cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Molecular characterization of two anthranilate synthase alpha subunit genes in Camptotheca acuminata

The potent anticancer and antiviral compound camptothecin (CPT) is a monoterpene indole alkaloid produced by Camptotheca acuminata. In order to investigate the biosynthetic pathway of CPT, we studied the early indole pathway, a junction between primary and secondary metabolism, which generates tryptophan for both protein synthesis and indole alkaloid production. We cloned and characterized the alpha subunit of anthranilate synthase (ASA) from Camptotheca (designated CaASA), catalyzing the first committed reaction of the indole pathway. CaASA is encoded by a highly conserved gene family in Camptotheca. The two CaASA genes are differentially regulated. The level of CaASA2 is constitutively low in Camptotheca and was found mainly in the reproductive tissues in transgenic tobacco plants carrying the CaASA2 promoter and β-glucuronidase gene fusion. CaASA1 was detected to varying degrees in all Camptotheca organs examined and transiently induced to a higher level during seedling development. The spatial and developmental regulation of CaASA1 paralleled that of the previously characterized Camptotheca gene encoding the beta subunit of tryptophan synthase as well as the accumulation of CPT. These data suggest that CaASA1, rather than CaASA2, is responsible for synthesizing precursors for CPT biosynthesis in Camptotheca and that the early indole pathway and CPT biosynthesis are coordinately regulated.
Spectrophotometric determination of lithium ion with the chromogenic crown ether, 2″,4″-dinitro-6″-trifluoromethylphenyl-4′-aminobenzo-14-crown-4

Abstract A spectrophotometric method of determining alkali metal ions with a chromogenice crown ether reagent was found to be more selective and sensitive than an ion-pairing method based on the same size of crown ether cavity. It is shown that in the ion-pairing method, the sensitivity toward lithium ion was 5.685 × 10 −4 absorbance/mg l −1 , with sodium interfering at 300 mg l −1 . The chromogenic crown ether, 2″,4″-dinitro-6″-trifluoromeethylphenyl-4′-aminobenzo-14-crown-4, was much superior to benzo-14-crown-4. The sensitivity of the chromogenic crown ether was 1.69 × 10 −3 absorbance/mg l −1 . This represents a three-fold increase in sensitivity and less reagent is needed (2 × 10 −4 M for the chromogenic method versus 1.4 × 10 −3 M for ion-pairing). Interference from sodium decreased to 3000 mg l −1 . The reagent was used to determine lithium ion in treated blood serum samples in both a batch and flow injection method and results were compared with data obtained with atomic absorption; excellent agreement was obtained in all cases.
Ion-induced effective control of morphologies of soy protein biocomposites

Soy protein isolate (SPI) has received immense research attention recently for its potential use in biocomposites. As a protein material, SPI is highly complex; it possesses four levels of structure arising from many types of intermolecular interactions. However, practical knowledge on how to alter these interactions to create protein biocomposites with adjustable morphologies is sparse. This study presents one of very few studies on tuning the morphology of protein in biocomposites by modulating these interactions. In this study, SPI/poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) biocomposites with various morphologies were successfully fabricated by introducing salts (LiClO4, Li2CO3, NaClO4, and NaCl) with different solubilities in PEO and in water into the biocomposite. The results showed that all four salts increased the size of the SPI phase; the magnitude of this effect increased when salts with higher solubility in water were used, and when the salt concentration was increased, in accordance with a greater number of ions available to interact with SPI. Similarly, the salts (LiClO4 and NaClO4) soluble in PEO dramatically reduced the crystallinity of the PEO matrix, resulting in highly stretchable biocomposites; while the salts with poor solubility in PEO (Li2CO3 and NaCl) preferentially distributed in SPI-rich phase and did not show obvious effects on PEO crystalline structures, leading to rigid biocomposites with higher fracture toughness. Importantly, these findings enable the fabrication of protein-based biocomposites with a variety of morphologies for both the protein phase and the polymer phase with great potential to achieve various properties and applications.
A structural investigation of the N-B interaction in an o-(N,N-dialkylaminomethyl)arylboronate system

o-(Pyrrolidinylmethyl)phenylboronic acid (4) and its complexes with bifunctional substrates such as catechol, alpha-hydroxyisobutyric acid, and hydrobenzoin have been studied in detail by X-ray crystallography, (11)B NMR, and computational analysis. The N-B interactions in analogous boronic acids and esters have been extensively cited in molecular recognition and chemosensing literature. The focal point of this study was to determine the factors that are pertinent to the formation of an intramolecular N-B dative bond. Our structural study predicts that the formation of an N-B dative bond, and/or solvent insertion to afford a tetrahedral boronate anion, depends on the solvent and the complexing substrate present. Specifically, from (11)B NMR studies, complexation of 4 with electron-withdrawing and/or vicinally bifunctionalized substrates promotes both the formation of N-B dative bonds and the solvation of sp(2) boron to a tetrahedral sp(3) boronate. In the solid state, the presence of an N-B dative bond in the complex of 4 and catechol (7) depends on the solvent from which it crystallizes. From chloroform, an N-B bond was observed, whereas from methanol, a methoxylated boronate was formed, where the methoxy group is hydrogen-bonded with the neighboring tertiary ammonium ion. The structural optimization of compounds 4 and 7 using density functional theory in a simulated water continuum also predicts that complexation of 4 and catechol promotes either the formation of an N-B bond or solvolysis if 1 equiv of water is present. The conclusion from this study will help in the design of future chemosensing technologies based on o-(N,N-dialkylaminomethyl)arylboronate scaffolds that are targeting physiologically important substances such as saccharides, alpha-hydroxycarboxylates, and catecholamines.
Learning a weighted sequence model of the nucleosome core and linker yields more accurate predictions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Homo sapiens.

