cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Study of the Binding of Phosphoenolpyruvate and Phosphoenol-α-ketobutyrate to Manganese Pyruvate Kinase TEMPERATURE, FREQUENCY, AND MONOVALENT CATION DEPENDENCE OF WATER PROTON NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE RELAXATION RATES

Abstract The proton magnetic resonance relaxation rate (PRR) of water in ternary complexes of pyruvate kinase-Mn(II) with P-enolpyruvate and P-enol-α-ketobutyrate has been examined in the presence of various monovalent cations by titration of pyruvate kinase-Mn(II) with either P-enolpyruvate or P-enol-α-ketobutyrate. The calculated dissociation constants of the substrate and of the enzyme from the enzyme-metal-substrate complexes, K3 and K2 respectively, and the enhancement of the ternary P-enolpyruvate complex (et) were found to depend upon the monovalent cation present. The results are interpreted in terms of an equilibrium mixture of the two known conformational forms of the ternary P-enolpyruvate complex in the presence of nonactivating (CH3)4N+. In the presence of activating K+, only one ternary species exists which is the same as the major conformational species formed with (CH3)4N+. By the EPR criterion, the substrate analog P-enol-α-ketobutyrate forms only one species of the enzyme-Mn(II)-substrate complex in the presence of either (CH3)4N+ or K+ and, unlike the P-enol-pyruvate complex, the value of et for the analog complex is independent of monovalent cation. It is concluded that the monovalent cation affects only the equilibrium between the two conformational species of the P-enolpyruvate complex and that the enhancement of the major conformational form is invariant with monovalent cation. From the fact that the PRR enhancement et of the minor conformational form (∼17) is much closer to that of the binary metal-enzyme complex (eb = 22.5) than to that of the ternary K+ complex (et = 2.3), it is inferred that the Mn(II) active site environment of the minor conformational form closely resembles that of the binary complex. PRR titrations for the P-enolpyruvate complex have yielded a stoichiometry of 3.5 P-enolpyruvate sites per molecule of pyruvate kinase. Temperature and frequency dependence studies of the water PRR for the ternary P-enolpyruvate complex in the presence of K+ bracketed the correlation time for the dipolar interaction between Mn(II) and the water protons: 0.7 x 10-9 s ≤ τc l 2.6 x 10-9 s. In the presence of (CH3)4N+, the water PRR for the ternary P-enolpyruvate complex is frequency-dependent. The frequency-dependent component is identified with the minor conformational species present only in (CH3)4N+ solutions. The number, n, of water molecules in the first coordination sphere of Mn(II) of the ternary P-enolpyruvate complex in the presence of K+ was calculated to be 0.2 ≤ n ≤ 0.5. The low value of n is discussed in terms of possible structural features of the enzyme-metal-substrate complex.
Treatment of otitis media with cefuroxime axetil.

Abstract Cefuroxime axetil and cefaclor were compared for efficacy in the treatment of acute otitis media with effusion. Sixty-four pediatric outpatients had tympanocentesis for culture, and then were randomized to a ten-day course of treatment with cefuroxime axetil or cefaclor. Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae were isolated from 25 (39%) and 23 (36%) patients, respectively. Treatment was beneficial in 26 (90%) of the patients who received cefuroxime axetil, and in 16 (76%) of the cefaclor-treated patients. Treatment failed in five (24%) of the cefaclor-treated patients, and in only three (10%) patients who received cefuroxime axetil. Haemophilus influenzae was the initial causative pathogen in a disproportionate number of treatment failures. This study demonstrates the efficacy of cefuroxime axetil in the treatment of otitis media.
Differential impact on post‐transplant outcomes between pulsatile‐ and continuous‐flow left ventricular assist devices

Ventura PA, Alharethi R, Budge D, Reid BB, Horne BD, Mason NO, Stoker S, Caine WT, Rasmusson B, Doty J, Clayson SE, Kfoury AG. Differential impact on post-transplant outcomes between pulsatile- and continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices. Clin Transplant 2011: 25: E390–E395. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Abstract: Background: The HeartMate II (HMII) left ventricular assist device (LVAD) has proven reliable and durable and has become the preferred choice for bridge to transplant therapy (BTT) when compared with the pulsatile HeartMate XVE (XVE). In this study, we compared the post-transplant (PTx) outcomes between XVE and HMII using a large national data registry. Methods: The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN)/United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) Thoracic Registry database was queried for all patients implanted with either an XVE or an HMII as BTT during 2004–2009. Statistical analysis between XVE and HMII were performed using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and Cox regression analyses. Results: A total of 673 patients were implanted with the XVE and 484 with HMII. When adjusted for age, gender, ethnicity, intra-aortic balloon pump, ventilator, inotropes, dialysis, body mass index, creatinine, bilirubin, transfusion, pulmonary capillary wedge, and pulmonary arterial pressures, the HMII had similar one- and three-yr survival (hazard ratio = 0.95, CI = 0.64, 1.42) and rejection-free survival PTx compared to XVE. The XVE group had more early incidences of allograft rejection (AR) and hospitalization for infection (HI). Conclusions: Compared to XVE, patients with HMII have similar one- and three-yr survival after heart transplantation with less risk of early graft rejection and significant infection. With a strong shift toward use of continuous-flow LVADs, PTx outcomes are expected to continue to improve.
An analysis of grammatical deviance occurring in spontaneous schizophrenic speech

