cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Complementation of a Chlamydomonas reinhardtii mutant defective in the nuclear gene encoding the chloroplast coupling factor 1 (CF1) gamma-subunit (atpC).

Chlamydomonas reinhardtii strainatpC1 is a mutant defective in the nuclear gene that encodes the CF1 ATP synthase γ-subunit polypeptide. Photoautotrophic growth was restored toatpC1 after it was transformed with wild-type DNA. Transformed strains were acetate-independent and arsenate-sensitive, similar in phenotype to the progenitor wild-type strain from whichatpC1 was generated. Three transformed strains were examined in detail. Southern blot analyses demonstrated that the transformants were complements and not revertants. The transforming DNA integrated into the nuclear genome in a nonhomologous manner and at a low copy number. Northern blot analyses showed that the γ-subunit mRNA in the complemented strains was expressed at the same relative level as that of wild-type. Western blots of total protein showed that whereasatpC1 was unable to synthesize any CF1 γ-subunit, all three complemented strains could. Furthermore, the Western blot analyses demonstrated that the mutation inatpC1 had a pleiotropic effect on the accumulation of the CF1 β-subunit which was relieved upon complementation. Cell extracts fromatpC1 did not have any CF1-dependent catalytic activity, whereas extracts from all of the complemented strains and the wild-type strain had identical activities.
Templated growth of a complex nitride island dispersion through an internal nitridation reaction

A new synthesis route, based on internal oxidation reactions in multiphase alloys, is proposed for the controlled production of near-surface, complex ceramic-ceramic or ceramic-metallic composite structures. Using this approach, a microdispersion of a complex nitride perovskite, Cr3PtN, was formed in Cr2N or Cr(Pt) by internal nitridation of a two-phase Cr(Pt) + Cr3Pt precursor alloy. A framework for use of this phenomenon to synthesize island micro- (and potentially meso- or nano-) composite functional surface structures is presented.
Imidoester iodination of immunoglobulins to high specific activity

Immunoglobulins were labeled via the di-iodinated derivative of methyl-para-hydroxybenzimidate (1). Radioactive iodine could be incorporated at high specific activities without alteration of the overall positive charge or significant inactivation of the antibody activity.
Environmental impact assessment in developing countries: the case of Ghana

Abstract Most developing countries are adopting environmental impact assessment (EIA) procedures that have more linkage with western European and North American models than with the socio-economic and institutional conditions in developing nations. Ghana is no exception. Based on field research, this article examines Ghana's EIA procedure, and offers suggestions that could improve EIA process in the country and facilitate its adoption in other developing countries.
Fracture Mechanics of Functionally Graded Materials

In today's highly demanding technological environment, one of the main challenges in new material design is combining seemingly irreconcilable thermomechanical properties in the same component (e.g., high heat and corrosion resistance, high strength in elevated-temperature applications and high resistance to wear, and high toughness in load-bearing elements). In many cases, the problem may be solved by using coatings or by layering dissimilar materials. From a structural viewpoint, a major disadvantage of these techniques, particularly in ceramic coating of metals, has been the resulting high thermal and residual stresses and relatively poor bonding strength. Thus, in thin films, coatings, and layered materials, surface cracking and debonding or delamination have been common forms of mechanical failure. One effective way of reducing residual and thermal stresses and enhancing bonding strength has been to eliminate material-property discontinuities by grading the material composition near the interfaces or through the coating. These new materials, with continuously varying compositions or volume fractions, are known as functionally graded materials (FGMs).In developing FGMs, research on the mechanics, and particularly on the fracture mechanics of these inhomogeneous materials, is needed to provide technical support to materials scientists and to manufacturing and design engineers. In the past, fracture mechanics has been useful both as a screening tool during material processing and as a design and maintenance tool for service-life assessment. Broadly speaking, fracture mechanics involves studying the effect of the applied loads, the component/flaw geometry, and the environmental conditions on the fracture of engineering materials.
Hepatic sarcoidosis: MR appearances in patients with chronic liver disease.

Poster: "ECR 2012 / C-1366 / Hepatic sarcoidosis: MR appearances in patients with chronic liver disease " by: "A. Ferreira, M. Ramalho , R. de Campos, V. Heredia, A. F. Roque, R. C. Semelka; Chapel Hill, NC/US"
Mutations that alter transcriptional activation but not DNA binding in the zinc finger of yeast activator HAPI

