cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Study of Personality with Positron Emission Tomography

A number of researchers have proposed biologically based models of personality. The experimental testing of specific hypotheses concerning personality and brain structures, however, has not been attempted directly in humans because intrusive manipulations or assessments have not been possible without undue risk. The recent development of the technique of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) now allows direct, nonintrusive measures of brain function in specific areas and structures. Function is determined by the quantitative assessment of glucose metabolism.
The widely conserved Era G‐protein contains an RNA‐binding domain required for Era function in vivo

Era is a small G-protein widely conserved in eubacteria and eukaryotes. Although essential for bacterial growth and implicated in diverse cellular processes, its actual function remains unclear. Several lines of evidence suggest that Era may be involved in some aspect of RNA biology. The GTPase domain contains features in common with all G-proteins and is required for Era function in vivo. The C-terminal domain (EraCTD) bears scant similarity to proteins outside the Era subfamily. On the basis of sequence comparisons, we argue that the EraCTD is similar to, but distinct from, the KH RNA-binding domain. Although both contain the consensus VIGxxGxxI RNA-binding motif, the protein folds are probably different. We show that bacterial Era binds RNA in vitro and can form higher-order RNA-protein complexes. Mutations in the VIGxxGxxI motif and other conserved residues of the Escherichia coli EraCTD decrease RNA binding in vitro and have corresponding effects on Era function in vivo, including previously described effects on cell division and chromosome partitioning. Importantly, mutations in L-66, located in the predicted switch II region of the E. coli Era GTPase domain, also perturb binding, leading us to propose that the GTPase domain regulates RNA binding in response to unknown cellular cues. The possible biological significance of Era RNA binding is discussed.
Water Soluble Complexes of a Brain-Targeted Drug Delivery System

Brain-targeted delivery of drugs has been achieved in several instances by incorporating the agent into a redox type delivery system. While these derivatives are optimized for brain-uptake and retention, they are often poorly water soluble and thus incompatible with aqueous formulations. The chemical delivery system based on 17β-estradiol (E2CDS) is particularly illustrative of this point. In order to increase the water solubility of the E2CDS, several manipulations involving molecular complex formation were performed. The most successful of these involved forming an inclusion complex between E2CDS and an amorphous mixture of 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin isomers. The freeze-dried formulation obtained was stable in the solid state and was found to be equivalent in terms of brain-directed drug delivery to E2CDS administered in a water miscible organic solvent.
A self-lubricating syringe

Summary A self-lubricating type of syringe from reservoirs in the barrel containing fluids for lubrication has been found to be of value in anesthetic and pediatric practice.
Self-assembly and phase behavior of germanium oxide nanoparticles in basic aqueous solutions.

We show that germania nanoparticle self-assembly in basic aqueous solutions occurs at a critical aggregation concentration (CAC) corresponding to a 1:1 GeO2/OH- molar ratio. A combination of pH, conductivity, and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements was used to monitor the effect of incremental additions of germanium (IV) ethoxide to basic solutions of sodium hydroxide or tetraalkylammonium cations. Plots of pH versus total germania concentration at varying alkalinities generated a phase diagram with three distinct regions. The diagram was analyzed with a thermodynamic model based on the chemical equilibria of germania speciation and dissociation. The model, which uses the GeO−H dissociation constant (pK = 7.1) as the single fitting parameter, quantitatively captures trends in the CAC and pH. SAXS patterns reveal that the germania nanoparticles have either a cubic or a spherical geometry of dimension ∼1 nm that is independent of solution pH and cation. On the basis of these and other literatur...
Systematics of Symphyotrichinae (Asteraceae: Astereae): Disagreements between Two Nuclear Regions Suggest a Complex Evolutionary History

Abstract The systematics of subtribe Symphyotrichinae were studied with sequence data from two nuclear regions: the 18S–26S nrDNA internal and external transcribed spacers (ITS and ETS) and the 5S nrDNA non-transcribed spacer. The primary objective was to use data from these two regions to resolve relationships among Almutaster, Psilactis, and Symphyotrichum. The combined ITS + ETS data and the 5S data were subjected to phylogenetic analyses using parsimony and Bayesian methods. Both datasets identified two major clades in Symphyotrichinae: one consisting of Almutaster, Psilactis, and Symphyotrichum subgenus Virgulus, and the other consisting of most other species of Symphyotrichum, including all species of S. subgenus Symphyotrichum. In addition, there were seven instances of disagreement between the ITS + ETS and 5S results. Assessments of these incongruences suggested that there have been three occurrences of reticulate evolution, involving six species of Symphyotrichum: 1) S. tenuifolium, 2) S. morane...
A 16-electrode biomimetic electrostatic imaging system for ocean use

A compilation of our latest design, simulation, and evaluation efforts regarding the construction of a biomimetic electrostatic imaging platform capable of visualizing submerged objects in a salt-water environment. In our previous work, the position accuracy was no better than 10cm. The imager described here achieves 2.5cm accuracy on the center line and degrades to 5cm accuracy at the peripheral channels.
Multiple Pion Production in π -Ne Collisions at 10.5 and 200 GeV