Abstract It has often been claimed that schizophrenic speech reflects episodic disturbances in utilization of linguistic rules referable to dominant hemisphere dysfunction. These claims, however, have generally been argued on the basis of speech samples gleaned from single case studies. Insofar as normal speech also reflects errors of various sorts, it has been impossible, on the basis of these data, to argue that breakdowns of grammatical structure evinced by some schizophrenics necessarily reflect specific linguistic pathology. In order to more carefully determine the specificity of linguistic deviance produced by schizophrenic speakers, an analysis of spontaneous conversational speech was developed. The analysis was designed to locate and classify grammatical deviance by differentiating “normal dysfluency”, lexical selection problems, and syntactic difficulties. A measure of “severity” of syntactic deviance was generated which reflected the degree that the “target” of the manifest utterance was ambiguous. The analysis was applied blindly to transcribed speech produced by eleven schizophrenic patients and a comparison group of nine nonschizophrenic psychiatric patients. Schizophrenics produced grammatical deviance at a much greater rate than nonschizophrenics, and tended to produce more severe errors. The analysis described may be useful for quantifying and characterizing spontaneously produced paragrammatisms generated by other classes of speakers as well.
Purification and properties of malic enzyme from Pseudomonas diminuta IFO-13182

Abstract A malic enzyme from a cell-free extract of Pseudomonas diminuta IFO-13182 was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity by DEAE-Sepharose, Sephacryl, and Blue-Sepharose chromatographies. The purified enzyme required either NAD + or NADP + as a coenzyme. From the results of coenzyme specificity, the enzyme should be classified as l -malate: NAD + oxidoreductase (decarboxylating) [EC 1.1.1.39]. The purified enzyme was most active at pH 7.5 and 50°C and was stable in the pH range from 7.0 to 9.0. The isoelectric point was pH 4.3. Its molecular weight was 680,000 by COSMOSIL 5-Diol high performance liquid gel filtration on chromatography and 65,000 by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. This indicates that the enzyme consisted of 10 subunits. The malic enzyme activity with NADP + was about twice that measured with NAD + .
Interdependency of Brassinosteroid and Auxin Signaling in Arabidopsis

How growth regulators provoke context-specific signals is a fundamental question in developmental biology. In plants, both auxin and brassinosteroids (BRs) promote cell expansion, and it was thought that they activated this process through independent mechanisms. In this work, we describe a shared auxin:BR pathway required for seedling growth. Genetic, physiological, and genomic analyses demonstrate that response from one pathway requires the function of the other, and that this interdependence does not act at the level of hormone biosynthetic control. Increased auxin levels saturate the BR-stimulated growth response and greatly reduce BR effects on gene expression. Integration of these two pathways is downstream from BES1 and Aux/IAA proteins, the last known regulatory factors acting downstream of each hormone, and is likely to occur directly on the promoters of auxin:BR target genes. We have developed a new approach to identify potential regulatory elements acting in each hormone pathway, as well as in the shared auxin:BR pathway. We show that one element highly overrepresented in the promoters of auxin- and BR-induced genes is responsive to both hormones and requires BR biosynthesis for normal expression. This work fundamentally alters our view of BR and auxin signaling and describes a powerful new approach to identify regulatory elements required for response to specific stimuli.
A spectrophotometric technic for measuring erythrocyte chimerism in cattle.

SummaryAn easily performed and precise method for measuring degree of erythrocyte chimerism in cattle is presented. A spectrophotometer is used to measure transmittance of solutions containing hemoglobin of those cells remaining after differential hemolysis by appropriately chosen reagents.
Manipulating bedding materials and PLT™ to reduce NH3 emissions from broiler manure

Abstract We studied the effect of five bedding materials (wood shavings, sawdust, peanut hulls, wheat straw and shredded paper) and PLT™ (a commercial formulation of Na bisulfate) in factorial combinations, on NH3 emissions from broiler manure. Treatments were incubated for 11 days at 25 °C and 98% relative humidity. Ammonia was trapped in 0.1 N H2SO4 and measured colorimetrically as NH 4 + , and CO2 was monitored with an infrared analyzer. Ammonia and CO2 emissions were suppressed by PLT™ throughout the study. Wheat straw, wood shavings, and sawdust, with C(total)/N(total) > 50 or C(biodegradable)/N > 20, had low NH3 emissions. Total NH3 emissions from peanut hulls and shredded paper were the highest, probably due to peanut hulls’ low C/N ratio and shredded paper’s alkaline pH. No significant interactions on NH3 emissions were detected between PLT™ and bedding materials.
First results from the ATLAS muon spectrometer optical alignment system

Abstract The muon spectrometer of the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN consists of 1182 muon chambers for precision track measurements, arranged in three concentric cylinders of up to 25 m length in the central (barrel) region, and in four wheels of up to 25 m diameter in each of the two endcaps. They are located between 5 and 22 m from the interaction point, and each muon track is detected in three equally spaced chambers. The muon chambers are equipped with a complex high-precision optical alignment system to monitor their positions and deformations during ATLAS data-taking to an accuracy of 30 – 40 μ m , which is ultimately required for reconstructing high-momentum final-state muons with the desired momentum resolution of 10% at 1 TeV. The alignment system, the sensors, and the readout and reconstruction software are described. The installation and commissioning of the more than 12 000 sensors in the ATLAS cavern were completed in 2008, and first data from the full system are presented.
Fluothane compared to chloroform and ether in mice.

