cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Age-dependent differences in the ratio of synthesis of δ-crystallin polypeptides in cultured vitreous-free lenses of chick embryos

Abstract We have shown previously that the synthesis of the lower molecular weight polypeptides of δ-crystallin is differentially reduced and the intracellular Na + K + ratio is markedly increased in the 15-day-old embryonic chick lens cultured for 3 hr without the vitreous body or in the presence of ouabain. Here we demonstrate that neither δ-crystallin synthesis nor cation concentration is affected in the cultured, vitreous-free 6-day-old embryonic chick lens unless it is treated with ouabain. These results show that the alteration in δ-crystallin synthesis promoted by removing the vitreous body of the embryonic cultured lens is a stage-specific phenomenon, and are consistent with our previous correlation between the ratio of synthesis of the δ-crystallin polypeptides and the intracellular concentration of electrolytes.
Comparison of six response-elimination techniques following VR reinforcement training in humans

The present study employed humans in an examination of the relative response-eliminating effects of the following six procedures: Extinction training, omission training, response cost, omission training plus response cost, extinction training plus response cost, and omission training with a gradual introduction. Results indicated that all procedures eliminated responding significantly more effectively than did extinction training. In addition, omission training plus response cost, extinction training plus response cost, and omission training with a gradual introduction reduced responding significantly more effectively than did either omission training or response cost, which did not differ significantly from each other. Finally, omission training plus response cost and extinction training plus response cost decreased responding significantly more efficiently than did omission training with a gradual introduction, although they were not significantly different from each other. Much research attention has concentrated on assessing the relative response-eliminating effects of omission training, in which S is reinforced for omitting a previously reinforced response, and extinction training. In general, these studies (cf. Miller & LeBlanc , 1972; Topping & Larmi, 1973; Topping, Pickering, & Jackson, 1971, 1972; Uhl & Garcia, 1969; Uhl & Sherman, 1971; Zeiler , 1971) have employed infrahuman Ss and have found that omission training is the more efficient technique, especially with regard to the durability of the response elimination. Because of the paucity of data on the elimination of responding in humans, Johnson, McGlynn, and Topping (I973) recently employed college students in a comparison of four response elimination procedures. Their results indicated that response cost (punishment), omission training plus response cost, and omission training reduced responding significantly faster than did extinction training. Although the effects of response cost and omission training plus response cost did not differ significantly from each other, both procedures eliminated responding significantly more rapidly than did omission training. The present experiment was designed to (a) replicate and extend portions of the Johnson et al (I 97 3) study, as well as provide additional response elimination data on humans; (b) provide a more sensitive comparison of response cost and omission training plus response cost in
Integrated separation of blood plasma from whole blood for microfluidic paper-based analytical devices

Many diagnostic tests in a conventional clinical laboratory are performed on blood plasma because changes in its composition often reflect the current status of pathological processes throughout the body. Recently, a significant research effort has been invested into the development of microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs) implementing these conventional laboratory tests for point-of-care diagnostics in resource-limited settings. This paper describes the use of red blood cell (RBC) agglutination for separating plasma from finger-prick volumes of whole blood directly in paper, and demonstrates the utility of this approach by integrating plasma separation and a colorimetric assay in a single μPAD. The μPAD was fabricated by printing its pattern onto chromatography paper with a solid ink (wax) printer and melting the ink to create hydrophobic barriers spanning through the entire thickness of the paper substrate. The μPAD was functionalized by spotting agglutinating antibodies onto the plasma separation zone in the center and the reagents of the colorimetric assay onto the test readout zones on the periphery of the device. To operate the μPAD, a drop of whole blood was placed directly onto the plasma separation zone of the device. RBCs in the whole blood sample agglutinated and remained in the central zone, while separated plasma wicked through the paper substrate into the test readout zones where analyte in plasma reacted with the reagents of the colorimetric assay to produce a visible color change. The color change was digitized with a portable scanner and converted to concentration values using a calibration curve. The purity and yield of separated plasma was sufficient for successful operation of the μPAD. This approach to plasma separation based on RBC agglutination will be particularly useful for designing fully integrated μPADs operating directly on small samples of whole blood.
Influence of image resolution and evaluation algorithm on estimates of the lacunarity of porous media

In recent years, experience has demonstrated that the classical fractal dimensions are not sufficient to describe uniquely the interstitial geometry of porous media. At least one additional index or dimension is necessary. Lacunarity, a measure of the degree to which a data set is translationally invariant, is a possible candidate. Unfortunately, several approaches exist to evaluate it on the basis of binary images of the object under study, and it is unclear to what extent the lacunarity estimates that these methods produce are dependent on the resolution of the images used. In the present work, the gliding-box algorithm of Allain and Cloitre [Phys. Rev. A 44, 3552 (1991)] and two variants of the sandbox algorithm of Chappard et al. [J. Pathol. 195, 515 (2001)], along with three additional algorithms, are used to evaluate the lacunarity of images of a textbook fractal, the Sierpinski carpet, of scanning electron micrographs of a thin section of a European soil, and of light transmission photographs of a Togolese soil. The results suggest that lacunarity estimates, as well as the ranking of the three tested systems according to their lacunarity, are affected strongly by the algorithm used, by the resolution of the images to which these algorithms are applied, and, at least for three of the algorithms (producing scale-dependent lacunarity estimates), by the scale at which the images are observed. Depending on the conditions under which the estimation of the lacunarity is carried out, lacunarity values range from 1.02 to 2.14 for the three systems tested, and all three of the systems used can be viewed alternatively as the most or the least "lacunar." Some of this indeterminacy and dependence on image resolution is alleviated in the averaged lacunarity estimates yielded by Chappard et al.'s algorithm. Further research will be needed to determine if these lacunarity estimates allow an improved, unique characterization of porous media.
Evidence for the transcription of physiologically inactive rat-liver nucleolar chromatin byEscherichia coli RNA polymerase

