cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dynamic coordination of innate immune signaling and Insulin signaling regulates systemic responses to localized DNA damage

Metazoans adapt to changing environmental conditions and to harmful challenges by attenuating growth and metabolic activities systemically. Recent studies in mice and flies indicate that endocrine signaling interactions between insulin/IGF signaling (IIS) and innate immune signaling pathways are critical for this adaptation, yet the temporal and spatial hierarchy of these signaling events remains elusive. Here, we identify and characterize a program of signaling interactions that regulates the systemic response of the Drosophila larva to localized DNA damage. We provide evidence that epidermal DNA damage induces an innate immune response that is kept in check by systemic repression of IIS activity. IIS repression induces NFκB/Relish signaling in the fat body, which is required for recovery of IIS activity in a second phase of the systemic response to DNA damage. This systemic response to localized DNA damage thus coordinates growth and metabolic activities across tissues, ensuring growth homeostasis and survival of the animal.
Local tissue-weight-based nonrigid registration of lung images with application to regional ventilation

In this paper, a new nonrigid image registration method is presented to align two volumetric lung CT datasets with an application to estimate regional ventilation. Instead of the sum of squared intensity difference (SSD), we introduce the sum of squared tissue volume difference (SSTVD) as the similarity criterion to take into account the variation of intensity due to respiration. This new criterion aims to minimize the local difference of tissue volume inside the lungs between two images scanned in the same session or over short periods of time, thus preserving the tissue weight of the lungs. Our approach is tested using a pair of volumetric lung datasets acquired at 15% and 85% of vital capacity (VC, VC=5.05 liters for this subject) in a single scanning session. The results show that the new SSTVD predicts a smaller registration error and also yields a better alignment of structures within the lungs than the normal SSD similarity measure. In addition, the regional ventilation derived from the new method exhibits a much more improved physiological pattern than that of SSD.
Postnatal Expression of an Apamin-Sensitive K(Ca) Current in Vestibular Calyx Terminals

Afferent innervation patterns in the vestibular periphery are complex, and vestibular afferents show a large variation in their regularity of firing. Calyx fibers terminate on type I vestibular hair cells and have firing characteristics distinct from the bouton fibers that innervate type II hair cells. Whole-cell patch clamp was used to investigate ionic currents that could influence firing patterns in calyx terminals. Underlying K(Ca) conductances have been described in vestibular ganglion cells, but their presence in afferent terminals has not been investigated previously. Apamin, a selective blocker of SK-type calcium-activated K+ channels, was tested on calyx afferent terminals isolated from gerbil semicircular canals during postnatal days 1–50. Lowering extracellular calcium or application of apamin (20–500 nM) reduced slowly activating outward currents in voltage clamp. Apamin also reduced the action potential afterhyperpolarization (AHP) in whole-cell current clamp, but only after the first two postnatal weeks. K+ channel expression increased during the first postnatal month, and SK channels were found to contribute to the AHP, which may in turn influence discharge regularity in calyx vestibular afferents.
Control of the bacterium Serratia marcescens in an insect host-parasite rearing program

The tachinid parasite Lixophaga diatraeae became internally and externally contaminated with the bacterium Serratia marcescens during the parasitic maggot stage when its host, the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis, fed on artificial diet contaminated with the bacterium. First-stage maggots from these flies were also contaminated and capable of transmitting the bacterium to host larvae resulting in death of both the parasite and host. Reduction of the bacterial population in the host and parasite colonies was obtained by reducing host larval density in the rearing container, incorporation of the chemotherapeutic agents methenamine mandelate and nalidixic acid into the sugarcane borer larval diet and adult fly water, respectively, and use of 1% sodium hypochlorite to disinfect flies prior to maggot extraction. However, complete control of the bacterium depended on selection of a disease-free colony.
Breast cancer response to paclitaxel in vivo.

Clinical trials using neoadjuvant (primary, preoperative) chemotherapy demonstrate that breast cancer reduction relates to survival. To date, no pre-treatment pathologic, phenotypic, or genotypic tumor characteristics predict a patient's likely benefit from paclitaxel. This has led to pilot clinical studies that have attempted to identify whether early cellular responses in vivo can be used to predict the effectiveness of chemotherapy. A potential benefit of such predictive studies will be the ability to tailor specific therapeutic approaches to individual patients. Important issues surrounding this field include how to accurately measure and/or categorize the extent of tumor reduction, and how and when to assess breast cancer cellular responses in vivo. Preliminary data indicate that initial apoptotic responses are critical to tumor reduction, and that the timing of tumor samples for assessment of response is important. Although inherent complete resistance of breast cancer to paclitaxel occurs in a minority of patients, mechanisms of acquired or partial resistance require further study. However, the initial apoptotic response to paclitaxel has been shown to transiently reduce both cell density and intratumoral pressure, providing a window of time when there can be improved penetration of paclitaxel into the tumor. Thus a strong initial apoptotic response can set up a compounding benefit from subsequent treatments. Knowledge of breast cancer response to paclitaxel in vivo could lead to therapeutic strategies that enhance the apoptotic response and optimize the dosing schedule, to improve the tumor reduction for most patients.
A Model for the Coupling Between Cerebral Blood Flow and Oxygen Metabolism During Neural Stimulation