DNA in eukaryotes is packaged into a chromatin complex, the most basic element of which is the nucleosome. The precise positioning of the nucleosome cores allows for selective access to the DNA, and the mechanisms that control this positioning are important pieces of the gene expression puzzle. We describe a large-scale nucleosome pattern that jointly characterizes the nucleosome core and the adjacent linkers and is predominantly characterized by long-range oscillations in the mono, di- and tri-nucleotide content of the DNA sequence, and we show that this pattern can be used to predict nucleosome positions in both Homo sapiens and Saccharomyces cerevisiae more accurately than previously published methods. Surprisingly, in both H. sapiens and S. cerevisiae, the most informative individual features are the mono-nucleotide patterns, although the inclusion of di- and tri-nucleotide features results in improved performance. Our approach combines a much longer pattern than has been previously used to predict nucleosome positioning from sequence—301 base pairs, centered at the position to be scored—with a novel discriminative classification approach that selectively weights the contributions from each of the input features. The resulting scores are relatively insensitive to local AT-content and can be used to accurately discriminate putative dyad positions from adjacent linker regions without requiring an additional dynamic programming step and without the attendant edge effects and assumptions about linker length modeling and overall nucleosome density. Our approach produces the best dyad-linker classification results published to date in H. sapiens, and outperforms two recently published models on a large set of S. cerevisiae nucleosome positions. Our results suggest that in both genomes, a comparable and relatively small fraction of nucleosomes are well-positioned and that these positions are predictable based on sequence alone. We believe that the bulk of the remaining nucleosomes follow a statistical positioning model.
Taste responses of the facial and glossopharyngeal nerves to amino acids in the rainbow trout

No significant differences were noted between responses of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss facial and glossopharyngeal nerves to 15 amino acids. Nine of these amino acids tested at 10 -2 M were stimulatory, whereas only two tested at 10 -3 M were effective gustatory stimuli. For both nerve systems. ≤ 10 -3 M L-proline was the most stimulatory amino acid, with an estimated threshold of 10 -7 M; however, L-α-amino-β-guanidino-propionic acid (estimated threshold of 3 × 10 -3 M), was the most potent compound at 10 -2 M. These results indicate that the same amino acids activate taste buds innervated by facial and glossopharyngeal nerves, respectively, and suggest that the same amino acids can be important in chemosensory feeding behaviour in the rainbow trout.
Suppression of Selective Volatilization in a Method for the Spectrographic Analysis of Lanthanum

The effects of electrode type, are current, and the Stallwood Jet on selective distillation of impurities other than rare earths in La2O3 are evaluated. Selective volatilization is reduced by use of a 20-A dc arc with a ⅛-in.-diam electrode. An analytical method incorporating these operating conditions is presented for 19 impurity elements in La2O3 prepared from the lanthanum metal sample. The overall precision is about ±14% relative standard deviation over the concentration range of 30 to 1000 parts per million.
Optimizing the Accuracy of Entity-Based Data Integration of Multiple Data Sources Using Genetic Programming Methods

Entity-based data integration (EBDI) is a form of data integration in which information related to the same real-world entity is collected and merged from different sources. It often happens that not all of the sources will agree on one value for a common attribute. These cases are typically resolved by invoking a rule that will select one of the non-null values presented by the sources. One of the most commonly used selection rules is called the naA¯ve selection operator that chooses the non-null value provided by the source with the highest overall accuracy for the attribute in question. However, the naA¯ve selection operator will not always produce the most accurate result. This paper describes a method for automatically generating a selection operator using methods from genetic programming. It also presents the results from a series of experiments using synthetic data that indicate that this method will yield a more accurate selection operator than either the naA¯ve or naA¯ve-voting selection operators.
The role of soot and primary oxidants in atmospheric chemistry

This paper discusses the role of soot in atmospheric sulfur chemistry. A methodology for estimating the primary and secondary particulate carbon concentrations is outlined. The relationship between ambient SO2, sulfate, and primary carbon is examined; and certain regularities in their behavior are defined. An explanation of these regularities is proposed, based on a mechanism involving oxygen chemisorbed on combustion-generated carbon particles and its subsequent reaction with aqueous sulfite.
Accelerating the convergence of the quadratically convergent SCF method