TRANSCRIPTION of eukaryotic genes requires an interaction between transcription factors that bind to the TATA box region, and transcriptional activators that bind to upstream activating sequences (UASs) or enhancers1–6. Several yeast upstream transcriptional activators, such as GCN4, GAL4 and HAPI, seem to contain separate domains for binding to DNA and activating transcription7–9. The expression of the cytochrome genes CYC1 and CYC7 is controlled by HAPI, which binds to dissimilar DNA sequences in UAS1 of CYC1 and the UAS of CYC7. HAPI has a zinc-finger DNA-binding domain between amino-acid residues 1 and 148, and a highly acidic C-terminal activation domain between residues 1,308 and 1,483 (ref. 10). A mutant allele of the HAPI gene, HAP1-18, leads to a change in Ser 63 to Arg 63, immediately adjacent to the zinc finger in the DNA-binding domain10,11. The HAP1-18 mutation specifically abolishes the ability of the protein to bind to UAS1, but greatly increases the ability of the protein to activate transcription of CTC712,13. We now report that this increase in activation is mediated solely by the CYC7 UAS and the HAP1-18 protein, and also that it is not caused by an altered binding affinity of the protein for the CYC7 UAS. Furthermore, even by substituting other amino acids at position 63 and over-expressing the resulting derivatives in vivo we were unable to increase activity at the UAS of CYC7 to the level obtained with HAP1-18. This rules out the possibility that the HAP1-18 mutation increases transcriptional activation by abolishing competition by UAS1 and U AS 1-like sites for the protein. We thus conclude that HAP1-18 is a better activator of transcription than the wild-type protein when bound to the UAS of CYC7. Moreover, our findings indicate that in addition to the acidic activation domain, the zinc-finger DNA-binding domain participates directly in the activation of transcription.
Magnetostatic waves-based integrated magnetooptic Bragg cell devices and applications

A number of significant advances have been made recently in the MSW-based integrated magnetooptics. Resulting new class of optical devices called MO Bragg cell modulators which are capable of providing desirable features similar to that of the now prevalent AO Bragg cell modulators, but with potentially superior performance characteristics, have been realized. These advances have paved the way for realization of a variety of MSW-based integrated MO device modules, such as high-speed optical scanners and space switches, electronically tunable carrier frequency band RF spectrum analyzers and correlators, and optical frequency shifters and modulators with applications to RF signal processing and communications.
Empirical Game-Theoretic Analysis for Moving Target Defense

The effectiveness of a moving target defense depends on how it is deployed through specific system operations over time, and how attackers may respond to this deployment. We define a generic cyber-defense scenario, and examine the interplay between attack and defense strategies using empirical game-theoretic techniques. In this approach, the scenario is defined procedurally by a simulator, and data derived from systematic simulation is used to induce a game model. We explore a space of 72 game instances, defined by differences in agent objectives, attack cost, and ability of the defender to detect attack actions. We observe a range of qualitative strategic behaviors, which vary in clear patterns across environmental conditions. In particular, we find that the efficacy of deterrent defense is critically sensitive to detection capability, and in the absence of perfect detection the defender is often driven to proactive moving-target actions.
Numerical solutions for tile drainage of layered soils

The problem of the tile drainage of a uniform soil lying above an impermeable layer is solved by the relaxation method and compared with the analytical solution. The error in flow found by the relaxation method is less than four per cent, with greater accuracy obtainable if a finer net is used. The method is readily adaptable to complex problems involving layers of different permeabilities. As an example, the problem of the tile drainage of a two-layered soil with surface soil used for trench backfill, for which no analytical solution exists, is solved numerically.
Surface emitting lasers by selective area epitaxy for optical clock distribution

The integration of a laser diode with a passive waveguide distribution network for use in an optical clock distribution system is demonstrated. The integration concept is demonstrated by utilising selective area epitaxy and etched surface gratings to create active and passive components for signal generation and distribution.
Comment: Affect Control Theory and Cultural Priming: A Perspective from Cultural Neuroscience

Affect control theory posits that emotions are constructed by social and cultural forces. Rogers, Schroder, and von Scheve (2014) introduce affect control theory as a conceptual and methodological “hub,” linking theories from different disciplines across levels of analysis. To illustrate this further, we apply their framework to cultural priming, an experimental technique in cultural psychology and neuroscience for testing how exposure to cultural symbols (e.g., words and pictures) changes people’s behavior, cognition, and emotion. Our analysis supports the use of affect control theory in linking different levels of analysis while leaving some opening questions for improving such a framework in future research.
Phase field modeling of hydrogen transport and reaction in metal hydrides

The reaction of hydrogen with metals to form metal hydrides has numerous potential energy storage and management applications. The metal hydrogen system has a high volumetric energy density and is often reversible with a high cycle life. However, improving the often poor gravimetric performance of such systems through the use of lightweight metals usually comes at the cost of reduced reaction rates or the requirement of pressure and temperature conditions far from the desired operating conditions. Most studies of reaction kinetics of such systems focus on fitting low-dimensional kinetic models to measured rates and inferring the rate-limiting process based on the quality of the fit. This work develops a methodology for describing these reactions using a multi-process model of the physical transport and energy state transitions of interstitial hydrogen atoms within a metal lattice. In its nondimensional form, this model is applicable to arbitrary geometries and dimensions using four nondimensional kinetic parameters based on the physical transport mechanisms present in the system. The proposed model is then used for LaNi5 and TiCrMn to examine how the nucleation pattern, kinetic parameters, and particle aspect ratio affect the time of formation of a closed hydride layer and the apparent measured kinetics. The analysis is applied to both hydriding and dehydriding processes to show how different kinetic limitation mechanisms can manifest when considering the reciprocal reaction.
Prevalence of generalized anxiety at eight weeks postpartum

