cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phenotypic Stability of Articular Chondrocytes In Vitro: The Effects of Culture Models, Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2, and Serum Supplementation

Numerous in vitro culture models have been developed for the investigation of chondrocyte and cartilage biology. In this study, we investigated the stability of the chondrocytic phenotype in monolayer, aggregate, pellet, and explant culture models and assessed the effects of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP-2) and serum supplementation on the phenotype in each model. Phenotypic effects were assessed by analyses of procollagen type II, aggrecan, (V1C) 2 fibronectin, and procollagen type I messenger RNA expression. In monolayer cultures, we noted a characteristic loss of procollagen type II and induction of procollagen type I expression. The aggregate and pellet culture models supported matrix protein gene expression profiles more reflective of in vivo levels. In explant cultures, expression of matrix protein genes was consistently depressed. Treatment with rhBMP-2 significantly increased the expression of procollagen type II and aggrecan in monolayer cultures; however, other models showed comparatively little response. Similarly, serum supplementation significantly down-regulated procollagen type II and aggrecan expression in monolayer cultures but had less effect on gene expression in the other models. Serum supplementation increased procollagen type I expression in monolayer and aggregate cultures. These results suggest that the influence of exogenous BMP-2 and serum on expression of chondrocyte-specific matrix protein genes is influenced by aspects of substrate attachments, cellular morphology, and/or cytoskeletal organization. Finally, the analyses of fibronectin expression suggest that V and C region alternative splicing in chondrocytes is linked to the establishment of a three-dimensional multicellular complex. (J Bone Miner Res 2000;15:166‐174)
Feminist Nations? A Study of Native American Women in Southwestern Tribal Politics:

Tremendous variation exists in the politics and governance of the over 550 federally recognized American Indian tribes. For example, women are barred from participating in tribal politics in most P...
The methyltransferase activity of Clr4Suv39h triggers RNAi independently of histone H3K9 methylation.

Summary In fission yeast, the pericentromeric dg and dh repeats are transcribed and give rise to small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) by a mechanism that depends on the Clr4 suv39h histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) methyltransferase. Here, we show that Clr4 activity promotes the assembly of a tripartite complex composed of the Clr4-containing CLRC complex and complexes involved in siRNA generation. However, unlike dh siRNAs, dg siRNAs accumulate to near wild-type levels in cells with H3K9 substitutions that cannot be methylated. Thus, Clr4 activity controls siRNA amplification from the different repeat regions by different mechanisms, H3K9 methylation dependent versus independent. Furthermore, artificial tethering of Rik1, a core subunit of the CLRC complex, to a euchromatic RNA mediates RNAi-dependent silencing that partially bypasses the requirement for other CLRC subunits. These findings establish Rik1 as a key link between CLRC and RNAi and reveal distinct centromeric siRNA amplification mechanisms that depend on the Clr4 methyltransferase activity.
Business Ethics and Extant Social Contracts

Extant social contracts, deriving from communities of individuals, constitute a significant source of ethical norms in business. When found consistent with general ethical theories through the application of a filtering test, these real social contracts generate prima facie duties of compliance on the part of those who expressly or impliedly consent to the terms of the social contract, and also on the part of those who take advantage of the instrumental value of the social contracts. Businesspeople typically participate in multiple communities and, as a consequence, encounter conflicting ethical norms. Priority rules can be devised to resolve such conflicts. The framework of extant social contracts merges normative and theoretical research in business ethics and specifies a domain for empirical studies.
Army opinions about women in the army

Survey data collected from U.S. Army personnel show that Army women, who are a substantial minority (about 12 percent) in the Army, work in an environment in which their usefulness and accomplishments are viewed differently by men and women and also by personnel holding different ranks. The data suggest that the acceptance of women remains limited. Indeed, to even ask the questions which were asked about them would seem to marginalize women, to set them apart—and this in an institution that places a high value on cohesiveness. Individuals in other institutions may harbor similar reservations, but the Army appeared to be open to (and received) rather negative responses; other institutions may be different, or they may be more self-censoring.
Bird urate contamination of atmospheric dust traps

Abstract The chemical analysis of atmospheric dust from Niger, West Africa occasionally yielded more water soluble K than could be expected from soil derived dust. The high K values were correlated with samples containing white sand-sized particles. These particles were examined optically and chemically, and by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. These white particles were identified as uric acid dihydrate. Their most probable origin was from bird urine by birds perching on the open bucket traps. Bird urine contains soluble cations interspersed with the more insoluble uric acid. We should be cautious in assuming that only atmospheric dust is collected in dust traps. The addition of only a small amount of bird urine may easily invalidate the chemical analysis of atmospheric dust. Dust traps should be designed to prevent the perching of birds.
Investigation of soot precursor carbonization using laser-induced fluorescence and laser-induced incandescence

The goal of the present paper was to test the ability of laser-induced fluorescence and laser-induced incandescence techniques to identify the spatial location of material transformation due to carbonization along the axial streamline trajectory of a laminar gas-jet diffusion flame
Videotaped versus in-court witness testimony: Does protecting the child witness jeopardize due process?

