cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regulation of Mitochondrial Ca2+ Uptake

Mitochondria are responsible for ATP production but are also known as regulators of cell death, and mitochondrial matrix Ca2+ is a key modulator of both ATP production and cell death. Although mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake and efflux have been studied for over 50 years, it is only in the past decade that the proteins responsible for mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake and efflux have been identified. The identification of the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter (MCU) led to an explosion of studies identifying regulators of the MCU. The levels of these regulators vary in a tissue- and disease-specific manner, providing new insight into how mitochondrial Ca2+ is regulated. This review focuses on the proteins responsible for mitochondrial transport and what we have learned from mouse studies with genetic alterations in these proteins.
Traumatic Incidents and Experiences of Racism and Sexism: Examining Associations with Components of Critical Consciousness for System-Involved Girls of Color

Scholarship identifies critical consciousness as a key developmental asset in promoting the well-being of adolescents experiencing multiple socio-structural axes of oppression. Girls of color at acute risk for legal system involvement or re-involvement are absent from this literature. They are a critical population in which to examine this construct given their experiences of oppression and the myriad benefits of critical consciousness. The current study addresses this gap by examining traumatic incidents and experiences of racism and sexism as correlates of critical reflection and action among a sample of girls (N = 220; Mean age = 14.5 years; SD = 1.3 years). Using path analysis and multigroup modeling, we examine direct associations between these three manifestations of structural oppression and critical consciousness and explore the interplay of traumatic incidents, and racism and sexism in girls' critical consciousness development. Findings suggest that experiences of sexism and racism, uniquely and positively predict critical action, but not critical reflection. Surprisingly, girls' experiences of traumatic incidents do not predict reflection or action. Finally, multigroup analyses show no evidence that these associations vary by the interplay of traumatic incidents, racism, and sexism. Implications for community psychology values and juvenile legal system practice and policy are discussed.
Exploring the disparity of influence between users in the discussion of Brexit on Twitter

The topic of political polarization has received increased attention for valid reasons. Given that an increased amount of the social exchange for opinions happens online, social media platforms provide a good source of information to investigate various aspects of the phenomena. In this work, data collected from Twitter are used to examine polarization surrounding the topic of the Brexit referendum on the membership of the European Union. The analysis specifically focuses on the question of how different tiers of users in terms of influence can project their opinions and if the polarized conditions affect the relative balance in the broadcast capabilities of the tiers. The results show that during polarization periods, users of the higher tier have increased capabilities to broadcast their information in relation to the lower tiers thereby further dominating the discussion. This validates previous modeling investigations and the hypothesis that polarization provides an opportunity for influencers to increase their relative social capital.
Pursuing Public Health Through Litigation: Lessons from Tobacco and Opioids

Over the past half-century, product-related public health crises have claimed millions of American lives. Two of these crises have been especially prominent: tobacco and opioids. In this Article, we zero in on both controversies. Like many before us, we trace how these two addictive and deadly products became widely used by the American public and analyze the myriad ways in which the products—cigarettes and prescription painkillers—are similar. From there, however, we part ways with previous analyses, as we look beyond these surface similarities to the many ways tobacco and opioids are markedly different from one another. This analysis of differences—focusing on the products’ substitutability, social utility, and price sensitivity—ultimately underscores the crushing, and easily underestimated, challenges policymakers face, to the extent they try to curb the opioid epidemic using tried-and-true supply-side mechanisms. We then turn from the crises themselves to the litigation each has generated. From a distance of two decades, we tally the successes and failures of tobacco litigation—which began in the 1950s and crested in the late 1990s—and analyze how that mixed scorecard has informed, and, going forward, ought to inform, the sprawling opioid litigation: the most complex civil action ever tackled by any American court. Finally, moving beyond this comparative analysis, we address both the future and the utility of public health litigation. Many have asked: What is the role of litigation when it comes to promoting public welfare? Harnessing lessons from both tobacco and opioids, our answer to that question offers new insights for how tort litigation complements—and, under certain conditions, can catalyze—broader regulatory strategies.
Application and testing of additive manufacturing for mirrors and precision structures

