cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regulation of Lipid Synthesis in Cultured Animal Cells

Abstract Fatty acid and sterol biosynthesis were studied in several cell lines in culture. Two of these cell lines, L-M and NCTC 1469, demonstrated an 8.6- and 7.2-fold increase, respectively, in acetate incorporation into fatty acids and a 5.2- and 2.4-fold increase, respectively, in acetate incorporation into sterols within 24 hours after serum-containing medium was replaced with serum-free medium. Three other cell lines, Chang liver, HeLa, and NCTC 2544, demonstrated little change in fatty acid or sterol synthesis 48 hours after serum removal from the medium, but they demonstrated up to an 8-fold increase in fatty acid synthesis and a 3-fold increase in sterol synthesis 48 hours after serum removal when insulin was present in the serum-free medium. The increased fatty acid synthesis following transfer of L-M and NCTC 1469 cells to serum-free medium could be attributed to increased activities of both acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase and fatty acid synthetase, whereas increased synthesis in Chang liver, HeLa, and NCTC 2544 cells was associated primarily with increased fatty acid synthetase activity. In Chang liver cells fatty acid synthetase activity did not change during the first 24 hours after replacement of serum-containing medium with serum-free medium. During the subsequent 24 hours activity increased approximately 160 % in the absence of insulin and approximately 450 % in the presence of insulin. Insulin at a concentration of 2 x 10-9 m produced 50 % of the maximal increase in synthetase activity, while proinsulin at 1.2 x 10-7 m was required for 50 % of maximal increase. The continued presence of insulin was necessary for maintenance of elevated fatty acid synthetase activity as demonstrated by the decrease observed when insulin was removed from the medium. Immunotitration experiments, using antiserum produced against pure fatty acid synthetase, indicated that the increased fatty acid synthetase activity observed after the removal of serum from the medium or the addition of insulin to serum-free medium was due to increased levels of enzyme in the cells. An increase in fatty acid synthetase synthesis presumably accounted for the increased levels of the enzyme since the effects of serum removal and insulin addition were blocked by cycloheximide, an inhibitor of protein synthesis. In Chang liver cells low levels of actinomycin D and camptothecin, inhibitors of RNA synthesis, prevented the induction of fatty acid synthetase by serum removal or insulin addition. A combination of theophylline and cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate also prevented induction.
Work-related stress of clinical nursing faculty.

The purpose of this research was to examine work-related stress experienced by clinical faculty (N = 226) in ADN and BSN programs. Faculty rated the extent to which they experienced 23 potential stressors associated with clinical teaching. The predominant stressors were: coping with job expectations associated with their clinical teaching roles; feeling physically and emotionally drained at the end of a clinical teaching day; job demands that interfere with activities of personal importance; heavy workload; pressure to maintain clinical competence or a clinical practice without time to do so; feeling unable to satisfy the demands of work-related constituencies (e.g., students, clinical agency personnel, patients); and teaching inadequately prepared students.
Femtosecond Laser Ablation: Fundamentals and Applications

Traditionally nanosecond laser pulses have been used for Laser-induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) for quantitative and qualitative analysis of the samples. Laser produced plasmas using nanosecond laser pulses have been studied extensively since 1960s. With the advent of short and ultrashort laser pulses, there has been a growing interest in the applications of femtosecond and picosecond lasers for analysis of materials using LIBS and LA-ICP-MS. The fundamentals of laser ablation process using ultrashort laser pulses are not still fully understood. Pulse duration of femtosecond laser pulse is shorter than electron-to-ion energy transfer time and heat conduction time in the sample lattice. This results in different laser ablation and heat dissipation mechanisms as compared to nanosecond laser ablation. In this chapter, the focus will be on understanding the basics of femtosecond laser ablation processes including laser target interaction, ablation efficiency, ablation threshold, laser plasma interactions, and plume hydrodynamics. Analytical figures of merit will be discussed in contrast to nanosecond LIBS.
Gene expression patterns associated with p53 status in breast cancer

Breast cancer subtypes identified in genomic studies have different underlying genetic defects. Mutations in the tumor suppressor p53 occur more frequently in estrogen receptor (ER) negative, basal-like and HER2-amplified tumors than in luminal, ER positive tumors. Thus, because p53 mutation status is tightly linked to other characteristics of prognostic importance, it is difficult to identify p53's independent prognostic effects. The relation between p53 status and subtype can be better studied by combining data from primary tumors with data from isogenic cell line pairs (with and without p53 function). The p53-dependent gene expression signatures of four cell lines (MCF-7, ZR-75-1, and two immortalized human mammary epithelial cell lines) were identified by comparing p53-RNAi transduced cell lines to their parent cell lines. Cell lines were treated with vehicle only or doxorubicin to identify p53 responses in both non-induced and induced states. The cell line signatures were compared with p53-mutation associated genes in breast tumors. Each cell line displayed distinct patterns of p53-dependent gene expression, but cell type specific (basal vs. luminal) commonalities were evident. Further, a common gene expression signature associated with p53 loss across all four cell lines was identified. This signature showed overlap with the signature of p53 loss/mutation status in primary breast tumors. Moreover, the common cell-line tumor signature excluded genes that were breast cancer subtype-associated, but not downstream of p53. To validate the biological relevance of the common signature, we demonstrated that this gene set predicted relapse-free, disease-specific, and overall survival in independent test data. In the presence of breast cancer heterogeneity, experimental and biologically-based methods for assessing gene expression in relation to p53 status provide prognostic and biologically-relevant gene lists. Our biologically-based refinements excluded genes that were associated with subtype but not downstream of p53 signaling, and identified a signature for p53 loss that is shared across breast cancer subtypes.
Peptide Map Comparison of Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis Virus-Specific Polypeptides

