cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Autoradiographic analysis of estradiol uptake in the brain and pituitary of the female rat.

The localization of 6,7-3H-estradiol in the brain and pituitary of the ovariectomized rat was studied by autoradiography. Estradiol was incorporated into cells of the dorsal part of the posterior third of the medial amygdaloid nucleus and the nucleus interstitialis stria terminalis and the lateral septal nucleus. The medial preoptic area had labeled cells along with periventricular and suprachiasmatic nuclei of the preoptic region. In the hypothalamus, the labeled cells were found in the arcuate nucleus and the pars lateralis of the ventral medial nucleus as well as the periventricular nucleus. In a time study, animals were killed at 2, 4, 6 and 8 hr after 3H-estradiol injection. The number of labeled cells at 2 hr was maximal. In each subsequent 2-hr interval, the number decreased by about one third. Thus, by 8 hr post injection there were essentially no labeled cells. Unlabeled estradiol (2 μg) given 1 hr before the injection of 3H-estradiol significantly decreased the accumulation of labeled estradiol ...
Educational Applications of Podcasting in the Music Classroom

or the music teacher, keeping up with technology can be a daunting task. One of the latest forms of technology, podcasting, has seen explosive growth in educational use over the last two years. To keep in touch with music educators, MENC: The National Association for Music Education produces an occasional podcast titled "Notes from the Clef," which features interviews with MENC executives and informational public service announcements (www.menc. org/news/view/notes-from-the-clefpodcasts). Podcasting is a technology that allows listeners to subscribe, download, and listen to audio or audiovisual files at their convenience. Like a magazine subscription delivered to your house, once you subscribe to a podcast, each episode is automatically delivered to your computer. There is no need to return to the Web
Modulation of DNA–polyamide interaction by β-alanine substitutions: a study of positional effects on binding affinity, kinetics and thermodynamics

Hairpin polyamides (PAs) are an important class of sequence-specific DNA minor groove binders, and frequently employ a flexible motif, β-alanine (β), to reduce the molecular rigidity to maintain the DNA recognition register. To better understand the diverse effects that β can have on DNA–PA binding affinity, selectivity, and especially kinetics, which have rarely been reported, we have initiated a detailed study for an eight-heterocyclic hairpin PA and its β derivatives with their cognate and mutant sequences. With these derivatives, all internal pyrroles of the parent PA are systematically substituted with single or double βs. A set of complementary experiments have been conducted to evaluate the molecular interactions in detail: UV-melting, biosensor-surface plasmon resonance, circular dichroism and isothermal titration calorimetry. The β substitutions generally weaken the binding affinities of these PAs with cognate DNA, and have large and diverse influences on PA binding kinetics in a position- and number-dependent manner. The DNA base mutations have also shown positional effects on the binding of a single PA. Besides the β substitutions, the monocationic Dp group [3-(dimethylamino)propylamine] in parent PA has been modified into a dicationic Ta group (3,3′-diamino-N-methyldipropylamine) to minimize the frequently observed PA aggregation with ITC experiments. The results clearly show that the Ta modification not only maintains the DNA binding mode and affinity of PA, but also significantly reduces PA aggregation and allows the complete thermodynamic signature of eight-ring hairpin PA to be determined for the first time. This combined set of results significantly extends our understanding of the energetic basis of specific DNA recognition by PAs.
Seasonal Variations of Glaciochemical, Isotopic and Stratigraphic Properties in Siple Dome (Antarctica) Surface Snow

Six snow-pit records recovered from Siple Dome, West Antarctica, during 1994 are used to study seasonal variations in chemical (major ion and H202), isotopic (deuterium) and physical stratigraphic properties during the 1988-94 period. Comparison of δD measurements and satellite-derived brightness temperature for the Siple Dome area suggests that most seasonal SD maxima occur within ±4 weeks of each 1 January. Several other chemical species (H2O2, non-sea-salt (nss) SO4 2-, methanesulfonic acid and NO3-) show coeval peaks with SD, together providing an accurate method for identifying summer accumulation. Sea-salt-derived species generally peak during winter/spring, but episodic input is noted throughout some years. No reliable seasonal signal is identified in species with continental sources (nssCa2+ nss Mg2+), NH4 + or nssCl-. Visible strata such as large depth-hoar layers (>5 cm) are associated with summer accumulation and its metamorphosis, but smaller hoar layers and crusts are more difficult to interpret. A multi-parameter approach is found to provide the most accurate dating of these snow-pit records, and is used to determine annual layer thicknesses at each site Significant spatial accumulation variability exists on an annual basis, but mean accumulation in the sampled 10 km2 grid for the 1988-94 period is fairly uniform.
Applicability of Birth–Death Markov Modeling for Single-Molecule Counting Using Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Fluorescent Sensor Arrays

In recent work, the authors have shown that d(AT)15 DNA-wrapped single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are able to detect the adsorption and desorption of single mols. of nitric oxide (NO) from the surface by quenching of the near-IR fluorescence. A central question is how to est. the local concn. from stochastic dynamics for these types of sensors. Herein, the authors employ an exact soln. to the birth-death Markov model to est. the local analyte concn. from the stochastic dynamics. Conditions are derived for the intrinsic variance displayed by identical sensor elements, and the homogeneity of the environment is assessed by comparing exptl. sensor-to-sensor variance with this limit. The authors find that d(AT)15 DNA-wrapped SWNTs demonstrate variances that are close to the idealized limit at relatively high NO concns. (19.4 μM). At 780 nM, the sensor-to-sensor variance is approx. double the idealized value, indicating marginal variation in the SWNT array. An NO adsorption coeff. of 2.6 × 10-4 [μM-1] is identified, and the authors outline how to predict the local analyte concn. from the sensor dynamics. [on SciFinder(R)]
The fine structure of identified frog neuromuscular junctions in relation to synaptic activity.

