cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
133 Economic effects of COVID-19 on the equine industry in Florida and Louisiana

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the equine industry and those who support it to reinvent the way business activities are conducted. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact these challenges have had on small business owners and employees within the industry. A survey was distributed through Qualtrics in May of 2020 and a convenience sample of 299 respondents were collected. Respondents ranged in age from 20 to 84 with an average of 55.3 (SD = 14.1). The majority of respondents were female (n = 182; 60.9%). Respondents averaged 23.9 years in the equine field (SD = 14.0; Min years = 0.0; Max years = 60.0) and represented 27 states with the largest participation from Florida (n = 123; 41.1%) and Louisiana (n = 108; 36.1%). Respondents were primarily breeders (n = 113; 37.8%) or trainers (n = 92; 30.8%). Approximately half of respondents reported working in the equine industry as their primary source of income (n = 159; 53.2%). The number of employees reported ranged from 0 (volunteer organization) to 67 (M = 3.8; SD = 6.7). Many respondents reported they were able to retain all their employees through COVID-19 (n = 202; 73.7%). Most respondents reported COVID-19 had decreased their dollars earned (n = 221; 80.7%), decreased ability to travel (n = 237; 86.5%), decreased requests for services (n = 204; 74.5%) and decreased ability to work (n = 150; 58.0%). Nearly all respondents reported they had not increased prices for services offered (n = 264; 96.4%), nor had they offered sales, discounts, or other promotions (n = 229; 83.6%). Two-thirds of respondents (n = 188; 68.6%) were still able to offer services, despite the COVID-19 situation. The total income loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic (M = $54,491; SD = $151,088), however in spite of the income loss, most respondents (n = 224; 93.7%) indicated they will reopen their businesses once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. Some respondents reported reliance on financial assistance: small business loans (n = 78; 26.1%); grants (n = 47; 15.7%); unemployment (n = 25; 8.4%); food assistance (n = 6; 2.0%). Use of the Paycheck Protection Program was specifically reported (n = 9; 3.0%). Only 44 people (18.4%) reported seeking additional employment outside the equine industry. The equine industry is no stranger to fluctuations in the economy and despite the short-term losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, small businesses have found a way to stabilize their livelihood and to continue to serve the industry. Due to the length of time required to fully actualize long-term effects of economic losses and the diverse segmentation of the equine industry future research should be done to evaluate the total impact of the pandemic.
Sequestration of Midazolam, Fentanyl, and Morphine by an Ex Vivo Cardiopulmonary Bypass Circuit.

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuits can significantly sequester intravenous anesthetics. Adsorption of medications by our institution's standard circuit (Terumo CAPIOX FX05 oxygenator; noncoated polyvinylchloride tubing) has not been described. We prepared ex vivo CPB circuits with and without oxygenators. Medication combinations studied included midazolam (0.5 mg), fentanyl (50 [micro]g), midazolam (0.5 mg) with morphine (0.5 mg), and midazolam (0.5 mg) with fentanyl (50 [micro]g). Medications were administered after obtaining baseline samples. Samples were drawn at 2, 5, 15, 30, 60, 120, and 180 minutes, and analyzed for concentration of injected medications. Midazolam demonstrated no sequestration after 180 minutes. Fentanyl concentration at 180 minutes was lower with an oxygenator (52.7 +/- 12.5 vs. 110.9 +/- 12.0 ng/ml, P = 0.00432). More fentanyl was found in solution after 180 minutes when given with midazolam compared to fentanyl given alone in the presence of an oxygenator (101 +/- 22.3 vs. 52.7 +/- 12.5 ng/ml, P = 0.044). Less midazolam was present after 180 minutes when given with morphine compared to midazolam given alone in the absence of an oxygenator (1264.9 +/- 425.6 vs. 2124 +/- 254 ng/ml, P = 0.037). We successfully characterized the adsorption of various combinations of midazolam, fentanyl, and morphine to our CPB circuit, showing that fentanyl and midazolam behave differently based on other medications present.
A Literature Survey on MIMO Antenna

This survey paper addresses the various Multiple-input-multiple- output (MIMO) antennas. In today's world of wireless networking, the MIMO antenna is highly necessary. In the field of the MIMO antenna a lot of research work has been done in the last decade. Here different MIMO antennas and their specifications are discussed. This survey paper also discusses various MIMO antennas with different elements and their consequences on reducing MIMO antenna problems, such as cross-polarization and reciprocal coupling between patch arrays. The positioning of antennas in close proximity induces extreme coupling and thus degrades the efficiency of the MIMO antenna system. The objective of the work is to review the recent research and development trends and highlight a few novel approaches in the antenna design that call for MIMO applications. To compare the different antenna parameters we presented a table for comparison of different antenna.
Mathematical model of inchworm locomotion