A general mathematical model for the delivery of O2 to the brain is presented, based on the assumptions that all of the brain capillaries are perfused at rest and that all of the oxygen extracted from the capillaries is metabolized. The model predicts that disproportionately large changes in blood flow are required in order to support small changes in the O2 metabolic rate. Interpreted in terms of this model, previous positron emission tomography (PET) studies of the human brain during neural stimulation demonstrating that cerebral blood flow (CBF) increases much more than the oxygen metabolic rate are consistent with tight coupling of flow and oxidative metabolism. The model provides a basis for the quantitative interpretation of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies in terms of changes in local CBF.
Mathematical model of the two-point bending test for strength measurement of optical fibers

The mathematical and numerical analysis of two nonlinear problems of solid mechanics related to the breaking strength of coated optical glass fibers are presented. Both of these problems are concerned with the two-point bending technique which measures the strength of optical fibers by straining them in a bending mode between two parallel plates. The plates are squeezed together until the fiber fractures. The process gives a measurement of fiber strength. The present theory of this test is based on the elastica theory of an unshearable and inextensible rod. However, within the limits of the elastics theory the tensile and shear stresses cannot be determined. In this paper we study the behavior of optical glass fiber on the base of a geometrically exact nonlinear Cosserat theory in which a rod can suffer flexure, extension, and shear. We adopt the specific nonlinear stress-strain relations in silica and titania-doped silica glass fibers and show that it does not yield essential changes in the results as compared with the results for the linear stress-strain relations. We obtain the governing equations of the motion of the fiber in the two-point bending test taking into account the friction between the test fiber and the rigid plates. We develop the computational methods to solve the initial and equilibrium free-boundary nonlinear planar problems. We derive formulas for tensile and shear stresses which allow us to calculate tension in the fiber. The numerical results show that frictional forces play an important role. The interaction of optical fiber and rigid plates is treated by means of the classical contact theory.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Novel particulate production processes to create unique security materials

Particles are frequently used to impart security features to high value items. These particles are typically produced by traditional methods, and therefore the security must be derived from the chemical composition of the particles rather than the particle production process. Here, we present new and difficult-to-reproduce particle production processes based on spray pyrolysis that can produce unique particles and features that are dependent on the use of these new-to-the-world processes and process trade secrets. Specifically two examples of functional materials are described, luminescent materials and electrocatalytic materials.
Expression, characterization, and crystallization of the pyrophosphate-dependent phosphofructo-1-kinase of Borrelia burgdorferi.

The two genes for the putative pyrophosphate-dependent phosphofructokinases (PPi-PFKs) of Borrelia burgdorferi were cloned by PCR and expressed in Escherichia coli, and their protein products were purified to near homogeneity. The larger of the two gene products, a 62-kDa protein, is an active PPi-PFK and exists in solution as a dimer. It has apparent K(m) values for fructose 6-P and PPi of 109 and 15 microM, respectively, and a pH optimum of 6.4 to 7.2. The 62-kDa protein was crystallized and subjected to preliminary diffraction analysis. The smaller gene product, a 48-kDa protein, exists in solution as a higher polymer and shows no ATP- or PPi-dependent activity, despite having a secondary structure as estimated by circular dichroism that is not significantly different from that of other PFKs.
Generating text from functional brain images.

Recent work has shown that it is possible to take brain images acquired during viewing of a scene and reconstruct an approximation of the scene from those images. Here we show that it is also possible to generate text about the mental content reflected in brain images. We began with images collected as participants read names of concrete items (e.g., "Apartment") while also seeing line drawings of the item named. We built a model of the mental semantic representation of concrete concepts from text data and learned to map aspects of such representation to patterns of activation in the corresponding brain image. In order to validate this mapping, without accessing information about the items viewed for left-out individual brain images, we were able to generate from each one a collection of semantically pertinent words (e.g., "door," "window" for "Apartment"). Furthermore, we show that the ability to generate such words allows us to perform a classification task and thus validate our method quantitatively.
Pooling blood donor samples to reduce the cost of HIV-1 antibody testing.

Accurate, low cost testing of donated blood is a goal of the global effort to reduce the spread of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1). We describe a modified enzyme immunoassay (EIA) method for detecting HIV-1 antibody (anti-HIV-1) in 15-sample pools. In this preliminary study, the modified EIA was as sensitive for detecting weakly seropositive samples, and as specific for testing HIV-1 Western blot-negative or Western blot-indeterminate results, as testing individual samples by the standard EIA. A simulation of field operations was conducted using pools of blood donor samples collected in the United States and in Shanghai, People's Republic of China. Implementation of the modified EIA method and testing 15-sample pools for anti-HIV-1 is a reliable strategy for reducing the cost of large scale testing of donated blood for anti-HIV-1 in areas of low seropre valence.
Fibers in the Extracellular Matrix Enable Long-Range Stress Transmission between Cells

