cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Loss of rutin and antioxidant activity of asparagus juice caused by a pectolytic enzyme preparation from Aspergillus niger

Abstract We found that a commercial pectolytic enzyme preparation from Aspergillus niger (pectinase AN) contained laccase activity that decreased rutin content and antioxidant activity of asparagus juice. This research investigated the effects of pH, temperature, and concentration of pectinase AN on pectinase AN’s laccase activity to decrease rutin content and antioxidant activity of asparagus juice. Asparagus juice was incubated with pectinase AN at different pHs (3.2, 4.5 and 5.8), temperatures (25, 37, and 50 °C) and enzyme concentrations (0.1%, 0.5% and 1%). Rutin content and antioxidant activity of samples was determined by HPLC and 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical method, respectively. The rate of loss of rutin and antioxidant activity of asparagus juice was smaller at pH 3.2 than at pH 4.5 and pH 5.8, smaller for 0.1% pectinase AN than 0.5% and 1% pectinase AN. The rate of loss of rutin of asparagus juice was greater at 25 °C than at the other two temperatures. Pectinase AN can decrease rutin content and antioxidant activity of asparagus juice at the selected conditions. But rutin content and antioxidant activity of asparagus juice produced using pectinase AN could be less decreased at pH 3.2 and 0.1% of enzyme with less than 2 h of incubation time. This information was helpful for juice industry to produce juices with high antioxidant activity using pectinase AN.
Evaluation of Impact of Modern Headlamp Technology on Design Criteria for Sag Vertical Curves

This paper includes a review of the current methodologies used in the design of sag vertical curves, a review of the changes in headlamp technologies, the results of a survey of practitioners and two visibility experiments, and conclusions. The review of the headlamp technology shows that, over time, headlamp technologies have increasingly limited the amount of light emitted above the horizontal axis of the headlamp. In addition to the regulatory impact, headlamp technologies such as visually optically aligned systems also limit the upward divergence of the light beam from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle (uplight). The practitioner survey found that very few deviations from AASHTO design methodologies were used. On the basis of the practitioner review, the potential to modify current methodologies is limited to the manipulation of the vehicle speed, deceleration, and change in angle of curvature. The results of the visibility experiments showed that participants detected objects at distances that wer...
Genetic and Biological Subgroups of Low-Stage Follicular Thyroid Cancer

Investigations of cancer-specific gene rearrangements have increased our understanding of human neoplasia and led to the use of the rearrangements in pathological diagnosis of blood cell and connective tissue malignancies. Here, we have investigated 3p25 rearrangements of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) gene in follicular epithelial tumors of the human thyroid gland. Eleven of 42 (26%) low-stage follicular carcinomas, 0 of 40 follicular adenomas, 1 of 30 Hurthle cell carcinomas, 1 of 90 papillary carcinomas, and 0 of 10 nodular goiters had 3p25 rearrangements by interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization. All 11 follicular carcinomas with 3p25 rearrangement exhibited strong, diffuse nuclear immunoreactivity for PPARγ, consistent with expression of PPARγ fusion protein. Twelve of 42 (29%) low-stage follicular carcinomas had 3p25 aneusomy without PPARγ rearrangement (P = 0.01), suggesting that PPARγ rearrangement and aneuploidy are independent early events in follicular cancer. Eleven of 12 follicular carcinomas with 3p25 aneusomy exhibited no PPARγ immunoreactivity, supporting the existence of two independent pathways. Follicular carcinoma patients with PPARγ rearrangement more frequently had vascular invasion (P = 0.01), areas of solid/nested tumor histology (P < 0.001), and previous nonthyroid cancers (P < 0.01) compared with follicular carcinoma patients without PPARγ rearrangement. Our experiments identify genetic subgroups of low-stage follicular thyroid cancer and provide evidence that follicular carcinomas with PPARγ rearrangement are a distinct biological entity. The findings support a model in which separate genetic alterations initiate distinct pathways of oncogenesis in thyroid carcinoma subtypes.
A new genus of large primate from the Late Oligocene of Lothidok, Turkana District, Kenya

Abstract The species Proconsul (Xenopithecus) hamiltoni was based on two weathered molars in a maxillary fragment from the Erageleit beds, Lothidok, Turkana District, Kenya. New fossils from Lothidok show a unique suite of features indicating generic distinction of this taxon from other known large early catarrhines. A new generic diagnosis is given. The new genus, although still poorly known, may be the first Oligocene hominoid from East Africa. It retains many primitive features, but the few derived ones hint that it may be related to the Afropithecus group.
Spontaneous formation of knots in relativistic flows - A model for variability in compact synchrotron sources

A model is proposed in which regions of enhanced synchrotron emission are formed via radiative thermal instabilities in relativistic flows. A perturbed volume in which the magnetic field is enhanced by a few tens of a percent relative to the steady value collapses due to the increased cooling rate and consequent loss in pressure. The collapse further increases the magnetic field, leading to even shorter radiative lifetimes. The instability progresses in this way until either the external electron pressure is balanced by the perturbed magnetic pressure or the overall expansion of the flow becomes important. A fluid-dynamical treatment of the instability is performed, and the results are shown to apply to flux variations and formation of knots in the relativistic flows which are thought to occur in quasars and active galactic nuclei. The knots possess the same kinematic properties as the collimated flow and can thus be responsible for the apparent superluminal motions observed in compact radio sources.
Stochastic Blockmodels for Directed Graphs

