cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of Bicelles Containing Anionic Lipids to Characterize Cationic Membrane Active Peptides by NMR Spectroscopy

Aqueous dispersions of bicelles (bilayered micelles) offer an alternative to mechanically aligned bilayer samples for solid-state NMR spectroscopy (Sanders and Landis, 1995, Biochemistry 43:4030-4040). Bicelle formation requires at least a binary mixture of zwitterionic long-chain and short-chain lipids. The long lipid (such as 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) forms a planar bilayer surface, while the short-chain lipid (such as 1,2-di-O-hexyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine), caps the edges and isolates the bilayer hydrophobic core from water. When placed in a magnetic field, bicelles may spontaneously align. Because bacterial cell membranes are composed of 20%-25% negatively-charged lipids, we have sought to include an anionic lipid (such as 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoglycerol) in our bicelle preparations. To find optimal conditions, we have varied the content of the negatively charged lipid, the ratio of long to short-chain lipid (q), and the buffer used to prepare the bicelles. 31P NMR spectroscopy was used to assess the alignment of the bicelles under the various conditions. Membrane active peptides, selectively deuterated at specific amino acids, will be incorporated into bicelles under optimal conditions and into mechanically aligned bilayers on glass plates. NMR spectra from membrane active peptides in mixed lipid bicelles will be compared with spectra from peptides in macroscopically oriented bilayers prepared on glass slides. Studies of cationic antimicrobial peptides, such as lactoferricin B6 (RRWQWR-NH2) are significant because of the increased emergence of antibiotic resistant bacterial strains. It is therefore important to understand the mechanism by which such peptides exert effects on membranes which mimic the composition of bacterial cell membranes.
Quantitative Determination of n-Methyl Ketones and o-Aminoacetophenone in Sterilized Concentrated Milk

Abstract The odd-numbered n -methyl ketones (C 3 —C 11 ) and o -aminoacetophenone in sterilized concentrated milk were quantitatively determined as 2,4-dinitropbenylhydrazones during storage at 27C up to 26 weeks. The n -methyl ketones were found to exceed their average flavor thresholds (considering additive interactions) after 13 weeks of storage, although the levels never approached theoretical maximum concentrations, based on the amounts of precursor usually available. The concentration of o -aminoacetophenone was well above its threshold after 13 weeks, suggesting that this compound also contributes to stale flavor of the concentrated milk.
An evolving view of the eukaryotic oligosaccharyltransferase

Asparagine-linked glycosylation (ALG) is one of the most common protein modification reactions in eukaryotic cells, as many proteins that are translocated across or integrated into the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) carry N-linked oligosaccharides. Although the primary focus of this review will be the structure and function of the eukaryotic oligosaccharyltransferase (OST), key findings provided by the analysis of the archaebacterial and eubacterial OST homologues will be reviewed, particularly those that provide insight into the recognition of donor and acceptor substrates. Selection of the fully assembled donor substrate will be considered in the context of the family of human diseases known as congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG). The yeast and vertebrate OST are surprisingly complex hetero-oligomeric proteins consisting of seven or eight subunits (Ost1p, Ost2p, Ost3p/Ost6p, Ost4p, Ost5p, Stt3p, Wbp1p, and Swp1p in yeast; ribophorin I, DAD1, N33/IAP, OST4, STT3A/STT3B, Ost48, and ribophorin II in mammals). Recent findings from several laboratories have provided overwhelming evidence that the STT3 subunit is critical for catalytic activity. Here, we will consider the evolution and assembly of the eukaryotic OST in light of recent genomic evidence concerning the subunit composition of the enzyme in diverse eukaryotes.
Bureaucracy, altruism, and monetary policy

It has recently been argued that the fiscal relationship between the Federal Reserve and the Treasury, by which the Fed keeps a portion of its earnings, imparts an inflationary bias to monetary policy because that relationship gives the Fed an incentive to increase its earnings by increasing the monetary base. This hypothesis is tested within the framework of a Federal Reserve objective function incorporating bureaucratic and social goals, and no evidence is found to support it.
New off-flavors in pond-cultured channel catfish

Abstract A sample from every group of off-flavored channel catfish ( Ictalurus punctatus ) delivered from culture ponds to a commercial processing plant over a 60-day period during the spring-summer growing season was collected for flavor analysis by trained sensory evaluators. Earthy-musty (muddy) type flavors have previously been recognized as the major cause of off-flavors in pond-cultured fish, but in this study other flavors predominated in 75% of the samples. A flavor defined as “sewage” was the dominant flavor in 25% of the samples, “stale” was dominant in 21%, “rancid” was dominant in 8%, and “metallic”, “moldy”, “petroleum”, and “weedy” were dominant in others. Recognizable flavors in addition to the dominant flavor were found in most samples. The earthy-musty flavor was the most distinct and easily recognized and received the lowest (most intense) sensory score. Sewage, stale, and rancid flavors were the most subtle and harder to identify, and received higher (less intense) sensory scores. These off-flavor descriptions should be useful in refining sensory evaluation procedures and developing objective methods for measuring off-flavor in cultured fish.
Schottky-collector vertical PNM bipolar transistor

