cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Muscle extracellular matrix degradation and contractibility following tendon rupture and disuse

Muscle extracellular matrix (ECM) plays an important role in maintaining muscular integrity and force transduction. However, the role of ECM in skeletal muscle atrophy remains unknown. In this study, we employed two clinically relevant mouse models of Achillotenotomy and hindlimb suspension to simulate Achilles tendon rupture and hindlimb disuse. The gastrocnemius was harvested following two weeks of treatment. We hypothesized that degradation of muscle ECM basement membrane lead to dysfunction of muscle contractility. Our results demonstrated a significant reduction of gastrocnemius single twitch force, isometric tetanic force, and contraction velocity following tendon rupture (p<0.001), but not disuse. Additionally, up-regulation of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) was observed only after tendon rupture (p=0.00234). These findings suggest that ECM remodeling and basement membrane degradation due to MMP-2 may be responsible for declined muscle contractibility. Inhibiting ECM degradation enzymes may be a potential treatment strategy for skeletal muscle atrophy after tendon rupture
Immunologic and biochemical properties of the major mouse urinary allergen (Mus m I)

Rabbit antiserum to the mouse major urinary protein identified a single antigen that was also found in mouse serum and pelt extract. The skin test reactivity of mouse-pelt extract and mouse urine in two mouse-allergic subjects was significantly reduced after immunoabsorption with the gamma globulin fraction of this antiserum. The antigen defined by this antiserum was designated mouse allergen 1 (MA1). An immunoelectrophoretic procedure was set up to measure its concentration. MA1 had a molecular weight of approximately 19,000 on Sephadex gel filtration and 18,000 to 21,000 on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Isoelectric focusing identified at least four bands with antigenic activity; the major band had an isoelectric point of 3.9. Significant antigenic and allergenic activity of MA1 was retained on reduction and digestion with papain and pepsin. Heating at 90 degrees C for periods up to 180 minutes resulted in a progressive loss, but not abolition, of activity. Serum and urine derived from male mice contained approximately fourfold more MA1 than samples derived from female mice. Urine contained at least 100-fold more MA1 than serum. Of the tissue extracts studied, liver extract had the highest amount of MA1. The immunochemical properties of MA1, its tissue distribution, and sex differences in its concentration provide strong evidence that MA1 is identical to the previously described mouse major urinary protein.
Relevance of intracellular partitioning of metals in prey to differential metal bioaccumulation among populations of mummichogs (Fundulus heteroclitus)

Intracellular partitioning of trace metals is critical to metal tolerance in aquatic organisms and may also influence metal trophic transfer in ecosystems. In this study, we tested the relevance of metal (Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) intracellular partitioning in prey as an indicator of metal trophic availability to benthic forage fish, mummichogs (Fundulus heteroclitus), in chronically metal-polluted salt marshes in New York, USA. Two common prey of mummichogs in the study area, Palaemonetes pugio and Nereis acuminata, generally stored increasingly higher proportions of non-essential metals (particularly Pb) in insoluble (less trophically available) cellular components, as the whole body burdens increased. In contrast, intracellular partitioning of essential metals (Cu and Zn) in invertebrate prey varied relatively little among sites. Differential Cd and Pb intracellular partitioning patterns within P. pugio among sites were significantly associated with Cd and Pb whole body burdens in mummichogs, respectively (i.e., prey-driven bioreduction of metals), while bioaccumulation of Cu and Zn in mummichogs was similar among populations. The findings in this study suggest that metal intracellular partitioning within prey may be partially responsible for metal trophic availability to a predator in metal-polluted habitats, while there was also evidence that some predator-dependent processes may offset differential trophic availabilities from prey.
A Case Study in the Economics of Information and Coordination the Weather Forecasting System

An application of the economics of information and coordination to problems involving the dissemination, use, and evaluation of weather information.
Live cell imaging of the assembly, disassembly, and actin cable–dependent movement of endosomes and actin patches in the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Using FM4-64 to label endosomes and Abp1p-GFP or Sac6p-GFP to label actin patches, we find that (1) endosomes colocalize with actin patches as they assemble at the bud cortex; (2) endosomes colocalize with actin patches as they undergo linear, retrograde movement from buds toward mother cells; and (3) actin patches interact with and disassemble at FM4-64–labeled internal compartments. We also show that retrograde flow of actin cables mediates retrograde actin patch movement. An Arp2/3 complex mutation decreases the frequency of cortical, nonlinear actin patch movements, but has no effect on the velocity of linear, retrograde actin patch movement. Rather, linear actin patch movement occurs at the same velocity and direction as the movement of actin cables. Moreover, actin patches require actin cables for retrograde movements and colocalize with actin cables as they undergo retrograde movement. Our studies support a mechanism whereby actin cables serve as “conveyor belts” for retrograde movement and delivery of actin patches/endosomes to FM4-64–labeled internal compartments.
Time domain Born approximation

