cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modulation of nociception by social factors in rodents: contribution of the opioid system

The opioid system is involved in the regulation of several behavioral and physiological responses, controlling pain, reward, and addictive behaviors. Opioid administration, depending on drugs and doses, usually affects sociability reducing interactions between conspecifics, whereas some affiliative behaviors such as sexual activity, social grooming, and play behavior increase the endogenous opioid activity. The possible interaction between endogenous opioids released during socio/sexual behavior and their analgesic effect on pain response is reviewed in the rodent literature. Direct evidence for socially mediated opioid changes resulting in increase in nociceptive threshold derives from studies exploring the effects of defeat experiences, social isolation, maternal, sexual behavior, and social reunion among kin or familiar animals in laboratory rodents. Indirect evidence for endogenous activation of the opioid system, possibly affecting pain sensitivity, derives from studies investigating the relevance of natural social reward using the conditioned place preference protocols or analyzing ultrasonic vocalizations associated to positive affective contexts. Finally, genetic and epigenetic factors that affect the opioid system during development are reported to be involved in modulating the response to social stimuli as well as nociception. All studies highlight the relevance of affiliative contact behavior between conspecifics that is responsible for the activation of the endogenous mu-opioid system, inducing nociceptive threshold increase.
Kappa antinociceptive activity of spiradoline in the cold-water tail-flick assay in rats.

Abstract Spiradoline (U62066E) a racemic mixture of the two enantiomers U63639(+) and U63640(−), appears to have kappa opioid receptor activity, but the contribution of each enantiomer toward this activity is still in question. To determine the activity of each enantiomer in comparison to the racemic mixture, the three forms were tested in the cold-water tail-flick (CWTF) assay in male Sprague–Dawley rats. Antinociception by spiradoline was completely antagonized by naloxone 0.50 mg/kg, a dose five times that required to antagonize antinociception by fentanyl in this same assay. In a second series of tests, fentanyl-induced antinociception was markedly reduced, while spiradoline-induced antinociception was essentially unchanged, in methadone-tolerant animals. Of the enantiomers, only U63640 produced antinociception, whereas U63639 failed to affect the nociceptive response. Additionally, spiradoline failed to produce antinociception in animals pretreated with norbinaltorphimine (kappa receptor specific), but antinociception was not affected in animals pretreated with beta-funaltrexamine (mu receptor specific). These results show that spiradoline is a full antinociceptive agonist in the CWTF assay and that the effects of the drug are mediated through kappa opioid receptors.
Large Tracheal Cast: An Unusual Cause of Acute Airway Obstruction

Acute airway obstruction developed after overnight ventilation in a patient who had undergone a closed mitral valvotomy for mitral stenosis. This was due to a large tracheal cast that had formed probably as a result of fibrinous or plastic tracheobronchitis. The cast was expelled by coughing, after which the postoperative course was uneventful.
Reduction of aqueous transition metal species on the surfaces of Fe(II) -containing oxides

Experimental studies demonstrate that structural Fe(II) in magnetite and ilmenite heterogeneously reduce aqueous ferric, cupric, vanadate, and chromate ions at the oxide surfaces over a pH range of 1–7 at 25°C. For an aqueous transition metal m, such reactions are 3[Fe2+Fe23+]O4(magnetite)+2/nmz→4[Fe23+]O3(magnetite)+Fe2++2/nmz−n and 3[Fe2+Ti]O3(ilmenite)+2/nmz→Fe23+Ti3O9(pseudorutile)+Fe2++2/nmz−n, where z is the valance state and n is the charge transfer number. The half cell potential range for solid state oxidation [Fe(II)] → [Fe(III)] is −0.34 to −0.65 V, making structural Fe(II) a stronger reducing agent than aqueous Fe2+ (−0.77 V). Reduction rates for aqueous metal species are linear with time (up to 36 h), decrease with pH, and have rate constants between 0.1 and 3.3 × 10−10 mol m−2 s−1. Iron is released to solution both from the above reactions and from dissolution of the oxide surface. In the presence of chromate, Fe2+ is oxidized homogeneously in solution to Fe3+. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) denotes a Fe(III) oxide surface containing reduced Cr(III) and V(IV) species. Magnetite and ilmenite electrode potentials are insensitive to increases in divalent transition metals including Zn(II), Co(II), Mn(II), and Ni(II) and reduced V(IV) and Cr(III) but exhibit a log-linear concentration-potential response to Fe(III) and Cu(II). Complex positive electrode responses occur with increasing Cr(VI) and V(V) concentrations. Potential dynamic scans indicate that the high oxidation potential of dichromate is capable of suppressing the cathodic reductive dissolution of magnetite. Oxide electrode potentials are determined by the Fe(II)/Fe(III) composition of the oxide surface and respond to aqueous ion potentials which accelerate this oxidation process. Natural magnetite sands weathered under anoxic conditions are electrochemically reactive as demonstrated by rapid chromate reduction and the release of aqueous Fe(III) to experimental solution. In contrast, magnetite weathered under oxidizing vadose conditions show minimum reactivity toward chromate ions. The ability of Fe(II) oxides to reduce transition metals in soils and groundwaters will be strongly dependent on the redox environment.
p300/CREB-binding Protein Interacts with ATR and Is Required for the DNA Replication Checkpoint