Additive Manufacturing (aka AM, and 3-D printing) is widely touted in the media as the foundation for the next industrial revolution. Beneath the hype, AM does indeed offer profound advantages in lead-time, dramatically reduced consumption of expensive raw materials, while enabling new and innovative design forms that cannot be produced by other means. General Dynamics and their industry partners have begun to embrace this technology for mirrors and precision structures used in the aerospace, defense, and precision optical instrumentation industries. Aggressively lightweighted, open and closed back test mirror designs, 75-150 mm in size, were first produced by AM from several different materials. Subsequent optical finishing and test experiments have exceeded expectations for density, surface finish, dimensional stability and isotropy of thermal expansion on the optical scale of measurement. Materials currently under examination include aluminum, titanium, beryllium, aluminum beryllium, Inconel 625, stainless steel/bronze, and PEKK polymer.
Nearly free molecular flow: A comparison of theory and experiment

The principal piece of information which is currently needed to complete a description of the various regimes of rarefied gas dynamics, for purposes both of understanding and engineering prediction, concerns the behavior of typical flow patterns at their first departures from their free-molecular flow limits. Given this, together with the well-established theory of free-molecular flow and the theories and copious experimental data covering the slip flow regime, we can interpolate to describe the remaining transition flow regime with fair confidence.
Intensity in the Raman effect: VIII. The anisotropy derivative for CH bonds in some hydrocarbons

Abstract The intensities of the depolarized components of the symmetrical and asymmetrical CH stretching Raman bands of methane, ethane and neopentane were measured in the gas phase. The derivative of the anisotropy of the polarizability per CH bond, | ∂α ZZ ∂r CH − ∂α XX ∂r CH |, was found to be ca 2.1 × 10−16 cm2 for these molecules. This result and the corresponding constancy of the derivative of the mean polarizability, indicate that the sum of the intensities of all CH stretching bands (polarized and depolarized) is proportional to the number of CH bonds in a saturated hydrocarbon.
Defect agglomeration in wüstite at high temperatures-I. The defect arrangement

Abstract Measurements are reported of the diffuse scattering (in absolute units) from a single crystal of Fe0.93O, in a volume of reciprocal space and in equilibrium at 1173 K. These data were separated into the scattering due to ionic displacements and that due to the defect arrangement. The resulting local order parameters indicate clustering similar to that reported for quenched crystals. Some degree of order exists between clusters even at the high temperature, which is similar to that for the P″ phase. The clusters are distributed along 〈100〉 directions with a spacing of ∼ 2.5 a0 (where a0 is the lattice parameter). The cluster consists (on the average) of two incomplete corner-sharing vacancy tetrahedra aligned along 〈110〉 type directions, each containing an interstitial iron ion so that the ratio of vacancies to tetrahedral ions is 5.2.
The Function of Cholinergic Input to the Ventral Tegmental Area

The Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA) forms the core of the brain's reward behavior circuitry. Rewarding stimuli lead to a switch in VTA dopaminergic firing patterns from tonic to phasic, leading to inc...
Tardive Syndromes are Rarely Reversible after Discontinuing Dopamine Receptor Blocking Agents: Experience from a University-based Movement Disorder Clinic

Background: Several studies have examined reversibility of tardive syndromes (TS), primarily in psychotic patients who are maintained on dopamine receptor blocking drugs. The results have varied widely. However, few have assessed remission rates after discontinuing the offending agents. This study evaluated reversibility of TS in patients who permanently withdrew the causative agent(s). We also examined for any possible clinical predictors of reversibility. Methods: A retrospective cohort of 108 TS patients was studied. Most of the patients were not psychotic; most patients were being treated either for a mood disorder with atypical antipsychotics or for a gastrointestinal disturbance with metoclopramide. Patients were stratified on the basis of reversibility, and statistical tests were used for subgroup comparisons of relevant clinical variables. Logistic regression was undertaken to identify clinical variables predictive of reversibility. Results: Only 13% of the cohort experienced reversibility of the TS, 2% without medical intervention. When stratified by reversibility, there were no significant differences in any study variables between subgroups. None of the study variables predicted reversibility in the logistic regression. Discussion: Our study demonstrated a low remission rate for TS in a cohort of psychiatric and non-psychiatric patients seen in a movement disorder clinic after the offending agents were completely withdrawn. Such a finding has significant prognostic implications. It is possible that limitations of the retrospective design may have resulted in an underestimation. There is a clear need for prospective, multicenter, clinical trials in populations that can be safely withdrawn from dopamine receptor blocking agents so that true remission rates can be measured.
Local-area helioseismology as a diagnostic tool for solar variability

