cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DNA condensation with polyamines: I. Spectroscopic studies

Abstract The addition of polyamines with three or four positive charges to very dilute solutions of phage T7 DNA leads to a co-operative condensation. The reaction is very rapid and the DNA remains in the B-form as characterized by circular dichroism. The particles which are formed are roughly the size of a phage particle when they are prepared for electron microscopy. This aspect is discussed more completely in the accompanying paper (Chattoraj et al., 1978). Most of the experiments were performed at low ionic strength (roughly 0.002 m ) with the triamine, spermidine. The reaction also occurs in 0.15 m -sodium chloride but here the experiments are accompanied by slow irreversible effects which are evidently due to aggregation since they are accompanied by a commensurate increase in turbidity. Consequently, most of the experiments have been done under the reversible low ionic strength conditions. Neither Mg2+ nor the diamine putrescine produce the reaction at concentrations similar to those found in bacterial cells. The tetramer spermine, on the other hand, which is not found in bacterial cells, is a very strong condensation agent in the μ m region. The spermidine analog, bis-(3-aminopropyl)amine is very similar in behavior to spermidine. The role which polyamines might play in the condensation of DNA in phage heads is discussed.
Synthesis, Transport, and Morphogenesis of Type 5 Adenovirus Capsid Proteins

Abstract During the period between 20 and 24 hr after infection of KB cells with type 5 adenovirus, at a time when approximately 85% of the proteins made were virus-specific, viral proteins were synthesized on polyribosomes with an average sedimentation coefficient of 200S. The polypeptide chains synthesized during a 1-min period of labeling with 14C-amino acids had an average sedimentation coefficient of 3.4S in sucrose gradients containing 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate. Within 1 min after completion, the newly made polypeptide chains were released from polyribosomes, and the majority were transported into the nuclei within 6 min. Meanwhile, the immunological reactivity of the newly synthesized proteins also increased rapidly. During the same 6-min interval after synthesis, the single polypeptide chains assembled into multimeric proteins with average sedimentation coefficients of 6S, 9S, and 12S. The 6S and 12S proteins were identified immunologically as the fiber and hexon capsid proteins, respectively. The 9S protein was trypsin-sensitive and appeared to be the precursor of the penton; it was tentatively identified as the penton base. The penton had a sedimentation coefficient of about 10.5S and sedimented with the hexon in sucrose gradients. The concomitant migration of nascent proteins into the nuclei, development of the capsid proteins' immunological reactivity, and morphogenesis of the multimeric capsid proteins suggest that the single polypeptide chains or small complexes were transported into the nuclei where they assembled into mature structural proteins of the virion.
Lost Lives: Miscarriages of Justice in Capital Cases

One of the longstanding complaints against the death penalty is that it “distort[s] the course of the criminal law.” Capital prosecutions are expensive and complicated; they draw sensational attention from the press; they are litigated—before, during, and after trial—at greater length and depth than other felonies; they generate more intense emotions, for and against; they last longer and live in memory. There is no dispute about these effects, only about their significance. To opponents of the death penalty, they range from minor to severe faults; to proponents, from tolerable costs to major virtues. Until recently, however, the conviction of innocent defendants was not seen as a special hazard of capital punishment. Everybody agreed, of course, that condemning innocent defendants is a singular wrong, but it was not widely viewed as a major problem, and certainly not as a problem of special significance for capital cases. In the past decade, this complacent view has been shattered. In case after case, erroneous conviction for capital murder has been proven. I contend that these are not disconnected accidents, but systematic consequences of the nature of homicide prosecution in general and capital prosecution in particular—that in this respect, as in others, death distorts and undermines the course of the law. There are three factual premises behind the argument that capital convictions of innocent defendants are vanishingly rare. The first is that erroneous convictions are rare in criminal prosecutions of any sort, and that their danger
Efficacious Chemoprevention of Primary Prostate Cancer by Flutamide in an Autochthonous Transgenic Model

Although the etiology of prostate cancer is still not clear, family history, hormones, and age are thought to play a role in its initiation and progression. There is no cure for the advanced disease. Because prostate cancer initially develops as an androgen-dependent tumor, agents with antiandrogen activity have become the focus for chemoprevention of this disease. A pilot study was undertaken to test the efficacy of flutamide (an antiandrogen) in the transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate (TRAMP) model of prostate cancer. Three groups of mice received s.c. implantation of slow-release flutamide pellets: (a) low-dose flutamide group (6.6 mg/kg); (b) high-dose flutamide group (33 mg/kg); and (c) control placebo group. Efficacy was measured by the absence of palpable tumor formation. Prostate tissues/tumors were harvested for evaluation by molecular and histology techniques. The low-dose flutamide group did not differ significantly from the placebo group, in which palpable tumors initially presented at 17 weeks of age, and by 33 weeks, all of the animals developed palpable tumors. In the high-dose flutamide group, however, tumors did not appear until 24 weeks, a lag of 7 weeks, and by 34 weeks, 42% of the animals were still tumor free. The period of time at which 50% of the animals had tumors was 33 weeks in the high-dose flutamide group, 24.5 weeks in the low-dose flutamide group, and 24.5 weeks in the placebo group. The difference between the placebo and high-dose flutamide groups was statistically significant (log rank, P = 0.0036; Wilcoxon's statistical analysis, P = 0.0060). Tumors from high-dose flutamide-treated animals were more differentiated and retained much of the normal glandular architecture compared with those of the placebo group, whose tumors consisted of sheets of poorly differentiated cells. The expression of T antigen in the prostate tissues of flutamide-treated animals (at 10 weeks age) was lower than that in the comparable placebo-treated group. Flutamide had the ability to suppress T antigen-driven carcinogenesis, resulting in a significant decrease in the incidence of prostate cancer and an increase in the latency period of prostate cancer in TRAMP mice.
Probing the molecular structures of plasma-damaged and surface-repaired low-k dielectrics