The time domain Born approximation for ultrasonic scattering from volume flaws in an elastic medium is described. Results are given both for the direct and the inverse problem. The time domain picture leads to simple intuitive formulas, which we illustrate by means of several simple examples. Particular emphasis is given to the front surface echo and its use in reconstructing the properties of the flaw.
The prognostic and functional role of microRNAs in acute myeloid leukemia

Expression of microRNAs, a new class of noncoding RNAs that hybridize to target messenger RNA and regulate their translation into proteins, has been recently demonstrated to be altered in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Distinctive patterns of increased expression and/or silencing of multiple microRNAs (microRNA signatures) have been associated with specific cytogenetic and molecular subsets of AML. Changes in the expression of several microRNAs altered in AML have been shown to have functional relevance in leukemogenesis, with some microRNAs acting as oncogenes and others as tumor suppressors. Both microRNA signatures and a single microRNA (ie, miR-181a) have been shown to supply prognostic information complementing that gained from cytogenetics, gene mutations, and altered gene expression. Moreover, it has been demonstrated experimentally that antileukemic effects can be achieved by modulating microRNA expression by pharmacologic agents and/or increasing low endogenous levels of microRNAs with tumor suppressor function by synthetic microRNA oligonucleotides, or down-regulating high endogenous levels of leukemogenic microRNAs by antisense oligonucleotides (antagomirs). Therefore, it is reasonable to predict the development of novel microRNA-based therapeutic approaches in AML. We review herein results of current studies analyzing changes of microRNA expression in AML and discuss their potential biologic, diagnostic, and prognostic relevance.
God Save the King: Letter from Swaziland

Swaziland has for the past 300 years been subject to royal rule. The ruling monarch, King Mswati III, has been living in disconnect with his subjects and has failed to modernize the monarchy. In the midst of this regime that is still dictatorial and fails to abide by the constitution, unrest is slowly brewing in the tiny and mountainous country. With the present political climate of long-standing rulers being toppled, are the king's days numbered?
The CALFED Bay-Delta Program: Lessons from the Rise and Fall of a Large-Scale Ecosystem Management Network

Abstract Ecosystem management, especially at the large/regional scale, typifies the public sector organizational environment of interconnectedness. Networks as complex organizational models can have significant advantages for intricate joint planning and management. There are, however, considerable challenges to establishing and sustaining such organizations in an institutional environment. The complex case study of CALFED, formed to integrate water management for the hub of California's water supply system, examines issues of network formation and survival in a high-stakes, high-conflict task environment. The lessons regarding conditions and events that led to CALFED's collapse should be of interest to policy makers, practitioners and scholars.
Trichloroacetic Acid-Induced Binding of Phenylthiourea to Erythrocytes

Trichloroacetic acid precipitation causes the binding of phenylthiourea to the erythrocytes of a number of vertebrates. In rats, mice, and dogs, Scatchard plot presentations of the binding data indicate that there may be two sets of receptors involved in the binding. The total binding capabilities of the sets of receptors are of the same order of magnitude, but one set is of much greater affinity than the other. The induced binding of phenylthiourea to erythrocytes is probably related to acidity because a neutral precipitating agent did not cause binding.
Effects of cobalt on mitochondrial respiration.

Dingle, Heath, Webb, and Daniel have suggested that the toxicity of cobalt (II) is due to inhibition of keto-acid oxidation1. This hypothesis was supported by the finding that cobalt (II) inhibited oxidation of α-ketoglutarate and pyruvate by rat liver mitochondria during a prolonged incubation without the addition of phosphate acceptor1. Since prolonged incubation is deleterious to mitochondria2, these inhibitory effects of cobalt (II) may have been an artefact. Results obtained in our laboratory show that cobalt (II) does not inhibit oxidation of α-ketoglutarate, β-hydroxybutyrate, or pyruvate plus malate during brief, polarographic experiments. Succinate oxidation was stimulated by cobalt (II) under some conditions and inhibited under others.
Seawater Inhibition of Nitrite Toxicity to Chinook Salmon

Abstract The relative toxicity of nitrite to chinook salmon fingerlings (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in both freshwater ([Ca++] = 32 mg liter-1) and natural seawater (32.5‰, [Ca++] = 396 mg liter-1) was measured by 48-h static bioassay. The percentage of hemoglobin oxidized to methemoglobin was also determined. In freshwater, the 48-h median lethal nitrite concentration was 19 mg liter-1. In natural seawater, 1,070 mg liter-1 nitrite caused only 10% mortality in 48 h. In freshwater with 27 mg NO2- liter-1, 44% methemoglobin occurred with 70% mortality. In natural saltwater with 815 mg NO2- liter-1, 74% methemoglobin occurred with 10% mortality. Adding calcium sulfate to the freshwater decreased the toxicity of nitrite but did not reduce methemoglobinemia. Nitrite in calcium-free artificial seawater (100 mg NO2- liter-1) was highly toxic but did not induce appreciable methemoglobinemia. Adding calcium to this medium decreased the acute toxicity of nitrite. These results suggest nitrite toxicity mortalities r...
Preparation of α-fluoroaldehydes and α-fluoroketones using dilute fluorine

Abstract Fluorination of silyl enol ethers with 5% F2 in N2 at −78°C in Freon 11 results in the formation of α-fluoroketones and α-fluoroaldehydes.
Effect of chronic reserpine treatment on the pancreases of neonatal rats.