Objective: This study investigated the prevalence and nature of generalized anxiety symptoms in women who were eight weeks postpartum. Method: A community-based sample of 68 postpartum women completed an interview assessing generalized anxiety disorder and depression and a self-report measure of worry associated with concerns relevant to postpartum women. Results: Three women (4.4%) met DSM-IV criteria for generalized anxiety disorder, and an additional 19 women (27.9%) endorsed subsyndromal difficulties with generalized anxiety. Approximately one third of these women endorsed symptoms of depression. In contrast, only two woman met criteria for major depressive disorder. Conclusion: Postpartum generalized anxiety has a higher prevalence than postpartum depression.
Displacement Threshold Energy and Recovery in an Al-Ti Nanolayered System with Intrinsic Point Defect Partitioning

Abstract A method is established and validated using molecular dynamics (MD) to determine the displacement threshold energies as E d in nanolayered, multilayered systems of dissimilar metals. The method is applied to specifically oriented nanolayered films of Al–Ti where the crystal structure and interface orientations are varied in atomic models and E d is calculated. Methods for defect detection are developed and discussed based on prior research in the literature and based on specific crystallographic directions available in the nanolayered systems. These are compared and contrasted to similar calculations in corresponding bulk materials, including fcc Al, fcc Ti, hcp Al, and hcp Ti. In all cases, the calculated E d in the multilayers are intermediate to the corresponding bulk values but exhibit some important directionality. In the nanolayer, defect detection demonstrated systematic differences in the behavior of E d in each layer. Importantly, collision cascade damage exhibits significant defect partitioning within the Al and Ti layers that is hypothesized to be an intrinsic property of dissimilar nanolayered systems. This type of partitioning could be partly responsible for observed asymmetric radiation damage responses in many multilayered systems. In addition, a pseudo-random direction was introduced to approximate the average E d without performing numerous simulations with random directions.
Differences between Mammalian Ventral and Dorsal Spinal Roots in Response to Blockade of Potassium Channels during Maturation

Differences in potassium channel organization between motor and sensory fibres have been described in amphibians but have not previously been examined in mammals. In the present investigation, we studied whole nerve and single axon responses following pharmacological blockade of potassium conductance in rat ventral and dorsal spinal roots during maturation. Our results indicate a differential sensitivity in maturing mammalian motor and sensory fibres which is most apparent in younger roots. Specifically, application of 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) results in a broadening of the compound action potential in ventral roots which is associated with a delayed repolarization of the individual action potential of single fibres. In contrast, blockade of potassium channels in young dorsal roots results in a late negativity in the compound response which is correlated with multispike bursting activity recorded from single sensory fibres. The effects of 4-AP on ventral root fibres diminish earlier in the course of maturation than do the effects of 4-AP in dorsal root fibres. These results demonstrate developmental differences in the functional organization of potassium channels in mammalian motor and sensory axons which may have implications for differences in coding properties between these two classes of axons.
Lessons in Leveraging Implementation: Rulemaking, Growth Models, and Policy Dynamics Under NCLB

Through a case study that highlights the role of rulemaking in the evolution of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), this article provides strategies for educators who seek both to influence policy outcomes and to understand the dynamics of policymaking. This study examines the regulatory processes for NCLB, specifically related to the adoption of growth models, at both the federal and state levels, augmenting the slim body of literature on rulemaking in educational policy. It focuses on rulemaking processes as they define and redirect the substance of policy, create ongoing opportunities for stakeholder participation, and influence, and tailor policies to the state and local settings in which delivery occurs. This article describes policy as cumulative, increasingly complex and multileveled. It recommends that stakeholders monitor and target federal and state rulemaking venues so as to influence and adapt legislative mandates to the specific contexts and demands of practice.
Design and Analysis Tool for External-Compression Supersonic Inlets

A computational tool named SUPIN has been developed to design and analyze external-compression supersonic inlets for aircraft at cruise speeds from Mach 1.6 to 2.0. The inlet types available include the axisymmetric outward-turning, two-dimensional single-duct, two-dimensional bifurcated-duct, and streamline-traced Busemann inlets. The aerodynamic performance is characterized by the flow rates, total pressure recovery, and drag. The inlet flowfield is divided into parts to provide a framework for the geometry and aerodynamic modeling and the parts are defined in terms of geometric factors. The low-fidelity aerodynamic analysis and design methods are based on analytic, empirical, and numerical methods which provide for quick analysis. SUPIN provides inlet geometry in the form of coordinates and surface grids useable by grid generation methods for higher-fidelity computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis. SUPIN is demonstrated through a series of design studies and CFD analyses were performed to verify some of the analysis results.
Philosophy and education in Stoicism of the Roman Imperial era