Rat-liver nucleoli (10-15 pg DNA) were digested with either 0.6 or 3 units of DNase I for various times (up to 1 h). RNA synthesis was then measured in the absence or presence ol 3 units ofEscherichia coli RNA polymerase. It was found that the nucleolar chromatin supporting the endogenous engaged RNA polymerase I transcription was compl-etely destroyed in 3 min with either concentration of DNase I. The nucleolar chromatin template transcribed byE. coli RNA polymerase retained 50% of its original capacity even 60 min alter 3 units of DNase I digestion. When hybridization experiments were conducted, it was found that the DNAs derived from both levels of DNase-Idigested nucleoli were incapable of forming hybrids with the labelled nucleolar RNA synthesized by the engaged RNA polymerase I from the untreated nucleoli. Since the engaged RNA polymerase I transcribes only the physiologically active genes of the nucleolar chromatin, and the RNA transcripts represent active gene product, these data suggest that DNase I digestion has completely destroyed the active genes of the nucleolar chromatin, andE. coli RNA polymerase is able to transcribe the inactive nucleolar chromatin template.
Synthesis and Intracellular Trafficking of Muc-1 and Mucins by Polarized Mouse Uterine Epithelial Cells

Mucins function as a protective layer rendering the apical surface of epithelial cells nonadhesive to a variety of microorganisms and macromolecules. Muc-1 is a transmembrane mucin expressed at the apical cell surface of mouse uterine epithelial cells (UEC) that disappears as UEC become receptive for embryo implantation (Surveyor, G. A., Gendler, S. J., Pemberton, L., Das, S. K., Chakraborty, I., Julian, J., Pimental, R. A., Wegner, C. W., Dey, S. K., and Carson, D. D. (1995) Endocrinology 136, 3639-3647). In the present study, the kinetics of Muc-1 assembly, cell surface expression, release, and degradation were examined in polarized mouse UEC in vitro. Mucins were identified as the predominant glycoconjugates synthesized, apically expressed, and vectorially released in both wild-type and Muc-1 null mice. When mucins were released, greater than 95% were directed to the apical compartment. Approximately half of the cell-associated mucins lost during a 24-h period were found in the apical compartment. Vectorial biotinylation detected apically disposed, cell-surface mucin and indicated that at least 34% of these mucins are released apically within 24 h. This suggests that release of mucin ectodomains is part of the mechanism of mucin removal from the apical cell surface of UEC. The half-lives of total cell-associated mucins and Muc-1 were 19.5 +/- 1 and 16.5 +/- 0.8 h, respectively. Muc-1 represented approximately 10% of the [3H]glucosamine-labeled, cell-associated mucins. Studies of the kinetics of intracellular transport of Muc-1 indicated transit times of 21 +/- 15 min from the rough endoplasmic reticulum to Golgi apparatus and 111 +/- 28 min from the Golgi apparatus to the cell surface. Collectively, these studies provide the first comprehensive description of Muc-1 and mucin maturation, metabolism, and release by polarized cells, as well as defining a major metabolic fate for mucins expressed by UEC. Normal metabolic processing appears to be sufficient to account for the removal of Muc-1 protein during the transition of UEC to a receptive state.
Equilibrium conditions for the average stresses measured by X-rays

True macro-stresses are measured with X-rays after material processing, only if there is auniform plastic deformation in the sampled volume that is different from that in the rest of the material. In this stress-field the components in the direction of the surface normal are usually negligible over the depth penetrated by X-rays (for example, peening). However, pseudo-macrostresses, or backstresses, arise when this condition is violated, for example, if there are second phase particles and there is a gradient of plastic deformation from particle to matrix. This pseudo-macrostress field is three-dimensional, and the stresses in the direction of the surface normal can be measured with X-rays. Equations are presented which allow estimates to be made of the magnitudes of the two kinds of stress fields.
TOWARD A CLASSIFICATION OF ALMOST HOMOGENEOUS MANIFOLDS III — SL(2)×C* ACTIONS

