cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sperm competition and female avoidance of polyspermy mediated by sperm-egg biochemistry

Nearly simultaneous fertilization of an egg by two or more sperm (polyspermy) is a lethal condition in most organisms. Sperm competing for an egg face opposing selective pressures. The race to fertilize favours rapid penetration of the egg’s outer protective layer; a close finish between two sperm leads to polyspermy and death. Under most conditions of sperm competition, selection favours maximal speed of penetration by sperm in spite of potentially significant mortality imposed on both sperm and eggs. Eggs, in response to sperm competition and polyspermy, are favoured to increase the difference in arrival times between competing sperm. I model this sperm–sperm–egg conflict to study the population genetic consequences of polyspermy. To separate sperm arrival times, selection typically favours polymorphism of egg characters that influence the rate of passage by sperm through the egg’s outer protective layer. In response to diverse eggs, the population of sperm characters may be favoured to diversify in a matching way or to stabilize at a point that maximizes average penetration speed. Divergence of reproductive characters by sexual selection is frequently cited as a potentially important factor in reproductive isolation and speciation. The biochemistry of fertilization characters provides a useful model system to study these processes.
Respiration in Isolated Fat Cells and the Effects of Epinephrine

1. A technique was devised for ready sequential sampling of lipocyte suspensions for measurement of metabolic activities. 2. With the use of this technique in paired incubations, an effect of oligomycin to decrease the QO2 of fat cells to 45% of control was shown. 3. An analogy between the effect of oligomycin on intact cells and that described for isolated mitochondria was suggested, since the antibiotic inhibited incorporation of 32Pi into acid-soluble mononucleotides and decreased 14CO2 production from glucose-1-14C and glucose-6-14C. 4. Stimulation of QO2 by epinephrine was shown in the presence and in the absence of oligomycin; there was no accompanying increase in 14CO2 production from glucose when oligomycin was present, indicating that glucose was not the substrate for the observed increase in oxygen consumption. 5. It is concluded that oligomycin inhibits oxidative phosphorylation in the fat cell. Under these conditions, (a) a significant portion of the respiration of the lipocyte is not linked in an obligatory fashion to phosphorylation, and (b) it may be inferred that the calorigenic effect of epinephrine in adipose tissue involves electron flow to oxygen not linked to phosphorylation.
Lysophospholipase inhibition by organophosphorus toxicants

Lysophospholipases (LysoPLAs) are a large family of enzymes for removing lysophospholipids from cell membranes. Potent inhibitors are needed to define the importance of LysoPLAs as targets for toxicants and potential therapeutics. This study considers organophosphorus (OP) inhibitors with emphasis on mouse brain total LysoPLA activity relative to the mipafox-sensitive neuropathy target esterase (NTE)-LysoPLA recently established as 17% of the total activity and important in the action of OP delayed toxicants. The most potent inhibitors of total LysoPLA in mouse brain are isopropyl dodecylphosphonofluoridate (also for LysoPLA of Vibrio bacteria), ethyl octylphosphonofluoridate (EOPF), and two alkyl-benzodioxaphosphorin 2-oxides (BDPOs)[(S)-octyl and dodecyl] (IC50 2-8 nM). OP inhibitors acting in vitro and in vivo differentiate a more sensitive portion but not a distinct NTE-LysoPLA compared with total LysoPLA activity. For 10 active inhibitors, NTE-LysoPLA is 17-fold more sensitive than total LysoPLA, but structure-activity comparisons give a good correlation (r(2) = 0.94) of IC50 values, suggesting active site structural similarity or identity. In mice 4 h after intraperitoneal treatment with discriminating doses, EOPF, tribufos (a plant defoliant), and dodecanesulfonyl fluoride inhibit 41-57% of the total brain LysoPLA and 85-99% of the NTE-LysoPLA activity. Total LysoPLA as well as NTE-LysoPLA is decreased in activity in Nte(+/-)-haploinsufficient mice compared to their Nte(+/+) littermates. The lysolecithin level of spinal cord but not brain is elevated significantly following EOPF treatment (3 mg/kg), thereby focusing attention on localized rather than general alterations in lysophospholipid metabolism in OP-induced hyperactivity and toxicity.
Ionizing collisions of potassium atoms with D2O

Abstract Crossed beam studies of K -D 2 O collisions have been carried out for laboratory K beam energies from 10 to 200 eV. The only ionic products observed were K + and OD − . The reaction Q thresholds obtained from the measured K + energy distributions show that the K + ion onset corresponds to the D ( 2 S) + OD − ( 1 Σ) limit of D 2 O − at 3.28 eV. Q here is defined as the excess of product over reactant kinetic energies. This result suggests that any minimum in the 2 A 1 state of D 2 O − (on the D- OD − coordinate axis) may be shallow ≲0.1 eV in depth.
Fitting theoretical photometric functions to asteroid phase curves

The ways in which variations in the parameters of Hapke's (1981, 1984, 1986) theoretical photometric function for fitting photometric phase data of asteroids can affect the shape of the theoretical curve are considered. It is noted that, between phase angles of 2 and 25 deg, the opposition effect parameters, the roughness parameter, and the single-particle phase function parameter have similar effects on the shape and the photometric curve and are difficult to separate on the basis of disk-integrated data alone. The uniqueness of asteroid surface properties deduced from phase curve observations over a limited phase-angle range is judged to remain questionable.
Nicotine-induced differential modulation of autoimmune arthritis in the Lewis rat involves changes in interleukin-17 and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies.