Abstract Dynamical and thermal variations of the internal structure of the Sun can affect the energy flow and result in variations in irradiance at the surface. Studying variations in the interior is crucial for understanding the mechanisms of the irradiance variations. “Global” helioseismology based on analysis of normal mode frequencies, has helped to reveal radial and latitudinal variations of the solar structure and dynamics associated with the solar cycle in the deep interior. A new technique, - “local-area” helioseismology or heliotomography, offers additional potentially important diagnostics by providing three-dimensional maps of the sound speed and flows in the upper convection zone. These diagnostics are based on inversion of travel times of acoustic waves which propagate between different points on the solar surface through the interior. The most significant variations in the thermodynamic structure found by this method are associated with sunspots and complexes of solar activity. The inversion results provide evidence for areas of higher sound speed beneath sunspot regions located at depths of 4–20 Mm, which may be due to accumulated heat or magnetic field concentrations. However, the physics of these structures is not yet understood. Heliotomography also provides information about large-scale stable longitudinal structures in the solar interior, which can be used in irradiance models. This new diagnostic tool for solar variability is currently under development. It will require both a substantial theoretical and modeling effort and high-resolution data to develop new capabilities for understanding mechanisms of solar variability.
Effect of Diet on Avian Leukosis

Abstract Boyd and Edwards (1966) showed that chickens fed diets deficient in essential fatty acids (EFA) or containing primarily saturated fat had high mortality when inoculated with Escherichia coli. In order to determine if other disease agents may cause the same effect, the diets described in the previous study were utilized and one-day-old chicks inoculated with 0.5 ml. of plasma or 0.5 ml. of 10% saline suspension of tumors from chickens infected with avian leukosis (Marek's disease, Georgia isolate). The inoculum was prepared from 4 to 5 week old donors and contained penicillin and streptomycin to lower possibilities of bacterial contamination. Chicks were housed in wire-floored electrically heated batteries and were fed the diets from the time of hatching. The dietary groups were housed in different pens in the same battery. The uninoculated controls were housed in another building and were negative in all experiments. Chickens were examined for the presence . . .
Equilibrium and nonequilibrium phase transformations of quaternary solutions based on a physiologic support medium containing NaCl, dimethyl sulfoxide, and glycerol.

Abstract Insight into the circumstances attending the freezing and thawing of biological materials suspended in cryoprotective solutions might be expected to result from knowledge of the colligative properties and glass behavior in systems based on typical physiological media, NaCl, and important cryoprotective agents. Differential thermal analysis has been used to determine phase diagram relationships in the aqueous-rich region of the quaternary system composed of a complex physiological support medium (Eagle's minimum essential medium), NaCl, and two cryoprotective compounds (glycerol and dimethyl sulfoxide). Thermograms revealed behavior corresponding to the primary crystallization of ice from sample solutions as well as the glass transition and devitrification of nonequilibrium amorphous phases. In most quaternary solutions, equilibrium-phase formation in the form of a pseudoeutectic transformation was inhibited and the formation of a metastable amorphous phase was observed as the final mode of solidification.
Immigrants and associations: their role in the socio-political process of immigrant worker integration in West Germany and Switzerland.

This paper presents an analysis of the way "secondary political rights" have been used in two of Europes foremost labor importing countries: West Germany and Switzerland. It focuses on structural possibilities that could provide avenues for participation to the migrants and on nonwork related organizational structures that can potentially provide important links between migrants and the larger sociopolitical structure of the host country that are absent from labor market and work related structures. (authors)
Feline Stifle Implant Arthroplasty

Surgical management of feline osteoarthritis is currently limited to joint immobilization or amputation. A method of implanting a readily available Swanson Design Silastic finger joint implant in feline stifles was developed and tested in four cats. The surgical procedure was uncomplicated. The cats ambulated well and resumed normal activities. The joints were stable and retained normal ranges of motion. No undesirable gross pathology resulted from 3 months of implant residence. We believe that the results of this preliminary study justify investigation of prolonged implant times and clinical trials in arthritic cat stifles.
Anatomical variants and pathologies of the vermix

The appendix may demonstrate a perplexing range of normal and abnormal appearances on imaging exams. Familiarity with the anatomy and anatomical variants of the appendix is helpful in identifying the appendix on ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. Knowledge of the variety of pathologies afflicting the appendix and of the spectrum of imaging findings may be particularly useful to the emergency radiologist for accurate diagnosis and appropriate guidance regarding clinical and surgical management. In this pictorial essay, we review appendiceal embryology, anatomical variants such as Amyand hernias, and pathologies from appendicitis to carcinoid, mucinous, and nonmucinous epithelial neoplasms.
Elevated Fibroblast Growth Factor-2 Increases Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Induced Endothelial Cell Death in High Glucose

