cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lockdown Responses to COVID-19

This article describes the relationship between countries' lockdown responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and those countries' political rights and civil liberties, macroeconomic variables, and vulnerability to the virus. Political rights and civil liberties cannot explain the differences in lockdown timing across countries. Countries with high contagion exposure due to weak water sanitation and weak health systems locked down their economies as fast as possible to reduce contagion. However, countries more vulnerable to COVID-19 due to large fractions of elderly and smokers in the population did not respond differently from less-vulnerable countries. Interestingly, macroeconomic variables that did affect the timing of lockdowns were the sizes of a country's financial and trading sectors, even when differences in income and population density are taken into account.
Host cell membrane capture by the SARS CoV-2 spike protein fusion intermediate

Abstract Cell entry by SARS-CoV-2 is accomplished by the S2 subunit of the spike S protein on the virion surface by capture of the host cell membrane and fusion with the viral envelope. Capture and fusion require the prefusion S2 to transit to its potent, fusogenic form, the fusion intermediate (FI). However, the FI structure is unknown, detailed computational models of the FI are unavailable, and the mechanisms and timing of membrane capture and fusion are not established. Here, we constructed a full-length model of the CoV-2 FI by extrapolating from known CoV-2 pre- and postfusion structures. In atomistic and coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations the FI was remarkably flexible and executed large bending and extensional fluctuations due to three hinges in the C-terminal base. Simulations suggested a host cell membrane capture time of ∼ 2 ms. Isolated fusion peptide simulations identified an N-terminal helix that directed and maintained binding to the membrane but grossly underestimated the binding time, showing that the fusion peptide environment is radically altered when attached to its host fusion protein. The large configurational fluctuations of the FI generated a substantial exploration volume that aided capture of the target membrane, and may set the waiting time for fluctuation-triggered refolding of the FI that draws the viral envelope and host cell membrane together for fusion. These results describe the FI as a machinery designed for efficient membrane capture and suggest novel potential drug targets.
The validity of using one force platform to quantify whole-body forces, velocities, and power during a plyometric push-up.

BACKGROUND Previous studies have typically measured velocity and power parameters during the push-up, either using one or two force platforms. The purpose of the study was to compare the force, velocity, and power parameters between the one-force-platform method and the two-force-platform method during plyometric push-ups. METHODS Thirty-four physically active young adults participated in the study to perform the plyometric push-up. For the two-force-platform calculation method, the forces applied to the feet and hands were both measured. For the one-force-platform calculation method, the forces applied to the feet were assumed to be constant, while the forces applied to hands were measured by one force platform. Whole-body linear velocities were calculated based on the impulse and momentum theorem. Whole-body power was calculated as the product of the whole-body forces and velocities. RESULTS The one-force-platform method overestimated the whole-body velocities and power compared with the two-force-platform method (1.39 ± 0.37 m/s vs. 0.90 ± 0.23 m/s, Cohen's d = 1.59, p < 0.05; 1.63 ± 0.47 W/body weight vs. 1.03 ± 0.29 W/body weight, Cohen's d = 1.49, p < 0.05). These differences were caused by the decreased forces applied to the feet compared to the initial value throughout most of the push-up phase. Large to perfect correlations (r = 0.55 - 0.99) were found for most variables between the two-force-platform and one-force-platform methods. Previous findings of push-up velocities and power using the two-force-platform and one-force-platform methods should be compared with caution. While the two-force-platform method is recommended, linear regression equations may be used to predict velocities and power parameters obtained from one force platform. CONCLUSIONS For those professionals who need to accurately quantify kinetic variables during the plyometric push-up, the two-force-platform method should be considered.
The Rule of Law

Three arguments for prioritizing “the Rule of Law” over justice to the individual are considered and rejected. The importance of justice to the individual is not overridden by the threat of anarchy, nor by the need for uniformity of outcomes, nor by the virtue of deference to accepted dispute-resolution procedures. The willingness to defy authority figures is a key social virtue.
Surgeon, patient, and caregiver perspective of pediatric surgical telemedicine in the COVID-19 pandemic era.

Adoption of telemedicine (TME) in surgical specialties, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, has previously been slow. The purpose of this prospective, observational, single institution study is to evaluate surgeon and caregiver perspectives of TMEs during the pandemic. Surveys were distributed to surgical faculty regarding perceptions of TME early during the pandemic and 2 months later. Caregivers (or patients > 18 years old) were asked after each TME to complete a survey regarding perceptions of TMEs. Surveys were distributed to 73 surgeons. Response rates were 71% initially and 63% at follow-up. Sixty-eight percent reported no prior TME experience. No significant differences were noted in the overall satisfaction. An inverse relationship between surgeon age and satisfaction at the follow-up survey was identified (p = 0.007). Additional surveys were distributed to 616 caregivers or patients (response rate 13%). Seventy-two percent reported no prior experience with TME and 79% described TME as similar to an in-person visit. Audiovisual satisfaction of the TME was higher in greater income households (p = 0.02). Pre-pandemic experience with TME was low in both groups; however, experiences were perceived as satisfactory. Positive experiences with TME may encourage increased utilization in the future, although demographic variations may impact satisfaction with TME. Unique identifier NCT04376710 at Clinicaltrials.gov (5/6/2020).
TRANSPARENT TESTA 2 allele confers major reduction in pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) seed dormancy