We have measured the multiplicities of pions produced in the collisions of π mesons with neon nuclei at bombarding momenta of 10.5 and 200 GeV/c. The diffractive production of pions is clearly separable. If one excludes the diffractive part, the pion multiplicity obeys the same Koba-Nielsen-Olesen scaling as found previously for π--p collisions. This fact would seem to indicate the validity of an energy-flux or collective-variable description of the production process. A surprisingly large number of energetic protons (> 1 GeV/c lab momentum) are found to be produced in π-Ne collisions.
An optimized approach to membrane capacitance estimation using dual-frequency excitation

We present an optimized solution to the problem of membrane impedance estimation when a patch-clamped cell is stimulated by a dual-frequency, sinusoidal excitation. The complete data set of raw whole-cell current samples is typically reduced, via digital lock-in detection, to measurements of the complex cell model admittance at the two stimulus frequencies. We describe a statistical model of both data sets and demonstrate that the admittance data adequately represent the essential features obtained from the raw data. The parameter estimates obtained by a nonlinear weighted least-squares solution (NWLS), which under normal recording conditions is equivalent to the maximum likelihood solution, essentially obtain the theoretical lower bound on variance established by the Cramer-Rao bound. Our software implementation of the NWLS solution produces estimates of the cell model parameters that are less noisy than other dual-frequency systems. Our system can be used 1) to measure slow changes in membrane capacitance-in the face of large, slow changes in membrane resistance, 2) to detect with confidence capacitance changes expected from the exocytosis of moderate-sized dense core granules, and 3) to reduce the cross-talk between transient changes in membrane conductance and membrane capacitance.
Limit state reliability optimization accounting for geometric effects

This paper proposes a unified formulation of reliability-based limit state optimization problems for discrete structures. Two approaches are presented: neglecting and accounting for nonlinear geometric effects at the limit state. For discrete structures, the classical limit state problem may be defined as a linear program, whereas the limit state problem accounting for geometric effects is considered as a two-level linear program. A portal frame example is considered in detail. Results of deterministic- and reliability-based optimization are compared. In both cases the impact on structural safety due to neglecting geometric effects is discussed.
Propagation of plane waves in flow through a variable area duct

Duct geometry is an important factor that influences the transmission of sound in a duct. Nonconstant area produces variations in steady flow quantities through the duct, which can cause reflections of acoustic disturbances and the creation of standing wave patterns, and which can attenuate and disperse propagating waves. To study the problem, a second-order-accurate numerical method has been developed. The method of characteristics is used to solve the acoustic equations with the assumption of quasi-one-dimensional flow in the duct. Numerical results are presented over a broad range of frequencies. Low-frequency results are compared with approximate solutions for compact nozzles and high-frequency calculations are compared with results from the short-wave theory. The numerical results are also compared with an analytical solution of the acoustic equations for exponential horn sections with zero mean flow to further establish the validity of the numerical method.
McConnell v. Federal Election Commission: A Deadly Dose of Double Deference

231 THE RECENT Supreme Court decision in McConnell v. Federal Election Commission1 marks yet another backward step in the march of constitutional law. As everyone already knows, the bottom line in McConnell was that Congress has a free hand to regulate what it perceives to be the pernicious influence of money on electoral politics. The control of corruption and the appearance of corruption in federal elections are both valid governmental interests. Armed with that vast insight, the five member majority upheld the two key provisions of the Bipartisan—read: Incumbent Protection—Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) that places limitations on the amount of soft-money contributions2 to political parties and that limits the amount of advertising that may be done by and on behalf of political parties within 30 or 60 days of an election.3 The BCRA contains some mind-numbing detail that promises to provide full employment to the next generation of election lawyers. But it takes far less ingenuity to see why this new and powerful system of direct regulation on speech deserved an instant and merciless repudiation by the Supreme Court. Elections count as among the most important and distinctive activities of any democratic society. The dense network of regulations under the BCRA imposes a manifest limitation on the ability of individuals to speak for themselves or to contribute to the war chests of others who are prepared to speak on their behalf. The upshot is less political speech. The key question in these cases is what justification Congress can offer on behalf of this massive regulatory system. The success or failure of that justificatory exercise depends critically on the level of scrutiny that the Court brings to the central provisions of the BCRA. Before McConnell, it appeared—past tense—as though constitutional scrutiny, like Gaul, was divided into three parts. The highest standard of strict scrutiny was routinely applied to political speech necessary for the preservation of democratic institutions. The “compelling state interest” test demanded the identification of an imperative social end coupled with the selection of means tightly calculated to achieve that end. Overregulation was a fatal constitutional infirmity. Next in the pecking order was intermediate scrutiny, which called, roughly speak-
Distribution of phosphofructokinase isozymes in rabbit, mouse, guinea pig and rat.

