cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Disproportionate elevation of immunoreactive proinsulin in type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus and in experimental insulin resistance.

In this study, we found that the ratio of proinsulin to total immunoreactive insulin was much higher in 22 patients with Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus than in 28 non-diabetic control subjects of similar age and adiposity (32±3 vs 15±1%, p<0.001). In addition, the arginine-induced acute proinsulin response to total immunoreactive insulin response ratio was greater in diabetic patients (n=10) than in control subjects (n=9) (8±2 vs 2±0.5%, p=0.009), suggesting that increased islet secretion per se accounted for the increased ratio of proinsulin to immunoreactive insulin. One explanation for these findings is that increased demand for insulin in the presence of islet dysfunction leads to a greater proportion of proinsulin secreted from the B cell. We tested this hypothesis by comparing proinsulin secretion before and during dexamethasone-induced insulin resistance in diabetic patients and control subjects. Dexamethasone treatment (6 mg/day for 3 days) raised the proinsulin to immunoreactive insulin ratio in control subjects from 13±2 to 21±2% (p<0.0001) and in diabetic patients from 29±5 to 52±7% (p<0.001). Dexamethasone also raised the ratio of the acute proinsulin response to the acute immunoreactive insulin response in control subjects from 2±0.5 to 5±2% (p=0.01) and in diabetic patients from 8±2 to 14±4% (p=NS), suggesting that the dexamethasone-induced increment in the basal ratio of proinsulin to immunoreactive insulin was also due to increased secretion. We conclude that: (1) The basal proinsulin to immunoreactive insulin ratio is increased in obese Type 2 diabetic patients. (2) An increase in tissue demand for insulin leads to a rise in the proinsulin to immunoreactive insulin ratio, which is exaggerated in Type 2 diabetic patients. (3) The increased proinsulin to immunoreactive insulin ratio in these diabetic patients in the basal state and in diabetic patients and control subjects during experimental insulin resistance is probably due to increased B-cell secretion of proinsulin.
System structures for process simulation

The plex data structure is proposed for use in an advanced computing system to model chemical processes. The plex is shown to permit increased modularity and flexibility over systems with dimensioned array structures. Two methods are suggested to create and operate upon the plex: the problem oriented language and the problem oriented calling programs. The concept of a routing plex is introduced as a means for specifying the path of calculations when building block routines call upon other routines and choices exist at each level. 20 figures.
Combinatorial evaluation of laccase-mediator system in the oxidation of veratryl alcohol

Laccases play an important role in the biological break down of lignin and have great potential in the deconstruction of lignocellulosic feedstocks. We examined 16 laccases, both commercially prepared and crude extracts, for their ability to oxidize veratryl alcohol in the presence of various solvents and mediators. Screening revealed complete conversion of veratryl alcohol to veratraldehyde catalyzed by a crude preparation of the laccase from Trametes versicolor ATCC 11235 and the mediator TEMPO in 20 % (v/v) tert-butanol.
Improvement in recombinant protein production in ppGpp‐deficient Escherichia coli

Maintaining a metabolically productive state for recombinant Escherichia coli remains a central problem for a wide variety of growth-dependent biosynthesis. This problem becomes particularly acute under conditions of minimal cell growth such as fed-batch fermentations. In this, we investigated the possibility of manipulating the protein synthesis machinery of E. coli whereby synthesis of foreign proteins might be decoupled from cell growth. In particular, the effects of eliminating intracellular ppGpp on the synthesis of foreign proteins were studied in both batch and fed-batch operations. A significant increase in CAT production was observed from the ppGpp-deficient strain during both exponential and fed-batch phases. The increase in CAT production during exponential growth was accompanied by a simultaneous increase in CAT mRNA levels. Interestingly, CAT production was increased five-fold, while the level of CAT-specific mRNA increased only three-fold. Thus, eliminating intracellular ppGpp appears to have increase the production of recombinant protein by increasing not only the pool sizes of CAT mRNA but also possible alternations in the post-transcriptional processes. (c) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 53: 379-386, 1997.
Simulation of Turbulence in the Divertor Region of Tokamak Edge Plasma

Results are presented for turbulence simulations with the fluid edge turbulence code BOUT [X.Q. Xu, R.H. Cohen, Contr. Plas. Phys. 36 (1998) 158]. The present study is focussed on turbulence in the divertor leg region and on the role of the X-point in the structure of turbulence. Results of the present calculations indicate that the ballooning effects are important for the divertor fluctuations. The X-point shear leads to weak correlation of turbulence across the X-point regions, in particular for large toroidal wavenumber. For the saturated amplitudes of the divertor region turbulence it is found that amplitudes of density fluctuations are roughly proportional to the local density of the background plasma. The amplitudes of electron temperature and electric potential fluctuations are roughly proportional to the local electron temperature of the background plasma.
Formation of protein conjugates of phosphorothioate nucleoside diphosphate beta-S