The highly related acetyltransferases, p300 and CREB-binding protein (CBP) are coactivators of signal-responsive transcriptional activation. In addition, recent evidence suggests that p300/CBP also interacts directly with complexes that mediate DNA replication and repair. In this report, we show that loss of p300/CBP in mammalian cells results in a defect in the cell cycle arrest induced by stalled DNA replication. We demonstrate that complexes containing p300/CBP and ATR can be detected in mammalian cells, and that the downstream kinase CHK1 fails to be phosphorylated in response to stalled DNA replication in cells that lack p300/CBP. These observations broaden the roles for the p300/CBP acetyltransferases to include the modulation of chromatin structure and function during DNA metabolic events as well as for transcription.
A Study of Surface Roughness and Its Effect on the Backscattering Cross Section of Spheres

The effect on the scattering cross section of a perfectly conducting object produced by surface roughaess whose scale is only a small fraction of a wavelength is discussed. The object itself is assumed large compared with the wavelength. The roughness is assumed to be statistically random in nature and it is shown that this can be treated by means of an impedance boundary condition. This permits the use of known results to determine the resulting modification to the cross section of the unperturbed object. Experimental data obtained by measuring the backscattering cross section of a large rough sphere at three frequencies, S, X and K band, are presented. It is found that even for a sphere whose depth of roughness is as large as 10-2 ?, the measured change in cross section is no nore than about 0.1 db. This is in good agreement with the theoretical prediction.
Specification of retinogeniculate X and Y axon arbors in cats: fundamental differences in developmental programs.

Monocular enucleation at E36, followed by intracellular labeling of single, physiologically identified X and Y axons, demonstrates fundamental differences in their termination patterns within the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN). X axons have arbors that appear normal in their dorsoventral extent, though some are located in inappropriate regions of the LGN. Y axons have arbors that are either abnormally tall, spanning the entire extent of the LGN, or of normal height but located in inappropriate regions of the LGN. These termination patterns resemble patterns seen after monocular enucleation at E44, and reinforce the conclusion that X and Y axons differ fundamentally in the cues that constrain the dorsoventral extents of their arbors.
ROBUST Path Strategy Evaluator

A swarm of robots deployed in dynamic, hostile environments may encounter situations that can prevent them from achieving optimality or completing certain tasks. To resolve these situations, the robots must have an adaptive software system that can proactively cope with changes. This adaptive system should emulate the intelligence of human reasoning and common sense but must not assume that the robots can communicate, be tightly coupled, or be constantly at a close range. This paper presents a path strategy evaluator (PSE) that learns an optimal path by considering not just the distance, but also how to minimize damages to each robot and enhance the likelihood that the swarm will succeed in its mission, all with minimal impositions on the functionality of the robots. Our evaluation shows that this PSE is able to learn a dynamic environment and its effect on the robots' critical components and output an optimal path for the robots.
Effect of flying activity on capillary-fiber geometry in pigeon flight muscle.

Abstract The effect of flying activity on capillary density and geometry was investigated in pectoralis muscle of 4 wild-caught (W) pigeons (BW 233–348 g) perfusion-fixed in situ and processed for electron microscopy. Morphometric analysis revealed both differences and similarities with similar sampling sites (superficial and deep in central area of right or left pectoralis major muscle, approximately midway along cranio-caudal and lateral axis) in sedentary (S) pigeons. Differences were the greater fractional cross-sectional area of aerobic fibers (W, 82 ± 2%; S, 63 ± 6%; p = 0.006) and the greater volume density of mitochondria per volume of fiber (W, 22.0 ± 1.3%; S, 15.7 ± 1.7%; p = 0.011) in wild-caught pigeons. While glycolytic fibers were significantly narrower in W, the size of the majority of fibers comprising the muscles, i.e. aerobic fibers, was similar in the two groups. Other similarities were found in capillary-to-fiber ratio (W, 2.0 ± 0.2; S, 2.1 ± 0.2) and in the degree of orientation of capillaries in the two groups. In addition, both capillary density at a given fractional cross-sectional area of aerobic fibers and capillary length per fiber volume at a given mitochondrial volume density were similar in the two groups, indicating a proportional increase in capillarity and muscle aerobic capacity in W compared with S. Comparison of capillary numbers around aerobic fibers at a given mitochondrial volume per μm length of fiber showed no difference between W and S groups nor with previous data in muscles with wide differences in fiber size and mitochondrial density such as rat soleus, bat muscles and hummingbird flight muscles. This supported the notion of a tight correlation between capillary numbers around individual fibers and mitochondrial volume per unit length of fiber in aerobic muscles. It also supported the idea that it is the number of capillaries around the fibers rather than diffusion distance which determines O 2 flux rates in highly aerobic muscles.
Compression inhibits aggregation of human platelets under high hydraulic pressure.