Abstract Inchworms are caterpillars. Their locomotion, involving arching of much of the central portion of their body length, has not been studied as extensively as the peristaltic locomotion of worms or the crawling locomotion of many other caterpillars. A mathematical model is developed to describe the shapes and bending strains of typical inchworm motions. The inchworm is assumed to travel in a straight line on a rigid horizontal substrate. Two basic types of cycles are considered. In Case I, the inchworm body arches and then reverses that motion in becoming flat again. In Case II, the body arches, then cantilevers upward, and then falls down to a flat shape. A continuum model based on an elastica is adopted. The results may be useful in the development of soft robots exhibiting an inchworm mode of motion.
Mouse Models to Study Leptin in Breast Cancer Stem Cells

Leptin is a hormone originally identified as the gene mutated in the obese mouse and its receptor (LEPR) was identified as the gene mutated in the diabetic mouse. Both the obese and diabetic mice exhibit early onset obesity and have been extensively studied to delineate mechanisms of obesity and associated morbidities. Leptin/LEPR signaling regulate body fat via activation of brain pathways and deficiency in either gene is sufficient to induce obesity. Leptin/LEPR represent members of the druggable genome and over the past decade have been proposed as a link between obesity and breast cancer with studies focused on disrupting this pathway to inhibit breast cancer progression. This chapter reviews the roles of leptin and LEPR in breast cancer with a focus on tumor initiating or cancer stem cells (CSCs) in tumor progression. CSCs are cancer cells that exhibit resistance to chemo- and radio-therapy and are associated with recurrence and metastasis. Recently, leptin/LEPR have been shown to be necessary for survival of breast CSCs via induction in expression of the embryonic stem cell transcription factors NANOG, SOX2, and OCT4. These transcription factors are necessary for maintaining CSC self-renewal and pluripotency. Emerging studies strongly suggest that targeting CSC survival could inhibit cancer progression. The review will provide evidence for leptin/LEPR as a therapeutic target for inhibition of breast cancer progression and explore the mouse models to study this process.
Actions of acute gamma radiation on excised wheat leaf tissue—I: Radioresistance of senescence and establishing criteria of death from studies of chlorophyll loss*

Abstract At a developmental stage when both cell division and expansion had already ceased, apical portions of the first foliage leaf from three varieties of wheat were excised and given various acute doses of gamma radiation. We suggest four criteria for γ-radiation-induced death with reference to chlorophyll content: (1) photodestruction of chlorophyll in the light, (2) inhibition of chlorophyll decay in darkness, (3) loss of chemical regulation of chlorophyll decay, and (4) abolition of the normal temperature optimum for chlorophyll decay in darkness. By all four criteria, γ-radiation-induced death occurs only after acute doses in excess of a few hundred thousand rads even in the most radiosensitive variety. The possible similarity of this γ-radiation-induced lethality to other forms of lethality in excised leaf tissue is discussed. Sublethal doses of a few hundred thousand rads, which greatly affect growth and development of leaf tissue growing with cell divisions, have little or no significant effect on senescence in the excised leaf tissue system. This ineffectiveness contrasts with the effectiveness of chemical and temperature treatments. The absence of cell division and expansion prevents any acceleration of senescence from (a) genic imbalance resulting from chromosome breakage in dividing cells, (b) radiation-induced mitotic inhibition, and (c) radiation-induced growth inhibition; these three radiation effects do occur after irradiation of tissue growing with cell divisions. These results, therefore, indicate that senescence (when uncomplicated by the above three typical radiation effects) can be remarkably insensitive to ionizing radiation.
Free Will versus Determinism

Determinism is the philosophical doctrine that all events are the product of causal laws together with the prior state of the universe. There are two main views of free will: Incompatibilist accounts require open alternatives that are incompatible with determinism, whereas compatibilist theories emphasize the control humans exercise over their own behavior and insist that such control is compatible with determinism. Many psychologists regard determinism as a useful methodological research principle. While the nature and limits of free will remain disputed questions, the therapeutic importance of a sense of personal control is well established. Keywords: automaticity; James, William; Seligman, Martin; situationism; Skinner, Burrhus; Wegner, Daniel; behaviorism, determinism
Boosting as a dimensionality reduction tool for audio classification

In this paper we present a modified AdaBoost algorithm that can be used for dimensionality reduction in audio classification problems. The algorithm is modified to work as a feature selector for a four way classification problem. It is compared with principal component analysis (PCA), which is a popular tool for reducing the dimensions of high-dimensional data without losing significant scatter information. Both algorithms are applied to a four way audio classification problem and the results are presented.
Unexpected Mediators of Protein Phosphorylation

The classic way of regulating proteins is by adding phosphate groups to them (phosphorylation), a job normally carried out by enzymes called kinases. In their Perspective, [York and Hunter][1] discuss exciting work ([ Saiardi et al .][2]) suggesting that kinases are in for some stiff competition. High-energy signaling molecules called inositol pyrophosphates are able to donate phosphate groups to proteins in a nonenzymatic fashion. This represents a new way for signals to be transduced in cells. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/306/5704/2053 [2]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/306/5704/2101
Reduction of multipactor in RF ceramic windows using a simple titanium-vapor deposition system

A brief description of multipactor is followed by a discussion of design parameters for a titanium sublimation system. Efforts to correlate operating parameters (time, temperature, etc.) with the thickness of coated titanium are reported. Rutherford backscattering thickness measurements are described and reported.
Dividing and weak quasi-dimensions in arbitrary theories

