cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Preparation and characterization of semiconducting copper phthalocyanine dimers

Abstract Copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) dimers have been prepared as gels and powders from monomeric CuPc in several mixed solvents containing H2SO4. The isolated powders are moisture insensitive and thermally stable up to 260°C. The observed e.p.r. spectra, characteristic of a triplet state with axial symmetry and exhibiting seven-line CuCu hyperfine patterns, provide strong evidence for the face-to-face dimer configuration with an average CuCu distance of 4.4 ± 0.1 A . Magnetic susceptibility data obtained from 1.8 to 280 K support the e.p.r. results and yield an average singlet-triplet spacing of ≈ 1.2 cm−1, with the singlet as the ground state. Absorption spectra of the dimer showed a 30–40 nm shift to the blue of the monomer π−π ∗ transition, suggesting the cofacial coupling of the CuPc species. Elemental analysis suggests that the dimer has a molecular formula of (CuPc·H2SO4)2. The room temperature conductivities of the dimers were determined to be 10−10 to 10−7 S/cm, which are about four orders of magnitude higher than that of the monomer.
Periodate-triggered cross-linking reveals Sug2/Rpt4 as the molecular target of a peptoid inhibitor of the 19S proteasome regulatory particle.

This study describes the identification of the protein target of the first chemical inhibitor (RIP-1) of the 19S regulatory particle (RP) of the 26S proteasome. Periodate-triggered chemical cross-linking of DOPA-conjugated RIP-1 and the 26S proteasome identified Sug2/Rpt4, one of the six ATPases in the 19S RP as the molecular target of RIP-1. The specificity of RIP-1 for Sug2/Rpt4 was demonstrated by examining cross-linking reactions with each ATPase of the 19S RP. RIP-1 should provide a useful biological tool to probe the various biological roles of Rpt4.
Endogenous bradykinin activates ischaemically sensitive cardiac visceral afferents through kinin B2 receptors in cats

1. Activity of ischaemically sensitive cardiac visceral afferents during myocardial ischaemia induces both angina and cardiovascular reflexes. Increased production of bradykinin (BK) and cyclo-oxygenase products (i.e. prostaglandins (PGs)) occurs during myocardial ischaemia. However, the role of these agents in activation of ischaemically sensitive cardiac afferents has not been established. The present study tested the hypothesis that BK produced during ischaemia activates cardiac afferents through kinin B2 receptors. 2. Single-unit activity of cardiac afferents innervating the left ventricle was recorded from the left thoracic sympathetic chain (T1-T4) of anaesthetized cats. Ischaemically sensitive cardiac afferents were identified according to their response to 5 min of myocardial ischaemia. The mechanism of BK in activation of ischaemically sensitive cardiac afferents was determined by injection of BK (1 microgram kg-1 i.a.), des-Arg9-BK (1 microgram kg-1 i.a., a specific kinin B1 receptor agonist), kinin B2 receptor antagonists: HOE140 (30 micrograms kg-1 i.v.) and NPC-17731 (40 micrograms kg-1 i.v., cyclo-oxygenase inhibition with indomethacin (5 mg kg-1 i.v.) and NPC-17731 (40 micrograms kg-1 i.v.) after pretreatment with indomethacin (5 mg kg-1 i.v.). 3. We observed that BK increased the discharge rate of all eleven ischaemically sensitive cardiac afferents from 0.39 +/- 0.12 to 1.47 +/- 0.37 impulses s-1 (P < 0.05). Conversely, des-Arg9-BK did not significantly increase the activity of eleven ischaemically sensitive fibres (0.58 +/- 0.02 vs. 0.50 +/- 0.18 impulses s-1. HOE140 significantly attenuated the response of twelve afferents to ischaemia (0.61 +/- 0.22 to 1.85 +/- 0.5 vs. 0.53 +/- 0.16 to 1.09 +/- 0.4 impulses s-1). NPC-17731, another kinin B2 receptor antagonist, had similar inhibitory effects on six other ischaemically sensitive cardiac afferents (0.35 +/- 0.14 to 1.19 +/- 0.29 vs. 0.22 +/- 0.08 to 0.23 +/- 0.07 impulses s-1). Indomethacin significantly reduced the responses of seven afferents to ischaemia (0.35 +/- 0.13 to 1.89 +/- 0.48 vs. 0.40 +/- 0.10 to 0.76 +/- 0.24 impulses s-1). Indomethacin also significantly reduced the responses of six ischaemically sensitive cardiac afferents to BK (2.65 +/ 1.23 to 1.2 +/- 0.51 impulses s-1. In six cats pretreated with indomethacin, NPC-17731 attenuated the impulse activity of six ischaemically sensitive cardiac afferents (0.39 +/- 0.12 to 1.0 +/- 0.3 vs. 0.26 +/- 0.14 to 0.48 +/- 0.20 impulses s-1. 4. This study demonstrates that BK produced during ischaemia contributes to stimulation of ischaemically sensitive cardiac visceral afferents through activation of kinin B2 receptors. Furthermore, BK stimulates ischaemically sensitive cardiac visceral afferents through a mechanism that is, at least in part, independent of cyclo-oxygenase activation.
Cognitive Load Assessment of a Vibrotactile Posture Feedback Chair