Abstract It has been found in our laboratory that compression induces disaggregation and decompression induces aggregation of human platelets. The experimental design was based on the premise that oppositely charged amino acid residues of fibrinogen are juxtaposed in the specific adhesive site(s). This can be explained by the principle of Le Chatelier. Under compression, electrically charged groups gain layers of water molecules which are radially oriented and pulled In closer to the center of the charge, thus making the layer more compact. This increases the thickness of the shield, thus inactivating or disaggregating the platelets. Conversely, decompression drives the water away from the compact shield; water molecules are randomized into the bulk phase; the shield becomes thinner, thus permitting spontaneous aggregation of platelets. It is well known that increasing the concentration of neutral salt can inhibit platelet aggregation. This is due to the increase of ionic strength which attenuates the electric charge and thickens the shield. Molecules having a large electric dipole moment can inhibit platelet aggregation by a similar mechanism. It is generally accepted that fibrinogen is Involved In platelet aggregation. However, it Is not known whether or not fibrinogen Is essential for platelet aggregation Inducible by decompression. Here we present data indicating that fibrinogen Is essential in decompression-inducible platelet aggregation. We also present experimental data which show that high hydraulic pressure inhibits platelet aggregation, consistent with our premise that electrically charged groups are involved in the initial phase of platelet aggregation.
On the multivariate analysis of avian vocalizations

Abstract In a recent paper in this journal, Sparling & Williams (1978) demonstrated several multivariate techniques by applying them to measurements of albatross calls. Their paper contains a useful summary of the literature, but includes several misleading interpretations of the analyses. Since the stated purpose of that article was to familiarize biologists with proper uses of the statistical methods, it is important to clarify the problems, some of which I discuss below. I then mention how such techniques are likely to be particularly valuable in the near future, when coupled with real-time sound spectrum analysis.
Inhibition of interleukin-17, interleukin-23 and the TH17 cell pathway in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis.

Purpose of reviewIn recent years, there has been an increasing understanding of the importance of the TH17 lineage of T cells and related cytokines, including interleukin (IL)17 and IL23, not only in the biology of innate host defense but also in the pathogenesis of inflammatory/autoimmune diseases.
Using zebrafish models to explore genetic and epigenetic impacts on evolutionary developmental origins of aging

Can we reset, reprogram, rejuvenate, or reverse the organismal aging process? Certain genetic manipulations could at least reset and reprogram epigenetic dynamics beyond phenotypic plasticity and elasticity in cells, which can be manipulated further into organisms. However, in a whole complex aging organism, how can we rejuvenate intrinsic resources and infrastructures in an intact and noninvasive manner? The incidence of diseases increases exponentially with age, accompanied by progressive deteriorations of physiological functions in organisms. Aging-associated diseases are sporadic but essentially inevitable complications arising from senescence. Senescence is often considered the antithesis of early development, but yet there may be factors and mechanisms in common between these 2 phenomena to rejuvenate over the dynamic process of aging. The association between early development and late-onset disease with advancing age is thought to come from a consequence of developmental plasticity, the phenomenon by which one genotype can give rise to a range of physiologically and/or morphologically adaptive states based on diverse epigenotypes in response to intrinsic or extrinsic environmental cues and genetic perturbations. We hypothesized that the future aging process can be predictive based on adaptivity during the early developmental period. Modulating the thresholds and windows of plasticity and its robustness by molecular genetic and chemical epigenetic approaches, we have successfully conducted experiments to isolate zebrafish mutants expressing apparently altered senescence phenotypes during their embryonic and/or larval stages ("embryonic/larval senescence"). Subsequently, at least some of these mutant animals were found to show a shortened life span, whereas others would be expected to live longer into adulthood. We anticipate that previously uncharacterized developmental genes may mediate the aging process and play a pivotal role in senescence. On the other hand, unexpected senescence-related genes might also be involved in the early developmental process and its regulation. The ease of manipulation using the zebrafish system allows us to conduct an exhaustive exploration of novel genes, genotypes, and epigenotypes that can be linked to the senescence phenotype, which facilitates searching for the evolutionary and developmental origins of aging in vertebrates.
“About time: sensing the crisis in Nophoto's El último verano” by Jonathan Snyder

What does it mean to live in a time of crisis? This is the question at the heart of Jon Snyder's attentive and beautifully nuanced essay “About Time: Sensing the Crisis in Nophoto's El ultimo veran...
Laser-Based Beam Profile Diagnostics in the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) Superconducting Linear Accelerator

A laser-based diagnostics system is implemented in the SNS superconducting accelerator. The system measures the H-beam profiles at 9 different energy levels (200 MeV - 1 GeV) using a single laser.
Image as Insight