Abstract Holland and Leinhardt (1981) proposed the p 1 model for the analysis of binary directed graph data in network studies. Such a model provides information about the “attractiveness” and “expansiveness” of the individual nodes in the network, as well as the tendency of a pair of nodes to reciprocate relational ties. When the nodes are a priori partitioned into subgroups based on attributes such as race and sex, the density of ties from one subgroup to another can differ considerably from that relating another pair of subgroups, thus creating a situation called blocking in social networks. The p 1 model completely ignores this extra piece of information and is, therefore, unable to explain the block structure. Blockmodels that are simple extensions of the p 1 model are proposed specifically for such data. An iterative scaling algorithm is presented for fitting the model parameters by maximum likelihood. The methodology is illustrated in detail on two empirical examples.
Bombesin-induced hypothermia in rats tested at normal ambient temperatures: contribution of the sympathetic nervous system.

Abstract Rats infused centrally with bombesin become hypothermic at normal ambient temperatures when acutely deprived of food, but not while allowed unrestrained access to food. Ad lib-fed rats, tested at normal ambient temperatures, become hypothermic after receiving intracerebroventricular (ICV) bombesin when they have ventromedial hypothalamic lesions or when administered insulin or 2-deoxy- d -glucose peripherally. All of these conditions have been linked to reductions of sympathetic nervous system activity to brown adipose tissue (BAT), a major thermogenic mechanism of many homeotherms. A between group design was used to examine the effects of ICV bombesin infusions on the response to peripheral injections of a) the sympathetic ganglionic blocker chlorisondamine (2.5 mg/kg, IP) in ad lib-fed rats, b) the nonspecific β-agonist isoproterenol (30 mg/kg, IP) in food-deprived rats, and c) the combination of isoproterenol and chlorisondamine in ad lib-fed rats. Ad libfed rats receiving ICV bombesin (100 ng/5 μl), in combination with peripheral chlorisondamine injection, became hypothermic 60 min postbombesin administration (−2.84 ± 0.33°C), while ad lib-fed rats receiving ICV bombesin infusion and peripheral injections of saline did not (−0.08 ± 0.37°C). Isoproterenol blocked hypothermia in ad lib-fed rats injected with chlorisondamine and ICV bombesin. Food-deprived rats receiving ICV bombesin infusion and peripheral saline injection exhibited hypothermia 60 min postbombesin administration (−2.51 ± 0.29°C). Peripheral injections of isoproterenol prevented bombesin-induced hypothermia in food-deprived rats. These data suggest that bombesin induces hypothermia at normal ambient temperatures when the sympathetic nervous system drive to BAT cannot be (or is not) activated.
Sap flow measurements of transpiration from cotton grown under ambient and enriched CO2 concentrations

Increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration has many implications for agriculture and forestry, one of which is the effect it will have on transpiration (T). The objective of this work was to quantify T of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) grown in the field under ambient (370 μmol mol−1) and enriched (550 μmol mol−1) CO2 concentrations. Measurements were made in 1990 and 1991 at the Maricopa Agricultural Center, Arizona. Constant-power sap flow gauges were used to measure T. In 1990, three plants and in 1991, 10 plants were simultaneously instrumented with gauges in each of the CO2 treatments. Leaf area of plants with gauges was measured. T measured by sap flow was compared with evapotranspiration (ET) calculated by water balance in 1990 and with T calculated by water balance in 1991. Soil evaporation was measured using microlysimeters in 1991, and was found to be essentially equal (approximately 0.8 mm day−1, or about 10% of T) in the two CO2 treatments. There were no consistent differences in leaf area of plants with gauges between the two CO2 treatments. Sap flow, for periods from 15 min to 2 weeks, was not significantly different between the two CO2 treatments in either year, except for a few days in 1990. In 1991, the coefficient of variation of daily sap flow across plants was the same (about 30%) for both CO2 treatments throughout the year. The water balance ET (1990) and T (1991) were similar to sap flow in both years, and also showed no effect of CO2 treatment. These results show that for this crop, grown under well-watered and high-fertility conditions, there was no effect of CO2 on T, on a per unit ground area or per plant basis. These results are relevant for assessing the effects of increasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations on transpiration by cotton.
UVB Irradiation of Human-Derived Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes Induces Apoptosis but Not T-Cell Anergy: Additive Effects with Various Immunosuppressive Agents