The Stoics of the Roman Imperial period share the imperative that education should not focus on erudition for its own sake, but contribute to the pursuit of the good life as they define it in philosophical terms. Hence these later Stoics express similar concerns about the technical and theoretical aspects of philosophy as they do about pre‐philosophical education. Such a stance, however, does not imply ignorance or a deliberate rejection of the technical knowledge established by earlier Stoics, but rather a conscious choice of a certain mode of discourse, which cannot be reduced to popular moralising.
Secondary metabolite chemistry of the marine-derived fungus Massarina sp., strain CNT-016

Chemical investigation of the culture broth extracts of the marine-derived fungus Massarina sp. (strain CNT-016) has yielded two secondary metabolites, spiromassaritone (1) and massariphenone (2), as well as the previously reported fungal metabolites 6-epi-5'-hydroxy-mycosporulone (3) and enalin A (4). The structures of these compounds were established by a variety of one- and two-dimensional NMR experiments, while the relative configuration of spiromassaritone (1) was determined by X-ray crystallographic methods. The fungal strain was isolated as a sterile mycelium from an ocean mud sample and identified using ITS sequence analysis.
Intracranial Self-Stimulation and Wakefulness: Effect of Manipulating Ambient Brain Catecholamines

Rats were given disulfiram, an inhibitor of norepinephrine biosynthesis, to see if norepinephrine is a transmitter for motivation in electrical stimulation of the brain. Animals given the drug paused in bar pressing, appearing asleep or sedated; if replaced on the bar, they always resumed pressing at normal rates. The decrease in bar pressing may result from a direct or indirect effect of the drug on wakefulness rather than on reward.
FORBIDDEN PHOTO-IONIZATION AND ELECTRON SPIN POLARIZATION.

Photoionization by spin-dependent electric dipole and spin-dependent magnetic quadrupole transitions with polarized electron spin
Comparative behavior of electrodes coated with thin films of structurally related electroactive polymers

Abstract General methods are described for the synthesis of electroactive polymers and the preparation of uniform, stable, polymer-coated electrodes. The electrochemical behaviour of thin films of eight different functionalized polystyrenes, differing in the identity and amount of attached electroactive species, and polyvinylferrocene is presented. A wide range of electrochemical properties can be observed by varying parameters such as film thickness, nature of the bound redox couple, extent of polymer functionalization and oxidation state. The deviations from ideal surface behavior are investigated in detail. These are shown to be consequences of cooperative electronic interactions, structural reorganization or uncompensated resistance within the film, depending upon the material. The film resistance varies greatly among the polymer films studied and is shown, in some cases, to be a sensitive function of the extent of oxidation and prior treatment of the film. This variable resistance is shown to be a consequence of slow ion transport through the film. The mechanism of electron transport in such materials is considered and a model of the metal/polymer/electrolyte interface is proposed.
Fully coupled, multi-axial, symmetric constitutive laws for polycrystalline ferroelectric ceramics

In this paper, a general form for multi-axial constitutive laws for ferroelectric ceramics is constructed. The foundation of the theory is an assumed form for the Helmholtz free energy of the material. Switching surfaces and associated flow rules are postulated in a modified stress and electric field space such that a positive dissipation rate during switching is guaranteed. The resulting tangent moduli relating increments of stress and electric field to increments of strain and electric displacement are symmetric since changes in the linear elastic, dielectric and piezoelectric properties of the material are included in the switching surface. Finally, parameters of the model are determined for two uncoupled cases, namely non-remanent straining ferroelectrics and purely ferroelastic switching, and then for the fully coupled ferroelectric case.
NATURE OF THE RNA ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROTOPLAST MEMBRANE OF BACILLUS MEGATERIUM.

The membrane fraction isolated after osmotic lysis of protoplasts of Bacillus megaterium KM contained about 25% of the total RNA of the organism. In its base ratios and its sedimentation pattern in density-gradient centrifugation, the membrane RNA was indistinguishable from ribosomal RNA. After incubation for five minutes of growing bacteria with 32 P-labeled phosphate, membrane RNA was more heavily labeled than RNA from the cytoplasmic fraction. The newly synthesized membrane RNA was very heterogeneous in size, and its base ratios, unlike those of ribosomal RNA, were similar to those of homologous DNA. When such 32 PO 4 -labeled bacteria were treated with actino-mycin D for 10 minutes, most of the newly synthesized cytoplasmic RNA decayed, but the membrane fraction actually gained radioactive RNA. However, the incubation with actinomycin did not alter the proportion of the total cellular RNA found in the membrane fraction. It thus appears that ribosomes physiologically attached to the membrane rapidly take up messenger RNA, and that during treatment with actinomycin there is a transfer of polyribosomes or of messenger RNA from the cytoplasmic fraction to the membrane.
Endoscopic Microflap Technique for the Management of Superficially Displaced Acellular Human Cadaveric Dermis During Injection Laryngoplasty