Abstract Efforts are underway to domesticate the winter annual oilseed cover crop, pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.), to aid in overcoming global food security and ecosystem challenges. Several key alleles for domestication have already been introgressed; however, the weedy trait of seed dormancy remains. To make pennycress attractive for growers, any traits that could contribute to weed pressure on their fields must be removed. In this study, we have performed multi-faceted experiments to understand and dissect challenges associated with seed dormancy and germination in wild pennycress. Lines were derived by chemical mutagenesis to provide a possible genetic solution. Laboratory and field-based experiments were performed to understand the role of light, seed priming, and gibberellic acid in the wild-type pennycress. These experiments were followed by incorporation of a genotype with a mutation in the TRANSPARENT TESTA 2 gene that could potentially overcome problem of seed dormancy in wild-type pennycress. Subsequent laboratory and field-based comparison of the wild-type and tt2 mutant over three seasons suggested that the tt2 line can germinate at a faster rate than wild-type and is comparable to the germination of wild-type treated with gibberellic acid. These experiments validated the hypothesis of using transparent testa mutants to solve seed dormancy and germination challenges. Further characterization of the transparent testa mutant indicated that this genotype can be susceptible to abiotic stress conditions such as NaCl, polyethylene glycol, coarse growth medium (sand), and abscisic acid. Future work is required to understand the issues related to the abiotic stress response in these lines.
Vacuolar Nitrate and the Isolation of Vacuoles for Localization and Transport Studies

The vacuole is presumed to be the site of nitrate storage in plants. Various authors (Heimer and Filner, 1971; Ferrari et al., 1973; and Aslam et al., 1976) have demonstrated the existence of an intracellular pool from which nitrate can be made available for reduction. Washout kinetics obtained from tobacco suspension cells indicate that this pool may represent vacuolar nitrate (Ferrari et al., 1973). However, no direct evidence exists that the vacuole is indeed the main storage area of cellular nitrate.
Genome annotation in a community college cell biology lab

The Biology Department at Salt Lake Community College has used the IMG-ACT toolbox to introduce a genome mapping and annotation exercise into the laboratory portion of its Cell Biology course. This project provides students with an authentic inquiry-based learning experience while introducing them to computational biology and contemporary learning skills. Additionally, the project strengthens student understanding of the scientific method and contributes to student learning gains in curricular objectives centered around basic molecular biology, specifically, the Central Dogma. Importantly, inclusion of this project in the laboratory course provides students with a positive learning environment and allows for the use of cooperative learning strategies to increase overall student success.
Magnetization Transfer and Cross Relaxation in Tissue

The sections in this article are 1 Introduction 2 Longitudinal Coupling 3 The Magnetic Field Dependence of Water Relaxation in Tissues 4 Stimulated Responses 5 The Nature of the Coupling and the Transfer Rate 6 The Relation of MTC Images to T2-Weighted Images 7 Effects of Relaxation Agents 8 Implementation Strategies 9 Biographical Sketch Related Articles
Detecting Extreme Events from Climate Time Series via Topic Modeling

We propose a topic-model-based approach to define and detect patterns corresponding to extreme climate-related events over different regions around the globe from the time series data of various climate variables. While topic models are popular for tasks such as natural language processing, bioinformatics, and computer vision, we are unaware of their applications to modeling climate extremes. Inference from our model can be used to construct climate extreme indices, predict disastrous extreme events such as drought and floods, and understand the influence of climate change on climate extremes.
Impact of gender on the myocardial metabolic response to obesity.

Objectives We sought to determine the gender-specific effects of obesity on myocardial metabolism, work, and efficiency. Background Myocardial metabolism abnormalities may contribute to the development of obesity-related heart failure. Increased myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO2) and fatty acid (FA) metabolism and decreased efficiency occur with obesity in women. It is unknown whether similar changes occur with obesity in men. Methods We quantified cardiac work, efficiency, myocardial blood flow (MBF), MVO2, glucose, and FA metabolism with echocardiography and positron emission tomography in nonobese and obese men and women (N = 86). Results There were significant differences between the obese (n = 35) and nonobese (n = 51) subjects in age, body composition, plasma lipids, and insulin resistance in addition to differences between the men (n = 30) and women (n = 56) in body composition and plasma lipids. Female gender independently predicted increased cardiac work (p Conclusions Women's and men's myocardial metabolic responses to obesity are not exactly the same. Obesity and gender modulate MBF and MVO2, are related to myocardial substrate metabolism, and sometimes interact in its prediction. Gender modifies efficiency. Gender-related differences in myocardial metabolism may affect the development of/adaptation to obesity-related cardiac disease.
Strand breaks are repaired efficiently in human ribosomal genes.