Glucose and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) concentrations are elevated in diabetes. Both of these factors correlate with diabetic vasculopathy and endothelial cell apoptosis, yet their combined effects have not been measured. We have previously shown that the angiogenic growth factor fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), which is generally protective against endothelial cell death, is similarly elevated in high glucose conditions. We therefore investigated the effect of TNFalpha on endothelial cell death under normal and elevated glucose conditions, with a particular focus on FGF-2. Porcine aortic endothelial cells were cultured in 5 and 30 mM glucose and stimulated with TNFalpha, together with FGF-2 or a neutralizing FGF-2 antibody. Cell death was measured via cell counts or an annexin apoptotic assay, and cell cycle phase was determined by propidium iodide labeling. TNFalpha-induced endothelial cell death increased for cells in high glucose, and cell death was enhanced with increasing FGF-2 exposure and negated by a neutralizing FGF-2 antibody. Endothelial cells were most susceptible to TNFalpha-induced cell death when stimulated with FGF-2 18 h prior to TNFalpha, corresponding to cell entry into S phase of the proliferative cycle. The FGF-2 associated increase in TNFalpha-induced cell death was negated by blocking cell entry into S phase. Endothelial cell release of FGF-2 in high glucose leads to cell cycle progression, which makes cells more susceptible to TNFalpha-induced cell death. These data suggest that growth factor outcomes in high glucose depend on secondary mediators such as cytokines and stimulation cell cycle timing.
Reconsidering trade and conflict simultaneity: The risk of emphasizing technique over substance:

Goenner (Conflict Management and Peace Science, 28(5): 1–20, 2011) criticizes the simultaneous equations regression model (SEM) of bilateral trade flows (BT) and militarized interstate disputes (MID) developed by Keshk, Pollins and Reuveny (Journal of Politics 66(4): 1155–1179, 2004) and extended by Keshk, Reuveny and Pollins (Conflict Management and Peace Science, 27(1): 1–20, 2010). Like Hegre, Oneal and Russett (Journal of Peace Research 47(6): 763–774, 2010), he does not agree with Keshk, Reuveny and Pollins that a larger BT has no effect on MID. Unlike Hegre et al. (2010), who focus on the role of distance between capital cities on MID in Keshk et al.’s (2004) SEM, Goenner finds faults in their econometrics. Once these faults are fixed, he says, a larger BT reduces the probability of MID. His analysis is unconvincing. We believe our essay is of interest beyond the trade and conflict research community, as it illustrates the risk of emphasizing technique over substance.
The Host Specialization of Erysiphe Cichoracearum from Zinnia, Phlox and Cucurbits

1. A powdery mildew from Zinnia elegans is shown to infect Z. elegans, Z. pauciflora, Z. verticillata, Helianthus annuus, Arctium minus, A. nemorosum, Xanthium chinense, X. spinosiini, X. strumariu...
Perturbation of red cell volume: constancy of membrane transport parameters for certain slow penetrants.

Abstract Following the “perturbation” approach of Farmer and Macey (R. E. L. Farmer and R. I. Macey , Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 196 (1970) 53) a method is described for measuring the concentration dependence of the membrane transport parameters ( L p , σ and ω) for a slowly penetrating non-electrolyte in intact red cells. The K edem -K atchalsky equations (O. Kedem and A. Katchalsky , Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 27 (1958) 229) are used to describe the transport kinetics. The mathematical solution consists of two independent exponential processes. The first describes a rapid osmotic adjustment of the cell and depends only upon L p and σ. The second describes a slower penetration of permeant and depends upon σ and ω. Time constants of the two exponentials are expressed in terms of the transport parameters and external concentrations. Dependence of the parameters on concentration was obtained by varying the solution composition and photometrically measuring time constants of cell swelling and shrinking. Results with glycerol and ethylene glycol in beef erythrocytes indicate that L p , σ and ω are independent of cell volume, salt osmolality and penetrant concentration over a wide range. Rectification of osmotic flow ( L p in greater than L p out ) was observed, but σ and ω were not strongly dependent upon the direction of flow.
Unified Description of Single-Particle Production in pp Collisions