Injection laryngoplasty (IL), which has been practiced for more than a century, is a powerful, minimally invasive technique with the added potential of application in the outpatient setting. It has been advocated for the treatment of many laryngeal abnormalities that can result in symptomatic glottal incompetence. The recent increased attention to this procedure represents a resurgence of the laryngeal injection techniques that were widely touted in the 1960s and 1970s with the advent of polytef (Teflon) injection for paralytic dysphonia. Because several injectable dermal fillers, primarily designed for cosmetic uses, have since been developed, numerous new materials are currently available for vocal fold augmentation. Among them are micronized acellular human cadaveric dermis (Cymetra; LifeCell Corp, Branchburg, New Jersey), calcium hydroxylapatite, carboxymethylcellulose, and several products containing hyaluronic acid compounds. Newly described office-based, transnasal and percutaneous (thyrohyoid) routes for laryngeal injection have also been reported. 1,2 Despite all of these nuances of technique and injectable materials, the common technical pitfalls and complications of IL remain largely unchanged.
Solid-Phase Synthesis of a Radiolabeled, Biotinylated, and Farnesylated Ca1a2X Peptide Substrate for Ras- and a-Mating Factor Converting Enzyme

Eukaryotic proteins with carboxyl-terminal Ca1a2 motifs undergo three posttranslational processing reactionsprenylation, endoproteolysis, and carboxymethylation. Two genes in yeast encoding Ca1a2X ...
A Combined Paging Alert and Web-Based Instrument Alters Clinician Behavior and Shortens Hospital Length of Stay in Acute Pancreatitis

A Combined Paging Alert and Web-Based Instrument Alters Clinician Behavior and Shortens Hospital Length of Stay in Acute Pancreatitis
A technique to measure stopping power difference between channeled and non-channeled ions in crystalline solids

For high accuracy in energy-depth conversion in channeling Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) analysis, the precise knowledge of the channeling stopping powers of helium ions in crystalline solids is demanded. Here, we propose a novel approach to measure the stopping power difference between channeled and random He ions in silicon. In this technique, energies of incident He ions are adjusted such that the detector measured energies of ions which are backscattered from a buried maker in silicon are the same for the channeled and random incident ions. Therefore, the amount of energy adjustments for the incident beams represents the difference in energy loss between channeled and random ions in their inward paths. The technique avoids the use of a self-standing thin film which is normally required in stopping power measurements.
The effect of filament temperature on the gaseous radicals in the hot wire decomposition of silane

Filament temperature is an important parameter in the hot-wire chemical vapor deposition (HW-CVD) process, affecting both the growth rate and electronic properties of the deposited thin films. Here we describe direct detection of gaseous free radicals produced as a function of filament temperature in the HW-CVD of amorphous silicon from silane. Radicals have been identified using vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) single photon ionization (SPI), with 118-nm light formed by the 9th harmonic of a Nd:YAG laser. The major silicon-containing gas-phase species identified by SPI during hot-wire activation of silane gas are Si, SiH 3 and Si 2 H 6 . At the lower filament temperatures (900-1300°C) studied, consumption of silane is observed without significant formation of Si-containing radicals. The concentration of Si rises rapidly with filament temperature near T fil = 1300°C before leveling off at temperatures above 1800°C, while SiH 3 and Si 2 H 6 concentrations become significant only at the highest temperatures.
Bioactive glass 13-93 as a subchondral substrate for tissue-engineered osteochondral constructs: a pilot study.

Background Replacement of diseased areas of the joint with tissue-engineered osteochondral grafts has shown potential in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Bioactive glasses are candidates for the osseous analog of these grafts.
Structural integrity assessment of aging nuclear reactor pressure vessels

Irradiation embrittlement reduces both the cleavage fracture toughness and the ductile tearing toughness of reactor pressure vessel (RPV) steels. Extensive research programs have investigated the fracture behavior of heavy-section vessels containing flaws. Information obtained from that research has been used to develop regulatory guidance for evaluating the structural integrity of irradiated RPVs. Additional research programs have developed fracture analysis methods, and generated the data required for their implementation. Regulatory guidance employs fracture analysis technology to assure that adequate fracture-prevention margins for RPVs are maintained throughout the licensed operating period of nuclear power plants.
Long Term Lithium Treatment Suppresses p53 and Bax Expression but Increases Bcl-2 Expression A PROMINENT ROLE IN NEUROPROTECTION AGAINST EXCITOTOXICITY

This study was undertaken to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective actions of lithium against glutamate excitotoxicity with a focus on the role of proapoptotic and antiapoptotic genes. Long term, but not acute, treatment of cultured cerebellar granule cells with LiCl induces a concentration-dependent decrease in mRNA and protein levels of proapoptotic p53 and Bax; conversely, mRNA and protein levels of cytoprotective Bcl-2 are remarkably increased. The ratios of Bcl-2/Bax protein levels increase by approximately 5-fold after lithium treatment for 5–7 days. Exposure of cerebellar granule cells to glutamate induces a rapid increase in p53 and Bax mRNA and protein levels with no apparent effect on Bcl-2 expression. Pretreatment with LiCl for 7 days prevents glutamate-induced increase in p53 and Bax expression and maintains Bcl-2 in an elevated state. Glutamate exposure also triggers the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria into the cytosol. Lithium pretreatment blocks glutamate-induced cytochrome c release and cleavage of lamin B1, a nuclear substrate for caspase-3. These results strongly suggest that lithium-induced Bcl-2 up-regulation and p53 and Bax down-regulation play a prominent role in neuroprotection against excitotoxicity. Our results further suggest that lithium, in addition to its use in the treatment of bipolar depressive illness, may have an expanded use in the intervention of neurodegeneration.
013 Variable p53 Response in a 3D Matrix