In this paper we finished the classification of SL(2, C)×Gm almost homogeneous projective 3-folds which we started in [8, 9]. For some technical reasons we leave the proofs of Propositions 1.2 and 1.3 to [8] and that of Propositon 2.7 to [9]. But we include all other proofs, especially those of Propositions 2.1 and 2.2 in this paper and try to give an intuitive picture of the process. The proofs of Lemmas 2.1 and 2.2 as well as those of Sec. 3 (Theorems 3.1–3.4) are the main results of this paper. Most of this work was done in the fall of 1991. I thank those who had tried their best to understand my proofs, for their helpful comments and criticisms.
Effects of aging on epoxy‐based rapid tooling materials

This study shows the effects of aging on epoxy‐based rapid tooling materials. Two epoxy‐acrylate resins used for stereolithography and one aluminum powder‐filled epoxy used for the high‐speed machining of plastic injection molds were selected to investigate their aging behavior in different environments. Four different conditions, each characterized by a specific relative humidity, were used to perform a seven week long aging study. Temperature was kept a constant at 30°C. Both the stereolithographic resins showed a drop in mechanical properties and in their glass transition temperatures in wet environments, whereas aging time showed little influence on these properties after an initial induction phase. Moisture uptake is mainly responsible for this drop and the coefficients of water diffusion were determined in this process. On the other hand, the aluminum powder‐filled epoxy showed little humidity‐dependent drop in mechanical properties and in its glass transition temperature during aging. A simple empirical model that only takes into account the moisture uptake was developed.
Simple system with quasiperiodic dynamics: A spin in a magnetic field.

A very simple system with quasiperiodic dynamics is introduced, consisting of a single spin, with spin \textonehalf{}, in a pulsed magnetic field. The pulses are of two types, and the two types alternate in a quasiperiodic way. By adapting renormalization-group and dynamical-systems techniques first introduced in the study of one-dimensional quasiperiodic structures, I characterize the long-time behavior as a function of the experimental parameters. Within different well-defined regions of parameters space, the time correlations decay (a) more slowly than a power law, (b) as a power law, or (c) faster than a power law, and probably exponentially.
Scientific misconduct: undue process.

Numerous professional societies, universities, research funding sources, federal agencies, and Congressional committees have expressed concern about an apparent increasing incidence of scientific misconduct. Many of these organizations also have published standards for defining such misconduct and their procedures for investigating allegations of scientific misconduct. The futility of these procedures is illustrated by an example of blatant data falsification and fabrication in two different research projects conducted by a single researcher. The problem derives from administrative and judicial systems which have evolved to a stage where they are more concerned with process than outcome. An alternative to the resulting interminable “due process”; of the present system is tentatively suggested.
From Days to Hours: Reporting Clinically Actionable Variants from Whole Genome Sequencing

As the cost of whole genome sequencing (WGS) decreases, clinical laboratories will be looking at broadly adopting this technology to screen for variants of clinical significance. To fully leverage this technology in a clinical setting, results need to be reported quickly, as the turnaround rate could potentially impact patient care. The latest sequencers can sequence a whole human genome in about 24 hours. However, depending on the computing infrastructure available, the processing of data can take several days, with the majority of computing time devoted to aligning reads to genomics regions that are to date not clinically interpretable. In an attempt to accelerate the reporting of clinically actionable variants, we have investigated the utility of a multi-step alignment algorithm focused on aligning reads and calling variants in genomic regions of clinical relevance prior to processing the remaining reads on the whole genome. This iterative workflow significantly accelerates the reporting of clinically actionable variants with no loss of accuracy when compared to genotypes obtained with the OMNI SNP platform or to variants detected with a standard workflow that combines Novoalign and GATK.
Application of the 2-Reaction Theory to Electric Motors

The 2-reaction theory, introduced first by Blondel and later expanded by others, is generally applied to the analysis of synchronous machines. This theory, however, can be used to analyze and calculate the performance of all types of electric machinery. In the following the 2-reaction theory is used: to derive the differential equations of a-c motors; to develop the steady state equations of a-c motors; to draw vector diagrams for a-c motors; to solve the steady state equations and find the currents and torques. The advantages of this method are: its simplicity; the exclusion of vagueness and ambiguity about certain signs; and it presents a unified method for the mathematical analysis of all electric machines.
Reduction in the percentage of serotoninergic axons making synapses during the development of the superficial layers of the hamster's superior colliculus

Abstract Immunocytochemistry with an antibody directed against a serotonin (5-HT)-bovine serum albumin conjugate was combined with electron microscopy to assess the synaptic organization of the serotoninergic projection to the stratum griseum superficiale (SGS) of the superior colliculus of hamsters killed on postnatal days (P) 0, 3, 7, 12, 15, 20 and > 60. At least 200 5-HT-immunoreactive profiles were examined at each of these ages. In the newborn (PO) animals, 36.6% of the 5-HT-positive profiles made conventional synapses. This percentage remained fairly constant until P15 when only 17.3% of the profiles made conventional synaptic contacts. On P20, this value decreased to 10.5% and in the adult animals, it fell to 4.4% These results thus indicate a dramatic age-related change in the synaptic organization of the 5-HT input to the hamster's superior colliculus.
Cardiac catheterization in infants through a venous cutdown sheath

When percutaneous vascular access for cardiac catheterization of small infants fails, necessitating a cutdown approach, we cannulate the isolated vein (usually the great saphenous vein) with a guidewire, dilator, and sheath with subsequent introduction of the catheter through the indwelling sheath. We have used this technique in sixty-one infants without complications and recommend this modified sheath approach because of the following advantages: ease of introduction of the introducer set and catheter, the ability to change catheters quickly, elimination of distal vascular spasm, reduction of vascular trauma induced by catheter manipulation, prevention of backflow bleeding at the catheter entry site, and possible reduction of catheterization time.
Fear and rejection of patients by health practitioners.