Cells can sense, signal, and organize via mechanical forces. The ability of cells to mechanically sense and respond to the presence of other cells over relatively long distances (e.g., ∼100 μm, or ∼10 cell-diameters) across extracellular matrix (ECM) has been attributed to the strain-hardening behavior of the ECM. In this study, we explore an alternative hypothesis: the fibrous nature of the ECM makes long-range stress transmission possible and provides an important mechanism for long-range cell-cell mechanical signaling. To test this hypothesis, confocal reflectance microscopy was used to develop image-based finite-element models of stress transmission within fibroblast-seeded collagen gels. Models that account for the gel’s fibrous nature were compared with homogenous linear-elastic and strain-hardening models to investigate the mechanisms of stress propagation. Experimentally, cells were observed to compact the collagen gel and align collagen fibers between neighboring cells within 24 h. Finite-element analysis revealed that stresses generated by a centripetally contracting cell boundary are concentrated in the relatively stiff ECM fibers and are propagated farther in a fibrous matrix as compared to homogeneous linear elastic or strain-hardening materials. These results support the hypothesis that ECM fibers, especially aligned ones, play an important role in long-range stress transmission.
The Carboxyl-Terminal Region Is a Determinant for the Intracellular Behavior of the Chorionic Gonadotropin β Subunit: Effects on the Processing of the Asn-Linked Oligosaccharides

The placental hormone human CG (hCG) consists of two noncovalently linked α- and β-subunits similar to the other glycoprotein hormones LH, FSH, and TSH. These heterodimers share a common α subunit but differ in their structurally distinct β subunits. The CGβ subunit is distinguished among the β subunits by the presence of a C-terminal extension with four serine-linked oligosaccharides (carboxyl terminal peptide or CTP). In previous studies we observed that deleting this sequence decreased assembly of the truncated CGβ subunit (CGβ114) with the α-subunit and increased the heterogeneity of the secreted forms of the uncombined subunit synthesized in transfected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. The latter result was attributed to alterations in the processing of the two N-linked oligosaccharides. To examine at what step this heterogeneity occurs, the CGβ and CGβ114 genes were transfected into wild-type and mutant CHO cell lines that are defective in the late steps of the N-linked carbohydrate-processing pat...
Flow Characteristics of a Powder Lubricant Sheared Between Parallel Plates

This paper is devoted to the understanding of the flow characteristics of a powder lubricant. An accurate and realistic model is introduced to investigate the mechanism of powder lubrication sheared between two infinitely wide parallel plates. In this theory, the solid volume fraction, v, together with flow velocity and granular temperature are directly obtained from a set of complete governing equations (mass, momentum and pseudoenergy conservation equations), The boundary conditions take into account the effect of slip velocity and the wall surface roughness. A set of parametric simulation results is presented. It is shown that viscous dissipation plays an important role in the pseudoenergy equation.
Production of single W bosons in e+e− collisions☆

Abstract The cross section for single W production in e + e − collisions below the two W threshold is computed with an arbitrary W magnetic moment.
SYNERGISM OF THE FOLLICLE STIMULATING AND LUTEINIZING HORMONES IN PRODUCING OGEN SECRETION1

THE PITUITARY gonadotropic hormones (FSH and LH) have been shown to be complementary in ovarian development and in the production of secretion of male hormone from the testes. This paper extends the observations previously reported on the synergism of the two factors in the initiation of secretion of estrogen from the ovaries of rats (1). It has been generally believed that FSH is the factor which initiates estrogen secretion from the follicles whose growth it stimulates. While this may be essentially true it has been found that LH in conjunction with FSH increases thesecretion of estrogen over that produced by FSH alone. LH alone, on the other hand, is inactive for this reaction in the immature ovary. The FSH and LH used in these experiments were prepared from sheep itutitaries by methods previously reported (2). The purified and concentrated extracts were dried over phosphorous pentoxide invacuo at o°C. and the powders standardized and stored. Such powders have been found to retain their activity for at...
Efficient fluorography of 3H and 14C on thin layers

Three methods for efficient detection of 3H and 14C on thin layers are described. The first method uses 0.4% PPO dissolved in 2-methylnaphthalene. It is approximately 15-fold more efficient than 7% PPO-ether for 3H detection and 15-fold more efficient than autoradiography for 14C (or 35S) detection. The second method uses PPO dissolved in ether. Efficiency of 3H detection increases as the PPO concentration is increased. The third method uses melted PPO and is as efficient as the first method when the film is exposed at −78°C.
The use of pacemakers as treatment for systolic dysfunction

Many investigators have been intrigued by the idea that pacemakers could be used to increase cardiac output in patients with heart failure. Trials of decreasing the atrioventricular (AV) delay, optimizing the location of the pacing lead, and using biventricular or left ventricular pacing have been reported with varying degrees of success. Review of these reports reveal some promising modalities, but also emphasizes the need to carefully assess interventions in well-designed and controlled studies.
Cytological studies of the pathogenesis of chronic lymphatic leukaemia.