Abstract 1. 1. The distribution of phosphofructokinase total activity and isozyme patterns have been compared among rabbit, rat, guinea pig, and mouse tissues. 2. 2. In all species, the patterns were basically similar with PFK-A present as the sole or major form of muscle and heart and with PFK-B the major or sole form of liver and erythrocytes. 3. 3. Electrophoretic patterns indicated the presence of hybrid isozymes in all species. 4. 4. Antisera prepared against purified rabbit muscle and liver phosphofructokinases were capable of binding phosphofructokinases of rat and mouse.
Complex Zeros of Eigenfunctions of 1D Schrödinger Operators

In this article we study the semiclassical distribution of the complex zeros of the eigenfunctions of the 1D Schrodinger operators for the class of real polynomial potentials of even degree, with fixed energy level, E. We show that as h n → 0 the zeros tend to concentrate on the union of some level curves ℜ (S (z m , z)) = c m where S(zm,z)=∫zmzV(t)−Edt is the complex action, and z m is a turning point. We also calculate these curves for some symmetric and nonsymmetric one-well and double-well potentials. The example of the nonsymmetric double-well potential shows that we can obtain different pictures of complex zeros for different subsequences of h n .
Radical Nature of Cu-Catalyzed Controlled Radical Polymerizations (Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization).

Copper-catalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) is one of the most robust and precise techniques for controlling radical polymerization. The very good control of molecular weights, polydispersities, functionalities, chain composition, and topologies unusual for radical systems combined with the application of transition metals as catalysts requires more detailed mechanistic studies and proof of the radical nature of active species. The following results are in agreement with the radical nature of ATRP: reverse ATRP, chemoselectivities similar to those for conventional radical polymerization (effect of additives and inhibitors/scavengers, reactivity ratios, transfer coefficients), regioselectivities similar to those for conventional radical polymerization (low proportion of head-to-head units and expected structure of both tail and head end groups), stereoselectivities (tacticities) similar to that in conventional radical polymerization, EPR detection of X−Mtn+1 species resulting from the per...
Antigens apparently nonimmunogenic for xid/Y mice cause the development of specific splenic plasmablasts and of fusion partners for SP2 cells giving hybridomas that secrete antibodies.

Although xid/Y mice fail to make a detectable primary antibody response to a variety of antigens such as Type III pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide (SIII), 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl (TNP)-Ficoll, pneumococcal C carbohydrate, group A streptococcal vaccine and several kinds of related antigenic determinants such as phosphorylcholine (PC) and N-acetyl-glucosaminyl (GlcNAc), even when the latter are coupled to hemocyanin (Hy), they do show: (a) an antigen-dependent development of splenic B cells which can act as successful, productive fusion partners for SP2 cells giving hybridomas making monoclonal anti-SIII, anti-PC, anti-GlcNAc, anti-TNP, etc., and (b) an antigen-dependent appearance of antigen-binding plasmablasts in their spleens. The frequencies of specific B cells arising in xid/Y males with either of these properties are of the same order of magnitude as those found in immunocompetent xid/Y female littermates. Further, both PC-Hy and GlcNAc-Hy prime xid/Y and xid/X mice for quantitatively and qualitatively similar secondary responses. All three of these expressions of a specific, primary response occur in xid/Y mice in the absence of any rise in circulating antibodies. The properties of successful, productive normal fusion partners leading to secretory hybridoma lines are unknown. Thus we cannot decide whether the antigen-binding plasmablasts that arise in xid/Y mice can also play the role of productive fusion partners. Neither do we know whether the development of specific IgM and IgG3 plasmablasts in xid/Y mice after antigen stimulation is an abnormality reflecting the xid mutation. It cannot be excluded that the development of productive fusion partners, of nonsecretory plasmablasts and of memory cells are all interrelated and reflect a process that also normally occurs in xid/Y, X/X and X/Y mice following similar immunization regimens. It is tempting to speculate that such cells initially responding may lag in the development of normal secretory mechanisms and that the “transformed” fusion partner may complement this deficiency.
A shared low-frequency oscillatory rhythm abnormality in resting and sensory gating in schizophrenia

Abstract Objectives We hypothesized that an oscillatory abnormality that is consistently observed across various testing paradigms may index an elementary neuronal abnormality marking schizophrenia risk. Methods Compared neural oscillations in resting EEG and sensory gating conditions in schizophrenia patients ( n =128), their first-degree relatives ( n =80), and controls ( n =110) and calculated phenotypic and/or genetic correlation of the abnormal measure across these conditions. Results Using a uniform, single trial analytical approach, we identified two prominent oscillatory characteristics in schizophrenia: (1) augmented neural oscillatory power was pervasive in medicated schizophrenia patients in most frequencies, most prominent in the theta–alpha range (4–11Hz) across the two paradigms (all p p =0.002) and insufficient suppression of theta–alpha in sensory gating ( p =0.01) compared with normal controls. Heritability estimates for theta–alpha related measures for resting and gating conditions ranged from 0.44 to 0.49 ( p p Conclusions Augmented theta–alpha rhythm may be an elementary neurophysiological problem associated with genetic liability of schizophrenia. Significance This finding helps to refine key electrophysiologic biomarkers for genetic and clinical studies of schizophrenia.
Effect of Photon Energy on the Response of MOS Devices