The present study shows that the sulfur of the phosphorothioate 5'-nucleoside diphosphate beta-S adds across the olefmic double bond of the maleimide moiety of the thiol-sensitive probe, N-1 pyrene maleimide. The reaction of phosphorothioate with the maleimide moiety provided a basis for coupling the phosphorothioate nucleoside diphosphate beta-S to maleimidederivatized bovine serum albumin. Formation of proteinnucleotide conjugates employing the thiol-reactivity of the phosphorothioate group has not hitherto been reported. Proteinnucleotide conjugates crosslinked by reaction of phosphorothioate sulfur with maleimide-derivatized protein have significant potential for ligand-mediated delivery of nucleotides. Currently available methods for forming protein-nucleotide conjugates include ultraviolet irradiation (1), bifunctional chemicals (2) and photochemical cross-linking (3). These crosslinking methods induce changes in the bases of the nucleotide, thereby interfering with the function of the nucleotide. Also, water-soluble carbodiimides such as ethyl(dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) are agents for crosslinking nucleotides to proteins (4). However, EDC lacks specificity and reacts with Ni of guanosine and also attacks thymidine (5). Moreover, coupling of proteins to nucleotides with EDC leads to protein-protein conjugates that would reduce yield of ligand-nucleotide conjugates, complicate conjugate purification and would compete with ligand-nucleotide conjugates for binding sites on the target cell membrane. The purpose of this work was to develop a practicable covalent crosslinking system between proteins and nucleotides that leaves the nucleotide bases intact and that has the potential to avoid the other aforementioned problems. Although the sulfur of phosphorothioate nucleotides is known to possess considerable thiol character (6-11), this thiol-like reactivity has never been applied, to the best knowledge of the authors, as the basis for preparation of protein-nucleotide conjugates. In this paper we first determine the reactivity of phosphorothioate adenosine diphosphate beta-S towards maleimide with a fluorescent maleimide probe and then utilize this reactivity to form covalent conjugates of the phosphorothioate nucleoside diphosphate and a maleimide-derivatized protein. N-1 pyrene maleimide (PM), a sulfhydryl-specific reporter molecule (12) was reacted with 5'-adenosine diphosphate beta-S (ADPS). 0.01 M ADPS (Boehringer-Mannheim) was reacted with 0.1 mM PM (Sigma Chemical Co) in 0.1 M sodium phosphate buffer (pH 8.8) with 5% acetone, at ambient temperature for 17 hours in the dark. Fluorescence emission intensity was recorded from 350-450 nm upon excitation at 330
Pure-Shuffle Nucleation of Deformation Twins in Hexagonal-Close-Packed Metals

The propagation of deformation twins in hexagonal-close-packed metals is commonly described by a conventional glide-shuffle mechanism. The widely accepted convention is that this process is also responsible for twin nucleation, but lacks direct confirmation. Using atomistic simulations, we identify an unconventional pure-shuffle mechanism for the nucleation of (1¯012) twins, which then grow through the conventional glide-shuffle mechanism entailing the glide of twinning disconnections. The pure-shuffle nucleation of twins at grain boundaries can be ascribed to a high-stress concentration and pre-existing grain boundary dislocations.
Synthesis of cytotoxic spermidine metabolites from the soft coral

Abstract Two unusual cytotoxic agents, the first spermidine derivatives from marine organisms, have been synthesized directly from the parent polyamine using new methodology.
Back-illuminated solar-blind photodetectors for imaging applications

Back-illuminated solar-blind ultraviolet p-i-n photodetectors and focal plane arrays are investigated. We initially study single-pixel devices and then discuss the hybridization to a read-out integrated circuit to form focal plane arrays for solar-blind UV imaging. The photodetectors consist of an AlGaN p-i-n active region grown atop a high quality AlN template layer with a ~1 μm thick Al0.5Ga0.5N:Si-In co-doped low-resistance UV-transparent lateral conduction layer. The material is processed into a 320 x 256 array of 25 μm x 25 μm pixels using standard lithographic techniques. Typical pixels demonstrate a peak responsivity of 93 mA/W at 278 nm; this corresponds to an external quantum efficiency of 42%. The uniformity of the array is discussed, and a selection of sample images from the solar-blind focal plane array is included. In addition, recent attempts to achieve shorter wavelength deep UV back-illuminated p-i-n photodetector and focal plane arrays are also discussed.
Estimation of k for the poly-k test with application to animal carcinogenicity studies.