In this paper, we evaluate the cognitive load of using a vibrotactile posture feedback chair while performing standard office tasks. Our specific application is seated posture guidance in the offic...
Screened donor impurities in many-valley semiconductors with anisotropic masses

The binding energy of a conduction electron bound to a donor impurity in a doped semiconductor, using a Lindhard dielectric function, is calculated as a function of the free-carrier concentration, taking into full account the effects of the nonisotropic mass of the bound electron on both the kinetic energy and the screened Coulomb potential. A variational approach is adopted in which the trial wave function is chosen with a form similar to the solution of the problem of an electron bound in the Hulth\'en potential. The wave function is appropriately warped to account for the asymmetry caused by the nonisotropic masses. This calculation, in the limit of zero carrier concentration, is equivalent to work of earlier authors (Kohn and Luttinger and others) where a hydrogenic trial wave function was used. The method thus obtained is specifically applied to silicon and germanium and the results are compared to calculations done in the isotropic-mass approximation. The electron density where the Mott transition takes place is found to be lowered by introducing the nonisotropy. For germanium where the mass ratio is approximately 20, this effect is quite large. A similar calculation using the simpler Thomas-Fermi dielectric function is included for completeness.
THE ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN KNEE FLEXION, VERTICAL CENTER-OF-MASS EXCURSIONS AND LOWER-EXTREMITY MUSCLE WORK FOR END-STAGE KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the association of the knee flexion excursion to the vertical center-of-mass (COM) amplitude and to the lower-extremity muscle work during stance phase for subjects with knee osteoarthritis. Method: Twenty subjects scheduled for total knee replacement and 20 controls performed level walking during standard gait analysis. Dependent variables included stancephase knee flexion excursion, vertical COM amplitude, and lower-extremity muscle work. Results: Compared to healthy control, subjects with knee osteoarthritis walked with significantly less stancephase knee flexion and vertical COM excursion. Knee flexion excursion was found to have a strong positive correlation to vertical COM amplitude. The lower-extremity muscle work during single stance phase was found to have a moderate negative correlation to vertical COM amplitude. Conclusions: Osteoarthritis of the knee alters both the stance-phase knee flexion and vertical COM excursions. As these variables show a strong positive relation, efforts to restore stance-phase knee flexion based on the 3rd determinant of gait require a new justification.
Molecular pathways of phagocytosis and invasion in the developing chorionic girdle

The chorionic girdle trophoblast of the equine conceptus is a rapidly developing tissue that undergoes dynamic modifications in gene and protein expression between days 30 and 36 post conception. We employed a 15,000 element custom gene expression microarray to identify transcripts differentially expressed between invasive (chorionic girdle) and non-invasive (chorion) trophoblast at day 34 post conception. One of the genes that showed dramatic up regulation in chorionic girdle compared to chorionwas ELMO1, which encodes amember of the Engulfment and Cell Motility protein family. ELMO1 is an intracellular protein that has been shown to be involved in phagocytosis and cell invasion in normal cells and in tumors. Both of these functions are important in chorionic girdle as the cells migrate into the endometrium to form the endometrial cups. Quantitative Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to evaluate ELMO1 expression in fetal and placental tissues. Temporal studies of samples ranging from day 15 trophectoderm to day 43 endometrial cups demonstrated that ELMO1 was expressed only in chorionic girdle cells, with rapid increases between days 32 and 35, followed by decreased expression in early endometrial cups. The spatial distribution of ELMO1 at day 34 was also striking; ELMO1 was expressed highly only in chorionic girdle (approx. 5,000 transcripts per 10ng of RNA), and not in chorion,
The influence of the WIC food package changes on the retail food environment in New Orleans.

Abstract Objective To examine the effect of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) food package changes on availability of healthy foods in small stores. Design Pre–post comparison group design with repeat in-store observations. Setting New Orleans. Participants Small stores (n = 102; 77% of total) were visited in 2009. Of these, 91% were observed again in 2010, including both WIC (n = 27) and non-WIC (n = 66) stores. Intervention The 2009 WIC food package changes to include healthier foods. Main Outcome Measures Change in store availability of fruits, vegetables, lower-fat milks, whole wheat bread, and brown rice. Change in number of varieties and shelf length of fruits and vegetables. Analysis Difference-in-differences analysis using logit models for change in availability and regression models for change in number of varieties or shelf length. Results The WIC stores were more likely to improve availability of lower-fat milks than non-WIC stores (adjusted odds ratio, 5.0, 95% confidence interval, 1.2—21.0). An even greater relative improvement was seen with whole grains. The WIC stores showed a relative increase in number of varieties of fresh fruits (0.9 ± 0.3; P Conclusions and Implications Results suggest that WIC changes improved the availability of healthy foods in small stores in New Orleans. Similar changes throughout the country could have a significant impact on neighborhood food environments.
Agroenergy Crops Influence the Diversity, Biomass, and Guild Structure of Terrestrial Arthropod Communities

