aggregation occurring in the mouth, which depends on the whey protein beverage pH and buffering capacity in addition to saliva flow rate.
Perceived psychological activity and interpersonal attraction.

Summary The goal of this study was to assess the influence of the affective state of an individual on his attraction toward a stimulus person. Ss were 134 male students at a large American university. While each S listened to the similar or dissimilar attitudes of a female stimulus person, he also heard a tape recording of either a stable or an unstable heart rate, which the S believed to be his own heart rate. In addition, he was told to expect either a stable or an unstable heart rate. The effects of these manipulations were assessed with four self-report measures of attraction toward the stimulus person and four self-report scales assessing the emotional state of the Ss. Results of the study: (a) supported the similarity-attraction relationship for several different measures of attraction; (b) showed an effect of false heart rate feedback on self-reported emotional state; (c) showed an effect of the similarity manipulation on emotional state; and (d) showed an effect of false heart rate feedback on int...
Optimum Ratio of Dietary Protein to Energy for Red Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii)

Abstract Six experimental diets were formulated with protein-to-energy (P:E) ratios ranging from 57 to 160 mg protein/kcal. The diets, which were fed to juvenile red crayfish, contained either 20, 30, or 40% crude protein and 2.5 or 3.5 kcal of total energy per gram of diet. As dietary energy increased, growth of crayfish fed the 30% protein diets decreased, but growth of crayfish fed the 40% protein high-energy diets increased. In general, the percentage of body protein (wet weight) decreased as dietary energy increased. Crayfish fed low-energy (low-fat) diets had lower percentages of body fat. Also, body fat tended to decrease as dietary protein increased. Best growth and protein deposition were observed in crayfish fed a diet with a P:E ratio of 120 mg protein/kcal; this diet contained 30% crude protein and 2.5 kcal/g dietary energy.
Multi-core dynamic parallelism for multiple sequence alignment and counting metrics

One of the most common and most important computational biology problems is sequence alignment. Sequence alignment is the process of arranging primary sequences of DNA, RNA, or protein to identify regions of similarity in order to discover functional, structural, or evolutionary relationships between the sequences. [1] These discoveries can result in the construction of phylogenetic trees, the discovery of new protein families, the prediction of secondary or tertiary structures of new sequences, and the demonstration of homology between existing families and the newly discovered sequences. [11]
Age and stage dependency of estrogen receptor expression by lymphocyte precursors

Sex steroids negatively regulate B lymphopoiesis in adult mice. Paradoxically, lymphocytes arise during fetal life, when estrogen levels are high and maternal lymphopoiesis is suppressed. Here we demonstrate that embryonic B lymphopoiesis was unaffected by estrogen, but sensitive to glucocorticoids. Both fetal and adult precursors contained glucocorticoid receptor transcripts, but only adult precursors expressed estrogen receptor α and β together with the androgen receptor. Fetal hematopoietic cells did not efficiently acquire functional estrogen receptors after transplantation to irradiated adult mice. Sex steroid receptors were also expressed in a stage- and developmental age-dependent fashion in human precursors. A developmental switch in responsiveness of hematopoietic cells to sex steroids may be essential for formation of the immune system.
Sex, War, and Peace: Rank, and Winter on Rank

Is there a relationship between how men think of women, and how male dominated collectives treat other human collectives? In the last several years, new empirical findings have emerged to buttress the proposition that such a relationship obtains. Marshall and Ramsey (1999) find a relationship between gender empow erment and state willingness to use force. Caprioli (2000) finds that greater domestic gender equality is correlated with less emphasis by the state on using military force to resolve international disputes. Caprioli and Boyer (2001) find that severity of violence used in an international conflict decreases with greater levels of domestic gender equality. Regan and Paskeviciute (2003) find that the degree of women's access to political power in a society is predictive of the likelihood of that state engaging in interstate disputes and war. Caprioli and Trumbore (2006) find that states with lower levels of gender equality are more likely to be the aggressors and to initiate the use of force in interstate disputes (confirmed by Sobek, Abou harb, & Ingram, 2006). Caprioli and Trumbore (2003) and Melander (2005) find that states with lower levels of domestic gender equality are more likely to be involved in intrastate conflict. Hudson, Caprioli, Ballif-Spanvill, McDermott, and Emmett (2009) find that states with higher levels of violence against women are also less peaceful internationally, less compliant with international norms, and less likely to have good relations with neighboring states and that violence against women is a better predictor of these outcomes than level of democracy, level of wealth, or presence of Islamic civilization. Betzig (1986) and Fish (2002) find authoritarian rule more likely in those states where levels of gender inequality are high. What remains to be understood is why male treatment of women should have effects on state behavior in the realm of conflict and war. It is true that most human collectives are still governed almost exclusively by men, so we feel justified in believing there is some linkage between male mental constructs and state behavior based on males' greater level of power in the political system vis-a-vis women. Nevertheless, why should attitudes towards women become templates for attitudes
Increased matrix metalloproteinase-9 with elastolysis in nocturnal asthma.

