cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Control of Kir channel gating by cytoplasmic domain interface interactions

Inward rectifier potassium (Kir) channels are expressed in almost all mammalian tissues and play critical roles in the control of excitability. Pancreatic ATP-sensitive K (KATP) channels are key regulators of insulin secretion and comprise Kir6.2 subunits coupled to sulfonylurea receptors. Because these channels are reversibly inhibited by cytoplasmic ATP, they link cellular metabolism with membrane excitability. Loss-of-function mutations in the pore-forming Kir6.2 subunit cause congenital hyperinsulinism as a result of diminished channel activity. Here, we show that several disease mutations, which disrupt intersubunit salt bridges at the interface of the cytoplasmic domains (CD-I) of adjacent subunits, induce loss of channel activity via a novel channel behavior: after ATP removal, channels open but then rapidly inactivate. Re-exposure to inhibitory ATP causes recovery from this inactivation. Inactivation can be abolished by application of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) to the cytoplasmic face of the membrane, an effect that can be explained by a simple kinetic model in which PIP2 binding competes with the inactivation process. Kir2.1 channels contain homologous salt bridges, and we find that mutations that disrupt CD-I interactions in Kir2.1 also reduce channel activity and PIP2 sensitivity. Kir2.1 channels also contain an additional CD-I salt bridge that is not present in Kir6.2 channels. Introduction of this salt bridge into Kir6.2 partially rescues inactivating mutants from the phenotype. These results indicate that the stability of the intersubunit CD-I is a major determinant of the inactivation process in Kir6.2 and may control gating in other Kir channels.
The Commerce Tavern

The owner of the Commerce Tavern is considering the possibility of changing his long-standing policy of not accepting credit-card charges from his clients. His decision is complicated by the presence of two key uncertainties: a contingent bank-fee schedule and several nonquantifiable effects. The case can serve to reinforce the tools of decision analysis, discounted cash flows, and sensitivity analysis and to explore the role of decision analysis in the decision-making process. Excerpt UVA-QA-0459 THE COMMERCE TAVERN H. Franklin Nilson sipped on a tankard of ale and surveyed the guests in the Lounge of the Commerce Tavern. As usual, the room was filled, and Nilson was pleased to see that everything was running smoothly. His staff had no particular problems in handling the full house—an empty table at the Commerce was a rarity. Ever since its opening in 1982, Nilson's establishment had enjoyed all the business it could handle. Even though it was mid-October, Nilson was content in the knowledge that the Commerce was booked solid, straight through the holiday season. The first available reservation was for mid-January. Nilson's thoughts this particular evening drifted to his recent conversation with Anne Hamlet of the Virginia Merchants Bank (VMB). Over the past several weeks, Hamlet had been providing Nilson with information regarding the potential acceptance of credit cards at the tavern. The Commerce Tavern had never accepted credit cards, personal checks, or house charges. Nilson often wondered if this cash-only policy hurt his business. He had been pleasantly surprised to learn that Hamlet and VMB were quite willing to authorize the Commerce to honor MasterCard and Visa credit cards. He also realized that, if this change in credit policy were to be attractive, the fees levied by VMB would have to be made up by increased business. Nilson always struggled with decisions like this one and, as he returned to his ale, he decided to think about it later. The Tavern For over a decade, the Commerce Tavern had enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest colonial cuisine restaurants in Colonial Williamsburg. Located in Merchants Square, a business and shopping district at the west end of Duke of Gloucester Street, the tavern was adjacent to the Historic Area but technically outside it. Even so, Merchants Square was a stop on the free bus route through Colonial Williamsburg. . . .
Nutriential Hazards: Macronutrients: Essential Fatty Acids

Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are required for proper functioning of many physiological systems. The term ‘essential’ is used to denote this subset of fatty acids due to the inability of humans to synthesize them endogenously. Thus, their consumption is required from dietary sources in order to meet biological demands. These EFAs are linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid. These fatty acids on digestion serve as building blocks and can be converted into other longer-chained fatty acids and mediators that regulate biological processes. The nutritional status of maintaining adequate intake levels of EFAs makes them vitally important toward human health.
Clash between energy landscape theory and foldon-dependent protein folding.

In PNAS, Englander and Mayne (1) review their earlier published evidence that proteins fold and unfold by foldons. The foldon evidence indicates that protein folding follows single folding pathways because the pathways are foldon-directed. The authors point out an important clash between foldon-dependent folding and using energy landscape theory (ELT) to describe folding: ELT indicates that protein folding occurs on many independent pathways even for foldon-directed folding. This basic conflict needs to be resolved to understand the nature of the protein folding process. The present situation reminds me of the one in 1968 when Cyrus (Cy) Levinthal pointed out the Levinthal’s paradox (a discussion of terms is provided in Wikipedia, available at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levinthal%27s_paradox). Cy gave a talk at Stanford (I was there) titled “How to Fold Graciously” in which he discussed using a computer to determine protein folding pathways. In this talk, he pointed out the huge number of possible backbone conformations shown by any unfolded protein. Before Cy gave this talk, a common view of how a protein folds was that each residue … [↵][1]1Email: baldwinb{at}stanford.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Neuropsychology of Sleep