Abstract The fear of clients and their environment is examined as an aspect of client rejection by professionals who go into the community to provide health care. Amount, sources and correlates of environmental fear; conditions under which patients would be rejected; and characteristics of the environment perceived as fearful are investigated by means of a questionnaire administered to 159 public health nurses in a municipal agency and a private organization. Findings indicate that professionals tend to identify environmental dimensions as sources of fear and rejection more frequently than individual characteristics. Further, fear and rejection are associated with the type of agency in which the nurse is employed. The implications of client rejection for inequities in health care are discussed.
Biocatalytic asymmetric formation of tetrahydro-β-carbolines

Strictosidine synthase triggers the formation of strictosidine from tryptamine and secologanin, thereby generating a carbon–carbon bond and a new stereogenic center. Strictosidine contains a tetrahydro-β-carboline moiety—an important N-heterocyclic framework found in a range of natural products and synthetic pharmaceuticals. Stereoselective methods to produce tetrahydro-β-carboline enantiomers are greatly valued. We report that strictosidine synthase from Ophiorrhiza pumila utilizes a range of simple achiral aldehydes and substituted tryptamines to form highly enantioenriched (ee >98%) tetrahydro-β-carbolines via a Pictet–Spengler reaction. This is the first example of aldehyde substrate promiscuity in the strictosidine synthase family of enzymes and represents a first step toward developing a general biocatalytic strategy to access chiral tetrahydro-β-carbolines.
Morphology and Dielectric Properties of Reactively Sputtered Aluminum Nitride Thin Films

Aluminum nitride thin films ({approximately}100 nm) have been deposited on silicon substrate by reactive sputtering using Al target in 1:1 Ar:N{sub 2} environment. The atomic force microscopy examination revealed continuous microcrystalline film structure. The Auger electron spectroscopic analysis show the presence of oxygen in the films. The annealing at 850 C in nitrogen is found to cause recrystallization and further oxidation of the films. The films can be characterized as lossy dielectrics with relative permittivity {approximately}10, higher than the bulk value of 8.9. Annealing the films is found to reduce anion vacancies and improve the dielectric strength within a range of a few MV/cm in these thin films.
Properties of a-Si:H and a-(Si,Ge):h films grown using combined hot wire–ECR plasma processes

It has been suggested previously that ion bombardment with low energy ions is necessary in order to obtain the growth of high quality a-Si:H materials. Ion bombardment is presumed to play a major role both in the removal of excess hydrogen and in assisting in the surface movement of heavy radicals such as germyl during the growth of amorphous films. We report on an unambiguous experiment which shows that one needs low energy ion bombardment to promote the growth of high quality amorphous materials. The experiment consists of growing a-Si:H and a-(Si,Ge):H using hot wire deposition, while simultaneously subjecting the growing film to low energy (∼10 eV) H and He ions generated in a low-pressure (electron cyclotron resonance) ECR reactor. Experiments show that the primary mode of film growth is from the catalytic decomposition of silane and germane from the hot wire, with less than 10% growth resulting from plasma decomposition. A systematic set of measurements of film properties made at different substrate temperatures and ion bombardment conditions reveals that ion bombardment results in a decrease of H concentration and in the ratio of dihydride to monohydride bonded silicon and germanium. The presence of ions resulted in a significant decrease of the Urbach energy of valence band tails to below 50 meV. Photoconductivity improves by orders of magnitude, as does the photosensitivity ratio.
Identification of a Binding Site on the Type II Activin Receptor for Activin and Inhibin

Type II activin receptors (ActRII and ActRIIB) are single-transmembrane domain serine/threonine kinase receptors that bind activin to initiate the signaling and cellular responses triggered by this hormone. Inhibin also binds type II activin receptors and antagonizes many activin effects. Here we describe alanine scanning mutagenesis of the ActRII extracellular domain. We identify a cluster of three hydrophobic residues (Phe42, Trp60, and Phe83) that, when individually mutated to alanine in the context of the full-length receptor, cause the disruption of activin and inhibin binding to ActRII. Each of the alanine-substituted ActRII mutants retaining activin binding maintains the ability to form cross-linked complexes with activin and supports activin cross-linking to the type I activin receptor ALK4. Unlike wild-type ActRII, the three mutants unable to bind activin do not cause an increase in activin signaling when transiently expressed in a corticotroph cell line. Together, our results implicate these residues in forming a critical binding surface on ActRII required for functional interactions with both activin and inhibin. This first identification of a transforming growth factor-β family member binding site may provide a general basis for characterizing binding sites for other members of the superfamily.
The Effects of Periodic Body Acceleration(PGz)Using Noninvasive Motion Ventilation (NIMV), on L-NAME Induced Pulmonary and Systemic Hypertension