Abstract An algorithm to solve the divergence problem of the quadratically convergent SCF method is suggested and is applied to the calculation of the excited states of a number of small molecules. The results show definite improvement over the original method.
The surface composition of silicon carbide powders and whiskers: An XPS study

The surface composition and bonding of a wide variety of silicon carbide powders and whiskers have been characterized by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Ultrafine SiC powders, grown by a radio frequency plasma process, have been shown to exhibit graphitic carbon and a thin suboxide coating. Whiskers of SiC, grown in a vapor-liquid-solid or proprietary commercial process, were generally covered by heavier oxides than the powders and to a variable degree showed silica-like bonding. Most of the materials were subject to sample charging. Procedures were developed to estimate these charging effects and interpret the complete catalog of XPS spectra from these materials with respect to Fermi-level assignments. Charge independent quantities, such as oxygen Auger parameter and O(1s)–Si(2p) peak position difference, were found to agree with accepted values in the literature while exhibiting trends consistent with suboxide and silica bonding assignments. The data give a broad basis for understanding the feedstock surface chemistry which is involved during fabrication of monolithic or composite silicon carbide materials.
Regulation of γ-Glutamate-cysteine Ligase Expression by Oxidative Stress in the Mouse Preimplantation Embryo

Abstract The present study examined expression of γ-glutamate-cysteine ligase (GLCL; also known as γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase), the rate-limiting enzyme for de novo synthesis of glutathione, in the preimplantation mouse embryo. Previous studies indicated that the cleavage stage embryo is unable to synthesize glutathione de novo. It is hypothesized that GLCL mRNA and protein are not normally expressed in the cleavage stage embryo, but either glutathione depletion or oxidation may induce their expression. In untreated embryos, RT–PCR and Western blotting revealed GLCL heavy subunit (GLCL-H) mRNA and protein only at the blastocyst stage of development. Furthermore, while diethyl maleate (DEM) exposure to deplete cellular glutathione did not induce expression of GLCL-H, exposure to tertiary-butyl hydroperoxide (tBH), an oxidizing agent, resulted in significant upregulation of GLCL-H expression in two-cell embryos. Neither treatment affected expression in blastocysts. Finally, HPLC analysis confirmed that tBH-treated embryos experienced oxidative stress, as indicated by an increase in the ratio of oxidized to reduced glutathione. This oxidative stress induced de novo glutathione synthesis in the cleavage stage embryo, as demonstrated by the subsequent recovery of reduced glutathione levels following DEM-induced depletion. In the absence of tBH treatment, however, cleavage stage embryos could not recover GSH after DEM-mediated depletion. This study demonstrates that the preimplantation embryo has the capacity to upregulate glutathione synthesis in response to oxidative stress but not GSH depletion. These results suggest that, while the preimplantation embryo is well adapted to dealing with oxidative stress, it may be poorly protected from GSH-depleting toxicants.
The Advanced Glycation Endproduct Pentosidine Induces the Expression of PDGF-B in Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells

Advanced glycation endproducts have been implicated in a number of diabetic and aging changes. Some of these effects occur in part through induction of cytokines such as platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), which is expressed by the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). In this study, cultures of RPE were evaluated for PDGF expression after treatment with pentosidine, a well characterized advanced glycation endproduct. Northern analysis provided evidence for the increased expression of a 3.7 kb PDGF-B transcript over unstimulated controls in the established ARPE-19 cell line. Western analysis demonstrated increased PDGF-BB protein in conditioned medium compared to controls of ARPE-19 cells. In addition, two different early passage cultures of RPE showed increased PDGF-BB protein after pentosidine treatment compared to unstimulated controls. The enhanced production of PDGF-BB could play a role in the maintenance of the RPE-Bruch's membrane complex and influence changes associated with diabetes and aging.
Regulation of basal adrenocorticotropin and cortisol secretion by arginine vasopressin in the fetal sheep during late gestation.

This study tested the hypothesis that arginine vasopressin (AVP) is involved in the regulation of basal ACTH secretion in the ovine fetus near term. In five fetuses challenged with AVP (1 μg/ml, iv bolus) plasma ACTH concentrations increased to an 8-fold peak within 10 min of the preceding baseline (55 ± 6 to 403 ± 241 pg/ml). Cortisol in fetal circulation subsequently increased 2-fold (11 ± 1 to 28 ± 5 ng/ml) within 15 min of the AVP injection. The AVP-induced rise in plasma ACTH and cortisol concentrations was blocked when the fetus was pretreated with the AVP V1 receptor antagonist d(Ch2)5Tyr(Me)AVP. In a total of seven studies, antagonist (10 Aig/kg estimated BW, iv bolus) was administered to three fetuses, aged 137–147 days gestation, followed 40 min later by the exogenous AVP challenge, as described above. After AVP antagonist treatment, basal ACTH and cortisol concentrations were not significantly different from the preinjection baseline levels (P > 0.05, by analysis of variance). Moreover, plasma ...
Molecular prognostication in bladder cancer—a current perspective