Forebrain activation declines in nonrapid eye movement (NREM) sleep with declines in global and regional cerebral blood flow, arousability and cognitive activity. In rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, increases occur in dream frequency and intensity, and blood flow to subcortex and limbic but not lateral cortices. REM’s fast electroencephalographic (EEG) or magnetoencephalographic (MEG) activity (compared with slow thalamocortical rhythms measured in NREM) and decreased coherence of such biosignals may reflect decreased communication between brain regions and inform the study of dream phenomenology. Sleep’s phasic events show cognitive correlates and human neural bases of such activity are beginning to be identified. Dreams may reflect tonic and phasic forebrain activation with relative limbic activity and association cortex inactivity.
Interaction of Isoflavones and Endophyte-Infected Tall Fescue Seed Extract on Vasoactivity of Bovine Mesenteric Vasculature.

It was hypothesized that isoflavones may attenuate ergot alkaloid-induced vasoconstriction and possibly alleviate diminished contractility of vasculature after exposure to ergot alkaloids. The objective of this study was to determine if prior incubation of bovine mesenteric vasculature with the isoflavones formononetin (F), biochanin A (B), or an ergovaline-containing tall fescue seed extract (EXT) and their combinations affect ergotamine (ERT) induced contractility. Multiple segments of mesenteric artery and vein supporting the ileal flange of the small intestine were collected from Angus heifers at slaughter (n=5, Bodyweight = 639 ±39 kg). Duplicates of each vessel type were incubated in tissue culture flasks at 37℃ with a 50-mL volume of Krebs-Henseleit buffer containing: only buffer (Control); or 1 × 10-6 M EXT; F; or B; and combinations of 1 × 10-6 M EXT+F; 1 × 10-6 M EXT+B; 1 × 10-6 M F+B; or 1 × 10-6 M EXT+F+B. After incubation for 2 h, sections were mounted in a multimyograph chamber. The ERT dose responses were normalized to 0.12 M KCl. Pretreatment with F, B, and F+B without EXT resulted in similar contractile responses to ERT in mesenteric artery and all incubations containing EXT resulted in a complete loss of vasoactivity to ERT. In mesenteric artery pretreated with EXT, treatments that contained B had higher contractile responses (P < 0.05) at ERT concentrations of 1 × 10-7 M and 5 × 10-7 M. Also, treatments containing B tended (P < 0.1) to have greater responses than treatments without B at ERT concentrations of 1 × 10-6 M, 5×10-6 M, and 5 × 10-5 M. In mesenteric vein pretreated with EXT, treatments containing F had greater contractile responses to ERT at 1 × 10-5 M, 5 × 10-5 M, and 1 × 10-4 M (P < 0.05). These data indicated that F and B at 1 × 10-6 M and their combination did not impact the overall contractile response to ERT in mesenteric vasculature. However, F and B may offset some of the vasoconstriction caused by prior exposure to ergot alkaloids.
Energy powerhouses of cells come into focus

In every kingdom of life, rotary adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthases and adenosine triphosphatases (ATPases) play key roles in cellular energy generation and release processes. In mitochondria, chloroplasts, and bacteria, F-type (F1Fo) ATP synthases synthesize ATP using energy from a proton gradient. They are also able to perform the reverse process, generating proton gradients by ATP hydrolysis. The related V-type (V1Vo) ATPases have similar structures and serve as proton pumps. Two articles in this issue report structures of membrane-embedded ATP synthases from yeast mitochondria [Srivastava et al. , page 619, ( 1 )] and spinach chloroplasts [Hahn et al. , page 620, ( 2 )]. Together with other recent structures, these articles define core design principles of rotary ATP synthases and ATPases but also highlight organism-specific differences.
Income Rich and Asset Poor: A Multilevel Analysis of Racial and Ethnic Differences in Housing Values among Baby Boomers

Race and ethnicity, as well as cohort status are strong predictors of asset ownership including home ownership and housing values. Yet, seldom have the two concepts been linked. Additionally, potentially important determinants such as business income have often times been excluded from the analyses despite findings suggesting that business income may be an important indicator for racial and ethnic minorities who would otherwise be relegated to employment in low status jobs in the secondary labor market. Using the most recent data from the Integrated Public Use Microdata Sample, this study examines: (1) How Asian, Black, Hispanic and white baby boomers compare in terms of housing values; and (2) What role business income and interest, dividends and rental income have on housing values for Asian, Black, Hispanic and white baby boomers. Significant racial and ethnic differences in housing values exist, and business income and interest, dividends and rental income are all significant indicators of housing values for all groups.
Online Coordinated Decentralized Localization of the Seaglider with Intermittent Observations

As we discussed in Chap. 9 , packet drops in sensor networks can be modeled by random networks. We then developed a coordinated decentralized estimation procedure in the presence of packet drops.
Use of blood products and factor concentrates for coagulation therapy.