This paper extends the survival-adjusted Cochran-Armitage test in order to achieve improved robustness to a variety of tumour onset distributions. The Cochran-Armitage test is routinely applied for detecting a linear trend in the incidence of a tumour of interest across dose groups. To improve the robustness to the effects of differential mortality across groups, Bailer and Portier introduced the poly-3 test by a survival adjustment using a fractional weighting scheme for subjects not at full risk of tumour development. The performance of the poly-3 test depends on how closely it represents the correct specification of the time-at-risk weight in the data. Bailer and Portier further suggested that this test can be improved by using a general k reflecting the shape of the tumour onset distribution. In this paper, we propose a method to estimate k by equating the empirical lifetime tumour incidence rate obtained from the data based on the fractional weighting scheme to a separately estimated cumulative lifetime tumour incidence rate. This poly-k test with the statistically estimated k appears to perform better than the poly-3 test which is conducted without prior knowledge of the tumour onset distribution. Our simulation shows that the proposed method improves the robustness to various tumour onset distributions in addition to the robustness to the effects of mortality achieved by the poly-3 test. Large sample properties are shown via simulations to illustrate the consistency of the proposed method. The proposed methods are applied to analyse two real data sets. One is to find a dose-related linear trend on animal carcinogenicity, and the other is to test an effect of calorie restriction on experimental animals.
Reactions of clients to referral requests

Referrals from existing clients are frequently used by organizations to obtain fresh prospects. The approach is commonly believed to be beneficial because the referred prospects are considered to be superior candidates relative to contacts gained from cold calling. However, the effect of the referral on the client is frequently ignored. Predictions of the Information Availability Explanation were used to develop a hypothesis concerning attitudinal effects among individuals who were asked for referrals. Clients who failed to provide a solicited referral developed a significantly less positive attitude than clients who were not asked for a referral. The results suggest that when considering the use of the referral method, the potential benefits of gaining superior prospects must be balanced against the potential undermining of clients' attitudes. Implications are discussed concerning referral technique implementation and suggestions for future research.
A 600MHz to 3.4GHz flexible spectrum-sensing receiver with spectrum-adaptive reconfigurable DT filtering

A flexible spectrum-sensing receiver in 65nm CMOS consists of a wideband front-end, spectrum-adaptive (SA) filtering, switched-capacitor amplifiers, and a filtering SAR ADC. The SA filter uses a DT spectrum-analyzer and a reconfigurable DT notch filter to detect and suppress large interferers over a 55MHz range. In IEEE 802.15.4 tests, the receiver exceeds sensitivity and interferer rejection requirements. With SA filtering enabled, it achieves ≥+55dB rejection of +25 to +65MHz FM interferers.
Multivariate analysis and list mode processing of murine hemopoietic subpopulations for cytokinetic studies

Multivariate analyses and list mode data processing were used to obtain cytokinetic information on flow cytometrically distinct hemopoietic subpopulations. In one application, viable, unfixed hemopoietic subpopulations were discriminated on the basis of cyanine dye fluorescence and orthogonal light scatter; Hoechst dye fluorescence was measured to determine the proliferative status of the subpopulations. In another application, ethanol-fixed mouse bone marrow cells were triply stained with Hoechst dye, rhodamine-conjugated wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), and a fluorescein-labeled monoclonal antibody against bromodeoxyuridine. In both of these studies, flow cytometric data for all three variables were acquired in list mode fashion, stored on magnetic tape, and processed by list mode software on a computer-based multivariable pulse-height analyzer. In the first application, subpopulations distinguished by cyanine dye intensity and light scatter appeared to be more related to cell lineage and cell size than proliferative status. In the second application, WGA affinity discriminated two subpopulations in mouse bone marrow S-phase cells in each subpopulation that actively incorporated bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd). List mode data processing obviates the need for routine electronic sorting of cells and thus facilitates characterization of discriminated subpopulations. In this regard, it is particularly useful for the study of flow cytometrically distinct, low frequency subpopulations.
Abyssopelagic grenadiers: the probable cause of low frequency sound scattering at great depths off the Oregon and California coasts

Abstract Volume reverberation measurements from the slope base and abyssal plain along the coasts of Oregon and northern California show an unexpected scattering layer peaking around 2000 Hz at depths greater than 1000 m. A model of swimbladder resonance applied to published records of bottom-dwelling grenadier size and abundance provided a good fit to the data, suggesting the widespread pelagic occurrence of grenadiers, Coryphaenoides spp., of 20–68 cm length at densities near 0.004 ind. m −2 over the slope base and abyssal plain.
A New Paradigm for Protein Design and Biological Self-Assembly

Very few molecules with biological origins contain the element fluorine. Nature's inability to incorporate fluorine into biomolecules is related to the low concentration of free fluoride in sea and surface water. However, judicious introduction of fluorine into proteins, nucleic acids, lipids and carbohydrates has allowed mechanistic scrutiny of enzyme catalysis, control of protein oligomerization in membranes, clustered display of ligands on surfaces of living cells, and in increasing the protease stability of protein and peptide therapeutics.
Transport investigations of terbium chelate complexes in a type 1 collagen tissue model using quantitative micro-endoscopic imaging

