cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High-Resolution Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope Imaging of Internal Cell Structures after Epon Extraction from Sections: A New Approach to Correlative Ultrastructural and Immunocytochemical Studies

The availability of high-resolution field emission scanning electron microscopes (FESEM) and the recent development of a less destructive method for extracting Epon from sections motivated us to investigate these techniques for the study of internal cell structures. We chose the nuclear pore complex (NPC) and insect striated muscle as test objects. Chemically fixed or rapidly cryoimmobilized samples were embedded in Epon 812. The Epon was extracted from 200- to 300-nm-thick sections with a modified potassium methoxide-crown ether complex. The samples were viewed with high-resolution FESEM at low voltages. In tangential sections of isolated nuclear envelopes from Xenopus oocytes the cytoplasmic and intranuclear components ("fishtraps") of NPCs appeared identical to what has been described from whole mounts. In cross sections, fishtraps are seen in side view, which is possible only with this technique. In longitudinal and cross sections of insect flight muscle the classical arrangement of myofilaments and cross-bridges is well preserved. This method now makes it possible to image internal cell structures from any desired angle by high-resolution FESEM. Immunolabeling studies on the rabbit psoas muscle demonstrated that antigenicity of alpha-actinin was retained in Epon-extracted sections. Immunogold labeling with antibodies against alpha-actinin conjugated to 3-nm gold beads was intense, highly specific, and restricted to the Z lines. This method can overcome the penetration problem of immunogold labeling, since any cell component can be positioned at the surface of the section. Obviously this approach can become a powerful new tool for many areas of structural cell biology.
LOCAL FIELD EFFECT ON LINEAR AND NONLINEAR OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF ADSORBED MOLECULES

A classical point-dipole model is used to calculate the local-field effect on the optical properties of adsorbed molecules on a substrate. The spatially nonvarying component of the local field at the molecules can be described by using a local-field correction factor. Equally important is the spatially varying component of the local field which arises mainly from the molecule-substrate interaction. The rapid variation over the molecular dimension can appreciably modify the transition-matrix elements and break down the electric dipole selection rules. The effect becomes insignificant if the molecules are more than 2.5 \AA{} away from the substrate even in the metal case. Both components of the local field contribute to the effective linear and nonlinear polarizabilities of the adsorbed molecules. Nonlinearity due to molecular response to the harmonic frequency components of the local field discussed by Antoniewicz appears to be less important.
miR-200 Regulates PDGF-D-Mediated Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition, Adhesion, and Invasion of Prostate Cancer Cells

MicroRNAs have been implicated in tumor progression. Recent studies have shown that the miR-200 family regulates epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by targeting zinc-finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) and ZEB2. Emerging evidence from our laboratory and others suggests that the processes of EMT can be triggered by various growth factors, such as transforming growth factor beta and platelet-derived growth factor-D (PDGF-D). Moreover, we recently reported that overexpression of PDGF-D in prostate cancer cells (PC3 PDGF-D cells) leads to the acquisition of the EMT phenotype, and this model offers an opportunity for investigating the molecular interplay between PDGF-D signaling and EMT. Here, we report, for the first time, significant downregulation of the miR-200 family in PC3 PDGF-D cells as well as in PC3 cells exposed to purified active PDGF-D protein, resulting in the upregulation of ZEB1, ZEB2, and Snail2 expression. Interestingly, re-expression of miR-200b in PC3 PDGF-D cells led to reversal of the EMT phenotype, which was associated with the downregulation of ZEB1, ZEB2, and Snail2 expression, and these results were consistent with greater expression levels of epithelial markers. Moreover, transfection of PC3 PDGF-D cells with miR-200b inhibited cell migration and invasion, with concomitant repression of cell adhesion to the culture surface and cell detachment. From these results, we conclude that PDGF-D-induced acquisition of the EMT phenotype in PC3 cells is, in part, a result of repression of miR-200 and that any novel strategy by which miR-200 could be upregulated would become a promising approach for the treatment of invasive prostate cancer.
Hypoxia and low glucose differentially augments TRAIL-induced apoptotic death

Tumor microenvironment, which is characterized by hypoxia, low-glucose concentrations, high-lactate concentrations, low-extracellular pH, can alter the therapeutic response in tumors. In this study, we investigated whether hypoxia affects TRAIL-induced apoptotic death. When human prostate adenocarcinoma DU-145 cells were treated with 50 ng/mL TRAIL or hypoxia for 4 h, the survival was 45.7 and 32.5%, respectively. The combination of TRAIL and hypoxia synergistically increased cell death. Similar results were observed in human prostate adenocarcinoma LNCaP cells. Western blot analysis showed that the hypoxia augmented TRAIL-induced PARP cleavage as well as the activation of caspase-8 and caspase-3, but not caspase-9. Unlike hypoxia, low glucose promoted caspase-9 activation during TRAIL treatment. These results suggest that hypoxia or low glucose-augmented TRAIL cytotoxicity is mediated through the mitochondria-independent pathway or -dependent pathway, respectively. (Mol Cell Biochem 270: 89–97, 2005)
Limits on the top quark and on the charged Higgs boson of a two-doublet model from K0−K0 mixing, Bd−Bd, and b→u decays