The Effects of Periodic Body Acceleration(PGz)Using Noninvasive Motion Ventilation (NIMV), on L-NAME Induced Pulmonary and Systemic Hypertension
A hyperbolic model for fluid–solids two-phase flow

Abstract A long unresolved problem in two-phase flow is that the inviscid form of a standard model is not hyperbolic, making initial-value problems based on the model ill-posed. In this paper we show that the model becomes hyperbolic when the buoyant force term in the model is modified to include the effect of relative motion between the phases. We also show that the new model gives physically realistic solutions for minimum fluidization, expansion of a tapered fluidized bed, and the flow of a neutrally buoyant mixture through a nozzle and compare the solutions with those of the standard model and an alternative model.
A Sliding-Mode Duty-Ratio Controller for DC/DC Buck Converters With Constant Power Loads

Incorporating a medium-voltage dc (MVDC) integrated power system is a goal for future surface combatants and submarines. In an MVDC shipboard power system, dc/dc converters are commonly employed to supply constant power to electric loads. These constant power loads have a characteristic of negative incremental impedance, which may cause system instability during disturbances if the system is not properly controlled. This paper proposes a sliding-mode duty-ratio controller (SMDC) for dc/dc buck converters with constant power loads. The proposed SMDC is able to stabilize the dc power systems over the entire operating range in the presence of significant variations in the load power and input voltage. The proposed SMDC is validated by both simulation studies in MATLAB/Simulink and experiments for stabilizing a dc/dc buck converter with constant power loads. Simulation studies for an MVDC shipboard power system with constant power loads for different operating conditions with significant variations in the load power and supply voltage are also provided to further demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed SMDC.
Reappraisal of Biological Ageing

LIVING systems depend on adaptive regulation, deterioration in which leads eventually to death. The incidence of most disease increases with increasing age, which suggests that progressive impairment of adaptive response is associated with many illnesses common to advanced age. One biochemical expression of this impairment is the age-dependent increase in the time required to initiate certain enzyme inductions after administration of the appropriate inducing stimulus1,2 (Table 1).
Mo1551 EUS-FNA Is Superior to ERCP Tissue Sampling in Suspected Malignant Biliary Obstruction

or both (1). None of them had concomitant CBD stone at the time of EUS. Eight patients (80%) of those with stone in the GB remnant or CDS had had open cholecystectomy, however 21 (27%) of the other 79 post-cholecystectomy status patients without GB remnant stone had had open cholecystectomy (P:0.002). Among the 10 patients with stone in GB remnant or CDS, liver enzymes were normal in 7 (70%), elevated in 2 (20%), and not available in 1 (10%) at the time of EUS. All the10 patients had several imaging procedures before EUS. In seven (70%) of them, all the previous imaging were non-diagnostic and EUS was the first imaging procedure which made the diagnosis. Six (60%) agreed to undergo repeat surgery. Five of six patients (83%) remained free of symptoms postoperatively after median follow up of 3.5 months. Conclusion: Stone in GB remnant or CDS is a frequently missed cause of biliary pain or acute pancreatitis after cholecystectomy. It should be particularly considered in those with a history of open cholecystectomy and normal liver enzymes. EUS is an important imaging procedure for making the diagnosis
Defending Democracy? Assessing the OAS's 2002 Diplomatic Intervention in Haiti

Inter-governmental organizations (IGOs) have vastly different capacities for intervening in conflicts in their member states. The Organization of American States (OAS), a regional IGO in Latin America, has the capacity to intervene diplomatically to defend democracy in the hemisphere. This article examines how well the OAS applied these diplomatic tools in defense of democracy in Haiti following the 2000 political crisis. I argue that the OAS achieved some success in Haiti, particularly the Electoral Technical Program. However, the bulk of the evidence suggests that the OAS missed key opportunities to invoke their strongest diplomatic tools in defense of democracy in Haiti.
Mass motorisation in Spain

This article examines the expansion of car ownership in Spain, from the 1950s to the present. The author shows that population growth, per capita income growth, and the desire of Spain's citizens to own private automobiles were the chief factors in explaining the country's automobile growth trend. Spain reported a production of 17.5 million private automobiles (or 442 cars per 1,000 persons) in 2000, up from 25 automobiles per 1,000 persons in 1965. Another factor contributing to automobile ownership was the death, in 1975, of Francisco Franco. The author notes that Franco's death ended autocratic rule and allowed the newly restored democracy to open Spain's markets to foreign competition, leading ultimately to the country joining the European Union in 1985.
Epithelial Cyclooxygenase-2 Expression: A Model for Pathogenesis of Colon Cancer