A submicrometre inverted vertical PNM bipolar transistor with a platinum-silicide (PtSi) silicon Schottky collector-base diode and a p+n emitter-base diode is demonstrated. The transistor presents normal bipolar device characteristics with a DC current gain as high as 40. Faster switches can be made by using PNM transistors. They offer a desirable performance leverage when implemented in VLSI logic circuits.
Acceleration of allograft failure by cytomegalovirus

A number of human herpesviruses are important opportunistic pathogens that have been associated with increased morbidity and mortality in transplant recipients including human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), HHV6, HHV7, HHV8 as well as HSV-1, VZV. However, HCMV has been linked both epidemiologically and through the use of animal models to the acceleration of acute and chronic allograft rejection. This review will cover the pathophysiology, epidemiology, and mechanisms of CMV-associated disease in the setting of transplantation.
The Gamma-Ray Imaging Framework

The Gamma-Ray Imaging Framework (GRIF) is an open source (LGPL) software framework for creating real-time gamma-ray imaging applications. GRIF is written in C++ using Qt, and uses ROOT and the Boost Graph Library. GRIF provides automatic multi-threading and data management to make it easy to quickly develop power gamma-ray imagining applications. The model for application developers is built around the separation of data acquisition (DAQ) and analysis units. Users are expected to use the APIs for the DAQ and analysis units to build their applications. Memory and data are managed by GRIF, so the user does not need to worry about allocating and de-allocating memory for data or thread management and locking schemes. The user only needs to post data to and read data from the GRIF memory manager. GRIF uses XML configuration files for determining data dependences between DAQ and analysis units in the system. We will give an overview of the first release of GRIF, as well as show example applications that have been built using the framework.
Characterization of the contribution of spliced RNAs of hepatitis B virus to DNA synthesis in transfected cultures of Huh7 and HepG2 cells

Hepatitis B virus synthesizes multiple spliced RNAs that can be reverse transcribed into viral DNA. We thoroughly characterized the contribution of spliced RNAs to DNA synthesis in transfected cultures of Huh7 and HepG2 cells. We found that up to 50% of DNA within intracellular capsids is derived from five spliced RNAs. Expressing HBV P protein and pgRNA from separate plasmids and the use of the CMV-IE promoter contributes to these high levels of encapsidated DNA derived from spliced RNA. A spliced RNA called Sp1 was the predominant species expressed in both cell lines. All spliced RNAs support the synthesis minus-strand DNA and duplex linear DNA. Only one of the spliced RNAs, Sp14, supported the synthesis of relaxed circular DNA because splicing removed an important cis-acting sequence (hM) in the other four RNAs. Additionally, we created a variant that was deficient in the synthesis of spliced RNA and supported DNA synthesis at wild-type levels. Our results reinforce and extend the idea that a significant fraction of HBV DNA synthesized under common experimental conditions is derived from spliced RNA. It is important that their presence be considered when analyzing HBV DNA replication in transfected cell cultures.
Quality of baked potatoes as influenced by baking and holding methods

Russet Burbank potatoes baked with and without wrapping were held at different temperatures to determine the effect of the procedures on cooking quality. Unwrapped and foil-wrapped tubers did not differ in mealiness, color, and extent of off-flavor devlopment when judged at the time of doneness.
Psychology is About Processes

Out of the eight points of methodological criticism against contemporary psychology formulated by Watson (Psychological Bulletin 31:755–776, 1934) and put forward by Toomela in this issue, the overemphasis on prediction, the neglect of individual differences, the habit of the differences between the mental states of subjects in objective experimental conditions are particularly important. Modern cognitive psychology has began to remedy those problems, in part by proposing broad, integrative theories. It is not useful to subdivide psychology into “schools of thought” defined by their methodological practices.
EPIDEMIOLOGY OF PNEUMOCOCCAL DISEASE IN CHILDREN

The pneumococcus is the pathogen recovered most often from blood cultures in our hospital. We identified 205 episodes of systemic pneumococcal infections in 201 children during a 34 mo. period. There were 54 infections in 1978 (10 months), 64 in 1979 and 87 in 1980. The frequency of infections was highest in May and April (mean number of episodes/month 10.3 and 9.3 respectively) and was lowest in August and September (1.3 and 1.6). Children with pneumococcal infection ranged in age from 1 month to 14 years (mean age of 20 months). There were 126 boys and 75 girls. Seventy six percent of the children were black. Occult bacteremia (128 episodes) was the most frequently seen illness. There were 40 instances of pneumonia with bacteremia, 31 of meningitis, 4 of cellulitis and 2 of septic arthritis. Three children had recurrent infections: one with sickle cell anemia had three separate episodes caused by type 23F despite having received pneumococcal vaccine. Four children died: two had meningitis, one (asplenic child) had bacteremia and one (with myocarditis) had bacteremic pneumonia. One hundred thirty isolates were serotyped. The serotypes encountered were: type 14(32%), type 4(13%), type 23F(9%), type 6B(8%), type 19F(8%), type 18C(7.7%), type 9V(7%), types 3, 6A and 22F (2%each), types 15C and 19A(1.5%each), types 8, 10A, 16, 21 and 33F(0.8%each). One isolate was nontypable. Seventy five percent of the isolates were vaccine types; however, almost 3/4 of these isolates belonged to serotypes 4, 6A, 14, and 23F that induce weak immune response in young children.
Simple Sequence Repeat Allelic Diversity in Virginia-Type Peanut Cultivars Released from 1943 to 2006