Fully understanding the effect and the molecular mechanisms of plasma damage and silylation repair on low dielectric constant (low-k) materials is essential to the design of low-k dielectrics with defined properties and the integration of low-k dielectrics into advanced interconnects of modern electronics. Here, analytical techniques including sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy (SFG), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), contact angle goniometry (CA) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) have been employed to provide a comprehensive characterization of the surface and bulk structure changes of poly(methyl)silsesquioxane (PMSQ) low-k thin films before and after O2 plasma treatment and silylation repair. O2 plasma treatment altered drastically both the molecular structures and water structures at the surfaces of the PMSQ film while no bulk structural change was detected. For example, ∼34% Si-CH3 groups were removed from the PMSQ surface, and the Si-CH3 groups at the film surface tilted toward the surface after the O2 plasma treatment. The oxidation by the O2 plasma made the PMSQ film surface more hydrophilic and thus enhanced the water adsorption at the film surface. Both strongly and weakly hydrogen bonded water were detected at the plasma-damaged film surface during exposure to water with the former being the dominate component. It is postulated that this enhancement of both chemisorbed and physisorbed water after the O2 plasma treatment leads to the degradation of low-k properties and reliability. The degradation of the PMSQ low-k film can be recovered by repairing the plasma-damaged surface using a silylation reaction. The silylation method, however, cannot fully recover the plasma induced damage at the PMSQ film surface as evidenced by the existence of hydrophilic groups, including C-O/C[double bond, length as m-dash]O and residual Si-OH groups. This work provides a molecular level picture on the surface structural changes of low-k materials after plasma treatment and the subsequent silylation repair.
Integrating social and physical sciences in water management.

Water management has always required more than physical science. This paper reviews the accomplishments of integrating social with physical sciences for water management in the last 50 years. Particular successes are highlighted to illustrate how fundamentals from both physical science and social science have been brought together to improve the performance of water management systems. Some forward-looking lessons for managing practical and academic interdisciplinary research for water management are also provided.
Reference Desk Employees Need Both Research Knowledge and Technical Skills for Successful Reference Transactions

A Review of: Chan, E. K. (2014). Analyzing recorded transactions to extrapolate the required knowledge, skills, and abilities of reference desk providers at an urban, academic/public library. Journal of Library Administration, 54(1), 23-32. doi:10.1080/01920836.2014.893113 Abstract Objective – To determine the essential knowledge and skills required by reference positions serving academic and public library patrons. Design – Data analysis of recorded reference transactions using author-created categories. Setting – The reference desk of a joint academic and public library in downtown San Jose, California. Subjects – A total of 9,683 in-person and phone reference transactions recorded between August 20 and December 29, 2012. Methods – All reference transactions recorded in the tracking software Gimlet during the fall 2012 semester were downloaded and analyzed in Excel using 17 author-created reference service categories. Of the original 13,827 transaction entries, 4,135 were eliminated because the actual reference questions, an optional entry in Gimlet, were not recorded. Thus these transactions could not be properly categorized for analysis. Main Results – The most frequently occurred type of reference transaction (16.6%, or 1,607 out of 9,683) out of the 17 categories was assistance for printing, copying, scanning, and wireless network assistance. The next most regularly recorded categories were catalog searching for non-known items (15.0%) and general research (10.9%), which included formulating research questions and selecting the appropriate resources for searching. When clustering the 17 reference question categories into 4 broader thematic groups, “research-oriented assistance,” including question categories for catalog searching and general research, emerged as the most common question type (31.7%). Technical and equipment assistance (30.8%) was the second most popular category group, followed by facility and policy questions (19.2%), and quick search requests (18.3%). Conclusion – The study findings suggest that successful reference desk transactions would require library employees to master research knowledge as well as technical computer and equipment skills.
The sites of action of cholecystokinin in decreasing meal size in pigs.