Abstract We consider constraints imposed on the top quark and on the charged Higgs boson of a two-doublet model by experimental results for K 0 − K 0 mixing, B d − B d mixing and the ratio of b → u to b → c decays.
Social organization and the maintenance of aggressive behavior in community-housed male Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens)

The waning of aggressive behavior in two groups of community-housed maleBetta was studied by observing incidences of display and fighting behaviors. In Experiment 1, observations were made during the establishment of a community, while it was maintained at a stable size, and during systematic removal of the dominant (alpha) males. Experiment 2 investigated the aggressive interactions of males in a stable-sized population, maintained for a period of 10 weeks. The results indicate that prolonged periods of constant conspecific exposure do not necessarily result in a significant attenuation of display behaviors. The data further indicate that the social organization (as determined from aggressive interactions) appears to be one in which the top- and bottom-ranking males are clearly defined. It is suggested that the maintenance of aggressive behavior among community-housed maleBetta may well be related to their social position.
Die wichtigsten Prinzipien der Unfallverhütung

Auf Grund der tatsachlichen Unfallbelastungen wird gezeigt, das dort, wo ein hohes Katastrophenrisiko besteht, oft erstaunlich gunstige Unfallziffern beobachtet werden. Die Erklarung liegt darin, das gerade wegen dem bestehenden Katastrophenrisiko das Sicherheitsbewustsein in diesen Industriearten auf allen Stufen uberdurchschnittlich entwickelt ist. Das Hauptziel der Unfallverhutung mus somit in der Forderung des Sicherheitsbewustseins bestehen. Es werden 5 Punkte aufgestellt, die als Grundprinzip zu betrachten sind.
Target organ toxicity and leukopenia in Fischer 344 rats given intravenous doses of vinblastine and desacetyl vinblastine

The toxicity and leukopenia produced by vinblastine or desacetyl vinblastine were established in 1-month studies in rats. Groups of male Fischer 344 rats were given weekly intravenous doses of vinblastine or desacetyl vinblastine at doses of 0.08, 0.16, 0.32, 0.64, or 1.28 mg/kg. The target organ toxicity was similar for both compounds. Decreased cell production in the thymus, testes, and bone marrow was produced in the animals of the two highest dose groups for both compounds with the degree of severity greater in the highest dose group. All high dose rats (1.28 mg/kg) given desacetyl vinblastine and three rats given vinblastine died prior to study termination. Body weight loss was more pronounced in high dose rats given desacetyl vinblastine, but at lower doses there were no significant differences in body weight reduction for rats receiving either compound. Leukopenia occurred at all dose levels of 0.32 mg/kg and higher. During the first 2 weeks of the study, rats given 1.28 mg/kg of desacetyl vinblastine had a greater leukopenic response than rats given 1.28 mg/kg of vinblastine. It is concluded that both compounds produced similar target organ toxicity and leukopenia without deaths at doses of 0.32 and 0.64 mg/kg given once a week for 4 weeks. At the high dose (1.28 mg/kg) desacetyl vinblastine was more toxic than vinblastine resulting in greater mortality and body weight reduction.
Analysis of yeast trimethylguanosine-capped RNAs by Midwestern blotting

Abstract Immuno-detection by ‘Midwestern’ blotting provides a simple way to identify trimethylguanosine (TMG) capped RNAs. With this technique, over 20 bands are observed when total cellular RNA from Saccharomyces cerevisiae is transferred to a nylon membrane and probed with anti-TMG antibodies. Most, if not all, species known to contain a TMG cap are detected by this method. Only TMG-capped RNAs are detected on Midwestern blots unlike anti-TMG immunoprecipitates. Midwestern blotting is a useful alternative to immunoprecipitation and Northern analysis and may prove to be a better method for determining the relative abundance of capped RNAs. The blots can be reprobed multiple times with labeled antisense oligonucleotides to determine the identity of any TMG-capped species for which the primary sequence or a clone is available. This dual detection capability provides a powerful tool for the analysis of TMG-capped snRNAs and snoRNAs.
Inter-helical interactions in the leucine zipper coiled coil dimer: pH and salt dependence of coupling energy between charged amino acids.

We have investigated the physical nature of the observed coupling energy (ΔΔΔGint) between the charged side-chains of the three inter-helicalg↔e′ (i, i′+5) pairs (E↔R, E↔K, and E↔E) in the leucine zipper coiled coil dimer. Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy measured the thermal stability of eight proteins derived from the basic region leucine zipper domain of chicken VBP, the mammalian TEF at seven pHs and three KCl concentrations. Data from these proteins were used to construct double mutant alanine thermodynamic cycles and determine coupling energies (ΔΔΔGint) for the three g↔e′ pairs. The attractive E↔R coupling energy of −0.6 kcal mol−1at low salt decreases to −0.2 kcal mol−1at high salt. The E↔K coupling energy of −0.5 kcal mol−1at low salt decreases to −0.1 kcal mol−1at high salt. The repulsive E↔E coupling energy of +0.8 kcal mol−1at low salt drops to +0.4 at high salt. Reducing the pH to 2.2 halved the attractive coupling energy for the E↔R and E↔K pairs while abolishing the repulsion of the E↔E pair.13C NMR of a protein selectively labeled with [13Cδ]glutamate that contained three E↔R and one R↔E pair identified four glutamates shifted upfield. We suggest that this is due to electronic perturbation of glutamates in inter-helical E↔R interactions. Taken together, these data indicate that the E↔R coupling energy of −0.5 kcal mol−1at pH 7.4 and 150 mM KCl has an electrostatic component.
Receptor-mediated generation of an EDRF-like intermediate in a neuronal cell line detected by spin trapping techniques.

