cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of PKC-alpha activity blocks respiratory syncytial virus infection

Abstract Rationale RSV infection activates several signaling pathways leading to the production of inflammatory mediators. However, the majority of studies have utilized A549 epithelial carcinoma cells and it remains unknown whether these pathways are operational in normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells. The role of specific PKC isozymes in RSV infection of NHBE cells was examined in this study. Methods Cultured NHBE cells were exposed to RSV at an MOI of 20 for different time periods. The PKC isoforms and their activation status were determined by Western blotting and immunocytofluorescence by confocal microscopy. Results Western blot analysis revealed that NHBE cells express PKC-alpha, beta-2, gamma, delta, epsilon, theta, and iota. Furthermore, immunocytofluorescence studies indicate that PKC-alpha tranlocates to the plasma membrane and colocalizes with RSV as early as 10 min after infection. PKC-alpha translocation is paralleled by an increase in its phosphorylation suggesting that it is activated. Moreover, inhibition of PKC activity using Calphostin C and pseudosubstrate peptide impairs RSV infection showing that PKC-alpha is required for successful RSV infection. Finally, analysis of RSV fusion using R18-labeled virus shows that inhibition of PKC-alpha blocks viral fusion. Conclusions These results demonstrate that PKC-alpha activation, because of its role in membrane fusion, is critical for RSV infection. Thus, PKC-alpha may be potential target for inhibiting RSV infection and consequently reducing RSV-associated respiratory diseases and exacerbation of asthma.
Separating Psychological Costs from Time Costs: Female Labor Supply and Participation in Food Stamps and WIC

Many individuals who are eligible for welfare choose not to participate. This well-documented fact suggests that there is a utility cost associated with welfare participation. Previous studies have produced estimates of how large this cost would have to be to explain the observed degree of non-participation. Prior estimates of this utility cost have not differentiated psychological costs of participation from the time and effort required to become eligible and maintain eligibility (time costs). This paper develops a structural model that allows for the separate estimation of these two types of costs associated with welfare participation in dollar terms. The estimation suggests that psychological costs are three times larger than the time costs of welfare participation.
Substorm injection boundaries

An improved magnetospheric electric field model is used to compute the initial locations of particles injected by several substorms. Trajectories are traced from the time of their encounter with the ATS-5 satellite backwards to the onset time given by ground-based magnetometers. A spiral shaped inner boundary of injection is found which is quite similar to that found by a statistical analysis. This injection boundary is shown to move in an energy dependent fashion which can explain the soft energy spectra observed at the inner edge of the electrons plasma sheet.
Error Correcting Codes for Distributed Control

The problem of stabilizing an unstable plant over a noisy communication link is an increasingly important one that arises in applications of networked control systems. Although the work of Schulman and Sahai over the past two decades, and their development of the notions of "tree codes" and "anytime capacity", provides the theoretical framework for studying such problems, there has been scant practical progress in this area because explicit constructions of tree codes with efficient encoding and decoding did not exist. To stabilize an unstable plant driven by bounded noise over a noisy channel one needs real-time encoding and real-time decoding and a reliability which increases exponentially with decoding delay, which is what tree codes guarantee. We prove that linear tree codes occur with high probability and, for erasure channels, give an explicit construction with an expected decoding complexity that is constant per time instant. We give novel sufficient conditions on the rate and reliability required of the tree codes to stabilize vector plants and argue that they are asymptotically tight. This work takes an important step towards controlling plants over noisy channels, and we demonstrate the efficacy of the method through several examples.
Discovery and Classification of Fusion Transcripts in Prostate Cancer and Normal Prostate Tissue

Fusion transcript formation is one of the fundamental mechanisms that drives the development of prostate cancer. Because of the advance of high-throughput parallel sequencing, many fusion transcripts have been discovered. However, the discovery rate of fusion transcripts specific for prostate cancer is lagging behind the discoveries made on chromosome abnormalities of prostate cancer. Recent analyses suggest that many fusion transcripts are present in both benign and cancerous tissues. Some of these fusion transcripts likely represent important components of normal gene expression in cells. It is necessary to identify the criteria and features of fusion transcripts that are specific for cancer. In this review, we discuss optimization of RNA sequencing depth for fusion transcript discovery and the characteristics of fusion transcripts in normal prostate tissues and prostate cancer. We also propose a new classification of cancer-specific fusion transcripts on the basis of their tail gene fusion protein product and the roles that these fusions may play in cancer development.
HCV Council--critical appraisal of data: recommendations for clinical practice in a rapidly evolving therapeutic landscape.