We show that any countable model of a model complete theory has an elementary extension with a "pseudofinite-like" quasi-dimension that detects dividing.
Competition among class II major histocompatibility molecules for presentation of tyrosine‐azobenzenearsonate occurs in vivo and in vitro

We have compared by functional assays the relative preference among Ia molecules for their ability to present tyrosine-azobenzenearsonate (ABA-Tyr) to T cells. Immunization of B10.BR mice (IAk, IEk) with ABA-Tyr resulted in the induction of IAk-restricted T cells only. Immunization of B10.A(5R) mice (IAb, IEb/k) gave only IEb/k-restricted T cell clones even though IAb-restricted responses could be induced in C57BL/6 mice (IAb). These results indicated that IAk was preferred over IEk and IEb/k was preferred over IAb for presentation of ABA-Tyr. A comparison between IAk and IEb/k made by immunizing [B10.BR x B10.A(5R)]F1 mice (IAk, IEk, IAb, IEb/k), showed that IEb/k was favored over IAk. No IAb- or IEk-restricted response was seen. Further attempts were made to compare Ia preference for ABA-Tyr presentation by competitive inhibition assays. It could be shown that the presence of IEb/k molecules on an accessory cell interfered with the ability of IAb molecules on the same cell to present ABA-Tyr to an IAb-restricted T cell clone by direct competition. Such a competition was not observed between IAk and IEk. Finally, it could be shown that addition of ABA-Tyr inhibited the presentation of moth cytochrome-c peptide (81-103) by IEb/k but did not influence its presentation by IEk. From these functional studies we suggest that the binding affinity of ABA-Tyr with the Ia molecules will fall in the order: IEb/k greater than IAk greater than IAb greater than IEk.
The Coagulation Temperature of Milk as Affected by pH, Salts, Evaporation and Previous Heat Treatment

The stability of milk under various conditions has been studied from both a theoretical and practical standpoint. The milk has been subjected to temperatures ranging from room temperature to 150 ° C., and to the influence of salts and acids that are foreign as well as those normal to milk. Although valuable information has been added to our knowledge of milk, yet many theoretical and practical questions have not been answered which are significantly related to the stability of milk during pasteurization, boiling, preparation of various food-stuffs involving milk, and the manufacture of condensed and evaporated milks. The purpose of the work presented herein is to show the relationship between the pH and the coagulation temperature of milk ranging from about room temperature to the coagulation temperature of stable milk, and to show the effect of added salts, evaporation and previous heat treatment in displacing the '~coagulation curve."
ac and dc current-induced motion of a 360° domain wall

The response of $360\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ domain walls in narrow magnetic stripes to applied dc and ac currents, investigated by micromagnetic simulation, differs qualitatively from the response of $180\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ domain walls. The $360\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ domain-wall velocity scales with a dc current but is independent of an applied magnetic field along the stripe. An annihilation process occurs at a critical dc current density that varies with the applied field. When a $360\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ wall is perturbed, it oscillates at a characteristic frequency in the gigahertz range which is tunable by the applied magnetic field, and an ac current applied at half the characteristic frequency excites a resonant response.
Characterization of cuticular proteins in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum.

Abstract We are characterizing the cuticular proteins of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) to determine their role in the function of the exoskeleton. Based on qualitative analyses of cuticles, we focused on the sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-extractable proteins. A small-scale cuticle “mini-prep” procedure was devised that yields preparations virtually free of contaminating cellular material compared to hand-dissected preparations, as assessed by fluorescent microscopy using DAPI to stain nuclei. Proteins extracted in 1% SDS from various developmental stages (last larval instar, pupal, adult) were analyzed by one-dimensional denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The cuticular protein profiles show both similarities and differences among the stages examined. The amino acid composition, glycosylation, and partial amino acid sequence of several abundant cuticular proteins indicate similarity to cuticular proteins of other insects.
Abstract 1317: Estradiol and progesterone promotes breast tumor growth through induction of AKT/mTOR pathway and inhibition of apoptosis

Breast cancer development is accomplished by unbalanced regulation of several signaling pathways. Studies indentifying potential targets for mammary cancer treatment and prevention are vital. Copenhagen strain of rat is a well known animal model which is resistant to carcinogen-induced mammary carcinogenesis. In our laboratory, we were able to induce a very high incidence of mammary cancers in these rats using combination of carcinogen N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU), followed by estradiol and progesterone treatment. We have demonstrated that the resistance to mammary carcinogenesis in these rats is not due to inhibition of initiation but due to reduced hormone promotional environment and we further extend our research to investigate the molecular mechanisms involved behind this hormone-induced promotion. In the present study, we exposed 7 week old female Copenhagen rats to N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU; 50mg/kg body weight). Immediately after MNU treatment the rats were divided into the following groups: 1) Control 2) 17β-estradiol (30mg) 3) progesterone (30mg) and 4) 17β-estradiol (30mg) plus progesterone (30mg). All hormone treatments were administered via individual silastic pellets for a period of 9 months post carcinogen treatment. At the end of the treatment period rat mammary tumors were excised and used for molecular analysis. Quantitative RT-PCR and western blot analysis showed that ovarian hormones treatment triggered the AKT/mTOR pathway along with increased cell cycle progression. Intra cellular MAPK signaling was increased through activation of AKT/PI3K pathway. Hormone administration decreased the levels of caspase-3, caspase-8 and caspase-9. Together, our result indicates that hormone treatment induces mammary tumor growth through activation of AKT/PI3K/mTOR pathways and simultaneously inhibiting apoptosis. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1317. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-1317
The inter- and intrachromosomal effects of the bar-stone translocation in Drosophila melanogaster.