We examined repair of DNA strand breaks induced by the anti-cancer drug bleomycin in both Pol I and Pol II transcribed genes in permeabilized human fibroblasts. The majority of these breaks (>80%) are single strand breaks (SSBs) thought to be repaired by base excision repair enzymes. Repair was examined in each strand of a 7.2-kilobase fragment, completely within the Pol I transcribed region of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and an 8.3-kilobase fragment completely within the Pol II transcribed region of the dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene. Bleomycin dose-response studies revealed no bias for SSBs in either strand of the rDNA fragment. Furthermore, repair of SSBs is rapid (~80% resealed in 60 min) in both the transcribed and nontranscribed strands of rDNA. Rapid repair of SSBs is also observed in both strands of the DHFR gene (~60% resealed in 60 min). In contrast, little (or no) repair of UV photodimers occurs in either strand of human rDNA, regardless of whether cells are confluent or actively growing. Thus, DNA lesions in human ribosomal genes may be more accessible to base excision repair enzymes than those involved in nucleotide excision repair.
Why Corporations Should Not Abandon Social Responsibility

Former U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich, in his recent book Supercapitalism: The Transformation of Business, Democracy, and Everyday Life (2007), rejects outright the call for increased corporate social responsibility. He believes that social responsibility advocates are wasting resources and efforts on a doomed project. This article suggests that while Reich raises several interesting concerns in his counter-intuitive book, especially about the rise in corporate political power, ultimately his argument is unconvincing. Worse yet, a careful reading suggests that Reich does not contemplate fully what it is he is asking business and society to give up in his call to jettison corporate social responsibility. The notion of corporate social responsibility is itself an extremely, valuable, and hard-won social asset. It is a vehicle for promoting transparency, more nuanced accountability, integrity, better communication, mutually beneficial exchange, and sensible development. In providing a language and vocabulary to critique business from both inside and outside its boundaries, it has becomes a necessary condition for business ethics and modern capitalism. It is especially important in a world of increasing global economics. Nevertheless, it is an extremely fragile asset. Books, like Reich’s Supercapitalism, that dismiss corporate social responsibility in such a facile way, are dangerous and risky in ways that perhaps even the authors themselves are unaware.
Growth Factors Outside of the Platelet-derived Growth Factor (PDGF) Family Employ Reactive Oxygen Species/Src Family Kinases to Activate PDGF Receptor α and Thereby Promote Proliferation and Survival of Cells

The vitreous contains a plethora of growth factors that are strongly implicated in the formation of fibroproliferative diseases such as proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Although platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) are present in the vitreous, vitreal growth factors outside of the PDGF family activated the PDGF α receptor (PDGFRα) and promoted disease progression in a rabbit model of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (H. Lei, G. Velez, P. Hovland, T. Hirose, D. Gilbertson, and A. Kazlauskas (2008) submitted for publication.) In this report we investigated the mechanism by which non-PDGFs activated PDGFRα. We found that non-PDGFs increased the cellular level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and that this event was necessary and sufficient for phosphorylation of PDGFRα. We speculated that the underlying mechanism was ROS-mediated inhibition of phosphotyrosine phosphatases, which antagonize receptor auto-phosphorylation. However, this did not appear to be the case. Non-PDGFs promoted tyrosine phosphorylation of catalytically inactive PDGFRα, and thereby indicated that at least one additional tyrosine kinase was involved. Indeed, preventing expression or blocking the kinase activity of Src family kinases suppressed non-PDGF-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of PDGFRα. Thus non-PDGFs increased the level of ROS, which activated Src family kinases and resulted in phosphorylation of PDGFRα. Finally, although non-PDGFs induced only modest phosphorylation of PDGFRα, proliferation and survival of cells in response to non-PDGFs was significantly enhanced by expression of PDGFRα. These studies reveal a novel mechanism for activation of PDGFRα that appears capable of enhancing the responsiveness of cells to growth factors outside of the PDGF family.
Scripts and episodes: The development of event memory

This article reviews recent research on how children organize general script knowledge and memories of specific episodes in memory. First, we discuss developmental issues concerning how children represent single episodes during the initial stages of script acquisition. Research indicates that even very young children quickly grasp the role of variation and invariance in recurring experiences. After only a few varying experiences, children come to expect more variation, but if the initial experiences are invariant they expect that all future occurrences will be the same. However, there are developmental differences in children's ability to ‘sort out’ a standard script from its variations if a single experience is different from all others during the initial four or five exposures with an event. In the second section we focus on how typical and atypical episodes are remembered after a script is established. Here, there are few developmental differences. Very young children up to adults are better able to recall deviation episodes than episodes that closely follow a script. However, cueing plays an important role in remembering both routine and deviation episodes. In the last section we discuss explanations for developmental differences in children's memory for specific episodes during the initial phases of script acquisition and suggest areas for future research.
The Racist Patient

As I reflected on what happened that night, I realized that no one had ever raised the possibility that I might one day be hurt by a patient's words or actions.
Forcible, drug-facilitated, and incapacitated rape in relation to substance use problems: Results from a national sample of college women ☆