Background. Recent studies indicate a close relationship between cyclooxygense-2 (COX-2) expression and the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer, yet little information exists regarding the stimuli and pathways involved in COX-2 expression by the colonic epithelium. We studied the induction of COX-2 in response to such environmental stress as hyperosmolarity and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in a human colon cell line. We further investigated the transduction cascades mediating COX-2 expression, focusing upon the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways p38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Materials and methods. Human colon cancer cells (Caco-2) were stimulated with increasing concentrations of sodium chloride (NaCl) or LPS. Total protein was extracted at different time points and subjected to Western blot analysis with antibodies to human COX-2, COX-1, or phospho-specific antibodies to ERK and p38. Results. LPS failed to induce COX-2 or COX-1 expression. Hyperosmolarity induced COX-2 expression by 2 h, with peak levels occurring at 6–8 h. NaCl at 40 and 100 mM induced a 2-fold and more than 50-fold increase in COX-2 expression, respectively; COX-1 expression was not affected. Hyperosmolarity induced both p38 and ERK activation within 30 min; however, only p38 inhibition attenuated osmotic-induced COX-2 expression; inhibition of ERK activation had no effect. Conclusions. Increase in osmolarity activates p38 and induces COX-2 expression in the colonic epithelium. The lack of response to LPS is teleologically expected of the colonic epithelium that is in constant contact with the fecal bacteria. This model also predicts that an increase in luminal osmolarity in the colon may induce COX-2 and thereby promote a neoplastic phenotype.
Geotail and LFM comparisons of plasma sheet climatology: 2. Flow variability

[1] We characterize the variability of central plasma sheet bulk flows with a 6-year Geotail data set and a 2-month Lyon-Fedder-Mobarry (LFM) global MHD simulation at two spatial resolutions. Comparing long databases of observed and simulated parameters enable rigorous statistical tests of the model's ability to predict plasma sheet properties during routine driving conditions and represent a new method of global MHD validation. In this study, we use probability density functions (PDFs) to compare the statistics of plasma sheet velocities in the Geotail observations with those in the LFM simulations. We find that the low-resolution model grossly underestimates the occurrence of fast earthward and tailward flows. Increasing the simulation resolution inherently changes plasma sheet mass transport in the model, allowing the development of fast, bursty flows. These flows fill out the wings of the velocity distribution and bring the PDF into closer agreement with observations.
Phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy: In vivo magnesium measurements in the skeletal muscle of normal subjects

31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to study the skeletal muscle of 33 normal males and 32 females. Free intracellular magnesium levels and the ratios of the phosphorus metabolites were determined. Males had significantly lower free magnesium levels (499.8 microM +/- 26.3 microM vs. 530.7 microM +/- 36.0 microM, P = 0.001, d.f. = 63, analysis of variance). The free magnesium level (rs = -0.5431, P = 0.001) and the phosphocreatin/Inorganic phosphate ratio in males (rs = -0.4102, P = 0.018), and the phosphocreatine/Inorganic phosphate ratio in females (rn = -0.4759, P = 0.009) fell with the increasing Minnesota Heart Health Program Questionnaire score.
A circuitry model of the expression of behavioral sensitization to amphetamine-like psychostimulants

Repeated exposure to psychostimulants such as cocaine and amphetamine produces behavioral sensitization, which is characterized by an augmented locomotor response to a subsequent psychostimulant challenge injection. Experimentation focused on the neural underpinnings of behavioral sensitization has progressed from a singular focus on dopamine transmission in the nucleus accumbens and striatum to the study of cellular and molecular mechanisms that occur throughout the neural circuitry in which the mesocorticolimbic dopamine projections are embedded. This research effort has yielded a conglomerate of data that has resisted simple interpretations, primarily because no single neuronal effect is likely to be responsible for the expression of behavioral sensitization. The present review examines the literature and critically evaluates the extent to which the neural consequences of repeated psychostimulant administration are associated with the expression of behavioral sensitization. The neural alterations found to contribute to the long-term expression of behavioral sensitization are centered in a collection of interconnected limbic nuclei, which are termed the 'motive' circuit. This neural circuit is used as a template to organize the relevant biochemical and molecular findings into a model of the expression of behavioral sensitization.
The Direct Measurement of the Sizes, Shapes and Kinematics of Falling Hailstones

Abstract The kinematic behavior of hailstones falling in their natural environment near the surface was studied using stroboscopic photography in a mobile van. The experimental results permitted determination of the shape and dimensions, velocity, and in a few cases the rotation rate, of hailstones failing into the van. Hailstones were sampled in southeast Wyoming, southwest Nebraska and northeast Colorado. About 84% of the hailstones photographed were classified spheroidal, the remainder being roughly conical. Change in orientation of stones is observed in most photographs, though only ∼6% of the hailstones could be assigned a rotation rate. Velocity data were obtained for more than 600 hailstones in the diameter range 5-25 mm. It is shown that the vertical velocity component of hailstones near the surface (air density =9.93×10−4 g cm−3) can be predicted by the expression VT where De0.50 (±m s−1), Deis the equivalent volume diameter of a spherical hailstone in centimeters. Fall-speed and hailstone oblate...
carbon dioxide surgical laser in neurological surgery, decubitus ulcers, and burns