Females homozygous and heterozygous for the BS translocation were tested to determine the extent of the intra- and interchromosomal effects caused by the rearrangement. The heterozygous translocation produces an increase in crossing over at the tip of the X and in the centromere region of chromosome 2. The homozygous translocation has no effect on crossing over in these regions, but an unexpected increase is observed near the centromere region of the BS segment. This result is not predicted by the time-delay model for interchromsomal effects.
Discrete-Event Models of Mixed-Phenotype Plasmodium falciparum Malaria.

We extend our basic discrete-event model of Plasmodium falciparum malaria to encom pass circumstances in which multiple pheno typic variants of the parasite circulate within interacting human and mosquito populations, and we compare a version in which variants behave independently to one in which they in teract through shared host immune responses. Relative to the standard hypothesis of statisti cal independence, frequencies of mixed-pheno type infection in humans were as expected in the independent-immunity version and much less than expected in the cross-immunity ver sion ; in both versions, however, such frequen cies in mosquitoes were much greater than expected.
Protection of peritoneal macrophages by granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) against dexamethasone suppression of killing of Aspergillus, and the effect of human GM-CSF

Murine peritoneal macrophages in vitro could kill Aspergillus fumigatus conidia, and this activity could be suppressed with dexamethasone. Treatment with granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) alone did not boost killing, but GM-CSF treatment concurrently with dexamethasone reversed the dexamethasone suppression. Both recombinant human and recombinant murine GM-CSF were equivalent in this activity, even though the human reagent reportedly does not stimulate differentiation of murine stem cells. Recombinant human GM-CSF could also reverse dexamethasone suppression of bronchoalveolar macrophage conidiacidal activity. Sequential studies with peritoneal macrophages indicated that recombinant human GM-CSF pretreatment also blocked dexamethasone suppression, but the GM-CSF treatment given after dexamethasone did not block the suppressive effect. Recombinant human GM-CSF did not boost spleen cell proliferation to a mitogenic stimulus, and did not reverse dexamethasone suppression of proliferation. These studies suggest GM-CSF treatment prior to and concurrent with steroid immunosuppression may ameliorate the steroid effect on tissue macrophage antifungal activity, but does not affect steroid suppression of T-cell immunity.
Reactions of cysteine sulfenyl thiocyanate with thiols to give unsymmetrical disulfides

Cysteine sulfenyl thiocyanate (CSSCN) reacts with thiols at pH 0 to cleanly yield disulfides. 2-Mercaptoethanol (2-MESH), 3-mercaptopropionic acid (3-MPASH), penicillamine (PENSH), and glutathione (GSH) react with CSSCN to give the corresponding mixed disulfides: 2-MESSC, 3-MPASSC, PENSSC, and GSSC. These compounds are stable at pH 0 and have been characterized by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. 18:467–471, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.20340
A Flow-Graph Formula for the Stationary Distribution of a Markov Chain

It is shown that a stationary distribution of a regular Markov chain can be obtained directly from its transition graph. The technique is similar to signal flow-graph methods, however, it uses trees of the graph rather than loops. The proof is direct and simple.
Cell‐mediated and serum blocking reactivity to tumor antigens in patients with malignant melanoma

The reactivity of human lymphocytes, separated from peripheral blood by procedures involving sedimentation through plasmagel and settling on a glass surface, on survival or growth of melanoma tumor cells is reported. Assay of reactivity was by either a colony inhibition in dilute agar (GEL) technique or a microcytotoxicity assay (MC). In 54 experiments with lymphocytes from normal donors, inhibition of melanoma cell viability, as compared to growth in medium alone, was seen 25 (46.3%) times, stimulation was observed seven (12.9%) times and no effect 22 (40.7%) times. These results were not influenced by matching of the lymphocyte and tumor-cell donor for ABO blood group. Inhibition was seen less often, however, in tests with the GEL method than in those with the MC assay. Eighty-two experiments assessed the effect of lymphocytes from melanoma patients on melanoma cell viability. Inhibition to an extent greater than that of normal lymphocytes tested at the same time was seen 65 (79.3%) times. There was no difference in the frequency of detection of inhibition with lymphocytes from patients with local, regional, or widespread disease, although the percentage inhibition was less in the latter group. No differences were seen between patients with clinically active versus inactive disease. Only one of five patients who were within a week of death was reactive. Reactivity was detected as frequently with allogeneic as with autochthonous melanoma target cells. Serum blocking factor (SBF), capable of inhibiting in vitro cell-mediated reactivity to melanoma tumor cells, was assayed in serum from melanoma patients at various stages of disease. SBF was detected at some time in 30% of patients with local, 88.9% with regional, and 80.0% with widespread disease. It was found in 42.9% of those with clinically inactive and 70.6% with active melanoma. However, detection of SBF was found to fluctuate from sample to sample taken at different times during the course of disease in individual patients regardless of clinical status. The importance of sequential determinations of SBF activity for patient assessment is stressed.
Spatial configurations of polynucleotide chains. III. Polydeoxyribonucleotides