Radiation-produced flatband voltage shifts in MOS capacitors have been measured as a function of incident photon energy and applied electric fields with UV, x- and gamma-ray sources spanning the energy range 70 eV to 1.25 MeV. Special interest was directed to the energies below 20 keV where the greatest effects on the flatband voltages were expected. At 70 eV the shifts are almost as great as those observed at 1.25 MeV (60Co). For 1.49 keV incident photons the voltage shifts are less than 1/3 those observed for 60Co photons.
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI) IN THE EVALUATION OF JUVENILE RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS (JRA)

Radiologic evaluation of JRA is limited by the predominance of cartilage in the child's joint and by reluctance to subject children to xrays. We assessed the relative efficacy of MRI in evaluating joint disease in 16 JRA children. Mean age was 11.2 years (range 7-20.5 years), and mean duration of disease was 5.2 years (range 2-8.5 years). Although onset mode varied all had severe and active polyarthiristis. MRIs on 15 knees and 12 hips demonstrated effusions in 6 hips, synovial hypertrophy in 5 knees and popliteal cysts in 6 knees, none of which were visible on corresponding xrays. Avascular necrosis, suspected in the hips of one child, was noted by MRI in two hips and one knee. Joint frgments, not seen on xray, were found in 3 knees and one hip. Cartilage loss was more severe than could be seen on xray in 9/12 hips and 5/15 knees. One child with clinically normal hips and only osteopenia on hip xray showed 50% loss of cartilage by MRI. Hypoplastic or absent menisci were found in 10/15 knees and may provide explanation for the jiont instability so frequently present. In contrast, premature fusion of growth plates, seen in the xrays of hips and knees of one patient, were not well visualised by MRI. We conclude that MRI may provide a non-invasive and highly sensitive means of assessing both early and advanced joint disease in JRA.
Nanofibrous membranes from aqueous electrospinning of carboxymethyl chitosan.

Carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) with varying molecular weights (Mv = 40?405?kDa) and degrees of substitution (DS = 0.25?1.19) has been synthesized by alkalization of chitosan, followed by carboxymethylation with monochloroacetic acid. At DS up to 1.19, the locations where carboxymethylation took place were influenced by the alkalization temperature, i.e., both C2 and C6 substitution at ambient temperature (N,O-carboxymethylated) and mainly C6 substitution at the lower temperature, ?15??C (O-carboxymethylated). Generally, carboxymethylation was more favorable at the primary C6 hydroxyl than the C2 position with increasing DS. CMCS synthesized from 405?kDa CS was soluble in water at DS?0.73 whereas those from 40 and 89?kDa became water-soluble at lower DS of 0.25 and 0.36, respectively. Electrospinning of aqueous solutions of CMCS was facilitated with the addition of water-soluble polymers, including PEO, PAA, PAAm and PVA. The optimal fiber formation was observed at equal mass composition of O-CMCS (89?kDa at 0.36 DS) and PVA, producing nanofibers with an average diameter of 130?nm. Heat-induced esterification (at 140??C for 30?min) produced inter-molecular covalent cross-links within and among fibers, rendering the fibrous membrane water-insoluble. Membranes containing higher CMCS carboxyl to PVA hydroxyl ratio retained better fiber morphology upon extended water exposure, indicating more favorable inter-molecular cross-links. The fibrous membranes generated with less substituted CMCS were more hydrophilic and retained a greater extent of the desirable amine functionality.
The loss of native biodiversity and continuing nonindigenous species introductions in freshwater, estuarine, and wetland communities of Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Hawaiian Islands

The benthic invertebrates and fishes of the estuarine, lower stream areas, and wetlands of Pearl Harbor were sampled from 1997–1998 as a companion study to marine inventories conducted in Pearl Harbor. The first comprehensive assessment of the area found that nonindigenous species comprise the dominant portion of the biota. A total of 191 aquatic species in 8 phyla were identified in the estuarine reaches of Pearl Harbor. Nonindigenous species dominated and comprised 48% of the species, whereas only 33% were native and 19% were cryptogenic. Two new nonindigenous species to Hawaii were found during this study: a species of fang-toothed blenny (Omobranchus ferox) and an estuarine hydrobiid snail (Pyrgophorus cf.coronatus) introduced from the Philippine Islands and the Caribbean, respectively. No single geographic region predominates as a source of aquatic species introductions into the Pearl Harbor area, although more species come from the Americas than other areas. Fifty-seven percent originated from the Americas, 30% from Asia and the Pacific, 5% from Australia/New Zealand, 5% show a world-wide distribution, and fewer than 3% of species originated from Africa. The majority of nonindigenous species appear to arrive from five major sources: intentional and accidental aquarium releases; intentional biocontrol releases; intentional food source releases; ballast water or hull fouling releases; and brought in with airplanes. Non-native species will likely continue to increase in the freshwater and estuarine portions Pearl Harbor because of the wide variety of sources from which introductions take place.
Water-Soluble Flavor and Odor Precursors of Meat. II. Effects of Heating on Amino Nitrogen Constituents and Carbohydrates in Lyophilized Diffusates from Aqueous Extracts of Beef, Pork, and Lamba