Summary This study correlates morphological changes in the fine structure of the neuromuscular junction with either high rates of secretion or fatigue. The ultrastructural analysis of physiologically studied junctions of the frog sartorius was accomplished by using only edge muscle cells which were readily identified in thin sections. Control junctions that were physiologically normal showed a large range in the number of synaptic vesicles even though all the sections were analyzed at or near ‘active’ zones. There was no difference with glutaraldehyde, mixed aldehydes or OsO 4 fixation. Transmitter secretion was increased with either black widow spider venom (BWSV), heat, Ca 2+ challenge, or tetanic nerve stimulation. BWSV greatly increased the rate of spontaneous transmitter secretion and depleted endings of vesicles. Heat and/or calcium challenges also increased the rate of spontaneous transmitter secretion by 100 times and decreased quantal size to that of small mode miniature end-plate potentials. Unlike BWSV, no obvious morphological changes were found. Nerve stimulation at 10 Hz for 9–28 min decreased the evoked response by as much as 99%, but at least 50%. The means of vesicle populations of nerve terminals from aldehyde-fixed grouped controls and from stimulated preparations were significantly different by the t -test. This difference was not readily apparent because the mean number of vesicles per section in 90% of the stimulated nerve terminals fell within the range of the control preparations. The intra-animal variations in the controls and some of the experimentals were apparently significantly smaller than inter-animal variations. Thus, the use of parametric statistics appears unjustified and if one control animal is removed, there is no statistical difference between the two populations. There was no significant correlation between percent vesicles remaining and amplitude of end-plate potentials remaining after stimulation.
Internal and surface wave production in a stratified fluid

Abstract Various mechanisms of production of internal and surface gravity waves in a stratified fluid are analyzed. Formulas are obtained for the surface elevation and the pressure, density and velocity of the fluid for both two- and three-dimensional motions in each case. The mechanisms are application of pressure to the free surface, movement of the bottom, injection of fluid below the surface, alteration of the fluid density, movement of a pressure distribution over the free surface, movement of a distribution of bottom velocity along the bottom, movement through the fluid of a source of fluid and movement through the fluid of an alterer of density. The first mechanism may represent a storm or explosion above the surface, the second a submarine earthquake or landslide, the third an underwater explosion, the fourth the subsidence of fluid displaced from its equilibrium height by mixing, the fifth a storm moving along the surface, the sixth a propagating earthquake or sequence of earthquakes or landslides, the seventh an object moving through the fluid and displacing it and the eighth the collapse of the mixed wake of a moving object. The density profile of the undisturbed fluid is permitted to be arbitrary and may be discontinuous, the depth is arbitrary but constant and the linear theory of inviscid fluid motion is employed.
Two new species of Habracanthus (Acanthaceae) from Colombia

Two new Colombian species ofHabracanthus,H. malacus from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta andH. latifolius from the Sierra de Perija, are described, illustrated, and compared withH. antipharmacus, their closest relative.
Worrying about emotions in history.

As a medievalist, I have cause to be worried about emotions in history. I do not worry about the emotions themselves: people in the past, as now, expressed joy, sorrow, anger, fear, and many other feelings; these emotions had multiple meanings then (as they do today); they had their effects on others and were manipulated in turn (as ours do and are). What medievalists - indeed, all historians who want to get their history right - must worry about is how historians have treated emotions in history. The purpose of this article is to survey the historiography of emotions in Western history and to suggest some fresh ways to think about the topic.
Slip Behavior and Hardness Indentations in MnSe and MnSe‐MnS Solid Solutions

Single crystals in the solid solution series MnSe-MnS were prepared, and selected surfaces were indented with either a Vickers or a Knoop microindenter. Information on mechanical behavior was obtained by observation of slip traces around indentations and by study of Knoop hardness anisotropy. Manganous selenide exhibits {111} and {110} as primary and secondary slip mechanisms, respectively, in contrast to the {110} mechanism preferred by MnS. In the system MnSe-MnS, the primary slip mechanism changes gradually with composition. The {110} mechanism of MnS is much more sensitive to temperature than the {111} mechanism of MnSe, and a large solid solution hardening effect accompanies the substitution of sul-fide for selenide ions.
Effect of glucagon, dibutyryl adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate and phosphodiesterase inhibitors on rat liver phosphorylase activity and adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate levels.