The virtual bond scheme set forth in preceding papers for treating the average properties of polyriboadenylic acid (poly rA) is here applied to the calculation of the unperturbed mean-square end-to-end distance of polydeoxyriboadenylic acid (poly dA). The modifications in structure and in charge distribution resulting from the replacement of the hydroxyl group at C2′ in the ribose residue by hydrogen in deoxyribose produce only minor modifications in the conformational energies associated with the poly dA chain as compared to those found for poly rA. The main difference is manifested in the energy associated with rotations about the C3′–O3′ bond of the deoxyribose residue in the C2′-endo conformation; accessible rotations are confined to the range between 0° and 30° relative to the trans conformation, whereas in the ribose unit the accessible regions comprise two ranges centered at approximately 35° and 85°. The characteristic ratio 〈r2〉0/nl2 calculated on the basis of the conformational energy estimates is ≈9 for the poly dA chain with all deoxyribose residues in the C3′-endo conformation and ≈21 with all residues in the C2′-endo form. Satisfactory agreement is achieved between the theoretical values and experimental results on apurinic acid by treating the poly dA chain as a random copolymer of C3′-endo and C2′-endo conformational isomers present in a ratio of ∼1 to 9.
Thermodynamic fidelity of the mammalian cytochrome P450 2B4 active site in binding substrates and inhibitors.

Abstract Structural plasticity of mammalian cytochromes P450 (CYP) has recently been explored in our laboratory and elsewhere to understand the ligand-binding promiscuity. CYP2B4 exhibits very different conformations and thermodynamic signatures in binding the small inhibitor 4-(4-chlorophenyl)imidazole (4-CPI) versus the large bifonazole. Using four key active-site mutants (F296A, T302A, I363A, and V367L) that are involved in binding one or both inhibitors, we dissected the thermodynamic basis for the ability of CYP2B4 to bind substrates and inhibitors of different sizes and chemistry. In all cases, 1:1 binding stoichiometry was observed. The inhibitors 4-CPI, 1-(4-chlorophenyl)imidazole, and 1-(2-(benzyloxy)ethyl)imidazole bind to the mutants with a free energy difference (ΔΔG) of ∼ 0.5 to 1 kcal/mol compared with the wild type but with a large entropy–enthalpy compensation of up to 50 kcal/mol. The substrate testosterone binds to all four mutants with a ΔΔG of ∼ 0.5 kcal/mol but with as much as 40 kcal/mol of entropy–enthalpy compensation. In contrast, benzphetamine binding to V367L and F296A is accompanied by a ΔΔG of ∼ 1.5 and 3 kcal/mol, respectively. F296A, I363A, and V367L exhibit very different benzphetamine metabolite profiles, indicating the different substrate-binding orientations in the active site of each mutant. Overall, the findings indicate that malleability of the active site allows mammalian P450s to exhibit a high degree of thermodynamic fidelity in ligand binding.
Design criteria and performance of a toroidal grating monochromator

Abstract The performance of a monochromator using holographically-ruled toroidal gratings has been evaluated at the Tantalus-I Synchrotron Radiation Center. The initial design criteria are given, and the flux in the 10–150 eV photon energy range is compared with other UV monochromators. Measurements of photon flux, resolution and polarization are reported.
Delineation of membrane-bound phosphatase activities in normal and leukemic thymocytes

Abstract The activities of the various phosphatases on the plasma membrane of normal and leukemic mouse thymocytes were delineated using the specific inhibitors, α, β-methylene ADP, which inhibits 5′-nucleotidase while not affecting nonspecific phosphatases, (−)-p-bromotetramisole, which inhibits nonspecific alkaline phosphatase, and the competitive substrate p-nitrophenylphosphate. The Km for AMP and the Ki for the inhibition of AMPase by α, β-methylene ADP at pH 7.5 were 13 and 38 μM, respectively. The activity also shows substrate inhibition at this pH. 30% of the AMPase activity could not be inhibited, and an Eadie-Hofstee plot shows mixed inhibition. Inability of the combined use of α, β-methylene ADP and (−)-p-bromotetramisole to totally suppress activity indicates the presence of a third phosphatase enzyme. Subsequent analysis at various pH values indicates that this third enzyme has an activity peak in the acid range. Using β-glycerophosphate as a substrate, 81% of the activity at pH 9.5 is due to alkaline phosphatase and none is due to 5′-nucleotidase. Likewise virtually none of the β-glycerophosphatase activity at pH 7.5 is due to alkaline phosphatase. With both Swiss albino and AKR mice, activity of 5′-nucleotidase increased markedly in adult male mice when compared to younger immature animals whereas alkaline phosphatase showed little change. In leukemic AKR mice, 5′-nucleotidase activity was sharply lower in the cells of thymomas when compared to nonleukemic AKR mice of comparable age. Alkaline phosphatase activity in the thymus of leukemic AKR mice was either increased markedly or remained unchanged. Thus the specificity of three distinct phosphatase activities in thymocytes are clearly defined and monitored during developmental and pathological alterations of the cell: (1) 5′-nucleotidase, (2) alkaline phosphatase, and (3) a third phosphatase with a lower pH optimum.
Non-participants in utility energy conservation programmes