The synthetic octapeptide of cholecystokinin (CCK-8) was infused at the rate of 67 ng/kg-minute into the jugular vein, carotid artery, portal vein, gastric branch of the splenic artery, and aortic artery both craniad and caudad to the origins of the cranial mesenteric and coeliac arteries of 39 young female pigs. Jugular, carotid and cranial arotic infusions resulted in significant reduction of meal size respectively to 65,67 and 71% of control meal size ( p p
Gel-precipitation of streptococcal culture supernates with sera of patients with rheumatic fever and streptococcal infection.

Summary1. Precipitin tests in semi-solid agar (gel-precipitin) have been carried out between concentrates of streptococcal culture supernates and sera of various sources. Two technics of diffusion in 1 dimension (tube) were used: the single-diffusion technic of Oudin, and a double-diffusion technic. 2. Sera of rabbits previously injected with streptococcal culture supernates showed increasing numbers of bands as the course of injections progressed. Sera of such rabbits showed as many as 5 bands when tested with such concentrates, indicating that this was the minimum number of antigen-antibody systems present. 3. Sera of patients with acute rheumatic fever and of patients convalescent from an acute streptococcal infection (scarlet fever) were also tested by this technic against concentrates of streptococcal culture supernates. The group with rheumatic fever showed a greater number of bands (a range of 2-7) than did the group with scarlet fever (0-4), when tested by the double-diffusion technic. The corresp...
Assaying extrachromosomal gene therapy vectors that carry replication/persistence elements

Abstract Persistence in the cell is a desirable property for most gene therapy vectors. For extrachromosomal vectors, persistence is limited in most cell types. To address this problem, we have developed vectors with the ability to replicate and be retained in the nucleus. These properties are conferred by specific elements present on the vectors and derived from genomic DNA and from Epstein–Barr virus. In order to begin evaluation of these vectors for use in gene therapy, we developed and present here two assays that measure the persistence of vector DNA in tissue culture cells under rapidly dividing and slowly dividing conditions. Our results indicate that inclusion of DNA replication and nuclear retention elements on a vector increases persistence of vector DNA in slowly dividing cells by at least 500%. Further improvement of the system is discussed.
Effects of amphetamine and phenylpropanolamine on latency to feed and cumulative liquid diet intake in rats

Abstract The purpose of the present experiment was to compare the actions of d-amphetamine sulfate (AMP) and phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride (PPA: d,1-norephedrine) on feeding of a liquid diet. Adult rats were deprived of food for 22 hours and treated with 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg AMP and with 15 and 30 mg/kg PPA 30 minutes prior to a 60-minute feeding test. Latency to begin feeding was recorded at the start of the feeding session with cumulative liquid diet intake recorded every 5 minutes during the test. Amphetamine and PPA significantly increased latency to feed but PPA, at the doses used here, produced a greater reduction in overall feeding during the test sessions than did amphetamine. Eating rate was reduced by both AMP and PPA during the first 20 minutes of the test session, but eating rate after AMP was significantly higher during the latter portion of the test session. Although amphetamine and PPA are often likened as similar in structure and function, these results suggest important qualitative differences between the anorexic activities of these two drugs.
Localization lengths in one-dimensional disordered systems

Abstract Closed formulae are obtained for the localization length and the density of states in one dimensional tight binding disordered lattice. The results for binary alloy type of randomness exhibit strong structure due to clustering effects.
Rotavirus and reovirus stability in microorganism-free distilled and wastewaters

Survival of calf rotavirus and reovirus under controlled laboratory conditions in micro- organism-free, distilled and wastewater at 8 and 26°C was examined by periodic measurement of cyto- pathic effects (CPE) and indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) assays. Five samples of both water-types were collected and inoculated with the two viruses. Three samples of each type of water were divided into two bottles, one per virus, for incubation at 8°C. Two samples were used at 26°C, one per trial. In the absence of light and shaking at 26°C, 7 13 days were required for a loss of 90~o infectivity for rotavirus and reovirus, while at 8°C, averages were 80 days for rotavirus and 260 days for reovirus. Virus infectivity remained for more than 30 days at 26°C and 400 days at 8°C. Rates of decline were 10-100 times greater at 26 than at 8°C, but at both temperatures, the MPN log10 rate of decline of infectivity was linear.
Monte Carlo modeling of underwater-image formation: validity of the linear and small-angle approximations

A Monte Carlo model has been used to compute a set of point-spread functions (PSF's) and modulation transfer functions (MTF's) that determine underwater-image quality in a range of different environments. The results have been used to analyze the range of application under which a linear-approximation theory holds. Conclusions of the study are that the linear-approximation theory seems to hold quite well over a broad range of applications. The ramifications of the Wells small-angle-scattering theory that predicts the PSF from a knowledge of the volume-scattering function (VSF) are also considered.Discrepancies are noted between a predicted and a computationally obtained MTF; these discrepancies increase with range. Therefore, the results of the simulations indicate that the small-angle-scattering theory is more valid at a limited number of attenuation lengths. The results of the simulations indicate that the theory is valid to approximately three attenuation lengths.
Feasibility study on cosmic-ray nondestructive testing through structural analysis of subway stations