Theophylline, papaverine and 1-ethyl-4-(isopropylidenehydrazine)-1H-pyrazole-(3,4-b)-pyridine-5-carboxylic acid, ethyl ester HCl (SQ 20,009) were found to inhibit both high Km (200 μM) and low Km(3 μM) cyclic 3′,5′-AMP phosphodiesterase activity in 100,000 g supernatant fraction from rat liver. Theophylline was the least potent and SQ 20,009 the most potent inhibitor of both activities. In the liver slice preparation, papaverine (5 × 10−4), theophylline (10−3 M) and SQ 20,009 (10−3 M) failed to elevate cyclic 3′,5′-AMP, while glucagon (10−6 M) produced a significant (P < 0·05) elevation in the tissue levels of the cyclic nucleotide. All three phosphodiesterase inhibitors significantly (P < 0·05) augmented the ability of glucagon to elevate cyclic 3′,5′-AMP levels. Glucagon and papaverine stimulated phosphorylase activity, while theophylline inhibited both basal and glucagon-stimulated phosphorylase activity. SQ 20,009 was without effect. It is concluded that no cause and effect relationship can be assumed between an ability to inhibit phosphodiesterase and to alter phosphorylase activity.
The effect of television day part on gender portrayals in television commercials: A content analysis

Gender portrayals in 2,209 network television commercials were content analyzed. To compare differences between three day parts, the sample was chosen from three time periods: daytime, when the audience is mostly women; evening prime time, when the sex of the audience is more evenly distributed; and weekend afternoon sportscasts, when men are a large percentage of the audience. The results indicate large and consistent differences in the way men and women are portrayed in these three day parts, with almost all comparisons reaching significance at the .05 level. Although ads in all day parts tended to portray men in stereotypical roles of authority and dominance, those on weekends tended to emphasize escape from home and family. The findings of earlier studies which did not consider day part differences may now have to be reevaluated.
Renal pedicle injury in patients with multiple injuries

In a study of 41 patients seen over 24 years, renal pedicle injuries were associated with life-threatening multiple system injuries and the immediate surgical management of these associated injuries by general surgeons took precedence over that of the renal pedicle injury. The result was the delayed diagnosis of the renal pedicle injury with loss of function of the kidney. In an effort to improve the renal salvage rate aggressive management of renal pedicle injuries with immediate radiologic evaluation and early surgical treatment was instituted in 1969. The records of 41 renal pedicle injuries from 1959 to 1983 were evaluated. Blunt external trauma was the cause in 76%. All 41 patients had multiple system injuries, averaging 3.7 associated injuries per patient, with 35 (85%) having a laparotomy for intra-abdominal injuries and an overall mortality rate of 44%. Conservative management was followed in 13 patients, with injury to the renal artery in nine and a branch of the renal artery in four, with a renal loss/delayed nephrectomy rate of nine of nine (100%) renal artery injuries. Immediate surgical management was performed in 23 patients, with injury to the renal artery in nine, the renal artery and renal vein in four, a branch of the renal artery in two, and the renal vein in eight, with a renal salvage rate of seven of 21 (33%) renal artery and/or vein injuries. Five patients died on admission or on the operating room table. A significant renal salvage rate resulted from immediate radiologic evaluation and early surgical treatment of renal artery/vein injuries compared to zero salvage rate with conservative management.
Visualization of Endothelial Clefts and Nuclei in Living Microvessels with Combined Reflectance and Fluorescence Confocal Microscopy

Objective: The cellular basis for spatial heterogeneity along postcapillary venules in their response to inflammatory mediators is not understood. To study permeability regulatory processes on an individual cell basis in intact microvessels, we developed methods to delineate individual endothelial cells within living, single perfused microvessels.Methods: Individual postcapillary microvessels in the mesenteries of frogs and hamsters were perfused with chloride-free Ringer's solutions containing AgNO3 (0.1 g per 100 ml) for 5–10 s. Vessels were immediately flushed with Ringer's solution containing serum albumin and some vessels subsequently perfused with the fluorescent nucleic acid stain YO-PR0-1 (1 μM) for 10–15 min. Vessels were imaged in situ using laser scanning confocal microscopy. A reflectance image from silver precipitate in the endothelial clefts and a fluorescence image of the nuclei were simultaneously recorded. Stacks of confocal images were merged and used to reconstruct the three-dimensional...
Metabolic effects of hydrochlorothiazide and enalapril during treatment of the hypertensive diabetic patient. Enalapril for hypertensive diabetics.

• To determine the effect of enalapril maleate and low-dose hydrochlorothiazide therapy on blood pressure and glucose and lipid homeostasis in hypertensive type II diabetic patients, we treated nine of these patients sequentially with placebo, hydrochlorothiazide (25 mg/d with supplemental potassium chloride), and enalapril (10 to 20 mg/ d). Sitting blood pressure fell significantly and to comparable levels with both hydrochlorothiazide and enalapril monotherapy. Enalapril monotherapy was associated with a slight, but not significant, fall in fasting blood glucose levels and with a significant fall in hemoglobin A1clevels. This improved glucose homeostasis could not be explained satisfactorily by changes in peripheral insulin sensitivity or hepatic glucose output, determined with the euglycemic clamp technique, or by changes in fasting serum insulin levels or monocyte insulin binding. In these low doses, hydrochlorothiazide did not worsen glucose homeostasis. Serum total cholesterol levels were significantly lower with enalapril therapy than with hydrochlorothiazide therapy or with placebo, and serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels did not change significantly with either treatment. Thus, by providing effective blood pressure control and beneficial metabolic effects, enalapril therapy appears ideal for treatment of hypertension in diabetic patients. Similarly, low-dose hydrochlorothiazide therapy appears to have fewer metabolic complications in these patients and is, therefore, a logical alternative to substitute for, or add to, enalapril therapy. (Arch Intern Med1988;148:2363-2368)
Changing patterns of self-management in youth with type I diabetes.

