cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Corporate Power Unbound: Investor-State Arbitration of IP Monopolies on Medicines – Eli Lilly and the TPP

Free trade agreements (FTAs) and bilateral investment treaties (BITs) typically contain investment clauses designed to attract direct foreign investment and protect the interests of foreign investors. In addition to defining foreign investment that are entitled to protection, investment clauses typically allow for investor-state dispute resolution, which allows a foreign investor to launch arbitral proceedings directly against the offending government before a private panel of trade lawyers. This paper focuses first on a pro-investor draft investment chapter in an ongoing regional trade negotiation – the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) – and second on the first investor-state arbitral claim ever by a patent-holding pharmaceutical company under a U.S. free trade agreement, the Eli Lilly v. Canada case. The analysis of the draft TPP chapter shows that it expands protection for drug companies’ “expectations of profit” beyond those contained in the TPP’s proposed Intellectual Property Chapter and risks opening up many patent-affecting decisions and polices of Member States to pharmaceutical investors’ claims. As an example of that danger, Eli Lilly is currently challenging a well-established patent rule in Canada, the “promise” doctrine, whereby a medicine or any other product’s “utility,” and thus patentability, must be demonstrated or soundly predicted at the time of filing a patent. Eli Lilly, frustrated by the invalidation of its patent on an attention-deficit-disorder drug, makes a number of specific investment chapter claims under NAFTA, including that the Canadian ruling involved a violation of a minimum standard of treatment, indirect expropriation, and discrimination in violation of national treatment norms. A recurrent, indeed dominant feature of Eli Lilly’s investor claim, is that its reasonable expectations of profits may be drawn not just from preexisting Canadian laws and practices, but rather from higher external standards such as utility rules and disclosure norms codified in U.S. and E.U. law. Under the logic of Eli Lilly’s investor-state claim, foreign investors’ expectations have now become unbound. Even the doctrine of legitimate expectations, which is itself a huge stretch of operative minimum standard of treatment principles, is no longer tethered to operative due process (minimum standard of treatment) or to promises of regulatory coherence (indirect expropriation) or to equal treatment compared to domestic firms (national treatment). Instead Eli Lilly hitches its investment expectation to the best deal on IP it has achieved anywhere else. Moreover, it suggests that its expectations tolerate movement on IP policy in only one direction – upward. Any reversal of IP maximalization would dilute the gleam in its eye – unlimited profits on the horizon.
Educating Industrial Designers

This paper discusses the status, objectives and procedures of contemporary industrial design education. It points out that professional designers are searching for meaningful and valid guidelines for the relatively new profession, and that current attitudes and practices in design education reflect this search. The major historical movements contributing to current industrial design training are reviewed briefly. The early marriage of industrial design and the visual arts is noted, as is the increasing interdisciplinary nature of industrial design education exemplified by its extension into many new but related fields such as human factors engineering. General descriptions of typical and atypical contemporary academic programs in industrial design education are presented. Reference is made to the important contribution of the professional association of industrial designers in support of design education, the Industrial Designers Society of America.
A self-adaptive approach to representation shifts in cultural algorithms

Describes how a formal model of self-adaptation (Angeline, 1995) can be expressed in terms of "cultural algorithms". A particular form of self-adaptation concerns the shifting of the representational bias used to described the set of learned beliefs within the cultural algorithms. A version of a cultural algorithm with the ability to shift its representational bias was used to solve the "royal road" problem suggested by Mitchell, Forrest and Holland (1991). The results of the presented experiments indicate that representational self-adaptations such as this can produce significant performance improvements over systems without such capabilities for problems whose performance function is inherently hierarchical, as is the case for the royal road function.
Validation of FLT uptake as a measure of thymidine kinase-1 activity in A549 carcinoma cells

The thymidine analog 18F-3′-deoxy-3′ -fluorothymidine (FLT) is being used clinically for PET imaging of tumor proliferation. Appropriate use of this tracer requires validating the mechanisms by which it accumulates in dividing cells. We tested the accuracy with which FLT uptake predicted the activity of cytosolic thymidine kinase-1 (TK1), an enzyme that is upregulated before and during DNA synthesis. Methods: Cultured A549 human lung carcinoma cells were manipulated to a range of proliferation rates from actively dividing to growth arrested. Uptake of radiolabeled FLT was compared with cell cycle activity, which was expressed as the percentage of cells in S phase, and with activity of cytosolic TK1. We also compared uptake of FLT and deoxyglucose. We genetically manipulated A549 cells by transfecting them with human papillomavirus type 16 E6 (designated A549-E6) to abrogate function of the tumor suppressor gene, p53. Although radiation typically inhibits progression of mammalian cells through the cell cycle, abrogation of p53 function eliminates this inhibition. We then compared FLT uptake with the percentage of cells in S phase and TK1 activity in irradiated A549-E6 cells and in irradiated control cells having normal p53 function and the expected radiation-induced growth delay. Results: A549 cells with only 3%–5% cells in S phase took up little FLT and had low levels of TK1 activity. When cells were stimulated to grow by being placed into fresh medium, we observed a strong correlation between increased FLT uptake and increased TK1 activity. As expected, FLT uptake varied much more as a function of growth than did uptake of deoxyglucose. Nonproliferating A549 cells did not enter the cell cycle if they were irradiated before being placed into fresh medium, and they did not accumulate FLT or show elevated TK1 activity. In contrast, radiation did not inhibit the cell cycle progression of A549-E6 cells. When subcultured, they began to grow and showed increased uptake of FLT commensurate with greater TK1 activity. Conclusion: In cultured A549 cells FLT uptake is positively correlated with cell growth and TK1 activity. Inhibition of cell cycle progression prevents FLT uptake and increased TK1 activity. These results suggest that FLT images reflect TK1 activity and the percentage of cells in S phase.
Mars: Photodesorption from mineral surfaces and its effects on atmospheric stability