The diffusive transport characteristics of a unique class of small fluorescent molecular probes in an interstitial tissue model are investigated using micro-endoscopy. The probes employed in the present work are organo-metallic complexes of polyazamacrocycles chelated to Terbium. These particular molecules have large Stoke's shifts, making them amendable to tissue analysis. The delocalized electronic structure of the organic chelate absorbs ultra-violate light (approximately 270 nm) and, after inter-molecular transfer, the lanthanide cation fluoresces in the visible region (550 nm). The diffusive transport properties of the probe molecules are related to their chemical structure, which governs their affinity toward the components of the interstitial model. The basic polyazamacrocycle is functionalized with three phosphate groups. Presently, methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl alkyl chains are added to the phosphate groups on the polyazamacrocycle to modify the affinity of the probes toward the components of the interstitial model. Micro-endoscopy coupled with digital imaging allows remote, quantitative analysis of the transport process in near real time. Cross sectional analysis of the images yields the concentration profile of the probe as it diffuses through the gel. The concentration profile is fit to Fick's second law of diffusion to determine the diffusion coefficient, D, for each of the problem molecules. Presently the measured D values for each of the compounds are typical for small molecules in water (approximately 10-6 cm2/sec), however, D is observed to increase with decreasing hydrocarbon chain length which demonstrates interstitial transport is structurally dependent.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Rheological behavior of soil-cement slab subjected to drying

It has been experimentally observed that one-inch thick soil-cement slab (fine-grained soil), upon drying from the top face, first deforms with a concave surface at the top and gradually assumes an opposite curvature with convex surface at the top. The latter shape contradicts the classical analysis ofPickett. A theory whereby the doming can be predicted is proposed in this paper.
Prostaglandins contribute to activation of baroreceptors in rabbits. Possible paracrine influence of endothelium.

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that prostaglandins released from vascular endothelial cells contribute to activation of baroreceptors during increases in arterial pressure. Baroreceptor activity was recorded from the vascularly isolated carotid sinus in rabbits anesthetized with chloralose. Baroreceptor activity was measured during ramp or step increases in nonpulsatile carotid sinus pressure over a range of 0-175 mm Hg. Exposure of the isolated carotid sinus to inhibitors of prostaglandin formation (indomethacin [n = 10] or aspirin [n = 6]) decreased baroreceptor activity significantly (p less than 0.05). The slope of the pressure-activity relation averaged 0.80 +/- 0.07 %/mm Hg (mean +/- SEM) during control measurements and 0.72 +/- 0.06 and 0.63 +/- 0.05 %/mm Hg during exposure to 10 and 20 microM indomethacin, respectively. Exposure of the carotid sinus to exogenous prostacyclin (PGI2 [n = 11]) increased baroreceptor activity significantly. The slope of the pressure-activity relation averaged 0.89 +/- 0.10, 1.09 +/- 0.09, and 1.26 +/- 0.16 %/mm Hg during control and during exposure to 10 and 20 microM PGI2, respectively. Activity returned to control after removal of PGI2 (0.89 +/- 0.12 %/mm Hg). Removal of endothelium with either a balloon catheter (n = 4) or a jet of a 95% O2-5% CO2 gas mixture (n = 6) decreased the slope of the pressure-activity relation from 0.92 +/- 0.09 to 0.56 +/- 0.08 %/mm Hg (p less than 0.05). Exposure of the denuded sinus to exogenous PGI2 (20 microM [n = 4]) restored activity (slope = 1.09 +/- 0.24 %/mm Hg). Neither indomethacin (n = 5) nor PGI2 (n = 5) nor denudation (n = 5) significantly altered the pressure-diameter relation of the carotid sinus (sonomicrometers), suggesting that the effects on baroreceptor discharge are not caused by altered stretch of the carotid sinus at a given pressure. The results suggest that prostaglandins (e.g., PGI2) released from endothelium contribute in a paracrine manner to activation of baroreceptors during increases in arterial pressure.
Stresses in Multilayered Ceramics Subjected to Biaxial Flexure Tests

Although standard test methods for biaxial strength measurements of ceramics have been established and the corresponding formulas for relating the biaxial strength to the fracture load have been approved by American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and International Organization for Standardization, respectively, they are limited to the case of monolayered discs. Despite the increasing applications of multilayered ceramics, characterization of their strengths using biaxial flexure tests has been difficult because the analytical description of the relation between the strength and the fracture load for multilayers subjected to biaxial flexure tests is unavailable until recently. Using ring-on-ring tests as an example, the closed-form solutions for stresses in (i) monolayered discs based on ASTM formulas, (ii) bilayered discs based on Roark’s formulas, and (iii) multilayered discs based on Hsueh et al.’s formulas are reviewed in the present study. Finite element results for ring-on-rings tests performed on (i) zirconia monolayered discs, (ii) dental crown materials of porcelain/zirconia bilayered discs, and (iii) solid oxide fuel cells trilayered discs are also presented to validate the closed-form solutions. With Hsueh et al.’s formulas, the biaxial strength of multilayered ceramics can be readily evaluated using biaxial flexure tests.
Making big cells: One size does not fit all