Objective Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a debilitating autoimmune disease, and smoking is an important environmental factor in a subset of RA patients. A role of the cholinergic antiinflammatory pathway in autoimmune inflammation is increasingly being realized. Nicotine is a major component of cigarette smoke, and it stimulates the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Therefore, defining the mechanisms underlying the immunomodulatory effects of nicotine on arthritis is of high relevance. The purpose of this study was to address this issue using the rat adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) model of human RA. Methods Lewis rats were immunized subcutaneously with heat-killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra for disease induction. Rats were treated with nicotine intraperitoneally either before (pretreatment) or after (posttreatment) the onset of AIA. Control rats received the vehicle (buffer) in place of nicotine. The severity of arthritis was assessed and graded. The draining lymph node cells were tested for T cell proliferative and cytokine responses against the disease-related antigen mycobacterial heat-shock protein 65. The sera were tested for anti–cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies and anti–mycobacterial Hsp65 antibodies. Results Nicotine pretreatment aggravated the arthritis, whereas nicotine posttreatment suppressed the disease. This altered severity of AIA directly correlated with the levels of the anti-CCP antibodies, of the Th1/Th17 cytokines, and of the corresponding dendritic cell–derived cytokines. The majority of these effects on cellular responses could be replicated in vitro. Conclusion Nicotine-induced modulation of AIA involves specific alterations in the disease-related cellular and humoral immune responses in AIA. These results are of significance in advancing our understanding of the pathogenesis of RA.
Modeling and Experimental Analyses of a Two-Cell Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Stack Emphasizing Individual Cell Characteristics

Performance of individual cells in an operating polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell stack is different from each other because of inherent manufacturing tolerances of the cell components and unequal operating conditions for the individual cells. In this paper, first, effects of different operating conditions on performance of the individual cells in a two-cell PEM fuel cell stack have been experimentally investigated. The results of the experiments showed the presence of a voltage difference between the two cells that cannot be manipulated by operating conditions. The temperature of the supplying air among others predominantly influences the individual cell voltages. In addition, those effects are explored by using a dynamic model of a stack that has been developed. The model uses electrochemical voltage equations, dynamic water balance in the membrane, energy balance, and diffusion in the gas diffusion layer, reflecting a two-phase phenomenon of water. Major design parameters and an operating condition by conveying simulations have been changed to analyze sensitivity of the parameters on the performance, which is then compared with experimental results. It turns out that proton conductivity of the membrane in cells among others is the most influential parameter on the performance, which is fairly in line with the reading from the experimental results.
Criteria for the establishment of a panel of high A.H.F.-level donors for use in the treatment of hemophilia.

The antihemophilic factor (A.H.F., Factor VIII) level in the plasma of 221 normal donors has been assayed in an attempt to set up a panel of high level A.H.F. donors for use in the treatment of patients with hemophilia. Fifteen per cent of the donors tested were unacceptable for the panel owing to A.H.F. levels of less than 90 per cent. The validity of the assay method used is discussed. The normal range of A.H.F. activity in a random population has been found to agree with that established by other investigators. The optimal conditions for collection, preparation and storage of fresh frozen plasma in order to minimize the loss of A.H.F. are listed.
Synchronous Motors With Controlled Excitation for Suddenly Applied Loads

IT is common practice to operate synchronous motors with full-rated field current supplied from a constant-voltage exciter. In a number of cases involving variable loads, automatic control equipment has been used to vary the excitation with the load. This control causes the field current to be reduced below the rated value during light-load periods when it is not needed and increases the excitation when the load is applied, in order to prevent the motor from pulling out of step. By this means both operating efficiency and system voltage regulation have been improved.
Microorganisms associated with fuel wood chips and their impact on indoor air quality: a review

Abstract The emerging use of wood chips as an alternative energy source has led to an increase in the number of wood chip piles in domestic and institutional environments. The presence of these piles may have an adverse effect on the quality of the air around them because of microorganisms surviving or growing on the wood. Depending on the type of wood used and the harvesting, handling and storage conditions, fuel wood chips have been found to support growth of a wide range of microorganisms, particularly fungi. In indoor storage areas of wood chips, spores, cells and cell particles can become airborne and be inhaled by persons working in these areas. A number of methods exist to sample and monitor airborne microbial particles. These methods, particularly if two or more are combined, are suitable to detect and quantify viable and non-viable airborne microbial particles, to determine particle sizes and, in most cases, to identify to the species level the microorganisms collected. Many of the fungi, actinomycetes and other bacteria which have been reported to occur on wood chips are potentially pathogenic or toxigenic. Inhalation of microbial spores, cells or fragments, especially at high concentrations and small particle sizes, can lead to serious allergic reactions or pulmonary diseases. There is evidence that even low concentrations of microbial aerosals may have sub-acute long-term health effects. Some microorganisms appear to produce toxins in sufficient concentration that toxicoses can be caused by them via the inhalation route. Microbially produced volatiles have also been suspected to cause adverse health effects.
Organizational Learning and Personnel Turnover