Therapy of coagulation disorders has evolved from early use of fresh whole blood and plasma, to sophisticated recombinant factor concentrates. Although current testing protocols and viral inactivation methods ensure that transfusion of components is safer than ever, the potential for new threats continually exists, e.g., West Nile virus. Effective therapy depends on treating the specific deficiency with the safest and most appropriate replacement product, in the proper dose.
In Vitro Degradation of Pyrimidine Bases: Studies of Rat Liver Dihydropyrimidine Dehydrogenase

There is considerable interest in the study of pyrimidine base degradation because this system’ s activity may be age dependent and is altered in neoplastic tissues (1,2). Pyrimidine base analogues (e.g. 5-fluorouracil, 5-FU) are degraded by the same enzymatic pathway (3) and changes in the function of pyrimidine base degrading enzymes may affect the elimination kinetics of these drugs as well as their adverse effects (4). Finally, four reports have been published indicating that genetic defects are present in this system (5-8) and it is likely additional information will become available on the nature of inborn errors of metabolism in the pyrimidine degradation system.
Modeling of interstitial solute behavior in a body-centered cubic metal

Abstract Theoretical solution models from the literature are applied to the data of a recent thermodynamic study of vanadium-oxygen solid solutions. It is shown that the quasi-chemical and central atoms models can describe the behavior of interstitial oxygen in the high temperature solid solution. The analysis shows that there are oxygen-oxygen repulsive interactions which may extend to the third nearest neighbor shell. The limitations of the models and possible discrepancies between the thermodynamic results, anelasticity studies and elasticity calculations are discussed.
Hippocampal lesions and temporally chained conditioned stimuli in a conditioned suppression paradigm

Rats with lesions restricted primarily to the dorsal hippocampus were compared with shamoperated controls in a barpress conditioned suppression paradigm. Training on the barpress baseline involved temporally chaining different conditioned stimuli (CSs), each 30 sec in duration, and began with CS1, followed by a shock unconditioned stimulus (US). When criteria for suppression were reached on CS1-US, the animal was advanced to CS2-CS1-US. Training progressed in this way to CS4-CS3-CS2-CS1-US. The rats with hippocampal lesions learned CS1-US as rapidly as controls did, but they progressively failed relative to the controls as training progressed to the other CSs. This problem is interpreted as a temporal analogue of the spatial sequence in complex maze learning, and the lesion-induced deficit is interpreted as an inability to develop conditioned expectancies. We argue for an analysis of hippocampal deficits in terms of the established phenomena of conditioning.
Chapter 11 – How Electric Currents Make Magnetic Fields: The Biot– Savart Law and Ampère's Law

This chapter focuses on the Biot-Savart Law, Ampere's Law, and the application of these laws to superconductors and electromagnets. Biot-Savart Law finds its applications in the circuit in plane, observer in plane, and fields at center of circular current loop. Ampere's law, which employs Amperian circuits, has three primary uses: noninvasive measurement of the current Ienc through a closed circuit, relationship between surface current density and the transverse component, and determination of the magnetic field B when the current distribution is so symmetrical that it produces a uniform magnetic circulation per unit length. The chapter provides the derivation of Ampere's law for magnetic circulation.
Surfactant-enhanced heterogeneity of the aqueous interface drives water extraction into organic solvents.

Liquid/liquid extraction (LLE) is one of the most industrially relevant separation methods, successfully leveraging the variable solubility of solutes (or their complexes) between two immiscible solvents. Independent of the relative solubilities of those solutes and complexes (which determine their distribution between phases), the dynamics of phase transfer processes are impacted by the molecular interactions and structure of those species at the interface. A simple example includes the formation and extraction of water–extractant adducts observed in the ternary water/organic/tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) system. Despite its implications for LLE, a detailed description of the structural and dynamic mechanisms by which such adducts are formed at the interface is not established. Describing that process requires connecting the evolving interfacial molecular organization in the presence of surfactants to dynamic surface fluctuations and interfacial heterogeneity. Herein, molecular dynamics simulation is combined with state-of-the-art network theory analysis to reveal features of interfacial structures and their relationship to the extraction of water in the water/n-hexane/TBP system. Surfactant adsorption enhances interfacial roughness which in turn causes directly interfacial water to become less connected through hydrogen bonding to subjacent layers, particularly upon formation of the water-bridged TBP dimer adduct. Furthermore, heterogeneity within the interface itself is enhanced by surfactant adsorption and serves as the basis for the formation of protrusions of water into the organic phase at the extremes of surface fluctuations. These features disproportionately incorporate the water-bridged TBP dimer and are the primary means by which water is transferred to the organic phase. This work presents for the first time a holistic understanding of how interfacial heterogeneity and spatial fluctuations become amplified in the presence of surfactants, enabling water extraction into the organic phase. It further affords the opportunity to study how solution conditions can control interfacial behavior to create more efficient solvent extraction systems.
Trauma, place, and transformation:

This commentary comprises three different responses to Counted and Zock’s article: “Place Spirituality: An Attachment Perspective.” The first response is from Esther Sternberg, MD, who gives a psyc...
Expression of multiple isozymes of granulocyte, monocyte, and macrophage esterases in polycythemic Friend erythroleukemia cells