ABSTRACT: Chronic reserpine treatment of adult rats results in the accumulation of pancreatic enzymes and reduction of their discharge. These changes are reminiscent of those in cystic fibrosis. Since the majority of cystic fibrosis patients have their pancreatic dysfunction manifested in childhood, we studied chronic reserpine treatment in rat pups. Four-day-old rat pups were given reserpine (50 μg/kg intraperitoneally) or vehicle daily until sacrifice. The reserpine group showed significant decreases in body weights at 14 and 21 days of age. Pancreatic weights were also decreased but were of normal weight or increased when normalized against body weights. At 14 and 21 days of age, pancreatic concentrations of amylase, lipase, and trypsinogen showed no difference between reserpine and control pups. At both ages, pancreatic contents of all three enzymes were generally less in the treated pups, but were found to be similar when corrected for body weights. Hydrocortisone treatment of 14-day-old pups caused precocious accumulation of pancreatic enzymes in both reserpine and control groups.
Community outreach for children exposed to violence

Children are traumatized by community and domestic-violence exposure as victims and witnesses. Being exposed to violence and being abused also can doubly traumatize them. Information on the effects of violence exposure on children is presented in this article, including developmental implications, resultant behaviors, and the most extreme reaction, posttraumatic stress disorder. Parental and caregiver traumatization also are discussed. Prevention and early intervention are very important both to reduce exposure to violence and to reach children shortly after exposure. An innovative program, the Violence Intervention Program for Children and Families, which is designed to work with police officers as first responders as a way to reach traumatized children earlier, is presented. The importance of community outreach for better prevention and intervention is emphasized. The conclusion stresses that, for infants and toddlers who may not have language to express how they are feeling, it is important to be sensitive to the unique experience and meaning of violence exposure for that child.
Inhibition of vitamin K epoxidase by two non-coumarin anticoagulants.

Abstract Tetrachloro-4-pyridinol (4-TCP) and 2-chloro-3-phytyl-1,4-naphtoquinone (Cl-K), like the coumarin and the indanedione anticoagulants, caused the accumulation of prothombin precursor activity in liver microsomes. Unlike the coumarins and indanediones, 4-TCP and Cl-K interrupted the vitamin K 1 -vitamin K 1 epoxide cycle by inhibiting the epoxidation of vitamin K 1 . Epoxidase activity assayed in vitro was decreased by about 40 per cent relative to controls in rats treated 24 hr previously with 4-TCP or Cl-K. In vitro assays demonstrated that 3 × 10 −6 M Cl-K and 10 −4 M 4-TCP inhibited the epoxidation of vitamin K 1 by about 75 per cent. Inhibition of phylloquinone epoxidase activity was determined in vivo by blocking the reduction of epoxide with warfarin and measuring the conversion of [ 3 H]K 1 to [ 3 H]epoxide. Doses of Cl-K and 4-TCP which blocked prothrombin synthesis also inhibited epoxidation while doses which did not lower plasma prothrombin also had no significant effect on the K 1 -epoxide conversion. When inhibition of prothrombin synthesis by 4-TCP and Cl-K was reversed by vitamin K 1 , a minimum of 6–17 nmole of epoxide were formed in the liver for each nmole of prothrombin that appeared in plasma. The results suggest that epoxidation of vitamin K may be involved in prothrombin production and that interference with either the epoxidation or reduction step in the cycle will result in inhibition of clotting protein synthesis.
The assignment of extra servers to stations in Tandem queueing systems with small or no buffers

Abstract We consider systems of finite queues in series when the queue capacities (buffers between stations) are small or even zero. The throughput of such systems is substantially decreased because of frequent blocking of customers ready to move to the next station. For some such systems, one feasible way of compensating to improve system performance is to add an extra server to some of the stations. With a fixed number of extra servers (over an equal allocation to all stations), we focus on the question of where to place these servers in order to maximize throughput. Consideration also is given to the expected number of customers in the system (in-process inventory) as a secondary measure of performance. An extensive set of exact numerical results is obtained for Erlang, exponential, and two-stage Coxian service-time distributions with a range of coefficients of variation from 0.7 to 2.5. The broad conclusion is that the interior stations (especially the center stations) should be given preference over the end stations for receiving an extra server. Detailed conclusions also are reached regarding the form of the optimal allocation of servers for the various categories of cases.
Butyrate metabolism in the isolated, perfused goat liver.