An investigation of virus-specific protein synthesis in infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV)-infected rainbow trout gonad cells was undertaken to find a relationship between the coding capacity of the virus genome (two segments of double-stranded RNA of 2.5 × 10 6 and 2.3 × 10 6 molecular weight) and the sizes and relative amounts of virus-specific proteins. Using polyacrylamide slabgel electrophoresis and autoradiography, eight distinct virus-specific polypeptides were detected in infected, [ 35 S]methionine-labeled cells. These proteins may be grouped into three size classes on the basis of molecular weight: (i) large, α (90,000); (ii) medium, β 1 (59,000), β 2 (58,000), and β 3 (57,000); and (iii) small, γ 1 (29,000), γ 1A (28,000), γ 2 (27,000), and γ 3 (25,000). The combined molecular weight of these polypetides (373,000) is beyond the coding capacity of the virus genome. Purified IPNV contained polypeptides α, β 3 , γ 1 , and γ 1A . Pulse-chase experiments and tryptic peptide map comparisons revealed that only four of the eight intracellular proteins were primary gene products, namely, α, β 1 , γ 1 , and β 2 , with a combined molecular weight of 205,000. Of these primary gene products only the α polypeptide was found to be stable, whereas the other three underwent intracellular proteolytic cleavage during virus morphogenesis. Polypeptide β 1 was cleaved to generate β 2 and β 3 ; γ 1 was trimmed to produce γ 1A , and the only nonstructural primary gene product, γ 2 , was found to be a precursor of γ 3 . These results suggest that IPNV possesses a unique mechanism to synthesize three size classes of proteins using mRNA transcripts from two high-molecular-weight double-stranded RNA genome segments. Images
Morphophonology and lexical organization in deaf readers.

Prelingually, profoundly deaf individuals, due to their hearing impairment, would not be expected to have the same access to phonological information as hearing individuals. They might therefore have difficulties in using phonological structure to relate different morphological forms of words. Deaf and hearing readers' sensitivity to the morphological structure of English words was tested in the present study by using a lexical decision (word/nonword classification) task. Target words were primed 10 trials earlier by themselves (e.g., think primed by think), by morphologically related words (e.g., think primed by thought), or by orthographically related words (e.g., think primed by thin). Response times of both hearing and deaf college students to target words were facilitated when primed by themselves and also when primed by morphological relatives. Response times of subjects in neither group were facilitated to targets primed by orthographically related but morphologically unrelated words. These results...
Means-Tested Public Assistance and the Demand for State Lottery Tickets

Abstract Empirical evidence suggests that the poor spend a larger fraction of their income on gambling than the well to do. This paper shows that “means tests” for public assistance eligibility could supply part of the explanation. Income support programs can distort private budget sets, conceivably leading to risk-taking behavior on the part of rational agents with standard, concave utility functions. Latter sections of the paper employ a calibrated life-cycle saving model to study resulting demands for actuarially fair lotteries numerically. The analysis demonstrates that allowing lotteries can simplify model-related computations a great deal. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers: E21, D91, I38.
Two-stage N-butane flame: A comparison between experimental measurements and modeling results

Two stage autoignition processes in unburned end-gases are generally considered to be responsible for homogeneously-initiated engine knock phenomena. Two-stage flame processes were investigated to achieve a better understanding of the low temperature and high temperature chemistry responsible for this type of autoignition behavior. A stabilized n-butane two-stage flame wax numerically simulated, utilizing a detailed kinetic mechanism involving 141 species and 850 elementary reactions, and results are compared with experimental data obtained from a one dimensional, two-stage flame burner. With the exception of those for butenes and hydroperoxyl radicals, calculated and experimental profiles are found to agree within a factor of two over the entire flame region. Under the fuel rich conditions studied, CH{sub 3}O and OH radicals are found to be the principal reactive radicals in the cool flame region. A decrease in the estimated rate of reactions R + HO{sub 2} = RO + OH (R=C{sub 3}H{sub 5}, CH{sub 3}, C{sub 2}H{sub 5} and C{sub 4}H{sub 7}) is required to obtain agreement of fuel profiles between the two flame zones. In the second stage region, predicted reaction profiles are in general agreement with the experiment, with the exception of formaldehyde and C{sub 4}-oxygenated species, for which consumptions are substantiallymore » underestimated. This study suggests that the reaction channel for direct metathesis and stabilized hot adduct formation for the overall process C{sub 4}H{sub 9} + O{sub 2} {yields} C{sub 4}H{sub 8} + HO{sub 2} need further attention.« less
Stimulation of the Avian Oviduct by an Ovarian Fragment

