cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A New Method for Bacterial Strain Construction in Biodegradation of Xenobiotic Compounds

Separate continuous cultures of Pseudomonas putida R5-3 (benzene+, toluene+, xylene+, benzoate+), grown on toluene, and Pseudomonas alcaligenes C-O (benzoate+, 3-chlorobenzoate+), grown on benzoate, were concentrated and continuously amalgamated on a ceramic bead-column, which was subjected to a continuous stream of chlorobenzene vapors. A recombinant strain of P. putida CB1-9, able to grow on chlorobenzene, 1, 4-dichlorobenzene (1,4-DCB), and 3-chlorobenzoate, was isolated in less than one month. Chloride was released in stoichiometric amounts when P. putida CB1-9 was grown on either chlorobenzene or 1,4-DCB. Chlorobenzeneutilizing strains were not found in continuous cultures run at the lowest dilution rate (0.05 hr−1) or in the absence of the donor strain, P. alcaligenes C-0. The recombinant strain was related to P. putida R5-3, phenotypically and genetically. The recombinant, however, lost its ability to grow on p- and m-xylenes and the corresponding methylbenzoates. P. putida R5-3 carries a nonconjugative XYL-like plasmid with induction patterns similar to the TOL plasmid pWWO. P. putida CB1-9 carries a 33-kb plasmid which is derived from the 57-kb plasmid of P. putida R5-3, probably by deletion of genes coding for key enzymes in xylene and toluate catabolism.
Lactate dehydrogenase of lobster (Homarus americanus) tail muscle. II. Kinetics and regulatory properties.

Abstract Kinetic studies on the purified lobster muscle lactate dehydrogenase indicate that the reaction catalyzing the oxidation of lactate by DPN+ is modulated by the product DPNH. At low concentrations DPNH activates the reaction and at higher concentrations inhibits it. The combined effects of positive and negative modulations in activity result in sigmoidal rate patterns and rate plotted against DPN+ or l-lactate concentrations yields sigmoidal plots. The sigmoid patterns are converted to rectangular hyperbolas when the reaction is carried out in the presence of added reduced diphosphopyridine nucleotide. The kinetic features of the reaction catalyzing the oxidation of lactate by DPN+ have the general characteristics of second order autocatalyzed reactions. The reduced diphosphopyridine nucleotides are specific modulators of the reaction, the 3-acetylpyridine analogue of DPNH being a more effective modulator. The reaction catalyzing the reduction of pyruvate by DPNH follows normal Michaelis-Menton kinetics. A model is proposed based on the concept of subunit interactions controlling enzymatic activity to explain DPNH-effected modulations in the rate of lactate oxidation by DPN+. The oxidized and reduced forms of the diphosphopyridine nucleotides occupy the same sites on the protein; hence, in the proposed model a separate and distinct regulatory site for the effector molecule is not implicated. It is proposed that the binding of the reduced nucleotide to one or more of the four binding sites on the enzyme causes a structural change in the protein so that the binding of the oxidized nucleotide to another available site is facilitated. Such a model provides a reasonable explanation to account for the anomalous kinetics of the lobster lactate dehydrogenase. Product-induced positive and negative modulations in the rate of lactate oxidation provide the system with a built-in regulatory mechanism whereby the product DPNH controls the rate of its own production.
Microstructure-fiber based optical parametric amplifier in the 1550 nm telecom band

We demonstrate, for the first time to our knowledge, a telecom-band optical parametric amplifier made with microstructure fiber. Preliminary measurements yield signal gain >15 dB over /spl sim/20 nm range around 1550 nm using only 23 m of fiber.
Temperature Jump Studies of Sperm Whale Metmyoglobin III. EFFECT OF HEME-LINKED GROUPS ON LIGAND BINDING

Abstract The binding kinetics of H2S and imidazole by sperm whale metmyoglobin has been studied in the pH range from pH 5.0 to 8.0 by the temperature jump technique. The pH dependence of the bimolecular binding rate constant has been interpreted in terms of mechanisms involving zero, one, and two heme-linked ionizing groups on the protein. Only a mechanism involving two ionizing groups on the protein with pK values of 4.7 and 5.7 can fit all the data. The rate constants obtained for the individual steps of this mechanism are consistent with an electrostatic model for the binding process. The E-7 histidine group and the carboxyl group of a propionic acid residue attached to the heme group are postulated to be the ionizing groups with pK values of 5.7 and 4.7, respectively. A systematic method for analyzing pH-dependent bimolecular rate data is outlined for those reactions which have reactants with several ionizable groups affecting the binding kinetics.
Regenerative sorption compressors for cryogenic refrigeration

Dramatic efficiency improvements for sorption coolers appear possible with use of compressor heat regeneration techniques. The general theory of sorption compressor heat regeneration is discussed in this paper, and several design concepts are presented. These designs result in long-life, low-vibration cryocoolers that potentially have efficiencies comparable to Stirling refrigerators for 65 to 90 K spacecraft instrument cooling applications.
Improving Aerosol and Visibility Forecasting Capabilities Using Current and Future Generations of Satellite Observations