Summary Livers from nine healthy, mature goats were isolated and perfused for 1 hr via the portal vein, with blood containing a mixture of acetate, propionate, and butyrate in the approximate molar ratio of 9:3:1, respectively. Labeled substrates added to the blood were butyrate-1-C 14 , butyrate-3-C 14 , or succinate-1-C 14 . Concentrations of various blood and liver metabolites were determined at intervals during each perfusion. The C 14 content of each of these fractions also was measured. The liver consistently removed butyrate and propionate from the blood while blood levels of formate, lactate, glucose, and ketones increased. Carbon atoms one and three from butyrate were incorporated perdominantly into β -hydroxybutyrate and CO 2 with essentially no incorporation into lactate, propionate, or liver glycogen. The carboxyl carbon atom of succinate was recovered largely in CO 2 and glucose. The ketogenic nature of butyrate in ruminant liver is thus confirmed.
Characterization of expression in mice of a transgene containing 3.3 kb of the human lactase-phlorizin hydrolase (LPH) 5' flanking sequence.

Background and Aim The regulation of human intestinal lactase-phlorizin hydrolase remains incompletely understood. One kb of pig and 2 kb of rat 5′-flanking sequence controls correct tissue, cell, topographic, and villus LCT expression. To gain insight into human LCT expression, transgenic mouse lines were generated from 3.3 kb of human LPH 5′ flanking sequence from a lactase persistent individual fused to a human growth hormone (hGH) reporter bounded by an insulator.
Effective elimination of fibroblasts in cultures of melanocytes by lowering calcium concentration in TPA depleted medium following geneticin treatment.

Melanocytes grow well in culture media supplemented with phorbol ester. However, phorbol ester is metabolically stable and has prolonged effects on multiple cellular responses. Different groups have reported that they could cultivate melanocytes without phorbol ester. However, in medium without phorbol esters contaminating fibroblasts are often difficult to eliminate. We have developed an improved method for eliminating fibroblasts using geneticin in serum free medium with bFGF, endothelin-1 and no phorbol ester. Treatment with a low concentration of geneticin effectively eliminated contaminating fibroblasts and was not harmful to melanocytes if geneticin was added initially in a high calcium media (2 mM) followed by a change to a low (0.09 mM) calcium media immediately after removal of the geneticin. With this technique we could easily establish pure melanocyte culture. This culture method will provide a useful tool for studies on melanocyte cellular response without the influence of phorbol ester.
Consistency-based compliance across cultures☆

A field study investigated cross-cultural differences in choice-congruent behavior and its impact on compliance. U.S. and Asian participants received a request to complete an online survey and a month later they were approached with a larger, related request. Compliance with the initial request had a stronger impact on subsequent compliance among the U.S. participants than among the Asian participants. Despite their lower rate of compliance with the initial request, the U.S. participants who chose to comply were more likely than their Asian counterparts to agree to the subsequent request. Further analyses revealed that this effect was driven by differences in the individualistic/collectivistic orientation of the participants from the two cultures. Within both cultures, the more individualistic participants showed stronger consistency with their earlier compliance than the more collectivistically oriented participants.
Case report. Hepatocellular carcinoma with lamellar fibrosis: An important histological variant

A case of hepatocellular carcinoma with lamellar fibrosis in a young woman is described. This tumour, in contrast to the usual hepatocellular carcinoma, occurs in young adults, is characterized histologically by large polygonal eosinophilic hepatocytes and abundant fibrous stroma, and has a better prognosis. It has been confused with focal nodular hyperplasia.
A Simple Method of Estimating the Emulsifying Capacity of Various Sausage Meats

SUMMARY A simple method was developed for estimating the emulsifying capacity of protein extracts. Several variables influenced the amount of oil that could be emulsified by 1 mg of soluble protein. The amount of soluble protein in the original aliquot used, the speed of mixing, the final temperature of the emulsion, and the amount of oil initially added, each influenced the emulsifying capacity of the soluble protein. The rate of addition of oil did not affect the amount of oil emulsified. Any differences in the effect of rate of addition of oil could be attributed to a temperature difference. Photomicrographs were made of emulsions showing the protein-oil relationship at increasing amounts of oil before and after emulsion breakdown. A method for predicting the stability of emulsions was used to verify the method developed.
Local product structure for group actions

A differentiable G-space is introduced, for a Lie group G, into which every countably separated Borel G-space can be imbedded. The imbedding can be a continuous map if the space is a separable metric space. Such a G-space is called a universal G-space. This universal G-space has a local product structure for the action of G. That structure is inherited by invariant subspaces, giving a local product structure on general G-spaces. This information is used to prove that G-spaces are stratified by the subsets consisting of points whose orbits have the same dimension, to prove that G-spaces with stabilizers of constant dimension are foliated, to give a short proof that closed subgroups of Lie groups are Lie groups, to give a new proof and a stronger version of the Ambrose—Kakutani Theorem and to give a new proof of the existence of near-slices at points having compact stabilizers and hence of the existence of slices for Cartan G-spaces.
The clear-sky unpolarized forward model for the EOS aura microwave limb sounder (MLS)