We examined the expression of cytochemical markers of myeloid and monocyte-macrophage differentiation in conjunction with ultrastructural studies of different malignant erythroleukemic cells isolated from mice infected with the Friend polycythemic virus complex (FLV-P). The amounts of fluoride-sensitive and resistant nonspecific esterase activity increased with the progression of malignancy. Isoelectric focusing resolved this enzyme activity into 13 isozymes in the most malignant Friend cell type tested. These same isozymes were found in the adherent cell population of normal spleens. Two of these isozymes were shown to have chloroacetate esterase activity characteristic of granulocytes. Despite these myeloid and monocyte characteristics, light and electron microscopy showed no morphological evidence of differentiation in either of these lineages. This study demonstrates that the Friend erythroleukemic cell contains markers of three different hemopoietic cell types. The expression of myeloid, monocytic, and erythroid traits in these erythroleukemic cells can be used to monitor their malignant progression.
The Spurious Side of Diagonal Multipoint Padé Approximants

We survey at an introductory level, the topic of multipoint Pade approximants, especially the issues of spurious poles and convergence for diagonal rational approximants.
Active Defense: From Manchuria to Korea

The Chinese defense strategy was rooted in three elements underlying Mao’s intent: political legitimacy for the new regime, a geopolitical context in Cold War East Asia, and military and economic sources available for national defense. Mao’s thought process can be divided into three phases with a gradual increase in his commitment. The first phase indicated China’s “assistance role” during July–August 1950. The second phase, in September, evolved into a “proactive defense” as Mao believed it necessary to send Chinese troops to defend Manchuria in North Korea. The third phase consisted of an “immediate intervention” made in early October, when Mao decided to fight a full-scale war against the U.S. forces. Thereafter, the Korean War essentially became a conflict between China and the United States.
Assessing the predictability of nonlinear dynamics under smooth parameter changes

Short-term forecasts of nonlinear dynamics are important for risk-assessment studies and to inform sustainable decision-making for physical, biological and financial problems, among others. Generally, the accuracy of short-term forecasts depends upon two main factors: the capacity of learning algorithms to generalize well on unseen data and the intrinsic predictability of the dynamics. While generalization skills of learning algorithms can be assessed with well-established methods, estimating the predictability of the underlying nonlinear generating process from empirical time series remains a big challenge. Here, we show that, in changing environments, the predictability of nonlinear dynamics can be associated with the time-varying stability of the system with respect to smooth changes in model parameters, i.e. its local structural stability. Using synthetic data, we demonstrate that forecasts from locally structurally unstable states in smoothly changing environments can produce significantly large prediction errors, and we provide a systematic methodology to identify these states from data. Finally, we illustrate the practical applicability of our results using an empirical dataset. Overall, this study provides a framework to associate an uncertainty level with short-term forecasts made in smoothly changing environments.
Resting State Functional Connectivity is Associated with Cognitive Dysfunction in Non-Demented People with Parkinson's Disease

Background Parkinson's disease (PD) can result in cognitive impairment. Executive dysfunction often appears early, followed by more widespread deficits later in the course of the disease. Disruption of parallel basal ganglia thalamo-cortical loops that subserve motor and cognitive function has been described in PD. However, there is emerging evidence that the default mode network, a cortical network that is active at rest with reduced activation during task performance, may also play a role in disease related cognitive decline. Objective To determine the relative contribution of the executive control and default mode networks to parkinsonian executive dysfunction in medicated non-demented patients. Methods We used BOLD fMRI to measure resting state functional connectivity in the executive control and default mode (DM) networks, and examined switching, processing speed, working memory/attention and motor performance in 14 medicated non-demented PD participants and 20 controls. Results Performance on neuropsychological measures was similar across groups. Functional connectivity was not different across disease conditions in the executive control network. DMN functional connectivity was decreased in the PD group, specifically between posterior cingulate, medial prefrontal, and inferior parietal nodes. Greater DMN functional connectivity was associated with faster processing speed in the PD group. Conclusions The continuous relationship between DMN disconnection and executive task performance indicates a possible biological contributor to parkinsonian cognitive deficits. The dynamics of executive control network change may be different than that of the DMN, suggesting less sensitivity to early cognitive deficits.
Illuminating the dark side: A typology for preservice ELA teachers engaging in ideologies of digital texts:

Set in English Language Arts, this article takes up recent trends in literacy toward investigating ontological notions of digital texts. Two teacher educators recently implemented a series of readi...
Complexation of ferrous ions by ferrozine, 2,2'-bipyridine and 1,10-phenanthroline: Implication for the quantification of iron in biological systems.