During cell division, the genome is fully duplicated and then segregated to two daughter cells. In some tissues, however, cells repeatedly duplicate their genome and grow without dividing. This process results in large cells with many copies of their genome, a state known as polyploidy. In polyploid cells of the fruit fly Drosophila, DNA replication is not complete, which results in a relatively lower DNA copy number of specific genomic loci. In PNAS, Sher et al. show that in two different polyploid cell types of mice the entire genome is fully duplicated, unlike in Drosophila, and that this organismal difference may be explained by different levels of expression of the genes required for DNA replication (1). This report from Sher et al. reveals how these variant polyploid cell cycles can differ among organisms and tissues, but also uncovers many key similarities between flies and mammals that provide clues to the regulation of these enigmatic cell cycles.
Interfacial Electrochemistry of Pyrite Oxidation and Flotation.: I: Effect of Borate on Pyrite Surface Oxidation

Abstract Sodium tetraborate (Na 2 B 4 O 7 ) has been widely used as an electrolyte and pH buffer in studying the interfacial electrochemistry of sulfide minerals in relation to sulfide mineral flotation. In all the previous studies published so far, borate was regarded as an inert electrolyte/pH buffer, and its reactions with the sulfide minerals were completely overlooked. In this first part of this series papers, the complicating effects of borate on the interfacial electrochemistry of pyrite have been studied. It has been demonstrated that borate is not an inert electrolyte/pH buffer. It strongly reacts with the surfaces of pyrite. In the borate solutions, the surface oxidation of pyrite is strongly enhanced. The first and rate-determining step of the reaction between borate and pyrite has been shown to be the following irreversible reaction:[formula]This reaction appears in the voltammogram as an anodic oxidation peak at potentials of more than 0.4 V lower than the commencement of pyrite oxidation in sodium perchlorate or nitrate electrolyte solutions. As the borate concentration increases, the peak current increases linearly, while the peak potential shifts positively at 240 mV per decade. On a rotating-disc electrode, the peak becomes a plateau. The limiting current density is a linear function of the square root of the rotation speed at relatively low rotation speeds. The Tafel slope, i.e., dE / d {log I }, is close to 240 mV per decade and is independent of the rotation speed and borate concentration. The results indicate that charge transfer coefficient (α) is 0.25.
Fitness consequences of social network position in a wild population of forked fungus beetles (Bolitotherus cornutus)

Social networks describe the pattern of intraspecific interactions within a population. An individual’s position in a social network often is expected to influence its fitness, but only a few studies have examined this relationship in natural populations. We investigated the fitness consequences of network position in a wild beetle population. Copulation success of male beetles positively covaried with strength (a measure of network centrality) and negatively covaried with clustering coefficient (CC) (a measure of cliquishness). Further analysis using mediation path models suggested that the activity level of individuals drove the relationships between strength and fitness almost entirely. In contrast, selection on CC was not explained by individual behaviours. Although our data suggest that social network position can experience strong sexual selection, it is also clear that the relationships between fitness and some network metrics merely reflect variation in individual-level behaviours.
Models of Excellence in Multicultural Colleges and Universities.

The authors examine definitions of culture and philosophical and political assumptions that underlie multicultural approaches that facilitate or discourage multicultural competence. The authors discover that campus culture—determined mostly by the dominant coalition or power elite—is critical to success or failure of effective multi-cultural policies and procedures. In the literature, power is not generally acknowledged when considering multicultural competence. Thus, this preliminary work relating systems theory to institutional culture is unique in determining excellence in multiculturalism.
Beyond the Nation’s Capital: Minority Students’ Stumbling on the Tracks After Hobson:

The U.S. District of Columbia’s Federal Circuit Court decision in Hobson v. Hanson (1967) case eliminated racial discriminatory tracking practices in the nation’s capitol’s public schools. The court ruled that D.C. Public Schools’ tracking violated African American and low income students’ rights to equal opportunities to education under the equal protection and due process clauses of the 14th Amendment. While D.C. Public Schools eradicated school tracking, it continued in other urban schools. This article examines the Federal Court’s role in the perpetuation of school tracking practices and challenges minority students’ access to equal educational opportunities in schools with tracked classrooms. It also addresses the need for equitable schools to provide all students with the opportunity to learn.
Genome-wide approaches to understanding human ageing

The use of genomic technologies in biogerontology has the potential to greatly enhance our understanding of human ageing. High-throughput screens for alleles correlated with survival in long-lived people have uncovered novel genes involved in age-associated disease. Genome-wide longevity studies in simple eukaryotes are identifying evolutionarily conserved pathways that determine longevity. It is hoped that validation of these 'public' aspects of ageing in mice, along with analyses of variation in candidate human ageing genes, will provide targets for future interventions to slow the ageing process and retard the onset of age-associated pathologies.
A framework for evaluating regression test selection techniques

Regression testing is a necessary but expensive activity aimed at showing that code has not been adversely affected by changes. A selective approach to regression testing attempts to reuse tests from an existing test suite to test a modified program. This paper outlines issues relevant to selective retest approaches, and presents a framework within which such approaches can be evaluated. This framework is then used to evaluate and compare existing selective retest algorithms. The evaluation reveals strengths and weaknesses of existing methods, and highlights problems that future work in this area should address. >
Sulfate anion stabilization of native ribonuclease A both by anion binding and by the Hofmeister effect