WHEN blood lymphocytes from patients with chronic lymphatic leukaemia are examined in Romanovsky stained preparations they show remarkable uniformity in size and appearance and resemble small lymphocytes of healthy individuals. On the other hand, as the basis of other criteria, such as transformation by phytohaemagglutinin1 or retention on columns of polystyrene beads2, there are differences. To explain these differences it has been proposed that normal and abnormal lymphocytes coexist in the peripheral blood in chronic lymphatic leukaemia2–4. These studies, however, have not ruled out the possibility that the “abnormal” cell is a type that usually occurs in non-leukaemic subjects, but is found in different proportions in this disease.
Immunoexpression of Bcl-x in squamous cell carcinoma and keratoacanthoma: differences in pattern and correlation with pathobiology.

Aims: Bcl-x is an important anti-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family. The aim was to determine its immunoexpression in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and keratoacanthoma (KA). Methods and results: Sixteen SCCs and 39 KAs were investigated by Bcl-x immunohistochemistry. Bcl-x immunoreactivity was mostly diffuse in SCC (75% of cases), whereas that in KA was typically confined to the mid-to-upper spinous keratinocytes (95%) (P < 0.0001). There was a trend for SCC to have a higher likelihood of immunopositivity (weighted staining score ≥6 of 12) compared with KA (88% versus 59%, P = 0.058). Twenty-nine per cent of regressing KA had immunopositivity, whereas 47% and 82% of its stable and proliferating counterparts, respectively, had equivalent positivity (P = 0.024). Conclusions: These results provide some insight into the pathobiology of SCC and KA. The generally diffuse and stronger Bcl-x immunoreactivity in SCC suggests that the protein contributes to the survival advantage and aggressiveness of the tumour. In KA, the preferential reactivity of the mid-to-upper neoplastic keratinocytes can plausibly be explained by such differentiated cells attempting to prolong their existence under rapidly evolving circumstances, whereas the reduced reactivity in regressing KA is consistent with the end stage of the tumour.
On modeling a well casing for resistivity and induced polarization

In a previous communication I proposed an analytical model to simulate the electromagnetic (EM) and induced polarization (IP) response of a metal well casing (Wait, 1983). To facilitate the analysis, the earth was idealized as a homogeneous conducting half‐space of electrical properties (σ, e, μ). The well casing was represented as a filamental vertical conductor of semiinfinite length that was characterized by a series axial impedance to account for eddy currents and interfacial polarization. A further basic simplification was to neglect displacement currents in the air; this was justified when all significant distances were small compared with the free‐space wavelength. Initially, the source was taken to be a horizontal electric dipole or current element I ds on the air‐earth interface. By integration of the results, the mutual impedance between two grounded circuits could be ascertained. In the absence of the vertical conductor (i.e., the well casing) the results reduced to those given by Sunde (1968) ...
Spectral noise levels and roughness severity ratings for vowels produced by male children.

This study investigated the relationship between spectral noise level (SNL) and perceived roughness in sustained vowels phonated by children. Twenty male children, ten presenting normal vocal quali...
Conjunctival oxygen monitoring: Relationship to ventricular arrhythmias

The results of conjunctival oxygen monitoring in a critically ill patient whose cardiac rhythm changed from sinus tachycardia to ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation and back to sinus tachycardia are described. Monitoring revealed a significant decrease in conjunctival oxygen tension 2 minutes before ventricular tachycardia was manifested by continuous electrocardiography, and an immediate rise in conjunctival oxygen tension was seen with the resumption of sinus tachycardia. This monitoring modality may be a useful adjunct in the hemodynamic evaluation of critically ill patients.
Two sites for adenine-nucleotide regulation of ATP-sensitive potassium channels in mouse pancreatic beta-cells and HIT cells.

ATP-inhibited potassium channels (K(ATP)) were studied in excised, inside-out patches from cultured adult mouse pancreatic β-cells and HIT cells. In the absence of ATP, ADP opened K(ATP) channels at concentrations as low as 10 μ m and as high as 500 μ m, with maximal activation between 10 and 100 μ m ADP in mouse β-cell membrane patches. At concentrations greater than 500 μ m, ADP inhibited K(ATP) channels while 10 mm virtually abolished channel activity. HIT cell channels had a similar biphasic response to ADP except that more than 1 mm ADP was required for inhibition. The channel opening effect of ADP required magnesium while channel inhibition did not. Using creatine/creatine phosphate solutions with creatine phosphokinase to fix ATP and ADP concentrations, we found substantially different K(ATP)-channel activity with solutions having the same ATP/ADP ratio but different absolute total nucleotide levels. To account for ATP-ADP competition, we propose a new model of channel-nucleotide interactions with two kinds of ADP binding sites regulating the channel. One site specifically binds MgADP and increases channel opening. The other, the previously described ATP site, binds either ATP or ADP and decreases channel opening. This model very closely fits the ADP concentration-response curve and, when incorporated into a model of β-cell membrane potential, increasing ADP in the 10 and 100 μ m range is predicted to compete very effectively with millimolar levels of ATP to hyperpolarize β-cells. The results suggest that (i) K(ATP)-channel activity is not well predicted by the “ATP/ADP ratio,” and (ii) ADP is a plausible regulator of K(ATP) channels even if its free cytoplasmic concentration is in the 10–100 μ m range as suggested by biochemical studies.
Semiclassical nonadiabatic dynamics of NaFH with quantum trajectories