The optimal management of bladder cancer depends on the accurate assessment of the tumour's biological potential. Advances in molecular biology and cytogenetics have spurred intense research in identifying and characterising prognostic markers for patients with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder. The molecular changes that occur can be categorised into (1) chromosomal alterations leading to carcinogenesis, (2) cellular proliferation as a result of dysregulation of cell cycle control, and (3) growth control processes such as angiogenesis leading to metastasis. The accumulation of these changes ultimately determines a tumour's clinical behaviour and response to therapy. As the understanding of bladder cancer evolves, novel molecular markers for prognostication will make their way from the research laboratory to the clinical setting with the promise to improve patient care and outcomes.
Succinate Overproduction: A Case Study of Computational Strain Design Using a Comprehensive Escherichia coli Kinetic Model

Computational strain design prediction accuracy has been the focus for many recent efforts through the selective integration of kinetic information into metabolic models. In general, kinetic model prediction quality is determined by the range and scope of genetic and/or environmental perturbations used during parameterization. In this effort, we apply the k-OptForce procedure on a kinetic model of E. coli core metabolism constructed using the Ensemble Modeling (EM) method and parameterized using multiple mutant strains data under aerobic respiration with glucose as the carbon source. Minimal interventions are identified that improve succinate yield under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions to test the fidelity of model predictions under both genetic and environmental perturbations. Under aerobic condition, k-OptForce identifies interventions that match existing experimental strategies pointing at a number of unexplored flux redirections such as routing glyoxylate flux through the glycerate metabolism to improve succinate yield. Many of the identified interventions rely on the kinetic descriptions and would not be discoverable by a purely stoichiometric description. In contrast, under fermentative (anaerobic) conditions, k-OptForce fails to identify key interventions including up-regulation of anaplerotic reactions and elimination of competitive fermentative products. This is due to the fact that the pathways activated under anaerobic conditions were not properly parameterized as only aerobic flux data were used in the model construction. This study shed light on the importance of condition-specific model parameterization and provides insight onto how to augment kinetic models so as to correctly respond to multiple environmental perturbations.
A new strain of Streptomyces avermitilis produces high yield of oligomycin A with potent anti-tumor activity on human cancer cell lines in vitro

A new actinomycete strain, isolated from soil in China, strongly inhibited in vitro proliferation of human hepatoma, chronic myelogenous leukemia, and colonic carcinoma cell lines. The strain, designated L033, was identified as a strain of Streptomyces avermitilis based on cultural property, morphology, carbon source utilization, 16s rRNA gene analysis, and DNA–DNA relatedness studies. The anticancer component from L033 was purified to homogeneity by preparative positive-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and crystallization. Nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometric analysis showed that this compound had the same structure as oligomycin A. Different with other reported naturally occurring strains of S. avermitilis, L033 produced high quantity of oligomycin A (maximal 1,461 μg/ml). Therefore, L033 was considered of great potential as an industrial oligomycin-A-producing strain.
Bile duct drainage with lavage by nasobiliary tube in a patient with mucin-producing cystic pancreatic tumor

Pseudocysts are the most common cystic lesions of the pancreas. However, in the differential of these inflammatory cystic lesions are cystic neoplasms of the pancreas.1 These neoplasms account for 10 % of all pancreatic masses that are resected but overall make up less than 5 % of pancreatic neoplasms. They usually occur in women who are in their fifth to sixth decade of life, and often patients have no symptoms or have nonspecific abdominal complaints.2 Cystic neoplasms, including potentially malignant cystadenomas or cystadenocarcinomas, must be differentiated from benign processes such as pseudocysts.1 ERCP has been recommended as a diagnostic procedure. However, as depicted in this report, in the sub-group of patients with mucin-producing cystic pancreatic lesions, ERCP may predispose the patient to cholangitis because of introduction of bacteria into a duct with mucinous obstruction. This can be prevented by placing a nasobiliary tube with lavage to facilitate duct drainage.
Memory and amnesia: resistance to disruption develops for years after learning

Psychiatric patients were asked to recall as much as possible about former television programs that broadcast for only one season (1967–1974). After five prescribed electroconvulsive treatments, recall was markedly impaired for events that occurred 1 to 2 years before treatment and not affected for events that occurred prior to that time. A quantitative and qualitative analysis of the facts recalled from each time period permitted consideration of several possible explanations of this temporally graded amnesia. The data strongly support the conclusion that the neural substrate of long-term memory changes for years after learning and that resistance to amnesia develops as a consequence of these changes.
Will the regulation of governmental accounting go too far

The establishment of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) ushered in a new era in the regulation of governmental accounting. The promotion of uniform accounting standards for all state and local governments and the adoption of more effective regulations in certain areas, such as pension reporting, may lead to lower borrowing costs for governmental units. The GASB should, however, be concerned not only with the potential benefits associated with any new regulations but also with the related costs of implementing these regulations.
Variable anodic thermal control coating on aluminum