Abstract We have studied receptor-mediated generation of an activator of soluble guanylate cyclase in cultured mouse neuroblastoma cells (clone N1E-115) by ESR/spin trapping spectroscopy. A spin adduct was detected during the activation of muscarinic receptors by carbamylcholine in the presence of the spin trap 3,5-dibromo 4-nitrosobenzene sulphonate (DBNBS). The spin adduct does not correspond to that originating from the free radical nitric oxide or hydroxylamine. The same adduct was generated in cytosol preparations from N1E-115 cells incubated with L-arginine, NADPH, in the presence of calcium. The use of isotopically labelled guanidino-N 15 -L-arginine supported the generation of a DBNBS spin trapped adduct originating from the guanidino moiety of L-arginine. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) stabilized the precursor of the spin adduct as well as the activator of soluble guanylate cyclase derived from L-arginine. Our results provide direct evidence for the receptor-mediated formation of a diffusible precursor of NO▴ derived from L-arginine.
Integumental distribution of tyrosinase activity in the slow loris, Nycticebus coucang, and the presence of integumental tyrosinase inhibitor(s).

L'analyse radiometrique de la tyrosinase tegumentaire a montre que les regions de la peau deNycticebus coucang different enzymatiquement. Cette peau renferme un inhibiteur enzymatique de tyrosinase ainsi que des champignons.
Surgical viewpoints for the definitive treatment of lung cancer.

Abstract Surgery remains a central pillar in the treatment of lung cancer. To optimize surgical interventions, careful preoperative assessment is necessary. Pulmonary status and cardiac status are the main risks to be considered. After operability has been established, resectability is assessed by staging the lung cancer. Surgery offers a variety of tools to accomplish complete staging before resection. Successful resection is defined as the complete removal of the cancer. To accomplish this goal, a multidisciplinary approach is evolving rapidly. For patients with nonoperable cancer, surgical techniques have been developed to manage airway obstructions and to drain effusions.
Prediction of segregation to alloy surfaces: A “Hume-Rothery” size correlation

A single parameter γ (≡ solute diameter/solvent diameter) appears to indicate whether strain (size difference) or quasi-chemical (solution) theories should be used to predict the existence of appreciable solute surface segregation from dilute binary metal alloys. For the 16 binary systems considered here, when |1 − γ | > 0.1, sice-difference (strain) theories suffice, and if 0.95 ≤ γ ≤ 1.0, solution theories should be used. This empirical result may be regarded as a “Hume-Rothery” rule for surfaces.
Perioperative Use of Neseritide in Heart Failure Patients Undergoing Implantation of Left Ventricular Assist Device

INITIAL CLINICAL EXPERIENCE WITH THE THORATEC IVAD: A VERSATILE IMPLANTABLE UNIOR BI-VENTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICE S. Tsui, M. Slaughter, J. Hill, N. Burton, R. Korfer, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Papworth Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Christ Hospital and Medical Center, Chicago, IL; Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, CA; Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Inova Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, VA; Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Heart Center NRW, Bad Oeynhausen, Germany
Synthesis and single-crystal X-ray characterization of 4,4"-functionalized 4'-(4-bromophenyl)-2,2':6',2"-terpyridines.

To expand the utility of bis(terpyridine) metal connectivity, the selective symmetrical and unsymmetrical 4,4"-functionalization (-CN, -Me, -CO2Me) of 4'-(4-bromophenyl)-2,2':6',2"-terpyridines was achieved using the Krohnke synthesis. The final substituted 2,2':6',2"-terpyridines along with their corresponding intermediates, 4a-c, were recrystallized and characterized by 1H NMR and 13C NMR as well as X-ray crystallography; COSY correlations were also conducted to permit definitive proton assignment.
Analysis of Organic Bases by Salt Partition

Most of the pharmaceutically important organic bases will form salts with certain acids which can be extracted from aqueous solution with chloroform. The combination of partition chromatography with this property constitutes the basis of a general method for the analysis of alkoids in commercial dosage forms.
Testing microscopic medium effects on nucleons and mesons using polarization observables in high-spin, unnatural-parity (p-->,p-->') reactions at 200 MeV