ABSTRACTStudies on genetic diversity in Arachis spp. using microsatellite markers have included few or no commercial cultivars among the geno-types analyzed. The primary objective of this investigation was to evaluate the utility of simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers for detecting molecular polymorphism among elite virginia-type peanut germplasm. Within that context, we had a secondary objective of assessing the impact of decades of plant breeding on allelic diversity levels among virginia-type peanut cul-tivars. All U.S. virginia-type cultivated varieties (except four) released between 1943 and 2006 were genotyped at 39 microsatellite loci. A total of 171 alleles were amplifi ed. Allelic frequen-cies ranged from 0.02 to 0.97, with an aver-age of 0.27. Although no signifi cant difference was observed for the number of alleles present between the initial and the most recent time periods, our results indicate that levels of diver-sity present in virginia-type peanuts have fl uctu-ated signifi cantly since the 1940s and peaked during the 1970s. Our study demonstrates that microsatellite markers may be useful for detect-ing molecular variation among peanut cultivars. Moreover, this is the fi rst report of using micro-satellite markers to describe genetic diversity in a collection of cultivated varieties of peanut.Dep. of Crop Science, Box 7620, North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC 27695-7620. Received 11 Sept. 2009. *Corresponding author (susana_milla-lewis@ncsu.edu).
Bone induction by BMP-2 transduced stem cells derived from human fat

Purpose: We have isolated pluripotent mesenchymal progenitor cells in large numbers from liposuction aspirates (processed lipoaspirate cells or PLAs). This study examines the osteogenic potential of PLAs and bone marrow aspirate cells (BMAs), when exposed to either recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2 (rh-BMP-2) or adenovirus containing BMP-2 cDNA (Ad-BMP-2). Methods: Liposuction aspirates underwent proteolytic digestion to obtain PLAs. After exposure to exogenous rh-BMP-2 or Ad-BMP-2 for four or seven days, PLAs and BMAs were assessed by histochemistry, spectrophotometry and RT-PCR. Western blotting and ELISA confirmed BMP gene transduction. Results were compared to osteoblasts and cells in osteogenic media only. PLA-Ad-BMP-2 cells were seeded on matrices and implanted in the hind limbs of SCID mice. Results: Analysis of quantified bone precursor assays including extracellular ALP histomorphometry, intracellular ALP spectrophotometry, and calcified extracellular matrix (von Kossa) histomorphometry revealed that PLAs treated with exogenous rh-BMP-2 or transduced with a BMP-2 containing adenovirus (PLA-Ad-BMP-2) produced more bone precursors than osteoblasts (p=0.001). PLAs treated with exogenous rh-BMP-2 or PLA-Ad-BMP-2 also produced more bone precursors than BMAs (p=0.001), except for day 7 ALP histomorphometry (p=0.343). ELISA confirmed successful BMP-2 production by both progenitor cell groups transduced with Ad-BMP-2. H&E sections from collagen I matrices seeded with PLA-Ad-BMP-2 cells confirmed bone formation at six weeks. Conclusions: Liposuction aspirates contain PLAs that can be transfected with the BMP-2 gene, with rapid induction into the osteoblast phenotype at a rate comparable to rh-BMP-2 and osteoblast groups. Transduced PLAs produce more bone precursors with faster onset of calcified extracellular matrix than transduced BMAs. PLAs may be an ideal source of mesenchyme-lineage stem cells for gene therapy and tissue engineering.
Corrosion behavior of phosphorus-implanted Fe-6Cr and Fe-18Cr amorphous alloys

Abstract The passivation of phosphorus-implanted Fe-6Cr and Fe-18Cr alloys has been investigated in 0.1 N H2SO4 with and without the addition of chloride ions. The implantation process causes a change in microstructure from crystalline to amorphous as the total P fluence increases. Implantation with 1.5×1017P/cm2 to form peak concentrations of ∼ 20 atomic percent (at%) increases the passivation rate and decreases the total charge passed during the film growth in the absence of Cl ions. When 500 ppm Cl is added to the solution, the P-implanted Fe-18Cr alloy passivates while the Fe-6Cr material pits. This behavior is explained in terms of the effect of P on Cr-containing alloys and their tendency to passivate.
Enzyme-Controlled Release with Liposomes

AbstractAchievements of avoiding the RES uptake and seccess in tumor targeting of liposomes in vivo have brought a great challenge to improve drug delivery efficiency of liposomes to cytoplasmic targets of a cell. Enzymes could be used as a built-in mechanism to regulate the drug release from liposomes. It involves disruption of the permeability barrier of liposome bilayer and has advantages of high specificity and high efficiency. Comparing to other methods, this system has increased the controllability of drug release from liposomes.
Gravitational collapse with charge and small asymmetries I. Scalar perturbations