Abstract Cosmic-ray intensities were measured at the platforms of 64 subway stations in Nagoya City using a 7.62 cm diameter spherical Nal(Tl) scintillation counter as one of a set of feasibility studies on the practical application of cosmic rays to inspection of large structural materials. It is concluded from the results of a model analysis that the cosmic-ray intensities are governed by the platform depth and soil cover thickness of the stations. The bulk densities of the spaces above the platforms are also estimated from these measurements.
Properties of velocity-mechanosensitive neurons of the cat ventrobasal thalamic nucleus with special reference to the concept of convergence

Abstract Neurons in the ventrobasal (VB) thalamic nucleus of lightly anesthetized cats were studied in order to analyze their discharge properties in response to controlled mechanical stimuli. Properties of the vast majority of the neuronal population largely resemble those of peripheral sensitive mechanoreceptors in their response to the velocity and, to a more limited extent, the amplitude component, of skin and hair displacement within restricted receptive fields. Detailed examination reveals some ‘complex’ characteristics suggestive of central integration in about 11% of VB neurons. Complex properties appear to indicate convergent input reflecting receptive field organization, the variety of velocity-related discharges and patterns of inhibition. The rarity of isolated ‘surround’ inhibition and the definition of what constitutes ‘lemniscal’ properties are discussed in the context of these and other related findings.
Heavy metal complexation behavior in anaerobically digested sludges

Abstract Heavy metal interactions with anaerobically digested sludges have been examined by equilibrating sludge solids with solutions containing acetate salts of zinc, nickel copper, and cadmium over the range of pH from 5.0 to 8.0. The partitioning of the metals with the solids suggested chemisorptive behavior. Currently available adsorption isotherms could be used to describe this behavior if modified to incorporate effects due to hydrogen ion concentration. The Freundlich isotherm was superior to the Langmuir and Temkin isotherms. A comparison of Langmuir inhibition variations and Freundlich results suggests that weakly acidic ligands are involved in heavy metal complexation and that there exists a competition between the metal and hydrogen ions for these sites. Lowering the pH resulted in lower degrees of complexation. Stability constants were calculated from Langmuir isotherm results and are in the range of values calculated by others for heavy metal complexation with soil organic matter.
SEVERITY OF TRICUSPID REGURGITATION AS A MARKER OF LEFT VENTRICULAR DILATION IN CHRONIC SEVERE RHEUMATIC MITRAL REGURGITATION

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is the most common cause of valvular heart disease in the developing world and a major global public health challenge. First, we examined the prevalence of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) in pediatric and adult RHD patients undergoing valvular heart surgery. Second, we
Effects of Gold Thioglucose and Bipiperidyl Mustard on Pituitary Prolactin and Growth Hormone Content of C3H Mice

SummaryThe effects of a single injection of gold thioglucose (GTG) and bipiperidyl mustard (BM) on the pituitary prolaction and GH contents of C3H mice were studied. Virtually all mice receiving the drugs became obese in 8 weeks. GTG and BM increased pituitary prolactin concentration 37 and 24% at 4 weeks and 42 and 40%, respectively, at 8 weeks (p<0.01). GH concentration was enhanced significantly (30%; p<0.01) only by BM treatment at 8 weeks, BM increased the weights of the pituitary glands, adrenals, ovaries, and the uteri; whereas only the uterine weights were increased by GTG treatment. The data suggest that prolactin and/or GH may be related to the induction of obesity by GTG and BM.
A Closed-Form Methodology for Computing Present Worth Statistics of Risky Discrete Cash-Flows

Abstract A closed-form methodology for obtaining statistical moments of present worth for discrete cash flows is shown and proposed for use in economic risk analysis. Coefficients of alternative cash-flow time-series are viewed as independent random variables with known probability (density) functions. Inputs to this methodology consist of: the time-series form, probability (density) functions with parameter values for each series coefficient, and the discount rate. The methodology converts these informational inputs into the 1st, 2nd,…, rth statistical moment of present worth for that series. This methodology is based on a decomposition of the zeta transform method and theorems on products and sums of moments for independent random variables. Moments are as exact as the computational precision allows. Expected present worths are easily computed but variances entail moderate effort for manual computation Calculations of higher moments of present worth are extensive and computer computations are recommende...
Acceptability of Ice Cream Made with Processed Wheys and Sodium Caseinate