The impact of personnel turnover on an organization's ability to learn, and hence on its ultimate performance, is explored for organizations with different structures and different tasks. A model of organizational decision making is presented where: 1 the organization is faced with a continuous sequence of similar but not identical problems; 2 each problem is so complex that no one person has access to all of the information nor the skill to comprehend all of the information necessary to make the decision; 3 individual decision makers base their decisions on their own previous experience; and 4 there is personnel turnover. Using simulation the impact of turnover on the rate and level of learning for hierarchies and teams is examined. This research suggests that while teams in general learn faster and better than hierarchies, hierarchies are less affected by high turnover rates particularly when the task is nondecomposable. Institutionalized memory, as embodied in the memories of distributed individuals and in the advisory relationships between individuals, determines the consequences of personnel turnover.
Activation of a cellular transforming gene in tumours induced by Abelson murine leukaemia virus

Activation of a cellular transforming gene in tumours induced by Abelson murine leukaemia virus
Determinations of polychlorinated biphenyl isomers by response factor calibration.

Abstract Quantitative measurement of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) isomers by response factor calibration (RFC) is evaluated with fas chromatography and the Hall electrolytic conductivity detector. The procedure requires neither isomer identification nor reference compounds identical to each measured PCB isomer. Weight percent chlorine is determined for five Aroclor mixtures by RFC and compared within a few percent of expected values. Individual PCB isomers are measured and quantitatively compared for Aroclor mixtures. Also, RFC determinations for ten PCB isomers contained in a test material reference solution are compared to the supplier's stated concentrations. These RFC measurements provide quantitative analyses in the absence of a standard for each measured component.
Characterization of a Cell Line Derived from Inconnu

Abstract Little is known about the diseases of the northern piscivorous salmonid inconnu Stenodus leucichthys (also known as sheefish). Fish health concerns surrounding transport and culture led to initiation of a cell line, now designated INEM-1, from inconnu embryonic tissue, to be used primarily for viral testing of inconnu. Cells were cultured at 16°C in Eagle's modified minimum essential medium with 10% fetal bovine serum. The fibroblastlike cells have now been passaged 57 times. Optimum growth occurs at 20°C, and doubling time is 1.5 d. Good growth also occurred at 16 and 24°C, but 30°C was rapidly lethal. Optimum density was 100,000 cells/ 35-mm-diameter plate, or 11,000 cells/cm2. Chromosome analysis revealed a modal number of 76 chromosomes, two more than has been reported for blastulas of inconnu. The karyotype consists of 16 metacentric, 8 submetacentric, and 52 acrocentric chromosomes. Nucleolar organizing regions were identified on one chromosome pair. The INEM-1 cell line is susceptible to i...
Biosynthesis of N-benzoyl-L-tyrosyl-p-aminobenzoic acid hydrolase: disulfide-linked dimers are formed at the site of synthesis in the rough endoplasmic reticulum.

Abstract N -Benzoyl- l -tyrosyl- p -aminobenzoic acid hydrolase (PPH) is a metalloendopeptidase found in mucosal epithelial cells of the human small intestine. The purification and characterization of this enzyme was described in the preceding paper ( E. E. Sterchi et al. (1988) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 265 , 105–118 ). In this paper, we report on the biosynthesis and posttranslational processing of PPH in organ cultures of human small intestinal mucosa. Continuous labeling for 6 h with l -[ 35 S]methionine, immunoprecipitation with monoclonal antibody 3/716/36, and analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed a polypeptide with M r 100,000. This molecule was highly glycosylated as treatment with endo-β- N -acetylglucosaminidase F resulted in a reduction to M r 70,000. This was also the size of the species isolated after culture in the presence of tunicamycin, an inhibitor of N-linked glycosylation. Pulse-chase labeling showed that the first detectable form of PPH had a M r 90,000 which corresponded to the high-mannose precursor as assessed by its sensitivity to endo-β- N -acetylglucosaminidase H. Within 15 min of chase and prior to complex glycosylation, dimerization due to the formation of interchain disulfide bonds occurred ( M r 180,000). Dimerization thus took place within the rough endoplasmic reticulum and might play an important role in the transport through to the cell surface. After 2 h of chase, PPH started to appear in the culture medium, indicating that the enzyme was secreted from the cells, a finding not observed with other microvillus membrane hydrolases.
Click2Annotate: Automated Insight Externalization with rich semantics