Expanded production of contemporary bioenergy crops (e.g., corn) is considered a threat to the conservation of biodiversity, yet next-generation perennially based crops (switchgrass, mixed-grass–forb prairie) may represent an opportunity for enhancing biodiversity in agricultural landscapes. We employed a multi-scaled approach to investigate the relative importance of feedstock selection, forb content, patch size, and landscape-scale habitat structure and composition as factors shaping the diversity and abundance of terrestrial arthropod communities and the biomass of functional groups of arthropods associated with the provisioning of ecosystem services. Compared to intensively managed annual corn fields, switchgrass and mixed-grass–forb prairie plantings were associated with a 230% and 324% increase in arthropod family diversity and a 750% and 2,700% increase in arthropod biomass, respectively. Biomass of arthropod pollinators, herbivores, predators, and parasites were similarly the highest in mixed-grass–forb prairie, intermediate in switchgrass plantings, and the lowest in cornfields. Community-wide biomass and that of several functional arthropod groups were positively linked to increasing forest cover and land cover diversity surrounding biomass plantings, while pollinator and detritivore biomass was lower in smaller fields. Results not only suggest that the choice of biomass feedstock will play an important role in shaping within-field arthropod diversity but also indicate an important role for the composition of this surrounding landscape. Collectively, our results suggest that selection of perennially based biomass feedstocks along with careful attention to crop placement have important potential to enhance biodiversity conservation and the provisioning of ecologically and economically important arthropod-mediated ecosystem services in future agricultural landscapes.
Thickness and density of protein films by optical mixing spectroscopy

The adsorption of protein films on polystyrene latex spheres was studied by optical mixing spectroscopy. With this technique, we show that both the hydrodynamic thickness of protein films and their optical density can be measured. Thus, we found that films of the glycoproteins isolated from the human erythrocyte membrane were four times as thick as films of either human serum albumin or bovine serum albumin for about the same surface coverage. This result suggests an end-on orientation for the adsorbed glycoprotein molecules, which is consistent with the model proposed by others for the orientation of these molecules at the surface of the red blood cell itself.
A nuclear mutation blocking initiation of the lamina in leaves of Nicotiana syhestris

Isolation of a nuclear recessive mutation (lam-1) blocking initiation of the lamina in leaves of Nicotiana sylvestris Speg. et Comes is described. Histological analysis of the mutant apex demonstrates a defect in establishment of meristematic activity along the margins of emerging primordia, the earliest cytological event in lamina formation. Mutant leaves grow to their normal length (about 30 cm) but fail to expand. Transverse sections show that mutant leaves are essentially naked midribs, lacking the characteristic cell types of the wild-type mesophyll. In the absence of lateral expansion, all secondary veins develop along the longitudinal axis, producing abnormal parallel venation. The mutant is defective in phase transition and grows indefinitely as a juvenile vegetative rosette. Exogenous gibberellic acid induces rapid stem elongation and flowering, but does not correct the lamina defect, indicating that juvenile arrest is a pleiotropic consequence of a gibberellin deficiency in bladeless leaves. The calyx, corolla and gynoecium in mutant flowers show defects in lateral development, indicating that the lam-1 gene plays a crucial role in development of floral organs as well as leaves.
Enhancement of the radioprotective effects of 2-mercaptoethylamine on colony-forming cells by agents which alter cyclic nucleotide levels.

SummaryThe development of colony-forming cells (CFC) in vitro from 1 × 105 BDF1 mouse bone-marrow cells was markedly inhibited by exposing bone-marrow cells to X-irradiation before plating. The degree of inhibition was dependent on the dose of radiation; a reduction greater than 90 per cent occurring in the number of CFC in the group irradiated with 600 R. The addition of 33 mM 2-mercaptoethylamine (MEA) before radiation increased the number of CFC obtained in the irradiated group, whereas no protection occurred if MEA was added after irradiation. The radioprotective effects of MEA were significantly enhanced by incubating the cells for 1 hour before addition of MEA with agents known to alter cyclic nucleotide levels. These agents include 10−4 M isoproterenol, 10−4 M theophylline, 10−7 M imidazole, 10−3–10−5 M cyclic-3′,5′-adenosine monophosphate, 10−4 M cyclic 3′,5′-guanosine monophosphate and 10 µg/ml PGE1. These results suggest that the levels of cyclic nucleotides are important in radioprotection.
Comparison of cardiothoracic training curricula: integrated six-year versus traditional programs.

Background Traditionally, cardiothoracic residency programs are 2 or 3 years in length and require the completion of a general surgery residency. Six-year integrated programs (IP) that directly match fourth-year medical students have been recently developed. Our objective was to examine the curricula of traditional 2-year (T2) and 3-year (T3) programs and compare them to the curricula of IP. Methods We requested curricula from the directors of all IP, T2, and T3 programs participating in the 2011 to 2012 match. We compared the median number of months spent on a cardiothoracic (CT) rotation, an adult cardiac rotation, a thoracic rotation, and a congenital rotation, as well as time spent on "other" nonsurgical rotations. Traditional programs were categorized into 1 of 3 pathways: combined cardiothoracic (CCT), adult cardiac (AC), or general thoracic (GT). Results Integrated programs spend more time on general thoracic rotations when compared with CCT-T2, CCT-T3, AC-T2, and AC-T3 pathways ( p = 0.009, p = 0.046, p = 0.001 and p = 0.028, respectively). The IP spend a similar amount of time on CT, adult cardiac, and congenital rotations when compared when 2- and 3-year CCT, AC, and GT pathways. Of note, IP spend significantly more time on "other" nonsurgical rotations than all other pathways ( p Conclusions Integrated programs should not be considered "cardiac pathways" as they spend a significant amount of time on thoracic rotations. Additional nonsurgical rotations provide an opportunity for residents in IP to develop unique skills not currently provided in traditional programs.
Rapid and sensitive immunodetection of Listeria monocytogenes in milk using a novel piezoelectric cantilever sensor.

