cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Connexin50, a Gap Junction Protein of Macroglia in the Mammalian Retina and Visual Pathway

Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blotting and immunocytochemistry were used to study the expression of gap junction proteins (connexins; Cx) in the rat and rabbit retina. RT-PCR of rabbit total retinal RNA using primers selected for the human Cx50 (alpha 8 Cx) DNA template yielded cDNA fragments of the predicted base pair size. Western blots of rat and rabbit retinal membrane preparations probed with a monoclonal antibody which recognizes Cx50 in the lens of several mammalian species revealed a single band (MW 50 kD), identical to that recognized in lens membrane extracts. In frozen retinal sections of both species, the same monoclonal antibody as well as two polyclonal antisera raised against a synthetic peptide from the C-terminal region of the human Cx50 polypeptide labeled Muller cells and astrocytes. In Muller cells, labeling was strongest in the endfeet and in the filamentous processes ensheathing the photoreceptors. Extending from the neural retina, Cx50-like immuno-reactivity was detected in astrocytes of the optic nerve and along retinal projections within the CNS. Our data indicate that Muller cells and astrocytes of mammalian retinas and throughout the visual pathway are coupled through gap junctions composed of connexin50.
Comparison of the subunit organization of early and late replicating chromatin.

A comparison was made of the subunit organization of chromatin from regions of the genome with different metaphase chromosome banding characteristics by analyzing the accessibility of early and late replicating DNA in synchronized Chinese hamster ovary cells to digestion with staphylococcal nuclease. Three measures of nuclease susceptibility were employed: (1) the release of acid-soluble material; (2) a digestion index, P, which corresponds to the proportion of internucleosome segments which experienced at least one cleavage event; and (3) the size distribution of DNA fragments isolated from digested chromatin. Little or no difference was observed in the initial rates with which nuclease converted early and late replicating chromatin to acid-soluble material, although the initial digestion rates varied with time of cell collection in the cycle (metaphase > G1 ⩾ mid-S > late-S or G2). Measurements of the digestion indices of material isolated from interphase cells suggested that initial cleavage events were more rapid in early replicating chromatin than in late replicating chromatin. In contrast, electrophoretic analysis revealed that oligomer DNA fragments from early labelled metaphase chromatin were slightly larger than corresponding fragments from late labelled metaphase chromatin. The size distribution of DNA in submonomer fragments obtained from extensively digested chromatin appeared to be identical regardless of the timing of replication or cell collection. Those small differences in chromatin digestibility that were observed may reflect subtle variations in the accessibility of internucleosome regions or perhaps in the higher-order arrangement of nucleosomes. However, no gross variation in accessibility to staphylococcal nuclease digestion was observed in chromatin localized to metaphase chromosome regions with vastly different cytological staining properties.
Acoustic radiation prediction of a compressor housing from three-dimensional experimental spatial dynamics modeling

Abstract An application of experimental spatial dynamics modeling (ESDM) is demonstrated for predicting the sound radiation from a vibrating structure based on experimental velocity response data. A scanning laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV) is used to measure velocity at thousands of locations on the surface of the radiating structure. Velocity measurements are acquired from multiple laser positions where the position and orientation of the LDV relative to the structure are determined. A weighted least-squares discrete finite element formulation is used to solve for the complex-valued continuous three-dimensional velocity response field on the surface of the structure from the experimental data for a single frequency. The velocity field solution on the surface provides the necessary boundary values input into a finite element/boundary element acoustic code for predicting acoustic radiation. This experimental-numerical noise prediction technique was demonstrated on the housing of an operational reciprocating Freon compressor. The technique was verified by comparing measured and predicted acoustic responses. This is the first time an experimental three-dimensional spatial dynamics model has been linked directly to the acoustic analysis of complex structures. The capability to make in-the-field vibration measurements, solve for the complex-valued continuous three-dimensional velocity response field, and predict the acoustic response from the same test is a novel approach and a major contribution of this work.
Blepharophimosis-ptosis-epicanthus inversus syndrome and hypergonadotropic hypogonadism

Objective To describe a woman with blepharophimosis-ptosis-epicanthus inversus syndrome and hypergonadotropic hypogonadism. Design Case report. Setting University medical center. Patient(s) One 25-year-old woman. Intervention(s) Pedigree, hormone assays, and donor embryo transfer. Main Outcome Measure(s) Pregnancy. Result(s) The patient with hypergonadtropic hypogonadism obtained an ongoing pregnancy after donor embryo transfer. Conclusion(s) Blepharophimosis-ptosis-epicanthus inversus syndrome is associated with evidence of premature ovarian failure. The syndrome is a sex-limited, autosomal dominant trait that causes selective loss of ovarian function in affected females. This report emphasizes the importance of a thorough family history and pedigree analysis in the evaluation of a patient with hypergonadotropic hypogonadism.
Tests of the Rescorla-Wagner model of Pavlovian conditioning