Abstract Utility conservation programmes are designed to benefit both participants and non-participants. This article outlines the issues involved in designing conservation programmes for utilities and determining the appropriate amount of incentives that can be provided to participants without harming non-participants. More importantly, the article discusses the issue of access to the programmes by utility customers. It concludes that it is the existing restrictions to participation, and not the level of compensation, that are of greatest concern to non-participants. A number of utility programmes designed to eliminate the problem of non-participation are reviewed.
Spline confidence bands for functional derivatives

We develop in this paper a new procedure to construct simultaneous confidence bands for derivatives of mean curves in functional data analysis. The technique involves polynomial splines that provide an approximation to the derivatives of the mean functions, the covariance functions and the associated eigenfunctions. We show that the proposed procedure has desirable statistical properties. In particular, we first show that the proposed estimators of derivatives of the mean curves are semiparametrically efficient. Second, we establish consistency results for derivatives of covariance functions and their eigenfunctions. Most importantly, we show that the proposed spline confidence bands are asymptotically efficient as if all random trajectories were observed with no error. Finally, the confidence band procedure is illustrated through numerical simulation studies and a real life example.
Bound TPN as the determinant of polymorphism in methemoglobin reductase.

Abstract The pyridine nucleotide-dependent, dye-linked methemoglobin reductase from human erythrocytes can be resolved chromatographically or electrophoretically into two principal forms (I and II). Form (II), which migrates more rapidly than (I) toward the positive electrode during electrophoresis at pH 8.3, contains 1 mole of non-covalently bound TPN per mole of protein (MW = 22,000) as judged by spectral characteristics (absorbance maxima at 327 and 340 nm when the protein is treated with cyanide and hydrosulfite, respectively) and by analysis (thin-layer chromatography and coenzymatic activity with isocitrate dehydrogenase) of the nucleotide released by heat denaturation. TPN can also be displaced by treatment of (II) with p -chloromercuriphenyl-sulfonate. Incubation of (I) with TPN at neutral pH results in the formation of (II).
High pressure synchrotron x-ray diffraction studies of superprotonic transitions in phosphate solid acids

Abstract We have used high-pressure synchrotron x-ray diffraction to investigate the structural modifications that accompany the abrupt, several-order-of-magnitude proton conductivity increase exhibited upon heating by CsH 2 PO 4 (CDP) and RbH 2 PO 4 (RDP). Our temperature-resolved data collected on polycrystalline CDP subjected to a pressure P = 1 GPa reveal a polymorphic structural transition at T ~ 260 °C from this solid acid's room-temperature monoclinic (P2 1 /m) phase to a stable cubic (Pm3m, a = 4.88 A) modification. The transition occurs under the same (P, T) conditions as the 1000-fold jump in CDP's proton conductivity, and Rietveld analysis confirms that the high-pressure phase has essentially the same crystal structure as the cubic CDP polymorph previously observed under a saturated water vapor atmosphere. For RDP we find a structural transformation from its room temperature tetragonal (I-42 d) phase to an intermediate temperature monoclinic (P2 1 /m) modification, which, remarkably, is isomorphic to its monoclinic CDP counterpart. This suggests that a monoclinic → cubic structural transition, similar to the one observed in CDP, is responsible for RDP's superprotonic behavior. We present the first direct evidence for the existence of a high temperature cubic RDP phase.
Arthroscopic Repair of the Floating Posterior-Inferior Glenohumeral Ligament Lesion

We present our technique for diagnosis and arthroscopic repair of a floating posterior-inferior glenohumeral ligament avulsion injury. A high degree of suspicion based on the patient's history, along with careful examination, should alert the surgeon to the existence of this lesion. By use of an anterolateral viewing portal and precisely placed posterior working portals, the lesion is repaired through suture anchor fixation to the humeral head and glenoid rim in a carefully sequenced fashion to achieve appropriate tension and restore the anatomy.
No naked singularities in homogeneous, spherically symmetric bubble spacetimes?