This paper describes the Earth Observing System (EOS) Aura Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) forward model for a clear-sky atmosphere emitting unpolarized radiation. This model is used for the majority of the EOS MLS radiance calculations. The orbital and viewing geometry of MLS on Aura is such that a two-dimensional (vertical and line-of-sight, horizontal) forward model provides the most accurate basis for the inversion performed in retrievals. The model consists of atmospheric radiative transfer convolved with the instrumental field of view and the spectral response. An additional model relating the pointing heights supplied by the Aura satellite operations and MLS scan pointing encoders to the limb tangent pressure and atmospheric temperature is described. The analytic computation of Jacobians needed for retrievals is given.
Advances in polymer and polymeric nanostructures for protein conjugation

Abstract Linear polymers have been considered the best molecular structures for the formation of efficient protein conjugates due to their biological advantages, synthetic convenience and ease of functionalization. In recent years, much attention has been dedicated to develop synthetic strategies that produce the most control over protein conjugation utilizing linear polymers as scaffolds. As a result, different conjugate models, such as semitelechelic, homotelechelic, heterotelechelic and branched or star polymer conjugates, have been obtained that take advantage of these well-controlled synthetic strategies. Development of protein conjugates using nanostructures and the formation of said nanostructures from protein–polymer bioconjugates are other areas in the protein bioconjugation field. Although several polymer–protein technologies have been developed from these discoveries, few review articles have focused on the design and function of these polymers and nanostructures. This review will highlight some recent advances in protein-linear polymer technologies that employ protein covalent conjugation and successful protein-nanostructure bioconjugates (covalent conjugation as well) that have shown great potential for biological applications.
Specific nuclear proteins interact with the Rous sarcoma virus internal enhancer and share a common element with the enhancer located in the long terminal repeat of the virus

We have documented that the Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) internal enhancer functions in the nontransformed Baby Hamster Kidney (BHK) cell line. The sequences within this region were assayed for their ability to bind to specific factors present in BHK nuclear extracts using the gel retardation assay and DNAse I footprinting. At least two sequences within the internal enhancer which can specifically bind nuclear factors in vitro have been identified. These regions are located between nucleotides 813-850 and 856-877. These sites map within the overall region of the internal enhancer which has been shown to be essential for enhancer activity and within the specific region which can function as an orientation independent enhancer. Using the DNase I footprinting and binding data to design an oligonucleotide, we have demonstrated that an oligonucleotide extending from nucleotides 804-877 will substitute efficiently as an enhancer. We also demonstrate that the SV40 enhancer does not compete for the factors which bind to the RSV internal enhancer, whereas an oligonucleotide to the binding site for EFII in the LTR can compete for factor binding to the internal enhancer.
Occurrence and Biosynthesis of Endogenous Cannabinoid Precursor,N-Arachidonoyl Phosphatidylethanolamine, in Rat Brain

It has been suggested that anandamide (N-arachidonoylethanolamine), an endogenous cannabinoid substance, may be produced through Ca2+-stimulated hydrolysis of the phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) derivative N-arachidonoyl PE. The presence of N-arachidonoyl PE in adult brain tissue and the enzyme pathways that underlie its biosynthesis are, however, still undetermined. We report here that rat brain tissue contains both anandamide (11 +/- 7 pmol/gm wet tissue) and N-arachidonoyl PE (22 +/- 16 pmol/gm), as assessed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. We describe a N-acyltransferase activity in brain that catalyzes the biosynthesis of N-arachidonoyl PE by transferring an arachidonate group from the sn-1 carbon of phospholipids to the amino group of PE. We also show that sn-1 arachidonoyl phospholipids are present in brain, where they constitute approximately 0.5% of total phospholipids. N-acyltransferase activity is Ca2+ dependent and is enriched in brain and testis. Within the brain, N-acyltransferase activity is highest in brainstem; intermediate in cortex, striatum, hippocampus, medulla, and cerebellum; and lowest in thalamus, hypothalamus, and olfactory bulb. Pharmacological inhibition of N-acyltransferase activity in primary cultures of cortical neurons prevents Ca2+-stimulated N-arachidonoyl PE biosynthesis. Our results demonstrate, therefore, that rat brain tissue contains the complement of enzymatic activity and lipid substrates necessary for the biosynthesis of the anandamide precursor N-arachidonoyl PE. They also suggest that biosynthesis of N-arachidonoyl PE and formation of anandamide are tightly coupled processes, which may concomitantly be stimulated by elevations in intracellular Ca2+ occurring during neural activity.
A Developmental Analysis of Female Prisoners' Conceptions of Aids