Kinetic constraints are employed to identify the reactive chemisorbed complexes, to describe the mechanism of UV-accelerated desorption from Fe (+2) on mineral surfaces, and to estimate the photodesorption rate on Mars. In particular, it is proposed that gases such as O2, CO2, CO, H2O and N2 undergo an adsorption-desorption process at octahedrally coordinated Fe (+2) surface sites to produce seven-coordinate transition-state complexes. The ligand field stabilization energy acquired by these complexes lies between 16 and 18 kcal per mole. Published photocatalysis data are used to assess the role of photodesorption in Martian atmospheric chemistry and stability.
Maximum tolerable reservoir impedances for hot dry rock

Abstract The finite hydraulic impedance of the natural and artificial fractures that constitute the water flow paths in hot dry rock reservoirs is shown to influence the cost of generating electricity from such resources in two ways. First, pumps, and hence power, will be required to circulate water through the fracture system. Second, the pressure difference across the reservoir cannot be increased indefinitely to improve the energy extraction rate as too high a pressure at the injection borehole will cause unacceptable losses of the circulating water.
Apoptosis of Hepatocytes Caused by Punta Toro Virus (Bunyaviridae: Phlebovirus) and Its Implication for Phlebovirus Pathogenesis

Experimental infection of hamsters with Punta Toro virus (PTV) produces a disease with clinical and pathological similarities to the severe human hemorrhagic fever caused by Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), thus providing an animal model for RVFV pathogenesis. In this model, hepatocytic apoptosis is the main pathological component of liver injuries that are responsible for severe hemorrhagic manifestations. To further elucidate whether viral replication in hepatocytes directly causes apoptosis, we studied the morphological and biochemical changes of apoptosis in HepG2 cells at different time points after PTV infection. Cellular viability began to decrease 12 hours after infection compared with controls. Caspases 3/7 were activated significantly at 48 and 72 hours after infection, and phosphatidylserine translocation and DNA fragmentation were also detected at 48 and 72 hours. Cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry showed that infected HepG2 cells were arrested at G 0 /G 1 phase. Furthermore, virus titer increased with apoptosis progression, suggesting that viral replication is necessary for the apoptotic process. These results indicate that PTV infection alone, without a secondary inflammatory cellular reaction, induces hepatocytic apoptosis and suggest that future therapeutics for RVFV hemorrhagic disease might target inhibition of cellular apoptotic pathways during the acute infection.
Band alignment of Zn1-xCdxTe/ZnTe and ZnTe1-xSex/ZnTe strained layer superlattices

We present photoluminescence spectra from CdZnj_Te /ZnTe and ZnSe,,Tei_ /ZnTe strained layer superlattices grown by MBE, and analyze the band alignments and strain effects. Our results are based on fitting the dominant photoluminescence peaks to the superlattice band structure obtamed by k •theory. We find that the valence band offset of the CdZniTe /ZnTe system is quite small. On the other hand, the photoluminescence data from the ZnSeTei_ /ZnTe superlattices suggest that the band alignment is type II, with a large valence band offset. We also investigate the band gap bowing in the ZnSeTej_ alloys, and determine the individual components of the bowing in valence and conduction bands. Based on our results for band alignments, we evaluate the prospects for minority carrier injection in wide bandgap heterostructures based on ZnSe, ZnTe, and CdTe.
The N2-broadened water vapor absorption line shape and infrared continuum absorption—I. Theoretical development☆

Abstract Attenuation of infrared radiation in the troposphere is dominated by water vapor absorption. Most past work on the spectroscopy of water vapor has been on the analysis of the rotational and vibrational bands. As a result, a thorough listing of line positions, line strengths, and half-widths exists today. Because of the weak continuum absorption in the water vapor windows centered at 10 and 4 μm, efforts to measure and model the continuum have not been as succesful as efforts in the analysis of the bands. Yet, a precise understanding of continuum absorption is important for long path energy transmission. For this reason, the study of the water vapor windows has had a long and speculative history. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the importance of far wing phenomena in characterizing H2O continuum absorption. A total line shape for water vapor-nitrogen interactions valid under tropospheric conditions is derived. The complexity of such a model is substantial and many approximations are necessary to obtain a tractable theory. This effort represents one of the initial attempts at a far wing line shape solution of continuum absorption. Application of the model to existing experimental data is presented in the following article.
Association of the TCF7L2 polymorphism with colorectal cancer and adenoma risk