Abstract Listeria monocytogenes (LM), an important food-borne pathogen that has a high mortality rate (∼30%), was successfully detected within an hour at the infection dose limit of 103/mL, both in buffer and milk. LM detection was demonstrated using a novel asymmetrically anchored cantilever sensor and a commercially available antibody. Sensor responses were confirmed using a secondary antibody binding step, similar to the sandwich ELISA assays, as a means of signal amplification that also reduced the occurrence of false negatives. Detection of LM at a concentrations of 102/mL was achieved, by incorporating a third antibody binding step, which is an order of magnitude smaller than the infection dose (
Regulation of Ligand-Induced Heterodimerization and Coactivator Interaction by the Activation Function-2 Domain of the Vitamin D Receptor

Twenty-epi analogs of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25D3) are 100-1000 times more potent transcriptionally than the natural hormone. To determine whether this enhanced activity is mediated through modulation of the dimerization process or through interaction with coactivators, we performed quantitative protein-protein interaction assays with in vitro translated vitamin D receptor (ivtVDR) and fusion proteins containing glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and either the ligand-binding domain of retinoid X receptor (RXRalpha), or the nuclear receptor-interacting domain of the steroid receptor coactivator 1 (SRC-1), or the glucocorticoid receptor-interacting protein 1 (GRIP-1). We found that heterodimerization of the ligand-binding domains of RXRalpha and VDR was primarily deltanoid dependent as was the interaction of VDR with the SRC-1 or with GRIP-1. The ED50 for induction of heterodimerization was 2 nM for 1,25D3 and 0.05 nM for 20-epi-1,25D3. However, the ED50 for induction of VDR interaction with SRC-1 was similar for both 1,25D3 and the 20-epi analog (ED50 = 0.7-1.0 nM) as was the ED50 for ligand-mediated interaction of VDR with GRIP-1 (ED50 = 0.1-0.3 nM). Mutations in heptad 9 diminished both 1,25D3 and the 20-epi analog-mediated dimerization, without changing binding of these ligands to VDR. Mutations in VDR's activation function 2 (AF-2) domain/helix 12 residues diminished the ability of 1,25D3 to induce heterodimerization and interaction with SRC-1. These mutations did not change the ability of 20-epi-1,25D3 to induce dimerization but did diminish its ability to induce interaction with SRC-1. We hypothesize that both the hormone and the analog stabilize receptor conformations that expose VDR's functional interfaces. The mechanisms by which the two ligands expose these functional interfaces differ with respect to participation of the AF-2 domain.
Identification of novel RARβ2 transcript variants with short 5′-UTRs in normal and cancerous breast epithelial cells

Identification of novel RAR β 2 transcript variants with short 5′-UTRs in normal and cancerous breast epithelial cells
Non-receptor mediated, post-transcriptional regulation of insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-3 in Hs578T human breast cancer cells.

Hs578T human breast cancer cells secrete insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) as the major BP species. In addition, cell surface-associated IGFBP-3 is demonstrable by the use of cell monolayer affinity cross-linking or immunoperoxidase staining of the cell surface with a specific polyclonal anti-human IGFBP-3 antibody (alpha IGFBP-3 gamma 1). In this study, we have demonstrated that regulation of Hs578T IGFBP-3 by IGF peptides is specific, non-receptor mediated, and post-translational by showing: 1) dose-dependent increase of IGFBP-3 in conditioned media (CM) following addition of IGF-I and -II (maximum 13 fold increase at 100 ng/ml), but not by insulin up to 1 mg/ml; 2) no change in CM IGFBP-3 level by [Gln3,Ala4,Tyr15,Leu16] IGF-I, which has decreased affinity for IGFBPs; 3) no change in IGFBP-3 mRNA following addition of IGFs; 4) release of cell surface-associated IGFBP-3 into CM by the addition of IGFs, but not by [Gln3,Ala4,Tyr15,Leu16]IGF-I. These studies demonstrate that IGF pepti...
African Fractals: Modern Computing and Indigenous Design

African Fractals: Modern Computing and Indigenous Design. Ron Eglash. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1999. xi + 258 pp., illustrations, notes, references, index.
The effect of α1-acid glycoprotein (orosomucoid) on triglyceride metabolism in the nephrotic syndrome

We have identified α1-acid glycoprotein as a new co-factor in the lipoprotein lipase reaction. We isolated an active form of the compound from nephrotic urine that is effective both in vitro and in vivo. α1-acid glycoprotein increased lipolysis 100% in the presence of C-II apolipoprotein in a lipoprotein lipase assay system. Rats with induced nephrotic syndrome showed a decrease in triglyceride clearance. T12 was increased from 14 min to 43 min. The injection of α1-acid glycoprotein restored the lipid clearance to normal. These findings suggest that elevated plasma triglycerides in human nephrotic patients is the direct result of excessive loss of α1-acid glycoprotein from plasma into urine. We propose that replacement therapy may be possible.
Intein-mediated ligation and cyclization of expressed proteins

