cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Alterations of intercellular communication in neonatal cardiac myocytes from connexin43 null mice.

Objective: To compare gap junction expression and intercellular coupling in wildtype neonatal cardiac myocytes to those from mice lacking the most abundant cardiac gap junction protein (connexin43, Cx43). Methods: Northern and Western blots compared connexin mRNA and protein levels, immunocytochemistry evaluated connexin distribution in neonatal Cx43 null(−/−), heterozygous(+/−) and wildtype(+/+) mouse hearts. Ca2+ imaging, dye coupling and electrophysiological methods evaluated intercellular communication. Results: Similar levels of Cx40 and Cx45 were detected in all genotypes, although in adult cardiac tissue from wildtype mice, Cx43 expression was higher than in heterozygotes. After culturing dissociated cells for 3–4 days, cardiocytes beat spontaneously; in Cx43(+/+) and (+/−) cultures, the beating was generally quite synchronous. In Cx43(−/−) mice, interbeat intervals were on average twice as long and more variable than in Cx43(+/+) or Cx43(+/−) cultures. Junctional conductance was lower by about 60% in Cx43(−/−) as compared to Cx43(+/−) and (+/+) littermates; Lucifer Yellow dye coupling was virtually absent in Cx43(−/−) cardiomyocytes but was comparably strong in wildtype and heterozygous siblings. Macroscopic junctional conductance measurements on Cx43(−/−) cardiocytes showed slightly stronger voltage sensitivity in these cells than in Cx43(+/+) cardiocytes. Unitary junctional conductance measurements revealed distinct populations of channels contributing to macroscopic conductance for Cx43(+/+) and Cx43(−/−) genotypes. Conclusions: In Cx43-deficient cardiac myocytes, the expression of other connexins only partially compensates for the functional loss, with dye coupling and spontaneous beating being strongly impaired.
Ganglioside dependent return of TSH receptor function in a rat thyroid tumor with a TSH receptor defect

Abstract The 1–8 rat thyroid tumor line with a thyrotropin and cholera toxin receptor defect and a deficiency in higher order membrane gangliosides is shown to regain both receptor functions with the in vivo resynthesis or the in vitro reconstitution of higher order gangliosides. Reconstitution was achieved by exposing primary cell cultures of the tumor to preparations of gangliosides from thyroid cells with functional thyrotropin receptor activity.
Network security considerations in TCP/IP-based manufacturing automation

Abstract The TCP/IP network protocol has gained wide acceptance as the de facto standard for inter-system data transportation in the manufacturing automation environment. While it was designed to be a fault-tolerant, robust protocol family, TCP/IP is still susceptible to many forms of deliberate and accidental attack which can compromise data integrity and network effectiveness. This paper addresses ways in which the impact of certain common security problems on a manufacturing automation network may be minimized.
Comparison of gating methods for the real-time analysis of left ventricular function in nonimaging blood pool studies

Background Gating methods developed for electrocardiographic-triggered radionuclide ventriculography are being used with nonimaging detectors. These methods have not been compared on the basis of their real-time performance or suitability for determination of load-independent indexes of left ventricular function. This work evaluated the relative merits of different gating methods for nonimaging radionuclude ventriculographic studies, with particular emphasis on their suitability for real-time measurements and the determination of pressure-volume loops.
Streaming fragment assignment for real-time analysis of sequencing experiments

We present eXpress, a software package for efficient probabilistic assignment of ambiguously mapping sequenced fragments. eXpress uses a streaming algorithm with linear run time and constant memory use. It can determine abundances of sequenced molecules in real time and can be applied to ChIP-seq, metagenomics and other large-scale sequencing data. We demonstrate its use on RNA-seq data and show that eXpress achieves greater efficiency than other quantification methods.
Using a functional linguistics metalanguage to support academic language development in the English Language Arts

Abstract This article reports on a design-based research project that used grammatical metalanguage from Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) to support primary level English Language Learners’ engagement with academic language in English Language Arts. Researchers and teachers developed lessons to support students’ ability to interpret and evaluate characters’ attitudes in literary texts through an explicit focus on language. An analysis of classroom conversations shows that SFL metalanguage has the potential to support students’ content learning in the context of dialogic interaction during meaningful curricular activity supported by scaffolding artifacts. We show that the metalanguage supports elaboration and enactment of meaning and exploration of patterns in language and author's purpose in the texts students read. This results in extended discourse by students in which they also connect text meaning to their personal experiences. We suggest that this approach offers new affordances for supporting ELLs’ engagement in challenging curricular tasks at the same time they develop academic language.
The Environment, International Relations, and U.S. Foreign Policy. Edited by Paul G. Harris. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press, 2001. 276p. $65.00.