This is the first study to examine the relation between rape and substance use problems in college women as a function of three legally recognized forms of rape: forcible, incapacitated, and substance-facilitated rape. Data were collected via structured telephone interview with a large national sample of college women aged 18-34 years (n=1980). Lifetime prevalence of any type of rape was 11.3% in the sample. Prevalence estimates for binge drinking and substance abuse were 15.8% and 19.8%, respectively. Lifetime experience of incapacitated rape and drug-alcohol facilitated rape, but not forcible rape, were associated with increased odds of past-year binge drinking and substance abuse. Findings have implications for secondary prevention and call for continued differentiation in assessment of rape type.
Voltage and reactive power control using approximate stochastic annealing

One of the objectives of smart grids is to optimize the performance of power devices to improve energy efficiency by utilizing additional data from smart meters. In particular, this is important for the transmission and distribution network, in which approximately 7% of the total energy generated is wasted. Efficient management of voltage profiles and reactive power in power distribution systems plays an important role towards this goal. In this paper, we consider voltage and reactive power control (VVC) problem with the objective to determine the proper settings of capacitor banks and transformer taps in power distribution systems to minimize daily energy losses. Voltage constraints and operation limits constraints on transformer load tap changers (LTCs) and shunt capacitors (SCs) are considered in our model. We propose a stochastic search algorithm called Approximate Stochastic Annealing (ASA) for solving this VVC problem. The algorithm searches the optimal control schedule by randomly sampling from a sequence of probability distributions over the space of all possible settings of LTCs and SCs. A Lagrangian RelaxationDynamic Programming (LR-DP) algorithm is also proposed to obtain upper and lower bounds on the performance of the optimal solution. Our testing results on the well-known PG&E 69-bus distribution network indicate that the ASA algorithm may yield solutions very close to optimum within a modest amount of computational time.
Simultaneous Quantification of Buprenorphine, Norbuprenorphine, Buprenorphine-Glucuronide and Norbuprenorphine-Glucuronide in Human Umbilical Cord by Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry

A LCMS method was developed and validated for the determination of buprenorphine (BUP), norbuprenorphine (NBUP), buprenorphine glucuronide (BUP-Gluc), and norbuprenorphine glucuronide (NBUP-Gluc) in placenta. Quantification was achieved by selected ion monitoring of m/z 468.4 (BUP), 414.3 (NBUP), 644.4 (BUP-Gluc), and 590 (NBUP-Gluc). BUP and NBUP were identified monitoring MS2 fragments m/z 396, 414 and 426 for BUP, and 340, 364 and 382 for NBUP, and glucuronide conjugates monitoring MS3 fragments m/z 396 and 414 for BUP-Gluc, and 340 and 382 for NBUP-Gluc. Linearity was 1–50 ng/g. Intra-day, inter-day and total assay imprecision (% RSD) were <13.4%, and analytical recoveries were 96.2–113.1%. Extraction efficiencies ranged from 40.7–68%, process efficiencies 38.8–70.5%, and matrix effect 1.3–15.4%. Limits of detection were 0.8 ng/g for all compounds. An authentic placenta from an opioid-dependent pregnant woman receiving BUP pharmacotherapy was analyzed. BUP was not detected but metabolite concentrations were NBUP-Gluc 46.6, NBUP 15.7 and BUP-Gluc 3.2 ng/g.
Observations on compressive imaging and some applications

Despite the promise of higher performance and/or lower cost cameras, compressive imaging has not yet seen widespread use in either commercial or military applications. This presentation will discuss some possible reasons (both fundamental and practical) for the observed disconnect. Recent results related to compressive 3D imaging will also be presented.
Enhancement of ethanol reward by dopamine D3 receptor blockade.

Abstract This experiment examined the influence of U-99194A, a dopamine D3 receptor antagonist, on ethanol’s rewarding effect in a place conditioning paradigm. Swiss–Webster mice received six pairings of a tactile stimulus with ethanol (2 g/kg, i.p.), U-99194A (20 mg/kg, i.p.) with ethanol, or U-99194A alone. A different stimulus was paired with saline. During conditioning, ethanol or ethanol/U-99194A produced similar increases in locomotor activity. U-99194A alone produced modest increases in activity on some trials. As expected, the 2 g/kg ethanol dose produced a nonsignificant trend towards conditioned place preference. However, U-99194A enhanced the acquisition of ethanol preference, whereas U-99194A alone did not produce either place preference or aversion. The results are consistent with the notion that dopamine D3 systems are important in the response to ethanol and further suggest that D3 receptor blockade increases ethanol reward.
Phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 by PKA Stimulates Transcriptional Activity by Promoting a Novel Bivalent Interaction with the Coactivator CBP/p300