We evaluated the association of a polymorphism in TCF7L2 (RS12255372) in the WNT signaling pathway, which previously has been strongly associated with risk of Type II Diabetes, with colorectal cancer (CRC) and adenoma in the prospective Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) and Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS) cohorts. Hyperinsulinemia may be related to the risk of colon adenoma and cancer, therefore this variant associated with reduced insulin secretion would be predicted to be inversely associated with colorectal cancer. Overall, in the NHS and HPFS, there was suggestive evidence for an inverse association associated with homozygosity for the minor allele of RS12255372 (TCF7L2 TT) and CRC (conditional and covariate adjusted OR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.37–1.08; P for heterogeneity 0.52 for the association in women and men). In summary, the marginal association of the TCF7L2 SNP with CRC might be due to chance, but warrants further laboratory and epidemiological investigation.
The Ronda high temperature peridotite: Geochemistry and petrogenesis

Abstract The Ronda peridotite in southern Spain is a large (~300 km2) exposure of upper mantle which provides direct information about mantle processes on a scale much larger than that provided by mantle xenoliths in basalt. Ronda peridotites range from harzburgite to lherzolite, and vary considerably in major element content, e.g., Al2O3 from 0.9 to 4.8%, and trace element abundances, e.g., Sr, Zr and La abundances vary by factors of 20 to 40. These compositional variations are systematic and correlate with (pyroxene + garnet)/olivine ratios and olivine compositions. The data are consistent with formation of residual peridotites by variable degrees of melting (~0 to 30%) of a compositionally homogeneous peridotite. None of the peridotites have geochemical characteristics of residues formed by extensive (⪢5%) fractional melting and the data can be explained by equilibrium (batch) melting, possibly with incomplete melt segregation in some samples. Based on compositional differences between Ronda peridotites, the segregated melts were picritic (12–22% MgO) with relative rare earth element abundances similar to mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB). Prior to the melting event the Ronda peridotite body was a suitable source for MORB. The compositional characteristics of Ronda peridotites are consistent with diapiric rise of a fertile mantle peridotite with relatively small degrees of melting near the diapir-wall rock interface yielding residues of garnet iherzolite, and larger degrees of melting in the diapir interior yielding residues of garnet-free peridotite. Subsequently these residual rocks were recrystallized at sub-solidus conditions ( Obata , 1980), and emplaced in the crust by thrusting (Lundeen, 1978).
Fourier Transform Spectroscopy of theA2Σ+–X2ΠiTransition of AgO

Abstract The A 2 Σ + – X 2 Π i near-infrared electronic transition of AgO was observed for the first time. The spectrum was recorded with the high resolution Fourier transform spectrometer associated with the McMath–Pierce Solar Telescope at Kitt Peak. The excited AgO molecules were produced in a low pressure silver hollow cathode sputter source. Constants for the A 2 Σ + state of 107 AgO and 109 AgO and improved X 2 Π i constants for 107 AgO and 109 AgO are presented. These two states are not a unique perturber pair and they do not follow the pure precession model.
Reactions of [(PPh3)2Pt(η3-CH2CCPh)]+ with oxygen nucleophiles and chemistry of resultant [(PPh3)2Pt(η3-CH2C(OR)CHPh)]+ complexes

Abstract The η 3 -allenyl/propargyl complex [(PPh 3 ) 2 Pt(η 3 -CH 2 CCPh)]OTf ( 1 OTf) undergoes addition reactions with a number of oxygen nucleophiles in CH 2 Cl 2 solution at ambient temperature. With H 2 O, it yields the binuclear oxygen-bridged η 3 -allyl [{(PPh 3 ) 2 Pt(η 3 -CH 2 CCHPh)} 2 O](OTf) 2 ( 2 (OTf) 2 ). With primary and secondary alcohols, it rapidly affords the η 3 -(2-alkoxyallyl) complexes [(PPh 3 ) 2 Pt(η 3 -CH 2 C(OR)CHPh)]OTf (R=Et ( 3 OTf), i -Pr ( 4 OTf), CH 2 CMe 3 ( 5 OTf), CH 2 CHCH 2 ( 7 OTf)), whereas with tertiary alcohols, in slower reactions, it gives both 2 (OTf) 2 and [(PPh 3 ) 2 Pt(η 3 -CH 2 C(OR)CHPh)]OTf (R=CMe 3 , C(Me) 2 Et ( 6 OTf)). There is no reaction at ambient temperature between 1 OTf and phenols; however, 1 OTf and PhOH afford [(PPh 3 ) 2 Pt(η 3 -CH 2 C(OPh)CHPh)]OTf ( 8 OTf) in the presence of NEt 3 . Competition studies reveal the following reactivity order, attributed to steric effects: Me 3 CCH 2 OH(1.0) i -PrOH(1.2) 3 -(2-alkoxyallyl) complexes react with NaOMe to yield the η 3 -oxatrimethylemethane product (PPh 3 ) 2 Pt(η 3 -CH 2 C(O)CHPh) ( 10 ), which was also obtained by reaction of 2 (OTf) 2 with two equivalents of NaOMe and of 1 OTf with NaOH. Complex 10 undergoes conversion to the appropriate [(PPh 3 ) 2 Pt(η 3 -CH 2 C(OR)CHPh)] + with [Et 3 O]PF 6 , (MeO) 2 SO 2 and MeI. The η 3 -(2-allyloxyallyl) 7 OTf reacts with (PPh 3 ) 2 Pt(C 2 H 4 ) to give 10 and [(PPh 3 ) 2 Pt(η 3 -CH 2 CHCH 2 )]OTf; thermolysis of 7 OTf in toluene at reflux furnishes [(PPh 3 ) 2 Pt(η 3 -CH 2 CHCH 2 )]OTf, whereas heating in benzene–chloroform affords [(PPh 3 ) 2 Pt(η 3 -CH 2 C(OCHCHMe)CHPh)]OTf ( 11 OTf), which results from isomerization of OCH 2 CHCH 2 to OCHCHMe. Reaction pathways have been suggested for a number of the aforementioned transformations. All new complexes were characterized by a combination of elemental analysis, FAB mass spectrometry and 1 H-, 13 C{ 1 H}- and 31 P{ 1 H}-NMR spectroscopy. They were assigned structures in which the η 3 -allyl oxygen and Ph groups are syn from the 1 H-NMR spectra.
The usefulness of a urinary LH kit for ovulation prediction during menstrual cycles of normal women