Detachment of an attached (stressed) fibroblast-populated collagen matrix (FPCM) induces fibroblast apoptosis; this may be secondary to increased p53 after detachment. We have noted, however, that the p53 response after detachment of an attached FPCM (i.e., stress-release) varies among cells strains. We hypothesized that modulation of p53 after FPCM stress-release may be related to the fibroblast population density at the time of release. Human foreskin fibroblasts (initially seeded at 0.5 × 106/ml in 0.2 ml) were cultured for 48 hr in attached collagen matrices prior to detachment for 0–6 hr; p53 levels and lysate DNA concentration (used as a measure of fibroblast population density) were determined with immunoblot densitometry and a spectrophotometer, respectively. The experiment was performed with 15 different strains of fibroblasts. The p53 level increased (defined as ≥100% increase in baseline p53 level) during the 6 hr detachment period in 6/15 (40%) of fibroblast strains (responders), and downregulated or unchanged in the remaining strains (nonresponders). The mean DNA concentration in the responders vs. nonresponders was 1.56 μg/ml (median 1.63, range 0.89–2.25)vs. 2.57 (median 1.94, range 1.38–5.09), respectively (p < 0.05, Wilcoxon rank sum test). Stress-release of the FPCM resulted in a variable p53 response which appeared to have a relationship with the fibroblast population density; a lower density was associated with p53 upregulation after detachment. This variable p53 response may in turn be related to varying proliferative capacity in the collagen matrix, as there was a broad range (nearly an order of magnitude) of DNA concentration among the 15 cell strains after 48 hr of attached FPCM cuture.
Taking Sides: Interferons in Leprosy

In a recent Science paper, Teles et al. (2013) show that type I and II interferons (IFNs) are reciprocally expressed in the polar immune forms of leprosy, with type I IFNs inducing IL-10 that interferes with the antimycobacterial effects of type II IFNs (IFNγ) at the site of infection.
Equipped-human Reference Architecture

Abstract The successful application of most modern complex systems depends on human components as part of their system architectures. While the complexity of these systems is further complicated due to those human elements, most of these complex system designs may still be well-engineered using traditional systems engineering approaches and methodologies. Reference architectures (RA) are applied in this paper to demonstrate their use for defining systems that are human centered. That is, systems where the human is not the proverbial cog in the architecture rather where the human is the core emphasis of the design. This paper proposes a construct for Equipped-Human Reference Architecture (EHRA) as a useful systems engineering tool for addressing the complexity inherent in developing human centric systems. We assert that well conceived and constructed EHRA could provide a reusable and evolving set of architecture guidelines and constraints that define the complete equipped-human design space. Additionally, well-structured EHRA should be extensible to provide usable systems engineering design tools in order to aid equipped-human systems (EHS) developers when they are designing and evolving specific EHS solution architectures.
Steroid-mediated regulation of the epithelial sodium channel subunits in mammary epithelial cells

The epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) is a key mediator of sodium transport in epithelia; however, little is known about ENaC expression in mammary epithelia. Using real-time PCR, we demonstrated the expression of the ENaC subunit mRNAs in mouse and human mammary cell lines and in vivo mouse mammary tissue. We determined the effects of glucocorticoids, progesterone, and prolactin on ENaC expression in four mammary cell lines. Dexamethasone induced all detectable ENaC subunits in noncancerous cell lines, HC11 and MCF10A. Interestingly, in cancerous cell lines (T-47D and MCF-7), both beta- and gamma- but not alphaENaC mRNAs were induced by dexamethasone. Progesterone induced ENaC mRNA only in T-47D cells, and prolactin had no effects. gammaENaC was rapidly induced by steroids, whereas induction of alpha- and betaENaC was slower; moreover, the induction of the beta-subunit required de novo protein synthesis. Dexamethasone treatment did not affect ENaC mRNA stability. Western blot analysis revealed immunoreactive bands corresponding to different forms of alpha-, beta-, and gammaENaC; dexamethasone significantly increased the intensity of alphaENaC (85 kDa) and betaENaC (90 kDa). We also showed an in vivo reduction in alphaENaC levels in the mammary tissue of lactating mice as compared with controls, whereas beta- and gammaENaC mRNA levels were significantly increased. Furthermore, dexamethasone in vivo significantly increased alpha-, beta-, and gammaENaC mRNA expression. Our data indicate that both mouse and human mammary cells express all ENaC subunits, and they are regulated by steroid hormones in a temporal and cell-specific manner both in culture and in vivo.
Multi-Level Computer Simulation of the Energy Saver Cooling Provisions