Insight Externalization (IE) refers to the process of capturing and recording the semantics of insights in decision making and problem solving. To reduce human effort, Automated Insight Externalization (AIE) is desired. Most existing IE approaches achieve automation by capturing events (e.g., clicks and key presses) or actions (e.g., panning and zooming). In this paper, we propose a novel AIE approach named Click2Annotate. It allows semi-automatic insight annotation that captures low-level analytics task results (e.g., clusters and outliers), which have higher semantic richness and abstraction levels than actions and events. Click2Annotate has two significant benefits. First, it reduces human effort required in IE and generates annotations easy to understand. Second, the rich semantic information encoded in the annotations enables various insight management activities, such as insight browsing and insight retrieval. We present a formal user study that proved this first benefit. We also illustrate the second benefit by presenting the novel insight management activities we developed based on Click2Annotate, namely scented insight browsing and faceted insight search.
Requirement for c-Src Catalytic Activity and the SH3 Domain in Platelet-derived Growth Factor BB and Epidermal Growth Factor Mitogenic Signaling

The Src family protein-tyrosine kinases are required for mitogenic signaling from the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), colony stimulating factor-1, and epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor protein-tyrosine kinases (RPTK) (Twamley-Stein, G. M., Pepperkok, R., Ansorge, W., and Courtneidge, S. A. (1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 90, 7696-7700; Roche, S., Koegl, M., Barone, M. V., Roussel, M. F., and Courtneidge, S. A.(1995) Mol. Cell. Biol. 15, 1102-1109). In NIH3T3 fibroblasts, c-Src, Fyn, and c-Yes associate with the activated PDGF receptor, are substrates for receptor phosphorylation, and are themselves activated. Src family catalytic function is required for RPTK mitogenic signaling as evidenced by the SH2-dependent dominant negative phenotype exhibited by kinase-inactive Src and Fyn mutants (Twamley-Stein, G. M., Pepperkok, R., Ansorge, W., and Courtneidge, S. A.(1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 90, 7696-7700). Here, we have generated clonal Src- murine fibroblast cell lines overexpressing various murine c-Src mutants and studied the effect of these mutant Src proteins on PDGF- and EGF-induced mitogenesis. Two c-Src SH3 domain mutants, Y133F and Y138F, each inhibited PDGF BB- and EGF-induced DNA synthesis in quiescent cells. This demonstrates an involvement of the Src SH3 domain in PDGFbeta and EGF receptor mitogenic signaling. Since both Tyr-133 and Tyr-138 are located on the ligand binding surface of the SH3 domain, these results suggest that the c-Src SH3 domain is required for PDGF and EGF mitogenic signaling. The dominant negative effect of either single mutant on PDGF receptor signaling was reversed by a second SH2-inactivating mutation. We conclude that the c-Src SH3 domain function requires the SH2 domain in the case of the PDGF receptor, presumably because binding of c-Src to the receptor via its SH2 domain is a prerequisite for the SH3 domain function. In contrast, SH2 function is apparently not essential for the SH3 function in EGF receptor signaling.
Surface topography, corrosion and microhardness of nitrogen-diffusion-hardened titanium alloy

Mechanical-electrochemical interactions accelerate corrosion in mixed-metal modular hip prostheses. These interactions can be reduced by improving the modular component machining tolerances or by improving the resistance of the components to scratch or fretting damage. Wrought cobalt-alloy (CoCrMo) is known to have better tribological properties compared to the titanium alloy (Ti64). Thus, improving the tribological properties of this mixed-metal interface should center around improving the tribological properties of the Ti64 alloy. This study used scanning probe microscopy (contact, tapping and phase contrast mode), scanning electron microscopy, corrosion testing, and microhardness testing to determine the effect of a nitrogen-diffusion hardening process on the surface morphology, electrochemistry and surface hardness of the Ti64 alloy. The nitrogen-diffusion-hardened titanium alloy samples (N-Ti64) had a more pronounced grain structure, more nodular surface, and significantly (P<0.01) higher mean roughness values than the control-Ti64 samples. The N-Ti64 samples also exhibited at least equivalent corrosion behavior and a definite increase in surface hardness compared to the control Ti64 samples. The equivalent corrosion behavior and improved surface hardness indicate the potential for N-Ti64 samples to resist similar and mixed-metal scratch and fretting damage. The use of N-Ti64 as opposed to control-Ti64 may therefore reduce the occurrence of mechanical-electrochemical degradation in mixed-metal modular total hip prostheses.
Mineralocorticoid Receptor Overexpression Differentially Modulates Specific Phases of Spatial and Nonspatial Memory