Videotaping depositions may protect a child witness from the stress of testifying in court but also may influence jurors’ perceptions of the child and the defendant, and jurors’ verdicts in systematic ways. The present study examines several psychological hypotheses that emerge from the controversy over the use of videotaped depositions of child witnesses in child sexual abuse trials. We predicted that student jurors viewing a videotaped deposition would be more proprosecution and less prodefense than those who did not receive testimony in such a form. Thus, it was predicted that jurors viewing a videotaped deposition would perceive the prosecution witnesses and their testimonies more favorably, the defense witnesses and their testimonies less favorably, and give more guilty verdicts than jurors who viewed identical testimony during the course of a trial. We also predicted that females would be more proprosecution and less prodefense than males and that this gender difference would be accentuated by the medium of presentation. The medium of presentation had only a few effects on jurors’ responses. However, when differences emerged, they generally provided support for the predicted main effects. The implications of these findings for the use of videotaped depositions of child sexual abuse victims are discussed.
Indications for and utilization of ACE inhibitors in older individuals with diabetes. Findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999 to 2002.

BACKGROUND: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) improve cardiovascular outcomes in high-risk individuals with diabetes. Despite the marked benefit, it is unknown what percentage of patients with diabetes would benefit from and what percentage actually receive this preventive therapy.
Compact routing with slack

Given a weighted graph G=(V,E), a compact routing scheme is a distributed algorithm for forwarding packets from any source to any destination. The fundamental tradeoff is between the space used at each node and the stretch of the total route, measured by the multiplicative factor between the actual distance traveled and the length of the shortest possible route. We extend the normal definition with a slack parameter e, which allows us to ignore up to en2 of the shortest pairwise routes and give a guarantee on the remaining ones. For constant e we give constant stretch, polylogarithmic space schemes in the name-dependent model and in the designer-port name-independent model, and give a lower bound that proves that such schemes do not exist in the fixed-port name-independent model. In the name-dependent model we also give a gracefully degrading scheme which works simultaneously for all e > 0 and guarantees constant average stretch with polylog space.
X-ray Diffraction and Molecular Modeling Studies of Poly(di-n-alkylsilanes): The Near Planar Type Phases of Poly(di-n-butylsilane) and Poly(di-n-hexylsilane)

X-ray diffraction and molecular modeling have been used to investigate the near planar solid-state phases of poly(di-n-hexylsilane) (pdHexSi) and poly(di-n-butylsilane) (pdBuSi). Structure refinement of diffraction data in conjunction with oligomer cluster energy calculations provides a more unified picture of both the main chain and side chain conformations. In both polymers the alkyl side chain construction is closely identified as an asymmetric cisoid−transoid conformational arrangement. Full refinement of the pdHexSi data identifies subtler features in the alkyl chain organization. All major trends and key structural features are paralleled in empirical MM3 based modeling of isolated di-n-butylsilane and di-n-butylsilane oligomers. Zero-temperature gas-phase calculations identify a well-defined topology of energetically accessible main chain and side chain conformations. Increasing the side chain length, from butyl to hexyl, changes both the distribution and make up of the low energy structures. A com...
EFFECTIVENESS OF MINIMALLY SUPERVISED HOME AEROBIC TRAINING IN PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC RHEUMATIC DISEASE

The effectiveness of an exercise prescription and unsupervised home exercise programme was tested on 37 subjects with rheumatoid arthritis and 34 with systemic lupus erythematosus. Subjects were randomly assigned to control or stationary bicycling at home, using loaned bicycles. Exercise subjects (with bicycles) did better than controls, but not significantly, on all outcomed measures (exercise tolerance test, fatigue, depression and helplessness) at 3 months. Bicycles were reclaimed at 3 months and all subjects in both groups given instructions for home exercise. Exercise in the second 3 months was predicted primarily by baseline exercise habits and fatigue. It is concluded that although safe, unsupervised home exercise programmes may benefit few patients. Future research should address methods of stimulating and maintaining unsupervised exercise programmes in patients with systemic rheumatic disease.
A Review of Comets and Nongravitational Forces

A review is given on the recent advances in understanding the nature of the nongravitational forces that affect the motions of nearly all active comets.
Women's health locus of control during pregnancy may predict risk for postpartum depression