Data are reported for Tm, the temperature midpoint of the thermal unfolding curve, of ribonuclease A, versus pH (range 2–9) and salt concentration (range 0–1 M) for two salts, Na2SO4 and NaCl. The results show stabilization by sulfate via anion-specific binding in the concentration range 0–0.1 M and via the Hofmeister effect in the concentration range 0.1–1.0 M. The increase in Tm caused by anion binding at 0.1 M sulfate is 20° at pH 2 but only 1° at pH 9, where the net proton charge on the protein is near 0. The 10° increase in Tm between 0.1 and 1.0 M Na2SO4, caused by the Hofmeister effect, is independent of pH. A striking property of the NaCl results is the absence of any significant stabilization by 0.1 M NaCl, which indicates that any Debye screening is small. pH-dependent stabilization is produced by 1 M NaCl: the increase in Tm between 0 and 1.0 M is 14° at pH 2 but only 1° at pH 9. The 14° increase at pH 2 may result from anion binding or from both binding and Debye screening. Taken together, the results for Na2SO4 and NaCl show that native ribonuclease A is stabilized at low pH in the same manner as molten globule forms of cytochrome c and apomyoglobin, which are stabilized at low pH by low concentrations of sulfate but only by high concentrations of chloride.
Effect of Carbon Dioxide Immobilization on the Bleeding of Chickens

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION MANY processors believe that the improvement of the meat type birds through breeding and high carbohydrate and low protein feeding has resulted in slower and less complete bleeding of the birds at slaughter. This, coupled with accelerated processing procedures, has resulted in increased percentages of poorly bled and misbled carcasses. A number of investigators have worked for remedies. They studied the effects of various degrees of starving prior to sticking, Baker, Margolf and Callenbach (1950); the use of various sticking techniques, Newell and Shaffner (1950); Davis and Coe (1954); the injection of epinephrine into the veins, the treatment of birds with high concentrations of oxygen, Newell and Shaffner (1950a); the feeding of special rations to birds, Turner (1948); and the influence of electric shock, Mountney, Gardner and Gayvert (1956). Other researchers in working to improve slaughtering methods for use on mammals, reportedly have been successful in improving bleeding by . . .
Sex and gender differences in control of blood pressure

In recent years, the interest in studying the impact of sex steroids and gender on the regulation of blood pressure and cardiovascular disease has been growing. Women are protected from most cardiovascular events compared with men until after menopause, and postmenopausal women are at increased risk of cardiovascular complications compared with premenopausal women. The pathophysiological mechanisms have not been elucidated, but are not likely to be as simple as the presence or absence of oestrogens, since hormone replacement therapy in elderly women in the Women's Health Initiative or HERS (Heart and Estrogen/progestin Replacement Study) did not provide primary or secondary prevention against cardiovascular events. Men are also thought to be at risk of cardiovascular disease at earlier ages than women, and these mechanisms too are not likely to be as simple as the presence of testosterone, since androgen levels fall in men with cardiovascular and other chronic diseases. In fact, many investigators now believe that it is the reduction in androgen levels that frequently accompanies chronic disease and may exacerbate cardiovascular disease in men. In the present review, the roles of sex steroids and gender in mediating or protecting against hypertension and cardiovascular disease will be discussed.
Movement in the Classroom: Boosting Brain Power, Fighting Obesity

Use the activities presented here to incorporate movement into the school day and keep students' minds and bodies functioning optimally.
Maximum-likelihood estimation of time-varying delay--Part I

This paper presents, for the first time, the exact theoretical solution to the problem of maximum-likelihood (ML) estimation of time-varying delay d(t) between a random signal s(t) received at one point in the presence of uncorrelated noise, and the time-delayed, scaled version αs(t - d(t)) of that signal received at another point in the presence of uncorrelated noise. The signal is modeled as a sample function of a nonstationary Gaussian random process and the observation interval is arbitrary. The analysis of this paper represents a generalization of that of Knapp and Carter [1], who derived the ML estimator for the case that the delay is constant, d(t) = d 0 , the signal process is stationary, and the received processes are observed over the infinite interval (-∞, +∞). We show that the ML estimator of d(t) can be implemented in any of four canonical forms which, in general, are time-varying systems. We also show that our results reduce to a generalized cross correlator for the special case treated in [1].
Rapid dynamic programming algorithms for RNA secondary structure

Prediction of RNA secondary structure from the linear RNA sequence is an important mathematical problem in molecular biology. Dynamic programming methods are currently the most useful computer technique but are frequently very expensive in running time. In this paper new dynamic programming algorithms are presented which reduce the required computation. The first polynomial time algorithm is given for predicting general secondary structure.
Solid-state fermentations for biological delignification

Abstract Biological delignification, using white-rot fungi to liberate cellulose and hemicellulose from their complex with lignin, can aid the use of lignocellulose as ruminant animal feed, a source of sugars, and pulp. Solid-state fermentation is the method of choice for biological delignification. Lignin-degrading fungi, their ecophysiological requirements, and the design of solid-state fermenters for delignification are discussed. Capital and operating costs for solid-state fermentation can be kept low, and the lignocellulosic substrate is likely to be the major component of the cost of the delignified product. Experience in the operation of biological delignification processes at pilot plant or larger scale is needed to establish realistic process costs.
The role of NH4Cl and cysteine proteases in Human Papillomavirus type 16 infection.