A variable thermal control coating (modified chromic acid anodizing) has been developed to meet the needs for the thermal control of spacecraft. This coating, with controlled variable ranges of 0.10 to 0.72 thermal emittance and 0.2 to 0.4 solar absorptance, allows the user to select any value of thermal emittance and solar absorptance within the range specified and obtain both values within + or - 0.02. Preliminary solar stability has shown less than 15 percent degradation over 2000 hours of vacuum solar exposure. The technique has been determined to be sensitive to the parameters of voltage, rate of voltage application, time, temperature, acid concentration, and material pretreatment.
Mechanism of Scaffolding-Directed Virus Assembly Suggested by Comparison of Scaffolding-Containing and Scaffolding-Lacking P22 Procapsids

Assembly of certain classes of bacterial and animal viruses requires the transient presence of molecules known as scaffolding proteins, which are essential for the assembly of the precursor procapsid. To assemble a procapsid of the proper size, each viral coat subunit must adopt the correct quasiequivalent conformation from several possible choices, depending upon the T number of the capsid. In the absence of scaffolding protein, the viral coat proteins form aberrantly shaped and incorrectly sized capsids that cannot package DNA. Although scaffolding proteins do not form icosahedral cores within procapsids, an icosahedrally ordered coat/scaffolding interaction could explain how scaffolding can cause conformational differences between coat subunits. To identify the interaction sites of scaffolding protein with the bacteriophage P22 coat protein lattice, we have determined electron cryomicroscopy structures of scaffolding-containing and scaffolding-lacking procapsids. The resulting difference maps suggest specific interactions of scaffolding protein with only four of the seven quasiequivalent coat protein conformations in the T = 7 P22 procapsid lattice, supporting the idea that the conformational switching of a coat subunit is regulated by the type of interactions it undergoes with the scaffolding protein. Based on these results, we propose a model for P22 procapsid assembly that involves alternating steps in which first coat, then scaffolding subunits form self-interactions that promote the addition of the other protein. Together, the coat and scaffolding provide overlapping sets of binding interactions that drive the formation of the procapsid.
Economic integration, intraindustry trade, and frontier regions

Abstract In this paper, I examine how economic integration between the United States and Mexico has affected the location of economic activity in the United States. Using a data set on economic activity in U.S.-Mexico border-city pairs, I find that the expansion of export manufacturing in Mexican border cities has increased manufacturing employment in U.S. border cities. The results suggest that the North American Free Trade Agreement will contribute to the relocation of manufacturing production in the United States towards the U.S.-Mexico border region.
Small-Scale Nekton Density and Growth Patterns Across a Saltmarsh Landscape in Barataria Bay, Louisiana

Nekton on the northern Gulf of Mexico depend on estuarine nursery areas, but patterns of habitat use and the underlying processes that drive these patterns are not fully understood. We examined small-scale (1–50 m) patterns of habitat use in Barataria Bay by collecting nekton samples between 2002 and 2006 with a 1-m2 drop sampler. Habitat-specific densities were estimated for six habitat types at various distances from the shoreline in marsh (Marsh1M = 1 m and Marsh3M = 3 m) and over shallow nonvegetated bottom, SNB (SNB1M = 1 m, SNB5M = 5 m, SNB20M = 20 m, and SNB50M = 50 m). Habitat-specific growth rates also were estimated for brown shrimp Farfantepenaeus aztecus caged in SNB1M, SNB5M, and SNB20M. Nekton density patterns in Barataria Bay appeared to be clearly different from the Galveston Bay model, which predicts nekton distribution patterns relative to the marsh shoreline. Although densities in Barataria Bay were significantly higher in samples near the marsh shoreline (Marsh1M or SNB1M) for brown shrimp, blue crab, and white shrimp, highest mean densities were not always present in marsh edge vegetation. In addition, densities of brown shrimp and white shrimp in Barataria Bay declined much more steeply with distance into the marsh than in the model. Daily growth rates (1.0–1.2 mm TL day−1, 68–89 mg day−1) for brown shrimp were similar among SNB habitat types. Our results suggest that SNB in Barataria Bay may be relatively more important as habitat for fishery species than previously assumed.
Learning to Live Together: Transitional Justice and Intergroup Reconciliation in Northern Ireland

Transitional justice strategies are frequently considered to be necessary components of postconflict reconciliation processes, particularly in societies that have been deeply divided by histories of intrastate violence between antagonistic identity groups. Drawing on recent social psychological research into the dynamics of intergroup reconciliation, this article contends that the transitional justice strategies most successful in promoting postconflict reconciliation are those that take account of the collectivized nature of mass violence in divided societies and that seek to foster instrumental, socioemotional and distributive forms of ‘social learning’ among former enemies. This framework is used to assess the unique local programme of ‘decentralized’ transitional justice that emerged in Northern Ireland following the Belfast Agreement of 1998 and its contribution to ongoing processes of reconciliation between local nationalist and unionist communities. The article concludes by considering what insights this analysis of Northern Ireland’s decentralized local process might have for the broader field of transitional justice and for the design of future justice interventions in deeply divided societies.
Characterization of a Transient Unfolding Intermediate in a Core Mutant of γS-Crystallin