The present experiment tested several predictions from the Rescorla-Wagner (1972) model of Pavlovian conditioning. For two groups, each of two CSs was independently paired with shock until asymptotic suppression developed. They were then presented simultaneously for a second phase: for one group, US intensity was not changed between phases, while for the second group it was increased. The compound lost associative strength in the first group but not in the second. For a third group, the first phase was run using only one CS. During compound conditioning, the same US was used to reinforce the compound formed by adding a novel CS; no change in suppression was seen during compound conditioning. Other predictions were made concerning additive summation, and these were confirmed, as were predictions concerning a test phase in which the CSs were again presented singly. The evidence is taken as strong support for the Rescorla-Wagner model.
Injustice and organisation in Anchicayá, Colombia: an environmental legal case in a hydropower watershed

The paper looks at Colombia's first major environmental justice legal case involving a riparian Afro-Colombian community and the Pacific Energy Company (EPSA). Riverine Afro-Colombian communities gained political recognition as a culturally distinct group largely based on their conservation practices in riparian environments. The work contrasts the complexities of the case with the vulnerable reality of the people of Anchicaya who largely live in conditions of poverty, violence and political isolation. It also describes the institutions that frame watershed management, the ethnic rights to collective land and self-governance and the property rights of energy companies in the backdrop of decentralisation reforms that clarified different types of property rights and refounded Colombia as a multicultural nation. The legal suit, however, demonstrates that the government failed to offer equal protection to collective versus private cultural and socio-economic uses of land and water in order to protect energy i...
Is access to home health care a problem in rural areas

In 1987, urban Medicare beneficiaries were 13.7% more likely than their rural counterparts to use Medicare home health care services. Regression analysis shows that rural use rates, particularly those in sparsely populated areas, fall short of those in urban areas, other things being equal. Rural areas have lower Medicare ceilings, proportionately fewer visiting nurse associations, and lower availability of auxiliary services. These factors combined account for 82% of the difference between rural and urban use rates.
Design and analysis of dynamic redundancy networks

The dynamic redundancy (DR) network is investigated in relation to fault-tolerant design for multistage interconnection network (MIN) based systems. The DR network can tolerate faults in the network and support a system to tolerate processing element (PE) faults without degradation by adding spare PEs, while retaining the full capability of a multistage cube network. A variation of the DR network, the reduced DR network, is also considered, that can be implemented more cost effectively than the DR while retaining most of the advantages of the DR. The reliabilities of DR-based systems with one spare PE and the reliabilities of systems with no spare PEs are estimated and compared, and the effect of adding multiple spare PEs is analyzed. >
Expression of membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-14) in epithelial ovarian cancer: high level expression in clear cell carcinoma.

Objective Clear cell carcinomas of the ovary constitute approximately 5% of all ovarian neoplasms and have a distinct gene expression profile relative to other ovarian carcinoma histotypes. Tumors often present as an early stage large pelvic mass with a high degree of recurrence and frequent early metastasis. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a role in intraperitoneal metastasis through breakdown of cell-cell and cell-matrix barriers, enabling anchoring of secondary lesions and promoting proliferation in a geometrically constrained matrix environment. The objective of this study was to evaluate MMP expression in ovarian clear cell carcinoma.
Atomic model and coupling with continuum model for static equilibrium problems

This paper presents a computational technique to model and simulate atomic behaviour of materials under static loads. Interatomic potential energy was used to maintain equilibrium among atoms under loads and constraints. In addition, the atomic model was coupled with the finite element analysis model so that more flexible loads and constraints could be applied to the atomistic model. Some example problems were presented to illustrate the developed technique.
Effect of Phytohaemagglutinin on Persistence of Immunological Tolerance

Two general mechanisms have been considered to explain the loss of acquired tolerance with time. The first requires that the slow degradation of antigen with time permits the recovery of inhibited or “tolerant” cells to their normally responsive state1. A variation of this hypothesis proposes that continued proliferation of cells in the absence of new supplies of antigen leads to an intra-cellular dilution of captured antigen by division among daughter cells to a point where the antigen concentration is no longer inhibitory and may even stimulate an immune response. The more strongly held alternative proposes that tolerance wanes pari passu with the formation of virgin immunocompetent cells from a source organ such as the thymus2,3.
The Barnacle Hexelasma Antarcticum Borradaile- Its Description, Distribution, and Geologic Significance

