cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MAO-B elevation decreases parkin's ability to efficiently clear damaged mitochondria: protective effects of rapamycin

Increased oxidative stress in the Parkinsonian substantia nigra is believed to contribute to neurodegeneration, in part due to regionally elevated levels of the enzyme monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B). Increased oxidative stress has also been reported to be associated with the inhibition of E3 ligase activity of the Parkinson's disease-related protein parkin. In an inducible MAO-B cell model, losses in parkin E3 ligase activity were found to occur in conjunction with reduced mitochondrial turnover and decreased mitochondrial function, although this did not inhibit parkin's ability to translocation to damaged mitochondria. The mTOR inhibitor rapamycin was found to restore both mitophagy and mitochondrial function in these cells. These data suggest that MAO-B induction can interfere with mitochondrial quality control via losses in parkin activity that in turn impact on mitochondrial turnover. Rapamycin may be an effective means of counteracting the effects of lost parkin function by independently enhancing autophagic removal of damaged mitochondria.
Poly(amidoamine) Dendrimer Based MRI Contrast Agents Exhibiting Enhanced Relaxivities Derived via Metal Preligation Techniques

This report presents the preparation and characterization of three [Gd-C-DOTA]−1−dendrimer assemblies by way of analysis, NMRD spectroscopy, and photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS). The metal−ligand chelates were preformed in alcohol media prior to conjugation to generation 4, 5, and 6 PAMAM dendrimers. The dendrimer-based agents were purified by Sephadex G-25 column chromatography. The combustion analysis, SE-HPLC, and UV−vis data indicated chelate to dendrimer ratios of 28:1, 61:1 and 115:1, respectively. Molar relaxivity measured at pH 7.4, 22 °C, and 3 T (29.6, 49.8, and 89.1 mM−1 s−1) indicated the viability of conjugates as MRI contrast agents. 1/T1 NMRD profiles were measured at 23 °C and indicated that at 22 MHz the 1/T1 reached a plateau at 60, 85, and 140 mM−1 s−1 for the generation 4, 5, and 6 dendrimer conjugates, respectively. The PCS data showed the respective sizes of 5.2, 6.5, and 7.8 nm for G-4, 5, and 6 conjugates.
Sertraline and akathisia: Spontaneous resolution

Akathisia is a distressing adverse reaction to antipsychotic drugs (Van Putten 1975) that also occurs in the course of treatment with serotonin (5-HT)-specific reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants, including sertraline (Lipinski et al 1989; Adler and Angrist 1995; Shihabuddin and Rapport 1994; Klee and Kronig 1992). It has been proposed that the dopamine (DA) deficiency effected by 5-HT accumulation at the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of the brain produced by SSRIs may lead to akathisia (Lipinski et al 1989). The following is a report about sertralineinduced akathisia that spontaneously resolved.
Thrombopoietin Suppresses Apoptosis and Behaves as a Survival Factor for the Human Growth Factor-Dependent Cell Line, M07e

Thrombopoietin (TPO) has been demonstrated to have proliferative effects on hematopoietic progenitor cells and maturational effects on more committed populations which express a megakaryocyte lineage-specific phenotype. M07e is a GM-CSF or interleukin 3 (IL-3)-dependent human leukemic cell line having surface markers characteristic of both myeloid progenitors and megakaryocytes. The effects of TPO on the proliferation and survival of M07e cells were investigated. Following an 18-h factor starvation period to remove residual growth factor signals and phase the cells in G0/G1, TPO provides a weak proliferative signal to M07e compared to IL-3 or GM-CSF treatment under the same conditions. However, TPO synergizes with both GM-CSF and IL-3, and to a greater extent with steel factor, a competence factor for M07e, in the induction of cellular proliferation. TPO sustains cellular integrity of M07e during prolonged (18 days) growth factor withdrawal and also protects M07e cells in serum-free conditions. In addition, preincubation of M07e for 72 h in TPO maintains its survival for subsequent cytokine-induced proliferation, while control media do not. TPO suppresses growth factor withdrawal-induced apoptosis as evaluated by flow cytometric detection of both in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling and cellular DNA content via propidium iodide staining. These results suggest a role for TPO as a survival factor for M07e cells.
The Flynn effect puzzle: A 30-year examination from the right tail of the ability distribution provides some missing pieces

Abstract The Flynn effect is the rise in IQ scores across the last eighty or more years documented in the general distribution of both industrialized and developing nations primarily on tests that require problem solving and non-verbal reasoning. However, whether the effect extends to the right tail (i.e., the top 5% of ability) remains unknown. The present study uses roughly 1.7 million scores of 7th-grade students on the SAT and ACT as well as scores of 5th- and 6th-grade students on the EXPLORE from 1981 to 2010 to investigate whether the effect operates in the right tail. The effect was found in the top 5% at a rate similar to the general distribution, providing evidence for the first time that the entire curve is likely increasing at a constant rate. The effect was also found for females as well as males, appears to still be continuing, is primarily concentrated on the mathematics subtests of the SAT, ACT, and EXPLORE, and operates similarly for both 5th and 6th as well as 7th graders in the right tail. These findings help clarify the nature of the effect and may suggest ways that potential causes can now be more meaningfully offered and evaluated.
Contraceptive and Therapeutic Effects of the Levonorgestrel Intrauterine System: An Overview

The levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG IUS), a steroid-releasing intrauterine system, is a T-shaped device that releases levonorgestrel directly into the uterine cavity at an initial rate of 20 μg per day. The contraceptive and therapeutic benefits of the LNG IUS stem primarily from its local e
Quantitation of photosystem II in spinach chloroplasts

Abstract The concentration of photochemical reaction centers in spinach chloroplasts was measured with direct spectrophotometric techniques. Quantitation of Photosystem II (PS II) was implemented (a) from the light-induced absorbance change in the near-ultraviolet (ΔA320), monitoring the primary quinone acceptor QA of PS II; and (b) from the light-induced absorbance change in the green region (ΔA540–550), monitoring the band-shift C550 of the PS II reaction center pheophytin molecule. Both measurements yielded identical chlorophyll (Chl) per PS II ratios ( Chl PS II = 380:1 ). Hydroxylamine treatment and the loss of Mn from the oxygen-evolving enzyme of photosynthesis had no effect on the quantitation of QA by ΔA320. It is concluded that, under the experimental conditions employed, measurements of QA photoreduction are not overlapped by state transitions of the water-splitting enzyme. Quantitation of Photosystem I (PS I) was implemented from the light-induced absorbance change in the red region of the spectrum (ΔA700), monitoring photooxidation of the PS I reaction center P-700. A Chl PS I = 650:1 was derived. Thus, a PS II PS I stoichiometric ratio of 1.7 was estimated in spinach chloroplasts.
Toward a design theory of problem solving

Problem solving is generally regarded as the most important cognitive activity in everyday and professional contexts. Most people are required to and rewarded for solving problems. However, learning to solve problems is too seldom required in formal educational settings, in part, because our understanding of its processes is limited. Instructional-design research and theory has devoted too little attention to the study of problem-solving processes. In this article, I describe differences among problems in terms of their structuredness, domain specificity (abstractness), and complexity. Then, I briefly describe a variety of individual differences (factors internal to the problem solver) that affect problem solving. Finally, I articulate a typology of problems, each type of which engages different cognitive, affective, and conative processes and therefore necessitates different instructional support. The purpose of this paper is to propose a metatheory of problem solving in order to initiate dialogue and research rather than offering a definitive answer regarding its processes.
Relative contribution of endogenous opioids to myocardial ischemic tolerance.

Abstract Background Opioid preconditioning by exogenous opioids experimentally protects the myocardium against ischemia/reflow injury. Additionally, endogenous opioid peptides released during ischemia also enhance ischemic tolerance. Promiscuous opioid receptor agonists conceal the differential contribution of the mu (μ), delta (δ), and kappa (κ) opioid subtypes. This study compared the impact of selective δ and κ opioid receptor antagonists on postischemic functional and metabolic recovery. Also measured were changing levels of peptides dynorphin B and met-enkephalin during ischemia/reflow injury. Materials and methods Using the rabbit Langendorff model, the functional recovery of control hearts (following 2 h of global ischemia) was compared to hearts pretreated with δ antagonist NTB (1 μ m ) or κ antagonist, nor-BNI (1 μ m ). Measures included percentage of return of isovolumetric developed pressure (LVDP), myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO 2 ) and coronary flow (CF). In additional studies, untreated hearts were harvested at baseline, following ischemia, or following 5 or 45 min of reflow. Tissue concentrations of met-enkephalin and dynorphin B were measured by RIA. Results After 45 min of reflow, hearts pretreated with either NTB or nor-BNI showed impaired functional recovery by a decrease in LVDP ( P 2 or CF were unaffected. RIA data shows that baseline levels of both peptides are similar and increase significantly during ischemia, but reflow dynorphin levels drop far below baseline, while met-enkephalin returns to baseline. Conclusion Antagonism of both δ and κ opioid receptor subtypes equally contributes to impaired left ventricular function, independent of altered perfusion or metabolic rate. Endogenous κ-receptor agonists may contribute primarily during ischemia or early reflow, since low late reflow dynorphin content did not correlate with altered functional recovery.
Dependence of the conducting state of polyaniline films on moisture

Abstract Polyaniline films doped with camphor sulfonic acid have been studied for electrical resistivity in the temperature range 77–353 K under different thermal conditions. Thermal annealing is found to increase the resistivity and also its temperature dependence. The temperature above which the resistivity exhibits metallic characteristics is shown to depend very sensitively on the presence of moisture. We use the inhomogeneously-disordered-metal model to interpret our resistivity results.
Dopaminergic control of plasma catecholamine and aldosterone responses to acute stimuli in normal man.