We compare measurements of the cross section, analyzing power, induced polarization, and polarization transfer coefficients for $(\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{p},{p}^{\ensuremath{'}})$ reactions leading to unnatural-parity, high-spin states in ${}^{16}\mathrm{O}$ and ${}^{28}\mathrm{Si}$ with distorted wave impulse approximation calculations. We use an effective nucleon-nucleon (NN) interaction obtained from a microscopic treatment of nuclear medium effects. The NN potential is generated from a one-boson-exchange model of the nuclear force that reproduces NN scattering data well. Medium effects are incorporated through a G matrix obtained within a Dirac-Brueckner approach to nuclear matter. While agreement for some observables is good, differences for the polarization transfer coefficients indicate that systematic problems with the relative sizes of the spin-orbit and tensor interaction components exist. The differences are larger for ${}^{28}\mathrm{Si}$ than for ${}^{16}\mathrm{O}.$ A new model that incorporates density-dependent meson mass reductions produces only small effects that do not change the quality of the agreement. Connections to previous calculations are investigated.
Mechanistic Coupling of Bacteriophage T4 DNA Packaging to Components of the Replication-dependent Late Transcription Machinery

Regulation of the terminal stage of viral DNA development, DNA packaging, is poorly understood. A new phage T4 in vitro DNA packaging assay employed purified proheads, terminase (gp17 + gp16), and ATP to encapsidate DNA resistant to nuclease. Mature phage T4 DNA and linearized plasmid DNAs containing or lacking a cloned T4 gene were packaged with high (approximately 10%) efficiency. Supercoiled, relaxed covalently closed, and nicked circular plasmid DNAs were packaged inefficiently, if at all, by these components. However, efficient packaging is achieved for nicked circular plasmid DNA, but not covalently closed plasmid DNA, upon addition to packaging mixtures of the purified T4 late transcription-replication machinery proteins: gp45 (sliding clamp), gp44/gp62 (clamp loader complex), gp55 (late sigma-factor), and gp33 (transcriptional co-activator). The small terminase subunit (gp16) is inhibitory for packaging linear DNAs, but enhances the transcription-replication protein packaging of nicked plasmid DNA. Taken together with genetic and biochemical evidence of a requirement for gp55 for concatemer packaging to assemble active wild-type phage particles (1), the plasmid packaging results show that initiation of phage T4 packaging on "endless" concatemeric DNA in vivo by terminase depends upon interaction with the DNA loaded gp45 coupled late transcription-replication machinery. The results suggest a close mechanistic connection in vivo between DNA packaging and developmentally concurrent replication-dependent late transcription.
What Does It Take for Primary Care Practices to Truly Deliver Behavioral Health Care

In what may be the largest state government behavioral health endeavor nationally, New York State (NYS) is more than midway into a federally supported initiative to fully integrate behavioral health care into ambulatory, primary care resident training sites, beginning with selected academic medical centers (AMCs). This is not simply to detect and refer, nor to colocate medical and mental health services under the same roof or down the hall from each other; it is the integration of behavioral health care, starting with adults with depression, into the standard operations of the primary care practice—no different from how these practices serve people with diabetes mellitus, asthma, or cardiovascular diseases. The goal, over time, is statewide dissemination. In this Viewpoint, I describe the circumstances and the interagency partnership that permitted this initiative to be launched (ie, its essential elements, its tough implementation challenges, and what must be done for sustainability).
Comparison of the deployment and healing of thin-walled expanded PTFE stented grafts and covered stents

This study evaluated the deployment and short-term healing of thin-walled expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) stented grafts and covered stents as endoluminal prostheses in normal canine aortas and in an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) model. Stented grafts consisted of a 7 cm length of 3 mm internal diameter ePTFE graft (Impra, Inc., Tempe, Ariz.) with two P-188 Palmaz stents (Johnson & Johnson Interventional Systems, Warren, N.J.) deployed along the inner surface of the ends of the graft to secure the prosthesis to the arterial wall. Covered stents were fabricated by placing a 3.7 cm length of 3 mm internal diameter thin-walled ePTFE graft over a P-394 Palmaz stent. Four covered stents and four stented graft prostheses (two of each prototype in the normal canine aorta and AAA model) were implanted in eight animals. One prosthesis of each type in each model was removed at 30 days and one at 60 days. Prior to removal, prostheses were evaluated by CT scan, arteriography, and intravascular ultrasound imaging with values compared to those obtained when the prostheses were deployed. Gross inspection and microscopic evaluation were performed at scheduled explantation. In general, the stented grafts were more difficult to accurately deploy. Healing and maintenance of long-term patency without significant luminal obstruction or occlusion occurred in only one 30-day sample in a normal canine aorta. The 30-day stented graft specimen that had been implanted in an AAA and required the addition of a covered stent to seal a maldeployment of the distal segment was also patent. The 60-day stented graft in the normal canine aorta was occluded with narrowing of the graft between the stents. The 60-day stented graft in the AAA was patent with one central fold and thrombus occupying approximately 20% to 30% of the lumen at this site. In contrast, the covered stent devices were less difficult to accurately deploy. All of the covered stent devices were patent with well-incorporated surfaces. Deployment of covered stents was more accurate and less complicated compared to stented grafts. All patent endoluminal prostheses and stent surfaces were well incorporated into aortic tissues. Problems with graft narrowing, folding, and subsequent thrombosis occurred in the unstented segments of the stented grafts. These preliminary findings support the further development and use of completely supported (stented) devices as endoluminal prostheses.
Electrical activity during the estrous cycle of the rat: cyclic changes in limbic structures.