Image as Insight is about the use of imagery as evidence for the study of history. The book raises many questions about images, about art, about "religion and art", and about the procedures of scholarship. The book has three purposes. The first is: "I understand the most significant and pressing task of contemporary discourse to be respectful and appreciative attention to those persons, contemporary and historical, who have not been recognized as participating in and contributing to the articulation of the human person in the world" (xi). While the reference is inclusive, in fact the only group referred to is women: "By far the largest group whose history can be approached by using visual images in addition to verbal texts is women" (10). This is an admirable purpose, now widely accepted. The second purpose: "This book attempts to demonstrate that closer study of western Christianity reveals a continuous integration of visual imagery in christian (sic) worship and piety" (5). Much of the demonstration in the book's historical chapters is designed to reinforce and illustrate the familiar but important claim that historians should
Social Stories™ Improve the On-Task Behavior of Children With Language Impairment

On-task behaviors are examined for three elementary-aged children who had impaired language and challenging behaviors that compromised their classroom participation and inclusion. A multiple-baseline design across participants was used. Each participant showed improvements in on-task behavior following Social Story™ intervention. Participants generalized and maintained their behaviors following the end of intervention. Results indicate a large effect size and that Social Stories™ might be an effective strategy for increasing on-task behavior for children with impaired language.
Energy response of astronomical CCD x-ray detectors

We present a description of Monte Carlo simulations of the pulse height energy response of CCD x-ray detectors. Effects of event charge splitting between pixels are accounted for, and the variation of energy resolution and detection efficiency with event selection criteria are discussed. We show that there are important implications for background rejection efficiency, on-board calibration, and ground-based data reduction. In orbit energy resolution may become degraded by traps created by radiation damage. We present an analysis of trapping and emission time scales, which allows us to predict the energy resolution for a wide range of device operating conditions.
Using a global hydrogen-air combustion model in turbulent reacting flow calculations

A two-step global model describing the combustion of hydrogen in air at 1 atm pressure is developed by comparing the temperature histories obtained from a 28 reaction H-O mechanism. Using criteria discussed herein, good agreement is obtained in the range of initial mixture temperatures of 1000-2000 K and in the range of equivalence ratios of 0.2-2.0. The two-step global model is compared with the results obtained using an eightstep, H-O reaction mechanism in a computer program describing the turbulent diffusion of hydrogen in supersonic axisymmetric and two-dimensional reacting flows. Comparisons of profiles of temperature and pitot pressure are presented. The global model is judged to be adequate in flows which are not dominated by long ignition delay times.
A dual activation and inhibition role for the paired immunoglobulin-like receptor B in eosinophils.

The accumulation of eosinophils in inflammatory foci is a hallmark characteristic of Th2 inflammation. Nevertheless, the expression of inhibitory receptors such as paired immunoglobulin-like receptor B (PIR-B) and their function regulating eosinophil accumulation have received limited attention. We now report that Pirb was up-regulated in an eosinophil-dependent manner in the lungs of allergen-challenged and interleukin (IL)-13–overexpressing mice. Eosinophils expressed high levels of PIR-B, and Pirb −/− mice displayed increased gastrointestinal eosinophils. Consistent with these findings, PIR-B negatively regulated eotaxin-dependent eosinophil chemotaxis in vivo and in vitro. Surprisingly, Pirb −/− eosinophils and neutrophils had decreased leukotriene B4 (LTB4)–dependent chemotactic responses in vitro. Furthermore, eosinophil accumulation was decreased in a chitin-induced model, partially dependent on LTB4. Mechanistic analysis using a miniphosphoproteomic approach revealed that PIR-B recruits activating kinases after LTB4 but not eotaxin stimulation. Consequently, eotaxin-activated Pirb −/− eosinophils displayed markedly increased extracellular signal-related kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) phosphorylation, whereas LTB4-activated eosinophils had reduced ERK1/2 phosphorylation. We provide multiple lines of evidence supporting a model in which PIR-B displays opposing but potent regulatory functions in granulocyte activation. These data change the conventional wisdom that inhibitory receptors are restricted to inhibitory signals; we therefore propose that a single receptor can have dual functionality in distinct cell types after unique cellular signals.
Interviewing suspects: Practice, science, and future directions

Crime suspects in the USA are typically questioned in a two-step process aimed, first, at behavioural lie detection during a pre-interrogation interview, followed by the elicitation of a confession during the interrogation itself (in Great Britain, the practice of investigative interviewing does not make this sharp distinction). Research conducted on the first step shows that police investigators often target innocent people for interrogation because of erroneous but confident judgments of deception. Research on the second step shows that innocent people are sometimes induced to confess to crimes they did not commit as a function of certain dispositional vulnerabilities or the use of overly persuasive interrogation tactics. Citing recent studies, this paper proposes that laboratory paradigms be used to help build more diagnostic models of interrogation. Substantively, we suggest that the British PEACE approach to investigative interviewing may provide a potentially effective alternative to the classic American interrogation. As a matter of policy, we suggest that the videotaping of entire interrogations from a balanced camera perspective is necessary to improve the fact finding accuracy of judges and juries who must evaluate confession evidence in court.
Narcotic analgesics for chronic pain management

