cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A 53 kDa protein binds to the negative regulatory region of JC virus early promoter

Abstract Using gel retardation and photocrosslinking experiments, we have identified proteins of about 53 kDa in size in both rat glioma (C6) and cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cell extracts which bind to the negative regulatory region or JC virus (JCV) early promoter. The glial cell protein binds to its cognate promoter element with lesser affinity when compared to the protein present in HeLa cells. Futher, these proteins interacted differentially to an oligonucleotide, containing the neighboring cis -acting domain, which is recognized by nuclear factor 1 (NFI). These findings suggest that the interactions of the 53 kDa HeLa protein may contribute to the regulation of JCV early promoter in HeLa cells.
Evaluation of ATR−FTIR Spectroscopy as an “in Situ” Tool for Following the Hydrolysis and Condensation of Alkoxysilanes under Rich H2O Conditions

The fate of ∼0.5 M tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) in HNO3 solutions (pH 2−3) was followed by “in situ” ATR−FTIR spectroscopy. ATR spectra with excellent signal-to-noise ratios were obtained with collection times of 2 min. A qualitative examination of spectra measured at different reaction times showed that TEOS was first converted into ethanol and Si(OH)4, and then amorphous SiO2 was precipitated from the solution. The TEOS hydrolysis rate increased with decreasing pH of the nitric solution. In addition, under reaction conditions that make the system homogeneous (stable micelles, solution, or stable suspension), the use of standards enabled measurement of concentrations of the reactant products: EtOH, Si(OH)4, and SiO2. Calibration curves for EtOH in water and in methanol, for TEOS in ethanol, and for SiO2 in water fit equations of the form y = bx, with R2 values between 0.999 and 0.99. The mass balance on the acidified TEOS/water systems was good: initial concentrations of 0.56 F of TEOS resulted in [...
Optimization of catalyzed epoxidation of unsaturated fatty acids by using tendency models

Abstract Significant economic benefits can be realized by optimizing the operation of batch/semibatch processes even when a detailed understanding of the process fundamentals (stoichiometry, kinetics etc.) is not available. The present study investigates the application of a general purpose modeling and optimization approach, called “Tendency Modeling”, to the catalyzed epoxidation of oleic acid. The selection of this reaction was motivated by its complexity, some knowledge of kinetics under limited range of operating conditions (Kuo and Chou, 1987), selectivity losses, and its exothermicity. Experimental data obtained from a pilot plant facility are used to test the proposed modeling approach. The “Tendency Model” of the process is a low order, nonlinear, and dynamic model. It consists of approximate stoichiometric, kinetic and thermodynamic models obtained by fitting the available plant data, coupled with fundamental material and energy balances. This approximate model is used to optimize the process in an evolutionary manner according to a prespecified economic criterion. In the present paper, we report the development of an approximate stoichiometric model for the epoxidation process, a first step in the process optimization. A 2-level fractional factorial design is implemented to collect data for model identification. The approximate stoichiometric model is obtained by factor analysis of an appropriately scaled concentration data matrix to determine the number of independent reactions and to identify the reaction invariants which can be linearly combined to obtain an approximate, but more realistic reaction network. A detailed free radical mechanism consisting of 11 reactions has been proposed for the epoxidation process (Kuo and Chou, 1987). Our results indicate that a simpler model consisting of two or three overall reactions can satisfactorily explain the observed data.
Cystine Deprivation Induces Oligodendroglial Death: Rescue by Free Radical Scavengers and by a Diffusible Glial Factor

In this study we examined the effect on oligodendroglial survival of exogenous cystine deprivation. Oligodendroglia isolated from mixed glial primary cultures derived from brains of 1-day-old rats, and then grown for 3 days, were markedly dependent on extracellular cystine for survival. The EC50 values for cystine for a 24-h exposure ranged from 2 to 65 microM. After 6 h of cystine deprivation, the cellular glutathione level decreased to 21 +/- 13% of the control. Free radical scavengers (alpha-tocopherol, ascorbate, idebenone, and N-tert-butyl-alpha-phenylnitrone) were protective against cystine deprivation but had no effect on the glutathione level. An iron chelator, desferrioxamine mesylate, also was protective. These findings suggest that intracellular hydroxyl radicals are important for this toxicity. In contrast to the observations in 3-day-old cultures, the dependence on exogenous cystine for cell viability was not observed consistently in oligodendroglia cultured for 6 days before the onset of cystine deprivation. Several observations suggested that this loss of cystine dependence was due to a diffusible factor. Sensitivity to the toxicity of cystine deprivation in day 6 cultures increased as the volume of medium was increased from 0.3 to 2 ml. Furthermore, preincubation of cystine-depleted medium with astrocyte cultures eliminated the toxicity of the cystine deprivation. HPLC assay of the conditioned cystine-depleted medium showed no significant change in cystine or cysteine concentration. We conclude that oligodendroglia are highly susceptible to cystine deprivation in day 3 cultures and that this susceptibility is due to the accumulation of intracellular free radicals in the setting of glutathione depletion. The resistance of day 6 oligodendroglial cultures is caused at least in part by a diffusible factor.
A small-molecule switch for Golgi sulfotransferases