Abstract Dry sweet whey, whey protein concentrate, and sodium caseinate were used in this study to replace the nonfat dry milk in ice cream. Either whey protein concentrate, a blend of whey protein concentrate and dry sweet whey, or a blend of dry sweet whey and sodium caseinate were used to replace the milk solids-not-fat at 50 or 100%. All the experimental ice creams were compared to control ice creams using nonfat dry milk to increase the milk solids-not-fat. All mixes were manufactured to produce an ice cream having 10.5% fat, 22% total milk solids, 13% sucrose, 3% corn syrup solids, and .3% stabilizer-emulsifier. The ice cream was manufactured in 114-kg batches, the mix being blended, pasteurized (72°C for 30min), homogenized with a two-stage homogenizer (1080 kg/cm 2 ), cooled to 4°C, flavored with pure vanilla extract, and frozen in a continuous freezer. The ice cream was packed in 1-L containers, then stored at −30°C. The final products were evaluated for compositional analyses on two subsamples of each batch of mix; a panel evaluation for flavor, body, and texture by trained panelists; and a 52 family consumer evaluation to determine overall preference. The compositional analyses of ice cream averaged 10.5% fat, 3.9% protein, 5.7% lactose, .94% ash, and total solids of 38.7%. Standard deviations of these analyses were less than 1.00. The panel evaluation showed no significant differences ( P >.05) in flavor, body, and texture among the various ice creams. Sandiness was not judged a problem with any of the ice creams. Fifty-two families were randomly selected from the City of Brookings, SD, for consumer evaluation of the ice creams. The 14-wk evaluation was conducted with each family receiving 5L of ice cream as five 1L cartons each week. Each week's ice cream delivery contained one sample from each of three treatment mixes, a control sample, and a duplicate of one of the other four samples. The samples of ice creams were rated on a nine-point hedonic scale (1 best, 9 worst). No significant differences were found in the consumer flavor ratings among the ice creams made with dry sweet whey, whey protein concentrate — dry sweet whey blend (at both the 50% and 100% replacement levels), and the control. The ice cream made with the dry sweet whey-sodium caseinate blend received a significantly higher hedonic rating ( P
Heavily Loaded Gas Foil Bearings: A Model Anchored to Test Data

Widespread usage of gas foil bearings (FBs) into microturbomachinery to midsize gas turbine engines requires accurate performance predictions anchored to reliable test data. This paper presents a simple yet accurate model predicting the static and dynamic force characteristics of gas FBs. The analysis couples the Reynolds equation for a thin gas film to a simple elastic foundation model for the top foil and bump strip layer. An exact flow advection model is adopted to solve the partial differential equations for the zeroth- and first-order pressure fields that render the FB load capacity and freguency-dependent force coefficients. As the static load imposed on the foil bearing increases, predictions show that the journal center displaces to eccentricities exceeding the bearing nominal clearance. A nearly constant FB static stiffness, independent of journal speed, is estimated for operation with large loads, and approaching closely the bearing structural stiffness derived from contact operation without rotor spinning. Predicted minimum film thickness and journal attitude angle demonstrate good agreement with archival test data for a first-generation gas FB. The bump-foil-strip structural loss factor, exemplifying a dry-friction dissipation mechanism, aids to largely enhance the bearing direct damping force coefficients. At high loads, the bump-foil structure influences most the stiffness and damping coefficients. The predictions demonstrate that FBs have greatly different static and dynamic force characteristics when operating at journal eccentricities in excess of the bearing clearance from those obtained for operation at low loads, i.e., small journal eccentricity.
Comparison of Load Combination Methods for Determining Maximum Ship’s Hull Girder Bending Moment

Several load combination methods have been developed for predicting the maximum loads acting on a ship’s hull girder within a specified time period. However, these methods have not been verified by a comparison with measurements. This paper compares predicted and measured maximum hull girder bending moment of a container ship. Point-crossing method, load coincidence method, Ferry Borges-Castanheta model, Moan and Jiao’s method, peak coincidence method, Turkstra’s rule, method of square root of the sum of squares (SRSS) and Soding formula are used for the comparison. The results show that (1) Ferry Borges-Castanheta model and Soding formula provide best estimates, (2) point-crossing method, load coincidence method and Moan and Jiao method provide sufficiently accurate estimates, (3) Turkstra’s rule provide reasonable estimates, (4) method of SRSS provides fairly low estimates and (5) peak coincidence method provides very conservative estimates.
Traditional Leadership Development in Nontraditional Environments

The Director's Forum is designed to guide pharmacy leaders in establishing patient-centered services in hospitals and health systems. Developing an effective pipeline of leadership is essential for...
Cerebrovascular Manifestations in 321 Cases of Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia

Background and Purpose—Patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) are at risk for developing cerebral vascular malformations and pulmonary arteriovenous fistulae. We assessed the risk of neurological dysfunction from these malformations and fistulae. Methods—Three hundred twenty-one consecutive patients with HHT seen at a single institution over a 20-year period were studied. Any evidence of prior neurological symptoms or presence of an intracranial vascular malformation was recorded. All cases of possible cerebral arteriovenous malformation were confirmed by conventional arteriography. Results—Twelve patients (3.7%) had a history of cerebral vascular malformations. Ten patients had arteriovenous malformations, 1 had a dural arteriovenous fistula, and 1 had a cavernous malformation. Seven patients (2.1%) presented with intracranial hemorrhage, 2 presented with seizures alone, and 3 were discovered incidentally. The average age at the time of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage was 25.4 year...
PPARs in Neuroinflammation.