[Description detaillee de la balane Hexelasma antarcticum Borradaile, fondee sur des pieces de la muraille et un scutum dragues sur Sars Bank et Scotia Ridge, dans les eaux antarctiques. La distribution geographique et l'etagement geologique de l'espece sont signales. Une datation au radiocarbone indique 17.635 ± 360 ans pour les coquilles obtenues sur Scotia Ridge, de 550 a 630 brasses. L'auteur examine deux theories qui expliqueraient la presence de H. antarcticum sur les formations glaciaires, jusqu'a 200 pieds au-dessus du niveau de la mer., Description detaillee de la balane Hexelasma antarcticum Borradaile, fondee sur des pieces de la muraille et un scutum dragues sur Sars Bank et Scotia Ridge, dans les eaux antarctiques. La distribution geographique et l'etagement geologique de l'espece sont signales. Une datation au radiocarbone indique 17.635 ± 360 ans pour les coquilles obtenues sur Scotia Ridge, de 550 a 630 brasses. L'auteur examine deux theories qui expliqueraient la presence de H. antarcticum sur les formations glaciaires, jusqu'a 200 pieds au-dessus du niveau de la mer.]
Reexamining the Case for Marriage: Union Formation and Changes in Well‐being

This article addresses open questions about the nature and meaning of the positive association between marriage and well-being, namely, the extent to which it is causal, shared with cohabitation, and stable over time. We relied on data from the National Survey of Families and Households (N = 2,737) and a modeling approach that controls for fixed differences between individuals by relating union transitions to changes in well-being. This study is unique in examining the persistence of changes in well-being as marriages and cohabitations progress (and potentially dissolve) over time. The effects of marriage and cohabitation are found to be similar across a range of measures tapping psychological well-being, health, and social ties. Where there are statistically significant differences, marriage is not always more advantageous. Overall, differences tend to be small and appear to dissipate over time, even when the greater instability of cohabitation is taken into account.
Bianchi type I cosmological models with variableG and Λ: A comment

We treat in an alternate way a problem recently considered by Beesham [1]. We find that anisotropic Bianchi I inflationary cosmologies with variable gravitational and cosmological “constants” admit de Sitter expansion at least for late times.
Interaction of ethanol with acetaminophen metabolism in the baboon.

Abstract To evaluate the effects of ethanol on acetaminophen metabolism and toxicity, twelve female baboons were studied using three experimental designs. In the first one, animals fed ethanol chronically and their pair-fed controls received acetaminophen intravenously (40 mg/kg), and drug metabolism was studied for 6hr in blood and urine. Elimination of acetaminophen from plasma was accelerated significantly in baboons fed alcohol chronically, urinary excretion of mercapturic acid conjugate was increased. In the second, the experiments were repeated with the addition of ethanol infusion (120–160 mg/kg/hr). During ethanol infusion, elimination of acetaminophen from plasma was still accelerated significantly in baboons fed alcohol chronically. In the third experimental design, four pairs of baboons fed an alcohol or an isocaloric control liquid diet received, in addition, acetaminophen (85 mg/kg/day) in their respective liquid diets for 2 weeks. Liver histology was studied before and after acetaminophen feeding; SGPT, SGOT, SGDH, acetaminophen blood levels and acetaminophen urinary metabolites were also assessed. No morphological or functional liver alterations were found after chronic acetaminophen treatment, and urinary excretion of mercapturic acid conjugate was not increased in baboons fed alcohol chronically. Thus, our results in primates confirm that chronic ethanol consumption increases, whereas acute ethanol administration decreases, the excretion of mercapturic acid conjugate. When acute and chronic ethanol administration were combined, the effects tended to cancel each other out. A dose of acetaminophen which maintained blood levels similar to those recommended for humans did not produce deletions effects in baboons drinking alcohol.
Influence of simplified nutrition labeling and taxation on laboratory energy intake in adults

The purpose of these studies was to test the hypotheses that simplified nutrition labeling and taxation alter food selection and intake. In Experiment 1, participants consumed lunch in the laboratory three times with no labels, standard nutrition labels, or traffic light diet labels at each visit. In Experiment 2, participants were given $6.00 with which to purchase lunch in the laboratory twice with standard pricing on one visit and a 25% tax on "red" foods on another visit. Participants received a brief education session on the labeling systems being used. Total energy intake and energy intake and number of foods purchased from each traffic light category were measured. Nutrition labeling decreased energy intake in lean females, but had no effect in men or in obese females. Traffic light labels increased consumption of "green" foods and decreased consumption of "red" foods. Taxation decreased the purchasing of "red" foods in obese, but not non-obese participants. There were no interactions between taxation and simplified nutrition labeling. Although generalization to real-world purchasing and consumption is limited by the laboratory study design, our findings suggests that taking multiple, simultaneous approaches to reduce energy intake may have the greatest impact on food purchases and/or nutrient consumption.
Komlos-Major-Tusnady approximation for the general empirical process and Haar expansions of classes of functions

Rates of convergence of the Komlos-Major-Tusnady type in the invariance principle for empirical processes indexed by functions are obtained. The conditions are given in terms of the empirical entropy and the accuracy of the Haar type approximation for the corresponding classes of functions. The recent results of Massart(25) as well as some new results for empirical characteristic functions are obtained as a corollary.
Treatment of depression and poor mental health among patients receiving maintenance dialysis: are there options other than a pill or a couch?