Commentary on : Moshki M, Baloochi Beydokhti T, Cheravi K. The effect of educational intervention on prevention of postpartum depression: an application of health locus of control. J Clin Nurs 2014;23:2256–63.[OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3] A woman's belief about health control (HLC including internal HLC (IHLC) and chance HLC (CHLC)) may identify her risk for postpartum depression (PPD). ▪ Healthcare providers should consider assessing HLC to predict those women who will be at greater risk for PPD. ▪ Researchers should develop educational interventions targeting internal and chance HLC that may have the potential to prevent PPD. PPD is a serious concern for women and their babies, yet there are few ways to predict or prevent it. This study evaluated … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DJ%2BClin%2BNurs%26rft.volume%253D23%26rft.spage%253D2256%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1111%252Fjocn.12505%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F24329943%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1111/jocn.12505&link_type=DOI [3]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=24329943&link_type=MED&atom=%2Febnurs%2F18%2F3%2F73.atom
Variation in students' propensities for managing uncertainty

Abstract The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how students vary in their propensities for managing uncertainty they experience during academic tasks. Naturalistic observation and interviews were conducted with students collaborating on robotics engineering projects in a regular fifth-grade class. Techniques of grounded theory and microanalysis of discourse revealed five propensities for managing uncertainty. In particular, students varied in the size and composition of the set of tactics from which they drew and in their willingness to acknowledge uncertainty. Results contribute to theoretical understandings of uncertainty orientations as multi-dimensional and well represented by categories. They also contribute to the science of instruction by indicating that students with different propensities might benefit from differential teacher scaffolding. Suggestions are made for how teachers can shape students' management of uncertainty to facilitate learning.
Histone Acetylation in Insect Chromosomes

Acetylation of histones takes place along the salivary gland chromosomes of Chironomus thummi when RNA synthesis is active. It can be observed but not measured quantitatively by autoradiography of chromosome squashes. The "fixatives" commonly used in preparing squashes of insect chromosomes preferentially extract the highly acetylated "arginine-rich" histone fractions; the use of such fixatives may explain the reported absence of histone acetylation in Drosophila melanogaster.
Continuing engineering education in technical writing

A survey of college and university members of the American Society for Engineering Education indicated that about 25 percent are offering technical writing instruction in some type of continuing education program. Formats vary widely and include videotape presentations, classroom instruction, and correspondence. Half of the courses are taught at the undergraduate level; about half of the instructors are in-house or visiting faculty. Major programs are at Clemson Univ., Colorado State Univ., George Washington Univ., Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst., Univ. of California (Los Angeles), Univ. of Michigan, and Univ. of Wisconsin (Madison). An industrial communication certification program is being planned at California State Univ. (Fullerton).
Advancing Neurotherapeutics in the 21st Century

Neurology is emerging rapidly as a clinical discipline with new and effective therapies for major neurological disorders. This theme issue of JAMA, devoted to neurology, includes 5 original research investigations that provide new data on neurotherapeutic advances and 3 Viewpoints that discuss how therapeutic momentum in neurology must be focused and implemented in the future to ensure progress and effectiveness and to improve health outcomes. In the first Viewpoint, Birbeck and colleagues1 provide a global perspective of the immense challenge clinical neurology faces in providing basic neurological care to millions of persons worldwide with neurodegenerative, neurovascular, and infectious diseases. The authors project that by 2050, there will be 115 million people with dementia and note that stroke causes more deaths annually than AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria combined. Their perspective is compelling, highlighting advances in medicine that are now producing a worldwide “epidemiologic transition from infections to chronic diseases.” Addressing health needs will require the conduct of research in low and middle resource countries and global training in neurology.
A possible SAR arc energization source: Precipitating electrons

Coincident measurements by ground-based photometers and satellite-borne electron sensors have shown the association of precipitating electrons and Stable Auroral Red Arcs at midlatitudes. Modeling of these events has suggested that, within the constraints imposed by uncertainties of the electron energy spectrum, the electron influx carries sufficient energy to establish ionospheric temperatures required to power the arcs.
Barcodes, Rfids, Lemonade and Conversation:

Atul Mahajan nicknamed ‘AM,’ a wealthy Indian, sits on the board of Kisan Group, his family's chemical company (family and company names disguised). Charged with managing the Mahajan family wealth, he has formed a private equity group that helps build mid-market companies. He has also launched a few technology-enabled ventures of his own, including a company that failed in its attempts to sell a service that used encrypted and masked barcodes for document authentication and a successful company that provided administrative and data management support for pharmaceutical clinical trials. Now, apparently with sufficient resources to contemplate another entrepreneurial venture, AM wonders whether to revive the document authentication business, with a turnkey solution or one or more services that would use encrypted RFID tags instead of the older barcode technology. This teaching case was developed based on interviews with Mr. ‘Mahajan’ and two other employees. The case provides an opportunity for students to investigate technical, strategic and operational uncertainties and challenges associated with building a business around a new technology. For business schools that are attempting to ‘globalize’ their curriculum, the case offers the benefit of presenting the point of view of a well-connected Indian entrepreneur.
Optical design and optimization of a high-performance laser printhead

The fundamental considerations involved in the design of a print engine, or of a printer component such as a laser printhead, arise from visual acuity characteristics of the human visual system and from the physics of interaction of light with scattering/absorbing media. For production of gray-scale images, the visual system imposes strict limitations on unintended luminance variations, both in contrast magnitude and in spatial distribution. Unintended variations in size, spacing, and lightness of the picture elements composing the image are a major source of image degradation. Further, the scattering of light in a medium such as paper leads to the Yule-Nielsen Effect in which the surface luminance of paper between picture elements is altered in a non-linear way as pixel-to-pixel spacing or pixel size changes.
Converting patients from intravenous lidocaine to oral tocainide treatment.