“Narcotic” or opioid analgesics are the most efficacious treatment for moderate to severe pain. Expertise in opioid therapy is the single most important factor in the successful management of cancer pain. However, the field of opioid therapy is complex and rapidly evolving. Newer formulations of old opioid analgesics are emerging. Novel routes of administration including transdermal, transmucosal, intranasal, and subcutaneous, iontophoresis are becoming clinically useful. Concepts like pseudoaddiction, opiophobia, and pseudo-opioid resistance are important in the clinical use of opioid analgesics. New toxic manifestations are being observed.The use of opioid analgesics in chronic nonmalignant pain and the social responsibilities of patients on long-term opioid therapy are still controversial. Guidelines are available in some cases. Regulations of opioid analgesics are evolving.
Peer Rejection, Aggressive or Withdrawn Behavior, and Psychological Maladjustment from Ages 5 to 12: An Examination of Four Predictive Models

Findings yielded a comprehensive portrait of the predictive relations among children's aggressive or withdrawn behaviors, peer rejection, and psychological maladjustment across the 5–12 age period. Examination of peer rejection in different variable contexts and across repeated intervals throughout childhood revealed differences in the timing, strength, and consistency of this risk factor as a distinct (additive) predictor of externalizing versus internalizing problems. In conjunction with aggressive behavior, peer rejection proved to be a stronger additive predictor of externalizing problems during early rather than later childhood. Relative to withdrawn behavior, rejection's efficacy as a distinct predictor of internalizing problems was significant early in childhood and increased progressively thereafter. These additive path models fit the data better than did disorder-driven or transactional models.
Chromium can reduce the mutagenic effects of benzo[a]pyrene diolepoxide in normal human fibroblasts via an oxidative stress mechanism

The interaction of multiple carcinogens on human cells has not been extensively examined. This study reports the results of experiments in which normal human fibroblasts were exposed to both benzo[a]pyrene diolepoxide (BPDE) and potassium dichromate. The effect of four different treatment protocols on the cloning ability of the cells and the mutant frequency of the HPRT gene was determined. The combined treatment of both carcinogens caused a slightly greater than additive decrease in the cloning ability of the cells when compared to cells treated with the individual carcinogens. The result was the same regardless of the treatment protocol used in the experiment. The results of the mutant frequency experiments, however, varied dramatically with the protocol employed. The mutant frequency in cells which were simultaneously treated with both carcinogens was dramatically reduced from the mutant frequency found when cells were treated with BPDE alone. This antagonistic effect was not present when cells were either pretreated with potassium dichromate prior to BPDE or incubated with potassium dichromate following BPDE treatment. The observed antagonistic effect was the result of oxidative stress produced by chromium since it was completely or nearly completely reversed by the addition of either vitamin E or catalase to the cultures.
Transforming growth factor-β: innately bipolar

Widely heralded for depressing ongoing immune responses, renewed interest in the proficiency by which transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) not only engages but also might drive an over-reactive innate response highlights its bipolar nature. Although coordination of the development and function of Treg, in addition to direct inhibition of cellular activation, are prominent pathways by which TGF-beta controls adaptive immunity, paradoxically TGF-beta appears instrumental in initiation of host responses to invasion through recruitment and activation of immune cells and persuasion of Th17 lineage commitment. Nevertheless, true to its manic-depressive behavior, new evidence links TGF-beta with depression of innate cells, including NK cells, and by way of a potential bridge between mast cells and Treg. Disruption of the tenuous balance between these opposing actions of TGF-beta underlies immunopathogenicity.
When Less is More: How Affect Influences Preferences When Comparing Low and High‐risk Options

Recent research involving the evaluability hypothesis has focused on how the presentation of hard to evaluate or easy to evaluate attributes influences preferences for options in either separate or joint evaluations. One explanation for the weight that an attribute carries during a decision is related to the ease with which the value of that attribute can be mapped into an affective frame of reference. In other words, affect helps a decision maker to attach meaning to information, which in turn, influences their ability to use it during judgment. Merging themes from evaluability with those from studies of affect and affective heuristics, however, raises an important question: If enhanced evaluability is explained by making the attributes of an option more or less meaningful in the context of choice, can the affective characteristics of the context of the evaluation counteract any gains achieved through presenting alternatives in side‐by‐side comparisons? Two experiments were conducted in an attempt to ans...
Reactivity-induced time-dependencies of EBR-II linear and non-linear feedbacks☆

Abstract Time-dependent linear feedback reactivities are calculated for stereotypical subassemblies in the EBR-II reactor. These quantities are calculated from nodal reactivities obtained from a kinetic code analysis of an experiment in which the change in power resulted from the dropping of a control rod. Shown with these linear reactivities are the reactivity associated with the control-rod shaft contraction and also a time-dependent non-linear (mainly bowing) component deduced from the inverse kinetics of the experimentally measured fission power and the calculated linear reactivities.
Motion of actin filaments in the presence of myosin heads and ATP