A recent analysis by Richard Price of spherical collapse with small nonspherical perturbations is here generalized to the case of an electrically charged collapsing star (0¦Q¦-M). The perturbations are confined to a scalar field generated by a nonspherical distribution of “scalar charge” in the star. As in the electrically neutral case, the scalar perturbations are probably a prototype for all others — electromagnetic, gravitational, and higherspin. The collapse is shown to produce a Reissner-Nordstrom black hole, and the scalar-field perturbations are shown to radiate completely away; but they die out more slowly the larger is the star's electric charge. For charge ¦Q¦M, the l-pole part of the perturbation at fixedr and late times is dominated by a “tail” that dies out ast −(2l+ 2). But for ¦Q¦=M, the primary outgoing waves emitted from the star's surface are everywhere larger than the “tail”. At fixedr and late times they die as t−(l+2). Also, a calculation of the redshift shows that a collapsing star becomes “black” more slowly the larger is the star's electric charge.
A Creep Compliance Simulation Study of the Viscosity of Entangled Polymer Melts

A new Monte-Carlo model is proposed in which the viscosity of entangled polymer melts is obtained directly from their creep compliance. In the model, the melt is represented by a dense array of chains which interact through entanglements placed on the sites of a diamond lattice. The chains are allowed to slip through entanglements by use of a thermally activated process. For chains of monodisperse length M, we find that the viscosity scales as η0 ∼ M3.46±0.05, in agreement with experimental observation.
Urodynamic evaluation in women with frequency, urgency symptoms.

Abstract Urinary frequency, urgency, bladder discomfort, and incontinence are among the most common causes for women to seek urologic evaluation. The value of endoseopy and radiographic studies is limited because they define only structural problems. This study presents 325 women who, in addition, underwent multifunction urodynamic study to identify functional problems. The merits and role of this investigation in the workup of this population group is discussed, together with the therapeutic implications of the various results.
Tectonic Implications of Structure of Beaver and Northern San Francisco Mountains, Utah

The concept of thrusting of miogeosynclinal rocks eastward toward the craton along laterally continuous zones of faults in western Utah (Misch, 1960; Roberts and others, 1965) has been challenged by Eardley (1968, 1969). He has presented an hypothesis involving primary uplifts marked by local marginal upthrusts and large-scale gravity slide masses that have moved in various directions over adjacent basins. In discussing his hypothesis, Eardley suggests that the San Francisco Mountains consist of a gravity-driven plate that glided southwest from a primary uplift in the Beaver Mountains. Detailed mapping in the Beaver and San Francisco Mountains indicates that there is no glide surface present as hypothesized by Eardley (1969), but rather the San Francisco thrust mapped by East (1966) in the southern San Francisco Mountains dips northward and underlies the northern San Francisco and Beaver Mountains. Drag features near the thrust suggest yielding toward the east, not the southwest. Thus, the evidence supports eastward yielding along a laterally continuous thrust rather than gliding in various directions from locally uplifted areas.
Hobby farming in America: Rural development or threat to commercial agriculture?

Abstract Part-time farming has increased throughout the developed countries since World War II. In the 1970s and early 1980s, the United States experienced a large and widespread increase in the number of farms of less than 50 acres, most of which sold less than $10,000 a year in farm products. The majority of these were ‘hobby’ farms and were located in rural-urban fringe areas of growing nonmetropolitan regions. In sufficient numbers, the proliferation of these hobby farms may threaten the future viability of commercial farm operations by raising land prices, fragmenting land holdings, and thus hindering the expansion of commercial farms and the consolidation of parcels into commercial farm units. America's state and local governments have been slow to regulate the spread of hobby farms in the rural-urban fringe and in growing nonmetropolitan areas. Attempts in the State of Oregon to control hobby farms have met with mixed success. Yet the Oregon approach offers important lessons for other areas of the United States as well as other developed countries. In fringe areas in particular, policies and incentives need to be devised and implemented to locate hobby farms away from commercial farming areas and to eliminate tax subsidies for hobby farms so that the long-term viability of commercial farming can be maintained.
Prediction and Measurement of Surface Temperature Rise at the Contact Interface for Oscillatory Sliding

Surface temperature rise due to frictional heating in oscillatory sliding is studied using Green's function method and a recently developed temperature model for finite bodies. The surface temperature solution in oscillatory sliding differs in two respects from that in unidirectional sliding: the heat source is time varying and the sliding motion is periodic. The magnitude of the heat flux determines the local or flash temperature rise, which is cyclic owing to the time-dependent nature of the heat source. The periodic sliding movement of the heat source is found to be responsible for an additional surface temperature increase which can be considered as a nominal temperature rise. Based on a new surface temperature model for a finite contacting body, a relatively simple method for predicting the maximum surface temperature rise for an oscillatory sliding system is presented. Experimental measurements of surface temperature rise during oscillatory sliding were carried out using thin-film thermocouple (TFTC...
The effect of prey density on the functional and numerical reponses of three species of predatory mites

Functional and numerical responses of the predators:Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot,Metaseiulus occidentalis (Nesbitt), andAmblyseius chilenensis (Dosse) [Acarina, Phytoseiidae] were observed at prey (Tetranychus urticae Koch [Acarina, Tetranychidae]) densities up to 300 prey/6.45 cm2. Neither functional nor numerical response curves revealed any prey-predator interference effects, i.e.: the dome-shaped response curves (Holling, 1961), did not occur.
Photoproduction of hydrogen by photosystem I of Scenedesmus.