To the Editor.— The efficacy of intravenous lidocaine in the control of ventricular arrhythmias has been documented.1However, drawbacks such as short elimination half-life and extensive first-pass hepatic extraction have precluded its use as an oral agent. Tocainide, a lidocaine congener, can be administered orally and is particularly effective for treating ventricular arrhythmias that are responsive to lidocaine.2,3 Recent encounters with patients requiring conversion from intravenous lidocaine to oral tocainide prompted a review of the literature for an effective conversion procedure. Upward et al4studied 43 subjects (four of which were not included in data analysis) admitted to the coronary care unit following suspected acute myocardial infarction. Each subject received a 100-mg intravenous loading dose of lidocaine, followed by an intravenous infusion of 2 mg/min. After a minimum of 18 hours, oral tocainide treatment was initiated, with each subject receiving three doses of tocainide using one of
Brachymorphic mice (bm/bm): A generalized biochemical defect expressed primarily in cartilage

Abstract Homozygous brachymorphic (bm/bm) mice have a disproportionately short stature. Previous studies have shown that the cartilage proteoglycan is undersulfated as a result of decreased 3′-phosphoadenosine 5′-phosphosulfate (PAPS) levels. In the studies reported here, PAPS synthesizing activity was found to be decreased in both skin fibroblasts and prechondrogenic mesenchyme, but sulfation of glycosaminoglycan was normal in those tissues unless glycosaminoglycan synthesis was enhanced by β- d -xyloside. Furthermore, undersulfation was correlated with increased proteoglycan synthesis as the limb mesenchyme cultures underwent chondrogenesis, and sulfation proceeded in an “all or none” manner. These observations demonstrate that the molecular defect in bm/bm mice is not restricted to cartilage, but is manifested there because of the large amount of chondroitin sulfate synthesized.
Diagnosis and treatment of chronic gastroparesis and chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction

Chronic gastroparesis and CIP are debilitating disorders that are difficult to treat with currently available therapies. Failure of proper migration and differentiation of enteric neurons or ICC can result from specific genetic mutations and lead to phenotypes of CIP with or without concomitant gastroparesis. Intestinal dysfunction in diabetes may reflect a depletion of NO production (and perhaps other neurotransmitters or modulators), which is manifest as a syndrome of gastroparesis, diarrhea, or constipation in individual patients. As the key molecular changes underlying these disorders are defined, clinicians will begin to understand their precise etiology and rational medical therapy may become possible. In the future, testable hypotheses regarding the etiology of other functional bowel disorders (e.g., functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, and so forth) may be developed.
Polymer solar cells with NiO hole-collecting interlayers processed by atomic layer deposition

Abstract We report on the photovoltaic properties of polymer solar cells that use NiO-coated indium tin oxide (ITO) as the hole-collecting electrode. The NiO films were prepared by atomic layer deposition (ALD) on top of ITO with thicknesses varying from 6 to 25 nm. The NiO films increase the work function (WF) of the ITO, allowing NiO-coated ITO to act as an efficient hole-collecting electrode. Devices made with pristine NiO showed poor current–voltage characteristics. However, subsequent O2-plasma treatment further increased the WF of NiO, tuning NiO-coated ITO into an efficient hole-collecting electrode for polymer solar cells based on the donor poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT). The polymer solar cells with the O2-plasma treated NiO-coated ITO hole-collecting electrodes yield a power conversion efficiency of 4.1 ± 0.2% under simulated air mass 1.5 G 100 mW/cm2 illumination, which is comparable to reference devices with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)-coated ITO hole-collecting electrodes.
Towards a location-based mandatory access control model

With the growing use of wireless networks and mobile devices, we are moving towards an era where location information will be necessary for access control. The use of location information can be used for enhancing the security of an application, and it can also be exploited to launch attacks. For critical applications, such as the military, a formal model for location-based access control is needed that increases the security of the application and ensures that the location information cannot be exploited to cause harm. In this paper, we show how the mandatory access control (MAC) model can be extended to incorporate the notion of location. We also show how the different components in the MAC model are related with location and how this location information can be used to determine whether a subject has access to a given object. This model is suitable for military applications consisting of static and dynamic objects, where location of a subject and object must be considered before granting access.
Aesthetics and the Paradox of Educational Relation