Welcome to this special issue of PPAR Research dedicated to “PPARs in Neuroinflammation.” The central nervous system (CNS) was once thought to be an immune-privileged site void of significant inflammation. However, it is now clear that activated peripheral immune cells are capable or entering and functioning within the CNS. In addition, resident immune cells termed “microglia” protect the CNS through production of molecules which are toxic to pathogens. However, chronically activated microglia can produce molecules toxic to host CNS cells, potentially leading to neurodegeneration. Interestingly, a variety of CNS disorders are characterized by neuroinflammation and associated neurodegeneration. The role of PPARs in modulating lipid and glucose metabolism is well established. More recently, PPARs have been demonstrated to modulate inflammation. For example, PPAR agonists inhibit the production of proinflammatory molecules by peripheral immune cells as well as resident CNS glia. Furthermore, PPAR receptor agonists have proven effective in suppressing the development of animal models of CNS inflammatory and neurodegenerative disorders. This suggests that modulation of PPARs may be effective in treating the related human diseases.
Nanodomains in early and later phases of FcɛRI signalling

Our long-term efforts to elucidate receptor-mediated signalling in immune cells, particularly transmembrane signalling initiated by FcɛRI, the receptor for IgE in mast cells, led us unavoidably to contemplate the role of the heterogeneous plasma membrane. Our early investigations with fluorescence microscopy revealed co-redistribution of certain lipids and signalling components with antigen-cross-linked IgE-FcɛRI and pointed to participation of ordered membrane domains in the signalling process. With a focus on this function, we have worked along with others to develop diverse and increasingly sophisticated tools to analyse the complexity of membrane structure that facilitates regulation and targeting of signalling events. The present chapter describes how initial membrane interactions of clustered IgE-FcɛRI lead to downstream cellular responses and how biochemical information integrated with nanoscale resolution spectroscopy and imaging is providing mechanistic insights at the level of molecular complexes.
Hormonal regulation of extrathymic gut T cell development: involvement of thyroid stimulating hormone.

Abstract We recently demonstrated that athymic mice which lack intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) considered to be thymus-dependent (TD) T cells develop those cells following exogenous treatment with the hypothalamic-derived neuropeptide, thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). To explore the mechanism by which neuroendocrine (NE) hormones influence the development of IELs, we have studied the effects of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), a pituitary hormone that is regulated by TRH, on IEL development in adult mice that were neonatally thymectomized (NTX). Adult NTX mice treated with exogenous TSH for 3 weeks developed normal proportions and numbers of TD (TCRαβ + , CD8αβ + , CD5 + , and Thy-1 + ) IELs in a manner similar to that of TRH-treated NTX mice. The effect of hormone therapy was long-lasting in that IEL subsets which developed during TRH treatment were present well after the known lifespan of TSH in vivo , and because the numbers of IEL remained higher than in untreated mice. These findings suggest that TD IELs develop extrathymically through a series of immunologic and hormonal interactions which are regulated by the thymus during some phase of embryonic life.
Response of Knee Ligaments to Prolotherapy in a Rat Injury Model

BackgroundProlotherapy is an alternative therapy for chronic musculoskeletal injury including joint laxity. The commonly used injectant, D-glucose (dextrose), is hypothesized to improve ligament mechanics and decrease pain through an inflammatory mechanism. No study has investigated the mechanical effects of prolotherapy on stretch-injured ligaments.HypothesesDextrose injections will enlarge cross-sectional area, decrease laxity, strengthen, and stiffen stretch-injured medial collateral ligaments (MCLs) compared with controls. Dextrose prolotherapy will increase collagen fibril diameter and density of stretch-injured MCLs.Study DesignControlled laboratory study.MethodsTwenty-four rats were bilaterally MCL stretch-injured, and the induced laxity was measured. After 2 weeks, 32 MCLs Were injected twice, 1 week apart, with either dextrose or saline control; 16 MCLs received no injection. Seven uninjured rats (14 MCLs) were additional controls. Two weeks after the second injection, ligament laxity, mechanical...
Computational Models of Ventilator Induced Lung Injury and Surfactant Dysfunction

Managing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) invariably involves the administration of mechanical ventilation, the challenge being to avoid the iatrogenic sequellum known as ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). Devising individualized ventilation strategies in ARDS requires that patient-specific lung physiology be taken into account, and this is greatly aided by the use of computational models of lung mechanical function that can be matched to physiological measurements made in a given patient. In this review, we discuss recent models that have the potential to serve as the basis for devising minimally injurious modes of mechanical ventilation in ARDS patients.
Chemical kinetic functional sensitivity analysis: Elementary sensitivities