Abstract In many age-related and neurological diseases, formerly native proteins aggregate via formation of a partially unfolded intermediate. γS-Crystallin is a highly stable structural protein of the eye lens. In the mouse Opj cataract, a non-conservative F9S mutation in the N-terminal domain core of γS allows the adoption of a native fold but renders the protein susceptible to temperature- and concentration-dependent aggregation, including fibril formation. Hydrogen/deuterium exchange and denaturant unfolding studies of this mutant protein (Opj) have suggested the existence of a partially unfolded intermediate in its aggregation pathway. Here, we used NMR and fluorescence spectroscopy to obtain evidence for this intermediate. In 3.5 M urea, Opj forms a stable and partially unfolded entity that is characterized by an unstructured N-terminal domain and a largely intact C-terminal domain. Under physiologically relevant conditions, Carr–Purcell–Meiboom–Gill T 2 -relaxation dispersion experiments showed that the N-terminal domain residues were in conformational exchange with a loosely structured intermediate with a population of 1–2%, which increased with temperature. This provides direct evidence for a model in which proteins of native fold can explore an intermediate state with an increased propensity for formation of aggregates, such as fibrils. For the crystallins, this shows how inherited sequence variants or environmentally induced modifications can destabilize a well-folded protein, allowing the formation of intermediates able to act as nucleation sites for aggregation and the accumulation of light-scattering centers in the cataractous lens.
Experimental Comparison of the Josephson Voltage-Frequency Relation in Different Superconductors

Using the ac Josephson effect we have demonstrated experimentally that $\frac{2e}{h}$ is identical in lead, tin, and indium to within 1 part in ${10}^{8}$.
Internet use in the state legislature: a research note

Using a survey of state legislators in Iowa, Georgia, and California, this article examines how often legislators use the Internet as a source for policy information, and which legislators tend to make more frequent use of the Internet to gather information. The author finds that there is tremendous variation as to how often state legislators use the Internet to gather policy information. The author did not find evidence of a digital divide as it pertains to urbanism, or gender. It appears that a digital divide remains, however, between young and old legislators--with younger legislators using the Internet more often-- and legislators in California versus legislators in Georgia and Iowa. In the end, it appears that the digi tal divide in the state legislature is shrinking. As the older generation of legislators retires, the author expects that the Internet will become a more institutionalized part of the information environment of state legislators.
Moral Rationality and Intuition: An Exploration of Relationships between the Defining Issues Test and the Moral Foundations Questionnaire.

Explorations of relationships between Haidt’s Moral Foundations Questionnaire (MFQ) and indices of moral decision-making assessed by the Defining Issues Test have been limited to correlational analyses. This study used Harm, Fairness, Ingroup, Authority and Purity to predict overall moral judgment and individual Defining Issues Test-2 (DIT-2) schema scores using responses from 222 undergraduates. Relationships were not confirmed between the separate foundations and the DIT-2 indices. Using the MFQ moral judgment items only, confirmatory factor analyses confirmed higher order constructs called Individualizing and Binding foundations. Structural models using these higher order factors fitted the data well, and findings indicated that the Binding foundations significantly positively predicted Maintaining Norms and negatively predicted both overall moral judgment (N2) and the Postconventional Schema. Neither Individualizing nor Binding foundations significantly predicted Personal Interest. While moral judgmen...
Mutational analysis of a signaling aptamer suggests a mechanism for ligand-triggered structure-switching

Structure-switching signaling aptamers are nucleic acids that change shape upon binding to a specific ligand. Previously, we applied a new in vitro selection strategy to isolate structure-switching RNA aptamers responsive to the aminoglycoside antibiotic tobramycin. Here, we report the results of mutational analysis, secondary structure modeling, and ligand-specificity studies that suggest a mechanism for tobramycin-triggered structure switching.
Treatment of stage I and II adenocarcinoma of the breast by tumor excision and irradiation

Abstract In recent years there has been an increase in the number of women with breast cancer seeking an alternative to mastectomy. When seeing these patients in consultation, radiation oncologists should make an effort to enter them into one of the two current United States clinical trials involving breast-conserving surgery and irradiation. If a patient cannot or will not be entered into one of these trials, then her management should be based on careful consideration of the various factors involved in the selection of patients for breast-conserving surgery and irradiation, particularly tumor size, breast size and patient attitude. In addition to a discussion of these selection factors, this communication includes a description of the different types of breast-conserving surgery and the technical details involved in irradiating the intact breast.
Niobium thin film deposition studies on copper surfaces for superconducting radio frequency cavity applications

Thin film coatings have the potential to increase both the thermal efficiency and accelerating gradient in superconducting radio frequency accelerator cavities. However, before this potential can be realized, systematic studies on structure-property correlations in these thin films need to be carried out since the reduced geometry, combined with specific growth parameters, can modify the physical properties of the materials when compared to their bulk form. Here, we present our systematic studies of Nb thin films deposited onto Cu surfaces to clarify possible reasons for the limited success that this process exhibited in previous attempts. We compare these films with Nb grown on other surfaces. In particular, we study the crystal structure and surface morphology and their effect on superconducting properties, such as critical temperature and lower critical field. We found that higher deposition temperature leads to a sharper critical temperature transition, but also to increased roughness indicating that there are competing mechanisms that must be considered for further optimization.
Chatter problems in micro- and macrocutting operations, existing models, and influential parameters—a review