Laser surgery has become an established part of general and specialty surgical techniques. Of all the lasers available today, the carbon dioxide laser possesses the physical and biological-surgical properties of most value to the surgeon. The CO2 laser puts out a spatially and temporally coherent beam of high intensity, infrared radiation at 10.6 μm, a wavelength nearly 100% absorbed by tissue. Its action is dependent on heat, and it has the ability to vaporize, cut, and excise all tissue hemostatically, sterilizing as it proceeds. Experimental work in animal patients and man has laid the groundwork for clinical application. The CO2 laser's value as a surgical tool has been clearly shown in the treatment of cancers and other neoplasms in brain, thoracic, and abdominal viscera; larynx; pharynx; nasal and sinus cavities; rectum; vulva, vagina; and uterus, for palliation and, at times, cure. It has been found of undoubted value in the debridement of decubitus ulcers and burns and has great potential for orthopedic surgery and breast surgery. The surgical laser is safe for patient and operating personnel, relatively simple to use, rapid in its action and without untoward impact on tissue locally or at a distance.
Magnetic resonance study of 13C reductively methylated glycophorin and glycophorin glycopeptides

Abstract 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (n.m.r.) spectral data for 13C reductively methylated N-terminal tryptic glycopeptides and for 13C reductively methylated N-terminal glyco-octapeptides derived from homozygous glycophorins AM and AN are presented. Their 13C chemical shift data are compared with the previously published 13C n.m.r. data for 13C reductively methylated homozygous glycophorins AM and AN in order to investigate the means of display of the MN blood determinants by these species. The pH dependence of the 13C resonances of N α ,N-[ 13 C ] dimethyl leucine of glyco-octapeptide AN and of N α ,N-[ 13 C ] dimethyl serine of glyco-octapepti AM indicated that only a slight structural perturbation occurs at the N-terminus when a large portion of the glycoprotein molecule is removed. However, one structural ‘state’ of 13C reductively methylated glycophorin AM is lost when the glyco-octapeptide AM is produced. The 13C resonance of N α ,N-[ 13 C ] dimethyl leucine of glycooctapeptide AN titrated with a p K a of 7.7 (Hill coefficient ∼ 1 ). The 13C resonance of N α ,N-[ 13 C ] dimethyl serine, on the other hand, exhibited an unusual pH dependence, indicating the existence of some possible steric constraints or hydrogen bonding in this molecule. In comparison to the data obtained for 13C-labelled glycooctapeptide AM molecule, the pH dependence of the chemical shift of the 13C resonance of N α ,N-[ 13 C ] dimethyl serine of tripeptide tri-L-serine is also presented. Circular dichroism (c.d.) spectra indicated that the reductive methylation technique does not cause a large perturbation of the glycophorin A molecule.
Relative Contribution of Blood from Each Lung to the Left-to-Right Shunt in Atrial Septal Defect

Arterial dilution curves of T-1824 have been recorded by oximeters after injection of T-1824 into both the right and left pulmonary arteries in patients with anomalous connections of the pulmonary veins, with atrial septal defects or with persistent common atrioventricular canals. The most extreme differences were found between the pairs of curves in the patients with the anomalous connection. These differences were less pronounced but clearly recognizable in the other conditions, and suggested a more general use of the term "anomalous pulmonary venous drainage. "The findings indicate that, in the usual case of atrial septal defect, a greater proportion of the blood from the right lung passes to the right atrium than does blood from the left lung.
Electric field enhancement of depolarization of excited states.

Our calculations show that an external dc electric field can enhance by many orders of magnitude the depolarization cross section of highly excited atoms by charged particles. The enhancement is due to the fact that the electric field extends and shifts the electronic charge distribution along its direction, thus effectively creating a giant electric dipole in the atom.
On the Space Group of Cs7Cd3Br13

Abstract The crystal structure of Cs 7 Cd 3 Br 13 , recently described as noncentrosymmetric in space group I 4 c 2, should instead be described as centrosymmetric, space group I 4/ mcm . Other details of the structure are effectively unchanged.
The effect of electronic and magnetic valences on the martensitic transformation of CoNiGa shape memory alloys

Abstract Martensite start temperatures (Ms) and magnetic properties of several Co–Ni–Ga shape memory alloys (SMAs) with B2 austenite structure were investigated as a function of composition. It was found that, in addition to the well-known effect of the valence electron concentration (e/a ratio) in increasing Ms, the magnetic character of the alloy also plays a decisive role in determining Ms. These results were further corroborated through electronic structure calculations based on density functional theory. Experiments and calculations suggest that, for a given composition of Ga, the higher e/a ratios result in the higher Ms. Moreover, at a constant e/a ratio, the higher the magnetic valence number (Zm) of the alloy is, the lower the Ms becomes. It was concluded that Zm can be used as an indicator for the compositional trends in Ms in the present ferromagnetic SMAs in addition to the e/a ratio. Statistical analysis of the experimental results suggests that an increase in e/a of 0.1 yields an increase in Ms of about 190 K, while a change in Zm of +0.1 results in a decrease in Ms of about 160 K. The calculations also confirmed that ferromagnetism may ultimately result in entropic and/or energetic stabilization of the austenite (cubic) phase, yielding lower Ms. These findings seem to be valid for other ferromagnetic SMA systems, where different Ms temperatures were reported for a given e/a ratio.
Light- and electron-microscopic characterization of electrophysiologically-identified, horseradish peroxidase-injected magnocellular neuroendocrine cells in goldfish preoptic nucleus.