Sensitivity analysis is considered for kinetics problems defined in the space–time domain. This extends an earlier temporal Green’s function method to handle calculations of elementary functional sensitivities dui/daj where ui is the ith species concentration and aj is the jth system parameter. The system parameters include rate constants, diffusion coefficients, initial conditions, boundary conditions, or any other well‐defined variables in the kinetic equations. These parameters are generally considered to be functions of position and/or time. Derivation of the governing equations for the sensitivities and the Green’s funciton are presented. The physical interpretation of the Green’s function and sensitivities is given along with a discussion of the relation of this work to earlier research.
Issues in multirate statistical signal processing

The statistical analysis of random signals and noise is traditionally carried out under the assumption of wide sense stationarity. In the processing of signals through systems at multiple data rates, even local stationarity is not always a valid assumption. While a stationary discrete-time signal that is down-sampled at a multiple of the original sampling rate retains wide sense stationarity, the same may not be true for a signal that is interpolated and processed at a higher rate. Such multirate signals however exhibit cyclostationarity and can be optimally processed by periodically time-varying systems. This paper discusses some issues in the theory of multirate random signals, and suggests some structures for optimal filtering for combinations of these signals.
Trends in Methods for Assessing Freshwater Habitats

Abstract Habitat assessment is an important form of management for species conservation, mitigation planning, environmental regulation, and impact assessment. As part of an American Fisheries Society and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service project, we surveyed state, provincial, federal, and private organizations to obtain documentation about methods being used to assess aquatic habitats in the inland waters of North America. We then used this information to characterize attributes of established methods. We found that most methods target habitats associated with flowing waters, but a significant number of methods deal exclusively with lakes and reservoirs. The survey showed that the dominant purpose for having an established method was to standardize measurements and data collection techniques. Methods for stream habitats included a wide array of measurements emphasizing channel structure, water movement, substrate, cover, and riparian zones. The lentic habitat methods emphasized the littoral zone, shallow-wa...
A conflict of associations : The national camp-meeting association for the promotion of holiness versus the Methodist Episcopal church

Hiram Mattison was fighting mad. Some of the holiness people in the Methodist Episcopal church had pulled a fast one. Early in 1867 the New York Preachers' Meeting had hosted a series of speeches on the question, “What are the best methods for promoting the experience of perfect love?” The discussion had been, in the words of one participant, “lengthy and pungent.” Mattison, a seminary professor and long-time opponent of the holiness movement, had weighed in with his professional theological polemics against the movement's doctrine and methods of promotion. He had expected that all the speeches would be published in a single volume. But the proponents of perfect love surreptitiously had withdrawn their manuscripts from the Methodist book room and had them published and copyrighted on their own. The original plan to publish a two-sided debate had been thus defeated, and the advocates of perfect love had scooped their opposition. What a move for people who professed to have attained Christian perfection, said Mattison. It must have paid well, he added, for three editions had been issued in just a few weeks.
China's Socialist Revolution, peasant families, and the uses of the past

Because peasants, far more than proletarians, have been decisive agents in the successful communist revolutions of the twentieth century, many within the marxist tradition have been moved to seriously reappraise classical views of the peasantry's capacity for progressive social action. James Scott's work on Southeast Asian peasants has made a major contribution to this project. His article "Hegemony and the Peasantry" explicitly addressed the paradox posed by the history of peasant revolutions and the "canons of Marxist theory," and suggested a resolution based upon an analysis of the progressive "advantages" enjoyed by the peasantry as a class.l Elsewhere Scott has combed the depths of what Redfield called the "Little Tradition" to develop an appreciation of the political culture of the peasantry that helps explain the progressive role peasants have played in revolution.2 Scott and sympathetic Sinologists, like Edward Friedman and Ralph Thaxton, have interpreted the Chinese Revolution as particularly impressive evidence of the revolutionary capacity of the peasantry.3
Five-Parameter Grain Boundary Character Distribution in Fe-1%Si

The grain boundary character distribution in an Fe-1%Si steel has been measured as a function of lattice misorientation and boundary plane orientation. There is a weak texture in the space of grain boundary planes that favors the {110} orientation. At specific misorientations, the anisotropy is larger. For example, when the lattice misorientation is 60° around [111], symmetric tilt boundaries comprised of two {110} planes on either side of the interface dominate the population. The results are consistent with observations suggesting that in a range of crystalline materials, the low energy, low index surface planes are found to dominate the distribution of internal interfaces.
Crows learn not to respond under response-independent reinforcement

Seven fish crows were trained to respond under either fixed- or variable-interval schedules. Subsequently, the response dependency was systematically eliminated and then reinstated. The distribution of reinforcers in time was the same under the response-independent schedules as had prevailed under the response-dependent schedules. Responding was successfully maintained for all birds when the response dependency was in effect, but it eventually ceased under the response-independent procedure. Responding resumed when the response dependency was reinstated. Terminal patterns of responding under each of the interval schedules were similar to those displayed by pigeons. However, compared to pigeons, fish crows showed substantially less responding under response-independent procedures. An explanation of this result is offered that stresses differences between crows and pigeons in their natural feeding patterns in relation to the type of response (pecking) required to obtain food in the experiment.
Adjuvant therapy of triple negative breast cancer