Self-management of type I diabetes is key to good physical and psychosocial outcomes of the disease, yet little is known about how youth and their parents share responsibility for illness management. This study describes the division of labor between youth and their parents, self-management conflict, and three patterns of self-management in youth across four developmental stages: preadolescence, early adolescence, mid-adolescence, and late adolescence. Twenty-two youth (8–19 years) with type I diabetes and one of their parents were interviewed using semistructured interviews. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results indicated that parents of preadolescents (8–11 years) performed much of their children's diabetes care. Dyads reported some conflicts, particularly over food, amount of bolus, and blood glucose testing. The dyads demonstrated a self-management pattern that we identified as parent-dominant. Most early adolescents (11–15 years) performed much of their own daily care, but parents actively participated in their self-management and oversaw it. The majority of dyads reported conflict over food and blood glucose testing. Most early adolescents demonstrated a transitional self-management pattern whereby they managed their own daily care, with varying amounts of parental oversight. In mid-adolescence (15–17 years), youth managed nearly all of their diabetes care; however, some dyads reported that parental oversight of illness care was still considerable. Exercise was conflictual for the majority of these dyads. Over half of the youth and, by late adolescence (17–19 years), all youth demonstrated a pattern of adolescent-dominant self-management. In adolescent-dominant self-management, youth independently managed their diabetes. Half of the dyads reported that there were sometimes conflicts over food and blood glucose testing. Understanding the nature of sharing self-management responsibilities, the nature of conflict in carrying out such responsibilities, and the pattern of self-management may help nurses provide more targeted assistance to youth with diabetes and to their parents.
Digestive end products release pancreatic enzymes from particulate cellular pools, particularly zymogen granules

Abstract The effects of various amino acids and phosphorylated forms of glucose on the release of digestive enzymes from particulate cellular pools, particularly zymogen granules, were evaluated in rat pancreas. Whole tissue homogenates, as well as zymogen granules isolated either by differential centrifugation in 0.3 M sucrose or by preparation in buffered sucrose and subsequent centrifugation in a Percoll gradient, were studied. The basic amino acids L -arginine and L -lysine, sites of tryptic cleavage, caused the release of trypsinogen, but not chymotrypsinogen, whereas the aromatic amino acids L -phenylalanine and L -tryptophan, sites of chymotryptic cleavage, caused release of both trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen. Neither led to the release of the starch-splitting enzyme amylase. All effects occurred within the range of normal plasma concentrations for these amino acids in the rat. Two amino acids, L -threonine and hydroxyl- L -proline, that are not sites of cleavage by trypsin or chymotrypsin, and a nonmammalian amino acid, aminoadipic acid, did not lead to release of trypsinogen, chymotrypsinogen, or amylase. Two phosphorylated forms of glucose, glucose 1-phosphate and glucose 1,6-diphosphate, caused the release of amylase, but of neither trypsinogen nor chymotrypsinogen. Contrary to previous results, D -glucose was without effect, as was glucose 6-phosphate. We propose that certain digestive end products, by direct action on zymogen granules, cause the selective release of the enzymes involved in their Evolution from polymeric substrates during digestion.
Nicotinamide: necessary nutrient emerges as a novel cytoprotectant for the brain

Although usually identified as an essential cellular nutrient for cellular growth and maintenance, nicotinamide is under development as a novel cytoprotectant for acute and chronic neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we outline support for the premise that nicotinamide both prevents and reverses neuronal and vascular cell injury. Nicotinamide fosters DNA integrity and maintains phosphatidylserine membrane asymmetry to prevent cellular inflammation, cellular phagocytosis and vascular thrombosis. The downstream cellular and molecular cascades are considered vital for the cytoprotection offered by nicotinamide. These pathways encompass the modulation of Akt, the forkhead transcription factor FKHRL1, mitochondrial membrane potential, caspase activities and cellular energy metabolism, but remain independent of intracellular pH and mitogen-activated protein kinases. As both a therapeutic agent and an investigational tool, nicotinamide offers new therapeutic strategies for degenerative disorders of the CNS.
Equations of Motion Using Thermodynamic Coordinates