The semiclassical quantum trajectory method is applied to a large-gap (∼1 eV) nonadiabatic system, NaFH van der Waals complex treated in two dimensions. Single surface quantum effects on the FH fragment including the quasibound state decay are described using the approximate quantum potential method. Trajectory dynamics unfolds on a superposition of the electronic potential energy surfaces weighted by the surface populations. Transfer of wavefunctions between the surfaces is described by means of the population amplitude prefactors. Approximate quantum trajectory dynamics gives qualitative agreement with exact results which improves in the semiclassical regime of reduced coupling strength.
Agenda setting within a community-based food security planning process: the influence of power.

Abstract Objective To determine the effectiveness of using citizen politics as a framework for empowering citizens to build a community food security agenda. Design A critical perspective, case study design, and multiple qualitative methods were used. Participants/Setting Forty-four participants were purposefully recruited to participate in a community-based planning process called a search conference (SC). Seven additional disenfranchised stakeholders who did not attend the SC were also recruited to participate. Phenomenon of Interest To assess how power influenced agenda setting and to determine the extent to which disenfranchised stakeholders' most salient interests were incorporated into the final SC action agendas. Analysis The constant comparison method, content analysis, and consensus were used to produce the final analysis. Results Power influenced agenda setting by managing knowledge, problem framing, trust, and consent. Two of seven of disenfranchised stakeholders' most salient interests, including need for adequate food preparation skills and increased availability of locally produced foods, were incorporated into the final SC action agendas. Conclusions and Implications Citizen politics can be used to build a community food security agenda on issues that are not at odds with stakeholders in positions of power. To bring about change on issues in which power differences between groups are substantial, additional theoretical frameworks and public policy-making models are needed.
MIGRATION OF LYMPHOCYTES AND THYMOCYTES IN THE RAT I. THE ROUTE OF MIGRATION FROM BLOOD TO SPLEEN AND LYMPH NODES

The cellular deficit in rats thymectomized at birth is primarily one of circulating small lymphocytes. The lymphocyte deficiency is similar to that induced in adult rats by chronic drainage from a thoracic duct fistula. In both cases, the animals show a reduction of small lymphocytes in peripheral blood, thoracic duct lymph, and in circumscribed areas of lymphoid tissue. The lympocyte deficiency in lymphoid tissue can be corrected by an intravenous injection of thoracic duct lymphocytes. The evidence suggests that the deficiency is corrected by small lymphocytes. Small lymphocytes pass from blood to lymphoid tissue along a route which includes the marginal sinus in splenic white pulp and postcapillary venules in the cortex of lymph nodes and Peyer's patches. Neither the ability of small lymphocytes to colonize lymphoid tissue nor their ability to traverse postcapillary venules are thymus-dependent phenomena. However, movement of small lymphocytes across postcapillary venules appears to modify the structure of endothelium. Intravenously injected small thymocytes migrate to lymphoid tissue in smaller numbers than small lymphocytes inoculated by the same route. The few thymocytes which localize in lymphoid tissue follow the same pathway as circulating small lymphocytes.
Fundamental Planetary Science: Physics, Chemistry and Habitability

A quantitative introduction to the Solar System and planetary systems science for advanced undergraduate students, this engaging new textbook explains the wide variety of physical, chemical and geological processes that govern the motions and properties of planets. The authors provide an overview of our current knowledge and discuss some of the unanswered questions at the forefront of research in planetary science and astrobiology today. They combine knowledge of the Solar System and the properties of extrasolar planets with astrophysical observations of ongoing star and planet formation, offering a comprehensive model for understanding the origin of planetary systems. The book concludes with an introduction to the fundamental properties of living organisms and the relationship that life has to its host planet. With more than 200 exercises to help students learn how to apply the concepts covered, this textbook is ideal for a one-semester or two-quarter course for undergraduate students.
Models of the regulation of external respiration in mammals. Problems and promises

Abstract Some mathematical models of the mammalian external respiratory system are reviewed. Further possibilities regarding increase of detail in such models are also indicated. The similarities between the models are shown by listing equations common to the several derivations. Further, comparisons are directed at underlying assumptions, assumed causal relationships, and the quality and degree of match between simulation and data from organisms. The principal models reviewed are quite similar, and are reasonably successful representations of a certain corpus of physiology. When viewed more closely, however, from the viewpoint that models represent a segment of scientific literature, these models are quite different in quality. A discussion of the role and po tential of similar mathematical models in computer-assisted archival management in information retrieval is developed.
Cytosolic delivery of a p16-peptide oligoarginine conjugate for inhibiting proliferation of MCF7 cells