Abstract UVB irradiation of bone marrow or pancreatic islets has been shown to prevent GVHD and to induce transplant tolerance in experimental animal models. To clarify the underlying mechanism(s) responsible for these UVB effects we have examined in vitro cell function following UVB irradiation using LDA, FACS analysis, and DNA gel electrophoresis to assess the role of UVB-induced anergy and/or cell death. To extend our studies to the clinical setting and to promote chimerism and tolerance to organ allografts, we have further studied the effects of UVB irradiation combined with the commonly used immunosuppressive agents (cyclosporine, azathioprine, and methylprednisolone) on human T-cells in proliferative in vitro assays. When cytotoxic and proliferative responses to allogeneic cells or to PHA stimulation were evaluated in LDA, the use of increasing doses of UVB irradiation resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in proliferative and cytotoxic responses of T-cells as seen by decreases in precursor frequencies. The results of proliferative T-cell assays suggest an additive immunosuppressive effect of various immunosuppressive drugs when combined with UVB irradiation. Gel electrophoresis of DNA derived from resting and activated, UVB-irradiated PBLs showed apoptosis at all UVB doses used. FACS analysis of UVB-treated CD2 + cells resulted in a UVB dose-related decrease in cell numbers that correlated with viability studies. It appears that UVB irradiation of both activated and resting PBLs induces programmed cell death but not anergy of T-cells.
Forecasting livestock prices with individual and composite methods

(1981). Forecasting livestock prices with individual and composite methods. Applied Economics: Vol. 13, No. 4, pp. 513-522.
Double pulse laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy of explosives: Initial study towards improved discrimination☆

Detecting trace explosive residues at standoff distances in real-time is a difficult problem. One method ideally suited for real-time standoff detection is laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). However, atmospheric oxygen and nitrogen contributes to the LIBS signal from the oxygen- and nitrogen-containing explosive compounds, complicating the discrimination of explosives from other organic materials. While bathing the sample in an inert gas will remove atmospheric oxygen and nitrogen interference, it cannot practically be applied for standoff LIBS. Alternatively, we have investigated the potential of double pulse LIBS to improve the discrimination of explosives by diminishing the contribution of atmospheric oxygen and nitrogen to the LIBS signal. These initial studies compare the close-contact (< 1 m) LIBS spectra of explosives using single pulse LIBS in argon with double pulse LIBS in atmosphere. We have demonstrated improved discrimination of an explosive and an organic interferent using double pulse LIBS to reduce the air entrained in the analytical plasma.
Physics: Rebel without a pause

Robert P. Crease delves into a life of Freeman Dyson, a theoretical physicist who chose a non-conformist path.
Systematic Approach to Confinement in N = 1 Supersymmetric Gauge Theories

We give necessary criteria for $N\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}1$ supersymmetric theories to be in a smoothly confining phase without chiral symmetry breaking and with a dynamically generated superpotential. Using our general arguments we find all such confining SU and Sp theories with a single gauge group and no tree-level superpotential.
HARMONIE: A multimodal control framework for human assistive robotics

Effective user control of highly dexterous and robotic assistive devices requires intuitive and natural modalities. Although surgically implanted brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) strive to achieve this, a number of non-invasive engineering solutions may provide a quicker path to patient use by eliminating surgical implantation. We present the development of a semi-autonomous control system that utilizes computer vision, prosthesis feedback, effector centric device control, smooth movement trajectories, and appropriate hand conformations to interact with objects of interest. Users can direct a prosthetic limb through an intuitive graphical user interface to complete multi-stage tasks using patient appropriate combinations of control inputs such as eye tracking, conventional prosthetic controls/joysticks, surface electromyography (sEMG) signals, and neural interfaces (ECoG, EEG). Aligned with activities of daily living (ADL), these tasks include directing the prosthetic to specific locations or objects, grasping of objects by modulating hand conformation, and action upon grasped objects such as self-feeding. This Hybrid Augmented Reality Multimodal Operation Neural Integration Environment (HARMONIE) semi-autonomous control system lowers the user's cognitive load, leaving the bulk of command and control of the device to the computer. This flexible and intuitive control system could serve patient populations ranging from wheelchair-bound quadriplegics to upper-limb amputees.
Molecular properties of monoamine oxidases A and B.

Monoamine oxidases A and B (MAO-A and B) catalyze the oxidative catabolism of biogenic amines and xenobiotics. Investigation of these mitochondrial membrane proteins shows that they differ in substrate preference, inhibitor specificity, tissue and neuronal cell distribution, immunological properties, and nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences. Comparisons of MAO-A and B from the human, bovine, and rat species show strikingly high similarity (85–88%) in the amino acid sequences of each enzyme. Furthermore, three regions in MAO-A and B have sequence identities across species of 78, 88, and 86%. These regions correspond to a nucleotide-binding site near the N-terminal end that is found in the vast majority of enzymes that require flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), a region of unknown function, and the FAD-binding site toward the C-terminal end. Genomic clones of MAO-B which span almost the entire gene (>40 kb) have been isolated, restriction mapped, and partially sequenced. Likewise, genomic clones of MAO-A that correspond to the 3′-flanking region have also been investigated. Current studies which focus on identification of the promotor and regulatory sequences should help to establish why MAO-A and B are localized in different subsets of neurons in brain.
Effect of Restricted Feeding and Watering on Laying House Performance of Red × Rock Sex-Linked Females