Anaerobically adapted and illuminated Scenedesmus evolves molecular hydrogen from endogenous organic compounds. This photoproduction of H2 does not require photosystem II, since 5x10-6 M DCMU, which inhibited normal photosynthesis almost completely, did not significantly inhibit the photoevolution of H2. The relative efficiencies in far-red light of photosynthesis, photoreduction and H2 production were determined. Photohydrogen evolution was comparatively the most efficient of these three processes. Three mutants of Scenedesmus (isolated and characterized by Dr. N. I. Bishop) were also tested. Mutant PS-50, which lacks cytochrome 552, did not photoproduce H2. Mutant No. 11, blocked in photosystem II, showed rates of H2 production comparable to those of the wild type. Cl-CCP, an uncoupler of photophosphorylation, caused an apparent stimulation of H2 production by mutant No. 11 and wild-type cells. Mutant No. 8, which is partially blocked in photosystem I, showed a diminished photohydrogen production which was inhibited by Cl-CCP. These results suggest that photoproduction of hydrogen by photosystem I is due either to cyclic photophosphorylation, which supplies energy needed for a dark, H2-yielding reaction, or to a more direct photooxidation of organic compounds by the photosynthetic electron transfer chain.
The synthesis and structural characterization of [Et4N]3[Fe6S6(p-MeC6H4O)6{W(CO)3}2]. A hetero-polynuclear aggregate that contains the [W2Fe6S6]3+ core

The synthesis and structural (crystallographic and spectroscopic) characterization of the new heteropolymetallic [Et4N]3[Fe6S6(p-MeC6H4O)6{W(CO)3}2] cluster is described; the anion core consists of a W2Fe6 cube with the two W atoms located in opposite corners on the elongated body diagonal.
Hierarchies for semantic classes

We show that for any constant a, ZPP/b(n) strictly contains ZPTIME(na)/b(n) for some b(n) = O(log n log log n). Our techniques are very general and give the same hierarchy for all common semantic time classes including RTIME, NTIME ∩ coNTIME, UTIME, MATIME, AMTIME and BQTIME.We show a stronger hierarchy for RTIME: For every constant c, RP/1 is not contained in RTIME(nc)/(log n)1/2c. To prove this result we first prove a similar statement for NP by building on Zak's proof of the nondeterministic time hierarchy.
Validity of Self-Report Measures of Anxiety for Use with Anglo-American, Mexican-American, and Black Students:

Self-report measures of anxiety may present an objective, cost-effective method for identifying at-risk children experiencing chronic anxiety. The present study investigated the validity of two self-report anxiety measures (the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale and the Children's Anxiety Scale) for groups of Anglo-American, Mexican-American, and black students (total N = 444) in grades 1-3. Results indicated that both scales were minimally effective in identifying learning-disabled students and unsuccessful in identifying children with emotional handicaps. In predicting academic achievement, both scales had low, nonsignificant relationships with reading and mathematics performance for all three ethnic groups. Bias in the scales' predictive validity, as per the regression definition, was found to be nonexistent.
Evaluating New York City's Smoke-Free Parks and Beaches Law: A Critical Multiplist Approach to Assessing Behavioral Impact

This article describes the evaluation of the law banning smoking in New York City’s parks and beaches that went into effect in 2011. We discuss the practical and methodological challenges that emerged in evaluating this law, and describe how we applied the principles of critical multiplism to address these issues. The evaluation uses data from three complementary studies, each with a unique set of strengths and weaknesses that can provide converging evidence for the effectiveness of the law. Results from a litter audit and an observational study suggest the ban reduced smoking in parks and beaches. The purpose, methodology and baseline results from an ongoing survey that measures how frequently adults in NYC and across New York State notice people smoking in parks and on beaches are presented and discussed. Limitations are considered and suggestions are offered for future evaluations of similar policies.
Serum transforming growth factor-beta 1 is not a robust biomarker of incident and progressive radiographic osteoarthritis at the hip and knee: the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project.

Summary Purpose To test whether serum transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) predicts incident and progressive hip or knee radiographic OA (rOA). Methods Serum TGF-β1 was measured for 330 participants aged 45 years and older in the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project, with paired longitudinal films available for 618 hips and 658 knees. Incident and progressive rOA were defined using Kellgren–Lawrence (K–L) grade as well as osteophyte (OST) and joint space narrowing (JSN) scores. Natural logarithm transformation was used to produce near-normal distributions for continuous TGF-β1 (lnTGF-β1). Separate multivariable Weibull regression models were used to provide hazard ratios (HRs) for a 1-unit increase lnTGF-β1 with each rOA outcome, accounting for variable follow-up times and clustering by individual, adjusted for age, race, gender, and body mass index (BMI). Interaction terms were considered statistically significant at P Results The mean (±SD) age of the sample was 61.9 ± 9.7 years, the mean BMI was 30.3 ± 6.9 kg/m2, with 60.6% women and 42.4% AA. The mean (±SD) TGF-β1 was 17.8 ± 6.1 ng/ml; follow-up time was 6.1 ± 1.3 years. There were no significant interactions by race or gender. HRs showed no significant relationship between lnTGF-β1 and incident or progressive rOA, OST, or JSN, at the knee or the hip. Conclusions Levels of TGF-β1 do not predict incident or progressive rOA, OST, or JSN at the hip or knee in this longitudinal, population-based study, making it unlikely that TGF-β1 will be a robust biomarker for rOA in future studies.
On Shioda–Inose structures of one-parameter families of K3 surfaces