The basic premise of Paul Harris's edited volume is that “understanding U.S. international environmental policy is central to the entire project of global environmental protection” because the United States is the “world's largest polluter [as well as] the world's wealthiest country” (p. 4). To argue that the United States is disproportionately important to international environmental policy (or to international policy on most other issues) is an important, but relatively uncontroversial, case to make; and it is made rather well throughout the chapters in this book.
Racialized masculinities and the new homonormativity in LOGO's Noah's Arc.

Examining the relationship between neoliberalism, race, and gender performance, this article provides an analysis of Noah's Arc, a popular LOGO television series in the United States. More specific...
Dynamic Object Tracking (DOT) Microscopy To Image Endosomal Transport On Individual Microtubules In An Axon

Fluorescence imaging with single molecule resolution has been vital to many important discoveries in biology. The spatial resolution of fluorescence microscopy has a physical lower bound, the diffraction of light, which is approximately half of the wavelength and in the range of 200-300nm for visible light. Many biological objects of interest are on a length scale below this diffraction limit. Several high resolution techniques have been developed to break this diffraction limit. Here we describe a new high-resolution imaging technique called Dynamic Object Tracking (DOT) microscopy, in which dynamic trajectories of moving objects are used to reconstruct fluorescence images of cytoskeletal structures. DOT microscopy takes time-lapse measurements of fluorescence images of moving organelles, single molecules or particles in live cells. The trajectory taken by the particle over time marks out the microtubule or actin filament that it travels along. At each time frame, particle positions can be determined with high accuracy by PSF fitting to a 2D Gaussian function to get a resolution that breaks the diffraction limit. We have applied this technique to track retrograde transportation of endosomes containing single NGF molecules in the axons of neurons. A pseudo Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) microscope was constructed in house to take the measurements. Individual NGF molecules conjugated to single quantum dots were imaged and tracked in live cells. The sub-diffraction-limit DOT imaging of individual axonal microtubules was achieved and we are able to clearly depict more than five microtubules in a single axon.
Sex and outcome after myocardial infarction: A case of sexual politics?

The concluding decades of the last millennium have brought about a dramatic transformation in the role of women in Western society. Along with a growth in equality in the social and political landscape, there has been an increased awareness of the manifestations of diseases and their diagnosis, management, and outcome in women. The treatment of women with coronary disease has received particularly intense scrutiny. A multitude of studies have been published from administrative databases, patient registries, clinical trials, and population-based surveys. These have evaluated findings in women with diagnoses of chest pain, stable coronary disease, ST elevation myocardial infarction (MI), and non-ST elevation acute ischemic syndromes. Although the anatomic biological differences are incompletely understood,1 the following 3 key questions have been posed: (1) does the outcome of women with coronary artery disease differ from that of men? (2) Do treatment and management strategies differ between the sexes? (3) Is the effect of treatment and outcome similar for both sexes? The findings in studies have been inconsistent, but nonetheless, several areas of agreement and consensus exist (Table⇓). The report by Gottlieb et al2 advances our understanding of the relationship between treatment and outcome in the setting of acute MI. This study was derived from a comprehensive national registry of all coronary care units in Israel, and it reports data on hospitalized patients with a diagnosis of acute MI over 2 months during 3 different years. A particular …
Effect of induced longitudinal electrostatic field components during two-wave and multiwave mixing in photorefractive materials

We show that the inclusion of the longitudinal component of the induced space-charge electrostatic field during two-beam coupling in a diffusion-dominated photorefractive material such as barium titanate with mismatched boundary conditions can predict enhancement of the higher-order diffraction efficiency, thereby reducing the minimum initial two-beam coupling ratio required for higher-order generation. We perform the analysis using the exact Kukhtarev equations and a rigorous coupled-wave diffraction theory. Expressions for the induced optical permittivity tensor including the presence of the longitudinal field are provided.
Polarization aberration analysis of the advanced x-ray astrophysics facility telescope assembly

The Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility (AXAF) Telescope consists of six concentric paraboloid-hyperboloid pairs of mirrors that operate near grazing incidence. Because of the substantial polarization effects at large angles of incidence there has been concern regarding the feasibility of doing polarimetry near the telescope focal plane. The primary mirror is here shown to act as a tangentially directed half-wave linear retarder and almost completely to depolarize the linearly polarized component of the light. The secondary mirror introduces and additional half-wave of linear retardance. The two-mirror telescope assembly acts as a tangentially directed one-wave linear retarder. Each mirror depolarizes alone but together the two-mirror assembly preserves the polarization state. The net instrumental polarization effects are small and polarimetry is feasible with AXAF.
The doctor's role in bioterrorism.