We measured, by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, the motion of actin filaments in solution during hydrolysis of ATP by acto-heavy meromyosin (acto-HMM). The method relies on the fact that the intensity of fluorescence fluctuates as fluorescently labeled actin filaments enter and leave a small sample volume. The rapidity of these number fluctuations is characterized by the autocorrelation function, which decays to 0 in time that is related to the average velocity of translation of filaments. The time of decay of the autocorrelation function of bare actin filaments in solution was 10.59 +/- 0.85 s. Strongly bound (rigor) heads slowed down the diffusion. Direct observation of filaments under an optical microscope showed that addition of HMM did not change the average length or flexibility of actin filaments, suggesting that the decrease in diffusion was not due to a HMM-induced change in the shape of filaments. Rather, slowing down of translational motion was caused by an increase in the volume of the diffusing complex. Surprisingly, the addition of ATP to acto-HMM accelerated the motion of actin filaments. The acceleration was the greatest at the low molar ratios of HMM:actin. Direct observation of filaments under an optical microscope showed that in the presence of ATP the average length of filaments did not change and that the filaments became stiffer, suggesting that acceleration of diffusion was not due to an ATP-induced increase in flexibility of filaments. These results show that some of the energy of splitting of ATP is impaired to actin filaments and suggest that 0.06 +/- 0.02 of HMM interferes with the diffusion of actin filaments during hydrolysis of ATP.
Effects of CuCl2 on the germination response of two populations of the Saltmarsh cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora.

The saltmarsh cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) is the dominant vascular plant in tidal marshes along the east and gulf coasts in the United States. This plant's ability to survive in polluted estuaries has led many researchers to investigate its role in heavy metal uptake and export. Spartina seeds accumulate a variety of metals as well, although seed concentrations are generally lower than those found in leaf tissue. It has been demonstrated that some heavy metals affect germination in this plant (e.g. methyl Hg, Zn, and Pb), while others, such as Cu and Cd, in solution concentrations as high as 100 mg/L, do not affect the germination response. Despite this, S. alterniflora seedlings grown in Cu solution exhibit 100 percent mortality within 56 d.
Thermodynamic and Structural Basis for Relaxation of Specificity in Protein–DNA Recognition

As a novel approach to the structural and functional properties that give rise to extremely stringent sequence specificity in protein–DNA interactions, we have exploited “promiscuous” mutants of EcoRI endonuclease to study the detailed mechanism by which changes in a protein can relax specificity. The A138T promiscuous mutant protein binds more tightly to the cognate GAATTC site than does wild-type EcoRI yet displays relaxed specificity deriving from tighter binding and faster cleavage at EcoRI* sites (one incorrect base pair). AAATTC EcoRI* sites are cleaved by A138T up to 170-fold faster than by wild-type enzyme if the site is abutted by a 5′-purine-pyrimidine (5′-RY) motif. When wild-type protein binds to an EcoRI* site, it forms structurally adapted complexes with thermodynamic parameters of binding that differ markedly from those of specific complexes. By contrast, we show that A138T complexes with 5′-RY-flanked AAATTC sites are virtually indistinguishable from wild-type-specific complexes with respect to the heat capacity change upon binding (∆C°P), the change in excluded macromolecular volume upon association, and contacts to the phosphate backbone. While the preference for the 5′-RY motif implicates contacts to flanking bases as important for relaxed specificity, local effects are not sufficient to explain the large differences in ∆C°P and excluded volume, as these parameters report on global features of the complex. Our findings therefore support the view that specificity does not derive from the additive effects of individual interactions but rather from a set of cooperative events that are uniquely associated with specific recognition.
Heliangolides from Helianthus maximiliani

Abstract The isolation is reported of tifruticin, acetyltifruticin, deoxytifruticin, acetyldeoxytifruticin, an orizabin analog and three heliangolides from Helianthus maximiliani .
Proton magnetic resonance imaging in ischemic cerebrovascular disease

Proton magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using a 0.6- or 1.5-Tesla superconductive magnet was compared with high-resolution computed tomography (CT) in 60 patients with transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) or brain infarction. MRI showed focal parenchymal changes in 84% of patients with TIAs, whereas CT showed similar changes in 42%. The sensitivity of MRI was also greater in patients with infarcts, but the difference between CT and MRI was not as great. Infarcts were usually better delineated by MRI regardless of location. However, MRI failed to reveal cortical infarcts that were clearly seen on contrast-enhanced CT scans and was unable to clearly distinguish subacute from chronic hemorrhagic infarcts. MRI changes were best detected with T2-weighted images and usually appeared as multiple areas of increased signal intensity in the subcortical and periventricular white matter. MRI changes often could not be correlated with the clinical history and neurological findings; identical changes have been seen in patients with no history of cerebrovascular disease.
MUSCULOSKELETAL INJURIES IN ADOLESCENTS

This article reviews the anatomy of the physis and the most common classification of injuries or fractures through the physis. The common apophyseal injuries of Osgood-Schlatter, Severs disease and iliac apophysitis, are reviewed in addition to a review of the most common osteochondritides, including Panner's disease and Osteochondritis Dessicans of the femur and talus. An understanding of these is key to diagnosis and treatment of adolescent musculoskeletal injuries. This article also reviews slipped capital femoral epiphysis, little leaguer's elbow, anterior cruciate and collateral ligament injuries, patella problems, ankle sprains and several common fractures in children.
The Effects of Atrial Natriuretic Peptide on Whole-Kidney and Proximal Straight Tubular Function in the Rabbit