Abstract : Annual progress report for the ONR project Improving Aerosol and Visibility Forecasting Capabilities Using Current and Future Generations of Satellite Observations for the 2014 fiscal year. Research highlights include the development of a prototype system for GOES radiance assimilation and the study of sub-surface oceanic bubbles for their impact on aerosol retrievals.
Multi-sensor real-time data acquisition and preprocessing at sea

A real-time underway data acquisition system developed in support of seagoing research is described. This system is implemented on a DEC VAX-11/730 computer, which runs the Unix operating system and communicates with various sensors through an IEEE-488 general purposes interface bus and slave microprocessors. The sensors interfaced in this fashion acquire navigation data (i.e. ship's heading, speed, and position) and geophysical data (gravity, magnetics, sea-beam bathymetry, and expendable bathythermograph profiles). Near real-time processing of the underway navigation and geophysical data made available to the investigator during the course of a survey are discussed. >
Laughter and the Death of the Comic: Charlie Chaplin's The Circus and Limelight in Light of the Ethics of Emmanuel Levinas

Using the work of Emmanuel Levinas, this article sheds light on Charlie Chaplin's The Circus (1928), a piece that so far eluded the critics, despite its immense popularity with theater viewers. I show that it is not Chaplin's lack of inventiveness that makes the Tramp risk his life on the tightrope 'for nothing'. It is, on the contrary, Chaplin's intuitive sense that makes him believe, anticipating Levinas, that it is human and simple for a person to help another for no benefit. It is this point that cinema-goers understood more easily than we, scholars, may think. Starting with The Circus (1928) I demonstrate that this film, which critics have underestimated due to its 'pointless' ending, becomes meaningful once interpreted as promoting radical for-the-other ethics. My argument about The Circus is supported by close reading as well as Chaplin's own remarks and his later talkie Limelight (1952) in which similar ideas are expressed more openly through language and through the ending scene, with the protagonist dying on stage, to the sounds of roaring laughter of the audience.
Modeling of Catalyst Structure Degradation in PEM Fuel Cells

In this chapter, the requirements of a high-performance catalyst layer are examined in order to understand the ways in which the structure might degrade with operation. The formation of oxide species on the surface of the platinum is examined to understand its role in both oxygen reduction and in setting the equilibrium state of the surface as a function of both pH and potential. Models of dissolution of platinum and subsequent migration through the cell are reviewed, along with an analysis of experimental studies aimed at determining the evolution of particle-size distributions with operation of a fuel cell. The mechanism of corrosion of the carbon supports is also examined, specifically under off-design points such as cell reveral and localized fuel starvation. Implications for material development and future modeling needs are reviewed.
The Right to Self-determination Under International Law: “Selfistans,” Secession, and the Rule of the Great Powers

This book proposes a novel theory of self-determination; the Rule of the Great Powers. This book argues that traditional legal norms on self-determination have failed to explain and account for recent results of secessionist self-determination struggles. While secessionist groups like the East Timorese, the Kosovar Albanians and the South Sudanese have been successful in their quests for independent statehood, other similarly situated groups have been relegated to an at times violent existence within their mother states. Thus, Chechens still live without significant autonomy within Russia, and the South Ossetians and the Abkhaz have seen their conflicts frozen because of the peculiar geo-political equilibrium of power within the Caucuses region. The Rule of the Great Powers, which asserts that only those self-determination seeking entities which enjoy the support of the majority of the most powerful states (the Great Powers) will ultimately have their rights to self-determination fulfilled. The Great Powers, potent military, economic and political powerhouses such as the United States, China, Russia, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy, often dictate self-determination outcomes through their influence in global affairs. Issues of self-determination in the modern world can no longer be effectively resolved through the application of traditional legal rules; rather, resort must be had to novel theories, such as the Rule of the Great Powers. This book will be of particular interest to academics and students of law, political science and international relations.
Possible Global Predicates

Detection of a global predicate, that is a condition that depends on the global state, is a fundamental problem in distributed computing. This problem arises in many contexts such as designing, testing and debugging of distributed programs. For example, the detection of global predicates arises in implementing the most basic command of a debugging system: “stop the program when the predicate q is true.” To stop the program, it is necessary to detect the predicate q; a non-trivial task if q requires access to the global state.
The US DOE/NREL amorphous silicon photovoltaics program

The recent advances of the US Department of Energy (DOE)/National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL's) amorphous silicon photovoltaics program are reviewed. Research conducted at universities, industry, and government laboratories is addressing the critical technological issues of increasing photovoltaic module reliability and improving the stabilized performance. Multijunction device structures have demonstrated higher stabilized efficiencies than those of single-junction devices. In addition, novel deposition techniques and modifications to conventional deposition techniques have produced intrinsic amorphous films with improved stability that have not been fully realized in devices. Results are given for multijunction module performance after continuous 1000 h of illumination at one-sun intensity and 50 degrees C module temperature. These conditions are used as a predictor for stabilized performance. >
Assessment of colon and bladder crosstalk in an experimental colitis model using contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.