The study of glycan function is a major frontier in biology that could benefit from small molecules capable of perturbing carbohydrate structures on cells. The widespread role of sulfotransferases in modulating glycan function makes them prime targets for small-molecule modulators. Here, we report a system for conditional activation of Golgi-resident sulfotransferases using a chemical inducer of dimerization. Our approach capitalizes on two features shared by these enzymes: their requirement of Golgi localization for activity on cellular substrates and the modularity of their catalytic and localization domains. Fusion of these domains to the proteins FRB and FKBP enabled their induced assembly by the natural product rapamycin. We applied this strategy to the GlcNAc-6-sulfotransferases GlcNAc6ST-1 and GlcNAc6ST-2, which collaborate in the sulfation of L-selectin ligands. Both the activity and specificity of the inducible enzymes were indistinguishable from their WT counterparts. We further generated rapamycin-inducible chimeric enzymes comprising the localization domain of a sulfotransferase and the catalytic domain of a glycosyltransferase, demonstrating the generality of the system among other Golgi enzymes. The approach provides a means for studying sulfate-dependent processes in cellular systems and, potentially, in vivo.
Predicting egg mass density and fecundity in field populations of the gypsy moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) using wing length of male moths.

The relationship between mean wing length and density of gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.), is described for leading-edge populations in Virginia and Maryland. Mean number of moths per trap, egg mass density, and eggs per mass in the succeeding generation were all related to mean male moth wing length using regression and correlation analyses. Because of the variability in egg mass density, predictions derived from regression models should be viewed as a part of a sequential approach to quantifying gypsy moth populations in management programs. Wing length estimates can assist in establishing priorities for egg mass surveys in a pheromone trap-based monitoring system. The use of wing lengths together with other density measures of gypsy moth populations can provide managers with additional information and put into use a measure of population quality for gypsy moth management decisions.
The determination of antibiotic content in supplemented feeding‐stuff

1 The paper describes the use of a tube serial-dilution test in broth and a paper-disc method in plates for assaying the concentration of penicillin and aureomycin in supplemented meals used for feeding to pigs. 2 In the serial-dilution test an aqueous extract of the meal is prepared and the concentration determined by comparing its inhibitory end-point with that of extracts prepared from standard control meals containing known amounts of antibiotic. 3 The results of the dilution test showed that it is possible to assign to test meals a concentration value falling within a narrow range, and that the test is not subject to interference by non-specific substances in the meal. 4 The paper-disc method was found to be satisfactory, but the technique is more difficult than that of the dilution test.
Mechanism of Inhibition of Lysyl Hydroxylase Activity by the Organophosphates Malathion and Malaoxon

Direct inhibition of lysyl hydroxylase by malathion and malaoxon was observed in an in vitro enzyme assay with recombinant lysyl hydroxylase expressed via a baculoviral system. The IC50 values for malathion and malaoxon were estimated to be approximately 60 and 45 mM, respectively. Additional kinetic studies showed this inhibition to be competitive or partially competitive with respect to the synthetic (collagen) peptide, partially uncompetitive with respect to Fe(2+), and partially noncompetitive with respect to ascorbic acid. The calculated values for the K(i) were consistent with the IC50 values. Allosteric effects were not found for any of the cofactors tested, the peptide substrate, or the inhibitors. Interactions were found to be unimolecular for lysyl hydroxylase and its substrate and cofactors as well as for the inhibitors malathion and malaoxon. A computer search of a protein structure database showed an unexpected region of partial homology between the active site sequence of acetylcholinesterase and a segment of lysyl hydroxylase, suggesting a possible molecular basis for these observations. These results suggest the possibility of a novel and hitherto unexpected class of inhibitors of lysyl hydroxylase, based on the organophosphate structure, that might be of value for testing as antifibrotic drugs.
Reconstruction kinetics of a stepped metallic surface: step doubling and singling of Ni(977) induced by low oxygen coverages

Abstract Helium atom diffraction has been used to study the reconstruction kinetics of a stepped metallic surface, Ni(977), which sequentially undergoes step-doubling and -singling upon dosing with low coverages of oxygen. Over the temperature range 390–470 K it was found that less than 2% of a monolayer of oxygen was sufficient to transform the initially prepared single-stepped surface to a new steady state having a double-stepped structure. The thermal range over which the doubled phase exists extends to higher temperatures when more oxygen is present. At low oxygen exposures this doubled interface reverts to the single-stepped surface above 470 K. Singling can also be driven by more extensive levels of oxygen adsorption. The kinetics of the step-doubling transformation which occurs below 470 K was determined to be second order with respect to single-step density while, for temperatures above 470 K, step-singling followed first-order kinetics with respect to the double-step density. Oxygen atoms adsorbed at step edges play a crucial role in these transformations. Arrhenius analysis is used to extract energetics for the step-doubling and -singling reconstructions. These results delineate the sequence of mechanistic stages which occur during the initial stages of oxidation of a stepped metallic interface which precede the onset of bulk oxidation, findings which are important for developing an improved understanding of metallic oxidation and corrosion.
SU-GG-J-53: A Novel Dose Reconstruction Method for Four-Dimensional Treatment Planning