SUMMARY Quantitative analyses were made of water-extractable amino nitrogen and carbohydrate constituents of beef, lamb, and pork before and after heating. In all three species, taurine, anserine-carnosine, and alanine were present in relatively large quantities, and losses of these were large during heating. Other important amino acids degraded during heating were: glutamic acid, glycine, lysine, serine, cystine, methionine, leucine, isoleucine, and methyl histidine. Heating caused marked increases of phosphoethanolamine in samples from the three animal species studied. Ribose was the carbohydrate most labile to heating, and glucose was the most stable. The importance of these constituents as odor and/or flavor precursors of meat is discussed.
Microflotation: New low gas‐flow rate foam separation technique for bacteria and algae

Foam separation of microorganisms has been investigated with varying success by many workers, usually at high rates of gas flow. Microflotation was developed to overcome some of the disadvantages inherent in these high gas-flow-rate processes and is introduced in this paper as a new technique for the foam separation of microorganisms at low gas-flow rates. With microflotation, a stable surface phase is produced by adding an insoluble collector such as a long-chain fatty acid or amine. The formation of an insoluble surface phase eliminates the need for high foaming. Low rates of gas flow are used resulting in a more efficient separation and a less voluminous and drier surface phase upon which to collect the microorganisms. The efficiency of this technique is also improved by using flotation aids such as frothers and flocculents. Frothers are used to improve the collector properties of the surfactant and to refine further the small bubbles produced by a very fine sparger. Small concentrations of flocculents, such as alum, are used to partially agglomerate the organisms and provide sites for adsorption of collector. The work described in this paper is preliminary in nature, designed to illustrate that a low flow-rate process may be used to separate microorganisms and to stimulate further research. The applications discussed are removal of the bacterium, Escherichia coli, and alum, and two species of algae, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Chlorella ellipsoidea, using stearylamine without alum. The frother used was ethanol.
An Octavalent Lyme Disease Vaccine Induces Antibodies That Recognize All Incorporated ospC Type-Specific Sequences

Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in North America and Europe and, if untreated, has significant arthritic, cardiac, dermatological and neurological sequelae. There is no currently available human Lyme disease vaccine. Outer surface protein C, because of its antigenicity, protective ability, and expression characteristics has emerged as a promising second generation vaccine candidate; however, significant sequence heterogeneity has impeded its development. Analyses of OspC sequences have revealed the existence of stable phylogenetic clusters or types, and that the type-defining sequence variation occurs within defined domains of the protein. Recent data indicating that immunodominant, and potentially protective OspC epitopes are located in these hypervariable regions has allowed development of a tetravalent, epitope-based, chimeric vaccine. In this report, we have extended that previously described tetravalent construct to include four additional OspC types. We demonstrate that the construct is highly immunogenic, and elicits type-specific antibodies that recognize each of the eight incorporated OspC type-specific epitopes. Antibody raised to the octavalent construct readily binds to the surface of strains expressing each component OspC type, indicating that the incorporated epitopes are presented on the surface of intact cells. In addition, the construct elicits antibody isotypes associated with complement-dependent bactericidal activity. These results represent an important step forward in the design of a broadly protective polyvalent OspC-based Lyme disease vaccine.
Conditional Expression of the Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) Phosphatase MKP-1 Preferentially Inhibits p38 MAPK and Stress-activated Protein Kinase in U937 Cells

Phorbol ester tumor promoters, such as phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), are potent activators of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 (ERK2), stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in U937 human leukemic cells. These kinases are regulated by the reversible dual phosphorylation of conserved threonine and tyrosine residues. The dual specificity protein phosphatase MAPK phosphatase-1 (MKP-1) has been shown to dephosphorylate and inactivate ERK2, SAPK, and p38 MAPK in transient transfection studies. Here we demonstrate that PMA treatment induces MKP-1 protein expression in U937 cells, which is detectable within 30 min with maximal levels attained after 4 h. This time course coincides with the rapid inactivation of PMA-induced SAPK activity, but not ERK2 phosphorylation, which remains elevated for up to 6 h. To examine directly the role of MKP-1 in the regulation of these protein kinases in vivo, we established a U937 cell line that conditionally expresses MKP-1 from the human metallothionein IIa promoter. Conditional expression of MKP-1 inhibited PMA-induced ERK2, SAPK, and p38 MAPK activity. By titrating the levels of MKP-1 expression from the human metallothionein IIa promoter, however, it was found that p38 MAPK and SAPK were much more sensitive to inhibition by MKP-1 than ERK2. This differential substrate specificity of MKP-1 can be functionally extended to nuclear transcriptional events in that PMA-induced c-Jun transcriptional activity was more sensitive to inhibition by MKP-1 than either Elk-1 or c-Myc. Conditional expression of MKP-1 also abolished the induction of endogenous MKP-1 protein expression in response to PMA treatment. This negative feedback regulatory mechanism is likely due to MKP-1-mediated inhibition of ERK2, as studies utilizing the MEK1/2 inhibitor PD98059 suggest that ERK2 activation is required for PMA-induced MKP-1 expression. These findings suggest that ERK2-mediated induction of MKP-1 may play an important role in preferentially attenuating signaling through the p38 MAPK and SAPK signal transduction pathways.
Coordinated usage of distributed sources for energy cost saving in micro-grid