SUMMARY Fluothane was compared to chloroform and diethyl ether in mice to determine its anesthetic potency and margin of safety. The anesthetic was mixed with air in known concentrations. Fluothane and chloroform produced similar anesthesia, and was 4 1/2 times more potent than ether. Induction with fluothane was faster than with chloroform and ether. Fluothane seems slightly more potent than chloroform and has an equal margin of safety. The margin of safety expressed as the ratio of LD50 to AD50 was 2 for fluothane and chloroform, 2.25 for ether. Recovery from fluothane and chloroform was about equal and much faster than from ether.
Glutathione depletion and rabbit renal medulla 6-ketoPGF1α and TxB2: Levels in vivo and following homogenate incubation in vitro

1. 1. The effect of glutathione (GSH) depletion on rabbit renal medullary homogenate 6-ketoPGF1α and TxB2 synthesizing capability was investigated. 2. 2. GSH depletion in vivo with diethyl maleate (DEM) produced higher (P < 0.05) 6-ketoPGF1α and TxB2 renal medullary levels compared to controls. Homogenization and incubation lowered (P < 0.05) GSH such that there were no differences in GSH between treatments after 5 min of incubation. By 30 min, GSH was lower (P < 0.05) and 6-ketoPGF1α higher (P < 0.05) in homogenates from controls in comparison to those from DEM-treated rabbits. 3. 3. The results indicate GSH depletion increased 6-ketoPGF1α levels in rabbit renal medulla in vivo but subsequent GSH catabolism prevented assessing the effect of this GSH depletion on prostanoid synthesizing capability.
Innovation in a Large State Primary School

A Principal's decision to change the “graded” organization of pupils in a large primary school in New South Wales forms the basis for this report. Using the Clark and Guba classification of processes related to and necessary for change in education, the Principal enlists the co‐operation and collaboration of teachers to change the existing form of grading. The decisions to innovate and the types of innovation to be adopted are made within the framework of a permissive organizational climate. Decision making is identified as the key factor in the process of innovation. Suggestions are made for its inclusion in the Clark and Guba model.
A cellular model of endothelial cell ischemia

Endothelial cell dysfunction in &hernia may cause increased capillary permeability. We examined the effect of failing ATP synthesis, a major consequence of ischemia, on microfilaments-important structural determinants of the endothelial cell. Glycolytic and mitochondrial ATP synthesis in bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells was inhibited by glucose depletion and 650 picomole (pmole) oligomycin/pg DNA, respectively. ATP levels were monitored with the luciferase-luciferin assay over a 2-hr time course followed by recovery for 1 hr after removal of the oligomycin and addition of 5.5 mMglucose. ATP levels fell to 83.6 + 63.8 pmole/pg DNA (n = 11) by 30 min, 26.9 + 13.8 pmole/pg DNA (n = 11) by 60 min, and 17.2 + 3.8 pmole/rg DNA (n = 6) by 120 min, whereas control uninjured cells had 541.3 t- 196.8 pmole/Fg DNA (n = 6) at 120 min. Fluorescence microscopy of microfilaments stained with rhodamine-phalloidin revealed progressive disassembly and shortening of the microfilaments in >90% of cells over 60 min which correlated with the fall in ATP. Ultrastructural examination revealed that side to side aggregation of microfilaments had occurred over the 120-min time course. Two hours of glucose depletion (305.5 + 130.8 pmole ATP/pg DNA, n = 6) or oligomycin alone (480.0 f 90.1 pmole ATP/pg DNA, n = 6) failed to produce the dramatic fall in ATP or the microfilament changes. During cell recovery, there was a rapid reassembly of microfilaments, detected by fluorescence microscopy, which was nearly complete in 85-90% of cells by 45-60 min. ATP levels increased significantly (P = 0.002) to 96.1 + 36.8 pmole/rg DNA (n = 6) by 30 min. This model should provide insight into the pathogenesis and treatment of the capillary leak seen with ischemia. o 1988
Evolution of Volatile Compounds in Ripening Raw and Pasteurized Milk Cheddar Cheese Observed by Gas Chromatography

Summary Gas chromatographic techniques were applied to the study of the volatile compounds in raw and pasteurized milk Cheddar cheese during the ripening process. The major volatile compounds in both types of Cheddar cheese are acetic acid, butyric acid, ethanol, methyl ethyl ketone, and secondary butyl alcohol. Acetylmethylcarbinol and diacetyl are also present, generally at trace levels. Acetic acid, acetylmethylcarbinol, ethanol, and diacetyl are detectable on the first day of ripening. The concentration of acetic acid and ethanol increased throughout ripening. Acetylmethylcarbinol decreased from its original level. Butyric acid, secondary butyl alcohol, and methyl ethyl ketone appeared later in the ripening period. This was generally true for both the raw and pasteurized milk cheese; however, the rate of change of these compounds was much faster in the raw milk cheese. Also, the compounds in the raw milk cheese increased to much higher levels than those in the pasteurized milk cheese. It is hypothesized that methyl ethyl ketone and secondary butyl alcohol arise from the dehydration of 2,3-butylene glycol which comes from acetylmethylcarbinol.
Marriage: Past, Present, Future?