Depression is a common psychological disorder among adults receiving maintenance hemodialysis. Up to 30% of these patients either report symptoms or have a clinical diagnosis of depression.1 Similarly, mental health and, more broadly, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are well below general population averages in maintenance hemodialysis patients.2 Depression and poor mental health are associated with a higher risk of hospitalization and death in this population.3-10 Moreover, depressed hemodialysis patients are more likely to not adhere to dietary and fluid restrictions, to withdraw from dialysis therapy, and to commit suicide.11-13 With improvements in health care treatment and delivery, care goals for hemodialysis patients have evolved beyond just survival to include patients’ overall well-being.14 Hence, it is incumbent upon nephrologists to be vigilant in managing depression and poor mental health in hemodialysis patients.
Leucine alters the interaction of the leucine-responsive regulatory protein (Lrp) with the fim switch to stimulate site-specific recombination in Escherichia coli

The leucine-responsive regulatory protein (Lrp) is a global regulator that controls the expression of numerous operons in Escherichia coli. Lrp can act as a repressor or as an activator of transcription with its effects being potentiated, repressed or unaffected by the presence of exogenous leucine. The phase variation of type 1 fimbria in E. coli provides a unique system in which to investigate the effects of leucine on Lrp, as it is the only known example in which Lrp is a positive regulator and leucine potentiates this effect. Previous studies determined that Lrp binds with high affinity to two sites within the fim switch (fim sites 1 and 2), and binding to these sites stimulates recombination. Here, it is shown that, even though leucine stimulates the fim switch in vivo, it nevertheless causes a slight decrease in Lrp binding to the fim switch in vitro. These contradictory results are explicable by the finding that Lrp binding to a third region adjacent to fim sites 1 and 2 inhibits recombination. According to this model, leucine stimulates recombination by selectively disrupting Lrp binding to this newly characterized region, while having little or no effect on Lrp binding to fim sites 1 and 2.
A transducer to aid in the structural design and application of plastics

Stress transducer used as piezoresistive physical sensing element in structural design of plastics
Glass solid electrolytes: Past, present and near future — the year 2004

Abstract Glasses have been known to be solid electrolytes as early as 1884 and have been used over the years in a variety of thermochemical probes. Recent advances in the development of fast ion conducting glasses has opened up many new potential applications including high energy density batteries, electrochromic displays and sensors. We review the additional constraints of chemical and electrolytic stability imposed on glasses considered in these applications and present some novel electrochemical approaches for characterizing stability. Future applications for glass solid electrolytes are considered as well as novel means for forming them.
Neurologic abnormalities in the skeletal dysplasias: A clinical and radiological perspective

The neurologic manifestations of the skeletal dysplasias are reviewed. Three important major groups are identified: Achondroplasia (cranio-cervical junction problems in infancy, spinal stenosis and neurogenic claudication in the adult). Type II collagenopathies (upper cervical spine anatomic and functional problems), and craniotubular and sclerosing bone dysplasias (osseous overgrowth with foraminal obstruction problems). The remainder of the well-identified 150 or so bone dysplasias are also evaluated in depth for their diverse neurologic abnormalities. The findings discussed are important both for the diagnosis and management of these patients.
The physical nature of information

Information is inevitably tied to a physical representation and therefore to restrictions and possibilities related to the laws of physics and the parts available in the universe. Quantum mechanical superpositions of information bearing states can be used, and the real utility of that needs to be understood. Quantum parallelism in computation is one possibility and will be assessed pessimistically. The energy dissipation requirements of computation, of measurement and of the communications link are discussed. The insights gained from the analysis of computation has caused a reappraisal of the perceived wisdom in the other two fields. A concluding section speculates about the nature of the laws of physics, which are algorithms for the handling of information, and must be executable in our real physical universe.
Development of a condensed model for managing of a particular river/reservoir system based on Texas Water Availability Model (WAM) dataset