Background & Aims HCV Council 2014, like its predecessor HCV Council 2011, assembled leading clinicians and researchers in the field of hepatitis C to critically evaluate current data regarding best practices for managing patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV). Methods Clinical practice statements were developed that reflect the areas of potential controversy with high clinical impact. Faculty members were responsible for reviewing the literature to support or reject these statements. After a review and comprehensive discussion of the data, the HCV Council faculty voted on the nature of the evidence and the level of support for each statement. Results The results of the detailed analysis with expert opinion are summarized in this article. Conclusion Numerous questions regarding optimal management of certain populations and clinical scenarios remain unanswered. The discussion in the article provides a summary of evidenced-based expert opinion that may help guide clinicians as additional information is developed.
Reinterpreting the Meaning of the ‘Singapore Model’: State Capitalism and Urban Planning

For city planners and policymakers in many parts of the world, Singapore has come to embody a model of efficient and growth-oriented urban development. Yet there has been very little research that goes beyond descriptive assessments of urban design and urban policy and understands the political economy that has produced the current system of planning in Singapore. This article explores the role of land acquisition and land management in Singapore's urban development. It argues that Singapore is best understood as a model of urban planning under state capitalism. Drawing largely on academic studies, reports of Singapore government agencies and government-linked corporations, and interviews the article analyzes the mechanisms through which the Singaporean state has used direct involvement in the commercial real-estate market as a powerful tool to gain access to revenue, achieve urban redevelopment objectives and exert powerful influence over the Singaporean society and economy. Through the commercial exploitation of state landholdings and through stakes in state-owned and private enterprises, the Singaporean state has harnessed urban development to an agenda of political hegemony, nation building and economic development within a framework of globalization.
RAS activation is both necessary and sufficient to promote perineurial glial growth in Drosophila peripheral nerves

Drosophila peripheral nerves contain motor and sensory axons surrounded by two layers of glia: an inner peripheral glia and an outer perineurial glia. Although it is known that intercellular signalling occurs among cells of the peripheral nerve, the effects of this signalling on nerve structure is incompletely understood. It was previously shown that growth of the perineurial glia is negatively regulated by five genes: ine, which encodes a putative neurotransmitter transporter, eag, which encodes a potassium channel, push, which encodes a large, Zn2+ finger-containing protein, amn, which encodes a putative neuropeptide with similarity to pituitary adenylate cyclase activator peptide (PACAP), and NF1, the Drosophila orthologue of human NF1. Single or various double mutants in any of these genes exhibit perineurial glial hypertrophy. We found that the Ras12A/Rase2f heteroallelic combination, which decreases Ras activity, rescues the thick perineurial glia phenotype exhibited in ine; NF1 double mutants. This result demonstrates that Ras activity is required for the effect of NF1 mutations on perineurial glial growth. We also expressed a constitutively active Ras transgene in an ine– background specifically in peripheral glia using a Gal4-UAS system. These larvae exhibited perineurial glia thickness comparable to that of ine; NF1 double mutants. Thus, expression of constitutively active Ras in peripheral glia mimics the effect of NF1 mutations on perineurial glial growth. These results demonstrate that Ras activity is both necessary and sufficient to activate perineurial glial growth in peripheral nerves and that Ras activity controls perineurial glial growth in a cell nonautonomous manner.
The Multi-Dimensional Crowley Advection Scheme

Abstract The conservation form of the second-order Crowley advection scheme, as some authors have pointed out, may lead to numerical instability for multi-dimensional blows. Replacing the original second-order-accurate approximation of the first spatial partial derivative, with one that includes information about the dimensionality of the field, and also considering the cross-space difference, eliminates this instability without destroying the level of conservation or the accuracy of the original Crowley scheme. The paper also presents some flux correction solutions, the use of which avoids the development of negative values in the solution for positive definite scalars. The paper also discusses the solution of the advection equation in the em of strong deformational flow.
Rb-Sr age of the New Hampshire Plutonic Series

Rb-Sr whole-rock isochrons for four main representatives of the syntectonic to post-tectonic New Hampshire Plutonic Series yield the following ages: Kinsman Quartz Monzonite, 411 ± 19 m.y.; Bethlehem Gneiss, 405 ± 78 m.y.; Spaulding Quartz Diorite, 402 ± 5 m.y.; and Concord Granite, 359 ± 11 m.y. (or 330 ± 3 m.y.?). The Kinsman and Spaulding ages are consistent with a growing number of Rb-Sr ages determined for northern Appalachian granites, which are of Early Devonian or younger geologic age, and represent a major magmatic pulse of the Acadian orogeny. Comparison of Rb-Sr ages and geology implies that the beginning of the Devonian Period can be no later than approximately 415 m.y. and that the entire Devonian time scale needs revision. The Concord Granite is at least 40 m.y. (possibly 70 m.y.?), younger than other members of the New Hampshire Plutonic Series, and its time of emplacement is therefore probably Late Devonian(?) or Mississippian(?). Isochron plots imply that, although the members of the New Hampshire Plutonic Series have been derived by anatexis of lower crustal rocks, there is admixture of and contamination by mantle-derived magmatic material.
STUDIES OF SAPPHIRE PHOTOABLATION BY LASER-INDUCED FLUORESCENCE AND PHOTOTHERMAL DEFORMATION MEASUREMENTS