If they existed, markets for sex and markets for children would share a common feature: women sell and men demand. No society allows the trade in children, instead we have marriage. This article discusses biological and legal aspects of reproduction, and their implications for gender roles and family forms. (JEL: J12, J13) More than one third of children are born to unmarried mothers in the US, France, Britain, and the Nordic countries. Evidently, activities formerly the preserve of marriage are no longer. What has caused this change? This article discusses biological and legal aspects of reproduction in order to shed some light on the causes and consequences of changes in family formation.
Topical Antibiotic Treatment of Infected Dental Pulps of Monkeys

The pulps of permanent teeth of monkeys were surgically exposed and left open to the oral environment. One half the pulps were treated with an antibiotic preparation and one half with a starch control. The pulps were evaluated microscopically at the end of 30 and 90 days. The results for the antibiotic-treated teeth were more favorable than were those for the starch-control teeth.
Predicting interpersonal conflict resolution styles from personality characteristics

Abstract This project examined relationships among two dimensions of the “Big Five” personality factor theory (Costa & McCrae, 1992) and the conflict resolution styles of competing, collaborating, accommodating, and avoiding (Thomas & Kilmann, 1974). Some 288 students at Colorado State University participated. The Big Five personality measures of agreeableness (A) and extraversion (E) were significant predictors of all four conflict resolution style scores. These findings show that contemporary personality measures are significant predictors of conflict resolution styles. The findings suggest that personality measures may be helpful predictors of conflict resolution style preference in mediation and negotiation situations.
Refinement of temporal constraints in fuzzy associations

The objectives of hypothesis refinement in knowledge discovery are to produce rules that more accurately model the underlying data while maintaining rule interpretability. In this paper we introduce two refinement strategies for association rules with fuzzy temporal constraints. Disjunctive generalization produces more general rules by merging adjacent constraints within a partition of the window of temporal relevance. Temporal specification uses linguistic hedges to reduce the duration of a constraint to better model the distribution of examples. Both types of refinement produce rules expressible using the linguistic terms of the original rules. The acquisition of the information needed to perform the refinements is incorporated into a general algorithm for determining the number of examples and counterexamples of rules with fuzzy temporal constraints.
Correlation of Deep Levels With Detector Performance in 4H-SiC Epitaxial Schottky Barrier Alpha Detectors

High resolution Schottky barrier detectors for alpha particles were fabricated using 20 μm thick detector grade n-type 4H-SiC epitaxial layer. The Schottky barrier detectors were characterized through current-voltage (I-V) and capacitance-voltage (C-V) measurements. Deep level transient spectroscopic (DLTS) measurements were carried out to identify and characterize the electrically active defect levels present in the epitaxial layers. The detection properties of the Schottky detectors were characterized in terms of alpha particle peak widths in pulse height spectra obtained using a standard alpha emitting radioisotope source. The differences in the performance of different detectors were correlated on the basis of the barrier properties and the deep level defect type, concentration, and capture cross-section. Varying degree of the presence of deep level defects was found to be the reason behind the leakage current variation and the difference in the ultimate detector performance observed among the detectors. From the DLTS data it was found that at least two defect centers located at E c -0.6 eV (Z 1/2 ) and at E c -1.6 eV (EH 6/7 ),both related to carbon vacancies, affected the detector performance the most.
Braze oxidation behavior and joint microstructure in YSZ/steel joints made using palladium brazes for SOFC applications

Abstract Two palladium-base brazes (Palco and Palni), and two silver-base brazes containing palladium as an alloying element (Palcusil-10 and Palcusil-15) were evaluated for oxidation resistance at 750 °C, and used in joining yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) to a corrosion-resistant ferritic stainless steel for possible use in solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) interconnects. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) were used to evaluate the braze oxidation behavior and the microstructure of the YSZ/braze/steel joints. Knoop microhardness testing was used to develop hardness profiles across the joint region. The TGA results showed that Palco and Palni exhibited the fastest and the slowest oxidation kinetics, respectively, with Palcusil-10 and Palcusil-15 exhibiting oxidation kinetics intermediate between Palco and Palni. The EDS analysis revealed the dissolution of YSZ and steel constituents in braze, and of braze constituents in the YSZ and steel, which led to metallurgically sound joints. The microhardness profiles exhibited a sharper discontinuity at the YSZ/braze interface than at the steel/braze interface, with a peak hardness of ∼1000 KHN in YSZ and 150–180 KHN in the steel substrate.
Charge profiles of thin electret films mapped with subnanosecond thermal pulses

Charge profiles in various electret films are mapped with a resolution of 7 nm, using thermal pulses generated by the absorption of picosecond excimer-laser pulses. The use of these films for calorimetry and thermometry of radiation-induced transient heating with a time resolution of 350 psec is demonstrated, and applications for their use as ultrafast detectors for ultrasound are discussed.
Endomnetriomna of the Anterior Abdominal Wall Not Related to a Previous Scar

Endometriosis of the abdominal wall usually occurs in a scar, and rarely in the intact rectus abdominis muscle. A 38-year-old woman presenting with an abdominal wall mass, which was cyclically tender with her menstrual periods, had an endometrioma not related to a previous scar. Based on a sonogram, the mass was solid, hypoechoic, and situated entirely within the rectus muscle. The differential diagnosis includes abscess, hematoma, and neoplasm, but the cyclical tenderness and enlargement of the mass confirms the diagnosis.
Structural comparison of monoclonal antibody immunopurified pulmonary and hepatic cytochrome P-450 from 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rats.