Objective To assess the predictive value of monitoring urine LH at home using a rapid, colorimetric enzyme immunoassay test (Ovuquick) once every evening. Methods Twenty-six strictly defined normal women with no history of infertility were enrolled in studies involving urine LH tests. Each subject had transvaginal sonography and serum LH tests performed two times per day beginning in the middle of a normal menstrual cycle. All subjects performed urine LH testing at home every evening. The time of the peak serum LH measurement was considered the surge. Ovulation was determined using sonographic criteria with confirmation by normal luteal-phase progesterone levels (3 ng/mL or greater). Two clinically relevant intervals were determined: interval I, time from peak serum LH to positive urine LH, and interval II, time from positive urine LH to follicular collapse by ultrasonography. Results All 26 cycles examined were ovulatory, based on sonographic and progesterone level criteria. The mean time (± standard error of the mean [SEM]) for interval I was 2 ±2 hours (95% confidence interval [CI] −2 to 6). The mean time (± SEM) for interval II was 203 hours (95% CI 14–26). Positive predictive values for follicular collapse within 24 or 48 hours after positive urine LH testing were 73 and 92%, respectively. Conclusion Urine LH testing every evening is a reliable method of predicting ovulation within the ensuing 48 hours.
Strategies to Resist Drug Offers Among Urban American Indian Youth of the Southwest: An Enumeration, Classification, and Analysis by Substance and Offeror

This study explores the drug resistance strategies of urban American Indian adolescents when they encounter people offering them alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana. Data were collected in 2005 from 11 female and 9 male adolescents who self-identified as American Indian and attended two urban middle schools in the southwestern United States. In two focus groups-one at each school site-the youth described their reactions to 25 hypothetical substance offer scenarios drawn from real-life narratives of similar youth. Qualitative analysis of their 552 responses to the scenarios generated 14 categories. Half of the responses were strategies reported most often by nonnative youth (refuse, explain, leave, and avoid). Using ecodevelopmental theory, the responses were analyzed for indications of culturally specific ways of resisting substance offers, such as variation by specific substance and relationship to the person offering. Study limitations are noted along with suggestive implications for future research on culturally appropriate prevention approaches for urban American Indian youth.
Upregulation of tumor necrosis factor-α production by retrovirally transduced human tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes using trans-retinoic acid

The ability of retinoic acid (RA) to upregulate gene expression in human tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) transduced with a Moloney murine leukemia virus containing the cDNA encoding tumor necrosis factor (TNF) has been studied. TNF production was increased approximately twofold after treatment with RA. This increase was dose dependent and corresponded to a rise in the level of LTR-driven mRNA measured by Northern analysis. RA did not appreciably increase transcription by the SV40 promoter or increase endogenous TNF production. The effect lasted for 3-6 days following withdrawal of RA. These studies indicate that RA can upregulate LTR-driven gene expression in TIL cells bearing retroviral vectors and may thus be of use in studies of the gene therapy of cancer.
1614 UTILITY OF TWO URINARY ENZYMES, N-ACETYL-BETA-D-GLUCOSAMINDASE (NAG) AND GAMMA-GLUTAMYL TRANSPEPTIDASE (GGT) AS INDICATORS OF RENAL ALLOGRAFT REJECTION

Urinary enzymes have been used in the diagnosis of renal transplant rejection. NAG, a lysosomal enzyme, and GGT, a brush border enzyme, were serially measured in 110 renal transplant patients. Sixty six patients had evidence of rejection, independent of enzymuria. Enzyme values were correlated with parameters used to determine rejection, including: serum creatinine, urine creatinine and urine output. Patients were stratified by rejection status and disease type. Maximum, minimum and mean values were analyzed. Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to assess the sensitivity vs false positive rate of NAG and GGT in detecting rejection, with clinical rejection as the standard. Mean NAG values were different between rejectors and non-rejectors (p<0.01). Peak prerejection values for NAG in rejectors were not statistically different from overall peak values obtained from non-rejectors. However mean, pre-rejection NAG values were different from mean overall values for non-rejectors (p<0.01). Similar studies of GGT values failed to discriminate between the rejection and non-rejection groups. ROC curves revealed a marginal ability of NAG to detect rejection, while GGT had no ability. The relationship between the appearence of these enzymes in the urine and rejection is not simple enough to have clinical utility.
The mind-reading salmon.