Purpose: To present a novel dose mapping algorithm that takes into account heterogeneity effects of radiation energy distribution in 4D planning, and compare it with two well‐established dose calculation strategies. Method and Materials: A 4DCT dataset was imported into Eclipse and the end‐inhalation image (EI) was used to develop a free‐breathing lungcancerradiotherapytreatment plan. The EI was registered to the end‐exhalation image(EE, reference) using a B‐Spline deformable registration algorithm. The resultant displacement map Φ, defined from EE to EI, was iteratively reversed to generate a self‐inverse consistent map ΦR. With the Eclipse Advanced Planning‐Interface (API, Varian Medical Systems), the mass density matrix of EI was derived from the treatment plan and mapped to EE using ΦR. The dose was calculated on the EI using the AAA algorithm and multiplied by the mass density matrix of EI to generate the deposited energy. The energy was then mapped to the imageEE again using ΦR. The warped dose D on the EEimage was calculated as the ratio of the mapped energy and mass (REM). For comparison, two additional approaches were used that warped the dose on EI with Φ: center of mass (COM) and trilinear doseinterpolation (TRI). The three dose reconstruction strategies were then compared on the reference image(EE).Results: The average spatial difference between the composition of Φ and ΦR and the identity map was approximately 0.0 mm. On average, the dose to 95% of the ITV (D95) was 70.2%, 67.5%, and 64.3% for the REM, TRI, and COM methods, respectively. The dose difference between COM and REM was up to 14.5% at the high gradient beam edges. Conclusion: The independent mappings of mass and energy may help minimize heterogeneity‐induced doseinterpolation errors, thereby improving dose mapping accuracy in 4D treatment planning.
Variable adherence to prescribed dosing regimens for protease inhibitors: scope and outcomes.

Purpose of reviewIt is generally accepted that a high degree of adherence to the dosing regimens of protease inhibitors is essential to avoid virological failure. It is also believed that once-daily dosing of protease inhibitors, by improving adherence, will lead to better outcomes. This review will
Intracellular Degradation of Elastin by Cathepsin K in Skin Fibroblasts— A Possible Role in Photoaging

Solar elastosis is observed in the dermis of photoaged skin and is characterized by an accumulation of abnormal elastin in the extracellular space. Several proteases that degrade elastin in the extracellular space have been implicated in its formation. The lysosomal protease cathepsin K (catK) has recently been described to be highly expressed in skin fibroblasts under certain pathologic conditions. As cat K is one of the most potent mammalian elastases, we hypothesized that catK-mediated intracellular elastin degradation may play a role in the formation of solar elastosis. Immunostaining of cultured skin fibroblasts incubated with labeled elastin demonstrated internalization of extracellular elastin to lysosomes and its degradation by catK. Induction of catK expression in fibroblasts was observed both in vitro and in vivo after exposure to longwave UVA. In contrast to fibroblasts from young donors, cells from old donors failed to activate catK in response to UVA. These data suggest a role of intracellular elastin degradation by catK in the formation of solar elastosis. We propose that an age-related decline in catK activity, in particular after UV exposure, may promote the formation of actinic elastosis through a decline of orderly intracellular elastin degradation and subsequent accumulation of elastin in the extracellular space.
Working wives and women's rights: The connection between the employment status of wives and the feminist attitudes of husbands

Women in the labor force tend to have more profeminist attitudes on women's rights and sex roles than women working in the home. In turn, the husbands of wives employed outside the home are more supportive of feminist positions than the husbands of wives working in the home. The difference is greater on attitudes relating to employment and traditional roles in the home and family but also occurs on some items dealing with political rights and general sexual equality. The causal connection between the attitude of husbands and the labor-force status of their wives can not be demonstrated, but causation is believed to work in both directions.
A novel soybean mitochondrial transcript resulting from a DNA rearrangement involving the 5S rRNA gene

A tissue culture line of soybean cells (SB-1) is shown to have an unusual arrangement of mitochondrial genes. Fusion of the mitochondrial 5S gene to the distal end of an unidentified gene results in the abundant expression of an 800 nucleotide RNA with the 5S rRNA at its 5' end. Since only the fused 5S rRNA gene is found in this cell line, the functional 5S rRNA must arise by processing of the 800 nucleotide RNA or by intermittent termination of transcription. The 800 nucleotide transcript and its DNA arrangement are not detected at comparable levels in other soybean sources, including the parent plant of the SB-1 tissue culture line. The role of recombination in the origin of this gene fusion and in plant mitochondrial DNA in general is discussed.
OXIDE WEAROUT, BREAKDOWN, AND RELIABILITY

The subject of oxide wearout, breakdown, and reliability will be reviewed, largely, from an historical perspective. Five topics will be discussed: oxide breakdown, oxide leakage currents, trap generation, statistics, and reliability. An early model of oxide breakdown, developed by Klein and Solomon, will be described and will be shown to be generally applicable to oxide manufactured today, and to other solid insulators, as well. Both hard and soft breakdown were included in this model and will be discussed here. The importance of stress-induced-leakage-currents (SILCs) and direct tunneling currents will be discussed in the context of device applications, thinner oxides, and oxide reliability. The diminishing importance of breakdown in ultra thin oxides in ultra small devices will be contrasted with the increasing importance of oxide leakage currents. Trap generation is important in the triggering of breakdown and in the formation of SILCs. Trap generation will be discussed in some detail. Various statistical formulations of oxide breakdown, and how these distributions are related to trap generation, will be discussed. All of these effects will be related to oxide reliability and oxide integrity. An extensive bibliography has been included to help the reader obtain more detailed information concerning the concepts being discussed.
In vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF/ET): An established and successful therapy for endometriosis