Background Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is capable of degrading elastin, whereas tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) can inhibit MMP-9 activity. We observed reduced airway tissue elastin volume density in six subjects with nocturnal asthma (NA) as compared with seven subjects with nonnocturnal asthma (NNA) and seven normal controls (NL) when endobronchial biopsies were evaluated morphometrically at 4:00 pm and 4:00 am. Objective We hypothesized that increased metalloproteinases and decreased tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases in the airways of subjects with NA may be responsible for reduced elastin volume density. Methods Ten additional subjects with NA, 10 subjects with NNA, and 7 normal control subjects underwent bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage at 4:00 pm and 4:00 am. Levels of MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 were determined in bronchoalveolar lavage by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results There was a fourfold circadian increase in bronchoalveolar lavage levels of MMP-9, and there was a twofold increase in MMP-9:TIMP-1 ratio in NA subjects from 4:00 pm to 4:00 am. There were no circadian changes in the NNA and NL subjects. At 4:00 am, MMP-9 levels and the MMP-9:TIMP-1 ratio were highest in NA subjects. At 4:00 pm, no significant group differences were observed. The MMP-9 levels positively correlated with the overnight fall in forced expiratory volume in 1 second and the MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio negatively correlated with the 4:00 am % predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second. Conclusions Our results from these two pilot studies suggest that increased MMP-9 and decreased TIMP-1 at night in NA may lead to reduced elastin density.
Multi-color ultrafast laser platform for nonlinear optical imaging based on independently tunable optical parametric oscillators

We report on design of a multi-color laser set up that allows for high spectral, time and spatial resolution imaging based on second- and third-order optical nonlinearities in soft condensed matter. Two femtosecond optical parametric oscillators (OPOs) are pumped simultaneously to provide intrinsically synchronized pulses at more than a dozen tunable colors across visible and infrared wavelengths. We demonstrate the use of independently tunable OPOs in a variety of imaging modalities. In one useful application, we explore brain tissue in a two-photon absorption fluorescence imaging experiment with near infrared optical pulses (λ ~ 1,070 nm). We also demonstrate second and sum-frequency generation microscopies in different tissues. Results from application of time-resolved, three-color coherent anti-stokes Raman scattering in tissue are presented to demonstrate feasibility of quantitative spectroscopic imaging.
Heart Rate Conditioning in Young Infants Using a Visual Conditional Stimulus.

Abstract Trace heart rate conditioning was evaluated in 16 infants having a mean age of 4.5 months. The Experimental Group received a 3-sec blinking light pattern as the CS, followed by a 3-sec interstimulus interval (ISI), and 3-sec tone as the UCS. The Control Group received an equal number of presentations of the CS and UCS at randomized intervals and in a randomized order. The acquisition of a conditioned deceleration during the period which included the visual CS and the ISI was demonstrated only in the Experimental males. Response differences were also found in the absence of the auditory UCS, with only Experimental females exhibiting a deceleration.
Piezoelectric properties of Pb5Ge3O11 bonded PZT composites

Abstract Pb 5 Ge 3 O 11 was used to form dense piezoelectric composites with PZT at temperatures below 1000°C. The composite material demonstrated that the ferroelectric component may be stabilized against depoling by an insulating grain boundary phase. Composites prepared using 30% Pb 5 Ge 3 O 11 almost fully stabilized the polarization against reverse field of 40 kv/cm, with d 33 = 65 × 10 −12 m/v and k = 470.
Neutron activation of a rare element to mark the sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci

Le marquage des B. tabaci avec le dysprosium est etudie ainsi que l'utilisation de l'autoradiographie comme methode de detection de la presence du depredateur