We show that over a very wide range of c.m. angles, energies, and transverse momenta, the invariant cross sections for inclusive production of hadrons in $\mathrm{pp}$ collisions show a very simple behavior when expressed in terms of a new radial scaling variable ${x}_{R}\ensuremath{\equiv}\frac{{p}^{*}}{{{p}_{max}}^{*}}$, where ${p}^{*}$ is the total c.m. momentum of the hadron.
The Parameters of Agency-School Social Work Educational Planning

(1966). The Parameters of Agency-School Social Work Educational Planning. Journal of Education for Social Work: Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 32-40.
Argon hydrochloride, Ar.HCl, bond energy by infrared spectroscopy

The infrared absorption of argon (200–760 torr) and hydrogen chloride (2–6 torr) mixtures has been re‐examined in the spectral region 2860–3010 cm−1 (the missing Q branch region) over the temperature range 195–298°K. The temperature dependence of two absorption features of the Ar⋅HCl complex, at 2887 and 2879 cm−1, lead to a bond energy estimate that depends upon the assumptions made about the internal degrees of freedom of the complex. Agreement with experiment can be reached for well depths near 1.2 kcal/mole, a result that is relatively insensitive to the choices of the vibrational frequencies and anharmonicities but which does depend upon the extent to which the energy level manifolds are truncated to avoid molecular excitation in excess of the bond energy. This bond energy contrasts with the commonly accepted value of 0.4 kcal/mole; the possible origin of the disparity is considered.
Modeling and Simulation of Jitter in Phase-Locked Loops

A methodology is presented for predicting the jitter performance of a PLL using simulation that is both accurate and efficient. The methodology begins by characterizing the noise behavior of the blocks that make up the PLL using transistor-level simulation. For each block, the jitter is extracted and provided as a parameter to behavioral models for inclusion in a high-level simulation of the entire PLL. This approach is efficient enough to be applied to complex systems, such as frequency synthesizers with large divide ratios or fractional-N synthesizers.
Expression of the Native Cholera Toxin B Subunit Gene and Assembly as Functional Oligomers in Transgenic Tobacco Chloroplasts

The B subunits of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (LTB) and cholera toxin of Vibrio cholerae (CTB) are candidate vaccine antigens. Integration of an unmodified CTB-coding sequence into chloroplast genomes (up to 10,000 copies per cell), resulted in the accumulation of up to 4.1% of total soluble tobacco leaf protein as functional oligomers (410-fold higher expression levels than that of the unmodified LTB gene expressed via the nuclear genome). However, expresssion levels reported are an underestimation of actual accumulation of CTB in transgenic chloroplasts, due to aggregation of the oligomeric forms in unboiled samples similar to the aggregation observed for purified bacterial antigen. PCR and Southern blot analyses confirmed stable integration of the CTB gene into the chloroplast genome. Western blot analysis showed that the chloroplast- synthesized CTB assembled into oligomers and were antigenically identical with purified native CTB. Also, binding assays confirmed that chloroplast-synthesized CTB binds to the intestinal membrane GM1-ganglioside receptor, indicating correct folding and disulfide bond formation of CTB pentamers within transgenic chloroplasts. In contrast to stunted nuclear transgenic plants, chloroplast transgenic plants were morphologically indistinguishable from untransformed plants, when CTB was constitutively expressed in chloroplasts. Introduced genes were inherited stably in subsequent generations, as confirmed by PCR and Southern blot analyses. Increased production of an efficient transmucosal carrier molecule and delivery system, like CTB, in transgenic chloroplasts makes plant-based oral vaccines and fusion proteins with CTB needing oral administration commercially feasible. Successful expression of foreign genes in transgenic chromoplasts and availability of marker-free chloroplast transformation techniques augurs well for development of vaccines in edible parts of transgenic plants. Furthermore, since the quaternary structure of many proteins is essential for their function, this investigation demonstrates the potential for other foreign multimeric proteins to be properly expressed and assembled in transgenic chloroplasts.
Spinal serotonergic receptors mediate facilitation of a nociceptive reflex by subcutaneous formalin injection into the hindpaw in rats