Crystalline sapphire displays a low (0.6 J/cm2) threshold for etching with 193 nm excimer pulses. Understanding of this low-threshold etching requires knowledge of the possible pathways by which laser energy can result in material removal. The different energy channels can in general lead to thermal or photochemical mechanisms as well as combinations of the two. Long lived electronically excited states usually will lead to bond breaking whereas very short lived states resulting in thermal phonons give rise to highly elevated local temperatures. A reasonable estimate of the maximum surface temperature attained during irradiation is sufficient to differentiate between classical thermal vaporization and electronic, i.e. photochemical, mechanisms for etching.
Some properties of the electroretinogram long latency negative wave obtained below the b-wave threshold.

1. 1. The negaive wave obtained at stimulus intensities below the b-wave threholes, using a vitreal electrode under oil, has alos been observed in the normal ERG with a corneal electrode. 2. 2. The ERG a-wave, the long-latency negative wave obtained at stimulus intensities below the b-wave threshold and the “remnant negativity” were obtained as a function of stimulus intensity, duration, wavelenghts of equal energy and during recovery from an adapting light.
Mutations across Murine Hepatitis Virus nsp4 Alter Virus Fitness and Membrane Modifications

A common feature of infection by positive-sense RNA virus is the modification of host cell cytoplasmic membranes that serve as sites of viral RNA synthesis. Coronaviruses induce double-membrane vesicles (DMVs), but the role of DMVs in replication and virus fitness remains unclear. Coronaviruses encode 16 nonstructural proteins (nsps), three of which, nsp3, nsp4, and nsp6, are necessary and sufficient for DMV formation. It has been shown previously that mutations in murine hepatitis virus (MHV) nsp4 loop 1 that alter nsp4 glycosylation are associated with disrupted DMV formation and result in changes in virus replication and RNA synthesis. However, it is not known whether DMV morphology or another function of nsp4 glycosylation is responsible for effects on virus replication. In this study, we tested whether mutations across nsp4, both alone and in combination with mutations that abolish nsp4 glycosylation, affected DMV formation, replication, and fitness. Residues in nsp4 distinct from glycosylation sites, particularly in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) luminal loop 1, independently disrupted both the number and morphology of DMVs and exacerbated DMV changes associated with loss of glycosylation. Mutations that altered DMV morphology but not glycosylation did not affect virus fitness while viruses lacking nsp4 glycosylation exhibited a loss in fitness. The results support the hypothesis that DMV morphology and numbers are not key determinants of virus fitness. The results also suggest that nsp4 glycosylation serves roles in replication in addition to the organization and stability of MHV-induced double-membrane vesicles. IMPORTANCE All positive-sense RNA viruses modify host cytoplasmic membranes for viral replication complex formation. Thus, defining the mechanisms of virus-induced membrane modifications is essential for both understanding virus replication and development of novel approaches to virus inhibition. Coronavirus-induced membrane changes include double-membrane vesicles (DMVs) and convoluted membranes. Three viral nonstructural proteins (nsps), nsp3, nsp4, and nsp6, are known to be required for DMV formation. It is unknown how these proteins induce membrane modification or which regions of the proteins are involved in DMV formation and stability. In this study, we show that mutations across nsp4 delay virus replication and disrupt DMV formation and that loss of nsp4 glycosylation is associated with a substantial fitness cost. These results support a critical role for nsp4 in DMV formation and virus fitness.
On A. Raychaudhuri's paper ``electronic energy bands in model three-dimensional lattices''

Recently, Raychaudhuri published a paper on electronic energy bands in threedimensional lattices1. The purpose of the present communication is twofold: (1) to point out that one of the simplifying assumptions made in I is invalid, and (2) to point out the possibility of obtaining a correct procedure which retains many of the advantages ofRaychaudhuri's approach.
Comparative adsorption of norwalk virus, poliovirus 1 and F+ RNA coliphage MS2 to soils suspended in treated wastewater

Enteric viruses such as Norwalk virus (NV) are important agents of waterborne disease from faecally contaminated groundwater. Viruses are more resistant to inactivation than most enteric bacteria and they may not be removed efficiently during land application. Adsorption is one of the major factors in viral removal and persistence in soils. The adsorption of NV by soils suspended in wastewater has not been determined. Therefore, we determined the adsorption of NV to six soils (Cecil clay-loam, Corolla sand, Georgia Kaolinite (clay), Wyoming Bentonite (clay), Ponzer organic muck and Flushing Meadows sand-loam) suspended in treated wastewater and compared it to that of poliovirus 1 (PV1) (strongly adsorbed) and MS2 (weakly adsorbed). NV is shown to be less sorptive than PV1 and more sorptive than MS2. Furthermore, relative virus adsorption among soils was similar for all three enteric viruses with viruses most adsorbed by clays and least adsorbed by sand and organic soils.
Dynamics of An Archael DNA Polymerase Revealed By Single Molecule Fret