Background Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) consists of two chronic remitting-relapsing inflammatory disorders in the colon referred to as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease (CD). Inflammatory bowel disease affects about 1.4 million Americans. 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis is a widely used model of experimental intestinal inflammation with characteristic transmural and segmental lesions that are similar to CD. Methods Here, we report on the use of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI) to monitor in vivo bladder permeability changes resulting from bladder crosstalk following colon TNBS exposure, and TNBS-induced colitis. Changes in MRI signal intensities and histology were evaluated for both colon and bladder regions. Key Results Uptake of contrast agent in the colon demonstrated a significant increase in signal intensity (SI) for TNBS-exposed rats (p < 0.01) compared to controls. In addition, a significant increase in bladder SI for colon TNBS-exposed rats (p < 0.001) was observed compared to saline controls. Histological damage within the colon was observed, however, bladder histology indicated a normal urothelium in rats with TNBS-induced colitis, despite increased permeability seen by CE-MRI. Conclusions & Inferences Contrast-enhanced MRI was able to quantitatively measure inflammation associated with TNBS-induced colitis, and assess bladder crosstalk measured as an increase in urothelial permeability. Although CE-MRI is routinely used to assess inflammation with IBD, currently there is no diagnostic test to assess bladder crosstalk with this disease, and our developed method may be useful in providing crosstalk information between organ and tissue systems in IBD patients, in addition to colitis.
Therapeutic plasma exchange in a patient with erythropoietic protoporphyria status post orthothopic liver transplantation as a bridge to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

To the Editor: We read with interest a recent article by Pagano et al. describing the use of both therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) and red blood cell (RBC) exchange (RCE) to treat a patient with erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) [1]. We describe a case using TPE after an orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in a patient with EPP as a bridge to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The patient is a 26-year-old male who was diagnosed with EPP at age 5 after an episode of pruritis and skin edema following sun exposure. He had stable disease until age 15 when he started to drink alcohol heavily. Due to a worsening liver function, he received an OLT at age 20 (2007), which was complicated by rejection and recurrent EPP. Three years after his first OLT (2010), he received an umbilical cord blood stem cell transplant, which failed to engraft. He was then treated with hemin infusions every 3 weeks until he received OLT#2 in 5/2013. TPE was performed at day 11 after OLT#2 to prevent damage to the transplanted liver while awaiting HSCT#2. A total of 22 TPE procedures (1-PV exchange) were performed over 5 months prior to HSCT (Fig. 1). The first procedure was followed by three every other day procedures after a week, due to bleeding complications that prohibited TPE. Thereafter, 18 weekly procedures were performed. Albumin and plasma were used in the first two procedures due to his coagulopathy. All subsequent procedures utilized albumin solely as the replacement fluid. He tolerated all procedures well without major complications. He also received hemin infusions at weekly or biweekly intervals (Fig. 1). After the first procedure, the patient’s plasma protoporphyrin (PPP) level decreased from 434.7 to 40.8 mg/dL. This level remained stable until day 1106 when his PPP level began to increase after a prolonged interval of TPE and hemin infusion. His PPP level decreased to 17.3 mg/dL after resumption of weekly TPE and hemin infusions. His liver enzymes were stable within the reference range throughout the treatment course. He received a minor ABO-mismatched related peripheral blood stem cell transplant on 10/2013. Neutrophils and platelets engrafted on day 119 and day 115, respectively. EPP is a rare disease due to a decrease in ferrochelatase activity, resulting in the accumulation of protoporphyrin IX. Painful photosensitivity is the most common clinical presentation. In a few cases, patients can develop cirrhosis and liver failure. TPE, RCE, RBC hypertransfusion, hemin infusions, and N-acetylcystein have been used as therapies but are not curative. HSCT has been proposed as a cure for EPP [2]. There is a paucity of data regarding the safety and efficacy of TPE for the reduction of PPP and subsequent hepatic uptake as a treatment for EPP. It is not an indication included in the current guidelines published by
Do recent US Supreme Court rulings on patenting of genes and genetic diagnostics affect the practice of genetic screening and diagnosis in prenatal and reproductive care