This article examines female prisoners' reasoning about the causes and transmission of AIDS. At two women's prisons in Texas, 113 inmates were administered the Concepts of AIDS Protocol, an AIDS information test, and an acceptance of people with AIDS questionnaire. The majority of subjects evidenced a middle developmental level of understanding AIDS, with Whites scoring higher than Blacks or Hispanics. Subjects' developmental level of understanding AIDS was moderately correlated with their scores on the AIDS information test, acceptance of people with AIDS, IQ, and level of education. These results were similar to earlier findings with male prisoners. Issues related to AIDS education in prisons are discussed.
Nature of extracellular signal that triggers RhoA/ROCK activation for the basal internal anal sphincter tone in humans

The extracellular signal that triggers activation of rho-associated kinase (RhoA/ROCK), the major molecular determinant of basal internal anal sphincter (IAS) smooth muscle tone, is not known. Usin...
Relationships between the kinetics of NH4+ and NO3− absorption and growth in the cultivated tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill, cv T‐5)

Tomato growth was examined in solution culture under constant pH and low levels of NH4+ or NO3−. There were five nitrogen treatments: 20 mmoles m−3 NH4+, 50 mmoles m−3 NO3−, 100 mmoles m−3 NH4+ 200 mmoles m−3 NO3−, and 20 mmoles m−3 NH4++ 50 mmoles m−3 NO3−. The lower concentrations (20 mmoles m−3 NH4+ and 50 mmoles m−3 NO3−) were near the apparent Km for net NH4+ and NO3− uptake; the higher concentrations (100 mmoles m−3 NH4+ and 200 mmoles m−3 NO3−) were near levels at which the net uptake of NH4+ or NO3− saturate. Although organic nitrogen contents for the higher NO3− and the NH4++ NO3− treatments were 22.2–30.3% greater than those for the lower NO3− treatment, relative growth rates were initially only 10–15% faster. After 24 d, relative growth rates were similar among those treatments. These results indicate that growth may be only slightly nitrogen limited when NH4+ or NO3− concentrations are held constant over the root surface at near the apparent Km concentration. Relative growth rates for the two NH4+ treatments were much higher than have been previously reported for tomatoes growing with NH4+ as the sole nitrogen source. Initial growth rates under NH4+ nutrition did not differ significantly (P≥ 0.05) from those under NO3− or under combined NH4++ NO3−. Growth rates slowed after 10–15 d for the NH4+ treatments, whereas they remained more constant for the NO3− and mixed NH4++ NO3− treatments over the entire observation period of 24–33 d. The decline in growth rate under NH4+ nutrition may have resulted from a reduction in Ca2+, K+, and/or Mg2+ absorption.
Statistics on Logic Simulation

The high costs associated with logic simulation of large VLSI based systems have led to the need for new computer architectures tailored to the simulation task. Such architectures have the potential for significant speedups over standard software based logic simulators. Several commercial simulation engines have been produced to satisfy needs in this area. To properly explore the space of alternative simulation architectures, data is required on the simulation process itself. This paper presents a framework for such data gathering activity by first examining possible sources of speedup in the logic simulation task, examining the sort of data needed in the design of simulation engines, and then presenting such data. The data contained in the paper includes information on subtask times found in standard discrete event simulation algorithms, event intensities, queue length distributions and simultaneous event distributions.
Role of AHR2 in the Expression of Novel Cytochrome P450 1 Family Genes, Cell Cycle Genes, and Morphological Defects in Developing Zebra Fish Exposed to 3,3′,4,4′,5-Pentachlorobiphenyl or 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin

Halogenated agonists for the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), such as 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB126) and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), cause developmental toxicity in fish. AHR dependence of these effects is known for TCDD but only presumed for PCB126, and the AHR-regulated genes involved are known only in part. We defined the role of AHR in regulation of four cytochrome P450 1 (CYP1) genes and the effect of PCB126 on cell cycle genes (i.e., PCNA and cyclin E) in zebra fish (Danio rerio) embryos. Basal and PCB126-induced expression of CYP1A, CYP1B1, CYP1C1, and CYP1C2 was examined over time as well as in relation to cell cycle gene expression and morphological effects of PCB126 in developing zebra fish. The four CYP1 genes differed in the time for maximal basal and induced expression, i.e., CYP1B1 peaked within 2 days postfertilization (dpf), the CYP1Cs around hatching (3 dpf), and CYP1A after hatching (14-21 dpf). These results indicate developmental periods when the CYP1s may play physiological roles. PCB126 (0.3-100nM) caused concentration-dependent CYP1 gene induction (EC50: 1.4-2.7nM, Lowest observed effect concentration [LOEC]: 0.3-1nM) and pericardial edema (EC50: 4.4nM, LOEC: 3nM) in 3-dpf embryos. Blockage of AHR2 translation significantly inhibited these effects of PCB126 and TCDD. PCNA gene expression was reduced by PCB126 in a concentration-dependent manner, suggesting that PCB126 could suppress cell proliferation. Our results indicate that the four CYP1 genes examined are regulated by AHR2 and that the effect of PCB126 on morphology in zebra fish embryos is AHR2 dependent. Moreover, the developmental patterns of expression and induction suggest that CYP1 enzymes could function in normal development and in developmental toxicity of PCB126 in fish embryos.
Sliding mode control for variable geometry turbocharged diesel engines