In the archaeon Methanosarcina acetivorans, DNA replication is done by DNA polymerase BI. The processivity of this enzyme is greatly enhanced by a conserved cofactor known as PCNA, which plays a crucial role in orchestrating many replication-related processes. To understand the dynamics of these proteins, we have used single molecule FRET to examine the behavior of PolBI labeled with FRET donor on various DNA structures labeled with FRET acceptor and the effect of PCNA on the dynamics of PolBI. The binding of PolBI to DNA was observed in the low nanomolar concentration range as expected. Interestingly, this polymerase is highly mobile on the DNA structures with two nonadjacent primer strands that are complementary to two different regions in the template strand, 20 nucleotides apart, as evidenced by the frequent transitions between two long-lived FRET states exhibited in single molecule trajectories. To explore the nature of this spontaneous motion, we considered several possible mechanisms including translocations along single- or double-stranded DNA, polymerase binding orientation flipping, and polymerase active site switching. We observed that changes made downstream of the primer/template (P/T) junction have a significant impact on the dynamics of PolBI, indicating the translocation along the single-stranded DNA as the mechanism for the spontaneous motion revealed by FRET. In addition, we have found PCNA not only improves the binding affinity of its cognate polymerase, but suppresses the frequent movement of PolBI from the P/T junction. In summary, many of the dynamics discussed here are reported for the first time and will provide a new perspective for understanding the orchestration of replication-related processes in archaea.
Cost of Protection of the U. S. Wool Sector

The present system of protection of the U. S. wool sector affords an opportunity for examining the interdependence of intermediate and final goods sectors when both are protected. It also illustrates the cumulative nature of protective devices. In this study an intermediate good model is employed to investigate the cost to the United States of maintaining the present method of protection for raw wool and wool products1. The concept of a net tariff is utilized to represent the actual protection afforded to a final good when its inputs are also protected. This net tariff is related to the effective protective rate which has been frequently mentioned in the literature. It is, however, more useful when the question of cost allocation between sectors is under consideration. The intermediate good model also permits an estimation of the gain from the removal of protection in either the raw wool or wool products sector as well as an estimation of the gain from adopting alternative methods of protection such as deficiency payments.
A refresher in data flow diagramming: an effective aid for analysts

During the requirements analysis phase of information systems development, the user and analyst attempt to come to an agreement on the purpose of the system and the needs of the future users. When completed effectively, this process leads to the creation of an information system that fulfills the intended purpose and meets the needs of users and their organization, on time and within budget [3]. This, of course, is dependent on the successful completion of the rest of the development process including the designing, coding, and testing of the system. Problems unsolved in the requirements elicitation phase may worsen during the remainder of the systems development project. As over 50% of the errors in systems design and development are a result of inaccurate requirements, it is imperative this phase be completed accurately [6]. Often, information systems are designed and created that do not meet the needs of the users or fulfill their intended purpose [3, 6]. The deficiencies of these systems are often the result of problems such as miscommunication between the users and the analysts, poor elicitation of requirements, poor conversion of requirements to designs, and poor analysis or analyst technique [3, 5]. The last category, poor analysis or analyst technique, can be further broken down into a lack of training of data processing professionals [11]; poor user understanding of data models due to their design [4]; and poor or error-prone communication between the user and analyst [2, 10]. Specifically, the data flow diagram (DFD) created by the analyst toward the end of the requirements analysis phase can reflect many of these problems, and often reflects an incorrect system. Any research that successfully elicits factors that can be controlled and then used to improve this process is valuable to the entire systems development industry. An Experiment Attempts have been made to modify the process of creating data flow diagrams in an effort to increase their clarity, level of comprehension, learnability, and usability [7, 8, 9]. While the results have been fairly positive, the problems mentioned previously still
Substrate Dependence of Mechanical Response of Neurons and Astrocytes

The response of neural cells to mechanical cues is a critical component of the innate neuroprotective cascade aimed at minimizing the consequences of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Reactive gliosis and the formation of glial scars around the lesion site are among the processes triggered by TBI where mechanical stimuli play a central role. It is well established that the mechanical properties of the microenvironment influence phenotype and morphology in most cell types. It has been shown that astrocytes change morphology [1] and cytoskeletal content [2] when grown on substrates of varying stiffness, and that mechanically injured astrocyte cultures show alterations in cell stiffness [3]. Accurate estimates of the mechanical properties of central nervous system (CNS) cells in their in-vivo conditions are needed to develop multiscale models of TBI. Lu et al found astrocytes to be softer than neurons under small deformations [4]. In recent studies, we investigated the response of neurons to large strains and at different loading rates in order to develop single cell models capable of simulating cell deformations in regimes relevant for TBI conditions [5]. However, these studies have been conducted on cells cultured on hard substrates, and the measured cell properties might differ from their in-vivo counterparts due to the aforementioned effects. Here, in order to investigate the effects of substrate stiffness on the cell mechanical properties, we used atomic force microscopy (AFM) and confocal imaging techniques to characterize the response of primary neurons and astrocytes cultured on polyacrylamide (PAA) gels of varying composition. The use of artificial gels minimizes confounding effects associated with biopolymer gels (both protein-based and polysaccharide-based) where specific receptor bindings may trigger additional biochemical responses [1].Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Disrupted insula-based neural circuit organization and conflict interference in trauma-exposed youth