This study examines the influence of dopamine on catecholamine and aldosterone secretion in normotensive individuals. The responses of plasma aldosterone (PA), norepinephrine (NE), and PRA to upright posture and isometric handgrip were studied in five normal males on a constant 50- meq Na intake before and after 4 days of administration of the dopamine agonist, bromergocriptine (BEC; 2.5 mg three times a day). In addition, the PA responses to graded angiotensin II and ACTH infusions were examined before and during BEC. Supine PA and PRA were not altered by BEC, but basal NE was reduced significantly (P < 0.01) from 204 ± 29 to 98 ± 12 pg/ml after BEC. There was an accompanying significant reduction in upright mean arterial pressure during BEC administration. The PA and NE increments during upright posture and isometric handgrip were significantly suppressed by BEC, but PRA responses were unaltered. BEC produced a significant (P < 0.025) suppression of the PA response to graded angiotensin II infusions but...
Wavefront conjugation and amplification for optical communication through distorting media

Combining double—phase conjugation with various coherent amplifiers leads to an amplified beam (forward or conjugated) derived from a local laser, but bearing the transversal phase pattern of a received signal beam from a remote laser. We suggest several uses in optical communication through a distorting atmosphere.
Search and decision processes in semantic memory

The present study investigated the role of semantic variables, derivable from multidimensional scaling, in search and decision processes. In Experiment I, both the number of categories defining the memory set and the semantic distance separating the categories were shown to influence latency decisions for two types of tasks differing in task specificity: a Defined condition, in which the category names and positive members were specified, and an Undefined condition, in which only the category names were provided. In Experiment II, the importance of semantic distance on negative decisions was shown for both tasks. Evidence that maximal semantic separation among categories in the memory set may result in a self-terminating search was found for both the Defined and Undefined conditions. It was concluded that a Sternberg scan for presence-absence and a category verification task involving category membership may be similarly affected by semantic variables.
Parallel programming: techniques and applications using networked workstations and parallel computers

I. BASIC TECHNIQUES. 1. Parallel Computers. 2. Message-Passing Computing. 3. Embarrassingly Parallel Computations. 4. Partitioning and Divide-and-Conquer Strategies. 5. Pipelined Computations. 6. Synchronous Computations. 7. Load Balancing and Termination Detection. 8. Programming with Shared Memory. 9. Distributed Shared Memory Systems and Programming. II. ALGORITHMS AND APPLICATIONS. 10. Sorting Algorithms. 11. Numerical Algorithms. 12. Image Processing. 13. Searching and Optimization. Appendix A: Basic MPI Routines. Appendix B: Basic Pthread Routines. Appendix C: OpenMP Directives, Library Functions, and Environment Variables Index.
Cell mass, hair type and expression of the agouti gene.

THE A or agouti gene is among the most intriguing of the numerous colour determinants in mice. This gene controls a rhythmical alternation between the synthesis of eumelanin (black pigment) and phaeomelanin (yellow pigment) by the melanocytes which reside in the hair bulb. As a consequence of this activity, phenotypically wild (agouti) animals have a single subapical yellow band on their otherwise black dorsal hairs.
A study of ribonuclease and desoxyribonuclease during the early developmental stages of Rana pipiens.

Abstract 1. 1. A spectrophotometric method for the determination of RNase and DNase activities in frog embryo homogenates has been described. 2. 2. Cyclical variations in RNase and DNase activities have been found during the early development of the frog. 3. 3. RNase activity decreases on fertilization but progressively increases throughout cleavage and reaches a maximum during early blastulation. From mid-blastulation through the beginning of gastrulation, there is a rapid decrease in RNase activity. At mid-gastrulation the activity abruptly increases to a maximum value and then declines until just prior to neural plate formation. At this time the activity again increases rapidly but soon declines when the neural plate becomes evident. 4. 4. DNase activity declines only slightly on fertilization. It declines slowly during cleavage and early blastulation but during mid-blastulation, there is an abrupt increase in activity which reaches a maximum at the beginning of gastrulation. It then declines sharply to a minimum value during the early gastrulation stages. At mid-gastrulation, there is another rapid increase in DNase activity which reaches a maximum and then declines until just prior to neural plate formation at which time a slight increase in activity is seen.
Controlled release of ionic compounds from poly (l-lactide) microspheres produced by precipitation with a compressed antisolvent

Abstract Poly ( l -lactide) microspheres containing low molecular weight pharmaceutical agents were prepared using the precipitation with a compressed antisolvent (PCA) process with supercritical carbon dioxide as the antisolvent. Gentamycin, naloxone, and naltrexone were solubilized in methylene chloride using hydrophobic ion pairing (HIP) to stoichiometrically replace polar counter ions with an anionic detergent, aerosol OT (AOT, sodium bis-2-ethylhexyl sulfosuccinate). Through HIP complexation, solubilities in excess of 1 mg/ml were attainable in methylene chloride, allowing levels of direct incorporation that are not possible with other PCA approaches. The drug/polymer particles were spherical in shape and between 0.2 and 1.0 μm in diameter, as determined by scanning electron microscopy. Drug incorporation efficiencies were determined and in vitro release profiles measured. At 37°C, the release of the ion-paired drugs into phosphate-buffered saline displays minimal burst effects and exhibits release kinetics that are approximately linear with the square root of time, indicating matrix diffusion control of drug release. For gentamycin, linear release from the poly ( l -lactide) microspheres was observed for more than 7 weeks, even at a drug loading of near 25% (w/w). Naltrexone exhibits similar release characteristics, although more drug was found on the surface of the microspheres. Conversely, rifampin, which was not ion-paired, was poorly encapsulated.
Growth of Zymomonas on lactose: Gene cloning in combination with mutagenesis