Abstract We recorded intracellularly from neurons in the goldfish preoptic nucleus which were anti dromically identified by electrical stimulation of the pituitary gland and marked by intracellular injection of horseradish peroxidase for subsequent localization. At the light-microscopic level, labeled neurons resembled profiles of Golgi-impregnated neurons and lay in the magnocellular portion of the preoptic nucleus. Densely labeled axons and dendrites projected to the lateral forebrain bundle, the medial forebrain bundle, fiber tracts in the preoptico-hypophysial tract, small blood vessels and capillaries, the ependymal lining of the third ventricle and toward other preoptic neurons. Occasionally, a lightly-labeled, large perikaryon lay adjacent to a large, heavily-labeled magnocellular neuron. Ultra structural examination of these identified cells revealed dense reaction product in neuronal perikarya and processes. Heavily labeled perikarya had elaborate networks of endoplasmic reticulum, extensive Golgi apparatus, occasional somatic spines and infrequent axo-somatic contacts from unlabeled neurons. These labeled perikarya which were frequently in close somatic apposition with unlabeled profiles were sometimes adjacent to a large, lightly-labeled perikaryon. A thin glial sheath separated most labeled neurons and processes from brain capillary endothelium. Labeled dendrites had heavily labeled spines and axo-dendritic contacts from unlabeled neurons. Labeled axons abutted unlabeled axons and -dendrites. Synaptic boutons innervating labeled structures always contained small clear synaptic vesicles and some boutons also contained large dense-core vesicles. These results demonstrate the complex connections of goldfish preoptic magnocellular neuroendocrine cells with other neurons, fiber systems, brain capillaries, ventricular ependyma and the pituitary and provide further support for non-endocrine as well as endocrine functions of magnocellular neurons.
Resonance Raman spectra of photodissociating CH3I and CD3I in solution

Abstract Raman spectra of CH 3 I and CD 3 I in hexane, including absolute cross sections for CH 3 I, have been obtained using 266 nm excitation, on resonance with the directly dissociative 3 Q 0 state. Both isotopic species exhibit long vibrational progressions in the C-I stretch and its combination bands with the methyl umbrella mode. The relative intensities of the C-I overtones in CH 3 I are similar in vapor and solution phases, indicating that the early photodissociation dynamics are not greatly altered by solvation. The higher overtone transitions are significantly broadened and shifted to lower frequencies in solution. The absorption spectra and resonance Raman intensities of CH 3 I have been simulated by parameterizing an uncoupled two-oscillator model in which the C-I stretch is taken as a Morse oscillator in the ground state with an exponential repulsive potential in the excited state.
Seeing eye to eye? An exploratory study of free open source software users' perceptions

This study develops a typology that permits the classification of free open source software (FOSS) users into market segments. Based on the typology the nature and extent of perception differences between core FOSS users and FOSS users in other market segments is examined. Significant perception differences are observed between users in different market segments. Consequently, the potential barriers to FOSS adoption are identified and recommendations that may drive greater FOSS adoption are proposed.
Circuit theory of banking and finance

Abstract Drawing on monetary circuit theory, this study develops an approach to analyze the integrated functions of banking and finance in a monetary production economy. The study proposes a micro-founded, circuit-sequenced model of a decentralized-decisions economy, where production, exchange, and investment from households and firms are integrated through money creation and funds allocation operated, respectively, by banks and non-bank financial intermediaries. The model is used to draw implications on: the special nature of banks and the role of non-bank financial intermediaries; the relationship between saving and investment; and the channels through which finance may cause the circuit process to break down. The study also discusses how the circuit approach can be used for an integrated analysis of economic and financial structural change.
Development of a Continuous Model for Simulation of Turbulent Flows

The development of a continuous turbulence model that is suitable for representing both the subgrid scale stresses in large eddy simulation and the Reynolds stresses in the Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes formulation is described. A recursion approach is used to bridge the length scale disparity from the cutoff wave number to those in the energy-containing range. The proposed model is analyzed in conjunction with direct numerical simulations of Kolmogorov flows.
Social Contact, Social Capital, and the Naturalization Process: Evidence From Six Immigrant Groups

Abstract Using data from the 5% Public-Use Microdata Sample of the 1980 U.S. census, this paper examines the process of naturalization among six immigrant groups: Mexican, Canadian, Cuban, Colombian, Chinese, and Korean. I draw upon existing theoretical perspectives to develop a comprehensive framework for the understanding of naturalization. The theories examined include the assimilation paradigm, theories of ethnic enclosure and ethnic resilience, and the theory of social capital. Specific hypotheses are derived from each theory and tested empirically. Findings show the importance of social contact and social capital in the process of naturalization and also support the assimilation paradigm. I also discuss the unique patterns of naturalization among Mexican and Canadian immigrants and outline directions for further research on naturalization.