The article discusses the role of the mathematical p-value, a measure that determines the statistical significance or the probability of randomness, in research conducted by the scientific community. Topics include the importance of the p-value on hypotheses, examples of its use in scientific experiments, and debate about the worth of the value.
Evaluating the impact of passengers on the safety of older drivers

Problem: This study involved a quasi-induced exposure analysis of 4 years of crashes involving older drivers in the state of Kentucky. Method: Single- and multivehicle crashes were disaggregated according to the number of passengers: (a) no passenger, (b) one passenger, and (c) two or more passengers. Results: Overall, the presence of two or more passengers was found to negatively impact the probability that drivers 75 years of age or older were at fault in crashes. Several potential factors were studied for interactive effects with passengers: vehicle occupant gender mix, time of the day, road curvature, grade, and number of lanes. The negative impact of passengers increased for some geometric road conditions. However, older drivers were found to be safer at night when carrying two or more passengers. The presence or absence of passengers was not found to affect the 65- to 74-year-old driver group. Groups of male vehicle occupants with a 75+ male driver were found to have high single-vehicle crash rates. Impact: These results are among the first to directly consider the effect of passengers on the crash-causing propensity of older drivers and the findings suggest more work is warranted to consider causes for the crash rate differences.
Chemoselective modification of viral surfaces via bioorthogonal click chemistry.

The modification of virus particles has received a significant amount of attention for its tremendous potential for impacting gene therapy, oncolytic applications and vaccine development.1,2,3 Current approaches to modifying viral surfaces, which are mostly genetics-based, often suffer from attenuation of virus production, infectivity and cellular transduction.4,5 Using chemoselective click chemistry, we have developed a straightforward alternative approach which sidesteps these issues while remaining both highly flexible and accessible.1,2 The goal of this protocol is to demonstrate the effectiveness of using bioorthogonal click chemistry to modify the surface of adenovirus type 5 particles. This two-step process can be used both therapeutically1 or analytically,2,6 as it allows for chemoselective ligation of targeting molecules, dyes or other molecules of interest onto proteins pre-labeled with azide tags. The three major advantages of this method are that (1) metabolic labeling demonstrates little to no impact on viral fitness,1,7 (2) a wide array of effector ligands can be utilized, and (3) it is remarkably fast, reliable and easy to access.1,2,7 In the first step of this procedure, adenovirus particles are produced bearing either azidohomoalanine (Aha, a methionine surrogate) or the unnatural sugar O-linked N-azidoacetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAz), both of which contain the azide (-N3) functional group. After purification of the azide-modified virus particles, an alkyne probe containing the fluorescent TAMRA moiety is ligated in a chemoselective manner to the pre-labeled proteins or glycoproteins. Finally, an SDS-PAGE analysis is performed to demonstrate the successful ligation of the probe onto the viral capsid proteins. Aha incorporation is shown to label all viral capsid proteins (Hexon, Penton and Fiber), while O-GlcNAz incorporation results in labeling of Fiber only. In this evolving field, multiple methods for azide-alkyne ligation have been successfully developed; however only the two we have found to be most convenient are demonstrated herein – strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloaddition (SPAAC) and copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) under deoxygenated atmosphere.
School Reform and Standards-Based Education: A Model for English-Language Learners.

The authors examined a model of instruction for English-language learners (ELLs) who were learning academic English while they tried to meet content standards required by the nation's education reform movement. In previous work (J. Echevarria, M. E. Vogt, & D. Short, 2000), the authors developed and validated a model of instruction (Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol; SIOP model) for ELLs. In this study, the authors tested the model for its effects on student achievement. Findings revealed that students whose teachers implemented the SIOP model performed slightly better than did a comparison group on an expository essay writing task, which closely approximated academic assignments that ELLs must perform in standards-based classrooms.
Isolation and specificity of rat lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase: comparison with the human enzyme using reassembled high-density lipoproteins containing ether analogs of phosphatidylcholine.

Abstract Rat plasma lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase, a 68 kDa glycoprotein, has been purified 14000-fold by a modification of a procedure used for the human enzyme. The activity of lecithin : cholesteryl acyltransferase in human and rat plasma are the same, although activation of both enzymes by human apolipoprotein A-I is greater than that produced by rat apolipoprotein A-I. Using reassembled high-density lipoproteins composed of human apolipoprotein A-I, phosphatidylcholine ethers and a series of different phosphatidylcholines, the separate effects of molecular species specificity and microenvironment on the rate of cholesteryl ester formation was determined. Substitution of a fluid lipid, 1-palmityl-2-oleyl-sn-glvcero-3-phosphonlcholine. for a solid lipid, 1,2-dipalmityl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine, produced an 8-fold increase in the activity of all molecular species of phosphatidylcholine. With either solid or fluid lipid environments, the activity decreased as a function of increasing chain length of saturated acyl groups. Addition of one or more double bonds greatly increased the activity of a given saturated homologue. One major difference between the molecular specificity of rat and human lecithin:cholesteryl acyltransferase was that the latter had a two-fold preference for phosphatidylcholines containing arachidonate at the sn-2-position.
Spatial and temporal variation in habitat and fish community characteristics in a Kansas Flint Hills stream