Abstract We develop an algorithm to determine a one-parameter family of elliptic curves associated to a one-parameter family of K3 surfaces with generic Picard number 19 by a Shioda–Inose structure. The family of elliptic curves is determined up to an isomorphism and an isogeny. An application to a generalized congruence number problem is also discussed.
Stabilizing Lead-Salt Diode Lasers: Understanding and Controlling Chaotic Frequency Emission

Lead-salt tunable diode lasers (TDLs) are the only devices currently available that can generate tunable monochromatic radiation at arbitrary wavelengths between 3 and 30 micrometers and are particularly useful for high-resolution spectroscopy over a wide range of spectral regimes. Detailed observations of TDLs show that the observed instrumental linewidth is actually a temporal average of many narrow (less than 0.5 megahertz) emission “modes.” The time scale characteristic of these “modes,” which appear to be of relatively constant intensity, is of the order of a microsecond. The laser9s behavior is highly suggestive of a chaotic process, that is, seemingly random excursions of a dynamic variable (frequency) within a bounded range. This report shows experimentally that TDL emissions are indeed chaotic. Furthermore, in a simple and robust fashion, this chaotic behavior has been successfully controlled with the use of recent techniques that take advantage of chaos to produce a narrow band laser output.
High-sensitivity C-reactive protein and parameters of left ventricular dysfunction.

Abstract Background Elevated levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP), an inflammatory marker, have been associated with heart failure. However, it is not known which parameters of left ventricular dysfunction correlate with elevated levels of CRP. Methods and Results In this cross-sectional study of 98 patients referred for cardiac catheterization, we investigated whether commonly used clinical indices of left ventricular dysfunction correlated with CRP levels. CRP levels were elevated to a greater degree in participants with diabetes mellitus ( P =.006) and heart failure ( P =.003). Increased CRP levels were associated with increased plasma levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP; P =.0001), decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF; P =.02), and increased left-ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP; P =.0005). After multivariable adjustment, LVEDP and CRP were independently associated ( P =.046). Conclusion CRP is increased in patients with heart failure. Of the clinical parameters of left ventricular dysfunction, direct measurement of left ventricular end-diastolic pressure is most closely associated with CRP.
Paradoxical stimulatory effect of the kinase inhibitor chelerythrine on the phosphorylation of a ∼ 20 KMr protein present in the mitochondrial fraction of rat retina

In order to characterize the phosphorylation of a approximately 20k M(r) protein present in the mitochondrial fraction of the rat retina, chelerythrine chloride, a well-known protein kinase C inhibitor, was tested for activity. Instead of the expected inhibition of the kinase reaction by chelerythrine the phosphorylation of the approximately 20k M(r) protein was stimulated by a factor of 3 at 150 microM. This unique stimulatory action of chelerythrine could be eliminated by the addition of 10 mM dithiothreitol. A suggested mechanism of action for dithiothreitol in the elimination of the increased phosphorylation of the approximately 20k M(r) protein by chelerythrine is the addition of the thiol group of dithiothreitol to the iminium bond of chelerythrine. Taurine, a known inhibitor of the phosphorylation of retinal proteins was also tested in combination with chelerythrine for its effects on the phosphorylation of the approximately 20k M(r) protein. A non-competitive relationship was observed when chelerytrhine was used as the variable activator and taurine as the fixed inhibitor (30 mM). The stimulatory effect of chelerythrine on the phosphorylation of proteins was not limited to retinal tissue but was also observed in the P2 fraction of brain cortex. Chelerythrine demonstrated only inhibitory effects on the phosphorylation of proteins in a heart mitochondrial fraction.
Practical challenges of achieving high efficiency boron back surface field solar cells

This work examines two challenges facing the commercialization of boron diffused crystalline silicon solar cells - unintentional iron contamination and the passivation of a textured boron diffused surface. We find that when Fe is introduced into silicon wafers by boron diffusion, the Fe often remains trapped in the boron surface layer and undetectable using bulk lifetime measurements. However this trapped Fe is still a threat to bulk lifetime since subsequent thermal processes can inject this Fe into the bulk. Importantly, POCl 3 appears to be ineffective at gettering the trapped Fe; POCl 3 gettering works only when the trapped Fe is injected into the bulk prior to POCl 3 deposition. An alternate strategy is to directly getter the trapped Fe by using a negatively charged dielectric that is placed on the boron diffused surface. Random pyramid texturing was found to be detrimental to the spin-on SiO 2 induced passivation of a boron doped surface. This passivation loss can be minimized by removing the texture with a KOH etch and ∼ 650 mV V OC could be achieved on both FZ and Cz material.
Comparison of incoherent scatter observations of electron density, and electron and ion temperature at Millstone Hill with the International Reference Ionosphere