The paper establishes the principle of ‘back-formation’ of artistic creation, the process by which artists realise in their work a theme or motif that had not been previously intended but is brought into being as the work comes to fruition. The authors suggest that teaching also should be guided by this principle. To solve the inherent problem of power imbalance in teaching, they appeal to Bakhtin's recourse to aesthetical judgment in addressing relational issues. Gadamer's rehabilitation of prejudices shows that not only is an ethics of relation worked out as an aesthetic practice, but also that aesthetic practices are worked out within an ethics of relation.
Simultaneous fMRI and Electrophysiology in the Rodent Brain

To examine the neural basis of the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal, we have developed a rodent model in which functional MRI data and in vivo intracortical recording can be performed simultaneously. The combination of MRI and electrical recording is technically challenging because the electrodes used for recording distort the MRI images and the MRI acquisition induces noise in the electrical recording. To minimize the mutual interference of the two modalities, glass microelectrodes were used rather than metal and a noise removal algorithm was implemented for the electrophysiology data. In our studies, two microelectrodes were separately implanted in bilateral primary somatosensory cortices (SI) of the rat and fixed in place. One coronal slice covering the electrode tips was selected for functional MRI. Electrode shafts and fixation positions were not included in the image slice to avoid imaging artifacts. The removed scalp was replaced with toothpaste to reduce susceptibility mismatch and prevent Gibbs ringing artifacts in the images. The artifact structure induced in the electrical recordings by the rapidly-switching magnetic fields during image acquisition was characterized by averaging all cycles of scans for each run. The noise structure during imaging was then subtracted from original recordings. The denoised time courses were then used for further analysis in combination with the fMRI data. As an example, the simultaneous acquisition was used to determine the relationship between spontaneous fMRI BOLD signals and band-limited intracortical electrical activity. Simultaneous fMRI and electrophysiological recording in the rodent will provide a platform for many exciting applications in neuroscience in addition to elucidating the relationship between the fMRI BOLD signal and neuronal activity.
Performance, composition and sensory quality of adult channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) fed a dried waste egg product

The growth and carcass quality of adult channel catfish (176 mm, 76 g average length and weight) fed diets (6000 fish/diet) containing 14% and 28% dried, inedible whole egg were compared to similar fish fed a commercial or a formulated diet containing fish meal as the primary protein source. After 4 months, the fish fed 28% dried egg diet were 5–8% longer and 17–31% heavier, and had consumed 0.06–1.11 1b feed per 1b weight gain less than fish fed the other diets. Fish fed the egg diets had 0.9–1.2% less dress-out and 0.3–2% more visceral cavity fat than fish fed the non-egg diets. Diets containing eggs did not affect the sensory quality or shear press values of the cooked fish fillets.
Ovarian cancer: patterns of surgical care across the United States.

Abstract Objective. To describe the primary surgical procedures and procedures for intraoperative and postoperative complications, and factors associated with these procedures, in women with ovarian cancer. Methods. Using hospital discharge data from nine states, obtained from the Heath Care Cost and Utilization Project from 1999 to 2002, we evaluated 10,432 women with a primary diagnosis of ovarian cancer who underwent at least an oophorectomy for additional procedural ICD-9 codes during their initial hospitalization. Results. Surgical procedures performed in addition to oophorectomy included: omentectomy/debulking 81.9%, hysterectomy 73.4%, lymph node dissection 41.4%, appendectomy 23.8%, bowel procedures 19.8%, laparoscopy 5.6%, diaphragmatic procedures 4.9%, colostomy 3.5%, and splenectomy 1.2%. Transfusions were given to 15.5% of patients. Intraoperative and postoperative procedures for complications were coded in 7.4% of patients, including repair of surgical injury 3.5%, procedures for cardiopulmonary complications 2.8%, reoperation 1.1%, and infection treatment 0.3%. In early stage disease 21.4% of women received no additional staging procedures and 46.8% did not have nodal sampling. In bivariate analysis of crude rates, factors associated with lymph node dissection were patient age, race, payer, teaching hospital status, hospital and surgeon volume, and surgeon specialty, p p p p Conclusions. A significant percentage of women with ovarian cancer did not receive recommended surgical procedures. Almost 50% of women with early stage disease were not adequately staged and in women with advanced disease, the percentage who had additional surgical procedures such as bowel resections was much lower than in institutions that report high optimal cytoreduction rates.
Comparison of three screening methods to select mixed-microbial inoculum for mixed-acid fermentations