The purpose of this report is to present a 6-year experience in the management of endometriosis with in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF/ET). We divided 136 patients who underwent 280 cycles into three groups: (1) previous history of endometriosis but normal pelvis at the time of oocyte retrieval, (2) stages I–II endometriosis (revised AFS classification), and (3) stages III–IV endometriosis. The stimulation protocols, estradiol (E2) responses, and distribution of terminal E2 patterns were similar in all groups. Group 3 had significantly fewer preovulatory and immature oocytes retrieved and fewer embryos transferred. The fertilization rate and the per cycle/per transfer pregnancy rates were similar in all groups. The miscarriage rate was higher in group 3, and the on-going pregnancy rate per cycle was lower, Luteal phase E2 and progesterone levels were comparable in all groups. No differences were found when groups 2 and 3 were analyzed for the presence of one or two ovaries or the presencelabsence of ovarian endometriosis. The overall fertilization rate, the per cycle/per transfer pregnancy rates, and the miscarriage rate were similar to those of tubal factor patients. We underscore the excellent out-come of patients with minimal or mild endometriosis in IVF/ET. We conclude that patients with moderate or severe endometriosis have a compromised reproductive potential, probably because of a reduced oocyte recovery rate and poor embryo quality.
Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the pelvis

A case of a 33-year-old Caucasian female with a malignant fibrous histiocytoma arising in the left ischiorectal fossa just under the left posterolateral vaginal wall is presented. Transvaginal simple excision of the tumor was followed by 5000 rad external beam whole pelvis irradiation and 6000 rad to the tumor bed. The patient is without evidence of disease 24 months after therapy and maintains normal vaginal function.
Roles of retinoids and their nuclear receptors in the development and prevention of upper aerodigestive tract cancers.

Vitamin A analogs (retinoids) suppress oral and lung carcinogenesis in animal models and prevent the development of second primary tumors in head, neck, and lung cancer patients. These effects resu...
Effect of coupling strength on phase locking of Ar-ion lasers

An experiment was performed using two cw Ar-ion lasers in Fabry-Perot resonators configured in a Ushaped cavity and coupled through a common end mirror to examine the effect of coupling strength on phase locking. The near field fringe visibilities were measured while varying the reflectivity of the common end mirror from 10% to 90%. Along with the total multiline visibility, the visibilities for single lines at 514.5 nm and 488.0 nm during multiline coupling were also measured. The lasers were also operated on a single line (488.0 nm), and measurements were made on single-line coupling. An RF mode beat at the frequency characteristic of the super cavity was observed for all values of coupling strength. The optimal coupling strength for phase-locked operation for Ar-ion lasers was found to be approximately 25%.
Energy-Delay Tradeoff and Dynamic Sleep Switching for Bluetooth-Like Body-Area Sensor Networks

Wireless technology enables novel approaches to healthcare, in particular the remote monitoring of vital signs and other parameters indicative of people's health. This paper considers a system scenario relevant to such applications, where a smart-phone acts as a data-collecting hub, gathering data from a number of wireless-capable body sensors, and relaying them to a healthcare provider host through standard existing cellular networks. Delay of critical data and sensors' energy efficiency are both relevant and conflicting issues. Therefore, it is important to operate the wireless body-area sensor network at some desired point close to the optimal energy-delay tradeoff curve. This tradeoff curve is a function of the employed physical-layer protocol: in particular, it depends on the multiple-access scheme and on the coding and modulation schemes available. In this work, we consider a protocol closely inspired by the widely-used Bluetooth standard. First, we consider the calculation of the minimum energy function, i.e., the minimum sum energy per symbol that guarantees the stability of all transmission queues in the network. Then, we apply the general theory developed by Neely to develop a dynamic scheduling policy that approaches the optimal energy-delay tradeoff for the network at hand. Finally, we examine the queue dynamics and propose a novel policy that adaptively switches between connected and disconnected (sleeping) modes. We demonstrate that the proposed policy can achieve significant gains in the realistic case where the control "NULL" packets necessary to maintain the connection alive, have a non-zero energy cost, and the data arrival statistics corresponding to the sensed physical process are bursty.
Saturation recovery EPR and ELDOR at W-band for spin labels