Abstract Millstone Hill incoherent scatter (IS) observations of electron density (Ne, electron temperature (Te) and ion temperature (Ti) are compared with the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI-86) for both noon and midnight, for summer, equinox and winter, at both solar maximum (1979–1980) and solar minimum (1985–1986). The largest difference inNe is found in the topside, where values of Ne given by IRI-86 are generally larger than those obtained from IS measurements, by a factor which increases with increasing height, and which has a mean value near two at 600 km. Apart from the bottom of the profile, which is tied to the CIRA neutral temperature, the IRI-86 Te model has no solar cycle variation. However, the IS measurements during the summer reveal larger Te at solar maximum than at solar minimum. At other seasons higher Te at solar maximum occurs only during the daytime at the greater heights. Nighttime Te is shown by the IS radar to be generally larger in winter than in summer, an effect not included in the IRI. This is apparently due to photoelectron heating during winter from the sunlit ionosphere conjugate to Millstone Hill. The day-night difference in Ti given by IRI-86 above 600km is not as large in the IS measurements.
Universal health coverage: a policy whose time has come

It is both the right and the smart thing to do Despite competition from a panoply of other health challenges, universal health coverage has been increasingly in the spotlight. Universal health coverage is defined as the ability of all people to obtain good quality health services when they need them, without experiencing financial hardship.1 The topic of two recent reports by the World Health Organization, it has been proposed for inclusion in the new global development agenda that will replace the millennium development goals after 2015. Adding to the push for universal health coverage is a new report jointly published by Save the Children, Rockefeller Foundation, Unicef, and WHO, which was launched at the 68th United Nations general assembly in New York this September.2 The report makes a compelling case for why universal health coverage is needed for rich and poor countries alike. Unlike previous global health policy initiatives, the policy aims to expand access to healthcare and to protect people from financial hardship as a result of receiving care. Around 150 million people annually spend more than 40% of their non-food budget on healthcare—so called catastrophic health spending.3 These figures underestimate the problem because they exclude …
Mid-aged and aged wild-type and progestin receptor knockout (PRKO) mice demonstrate rapid progesterone and 3α,5α-THP-facilitated lordosis

Progesterone (P) and its 5α-reduced metabolite, 3α-hydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one (3α,5α-THP), facilitate sexual behavior of rodents via agonist-like actions at intracellular progestin receptors (PRs) and membrane GABAA/benzodiazepine receptor complexes (GBRs), respectively. Given that ovarian secretion of progestins declines with aging, whether or not senescent mice are responsive to progestins was of interest. Homozygous PR knockout (PRKO) or wild-type mice that were between 10–12 (mid-aged) or 20–24 (aged) months of age were administered P or 3α,5α-THP, and the effect on lordosis were examined. Effects of a progestin-priming regimen that enhances PR-mediated (experiment 1) or more rapid, PR-independent effects of progestins (experiments 2 and 3) on sexual behavior were examined. Levels of P, 3α,5α-THP, and muscimol binding were examined in tissues from aged mice (experiment 4). Wild-type, but not PRKO, mice were responsive when primed with 17β-estradiol (E2; 0.5 μg) and administered P (500 μg, subcutaneously). Mid-aged wild-type mice demonstrated greater increases in lordosis 6 h later compared to their pre-P, baseline test than did aged wild-type mice (experiment 1). Lordosis of younger and older wild-type, but not PRKO, mice was significantly increased within 5 min of intravenous (IV) administration of P (100 ng), compared with E2-priming alone (experiment 2). However, wild-type and PRKO mice demonstrated significant increases in lordosis 5 min after IV administration of 3α,5α-THP, an effect which was more pronounced in mid-aged than in aged animals (100 ng—experiment 3). In tissues from aged wild-type and PRKO mice, levels of P, 3α,5α-THP, and muscimol binding were increased by P administration (experiment 4). PR binding was lower in the cortex of PRKO than that of wild-type mice. Mid-aged and aged PRKO and wild-type mice demonstrated rapid P or 3α,5α-THP-facilitated lordosis that may be, in part, independent of activity at PRs.
Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Nonmalignant Disorders

Hereditary disorders that trace their origin to the hematopoietic stem cell have been targeted for allogeneic therapy and were among the first human diseases cured by successful hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). More recently, the possibility of treating nonhematopoietic hereditary disorders in which engraftment of hematopoietic cells might ameliorate tissue damage in target organs has also been investigated with encouraging results. As in the malignant hematological disorders, transplantation results have improved over the past 3 decades as a consequence of more refined donor selection and patient risk stratification with modifications to the conditioning regimen. The application of these principles is described in this update about HCT for hereditary marrow failure syndromes and hemoglobin disorders. In addition, a novel indication of HCT for epidermolysis bullosa is presented. Together, these representative disorders illustrate the potential for an expanding role of HCT for nonmalignant disorders.
A Sociological, Offender-Based, Study of Rape

This study contributes to the etiological research on rape by expanding the range of predictor variables and by including comparable violent offender and non-offender populations. The study is base...
Effect of bicarbonate on iron reduction by soybean roots 1

Abstract Release of reducing compounds by soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.] roots has been identified as an adaptive response mechanism to iron‐deficiency conditions which result in chlorosis. These compounds facilitate the conversion of Fe+3 to the metabolically active Fe+2 form, allowing for increased uptake by roots in solution culture experiments. Degree of chlorosis is closely associated with HCO3 concentration; however, the relationship between that ion and root reduction potential apparently has not been studied. We examined the effect of HCO3‐ on root reduction potential of ten commercially‐grown soybean cultivars known to differ in chlorosis expression in the field. Root reduction potential was measured spectrophotometrically at 594 nm on samples of nutrient solution containing reduced Fe+2 . Plants were grown with 5 mM NaHCO3 or in HCO3 ‐‐free solutions. Averaged over cultivars, 0.205 umoles Fe+3 were reduced in the HCO3 ‐‐free solutions while only 0.009 umoles Fe+3 were reduced in the solutions ...
ULTRASONIC ATTENUATION IN LIQUID $sup 4$He UNDER PRESSURE.