The infectious pathway of the non-enveloped Human Papillomavirus Type 16 (HPV16) includes binding to the cell surface, clathrin-mediated endocytosis, and penetration into an endosome. HPV16 infection was shown to decrease in the presence of the lysosomotrophic neutralizing agent ammonium chloride (NH4Cl). NH4Cl neutralizes acidic endo-lysosome compartments, thus suggesting that pH was responsible for PV capsid conformational changes leading endosome escape. However, our data suggested that NH4Cl blocked infection by preventing the movement of PV viral particles from the early endosome to the caveosome as was shown for JC virus [1, 2]. We have confirmed that HPV 16 infection requires the trafficking of reporter-virions to the caveosome as is the case for BPV1 [3, 4]. In this manuscript we propose that the observed decrease in infection of PV in the presence of NH4Cl was due to a loss of movement of reporter-virions to caveosomes. We also demonstrate that cysteine proteases are involved in the infectious process, and that cathepsin B treatment of viral particles was shown to overcome the block of infection observed in the presence of furin inhibition. We confirmed the need for cathepsin B in HPV16 infection using cathepsin B null mouse embryonic fibroblasts. We present data that suggest HPV16 infection is in part mediated by cysteine proteases, and that NH4Cl blocks the intracellular trafficking of infectious viral particles. To our knowledge this is the first demonstration that cysteine proteases influence the infection of a non-enveloped virus.
Radiation exposure in pregnant and non-pregnant female interventional radiology workers

Purpose: In 2012-13, 27% of Radiology residents and 15% of VIR fellows were women. Survey data from the ACR show that 3.1% of all practicing radiologists who consider IR their primary specialty are women. The percent of current women members in the SIR is 9%. A recent article in Academic Radiology by Blake et al recommended that IR rotations for residents be limited during pregnancy as accumulated exposure from these cases may be unpredictable. This recommendation is based on information regarding institutional policies rather than exposure data. A literature review revealed no quantitative data regarding exposure to female IR workers to support or refute this recommendation. The purpose of this study is to investigate radiation exposures in our busy academic IR/neuroIR practice to determine whether exposures for pregnant and non-pregnant female IR workers exceed allowable values. Materials and Methods: A two-year retrospective review of radiation exposures to declared pregnant and nonpregnant female IR workers was performed. This study was IRB exempt as the exposure records are mandatorily collected and de-identified by the Radiation Safety Officer. Exposures to the outside collar and inside waist badges were examined. Results: There were 12 declared pregnancies, 10 in nonphysicians, and 2 in a full-time IR physician, during the review period. The average collar and waist badge exposures over the entire 10 months of pregnancy for all nonphysicians were 310 mrem (138-467 mrem) and 18.6 mrem (3-38 mrem) respectively. The average collar and waist badge exposures for the physician were 2507 mrem and 47.5 mrem respectively. During the review period, there were 10 non-pregnant female workers – 9 non-physicians and 1 physician. The average monthly collar exposure over this period was 46.9 mrem (1-372 mrem) for non-physicians and 864.9 mrem (2-2022 mrem) for the physician. Conclusion: Data from this study demonstrate that no pregnant or non-pregnant female IR workers exceeded allowable radiation exposure limits suggesting that IR rotations do not need to be limited for pregnant residents due to radiation concerns. To our knowledge, this is the only study to report actual exposure data for female IR workers.
Behavioral Economics of Food Reinforcement and the Effects of Prefeeding, Extinction, and Eticlopride in Dopamine D2 Receptor Mutant Mice

Several studies have investigated the reinforcing effects of food in genetically engineered mice lacking dopamine D2 receptors (DA D2Rs); however, behavioral economic analyses quantifying reinforcement have not been conducted. The role of DA D2Rs in food reinforcement was examined by comparing responding under various fixed-ratio (FR) schedules of reinforcement, and effects of extinction, satiation, and the DA D2R antagonist eticlopride, in mice with and without genetic deletions of the receptor. Response rates of DA D2R knockout (KO) mice were generally lower than those of littermate wild-type (WT) and heterozygous (HET) mice. The demand curve (consumption vs. FR value) for KO mice decreased more steeply than that of HET or WT mice, suggesting that reinforcing effectiveness is decreased with DA D2R deletion. Prefeeding decreased, whereas extinction increased overall response rates as a proportion of baseline, with no significant genotype differences. Both (+)- and (−)-eticlopride dose-dependently decreased responding in all genotypes with (−)-eticlopride more potent than (+)-eticlopride in all but KO mice. The enantiomers were equipotent in KO mice, and similar in potency to (+)-eticlopride in WT and HET mice. That prefeeding and extinction did not vary across genotypes indicates a lack of involvement of DA D2Rs in these processes. Differences between (−)-eticlopride effects and extinction indicate that DA D2R blockade does not mimic extinction. The maintenance of responding in KO mice indicates that the DA D2R is not necessary for reinforcement. However, the economic analysis indicates that the DA D2R contributes substantially to the effectiveness of food reinforcement.
In the digital world of the EMR, Open Notes change everything