At the beginning of this new millennium, the promise of the future is tainted by the emergence of terrorist threats, including bioterrorism. Terrorist doctrine and fanaticism have continued to evolve since the end of the Cold War. Historically, the goals of terrorism were to attract media attention and political concessions. These aims were pursued through high-visibility attacks that resulted in few casualties. However, the shifting goals of terrorism over the past decade indicate an increasing desire to inflict mass casualties. This fundamental change has spanned the extremes of terror organisations from the ideological right to the ideological left while cutting across ethnic, religious, state-sponsored, and single-issue terror groups. As this shift toward a higher order of violence occurs, terrorism arsenals are likely to expand beyond improvised explosive devices and aircraft hijackings. In the future, the greatest terrorism challenge modern medicine may face will probably be bioterrorism. Doctors stand at the forefront in preparing for this threat. In the past, doctors have also contributed to the creation and proliferation of these weapons. The emergence of new terrorist threats has created new responsibilities for the medical community. Unlike other forms of terrorism, in which an acute exposure or traumatic injury is rapidly inflicted and quickly recognised, bioterrorism may involve an incubation period of days or even weeks. During these events, patients will turn to their most trusted adviser on health issues, their doctor, who will be expected to recognise and take action against the rare diseases that top most threat lists.
Principal Licensing and Leadership for Learning: The Need for Coherent Policy

Does principal licensing encompass the knowledge and skills principals need to promote student learning? If not, what kind of policy framework would help decision makers rethink licensing and the school leadership it supports? To answer these questions, this article examines licensing regulations in all fifty states and the District of Columbia. It classifies this content as individual-, organizational-, or learning-focused and finds that these requirements are unbalanced across states and misaligned with today's ambitions for school leaders. The article then situates principal licensing within a broader policy framework for school leadership development that distinguishes entry-level skills and expertise; differentiates practice and leadership; challenges the myth of the super principal; and makes coherent linkages among the standards, goals, and policy targets that define the purpose of licensing and the practice it enables.
Molecular oxygen: friend and foe. The role of the oxygen free radical system in the calcium paradox, the oxygen paradox and ischemia/reperfusion injury

We strongly support the original intriguing hypothesis of Hearse et al. that the oxygen paradox and the calcium paradox are facets of the same problem. We would propose that the major similarity is a final common pathway leading to intracellular calcium overload and the sequelae of the resultant increase in intracellular calcium. In addition, we would propose that the oxygen paradox and ischemic/reperfusion injury are also facets of the same problem with the major similarity being the reintroduction of molecular oxygen to a previously hypoxic myocardium. Finally, we would suggest that the common pathway leading to intracellular calcium overload in the oxygen paradox and ischemic/reperfusion injury and to a lesser extent the calcium paradox involves the generation of oxygen free radicals. The source of oxygen free radical generation in the calcium paradox is perhaps less obvious than in the oxygen paradox. It is proposed that during calcium-free perfusion, calcium is leached from the plasmalemma of the myocyte. There is a resulting increase in membrane fluidity. Within the plasmalemma are a number of calcium sensitive phospholipases. Upon reperfusion with a calcium replete medium, calcium could pool around these membrane bound phospholipases initiating a chain reaction of lipid peroxidation which actually is perpetuated by free radical generation (Equations 5A-5C). Lipid peroxidation opens channels within the plasmalemma rendering a 'leaky' sarcolemma. It is through these channels that calcium could flow down its concentration gradient into the cell. The increased calcium accumulation at the mitochondria would lead to an uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation. With depleted energy stores, the mitochondria and sarcoplasmic reticulum no longer serve as calcium sinks. This would contribute to the calcium overload seen upon reperfusion. The role of oxygen free radical production would appear to occur during the hypoxic phase of the oxygen paradox and the ischemic phase of ischemic/reperfusion injury and during the reoxygenation/reperfusion phases. With the onset of hypoxia and/or myocardial ischemia there is an increase in reducing equivalents, disturbance and dissociation of intramitochondrial electron transport and release of ubisemiquinone, flavoproteins and superoxide radicals. The increase in reducing equivalents includes NADPH and, in ischemia, catecholamines, hypoxanthine and an increase on xanthine oxidase activity. All of these substrates are capable of participating in free radical production. This increase in free radical production in ischemic tissue is enhanced by acidosis which in the ischemic and hypoxic myocardium approaches pH 6.0-6.4.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Phase equilibria of polymer–solvent systems at high pressures near their critical loci. II. Polyethylene–ethylene

The system polyethylene–ethylene exhibits the same type of phase behavior as that described earlier for polyethylene-n-alkane systems well above the boiling points, or above the critical points of the solvents. In this case, the solvent is always above its critical temperature in the region investigated, and one has here another case of infinite polymer-gas miscibility. The critical locus was determined, from its intersection with the crystallization surface at about 115 to 200°C., and the three-dimensional phase model in (P, T, composition) space is visualized.
Do Mutual Fund Supermarket Programs Raise Expense Ratios

This article investigates the hypothesis that there are significant differences in mutual fund expense ratios after inclusion of these funds in the Schwab Retail OneSource supermarket program. The data covers the 1991–1998 peroid for ten investment categories. The results show that there is a significant decrease in expense ratios after inclusion in the Schwab OneSource program. This result is important for investors that are considering investing in mutual funds through a supermarket program because expense ratios have a direct impact on their returns.
Direct binding of the Mtv7 superantigen (Mls-1) to soluble MHC class II molecules.