The integration of renewable energy generation into the electric grid is difficult, because of the source intermittency and inconsistency with energy usage. This situation can be improved through a system with energy-storage devices and distributed generators that not only mitigates fluctuations in generation and supply, but also reduces cost. In this paper we present application of energy source control and distributed generator planning in a small micro-grid system to improve energy usage efficiency and cost reduction. The optimized planning strategy is obtained using optimum energy storage and generation scheduling. Three scheduling methods, using real-time actual electricity usage and price, one-day-ahead prediction values and Model Predictive Control (MPC) methods are tested and their performances are compared. Results show that significant cost saving could be achieved with proper planning and coordination of various energy supply sources.
Usefulness of a fiber optic swan-ganz catheter to monitor oxygen transport during volume expansion in a patient with ischemic neurologic deficits from aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

The usefulness of a fiber optic Swan-Ganz catheter to monitor oxygen transport during volume expansion in a patient with ischemic neurologic deficits due to aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage is illustrated. Usefulness of oxygen delivery and oxygen consumption measurements are presented. The role of oxygen transport in addition to cardiac hemodynamics and volume status in the management of these neurologic symptoms is emphasized.
A molecular dynamics simulation of the vitreous silica surface

The molecular dynamics (MD) computer simulation technique was used to simulate the vitreous silica (v‐SiO2) surface. A modified Born–Mayer–Huggins potential function was used in the simulation; periodic boundary conditions in two dimensions (x and y) only were used to create a thin slab with free surfaces in the z directions. Radial distribution functions and bond angle distributions for interior regions and for surface regions (within several angstroms of the surface) were evaluated. In accordance with our understanding of the v‐SiO2 surface, the MD simulation generated a surface in which the oxygen atoms rather than the silicon atoms predominated at the outer surface. Nonbridging oxygen (NBO) as well as bridging oxygen were found at the surface. The NBO–Si interatomic spacing was found to be about 0.08 A less than the normal bridging O–Si spacing and is in accordance with calculations made from spectroscopic data of defects in v‐SiO2. Also an additional peak at 110° was observed in the Si–O–Si bond angl...
Waves associated with eye movement in the awake and sleeping cat.

Abstract The spontaneous electrical activity in the dorso-medial region of the pons, the lateral geniculate nucleus and the marginal gyrus of the cerebral cortex (PGO waves) has been studied in a series of 40 experiments on the cat. The results include the following: 1. 1. PGO waves were observed in each of these three structures during wakefulness as well as during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. 2. 2. In the alert animal, lateral geniculate PGO waves were greatly reduced in amplitude and in a few instances impossible to detect. Cortical waves showed a similar but less pronounced attenuation. Pontine waves during wakefulness, however, appeared identical with those during REM sleep. 3. 3. PGO waves were shown to occur synchronously in each of the three structures and the characteristics of this synchrony have been described. Bilateral wave synchrony at both the lateral geniculate and cortical levels also was observed. 4. 4. A close correlation between PGO waves and eye movement during wakefulness and REM sleep was demonstrated. The results suggest that PGO waves represent mutually independent responses in the three structures studied to some triggering event in a common pacemaker. The constant association between PGO waves and eye movement, during both wakefulness and REM sleep, suggests that these potentials are related to some central mechanism of oculomotor-visual integration.
An optical tweezer actuated, nanoaperture-grid based optofluidic microscope implementation method

We report a novel grid based Optofluidic Microscope (OFM) method where a closely spaced 2D grid of nanoapertures (diameter = 100 nm, separation = 2.5 μm) provided patterned illumination. We achieved a one-to-one mapping of the light transmissions through the nanoapertures onto a high-speed CCD camera. By optically tweezing a targeted sample across the grid in a controlled fashion and recording the time varying light reception from the nanoapertures, we were able to generate high-resolution images of the sample. The achievable resolution limit of the prototype was ~ 110 nm (Sparrow’s criterion) under optimal conditions. We demonstrated the technique by imaging polystyrene beads and pollen spores.
Neonatal alcohol and nicotine exposure limits brain growth and depletes cerebellar Purkinje cells