Abstract NORMALLY the hen will surround with egg albumen and enclose within shell any object of a sufficient size (mature ovum) which passes down the oviduct. In the normal physiological process of egg production the mature ovarian follicle ruptures along the stigma; the released ovum is then engulfed by the infundibulum and as it passes down the oviduct acquires the various layers of egg albumen, shell membranes, and shell. Through some fault in ovulation, weakness in ovarian structure, or excessive physical tension, an intrafollicular ovum may be released or torn intact from the ovary and when picked up by the infundibulum, provides the necessary stimulus for physiological activity of the oviduct. The production of double-yolked eggs containing, in addition to the normal ovum, an intrafollicular ovum with stalk protruding through the shell at the larger end of the egg have been reported by Laboulbene (1859) and Hutt (1946), who also cited . . .
Chapman Conference on Magnetospheric Currents

A Chapman Conference on Magnetospheric Currents was held in Irvington, Va, during April 5–8, 1983. The purpose of this conference was to bring together theoretical and experimental researchers and students interested in electric currents in the earth's and other planets′ magnetospheres. The knowledge in this area was reviewed and remaining questions were identified. Over 90 registrants from four continents (including countries such as Japan, Mainland China, Australia, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Canada) participated in formal presentations, poster sessions, and informal discussions. Some of the highlights and principal results of this conference are reviewed here.
X-Ray and Ultraviolet Spectroscopy of Intermediate-Mass, First Crossing Giants

Chandra, FUSE, and HST STIS jointly have obtained spectra of four intermediate-mass giants (3 M?) crossing the Hertzsprung gap for the first time, passing through a rapid braking phase analogous to, but much briefer than, the more gradual prolonged decay of magnetic activity experienced by single low-mass stars like the Sun. All four giants display hot, dense coronal plasmas (6-30 MK, ~1012 cm-3), with near solar abundances. The UV spectra show a remarkable congruence of shapes of the 0.06-0.2 MK lines of Si IV, C IV, and N V, which further can be decomposed into narrow and broad Doppler components. The profile isomorphism extends to the yellow dwarf ?1 Cen (G2 V), utilized as a solar surrogate. The broad component fraction of the total increases with LX/Lbol and is suggestive of persistent microflaring. Indeed, the most active of the targets, HR 9024 (G1 III), experienced a macroflare during the Chandra pointing, reaching a remarkable 100 MK. In prebraking phase 31 Com (G0 III) and solar proxy ?1 Cen emission levels in the 0.03-0.3 MK transition zone regime are very similar to those of the 1-10 MK corona, but in the three cooler giants, the hotter plasma is dominant. The high coronal densities of all four giants contrast to much lower values (~1010 cm-3) at 0.15 MK from O IV line ratios, contrary to expectations for isobaric magnetic loops, but possibly analogous to the bimodal pressure behavior of certain solar impulsive flares.
Drying the monolithic lining of 300-ton steelcasting ladles

The optimal drying temperature for the monolithic silica lining of 300-ton steelcasting ladles is 500°C for a drying time of 18 h, provided the ladle casing contains an adequate number of ventilation holes.
Purification and characterization of an RNA dodecamer sequence binding protein from mitochondria of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitochondrial mRNAs terminate at their 3' ends with a conserved dodecamer sequence, 5'-AAUAA(U/C)AUUCUU-3'. We have identified a nuclear-encoded protein (DBP) which specifically binds to the dodecamer sequence and have purified it to apparent homogeneity by RNA affinity chromatography. DBP consists of a single polypeptide of 55 kDa and binds to its RNA substrate with a 1:1 stoichiometry. Scatchard analysis determines that K(d) is 0.93 nM for the canonical dodecamer sequence (5'-AAUAAUAUUCUU-3') and 0.46 nM for the only naturally occurring variant (5'-AAUAACAUUCUU-3') unique to oli1 gene. Based on the studies using mutant oligonucleotides, DBP appears to recognize primarily the nucleotide sequence of an RNA rather than its potential secondary structure.
The chromatographic behaviour of cephalosporins in gel filtration chromatography, a novel method to separate high molecular weight impurities.

The interaction between cephalosporins and the dextran matrix of Sephadex gel in gel filtration chromatography has been thoroughly studied. Twelve cephalosporins with specific structures were examined under different chromatographic conditions, including 12 different mobile phases comprising inorganic or organic compounds of different charge or/and density of electrons on their negative ions, different types of Sephadex gel (Sephadex G-10 and Sephadex G-50) and different flow rates. It was found that the more negative the charge or/and density of electrons on the negative ions of buffer components, the more was the adsorption of cephalosporins on the solid phase; this indicated tht the mobile phase played an important role in gel filtration chromatography for cephalosporins. By choice of suitable chromatographic conditions, optimum separation of high molecular weight impurities from cephalosporins could be achieved. The novel method could be used as a routine method for the quality control of cephalosporin preparations.
A Method of Online Topology Adjustment Decision Support for Short-Circuit Current Limitation