Summary The superantigen encoded by the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) is a potent stimulator of T cells when bound to MHC class II molecules. Recent data from this laboratory have shown that the Mtv7 superantigen, Mls-1, elicits a strong T cell response when presented by HLA-DR. To expand these observations further, we have produced the 28 kDa extracellular domain and the 18 kDa carboxy-terminal subfragment of the Mls-1 protein in E. coli and studied their interaction with human MHC class II molecules in vitro. In this report, we demonstrate direct binding of these recombinant forms of the Mls-1 protein to soluble HLA-DR1 and HLA-DR4, but not to HLA-A2. Our data imply a unique class II interaction site of retroviral superantigens that is not shared with bacterial superantigens.
A new gallate fast-ion conducting isomorph of β-Al2O3

Abstract A new gallium isomorph of the two-dimensional fast ion conductor, β-Al 2 O 3 , Zn-doped K-β-gallate, has been grown by K 2 O vaporization from K 2 O-Ga 2 O 3 melts. A crystal of composition (K 2 O) (0.812ZnO) (6.126Ga 2 O 3 ) with ≅68% excess K + over the stoichiometric composition is typical from a melt with 4% added ZnO. This crystal has all of the charge of the excess alkali compensated by the negative charge on a zinc center in the spinel block and, hence, has no interstitial oxygens in the conduction plane, as is the case with β-Al 2 O 3 and Na-β-gallate. The log σT vs 1/T plot shows a distinct change of slope at 300°C. No corresponding specific heat anomaly could be observed. There is a change in slope in the temperature dependence of two low-energy Raman modes near the same temperature, however. When the K + is replaced by Na + by ion exchange, the resulting log σT vs 1/T plot is linear over the entire measured temperature range, and the Raman spectrum reduces to a single, temperature-independent, low energy mode.
Hysteresis, phase transitions, and dangerous transients in electrical power distribution systems

The majority of dynamical studies in power systems focus on the high-voltage transmission grids where models consider large generators interacting with crude aggregations of individual small loads. However, new phenomena have been observed indicating that the spatial distribution of collective, nonlinear contribution of these small loads in the low-voltage distribution grid is crucial to the outcome of these dynamical transients. To elucidate the phenomenon, we study the dynamics of voltage and power flows in a spatially extended distribution feeder (circuit) connecting many asynchronous induction motors and discover that this relatively simple 1+1 (space+time) dimensional system exhibits a plethora of nontrivial spatiotemporal effects, some of which may be dangerous for power system stability. Long-range motor-motor interactions mediated by circuit voltage and electrical power flows result in coexistence and segregation of spatially extended phases defined by individual motor states, a ``normal'' state where the motors' mechanical (rotation) frequency is slightly smaller than the nominal frequency of the basic ac flows and a ``stalled'' state where the mechanical frequency is small. Transitions between the two states can be initiated by a perturbation of the voltage or base frequency at the head of the distribution feeder. Such behavior is typical of first-order phase transitions in physics, and this 1+1 dimensional model shows many other properties of a first-order phase transition with the spatial distribution of the motors' mechanical frequency playing the role of the order parameter. In particular, we observe (a) propagation of the phase-transition front with the constant speed (in very long feeders) and (b) hysteresis in transitions between the normal and stalled (or partially stalled) phases.
The proteomics of quiescent and nonquiescent cell differentiation in yeast stationary-phase cultures

As yeast cultures enter stationary phase in rich, glucose-based medium, differentiation of two major subpopulations of cells, termed quiescent and nonquiescent, is observed. Differences in mRNA abundance between exponentially growing and stationary-phase cultures and quiescent and nonquiescent cells are known, but little was known about protein abundance in these cells. To measure protein abundance in exponential and stationary-phase cultures, the yeast GFP-fusion library (4159 strains) was examined during exponential and stationary phases, using high-throughput flow cytometry (HyperCyt). Approximately 5% of proteins in the library showed twofold or greater changes in median fluorescence intensity (abundance) between the two conditions. We examined 38 strains exhibiting two distinct fluorescence-intensity peaks in stationary phase and determined that the two fluorescence peaks distinguished quiescent and nonquiescent cells, the two major subpopulations of cells in stationary-phase cultures. GFP-fusion proteins in this group were more abundant in quiescent cells, and half were involved in mitochondrial function, consistent with the sixfold increase in respiration observed in quiescent cells and the relative absence of Cit1p:GFP in nonquiescent cells. Finally, examination of quiescent cell-specific GFP-fusion proteins revealed symmetry in protein accumulation in dividing quiescent and nonquiescent cells after glucose exhaustion, leading to a new model for the differentiation of these cells.
Microdetermination of molecular weight in high molecular weight polymers soluble in benzene at 37 C