The mechanisms by which atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) produces a diuresis and natriuresis remain unclear. It has been suggested that the major if not sole mediator of ANP's renal effects is a hemodynamically induced increase in glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Data from clearance studies in anesthetized rabbits demonstrate that ANP administration can produce a significant increase in absolute and percentage sodium excretion (42.0 +/- 5.9----64.6 +/- 10.2 mu eq/min, P less than 0.01, and 1.97 +/- 0.28----3.12 +/- 0.35%, P less than 0.001, respectively) without increasing GFR (16.8 +/- 2.1----16.1 +/- 2.5 cc/min, P greater than 0.30). The natriuresis occurred despite a fall in renal plasma flow (RPF) (56.7 +/- 7.0----44.5 +/- 9.4 cc/min, P less than 0.01), a rise in filtration fraction (0.33 +/- 0.01----0.46 +/- 0.05, P less than 0.01), and an unchanged filtered load of sodium (2.28 +/- 0.27----2.16 +/- 0.32 mu eq/min, P greater than 0.10). Isolated tubular microperfusion studies demonstrated that ANP, present as a 10(-9) M concentration in the solution bathing perfused proximal straight tubules (PST), did not affect fluid flux (Jv) (0.38 +/- 0.07----0.41 +/- 0.07 nl/mm/min, P greater than 0.30) or phosphate reabsorption (Jp) (1.50 +/- 0.5----1.38 +/- 0.36 pmole/mm/min, P greater than 0.50). When ANP was infused into rabbits prior to harvesting the PSTs for isolated tubular microperfusion and the results were compared to tubules taken from control animals, there was again no effect on Jv (0.37 +/- 0.05 vs 0.42 +/- 0.05 nl/mm/min, P greater than 0.50) or Jp (2.41 +/- 0.27 vs 2.42 +/- 0.44 pmole/mm/min, P greater than 0.90). These findings suggest that ANP can inhibit sodium transport without increasing whole-kidney GFR or RPF, but does not directly inhibit transport in the proximal straight tubule.
The National Data Center and the Federal Information Network: A Paradox

Technological advancement and increasing data collection activities compelled the call for a National Data Center in 1965. Theoretically, the Center would increase efficiency and diminish costs, as the inefficiencies of information transfer between agencies and organizations steadily rose. However, a firestorm of criticism met the proposal from a number of sectors due to a perceived lack of privacy concerns, which eventually spelled the Center's demise. The destruction of an explicit locale for data storage and retrieval, however, catalyzed the formation of numerous implicit data centers that jeopardized privacy to a far greater degree than it was originally feared the Center would. The history of the National Data Center's demise and the subsequent construction of implicit data centers consists of a useful case study when considering the proper reaction to perceived privacy concerns regarding new technologies.
Methods generalization based on concept hierarchy

Concerns the learning of problem-solving methods by method generalization. The authors formalize the method generalization problem and present the computational approaches and techniques as well as the corresponding implementational issues for generalizing problem-solving methods. They investigate a restricted class of method generalization problems: given a concept hierarchy and a set of methods associated with individual concepts, the methods applicable to more general concepts are constructed from the methods associated with more specific concepts. A case study is presented which shows how methods for computing the properties of geometric entities in a hierarchy can be generalized to compute the properties of higher-level entities in the domain of Euclidean geometry. >
From Data to Wisdom: Quality Improvement Strategies Supporting Large-scale Implementation of Evidence-Based Services

The goal of this article is to illustrate various strategies that the Hawaii Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division (CAMHD) adopted to increase the use of empirical evidence to improve the quality of services and outcomes for youth. We operate from the premise that evidence-based decision making extends beyond the use of treatment outcome literature to inform decisions regarding treatment selection. We elaborate a list of common clinical decisions, discuss multiple evidence bases that may inform these decisions, and use a model of the phases of evidence to illustrate multiple quality improvement strategies used within the Hawaii system of care for youth. This article provides a broad overview to various quality initiatives for promoting evidence-based practices rather than indepth discussion of any specific strategy.
Hubble, chandra and keck constraints on massive galaxy clusters at z=0.2 and z=0.5