– Four locations (i. e., mouth, lower midreach, upper midreach, and headwater) were sampled bimonthly for two years in a Kansas, Flint Hills stream. Principal components 1 (PC1; depth, width, substrate) and 2 (PC2; velocity, water temperature, conductivity) accounted for 70% of the variation in habitat variables. Principal component 1 varied more spatially than temporally, and PC2 exhibited the opposite pattern. Species diversity varied spatially with the highest values at the upper midreach and mouth and lowest in the headwaters. Species diversity also varied temporally with highest values in summer months and lowest in late fall and carly spring. Catch per unit effort (C/f) varied temporally and spatially by trophic guilds and species. In general, C/f values were highest in late fall and early spring and were lowest in early and mid summer. Fixed spatial variation (i. e., spatial difference independent of temporal factors) was higher than ephemeral spatial variation (i. e., spatial variation that varies temporally) for species with specialized feeding habits. Conversely, ephemeral spatial variation was highest for fish species with generalized feeding habits. These data indicate that standardizing reaches and dates are important if habitat, species diversity, and C/f data will be used in managing stream ecosystems.
The effect of parthenogenic eggs in Daphnia magna on prey location by the bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus)

The distance at which the bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) can locate Daphnia magna with parthenogenic eggs is shown to be significantly greater than the reactive distance for non-gravid Daphnia of the same size. This difference is due to greater visibility of the gravid prey and not to different locomotor behavior, since there was no correlation between the number of eggs carried by a Daphnia and the antennal beat frequency. Based on this experiment and other observations, an explanation is given for selective predation of polymorphic cladoceran populations.
SANS Study of Third Phase Formation in the Extraction of HCl by TBP Isomers in n‐Octane

Abstract Third phase formation in the extraction of HCl by triisobutyl phosphate (T‐iso‐BP) and tri‐sec‐butyl phosphate (T‐sec‐BP) has been investigated and compared with the tri‐n‐butyl phosphate (T‐n‐BP) system. The three TBP isomers exhibit comparable affinities for HCl, but the branched isomers extract much more water than the linear one. For T‐sec‐BP, the LOC (limiting HCl organic concentration) is characterized by much lower HCl concentrations both in the organic and aqueous phase than for the other isomers. SANS data for T‐iso‐BP and T‐sec‐BP organic phases loaded with progressive amounts of HCl have been interpreted using the Baxter model for hard spheres with surface adhesion. The critical values of the stickiness parameter, τ−1, and the interaction potential energy, U(r), are slightly different and characteristic for each of the extractants. Their values are consistent with the expectation derived from the micellar interaction model. The submitted manuscript has been created by the University of...
Techniques for Enhancing Saltgrass Seed Germination and Establishment

Because of its exceptional salinity tolerance, inland saltgrass [Distichlis spicata var. stricta (L.) Greene] has great potential for use as a turfgrass and revegetation species of saline sites. However, saltgrass seeds have a low germination rate due to seed dormancy. Three experiments were conducted to evaluate different seed treatments to enhance germination and establishment of inland saltgrass. In Experiment I, seven different seed treatments were tested for their ability to enhance germination percentage in the growth chamber and compared with a control of no treatment. These treatments included treatments with hot water, hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), sulfuric acid (H 2 SO 4 ), potassium nitrate (KNO 3 ), bleach, machine scarification, stratification, and hand nicking. Results indicated that germination percentage was increased only by stratification, hand nicking, and machine scarification treatments as compared with the control. In Experiment II, machine scarification, stratification, hand nicking, and the control were tested in the growth chamber. Hand nicking, scarification, and stratification increased percentage germination from 13.0% to 54.0 to 61.7%. Stratification resulted in the fastest germination, followed by hand nicking and scarification. Experiment III was conducted in the field, and seed treatments included machine scarification, stratification, and the control. Two months after seeding, plots seeded with stratified and scarified saltgrass seeds established adequate plot coverage as a turf, whereas the coverage for the control was inadequate, exhibiting inferior turf quality. In summary, stratification and machine scarification improve germination and establishment of seeded saltgrass.
State documents microfilming projects survey

Abstract These data were compiled from a mail survey of state document agencies conducted by the Microfilming Committee, State Documents Task Force, Government Documents Round Table of the American Library Association in the spring of 1973 and 1974. Nineteen of 45 states replied that some program was planned or in progress. The microfilms used varied widely. The low positive response rate and tentative nature of the positive replies leads to the conclusion that such projects are currently in their infancy. A brief report of the unupdated survey appeared in Documents to the People , Volume 2, Number 1, Ovtober 1973, p 8–10.
What's in a name? Trust. Internet-scale namespaces. II

Resolving "renowned programming pioneer" to "David Wheeler" may seem little enough like resolving w3.org to 18.29.0.27; the former process weighs human relationships, history, and judgment, while the latter mechanically queries a Domain Name System (DNS) database. Dig deeper, though, and every decision to name something turns out to be a trust decision. Names are resolvable only in the context of the community that agrees to that namespace.
Nonlinear Self-Filtering via Dynamical Stochastic Resonance

We experimentally demonstrate nonlinear self-filtering and amplification of low-light-level images hidden in noise. The observed effect strongly depends on the nonlinear coupling strength and properties of the noise, indicative of a dynamical stochastic resonance.
Max Weber and US public administration: the administrator as neutral servant

Compares and contrasts the writings of Max Weber and the US literature on public administration on the question of the appropriate role of the administrator in the political process. Examines the relevance of Weber’s analysis to the US experience. Concludes that Weber provides pertinent cautionary advice concerning the endorsement of an activist role for the administrator in political and policy processes.
Induction of frameshift mutations in cultured mammalian cells within a transfected sequence containing a poly(dC-dA).poly(dT-dG) microsatellite.