A simplified method has been developed to determine molecular weight by using a constant volume of solvent and using polystyrene as a standard, molecular weights up to 51000 can be obtained with less than 2% error from a graph. If calculated by computer, 5% error is the maximum.
Coordinating communication: awareness displays and interruption

In this paper, we describe a laboratory experiment to determine whether peripheral awareness information about a remote collaborator's workload aids in timing interruptive communication. Our results indicate that a display with an abstract representation of a collaborator's workload is best in that it leads to better timing of interruptions without overwhelming the interrupter.
Sliding properties of coevaporated and nitrogen-implanted Pt50Ti50 films on AISI 304 stainless steel

Les proprietes d'usure et de glissement sont augmentees dans le cas de l'acier revetu d'alliage Pt 50 Ni 50 . Influence d'une implantation d'ions azote sur ces proprietes
Skills versus Meaning: An Appraisal of Two Rival Approaches to Secondary Reading

Reading instruction, which used to be the exclusive concern of elementary teachers, has gained increasing acceptance as a necessary subject for secondary schools. One reason for this trend may be the declining levels of literacy among high school students, college entrants, and SAT candidates (Beaton, Hilton, and Schraeder, 1977). The slogan "every teacher a teacher of reading," a rallying cry from many reading specialists, reflects a mounting effort to infuse reading instruction into secondary classes. A number of textbooks on secondary school reading have been published in the last two decades. These texts appear to embody two different instructional approaches, a "skills" approach and a "meanings" approach. Although authors provide rationales for their chosen approaches, none discusses one approach in relation to the other. The basis for selecting a particular approach is thus obscured. The purpose of this article is to compare the two approaches and to assess the strengths and limits of each. I will examine theoretical perspectives and particular instructional procedures associated with each approach. In addition, Olson's (1977) explanation of the locus of meaning will be invoked to sharpen and deepen the distinctions already drawn between both approaches. Finally, I will show that the two approaches need not be rivals, but can be used in concert in actual teaching situations.
Binary mixtures of fatty acid derivatives. I. Dihydrazides of dicarboxylic acids-glutaric to sebacic

1. A simple preparation of the dihydrazides is given. The recrystallized dihydrazides of glutaric, adipic, pimelic, suberic, azelaic, and sebacic acids melted at 176, 182, 185, 187, and 188°C., respectively. 2. The melting point curves are reported for binary mixtures of a) the dihydrazides of adjacent members of the homologous series of dicarboxylic acids from glutaric to sebacic, b) suberic and sebacic dihydrazide, and c) sebacic dihydrazide and stearic hydrazide. 3. The binary mixtures of the dihydrazides show formation of a eutectic containing 52–53 weight per cent of the lower component. 4. The binary mixture of stearic hydrazide and sebacic dihydrazide shows no eutectic by the method used.
A Simple Planar Micromixer with Low Pressure Drop For Disposable Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC) Systems

In this work the design and fabrication of a novel passive microfluidic mixer capable of achieving mixing in shorter distances and lower Reynolds numbers (Re) is reported. Passive mixers typically rely on the channel geometry to mix fluids, and many previously reported designs work efficiently only at moderate to high Re and are often difficult to fabricate as they incorporate complex 3-D structures within the channel. The mixer design discussed in this work achieves good mixing at low Re, has planar geometry and thus is simpler to fabricate and integrate with existing labon- a-chip (LOC) technologies. The design incorporates triangular notches patterned along the channel walls to laminate the flow, thus enhancing mixing. Numerical and experimental studies to determine the effect of the notch dimensions and placement within the microchannel were carried out to optimize the mixing performance. Results show that the final mixer design is efficient at mixing fluids at low Re. The mixer is fabricated in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) bonded to glass slides and tested using fluorescence dyes. Results show that the new design exhibit complete mixing at Re < 0.1 within 7 mm and thus will benefit a wide range of LOC applications where space is limited.
The prospect of implementing a Safer Injection Facility in San Francisco: perspectives of community stakeholders.

Abstract Background Government-sanctioned Safer Injection Facilities (SIFs) have been implemented around the world to address public health and public order concerns associated with injection drug use. The goal of this study was to investigate how community stakeholders in San Francisco's Tenderloin district respond to the idea of implementing a SIF. Methods Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with 20 purposively sampled stakeholders including representatives from neighbourhood and business associations, politicians, law enforcement, religious leaders, school officials, community activists and service providers. Data were analysed using an inductive approach. Results Stakeholders were concerned that implementation of a SIF would further degrade a community struggling with safety and cleanliness and questioned the efficacy of harm reduction strategies to address drug use. Stakeholders were open to dialogue about how a SIF might support neighbourhood goals, stressed the importance of respect and collaboration between stakeholders and those potentially implementing a SIF, and were interested in evidence of the impact SIFs have on communities. Government protection and political leadership would be necessary to implement a SIF. Conclusions Employment of a community collaborative model combined with political leadership could move the policy debate about implementation of a SIF in San Francisco forward.
Quadratic correlation filter based target tracking in FLIR image sequences