One of the major limitations in protein and peptide therapeutics is the requirement of delivery to the cytosol or nucleus of cells. It has recently been shown that a small peptide derived from the p16 protein is able to inhibit cell cycle progression when delivered to the cytosol after conjugation to cell penetrating peptides, however the correlation between delivery efficiency and biological activity has not been made. Additionally, whether or not the biological activity attained was due to membrane transduction has not been established. In this paper, the total internalization, and internalization via endocytosis and transduction of 125I-p16, 125I-p16-C(R)9, and 125I-p16-C(K)9 were determined in MCF7 cultured cell monolayers. The results showed that while p16 and p16-oligopeptide conjugates have similar total internalization, 125I-p16-C(R)9 is predominantly internalized via membrane transduction, while p16 and p16-oligolysine are primarily endocytosed. Therefore, the amount of 125I-p16-C(R)9 delivered to the cytosol is significantly higher than both 125I-p16-C(K)9 and 125I-p16. These results show that biological activity is correlated with membrane transduction efficiency, and not total internalization. Additionally, the biological activity and delivery to the cytosol were not sensitive to endocytic inhibitors, verifying that the biological effect is due to membrane transduction, and not endocytosis.
Isolation, Purification, and Characterization of Amadoriase Isoenzymes (Fructosyl Amine-oxygen Oxidoreductase EC 1.5.3) from Aspergillus sp.

Four "amadoriase" enzyme fractions, which oxidatively degrade glycated low molecular weight amines and amino acids under formation of hydrogen peroxide and glucosone, were isolated from an Aspergillus sp. soil strain selected on fructosyl adamantanamine as sole carbon source. The enzymes were purified to homogeneity using a combination of ion exchange, hydroxyapatite, gel filtration, and Mono Q column chromatography. Molecular masses of amadoriase enzymes Ia, Ib, and Ic were 51 kDa, and 49 kDa for amadoriase II. Apparent kinetic constants for Nepsilon-fructosyl Nalpha-t-butoxycarbonyl lysine and fructosyl adamantanamine were almost identical for enzymes Ia, Ib, and Ic, but corresponding values for enzyme II were significantly different. FAD was identified in all enzymes based on its typical absorption spectrum. N-terminal sequence was identical for enzymes Ia and Ib (Ala-Pro-Ser-Ile-Leu-Ser-Thr-Glu-Ser-Ser-Ile-Ile-Val-Ile-Gly-Ala-Gly- Thr-Trp-Gly-) and Ic except that the first 5 amino acids were truncated. The sequence of enzyme II was different (Ala-Val-Thr-Lys-Ser-Ser-Ser-Leu-Leu-Ile-Val-Gly-Ala-Gly-Thr-Trp-Gly- Thr-Ser-Thr-). All enzymes had the FAD cofactor-binding consensus sequence Gly-X-Gly-X-X-Gly within the N-terminal sequence. In summary, these data show the presence of two distinct amadoriase enzymes in the Aspergillus sp. soil strain selected on fructosyl adamantanamine and induced by fructosyl propylamine. In contrast to previous described enzymes, these novel amadoriase enzymes can deglycate both glycated amines and amino acids.
An Experimental Study of Induction Noise in Four-Cylinder Internal Combustion Engines

Induction noise has become a major source of consumer complaints in automobiles powered by four-cylinder engines. Induction noise typically manifests itself as a low frequency booming or mooing. It is most noticeable and objectionable under wide open throttle, hard acceleration conditions. In an effort to understand the basic cause of this noise, so that potential remedies might be more intelligently applied, an extensive study was undertaken. Careful measurements were made on a four-cylinder, motored engine. Dynamic pressure variations within the induction system, and external to the engine were studied. Peak to peak pressure variations of over 2 psi were found in the intake runners at the valves. Evidence of nonlinear acoustic behavior was found. A detailed examination of the events that cause induction noise is presented.
Sex-Integrated Physical Education.

Title IX requires that many schools make substantial changes in their physical educa tion programs. Some considerations that may ease the change process are offered in the following article.
Statistical Characterization of C-arm Distortion with Application to Intra-Operative Distortion Correction

C-arm images suffer from pose dependant distortion, which needs to be corrected for intra-operative quantitative 3D surgical guidance. Several distortion correction techniques have been proposed in the literature, the current state of art using a dense grid pattern rigidly attached to the detector. These methods become cumbersome for intra-operative use, such as 3D reconstruction, since the grid pattern interferes with patient anatomy. The primary contribution of this paper is a framework to statistically analyze the distortion pattern which enables us to study alternate intra-operative distortion correction methods. In particular, we propose a new phantom that uses very few BBs, and yet accurately corrects for distortion. The high dimensional space of distortion pattern can be effectively characterized by principal component analysis (PCA). The analysis shows that only first three eigen modes are significant and capture about 99% of the variation. Phantom experiments indicate that distortion map can be recovered up to an average accuracy of less than 0.1 mm/pixel with these three modes. With this prior statistical knowledge, a subset of BBs can be sufficient to recover the distortion map accurately. Phantom experiments indicate that as few as 15 BBs can recover distortion with average error of 0.17 mm/pixel, accuracy sufficient for most clinical applications. These BBs can be arranged on the periphery of the C-arm detector, minimizing the interference with patient anatomy and hence allowing the grid to remain attached to the detector permanently. The proposed method is fast, economical, and C-arm independent, potentially boosting the clinical viability of applications such as quantitative 3D fluoroscopic reconstruction.
BMI and Headache Among Women : Results From 11 Epidemiologic Datasets