Abstract It is documented that spinal nociceptive transmission receives descending facilitatory and inhibitory modulation from supraspinal structures. The rostral ventral medulla (RVM), including the nucleus raphe magnus (NRM), nuclei reticularis gigantocellularis (NGC) and gigantocellularis pars alpha (NGCα), is the major bulbar relay of descending modulatory influences. Pharmacological studies show that facilitation of a spinal nociceptive tail-flick (TF) reflex induced by stimulation in the NGC and NGCα is mediated by spinal serotonergic receptors. The present series of experiments provide evidence that activation of spinal serotonergic systems are critical for both induction and maintenance of secondary hyperalgesia induced by subcutaneous injection of formalin into one hindpaw. Subcutaneous injection of formalin produced facilitation of tail withdrawal (mechanical) and the TF reflex (thermal). Facilitatory effects persisted for at least 30 min. Peripheral blockade of the activity by local injection of a hydrophilic lidocaine derivative (QX-314, 5%) into the injected hindpaw abolished both mechanical and thermal facilitation, indicating that peripheral input is important to maintain long-lasting facilitation. Intrathecal application of a serotonergic receptor antagonist methysergide at a dose (64 nmol) which completely blocked descending facilitation produced by electrical- or chemical-stimulation in the NGC and NGCα also significantly attenuated or completely abolished facilitation of tail withdrawal and the TF reflex induced by formalin. Methysergide was effective whether the injection was performed before or after the formalin injection. These results suggest that activation of descending facilitatory serotonergic influences by a prolonged noxious stimulation could contribute to secondary hyperalgesia observed at the tail.
Liquid Single-Phase Flow in an Array of Micro-Pin-Fins—Part II: Pressure Drop Characteristics

This Technical Brief is Part II of a two-part study concerning water single-phase pressure drop and heat transfer in an array of staggered micro-pin-fins. This brief reports the pressure drop results. Both adiabatic and diabatic tests were conducted. Six previous friction factor correlations for low Reynolds number (Re < 1000) flow in conventional and micro-pin-fin arrays were examined and found underpredicting the adiabatic data except the correlation by Short et al. (2002, "Performance of Pin Fin Cast Aluminum Coldwalls, Part 1: Friction Factor Correlation," J. Thermophys. Heat Transfer, 16(3), pp. 389-396), which overpredicts the data. A new power-law type of correlation was developed, which showed good agreement with both adiabatic and diabatic data.
Selenium in pollen gathered by bees foraging on fly ash-grown plants

Pollen collected from the rear legs of honey bees found foraging on asters voluntarily growing on a fly ash dump in Endwell, New York, was found to contain a high concentration of selenium. Pollen from bees foraging on asters growing on field soil contained no detectable selenium.
Hydrolysis of linear polyurethanes and model monocarbamates

Alkaline hydrolysis of model carbamates, polyurethanes, and poly(urethane-ureas) has been investigated. The model carbamates were based upon phenyl, benzyl, and cyclohexyl isocyanates. The polyurethanes and poly(urethane-ureas) were prepared from tolylene diisocyanate (TDI), xylylene diisocyanate (XDI), and 4,4′-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate (H12MDI) and a poly(oxyethylene)glycol of 6000 molecular weight. Pseudo-first-order rate constants of hydrolysis were obtained in aqueous pyridine solution at 110°C, and second-order rate constants were obtained in aqueous KOH solution for the model biscarbamates. Pseudo-first-order rate constants of hydrolysis were obtained in alcoholic KOH solution for the polyurethanes and poly(urethane-ureas). The hydrolysis of the model carbamates showed that the stability increased in the following manner: phenyl < benzyl < cyclohexyl. The pseudo-first-order rate constants were dependent upon the pKb of the corresponding amines. The hydrolysis of the polyurethanes and poly(urethane-ureas) showed that the stability increased in the following manner: aromatic < aralkyl < cycloaliphatic. It was shown that polyurethanes are more susceptible to alkaline hydrolysis than to acidic hydrolysis.
Novel isoform of lymphoid adaptor FYN-T-binding protein (FYB-130) interacts with SLP-76 and up-regulates interleukin 2 production.