Changes in electrical activity in the hippocampus and amygdala during the estrous cycle were investigated in the rat to examine the relationship between the limbic system and gonadal function. It has been shown that localized seizure threshold in the dorsal hippocampus was significantly decreased during the interval between the morning of proestrus and morning of estrus. The lateral part of the amygdala behaved in approximately the opposite direction, with an increased threshold during the same period. The thresholds for the medial part of the amygdala had decreased on the night of the second day of diestrus to the morning of proestrus, but had increased above the diestrous values by the night of proestrus. These observations were discussed with reference to plasma gonadal steroid levels and possible regulatory role of limbic areas on the release of gonadotropin. Whereas ovariectomy eliminated the cyclic aspects of activity in the limbic system, a dampened cyclicity was restored by a single injection of 1...
Measurement of serum interleukin-2 activity.

The accurate measurement of serum interleukin-2 activity is crucial for assessing the efficacy and toxicity of systemic immunotherapy with recombinant interleukin-2. Incubation of serum at 56 °C for 30 minutes facilitates the bioassay for interleukin-2 activity by destroying the interleukin-2 Inhibitory activity native to human serum. As this report will demonstrate, however, 30% to 50% of interleukin-2 activity in serum taken from patients or normal volunteers was destroyed by heating at 56°C. No loss of recombinant interleukin-2 activity occured during heating in serum-free media. The percentage of interleukin-2 activity lost at 56°C varied from patient to patient and also varied with the time of exposure. Native serum interleukin-2 inhibitory activity can be removed, and interleukin-2 activity can be assessed accurately in serial dilutions of the serum beyond 1:64.
Nonlinear Convection in a Spherical Shell

Nonlinear convection with spherically symmetric basic state is investigated in a thin spherical shell with rigid and nearly insulating boundaries. The nonlinear problem of steady three-dimensional convection is solved by a perturbation technique. Six physically distinct solutions are determined for the case where l =5 ( l is the degree of spherical harmonics) is preferred. The preferred mode of convection is determined by a stability analysis. The axisymmetric solution is found to be unstable, while a non-axisymmetric solution which transports the maximum amount of heat appears to be preferred.
Acoustic barriers and observation of guided elastic waves in GaN-AlN structures by Brillouin scattering

We report on the localization of acoustic waves in GaN-AlN heterolayers deposited on Si that lead to the observation, by Brillouin light scattering, of distinctive guided excitations associated with the hexagonal $(2H)$ GaN epilayers. These elastic modes include the longitudinal guided resonance (LGR) propagating parallel to the film surface and a shear horizontal resonance (SHR) polarized in the plane of the surface. The observation in light scattering of guided excitations arise from the strong elasto-optic properties of the GaN thin films as well as the presence of AlN that acts as a barrier by reducing energy leakage to the substrate. Calculations of the mode density and displacements disclose characteristics of the LGR and SHR and account for their localization and polarization features. Several of the principal elastic constants of the GaN layer are determined from the data that also reveal the bulk acoustic phonons and the Rayleigh surface mode.
BUILDING SOCIAL CAPITAL AMONG SOCIAL WORK EDUCATORS: A STRATEGY FOR CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT

This article explores the role of human relations in the process of curriculum change in social work education. Social capital, the theoretical framework that underpins this research, explains how social resources are made available to social work faculty and groups for their own benefit. Using data from 88 surveys completed by social work educators, the findings are significant. In an age of technological advancements, human connections remain an important factor in influencing curriculum development in aging. This study also presents implications for social work faculty and administrators and discusses how best to organize social work conferences to promote curriculum change.
Adaptation of aquifer microbial communities to the biodegradation of xenobiotic compounds: Influence of substrate concentration and preexposure

Studies were conducted to examine the adaptation response of aquifer microbial communities to xenobiotic compounds and the influence of chemical preexposure in the laboratory and in situ on adaptation. Adaptation and biodegradation were assessed as mineralization and cellular incorporation of 14C-radiolabeled substrates. For some compounds, such as ethylene dibromide, aniline and m-nitrophenol, biodegradation and adaptation rates were not influenced by chemical concentration over the range tested. Biodegradation rates increased with concentration for p-chlorophenol, and a gradient of adaptation and biodegradation responses was observed for p-nitrophenol up to a threshold concentration. Acclimation to laboratory conditions decreased but did not eliminate the adaptation period to p-nitrophenol. Laboratory adaptation studies and examination of uncontaminated and contaminated field samples from a single aquifer indicated that adaptation was accompanied by shifts in the metabolic fate of the substrate. The increased metabolism associated with adapted communities was predominantly the result of increased mineralization. Cellular incorporation represented a significantly smaller fraction of total metabolism in the adapted versus the unadapted communities. The results indicate that the adaptation response in aquifer solids is due to a complex set of interactions that are influenced by the physiology and growth of the degrading populations.
On solitary waves in plasma