Accurate air-to-fuel ratio and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) rate control are important for emission reduction in turbocharged diesel engines. In the paper, assuming that the diesel engine is equipped with a variable geometry turbocharger, a sliding mode controller is developed to control the turbine vanes so that, in conjunction with an EGR valve controller, stabilization of the engine variables to the desired equilibrium is achieved.
A permutation-augmented sampler for DP mixture models

We introduce a new inference algorithm for Dirichlet process mixture models. While Gibbs sampling and variational methods focus on local moves, the new algorithm makes more global moves. This is done by introducing a permutation of the data points as an auxiliary variable. The algorithm is a blocked sampler which alternates between sampling the clustering and sampling the permutation. The key to the efficiency of this approach is that it is possible to use dynamic programming to consider all exponentially many clusterings consistent with a given permutation. We also show that random projections can be used to effectively sample the permutation. The result is a stochastic hill-climbing algorithm that yields burn-in times significantly smaller than those of collapsed Gibbs sampling.
Laryngeal dysplasia, demographics, and treatment: a single-institution, 20-year review.

Importance Laryngeal dysplasia is a common disease entity that remains clinically frustrating because functional outcomes are balanced against oncologic results. Understanding evolution in dysplasia demographics, treatment, and progression rates may inform better therapy in the future. Objectives To review laryngeal dysplasia cases at a single institution during the last 20 years and identify changes in patient demographics, categorize treatment approaches, and review rates of progression to cancer. Design, Setting, and Participants In this retrospective medical record review, patients with laryngeal dysplasia treated at an academic medical center were identified on review of pathology records. Interventions Patients were organized by date of dysplasia diagnosis, divided into 2 groups (group 1, January 1, 1993, through December 31, 2002; group 2, January 1, 2003, through December 31, 2012), and compared against one another. Main Outcomes and Measures Age at diagnosis, sex, type of treatment, and progression to malignant disease were analyzed from one period to the next. Results A total of 107 patients were identified through review of pathology databases. Progression of dysplasia to cancer remained roughly stable across periods, at 8.8% and 8.0%, respectively. Mean age at diagnosis decreased from 68.7 to 61.7 years over time, with a statistically significant trend toward presentation at younger ages. The male to female ratio was 3.75 in group 1 and 3.17 in group 2, with a trend toward a greater proportion of females over time that did not reach statistical significance. Use of radiotherapy remained stable across groups, with increased use of microflap excision techniques and laser treatment (especially photoangiolytic lasers) in group 2. Conclusions and Relevance Overall, progression of laryngeal dysplasia to cancer has remained stable during the past 20 years at a rate of approximately 8%. Although laryngeal dysplasia remains a disease predominantly found in males, there is a demographic trend toward diagnosis at earlier ages. Treatment choices may slowly be changing over time, although multi-institutional studies may be required to better categorize this shift.
Thyrotropin Receptors on Bovine Thyroid Membranes Two Types with Different Affinities and Specificities

We have studied the effects of pH, temperature, and ionic strength on the characteristics of bovine TSH (bTSH) binding to bovine thyroid membranes. Although maximal bTSH binding occurred at low pH, temperature, and ionic strength, the maximal sensitivity [defined as the amount of bTSH yielding 50% inhibition of tracer binding (B/Bo = 50%)] of the assay was observed at physiological pH and temperature in the presence of 50 mM NaCl. Under the latter conditions, the TSH binding assay was highly specific, with less than 0.01% cross-reactivity of crude hCG, pure hCG, hCG-α, hCG-β, bovine thyroglobulin, human γ-globulin, and cholera toxin. Different TSH preparations displayed binding activities proportional to their bioactivities in the range of 10-11-10-8 M, whereas TSH subunits had little intrinsic binding activity, compatible with the TSH contamination of the subunit preparations. When assay conditions were changed toward less physiological conditions by decreasing pH to 6.0, temperature to 4 C, and ionic st...
Orthogonalized operators for the f shell

Orthogonalized operators are introduced in the atomic configurations fN in order to yield parameters that are more precisely defined and more stable than the conventional ones. Of the four Racah operators e0, e1, e2, and e3, only e1 needs adjusting. The set of two-electron scalars is made complete by the generalized Trees operators eα′, eβ′, and eγ′. Of the three-electron scalars ti, only t2 requires alteration. The theory is illustrated for f3 by adding the orthogonalized operators in successive steps and comparing the fits with those obtained if the conventional operators are used.
Child Mental Health Services and Psychotherapy Attitudes Among Asian Indian Parents: An Exploratory Study

This exploratory study examined how parents' past personal use of psychotherapy related to perceived stigma and attitudes on intentions to use child mental health services among Asian Indian parents living in the United States. Participants were 89 Asian Indian parents recruited from 2009 to 2010 through a convenience sample. Descriptive analyses showed that Asian Indian parents reported similar attitudes as their American counterparts, but more stigma than European American and Latino parents. Using t-tests, results indicated that Asian Indian parents who previously used psychotherapy reported more positive attitudes than parents with no history of service use. Additionally, findings indicated that mothers reported more openness to seeking services than fathers. Finally, psychotherapy attitudes significantly predicted parents' intentions to seek services for their child in the future. Implications for research, practice, and policy are discussed.
Aplastic articular facets in a dog with intervertebral disk rupture of the 12th to 13th thoracic vertebral space.