Glucocorticoids (GCs) and stress modulate specific phases of information processing. The modulatory affects of GCs on hippocampal function are thought to be mediated by the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) and the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). The GR plays a critical role in mediating the impairing effects of GCs on hippocampal function. Conversely, activation of MR facilitates hippocampal function. The high affinity of MR for GCs suggests that the receptor protein levels play a key role in regulating the beneficial effects of MR-mediated gene transcription. Using herpes simplex vectors, we transiently increased MR levels in dentate gyrus granule cells, which in turn enhanced MR signaling. We then examined its effects on spatial and nonspatial memory consolidation and retrieval using the object placement and object recognition task. Additionally, we assessed whether an increased MR signal could block the impairing effects of high GCs on memory retrieval. Rats overexpressing MR displayed an enhancement in the consolidation of nonspatial memory relative to rats expressing green fluorescent protein and suggest the potential for gene transfer techniques for enhancing cognition during stress. Moreover, rats overexpressing MR were spared from the disruptive effects of high GCs on the retrieval of nonspatial memory. Thus, this study illustrates the critical role of MR in mediating the retrieval and consolidation of nonspatial memory.
Evaporation of superfluid helium in a capillary

Abstract The steady-state evaporation of superfluid helium at a liquid-vapour interface near the exit of a cylindrical capillary is considered. In order to maintain phase equilibrium, as the evaporation rate increases the liquid-vapour interface will retreat into the capillary. Due to the very large density difference between the liquid and vapour, the retreat of the interface into the capillary produces a sharp change in mass flow. A simple capillary model has been applied to flow in porous plug phase separators by considering parallel capillaries of equal length but with a distribution of diameters. In this case it is found that the change in mass flow is consistent with what has been observed for an increasing pressure drop across a porous plug. This suggests that the equilibrium flow states occur as the liquid-vapour interface retreats into a porous plug in response to incremental increases in the pressure drop across the plug.
Numerical stability of explicit off-lattice Boltzmann schemes

The off-lattice Boltzmann (OLB) method consists of numerical schemes which are used to solve the discrete Boltzmann equation. Unlike the commonly used lattice Boltzmann method, the spatial and time steps are uncoupled in the OLB method. In the currently proposed schemes, which can be broadly classified into Runge-Kutta-based and characteristics-based, the size of the time-step is limited due to numerical stability constraints. In this work, we systematically compare the numerical stability of the proposed schemes in terms of the maximum stable time-step. In line with the overall LB method, we investigate the available schemes where the advection approximation is explicit, and the collision approximation is either explicit or implicit. The comparison is done by implementing these schemes on benchmark incompressible flow problems such as Taylor vortex flow, Poiseuille flow, and lid-driven cavity flow. It is found that the characteristics-based OLB schemes are numerically more stable than the Runge-Kutta-based schemes. Additionally, we have observed that, with respect to time-step size, the scheme proposed by Bardow et al. (2006) 1] is the most numerically stable and computationally efficient scheme compared to similar schemes, for the flow problems tested here.
305. Targeting the Gene and the Derived Gene- Product into Tumors

Great effort has been made in developing tumor-targeted gene delivery, but no attention has been given to targeting the therapeutic gene products that are transcribed and translated from genes transfected in normal tissues into tumors. Targeting gene product in tumors is very important for systemic gene delivery because only a portion of genes are successfully delivered into tumors by using the most successful systemic tumor-targeted gene delivery technology. Targeting gene product in tumors is also important for intratumoral gene delivery because the most commonly used therapeutic genes like TRAIL yield soluble proteins that are secreted into the blood circulation and are harmful to normal cells. Moreover, some gene products such as IL-12 are more effective when co-localized with tumors, compared to systemic localization (Li, S., JNCI, 2002; Li, S., Mol Therapy, 2005). To target not only the gene but also the gene product generated from the injected in tumors, a novel strategy is reported here. In brief, a tumor vessel-targeted reporter gene encoding SEAP and a tumor vessel-targeted peptide CDGRC was generated in our laboratory. The gene expression analysis using this tumor vessel-targeted reporter gene clearly demonstrates that inclusion of CDGRC increases gene product accumulation in tumors following systemic administration of the fusion gene via electroporation. Likewise, injection of tumor vessel-targeted IFNalpha gene, encoding tumor vessel-targeted mini-peptide(s) CDGRC and IFNalpha into SCCVII tumors in a syngeneic immunocompetent model, significantly increases the infiltration of CD8 T cells, decreasing the tumor vessel density, and increasing the survival of tumor-bearing mice, compared to administration of the wild-type IFNalpha gene. This therapeutic strategy has a great potential for reducing the systemic toxicity and increasing the therapeutic efficacy.
Powered Trajectory Studies for Low Thrust Space Vehicles

Powered trajectory calculations have been carried out for missions from Earth to Venus, Mars, Jupiter and return. The procedure used was based upon an optimization that minimizes total energy requirements and maximizes payload. Data are presented which relate payload fraction, total mission time, and minimum specific power requirements. It is shown that propulsion plant weight-to-exhaust power ratios of 122 lb/kw and 22 lb/kw are adequate for missions ranging in difficulty from one-way trips to Mars with 10% payload fraction to round trips to Mars with 30% payload, respectively. In both cases the transfer is assumed to be between low altitade satellite orbits about the planets in question.
Linked-cluster expansion for quantum spin systems and the perpendicular susceptibility of the Ising model