Thousands of patents have been awarded that claim human gene sequences and their uses, and some have been challenged in court. In a recent high-profile case, Association for Molecular Pathology, et al. v. Myriad Genetics, Inc., et al., the US Supreme Court ruled that genes are natural occurring substances and therefore not patentable through 'composition of matter' claims. The consequences of this ruling will extend well beyond ending Myriad's monopoly over BRCA testing and may affect similar monopolies of other commercial laboratories for tests involving other genes. It could also simplify intellectual property issues surrounding genome-wide clinical sequencing, which can generate results for genes covered by intellectual property. Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for common aneuploidies using cell-free fetal (cff) DNA in maternal blood is currently offered through commercial laboratories and is also the subject of ongoing patent litigation. The recent Supreme Court decision in the Myriad case has already been invoked by a lower district court in NIPT litigation and resulted in invalidation of primary claims in a patent on currently marketed cffDNA-based testing for chromosomal aneuploidies.
Phosphatidylserine containing liposomes reduce immunogenicity of recombinant human factor VIII (rFVIII) in a murine model of hemophilia A

Factor VIII (FVIII) is a multidomain protein that is deficient in hemophilia A, a clinically important bleeding disorder. Replacement therapy using recombinant human FVIII (rFVIII) is the main therapy. However, approximately 15-30% of patients develop inhibitory antibodies that neutralize rFVIII activity. Antibodies to epitopes in C2 domain, which is involved in FVIII binding to phospholipids, are highly prevalent. Here, we investigated the effect of phosphatidylserine (PS)-containing liposomes, which bind to C2 domain with high affinity and specificity, upon the immunogenicity of rFVIII. Circular dichroism studies showed that PS-containing liposomes interfered with aggregation of rFVIII. Immunogenicity of free- versus liposomal-rFVIII was evaluated in a murine model of hemophilia A. Animals treated with s.c. injections of liposomal-rFVIII had lower total- and inhibitory titers, compared to animals treated with rFVIII alone. Antigen processing by proteolytic enzymes was reduced in the presence of liposomes. Animals treated with s.c. injections of liposomal-rFVIII showed a significant increase in rFVIII plasma concentration compared to animals that received rFVIII alone. Based on these studies, we hypothesize that specific molecular interactions between PS-containing bilayers and rFVIII may provide a basis for designing lipidic complexes that improve the stability, reduce the immunogenicity of rFVIII formulations, and permit administration by s.c. route.
Laser diagnostics and their interplay with computations to understand turbulent combustion

Abstract Laser diagnostics for fundamental investigation of turbulent combustion are discussed in the context of collaborative research that has been conducted over the past decade to contribute toward the development and experimental validation of predictive science-based models for turbulent flames. The emphasis is on simultaneous application of multiple laser techniques in flames having relatively simple fuels and flow geometries, as well as separate application of complementary diagnostics in the same flames. Data needs and design considerations for turbulent combustion model-validation experiments are outlined. Examples are given of ways in which the interplay of experiments and computations on “standard” turbulent flames has led to better understanding of these flames and also a better understanding of the capabilities of laser diagnostics and models to accurately capture the effects of turbulence–chemistry interactions. Issues of spatial resolution, differential diffusion, and LES validation are discussed, and perspectives on current research challenges are offered.
Multiple Attribute Decision Analysis with Imprecise Information

Abstract An advantage of multiple attribute decision analysis is its capability of handling nomonetary factors in addition t o traditional monetary data. However, measurements o f nonmonetary attributes are often highly subjective and imprecise and most analytical m e t h o d s lack provisions for handling imprecise d a t a. In this paper we reex-amine t h e linear additive utility model, expand and adapt it to accommodate imprecise attribute ratings and weights.
RESPIRATION IN CORN WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO CATALASE

Considerable attention has been given in recent times to the relation supposedly existing between catalase content and respiration. Catalase is an enzym almost universally present in living cells, with the power of breaking hydrogen peroxid into water and molecular oxygen. It has long been known that plant juices and animal fluids will decompose hydrogen peroxid, liberating oxygen. Schonbein (29) considered this to be a characteristic of all "ferments." Loew (2I), working with tobacco leaves, extracted a substance which had the power of liberating oxygen from hydrogen peroxid and to which he gave the name catalase. The power of breaking hydrogen peroxid into water and oxygen is not a characteristic of enzyms in general, but is peculiar to this specific enzym, which is usually associated with other enzyms. Loew considered catalase to be universally present in all living cells. He thought its probable function to be to destroy hydrogen peroxid and possibly other compounds of the nature of peroxids formed in respiration, which would be injurious to protoplasm if allowed to accumulate. Appleman (I, 2), working with potatoes, found a striking correlation between catalase activity and respiration. Crocker and Harrington (I3) found a close correlation between catalase activity and respiration in Johnson grass seed, but no correlation between catalase activity and respiration in the seeds of Amaranthus. Rhine (26) concluded that in germinating seeds in the early stages catalase activity at first decreases while respiration shows a gradual increase. In later stages of germination, both catalase activity and respiration increase. Burge and Neill (io, iI) found that the ingestion of foods produces an increase in catalase in the blood which parallels the increase in oxidation. Burge (8) finds that "whatever increases oxidation in the animal produces an increase in catalase . . .and whatever decreases oxidation produces a decrease in catalase by diminishing its output from the liver and by direct destruction." More recently Burge and Burge (9), working with Spirogyra, concluded that the same relationship probably exists between catalase and oxidation in plants as in animals, and they suggest that catalase may be the enzym in both plants and animals principally responsible for respiratory metabolism.
Voxel clustering for quantifying PET-based treatment response assessment.