Abstract Iron is an essential nutrient for virtually all forms of life. Because of its redox properties and involvement in a wide range of biological processes, a number of qualitative and quantitative chemical tools have been developed to detect reduced (Fe2+) and oxidized (Fe3+) forms of iron in biomolecules. These types of measurements are not only important in detecting iron species in solution, but also in understanding iron distribution, accumulation, and role in physiological and pathological processes. Here, we use UV–vis spectrophotometry and three common chromogenic reagents, ferrozine, 2,2′-bipyridine, and 1,10-phenanthroline to detect and quantify the concentration of ferrous ions in aqueous solutions, owing to the unique absorption spectra, specific molar absorptivity, and characteristic colors of these Fe2+-chelator complexes. Our results show that the kinetics of the formation of the {Fe2+-(ferrozine)3} complex, but not the{Fe2+-(bipyridine)3} or the {Fe(II)-(phenanthroline)3} complexes depend on the concentration of the iron chelator, requiring up to 20 min to complete when close to stoichiometric ratios are employed. The molar absorptivity values of these complexes under excess chelator concentrations were ~ 10% to 15% higher than reported literature values (i.e. 31,500 ± 1500 M−1 cm−1 for ferrozine at 562 nm, 9950 ± 100 M−1 cm−1 for 2,2′-bipyridine at 522 nm, and 12,450 ± 370 M−1 cm−1 for 1,10-phenanthroline at 510 nm). Our results have important implications when quantifying iron in biological systems and reveal optimal experimental conditions that must be employed for the accurate measurements of ferrous ions, whether free in solution, or after reduction of protein-bound ferric ions.
Tax Time: How Families Manage Tax Refunds and Payments

Every spring, more than a half trillion dollars flow into and out of the financial accounts of American families as they reconcile taxes paid against taxes owed for the prior year. The JPMorgan Chase Institute analyzed daily financial flows and balances for families who receive tax refunds or make tax payments in order to understand the impact of tax reconciliations on families’ financial lives. We examined inflows, expenditures, net savings, account balances, and credit card balances to provide a comprehensive view of how families manage positive cash flow from tax refunds and negative cash flow from tax payments. The report leverages high-frequency, de-identified financial data from a base sample of 8.3 million families who used a Chase checking account to receive a tax refund direct deposit or make an electronic tax payment in 2015, 2016, or 2017. Our analysis uncovers six key findings illustrating how families manage tax refunds and payments. First, we observe that four-fifths of our sample received one or more refunds and made no payments. Refund recipients tended to have lower average incomes and smaller cash buffers than those making tax payments. Second, among participants in our sample, tax refunds amount to almost six weeks’ take-home income for the average family receiving them. For families making a tax payment, the average payment is equivalent to 2.5 weeks’ income. Third, for families receiving average expenditures increase sharply as soon as the refund is received. Six months after the refund, families still have an average of 28 percent of their tax refund remaining. Fourth, we find that expenditures on durable goods, credit card payments, and cash withdrawals increase most sharply upon receipt of a tax refund. We also observe families that make tax payments and find that families for whom the refund has a larger cash flow impact increase their spending and saving most sharply when it arrives. Additionally, on average, families who make a tax payment cover that payment with cash already available when it is due. Once the payment is made, spending and saving patterns quickly return to their previous steady state. Taken together, our findings indicate that the tax system is a primary tool by which many families generate lump sums of cash and that tax refunds are a major financial event that resets the spending and saving patterns of families who receive them.
Differential effects of chronic stress on anxiety-like behavior and contextual fear conditioning in the TgF344-AD rat model of Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative brain disorder that leads to severe cognitive and functional impairments. Many AD patients also exhibit neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as anxiety and depression, prior to the clinical diagnosis of dementia. Chronic stress is associated with numerous adverse health consequences and disease states, and AD patients exhibit altered stress systems. Thus, stress may represent a causal link between neuropsychiatric symptoms and AD. To address this possibility, we examined the effects of chronic stress in the TgF344-AD rat model that co-expresses the mutant human amyloid precursor protein (APPsw) and presenilin 1 (PS1ΔE9) genes. Adult male transgenic (Tg+) and wild-type (WT) rats (6-7.5 months of age), with and without a history of chronic restraint stress, were tested for footshock-induced conditioned fear and for anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus-maze. We found that non-stressed Tg+ rats showed increased anxiety-like behavior compared to non-stressed WT rats. In contrast, Tg+ and WT rats did not differ in levels of freezing immediately following footshock or during contextual re-exposure. Additionally, stressed Tg+ rats were not significantly different from stressed WT rats on any measures of anxiety or fear. Thus, while stress has been linked as a risk factor for AD-related pathology, it appears from the present findings that two weeks of daily restraint stress did not further enhance anxiety- or fear-like behaviors in TgF344-AD rats.
Critical role of protein kinase D in VEGF-induced vascular permeability and angiogenesis

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is not only a powerful angiogenic factor but also a potent vascular permeability factor, which disrupts vascular barrier function in diseased tissues. In i...
The Energy Problem: Consumers’ and Utilities’ Views with Marketing Implications

This study extends energy conservation research by analyzing the perceptions and actions of both energy consumers and energy producers. Survey findings indicate key differences in consumers’ and producers’ cross perceptions as well as discrepancies between consumers’ attitudes and behavior. Implications for energy marketers are discussed.
Seminars: local and regional anesthesia for thyroid surgery.