Abstract A trial was conducted to compare the influence of intermittent watering and restricted feeding programs during the growing and laying periods on the performance of layers. Beginning at 10 weeks of age, water was available nine, seven, five, or three 15 min periods per day. One half of the birds assigned to each watering treatment were full fed and the remainder were restricted to 90% of the feed consumed by the full fed group during the previous week. At 22 weeks water was made available twelve, nine, six, or three times per day to the birds which had been exposed to nine, seven, five, or three waterings per day during the growing period, respectively. One half of the birds were full fed and the remainder were restricted to 93% of the quantity of feed consumed by the full fed group. Although the egg production and feed efficiency of the layers limited to three periods of water per day were reduced numerically compared to those of the birds exposed to six, nine, or twelve periods per day, the differences were not statistically significant. In addition, no significant differences were detected in feed consumption or livability. The average body weight of the layers receiving water for three or six periods per day was depressed during the early portion of the laying period but differences were not detectable at 72 weeks of age. The number of waterings per day had no statistically significant effect on 52 or 72 week average egg weight, shell thickness, or Haugh units. The average body weight of the birds restricted in feed consumption during the growing period was significantly reduced at 22 weeks of age and those restricted during the laying period were significantly reduced at all other ages measured. The egg production of the birds restricted in feed consumption during the 10 to 22 week period and then full fed was statistically significantly greater than for any of the other groups. Livability was not significantly influenced by feed treatments. Average weight of eggs of the layers subjected to the restricted level of feeding during both the growing and laying periods was depressed.
CT evaluation of empyema in the postpneumonectomy space.

Pneumonectomy is the primary treatment for bronchogenic carcinoma in many patients with involvement of the ipsilateral bronchus or hilum [1 ]. Empyema, a rare complication of pneumonectomy, may occur within the postpneumonectomy space at any time postoperatively [21. Evaluation of the postpneumonectomy space for empyema by conventional chest radiography may be difficult because of air-fluid levels [3]. If no air-fluid levels are present, complete opacification of the affected side may obscure an underlying abnormality. Cornputed tomography (CT) has proven useful in evaluation of the postpneumonectomy space for recurrent disease, and the normal CT appearance of this space has been well described [3] (fig. 1A). To our knowledge, however, there have been no reports on the CT appearance of empyema within the postpneumonectomy space. We discuss these characteristic findings, emphasizing the usefulness of CT in evaluation of suspected empyema.
Where is the individual in statistics

If there is any single statistic that we practitioners should know so deeply that it is integral to our view of the world, it is the standard deviation. This statistic is a beautiful one for evidence-based practice and, well, just beautiful in general. The reason for its beauty is that it depicts variation among individuals.
In vivo pharmacokinetic study for the assessment of poly(L-aspartic acid) as a drug carrier for colon-specific drug delivery

Glucocorticoids remain one of the mainstays of therapy for acute attacks of inflammatory bowel disease despite systemic side effects that limit their use. Prodrugs that selectively deliver glucocorticoids to the colon may lower the required dose and side effects. Because enzymes of gut microflora are able to cleave certain peptide and ester bonds, the ability of an ester prodrug consisting of dexamethasone (DX) as model drug and poly(L-aspartic acid) (weight-average mol wt=30,000) as drug carrier was investigated to selectively release the drug in the large intestine. Prodrug and drug solutions (1.18 mg DX/ml DMSO) were administered to two groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats by intragastric infusion using an ALZET® osmotic pump. All rats were infused for sufficient time to achieve steady state in both blood and GI-tract tissues. DX concentrations in blood and tissue samples were measured with HPLC. The steady state DX concentrations at these sites were used to calculate a drug delivery index (DDI). DX blood concentrations were significantly lower (p<0.05) after intragastric administration of the prodrug. Moreover, prodrug administration resulted in significantly higher DX concentrations in the cecum and colon mucosa and the cecum muscle tissue compared to DX administration (p<0.05). The prodrug led to an increase of the DX concentration in the large intestinal tissues by factors of 1.3–2.0 and to an 1.3-fold decrease of DX blood concentrations. Thus, this novel conjugate should both increase efficacy and reduce toxicity to some extent.
Next generation ECR ion sources: First results of the superconducting 28 GHz ECRIS VENUS

Abstract VENUS (Versatile ECR ion source for NUclear Science) is a next generation superconducting ECR ion source, designed to produce high current, high charge state ions for the 88-Inch Cyclotron at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. VENUS also serves as the prototype ion source for the RIA (rare isotope accelerator) front end. The goal of the VENUS ECR ion source project as the RIA RD the nominal radial design field strength at the plasma chamber wall is 2 T, making VENUS currently the world’s most powerful ECR plasma confinement structure. Recently, the six year project has made significant progress. In June 2002, the first plasma was ignited at 18 GHz. During 2003, the VENUS ECR ion source was commissioned at 18 GHz, while preparations for 28 GHz operation were being conducted. In May 2004 28 GHz microwave power has been coupled into the VENUS ECR ion source for the first time. Preliminary performance-tests with oxygen, xenon and bismuth at 18 GHz and 28 GHz have shown promising results. Intensities close to or exceeding the RIA requirements have been produced for those few test beams. The paper will briefly describe the design of the VENUS source and its beam analyzing system. Results at 18 GHz and 28 GHz including first emittance measurements will be described.
Behavioral Risk Factors and Unintentional Injuries Among U.S. Immigrant Adults