The transcriptional activity of NF-kappa B is stimulated upon phosphorylation of its p65 subunit on serine 276 by protein kinase A (PKA). The transcriptional coactivator CPB/p300 associates with NF-kappa B p65 through two sites, an N-terminal domain that interacts with the C-terminal region of unphosphorylated p65, and a second domain that only interacts with p65 phosphorylated on serine 276. Accessibility to both sites is blocked in unphosphorylated p65 through an intramolecular masking of the N terminus by the C-terminal region of p65. Phosphorylation by PKA both weakens the interaction between the N- and C-terminal regions of p65 and creates an additional site for interaction with CBP/p300. Therefore, PKA regulates the transcriptional activity of NF-kappa B by modulating its interaction with CBP/p300.
Optimization of nanotoroid arrays for plasmonic solar cell applications

This work presents the optimization of silver plasmonic nanotoroids in an infinite square array configuration located on top of an amorphous silicon substrate. Using the computational electromagnetics software Ansys® HFSS, the electromagnetic energy absorption enhancement in the silicon layer is optimized by varying the geometric configuration. Percentage enhancement of the generated photocurrent is approximated and is used to compare the performance of various nanotoroid designs, as well as comparison to other geometries.
Eyeblink conditioning in rats

Abstract Acquisition of eyeblink conditioned responses to a tone was studied in restrained male albino rats. Animals were placed in a modified restraining cage with their heads immobilized by surgically implanting a small bolt at the top of the skull and fastening it to the cage. Eyeblink responses were measured by a phototransistor which detected changes in the level of light reflected by eyelid closure. The conditioned stimulus was a 2,000-Hz, 90-dB, 500-ms tone; the unconditioned stimulus was a 4-psi, 150-ms air puff directed at the cornea; and the interstimulus interval was 350 ms, with a 60-s intertrial interval. Animals received 50 trials daily. All conditioned animals reached a criterion of 80% conditioned responses by Day 10. Pseudoconditioned control animals showed few conditioned responses by Day 10. The topography of the conditioned responses was comparable to those responses found with the nictitating membrane response in the rabbit. The data suggest that eyeblink conditioning in the rat can be used as a preparation to examine the attributes of classical conditioning as well as the neuroanatomical basis of associative learning.
Underwater audiogram of the California sea lion by the conditioned vocalization technique.

Conditioning techniques were developed demonstrating that pure tone frequencies under water can exert nearly perfect control over the underwater click vocalizations of the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus). Conditioned vocalizations proved to be a reliable way of obtaining underwater sound detection thresholds in Zalophus at 13 different frequencies, covering a frequency range of 250 to 64,000 Hz. The audiogram generated by these threshold measurements suggests that under water, the range of maximal sensitivity for Zalophus lies between one and 28 kHz with best sensitivity at 16 kHz. Between 28 and 36 kHz there is a loss in sensitivity of 60 dB/octave. However, with relatively intense acoustic signals (> 38 dB re 1 μb underwater), Zalophus will respond to frequencies at least as high as 192 kHz. These results are compared with the underwater hearing of other marine mammals.
Structure of Supported Bilayers Composed of Lipopolysaccharides and Bacterial Phospholipids: Raft Formation and Implications for Bacterial Resistance

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the major lipid on the surface of Gram-negative bacteria, plays a key role in bacterial resistance to hydrophobic antibiotics and antimicrobial peptides. Using atomic force microscopy (AFM) we characterized supported bilayers composed of LPSs from two bacterial chemotypes with different sensitivities to such antibiotics and peptides. Rd LPS, from more sensitive “deep rough” mutants, contains only an inner saccharide core, whereas Ra LPS, from “rough” mutants, contains a longer polysaccharide region. A vesicle fusion technique was used to deposit LPS onto either freshly cleaved mica or polyethylenimine-coated mica substrates. The thickness of the supported bilayers measured with contact-mode AFM was 7 nm for Rd LPS and 9 nm for Ra LPS, consistent with previous x-ray diffraction measurements. In water the Ra LPS bilayer surface was more disordered than Rd LPS bilayers, likely due to the greater volume occupied by the longer Ra LPS polysaccharide region. Since deep rough mutants contain bacterial phospholipid (BPL) as well as LPS on their surfaces, we also investigated the organization of Rd LPS/BPL bilayers. Differential scanning calorimetry and x-ray diffraction indicated that incorporation of BPL reduced the phase transition temperature, enthalpy, and average bilayer thickness of Rd LPS. For Rd LPS/BPL mixtures, AFM showed irregularly shaped regions thinner than Rd LPS bilayers by 2 nm (the difference in thickness between Rd LPS and BPL bilayers), whose area increased with increasing BPL concentration. We argue that the increased permeability of deep rough mutants is due to structural modifications caused by BPL to the LPS membrane, in LPS hydrocarbon chain packing and in the formation of BPL-enriched microdomains.
Vinculin and talin: Kinetics of entry and exit from the cytoskeletal pool