Abstract A pulmonary cytochrome P-450 was purified from lung microsomes of 3-methylcholanthrene (MC)-treated rats by immunoaffinity chromatography using a monoclonal antibody to MC-induced rat liver cytochrome P-450. The isolated pulmonary cytochrome P-450 was MC-inducible and had an apparent molecular weight of 57 kD on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The molecular weight, as well as the NH 2 -terminal sequence of the first nine amino acids of the pulmonary cytochrome P-450, was identical to that of an epitopically related MC-induced rat liver cytochrome P-450. In addition, partial proteolysis of both cyrochromes P-450 yielded indistinguishable peptide patterns of SDS-Page. Treatment of rats with MC, therefore, induces a pulmonary cytochrome P-450 which is structurally identical to the MC-induced hepatic enzyme by several criteria.
Isolation of simian virus 40-transformed inbred hamster cell lines heterogeneous for virus induction by chemicals or radiation.

Cloned cell lines have been isolated after simian virus 40 (SV40) transformation of kidney cells of an inbred hamster strain. Considerable heterogeneity for the induction of infectious virus was observed between the lines, ranging from the spontaneous production of infectious virus to nonproducer characteristics. In spite of their differences in virus inducibility, all the clones were found to contain equivalent small numbers of SV40 genomes (1-2) per cell as measured by C/sub 0/t analysis. The induction of infectious virus was studied after treating these clones with four agents that cause strand breakage either directly or indirectly in DNA: mitomycin C, BrdU and visible light, uv irradiation or /sup 60/Co ..gamma..-irradiation. A direct dose-response relationship was established between virus yield and dose of inducing agent used. Yields of infectious virus in induced cells were increased by factors of 10/sup 3/-10/sup 4/ compared to untreated cultures. In producer cell lines the percentage of induced cells was estimated to be 2-6 percent as determined by V antigen production or infectious center formation after treatment with the most effective inducing agent, mitomycin C. Our studies suggest that DNA damage and single-strand break formation may be early events in the induction of infectious SV40 frommore » transformed cells by chemical and physical agents.« less
A novel mechanism of cooperation between c-Kit and erythropoietin receptor. Stem cell factor induces the expression of Stat5 and erythropoietin receptor, resulting in efficient proliferation and survival by erythropoietin.

Optimal production of red cells in vivo requires collaboration between c-Kit, erythropoietin receptor (Epo-R), and GATA-1. However, the mechanism(s) of collaboration remain unclear. Utilizing an embryonic stem cell-derived erythroid progenitor cell line from mice deficient in GATA-1, we have examined the role of c-Kit and Epo-R in erythroid cell proliferation, survival, and differentiation. In the absence of GATA-1, we demonstrate an essential role for c-Kit in survival and proliferation of erythroid progenitors via the regulation of Bcl-2 expression. In addition, we demonstrate that Epo-R and Stat5 are regulated by a second, novel mechanism. We demonstrate that c-Kit stimulation by stem cell factor is essential for the maintenance of Epo-R and Stat5 protein expression, which results in significantly enhanced Bcl-xL induction and survival of erythroid progenitors in response to Epo stimulation. Restoration of GATA-1 function results in terminal erythroid maturation and up-regulation of Epo-R and Bcl-xL expression, leading also to significantly enhanced survival of terminally differentiating erythroid progenitors in the presence of only Epo. These results demonstrate that c-Kit and Epo-R have unique role(s) during distinct phases of erythroid maturation, and both stem cell factor and Epo contribute to the regulation of the Epo-R-Stat5-Bcl-xL pathway to ensure optimal survival, proliferation, and differentiation of erythroid progenitors.
OPEC and the international financial system

Apres une revue de la litterature sur les ressources financieres de l'OPEP, le placement des petrodollars dans les banques americaines ou europeenes depuis 1979 est analyse. La place des banques arabes dans le systeme financier mondial est discutee. L'utilisation des fonds OPEP pour aider financierement les pays en voie de developpement ou du Moyen-Orient, au cours de la decade 80 est etudiee.
Measurement of non-Newtonian viscosity by immiscible displacement