Abstract A reference arm W -band (94 GHz) microwave bridge with two sample-irradiation arms for saturation recovery (SR) EPR and ELDOR experiments is described. Frequencies in each arm are derived from 2 GHz synthesizers that have a common time-base and are translated to 94 GHz in steps of 33 and 59 GHz. Intended applications are to nitroxide radical spin labels and spin probes in the liquid phase. An enabling technology is the use of a W -band loop-gap resonator (LGR) [J.W. Sidabras, R.R. Mett, W. Froncisz, T.G. Camenisch, J.R. Anderson, J.S. Hyde, Multipurpose EPR loop-gap resonator and cylindrical TE 011 cavity for aqueous samples at 94 GHz, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 78 (2007) 034701]. The high efficiency parameter (8.2 GW −1/2 with sample) permits the saturating pump pulse level to be just 5 mW or less. Applications of SR EPR and ELDOR to the hydrophilic spin labels 3-carbamoyl-2,2,5,5-tetra-methyl-3-pyrroline-1-yloxyl (CTPO) and 2,2,6,6,-tetramethyl-4-piperidone-1-oxyl (TEMPONE) are described in detail. In the SR ELDOR experiment, nitrogen nuclear relaxation as well as Heisenberg exchange transfer saturation from pumped to observed hyperfine transitions. SR ELDOR was found to be an essential method for measurements of saturation transfer rates for small molecules such as TEMPONE. Free induction decay (FID) signals for small nitroxides at W -band are also reported. Results are compared with multifrequency measurements of T 1e previously reported for these molecules in the range of 2–35 GHz [J.S. Hyde, J.-J. Yin, W.K. Subczynski, T.G. Camenisch, J.J. Ratke, W. Froncisz, Spin label EPR T 1 values using saturation recovery from 2 to 35 GHz. J. Phys. Chem. B 108 (2004) 9524–9529]. The values of T 1e decrease at 94 GHz relative to values at 35 GHz.
Volume-specific cutoffs are necessary for reproducible application of prostate-specific antigen density of the transition zone in prostate cancer detection.

Abstract Objectives. To determine the effect of prostate volume on the specificity of prostate-specific antigen density (PSAD) and PSAD of the transition zone (PSA-TZ) in the detection of prostate cancer. Methods. Between February 1994 and April 1998, transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate needle biopsies were performed in 235 men with serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels between 4.0 and 10.0 ng/mL. The PSAD and PSA-TZ specificities were calculated at 95% sensitivity cutoff levels generated from the whole group, as well as from cohorts stratified by transition zone index or prostate volume. Results. Statistical significance was noted between the benign (n = 176) and prostate cancer (n = 59) groups for all tested PSA parameters. At 95% sensitivity, PSA-TZ carried a specificity of 37.5% compared with 29.6% for PSAD. When applying a single 95% sensitivity cutoff derived from the entire group to individual volume-stratified cohorts, the specificity decreased to 0% in glands less than 30 g in size. A 95% sensitivity PSA-TZ cutoff generated individually for volume-stratified cohorts of glands less than 30, 30 to 40, and 40 to 60 g resulted in more consistent specificity of 28.2%, 35.2%, and 45.7% for each cohort, respectively. Conclusions. Unlike whole group-derived cutoffs, the use of volume-specific PSA-TZ cutoffs allows consistently high specificity in all volume-stratified cohorts. The discrepancies in the PSA-TZ and PSAD specificities in published reports are likely due to the application of published cutoffs to populations of differing prostate volumes. The use of volume-specific cutoffs results in reproducible specificity in populations with differing prostate volume distribution, and thereby definitively resolves the differences in PSA-TZ specificity reported in published reports.
Generalized splitting theorems

In (5), we and Fred Cohen gave some quite general splitting theorems. These described how to decompose the suspension spectra of certain filtered spaces CX as wedges of the suspension spectra of their successive filtration quotients Dq X. The spaces CX were of the form Cr × Xr/(˜) for suitable sequences of spaces {Cr} and {Xr}, and the construction CX was intended to be a reworking in ‘proper generality’ of the constructions introduced in (9).
CHARACTERIZATION OF FLY ASH FROM COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS

X-ray analysis shows that mullite and silica are the major crystalline phases in fly ash. The “method of known additions” from X-ray diffraction techniques was used to calculate changes in the significant peak intensities of mullite and silica to determine their weight fractions in fly ash. This furthers the efforts of characterizing fly ash, which are being conducted to supplement the search for applications of this abundant material. The weight fractions of crystalline mullite and silica were determined to be 14.2 and 5.1 wt%, respectively. Thermal gravimetric studies as well as SEM and particle size analysis were also conducted on the fly ash.
Mutation of human lymphoblasts exposed to low concentrations of chemical mutagens for long periods of time

Methylnitrosourea (MNU), ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS), and 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide (4NQO) induce mutation to 6-thioguanine resistance and trifluorothymidine resistance in diploid human lymphoblasts (TK6). In single exposure experiments in which greater than 10% of treated cells survive, mutation as a function of concentration is linear for MNU, accelerates for EMS and appears to reach a plateau for 4NQO. In order to probe the bases of these concentration dependencies, human lymphoblasts were exposed for 20 days to each of the three mutagens. Each individual exposure chosen was in itself insufficient to induce statistically significant mutation and each resulted in a cellular survival of greater than 95%. Under this regimen, induced mutation as a function of the number of exposures was linear for all three mutagens. Prior exposure to low concentrations of mutagens was found to have no significant effect on the amount of mutation induced in subsequent exposures. Thus, no biological evidence was found for the induction of repair of misrepair systems.
Siloxane Polymers for High-Resolution, High-Accuracy Soft Lithography