Target tracking in forward looking infrared (FLIR) video sequences is challenging problem due to various limitations such as low signal-to-noise ratio, image blurring, partial occlusion, and low texture information, which often leads to missing targets or tracking non-target objects. To alleviate these problems, we propose the application of quadratic correlation filters using subframe approach in FLIR. The proposed filtering technique avoids the disadvantages of pixel-based image preprocessing techniques. The filter coefficients are obtained for desired target class from the training images. For real time applications, the input scene is first segmented to the subframes according to target location information from the previous frame. The subframe of interest is then correlated with correlation filters associated with target class. The obtained correlation output contains higher value that indicates the target location in the region of interest. The simulation results for target tracking in real life FLIR imagery have been reported to verify the effectiveness of the proposed technique.
Stereoisomers of an antihistamine and the pharmacologic receptors of rabbit aorta.

Abstract On rabbit aorta, the blocking activity of (-)- and (+)-chlorpheniramine was tested against histamine, an alpha adrenoceptor stimulant, phenylephrine, and a muscarine stimulant, carbachol.For the histaminic receptor, the pA 2 value of (+)-chlorpheniramine was 8, while that of the (-)isomer was 6. Based on pA 2 values, relative to that observed for the histaminergic receptors, the blocking activity of the (+)-isomer on α-adrenoreceptor and the muscarinic receptor was 1 /2000th and 1400th, respectively. The stereoselectivity in the blockade of the latter receptors by the isomers was small.Thus, the of the asymmetry in chlorphemiramine for blocking the histamine receptor is quite clear. When tested at equieffective concentrations, the rate of recovery from the blockade of the histamine receptor by the isomers was the same. Therefore, the diffusion-controlled recovery appears to be a nonstereoselective process.
REPLICATION OF A CHOICE MODEL

This study provides an operational replication of a proposed multiattribute choice model. The necessity of replication in the decision sciences in general and in consumer behavior in particular is discussed. Several alternative forms of multiattribute choice models are considered. Results are supportive of earlier efforts in this area.
An integral analysis of turbulent reattachment applied to plane supersonic base flows.

Plane supersonic base flows studied using integral analysis of turbulent reattachment, noting prediction of wall pressure distribution
Three Short stories

The following three short stories are part of a collection of stories written about the experiences of five African American male students enrolled in a Midwest alternative school. This alternative school was established to house students who have been described as incorrigible, disruptive, social misfits, and academically incompetent. The collective stories included in this text are about students who have lived difficult lives. This text reveals the “experiences of a sociologically constructed category of people in the context of larger social-cultural and historical forces.”1It is about students who have been forgotten; written off; and placed in foster care, detention centers, alternative schools, and, for some, juvenile prison. This approach provides insight into the lives of an increasing number of African American male students placed in alternative school environments.
High-Throughput Targeted Repeat Element Bisulfite Sequencing (HT-TREBS): Genome-Wide DNA Methylation Analysis of IAP LTR Retrotransposon

In vertebrates, DNA methylation-mediated repression of retrotransposons is essential for the maintenance of genomic integrity. In the current study, we developed a technique termed HT-TREBS (High-Throughput Targeted Repeat Element Bisulfite Sequencing). This technique is designed to measure the DNA methylation levels of individual loci of any repeat families with next-generation sequencing approaches. To test the feasibility of HT-TREBS, we analyzed the DNA methylation levels of the IAP LTR family using a set of 12 different genomic DNA isolated from the brain, liver and kidney of 4 one-week-old littermates of the mouse strain C57BL/6N. This technique has successfully generated the CpG methylation data of 5,233 loci common in all the samples, representing more than 80% of the individual loci of the five targeted subtypes of the IAP LTR family. According to the results, approximately 5% of the IAP LTR loci have less than 80% CpG methylation levels with no genomic position preference. Further analyses of the IAP LTR loci also revealed the presence of extensive DNA methylation variations between different tissues and individuals. Overall, these data demonstrate the efficiency and robustness of the new technique, HT-TREBS, and also provide new insights regarding the genome-wide DNA methylation patterns of the IAP LTR repeat elements.
Cis-trans recognition and subunit-specific degradation of short-lived proteins

The N-end rule, a code that relates the metabolic stability of a protein to the identity of its amino-terminal residue, is universal in that different versions of the N-end rule operate in mammals, yeast and bacteria (unpublished data). The N-end rule-based degradation signal comprises a destabilizing amino-terminal residue and a specific internal lysine residue. We now show that, in a multisubunit protein, these two determinants can be located on different subunits and still target the protein for destruction. Moreover, in this case (trans recognition) only the subunit that bears the lysine determinant is actually degraded. Thus an oligomeric protein can contain both short-lived and long-lived subunits. These insights have functional and practical implications.
Theory of Very Long Waves in a Zonal Atmospheric Flow