With the growing scale of power systems in China, short-circuit current levels of power systems have been significantly increasing. Appropriate grid topology adjustment is an effective method for short-circuit current limitation. The specific measures include transmission line outage, transformer outage, etc. In this paper, a practical optimization algorithm of grid topology adjustment is put forward. A weighted comprehensive sensitivity index is adopted to speed up the procedure of adjustment strategy searching. The detailed calculation method of this index for different measure types is presented. And a security & economy assessment is implemented to ensure the feasibility of potential adjustment strategies. Moreover, the framework of an online topology adjustment decision support software based on this optimization algorithm is proposed. The effectiveness of the presented method is demonstrated by the test on a large-scale power system.
A simplicial formula for the η-invariant of hyperbolic 3-manifolds

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to give a completely general Dehn surgery formula for the η-invariant of hyperbolic 3-manifolds. Such a formula, combined with others, makes the η-invariant and the (mod Z) Chern-Simons invariant almost as computable as the volume for hyperbolic 3-manifolds.
African (Black) Psychology: Issues and Synthesis

Over the course of the past two decades, many of our progressive Black psychologists and social scientists have devoted a great deal of attention to formulating a conceptual-operational framework for the study of psychological phenomena as they bear on the cultural-survival condition of Black-African people (Akbar, 1975, 1976b; Baldwin, 1976, 1985; Khatib et al., 1975; Jackson, 1982; R. Jones, 1972, 1979, 1980; King et al., 1976; Nobles, 1972; Plumpp,,1973; Smith et al., 1979; Thomas,,1971; Welsing, 1970; White, 1970; Williams, 1978; Williams, 1981; Wright, 1974). Much of this activity has subsequently come to define the conceptual parameters of what we now regard as "African (Black) Psychology." However, as I have previously noted (Baldwin,,1976), there clearly exist some basic disagreements among Black psychologists concerning just what "African" and/ or "Black" Psychology means, consists of, and so on. Some have even questioned whether it should even exist in the first place. Thus, in our thrust toward formalizing this general body of knowledge, it is appropriate that we try to bring some degree of clarity to the meaning of the concept African (Black) Psychology.
Animal models of emphysema: the next generations

Niewoehner (1) wrote in 1988 that pulmonary emphysema is one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in our modern society, and his statement rings just as true today as it did then. Progress in the intervening years has built on the creation and analysis of animal models for this disease, many of which, including the one described by Zheng et al. (2) in a recent issue of the JCI, exploit technology that could not have been imagined at that time. Animal models are especially important for slowly progressing diseases such as pulmonary emphysema (3). They facilitate the understanding of complex pathogenetic relationships and allow hypothesis testing. They also have the potential to allow tests of preventive therapies that would be inordinately time consuming or ethically forbidden in humans. A review of past and future generations of animal models will place the contribution of Zheng and colleagues in perspective.
Novel Microsystem Applications with New Techniques in Low-Temperature Co-Fired Ceramics

Low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) enables development and testing of critical elements on microsystem boards as well as nonmicroelectronic meso-scale applications. We describe silicon-based microelectromechanical systems packaging and LTCC meso-scale applications. Microfluidic interposers permit rapid testing of varied silicon designs. The application of LTCC to micro-high-performance liquid chromatography (μ-HPLC) demonstrates performance advantages at very high pressures. At intermediate pressures, a ceramic thermal cell lyser has lysed bacteria spores without damaging the proteins. The stability and sensitivity of LTCC/chemiresistor smart channels are comparable to the performance of silicon-based chemiresistors. A variant of the use of sacrificial volume materials has created channels, suspended thick films, cavities, and techniques for pressure and flow sensing. We report on inductors, diaphragms, cantilevers, antennae, switch structures, and thermal sensors suspended in air. The development of “functional-as-released” moving parts has resulted in wheels, impellers, tethered plates, and related new LTCC mechanical roles for actuation and sensing. High-temperature metal-to-LTCC joining has been developed with metal thin films for the strong, hermetic interfaces necessary for pins, leads, and tubes.
Activation of Intestinal Cl− Secretion by Lubiprostone Requires the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator

Background & Aims Lubiprostone alleviates constipation by stimulating intestinal fluid secretion, purportedly through activation of ClC-2–type Cl − channels. Intestinal obstruction is also a recurrent cause of distress in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, caused by loss of CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) Cl − channel activity. Because ClC-2 recruitment might be beneficial to CF patients, we investigated lubiprostone's mode of action. Methods Cl − transport was measured in an Ussing chamber, in 3 model systems: (1) T84 colonocytes, (2) intestinal epithelium of wild-type and CF mice, and (3) intestinal epithelium of CF patients and controls. Results In T84 monolayers, lubiprostone induced a robust secretory response. Selective permeabilization of the basolateral plasma membrane revealed that lubiprostone activated an apical Cl − conductance. The lubiprostone response was attenuated by H89, an inhibitor of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase, and lubiprostone precluded responsiveness to the cAMP agonist forskolin. CFTR blockage by CFTRinh172, but not ClC-2 blockage by CdCl 2 , inhibited the lubiprostone response. Lubiprostone induced a CdCl 2 -insensitive secretory response in mouse intestine, but failed to induce intestinal Cl − secretion in Cftr-null mice. Correspondingly, lubiprostone induced a secretory response in human intestinal epithelium, but not in tissue of CF patients. The EP 4 -type prostanoid receptor antagonist L-161,982 blocked the lubiprostone response in all 3 models studied. In T84 cells, lubiprostone induced a rise in cAMP levels that was sensitive to EP 4 -receptor blockage. Conclusions Lubiprostone enhances intestinal Cl − and fluid secretion via prostanoid receptor signaling, triggering activation of CFTR. Therefore, it is of limited use for treatment of CF-related intestinal disease.
Reconfigurable meshes and image processing