Wild-type strains ofZymomonas mobilis have a limited substrate range of glucose, fructose and sucrose. In order to expand this substrate range, transconjugants ofZ. mobilis containing Lac+ plasmids have been constructed. Although β-galactosidase is expressed in such strains, they lack the ability to grow on lactose. We now report the development ofZ. mobilis strains capable of growth on lactose. This was achieved in two stages. First, a broad host range plasmid was constructed (pRUT102) which contained the lactose operon under the control of aZ. mobilis promoter plus genes for galactose utilization.Z. mobilis CP4.45 containing pRUT102 was then subjected to mutagenesis combined with continued selection pressure for growth on lactose. One strain,Z. mobilis SB6, produced a turbid culture that yielded 0.25% ethanol from 5% lactose (plus 2% yeast extract) in 15 days.
Nondissipative drag conductance as a topological quantum number

We show in this paper that the boundary condition averaged nondissipative drag conductance of two coupled mesoscopic rings with no tunneling, evaluated in a particular many-particle eigenstate, is a topological invariant characterized by a Chern integer. Physical implications of this observation are discussed.
Inversion of multiwavelength Raman lidar data for retrieval of bimodal aerosol size distribution

We report on the feasibility of deriving microphysical parameters of bimodal particle size distributions from Mie-Raman lidar based on a triple Nd:YAG laser. Such an instrument provides backscatter coefficients at 355, 532, and 1064 nm and extinction coefficients at 355 and 532 nm. The inversion method employed is Tikhonov's inversion with regularization. Special attention has been paid to extend the particle size range for which this inversion scheme works to approximately 10 microm, which makes this algorithm applicable to large particles, e.g., investigations concerning the hygroscopic growth of aerosols. Simulations showed that surface area, volume concentration, and effective radius are derived to an accuracy of approximately 50% for a variety of bimodal particle size distributions. For particle size distributions with an effective radius of < 1 microm the real part of the complex refractive index was retrieved to an accuracy of +/- 0.05, the imaginary part was retrieved to 50% uncertainty. Simulations dealing with a mode-dependent complex refractive index showed that an average complex refractive index is derived that lies between the values for the two individual modes. Thus it becomes possible to investigate external mixtures of particle size distributions, which, for example, might be present along continental rims along which anthropogenic pollution mixes with marine aerosols. Measurement cases obtained from the Institute for Tropospheric Research six-wavelength aerosol lidar observations during the Indian Ocean Experiment were used to test the capabilities of the algorithm for experimental data sets. A benchmark test was attempted for the case representing anthropogenic aerosols between a broken cloud deck. A strong contribution of particle volume in the coarse mode of the particle size distribution was found.
GALACTIC H2CO DENSITOMETRY. I. PILOT SURVEY OF ULTRACOMPACT H II REGIONS AND METHODOLOGY

We present a pilot survey of 21 lines of sight toward ultracompact H II (UCH II) regions and three toward continuum-free lines of sight in the formaldehyde (H2CO) 110-111 (6 cm) and 211-212 (2 cm) transitions, using the H2CO centimeter lines as a molecular gas densitometer. Using Arecibo and Green Bank beam-matched observations, we measure the density of 51 detected H2CO line pairs and present upper limits on density for an additional 24 detected 110-111 lines. We analyze the systematic uncertainties in the H2CO densitometer, achieving H2 density measurements with accuracies ~0.1-0.3 dex. The densities measured are not correlated with distance, implying that it is possible to make accurate density measurements throughout the galaxy without a distance bias. We confirm that UCH II regions are associated with, and possibly embedded in, gas at densities n(H2) 105 cm?3. The densities measured in line-of-sight molecular clouds suggest that they consist of low volume filling factor (f ~ 10?2) gas at high (n(H2) > 104 cm?3) density, which is inconsistent with purely supersonic turbulence and requires high-density clumping greater than typically observed in gravoturbulent simulations. We observe complex line morphologies that indicate density variations with velocity around UCH II regions, and we classify a subset of the UCH II molecular envelopes as collapsing or expanding. We compare these measurements to Bolocam Galactic Plane Survey 1.1 mm observations, and note that most UCH II regions have 1.1 mm emission consisting of significant (5%-70%) free-free emission and are therefore not necessarily dominated by optically thin dust emission as is often assumed when computing clump masses. A comparison of our data with the Mangum et?al. starburst sample shows that the area filling factor of dense (n(H2) ~ 105 cm?3) molecular gas in typical starburst galaxies is 0.01, but in extreme starburst galaxies like Arp 220, is ~0.1, suggesting that Arp 220 is physically similar to an oversized UCH II region.
Determination of plutonium-239/240 in fish in low-level radioactive Ocean waste Dump Sites

There was concern that radioactivity might find its way into the food chain, namely fish, via low-level radioactive waste Ocean Dump Sites. This led the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in collaboration with other Federal Agencies, to the monitoring and determination of radioactivity in fish samples from these Ocean Dump Sites. The radionuclide thought to be of major concern was plutonium-239/240. These sites were monitored at various periods from 1980. The sites were located off the coasts of New Jersey, California (near San Francisco) and Massachusetts Bay. The fish samples selected were shellfish that inhabited the ocean floor and bottom-feeders.
Societal Life-Cycle Buy-Down Cost of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles

Societal life-cycle cost is employed for evaluating hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) as compared with conventional gasoline vehicles. This metric includes consumer direct economic costs over the vehicle lifetime and external costs resulting from air pollution, noise, oil use, and greenhouse gas emissions over the full fuel cycle and vehicle lifetime. Noncost social transfers such as taxes and fees and producer surplus associated with fuel and the vehicle are also considered. Two different accounting stances are explored for estimating producer surplus for fuels: U.S. and global perspectives. Three different scenarios developed by the U.S. Department of Energy for hydrogen and FCV market penetration from 2010 to 2025 are analyzed. FCV costs are estimated by using a learning curve model characterized by three factors for key fuel cell stack components and auxiliary subsystems. The delivered hydrogen fuel cost is from the University of California, Davis, SSCHISM hydrogen supply pathway model. External cost...
Lexical and Grammatical Skills in Toddlers on the Autism Spectrum Compared to Late Talking Toddlers

This study compared language development in 30-month-old toddlers on the autism spectrum and 25- month-old late talking toddlers without autism. Groups were matched on overall productive vocabulary (and non- verbal cognition was controlled) in order to compare lan- guage acquisition patterns related to vocabulary composition and early lexical-grammatical relationships. Findings revealed that semantic categories of words— including psychological state terms—used by toddlers on the autism spectrum were very similar to those of late talkers. Both groups were equivalent with respect to grammatical complexity and proportion of toddlers com- bining words, though late talkers displayed a relatively stronger association between lexical-grammatical abilities. These tentative findings are consistent with a dimensional account of early, core linguistic abilities across different populations of children with language delay.
Modulation of DNA Repair and Recombination by the Bacteriophage λ Orf Function in Escherichia coli K-12

The orf gene of bacteriophage λ, fused to a promoter, was placed in the galK locus of Escherichia coli K-12. Orf was found to suppress the recombination deficiency and sensitivity to UV radiation of mutants, in a Δ( recC ptr recB recD ):: P tac gam bet exo pae cI Δ recG background, lacking recF , recO , recR , ruvAB , and ruvC functions. It also suppressed defects of these mutants in establishing replication of a pSC101-related plasmid. Compared to orf , the recA803 allele had only small effects on recF , recO , and recR mutant phenotypes and no effect on a ruvAB mutant. In a fully wild-type background with respect to known recombination and repair functions, orf partially suppressed the UV sensitivity of ruvAB and ruvC mutants.
Molecular gas radiation and laminar or turbulent heat diffusion in a cylinder with internal heat generation

Abstract Simultaneous nongray radiation and thermal diffusion in a thermally and hydrodynamically established laminar or turbulent pipe flow with uniform internal heat generation is treated. The governing integro-differential thermal energy equation is solved using the Galerkin technique for the laminar case and finite difference and numerical iteration techniques for turbulent flow. Solutions are presented for radiative and convective Nusselt number as a function of the radiation to molecular conductance ratio Nrm, the optical depth τR along the radius at a photon wavenumber spectrally located at the head of an exponential-tailed absorption band, and a turbulent Reynolds number Rt. The radiative Nusselt number is found to increase almost linearly with Nrm and linearly with τR at small τR but approximately logarithmically at large τR. The radiative transfer also increases with increasing turbulence Rt, as the turbulence improves the effective wall layer gas transmissivity.
Estrogen receptors in Xenopus: duplicate genes, splice variants, and tissue-specific expression.

Abstract The estrogenic steroid hormones, acting primarily through the nuclear estrogen receptors ERα and ERβ, regulate sexual differentiation in a wide variety of vertebrates. In the frog Xenopus laevis, estrogen regulates the strength of vocal neuromuscular synapses and contributes to the physiological basis of sexually differentiated songs. To understand the mechanisms by which estrogen produces these effects, we have characterized the ERs of X. laevis and their expression in laryngeal muscle and other tissues. We found a remarkable molecular diversity in the estrogen receptor population within individuals. First, we have identified two distinct ERα genes, xlERα1 and xlERα2, which represent, to our knowledge, the first discovery of retained duplicates of the ERα gene in any species. These two genes are highly conserved at the amino acid level but have distinct nucleotide sequences; moreover, ERα2 has no N-terminal domain. Cloning of ERα and ERβ in the related species Xenopus tropicalis and phylogenetic analysis indicate that the two xlERα loci were generated by a duplication specific to the X. laevis lineage—most likely the genome duplication that led to a doubling of the X. laevis chromosome number about 30 million years ago. The primary ER expressed in X. laevis laryngeal muscle is the novel gene xlERα2; ERα1 is primarily expressed in liver, forebrain, and oviduct. Alternatively spliced transcripts of both xlERα1 and xlERα2 are also expressed in a tissue-specific manner. We propose that complementary spatial expression of these two genes and their alternatively spliced transcripts contributes to their conservation over such a long period of time, consistent with the subfunctionalization model for evolution after gene duplication.
Phase transitions identified in the lipid envelope of friend murine leukemia virus

Summary Electron spin resonance spectroscopy on Friend murine leukemia virus spin-labelled with 5-doxyl stearic acid has revealed, for the first time in any virus studied to date, the presence of phase transitions corresponding to a shift between a gel phase and a liquid crystalline state within the viral lipid bilayer. Transitions were identified at 19.6°C and 33.7°C. Similar studies on the Friend virus-producing Eveline cell line have shown that the viral envelope is significantly more rigid than the host plasma membrane from which it is derived. Evidence is presented which suggests that the envelope-associated proteins of the virus mediate this enhanced rigidity.
Reply from j.L. Bossart and d. Pashley prowell.