A derivation is given of the general wave equation for small quasi-static adiabatic perturbations in a zonal atmospheric flow. This equation is then specialized to the case of very long waves (wave-length 10,000 km or more). The proper modelling is obtained by assuming the (non-dimensional) wave number to be of order unity and by the assumptions of strong rotational constraint ( Ro > 1) but weak stratification (??/? << I). The long waves obtained by the present model move at a speed that, to the first order, is independent of the wave number but dependent on the product Ro · Ri . A solution is worked out in the ?-plane approximation, assuming a basic wind and potential temperature that vary linearly with pressure. The existence of stationary waves in this case is demonstrated. The effect of different boundary conditions is discussed. Some consequences of the theory of interest in connection with numerical weather prediction are pointed out. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1961.tb00074.x
Fragile X checklist.

A 13-item checklist that combines physical and behavioral traits typical of fragile X [fra(X)] syndrome was evaluated prospectively in the screening of 107 males with mental retardation or severe learning disabilities. The checklist was completed before we obtained cytogenetic results. Fifteen males were fra(X)-positive and the manifestations that differentiated fra(X)-positive and fra(X)-negative patients included perseverative speech, large or prominent ears, large testicles, and tactile defensiveness. The combination of physical and behavioral traits is helpful in suggesting the diagnosis and identifying high-risk patients. A total score of 16 or higher had a significant yield of fra(X)-positive patients (≥45%).
Coordinate signaling by integrins and receptor tyrosine kinases in the regulation of G1 phase cell-cycle progression

Cell proliferation is dependent upon the activation of receptor tyrosine kinases and integrins by soluble growth factors and extracellular matrix proteins, respectively. It is now apparent that concerted, rather than individual, signaling by these receptors is the critical feature responsible for cell-cycle progression through G1 phase. ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase), Rho GTPases and G1-phase cyclin-dependent kinases are all regulated jointly by growth-factor receptors and integrins. Recent studies have begun to reveal how this regulated signaling in the cytoplasm is linked to activation of the G1-phase cyclin-dependent kinases in the nucleus.
Innovative Renal Cooling Device for Use in Minimally Invasive Surgery

Over 58,000 patients suffer from renal cell carcinoma annually in the US. Treatment for this cancer often requires surgical removal of the cancerous tissue in a partial nephrectomy procedure. In open renal surgery, the kidney is placed on ice to increase allowable ischemia time; however there is no widely accepted method for reducing kidney temperature during minimally invasive surgery. A novel device has been designed, prototyped, and evaluated to perform effective renal cooling during minimally invasive kidney surgery to reduce damage due to extended ischemia. The device is a fluid-containing bag with foldable cooling surfaces that wrap around the organ like a taco shell. It is deployed through a 12mm trocar, wrapped around the kidney and secured using bulldog clamps. The device then fills with an ice slurry and remains on the kidney for up to 20 minutes. The ice slurry is then removed from the device and the device is retracted from the body. Tests of the prototype show that the device successfully cools porcine kidneys from 37 � C to 20 � C in under 5 minutes.
Ubiquitous and neuronal DNA-binding proteins interact with a negative regulatory element of the human hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase gene

The hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) gene is constitutively expressed at low levels in all tissues but at higher levels in the brain; the significance and mechanism of this differential expression are unknown. We previously identified a 182-bp element (hHPRT-NE) within the 5'-flanking region of the human HPRT (hHPRT) gene, which is involved not only in conferring neuronal specificity but also in repressing gene expression in nonneuronal tissues. Here we report that this element interacts with different nuclear proteins, some of which are present specifically in neuronal cells (complex I) and others of which are present in cells showing constitutive expression of the gene (complex II). In addition, we found that complex I factors are expressed in human NT2/D1 cells following induction of neuronal differentiation by retinoic acid. This finding correlates with an increase of HPRT gene transcription following neuronal differentiation. We also mapped the binding sites for both complexes to a 60-bp region (Ff; positions -510 to -451) which, when analyzed in transfection assays, functioned as a repressor element analogous to the full-length hHPRT-NE sequence. Methylation interference footprintings revealed a minimal unique DNA motif, 5'-GGAAGCC-3', as the binding site for nuclear proteins from both neuronal and nonneuronal sources. However, site-directed mutagenesis of the footprinted region indicated that different nucleotides are essential for the associations of these two complexes. Moreover, UV cross-linking experiments showed that both complexes are formed by the association of several different proteins. Taken together, these data suggest that differential interaction of DNA-binding factors with this regulatory element plays a crucial role in the brain-preferential expression of the gene, and they should lead to the isolation of transcriptional regulators important in neuronal expression of the HPRT gene.
elGiza, a research-pyramid based search tool for vertical literature digital libraries