Abstract From the equations of hydrodynamics and electrodynamics, a system of coupled nonlinear equations governing the propagation of plane electromagnetic waves in a collisionless electron plasma is obtained. It is shown that solitary wave solutions exists for both the longitudinal and transverse components of the electromagnetic field. It is found that the velocity of the electromagnetic vector solitary wave depends on the amplitudes of all components of the field linearly. The relations among the longitudinal and transverse components that support the solitary waves are determined for different values of plasma temperature. It is shown that while transverse solitary waves cannot exist, except when they are supported by longitudinal waves, the latter can exist by themselves. The interaction of the longitudinal solitary waves with each other is studied and an upper bound on the amplitudes of these waves is obtained. A Lagrangian density function and two conservation laws for the longitudinal wave equation are found. Frequency spectra of the solitary waves are calculated and their low frequency content is emphasized.
Induction of microglial nitric oxide synthesis by very low density lipoprotein

The effect of lipoproteins on adult rat CNS microglial nitric oxide (NO) production was studied. Incubation of cultured microglia with very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) for 48 h induced a 13-fold increase in NO production, compared with control. However, the induction of NO was negated when cells were incubated with VLDL and the NO synthase inhibitor N-methyl-L-arginine. High and low density lipoproteins (HDL and LDL) did not significantly induce NO synthesis in microglial cells. These results suggest that the lipoprotein environment in the brain can influence neurotoxic activity of microglia via production of NO.
Fluid lipid membranes: From differential geometry to curvature stresses

A fluid lipid membrane transmits stresses and torques that are fully determined by its geometry. They can be described by a stress- and torque-tensor, respectively, which yield the force or torque per length through any curve drawn on the membrane's surface. In the absence of external forces or torques the surface divergence of these tensors vanishes, revealing them as conserved quantities of the underlying Euler-Lagrange equation for the membrane's shape. This review provides a comprehensive introduction into these concepts without assuming the reader's familiarity with differential geometry, which instead will be developed as needed, relying on little more than vector calculus. The Helfrich Hamiltonian is then introduced and discussed in some depth. By expressing the quest for the energy-minimizing shape as a functional variation problem subject to geometric constraints, as proposed by Guven (2004), stress- and torque-tensors naturally emerge, and their connection to the shape equation becomes evident. How to reason with both tensors is then illustrated with a number of simple examples, after which this review concludes with four more sophisticated applications: boundary conditions for adhering membranes, corrections to the classical micropipette aspiration equation, membrane buckling, and membrane mediated interactions.
Environmental and pharmacological sensitization: effects of repeated administration of systemic or intra-nucleus accumbens cocaine.

The effects of repeated systemic or intra-nucleus accumbens cocaine administration on locomotor activity were examined for environmental dependence. Repeated IP administration of cocaine (15 mg/kg) for 5 days in the context of a given environment increased the locomotor response to a subsequent IP cocaine challenge in that environment. However, there were no differences in the locomotor response to a subsequent IP cocaine challenge in the test chamber in subjects which had received prior repeated IP administration of cocaine in the home-cage. In a second experiment, cocaine (100 µg/side) was infused into the nucleus accumbens (NACC) daily for 5 days. This repeated administration produced increases in locomotor activity to subsequent intra-NACC cocaine infusions that were environmentally independent. In contrast to the effects of repeated IP cocaine administration, subjects which received administration of vehicle, acute cocaine, or repeated cocaine in the NACC did not differ following an IP cocaine challenge. The results from these experiments indicate that increases in the response to IP cocaine following repeated IP administration are in part environmentally dependent. Moreover, repeated intra-NACC cocaine infusions increase the responsiveness of the NACC to subsequent intra-NACC cocaine. However, local activation of the NACC alone does not appear to be adequate to produce sensitization to systemically administered cocaine.
The use of histochemistry in pharmacological studies

THERE are two general approaches to the cytological localization of sites of drug action: (1) demonstration of the distribution of the active drug, or a close analog, at the cellular level following its systemic admini,stration, and (2) the demonstration at discrete loci of changes in the concentration of a specific group or compound with which the drug is known to react to produce its characteristic pharmacological effects. Several types of microscopic techniques which either have been employed or have potential ,usefulness for the first approach are listed in Table I (I). Some of these will b,e discussed in detail in the subsequent papers of this symposium. All require carefully controlled conditions to eliminate or minimize artifactual localization due to diffusion of the drug, during the preparation of sections, from its location in vivo at the time of sacrifice. However, the major reservation to the interpretation of results obtained with these methods is that in general they can indicate only potential sites of drug action. On the basis of several factlors, including aqueousand lipoid-solubility, ionic ‘or induced charge, and molecular size and shape, a drug may be distributed at several cellular sites, or even tissues or organs, in addition to those where it combines with specific receptors or enzyme systems to produce its major pharmacological effects. An obvious example is the concentration of ether and other central nervous system depressants in the subcutaneous fat. The second approach avoids the latter disadvantage, but is limited by the fact that the reactive groups or compounds with which most drugs combine are either unknown or not readily subject to demonstration or quantification. A few active groups and enzymes, for which there is reasonable assurance that they represent the major sites of
Characterizing Long-Term Patterns of Weight Change in China Using Latent Class Trajectory Modeling