The Texas Water Availability Model (WAM) System datasets for the larger river basins of the state contain numerous water rights, reservoir, and control points. These voluminous datasets are necessary to support administration of the water rights permit system by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and the planning studies conducted by Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) and regional planning groups. The datasets are necessarily large to serve the original purposes for which the WAM System was developed. However, the modeling system is being applied for a growing range of applications. Simpler datasets are advantageous for certain types of applications. For example, a model may be formulated that focuses on a particular reservoir system and associated water users. A methodology is presented here for reducing the number of control points, water rights, and reservoirs in a WAM dataset and thus creating a much easier-to-apply condensed dataset focused on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Brazos River Authority (BRA) reservoir system and associated water rights that have only 48 control points and 14 reservoirs. Selected water rights, control points, and reservoirs are removed with their effects retained in the adopted stream inflow input data.
Managing subsurface property hazards: reactive soils and underground storage tanks

Abstract Fuels stored in underground tanks often contaminate urban soil and water. A geographic information system (GIS) mapped 1068 underground fuel tanks in Denton County, Texas, USA. Tank locations were compared with soil shrink–swell and corrosivity potentials. Higher percentages of reported leaking tanks were observed in expansive and corrosive soils. This study illustrates the utility of GIS for overlaying layers of data that affect underground tank integrity. Such overlays could find appropriate locations for new tanks, survey existing tanks for potential leak hazards, and assess hazards posed by leaking tanks based upon soil permeability.
A comparison of carbon calculators

Abstract International attention to carbon dioxide emissions is turning to an individual's contribution, or “carbon footprint.” Calculators that estimate an individual's CO2 emissions have become more prevalent on the internet. Even with similar inputs, however, these calculators can generate varying results, often by as much as several metric tons per annum per individual activity. This paper examines the similarities and differences among ten US-based calculators. Overall, the calculators lack consistency, especially for estimates of CO2 emissions from household electricity consumption. In addition, most calculators lack information about their methods and estimates, which impedes comparison and validation. Although carbon calculators can promote public awareness of carbon emissions from individual behavior, this paper reveals the need for improved consistency and transparency in the calculators.
Characterization of an autotransporter adhesin protein shared by Burkholderia mallei and Burkholderia pseudomallei

Background Autotransporters form a large family of outer membrane proteins specifying diverse biological traits of Gram-negative bacteria. In this study, we report the identification and characterization of a novel autotransporter gene product of Burkholderia mallei (locus tag BMA1027 in strain ATCC 23344).
Assessing land cover and soil quality by remote sensing and geographical information systems (GIS)

Abstract Precise soil quality assessment is critical for designing sustainable agriculture policies, restoring degraded soils, carbon (C) modeling, and improving environmental quality. Although the consequences of soil quality reduction are generally recognized, the spatial extent of soil degradation is difficult to determine, because no universal equation or soil quality prediction model exists that fits all ecoregions. Furthermore, existing soil organic C (SOC) models generate estimates with uncertainties that may exceed 50%. Therefore it is possible that drastic changes in soil quality may be occurring in sites which are not identifiable on existing maps. Soil quality can either be directly inferred from SOC concentration, or through the assessment of the soil physical, chemical and biologic properties. Assessing the spatial distribution of SOC over large areas requires the calibration and development of models derived from laboratory or field based techniques. However, mapping SOC concentration in all soils is logistically challenging by using normal standard survey techniques. The availability of new generations of remotely sensed datasets and geographical information system (GIS) models (i.e. GEMS, RothC, and CENTURY) provides new opportunities for predicting soil properties and quality at different spatial scales. This article discusses the current approaches, identifies gaps and proposes improvements in techniques for measuring soil quality within agricultural fields.
Food Marketing and Obesity in Developing Countries: Analysis, Ethics, and Public Policy

Obesity and the chronic diseases with which it is associated constitute a serious global health problem that will rapidly worsen given current trends. This article introduces a model of how development processes, biological factors, and food marketing practices are influencing the human energy equation in the less affluent world. The discussion then turns to an ethical analysis of food marketing and obesity and to a formulation of broad ethical guidelines derived from marketing theory. Finally, alternative public policy and social marketing strategies are considered.
Can Structural Adjustment Work for Women Farmers

This article discusses the impact of structural adjustment programs (SAPs) on women farmers in developing countries. SAPs aim to improve economic efficiency and promote more rapid economic growth. SAPs are introduced in two phases. The first phase involves short-term loans with the condition that the country adopt monetary restraints and currency devaluation measures. In the second phase long-term loans are given with the provision that the country deregulate their economy and open up markets. The agricultural sector is affected by SAPs because of their importance in employment income generation and export earnings. SAPs result in lower farm commodity prices due to currency devaluations and in removal of subsidies which results in market-sensitive pricing or higher food prices. The impact of SAPs on agriculture vary between countries. In Morocco and Algeria agriculture expanded under SAPs. In Indonesia Bolivia Costa Rica and Mexico the agriculture stagnated or declined. Agricultural growth was slowest in Africa. SAPs were somewhat successful in increasing agricultural exports. Food production grew slowly in many adjusting countries. Blame for failures of SAPs has been placed on government failure to implement reforms properly and overly optimistic assumptions about the timing of productive gains. Little attention has focused on the constraints facing women farmers who are a large proportion of farmers particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. This article focuses on the issues of limited access to resources credit agricultural extension and information land ownership education and time as constraints to women farmers. Women also must ensure household food security. For SAPs to work effectively complementary policies must be implemented that reallocate available productive resources and new technologies to women and that deal with womens constraints.
Heel Pain in the Athlete