The Wick reduction theorem is used in a linked-cluster-expansion calculation to facilitate the evaluation of the multi-integrals of the ordered products encountered in the expansion. The method resolves a major problem in the general linked-cluster expansion for quantum spin systems. We apply it to the evaluation of the perpendicular susceptibility of the Ising model. An eighth-order linked-cluster series is obtained for a general lattice. The temperature behavior of the perpendicular susceptibility of the three-dimensional Ising model (fcc lattice) is discussed.
Intermolecular NH2-/Carboxyl-terminal Interactions in Androgen Receptor Dimerization Revealed by Mutations That Cause Androgen Insensitivity

Structural alignment of the human androgen receptor dimer was investigated by introducing steroid binding domain mutations that cause partial or complete androgen insensitivity into fusion proteins containing the full-length androgen receptor or the steroid binding domain. Most of the mutants had unchanged apparent equilibrium androgen binding affinity and increased dissociation rates of [3H]methyltrienolone and required increased dihydrotestosterone concentrations for transcriptional activation. In a 2-hybrid protein interaction assay in mammalian cells, the steroid binding domain interacts with an NH2-terminal-DNA binding domain fragment and with the full-length androgen receptor at physiological androgen concentrations in a dose-dependent manner. However, mutations at Val-889 and Arg-752 disrupt the NH2-/carboxyl-terminal interaction when introduced into the steroid binding domain fragment but not when present in the full-length androgen receptor. The N-C bimolecular interaction reduces the dissociation rate of bound androgen and slows the degradation rate of the carboxyl-terminal steroid binding domain fragment. The results suggest that steroid binding domain residues Val-889 and Arg-752 are critical to the NH2-/carboxyl-terminal interaction and that an intermolecular N-C interaction occurs during receptor dimerization that results in an antiparallel arrangement of androgen receptor monomers.
Real Rotamers using Real-Space Correlation Coefficients

Protein side-chains occur in discrete low-energy, conformations known as rotamers. Rotamers can be elucidated by analysing chi angle distributions in high-quality protein models. A given side-chain's rotamaricity is calculated based on its position in multidimensional, chi-angle distributions, not by a simple distance from a rotamer-library member. The rotamers currently used in our MolProbity service were defined by analysing 500 high-quality protein models from the Protein Data Bank (PDB). The residues were then filtered by eliminating side-chains with clashes and those containing an atom with a B-factor greater than 40A2. With the rapid growth of the PDB we have created a much larger high-quality data set consisting of approximately 8000 protein chains, the Top8000. Here I present how the Top8000 was used to improve our rotamer definitions. Along with more stringent quality filters (B-factor, clashes, and geometry) to eliminate dubious conformations, I am now developing a real-space correlation coefficient filter that will allow the elimination of side-chains that have missing or very low density and thus have poor justification for their assigned conformation. These new definitions will be used in subsequent versions of both the MolProbity web service and in the Phenix crystallographic software suite.
The effect of periodate oxidation and α-mannosidase treatment of Dolichos biflorus lectin

The effects of periodate oxidation and alpha-mannosidase treatment of the Dolichos biflorus lectin were determined. Destruction by periodate of 16% of the mannose residues of the lectin had no effect on its ability to agglutinate type A erythrocytes, precipitate blood group A + H substance or to be precipitated by concanavalin A. Removal of up to 40% of the mannose by either periodate or alpha-mannosidase rendered the lectin nonprecipitable by concanavalin A. The lectin treated by alpha-mannosidase retained its ability to agglutinate erythrocytes and precipitate blood group A + H substance, but the lectin treated with periodate lost most of its activity. The results suggest that the complete integrity of the carbohydrate unit of the lectin is not necessary for its activity and that the periodate may be affecting the protein portion of the molecule as well as its carbohydrate residues. No conversion of form A to form B of the lectin was observed with either periodate oxidation or alpha-mannosidase treatment.
Geological Causes of Local Variation in Coastal Bluff Recession Rates, Northeast Ohio Shoreline of Lake Erie

The Lake Erie shoreline at Painesville-on-the-Lake has receded 180 m since 1876, yet during the past decade rates have varied locally by 0–5 m/yr. The study area is a portion (0.5 km in length) of a continuous section of coastal bluffs 17 m tall. The section was selected to minimize variation in physical parameters, including shoreline orientation and exposure, offshore bathymetry and sediment, beach width, minimal shoreline protection structures, and generally "homogeneous" bluff materials. In spite of these similarities, some portions of the bluff recede episodically by block-fall and other portions continuously by slumping.
Projection moire technique for contouring injection-molded parabolic reflectors

Testing injection molded aspheres, with large deviations from spherical is difficult. One solution is to use a long wavelength interferometer, such as an infrared interferometer. Another solution is to use moire. This paper presents the use of a projection moire system to test the surface shape of an injection molded f/0.1 parabolic reflector. The theory of moire and its effective wavelength is presented. A projection system is constructed and data taken for a reflector is shown. Finally, some alignment errors associated with the system and how to correct them is presented.
Thermal degradation of precursors and formation of flavour compounds during heating of cereal products. Part II. The formation and changes of volatile flavour compounds in thermally treated malt extracts at different temperature and pH