We thank Bohonak et al. for the opportunity to expand upon our perspective of gene flow estimates[1xBossart, J.L. and Prowell, D.P. Trends Ecol. Evol. 1998; 13: 202–206Abstract | Full Text PDF | PubMed | Scopus (375)See all References][1]. We are comfortable with our portrayal of the state of this field based on data from Evolution. Evolution was selected because it has a long history as a top journal focusing on empirically based population genetics, has a vast readership and high citation rates. Molecular Ecology, however, is a new, more specialized and less available journal.We agree that most indirect studies of gene flow report data for multiple loci and many use resampling techniques or regression to conduct sensitivity analyses. The issue is whether these are informative comparisons. For example, have estimates averaged over loci advanced our understanding of gene frequency evolution when estimates among loci vary, not uncommonly, by orders of magnitude[2xTempleton, A.R. Mol. Ecol. 1998; 7: 381–398CrossRef | PubMed | Scopus (898)See all References][2]?Our perspective acknowledged problems associated with direct measures of dispersal. Like others[3xSlatkin, M. Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 1985; 16: 393–430CrossRefSee all References][3], however, we emphasized the essential information these estimates provide. Correlational approaches between Fst and life history traits to assess accuracy of genetic methods, as advocated by Bohonak et al., are statistically weak and confounded by evolutionary history—for example, higher Fst values in sessile versus vagile organisms may reflect vicariant events.Application of conventional indirect methods to address ecological questions is inappropriate for two reasons. First, there is no temporal reference point. Do data reveal processes operating over ten years, 100 years, 1000 years or 10 000 years? Second, Nm changes only trivially between Nm=2 and Nm=infinity, so Nm=2 is virtually indistinguishable from Nm=2000 (Ref. [2xTempleton, A.R. Mol. Ecol. 1998; 7: 381–398CrossRef | PubMed | Scopus (898)See all References][2]). Thus, conventional approaches have insufficient power to address relative rates of gene flow among populations impinged upon by human activities, metapopulation dynamics, trophic interactions or relative magnitude of gene flow versus selection.Our overall conclusion that indirect methods `provide a useful starting point'[1xBossart, J.L. and Prowell, D.P. Trends Ecol. Evol. 1998; 13: 202–206Abstract | Full Text PDF | PubMed | Scopus (375)See all References][1]was mirrored by Bohonak et al. in their statement that indirect methods `provide a valuable first approximation'. We part company, however, on the widespread use of new analytical models, as our review validated. As this changes, the field will advance.
Characteristic Temperatures in Super-Novae.

Some time ago Baade and I called attention to the existence of certain temporary and extremely luminous objects in extragalactic nebulae. [1] We suggested: 1. These temporary objects are individual stars which behave like giant analogues of common novae and which, therefore, may appropriately be called super-novae. 2. The visual brightness of super-novae, on the average, is comparable to the brightness of the nebulae themselves. 3. The average frequency of occurrence of super-novae is one per extragalactic nebula per several centuries. Recently the above suggestions have been verified to a great extent. A thorough investigation of past photographic records of temporary objects in nebulae by Baade, as well as the discovery in January, 1936, of a super-nova in N. G. C. 4273 have contributed much new evidence toward the verification of our super-nova hypothesis. It has also proved possible to establish between certain physical characteristics of temporary stars a number of relations which enable us to satisfactorily bridge the gap between common novae and super-novae. [2]
Laser-induced fracture in silicon

Utilizing the scanning electron microscope, the laser-impact zone on irradiated P-type silicon wafers has been characterized by a central region of compressive stress which decreases to zero and becomes tensile in character with increasing radius from the impact centre, with symmetrical fracturing occurring around the impact centre at a point of maximum tensile stress. The effect of surface flaws on the fracture of brittle Si wafers and their interaction with the impact zone were observed to be small for scratch widths of 60 μm, and lengths of 1 cm. Direct observations of advancing crack tips were made in the transmission electron microscope, and shown to have associated arrays of partial and total dislocations. The presence of numerous precipitates in the P-type Si wafers possessing long-range strain fields which overlapped along the {111} cleavage planes was observed to have a direct influence on the fracture process. Fracture was observed to occur in wafers containing cleavage-oriented scratches or scratches deviating by ∼ 5° from a cleavage-plane orientation, but little influence was noted for randomly oriented scratches or those which deviated from a cleavage-plane orientation by ∼ 10° or greater.
Evidence-Based Communication Assessment and Intervention–Purpose and procedures