A relatively common problem in the athlete is heel pain, which can present a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma. The complexity of the functional anatomy around the heel and plantar foot contributes to an expansive list of potential pathologies and broad implications for management and return to sport. Although nonoperative treatment remains the mainstay for most painful heel pathologies, a number of surgical interventions have shown encouraging results in carefully selected patients. The purpose of this article is to review treatment techniques for common causes of heel pain in the athlete. The differential diagnosis for heel pain is expansive (Table 1) and beyond the scope of this review; instead, this review focuses on the most common heel-pain pathologies in the athletic population. These comprise the general groups of posterior and plantar heel pain. Posterior heel pain is typically a result of insertional disorders of the Achilles, whereas plantar heel pain is usually a product of plantar fascial disorders. Table 1. Differential diagnosis of heel pain in athletes.
The requirements for stable metallothionein clusters examined using synthetic lobster domains.

Abstract Metallothioneins (MTs) are small, cysteine-rich proteins which detoxify xenobiotic metals such as cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg). In crustaceans and mammals they consist of two independent domains which are folded around metal-thiolate clusters. MT clusters of different origins, exhibiting distinct, highly conserved cysteine positions on their sequences, show differences in metal-cysteine coordination and reactivity. Lobster-MT, containing two Cd3β domains, is an important model for structure–function relationships among the clusters. The influence of (1) the position of the cysteine residues and (2) steric and electrostatic effects of neighboring amino acids on the folding and stability of MT cluster were investigated. Thus, the native lobster βC and βN domains (each having nine cysteines and binding three M2+ ions) and a modified domain Cd3βC→N, in which the cysteines of the C-terminal domain were relocated to match the positions of those in the N-terminal domain, were chemically prepared and characterized. The synthetic native domains (Cd3βC and Cd3βN) were found to exhibit spectroscopic properties, metal-binding affinities and kinetic reactivity similar to the holo-protein. However, the modified Cd3βC→N domain was unusually reactive and in the presence of Chelex, metal chelation resin, aggregated to a Cd5(βC→N)2 dimer, which exhibited unusual structure as observed by its 113Cd-nuclear magnetic resonance. These differences in structure and reactivity demonstrated that the requirements for formation of a stable Cd3S9 β-cluster are more stringent than simply the sequential positions of the cysteines along the peptide chain and must include interactions involving neighboring, non-cysteine amino acids.
Spectroelectrochemical Studies of the Corrinoid/Iron-Sulfur Protein Involved in Acetyl Coenzyme A Synthesis by Clostridium thermoaceticum

An 88-kDa corrinoid/iron-sulfur protein (C/Fe-SP) is the methyl carrier protein in the acetyl-CoA pathway of Clostridium thermoaceticum. In previous studies, it was found that this C/Fe-SP contains (5-methoxybenzimidazolyl)cobamide and a [4Fe-4S]2+/1+ center, both of which undergo redox cycling during catalysis, and that the benzimidazole base is uncoordinated to the cobalt (base off) in all three redox states, 3+, 2+, and 1+ [Ragsdale, S.W., Lindahl, P.A., & Munck, E. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 14289-14297]. In this paper, we have determined the midpoint reduction potentials for the metal centers in this C/Fe-SP by electron paramagnetic resonance and UV-visible spectroelectrochemical methods. The midpoint reduction potentials for the Co3+/2+ and the Co2+/1 couples of the corrinoid were found to be 300-350 and -504 mV (+/- 3 mV) in Tris-HCl at pH 7.6, respectively. We also removed the (5-methoxybenzimidazolyl)cobamide cofactor from the C/Fe-SP and determined that its Co3+/2+ reduction potential is 207 mV at pH 7.6. The midpoint potential for the [4Fe-4S]2+/1+ couple in the C/Fe-SP was determined to be -523 mV (+/- 5 mV). Removal of this cluster totally inactivates the protein; however, there is little effect of cluster removal on the midpoint potential of the Co2+/1+ couple. In addition, removal of the cobamide has an insignificant effect on the midpoint reduction potential of the [4Fe-4S] cluster. A 27-kDa corrinoid protein (CP) also was studied since it contains (5-methoxybenzimidazolyl)cobamide in the base-on form.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Ontology-Enabled Data Inquiry for Cost Analysis and Obsolescence Mitigation