In an attempt to help resolve previously observed discrepancies between the theory for ultrasonic attenuation and the data at the vapor pressure, we have extended our measurements to higher pressures. We report data on the temperature dependence of the attenuation from 0.1 to 1.0 K at frequencies of 15, 45, 105, and 256 MHz for pressures between 0 and 24.7 atm. At low pressures or temperatures, the data resemble the theoretical predictions, but the measured attenuation is about twice that predicted by most theories. At higher pressures and for temperatures above about 0.3 K, the attenuation shows a sharp reduction below the value extrapolated from low temperatures according to previous theories. It has recently been suggested that this unexpected behavior is due to a restriction on the number of thermal phonons that are able to play a part in the attenuation process at higher temperatures and pressures.
Testing the Effects of Classroom Supports on Children's Social and Behavioral Skills at Key Transition Points Using Latent Growth Modeling

Social and behavioral problems can interfere with a child's acquisition of age-appropriate skills, which may lead to antisocial behavior in adolescence and adulthood. Thus, determining how best to support positive skills during early childhood is critical. Using data from the first three phases of the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development, I investigated whether participation in preschool, first, or third grade classrooms that were more emotionally supportive or academically focused resulted in better social skills and fewer problem behaviors at key transition points (i.e., preschool and third grade) than did participation in classrooms that were less supportive or less academically focused. Three findings are noteworthy. First, more emotionally supportive classrooms resulted in better social skills and fewer problem behaviors in preschool and third grade, even after correcting for observed family, child, and neighborhood selection factors; this effect did not exist for classrooms that wer...
Vocabulary skills of Spanish—English bilinguals: impact of mother—child language interactions and home language and literacy support

Quantity and quality of home language use as well as home literacy resources are positively related to vocabulary knowledge among children growing up monolingually (De Temple & Snow, 2003; Juel, 1988; Snow, Burns, & Griffin, 1998; Stanovich, 1986). While the presence of interactive features associated with good vocabulary outcomes have been reported in Latino families (Jimenez, Filippini, & Gerber, 2006; Teale, 1986) no prospective studies relating those features to vocabulary outcomes in either Spanish or English have been carried out with Latino children. In particular, it is unclear whether interactions facilitate vocabulary across languages, or only for the language in which they occur. In this study, home factors (immigration history, home language use, home literacy resources) and the interactive language of 50 mother–child dyads sharing a picture-book were analyzed as predictors of the children’s vocabulary outcomes. The children were aged 4–5 and all were attending a Head Start program at the time of the study. Frequency of reading to the child by an adult other than the
RIP1 maintains DNA integrity and cell proliferation by regulating PGC-1α-mediated mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis

Aerobic glycolysis or the Warburg effect contributes to cancer cell proliferation; however, how this glucose metabolism pathway is precisely regulated remains elusive. Here we show that receptor-interacting protein 1 (RIP1), a cell death and survival signaling factor, regulates mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and aerobic glycolysis. Loss of RIP1 in lung cancer cells suppressed peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) expression, impairing mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and accelerating glycolysis, resulting in spontaneous DNA damage and p53-mediated cell proliferation inhibition. Thus, although aerobic glycolysis within a certain range favors cancer cell proliferation, excessive glycolysis causes cytostasis. Our data suggest that maintenance of glycolysis by RIP1 is pivotal to cancer cell energy homeostasis and DNA integrity and may be exploited for use in anticancer therapy.
Intraplantar injection of hyaluronic acid at low pH into the rat hindpaw produces tissue acidosis and enhances withdrawal responses to mechanical stimuli

Application of buffers covering a range of acidic pH values activates and sensitizes nociceptors and produces pain. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a range of acidic pH in tissue produces mechanical hyperalgesia. Tissue acidosis was produced in the hindpaw of the rat by intraplantar injections of hyaluronic acid (HA) adjusted to pH 7.4, 6.0, 5.0, 4.0 or 3.0. Mechanical hyperalgesia was assessed by evaluating responses to application of a von Frey monofilament to the plantar surface before and after injection of HA. In separate experiments, magnitude of tissue acidosis produced by injection of HA was determined by measuring pH of intraplantar tissue using a pH microelectrode. Although needle stick alone produced mechanical hyperalgesia, intraplantar injections of HA at pH 6.0 or 5.0 produced significantly greater mechanical hyperalgesia. In contrast, mechanical hyperalgesia produced by injection of HA at pH 7.4, 4.0 or 3.0 was not different from that produced by needle stick. Although injection of HA at low pH produced tissue acidosis in a pH dependent manner, only a narrow range of tissue acidosis (pH = 6.38-6.00) produced mechanical hyperalgesia. Our data suggest that tissue acidosis induces mechanical hyperalgesia; however, the range of tissue pH that produces this effect is limited.