The effect of temperature and pH on the formation and changes of volatile flavour compounds in thermally treated malt extracts was studied. The dependence of thermal treatment parameters on organoleptic properties of the extracts was stated. Alkaline pH of the medium was found to promote the formation of the compounds yielding a caramel odour. The most desirable organoleptic characteristics were obtained at pH 4.0-5.5 and temperature 140 degrees C. Thirty compounds typical for nonenzymatic browning were identified.
Semi-implicit method for long time scale magnetohydrodynamic computations in three dimensions

A semi-implicit method for solving the 3-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic equations on long time scales is presented. Standard explicit methods must use time steps which are constrained by a Courant-Friedrichs-Lewy condition due to the fast compressional and shear alfven motion. This semi-implicit method eliminates both of these restrictions so that very large time steps are permitted. The method is simple to implement and the computation time for one time step is essentially the same as for explicit methods. Numerical test results in slab and cylindrical geometry are presented.
The prediction of pure component properties in the subcritical range using an equation of state

Abstract A method is proposed for predicting vapor pressures, liquid densities and vaporization enthalpies of pure compounds in a wide temperature range between the triple point and the critical point. The method relies on the application of a previously proposed multicomponent equation of state which is based on well known properties of pure components and universal behavior of fluids. Simple rules are given for the calculation of all eight constants of the chosen equation of state which requires as input data the critical point and the normal boiling temperature only. The reliability of the new procedure is discussed on the basis of results obtained by predicting the properties of several well studied compounds belonging to the following classes: hydrocarbons, alcohols, acids and polar compounds not strongly associated. The method compares favorably with the Riedel equation for predicting the vapor pressures and with the Rackett equation for predicting the orthobaric densities. However, it only gives semi-quantitative results for the vaporization enthalpies of the C5+ compounds. The method appears less sensitive to the inaccuracies of the critical values than literature methods.
Properties of native and immobilised preparations of β‐D‐glucosidase from Aspergillus niger

The enzyme β-D-glucosidase from Aspergillus niger has been immobilised through its carbohydrate moiety on concanavalin A-Sepharose and on cyanogen bromide-activated Sepharose after aminoalkylation of the carbohydrate side chains of the enzyme. For comparison, the enzyme was also immobilised on microcrystalline cellulose through its protein moiety. High retention of activity and a decrease in Km and Vmax. were observed when β-D-glucosidase was immobilised by these methods. An increase in the thermal stability of the immobilised β-D-glucosidase preparations over the soluble enzyme was achieved if it was treated with glutaraldehyde before its adsorption on concanavalin A-Sepharose or if the enzyme immobilised on cyanogen bromide-activated Sepharose was subsequently treated with glutaraldehyde. Treatment of β-D-glucosidase immobilised on microcrystalline cellulose with glutaraldehyde hardly increased its thermal stability over the soluble enzyme.
Well-Endowed Rating Systems: How Modified Defaults Can Lead to More Sustainable Performance

AbstractRating systems are often used as design/decision tools to evaluate, grade, and reward infrastructure projects that meet sustainability criteria such as reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, preservation of wildlife habitat, and accessibility to community cultural resources. Embedded within any such rating system is choice architecture, which refers to the way information is presented to a decision maker. This research examines the impact on design choices of changes to defaults in the choice architecture of the Envision rating system for sustainable infrastructure. Currently, the default score in each category of Envision is zero points. Points are earned by improving upon industry norms. To test the impact of changing these defaults, participants (senior-level and graduate students) randomly received either the current Envision version or a modified version with a higher default score, endowing participants with points in sustainability. All participants used their randomly assigned rating syst...
Use of Dairy Herd Improvement Variables to Predict Lifetime Profitability

Abstract This study was to determine if relative profitability of cows could be predicted accurately from variables available through Dairy Herd Improvement. Lifetime income was calculated from sales of milk and fat, calves produced, and salvage value; lifetime expenses were initial value of the animal, feed, mastitis treatment, breeding, and fixed costs. Methods to estimate total profit and profit per day were relative net income function, calculated from lifetime milk and fat production, age at first calving, number of freshenings, and days of herd life; and best fit regression models with one to four variables. The best fit regression models with one to four variables for predicting total profit from relative net income function variables had squared multiple correlations .76, .94, .95, and .96 compared to .95 for relative net income. The best fit regression models of one to three variables for predicting profit per day yielded .69, .83, and .86 compared to .85 for relative net income per day. The relative net income function was successful for accounting for most differences among cows for profit but was less successful for predicting profit per day. The relative net income function appears to be useful for estimating lifetime profitability for establishing the relative importance of traits measured early in the animal's lifetime.
Targeting PES1 for restoring the ERα/ERβ ratio in breast cancer