Cost analysis is essential to enterprises developing plans to deal with product obsolescence. Indeed, cost analysis drives the optimization behind obsolescence mitigation planning and the maintenance of long field life sustainment-dominated systems. There are many different obsolescence mitigation solutions. Determining the optimum plan requires inputs from multiple departments within the enterprise such as maintenance, manufacturing, inventory, marketing, purchasing, etc. Moreover, proper analysis requires system records over a long period. As one might expect, these needs present challenges since proper data comes from different sources across multiple departments. In recent years, ontological models have been shown to be good at relation representation and knowledge management. Ontologies have been used to help with data integration and decision-making. This paper puts forward an ontology-based model and data inquiry method to help locate appropriate departments and related heterogeneous data for current and legacy data sources. The ontology-enabled data inquiry can then more accurately and efficiently improve cost analysis and the planning and management of obsolescence mitigation activities.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Adaptation by employees to new technology

Newspaper compositors, whose work has been redefined following the replacement of hot-metal technology by an electronic production process, have been surveyed and interviewed some three years after the change. Data were sought concerning their attitudes to their new task content, their reaction to the change in work methods and control, and their ideas about their future. The sample has experienced reduced influence over the decisions of senior management, less utilization of old skills, and reduced future opportunities. However, the majority have adjusted to the change and some prefer it.
THE FLUORESCENCE OF CAROTENOIDS

Abstract The carotenoids β-carotene, lutein, lutein epoxide and violaxanthin are fluorescent compounds. Upon excitation around 280 mμ, at wavelengths close to those of their ultraviolet absorption maxima, these carotenoids fluoresce within the range 300–400 mμ, with maximal fluorescence at approximately 320–340 mμ.
Response to Comment on “A Test of the Snowball Theory for the Rate of Evolution of Hybrid Incompatibilities”

Barbash claims that deficiency mapping of inviability regions cannot distinguish hybrid lethality from haploinsufficiency, the phenomenon whereby a single functional copy of a gene cannot maintain normal function in a hybrid genetic background. Although we acknowledge that his hypothesis deserves careful experimental testing, we argue against his conclusions and provide evidence that our methodology is suitable to study the evolution of Dobzhansky-Muller incompatibilities.
Environmental Management Strategy: Four Forces Analysis

We develop an analytical approach for more systematically analyzing environmental management problems in order to develop strategic plans. This approach can be deployed by agencies, non-profit organizations, corporations, or other organizations and institutions tasked with improving environmental quality. The analysis relies on assessing the underlying natural processes followed by articulation of the relevant societal forces causing environmental change: (1) science and technology, (2) governance, (3) markets and the economy, and (4) public behavior. The four forces analysis is then used to strategize which types of actions might be most effective at influencing environmental quality. Such strategy has been under-used and under-valued in environmental management outside of the corporate sector, and we suggest that this four forces analysis is a useful analytic to begin developing such strategy.
On the possibility of transferring information with non-electromagnetic fields, the relation of spinning processes and encoding information and the hydrogen spin detector

This paper considers the similar physical actions of spinning electric fields and the information imprinted in special carriers. Both the spinning fields and the information have a common non-electromagnetic base, called torsion fields, associated with the fundamental phenomena of spinning [1]. In particular, it has been revealed that electric spinning affects the pH of water. Spinning fields which can be manifested in special crystal structures or events such as a full moon, show similar characteristics as the electromagnetic fields in some carriers of information. Spinning Electric Vector Analyzer, SEVA technology and differential pH metrics were employed for the experiments. Both approaches are credible for studying informational processes. The principle operation of the differential pH-meter is that it may function as a hydrogen spin detector.
Heat of the reaction forming the three-stranded poly (A + 2U) complex.

Calorimetric measurements of the heat of the addition of the second strand of poly U to poly (A + 2U) to form the three-stranded poly (A + 2U) complex in 0.1M and 0.5M NaCl at 24 and 37°C. are reported. A value of ΔH = −3800 cal./mole of poly (A + 2U) formed was found to be fairly insensitive to the experimental conditions employed. The heat of the addition of the third strand to the preformed poly (A + U) helix is considerably less exothermic than the heat of reaction between poly A and poly U to form poly (A + U). The insensitivity of the heat of addition of the third strand (poly U) to changes in salt concentration and temperature lends qualitative support to the earlier hypothesis that the major portion of the variation of the ΔH of the poly A and poly U reaction with experimental conditions arises from differences in the conformation of poly A. Combining the information obtained in this study for the ΔH of the reaction forming poly (A + 2U) with data for the ΔH of the formation of poly (A + U) indicates that the conversion of poly (A + U) to poly (A + 2U) is opposed by an enthalpy change which increases with temperature. Extrapolation of these values to 52°C. where poly (A + U) is transformed to poly (A + 2U) in 0.5M NaCl leads to a value of ΔH = +3800 cal./mole (A + 2U) formed and ΔS = 11.5 cal./mole of (A + 2U) formed. It is concluded from the calorimetric data that the driving force for the poly (A + U) to poly (A + 2U) conversion reaction is the favorable entropy change.
Signatures of selection in natural populations adapted to chronic pollution.