Background Thyroid surgery is performed by a large number of surgeons with varying experience in thyroidectomy. The standard technique involves the use of general anesthesia, which provides patient comfort and virtually unlimited time to conduct the operation. Historically, thyroid surgery was conducted under local anesthesia by surgeons with significant expertise in the treatment of thyroid diseases. Over the past decade, there has been a renewed interest in the art of performing thyroidectomy under local/regional anesthesia in some specialized high volume endocrine surgery centers. Methods Here we review the indications and contraindications and technical considerations for performing thyroidectomy under local or regional anesthesia. Results and conclusion Local and regional anesthesia is safe and well tolerated for the majority of thyroid surgery.
Erythritol Metabolism in Wild-Type and Mutant Strains of Schizophyllum commune

Erythritol uptake and metabolism were compared in wild-type mycelium and a dome morphological mutant of the wood-rotting mushroom Schizophyllum commune. Wild-type mycelium utilized glucose, certain hexitols, and pentitols including ribitol, as well as d-erythrose, erythritol, and glycerol as sole carbon sources for growth. The dome mutant utilized all of these compounds except d-erythrose and erythritol. Erythritol- or glycerol-grown wild-type mycelium incorporated erythritol into various cellular constituents, whereas glucose-grown cells lagged considerably before initiation of erythritol uptake. This acquisition was inhibited by cycloheximide. Dome mycelium showed behavior similar to wild-type in uptake of erythritol after growth on glucose or glycerol, except that erythritol was not further catabolized. Enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism were compared in cell extracts of glucose-cultured wild-type mycelium and dome. Enzymes of hexose monophosphate catabolism, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)-dependent sugar alcohol dehydrogenases, and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-coupled erythrose reductase were demonstrated in both. The occurrence of erythrose reductase was unaffected by the nature of the growth carbon source, showed optimal activity at pH 7, and generated NAD phosphate and erythritol as products of the reaction. Glycerol-, d-erythrose-, or erythritol-grown wild-type mycelium contained an NAD-dependent erythritol dehydrogenase absent in glucose cells. Erythritol dehydrogenase activity was optimal at pH 8.8 and produced erythrulose during NAD reduction. Glycerol-growth of dome mycelium induced the erythritol uptake system, but a functional erythritol dehydrogenase could not be demonstrated. Neither wild-type nor dome mycelium produced erythritol dehydrogenase during growth on ribitol. Erythritol metabolism in wild-type cells of S. commune, therefore, involves an NADPH-dependent reduction of d-erythrose to produce erythritol, followed by induction of an NAD-coupled erythritol dehydrogenase to form erythrulose. A deficiency in erythritol dehydrogenase rather than permeability barriers explains why dome cannot employ erythritol as sole carbon source for mycelial growth.
Parallelized patient-specific quality assurance for high-dose-rate image-guided brachytherapy in an integrated computed tomography–on-rails brachytherapy suite

Abstract Purpose To describe a parallelized patient-specific quality assurance (QA) program designed to ensure safety and quality in image-guided high-dose-rate brachytherapy in an integrated computed tomography (CT)–on-rails brachytherapy suite. Materials and Methods A patient-specific QA program has been modified for the image-guided brachytherapy (IGBT) program in an integrated CT-on-rails brachytherapy suite. In the modification of the QA procedures of Task Group-59, the additional patient-specific QA procedures are included to improve rapid IGBT workflow with applicator placement, imaging, planning, treatment, and applicator removal taking place in one room. Results The IGBT workflow is partitioned into two groups of tasks that can be performed in parallel by two or more staff members. One of the unique components of our implemented workflow is that groups work together to perform QA steps in parallel and in series during treatment planning and contouring. Coordinating efforts in this systematic way enable rapid and safe brachytherapy treatment while incorporating 3-dimensional anatomic variations between treatment days. Conclusions Implementation of these patient-specific QA procedures in an integrated CT-on-rails brachytherapy suite ensures confidence that a rapid workflow IGBT program can be implemented without sacrificing patient safety or quality and deliver highly-conformal dose to target volumes. These patient-specific QA components may be adapted to other IGBT environments that seek to provide rapid workflow while ensuring quality.
One Trademark Per Source

Trademark law is unjustifiably permissive because it protects more than one mark for each supplier of goods and services. Suppliers need some exclusive symbol to indicate that they are the only source of goods and services carrying that mark. Trademarks are, however, more than source-indicators. They are marketing devices. Suppliers use trademarks to attract consumers’ attention to their products by suggesting unique characteristics and qualities, by surrounding the products with an aura of superiority or desirability, or simply by being clever or appealing. No one supposes that marketing devices, as distinguished from source indicators, should receive any intellectual property law protection whatsoever. Multiple marks are not necessary to indicate source. They may help suppliers create market niches for their products by giving their products names that make them appear to be (accurately or not) unique types of products. Everyone familiar with trademark law understands that intellectual property protection does not extend to generic or merely descriptive terms - those labeling types of goods or describing goods. It is not as obvious that even fanciful and arbitrary trademarks are simultaneously both source indicators and indicators of types and characteristics of products that have acquired descriptiveness. This article proposes and justifies a radical restructuring of trademark law limiting trademark protection to one mark per source, a "single signal" rule. It argues that the proper scope of trademark law requires emphasizing source-indicating function of trademarks and liberating the product-describing function. It suggests a program for minimizing the dislocation costs to consumers and suppliers that result from removing trademark protection from many famous marks. Protection of marketing devices makes it more difficult for competitors to attract consumers and for consumers to learn about alternative suppliers. Limiting suppliers to a single mark is sufficient for source-indicating purposes, enables consumers to know what products compete to satisfy their needs, and makes it easier for smaller competitors to supply them, facilitating competition. The "single signal" rule creates a superior balance between exclusive trademark rights and public access to means of expression.
Space-time properties of supergravity