Protein splicing is a posttranslational processing event that releases an internal protein sequence from a protein precursor. During the splicing process the internal protein sequence, termed an intein, embedded in the protein precursor self-catalyzes its excision and the ligation of the flanking protein regions, termed exteins. The dissection of the splicing pathway, which involves the precise cleavage and formation of peptide bonds, and the identification of key catalytic residues at the splice junctions have led to the modulation of the protein splicing process as a protein engineering tool. Novel strategies have been developed to use intein-catalyzed reactions for the production and manipulation of proteins and peptides. These new approaches have broken down the size limitation barrier of chemical synthetic methods and are less technically demanding. The purpose of this article is to describe how to use self-splicing inteins in protein semisynthesis and backbone cyclization. The first two sections of the article provide a brief review of the distinct chemical steps that underlie protein splicing and intein enabled technology.
Thermal conduction in Cr3C2/SiC composite

Thermal conduction behaviour of Cr3C2/SiC composite is investigated in terms of temperature and SiC content. Experimental results showed that thermal diffusivity of the composite increases with SiC content up to 20 vol%, corresponding to a conductivity maximum, then decreases with further increase of SiC. The reduction in diffusivity and conductivity at higher SiC content may due to formation of small amounts of solid solution at the interface and/or of interfacial gaps due to lack of perfect contact among SiC aggregates leading to increased phonon scattering. The thermal conductivity demonstrates a positive temperature dependence but becomes temperature-independent when SiC content is above 30 vol%. A correlation with composite theory is present.
Average transverse momentum of hadrons in proton-nucleus collisions in the wounded nucleon model

Abstract In the wounded nucleon model, a proton–nucleus (p + A) collision is a superposition of independent nucleon–nucleon collisions. We use this model to calculate the average transverse momentum of pions, kaons and protons in high energy p + A collisions. For the same number of produced particles, because the number of participants differs, in the wounded nucleon model the transverse momentum of hadrons can differ between p + p and p + A collisions. In this model we find that the average transverse momentum in high multiplicity p + A collisions depends weakly on the number of produced particles, and underestimates the preliminary experimental data at the LHC. The difference is small for pions and greater for kaons and protons. The magnitude of this difference is consistent with hydrodynamic expectations.
Environmental policy and the reduction of hazardous waste

Environmental policy encouraging hazardous waste reduction began in 1976 with an Environmental Protection Agency statement promoting source reduction as the preferred method of hazardous waste management. In 1984, Congress included a policy statement supporting waste reduction in the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments (HSWA). However, the cornerstone of HSWA was the land disposal restrictions (LDRs)—a command and control policy prohibiting land disposal of untreated hazardous waste. Consideration of the hazardous waste generation decision in the aggregate would suggest that the price effect resulting from the LDR program and increased hazardous waste management prices in general would lead to source reduction. Although at the firm level there may be interdicting factors, statistical analysis of generation data for Tennessee support this hypothesis. Both the institution of the LDRs and waste management prices have significant negative effects on the level of generation. The analysis, however, reveals the existence of large industry and firm effects, indicating that the response to public policy may exhibit significant variance, especially at the individual generator level.
Cortisol Inhibits the Synthesis of Insulin-like Growth Factor-binding Protein-5 in Bone Cell Cultures by Transcriptional Mechanisms

Glucocorticoids inhibit the synthesis of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-5 (IGFBP-5) in osteoblasts, but the mechanisms involved are unknown. IGFBP-5 stimulates bone cell growth, and its inhibition by glucocorticoids may be relevant to the action of this binding protein on bone formation. We tested the effects of cortisol on IGFBP-5 expression in cultures of osteoblast-enriched cells from fetal rat calvariae (Ob cells). Cortisol decreased IGFBP-5 polypeptide levels in the extracellular matrix and caused a time- and dose-dependent decrease in IGFBP-5 mRNA. IGFBP-5 transcripts were markedly decreased by cycloheximide, and further suppressive effects of cortisol could not be determined. Cortisol did not modify the decay of IGFBP-5 mRNA in transcriptionally arrested Ob cells. Cortisol decreased IGFBP-5 hnRNA, the rate of IGFBP-5 transcription, and the activity of the murine IGFBP-5 promoter by 35% in transient transfection experiments. Deletion analysis showed that the region responsive to cortisol is from base pairs −70 to +22, and E-box-binding proteins or c-Myb-related nuclear factors may be involved in its regulation. In conclusion, cortisol inhibits IGFBP-5 transcription in Ob cells through the Myb-binding domain. This effect may be partly responsible for the effect of glucocorticoids on bone formation.
The promise of adult mesenchymal stem cells for acute myocardial infarction

The treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has evolved substantially over the past 3 decades. After an initial improvement in the mortality rate of AMI due to thrombolytics for pharmacologic reperfusion [1], further clinical advances were made employing primary percutaneous intervention [2,3]. While major effort is expended on reducing door-to-balloon time, reperfusion is rarely achieved within the first ‘golden hour’ of symptoms so as to actually abort AMI. As a result, most patients are left with a burden of infarcted myocardium, and therefore the substrate for ventricular remodeling, heart failure and malignant arrhythmias. In addition, much of the current therapy for patients post-AMI, including antiplatelet therapy, statins, b-adrenergic antagonists and modulators of the renin–angiotensin axis, are aimed at the prevention of recurrent cardiovascular events and the amelioration of left ventricular remodeling. Until recently, a pathophysiologic paradigm held that necrotic myocardial tissue lacked any chance of functional recovery. This paradigm is currently undergoing revision with the advent of stem cell therapy, which holds the promise of r egeneration of viable myocardial tissue.
Serologic reactions in coccidioidomycosis

Abstract Coccidioidal serologie tests consist of a qualitative precipitin test and a quantitative complement fixation (C.F.) test. The antigens for each of these tests are appropriately standardized “Coccidioidins” comparable to that used for skin testing. The tests are relatively specific, though there is some irregular crossreaction in the other deep mycoses of histoplasmosis and probably blastomycosis. The tests detect better than 99 per cent of all coccidioidal infections which have undergone dissemination. Repeated tests can diagnose 90 per cent of symptomatic primary infections. However, even in symptomatic primary infections, failure to detect these diagnostic humoral antibodies does not rule out a coccidioidal diagnosis. They are frequently negative in patients with coccidioidal pulmonary residuals with and without cavitation. Unless a patient's disease is undergoing dissemination, dermal sensitivity will be established during primary infection before the humoral antibodies have developed. Precipitins develop before complement-fixing antibodies and vanish sooner. Their presence connotes that the infection was acquired in the previous few months, although they may persist longer in patients with disseminated infections. Precipitins are of little diagnostic use in patients with asymptomatic pulmonary residuals or pulmonary cavities because of this time relationship. The titer of precipitins does not have prognostic significance. However, the quantitative determination of complement-fixing antibodies is very important prognostically. The more severe the infection, the higher the C.F. titer. Thus, in at least one-third of patients with primary infections which can be diagnosed serologically, only the precipitins will be positive. In those whose serum fixes complement, nearly half do so only in a 1:2 serum dilution and only 1 in 20 will fix it at a titer greater than 1:16 with the technique we use. However, over three-fifths of all those with disseminated disease exceed this titer as do ninetenths of those with extensive dissemination. With our technique this 1:16 serum dilution has proved to be a “critical” level. A rising titer is ominous, while a declining titer is reassuring. Complete fixation of complement by spinal fluid is diagnostic of coccidioidal meningitis and occurs in three-fourths of those with this dread complication. Because variations in C.F. techniques affect the titer, a positive serum control adjusted to the “critical” titer is needed as an index of comparison. Every effort is being made to develop such a material for the commercial distribution which should enable any competent clinical laboratory to perform the coccidioidal serologie tests.
Near-total completion gastrectomy for severe postvagotomy gastric stasis: analysis of early and long-term results in 62 patients☆

The aim of this study was to evaluate results of completion gastrectomy for severe postgastrectomy gastric stasis. A total of 51 women and 11 men underwent completion gastrectomy for gastric stasis between 1985 and 1996; follow-up was complete in 98% at 5.4 +/- 5 years. All patients had modified Visick scores preoperatively of grade III (37%) or IV (63%). Presentation included combinations of nausea, vomiting, postprandial pain, chronic abdominal pain, and chronic narcotic use. All had undergone prior vagotomy and had a median of four previous gastric operations. Hospital mortality was zero. Complications occurred in 25 patients (40%) and included the following: narcotic withdrawal syndrome (18%), ileus (10%), wound infection (5%), intestinal obstruction (2%), and anastomotic leak (5%). All or most symptoms were relieved in 43% (Visick grade I or II), but 57% of the patients remained in Visick grade III or IV. Nausea, vomiting, and postprandial pain were reduced from 93% to 50%, 79% to 30%, and 58% to 30%, respectively (P<0.05), but chronic pain, diarrhea, and dumping syndrome were not significantly affected. Univariate analysis revealed no preoperative characteristic to be predictive of good outcome. Logistic regression analysis suggested that the combination of nausea, need for total parenteral nutrition, and retained food in the stomach predicted a poor outcome (P<0.05). Completion gastrectomy is successful in 43% of patients. The combination of nausea, need for total parenteral nutrition, and retained food at endoscopy are negative prognostic factors.
An Experimental Investigation of Analogy Formation Using the Engineering-to-Biology Thesaurus