Objective: To evaluate the association between BMI (kg/m2) and headaches among women. Methods and Procedures: Cross-sectional analysis of 11 datasets identified after searching for all large publicly available epidemiologic cohort study datasets containing relevant variables. Datasets included National Health Interview Survey (NHIS): 1997–2003, the first National Health Examination and Nutrition Survey, Alameda County Health Study (ACHS), Tecumseh Community Health Study (TCHS), and Women's Health Initiative (WHI). The women (220,370 in total) were aged 18 years or older and had reported their headache or migraine status. Results: Using nonlinear regression techniques and models adjusted for age, race, and smoking, we found that increased BMI was generally associated with increased likelihood of headache or severe headache among women. A BMI of ∼20 was associated with the lowest risk of headache. Relative to a BMI of 20, mild obesity (BMI of 30) was associated with roughly a 35% increase in the odds for experiencing headache whereas severe obesity (BMI of 40) was associated with roughly an 80% increase in odds. Results were essentially unchanged when models were further adjusted for socioeconomic variables, alcohol consumption, and hypertension. Being diagnosed with migraine showed no association with BMI. Discussion: Among US women, a BMI of ∼20 (about the 5th percentile) was associated with the lowest likelihood of headache. Consistently across studies, obese women had significantly increased risk for headache. By contrast, the risk for diagnosed migraine headache per se was not obviously related to BMI. The direction of causation and mechanisms of action remain to be determined.
Neurobiology of tryptophan depletion in depression: effects of m-chlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP)

This study utilized neuroendocrine and mood responses to intravenous (i.v.) infusion of the serotonin (5-HT) agonist m-chlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP) to evaluate central 5-HT function in depressed patients undergoing acute tryptophan (TRP) depletion. Twenty-two drug-free patients with DSM-III-R major depression participated. Each patient underwent two randomized, double-blind TRP depletion tests, one sham and one active. At the estimated time of maximum TRP depletion, each patient received an i.v. infusion of mCPP 0.1 mg/kg. Blood was obtained for serum cortisol, prolactin, and growth hormone. Multiple rating scales were used to assess mood. The cortisol response to i.v. mCPP was significantly greater during TRP depletion than during sham depletion, and free plasma TRP was negatively correlated with the cortisol response during TRP depletion. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that acute TRP depletion in drug-free depressed patients induces a compensatory up-regulation of postsynaptic 5-HT receptors, most likely of the 5-HT2A/2C subtype. Such changes suggest a mechanism by which acute and potent manipulations of 5-HT function in depressed patients could be used to effect rapid clinical improvement.
Asymptotic expansions for constant-composition dew-bubble curves near the critical locus

Explicit functional representations are developed for constant-composition dew and bubble curves near critical according to the modified Leung-Griffiths theory. The pressure and temperature incrementsΔP=P−Pc andΔT= T−Tc, where c denotes critical, are linearly transformed to new variablesΔP′ andΔT′. In the transformed space, the coexistence curves are no longer double-valued and can be expressed as a nonanalytic expansion, where the coefficients are functions of the critical properties and their derivatives. A similar asymptotic expansion is developed forΔT in terms of the density incrementΔρ=ρ−ρc. In the approximation that the critical exponentsα=0 andβ=1/3, the critical point in temperature-density space is shown to be a point of maximum concave upward curvature, rather than an inflection point as previously conjectured.
Nonadiabaticity, stoichiometry and mass diffusion effects on supercritical combustion in a tubular reactor

The high-pressure oxidation of dense organic fluids, which are completely miscible in water at supercritical temperatures can be achieved by burning a supercritical combustible mixture in a flow-through tubular reactor. We extend a previous model of this process by specifically accounting for the effects of stoichiometry, mass diffusion and radiative, heat losses on the multiplicity and stability of supercritical premixed flames within the reactor. Our model for the supercritical tubular reactor differs from those for conventional chemical reactors in that the Lewis numbers are assumed to be large and conductive/radiative heat losses occur at the inlet, which behaves much like a flameholder. In general, we show that for sufficiently small heat losses, there are both high-speed, high-temperature and low-speed, low-temperature solution branches for a given steady, planar flame location within the reactor. In addition, the otherwise stable high-temperature flame loses stability to disturbances corresponding to nonsteady, nonplanar modes of supercritical combustion for sufficiently large values of the activation energy and/or sufficiently small or large values of the flow velocity. In the limit of weak stoichiometry and small mass diffusivity, the flame speeds are shown to decrease as the former decreases further and the latter increases, whereas local radiative heat losses, which cause the flame to be located closer to the inlet, are destabilizing with respect to steady, planar burning.
Franklin's Classical American Statesmanship