Purpose: Imaging biomarkers are crucial in managing treatment options for cancer patients. They are extremely powerful tools since they allow personalized treatment assessment early during therapy by using repeated imaging to detect and quantify tumor response. Currently, treatment response assessment from consecutive imaging is measured by simple global measures that do not capture a tumor's heterogeneous response. The authors present an automated, multivoxel metric that groups voxels into clusters of changes for a local definition of radiation treatment efficiency from multiple PET imaging studies acquired at different time periods for assessing therapeutic response. Methods: The algorithm employs level-set mathematics to extract changing features to classify voxels into response patterns. First, pretreatment and post-treatment PET images were aligned using a deformable registration to correct for posture and soft tissue changes. The detailed mapping was modeled by free form deformations B-spline optimized using the limited memory L-BFGS algorithm. The posture-corrected datasets are then subtracted to produce an image of molecular changes embedded with noise. Once images were aligned and subtracted, a segmentation algorithm combining the concepts of voxel and distance-based techniques classified voxels into patterns of signal reduction or enhancement. Although signal reduction is evidence of successful treatment, signal-enhancing regions are an indication of treatment failure. For an in depth analysis of potential treatment errors, patterns of signal enhancement were correlated with the radiation treatment dose and anatomical structures from the treatment plan using image registration methods. Results: The algorithm was retrospectively applied to PET/CT and radiotherapy (RT) oncology data from an NCI-sponsored clinical trial (81 clinical cases from RTOG 0522 Trial) for combined drug and radiation therapy in head and neck carcinomas. This clinical trial dataset presented a realistic environment for implementing and validating our algorithm to correlate local response as observed in serial PET with delivered dose. The technique was instrumental in detecting geographical and segmentation misses on the actual clinical cases by providing accurate voxel-by-voxel analysis of metabolic changes. Results of the level-set based clustering algorithm are saved as a detailed report of enhancing/nonenhancing regions and their location, and can be further displayed as a colorwash laid over the original anatomy for in depth analysis. Conclusions: The automated technique was instrumental in analyzing treatment response in the clinical cases and provided an useful tool for accurate, outcome-based response assessment of the radiation treatment process. The developed method is general and should be extendable to other high-resolution diagnostic imaging with minor modifications.
Neurologic variant of epidermal nevus syndrome with a facial lipoma.

A 1-year-old girl presented for evaluation of a linear plaque on her forehead. She was born at 36 weeks' gestation following an uncomplicated pregnancy and delivery. At birth, she was noted to have an enlarged right cheek. She had no seizure history, but developed grand mal seizures 1 year later. On examination, she had a yellow plaque on her forehead which extended onto her nose. Under her right jaw, extending onto her anterior neck, there was a cafe-au-lait macule within which there was a yellow plaque which followed the lines of Blaschko. Her right cheek was enlarged and was erythematous (Fig. 1). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of her face showed a mass in the right cheek deep to the subcutaneous fat tissue layer. The signal from the mass was identical to that from the fat, indicating that the mass represented a lipoma. This was later excised surgically and was histologically a lipoma. MRI of the brain demonstrated enlargement of the right lateral ventricle in addition to enlargement of the right cerebral hemisphere. There was also evidence of abnormal gyral architecture. Computerized tomography (CT) three-dimensional reconstruction of the skull demonstrated overgrowth of the right maxilla, right mandible, and right orbit (Fig. 2).
Optimal design for polymer extrusion. Part I : Sensitivity analysis for nonlinear steady-state systems

We present a general framework to obtain analytical design sensitivities for steady-state nonlinear systems where special emphasis is given to design variables that define prescribed boundary conditions. The sensitivities are derived for a general response functional using both the direct and adjoint methods and are compared to show that the two sensitivity analysis methods yield identical expressions. Both adjoint and direct sensitivities for the generalized Hele-Shaw system, which models the flow of purely viscous non-Newtonian fluids through thin cavities, are obtained using weak formulations and then discretized for the finite element analysis. These sensitivities are used with numerical optimization to design polymer sheeting dies with minimum pressure drop and reduced velocity variation across the die exit.
Parsing with Soft and Hard Constraints on Dependency Length

In lexicalized phrase-structure or dependency parses, a word's modifiers tend to fall near it in the string. We show that a crude way to use dependency length as a parsing feature can substantially improve parsing speed and accuracy in English and Chinese, with more mixed results on German. We then show similar improvements by imposing hard bounds on dependency length and (additionally) modeling the resulting sequence of parse fragments. This simple "vine grammar" formalism has only finite-state power, but a context-free parameterization with some extra parameters for stringing fragments together. We exhibit a linear-time chart parsing algorithm with a low grammar constant.
High shortening velocity of isolated single arterial muscle cells

Surprisingly high shortening velocities (<200 msec contraction-relaxation cycles) were found in isolated vascular muscle cells cultured from rat or chick aorta. All of the small fraction of cells with such quick contractions had membrane excitation by short duration spikes, rather than the slower graded depolarization of the other cells which produced 20-fold slower contractions.
RECENT VIEWS ON MECHANISMS FOR LOWERING SYMPATHETIC TONE.