Vinculin and talin, two major components of focal contacts, exist in cytosolic and cytoskeletal pools. The kinetics of entry and exit of the two proteins between the two pools were investigated in normal and transformed cells. In cultured chick embryo fibroblasts, a fraction (2-5%) of the newly synthesized vinculin and talin reached maximal levels in the cytoskeleton in 30-45 min. Both proteins had 2-3 times shorter half-lives in the cytoskeletal pool (t1/2 = 6-7 h) than in the cytosolic pool (t1/2 = 14-15 h), which suggests that the incorporation of cytosolic vinculin and talin into the cytoskeleton does not involve a simple equilibrium between the two pools. However, after disruption of cell-to-substrate adhesion by trypsinization, an equilibrium in the incorporation between the two pools was transiently established, resulting in the use of the preexisting cytosolic pools of the two proteins during re-establishment of cell-to-matrix contacts. Viral transformation did not cause a significant change in the incorporation rates into the cytoskeleton. However, it decreased the half-lives of both proteins in the cytoskeletal pool (t1/2 = approximately 4 h) and in the cytosolic pool (t1/2 = 9-10 h). The increased turn-over rates of vinculin and talin in the cytoskeletal pool in transformed cells may contribute to the enhanced motility of transformed cells.
Comparison of soil extraction methods for nematodes and microarthropods

Abstract Active extraction techniques, dependent on the behavior of soil animals, and passive techniques, dependent on specific gravity or sedimentation rate, are widely used in the extraction of both nematodes and microarthropods. No method is completely suitable for extraction of both nematodes and microarthropods. Since no extraction method is 100% efficient, the estimation of extraction efficiency can provide a basis for evaluating extraction performance and comparing results of different methods.
The dynamic behaviour of the Pople and Karasz model

Abstract Using the Pople and Karasz model for the solidification of plastic crystals, we construct two different sets of dynamic equations for the translational and rotational order parameters. The first is a straight generalization of the Pople and Karasz model, whereby one coupling parameter is a function of the other, and vice versa. The second generalization is based on the most probable path method of Kikuchi. In order to accomplish this we start with an appropriate transformation of the parameters. It is then shown that it is necessary to incorporate the spacial-angular correlation in order to apply this method. Computations for both systems of equations are given to demonstrate the behaviour of the long range order parameter if it is initially far from equilibrium.
Perceptions of Hypertensive Subjects on Help Needed from Health Professionals to Adopt Recommended Lifestyle Modifications

Abstract LEARNING OUTCOME: To leant what a group of patients with hypertension needs from health professionals to help them adopt lifestyle modifications recommended to lower blood pressure. perceptions of subjects with hypertension (HTN) regarding the help they need from health professionals in order to adopt the diet and exercise recommendations of the Joint National Committee (JNQ on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure were obtained using a qualitative method, the focus group technique. Employees of a university medical center who have HTN and are followed by the university's Department of Family Medicine were recruited as subjects. The subjects (n=32) volunteered to participate in one of four focus groups each of which met once with a moderator to complete a demographic questionnaire and to discuss answers to open-ended questions. The sessions were audio-taped and the tapes were transcribed The data (statements of subjects) were analyzed by five stages of qualitative analysis. Fourteen themes emerged from the data that in the final report were supported by quotations. The major themes, stated briefly, are reported here. Emotional stress (never mentioned by the moderator) was perceived as a major cause of HTN and stress reduction as an important treatment. Regular exercise and a reduction of salt intake were perceived as the important nonpharmacological treatments for HTN. The subjects were not as aware of JNC's other dietary recommendations to lower blood pressure and were not aware of the numerical goals for the dietary factors. Commonly mentioned barriers to adopting healthy eating/exercise habits included lack of knowledge and lack of motivation/support Subjects indicated that the help they needed from health professionals to adopt healthy eating and exercise habits included the provision of information, motivation/support, some individualized care, and greater access to the variety of health professionals who could assist A wide range of ideas was generated about a proposed lifestyle modification program for the treatment of patients with HTN. The program is being modified to incorporate ideas from the focus groups on the information needed, how to provide the information, and the types of motivation/support desired.
The effect of irradiance and redox-modifying reagents on the 52 kDa protein disulfide isomerase of Arabidopsis chloroplasts

Immunoblot analysis was used to assess the effects of light and redox-modifying chemicals on the 52 kDa protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) from chloroplasts of Arabidopsis thaliana. A monoclonal antiserum was used that preferentially cross-reacts with the 52 kDa relative to the 65 kDa isoform of PDI. The PDI-52 was most abundant in leaves, flowers, stems and seeds, but was undetected in roots. PDI-52 formed a ∼220 kDa protein complex on blue native gels, indicating that it associates with either itself or other proteins in chloroplasts. Light decreased the levels of PDI-52 by 80 %, relative to the control protein (the CF1 subunit of chloroplast ATP synthase). Treatment with dithiothreitol decreased the content of the 52 kDa protein by half. In contrast, when the reduction of plastoquinone is blocked by DCMU, or when the plants are treated with phosphate, PDI-52 contents increased by 1.5 to 2-fold relative to CF1. The effect of the chemical treatments coincided with the effect of the light/dark cycle and implied that light decreased PDI-52 protein content by way of the cellular redox environment.
The price elasticity of the supply of single-family detached urban housing

Abstract Past attempts to estimate the price elasticity of the supply of housing have erred by using aggregate data. Many houses are built in areas where the volume of residential construction is low. Consequently, the influence of observations from higher-volume areas where costs may be higher is diminished. This problem is eliminated by using cross-sectional data from 61 different American urban areas, for a total of 223 observations from 1976 to 1981, to estimate a translog cost function for housing. The supply elasticity is found to be infinite.
Ultrastructural evaluation of ultimobranchial glands from normal and osteopetrotic chickens.