Mathematical models have been developed to describe the detailed temperature distributions within Energy Saver cryoloops as a function of static and ramp loads. The Satellite performance as a function of the Central Helium Liquefier flows, is calculated for a single equipment specification set. The performance of the system over a wide range of parameters results in clearly defined optima and detailed far-from-design predictions. The agreement of experimental test data and the simulation prediction is explored for individual magnets, magnet strings and the Satellite-mode refrigerator.
Structure, Assembly and Mechanical Properties of DNA Nanoparticles Condensed with Peim

DNA is an anionic polyelectrolyte, which occupies a large volume in salt free solution due to the coulomb repulsion between the charged groups. In the presence of polymer cations, DNA condenses into nanoparticles. DNA nanoparticles have generated a lot interest as a preferred vehicle for delivering therapeutic DNA in gene therapy. The efficiency of gene delivery is determined by stability and compactness of the particles. However, not much is known about the organization of DNA within the nanoparticles. Large polymer cations condense DNA rapidly, with no distinct intermediate stages that could give insight into the arrangement of DNA. In our work, we modulate the DNA length to slow down nanoparticle formation; and, by imaging with Atomic Force Microscopy, reconstruct stages in the particle assembly. The polymer cation used was polyethyleneimine modified with sugar residues (PEIm). The cation:base pair ratio was ∼60. The DNA is found to be arranged within the nanoparticle as an inter-weaving network of long fiber condensates. The fiber condensates form from DNA folding along its length, and appear to be the unit of DNA organization within the particle. The fiber-condensate network is highly deformable, having as much as 95% water content. Nano-indentation experiments suggest that the nanoparticles have a hollow sphere architecture.
Detection of Green Turtle Herpesviral Sequence in Saddleback Wrasse Thalassoma duperrey: A Possible Mode of Transmission of Green Turtle Fibropapilloma

Abstract Samples of DNA were prepared from various tissues and organs (including snout, gill, eye, brain, heart, liver, gut content, intestine, swim bladder, spleen, gallbladder, spinal cord, gonad, and muscle) of six healthy appearing reef cleaner fish, saddleback wrasses Thalassoma duperrey, captured from a cleaning station in North Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaii. The DNA samples were tested for evidence of green turtle herpesvirus infection by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Green turtle herpesviral sequences were detected in snout (3/6), gill (2/6), and liver (1/6). All other tissues were negative. Except for a single nucleotide substitution (from A to G at position 48, resulting in a single amino acid change from isoleucine to methionine at position 16), the DNA sequences detected in the fish were identical to that of a newly reported green turtle herpesvirus. Although preliminary, these data represent the first evidence for an association of a herpesvirus with saddleback wrasse, suggesting that c...
Antibiotic peptides from higher eukaryotes: biology and applications

Gene-encoded antibiotic peptides are increasingly being recognized as effector molecules of host defense in plants and animals. Studies of antimicrobial peptides are providing new insights into the dynamic interactions between microbes and their hosts, and are generating new paradigms for the pathogenesis and treatment of diseases. Because antimicrobial peptides of higher eukaryotes differ structurally from conventional antibiotics produced by bacteria and fungi, they offer novel templates for pharmaceutical compounds that could be effective against increasingly resistant microbes.
Characterization of a single copy gene encoding ferredoxin I from pea.

We have isolated, mapped, and sequenced a genomic clone containing the ferredoxin I (Fed-7) gene from Pisum safivum. The gene is present as a single copy per haploid genome. It has no introns, and it specifies a 753nucleotide transcript encoding a 149-amino acid protein including a 52-residue transit peptide. Upstream sequences from Fed-7 contain several elements with similarity to transcriptional regulatory elements from RbcS and Cab genes, and gel mobility shift assays show that nuclear extracts from light-grown pea leaves contain one or more DNA binding activities specific for Fed-7 5’-flanking sequences. RbcS and Cab regulatory sequences are only weak competitors for this binding, however, and the RbcS and Cab similarities mostly lie outside of the region essential for binding. These data are discussed in terms of previously observed physiological differences between the light responses of Fed-7 and other genes.
The Use of Free-Energy Minimization for Calculating β Factors and Equilibrium Compositions in Flame Spectroscopy

A method is presented for calculating the equilibrium composition in a flame system. The method utilizes a computer program based on the minimization of free energy in the model system. Calculations were made of β values (the free-atom fraction) for 17 elements in the nitrous oxide/acetylene flame and for 15 elements in the air/acetylene flame. Special investigations were made with aluminum in the nitrous oxide/acetylene flame to study the effects of varying flame stoichiometry, matrix elements, and ion formation on the equilibrium composition of the flame system. Applications of the method are discussed.
Securing analysis patterns

One of the latest ways to improve software security is based on the use of security patterns. Security patterns provide encapsulated solutions to specific security problems and can be used to build secure systems by designers with little knowledge of security. We present here a way to use security patterns to add security to applications. This is accomplished by adding instances of security patterns to the conceptual model of the application. This approach is part of a secure systems development methodology but it can be used on its own.
Drinking water source and reproductive outcomes in Sprague-Dawley rats☆