A cultured mouse cell line with an integrated copy of a plasmid that contains a short dinucleotide repeat sequence (microsatellite) has been used to determine the frequencies and types of mutation induced by two frameshift mutagens. The presence of the microsatellite, which consists of 17 repeats of a poly(dC-dA).poly(dT-dG) sequence, disrupts the reading frame of a gene coding for neomycin resistance. Revertants were selected in G418, and mutations were analyzed by PCR. ICR-170 was found to increase the reversion frequency by ten- to 15-fold at its LD50, although most of the frameshifts that it induced were single-base insertions outside the microsatellite sequence. NA-AAF brought about a more modest increase in mutation frequency, but nearly all of the revertants in the NA-AAF-treated cultures had insertions or deletions of multiples of two base pairs within the DNA segment that included the microsatellite. This system can be modified to include different short tandem repeat sequences as targets for testing of compounds that are suspected of having frameshift-inducing activities.
Error control coding

Error control coding (ECC) is a signal processing technique that protects digital information against transmission and storage errors. Codes that combat randomly distributed errors are called random-error correcting codes. Codes that cope with errors that are clustered together are known as burst-error correcting codes. When data is presented as a stream of binary numbers, bit-oriented codes may be applied. In contrast to this, data might be arranged as words, where each word includes a number of bits. Codes that operate on words are said to be word-oriented codes. The article is limited to linear bit-oriented block codes. >
Progress toward the development of agents to modulate the cell cycle

With taxanes continuing to prove useful in the clinical treatment of cancer, the next generation of antimitotic agents has entered clinical trials. Other mechanisms awaiting proof-of-concept for the treatment of antiproliferative diseases include inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks). Flavopiridol and UCN-01 are continuing in clinical trials, and newer more selective Cdk inhibitors are now entering clinical evaluation.
Parameter estimation applied to noninvasive radiocardiographic data for determination of left ventricular ejection and valvular regurgitant fractions

Abstract Models of cardiac pump function are useful in extracting clinical information from radiocardiographic data. One type of information present in data from certain radiocardiographic studies refers to competence of the mitral and aortic valves. While quantitative and qualitative assessment of valvular competence from this type of data has been accomplished, previous methods have required invasively injecting tracer via a pulmonary wedge catheter. A noninvasive procedure should permit determination of forward ejection fraction and mitral and aortic regurgitant fractions in situations where cardiac catheterization is deemed too risky or expensive. A two-phase model of cardiac pump function has been developed for use with a general tracer input function, such as that resulting from noninvasive injection of tracer. An iterative parameter estimation algorithm using the model has been tested with “noisy” simulated data and patient data. It performs well in simulation tests and agrees with other methods in estimating ejection fractions and regurgitant fractions from patient data.
An electron diffraction investigation of the series of compounds SiCln(NCO)4-n (n = 1,2,3)

Abstract The molecular structures of the sequence SiCln(NCO)4-n (n = 1,2,3) were determined by gas-phase electron diffraction. The observed Si-N bond lengths are 1.646 ± 0.008 A in SiCl3(NCO), 1.687 ± 0.004 A in SiCl2(NCO)2 and 1.684 ± 0.003 A in SiCl(NCO)3; the valence angles at the nitrogen were found to be 138.0 ± 0.4°, 136 ± 1° and 145 ± 2° respectively. The Si-Cl bond length in SiCl3− (NCO) is 2.014 ± 0.005 A; it agrees well with that found in SiCl4 (2.015 ± 0.002 A); similarly, the Si-N bond length in SiCl(NCO)3 (1.684 ± 0.005 A) is very close to that found in Si(NCO)4, 1.688± 0.003 A. SiCl3(NCO) has C1 symmetry, while C2 and C3 symmetries best represent the diffraction data for SiCl2(NCO)2 and SiCl(NCO)3.
Upregulation of Ionotropic Glutamate Receptor Subunits within Specific Mesocorticolimbic Regions during Chronic Nicotine Self-Administration

Nicotine, an addictive substance, is the major psychoactive component in cigarette smoke. Both α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are essential for the acute stimulative effects of nicotine on the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system, yet little is known about the effects of chronic nicotine treatment on glutamate receptors. Therefore, we used a model of chronic nicotine self-administration (SA), which emulates important aspects of nicotine intake by humans, to determine whether glutamate receptor subunits were affected. After 18 days of saline vs nicotine SA, ionotropic glutamate receptor subunit levels were determined in brain regions within the mesocorticolimbic system by Western blotting. In prefrontal cortex (PFC), the levels of NMDA receptor subunit 2A (NR2A) and NR2B were increased by 67% (p=0.04) and 83% (p=0.027), respectively. In the ventral tegmental area (VTA), glutamate receptor subunit 2/3 (GluR2/3) increased by 34% (p=0.011). Nicotine SA did not affect the expression of these subunits in dorsal striatum and nucleus accumbens. These findings suggest that chronic nicotine SA selectively increased the levels of ionotropic glutamate receptor subunits in a brain region-specific manner.
Neonatal “Near Misses” Encountered in the Emergency Department