T-cell activation involves the participation of protein-tyrosine kinases p56lck and ZAP-70/SYK as well as lymphoid proteins such as SLP-76 and FYB/SLAP. FYB/SLAP has the hallmarks of an adaptor protein that binds to the SH2 domains of the Src kinase FYN-T and SLP-76. Whereas two forms of FYB at 120 and 130 kDa have been identified biochemically, a cDNA encoding only the lower molecular weight isoform has been cloned (termed FYB-120 or SLAP-130). In this study, we report the isolation of an alternative isoform of FYB with a molecular mass of 130 kDa (FYB-130) that has the same structure as FYB-120 except for an insertion of 46 amino acids toward the carboxyl-terminal region of the protein. FYB-120 and FYB-130 share an ability to bind to the SH2 domains of FYN-T and SLP-76, to act as substrates for p59FYN-T, and to be expressed in the cytoplasm and nucleus of T-cells. Differences were noted between the isoforms in the efficiency of binding to SLP-76 and in the preferential expression of FYB-130 in mature T-cells. When co-expressed together with FYN-T and SLP-76, FYB-130 caused a significant increase in anti-CD3-driven NF-AT transcription. Finally, fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis localized the FYB gene to human chromosome 5 at position p13.1. FYB-130 therefore represents a novel variant of FYB protein that can up-regulate T-cell receptor-driven interleukin 2 production in mature T-cells.
EPIC- and CHANCE-HSQC: Two 15N-photo-CIDNP-enhanced pulse sequences for the sensitive detection of solvent-exposed tryptophan

Abstract Photochemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization (photo-CIDNP) of nuclei other than 1H offers a tremendous potential for sensitivity enhancement in liquid state NMR under mild, physiologically relevant conditions. Photo-CIDNP enhancements of 15N magnetization are much larger than those typically observed for 1H. However, the low gyromagnetic ratio of 15N prevents a full fruition of the potential signal-to-noise gains attainable via 15N photo-CIDNP. Here, we propose two novel pulse sequences, EPIC- and CHANCE-HSQC, tailored to overcome the above limitation. EPIC-HSQC exploits the strong 1H polarization and its subsequent transfer to non-equilibrium Nz magnetization prior to 15N photo-CIDNP laser irradiation. CHANCE-HSQC synergistically combines 1H and 15N photo-CIDNP. The above pulse sequences, tested on tryptophan (Trp) and the Trp-containing protein apoHmpH, were found to display up to 2-fold higher sensitivity than the reference NPE-SE-HSQC pulse train (based on simple 15N photo-CIDNP followed by N–H polarization transfer), and up to a ca. 3-fold increase in sensitivity over the corresponding dark pulse schemes (lacking laser irradiation). The observed effects are consistent with the predictions from a theoretical model of photo-CIDNP and prove the potential of 15N and 1H photo-CIDNP in liquid state heteronuclear correlation NMR.
Placement of wind turbines using genetic algorithms

Abstract A genetic algorithm approach is employed to obtain optimal placement of wind turbines for maximum production capacity while limiting the number of turbines installed and the acreage of land occupied by each wind farm. Specifically, three cases are considered—(a) unidirectional uniform wind, (b) uniform wind with variable direction, and (c) non-uniform wind with variable direction. In Case (a), 600 individuals are initially distributed over 20 subpopulations and evolve over 3000 generations. Case (b) has 600 individuals spread over 20 subpopulations initially and evolves for 3000 generations. Case (c) starts with 600 individuals spread over 20 subpopulations and evolves for 2500 generations. In addition to optimal configurations, results include fitness, total power output, efficiency of power output and number of turbines for each configuration. Disagreement with the results of an earlier study is observed and a possible explanation is provided.
Vigilant Geography: Newspaper Coverage of a Wildfire at the Hanford Nuclear Site

This article reports on a content analysis of newspaper coverage of a wildfire on the Hanford nuclear site in the summer of 2000. The risk and mass communication literatures suggest that newspaper coverage of such fires would frame the event in dread terms, with some variation in the framing depending on the community diversity of the home market. We found that newspapers did vary in their framing of the fire, and that vigilance and confidence were more common framings of the fire. Our tentative explanation is that key risk communicators and reporters adhered to their professional ethics and relied on one another to develop a frame for Hanford hazards and risks.
Regulation of vascular proteoglycan synthesis by metabolic factors associated with diabetes.