Organizing and ranking online vertical (domain-specific) literature digital library (VLDL) results into categories enables easy and efficient browsing of search results. Studies show that publications in any scientific discipline are 'naturally' categorized into groups called 'research pyramids', where a research pyramid refers to publications that belong to a most-specific research topic. In this paper, we present elGiza, a research-pyramid based search tool for VLDLs. elGiza is equipped with (i) a research-pyramid-based Content-Based Search-Keyword Suggester that helps user develop search terms to reduce search failures, and (ii) a topic-sensitive ranking tool to effectively order search results via research pyramids. Such a tool significantly reduces topic diffusion. Furthermore, elGiza can successfully group and label search results based on research pyramids. Research-pyramid-based grouping supports pruned- search in which the user 'omits' unrelated topics, and safely focuses on his/her search. Evaluation experiments show that research-pyramid-based VLDLs are highly effective.
ARP2/3 complex is required for directional migration of neural stem cell-derived oligodendrocyte precursors in electric fields

The loss of oligodendrocytes in a lesion of the central nervous system causes demyelination and therefore impairs axon function and survival. Transplantation of neural stem cell-derived oligodendrocyte precursor cells (NSC-OPCs) results in increased oligodendrocyte formation and enhanced remyelination. The directional migration of grafted cells to the target can promote the establishment of functional reconnection and myelination in the process of neural regeneration. Endogenous electric fields (EFs) that were detected in the development of the central nervous system can regulate cell migration. NSCs were isolated from the brains of ARPC2+/+ and ARPC2−/− mouse embryo and differentiated into OPCs. After differentiation, the cultured oligospheres were stimulated with EFs (50, 100, or 200 mV/mm). The migration of OPCs from oligospheres was recorded using time-lapse microscopy. The cell migration directedness and speed were analyzed and quantified. In this study, we found that NSC-OPCs migrated toward the cathode pole in EFs. The directedness and displacement of cathodal migration increased significantly when the EF strength increased from 50 to 200 mV/mm. However, the EF did not significantly change the cell migration speed. We also showed that the migration speed of ARPC2−/− OPCs, deficient in the actin-related proteins 2 and 3 (ARP2/3) complex, was significantly lower than that of wild type of OPCs. ARPC2−/− OPCs migrated randomly in EFs. The migration direction of NSC-OPCs can be controlled by EFs. The function of the ARP complex is required for the cathodal migration of NSC-OPCs in EFs. EF-guided cell migration is an effective model to understanding the intracellular signaling pathway in the regulation of cell migration directness and motility.
Chaos control in a transmission line model

In a transmission line oscillator a linear wave travels along a piece of cable, the transmission line, and interacts with terminating electrical components. Diodes are integrated into almost all electronic devices as a means of protecting the logic circuits from destructive outside signals and high-voltage discharges. In the simple network model that we will present, we show chaotic effects associated with diodes that if transmitted into the primary circuitry may disrupt or possibly damage the device. A control method of the chaotic behavior is presented, that uses small parameter perturbations that adjust the resistance at one of the boundaries. This chaos control method shows promise for controlling general complex spatio-temporal patterns exhibited in electronic circuits.
Single-Nanoparticle Collision Events: Tunneling Electron Transfer on a Titanium Dioxide Passivated n-Silicon Electrode.

Single-nanoparticle collisions were observed on an n-type silicon electrode (600 μm diameter) passivated by a thin layer of amorphous TiO2, where the current steps occurred by tunneling electron transfer. The observed collision frequency was in reasonable agreement with that predicted from theory. The isolated electrode, after a collision experiment, with a Pt/TiO2/n-Si architecture was shown to retain the photoelectrochemical properties of n-Si without photocorrosion or current decay. The Pt/TiO2/n-Si electrode produced 19 mA cm−2 of photocurrent density under 100 mW cm−2 irradiation from a xenon lamp during oxygen evolution without current fading for over 12 h.
Percutaneous therapy for valvular heart disease: a huge advance and a huge challenge to do it right.

In this week’s Circulation , Webb and colleagues1 report on the use of percutaneous “valve-in-valve” rereplacement in the treatment of 24 ill patients with prosthetic valve failure under compassionate-use protocols. Ten procedures addressed the aortic valve; 7, the mitral valve; 6, the pulmonary valve; and 1, the tricuspid valve. The 30-day survival rate was 96%. Clinically, the results were excellent, with 88% of these highly symptomatic patients returning to New York Heart Association class I or II. Hemodynamically, the results were more modest, with an average postprocedure transaortic gradient of 20 mm Hg and a transmitral gradient of 8 mm Hg. Article see p 1848 Although the above results are gratifying, they go far beyond the fact that 24 ill patients received valve-in-valve replacement. They focus on the next step in the therapy of valvular heart disease (VHD) ushered in by the advent of percutaneous devices. Where exactly this group of therapies will lead is uncertain, but what is certain is that each step of the way will be an exciting one with many successes and some failures. All severe symptomatic VHD is eventually fatal if left untreated, and the only effective treatment is restoration of valve function toward normal. No medical therapies significantly alter the course of VHD; only mechanical relief of the pressure or volume overload created …