Abstract The forms of the primitive equations of motion and continuity are obtained when an arbitrary thermodynamic state variable=mrestricted only to be vertically monotonic=mis used as the vertical coordinate. Natural generalizations of the Montgomery and Exner functions suggest themselves. For a multicomponent fluid like seawater the dependence of the coordinate on salinity, coupled with the thermobaric effect, generates contributions to the momentum balance from the salinity gradient, multiplied by a thermodynamic coefficient that can be completely described given the coordinate variable and the equation of state. In the vorticity balance this term produces a contribution identified with the baroclinicity vector. Only when the coordinate variable is a function only of pressure and in situ specific volume does the coefficient of salinity gradient vanish and the baroclinicity vector disappear. This coefficient is explicitly calculated and displayed for potential specific volume as thermodynamic coordina...
Structure and Meaning in Medieval Arabic and Persian Poetry: Orient Pearls

Structure and Meaning in Medieval Arabic and Persian Poetry: Orient Pearls, Julie Scott Meisami, London: RoutledgeCurzon, 2003, ISBN 0-7007-1575-4, 512pp. Structure and Meaning in Medieval Arabic a...
CONSTRUCTION OF AN EARTH MODEL: ANALYSIS OF EXOPLANET LIGHT CURVES AND MAPPING THE NEXT EARTH WITH THE NEW WORLDS OBSERVER

The orbital light curve of a terrestrial exoplanet will likely contain valuable information about the surface and atmospheric features of the planet, both in its overall shape and hourly variations. We have constructed an empirically based code capable of simulating observations of the Earth from any orientation, at any time of year with continuously updated cloud and snow coverage with a New Worlds Observatory. By simulating these observations over a full orbital revolution at a distance of 10 pc we determine that the detection of an obliquity or seasonal terrain change is possible at low inclinations. In agreement with other studies, a 4 m New Worlds Observer can accurately determine the rotation rate of the planet at a success rate from ~30% to 80% with only 5 days of observations depending on the signal to noise of the observations. We also attempt simple inversions of these diurnal light curves to sketch a map of the reflecting planet's surface features. This mapping technique is only successful with highly favorable systems and in particular requires that the cloud coverage must be lower than the Earth's average. Our test case of a 2 M ⊕ planet at 7 pc distance with low exo-zodiacal light and 25% cloud coverage produced crude, but successful results. Additionally, with these highly favorable systems NWO may be able to discern the presence of liquid surface water (or other smooth surfaces) though it requires a complex detection available only at crescent phases in high inclination systems.
Analysis of tone reproduction with square, circular, and concentric-ring patterned screens of linear cell transmittance.

The optimum parameters for high-fidelity image reproduction by halftone contact screens of square, circular, and concentric-ring cell patterns possessing linear optical transmittance are presented. Our theoretical analysis finds that, in comparison, the screens of concentric-ring patterns can achieve better reproduction fidelity.
Indoor-outdoor relationships for airborne particulate matter of outdoor origin

Abstract The air in a room was cleaned, and then airborne particulate matter was collected for various subsequent time intervals simultaneously in the room and outdoors nearby by pumping air through filters; the filters were analyzed by X-ray excitation for elements known to be primarily of outdoor origin (Fe, Zn, Pb, Br, Ca). Within several hours an equilibrium is reached in which the indoor/outdoor ratio is typically 0.3. A model is developed incorporating filtration in passing through walls, and deposition on, and resuspension from surfaces in the room. Experiments were carried out with windows “cracked” open and wide open, and with windows and/or other room surfaces covered with plastic sheet to determine the importance of various terms. Several rooms of various types and two automobiles were studied and it is concluded that a person remaining indoors with doors and windows closed probably inhales no more than 1 3 as much dust of outdoor origin as he would if he were outdoors.
Acupuncture as palliative therapy for physical symptoms and quality of life for advanced cancer patients.

Background. Acupuncture is underutilized as an adjunct cancer therapy. The main study objectives were to determine the feasibility of administering acupuncture as palliative therapy to patients with advanced ovarian or breast cancer and to assess the effect on symptoms and quality of life (QOL). Methods. This study was a pilot, single-armed prospective clinical trial for patients with advanced cancer to receive 12 acupuncture sessions over 8 weeks with follow-up at weeks 9 and 12. Ambulatory patients with advanced ovarian or breast cancer were enrolled to receive treatments at an outpatient academic oncology center. Symptom severity was measured before and after each acupuncture session. A composite QOL assessment tool, consisting of validated instruments, was completed at 5 time points. Results. Forty patients enrolled in the study. Twenty-eight patients (70%; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 53%-83%) completed 4 weeks of treatment, and 26 patients (65%; 95% CI = 48%-79%) completed 8 weeks. Eight patients ...
Polymerization of diethynyldiphenylmethane: DSC, FTIR, NMR, and dielectric characterization

La polymerisation radicalaire thermique du diethynyl-4,4' diphenylmethane donne un polymere tres reticule. Proposition de mecanisme faisant intervenir une cyclotrimerisation du monomere, puis une polymerisation lineaire via les groupes terminaux acetyleniques
Functional polymers. XIII. Synthesis and polymerization of 2(2‐hydroxy‐5‐methylphenyl)‐5‐vinyl‐2H‐benzotriazole