The structure, goals and current status of supergravity are reviewed from a space-time, rather than superspace, point of view. Its relations to general relativity are emphasized.
Acquired-cisplatin resistance by BRCA1-IRIS over-expression in human ovarian epithelial cells

B6 Evasion of apoptotic cell death plays a key role in cancer development, drug resistance and recurrence. BRCA1-IRIS, a product of BRCA1-locus alternative splicing, is over-expressed in multiple ovarian cancer cell lines. Its endogenous over-expression in ovarian cancer cell lines or ectopic overproduction in human ovarian surface epithelial cell lines induces the expression of two, known anti-apoptotic genes, AKT and survivin. Survivin too is over-expressed in ovarian cancer cell lines, in part through an AKT-driven mechanism. Survivin blocks apoptosis through inhibition of caspases. In this report, the role of BRCA1-IRIS in survivin/survival induction in ovarian cells is evaluated. Over-expression of BRCA1-IRIS induces AKT1/2 (not 3) over-expression/activation and thus survivin over-expression/activation. However, in the presence of high levels of BRCA1-IRIS, negative modulation of PI3`K (using pharmacological inhibitor, LY294002), or AKT (using siRNA or DN-AKT) only partially decreased survivin expression, suggesting that BRCA1-IRIS over-expression activates survivin up-regulation also by a PI3`K/AKT-independent mechanism. Interestingly, the cascade BRCA1-IRIS-> and/or AKT->survivin could be activated in ovarian cells by cisplatin treatment in a cell cycle-independent manner. This cascade inhibited cisplatin-induced apoptosis, whereas pre-treatment with siIRIS sensitized cells to it. We identified BRCA1-IRIS as an anti-apoptotic protein in ovarian cells and demonstrate that treatment with DNA damaging agent cisplatin activates the BRCA1-IRIS/AKT/survivin pathway that in part protects cells from drug-induced apoptosis.
Potential diversity in vegetative compatibility groupings in the California population of Gibberella circinata.

Abstract Pitch canker, caused by Gibberella circinata , is a disease affecting pines throughout the world. Although the pathogen is capable of sexual reproduction, natural populations are often comprised of very few vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs), which implies a predominance of asexual reproduction. However, even where outcrossing occurs, a population could have limited VCG diversity due to a low level of polymorphism at the loci governing vegetative compatibility (= vic loci). To determine whether this was the case for the California population of G. circinata , inter-fertile strains were crossed under laboratory conditions. Progeny of this cross included a minimum of 29 VCGs, which was consistent with segregation of vic alleles at five loci. Only two of these VCGs were known to occur naturally in California. Three VCGs accounted for 32.4 % of the progeny but 0 % of the California population. Overall, the results support the conclusion that outcrossing has been rare or absent in the California population of G. circinata .
Cover Picture: Large‐Area 3D Nanostructures with Octagonal Quasicrystalline Symmetry via Phase‐Mask Lithography (Adv. Mater. 10/2007)

A novel method for producing large-area 3D nanostructured quasicrystalline materials uses 2D multiple exposure lithography to produce an octagonal quasiperiodic surface-relief template (background image). A replica in polydimethylsiloxane is then used as a phase mask to create 3D bicontinuous axial quasicrystalline SU-8 epoxy nanostructures (see insets), as reported on p. 1403 by Ion Bita, Edwin Thomas, and co-workers.
The Role of Covalent Binding to Microsomal Proteins in the Hepatotoxicity of Acetaminophen

(1995). The Role of Covalent Binding to Microsomal Proteins in the Hepatotoxicity of Acetaminophen. Drug Metabolism Reviews: Vol. 27, No. 1-2, pp. 277-297.
Mobile children: an American tragedy?

Relationships between mobility patterns and sex, socioeconomic status, and intelligence were investigated using a sample of 586 high school students (278 males, 308 females). Analysis shows higher ...
Comparative RFLP-based genetic maps of barley chromosome 5 (1H) and rye chromosome 1R

A genetic map of barley chromosome 5 (1H) was constructed using DNA markers. Seventeen loci were mapped to 15 locations, and these included the known-function loci (in order from the most distal on the long arm) XAdh (alcohol dehydrogenase), XLec (homologous to wheat germ agglutinin), XHor3 (D-hordein), XPpdk (pyruvate orthophosphate dikinase), centromere, XIcal (chymotrypsin inhibitor), and 6 loci in the B- and C-hordein cluster towards the end of the short arm. The gene order on the barley map agreed closely with that of chromosome 1 of rye. Intervarietal comparisons showed that single-copy cDNA and genomic DNA probes revealed about twice the level of RFLPs found in wheat.
Amyloid tumor of the orbit