Background Over the past three decades, obesity-related diseases have increased tremendously in China, and are now the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Patterns of weight change can be used to predict risk of obesity-related diseases, increase understanding of etiology of disease risk, identify groups at particularly high risk, and shape prevention strategies. Methods Latent class trajectory modeling was used to compute weight change trajectories for adults aged 18 to 66 using the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) data (n = 12,611). Weight change trajectories were computed separately for males and females by age group at baseline due to differential age-related patterns of weight gain in China with urbanization. Generalized linear mixed effects models examined the association between weight change trajectories and baseline characteristics including urbanicity, BMI category, age, and year of study entry. Results Trajectory classes were identified for each of six age-sex subgroups corresponding to various degrees of weight loss, maintenance and weight gain. Baseline BMI status was a significant predictor of trajectory membership for all age-sex subgroups. Baseline overweight/obesity increased odds of following ‘initial loss with maintenance’ trajectories. We found no significant association between baseline urbanization and trajectory membership after controlling for other covariates. Conclusion Trajectory analysis identified patterns of weight change for age by gender groups. Lack of association between baseline urbanization status and trajectory membership suggests that living in a rural environment at baseline was not protective. Analyses identified age-specific nuances in weight change patterns, pointing to the importance of subgroup analyses in future research.
Evaluating the Predictive Powers of Spectroscopy and Chromatography for Fuel Quality Assessment

In this work, a set of 45 fuel samples from around the world was acquired, with complete compositional and specification test results. These samples were analyzed by near-infrared (NIR) spectrophot...
Tabletop Nanometer Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging in an Extended Reflection Geometery

We demonstrate the most general, highest fidelity reflection mode coherent diffractive imaging to date. Using a high harmonic tabletop source with ptychography- and keyhole-coherent diffraction techniques, images are reconstructed with < 1 nm axial resolution.
Effects of Contrast on Referential Form: Investigating the Distinction Between Strong and Weak Pronouns

To further our understanding of the nature of the form–function mapping in anaphoric paradigms, this study investigated the referential properties of strong pronouns (long pronouns) in Estonian. Cross-linguistically, 2 main accounts of the long–short distinction have been proposed: the salience account (long pronouns refer to less salient antecedents) and the contrast account (long pronouns refer to entities that are being mentioned contrastively). To test these claims, this study compared parallel corpora of Estonian and Finnish to see how Estonian long pronouns are realized in Finnish and what the grammatical role of the antecedent is. Building on Pajusalu (1997), this study also analyzed the referential properties of long pronouns from the perspective of alternative semantics (Rooth, 1992) and Jackendoff's (1972) and Buring's (2003) research on contrast. The corpus patterns support the contrast account, indicating that the long–short distinction cannot be straightforwardly reduced to referent salience....
Turbo-coded ARQ schemes for DS-CDMA data networks over fading and shadowing channels

Modified ARQ (automatic-repeat-request) techniques based on turbo coding are investigated for asynchronous DS-CDMA (direct-sequence code-division multiple-access) data networks under shadowing and frequency selective fading channel conditions. The throughput, delay, and energy efficiency performance of standard ARQ, metric combining, and RCPT (rate compatible punctured turbo) coded ARQ schemes are compared via simulations. The RCPT/ARQ schemes are shown to outperform the other two schemes in terms of both throughput and energy efficiency at the cost of larger delay and complexity. Maximum network throughput is investigated for different ARQ schemes under energy constraints.
Is fear of prescription drug abuse resulting in sufferers of chronic pain being undertreated

At the outset, it should be noted that there has been a historical trend of increased misuse/abuse of pain medications culturally in the USA. Epidemiological surveys (e.g., National Household Surve...
The Shape of DNA Elution Dose-response Curves Under Non-denaturing Conditions: The Contribution of the Degree of Chromatin Condensation

We have re-examined the effect of detergent type, pH and temperature of lysis on the shape of the DNA elution dose response under non-denaturing conditions using plateau-phase CHO cells. Results practically identical to those previously published (Okayasu and Iliakis, 1989) were obtained, with a 1 h incubation at 60°C during lysis with sodium-N-laurylsarcosine (NLS) resulting in almost linear dose-response curves. We also examined chromatin decondensation as a contributing factor in the linearization observed in the elution dose-response curve under the above conditions. When nuclei with condensed chromatin were prepared from irradiated cells, applied on the filter and lysed with NLS at room temperature, a shoulder-type elution dose-response curve was obtained only slightly higher than that of cells lysed under the same conditions. However, when nuclei prepared from irradiated cells were applied on the filter after relaxation of chromatin by incubation in low ionic strength buffer and lysed with NLS at ro...
ECK FISTULA LIVER SUBNORMAL IN PRODUCING HEMOGLOBIN AND PLASMA PROTEINS ON DIETS RICH IN LIVER AND IRON