PURPOSE: This study compared 10 risk-taking behaviors generally considered to be risk factors for injuries and unintentional nonfatal injuries between immigrant and U.S.-born adults. METHODS: Data from the 2001 to 2002 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions were analyzed. The prevalence of unintentional injuries that occurred in the past 12 months was calculated for foreign-born and U.S.-born respondents by major sociodemographic characteristics. The proportion of respondents who were involved in risk-taking behaviors was compared between immigrants and U.S.-born adults using a chi(2) test. Negative binominal Poisson regression models were used to study the association among immigrant status, total number of risk-taking behaviors, and injuries while controlling for the confounding effects of sociodemographic variables. RESULTS: Of 43,093 adult respondents, 13.3% (95% confidence intervals [CI] = 12.5%-14.1%) of immigrants reported injuries compared with 19.1% (95% CI = 18.7%-19.5%) of U.S.-born respondents. Immigrants had a significantly lower risk of unintentional injuries than U.S.-born adults by most sociodemographic characteristics, but there was no statistically significant association between years of U.S. residence and injuries. Immigrants were less likely than their U.S.-born counterparts to be involved in all 10 risk-taking behaviors (p 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Immigrant and U.S.-born adults involved in high-risk behaviors face similar risks for unintentional injuries. Targeting risk-taking behaviors among immigrants warrants special attention in injury-control programs. Language: en
The influence of 6-mercaptopurine on rat placenta and fetus☆

Abstract Forty-eight hr after an injection of a teratogenic dose of 6-mercaptopurine into maternal rats (day 12 of gestation), total body fetal DNA content was decreased by 20 per cent. No evidence of gross malformation, fetal or placental weight decrease, or edema could be detected at this stage of development. Within 6 hr after 6-mercaptopurine administration, decreases in incorporation of radioactive glycine into adenine and guanine of fetal and placental DNA and RNA could be demonstrated. Only the fetal RNA guanine fraction failed to exhibit a statistically significant decrease in glycine incorporation. In fetuses and placentas 6 hr after injection, 6-mercaptopurine did not significantly alter incorporation of radioactive glycine into protein, or guanine to adenine molar base ratios. However, experimental fetal/placental ratios with respect to fresh pooled weight, guanine and adenine from DNA and guanine from RNA were decreased in comparison to control values. Investigations on the effects in vitro of 6-mercaptopurine ribonucleotide on ribosylamine-5-phosphate pyrophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase from fetus and placenta indicated that both enzyme preparations were inhibited by the ribonucleotide.
Endoscopic treatment for Bouveret syndrome

Background Gallstone ileus is an uncommon cause for small bowel obstruction. Less than 3 % of cases are due to a gallstone impacted in the duodenum or pylorus resulting in a gastric outlet obstruction, described by Bouveret in 1896 [4]. Most of the successful therapeutic maneuvers described involve open surgical removal of the stone through either a gastrotomy or duodenotomy, and reported morbidity is not insignificant [1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7]. Endoscopic techniques continue to evolve, allowing for more complex procedures and avoidance of open surgery and its accompanying high morbidity. This video displays a rarely used endoscopic method of relieving gastric outlet obstruction caused by a stone in a patient with Bouveret syndrome.
Morphological changes of electrodeposited Zn and Zn-Fe coatings during heating

The planar surface morphology of as-plated Zn crystals was found to be plate-like with a highly preferred orientation, whereas, the Zn-Fe coatings showed a nodular morphology. These nodules were clusters of many small polyhedral crystals. The surface morphology of Zn and Zn-Fe coatings did not change on heating up to a critical temperature. On heating above that temperature the surface started to smear. This critical temperature was found to increase with average Fe content in the coating. The cross-sectional view of as-plated Zn-Fe coatings showed a banded structure where the average grain size of each band was determined to be about 30 nm. As heat treatment progressed, the bands gradually disappeared. The pure Zn coating formed a layered structure with each layer corresponding to a different phase.
In vivo expression pattern of a plant K+ channel β subunit protein