Abstract The present study examined the effects of coexposure of alcohol and nicotine during the brain growth spurt period on brain weights and cerebellar Purkinje cell numbers. Sprague-Dawley rat pups were randomly assigned into five groups (four artificially reared groups and one suckle control). Artificially reared pups were given alcohol (0 or 4 g/kg/day) and/or nicotine (0 or 6 mg/kg/day) daily from postnatal days (PDs) 4 to 9, and the suckle controls received no experimental treatments. The results are summarized below. (1) Surprisingly, nicotine reduced the peak blood alcohol concentration from about 300 to 230 mg/dl, but alcohol did not affect urine cotinine levels (≈12,000–13,000 ng/ml). (2) Alcohol significantly reduced the weights of forebrain, cerebellum, and brain stem, but nicotine limited only the growth of the forebrain. (3) Purkinje cell numbers in the cerebellar vermis were significantly reduced in response to alcohol, nicotine, and the combination of both drugs. (4) No statistically significant interactive effect was found following the cotreatment of alcohol and nicotine. Collectively, the present study replicated our previous findings demonstrating alcohol's detrimental effects on brain development; it also presented new evidence documenting nicotine's neuroteratogenic effects on restricting brain growth and depleting cerebellar Purkinje cells during the brain growth spurt.
Electrophysiologic effects of anterior septal arterial occlusion

Abstract The effect of reduction in anterior septal arterial flow on the conduction system was studied in seven anesthetized dogs. After 2 hours of occlusion P-Q, A-H and H-V intervals as well as atrioventricular nodal effective and functional refractory periods were significantly prolonged, sinoatrial conduction time was prolonged and the heart rate was decreased. The duration of the His bundle electrogram was significantly prolonged and the configuration altered. However, QRS duration did not prolong significantly. Fifteen minutes after reperfusion, A-H interval, duration of the His bundle electrogram, effective refractory period and functional refractory period returned toward control values. However, the H-V and QRS intervals as well as sinoatrial conduction time were unchanged after reperfusion. Thus, reduction of anterior septal arterial flow influences not only the distal but also the proximal portion of the conduction system; the most vulnerable part is probably the His bundle. The distal portion of the conduction system is directly influenced by ischemia itself, whereas the proximal portion is influenced through other mechanisms induced by reduction of anterior septal arterial flow.
Identification of the Acidic Residues in the Active Site of DNA Polymerase III

Abstract The mechanism of nucleotide addition by DNA polymerases involves two metal ions that are coordinated in the active site by conserved acidic residues. The three acidic residues that chelate Mg 2+ in the active site of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase III have been identified as Asp 401 , Asp 403 , and Asp 555 by site-directed mutagenesis. Candidates for mutagenesis were initially chosen based on absolute conservation of acidic residues in an alignment of more than 20 diverse DnaE sequences. Conservative Asp to Glu mutations at positions 401 and 403 reduced the activities of the mutant polymerases 2000 and 333-fold, respectively, from that of the wild-type. The third carboxylate was identified by a series of mutations for each critical candidate. With the exception of Glu, all of the mutations at Asp 555 led to severely diminished polymerase activity, while each of the other candidates exhibited several relatively active mutant polymerases. Moreover, only the identified active site mutant polymerases displayed a significant enhancement of activity in Mn 2+ compared with Mg 2+ . These data suggest a direct involvement of the mutated amino acid in metal ion binding.
Dynamical properties of antisymmetric tensor fields

Abstract The physical degrees of freedom of free actions involving antisymmetric tensor fields are analyzed. While massless spin zero as well as massive vector particles can be represented by such fields, we show that massive scalars cannot, and that some actions have no dynamical content at all. We also show that electromagnetic (unlike gravitational) interactions cannot be included consistently in the spin zero case. Supersymmetric extension of the tensor formulation is given, and it is shown that, in analogous antisymmetric tensor-spinor incarnations, fermions cannot couple consistently to gravity.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND FIRM VALUE IN EMERGING MARKETS AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF ADR ISSUING EMERGING MARKET FIRMS

This study explores the value implications of good corporate governance for a sample of 54 ADR issuing emerging market firms (EMFs) from 9 countries primarily located in the regions of Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America and the and employs recently constructed company composite corporate governance metric along with some alternative corporate governance measures associated with the origin of the issuing firm. Although the ADR literature primarily focuses on the impact of subscription to US disclosure requirements we contend that company and country specific corporate governance standards play a significant role in the risk reduction and ensuing value capture. The fundamental inquiry in this study has the following foci: The primary focus is on the impact of corporate governance structures on firm performance as to whether adherence to standards creates market value for ADR issuing EMFs. Do good corporate governance practices affect the value of EMFs? The secondary focus is concerned with whether the impact of corruption level and legal system in a firm’s home country affect the corporate structures of EMFs thus affecting the market value of firms. In this study, we utilize Tobin’s q as the measure of firm performance/market value. Our findings suggest that there is a significant correlation between corporate governance structures of ADR issuing EMFs and their market values and/or performances. The results also indicate that the level of corruption and legal structures in home countries of EMFs strongly impact the corporate governance structures of these firms and sequentially affect their market values. Therefore, this research further contributes to the scholarly findings and suppositions that corporate structures of firms do create consequences on firm value.
Interactive bicriterion solution method and its application to critical path method problems