The Eck fistula shunts the portal blood around the liver which receives its blood only by way of the hepatic artery. There are slight gross and histological changes in the Eck fistula liver of the dog. There is evidence at times of some functional abnormalities of the liver due to the Eck fistula but the dog can tolerate this fistula for 1 to 8 years and appear normal. Chloroform is tolerated by the Eck fistula dog, which may take twice a lethal dose for the control dog without evidence of significant liver injury. Acacia given by vein is deposited in the Eck fistula liver and impairs further its functional capacity to contribute to hemoglobin production. The stress of anemia brings out the fact that the anemic Eck fistula animal cannot utilize standard diet factors and iron as efficiently as the anemic non-Eck control dog. The output of new hemoglobin in some instances may drop to one-fourth of normal. When hypoproteinemia alone or combined with anemia is produced in the Eck fistula dog, we observe at times very low production of plasma protein—seven a drop to one-tenth of normal. This interrelation of liver abnormality, liver dysfunction, and lessened plasma protein and hemoglobin production is significant. It is generally accepted that the liver is concerned with the production of several plasma proteins—fibrinogen, prothrombin, and albumin. The experiments above indicate that the liver is concerned directly or indirectly with the production of new hemoglobin. Our belief is that the liver contributes to the fabrication of hemoglobin by means of the mobile plasma proteins which to a large extent derive from the liver.
"Tomboys" and "Baklas": Experiences of Lesbian and Gay Filipino Americans

In the Philippines, the terms “tomboy” and “bakla” describe lesbian women and gay men, and are often used synonymously to label transgender people. Although there is some literature that describes the experiences of gay men in the Philippines, there is a dearth of psychological research that examines experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Filipino Americans in the U.S. The current exploratory study utilized focus groups (N 24) with lesbian and gay Filipino Americans on both the East and West coasts of the United States. Five domains emerged: (1) Religious influence on sexual and gender identity, (2) Family influence on gender and sexual identity, (3) Experiences with race, (4) Process of negotiating multiple identities, and (5) Variant experiences between Filipino subgroups. Findings indicate that religion, culture, and family expectations influenced one’s ability to accept one’s sexuality and that lesbian and gay Filipino Americans experience several psychological stressors as a result of balancing their multiple identities. Participants described the types of racism they experience in the LGBT community, as well as the heterosexism they face in their families and in their ethnic communities. Implications for Asian American psychology and clinical practice are discussed.
Regular growth of solutions of the riccati equation W′ + W 2=e 2z in the complex plane

Solutions of the Riccati equation W′ + W 2=e 2z are known to be asymptotic to e z or e -z . We show that those solutions which are asymptotic to e z have regular growth over C(e z ) as z→∞ in funnel-like regions D between curves of the form . Here the notion of regular growth over a differential field H of holomorphic germs on D is inspired by real Hardy field theory and is a generalization of the classical notion of non-oscillation. It means that for any differential polynomial P(X,X′,…) with coefficients in H, the function P(W,W′,…) is ultimately zero free in D or identically zero.
S-locus receptor kinase signalling.

SRK ( S -locus receptor kinase) is the receptor that allows stigma epidermal cells to discriminate between genetically related (‘self’) and genetically unrelated (‘non-self’) pollen in the self-incompatibility response of the Brassicaceae. SRK and its ligand, the pollen coat-localized SCR ( S -locus cysteine-rich protein), are highly polymorphic, and their allele-specific interaction explains specificity in the self-incompatibility response. The present article reviews current knowledge of the role of SRK in the recognition and response phases of self-incompatibility, and highlights the new insights provided by analysis of a transgenic self-incompatible Arabidopsis thaliana model.
Acute effects of left atrial radiofrequency ablation on atrial fibrillation.

Left Atrial Ablation. Introduction: Acutely, when left atrial ablation is performed during atrial fibrillation (AF), the AF may persist and require cardioversion, or it may convert to sinus rhythm or to atrial tachycardia/flutter. The prevalence of these acute outcomes has not been described. Methods and Results: Left atrial ablation, usually including encirclement of the pulmonary veins, was performed during AF in 144 patients with drug-refractory AF. Conversion to sinus rhythm occurred in 19 patients (13%), to left atrial tachycardia in 6 (4%), and to atrial flutter in 6 (4%). In the 6 patients with a focal atrial tachycardia, the mean cycle length was 294 ± 45 ms. The tachycardia arose in the left atrial roof in 3 patients, the left atrial appendage in 2, and the anterior left atrium in 1. In 3 of 6 patients, the focal atrial tachycardia originated in an area that displayed a relatively short cycle length during AF. In 6 patients, AF converted to macroreentrant atrial flutter with a mean cycle length of 253 ± 47 ms, involving the mitral isthmus in 5 patients and the septum in 1 patient. All atrial tachycardias and flutters were successfully ablated with 1 to 15 applications of radiofrequency energy. Conclusion: When left atrial ablation is performed during AF, the AF may convert to atrial tachycardia or flutter in approximately 10% of patients. Focal atrial tachycardias that occur during ablation of AF may be attributable to driving mechanisms that persist after AF has been eliminated, whereas atrial flutter
Comparison of Several Algorithms for Computing Sample Means and Variances

Abstract Several one-pass and two-pass algorithms for the computation of sample means and variances are compared by their performance on sets of randomly generated data and systematically generated data with random noise. The relation between the performance of each algorithm and the coefficient of variation of the population from which random data sets are generated is explored.