We report the formulation of siloxane polymers for high-resolution, high-accuracy stamps for soft lithography. With this technique, a molecular, polymeric, or liquid ink is applied to the surface of a stamp and then transferred by conformal contact to a substrate. Stamps for this technique are usually made of a commercial siloxane elastomer with appropriate mechanical properties to achieve conformal contact but are incapable of printing accurate, submicrometer patterns. To formulate better stamp polymers, we used models of rubber-like elasticity as guidelines. Poly(dimethylsiloxane) networks were prepared from vinyl and hydrosilane end-linked polymers and vinyl and hydrosilane copolymers, with varying mass between cross-links and junction functionality. The polymer formulations were characterized by strain at break as well as compression modulus and surface hardness measurements. This resulted in the identification of bimodal polymer networks having mechanical properties that allow the replication of high...
Natural killer cells do not mediate facial motoneuron survival after facial nerve transection.

Abstract The goal of the current study was to determine if natural killer (NK) cells mediate facial motoneuron (FMN) survival following injury. Wild-type (WT), perforin/recombinase activating gene-2 knockout ( pfp /RAG-2 KO), and common γ-chain (γc)/RAG-2 KO mice received a right facial nerve axotomy. In WT mice, FMN survival was 86 ± 1.0% relative to the contralateral control side. In contrast, pfp /RAG-2 and γc/RAG-2 KO mice exhibited significant decreases in FMN survival (∼20% and ∼30%, respectively), relative to WT. Reconstitution of pfp /RAG-2 and γc/RAG-2 KO mice with normal NK cells alone, failed to restore FMN survival levels to those of WT, but did restore functional lytic activity against YAC-1 cells. Reconstitution of pfp /RAG-2 and γc/RAG-2 KO mice with splenocytes, and pfp /RAG-2 KO mice with CD4 + T-lymphocytes alone or in combination with NK cells, restored FMN survival levels to those of WT. Thus, NK cells appear to not be a component of immune cell-mediated rescue of motoneurons from axotomy induced cell death.
THE EFFECT OF INTRAVENTRICULAR HEMORRHAGE |[lpar]|IVH|[rpar]| ON HEAD GROWTH VELOCITY OF PREMATURE INFANTS

Head growth velocity was assessed weekly during the neonatal period and at 3 month intervals up to one year of corrected age (CA) in 47 premature infants whose clinical data is shown below (mean ± SEM):
Hemorrhoidectomy with the high frequency electric current

Abstract The treatment of external and internal hemorrhoids with the high frequency electric current was performed in 189 patients. The method is advised for the following reasons: (1) the short period of disability; (2) the relative comfort of the patient; (3) the absence of local edema and tenderness; (4) the rarity of recurrence, hemorrhage and stricture. The details of procedure are outlined.
Vital Statistics of the Fish Population of Gordy Lake, Indiana

Abstract The fishing, populations, and mortality rates of fishes in Gordy Lake, Indiana, were studied in 1950 by creel-census and mark-and-recapture techniques. Gordy Lake has an area of 28.5 acres and a maximum depth of 35 feet. The total number of fish caught by all methods of fishing from June 2 to September 4 was 4,012 which weighed 722.5 pounds. Bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus) constituted 81.5 percent of the total yield which amounted to 25.4 pounds per acre of water surface. Cane-pole fishermen caught 15.2 fish (2.72 pounds) per 10 pole-hours. Populations of the most important species were measured by at least two of the following independent methods of estimation: (1) Schnabel estimate based on trap-caught fish; (2) Schnabel estimate based on fish caught by fishermen; (3) Petersen estimate based on the fish caught by fishermen after trapping ceased; (4) DeLury estimate based on catch-effort statistics of traps. The total standing crop of legal-sized (5 inches or longer, total length) bluegills was ...
Effects of phosphotungstic acid and silicotungstic acid on respiration and integrity of rat liver mitochondria.

Abstract Phosphotungstic acid and silicotungstic acid, when employed at low concentrations (≤ 0.2 mg/mg protein), were found to markedly inhibit mitochondrial respiration stimulated by either ADP or 2,4-dinitrophenol. At higher concentrations these negative staining agents were found to solubilize significant amounts of mitochondrial protein. The results clearly show that PTA and STA are not biochemically inert and probably have more than a single mitochondrial site of action.
Site-specific integration of StreptomycesΦC31 integrase-based vectors in the chromosome of Rhodococcus equi

Streptomyces PhiC31-based site-specific integration was used to transform the facultative intracellular pathogen Rhodococcus equi. The transformation efficiency of vectors incorporating the PhiC31 integrase and attP sites was comparable to that of replication plasmids using the same electroporation procedure. A single attB integration site was identified within an ORF encoding a pirin-like protein, which deviates slightly from the consensus sequence of Streptomyces attB sites. Vector integration was stably maintained in the R. equi chromosome for as many as 100 generations during unselected passage in vitro. In addition, integration does not appear to affect the replication of bacteria inside macrophages. Finally, this integration system was also used to successfully complement an R. equi mutant.
Variations in enzyme phenotypes and their underlying genotypes among wild strains of the genus Neurospora.