Identifying applicable biological systems for engineering design remains a persistent challenge for bioinspired design. Previous researchers have proposed an Engineering-to-Biology thesaurus that allows designers to identify biological keywords that are functionally similar to terms in the Functional Basis. This work presents an experimental examination of the effectiveness of the Engineering-to-Biology thesaurus. A group of 100 mechanical engineering students are presented with a simple design problem: to create a device to remove the husk and silk from ears of corn. The participants read passages drawn from a large biology corpus with keywords from the Engineering-to-Biology thesaurus and indicate which passages prompt some idea for solving the design problem. The analysis of student responses indicates that students’ level of design training is not a significant factor in the number of analogies they found in the passages and that some non-random criteria is used to identify passages as useful for idea generation. Passages that rarely offer participants ideas can be reasonably well classified as either being too technical for a lay-reader to understand or lacking information on a biological system. Passages that typically offer ideas cannot be so easily classified. Finally, keywords from the Engineering-to-Biology thesaurus are examined to find that keywords very specific to biology and those that are very common words with multiple meanings are rarely contained in sentences that offer strong design inspiration.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Optimizing recoveries of two chlorotriazine herbicide metabolites and 11 pesticides from aqueous samples using solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

A method was developed for solid-phase extraction of two chlorotriazine herbicide metabolites, deethylatrazine (DEA) and deisopropylatrazine (DIA), from aqueous samples. Two C18 phases in cartridge format were compared and recoveries were found to be highly sensitive to sorbent amount, sample volume and presence of parent compounds. Recoveries were significantly improved using a partially non-endcapped C18 phase compared to the normal C18 phase, particularly for DIA, apparently due to polar interactions. Combinations of sample volume and sorbent amount were tested using deionized water to determine an optimal combination of 200 ml and 1.0 g, respectively. Recoveries from a variety of river, stream, runoff and ground waters averaged 105-116% and 109-117% at concentrations of 0.5-1.0 ng/ml for DIA and DEA, respectively, with minimum detection limits of 0.05 ng/ml. Other pesticides tested also have acceptable recoveries using this method.
On adaptive multiband signal detection with GLR algorithm

An adaptive multiband detector based on the principle of the generalized likelihood ratio test (GLR) is presented. Its detection performance is studied and compared with that of the corresponding single-band GLR detector. The multiband detector is shown to significantly outperform the single-band under the chosen system constraint, especially when the amount of data available from a single frequency band is severely limited by the environment. >
The Rydberg Nature And Assignments Of Excited States Of The Water Molecule

Abstract We report ab initio theoretical calculation on 32 excited states of H2 O found to lie below 11.7 eV. Of the eight states observed experimentally, the average discrepancy between theoretical and experimental excitation energies is 0.1 eV. We find that the excited states can each be characterized as arising from an excitation to a Rydberg orbital. Our results indicate that the Ẽ and F states are both 3d-like excited states rather than one 3d state and one 4s state as previously assumed and similarly for the two Rydberg series joining onto Ẽ and F. The nsa1 Rydberg series is found to have a quantum defect of 1.38. joining onto the A(1B1 state. We have assigned the 9.81 eV transition observed by electron impact as the 1b1 – 3pb1 excitation to a 3A1 state.
Impacts of episodic acidification on in-stream survival and physiological impairment of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) smolts.

We conducted field studies to determine the levels of acid and aluminum (Al) that affect survival, smolt development, ion homeostasis, and stress in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) smolts in restoration streams of the Connecticut River in southern Vermont, USA. Fish were held in cages in five streams encompassing a wide range of acid and Al levels for two 6-day intervals during the peak of smolt development in late April and early May. Physiological parameters were unchanged from initial sampling at the hatchery and the high water quality reference site (pH > 7.0, inorganic Al < 12 μg·L–1). Mortality, substantial loss of plasma chloride, and gill Na+/K+-ATPase activity, and elevated gill Al occurred at sites with the lowest pH (5.4–5.6) and highest inorganic Al (50–80 μg·L–1). Moderate loss of plasma chloride, increased plasma cortisol and glucose, and moderately elevated gill Al occurred at less severely impacted sites. Gill Al was a better predictor of integrated physiological impacts than water chemistry...
Newport: enabling sharing during mobile calls

Newport is a collaborative application for sharing context (e.g. location) and content (e.g. photos and notes) during mobile phone calls. People can share during a phone call and sharing ends when the call ends. Newport also supports using a computer during a call to make it easier to share content from the phone or launch screen sharing if the caller is also at a computer. We describe Newport's system design and a formative evaluation with 12 participants to study their experience using Newport to share location, receive directions, share photos, and perform desktop sharing. Participants preferred using Newport to current methods for these tasks. They also preferred limiting sharing location to phone calls compared with publishing it continuously. Tying sharing to a phone call gives individuals a social sense of security, providing a mechanism for exchanging information with unknown people.
The Plasma Instrumentation for the Galileo Mission