I present recent observations from two Hubble Space Telescope(HST)/ACS programs that target the most X–ray luminous and thus (presumably) most massive galaxy clusters at z=0.5 – the highest redshift at which complete, well–defined samples of such rare systems are available. The first program (GO:9836, PI: R.S. Ellis) exploits a huge mosaic of 41 ACS pointings spanning a 10 Mpc region centered on MS0451-03. This is the largest contiguous space–based image of a cluster to date. I describe a preliminary weak–lensing analysis and a new Keck/DEIMOS redshift catalog of 1000 galaxies in this field. The second program (GO:9722, PI: H. Ebeling) studies the core regions of the twelve most luminous clusters at z≥0.5 from the MAssive Cluster Survey (MACS; Ebeling et al. 2001). Multi–color ACS observations in combination with recent Keck/LRIS spectroscopy of gravitational arcs constrain the distribution of mass in the cluster cores, thus laying the foundation for detailed multi–diagnostic (lensing, X–ray, near–infrared, SZE) investigation of this sample. For example, it is of particular interest to explore how the structure and state of relaxation of massive clusters evolved between this sample at z≥0.5 that measured by Smith et al. (2004, astro–ph/0403588) at z=0.2.
Inference of forest biomass using P-band circular-polarized radar signals

Examines the possibility of using P-band frequency, circular-polarized radar signals for mapping and monitoring of forest biomass from space while at the same time minimizing the limiting effect of Faraday rotation. Several examples from various types of forests (temperate, boreal, and tropical) are presented and analyzed. Predicted biomass levels from the radar are compared to estimates from forest inventories at both linear and circular polarizations. The results show that the two kinds of estimates are in good agreement, except when the phase difference between HH and VV-polarization is large in which case RR or LL-polarized radar signals overpredict forest biomass. This situation is encountered in the presence of flooded forest, or very wet trees. Also, in areas where the P-band radar response from the forest saturates (biomass greater than 200 tons/ha), it is shown that polarimetric information allows further analysis of the scattered signals to obtain additional information on the vegetation characteristics. One analysis technique uses a Cloude decomposition of polarimetric scattering. In the case of tropical rain forests, this analysis technique helps separate different vegetation communities and habitats which can subsequently be related to different biomass levels. >
Heavy metal music and emotional dysphoria among listeners.

The objective of the present study was to examine the emotional states of late adolescent/emerging adult contemporary listeners of heavy metal music as compared with nonlisteners. A sample of 551 college students was assessed on music preference and on symptoms of depression, anxiety, and trait anger. Fifty-seven percent (n 315) of the sample indicated a preference for heavy metal/hard rock music. The high rate of preference may be owed to the geographic location of the data-collection site, being proximal to where modern heavy metal subgenres are popular. We hypothesized that participants who listen to heavy metal music would report higher levels of depression, anxiety, and trait anger as compared with participants who do not listen to heavy metal music. As predicted, analyses of variance indicated significantly higher levels of anxiety and depression among listeners of heavy metal/hard rock music as compared with nonlisteners. The groups differed most on level of anxiety. The groups did not significantly differ on trait anger. Analyses of specific subgenres of heavy metal indicated significant differences on measures of dysphoric mood between nonlisteners and listeners of several, but not all of the subgenres. These findings help to establish an emotional profile of a predominantly adolescent sample of heavy metal/hard rock listeners. Implications for future research include examining and characterizing the temporal sequence of dysphoric mood and music preference.
DNA-mediated Charge Transport in Redox Sensing and Signaling

The transport of charge through the DNA base-pair stack offers a route to carry out redox chemistry at a distance. Here we describe characteristics of this chemistry that have been elucidated and how this chemistry may be utilized within the cell. The shallow distance dependence associated with these redox reactions permits DNA-mediated signaling over long molecular distances in the genome and facilitates the activation of redox-sensitive transcription factors globally in response to oxidative stress. The long-range funneling of oxidative damage to sites of low oxidation potential in the genome also may provide a means of protection within the cell. Furthermore, the sensitivity of DNA charge transport to perturbations in base-pair stacking, as may arise with base lesions and mismatches, may be used as a route to scan the genome for damage as a first step in DNA repair. Thus, the ability of double-helical DNA in mediating redox chemistry at a distance provides a natural mechanism for redox sensing and signaling in the genome.
A Novel Endogenous Inhibitor of the Secreted Streptococcal NAD-Glycohydrolase

The Streptococcus pyogenes NAD-glycohydrolase (SPN) is a toxic enzyme that is introduced into infected host cells by the cytolysin-mediated translocation pathway. However, how S. pyogenes protects itself from the self-toxicity of SPN had been unknown. In this report, we describe immunity factor for SPN (IFS), a novel endogenous inhibitor that is essential for SPN expression. A small protein of 161 amino acids, IFS is localized in the bacterial cytoplasmic compartment. IFS forms a stable complex with SPN at a 1:1 molar ratio and inhibits SPN's NAD-glycohydrolase activity by acting as a competitive inhibitor of its β-NAD+ substrate. Mutational studies revealed that the gene for IFS is essential for viability in those S. pyogenes strains that express an NAD-glycohydrolase activity. However, numerous strains contain a truncated allele of ifs that is linked to an NAD-glycohydrolase−deficient variant allele of spn. Of practical concern, IFS allowed the normally toxic SPN to be produced in the heterologous host Escherichia coli to facilitate its purification. To our knowledge, IFS is the first molecularly characterized endogenous inhibitor of a bacterial β-NAD+−consuming toxin and may contribute protective functions in the streptococci to afford SPN-mediated pathogenesis.