Abstract Viscosities calculated from immiscible displacement of Newtonian liquids were found to be 10% lower than the reported values for these materials. This is in agreement with Taylor's [ J. Fluid Mech. 10 , 161 (1961)] results in which it was found that the fraction of fluid left in the tube reached a limiting value of 0.55. If the velocity of the meniscus was twice the average fluid velocity this value would be 0.50 and there would be perfect agreement between the immiscible displacement technique and conventional viscometers. At low stresses immiscible displacement data may exhibit a small degree of curvature that is not evident in the cone and plate results. While the viscosity was found to be independent of tube diameter, this slight discrepancy between the two methods is attributed to surface tension, and when measurements were limited to stresses for which T > 3 γ / R immiscible displacement of Newtonian liquids produced linear consistency relations. Comparative rheological measurements of several non-Newtonian liquids indicate that apparent viscosities calculated by immiscible displacement are equivalent to those obtained with a cone and place viscometer if the data are interpreted in terms of the maximum shear stress and shear rate. While it is recommended that measurements be limited to stresses where surface tension effects can be neglected (i.e., T > 3 γ / R ), the two methods generally differed by less than 8% even at low stresses (i.e., 0.3γ/R) as long as the immiscible displacement data did not exhibit a measurable effect of tube size on apparent viscosity. These results, together with the proven ability to detect flow anomalies such as wall slip, adds considerably to our confidence in immiscible displacement as a rheological technique.
Antiproliferative effects of 4′, 5′-unsaturated adenine nucleosides on leukemia L 1210 cells in vitro

Several 4′, 5′-unsaturated adenine nucleosides were shown to have antiproliferative activity against L 1210 leukemia cells in vitro. The active nucleosides were cytotoxic to the L 1210 cells as demonstrated by Trypan Blue uptake. The cytotoxicity was not induced by alterations in the ribonucleoside and deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate levels of the L 1210 cells.
Prolonged in utero meconium exposure impairs spatial learning in the adult rat Central Prize Award

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of prolonged in utero meconium exposure on adult learning and memory, as measured by the Morris water maze. Study design Timed pregnant Long-Evans rats were studied. On gestational day 20 (term, 21 days of gestation), laparotomy was performed, and each maternal animal received an injection of clear amniotic fluid or meconium-stained amniotic fluid into each gestational sac. The laparotomy incision was closed, and the animals received postoperative monitoring through delivery. On postnatal days 145 to 148, the offspring underwent Morris water maze testing. The mean (±SEM) for the latency time was reported for each day's trial and compared between groups. Results There were significant differences between meconium-stained amniotic fluid group and clear amniotic fluid group in the mean time to platform on day 1 (82.7 ± 1.8 seconds vs 75.9 ± 3.0 seconds; P =.04), day 2 (60.5 ± 3.5 seconds vs 47. 8 ± 4.6 seconds; P =.03), and day 3 (56.5 ± 4.5 seconds vs 34.7 ± 4.4 seconds; P =.001). However, there were no differences on days 4 and 5. There were also no differences between recall and response learning trials that were done after a 12-day retention period. Conclusion In the absence of hypoxia or infection, prolonged in utero meconium exposure is associated with a delay of spatial learning in the adult rat.
Sub-5keV electron-beam lithography in hydrogen silsesquioxane resist

We fabricated 9-30nm half-pitch nested Ls and 13-15nm half-pitch dot arrays, using 2keV electron-beam lithography with hydrogen silsesquioxane (HSQ) as the resist. All structures with 15nm half-pitch and above were fully resolved. We observed that the 9 and 10-nm half-pitch nested Ls and the 13-nm-half-pitch dot array contained some resist residues. We obtained good agreement between experimental and Monte-Carlo-simulated point-spread functions at energies of 1.5, 2, and 3keV. The long-range proximity effect was minimal, as indicated by simulated and patterned 30nm holes in negative-tone resist.
Ancient granite gneiss in the Black Hills, South Dakota

Granite gneiss, with an age of approximately 2.5 billion years, in the Black Hills, South Dakota, provides a link between ancient rocks in western Wyoming and Montana and in eastern North and South Dakota and Minnesota. The discovery suggests that early Precambrian rocks covered an extensive area in northcentral United States and were not restricted to several small nuclei
Effect of sodium fluoride on bone density in chickens.

In addition to increasing bone volume, fluoride has been demonstrated to increase ash weight and mineral density. To determine whether newly formed or older bone is most affected by fluoride treatment, bone from chickens receiving fluoridated water was fractionated into lower density (recently formed) and higher density (more mature) specific gravity fractions. Fluoride was administered to the chickens for different lengths of time (4 or 13 weeks) or at varying doses for a 4-week period (0, 4.2, 16.8 mmol/liter drinking water). Fluoride treatment caused a shift in the mineral density profile, showing an increased proportion of mineral distribution in the more mature, higher density fractions.
Difference Detection, Tradeoffs Between Detection Probability and Processing Complexity

The detection of a difference between two n-dimensional vectors based on a noisy measurement of each vector is important for surveillance, quality control, motion detection, and other applications. Because of cost or complexity, an arbitrary reduction from n to p dimensions may be required before measurements are performed. Using a Gaussian noise assumption, the tradeoffs between detection probability and p, which we take as the measure of processing complexity, are investigated.
Identification and Characterization of an Archaeon-Specific Riboflavin Kinase

The riboflavin kinase in Methanocaldococcus jannaschii has been identified as the product of the MJ0056 gene. Recombinant expression of the MJ0056 gene in Escherichia coli led to a large increase in the amount of flavin mononucleotide (FMN) in the E. coli cell extract. The unexpected features of the purified recombinant enzyme were its use of CTP as the phosphoryl donor and the absence of a requirement for added metal ion to catalyze the formation of FMN. Identification of this riboflavin kinase fills another gap in the archaeal flavin biosynthetic pathway. Some divalent metals were found to be potent inhibitors of the reaction. The enzyme represents a unique CTP-dependent family of kinases.
Amine charge transfer complexes of perfluoroalkanes and an application to poly(tetrafluoroethylene) surface functionalization