We study the evolution of bubble spacetimes in vacuum and electrovac scenarios by numerical means. We find strong evidence against the formation of naked singularities in (i) scenarios with negative masses displaying initially collapsing conditions and (ii) scenarios with negative masses displaying initially expanding conditions, previously reported to give rise to such singularities. Additionally, we show that the presence of strong gauge fields implies that an initially collapsing bubble bounces back and expands. By fine-tuning the strength of the gauge field we find that the solution approaches a static bubble solution.
Correlations of thought-sampling data with personality variables in a classroom setting

Abstract The present study was conducted to determine whether there exists a relationship between regularities in individuals' thought and mood experiences, and regularities in their personality characteristics. Thought samples were collected from 87 students by randomly interrupting a series of university lectures and exams. Students rated their experiences on 42 cognitive and affective variables, yielding data which were factor analyzed and then correlated with scales for the 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF). Factors produced from the classroom data (Aggressive/Bad Mood, Pleasant/Sexual, Clear Thought, Daydreaming/Past Sexual, Duration, Self-Critical) generally corresponded to factors described in earlier thought-sampling studies. Significant correlations were observed between three of these factors and scales from the 16PF: individuals scoring high on the Aggressive/Bad Mood factor tended to have low ego strength and to be highly apprehensive; individuals with high Self-Critical factor scores also tended to be high in apprehension and low in ego strength, as well being tense, practical, and shy; and individuals with a high Clear Thought factor score tended to be highly imaginative, as measured by the 16PF.
Diurnal rhythms are altered in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis

Our earlier studies described a disruption of heart rate and blood pressure diurnal rhythms in mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). The present study investigates whether these observations could be extended to additional clock-regulated rhythms in mice with EAE. Analysis of clock gene expression in the liver of EAE mice demonstrated significant variability associated with Per2 rhythmic expression. Corticosterone and leptin hormone rhythms were also altered in EAE mice. The results presented here indicate that disturbances in clock-regulated rhythms are associated with EAE and present a suitable model for investigating the relationship between circadian disruption and autoimmune inflammatory disease.
Ionic mechanisms of cellular electrical and mechanical abnormalities in Brugada syndrome

The Brugada syndrome (BrS) is a right ventricular (RV) arrhythmia that is responsible for up to 12% of sudden cardiac deaths. The aims of our study were to determine the cellular mechanisms of the ...
Sequence-specific scission of DNA by the chemical nuclease activity of 1,10-phenanthroline-copper(I) targeted by RNA.

Abstract RNAs modified with the chemical nuclease 1,10-phenanthroline-copper(I) can achieve the sequence-specific scission of single- and double-stranded DNA targets. The RNAs are prepared in vitro by using 5-(3-aminoallyl)-UTP as the sole source of UTP and can be readily modified with 1,10-phenanthroline by using N-succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyl-dithio)propionate (SPDP) to cross-link the ligand to the aminoallyl moiety. Single-stranded DNAs are efficiently cleaved at multiple sites because 1,10-phenanthroline is incorporated at several uridines in the sequence. Sequence-specific double-stranded scission of duplex DNA can also be accomplished with 1,10-phenanthroline-derivatized RNA within R loops. These triple-stranded structures form in 70% formamide and involve the displacement of one strand of DNA by the RNA of identical sequence. R loop-directed scission is the first method for DNA scission applicable to any sequence. A unique application of R loop-targeted nucleolytic scission, which relies on its ability to cut DNA at any sequence, is the determination of the distance between two marker DNA sequences within a target. In this case, 1,10-phenanthroline-linked RNAs are prepared from the two distinct sequences and used to cut the DNA fragment after R-loop formation. The size of the fragment liberated by these methods is a direct measure in base pairs of the distance between the two DNA sequences. For example, the distance separating two chicken delta crystallin (delta 1 and delta 2) genes has been confirmed as 24 kilobases by this method.
Emergency reversal of pentasaccharide anticoagulants: a systematic review of the literature

Objectives: To conduct a systematic review of the literature to answer the question: Has administration of recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) or prothombin complex concentrate (PCC) or activated PCC (aPCC) been demonstrated to be effective in reversing pendasaccharide anticoagulants (PSAs)? Background: Fondaparinux and idraparinux are ultra-short, synthetic PSAs. Typical anticoagulation reversal with either vitamin K and fresh frozen plasma or protamine sulphate does not reverse PSAs. Mechanistically, it is plausible that rFVIIa, PCC and aPCC may be effective reversal agents for PSAs. However, the available data are limited. Materials/Methods: We conducted a systematic review of MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and the Cochrane Library without date or language limitations designed to answer the question: Has administration of rFVIIa, PCC or aPCC been demonstrated to be effective in reversing PSAs? The quality of the included studies was assessed based on standard methodologies. Relevant information was synthesised and reported. Results: After an initial literature search, 197 abstracts were identified, of which 14 articles were reviewed in their entirety. Ultimately, five studies were identified that met inclusion and exclusion criteria. Although the literature is limited, the best available data support the use of rFVIIa for serious bleeding in patients anticoagulated with PSAs. Conclusions: Limited data support the use of rFVIIa as a reversal agent for serious bleeding in patients who are anticoagulated with PSAs. The optimal dose, role for concomitant use of platelets or antifibrinolytic agents and exact indications for reversal remain to be determined. Such investigations are urgently needed as use of PSAs increases.
Development of a nomogram that predicts the probability of a positive prostate biopsy in men with an abnormal digital rectal examination and a prostate-specific antigen between 0 and 4 ng/mL