Evidence-based Communication Assessment and Intervention (EBCAI) brings together professionals from several disciplines to promote evidence-based practice in serving individuals with communication ...
Aerodynamic Characteristics of Some Neotropical Bats

An analysis was made of (I) the degree of correspondence of weight, wing surface area, and linear dimensions, and (2) the relationship between aerodynamic considerations, and flight and feeding behavor, for 25 species of Neotropical bats. Observed relationships of wing span versus wing area and wing span versus weight closely approach expected values, whereas observed and expected relationships of wing area versus weight do not closely correspond. Aspect ratios and wing loadings also are reported. Values for the above-mentioned features differ according to flight and feeding behavior of different species of bats. The importance of the uropatagium for flight and feeding is also examined.
Evaluation of phase integrals for volterra systems of arbitrary numbers of interacting species

A general method is presented for the evaluation of phase integrals of the Volterra model of stable predator-prey interactions for any fixed numberN ⩾ 2 of interacting species. The method is based on a bijective transformation of trajectory surfaces onto a flat hyperplane in EuclideanN-space, parametrized by a new set of dynamical variables in terms of which integration over the surface is straightforward. Expressions are displayed for the surface area of the trajectory surface and for the volume contained within this surface, quantities which are known to play an important role in the description of the statistical properties of Volterra trajectories.
Characterization of the X-linked murine centrin Cetn2 gene.

Abstract A multi-gene family (Cetn1, Cetn2, and Cetn3) encodes the calcium-binding protein, centrin, in the mouse. This work characterizes the Cetn2 gene. Structurally, Cetn2 consists of five exons and four introns, and contains a classical TATA-less promoter. Cetn2 has two alternate transcription start sites, and a single length 3′ untranslated region. Fluorescence in situ hybridization demonstrates that Cetn2 is an X-linked gene whose alleles replicate asynchronously during S-phase. Cetn2 encodes a 172 amino acid protein, with a predicted molecular mass of 19,795 Da (pI=4.71), that contains all of the defining characteristics of centrin. Northern blot analysis indicates that Cetn2 is ubiquitously expressed in the tissues of adult mice. RT-PCR shows that Cetn2 and Cetn3, but not Cetn1, are expressed in NIH 3T3 cells. Immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrates that mouse centrin 2 protein localizes to the region immediately surrounding the centrioles in the centrosome of NIH 3T3 cells.
Objectivity in psychiatry

Summary Several controversial and current trends in psychiatry are discussed under four chapter headings: 1) Lay-Therapy, Diagnosis and Professional Commitment, 2) Results with Psychotherapy, 3) Neurobiologic Consideration, 4) Neurochemical Aspects. Supported by the special aggregate of modern, neurobiologic research and the indication of recent statistical assessments of psychotherapy, it is suggested that the claim for psychogeneity of several mental and emotional disorders will have to undergo corrective restriction and that the proportionate ascendency of new biologic etiologies will relegate psychotherapy to a more concentrated but more successful realm. Psychotherapy can be comfortably shared with the competent lay therapist, but must remain under medical diagnostic indication and guidance. An attempt is made to amalgamate several psychodynamic concepts with neurobiologic data and explain the impact of psychotherapy in terms of RNA coding. While psychotherapy can hardly expect autochthonous advances analogous to those accruing from the “exact” sciences, it can potentiate its unique forces with chemical and electronic expedients.
Raised field agriculture in Tlaxcala, Mexico: An ecosystem perspective on maintenance of soil fertility

Raised field agriculture in southwest Tlaxcala, Mexico, is a sophisticated, intensive traditional system of wetland cultivation that dates back to as early as 300 B. C. It provides an exceptional example of how farming practices can fit into and even take advantage of ecosystem processes. The raised fields appear to be largely self-reliant in energy and nutrients. Tlaxcalan farmers use canals, aquatic plants, polycultures, alder (Alnus firmifolia) and other trees to intensify the nutrient input into their fields and minimize nutrient losses through leaching and runoff Although the raised field system is an impressive, functioning example of a historically sustainable farming system, it is endangered by modern pressures to increase production through higher use of inputs and alteration of agroecosystem design.
Use of care labels: linking need for cognition with consumer confidence and perceived risk

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of apparel care label information presentation formats (i.e. symbols only, text only, and the combination) and the individual trait of need for cognition on consumers' confidence in and risk perceptions about the post‐purchase activity of care of apparel items.Design/methodology/approach – A scenario‐based experiment was conducted using a convenience sample of 275 undergraduate students for data collection. MANCOVA was conducted to test the hypotheses.Findings – The findings of this research suggest not only that the text only format and the combination of text and symbols format are preferred to the symbols only format but also that the text only format was the most preferred among the three formats. Both the text only format and the combination format significantly increased consumers' confidence in and reduced consumers' risk perceptions about their care of apparel items.Practical implications – The symbols only label does reduce apparel ...
Service Contracts For X-Ray Equipment

The results of maintenance service contracts with different manufacturers of x-ray equipment for a period of one year are presented and analyzed. The data concerning the maintenance service are discussed for three types of such services: (1) Service contract covering only repair. (2) Service contract covering preventive maintenance and repair. (3) On call service.© (1982) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Mycorrhizae transfer carbon from a native grass to an invasive weed: evidence from stable isotopes and physiology