Abstract Charge transfer (CT) complexes formed in hexane between substituted amines as donors and perfluoroalkanes as acceptors have CT bands in the range 240–270 nm. The electron affinities of the perfluorocarbons studied were estimated from the data (e.g., perfluorodecalin, 1.3 eV). Photolysis of the CT complexes with n -BuNH 2 leads to CF bond breaking but although the reaction was not synthetically useful, it can be used as a method for obtaining robust photomodified surfaces of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) where water contact angles fall from 108 ° to
Turbulence Model for Nonequilibrium Adverse Pressure Gradient Flows

This paper presents a method for calculating compressible adverse pressure gradient boundary layers by using an algebraic eddy viscosity turbulence model that has been modified for variable pressure gradient and turbulence memory effects. The pressure gradient corrections are based on previous incompressible data correlations. Several methods for including the effects of turbulence memory are evaluated. A new lag model, which gives good agreement with available experimental data, is developed. Finally, a correlation is developed for the lag length parameter employed in the model as a function of the known experimental flow variables.
Modernity in Question?: Culture and Religion in an Age of Global Modernity

I would like to present an analytical framework that seeks to make sense of two seemingly contradictory developments over the last two decades: economic and political globalization that is taken ge...
A Message from the Coaches Council: Using Evaluation Strategies to Enhance Coaching Effectiveness

(2006). A Message from the Coaches Council: Using Evaluation Strategies to Enhance Coaching Effectiveness. Strategies: Vol. 19, No. 6, pp. 7-10.
Nucleotide excision repair deficient mouse models and neurological disease

Nucleotide excision repair (NER) is a highly conserved mechanism to remove helix-distorting DNA base damage. A major substrate for NER is DNA damage caused by environmental genotoxins, most notably ultraviolet radiation. Xeroderma pigmentosum, Cockayne syndrome and trichothiodystrophy are three human diseases caused by inherited defects in NER. The symptoms and severity of these diseases vary dramatically, ranging from profound developmental delay to cancer predisposition and accelerated aging. All three syndromes include neurological disease, indicating an important role for NER in protecting against spontaneous DNA damage as well. To study the pathophysiology caused by DNA damage, numerous mouse models of NER-deficiency were generated by knocking-out genes required for NER or knocking-in disease-causing human mutations. This review explores the utility of these mouse models to study neurological disease caused by NER-deficiency.
Convergence Analysis of a Steerable Nip Mechanism for Full Sheet Control in Printing Devices

Current approaches for high speed color printers require sheets be accurately positioned as they arrive to the image transfer station (ITS). This goal has been achieved by designing and building a steerable nip mechanism, which is located upstream from the ITS. This mechanism consists of two rollers that not only rotate to advance the paper along the track, but also steer the paper in the yaw direction. This paper briefly reviews the design and experimental setup of the system, and focuses on the design and analysis of a controller that precisely corrects the lateral, longitudinal, and angular positions of the sheet. The control strategy used is based on linearization by state feedback with the addition of internal loops for the local control of the actuators. This paper also provides a methodology to tune the controller parameters so that the desired performance specifications are met. The success of this mechatronic approach is corroborated through simulation and experimental results, which show that the system is able to correct sheet errors and meet all the performance specifications. DOI: 10.1115/1.3117195
LRRKing up the right trees? On figuring out the effects of mutant LRRK2 and other Parkinson's disease-related genes.

It has been 10 years and more since associations between specific genes and Parkinson’s disease (PD) were discovered, and it is now assumed that mutations in such PD (risk) genes, probably in interaction with other factors, are a major cause for PD [1–4]. These PD risk genes include alpha-synuclein (SNCA), LRRK2, Parkin, PINK1 and others. Yet after a decade of intense research it is still unclear how most mutations in these genes contribute to the PD pathology. This is likely due to a number of reasons, including that some of these genes seem to encode complex molecules with multiple functions; that mutations may lead to toxic gain-of-function and/or loss-of-function defects; that mutated molecules may need to interact with one another or other influences to be effective; or that some of these molecules or their products may need to migrate from other brain structures or even from the periphery to the dopamine neurons that they are supposed to kill. These factors all complicate the analysis of the mechanisms of action of PD risk genes.
Computer Modeling and Critical Theory

The explicit consideration of literary theory has become increasingly important both in the field of textual studies generally and in undergraduate literature courses. But theory can seem vague and inconsequential to undergraduates. Our students use hypertext to model intertextuality and the Linear Modeling Kit (a software program we have developed) to model structuralist ideas about narrative. In making computer models, students explore the implications of analytic ideas by attempting to represent them in formal (in the sense of programmable) terms. Our experience shows that such modeling stimulates student questioning and discussion of marked precision and sophistication.
Least squares methods for optimal shape design problems

Abstract A Least-Squares method for solving an optimal shape design problem which appears in semiconductor device physics is described. Discretization by finite element methods is used for numerical solving. An example and experimental results are presented.
A MEMS electrochemical bellows actuator for fluid metering applications