A patient with an amyloid tumor of the orbit was studied by computed tomographic scanning. The tumor density was 10 delta units unenhanced and 72 units enhanced.
NUCLEAR ZEEMAN EFFECT IN GOLD ATOMS DISSOLVED IN IRON, COBALT, AND NICKEL

The nuclear Zeeman effect has been observed in ${\mathrm{Au}}^{197}$ nuclei dissolved in ferromagnetic hosts, using the M\"ossbauer effect. The magnetic moment of the 77-keV isomeric state of ${\mathrm{Au}}^{197}$ was measured as $\ensuremath{\mu}=+0.37 (4)$ nm. The hyperfine magnetic fields at Au nuclei dissolved in iron, hexagonal cobalt, cubic cobalt, and nickel were found to be -1420 (180), -980 (120), -990 (120), and -340 (60) kG, respectively, by comparison with external magnetic fields up to 86 kG. Experiments in low external fields gave an unexpected result which is interpreted in terms of magnetostriction in the ferromagnetic sources.
Electron localization in polyaniline and its derivatives

Abstract Electron localization in HCl salt form of polyaniline (PAN-ES) and its methyl ring-substituted derivative, poly(o-toluidine)(POT-ES), has been investigated by optical, transport and magnetic studies. Compared with PAN-ES, POT-ES has increased electron localization though the band structure, crystallinity and intrachain coherence length are similar for the two polymers. The localization is proposed to be induced by a CH 3 group on each C 6 ring which decreases the interchain diffusion rate through reduction of interchain coherence and increased interchain separation.
Transport of transferrin across the blood-thymus barrier in young rats.

Abstract The interaction of transferrin-peroxidase (Tf-HRP) with the capillary endothelium of the rat thymus was analyzed by diaminobenzidine (DAB) cytochemistry and electron microscopy. The thoracic aortas of young rats were cannulated and the upper bodies perfused with the Tf-HRP conjugate. In the thymus, plasmalemmal vesicles of the endothelium mediated the endocytosis and transport of Tf-HRP. Transcytosis of Tf-HRP appeared to occur by micropinocytosis, without morphological evidence of involvement by endothelial endosomes. DAB reaction product was commonly present in the subendothelial interstitial space and, in addition, was often localized in clathrin coated pits and vesicles in epithelial reticular cells that surround the thymic capillaries. In perfusions done at 4 °C, no binding of Tf-HRP to the lumenal membranes of capillaries was detected. The transport of Tf-HRP across the capillary endothelium in the thymus was not inhibited by competition with excess native transferrin; however, the uptake of Tf-HRP by epithelial reticular cells was completely inhibited by excess transferrin. Transferrin receptors were localized in the thymus by indirect immunocytochemistry using OX-26, a mouse anti-rat transferrin receptor monoclonal antibody. No transferrin receptors were detected on the capillary endothelium but diffuse reaction product was localized on the subjacent epithelial reticular cells. These results indicate that transport of Tf-HRP across the thymus capillary wall is independent of transferrin receptors at the level of the endothelial cells but that subsequent uptake of Tf-HRP by epithelial reticular cells is a transferrin receptor dependent process.
The denial of absolute space and the hypothesis of a universal noctural expansion: A rejoinder to George Schlesinger

(1967). The denial of absolute space and the hypothesis of a universal noctural expansion: A rejoinder to George Schlesinger. Australasian Journal of Philosophy: Vol. 45, No. 1, pp. 61-91.
Removal of copper from hydrogenated soybean oil

Hydrogenation with a copper-chromite catalyst at 170 C, 30 psi, increased the copper content of a refined, bleached soybean oil from 0.02 to as much as 3.8 ppm. Removing residual copper from soybean oil is essential to the successful use of copper catalysts for selective hydrogenation. Various methods were examined to remove this copper, including alkali refining, bleaching, acid washing, citric acid treatment and cation-exchange resin treatment. Properly conducted, each of the methods except alkali refining gives 95% or higher removal of copper introduced during hydrogenation. Ion exchange appears to be the most economical, but addition of about 0.01% citric acid during deodorization may be needed to inactivate traces of unremoved copper. Soybean oil hydrogenated with a copper-chromite catalyst, bleached or treated with an ion-exchange resin and deodorized with 0.01% citric acid added had low AOM peroxide values and acceptable flavor scores after eight days at 60 C which indicate that removal of residual copper from the oil should be adequate for the production of stable oils low in linolenic acid content.
How Well Do the Angoff Design V Linear Equating Methods Compare With the Tucker and Levine Methods

Comparisons were made of three Angoff Design V equating methods and the Tucker and Levine Equally Reliable methods with respect to common item linear equating with non-equivalent populations. Forms of a professional certification test were equated with these five methods using (1) single-link equating of selected pairs of forms and (2) cyclical equating of selected forms to themselves, by means of equating chains. In the single-link equatings, raw score equivalents given by the Design V methods tended to fall between those obtained by use of the Tucker and Levine methods. The chain equatings produced similar estimated bias and estimated root mean squared error of score equiv alents for the five different methods.