Abstract In this paper, we review the progress made in developing efficient reconfigurable mesh algorithms for image processing tasks. We shall see that several tasks that arise in image processing can be performed in constant time on a reconfigurable mesh of appropriate size. In addition, other tasks which are not solvable in constant time on such a computer are, however, solvable in less time than on an ordinary mesh computer and often even faster than on a hypercube computer.
The variational iteration method for a reliable treatment of the linear and the nonlinear Goursat problem

Abstract The linear and the nonlinear Goursat problems are investigated. The He’s variational iteration method (VIM) is used to construct exact solutions to these problems. The linear and the nonlinear structures are handled in a like manner without any need to restrictive assumptions. The accuracy level of the obtained results reveal the power of this method over existing numerical methods.
A necessary poison: a mechanism by which retinoic acid can be both essential and harmful for the developing hindbrain

Retinoic acid (RA) is known to many as a Sigma reagent to be purchased to induce differentiation of a favorite progenitor cell line, whether it be the hemopoietic cell line HL60 or a neural stem cell. The developing embryo uses RA in the same way, to regulate cell differentiation and patterning. The amount of this potent transcriptional activator is determined through regulation of the enzymes that either synthesize RA from vitamin A or inactivate RA. This dependence on precisely regulated amounts of RA renders the embryo acutely sensitive to RA as a teratogen. Exposure of the human embryo can occur because RA is used to treat chronic cystic acne. The abnormalities in the CNS are many but the hindbrain is particularly sensitive. Our studies show that RA exposure of the mouse at a specific embryonic stage alters morphological structures that derive from the wall of the IV ventricle and form the cerebellar system of the hindbrain (i.e. the cerebellum, the inferior olivary nucleus and the pontine nucleus). The loss of the cerebellar vermis in the mouse requires chronic exposure of the embryo to RA whereas abnormalities in the pontine nuclei and inferior olive results from exposure at a critical period of embryonic day 9.5 and 10.5. The abnormalities in the pontine nuclei are due to a failure in their usual neurophilic migration. The compact stream of cells, which leads from the anterior rhombic lip to the ventral pons, is instead scattered widely over the anterior medulla. Given that the RA exposure occurs after the resolution of rhombomere identity this suggests that teratogenic RA interferes with a regulatory event which overlays this original pattern.
Physicochemical effects of radiation. II. Effect of x-rays on thymus sodium desoxyribonucleate as revealed by sedimentation and viscosity.

Abstract Two samples of thymus sodium desoxyribonucleate have been irradiated in the dry state with varying amounts of soft x-rays. Sedimentation studies on solutions of these samples dissolved in 0.2 M NaCl have revealed that the higher doses of radiation produce marked reduction in S 0 20 . With the lower doses of irradiation, an increase in S 0 20 occurs, and this increase has been explained as compensatory. One sample of thymus sodium desoxyribonucleate dissolved in 0.2 M NaCl was irradiated with varying amounts of soft x-rays. Sedimentation studies were made on these solutions. It was found that there was a progressive decrease in S 0 20 upon an increase in irradiation dosage. At the lower doses of irradiation, heavier components appeared, but these heavier components disappeared with the higher doses of irradiation. Much greater alteration of the molecule was accomplished by irradiation in the dissolved state than was accomplished for an equivalent dose administered in the dry state. The intrinsic viscosity of thymus sodium desoxyribonucleate, whether determined by a capillary viscometer or a rotational viscometer, shows a significant decrease proportional to the amount of radiation administered to the dry sample. The values of S 0 20 and the values of [η] indicate a reduction in the size of the thymus desoxyribonucleate molecule upon irradiation with soft x-rays.
Linking axonal degeneration to microtubule remodeling by Spastin-mediated microtubule severing

Mutations in the AAA adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) Spastin (SPG4) cause an autosomal dominant form of hereditary spastic paraplegia, which is a retrograde axonopathy primarily characterized pathologically by the degeneration of long spinal neurons in the corticospinal tracts and the dorsal columns. Using recombinant Spastin, we find that six mutant forms of Spastin, including three disease-associated forms, are severely impaired in ATPase activity. In contrast to a mutation designed to prevent adenosine triphosphate (ATP) binding, an ATP hydrolysis–deficient Spastin mutant predicted to remain kinetically trapped on target proteins decorates microtubules in transfected cells. Analysis of disease-associated missense mutations shows that some more closely resemble the canonical hydrolysis mutant, whereas others resemble the ATP-binding mutant. Using real-time imaging, we show that Spastin severs microtubules when added to permeabilized, cytosol-depleted cells stably expressing GFP-tubulin. Using purified components, we also show that Spastin interacts directly with microtubules and is sufficient for severing. These studies suggest that defects in microtubule severing are a cause of axonal degeneration in human disease.
Virtual digital library