Alteration of the ERα/ERβ balance is a critical step in breast cancer development and progression, and selective restoration of the activity of estrogen receptors has been proposed as one of the major therapeutic approaches for breast cancer. In this issue of JCI, Cheng et al. show that, by differentially modulating the stability of ERα and ERβ, PES1 increases the ERα/ERβ ratio and triggers breast tumor growth. These findings highlight PES1 as a potential target for the treatment of breast cancer.
Wine Tourism, Environmental Concerns, and Purchase Intention

ABSTRACT Sustainable development and marketing are applied across the tourism spectrum, yet a need exists to make them relevant to specific forms of tourism, such as wine tourism. In this consumer-driven economy, tourism marketers often seek effective ways to market destinations. This study attempts to identify the environmental wine tourist by examining environmental personality characteristics and certain demographics on purchase intention, thus making it possible to better understand their concerns and motivations, which should aid marketing and advertising efforts. The results suggest wine tourists may be willing to pay for environmentally friendly wines with females possessing stronger environmental attitudes about protecting wine region destinations, thus influencing stronger behaviors toward purchase intention.
Implications of rescaling rules for multi-scaled habitat models

Recent work in landscape ecology suggests that organisms use environmental cues at a variety of scales to select habitat. As a result, habitat studies that evaluate environmental conditions at multiple spatial scales have become increasingly common. We examined whether the way in which data are rescaled influences inferred relationships between organisms and habitat features. Using a habitat model developed at fine scales, we systematically rescaled habitat (canopy density, slope, and cover type) and distribution maps according to a variety of different rescaling rules, including spatial averaging, thresholding, presence/absence, and majority. We found that the spatial autocorrelation of habitat data interacts with rescaling rules to alter the correspondence between species presence and habitat across scale. Different rules lead to substantially divergent and sometimes opposite correlations among the species and habitat features on the landscape. Such differences in interpretation due to variation in methodology can lead to very different interpretations of a species’ habitat requirements and thus have important implications for both ecology and conservation.
Blacks may be second class, but they can’t make them leave: Mexican racial formation and immigrant status in Winston-Salem

In this article, I investigate how race is produced by looking at the reception experiences of Afro and Mestizo Mexican migrants to the new South. Despite the fact that Afro and Mestizo Mexicans are both phenotypically and culturally distinct from one another, they assert a shared racial identity as minorities and as Latinos. On the basis of ethnographic field work in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, I argue that their perceived similarities with African Americans and pervasive discrimination owing to status drives Afro-Mexicans to assert a race-based Latino identity that is shaped by their understanding of African American experiences.
A study of the cut diameter concept for interpreting particle sizing data

Data inversion techniques can improve particle sizing by multichannel instruments, but a simpler approach is also valuable. The instrument response function can be approximated by a set of step functions chosen to represent the channels. Size intervals ascribed to the step functions can be chosen in several ways: one common method is to choose as the lower end of each interval the particle size (“cut size”) for which the channel has fifty-per cent collection efficiency (ac50); however, we can show that a different choice, the compensating-errors (equal-area, acea) size, minimizes the maximum error. Each choice has its advantages, and they are nearly the same for aerosols with small geometric standard deviations of particle size, GSD = a84/a50 < 1.5. The error for a hypothetical instrument having a response function with log-normal characteristics, and used to measure aerosols with log-normal distributions, is evaluated analytically. The “perfect” cut size is shown to be a function of both aerosol and instrument characteristics. Further, an analytic expression is presented for determining the aerosol median diameter and geometric standard deviation from just two measurements (or two channels) for devices with log-normal response functions and aerosols with log-normal size distributions. A convenient method for obtaining mean sizes from cumulative distributions is presented.
DNA polymorphism and molecular pathology of the human globin gene clusters

In the past few years there has been intensive study of the human globin genes. This study has provided important insights into normal gene structure and function and the nature of molecular defects leading to a set of inherited diseases. In turn, this information forms the basis for rational design of specific tests for prenatal diagnosis of particular forms of β-gene cluster in which recombination appears to be more frequent than in areas surrounding it. This will provide new insights into the evolution of a segment of the genome and aid in explaining how particular mutations are dispersed to numerous chromosome types. Second, study of additional β-thalassemia genes from human populations not previously studied will provide new gene defects, some of which may yield further clues about RNA transcription and processing. In addition, some (e.g., the coding region substitutions that affect RNA processing) may allow identification of new mechanisms of gene dysfunction. Third, we need further refinement of prenatal diagnostic tests so that early, accurate, and simplified assessment of pregnancies at risk can be accomplished widely, particularly in those geographic regions where β-thalassemia is especially prevalent.
Are Non‐Banks Winning in Retail Financial Services?

Retail Bankers must redefine their business if they are to compete profitably against non‐bank financial institutions (NBFI) in the consumer market. Banks have hitherto been slow to respond to change and to include NBFI as competitors, recognising only tardily that consumers are becoming more financially sophisticated, that deregulation is moving traditional barriers and technology changing the face of competition. Although NBFI have taken the lead in the consumer fianancial services marketplace, the race has only just begun, and in ten years' time some of the banks represented in today's market will have established strong and profitable positions, due to the development of market‐driven strategies and consumer marketing techniques.