Childhood trauma exposure is a potent risk factor for psychopathology. Emerging research suggests that aberrant saliency processing underlies the link between early trauma exposure and later cognitive and socioemotional deficits that are hallmark of several psychiatric disorders. Here, we examine brain and behavioral responses during a face categorization conflict task, and relate these to intrinsic connectivity of the salience network (SN). The results demonstrate a unique pattern of SN dysfunction in youth exposed to trauma (n = 14) relative to comparison youth (n = 19) matched on age, sex, IQ, and sociodemographic risk. We find that trauma-exposed youth are more susceptible to conflict interference and this correlates with higher fronto-insular responses during conflict. Resting-state functional connectivity data collected in the same participants reveal increased connectivity of the insula to SN seed regions that is associated with diminished reward sensitivity, a critical risk/resilience trait following stress. In addition to altered intrinsic connectivity of the SN, we observed altered connectivity between the SN and default mode network (DMN) in trauma-exposed youth. These data uncover network-level disruptions in brain organization following one of the strongest predictors of illness, early life trauma, and demonstrate the relevance of observed neural effects for behavior and specific symptom dimensions. SN dysfunction may serve as a diathesis that contributes to illness and negative outcomes following childhood trauma.
Mirror movements in hemiparesis.

25 patients with hemiparesis and without overt mirror movements were examined. EMG needle electrodes were inserted into the opponens pollicis and abductor digiti minimi muscles of the affected hand an
The journey to adopt a child who has special needs: Parents' Perspectives.

Abstract Many of the children eligible for adoption from the public child welfare system are considered to have special needs. Given the importance of securing adoptive families for these children, knowing more about the adoption process as it is experienced by prospective parents who complete (or are in the process of completing) their adoption pursuit and those who discontinue it are critical. Using qualitative inquiry, prospective adoptive parents in nine families were studied in an effort to learn more about their motivations, expectations, preparation, and experiences. Although the adoption outcome (continued versus discontinued) was different, the process, including negative experiences, was quite similar. Programming implications and suggestions for future research are offered.
The association of military and premilitary sexual trauma with risk for suicide ideation, plans, and attempts

Military sexual trauma is a strong predictor of psychiatric disorders and negative health outcomes among military personnel and veterans, but little is known about its relationship with suicide risk. The current study investigates the association of military sexual trauma with suicide risk among 464 U.S. military personnel and veterans enrolled in college classes. Results indicate that premilitary sexual assault was associated with significantly increased risk for later suicide ideation, plans, and attempts during military service. Unwanted sexual experiences occurring during military service was associated with significantly increased risk for suicide ideation and suicide plans for male participants. When considered simultaneously, premilitary sexual trauma showed relatively stronger associations with suicide risk among women whereas military sexual trauma showed relatively stronger associations with suicide risk among men. Results suggest differences in the relation of sexual trauma to suicide risk among male and female military personnel and veterans.
N 2 + first-negative emission cross sections for low-energy H + and H impact on N 2

Absolute emission cross sections for the (0,1), (1,2), and (2,3) band emission sequence of the ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}^{+}$ first-negative system have been measured for low-energy ${\mathrm{H}}^{+}$ and H collisions with room-temperature ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ molecules. The energy range covered for ${\mathrm{H}}^{+}$ impact was from 63 eV to 2.0 keV, and that for H impact was from 160 eV to 2.5 keV. For H+${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ collisions, cross sections for ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ second-positive emissions for the (1,5) and (2,6) emission bands were also determined. The total cross sections for production of ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}^{+}$($B$) and ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$($C$) were determined from these measured results. The techniques used to accomplish the measurements are described, and the cross sections obtained are compared with the results of other investigations.
a Study of the Broadening of Droplet Size Distributions in Cumuli

Abstract Cloud droplets may take a variety of paths to reach some location in a cloud and therefore may encounter varying growth conditions. This paper examines the effect of these variations on broadening of the droplet size distribution in cumuli. Diffusional growth of a collection of droplets is studied in detail using measurements obtained during the Cooperative Convective Precipitation Experiment (CCOPE) from the University of Wyoming's King Air research aircraft. A technique is described by which these measurements may be converted to the frame of reference of a moving droplet. Entrainment processes that are associated with variations in vertical velocity appear to have the effect of intensifying fluctuations in integral radius, which in turn produce variations in the supersaturation encountered by the droplets and thus opportunities for variations in growth. Contributions to spectral broadening arise from turbulent structures in the cloud, producing variations in integral radius as well as in the c...
An immunochemical study of the diapause-associated protein of the southwestern corn borer, Diatraea grandiosella