Abstract Objectives. Early detection of prostate cancer traditionally involves both digital rectal examination (DRE) and serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) determination in an informed patient population. Abnormalities in either of these studies typically lead to additional evaluations, including prostate biopsy. In this study, we analyzed the operational characteristics of serum PSA between 0 and 4 ng/mL as an initial test for prostate cancer. Methods. From January 1990 through May 1997, transrectal biopsies were obtained from 700 men with a serum PSA level less than 4.0 ng/mL but DRE suspicious for cancer. Patient age, race, and serum PSA level were reviewed for this study. Results. Of the 700 men studied, 445 were white (64%) and 255 were African American (36%). In multivariate analysis of prebiopsy risk factors (age, race, serum PSA), serum PSA was the only independent predictor of a positive prostate biopsy. A nomogram was created that determines the worst-case probability of a positive prostate biopsy in men with PSA between 0 and 4 ng/mL and a DRE suspicious for cancer. The predictions from the nomogram appeared accurate and discriminating, with a bias-corrected area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ie, comparison of the predicted probability with the actual outcome) of 0.75. Conclusions. Although early detection of prostate cancer has traditionally used both PSA measurement and DRE, PSA testing alone could be more easily implemented and may encourage some men to seek consultation who might not otherwise have done so. By providing a nomogram which provides a worse-case scenario (assuming a positive DRE) of the probability of a positive biopsy, the patient and clinician can make an informed decision as to whether additional evaluation is warranted.
MHC restriction: slip-sliding away

A newly identified crystal structure for an autoimmune TCR bound to peptide-MHC shows a highly unusual docking mode. Is this an anomaly or a new twist on MHC restriction?
New Route for the Synthesis of Tungsten Oxide Bronzes

A novel method involving ambient temperature reduction of aqueous solutions has been developed for the synthesis of tungsten oxide bronzes. Addition of aqueous sodium borohydride solution into aqueous sodium tungstate solution at pH ≈ 6.5 results in the formation of a reduced sodium tungsten oxide gel. The gel crystallizes sharply at around 440°C to yield the crystalline sodium tungsten oxide bronze, NaxWO3. The products are characterized by X-ray powder diffraction and Differential Scanning Calorimetry.
Possible identification of novel natriuretic peptide receptor phosphorylation sites by alanine/glutamate mutagenesis

Background Natriuretic peptide receptors A (NPR-A) and B (NPR-B) are transmembrane guanylyl cyclases that regulate blood pressure, heart size and long bone growth. Unlike most cell surface receptors that are desensitized by direct phosphorylation, phosphorylation of natriuretic peptide receptors is essential for activation, and dephosphorylation causes their desensitization. While there are six and five known phosphorylation sites within NPR-A and NPRB, respectively, studies in homologous sea urchin guanylyl cyclase receptors indicate the presence of 15–17 moles of phosphate per mole of receptor, suggesting additional natriuretic peptide receptor phosphorylation sites remain to be identified. The purpose of this study was to identify novel natriuretic peptide receptor phosphorylation sites by evaluating functional consequences of individual glutamate or alanine substitutions of candidate residues in order to mimic the effects of a phosphorylated or dephosphorylated residue, respectively.
Non-Ap-1 tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-responsive sequences in the human ornithine decarboxylase gene

To define the mechanisms of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced transcription of the ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) gene, we isolated a genomic clone (hODC41 B) of ODC from a human leukocyte genomic DNA library. The restriction endonuclease map, in comparison with the previously published sequences of the human ODC gene, indicated that hODC41B contained a 15.7-kb sequence that extended from the sixth exon to about 10 kb upstream of the ODC gene. A 2.5-kb genomic fragment containing the 5′ flanking region and the first exon was subcloned and sequenced. Sequence analysis revealed multiple putative promoter/enhancer elements (a TATA box, a CAAT box, 17 GC boxes, and a cAMP-responsive element) but no consensus AP-1 sequences (TGAGTCA) in the 2.5-kb 5 flanking region. However, three AP-1 sequences were located in introns 3, 5, and 11. We constructed aseries of chimeric genes containing part of the first exon and increasingly longer 5′ flanking sequences of the ODC gene fused to either bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) or luciferase reporter genes. TPA inducibility was determined by transient transfection and measurement of CAT or luciferase expression in HeLa cells. The induction of CAT activity by TPA decreased with decreasing lengths of the 5′ flanking sequences up to nt-82. The TPA induction from the construct-72 ODC CAT was threefold to sevenfold, and the TPA inducibility of the same fragment was about ninefold to 30-fold with the luciferase reporter gene. Further deletion analysis revealed TPA-responsive sequences in ODC nt-42 to +54. Gel mobility shift assays using α-32P-end labeled ODC nt-42 to +60 revealed that nt-42 to +60 specifically bound HeLa cell nuclear proteins. HeLa cell nuclear protein binding to ODC nt-42 to +60 could not be completely competed by AP-1-, AP-2-, AP-3-, or SP1-responsive sequences. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.