Abstract Studies described in this report employed an antibody generated against a plant ( Arabidopsis thaliana ) K + channel β subunit polypeptide (`KAB1'). Immunoblot detection with anti-KAB1 as a probe of native protein isolated from a broad range of plant species and size-fractionated on SDS-PAGE indicated the presence of KAB1 homologs in some, but not all species tested. Immunocytochemical studies (at the subcellular level) were also undertaken on A. thaliana leaf and root tissue preparations. Hydropathy analysis of the KAB1 sequence suggests that it is a hydrophilic polypeptide, and immunoblot analysis of SDS-PAGE size-fractionated native protein isolated from A. thaliana plants identified KAB1 in a soluble protein fraction. However, electron micrograph analysis of immunogold staining with anti-KAB1 revealed native KAB1 as present in membrane systems. KAB1 protein was present in the plasmalemma and tonoplast of both root and leaf cells, and the mitochondrial and chloroplast inner envelope of leaf cells. These results, along with covalent cross-linking studies, suggested that the soluble KAB1 polypeptide associates with integral membrane proteins such as the pore-forming ( α ) subunit of K + channels in situ. Localization of KAB1 protein in root and leaf membranes suggests that this K + channel β subunit may associate with more than one type of α subunit in vivo. In vitro protein:protein interaction studies confirm the ability of KAB1 to form protein complexes with multiple plant K + channel α subunits. Immunogold staining patterns of membrane-associated KAB1 indicated that the native polypeptide is present in regularly-spaced individual protein complexes. This regular staining pattern allowed for theoretical estimations of K + channel density in plant cell membranes. It was concluded from such structural analyses that these ion channels are present in extremely low copy number in plant membranes; a finding consistent with prior estimations from ion conductance measurements. The structural characterization of K + channels afforded by these electron micrograph studies is significant in that it represents the first subcellular immunocytochemical localization of K + channel proteins native to either plant or animal membranes.
Structure of an RNA Polymerase II–TFIIB Complex and the Transcription Initiation Mechanism

Previous x-ray crystal structures have given insight into the mechanism of transcription and the role of general transcription factors in the initiation of the process. A structure of an RNA polymerase II-general transcription factor TFIIB complex at 4.5 angstrom resolution revealed the amino-terminal region of TFIIB, including a loop termed the "B finger," reaching into the active center of the polymerase where it may interact with both DNA and RNA, but this structure showed little of the carboxyl-terminal region. A new crystal structure of the same complex at 3.8 angstrom resolution obtained under different solution conditions is complementary with the previous one, revealing the carboxyl-terminal region of TFIIB, located above the polymerase active center cleft, but showing none of the B finger. In the new structure, the linker between the amino- and carboxyl-terminal regions can also be seen, snaking down from above the cleft toward the active center. The two structures, taken together with others previously obtained, dispel long-standing mysteries of the transcription initiation process.
Convergence rates of monotone conditional quantile estimators

Let {(Xi,Yi): 1 ⩽ i⩽n} be a sample of size n from a bivariate population, 0 < p < 1, and let ξp(x) be the p-quantile of Y1 given X1 = x. Estimation of ξp(x) when it is monotone in x for all 0 < p < 1, has been studied in the literature. Casady and Cryer (1976) constructed a monotone estimator ξ∗pn(x) and showed that the a.s. convergence rate for the estimator is O((log log nn)14). Wright (1984) showed that n13(ξ∗pn(x) - ξp(x)) has a non-degenerate limit distribution for all x and 0 < p < 1. We show that |ξ∗pn(x) - ξp(x)| = O((log nn)13) a.s. for all x and 0 < p < 1.
The effects of hydrocortisone on c-fos, c-myc and c-ras oncogene expression in IMR-90 fibroblasts.

Abstract The effects of hydrocortisone on oncogene expression in human IMR-90 fibroblasts was analyzed by Northern blotting of total RNA. In synchronized fibroblasts stimulated with serum alone, there were two time periods of increased c-fos expression during the G1 phase of the cell cycle. There was no significant difference between cells treated with serum plus hydrocortisone, and cells treated with serum alone with respect to c-fos expression. Quiescent cells showed no change in c-fos expression during the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Three peaks of c-fos expression occur when cells are treated with hydrocortisone alone, but hydrocortisone in the absence of serum is insufficient to initiate DNA synthesis. Hydrocortisone has no effect on c-myc or c-Ha-ras expression in the presence or absence of serum is sybchronized fibroblasts. Therefore, the control of mRNA production of the nuclear oncogenes c-fos and c-myc, and the cytoplasmic oncogene c-ras are independent and hydrocortisone may enhance DNA synthesis by increasing c-fos expression.
On a Strengthened Schwarz–Pick Inequality

Abstract We prove a version of the Schwarz–Pick Lemma in its hyperbolic distance form, in which the images of two points—and the derivative at one of these—are known. We use the result to obtain a sharper description of the well-known Julia's Lemma.
Synthesis, siderophore, and antimicrobial evaluation of a spermidine-based tricatecholate siderophore and carbacephalosporin conjugate

Abstract The synthesis of a novel spermidine-based tricatecholate compound and the corresponding carbacephalosporin conjugate are described. Interestingly, both compounds exhibited significant siderophore (growth-promoting) activity for several strains of E. coli . The synthesis and biological evaluation of a novel spermidine-based tricatecholate siderophore and the corresponding carbacephalosporin conjugate are described.
AUTORADIOGRAPHIC EXAMINATION OF THE EFFECTS OF ENRICHED ENVIRONMENT ON THE RATE OF GLIAL MULTIPLICATION IN THE ADULT RAT BRAIN.