The synthesis of 2(2-hydroxy-5-methylphenyl)-5-vinyl-2H-benzotriazole was accomplished in seven steps starting from 4-ethylaniline. Acetylation and nitration followed by hydrolysis gave 2-nitro-4-cthylaniline which was diazotized, condensed with p-cresol, and reduced to 2(2-hydroxy-5-methylphenyl)-5-ethyl-2H-benzotriazole. As in previous cases, the ethyl group was transformed to the vinyl compound by bromination with N-bromosuccinimide and dehydrobromination of the 1-bromoethyl compound. Monomer grade 2(2-hydroxy-5-methylphenyl)-5-vinyl-2H-benzotriazole was polymerized and copolymerized with styrene, methyl methacrylate, and n-butyl acrylate.
Analyzing the expressive range of a level generator

This paper explores a method for analyzing the expressive range of a procedural level generator, and applies this method to Launchpad, a level generator for 2D platformers. Instead of focusing on the number of levels that can be created or the amount of time it takes to create them, we instead examine the variety of generated levels and the impact of changing input parameters. With the rise in the popularity of PCG, it is important to be able to fairly evaluate and compare different generation techniques within similar domains. We have found that such analysis can also expose unexpected biases in the generation algorithm and holes in the expressive range that drive future work.
Characterization of a Dorsal-Eye Gal4 Line in Drosophila

In Drosophila, the Gal4-UAS system is used to drive ectopic gene expression in a tissue-specific manner. In this system, transgenic flies expressing tissue specific Gal4 are crossed to a line in which the gene to be expressed is under the control of a Gal4-responsive UAS sequence. The resulting progeny express the gene of interest in the pattern of the particular Gal4 line. Since a given UAS-transgene can be driven by any Gal4 line, this system is predominantly limited by available Gal4 lines. Here we report the characterization of a novel line, DE-Gal4, which in the eye is expressed in the dorsal compartment for the majority of development. Furthermore, we use functional tests to show that the DE-Gal4 line is a useful tool with which to manipulate gene expression in half of the developing eye.
Can terrestrial ectotherms escape the heat of climate change by moving

Whether movement will enable organisms to alleviate thermal stress is central to the biodiversity implications of climate change. We use the temperature-dependence of ectotherm performance to investigate the fitness consequences of movement. Movement to an optimal location within a 50 km radius will only offset the fitness impacts of climate change by 2100 in 5 per cent of locations globally. Random movement carries an 87 per cent risk of further fitness detriment. Mountainous regions with high temperature seasonality (i.e. temperate areas) not only offer the greatest benefit from optimal movement but also the most severe fitness consequences if an organism moves to the wrong location. Doubling dispersal capacity would provide modest benefit exclusively to directed dispersers in topographically diverse areas. The benefits of movement for escaping climate change are particularly limited in the tropics, where fitness impacts will be most severe. The potential of movement to lessen climate change impacts may have been overestimated.
Modification and comparison of minimally invasive cochleostomy techniques: A pilot study.

Objectives/Hypothesis: Bimodal stimulation may offer improved auditory function following cochlear implantation. Modification of technique during cochleostomy may minimize trauma and maximize residual hearing. We hypothesize that CO2 laser use during cochleostomy is useful and may decrease intracochlear trauma. This study examines the utility of CO2 laser to perform cochleostomy and compares intracochlear sound and temperature levels during laser and drill usage. Study Design: Experimental (30 cadaveric temporal bones). Methods: A CO2 laser at 3 W (four bones) and 6 W (four bones) and otologic drill (six bones) were utilized to perform a cochleostomy while recording operative time. Subsequently, 16 bones were used to simultaneously record intracochlear sound (in decibels) and temperature (in degrees Fahrenheit) during CO2 laser (eight bones) and drill cochleostomies (eight bones). Results: Average cochleostomy time for CO2 laser was 15.5 minutes (3 W) and 7.75 minutes (6 W); it was 8 minutes for the drill. Average intracochlear sound level was 54.9 dB during laser use and 89.9 dB during drill use (P < .001), whereas maximal levels were 75 to 118 dB during laser use and 95 to 136 dB during drill use (P = .018). Average temperature was 63.4°F during laser use and 61.5°F during drill use (P = .151), whereas maximum temperatures ranged from 66 to 120°F during laser use and 62 to 70°F during drill use (P = .045). Conclusions: CO2 laser can create cochleostomies comparable in operative time and intracochlear temperature to drilling while decreasing intracochlear sound levels. Further investigation is warranted to minimize trauma and maximize auditory function during cochleostomy.
Hierarchical A* Parsing with Bridge Outside Scores

Hierarchical A* (HA*) uses of a hierarchy of coarse grammars to speed up parsing without sacrificing optimality. HA* prioritizes search in refined grammars using Viterbi outside costs computed in coarser grammars. We present Bridge Hierarchical A* (BHA*), a modified Hierarchial A* algorithm which computes a novel outside cost called a bridge outside cost. These bridge costs mix finer outside scores with coarser inside scores, and thus constitute tighter heuristics than entirely coarse scores. We show that BHA* substantially outperforms HA* when the hierarchy contains only very coarse grammars, while achieving comparable performance on more refined hierarchies.
MORPHOMETRIC DATA ON THE ENDOTHELIUM OF BLOOD CAPILLARIES