As part of our work on the influence of water source on reproductive outcome, Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized to tap water, bottled water, or deionized water treatment groups, utilizing 160 animals per treatment; animals received the water prior to and during pregnancy. Rats were shipped in four batches (A-D). Batch effects were seen for several reproductive parameters. Because the tap water supply was interrupted by an earthquake resulting in an unbalanced design, primary analyses utilized only batches C and D, which included most of the tap water-treated rats. A treatment effect with respect to resorption frequency was seen that was marginally significant using a fixed-effects analysis of variance (P = 0.053), but not when batch was entered as a random effect (P = 0.36). The data were modeled by logistic regression, controlling for batch, litter size, and batch-treatment interaction. The odds ratio comparing tap to bottled water was 1.8 (95% CI 1.0 to 3.3, P = 0.05), which was similar to the epidemiologic result that prompted this study. The magnitude of this association varied by batch, and the difference in resorption frequency was within the range of variation seen for control animals. Although these findings do not justify public health action at this time, further investigation is warranted.
Comparison of serum and renal gentamicin concentrations with fractional urinary excretion tests as indicators of nephrotoxicity.

Anthony Brown, S., & Garry, F.B. Comparison of serum and renal gentamycin concentrations with fractional urinary excretion tests as indicators of nephrotoxicity. J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap.11, 330–337. Gentamicin was given to six sheep at a dosage rate of 80 mg/kg/day divided into three daily doses to cause nephrotoxicity. Peak serum gentamicin concentrations rose significantly throughout dosing (P < 0.05), but trough serum gentamicin concentrations increased dramatically (P < 0.01) from initial concentrations of 3.2–9.1 μg/ml to final trough concentrations of 31.5–195 μg/ml by 6–10 days on gentamicin. The serum gentamicin elimination half-life (t1/2) was doubled in each animal by approximately 6 days on therapy, with the sheep that were the most clinically affected by the nephrotoxic effects of gentamicin showing increases in t1/2 earlier than those sheep that remained less intoxicated. These changes occurred before many other clinical indicators of nephrotoxicity, with only urinary enzyme excretions preceding the changes in gentamicin elimination. Thus, alterations in the elimination of gentamicin may be one of the first clinical indicators of the occurrence of gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity.
Automated daily process for global ionospheric total electron content maps and satellite ocean altimeter ionospheric calibration based on Global Positioning System data

The accuracy of single-frequency ocean altimeters benefits from calibration of the total electron content (TEC) of the ionosphere below the satellite.
Toxic effects of resazurin on cell cultures.

Resazurin, introduced as a cell viability indicator under the trade name alamarBlue®, is generally regarded as nontoxic when used according to manufacturer’s suggested shorter-term incubation time specifications. However, problems arise when exposure times are extended to longer-term cultures on the order of days. To assess the effect of resazurin over longer incubation times, MCF7 (HTB-22), MCF10A (CRL-10317), 3T3-L1 (CL-173), and D1 (CRL-12424) cultures were tested with varying amounts of resazurin over 4- and 8-day periods. MCF7, 3T3-L1, and D1 cells cultured for 8 days with 20 % alamarBlue® had significantly less cell survivability. Specifically, levels of metabolic activity, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) concentration, and glucose consumption of the cell lines cultured for 8 days in medium with 20 % alamarBlue® were significantly lower (p < 0.05) than metabolic activity, DNA concentration, and glucose consumption of MCF7 cells cultured for 8 days in medium with no alamarBlue®. MCF7, 3T3-L1, and D1 cells used less glucose at concentrations as low as 5 %. Data also suggests the toxic effects are more pronounced in the cancerous cell line as compared to the noncancerous cells.
Factors Associated with Cancer Survivors' Selection between Two Group Physical Activity Programs

Physical activity programs have health benefits for cancer survivors, but little is known about factors that influence cancer survivors’ actual choices between different physical activity programs. To address this knowledge gap, we examined factors associated with selecting between two group physical activity programs. The present study is nested in a non-randomized trial. After attending an orientation to learn about the programs offered, cancer survivors (n = 133) selected between a dragon boat paddling team and group walking program. We measured the association between physical activity program chosen and demographic, clinical, physical and psychosocial characteristics. Roughly equal proportions chose to participate in dragon boat paddling or walking (55% versus 45%). Of the many variables studied, few were associated with program selection. Compared to those who chose the walking program, those who chose the dragon boat paddling team were more likely to be Caucasians (p = .015) and younger (p = .027), and marginally signifantly more like to have cancers other than breast cancer (p = .056) and have greater lower-body strength (.062). Among a cohort of cancer survivors who were interested in physical activity programs who chose between two markedly different group physical activity programs, the two programs attracted groups of approximately the same size and with remarkably similar characteristics overall. The two most notable associations were that Caucasians and younger adults were significantly more likely to choose the dragon boat paddling program. To meet the needs of cancer survivors, a menu of physical activity program options may be optimal.