The plasma instrumentation (PLS) for the Galileo Mission comprises a nested set of four spherical-plate electrostatic analyzers and three miniature, magnetic mass spectrometers. The three-dimensional velocity distributions of positive ions and electrons, separately, are determined for the energyper-unit charge (E/Q) range of 0.9 V to 52 kV. A large fraction of the 4 π -steradian solid angle for charged particle velocity vectors is sampled by means of the fan-shaped field-of-view of 160°, multiple sensors, and the rotation of the spacecraft spinning section. The fields-of-view of the three mass spectrometers are respectively directed perpendicular and nearly parallel and anti-parallel to the spin axis of the spacecraft. These mass spectrometers are used to identify the composition of the positive ion plasmas, e.g., H+, O+, Na+, and S+, in the Jovian magnetosphere. The energy range of these three mass spectrometers is dependent upon the species. The maximum temporal resolutions of the instrument for determining the energy (E/Q) spectra of charged particles and mass (M/Q) composition of positive ion plasmas are 0.5 s. Three-dimensional velocity distributions of electrons and positive ions require a minimum sampling time of 20s, which is slightly longer than the spacecraft rotation period. The two instrument microprocessors provide the capability of inflight implementation of operational modes by ground-command that are tailored for specific plasma regimes, e.g., magnetosheath, plasma sheet, cold and hot tori, and satellite wakes, and that can be improved upon as acquired knowledge increases during the tour of the Jovian magnetosphere. Because the instrument is specifically designed for measurements in the environs of Jupiter with the advantages of previous surveys with the Voyager spacecraft, first determinations of many plasma phenomena can be expected. These observational objectives include field-aligned currents, three-dimensional ion bulk flows, pickup ions from the Galilean satellites, the spatial distribution of plasmas throughout most of the magnetosphere and including the magnetotail, and ion and electron flows to and from the Jovian ionosphere.
Antioxidant Activity of Phosvitin in Phosphatidylcholine Liposomes and Meat Model Systems

Phosvitin, an iron-chelating protein, was tested for its ability to inhibit lipid oxidation in phosphatidylcholine (PC) liposomes and meats. Inhibition of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) formation increased with increasing phosvitin concentrations with maximal inhibition occurring at 40 and 15 mM in PC liposomes and pork muscle homogenates, respectively. Phosvitin lost only 2 to 15% of its antioxidant activity after being heated for 10 min at 60 to 100 °C. The ability of phosvitin to inhibit TBARS formation was maximal at pH 7.0. Phosvitin was a more effective antioxidant in cooked ground pork with 20 mM inhibiting 11 to 39% of oxidation compared with 0 to 20% inhibition in uncooked, salted ground pork containing 60 mM phosvitin. La phosvitine est un chelateur du fer, de nature proteique. Ses proprietes antioxydantes sont etudiees ici: L'oxydation des lipides dans des liposomes ou des systemes modeles de viande est reduite en presence de phosvitine. L'activite de la phosvitine est reduite apres chauffage. L'effet antioxydant est maximum a pH 7. Elle est plus active dans la viande de porc cuite (11 a 39% d'inhibition de l'oxydation pour une concentration de 20mM) que dans la viande hachee de porc crue (0 a 20% pour 60mM).
Specific Binding and Ability of Vasoactive Intestinal Octacosa-Peptide (VIP) to Activate Adenylate Cyclase in Isolated Pancreatic Acinar Cells from the Guinea Pig

This is probably the first instance in which the specific binding of a gastrointestinal hormone to a digestive cell other than the hepatocyte has been studied. The vasoactive intestinal octacosa-peptide (VIP) was recently isolated from porcine upper small intestine (19) and its amino acid sequence has been determined (4, 12).
Two-Dimensional Modelling of Compressive Failure in Delaminated Laminates

An analytical model is developed to assess the compressive strength criticality of near-surface interlaminar defects in laminated composites. The delaminated region is elliptic in shape, separating a thick isotropic plate from a thin orthotropic layer whose material axes coincide with the ellipse axes. The growth conditions and growth behavior of this defect are studied by breaking the overall problem into an elastic stability problem and a fracture problem. Post-buckling solution for the elliptic section is obtained using the Rayleigh-Ritz method while an energy balance criterion based on a self-similar disbond growth governs the fracture. The parameters controlling the growth or arrest of the delamination damage are identified as the fracture energy, disbond depth and elastic properties of the materials from both sides of the delaminating interface. By varying the degree of material anisotropy relative to the loading axis a range in growth behavior was found including stable or unstable crack growth parallel to or normal to the loading axis.
An exact analytic technique for simulating uniform RC lines

A new technique, based on convolution, has been developed for the time domain simulation of uniform RC lines. This technique is exact, requiring no simplification of the line's internal mechanism. It is shown that though the impulse responses of uniform RC lines are ill-behaved and unsuitable for direct numerical implementation, the use of a convolutional formula obtained by generalizing the trapezoidal integration method leads to well-behaved analytic forms that can be directly implemented. The new technique makes no approximation to the uniform distribution of resistance and capacitance. Experimental results using industrial IC interconnect demonstrate the efficacy of the new technique. >
β-Arrestins 1 and 2 are critical regulators of inflammation:

β-Arrestins 1 and 2 couple to seven trans-membrane receptors and regulate G protein-dependent signaling, receptor endocytosis and ubiquitylation. Recent studies have uncovered several unanticipated functions of β-arrestins, suggesting that the role of β-arrestins in cell signaling is much broader than originally thought. It is now recognized that β-arrestins can transduce receptor signaling independent of G proteins. The expression of β-arrestins is differentially regulated in immune cells and tissues in response to specific inflammatory stimuli, and β-arrestins are critical regulators of the inflammatory response. This review will focus on β-arrestins in immune cells and the impact of altered expression on the pathogenesis of specific inflammatory diseases. Understanding the role of β-arrestins in inflammation may lead to new strategies to treat inflammatory diseases, such as sepsis, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease and atherosclerosis.