Chatter presents one of the main problems in quality of machined surfaces limiting tool life, productivity, and tolerances. Chatter in milling and turning operations has been extensively analyzed; however, drilling operations have been neglected due to the complexity of drilling tools and problems that develop in the modeling of the tool. In this paper, an overview of chatter vibrations and chatter suppression in drilling has been presented. Models such as torsional–axial model, bending model, and the combination of axial and bending models have been presented showing the different effects each considers. Influence of parameters such as drill geometry, chisel edge, drill flank, pilot hole, margin engagement, stick–slip interaction, gyroscopic effect, and rotary inertia effects has been incorporated into the various models. In addition, the problem of chatter analysis and suppression in micromachining processes has been investigated. The differences in macro- and micro-scale problems have been addressed giving an overview of the current research directions and future work for both areas. The paper presents experimental as well as simulation data with the comparison of the two for clear understanding of the complex problems of chatter in drilling operations.
The nonprotein products of plasma coagulation.

Abstract Increases in the free arginine and glutamic acid levels as well as the appearance of one peptide were observed after recalcification and subsequent coagulation of human blood plasma.
Introduction to model building

The building of simulation models is both an art and a science. The following paper trys to provide guidance to the model builder during the design and implementation process.
Role of water in the multifaceted catalytic antibody 4B2 for allylic isomerization and Kemp elimination reactions.

Specificity toward a single reaction is a well-known characteristic of catalytic antibodies. However, contrary to convention, catalytic antibody 4B2 possesses the ability to efficiently catalyze two unrelated reactions: a Kemp elimination and an allylic isomerization of a β,γ-unsaturated ketone. To elucidate how this multifaceted antibody operates, mixed quantum and molecular mechanics calculations coupled to Monte Carlo simulations were carried out. The antibody was determined to derive its adaptability for the mechanistically different reactions through the rearrangement of water molecules in the active site into advantageous geometric orientations for enhanced electrostatic stabilization. In the case of the Kemp elimination, a general base, Glu L34, carried out the proton abstraction from the isoxazole ring of 5-nitro-benzisoxazole while water molecules delivered specific stabilization at the transition state. The role of water was found to be more pronounced in the allylic isomerization because the so...
40th anniversary of bilayer lipid membrane (BLM) research

At the Symposium on the Plasma Membrane in 1961, when a group of unknown researchers reported the reconstitution of a bimolecular lipid membrane in vitro, the report was met with scepticism. Those present included some of the foremost proponents of the lipid bilayer concept, such as Davson, Danielli, Stoechenius, Adrian, Mauro, Finean, and many others.
Philosophy of applying digital computers to the design of electric apparatus

One definition of the word ?philosophy? given by Webster's dictionary is ?the body of principles underlying a given branch of learning or major discipline.? In this paper the authors attempt to establish the philosophy, according to this definition, of applying digital computers to the design of electric apparatus. Although the authors' experience has been mainly in the field of power transformers, special-purpose transformers, and current-limiting reactors, they have followed closely similar applications to other types of electric apparatus, notably distribution transformers, medium transformers, and rotating machines. Because of this, and in view of the unity of the science and art of electrical design, it is felt that the concepts and conclusions developed in the paper will be generally valid for the broad class of electric apparatus.
Cross-linked Polymers with Exceptionally High Ru(bipy)32+ Loadings for Efficient Heterogeneous Photocatalysis

Phosphorescent cross-linked polymers 1 and 2 were synthesized via oxidative homocoupling reactions of tetra(ethynyl) derivatives of Ru(bpy)32+ (with the alkynyl groups located at 4,4′- or 5,5′- positions of two substituted bipyridines). These cross-linked polymer particles contain exceptionally high Ru(bpy)32+ loadings and serve as highly efficient and reusable heterogeneous photocatalysts for a range of organic transformations, presumably owing to the ability of the Ru(bpy)32+ moieties in the polymer network to transport triplet excited states to particle surfaces to initiate the organic reactions. This work illustrates the potential of developing photocatalytic cross-linked polymers from photoactive molecular building blocks for solar energy utilization.
Parametrization of the Kobayashi-Maskawa Matrix

The quark mixing matrix (Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix) is expanded in powers of a small parameter $\ensuremath{\lambda}$ equal to $sin{\ensuremath{\theta}}_{c}=0.22$. The term of order ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}^{2}$ is determined from the recently measured $B$ lifetime. Two remaining parameters, including the $\mathrm{CP}$-nonconservation effects, enter only the term of order ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}^{3}$ and are poorly constrained. A significant reduction in the limit on $\frac{{\ensuremath{\epsilon}}^{\ensuremath{'}}}{\ensuremath{\epsilon}}$ possible in an ongoing experiment would tightly constrain the $\mathrm{CP}$-nonconservation parameter and could rule out the hypothesis that the only source of $\mathrm{CP}$ nonconservation is the Kobayashi-Maskawa mechanism.
The International Commission for the Evaluation of the Crimes of the Nazi and Soviet Occupation Regimes in Lithuania: successes, challenges, perspectives