A picture is gradually unfolding of the molecular structures at nerve endings which synthesize and store norepinephrine and release the amine onto sympathetic receptors. Norepinephrine is formed continuously regardless of sympathetic tone and is stored inside a lipoid membrane. The amine is present in two pools—a reserve pool in granules in equilibrium with a mobile pool which is maintained against a concentration gradient by active transport. MAO controls the amount of norepinephrine in the nerve ending so that at the steady-state level the amine does not freely diffuse onto receptor sites. In the absence of sympathetic tone, norepinephrine can leave the storage compartments by simple diffusion through the lipoid membrane onto MAO. After nerve stimulation the amine is released directly onto the receptor sites and reaches the blood stream in the form of bases. This model for the transducer helps to explain the action of a number of drugs. Amphetamine increases blood pressure by releasing a small amount of...
The field of Lacerta OB1

We present a new analysis of the Galactic structure in the field of Lacerta. The investigation uses precise uvby β photometry and the recalculated Hipparcos parallaxes to provide an improved homogeneous distance scale to the main stellar groups in the field. The OB association Lac OB1 (Lac OB1b) is reliably identified as a very compact young group at an average distance of 520 ± 80 pc. The characteristics of the older Lac OB1a group and the open cluster NGC 7243 are extensively studied based on photometric diagrams and the inferred distances. A good agreement between the photometry-derived distances and the recalculated Hipparcos parallaxes is found for the Lac OB1 group, but in general discrepancies still exist for this particular field.
Transcriptional mapping and RNA processing of the Plasmodium falciparum mitochondrial mRNAs.

Abstract The mitochondrial genome of Plasmodium falciparum encodes three protein coding genes and highly fragmented rRNAs. The genome is polycistronically transcribed and, since gene-size transcripts are much more abundant than the polycistronic transcripts, the latter are presumably cleaved to produce the smaller, mature mRNAs and rRNAs. Mapping the transcripts of the P. falciparum mitochondrial protein coding genes shows that the 3′ end of each gene directly abuts the 5′ end of the gene located immediately downstream. The 5′ ends of the protein coding genes are also closely apposed to adjacent genes, with one directly abutting a gene on the same DNA strand and two others separated by just 13 nt from an rDNA fragment encoded on the opposite strand. These mapping data are consistent with production of the mRNAs by cleavage from a polycistronic precursor transcript. Further processing of the mRNAs comes from addition of oligo(A) tails. Unexpectedly, the presence and length of such tails varies in a gene-specific fashion. In this regard, polyadenylation of the P. falciparum mitochondrial mRNAs is more similar to that seen for the P. falciparum mitochondrial rRNAs than that of mitochondrial mRNAs in other organisms.
Utilization of cyclosporine H to elucidate the possible mechanisms of cyclosporine A-induced osteopenia in the rat

The immunosuppressive agent cyclosporine A (CsA) produces in vivo in the rat marked osteopenia and elevation of serum bone gla protein (BGP) that reflects the high bone turnover and increased circulating levels of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D]. Cyclosporine H (CsH), a d-N-MeVal11 analog of CsA, is not immunosuppressive, and in contrast to CsA, it neither binds to cyclophilin nor alters cytokine activity. This distinction between CsH and CsA provides a means of elucidating whether CsA exerts an effect on bone and 1,25(OH)2D via immune-mediated mechanisms. We therefore studied three groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats (300 to 350 g body weight [BW]) randomly divided to receive either cyclosporine vehicle, CsA, or CsH 15 mg/kg BW by daily gavage for 28 days. Blood samples were assayed for ionized calcium (Ca2+), serum BGP, serum parathyroid hormone (PTH), and 1,25(OH)2D by specific radioimmunoassay on days 0, 14, and 28. Histomorphometric evaluations were performed on the right tibia after tetracycline and calcein labeling and killing of the rats at the end of 28 days of treatment. In CsA-treated rats, serum BGP levels were significantly increased (155.2 ± 30.7 ng/mL v 107.3 ± 16.8 and 111.5 ± 13.1 at day 28, P < .05) compared with control and CsH groups, respectively. Similarly, 1,25(OH)2D was significantly increased in CsA-treated rats versus control and CsH groups (134.9 ± 35.3 pg/mL v 70.2 ± 16.6 and 69.8 ± 20.6 [P < .05], respectively). PTH and CA2+ were unchanged. Histomorphometrically, the CsA-treated group showed a significant loss in bone volume ([BV] P < .05) and an increase in the indices of bone remodeling compared with the control group. The CsH group showed no significant alteration in indices of bone remodeling compared with the control group. These results indicate that the accelerated bone remodeling with osteopenia and the increased production of 1,25(OH)2D is probably mediated by immune mechanisms.
Transverse compression of an intense ion beam propagating through an alternating-gradient quadrupole lattice