Abstract Ultimobranchial glands of young, rapidly growing chickens were evaluated ultrastructurally and compared to findings in chickens of the same age with severe naturally occurring osteopetrosis. Secretory cells were present in actively synthesizing and storage phases of their secretory cycle in both groups. Stellate cells extended long cytoplasmic processes between adjacent secretory cells and had features suggestive of a supportive rather than a secretory function. Follicular structures with single or multiple layers of lining cells were a prominent feature of the ultimobranchial gland. The presence of secretory and stellate cells in various stages of differentiation in the basilar regions of multilayered follicles suggested a mechanism of cell renewal from follicular epithelium. Although viral particles were present in the intercellular and extracellular spaces, viral replication was not observed within the secretory cells of chickens with osteopetrosis. Densely granulated secretory cells in the storage phase of the secretory cycle were more numerous in ultimobranchial glands of normal chickens, whereas actively synthesizing cells predominated in diseased birds. These changes in secretory activity could be explained either by a direct interaction between the leukosis virus and secretory cells or be secondary to alterations in blood calcium.
Women's leisure and leisure satisfaction in contemporary urban China.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to explore the variables associated with Chinese women’s leisure satisfaction, investigate their preferences when participating in leisure and examine characteristics of women’s leisure engagement at different age groups. One hundred and fifty-two interviews were conducted from the summer of 2007 to the summer of 2008 in four cities in China. Leisure satisfaction among Chinese women was measured and analysed by testing a proposed model. Results indicated that there is a significant relationship between women’s leisure satisfaction and their perception of freedom to access leisure, the time they have for leisure, and their expectations of leisure in the future. When leisure activity participation was compared among different age groups (30 or younger; 31–50; and 50 plus), younger women were more likely to participate in entertainment-oriented (e.g., listening to music and going to a movie) and physically intensive (e.g., sports and travel) leisure activities. Older wo...
Defining risk from the perspective of nurses in clinical roles

Although the nursing literature suggests that nurses generally avoid risk, their willingness and ability to take risk are fundamental to their professional advancement, job satisfaction and patient advocacy. The definition of risk as it pertains in clinical practice, however, may not be synonymous with risk as defined in other fields. This study defines risk in nursing from the perspective of three registered nurses in clinical roles. Grounded theory methodology indicated that 11 risk categories comprised six core concepts. The latter formed the basis for the following: risk in clinical nursing practice is defined by uncomfortable and typically unavoidable role-related situations characterized by high unpredictability and negative or hostile overtones, dependency on others, exceedingly high performance expectations from self and others, unpleasant emotions, and health threats that extend beyond working hours. Findings of this study refute the notion that nurses avoid risks. Risk, ever present in the nurse's clinical practice and environment, requires strategies to minimize its negative impact.
Mechanism and circuitry underlying retinal sensitization

Recently we have described a population of retinal ganglion cells that increase their sensitivity after the presentation of a high contrast stimulus. This process, termed contrast sensitization is a form of short-term information storage that enables ganglion cells to store the location of a previously moving object for several seconds. Effectively, sensitizing ganglion cells make a prediction that the location of a strong stimulus at one point in time will continue to be important in the near future, even after the strong stimulus ceases. To understand how the retina can paradoxically increase its sensitivity in the face of a strong stimulus, we recorded intracellularly from sensitizing ganglion cells, and found that a depolarization of the baseline membrane potential underlies the increase in sensitivity. We then fit the membrane potential fluctuations with a model that contained two independently adapting pathways: one excitatory and one inhibitory. In this model, a strong stimulus adapts the inhibitory pathway, such that subsequent stimuli are processed with less inhibition, thus increasing sensitivity. Consistent with this model, pharmacologically blocking GABAergic inhibitory transmission eliminated sensitization. To identify interneurons that generated sensitization, we recorded intracellularly from an inhibitory amacrine cell, while simultaneously recording from a population of ganglion cells with an extracellular multielectrode array. By injecting current into the amacrine cell, we measured whether amacrine transmission changed during sensitization. Initial results indicate the presence of an amacrine cell whose transmission to ganglion cells depresses during sensitization, as predicted by the model. This effect was specific, as other types of amacrine cells did not change their transmission under the same conditions. These results lead to an understanding of sensitization whereby a strong stimulus primes the circuit to form a prediction of future input by locally removing one type of inhibition.
Differential effect of resuscitation on Toll-like receptors in a model of hemorrhagic shock without a septic challenge