Abstract Herbert Storing has persuasively argued that American political thought and statesmanship breaks with the tradition of classical political philosophy and statesmanship, particularly its concern with shaping the character of citizens and leaders, and instead sides with modern political philosophy, which has tended to encourage statesmen to forgo shaping the character of citizens and leaders and to focus instead on shaping institutions that will function regardless of citizens' virtue (or lack of virtue). An exception to this general rule, however, is Benjamin Franklin. Franklin, in the tradition of classical statesmanship, sought to shape not only American political institutions, but also and especially the character and way of life of his fellow citizens. Yet the character and way of life that Franklin helped lead his fellow citizens to embrace is uniquely modern and American in spirit. Thus, Franklin can be said to offer us an example of classical, but uniquely modern and American, statesmanship.
Effect of regurgitation on stomach content data of marine fishes

Observations on trawl caught fishes from two bottom depth ranges in Southern New England shelf waters provide evidence that some species regurgitate at different rates when sampled at various depths and further, that fish which regurgitate can’t always be detected by external or internal examination. Generally, gadoid fishes are much more prone to regurgitate than flatfish. The consequence of unrecognized regurgitation is discussed in relation to consumption estimates derived by traditional methods.
Simply supported ell- and cross-shaped plates under uniform lateral load

Using internal matching, the problem of certain uniformly loaded complex symmetrical plates is reduced to solving the biharmonic in a rectangular region with mixed boundary conditions. The method is efficient and accurate. The simply-supported L and + shaped plates are studied in detail. The results show a weak stress singularity at the concave corner and maximum deflections may reach 4 times that of a strip with the same width.
The experience of receiving therapeutic touch

The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the patient's experience of receiving therapeutic touch (TT) treatments. The design was informed by phenomenology in the sense that it was searching for a definition of the lived experience of the phenomenon of TT. Data were obtained through one open-ended interview and a second clarifying interview of each subject. All data were subjected to content analysis. For participants, the lived experience of TT was described as a linear process that began with the perceived need for and decision to seek treatment. It progressed through one or more treatments and continued to have an impact upon the participants' lives. These findings were examined within the context of Martha Rogers' conceptual system. This study has shown that, for 20 participants receiving treatment, TT was a fulfilling multidimensional experience that facilitated personal growth. Such as experience can only enrich the lives of those who receive treatment. Certainly, a nursing intervention that can achieve such a positive influence has potential for use in all areas of nursing care and needs to be explored further.
Siderophore-mediated iron (III) transport in the mycelia of the cultivated fungus, Agaricus bisporus.

Abstract Three structurally diverse iron (III) sequestering compounds (siderophores) were isolated from the supernatants of early stationary phase iron-deficient cultures of vegetative mycelia of the cultivated mushroom, Agaricus bisporus (ATCC 36416). The compounds were purified as their ferric chelates to homogeneity by gel permeation, cation exchange, and low-pressure reversed phase C18 chromatographies, and characterized as trihydroxamic acids. The chelates were identified as ferrichrome, ferric fusarinine C, and an unusual compound, des (diserylglycyl) ferrirhodin (DDF) by HPTLC cochromatography and electrophoresis against authentic samples, hydrolysis and amino acid analysis, and FAB-MS and 1H NMR spectroscopy. The iron transport activities of the three compounds (and of some structurally similar exogenous compounds) in young mycelial cells were determined by time- and concentration-dependent kinetic assays and inhibition experiments (CN−, N3−) using 55Fe3+-labeled chelates. 55Iron (III) uptake mediated by all three compounds was found to be via high affinity, energy-dependent processes; transport effectiveness was in the order: ferrichrome > DDF ⪢ ferric fusarinine C. The relative uptake of iron by Λ-cis ferrichromes was: ferrichrome > ferrirhodin ⪢ ferrichrome A; transport activity by the Δ-cis fusarinines was: ferric fusarinine C > tris cis- (and trans-) fusarinine iron (III) ⪢ ferric N1-triacetylfusarinine C.
The use of a new allograft material for osseous reconstruction associated with dental implants

This article introduces the use of a new bone graft material. The material is a human collagen allograft resorbable matrix impregnated with demineralized freeze-dried bone granules. This material is harvested from the same donor. A series of three cases of extractions with immediate implant placement accompanied by osseous defects were used to demonstrate the use of this material. Bone cores were harvested at Stage II uncovering of the implants. The histologic and clinical results are reviewed.
60 GHz volumetric switched beam array

A 60 GHz volumetrically scanning array employing a switched beam network is presented. Unlike existing switched beam networks operating at this band, the proposed network realizes volumetric scanning without using multiple switching stages. The network operates in the entire unlicensed 60 GHz band (57–64 GHz) via an innovative delay structure to compensate for the phase shift caused by the planar RF crossovers employed in the network. In this paper, we describe the beamforming network and accompanying aperture-coupled patch array. Relevant simulation results are presented to demonstrate the RF front-end operation.