The transverse compression and dynamics of an intense beam propagating through an alternating-gradient quadrupole lattice, plays an important role in many accelerator physics applications. Typically, the compression can be achieved by means of increasing the focusing strength of the lattice along the beam propagation direction. However, beam propagation through the lattice transition region inevitably leads to a certain level of beam mismatch and halo formation. In this work we present a detailed analysis of these phenomena using the envelope equations in the smooth-focusing approximation, which describe the average effects of an alternating-gradient lattice, and full particle-in-cell numerical simulations using the WARP code, taking into account the effects of the alternating-gradient quadrupole field. Simulations are presented for both space-charge--dominated beams, and beams with a moderate space-charge strength.
The Journal is so app-y to go mobile

— Monica L. Helton, BA Beginning with this issue of The Journal, The Editors’ Perspectives section has a new location—after the Table of
Variational Bayesian clustering on protein cavity conformations for detecting influential amino acids

Proteins are large flexible biological molecules and conformational flexibility is a shared challenge in comparisons of protein structure. Many tools have been developed to identify remote homologs in cases where backbone flexibilities are considered. However, these methods require comparisons of structures of more than one proteins, and this is not always available. To assist this process, this paper presents an unsupervised method to predict amino acids that exhibit substantial flexibility to change the binding site when only one protein structure is available. Our method is applied on conformational samples of sequentially nonredundant structures of the serine protease proteins. We observed that influential amino acids can be predicted with high specificities in our whole data set. The results suggest our method as a tool to detect significant side chain motions that affect binding specificity of one protein in the presence of great flexibility.
Screening of Ground Water Samples for Volatile Organic Compounds Using a Portable Gas Chromatograph

A portable gas chromatograph was used to screen 32 ground water samples for volatile organic compounds. Seven screened samples were positive; four of the seven samples had volatile organic substances identified by second-column confirmation. Four of the seven positive, screened samples also tested positive in laboratory analyses of duplicate samples. No volatile organic compounds were detected in laboratory analyses of samples that headspace screening indicated to be negative. Samples that contained volatile organic compounds, as identified by laboratory analysis, and that contained a volatile organic compound present in a standard of selected compounds were correctly identified by using the portable gas chromatograph. Comparisons of screened-sample data with laboratory data indicate the ability to detect selected volatile organic compounds at concentrations of about 1 microgram per liter in the headspace of water samples by use of a portable gas chromatograph.
Case studies of morphological top-hat optimization

This paper presents some optimal approaches to morphological top-hat transform. When using top-hat transform, size estimation of structuring elements is critical in performing tasks such as object segmentation. One typical example is the moving ball algorithm. Since the objects of particular interest possess various size measures, an optimal procedure for selecting structuring functions appears appropriate for the purpose of adaptive thresholding. An optimization design can result in a minimum error according to certain rules in error estimation. In this paper, three cases are considered. The first is the case where the cylindrical type of structuring elements and objects are investigated. The second is on a conical model where a cone is modeled as to optimize top-hat transform. The third case presents optimal algorithm via threshold area or umbra based on a cylindrical model. As is often typical in random geometric modeling, optimization leads very quickly to quite complicated mathematical expressions involving the distributions of the parameters.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
On the Effect of One-way Links on Route Discovery in DSR

One-way links are an unavoidable reality in wireless channels. The detrimental effects of one way links on many routing strategies, including the dynamic source routing protocol (DSR), have been investigated by many researchers. Apart from reducing the efficiency of DSR, we point out that disregarding possible one-way links also has some implications on the security of secure DSR extensions. Most secure extensions of DSR rely on the assumption that all links are bidirectional. We point out proactive strategies to indicate one-way links in route request (RREQ) packets to limit their use, with the intention of simultaneously improving the efficiency and security of secure DSR protocols.
Vortex formation and dissolution in sheared sands

Using digital image correlation, we track the displacement fluctuations within a persistent shear band in a dense sand specimen bounded by glass walls undergoing plane strain compression. The data evidences a clear, systematic, temporally recurring pattern of vortex formation, dissolution, and reformation throughout macroscopic softening and critical state regimes. During softening, locally affine deformation zones are observed at various locations along the shear band, which we argue to be kinematic signatures of semi-stable force chains. Force chain collapse then occurs, inducing vortex formation. Local jamming at the conflux of opposing displacements between adjacent vortices arrests the vortices, providing an avenue for potential new force chains to form amidst these jammed regions. The process repeats itself temporally throughout the critical state. The pattern further correlates with fluctuations in macroscopic shear stress. We characterize the nature of the observed vortices, as they are different in our sands comprised of irregular shaped particles, as compared to previous observations from experiments and numerical simulations which involved circular or rounded particles. The results provide an interesting benchmark for behavior of non-circular/non-spherical particles undergoing shear.
How many receptors does it take