Patients with the triple negative subtype of breast cancer have an overall poor outcome, with earlier relapses, distinct patterns of metastases, and lack of specific targets for treatment selection. Classification of these tumors has begun to be modified by inclusion of immunohistochemistry for various markers, and gene profiling. Further characterization of this subtype of breast cancer may aid in the identification of new targeted therapies. Anthracyclines and taxanes remain the standard of care in the adjuvant setting. However, novel anti-angiogenesis, anti-tubulin, and DNA repair agents are already under evaluation in (neo) adjuvant trials. Molecular characterization is being included in trials to identify optimal adjuvant strategies. The aim of this manuscript is to review data concerning the molecular characterization of triple negative breast cancers as well as the clinical outcomes of treating patients with existing adjuvant treatments, and to highlight newer adjuvant research strategies in development.
Tissue reaction to jet injection.

Abstract An animal study of injections delivered by the jet technique reveals that injected solutions follow lines of least resistance in the fascial planes; both jet and needle injection techniques produce similar inflammatory responses in the underlying tissues, the severity of which depends on the amount of trauma or damage to those tissues; inflammatory reaction is more localized with needle injections than that observed with jet injections; adventitia of blood vessels, perineurium, and periosteum apparently form a barrier that the jet stream cannot easily penetrate after it has lost its velocity following penetration of the tissues; and the amount of loose areolar connective tissue present subcutaneously at the injection site determines the volume which may be accommodated by the tissues.
Laser acceleration and deflection of 96.3keV electrons with a silicon dielectric structure

Dielectric laser accelerators are a compact and scalable alternative to radio frequency accelerators. We present the first demonstration of over 200 MeV/m acceleration and deflection gradients with a silicon structure at 96.3keV electron energy.
A comparison of four approaches to account for method effects in latent state trait analyses

Latent state-trait (LST) analysis is frequently applied in psychological research to determine the degree to which observed scores reflect stable person-specific effects, effects of situations and/or person-situation interactions, and random measurement error. Most LST applications use multiple repeatedly measured observed variables as indicators of latent trait and latent state residual factors. In practice, such indicators often show shared indicator-specific (or method) variance over time. In this article, the authors compare 4 approaches to account for such method effects in LST models and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each approach based on theoretical considerations, simulations, and applications to actual data sets. The simulation study revealed that the LST model with indicator-specific traits (Eid, 1996) and the LST model with M - 1 correlated method factors (Eid, Schneider, & Schwenkmezger, 1999) performed well, whereas the model with M orthogonal method factors used in the early work of Steyer, Ferring, and Schmitt (1992) and the correlated uniqueness approach (Kenny, 1976) showed limitations under conditions of either low or high method-specificity. Recommendations for the choice of an appropriate model are provided.
Pathogenesis of acute myocardial necrosis in inbred mice infected with coxsackievirus B3.

The pathogenesis of myocardial necrosis due to CB3W infection was studied in BALB/c and C3H/HeJ mice. BALB/c mice infected with 5 x 10(4) pfu were found to die of massive hepatic coagulative necrosis before myocardial changes occurred. Reducing the inoculum size to 5 x 10(2) pfu resulted in sublethal hepatic involvement and multifocal myocardial coagulative necrosis by day 7 p.i. In contrast, C3H/HeJ mice survived infection and developed multifocal myocardial coagulative necrosis, but not liver disease following inoculation with as much as 5 x 10(6) pfu of CB3W. As with BALB/c mice infected with 5 x 10(2) pfu, myocardial lesions became apparent in C3H/HeJ mice a few days after peak cardiac virus titer was attained. Minimal inflammatory infiltrate was seen following development of cellular necrosis and was restricted to the areas of virus-induced pathologic change. However, no evidence was found for virus-specific cytotoxic T cell activity or for delayed type hypersensitivity responses. Furthermore, myocardial necrosis in CB3W-infected, T cell-depleted C3H/HeJ mice was as severe as in CB3W-infected, immunocompetent mice. These data have led us to conclude that cardiac lesions were due to virus-induced cytopathology rather than immunopathogenic mechanisms.
WATER CIRCULATION FOR POND AERATION AND ENERGY CONSERVATION

Oxygen transfer theory has shown that use of mechanical aerators may decrease instead of increase pond water oxygen levels. Photosynthetic production of oxygen can result in supersaturated concentrations while the maximum level attainable using mechanical aeration is saturation. Based on these observations a new paddlewheel has been designed and tested to provide stirring of pond waters instead of splashing, bubbling or spraying. The tests demonstrated that daytime circulation can serve to increase dissolved oxygen content in the deeper portions of the pond during the following night. The concept of aeration through pond circulation requires only a fraction of the power associated with most existing aerators.