Abstract The distribution and titre of the diapause-associated protein (DAP), which accumulates in the fat body of diapausing larvae of the southwestern corn borer, Diatraea grandiosella , were determined using an antibody raised to the purified protein. Immunoblotting and immunodiffusion showed that the highest concentration of DAP was present in the fat body. Small amounts of the protein were present in the haemolymph and even lower levels were detected in other tissues. Rocket immunoelectrophoresis showed that DAP accumulated in the fat body at the beginning of diapause, reached a plateau, and gradually declined towards the end of diapause. Similarly, the titre of DAP in last instar non-diapausing larvae treated with a JH analogue increased, reached a plateau and then declined. Double immunodiffusion and immunoblotting using the DAP-antibody and extracts of the fat body of D. grandiosella and the southern cornstalk borer, Diatraea crambidoides , and the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis , revealed the partial immunochemical identity of the DAP of D. grandiosella and a protein present in these two species. Denaturing electrophoresis with immunoblotting showed that the DAP-related proteins of D. crambidoides and D. saccharalis have apparent molecular weights of 33,000 and 36,000, respectively, as compared to a molecular weight of 35,000 for DAP of D. grandiosella . A dot blot analysis showed that no cross reaction occurred between the “diapause proteins” present in the haemolymph of adults of the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata , and the DAP of D. grandiosella .
Elucidation of the role of metal-to-ring charge-transfer excited states in the deactivation of photoexcited ruthenium porphyrin carbonyl complexes

Abstract Deactivation of the lowest excited triplet state, 3 (π, π*), of the Ru(II) porphyrins RuP(CO)(L) is more strongly dependent on temperature than decay of 3 (π, π*) in Pt(II)P and H 2 P (metal-free) complexes containing the same macrocycle P. This and other observations support the proposal that 3 (π, π*) in the RuP(CO)(L) complexes decays in part via a metal-to-ring (d, π*) charge-transfer excited state at higher energy.
Modeling the effects of VOC and NOX emission sources on ozone formation in Houston during the TexAQS 2000 field campaign

Abstract A meteorological and chemical modeling system is used to determine the effect of ethene and propene point source emission rates on the magnitude and distribution of ozone in the vicinity of Houston. The model performance is evaluated using surface and airborne meteorological and chemical measurements made as part of the 2000 Texas Air Quality Study. A simulation that employed the reported mobile, area, biogenic, and point source emissions produced ozone mixing ratios as high as 120 ppb and distributions of nitrogen oxides that were similar to measurements at most locations, but the model underestimated ozone mixing ratios greater than 140 ppb that were located just downwind of petrochemical facilities. When the point source emission rates of ethene and propene were increased by a factor of 10, the simulated peak ozone levels were in better agreement with surface, aircraft, and lidar observations. The magnitude of the simulated ethene and olefin concentrations were in better agreement with canister samples aloft as well; however, there was still a large amount of scatter in the results. While the highest ozone mixing ratios were produced just downwind of large point source emissions of VOCs, sensitivity simulations also showed that reductions in anthropogenic emissions of NO x would be needed to reduce ozone mixing ratios over a larger area.
DEPTH PROFILING OF THE MAGNETIC HYPERFINE FIELD IN ULTRATHIN FILMS OF Fe USING MÖSSBAUER SPECTROSCOPY

Mossbauer spectroscopy has been used to determine the hyperfine fields and isomer shifts at different depths in a series of epitaxial Fe films all of about 60 A thickness. The films were made of isotopically pure 56Fe with a thin probe layer of 57Fe placed at different depths.
Geographical variation in antibiotic resistance profiles of Escherichia coli isolated from swine, poultry, beef and dairy cattle farm water retention ponds in Florida.

Aims: The aim of this study was to assess geographical variation in multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) profiles of livestock Escherichia coli as well as to evaluate the ability of MAR profiles to differentiate sources of faecal pollution. Methods and Results: More than 2000 E. coli isolates were collected from water retention ponds and manure of swine, poultry, beef and dairy farms in south, central and north Florida, and analysed for MAR using nine antibiotics. There were significant differences in antibiotic resistance of E. coli by season and livestock type for more than one antibiotic, but regional differences were significant only for ampicillin. Over the three regions, discriminant analysis using MAR profiles correctly classified 27% of swine, 49% of poultry, 56% of beef and 51% of dairy isolates. Conclusions: Regional variations in MAR combined with moderate discrimination success suggest that MAR profiles of E. coli may only be marginally successful in identifying sources of faecal pollution. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study demonstrates the existence of regional and seasonal differences in MAR profiles as well as the limited ability of MAR profiles to discriminate among livestock sources.
Calcium dependence of the binding of synexin to isolated chromaffin granules