Pediatric surgical diseases may present in a delayed fashion to the emergency department. In addition, these cases may have abnormal presentations when compared with presentations in the setting of the neonatal intensive care unit. A high degree of suspicion on the part of emergency physicians will allow for prompt and definitive consultation and treatment of our youngest patients. Here we present 3 such cases that were encountered in our emergency department that show the importance of a high index of suspicion.
Convergence of bounds in optimization

Consider a sequence of extensionsIn of a real-valued functionI. Sufficient conditions for the convergence of the infimum ofIn to the infimum ofI are obtained. These conditions are applied to an eigenvalue problem.
The potential of crinoids as (U+Th+Sm)/He thermochronometers

Abstract (U+Th+Sm)/He dating of crinoid fossils from Late Paleozoic rocks from a variety of sites in North America suggest that this material can be used as a useful low-T thermochronometer under certain conditions. Available data suggest that common He is present in crinoids and at the low α-production rates typical of calcite, this common He will be sufficient to produce spurious ages in crinoid samples of any age. Heating of samples to temperatures in excess of the opening temperature will expel all He (common and radiogenic), with all subsequent He accumulation being exclusively radiogenic; such samples have potential for being robust thermochronometers sensitive to temperatures in the range of ∼60–110 °C. Without common He, analysts can take advantage of the large size of crinoid columnals and produce reliable ages even when young (Miocene) or with low α-production rates ([eU] = 0.1 ppm). Samples not subjected to post-depositional heating above the opening temperature (burial to depths of 2 to 4 km, depending on geothermal gradient, sedimentation rate, and residence time at peak T) will likely retain common He and be unsuitable for thermochronologic studies.
A Luminal Surveillance Complex that Selects Misfolded Glycoproteins for ER-Associated Degradation

How the ER-associated degradation (ERAD) machinery accurately identifies terminally misfolded proteins is poorly understood. For luminal ERAD substrates, this recognition depends on their folding and glycosylation status as well as on the conserved ER lectin Yos9p. Here we show that Yos9p is part of a stable complex that organizes key components of ERAD machinery on both sides of the ER membrane, including the transmembrane ubiquitin ligase Hrd1p. We further demonstrate that Yos9p, together with Kar2p and Hrd3p, forms a luminal surveillance complex that both recruits nonnative proteins to the core ERAD machinery and assists a distinct sugar-dependent step necessary to commit substrates for degradation. When Hrd1p is uncoupled from the Yos9p surveillance complex, degradation can occur independently of the requirement for glycosylation. Thus, Yos9p/Kar2p/Hrd3p acts as a gatekeeper, ensuring correct identification of terminally misfolded proteins by recruiting misfolded forms to the ERAD machinery, contributing to the interrogation of substrate sugar status, and preventing glycosylation-independent degradation.
ULTRASTRUCTURAL FEATURES OF DEVELOPING SIEVE ELEMENTS IN LEMNA MINOR L.-SIEVE PLATE AND LATERAL SIEVE AREAS

Both intact and cut duckweed plants were prepared for electron microscopy. Plants which are prepared intact do not exhibit callose formation during development of sieve-plate pores. Future pore sites can be recognized by the presence of median cavities that are unassociated with callose platelets. These cavities are first seen in the region of the compound middle lamella and are lined by a plasmalemma. As end walls thicken, the cavities increase in size until open pores of uniform width are formed. Mature sieve plates of intact-prepared plants are also devoid of callose. Fully opened pores are lined by a plasmalemma and are only traversed by an occasional tubule of. endoplasmic reticulum. Plants which have been cut prior to fixation possess mature sieve plates containing callose. The pores of developing sieve plates in cut plants exhibit small amounts of callose. Except for the lack of callose, lateral wall connections between sieve elements and contiguous cells are similar in development and mature state to those reported for other species.
Quality of Effort and Career Preparation Differences Between African American and White Community College Students

This study examined data from a random sample of 500 White students and 500 African American students who have taken the Community College Student Experiences Questionnaire to determine which factors in the environment impact their career preparation. The results showed that interaction with faculty had the strongest impact on career preparation for all students. Counseling services were significant for African American students. The African American students indicated they put more effort into student-faculty interactions and peer interactions than White students, and they reported greater gains in career preparation.
Do bigger telescopes need bigger software

We examine the factors that drive the size and cost of software for a hypothetical 30 meter telescope and compare those to that of a hypothetical 10 meter telescope. Our goal is to explore methods for developing estimates for such costs. The estimates provided here are intended primarily as examples for these methods, and should not be construed as accurate.
A peptide comparison of proteins in the simian virus 40 virion.

Abstract Evidence is presented which suggests that (i) simian virus 40 (SV40) virion proteins VP-1 and VP-3 are independently coded; (ii) there is little sequence homology between the nonhistone virion proteins of SV40 and those of polyoma virions; and (iii) two of the histone-like protein species of SV40 are also present in polyoma virions.