A 6-year-old, female spayed Pomeranian was presented with acute hind-limb paraplegia with the presence of deep pain perception and urinary incontinence. Myelography showed a Hansen type I herniation of the12th to 13th thoracic intervertebral space (T12–13). Articular facets of the T12–13 and T13 to first lumbar vertebra (L1) were absent. The spinal cord was decompressed using a bilateral T12–13 modified lateral hemilaminectomy (pediculectomy). The aplastic sites were associated with minimal instability of the vertebral column, and stabilization of the vertebral column was not required. Familiarity with this condition is important, because articular facet aplasia may cause vertebral instability and may require an adjusted surgical approach or vertebral reduction and fusion following decompression.
Description and Perception of Frequency Breaks (Voice Breaks) in Adolescent Female Speakers

A phonellescopic investigation of the pitch characteristics of 11-, 13-, and 15-year-old females was made. Data descriptive of the incidence, extent, and upper and lower limits of phenomena known as frequency breaks (voice breaks) are presented. These data are discussed and compared with similar data from other studies of males and females of various ages.A second phase of the study indicated that frequency breaks are not perceived as a pitch phenomenon as has been assumed, but may be associated with the perception of "rough" vocal quality. These results are discussed in relation to vocal fry and harshness.
Design and characterization of electron beam focusing for X-ray generation in novel medical imaging architecture

A novel electron beam focusing scheme for medical X-ray sources is described in this paper. Most vacuum based medical X-ray sources today employ a tungsten filament operated in temperature limited regime, with electrostatic focusing tabs for limited range beam optics. This paper presents the electron beam optics designed for the first distributed X-ray source in the world for Computed Tomography (CT) applications. This distributed source includes 32 electron beamlets in a common vacuum chamber, with 32 circular dispenser cathodes operated in space charge limited regime, where the initial circular beam is transformed into an elliptical beam before being collected at the anode. The electron beam optics designed and validated here are at the heart of the first Inverse Geometry CT system, with potential benefits in terms of improved image quality and dramatic X-ray dose reduction for the patient.
Every step matters

From the Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Memorial Hermann Heart & Vascular Institute, Houston, Tex. Disclosures: Author has nothing to disclose with regard to commercial support. Received for publication Jan 20, 2016; accepted for publication Jan 23, 2016; available ahead of print March 8, 2016. Address for reprints: Anthony L. Estrera, MD, Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), 6400 Fannin St, Suite 2850 Houston, TX 77030 (E-mail: Anthony.L.Estrera@uth.tmc.edu). J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2016;151:e115-6 0022-5223/$36.00 Copyright 2016 by The American Association for Thoracic Surgery http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2016.01.039
Classical, semi-classical, and quantized-field descriptions of light propagation in general non-local and non-stationary dispersive and absorbing media

Classical, semi-classical, and quantum-field descriptions for the interaction of light with matter are systematically discussed. Applications of interest include precise determinations of the linear and the non-linear electromagnetic response relevant to resonant pump-probe optical phenomena, such as electromagnetically induced transparency. In the quantum-mechanical description of matter systems, we introduce a general reduced-density-matrix framework. Time-domain (equation-of-motion) and frequency-domain (resolvent-operator) formulations are developed in a unified and self-consistent manner, using a Liouville-space operator representation. A preliminary semi-classical perturbation treatment of the electromagnetic interaction is adopted, in which the electromagnetic field is described as a classical field satisfying the Maxwell equations. Compact Liouville-space operator expressions are derived for the linear and the general (nth order) non-linear electromagnetic-response tensors describing moving many-electron systems. The tetradic matrix elements of the Liouville-space self-energy operators, which are introduced in the time-domain and frequency-domain formulations, are evaluated for environmental collisional and radiative interactions, in order to provide explicit forms for the quantum kinetic equations and the spectral-line shape formulas. It is emphasized that a quantized-field approach is essential for a fully self-consistent quantum-mechanical description of the interacting light-matter system.
CRISPR/Cas9 nuclease cleavage combined with Gibson assembly for seamless cloning.

Restriction enzymes have two major limitations for cloning: they cannot cleave at any desired location in a DNA sequence and may not cleave uniquely within a DNA sequence. In contrast, the clustere...