Local differentiations within the endothelium of both muscular (diaphragm, myocardium) and visceral (pancreas, jejunal villi) capillaries have been studied in rats on sectioned and freeze-cleaved preparations. Four distinct parts have been recognized in the endothelial cells of all these vessels on the basis of subcellular components present in each part and on the basis of variations in the local frequency of plasmalemmal vesicles: (a) the parajunctional zone, (b) the peripheral zone, (c) the organelle region, and (d) the nuclear region. Our data indicate that ∼16, ∼7.0, and 8.5% of the endothelial cytoplasmic volume (in the peripheral zone) is accounted for by vesicles, their content, and their membranes, respectively. The average density of vesicular openings per µm2 is 78 in diaphragm, 89 in myocardium, 25 in pancreas, and 10 in jejunal mucosa capillaries. The frequency of fenestrae is 1.7 times as high in jejunal (26/µm2) as in pancreatic capillaries (15/µm2), the corresponding fractional areas being ∼9.5 and ∼6%, respectively, of the endothelial surface. Intercellular spaces occupy a relatively small area (∼0.08 to 0.2%) of the inner endothelial surface.
Segmentation of CE videos by finding convex skin

Reviewing video from wireless capsule endoscopy is a tedious work that requires concentration for extended hours. Computer algorithms are sought to reduce the review time and large number of training examples, to reduce the generalization error of machine learning algorithms. Therefore efficient and scalable approaches are needed which can modify knowledge structures in an incremental fashion without having to revisit all previously processed data. This paper proposes a novel incremental learning method for SVMs. The intuition is that the samples within the skin are retained alone in training. When additional samples are provided, they will be used together with the skin of the convex hull constructed from previous dataset. This result in much less number of instances and are used in incremental steps of the training process. Experiments were performed to segment frames of capsule endoscopy videos into four sections of gastrointestinal tract.
A Synthetic Polyvalent Ligand for α5β1 Integrin Activates Components of the Urothelial Carcinoma Cell Response to Bacillus Calmette-Guérin

Purpose: Prior study has shown that bacillus Calmette-Guerin binds to and cross-links α5β1 integrins present on the surface of urothelial carcinoma cells. Antibody mediated cross-linking of α5β1 integrins can reproduce signal transduction, gene transactivation and phenotypic changes, similar to those observed in response to bacillus Calmette-Guerin. We evaluated the effect of a synthetic polyvalent ligand for α5β1 on these elements of the tumor response to bacillus Calmette-Guerin.Materials and Methods: The consensus α5β1 integrin binding tripeptide RGD was linked to a MAP8 backbone to result in an octavalent construct targeting α5β1 integrin. RGD-MAP8 was used to determine its effect on signaling pathway activation (nuclear factor-κB, NRF2 and CEBP), gene expression (p21, interleukin-6 and 8, CXCL1, CXCL2 and CCL20) and cytotoxicity (trypan blue exclusion and HMGB1 release) in human urothelial carcinoma cells. Results were compared to those of treatment with bacillus Calmette-Guerin or the missense pepti...
A stochastic equation-based model of the value of international air-travel restrictions for controlling pandemic flu

International air travel can be an important contributing factor to the global spread of infectious diseases, as evidenced by the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in 2003. Restrictions on air travel may therefore be one response to attempt to control a widespread epidemic of a disease such as influenza. We present results from a stochastic, equation-based, global epidemic model which suggest that air travel restrictions often provide only a slight delay in the epidemic. This delay may give valuable time in which to implement other disease control strategies; however, if other strategies are not implemented, the use of travel restrictions alone may lead to a more severe epidemic than if they had not been imposed. Our results also indicate that the particular network of cities chosen for modeling can have a great influence on the model results.
Skeletons in the p53 tumor suppressor closet: genetic evidence that p53 blocks bone differentiation and development

A series of in vitro tissue culture studies indicated that the p53 tumor suppressor promotes cellular differentiation, which could explain its role in preventing cancer. Quite surprisingly, however, two new in vivo studies (Lengner et al., 2006; Wang et al., 2006) provide genetic evidence that p53 blocks osteoblast differentiation and bone development. These interesting results and their biological and clinical implications are the focus of this comment.
A "Chicken & Egg" Network Coding Problem

We consider the multi-source network coding problem in cyclic networks. This problem involves several difficulties not found in acyclic networks, due to additional causality requirements. This paper highlights the difficulty of these causality conditions by analyzing two example cyclic networks which are structurally similar. Both networks have an essentially identical network code which appears to transmit all information from the sources to the sinks; however, this network code is invalid since it violates causality. We show that, in one of the networks, the invalid code can be modified to obey causality, whereas in the other network this is impossible. This unachievability result is proven by a new information inequality for causal coding schemes in a simple cyclic network.
Structure of H/ACA RNP Protein Nhp2p Reveals Cis/Trans Isomerization of a Conserved Proline at the RNA and Nop10 Binding Interface