The article summarizes the history of the International Commission for the Evaluation of the Crimes of the Nazi and Soviet Occupation Regimes in Lithuania and outlines the work it has accomplished to date. The author reviews the problems and controversies surrounding the Commission’s research into the post-1940 period of Lithuania’s history and describes the clashing perspectives inherent in the starkly different Lithuanian, Jewish, Western and Soviet wartime narratives.
Interdigitated array microelectrode based impedance immunosensor for detection of avian influenza virus H5N1

Abstract Continuous outbreaks of avian influenza (AI) in recent years with increasing threat to animals and human health have warranted the urgent need for rapid detection of pathogenic AI viruses. In this study, an impedance immunosensor based on an interdigitated array (IDA) microelectrode was developed as a new application for sensitive, specific and rapid detection of avian influenza virus H5N1. Polyclonal antibodies against AI virus H5N1 surface antigen HA (Hemagglutinin) were oriented on the gold microelectrode surface through protein A. Target H5N1 viruses were then captured by the immobilized antibody, resulting in a change in the impedance of the IDA microelectrode surface. Red blood cells (RBCs) were used as biolabels for further amplification of the binding reaction of the antibody–antigen (virus). The binding of target AI H5N1 onto the antibody-modified IDA microelectrode surface was further confirmed by atomic force microscopy. The impedance immunosensor could detect the target AI H5N1 virus at a titer higher than 10 3 EID 50 /ml (EID 50 : 50% Egg Infective Dose) within 2 h. The response of the antibody–antigen (virus) interaction was shown to be virus titer-dependent, and a linear range for the titer of H5N1 virus was found between 10 3 and 10 7 EID 50 /ml. Equivalent circuit analysis indicated that the electron transfer resistance of the redox probe [Fe(CN) 6 ] 3−/4− and the double layer capacitance were responsible for the impedance change due to the protein A modification, antibody immobilization, BSA (bovine serum albumin) blocking, H5N1 viruses binding and RBCs amplification. No significant interference was observed from non-target RNA viruses such as Newcastle disease virus and Infectious Bronchitis disease virus. (The H5N1 used in the study was inactivated virus.)
Composition of glycopeptides from chondroitin sulfate-protein complex from squid skin☆

Abstract 1. 1. Polysulfated chondrotin sulfate was isolated from squid skin (Loligo opalescens) and its chemical composition studied. The polysaccharide contained several aminoacids, glucosamine, glucose, galactose, and xylose, in addition to galactosamien and glucuronic acid. 2. 2. The nature of the neutral sugars and glucosamine in the chondroitin sulfate was studied after autohydrolysis of the polysaccharide and also after hydrolysis with bovine testicular hyaluronidase. 3. 3. A glycopeptide containing all the aminoacids and neutral sugars present in the original polysaccharide was isolated from a hyaluronidase digets of chondroitin sulfate. 4. 4. Incubation of the glycopeptide with alkali resulted in complete loss of serine, xylose and galactosamine and partial loss of galactose. No reduction in glucosamine and glucose contents in the glycopeptide was observed. 5. 5. The protein moiety of chondrotin sulfate-protein complex contains, in addition to polysaccharide branchings, short oligosaccharide units containing glucose, galactose and glucosamine linked to the protein through an alkali resistant linkage.
Transonic separated flow predictions with an eddy-viscosity/Reynolds-stress closure model

On evalue un modele de fermeture developpe precedemment pour une serie d'interactions fortes, transsoniques visqueuses, non visqueuses avec des degres de decollement variables
The Electrolytes of Arterial Wall in Experimental Renal Hypertension

In rats with renal hypertension, smooth muscle cells in the wall of the aorta appear to have more water, sodium, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus per unit of cell solids than similar cells in normotensive rats. When the blood pressure of a few hypertensive rats dropped to normal as a result of a low sodium diet, the potassium and phosphorus in the arterial cells also appeared to decrease to normal levels. These studies give indications of the compositional changes in arterial smooth muscle cells that are associated with renal hypertension.
It's a Family Affair

Abstract In the United States, incarceration rates are increasing at an alarming rate. In particular, the incarceration of women is increasing. Oklahoma has the highest rate of female incarceration in the nation, and drug offenders comprise a significant proportion of these female inmates. Placing large numbers of women in prison may have serious implications not only for the women but also for their families, particularly their children. We surveyed 144 incarcerated female drug offenders in Oklahoma, 96 of whom reported dependent children living with them prior to incarceration. The data included the women's perceptions of the effect of their incarceration on their families as well as an examination of the potential for serious problems due to placement of the children. The study indicates that many children are placed with families that have a history of abuse, which suggests that failure to consider the implications of incarcerating large numbers of women likely contributes to serious abuse risks for t...