Autoradiographic Examination of the Effects of Enriched Environment on the Rate of Glial Multiplication in the Adult Rat Brain
Common source inductance (CSI) of power devices and the impacts on synchronous buck converters

Common Source Inductance (CSI) is the inductance shared by the main current loop and the gate drive loop in a synchronous buck converter. Any voltage induced on CSI will change the effective gate-source voltage of the FET and has significant impacts on converter performance. This paper will explore and verify the impacts of High Side (HS) CSI on converter switch node ringing and power loss. New equations will be proposed to provide more accurate power loss estimations and help converter designs. Power MOSFET example with advanced package will be given to demonstrate converter efficiency improvement brought by minimized HS CSI. The paper will also discuss Low Side (LS) FET CSI effects on converter performance.
Monocytic U937 adhesion, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 beta expression in response to gelatin-based networks grafted with arginine-glycine-aspartic acid and proline-histidine-serine-arginine-asparagine oligopeptides.

In this study we synthesized gelatin-based, tissue-engineering, interpenetrating network (IPN) scaffolds immobilized with fibronectin (FN)-derived peptides to assess monocyte–biomaterial interaction. Human promonocytic U937 cells were seeded onto peptide-grafted IPN or tissue-culture polystyrene plate (TCPS) pre-adsorbed with FN or FN-derived peptides. The presence of RGD influenced U937 density on IPN. Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression in adherent U937 on treated TCPS was slightly upregulated at 4 h. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and IL-1β mRNA expression in adherent U937 on all IPNs was generally downregulated at 4 h. This downregulation of IL-1β mRNA apparently varied in IPNs grafted with different ligand and was still present at 24 h. TNF-α and IL-1β proteins released from U937 on treated TCPS were comparable with the control at 24 h, but TNF-α and IL-1β protein expression in U937 on IPNs was lower at 24 h than on the TCPS control. The results indicate that ...
Perspirable skin: Thermal buckling achieved by complex functionally graded materials

Abstract A perspirable skin is a new design concept of thermal protection system that will autonomously reduce the surface temperature in many applications such as reentry and hypersonic vehicles. A unique design features an assembly of tiles, which buckles upon heating. Potentially, a large gap can be generated through this buckling action. These tiles will be assembled and shrink-fitted within an opening on the existing skin. To induce the buckling action, each tile needs to have a unique CTE variation, which causes thermal expansion radially and thermal shrinkage tangentially. This paper concentrates on the fabrication of these tiles made of complex functionally graded materials (FGMs), and presents our effort to design and fabricate these tiles.
Dietary whole cottonseed depresses lipogenesis but has no effect on stearoyl coenzyme desaturase activity in bovine subcutaneous adipose tissue.

Abstract The primary objective of this study was to determine the effect of long-term feeding of whole cottonseed (WCS) on lipogenesis and stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase activity in growing steers. Brangus steers were fed either a control, cornbased diet (n = 11) or 30% WCS (n = 12). The 30% WCS contributed an estimated 6.6% additional lipid to the diet. Steers fed the added WCS had greater live weights (P = 0.04) and kidney, pelvic, and heart fat (P = 0.005). Subcutaneous fat thickness was not different (P = 0.20) between treatment groups, although WCS elicited an increase in the proportion of large diameter subcutaneous adipocytes. The rate of [U-14C]acetate incorporation into fatty acids in subcutaneous adipose tissue was reduced by dietary WCS (171.4 vs 122.1 nmol × 100 mg adipose tissue−1 × 2 hr−1, P = 0.03), indicating that the increased dietary fat depressed de novo lipogenesis. Hepatic desaturase activity was much lower than that of subcutaneous adipose tissue, a feature common to cattle. We anticipated that added WCS also would depress stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase activity in subcutaneous adipose tissue and liver due to its cyclopropene fatty acid content. Instead, desaturase activity was numerically (although not significantly) greater in liver (P = 0.37) and adipose tissue (P = 0.23).
Protein database searches using compositionally adjusted substitution matrices

Almost all protein database search methods use amino acid substitution matrices for scoring, optimizing, and assessing the statistical significance of sequence alignments. Much care and effort has therefore gone into constructing substitution matrices, and the quality of search results can depend strongly upon the choice of the proper matrix. A long-standing problem has been the comparison of sequences with biased amino acid compositions, for which standard substitution matrices are not optimal. To address this problem, we have recently developed a general procedure for transforming a standard matrix into one appropriate for the comparison of two sequences with arbitrary, and possibly differing compositions. Such adjusted matrices yield, on average, improved alignments and alignment scores when applied to the comparison of proteins with markedly biased compositions. Here we review the application of compositionally adjusted matrices and consider whether they may also be applied fruitfully to general purpose protein sequence database searches, in which related sequence pairs do not necessarily have strong compositional biases. Although it is not advisable to apply compositional adjustment indiscriminately, we describe several simple criteria under which invoking such adjustment is on average beneficial. In a typical database search, at least one of these criteria is satisfied by over half the related sequence pairs. Compositional substitution matrix adjustment is now available in NCBI's protein-protein version of BLAST.
Population-based tobacco treatment: study design of a randomized controlled trial.