Using a mixed culture of microorganisms, the carboxylate platform converts biomass into hydrocarbons and chemicals. To develop a method that identifies the highest performing inoculum for carboxylate fermentations, five bacterial communities were screened and ranked by three fermentation performance tests: (1) 30-day batch screen, (2) 28-day continuum particle distribution model (CPDM), and (3) 5-month continuous countercurrent fermentation trains. To screen numerous inocula sources, these tests were used sequentially in an aseptic environment. For the batch-fermentation screen, Inoculum 1 achieved the highest conversion. For the CPDM evaluation, the operating map for Inoculum 1 had the highest performance. For the continuous countercurrent fermentation, the train resulting from Inoculum 1 was among the best performers. This study suggests that the three screens are a useful and predictive method for choosing optimal inocula sources. The bacterial community with optimal performance in these three screens could be considered for use in commercial-scale fermentations.
Radiation target sizes of the Na,K-ATPase and p-aminohippurate transport system in the basolateral membrane of renal proximal tubule

Basolateral membrane vesicles made from rabbit kidney proximal tubules were frozen and irradiated with a high energy electron beam and the effects of irradiation on Na,K-ATPase activity, p-aminohippurate (PAH) transport, the membrane diffusion barrier and vesicle volume were measured. The vesicle volume and diffusion barrier were not significantly changed by radiation exposure. Na,K-ATPase activity was inactivated as a simple exponential function of radiation dose. Target size analysis of the data yielded a molecular size of 267 ± 17 kDa, consistent with its existence as a (αβ)2 dimer. The carrier-mediated PAH uptake by basolateral membrane vesicles was also inactivated as a function of radiation dose. A target molecular size of 74 ± 16 kDa was calculated for the PAH transport system. This study is the first measurement of the functional size of the organic acid transport system based directly on flux measurements.
Mediation of the in vitro cytotoxicity of green and black tea polyphenols by cobalt chloride

Abstract The effects of Co 2+ (as CoCl 2 ) on the cytotoxicity of green tea polyphenol (GTP) and black tea polyphenol (BTP) extracts towards proliferation of immortalized human gingival epithelial-like S-G cells were studied. The 24 h potencies of GTP and BTP extracts, as determined with the neutral red (NR) cell viability assay, were greatly reduced in the presence of 250, but not of 50, μM Co 2+ . The cytotoxicities of the GTP and BTP extracts were due, in part, to their generation of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) in the cell culture medium (DMEM). Progressively increasing the concentration of Co 2+ in the tea polyphenol-amended cell culture medium resulted in a lowering of the level of H 2 O 2 . The cytotoxicity of freshly added H 2 O 2 to S-G cells was abolished in the presence of 250 μM Co 2+ and the level of freshly added H 2 O 2 to cell culture medium was progressively lowered as the concentration of Co 2+ was increased. Apparently, under the conditions of these studies, the decreases in the cytotoxicity of GTP and BTP extracts in the presence of CoCl 2 were due to the rapid catalytic decomposition by Co 2+ of the H 2 O 2 generated in the tea polyphenol-amended cell culture medium.
Beachcombing for a definition of affluence at the Ebb Tide of expectation

During the 1960s the phrase “affluent society” seemed an appropriate sobriquet to describe the national mood. It reflected expectations of crossing the threshold into a new era of mass, as opposed to class, affluence.
Use of Phentolamine in Acute Myocardial Infarction Associated with Hypertension and Left Ventricular Failure

In 11 patients with hypertension associated with acute myocardial infarction intravenous phentolamine decreased the elevated left ventricular filling pressure. Cardiac index increased with a small decrease in arterial pressure, and therefore the same or increased stroke work was achieved at a lower filling pressure. In patients with acute hypertension myocardial oxygen demand was decreased and this may tend to increase infarct size. The potentially beneficial effects were less great in patients with chronic hypertension antedating the myocardial infarction.
Assessment of ventricular size and function in congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries

Twenty-four quantitative cineangiographic studies were performed in 19 patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries to assess right and left ventricular size and function. Ages ranged from 7 days to 44 years and associated lesions included ventricular septal defect (13 of 19), pulmonary stenosis (9 of 19), and systemic (tricuspid) valvular insufficiency (7 of 19). Systemic (anatomically right) ventricular end-diastolic volume was within normal limits in most patients and averaged 119% of predicted normal. Pulmonary (anatomically left) ventricular end-diastolic volume also was normal in most patients, averaged 112% of predicted, and was not different from systemic (right) ventricular end-diastolic volume. Systemic ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) averaged 0.61 ± 0.02 and was not different from pulmonary ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (0.65 ± 0.02), but important differences were apparent when age was considered. With exclusion of 2 patients with hypoplastic systemic ventricles and 2 studies performed 17 years had a definitely low RVEF and 1 of 5 had a value at the lower limit of normal. In children, systemic and pulmonary ventricular pump function is usually normal in congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries and any deviation from normal should suggest ventricular hypoplasia or an increase in afterload. After childhood, systemic ventricular dysfunction is more common and may reflect the inability of the anatomic right ventricle to function as the systemic pumping chamber over a normal lifetime in most patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries.
A Comparison of Snorkeling Versus Throwable Anode Electrofishing for Evaluating Stream Fish Habitat Use