The virtual digital library, a concept that is quickly becoming a reality, offers rapid and geography-independent access to stores of text, images, graphics, motion video and other datatypes. Furthermore, a user may move from one information source to another through hypertext linkages. The projects described here further the notion of such an information paradigm from an end user viewpoint.
Lubricated pipelining: stability of core-annular flow. Part 2

In this paper, we study the linearized stability of three symmetric arrangements of two liquids in core–annular Poiseuille flow in round pipes. Deferring to one important application, we say oil and water when we mean more viscous and less viscous liquids. The three arrangements are (i) oil is in the core and water on the wall, (ii) water is in the core and oil is outside and (iii) three layers, oil inside and outside with water in between. The arrangement in (iii) is our model for lubricated pipelining when the pipe walls are hydrophobic and it has not been studied before. The arrangement in (ii) was studied by Hickox (1971) who treated the problem as a perturbation of long waves, effectively suppressing surface tension and other essential effects which are necessary to explain the flows observed, say, in recent experiments of W. L. Olbricht and R. W. Aul. The arrangement in (i) was studied in Part 1 of this paper (Preziosi, Chen & Joseph 1987). We have confirmed and extended their pseudo-spectral calculation by introducing a more efficient finite-element code. We have calculated neutral curves, growth rates, maximum growth rate, wavenumbers for maximum growth and the various terms which enter into the analysis of the equation for the evolution of the energy of a small disturbance. The energy analysis allows us to identify the three competing mechanisms underway: interfacial tension, interfacial friction and Reynolds stress. Many results are presented.
Manakov solitons and polarization mode dispersion

The effect of polarization mode dispersion (PMD) on Manakov solitons and dispersion managed solitons is treated analytically and by numerical simulation. In the analytic approach the internal motion of the Manakov soliton is represented as a damped harmonic oscillator. The PMD functions as a white noise source driving the oscillations. It is shown that the solitons can withstand PMD up to a certain instability threshold for which an analytic expression is obtained. This threshold is also evaluated for dispersion managed solitons.
Simulating Communication Network Experiments

A report of a computer simulation of human behavior in Bavelas-type communication network experiments. The simulation successfully imitates behavior in the five-man chain network, and does reasonably well for a six-man Y net, but fails on a more complex six-man net. Main features of the simulation are described. In order to simulate human behavior, a number of non-optimal activities were initially permitted in the simulation and were discarded gradually by probabilistic selection of “desirable” patterns of message sending. Results lead one to question the notion of “optimal performance,” even for a simple communication task in a small group.
Elucidation of the mechanism and site of action of quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB) on the electrical excitability and chemosensitivity of the frog sartorius muscle.

The effects of the muscarinic antagonist quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB) on transmission at the frog sartorius neuromuscular junction have been examined. QNB decreases endplate potential (EPP) amplitude without affecting miniature endplate (MEPP) frequency or resting potential. QNB also increased the latency of the EPP and the nerve terminal spike in a frequency dependent fashion, suggesting the site of action is the unmyelinated nerve terminal. Since the rate of rise and amplitude of muscle action are potentials decreased it is likely that QNB causes a blockade of electrically excitable sodium channels; the agent also blocks ionic channels associated with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. It is possible that these effects of QNB may explain some of the behavioral disturbances produced by its administration.
Intestinal Microbiota-Derived Metabolomic Blood Plasma Markers for Prior Radiation Injury

Purpose Assessing whole-body radiation injury and absorbed dose is essential for remediation efforts following accidental or deliberate exposure in medical, industrial, military, or terrorist incidents. We hypothesize that variations in specific metabolite concentrations extracted from blood plasma would correlate with whole-body radiation injury and dose. Methods and Materials Groups of C57BL/6 mice (n=12 per group) were exposed to 0, 2, 4, 8, and 10.4 Gy of whole-body gamma radiation. At 24 hours after treatment, all animals were euthanized, and both plasma and liver biopsy samples were obtained, the latter being used to identify a distinct hepatic radiation injury response within plasma. A semiquantitative, untargeted metabolite/lipid profile was developed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, which identified 354 biochemical compounds. A second set of C57BL/6 mice (n=6 per group) were used to assess a subset of identified plasma markers beyond 24 hours. Results We identified a cohort of 37 biochemical compounds in plasma that yielded the optimal separation of the irradiated sample groups, with the most correlated metabolites associated with pyrimidine (positively correlated) and tryptophan (negatively correlated) metabolism. The latter were predominantly associated with indole compounds, and there was evidence that these were also correlated between liver and plasma. No evidence of saturation as a function of dose was observed, as has been noted for studies involving metabolite analysis of urine. Conclusions Plasma profiling of specific metabolites related to pyrimidine and tryptophan pathways can be used to differentiate whole-body radiation injury and dose response. As the tryptophan-associated indole compounds have their origin in the intestinal microbiome and subsequently the liver, these metabolites particularly represent an attractive marker for radiation injury within blood plasma.
Current thresholds in stripe-contact injection lasers