Abstract The calcium dependence of the binding of synexin to isolated chromaffin granules has been investigated. The calcium dependence was found to be pH sensitive, binding occurring at higher Ca 2+ concentrations at lower values of pH. At pH 7.2 half-maximal binding occurred at 4μM Ca 2+ . This is a lower Ca 2+ concentration than the 200 μM that is required to give half-maximal self-association of synexin or membrane aggregation by synexin. The data therefore suggest that in the chromaffin cell stimulated to release catecholamines and proteins by exocytosis synexin first binds to membranes and then associates with itself to draw membranes together in preparation for fusion.
Synthesis of Li2PtH6 using high pressure: Completion of the homologous series A2PtH6 (A=alkali metal)

Abstract Li 2 PtH 6 , the missing member of the complex transition metal hydride series A 2 PtH 6 ( A =alkali metal), was prepared by reacting mixtures of LiH and Pt in the presence of BH 3 NH 3 as hydrogen source at pressures above 8 GPa. According to powder X-ray diffraction analysis, Li 2 PtH 6 is isostructural to its heavier homologues and crystallizes in the cubic K 2 PtCl 6 structure (space group Fm 3¯ m , a =6.7681(3), Z =4). However, PtH 6 2− octahedral complexes in Li 2 PtH 6 approach each other closely and its structure may likewise be regarded as a defective perovskite structure where half of the octahedrally coordinated atoms (cations) are missing. The IR spectrum of Li 2 PtH 6 reveals the Pt–H T 1u stretch and bend at 1840 and 889 cm −1 , respectively.
Synthesis of a carboxyl-terminal (constant region) fragment of the immunoglobin light chain by a mouse myeloma cell line☆

Abstract The MPC11 mouse myeloma cell line synthesizes not only heavy chains and light chains but also an 11,600 molecular weight light chain fragment. The fragment comprises 1% of the newly synthesized protein, compared to 8% for the complete light chain. Similar amounts of fragment are produced by a number of heavy plus light chain producing subclones, 18 independently generated light chain producing variant clones, and five independent non-producing variant clones. For both the heavy plus light chain producing and the non-producing cell types, less than 20% of the fragment appears to be secreted, while the remainder is metabolized with a half-life of 30 minutes. Radiochemical peptide analyses and radiochemical amino -terminal sequence analyses are consistent with the fragment containing most of the peptide sequences present in the carboxyl-terminal half (constant region) of the parent kappa light chain, but none of the variable region peptides. The fragments produced by a heavy plus light chain producing clone and a non-producing variant clone were identical by radiochemical peptide analysis. The results suggest that the constant region fragment may be a primary gene product, and in addition, they raise the possibility that the fragment may be specified by a gene discrete from the gene specifying a light chain.
The Apparent Involvement of ANMEs in Mineral Dependent Methane Oxidation, as an Analog for Possible Martian Methanotrophy

On Earth, marine anaerobic methane oxidation (AOM) can be driven by the microbial reduction of sulfate, iron, and manganese. Here, we have further characterized marine sediment incubations to determine if the mineral dependent methane oxidation involves similar microorganisms to those found for sulfate-dependent methane oxidation. Through FISH and FISH-SIMS analyses using 13C and 15N labeled substrates, we find that the most active cells during manganese dependent AOM are primarily mixed and mixed-cluster aggregates of archaea and bacteria. Overall, our control experiment using sulfate showed two active bacterial clusters, two active shell aggregates, one active mixed aggregate, and an active archaeal sarcina, the last of which appeared to take up methane in the absence of a closely-associated bacterial partner. A single example of a shell aggregate appeared to be active in the manganese incubation, along with three mixed aggregates and an archaeal sarcina. These results suggest that the microorganisms (e.g., ANME-2) found active in the manganese-dependent incubations are likely capable of sulfate-dependent AOM. Similar metabolic flexibility for Martian methanotrophs would mean that the same microbial groups could inhabit a diverse set of Martian mineralogical crustal environments. The recently discovered seasonal Martian plumes of methane outgassing could be coupled to the reduction of abundant surface sulfates and extensive metal oxides, providing a feasible metabolism for present and past Mars. In an optimistic scenario Martian methanotrophy consumes much of the periodic methane released supporting on the order of 10,000 microbial cells per cm2 of Martian surface. Alternatively, most of the methane released each year could be oxidized through an abiotic process requiring biological methane oxidation to be more limited. If under this scenario, 1% of this methane flux were oxidized by biology in surface soils or in subsurface aquifers (prior to release), a total of about 1020 microbial cells could be supported through methanotrophy with the cells concentrated in regions of methane release.
Effect of varying wall temperature and total temperature on transition Reynolds number at Mach 6.8

Wall and total temperature variations effects on transition Reynolds number in hypersonic He tunnel, noting sound mode dominance
Adverse effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in antihypertensive therapy with focus on quinapril.