Three recent reports (1–3) identify two genes, thick veins (tkv) and saxophone (sax), which encode serine/threonine transmembrane proteins that act as receptors for mediating different aspects of the Drosophila TGF-β-related signal, dpp. tkv is required for patterning the entire embryonic dorsal region, while sax is required for patterning only amnioserosa, the dorsalmost cell fates. dpp signaling in other developmental processes again requires both tkv and sax, but to differing degrees. tkv and sax, encode type I receptors, which appear to directly bind ligand, unlike what has been observed for other type I receptors.
Limited Ideological Accountability in House Races The Conditioning Effect of Party

At both the individual and district levels of analysis there is empirical confirmation of the conditioning effect of party on the association between House members' ideological deviation and consti...
Peer‐assisted Leadership: Expanding Principals′ Knowledge through Reflective Practice

The hectic and fast‐paced nature of principals′ jobs often prohibits them from learning directly from their on‐the‐job experiences. Nevertheless, having the opportunity to observe and interview a peer partner can allow principals to become more knowledgeable and reflective about their practice as school administrators. One such programme that encourages knowledge generation and reflection is peer‐assisted leadership (PAL), where principals shadow one another and conduct reflective interviews. The increased self‐knowledge and knowledge of the role of school administrators which principals gain as they engage in personal and vicarious experiential learning is described. In addition, the programme encourages the integration of theory and practice as principals compare a conceptual frame‐work of instructional leadership with the observed realities of their jobs. Principals′ reactions reveal their concern about being isolated from other administrators, their need for information that is immediately relevant, t...
Water, Water, Everywhere

“Doc, they’re not giving me my Benadryl.” The patient scraped his long fingernails along his neck to emphasize the point, his skin falling in tiny flakes onto his dark green uniform. The space where he used to have eyebrows lifted quizzically, awaiting my response. I took a deep breath. I was still not used to working in the prison clinic, or in a prison at all. The clinic was in a cramped, ancient section of a maximum security facility that dated back to the turn of the century before last. It was a good ten-minute walk from the prison entrance to get there, mostly through tunnels crowded with inmates lined up for food, work, or head count. Along the way were the echoing noises of the place, the staring officers, the smells of constantly applied fresh paint and ammonia, and the shuffling lines of inmates in their color-coded uniforms: white for those in work programs, green for those with few infractions, gray-brown for most everyone else. And, on occasion, the bright crimson of death row.
Fundamental Properties of the Vacuum Switch

The main results of a study of the various phenomena which take place during the interruption of currents in high vacuum are given. The experimental results obtained lead to a theory of the basic mechanism affecting switching in high vacuum. With a proper design of the switch, a constant working pressure can be obtained which represents an equilibrium between gases and vapors evolving from the electrodes and a pumping action based on the sputtering of cathode material. A detailed study is made of the factors determining the loss of electrode material because of switching. The most essential design features of a vacuum switch are discussed briefly.
Real Space Structure of Associating Polymer Melts

Microscopic polymer integral equation theory is employed to investigate the real space collective density fluctuations and interchain radial distribution function of melts of associating AB heteropolymers of various global architectures (telechelic, multiblock). The correlation functions are analyzed in detail to extract four characteristic collective structural length scales (local, intermediate, and global) which emerge due to aggregation of the minority sticky groups: multiplet size, diffuse cluster radius, microdomain period, and intermultiplet coherence length. The dependence of such quantities on temperature, chain architectures, sticky group concentration (fB) and blockiness, chain stiffness, and monomer volume mismatch are systematically studied, and various apparent power law dependencies on temperature and fB are deduced. A global real space scenario for self-assembly is constructed describing the emergence and thermal evolution of each structural feature in a cooling experiment. Length scale d...
The influence of temperature upon polysomes of spermatids of rat testes.

Abstract Incorporation of [ 3 H]phenylalanine into protein by a reconstituted lysate subcellular system (ribosomes plus high-speed supernatant) from rat spermatids was measured at 34°C after 5 minutes preincubation of one component at 0°C while the other component was incubated at temperatures from 30°C to 40°C. Preincubation at temperatures above 34°C inhibits the ribosomal activity but not the high-speed supernatant activity. The incubation of lysate above 34°C results from a dissociation of polysomes to monosomes. These results indicate that ribosomes are the most sensitive component to the increased temperature on protein synthesis in lysate cell free system by spermatids and that the inhibition of protein synthesis in spermatids above 34°C is at least partly explained by the breakdown of polysomes in these cells.