ABSTRACT Snorkeling and throwable anode electrofishing to sample fish habitat use were compared in two rivers in the Shenandoah River Valley, Virginia. Habitat was described by depth, velocity, distance to cover, dominant and subdominant substrate, and embeddedness for locations occupied by fish and representing available habitat. Significant differences were found between the two techniques for all variables during at least one of the sampling periods. Significant differences were also found in how the two techniques collected certain species. No significant difference was found in the effort required to get fish habitat data points using the two techniques. Depth and velocity criteria developed from the data differed significantly in the two techniques in the majority of the cases. Combined data from both techniques may actually produce better criteria than either of the two sampling techniques alone.
A computational approach to control in complex cognition.

Cognitive deficits associated with dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) damage are often most apparent in higher cognitive tasks that involve problem solving and managing multiple goals. However, computational models of prefrontal deficits on such tasks are difficult to construct. Problem solving is most naturally modeled with symbolic systems (e.g. production systems), but the effects of lesions are most naturally modeled with subsymbolic systems (neural networks). We show that when we adopt a simple and plausible model of neural computation, there is a natural and explicit mapping from symbolic, goal-driven cognition onto neural computation. We exploit this mapping to construct a neural network model that is capable of solving complex problems in the Tower of London task. The model leads to a specific hypothesis about the role of DLPFC in such tasks, namely, that DLPFC represents internally generated subgoals that modulate competition among posterior representations. When intact, the model accurately simulates the behavior of college students even on the most difficult problems. Furthermore, when the subgoal component is lesioned, it accurately simulates the behavior of prefrontal patients, including the fact that their deficits are most apparent on the most difficult tasks and that they have special difficulty with tasks that require inhibiting a prepotent response.
Investigation of apparent mass deviations in electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry of a benzophenone‐labeled peptide

In a previous study utilizing benzophenone-based topological probes to study conformationally dependent changes in mouse muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) topology, electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric (ESI-MS/MS) analysis led to a consistent � 2.0 Da mass deviation from expected values. In the present study a synthetic peptide, corresponding to nAChR a1 subunit residues 130–139, was photolabeled. MS/MS analysis of this peptide using an ion trap confirmed the previously observed mass deviation, associated only with fragment ions that contain the incorporated benzophenone moiety. Analysis of peak profiles for the photolabeled ions does not indicate the typical ‘peak fronting’ that produces a mass shift when labile ions are prematurely ejected from the ion trap. Rather, hydrogen/deuterium (H/D) exchange experiments support the hypothesis that a chemical rearrangement involving phenyl migration and ketone formation has formed an unexpected oxidized peptide, with molecular mass 2 Da less than that expected, that is isolated for collision-induced dissociation in the ion trap together with the predicted precursor due to the broad ion isolation window specified. Copyright # 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A kinetics study of self-discharge of spinel electrodes in Li/LixMn2O4 cells

Abstract The rate of self-discharge in lithium half-cells with the spinel-type LiMn 2 O 4 cathode was investigated in the 60–75 °C temperature range. The time dependence of the capacity loss and the open-circuit voltage (OCV) was monitored during the thermal aging. Lithium re-intercalation from the electrolyte appears to govern the mechanism of self-discharge in the two plateaus at the ‘4 V’ areas. Treatment of the OCV data acquired during aging and by the Galvanostatic Intermittent Titration Technique (GITT) method allowed the electrode composition to be determined during the course of self-discharge. Self-discharge current was then determined and plotted against OCV. The isothermal voltammograms obtained show characteristic self-discharge current peaks.
Nitrification in three-stage and single-stage floating bead biofilters in a laboratory-scale recirculating aquaculture system

Abstract Previous research with biological filters has indicated that nitrification efficiency may be increased by separating the media into multiple stages. This study compared nitrification in two floating-bead biofilter treatments: a three-stage biofilter vs a single-stage or solitary biofilter, having similar total bead volumes for both treatments, and three replicates of each treatment. The filters supported a maximum of 15·6 kg of hybrid tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus × Oreochromis aureus ) in a 366 liter recirculating system. Generally, the single-stage biofilter had somewhat greater reduction of total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) than the three-stage biofilter, especially when the fish feeding rate was increased to 14·85 kg/day-(m 3 of beads) to challenge the filters. The three-stage treatment usually had differences between stages regarding net reduction of TAN (usually between 5 and 15% reduction of influent concentration in each stage), but there were no consistent trends between stages. Both treatments displayed less than optimal total suspended solids (TSS) filtering capacity and inconsistent agitation during daily flushing of filters, which may have led to variable biofloc retention time and increased variability of TAN removal.
Self-modulation in the argon-ion laser