Abstract A mathematical analysis has been made of the current distribution beyond the edge of the contact in a stripe contact injection laser structure. An analytical solution is obtained for this distribution using a simplified but reasonably accurate model. For a typical stripe-contact laser, the junction current beyond the contact region is equivalent to the current at threshold through an additional stripe width of the order of 10 μm. As a result of such current spreading, lasers with narrow stripe-contacts will have greatly increased apparent threshold current densities.
A note on scheduling parallel machines subject to breakdown and repair

In this paper we consider n jobs and a number of machines in parallel. The machines are identical and subject to breakdown and repair. The number may therefore vary over time and is at time t equal to m(t). Preemptions are allowed. We consider three objectives, namely, the total completion time, ∑ Cj, the makespan Cmax, and the maximum lateness Lmax. We study the conditions on m(t) under which various rules minimize the objective functions under consideration. We analyze cases when the jobs have deadlines to meet and when the jobs are subject to precedence constraints. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2004.
Synthesis, resolution and anticonvulsant activity of chiral N-1'-ethyl,N-3'-(1-phenylethyl)-(R,S)-2'H,3H,5'H-spiro-(2-benzofuran-1,4'-imidazolidine)-2',3,5'-trione diastereomers.

Abstract Four new N-1′,N-3′-disubstituted-2′H,3H,5′H-spiro-(2-benzofuran-1,4′-imidazolidine)-2′,3,5′-triones bearing a chiral N-3′ substituent were synthesized, resolved and their anticonvulsant activity was obtained and determined that the activity was not stereoselective.
EEG and clinical change after bilateral and unilateral electroconvulsive therapy

Abstract Effects of bilateral and unilateral electroconvulsive treatment (ECT) on EEG and depression ratings were studied in 31 depressed patients. Their average age was 65.7 years. EEG records from 2 frontocentral derivations as well as the Hamilton Depression Scale ratings were taken before the treatment started and taken again after a course of 4–8 ECT sessions. EEG was subjected to digital period analysis. Clinical and EEG data were entered into a number of multiple regression equations. The number of ECT sessions was positively related to the amount of delta activity in the EEG, and to the clinical improvement, as measured by the Hamilton Scale. Bilateral ECT resulted in EEG slowing which was predominantly left-sided. Right unilateral ECT caused a predominantly right-sided slowing. This asymmetry of the EEG response to ECT was related to age. The two treatment modes produced approximately the same over-all amount of slow activity. The amount of post-ECT slow activity was related to the number of ECT sessions and to the pre-treatment EEG. No relationship was found between the global Hamilton depression scores and the EEG measures.
Crystal growth of cobalt and nickel doped magnesium fluoride by the czochralski method

Large MgF2 crystal (15 mm diameter by 80 mm long) doped with either Co2+ or Ni2+ in concentrations up to 5% were grown by the Czochralski method with an HF/CF4/He atmosphere in an open system. Oriented growth of Co:MgF2 was achieved with the c-axis perpendicular to the growth axis, the preferred orientation for laser applications.
Synergistic enhancement of EGF, but not HGF, stimulated hepatocyte motility by TGF‐β1 in vitro

The ability of TGF-beta 1 (transforming growth factor-beta 1) to suppress growth factor induced proliferation of many cell types in vitro is well documented; however, TGF-beta 1 increases within a similar time frame as the hepatocyte mitogens HGF (hepatocyte growth factor), EGF (epidermal growth factor), and TGF-alpha (transforming growth factor-alpha) prior to hepatocyte proliferation during liver regeneration. This has raised the issue that TGF-beta 1 may have effects on hepatocytes additional to mito-inhibition and that these effects may be relevant to the regenerative process. To this end, we examined the effect of TGF-beta 1 on both the mitogenesis and the motility of growth factor stimulated primary rat hepatocytes and the hepatoblastoma cell line HepG2 in vitro. TGF-beta 1 significantly enhanced the chemotactic motility of EGF or TGF-alpha, and not HGF, stimulated hepatocytes on a collagen I substratum. TGF-beta 1 was not chemotactic when added alone and decreased the DNA synthesis of all hepatocyte cultures to near control levels. HepG2 cells were chemotactic toward HGF, EGF, and TGF-beta 1 alone and displayed an additive chemotactic response when TGF-beta 1 was added to either HGF or EGF. Additionally, HepG2 cells were refractory to the growth stimulatory effects of HGF or EGF and the growth inhibitory effects of TGF-beta 1. Hepatocytes plated onto other collagen-containing substrates (collagen IV, Matrigel, or ECL, an entactin-collagen IV-laminin matrix), but not on fibronectin or laminin alone, also displayed enhanced EGF stimulated motility by TGF-beta 1. The data indicate that an additional, novel role for TGF-beta 1 during liver tissue remodeling following PHx may include the synergistic enhancement EGF stimulated hepatocyte motility responses, and this enhancement is observed only on collagen-containing extracellular matrices.
RORSCHACH MOVEMENT AND BLEULER'S THREE KINDS OF THINKING: A CONTRIBUTION TO THE PSYCHOLOGY OF CREATIVITY.