EMR use during medical visits has been found to distract physicians and negatively influence their ability to deliver patient-centered care. In this issue, Assis-Hassid and colleagues propose a redress of this effect by creating a 23-item inventory of communication-related best practices regarding EMR use during medical visits with relevance for medical student training and enhanced clinical practice. This paper and recent initiatives to share physicians’ EMR notes with patients through secure portals raise questions regarding the future role of the EMR and its implication for the patient-physician relationship. The purpose of this commentary is to provide a perspective on the EMR as part of the rapidly evolving digital environment and to discuss how the growing movement to provide patients full access to their EMR can act as a catalyst for the forging of a new model of patient-physician collaboration and partnership.
Meta-Analytic Review of Employee Turnover as a Predictor of Firm Performance

Previous research has primarily revealed a negative relationship between collective employee turnover and organizational performance. However, this research also suggests underlying complexity in the relationship. To clarify the nature of this relationship, the authors conduct a meta-analytic review in which they test and provide support for a portion of Hausknecht and Trevor’s model of collective turnover. The authors’ meta-analysis includes 48 independent samples reporting 157 effect size estimates (N = 24,943), tests six hypothesized moderator variables, and provides path analyses to test alternative conceptualizations of the turnover–organizational performance relationship. Results indicate that the mean corrected correlation between turnover and organizational performance is −.03, but this relationship is moderated by several important variables. For example, the relationship is stronger in manufacturing and transportation industries (−.07), for managerial employees (−.08), in midsize organizations (...
Metabolic responses to dietary leucine restriction involve remodeling of adipose tissue and enhanced hepatic insulin signaling

Dietary leucine was incrementally restricted to test whether limiting this essential amino acid (EAA) would fully reproduce the beneficial responses produced by dietary methionine restriction. Restricting leucine by 85% increased energy intake and expenditure within 5 to 7 days of its introduction and reduced overall accumulation of adipose tissue. Leucine restriction (LR) also improved glucose tolerance, increased hepatic release of fibroblast growth factor 21 into the blood stream, and enhanced insulin-dependent activation of Akt in liver. However, LR had no effect on hepatic lipid levels and failed to lower lipogenic gene expression in the liver. LR did affect remodeling of white and brown adipose tissues, increasing expression of both thermogenic and lipogenic genes. These findings illustrate that dietary LR reproduces many but not all of the physiological responses of methionine restriction. The primary differences occur in the liver, where methionine and LR cause opposite effects on tissue lipid levels and expression of lipogenic genes. Altogether, these findings suggest that the sensing systems which detect and respond to dietary restriction of EAAs act through mechanisms that both leucine and methionine are able to engage, and in the case of hepatic lipid metabolism, may be unique to specific EAAs such as methionine.
Batch-Form Solutions to Optimal Input Signal Recovery in the Presence of Noises

This paper studies the problem of optimally recovering the input signals to a linear time-invariant system in the presence of input and measurement noises. The emphasis is on batch-form solutions which are suitable for short-duration large-domain signal propagation applications. The system, the input and measurement noise covariances, the noise-corrupted output signals are assumed known, and we seek to recover the input signals that enter the system prior to being corrupted by input noise. The input signal recovery is optimal in the sense that the optimal Kalman filter residual is correctly recovered from the given information. Various solution techniques are considered and a weighted least-squares solution is found to be the simplest and most practical in short-duration signal recovery applications.
High-Level Waste Package Licensing Considerations for Extrapolating test Data

Programs intended to provide supporting information for the high-level radioactive waste (HLW) repository program must consider the licensing requirements and the technical issues involved with extrapolation of short-term test data to periods of up to 10,000 years. The licensing requirements of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and the issues the NRC staff considers important for the development of predictive methods, are described. Because performance predictions of the geologic repository and particular components of the waste package must largely be based upon inference, a reasonable assurance, on the basis of the record before the Commission, is the general standard that will be required.
Presidential War Power: Do the Courts Offer Any Answers?

This article surveys the history of federal jurisprudence related to war making decisions. In so doing, it seeks to refute the perception that such decisions are conclusively beyond the realm of judicial review as a result of the political question doctrine of judicial restraint. Instead, the survey of these decisions demonstrates that the more relevant doctrine is that of ripeness. Accordingly, the article asserts that in the appropriate circumstances, the courts could intervene in a war powers dispute between the two political branches. However, such intervention would only be possible in response to express congressional opposition to a presidential war making decision, and only then if the President were unable to offer a legitimate theory of defensive necessity.