Summary It has been shown that the inflammatory response and cellular damage after hemorrhagic shock are influenced by resuscitation strategies. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play an important role in signal transduction in inflammatory conditions. However, alterations in TLR expression following hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation have not been well documented. This study was conducted to measure the impact of different resuscitation strategies on TLR expression and downstream signaling in key organs. Methods Sprague Dawley rats ( n =38) were subjected to a severe volume-controlled hemorrhage protocol. After 75min of shock, they were resuscitated over 45min as follows: (1) lactated Ringer's (LR, 81ml/kg), (2) ketone Ringer's (KR, 81ml/kg), (3) 7.5% hypertonic saline (HTS, 9.7ml/kg), (4) 6% hetastarch (HEX, 27ml/kg), (5) pyruvate Ringer's (PR, 81ml/kg). Sham hemorrhage (NH) and no resuscitation (NR) groups served as controls. The KR and PR solutions were identical to LR except for equimolar substitution of racemic lactate with beta hydroxybutyrate and sodium pyruvate, respectively. At the end of resuscitation, the expression of TLRs (types 1–10), and cytokines (IL-10, IL-1β and TNF-α) were measured in the lung and spleen using RT-PCR. Levels of phosphorylated and total IkB-α and NF-κB were detected by Western blotting. The systemic and lung protein levels of TNF-α were measured using ELISA and immunohistochemistry. Results Expression of TLRs in the lung was affected more than in the spleen by hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation. In the lung, hemorrhage increased TLR-2, -3 and -6 (but not TLR-4) mRNA expression, with an up-regulation of the ratio of phosphor-NF-κBp65 and total NF-κBp65, NF-κBp65 activation, and enhanced systemic and tissue TNF-α protein levels. Post-resuscitation, TLR mRNA profile and subsequent downstream proteins in the lung and spleen were affected by the choice of resuscitation strategy. Conclusions Hemorrhagic shock activates TLR signaling in lung, but not the spleen, probably through an up-regulation of TLR gene expression, and activation of NF-κB pathway. Resuscitation modulates this response in a fluid- and tissue-specific fashion.
JNK interaction with Sab mediates ER stress induced inhibition of mitochondrial respiration and cell death

Our aim was to better understand the mechanism and importance of sustained c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and effects of ER stress on mitochondria by determining the role of mitochondrial JNK binding protein, Sab. Tunicamycin or brefeldin A induced a rapid and marked decline in basal mitochondrial respiration and reserve-capacity followed by delayed mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis. Knockdown of mitochondrial Sab prevented ER stress-induced sustained JNK activation, impaired respiration, and apoptosis, but did not alter the magnitude or time course of activation of ER stress pathways. P-JNK plus adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) added to isolated liver mitochondria promoted superoxide production, which was amplified by addition of calcium and inhibited by a blocking peptide corresponding to the JNK binding site on Sab (KIM1). This peptide also blocked tunicamycin-induced inhibition of cellular respiration. In conclusion, ER stress triggers an interaction of JNK with mitochondrial Sab, which leads to impaired respiration and increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, sustaining JNK activation culminating in apoptosis.
The mechanism of cell division

The recently developed approximation method for treating problems of cell biophysics is generalized and corrected in some points. The equations of elongation of a dividing cell of any shape are given for the most general case of finite permeability as well as of finite internal and external diffusion coefficients.
Perchlorate exposure does not modulate temporal variation of whole-body thyroid and androgen hormone content in threespine stickleback

Previously we showed that exposure of threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) to the endocrine disruptor perchlorate results in pronounced structural changes in thyroid and gonad, while surprisingly, whole-body thyroid hormone concentrations remain unaffected. To test for hormone titer variations on a finer scale, we evaluated the interactive effects of time (diel and reproductive season) and perchlorate exposure on whole-body contents of triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), and 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) in captive stickleback. Adult stickleback were exposed to 100ppm perchlorate or control water and sampled at 4-h intervals across the 24-hday and at one time-point (1100h) weekly across the reproductive season (May-July). Neither whole-body T3 nor T4 concentration significantly differed across the day in control or perchlorate treated stickleback. Across the reproductive season, whole-body T3 concentration remained stable while T4 significantly increased. However, neither hormone concentration was significantly affected by perchlorate, verifying our previous studies. The concentration of whole-body 11-KT, a major fish androgen, displayed significant diel variation and also steadily declined across the reproductive season in untreated males; perchlorate exposure did not influence the concentration of 11-KT in either diel or reproductive season schedules. Diel and reproductive season variations in 11-KT content in male stickleback are likely related to reproductive physiology and behavior. The observed increase in T4 content across the reproductive season may be reflective of increased energy investment in reproduction near the end of the life cycle.
Blemish and Perfection of the Body in the Priestly Literature and Deuteronomy

This article examines the interrelationship of blemish and perfection of the body in Priestly biblical literature and in Deuteronomy. In doing so, the discussion briefly addresses how declarations of impurity/uncleanness play a role in the establishment of status as well as touching upon the relationship of gender and impurity. In conclusion, the essay explores some issues of how to interpret biblical texts that construe disability in negative terms.