Twenty-three exotic strains of four species of Neurospora (N. crassa, N. sitophila, N. intermedia and N. tetrasperma) were grown in minimal medium and their enzyme phenotypes were compared. The exotic strains did not differ substantially with respect to the specific activities of the biosynthetic enzymes, ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC), carbamyl phosphokinase and aspartate transcarbamylase. Exotic strains of N. crassa and N. sitophila were crossed with laboratory mutants of N. crassa to determine whether there were significant differences among the exotic strains in the gene complexes underlying their enzyme phenotypes. Most of the exotic strains carried similar OTC structural genes and similar genetic modifiers of OTC activity: their OTC structural genes were expressed normally in the genomes of the parent strains, in the alien genomes of standard laboratory mutants and in the mixed genomes of parent × mutant hybrids. One exotic N. crassa carried a distinctive OTC structural gene that elevated OTC activity when transferred into the genome of a standard laboratory mutant. A second exotic N. crassa carried distinctive genetic modifiers of OTC activity: two mutations, c- and hi, interacted in the exotic parent to normalize OTC activity and rate of growth, but hi led to extremely high OTC activities and to a reduction in rate of growth when separated from c- by interstrain recombination.
Improved Synthesis of C 2‐Symmetric 4,4′‐α,ω‐Alkylenedioxy‐bis(3‐methoxybenzaldehydes)

Abstract An improved Williamson synthesis of C 2‐symmetric 4,4′‐(α,ω‐alkylenedioxy)‐bis(3‐methoxybenzaldehydes) from vanillin is described. These dialdehydes are often insoluble in cold acetone, which renders their purification especially facile.
Bone quality and strength are greater in growing male rats fed fructose compared with glucose

Optimization of peak bone mass during adolescence is important for osteoporosis prevention. Studies in rodents and humans have demonstrated the harmful effects of sugar intake on bone health. With the high levels of sucrose in the diets of adolescents, it is necessary to understand the influence of glucose and fructose on growing bones. This study compared the effects of dietary glucose and fructose on bone formation, microarchitecture, and strength. Because of the different metabolic effects of glucose and fructose, we hypothesized that their individual effects on bone would be different. Eighteen male Sprague-Dawley rats (age, 60 days) were randomly assigned to high-fructose (n = 9; 40% fructose, 10% glucose) or high-glucose diet (n = 9; 50% glucose) for 12 weeks. Bone measurements included histology and histomorphometry of trabecular bone in the distal femur and a 3-point bending test of the whole tibia. Whole liver mass and postprandial serum glucose, insulin, and triglycerides were used to assess differences in energy metabolism between the diets. There were no differences in food intake, body weight, or visceral adiposity between groups, but fructose consumption led to heavier livers (P = .001) and elevated serum triglycerides (P = .00). The distal femurs of fructose-fed rats had greater bone volume (bone volume/total volume; P = .03), lower bone surface (bone surface/bone volume; P = .02), and thicker trabeculae (trabecular thickness; P = .01). The tibias of the fructose-fed rats also withstood a greater maximum flexure load (P = .032). These results indicate that consumption of the high-fructose diet resulted in stronger bones with enhanced microarchitecture than consumption of the high-glucose diet.
Cranial ontogeny, diet, and ecogeographic variation in African lorises.

A series of 22 craniodental measurements were obtained for the three subspecies of potto (Perodicticus) and angwantibos (Arctocebus). To describe patterns of variation in Perodicticus, a discriminant function analysis (DFA) was performed with adult data. To investigate the ecogeographic correlates of size variation in Perodicticus, adult cranial dimensions were compared with field data on latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates for available specimens as well as altitudinal data for a more limited sample. Ontogenetic series for larger-bodied Perodicticus and smaller-bodied Arctocebus were compared to test the hypothesis that inter- and intrageneric variation in skull form results from the differential extension/truncation of shared patterns of relative growth, and to assess morphological variation in the masticatory complex of sister taxa with differing dietary habits. Analyses of relative growth indicate that skull proportions in Perodicticus subspecies are largely ontogenetically scaled. In comparisons between Perodicticus and Arctocebus, most facial dimensions also are ontogenetically scaled, with all but one of the seven divergent comparisons (interorbital breadth) representing a feature of the masticatory apparatus. The DFA provided independent support for prior classifications of Perodicticus into three taxa. Size differentiation in African lorises appears to be correlated with altitudinal variation (Bergmann's Rule) as well as character displacement. The smallest pottos, P. p. potto, occupy low-lying coastal habitats in western Africa, whereas the larger, eastern forms inhabit higher, presumably colder elevations. The largest potto, P. p. edwardsi, is sympatric throughout most of its range with the smallest and most insectivorous African lorises (Arctocebus). A basis for intrageneric taxonomic variation in Perodicticus is supported by such nonclinal size variation, as well as divergences in the ontogeny of masticatory proportions corresponding to interspecific variation in dietary proclivities. Am. J. Primatol. 69:59–73, 2007. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The Relationship Between Hippocampal Volume and Declarative Memory in a Population of Combat Veterans With and Without PTSD