Abstract Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are useful first-line drugs in the therapy of mild and moderate hypertension. Adverse reactions to this drug class are rarely serious. Hypotension, cough, rash, and taste disturbance are uncommon; reduced glomerular filtration and hyperkalemia occur infrequently; angioedema is rare and neutropenia is extremely rare. Quinapril is a new ACE inhibitor that is converted to biologically active quinaprilat in the liver. This ACE inhibitor has a rapid onset of action and inhibits local tissue converting enzyme systems in kidney, heart, and brain, as well as in the circulating renin-angiotensin system. Clinically significant adverse effects of quinapril occur at low rates. In 1,771 patients receiving quinapril, the reported incidence of the first occurrence of orthostatic hypotension was comparable to that seen in patients receiving placebo. In other studies, headache was reported by up to 4.7% of patients receiving quinapril, which is comparable to reported incidences of headache in patients receiving other ACE inhibitors. Other adverse events reported at rates >1% include cough with associated rhinitis and bronchitis, dizziness, and somnolence. Such adverse events have only rarely led to the withdrawal of patients from clinical studies of quinapril.
Economics of Recombinant Bovine Somatotropin Use in Individual Dairy Herds

Abstract DairyORACLE, a computer simulation model of a dairy enterprise, was used to simulate the productivity of nine commercial herds following the hypothetical adoption of routine use of recombinant bovine somatotropin. Data, including performance indicators, management goals, and demographic information were collected from each herd, and simulation exercises performed to assess the likely economic impact of somatotropin use in each case. Existing mathematical expressions for lactation and DM intake used in the model were adjusted to reflect production characteristics of cows treated with somatotropin. Comparison of model output for each herd with and without somatotropin use provided a means for quantifying changes in milk production and feed utilization attributable to somatotropin. Point estimates for percentage increase in annual herd milk sales varied between 8.5 and 17.6% (10.3mg/d) and 17.0 and 32.0% (20.6mg/d). Corresponding point estimates for increase in whole farm forage consumption were .6 to 10.5% (10.3mg/ d), and 3.1 to 20.8% (20.6mg/d). Depending on parity, production, and dose, grain requirements were estimated to increase by 10.2 to 39.0%. Using a net price of $23.10/100kg for milk sold, estimates for the break-even cost per dose ranged between $.27 and $.64 (10.3mg/d) and $.61 and $1.12 (20.6mg/d). A sensitivity analysis was performed to provide estimates of break-even cost per dose for net milk prices ranging between $16.50 and $27.50/100kg.
Maximum-minimum sufficiency and Lagrange multipliers

Necessary and sufficient conditions for constrained extrema without use of Lagrange multipliers
Photoelectron spectra of psychotropic drugs. III. Ionization potentials and partition coefficients as predictors of substituted amphetamine psychoactivities

Ionization potentials have been measured by photoelectron spectroscopy for 14 substituted amphetamines and phenethylamines. Comparisons with STO-3G calculations on various methoxylated benzene models indicate adequate agreement between calculated and experimental ionization potentials, but also reveal unexpected methoxy conformations in some of these species. Multiple regression analyses demonstrate the importance of both ionization potentials and lipophilicities, measured by 1-octanol-water partition coefficients, in determining psychotropic activities for a series of substituted amphetamines. The first and second π ionization potentials also correlate with differences in the abilities of a variety of psychotropic drugs to displace d-LSD from its high-affinity binding site in rat brain homogenates.
Effect of second-generation sulfonylureas on survival in patients with diabetes mellitus after myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE To examine possible adverse effects of sulfonylureas on survival among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) who experience a myocardial infarction (MI). PATIENTS AND METHODS Residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, with an MI that met standardized criteria from January 1, 1985, through December 31, 2002, were followed up for mortality. RESULTS Among 2189 patients with MI (mean ± SD age, 68±14 years; 1237 men [57%]), 409 (19%) had DM. The 23 patients treated with first-generation sulfonylureas, biguanides, or thiazolidinediones were excluded from analyses. Among the remaining 386 patients with DM, 120 (31%) were taking second-generation sulfonylureas, 180 (47%) were taking insulin, and 86 (22%) were receiving nonpharmacological treatment. Patients with DM treated with second-generation sulfonylureas were more likely to be men and have higher creatinine clearance than those treated with insulin. After adjusting for age, sex, Killip class, duration of DM, creatinine clearance, and reperfusion therapy or revascularization, patients treated with second-generation sulfonylureas had a lower risk of death than did diabetic patients receiving insulin (hazard ratio, 0.41; 95% confidence interval, 0.21-0.80; P =.009). CONCLUSION These population-based data do not support the concern about an adverse effect of second-generation sulfonylureas on survival after MI and underscore the importance of population-based studies of surveillance of drug safety.