We have suggested that Rorschach's concept of inner creation operationalizes Bleuler's concept of autistic thinking. If we are correct, then Rorschach movement production should correlate with those phenomena Bleuler subsumed under his concept. Just as autistic and careless thought are non-overlapping, so are the tendencies to produce movement and poor form. If we are correct, then form-level should not distinguish high movement producers from low. If there is a close relation between autistic thinking and inner creation, on the one hand, and Werner's physiognomic perception on the other, Rorschach movement production should be higher in those “especially gifted in susceptibility to physiognomic experience” than in those who are not. Likewise, those especially gifted should score higher in measures of the phenomena Bleuler subsumed under autistic thinking. If autistic thinking, inner creation, and physiognomic perception have nothing as such to do with discovery and invention in science, etc., Rorschach m...
Ancient Egyptian Rhetoric

hetorical theory is traditionally thought to have originated with the Greeks. Without attempting to deprive Corax and Tisias of their place of honor, I would like to claim for the ancient Egyptians their rightful place in the history of rhetoric. Study of rhetoric in the ancient Near East will necessarily deal for the most part with the principles and techniques exhibited by specific discourses rather than with theories of rhetoric. The rich literature of pharaonic Egypt, however, does offer us theories of rhetoric—that is, a conceptual rhetoric, albeit an unsystematic one, expressed both incidentally and explicitly in the context of advice about the efficacy of speech.
Computation of term/document discrimination values by use of the cover coefficient

Indexing in information retrieval (IR) is used to obtain a suitable vocabulary of index terms and optimum assignment of these terms to documents for increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of an IR system. The concept of term discrimination value (TDV) is one of the criteria used for index-term selection. In this article a new concept called the cover coefficient (CC) will be used in computing TDVs. After a brief introduction to the theory of indexing and the CC concept, an efficient way of computing TDVs by use of the CC concept, index-term selection, and weight modification are discussed. It is also shown that the computational cost of the CC approach in the calculation of TDVs is favorably comparable to the cost of a different approach that uses similarity coefficients. Furthermore, the TDVs obtained by the CC approach are consistent with those of the latter approach.
Studies of building fires with models

To study the behavior of materials in building fires, the authors suggest that a practical approach is one that combines model tests with full-scale tests to verify their findings. They discuss a program in which just such an approach was used.
G protein inhibition of CaV2 calcium channels

Voltage-gated Ca2+ channels translate the electrical inputs of excitable cells into biochemical outputs by controlling influx of the ubiquitous second messenger Ca2+. As such the channels play pivotal roles in many cellular functions including the triggering of neurotransmitter and hormone release by CaV2.1 (P/Q-type) and CaV2.2 (N-type) channels. It is well established that G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) orchestrate precise regulation neurotransmitter and hormone release through inhibition of CaV2 channels. Although the GPCRs recruit a number of different pathways, perhaps the most prominent, and certainly most studied among these is the so-called voltage-dependent inhibition mediated by direct binding of Gβγ to the α1 subunit of CaV2 channels. This article will review the basics of Ca2+-channels and G protein signaling, and the functional impact of this now classical inhibitory mechanism on channel function. It will also provide an update on more recent developments in the field, both related to fu...
Coal derived carbons

On montre la grande variabilite du charbon en tant que precurseur du carbone ainsi que la grande variabilite des proprietes telles que la microporosite, par un pretraitement du charbon ou par le choix du precurseur
The effect of foreign diversification on analysts' prediction errors

Abstract This study examines the effect of foreign acquisitions by U.S. firms on analysts' prediction errors. For a sample of 102 focus-preserving (FP) foreign acquisitions and 83 focus-decreasing (FD) acquisitions during 1985–1997, we find that post-merger analysts' prediction errors are significantly higher for U.S. firms that choose to expand internationally outside their core business segment, relative to those that undertake global expansion within their core business. Given the potential costs associated with declines in the accuracy of analysts' earnings forecasts, we examine the incentives that may lead firms to engage in focus-decreasing foreign investments. To that end, we examine the financial characteristics and valuation effects of the acquiring firms and the industry conditions of both the acquiring and target firms' rivals. The findings indicate that the industry conditions of the FD acquiring (target) firms are less (more) attractive relative to those of FP acquiring and target firms. Moreover, we find that announcements of FD foreign acquisitions result in significantly positive abnormal returns for the acquiring firm and in significantly negative contemporaneous abnormal returns for the industry rivals of both the FD acquiring and target firms.
Substance Abuse Treatment in United States Prisons: A Social Work Perspective

A literature review was completed to explore the existing, scholarly articles concerning substance abuse treatment programs offered in different U.S. prisons. The theoretical perspectives that were applied in the treatment of inmates were analyzed, and recommendations were given about how to expand upon completed work with these individuals. Upon examination, it was discovered that the primary theories and models used in various types of substance abuse treatment are biopsychosocial, systems, and assets-based community development models. Strategies and interventions were also developed based on the knowledge presented in the articles, and implications for social work practice were considered in the process.