Both reduced hippocampal volume and cognitive alterations have been found in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The purpose of this article was to examine the relationship between hippocampal volume, combat exposure, symptom severity, and memory performance in a sample of combat veterans with and without a history of PTSD. Subjects were 33 male veteran volunteers (16 PTSD+, 17 PTSD-) who underwent an MRI and neuropsychological testing with the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT), a measure of declarative memory. Relationships between hippocampal volume (i.e., right + left hippocampal volume/whole brain volume) and performance on the CVLT were determined using partial correlational analysis controlled for age and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Third Edition (WAIS-III) vocabulary scores. Percent hippocampal volume for the entire sample was positively associated with several aspects of memory performance as reflected by the CVLT. In the PTSD+ group, CVLT performance was negatively correlated with lifetime, but not current CAPS symptoms. CVLT performance appears to be strongly correlated with hippocampal volume in a group of trauma survivors with and without PTSD. Insofar as CVLT performance in the PTSD group was negatively associated with worst episode, but not to current PTSD symptoms, memory performance in combat veterans may reflect some aspect of risk related to the magnitude of the psychological response to trauma, rather than current symptoms that may be interfering with cognitive performance. It will be of interest to study cognitive abilities that may relate to the likelihood of specific PTSD symptoms and to track changes in CVLT performance and hippocampal volume over time in persons with and without a history of trauma exposure.
Benchmarking the US specialty retailers and food consumer stores using data envelopment analysis

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to measure the relative efficiency of the US specialty retailers and food consumer stores using cross‐sectional data for the year 2007.Design/methodology/approach – This study uses a non‐parametric data envelopment analysis approach to measure the relative efficiency of 45 retailers in the USA.Findings – The results indicate that the performance of several retailers is sub‐optimal, suggesting the potential for significant improvements over both profitability and marketability dimensions. Separate benchmarks were derived for possible reductions in resources used, and significant savings are possible on this account.Originality/value – From a policy perspective, this paper highlights the economic importance of encouraging increased efficiency throughout the retailing sector in the USA.
Elasticity and melting of vortex crystals in anisotropic superconductors: Beyond the continuum regime

The elastic moduli of vortex crystals in anisotropic superconductors are frequently involved in the investigation of their phase diagram and transport properties. We provide a detailed analysis of the harmonic eigenvalues ~normal modes! of the vortex lattice for general values of the magnetic field strength, going beyond the elastic continuum regime. The detailed behavior of these wave-vector-dependent eigenvalues within the Brillouin zone ~BZ!, is compared with several frequently used approximations that we also recalculate. Throughout the BZ, transverse modes are less costly than their longitudinal counterparts, and there is an angular dependence which becomes more marked close to the zone boundary. Based on these results, we propose an analytic correction to the nonlocal continuum formulas which fits quite well the numerical behavior of the eigenvalues in the London regime. We use this approximate expression to calculate thermal fluctuations and the full melting line ~according to Lindeman’s criterion ! for various values of the anisotropy parameter.
Imperfect monitoring in communication networks

Individuals in many social networks imperfectly monitor other individuals’ network relationships. This paper shows that, in a model of a communication network, imperfect monitoring leads to the existence of many inefficient equilibria. Reasonable restrictions on actions or on beliefs about others’ actions can, however, eliminate many of these inefficient equilibria even with imperfect monitoring. Star networks, known to be efficient in many settings, are shown to have desirable monitoring characteristics. More generally, this paper provides a formal framework in which to study incorrect perceptions as an equilibrium phenomenon in social networks.
Race, Ethnicity, and the Patient-Caregiver Relationship

(from Nightline: “America In Black and White”) The following case was taken from a March 1999 ABC Nightline News Special Report profiling institutional racism within the U.S. medical system. The report was motivated in part by a provocative study revealing racial and gender prejudice in physicians’ recommendations for cardiac catheterization. Published in the February 25, 1999 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine, the investigators observed a 40% reduction in catheterization referral rates for blacks versus whites despite controlling for cardiac risk factors, type of angina, stress test results, and other relevant variables [1]. Indeed, the discrepancy persisted even after adjusting for physicians’ estimations of each patient’s probability of coronary artery disease. Reporter: Brenda Nixon is about to discover she needs emergency treatment to save her life. Ms. Nixon is also a diabetic. She had been feeling fine until today, when she found out that the disease has virtually destroyed her kidneys. Physician addressing Ms. Nixon: You now have to make a decision as soon as possible as to when you can identify how you want to be dialyzed and whether you want to move quickly to be transplanted. ABSTRACT
Paediatric genitourinary cancers and late effects of treatment

Long-term survival rates for patients with the most common childhood genitourinary cancers—Wilms tumour, rhabdomyosarcoma and germ cell tumour (GCT)—are generally excellent, which has highlighted the need to minimize the long-term complications of treatments. In this Review, the authors discuss the late effects of treating these childhood cancers and consider the need for regular surveillance of childhood cancer survivors.
Rapid Characterization of Threshold Voltage Fluctuation in MOS Devices

We present a technique for fast characterization of random threshold voltage variation in MOS devices. Our Vtau scatter characterization method measures threshold voltage shift by monitoring the change in gate-to-source voltage VGS for a fixed drain current IDs and drain-to-source voltage VDS. We measure VGS variation for a large set of devices arranged in an individually addressable array and report results of Vtau scatter measurement from a test chip in a 65 nm SOI CMOS process. We also measure and report the magnitude of local device current mismatch caused by the Vtau fluctuation.