Invasive exotic weeds pose one of the earth’s most pressing environmental problems. Although many invaders completely eliminate native plant species from some communities, ecologists know little about the mechanisms by which these exotics competitively exclude other species. Mycorrhizal fungi radically alter competitive interactions between plants within natural communities, and a recent study has shown that arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi provide a substantial competitive advantage to spotted knapweed, Centaurea maculosa, a noxious perennial plant that has spread throughout much of the native prairie in the northwestern U.S. Here we present evidence that this advantage is potentially due to mycorrhizally mediated transfer of carbon from a native bunchgrass, Festuca idahoensis ,t oCentaurea. Centaurea maculosa, Festuca idahoensis (Idaho fescue, C3), and Bouteloua gracilis (blue gramma, C4) were grown in the greenhouse either alone or with Centaurea in an incomplete factorial design with and without AM fungi. Centaurea biomass was 87–168% greater in all treatments when mycorrhizae were present in the soil (P < 0.0001). However, Centaurea biomass was significantly higher in the treatment with both mycorrhizae and Festuca present together than in any other treatment combination (P < 0.0001). This high biomass was attained even though Centaurea photosynthetic rates were 14% lower when grown with Festuca and mycorrhizae together than when grown with Festuca without mycorrhizae. Neither biomass nor photosynthetic rates of Centaurea were affected by competition with the C4 grass Bouteloua either with or without mycorrhizae. The stable isotope signature of Centaurea leaves grown with Festuca and mycorrhizae was more similar to that of Festuca, than when Centaurea was grown alone with mycorrhizae (P = 0.06), or with Festuca but without mycorrhizae (P = 0.09). This suggests that carbon was transferred from Festuca to the invasive weed. We estimated that carbon transferred from Festuca by mycorrhizae contributed up to 15% of the aboveground carbon in Centaurea plants. Our results indicate that carbon parasitism via AM soil fungi may be an important mechanism by which invasive plants out compete their neighbors, but that this interaction is highly species-specific.
Joint Implementation and Forestry Projects: Conceptual and Operational Fallacies

Increased human activity is causing a build-up of greenhouse gases (GHGs) which are thought to contribute to global warming. Climate change is an international environmental concern because the effects of GHG emissions will be felt throughout the world irrespective of their origin.Similarly,mitigation activities undertaken anywhere in the world have the same impact on the global environment. The Framework Convention on Climate Change, opened for signature in June 1992 during the Rio conference, seeks to address the problem of global warming at the international level. It has received widespread acceptance and has been ratified by 171 states.While the convention does not set out specific emission reduction targets,the recently adopted Kyoto Protocol sets out quantified emission limitation and reduction commitments for OECD countries and countries undergoing the process of economic transition to a market economy (Annex B parties).Annex B parties commit themselves to reduce their overall GHG emissions by at least 5 per cent below 1990 levels between 2008 and 2012.1 Developing countries do not take on emission limitation or reduction commitments. In the first part of this article,we analyse the mechanism of joint implementation (JI) generally and in the Climate Change Convention specifically.The second part concentrates on JI projects in the forestry sector.We argue that the carbon sequestration potential of trees on which JI forestry projects are predicated has not been proven.Indeed,in the long term,these projects have a very limited effect on carbon sequestration considering that woody biomass eventually decays or burns.We also argue that JI forestry projects often conflict with local and international environmental priorities.The third part addresses concerns with JI at the international level.It focuses on reordering JI priorities and fitting development concerns in JI.
Combined prostate-specific antigen density and biopsy features to predict "clinically insignificant" prostate cancer.

Objectives Prior studies have reported that men with a PSA density (PSAD) less than 0.15, less than 3 positive biopsy cores, 50% or less of any core involved, and a Gleason score 6 or lower are likely to have “insignificant” prostate cancer (CaP) in their radical prostatectomy (RRP) specimen. In this study, we examined the ability of PSAD and biopsy features to predict pathologic outcomes in a contemporary RRP population. Methods From 1999 to 2005, 274 men underwent RRP and had the required data for our analysis. As our database does not record the percentage or length of cancer in each biopsy core, we examined the relative importance of PSAD, the number of positive biopsy cores, and Gleason grade to predict “insignificant” cancer, defined as organ-confined with a tumor volume less than 0.5 mL and no Gleason pattern 4 or 5. Results Overall, by these criteria, 24.5% of patients were considered to have potentially “insignificant” cancer preoperatively; whereas, only 2.6% had a so-called “insignificant” tumor in the RRP specimen. Without the percentage of biopsy core involvement, the preoperative model to predict “insignificant” cancer was associated with 57% sensitivity, 76% specificity, 6% positive predictive value, and 99% negative predictive value. Conclusions A model including Gleason grade, PSAD, and number of positive biopsy cores did not provide an accurate means of selecting patients for active monitoring in our patient cohort. However, it was helpful in identifying men with a high likelihood of “clinically significant” CaP. Knowledge of the percentage of biopsy core involvement with cancer may be a critical prognostic factor.