Populations of the teleost fish Fundulus heteroclitus appear to flourish in heavily polluted and geographically separated Superfund sites. Populations from three Superfund sites (New Bedford Harbor, MA, Newark Bay, NJ, and Elizabeth River, VA) have independently evolved adaptive resistance to chemical pollutants. In these polluted populations, natural selection likely has altered allele frequencies of loci that affect fitness or that are linked to these loci. The aim of this study was to identify loci that exhibit non-neutral behavior in the F. heteroclitus genome in polluted populations versus clean reference populations. To detect signatures of natural selection and thus identify genetic bases for adaptation to anthropogenic stressors, we examined allele frequencies for many hundreds of amplified fragment length polymorphism markers among populations of F. heteroclitus. Specifically, we contrasted populations from three Superfund sites (New Bedford Harbor, MA, Newark Bay, NJ, and Elizabeth River, VA) to clean reference populations flanking the polluted sites. When empirical FST values were compared to a simulated distribution of FST values, 24 distinct outlier loci were identified among pairwise comparisons of pollutant impacted F. heteroclitus populations and both surrounding reference populations. Upon removal of all outlier loci, there was a strong correlation (R2 = 0.79, p < 0.0001) between genetic and geographical distance. This apparently neutral evolutionary pattern was not evident when outlier loci were included (R2 = 0.092, p = 0.0721). Two outlier loci were shared between New Bedford Harbor and Elizabeth River populations, and two different loci were shared between Newark Bay and Elizabeth River populations. In total, 1% to 6% of loci are implicated as being under selection or linked to areas of the genome under selection in three F. heteroclitus populations that reside in polluted estuaries. Shared loci among polluted sites indicate that selection may be acting on multiple loci involved in adaptation, and loci shared between polluted sites potentially are involved in a generalized adaptive response.
Labeling chinese predicates with semantic roles

In this article we report work on Chinese semantic role labeling, taking advantage of two recently completed corpora, the Chinese PropBank, a semantically annotated corpus of Chinese verbs, and the Chinese Nombank, a companion corpus that annotates the predicate-argument structure of nominalized predicates. Because the semantic role labels are assigned to the constituents in a parse tree, we first report experiments in which semantic role labels are automatically assigned to hand-crafted parses in the Chinese Treebank. This gives us a measure of the extent to which semantic role labels can be bootstrapped from the syntactic annotation provided in the treebank. We then report experiments using automatic parses with decreasing levels of human annotation in the input to the syntactic parser: parses that use gold-standard segmentation and POS-tagging, parses that use only gold-standard segmentation, and fully automatic parses. These experiments gauge how successful semantic role labeling for Chinese can be in more realistic situations. Our results show that when hand-crafted parses are used, semantic role labeling accuracy for Chinese is comparable to what has been reported for the state-of-the-art English semantic role labeling systems trained and tested on the English PropBank, even though the Chinese PropBank is significantly smaller in size. When an automatic parser is used, however, the accuracy of our system is significantly lower than the English state of the art. This indicates that an improvement in Chinese parsing is critical to high-performance semantic role labeling for Chinese.
On k-Nearest Neighbor Voronoi Diagrams in the Plane

The notion of Voronoi diagram for a set of N points in the Euclidean plane is generalized to the Voronoi diagram of order k and an iterative algorithm to construct the generalized diagram in 0(k2N log N) time using 0(k2(N − k)) space is presented. It is shown that the k-nearest neighbor problem and other seemingly unrelated problems can be solved efficiently with the diagram.
Potentials and pitfalls of fluorescent quantum dots for biological imaging

Fluorescent semiconductor nanocrystals, known as quantum dots (QDs), have several unique optical and chemical features. These features make them desirable fluorescent tags for cell and developmental biological applications that require long-term, multi-target and highly sensitive imaging. The improved synthesis of water-stable QDs, the development of approaches to label cells efficiently with QDs, and improvements in conjugating QDs to specific biomolecules have triggered the recent explosion in their use in biological imaging. Although there have been many successes in using QDs for biological applications, limitations remain that must be overcome before these powerful tools can be used routinely by biologists.