An interactive solution method is developed for bicriterion mathematical programming (BCMP) problems. The new method, called the dichotomous bicriterion mathematical programming (DBCMP) method, combines Tchebycheff theory and the existing paired comparison method (PCM). The DBCMP method is then compared with the PCM method based on critical path method problems with two conflicting objectives: minimizing the total crashing cost and minimizing the total project completion time. The extension of the DBCMP method to BCMP problems with multiple decision makers is also discussed.
Synthesis of sub-micron silver and silver sulfide particles via solvothermal silver azide decomposition

Abstract Many transition-metal azides are thermodynamically unstable with respect to the elements and thus, may serve as energetic precursor sources in nanoscale metal particle synthesis. This report describes the use of silver azide (AgN3) in nonaqueous, solvothermal decomposition reactions to produce crystalline sub-micron silver particles and interconnected structures. The thermal decomposition of AgN3 directly produces silver and N2 and no secondary chemical reducing agent is required. This solvothermal conversion was examined in toluene, tetrahydrofuran (THF), and trioctylamine below 250 °C. The coordinating solvents produced the smallest particles (150–500 nm), while the toluene reaction products were near 1 μm in size. The addition of soluble elemental sulfur to the THF reaction results in the growth of silver sulfide particles near 1 μm in size. The silver and Ag2S products are crystalline by X-ray diffraction and show some faceting by scanning electron microscopy.
Prevalence of interstitial cystitis in first-degree relatives of patients with interstitial cystitis.

Abstract Objectives To compare, in a pilot study, the prevalence of interstitial cystitis (IC) among first-degree relatives of patients with IC with the prevalence of IC in the general population. Often the first evidence that a disease may have a genetic susceptibility is the demonstration of family aggregation of the disease. Methods Members of the Interstitial Cystitis Association (ICA) were mailed a survey inquiring about the prevalence of the disease or consistent symptoms in first-degree family members (parents, siblings, and/or children). The same survey instrument was used in telephone interviews of a randomly selected sample of nonrespondents to determine the degree of responder bias. Results Of 2581 respondents to the mail-in survey, 101 (3.9%) reported 107 first-degree relatives with IC. The subsequent telephone interviews with 346 randomly selected nonrespondents revealed little selection bias in the mail-in survey. These measurements, plus data-based assumptions of proportions of those self-reporting IC who actually met the hydrodistension requirements for the diagnosis of IC, suggest that women, 31 to 73 years old who were first-degree relatives of patients with IC, themselves had a prevalence of IC of 995/100,000. A comparison of this with the number approximating the prevalence in the general population of American women of this age (60/100,000) indicates a risk ratio for IC in adult female first-degree relatives of 17. Conclusions Adult female first-degree relatives of patients with IC may have a prevalence of IC 17 times that found in the general population. This, together with previously reported evidence showing a greater concordance of IC among monozygotic than dizygotic twins, suggests, but does not prove, a genetic susceptibility to IC.
Campaign spending and Senate elections, 1978-84

This paper uses a sample of recent Senate election results and estimates vote equations that show challenger spending hurts, and incumbent spending helps, incumbent re-election. While both types of spending have diminishing returns, the effects are asymmetrical. Challenger spending is more productive at lower levels of spending, but incumbents can spend greater amounts more profitably than can challengers. These results can explain why Senate incumbents spend money, why they typically outspend their challenger, and why incumbents who can outspend their challenger would tend to be against spending limits or public financing.
Unification of Sentence Processing via Ear and Eye: An fMRI Study

We present new evidence based on fMRI for the existence and neural architecture of an abstract supramodal language system that can integrate linguistic inputs arising from different modalities such that speech and print each activate a common code. Working with sentence material, our aim was to find out where the putative supramodal system is located and how it responds to comprehension challenges. To probe these questions we examined BOLD activity in experienced readers while they performed a semantic categorization task with matched written or spoken sentences that were either well-formed or contained anomalies of syntactic form or pragmatic content. On whole-brain scans, both anomalies increased net activity over non-anomalous baseline sentences, chiefly at left frontal and temporal regions of heteromodal cortex. The anomaly-sensitive sites correspond approximately to those that previous studies (Michael et al., 2001; Constable et al., 2004) have found to be sensitive to other differences in sentence complexity (object relative minus subject relative). Regions of interest (ROIs) were defined by peak response to anomaly averaging over modality conditions. Each anomaly-sensitive ROI showed the same pattern of response across sentence types in each modality. Voxel-by-voxel exploration over the whole brain based on a cosine similarity measure of common function confirmed the specificity of supramodal zones.
Electron transport and small angle collisions

Abstract Anisotropic Coulomb scattering of electrons necessitates high order Legendre cross-section expansions or restricted angular quadratures in numerical multigroup, discrete ordinates transport calculations. We investigate the monoenergetic (Spencer-Lewis) collision operator in a small scattering angle approximation and give comparative results for electrons. Equivalence between the small-angle collision operator and diffusion-in term of the Fokker-Planck expansion is also exhibited. Such procedure reduces the forward scattering singularity and the number of moments required in applications. An overview of multigroup discrete-ordinates methodology for electron scattering is briefly detailed. To span diffusive to transport phenomena, a diffusion synthetic technique is also employed. Agreement with exact analytic and Monte Carlo predictions is good.