Background Most smokers do not receive comprehensive, evidence-based treatment for tobacco use that includes intensive behavioral counseling along with pharmacotherapy. Further, the use of proven, tobacco treatments is lower among minorities than among Whites. The primary objectives of this study are to: (1) Assess the effect of a proactive care intervention (PRO) on population-level smoking abstinence rates (i.e., abstinence among all smokers including those who use and do not utilize treatment) and on utilization of tobacco treatment compared to reactive/usual care (UC) among a diverse population of smokers, (2) Compare the effect of PRO on population-level smoking abstinence rates and utilization of tobacco treatments between African American and White smokers, and (3) Determine the cost-effectiveness of the proactive care intervention.
Visualization components for persistent conversations

An appropriately designed interface to persistent, threaded conversations could reinforce socially beneficial behavior by prominently featuring how frequently and to what degree each user exhibits such behaviors. Based on the data generated by the Netscan data-mining project [9], we have developed a set of tools for illustrating the structure of discussion threads like those found in Usenet newsgroups and the patterns of participation within the discussions. We describe the benefits and challenges of integrating these tools into a multi-faceted dashboard for navigating and reading discussions in social cyberspaces like Usenet and related interaction media. Visualizations of the structure of online discussions have applications for research into the sociology of online groups as well as possible interface designs for their members.
Dipyridamole protects cultured rat embryonic cortical neurons from neurotoxic insult

The effects of a clinically useful cardiovascular agent, dipyridamole, were examined in a rodent tissue culture model of neural protection. Dipyridamole effectively protected rat embryonic day 18 (E18) cortical neurons from either trophic deprivation or endogenous glutathione depletion by l-buthionine (R,S) sulfoximine (BSO). Trophic deprivation was associated with an increase in intracellular oxidative stress, as determined by the increased fluorescence of dichloro, dihydrofluorescein (H2DCFDA). Dipyridamole's neural protection was time and concentration-dependent (EC50 = 342 nm), and its continuous presence in the culture medium was required. Dipyridamole or exogenously added glutathione markedly decreased trophic deprivation induced H2DCFDA fluorescence, indicating a reduction in neuronal oxidative stress. These results demonstrate that dipyridamole protects primary neuronal cultures against either trophic or chemically mediated insults, and suggest that dipyridamole has a potent antioxidant ability that compensates for glutathione depletion in primary neuronal cells.
Instrument schedule delays: Potential impact on mission development cost for recent NASA projects

NASA space-borne instruments, while trying to pursue world class science, have had a history of developmental delays. These development delays can lead to cost growth for the overall mission, as shown in recent studies of NASA missions and a larger historical data set. An analysis was conducted to assess if a new mission development process, labeled instrument first, spacecraft second (IFSS), could provide reduced cost and schedule growth in future missions by minimizing the impact of instrument development issues on mission development. A cost and schedule analysis was conducted for representative Tier 2 and Tier 3 Earth Science Decadal Survey missions to quantify the benefits. The results indicate that the savings resulting from such an approach is on the order of $2.5B, making more funding available for future missions, while providing a less volatile and more manageable mission portfolio.
A comparison of stochastic systems with different types of delays

In this article, we investigate the effects of different types of delays, a fixed delay and a random delay, on the dynamics of stochastic systems as well as their relationship with each other in the context of a just-in-time network model. The specific example on which we focus is a pork production network model. We numerically explore the corresponding deterministic approximations for the stochastic systems with these two different types of delays. Numerical results reveal that the agreement of stochastic systems with fixed and random delays depend on the population size and the variance of the random delay, even when the mean value of the random delay is chosen the same as the value of the fixed delay. When the variance of the random delay is sufficiently small, the histograms of state solutions to the stochastic system with a random delay are similar to those of the stochastic model with a fixed delay regardless of the population size. We also compared the stochastic system with a Gamma distributed ran...
Periodic D0L languages

Abstract Periodic D0L systems and languages are defined, and periodicity is shown to be a decidable property of D0L systems. The fundamental tools used are recent results on the representation of stationary ω-words (Head and Lando, 1986) and the decidability of ultimate periodicity of ω-words (Harju and Linna, 1986; Pansiot, 1986). The relation of D0L periodicity to local catenativity and to n -codes is examined.
Empirical Bayes Estimators of Reliability for Lognormal Failure Model

Empirical Bayes (EB) procedures are considered for estimating the reliability R(t;?,?) = gaufc[(ln t -?)/?] for the lognormal failure model. EB estimators are obtained for the 2 cases: i)? is unknown and ? is known, and both ? and ? are unknown. The empirical Cdf of the maximum likelihood estimators of the parameters is used to obtain the EB estimators. ii) A smooth EB estimator of R(t;?,?) is developed when ? is unknown and ? is known. A modification of this estimator is proposed for both ? and ? unknown. In both cases, EB estimators are obtained for complete samples at each testing stage. Monte Carlo simulations are presented to compare the EB estimators and the maximum likelihood (ML) estimators of R(t;?,?). The simulations indicate that the smooth EB estimators have smaller mean squared errors than the other EB estimators or the ML estimators.
Identification of the functional domain of p21WAF1/CIP1 that protects cells from cisplatin cytotoxicity

The p21 cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) inhibitor protects cells from cisplatin cytotoxicity in vivo and in vitro. However, the mechanism of protection is not known. Separate p21 domains are known to...