We present a high efficiency wireless MEMS electrochemical bellows actuator capable of rapid and repeatable delivery of boluses for fluid metering and drug delivery applications. Nafion®-coated Pt electrodes were combined with Parylene bellows filled with DI water to form the electrolysis-based actuator. The performance of actuators with several bellows configurations was compared for a range of applied currents (1–10 mA). Up to 75 boluses were delivered with an average pumping flow rate of 114.40 ± 1.63 μL/min. Recombination of gases into water, an important factor in repeatable and reliable actuation, was studied for uncoated and Nafion®-coated actuators. Real-time pressure measurements were conducted and the effects of temperature, physiological back pressure, and drug viscosity on delivery performance were investigated. Lastly, we present wireless powering of the actuator using a class D inductive powering system that allowed for repeatable delivery with less than 2 % variation in flow rate values.
Paclitaxel combined with inhibitors of glucose and hydroperoxide metabolism enhances breast cancer cell killing via H2O2-mediated oxidative stress

Cancer cells (relative to normal cells) demonstrate alterations in oxidative metabolism characterized by increased steady-state levels of reactive oxygen species (i.e., hydrogen peroxide, H(2)O(2)) that may be compensated for by increased glucose metabolism, but the therapeutic significance of these observations is unknown. In this study, inhibitors of glucose (i.e., 2-deoxy-d-glucose, 2DG) and hydroperoxide (i.e., l-buthionine-S,R-sulfoximine, BSO) metabolism were utilized in combination with a chemotherapeutic agent, paclitaxel (PTX), thought to induce oxidative stress, to treat breast cancer cells. 2DG + PTX was more toxic than either agent alone in T47D and MDA-MB231 human breast cancer cells, but not in normal human fibroblasts or normal human mammary epithelial cells. Increases in parameters indicative of oxidative stress, including steady-state levels of H(2)O(2), total glutathione, and glutathione disulfide, accompanied the enhanced toxicity of 2DG + PTX in cancer cells. Antioxidants, including N-acetylcysteine and polyethylene glycol-conjugated catalase and superoxide dismutase, inhibited the toxicity of 2DG + PTX and suppressed parameters indicative of oxidative stress in cancer cells, whereas inhibition of glutathione synthesis using BSO further sensitized breast cancer cells to 2DG + PTX. These results show that combining inhibitors of glucose (2DG) and hydroperoxide (BSO) metabolism with PTX selectively (relative to normal cells) enhances breast cancer cell killing via H(2)O(2)-induced metabolic oxidative stress, and suggest that this biochemical rationale may be effectively utilized to treat breast cancers.
Corpus luteum function in early pregnancies is primarily determined by the rate of change of human chorionic gonadotropin levels

Regulation of human corpus luteum activity was studied with radioimmunoassays and bioassays of sera drawn serially from women suspected of having ectopic pregnancies. Progesterone values exhibited considerable overlap in pregnancies that were subsequently classified as normal intrauterine (n = 21), ectopic (n = 35), or spontaneous abortion (n = 14). The rate of change of human chorionic gonadotropin concentration was significantly correlated with progesterone levels in ectopic (r = 0.64) and all pregnancies (r = 0.70). There was no correlation (r = -0.18) between the rate of change of human chorionic gonadotropin and the bioactivity produced per volume of serum. Ectopic pregnancies and normal intrauterine pregnancies did not differ in their ratio of in vivo bioactivity to immunoactivity. From these data we conclude that corpus luteum activity is primarily regulated by the rate of change of human chorionic gonadotropin concentration, without the involvement of other serum factors. We also conclude that reduced corpus luteum function in ectopic pregnancies is not a result of biochemical modification of the human chorionic gonadotropin molecule. Finally, we discourage the use of single progesterone values in screening for ectopic pregnancies because of the considerable overlap in progesterone values among these and normal intrauterine pregnancies.
Normal Fibroblasts Induce the C/EBPβ and ATF-4 bZIP Transcription Factors in Response to Anoxia

Abstract Fibroblasts exhibit a complex response to temporary anoxia; this response, which is associated with no loss of viability, includes enhanced secretion of proteases and endonucleases along with an increase in glycolytic metabolism. Physiologically, this response is activated during the early stages of wound healing. We have been investigating the mechanisms by which gene expression is regulated in fibroblasts during conditions of oxygen deprivation. We show that normal fibroblasts in response to anoxia induce several members of the C/EBP and ATF subfamilies of the bZIP (basic/leucine zipper domain) transcription factor class. Although anoxia substantially elevated the levels of the corresponding proteins, we detected only slight changes in the activity of reporters containing consensus bZIP binding sites. In the case of C/EBPβ this was apparently related to the failure to detect an increase in the DNA binding of the induced factor to its consensus binding site. In contrast, we show that anoxia strongly increases ATF-4 or an immunologically related protein's DNA binding activity on a variant site, although this variant sequence by itself is insufficient for anoxia-inducible transactivation. This suggests that anoxic exposure of fibroblasts may promote the formation of variant bZIP proteins in nonpermissive conformations or they require the interaction with additional transcription factors at adjacent promoter elements for functional activity.