Abstract H/ACA small nucleolar and Cajal body ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) function in site-specific pseudouridylation of eukaryotic rRNA and snRNA, rRNA processing, and vertebrate telomerase biogenesis. Nhp2, one of four essential protein components of eukaryotic H/ACA RNPs, forms a core trimer with the pseudouridylase Cbf5 and Nop10 that binds to H/ACA RNAs specifically. Crystal structures of archaeal H/ACA RNPs have revealed how the protein components interact with each other and with the H/ACA RNA. However, in place of Nhp2p, archaeal H/ACA RNPs contain L7Ae, which binds specifically to an RNA K-loop motif absent from eukaryotic H/ACA RNPs, while Nhp2 binds a broader range of RNA structures. We report solution NMR studies of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Nhp2 (Nhp2p), which reveal that Nhp2p exhibits two major conformations in solution due to cis/trans isomerization of the evolutionarily conserved Pro83. The equivalent proline is in the cis conformation in all reported structures of L7Ae and other homologous proteins. Nhp2p has the expected α-β-α fold, but the solution structures of the major conformation of Nhp2p with trans Pro83 and of Nhp2p-S82W with cis Pro83 reveal that Pro83 cis/trans isomerization affects the positions of numerous residues at the Nop10 and RNA binding interface. An S82W substitution, which stabilizes the cis conformation, also stabilizes the association of Nhp2p with H/ACA snoRNPs expressed in vivo. We propose that Pro83 plays a key role in the assembly of the eukaryotic H/ACA RNP, with the cis conformation locking in a stable Cbf5–Nop10–Nhp2 ternary complex and positioning the protein backbone to interact with the H/ACA RNA.
The Study of the Bonding Energy on Silicon-to-Glass Wafer Bonding

The bonding energy plays a significant role in wafer bonding. The temperature dependence of the bonding energy has been studied to understand the physical/chemical interaction at the bonded Si/Glass interface for a variety of glasses. Several primary glass attributes, such as surface roughness, Young’s modulus, strain point, CTE, and glass constituents, have been evaluated to correlate to the bonding energy. While the other attributes have been proven insignificant to the bonding energy, notable correlations with the glass surface roughness, the strain point of the glass, and the alkaline content in the glass have been discovered.
Laserectomy of the human nucleus pulposus and intradiscal pressure measurements: an in vitro and in vivo study

A new treatment technique has been developed to relieve the herniated disc symptoms. An Nd:YAG laser is used to vaporize a small volume of the nucleus pulposus and thus regressing the spinal disc. In vitro and in vivo intradiscal pressures are measured before, during and after laserectomy. The results show a significant reduction in intradiscal pressures after laserectomy, as a small volume of the nucleus pulposus is ablated.
Data abstractions for data bases

The concept of abstract data types has emerged from programming language research as a device to encourage and facilitate structured and modular programming [1]. It separates the abstraction of a data object from its implementation. The user of an abstract data type only concerns himself with the behavioral semantics of the type: what meaningful operations can be applied to objects of the type; the internal representation and structure of the type is unknown to him. In this way, irrelevent detail is suppressed and meaningfulness of programs enhanced.What application does this concept have to the area of data bases? There are some obvious similarities between the principle of abstraction and the concept of data independence of data bases [2]. Data independence means that application programs that utilize a data base do not need to know either the physical or the structural organization of the data base, but can relate to it purely on a logical plane. As with data abstractions, the goal is clarity and modifiability of programs, resulting from concentration on semantics rather than representation.
A High Performance Pneumatic Force Actuator System: Part II—Nonlinear Controller Design

In this article we present two nonlinear force controllers based on the sliding mode control theory. For this purpose we use the detailed mathematical model of the pneumatic system developed in the first part of the paper. The first controller is based on the complete model, and exhibits superior performance both in the numerical simulation and experiments, but requires complex online computations for the control law. The second controller neglects the valve dynamics and the time delay due to connecting tubes. The performance of this controller exhibits slight degradation for configurations with relatively short tubes, and at frequencies up to 20 Hz. At higher frequencies or when long connecting tubes are used, however, the performance exhibits significant degradation compared to the one provided by the full order controller.@S0022-0434~00!00703-6#
PKCι interacts with Rab14 and modulates epithelial barrier function through regulation of claudin-2 levels

PKCι is essential for the establishment of epithelial polarity and the normal assembly of tight junctions. We find that PKCι knockdown does not compromise the steady-state distribution of most tight junction proteins but results in increased transepithelial resistance (TER) and decreased paracellular permeability. Analysis of the levels of tight junction components demonstrates that claudin-2 protein levels are decreased. However, other tight junction proteins, such as claudin-1, ZO-1, and occludin, are unchanged. Incubation with an aPKC pseudosubstrate recapitulates the phenotype of PKCι knockdown, including increased TER and decreased levels of claudin-2. In addition, overexpression of PKCι results in increased claudin-2 levels. ELISA and coimmunoprecipitation show that the TGN/endosomal small GTPase Rab14 and PKCι interact directly. Immunolabeling shows that PKCι and Rab14 colocalize in both intracellular puncta and at the plasma membrane and that Rab14 expression is required for normal PKCι distribution in cysts in 3D culture. We showed previously that knockdown of Rab14 results in increased TER and decreased claudin-2. Our results suggest that Rab14 and aPKC interact to regulate trafficking of claudin-2 out of the lysosome-directed pathway.