The irradiance from a low‐gain argon‐ion laser is observed to be self‐modulated at harmonics of the longitudinal mode spacing (82 MHz). The laser is made to oscillate at five discrete frequencies between 408 and 737 MHz by controlling resonator losses.
Using GIS to analyze real estate with flood zones

This paper demonstrates the application of a Geographic Information System (GIS) research project. This project aids in the learning and application of GIS through Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI) software, specifically ArcGIS. The project utilized GIS by creating maps with the ESRI ArcGIS software. These maps aimed to help potential real estate consumers evaluate the estimated flood risk and related flood insurance costs based on current efforts to reclassify flood zones for the Gulf Coast; using St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana as an example. This paper will detail the criteria and basis for the research project, and exemplify the benefits and contributions in the results.
The JAM test A simple assay for DNA fragmentation and cell death

Most current methods for measuring cell death are based on plasma membrane disintegration and the consequent release of cytoplasm. The relevant cells are usually loaded with a label (usually 51Cr or 125I), the release of which is measured. I describe here a method, based on the recent evidence that dying cells often degrade their DNA into small fragments, which measures the DNA retained by living cells rather than the cellular components lost by dying cells. The assay is set up essentially like the current cell lysis assays and harvested like a cell proliferation assay. It is faster, more sensitive, easier to set up, less expensive and safer than the current standard 51Cr release assay.
Sensitivity of breast cancer cell lines to recombinant thiaminase I

We have previously shown that the expression of the thiamine transporter THTR2 is decreased sevenfold in breast cancer, which may leave breast cancer cells vulnerable to acute thiamine starvation. This concept was supported by the observation that MDA231 breast cancer xenografts demonstrated growth inhibition in mice fed a thiamine-free diet. We purified recombinant Bacillus thiaminolyticus thiaminase I enzyme, which digests thiamine, to study acute thiamine starvation in breast cancer. Thiaminase I enzyme was cytotoxic in six breast cancer cell lines with IC50s ranging from 0.012 to 0.022 U/ml. The growth inhibitory effects of the combination of thiaminase I with either doxorubicin or paclitaxel were also examined. Over a wide range of drug concentrations, thiaminase 1 was consistently synergistic or additive with doxorubicin and paclitaxel in MCF-7, ZR75, HS578T and T47D cell lines, with most combinations having a calculated combination index (CI) of less than 0.8, indicating synergy. Although thiaminase I exposure did not stimulate the energy-sensing signaling kinases AKT, AMPK and GSK-3β in MCF-7, ZR75, HS578T and T47D cell lines, thiaminase I exposure did stimulate expression of the ER stress response protein GRP78. In summary, thiaminase I is cytotoxic in breast cancer cell lines and triggers the unfolded protein response. These findings suggest that THTR2 down-regulation in breast tumors may present a nutritional vulnerability that could be exploited by thiaminase I enzyme therapy.
Effect of Maternal Isoantibodies on the Quantitative Expression of two Allelic Genes Controlling γ-Globulin Allotypic Specificities

Effect of Maternal Isoantibodies on the Quantitative Expression of two Allelic Genes Controlling γ-Globulin Allotypic Specificities
Spectrofluorescent detection of malonaldehyde as a measure of lipid free radical damage in response to ethanol potentiation of spinal cord trauma.

Studies of the role of free radical damage to the spinal cord following a 400 g-cm impact have suggested an increase in at least one free radical product, malonaldehyde, 24–36 hr post injury. To investigate further the role of free radical lipid peroxidation in degeneration of the spinal cord following injury, a study of specific lipid fluorescence (SLF) indicative of the double Schiff-base adduct formed by a reaction between malonaldehyde and cellular components was carried out in the presence of ethanol, a known potentiator of free radical lipid peroxidation. The study was carried out in cats who received a 200 g-cm impact 3 hr to 23 days prior to sacrifice. Half of the impacted animals received ethanol, 5 ml/kg, prior to injury. These animals were rendered paraplegic, whereas the nonethanol treated animals were neurologically intact. Controls consisting of laminectomies alone or laminectomies with ethanol but without injury were also studied. Spinal cord segments at the impact or laminectomy site were minced and extracted with chloroform-methanol, cleared by centrifugation, and examined in a scanning fluorometer with excitation maximum at 360 nm and emission maxima at 420, 440, 450, and 460 nm. SLF was minimal in cats 3 hr and 1 day post injury, but markedly increased at 3 days. By 5 days, background levels were again found in all groups. SLF in the alcohol-pretreated impact animals rose to a peak at 7 days, followed by a decline to background by 10 days. The presence of SLF supports a role for free radical lipid peroxidation in the degenerative changes in the spinal cord following injury. The findings of two peaks of SLF activity suggest two different sites of damage. One site, found acutely after injury, appears in all groups and was associated with reversible changes, while the other site is associated with later changes and chronic paraplegia only. The two sites could be the gray and white matter.