Background Diabetes is associated with accelerated atherosclerosis, but the mechanisms responsible for this are not known. Proteoglycans have been shown to play a critical role in the initiation of atherosclerosis owing to their ability to bind and retain atherogenic lipoproteins in the artery wall. Proteoglycan structure and composition are altered in atherosclerotic lesions compared with adjacent normal regions of the artery wall, and this is exaggerated in diabetes. The purpose of this study was to determine if metabolic factors associated with diabetes lead to altered proteoglycan structure and composition. Methods Vascular smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, and macrophages were exposed to normal (5.6 mmol/L) or high (25 mmol/L) glucose levels, various insulin and free fatty acid levels, and the cytokines transforming growth factor β (TGF-β1) and platelet-derived growth factor, alone or in combination, and proteoglycan synthesis was determined. Results Glucose concentrations, insulin, and free fatty acids did not alter proteoglycan synthesis, size, or relative distribution. The effect of TGF-β to increase biglycan and versican synthesis, increase sulfate incorporation, and increase the size of the secreted proteoglycans was not altered by the ambient glucose level in the culture medium, nor did high glucose increase levels of active TGF-β. Conclusion Vascular proteoglycan synthesis is not affected by metabolic factors associated with diabetes. We suggest that elevated TGF-β levels in diabetes are responsible for the altered proteoglycan synthesis observed in diabetes.
Atomic and electronic structure of hydrogen-related centers in hydrogen storage materials

Hydrogen-related point defects play an important role in the (de)hydrogenation kinetics of hydrogen storage materials. First-principles calculations have been performed for hydrogen vacancies and hydrogen interstitials in NaAlH4. The results show that all of the relevant point defects are charged, and hence their formation energies and concentrations are strongly Fermi-level dependent. Several of the point defects induce significant rearrangements of the surrounding lattice. The electronic structure of the induced defect states is examined.
An extremal problem on Kr-free graphs

Keywords: K(r)-free graphs ; maximal number of edges Note: Professor Pach's number: [048] Reference DCG-ARTICLE-1988-005doi:10.1002/jgt.3190120407 Record created on 2008-11-14, modified on 2017-05-12
Safety of aerosol tobramycin administration for 3 months to patients with cystic fibrosis

To determine the potential toxicity of prolonged aerosol tobramycin administration, 22 patients with cystic fibrosis were monitored while receiving inhaled tobramycin three times a day for 12 weeks. Prior to, four times during administration and approximately 6 weeks after discontinuation of treatment, we assessed pulmonary function, weight, height, body temperature, eighth cranial nerve function, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, urinary creatinine clearance, plasma iothalamate clearance, urinary beta-2 microglobulin concentration, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa density in sputum. There was no detectable laboratory evidence of nephrotoxicity. Neither a decrease in auditory acuity (range 250-20,000 Hz) nor vestibular dysfunction was detected. Pulmonary function tests significantly improved during the first month in all subjects (P less than 0.05) but returned to enrollment values by the end of the 12th week of administration of tobramycin aerosol. Sputum P. aeruginosa density initially decreased from a mean of 10(7) cfu/gm to a mean of 10(4) cfu/gm after 2 weeks of aerosol tobramycin administration and remained significantly below the enrollment value throughout. Coincident with the reduced bacterial density, a reduction in cough frequency and sputum production, as well as a weight gain was observed. Seventy-three percent of the patients with sputum P. aeruginosa isolates susceptible to tobramycin on enrollment yielded resistant organisms during aerosol administration. However, 1 year later all sputum P. aeruginosa isolates obtained from patients were susceptible to tobramycin. We conclude that thrice daily aerosol tobramycin administration for 3 months is not associated with detectable eighth cranial nerve or renal toxicity. Transient emergence of tobramycin resistant P. aeruginosa may occur.
Site-directed Mutagenesis within an Ectoplasmic ATPase Consensus Sequence Abrogates the Cell Aggregating Properties of the Rat Liver Canalicular Bile Acid Transporter/Ecto-ATPase/Cell CAM 105 and Carcinoembryonic Antigen

Recent studies of the rat liver canalicular bile acid transporter/ecto-ATPase/cell CAM 105 (CBATP), a member of the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) supergene family, indicate that it is a multifunctional protein possessing bile acid efflux, ecto-ATPase, and intercellular aggregating properties. Cheung et al. (Cheung, P. H., Luo, W., Qiu, Y., Zhang, K. E., Millron, P., Lin, S. H. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 24303-24310) have shown that the amino-terminal Ig V-like domain of this protein is required for its aggregating properties, much like the homologous amino-terminal domain of CEA is required for its aggregating properties. The amino-terminal domains of both CBATP and CEA include a consensus ATPase sequence. Site-directed mutagenesis within this ATPase consensus sequence completely eliminates the ecto-ATPase activity of CBATP (Sippel, C. J., McCollum, M., Perlmutter, D. H. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 2820-2826). In this study we examined the possibility that it is this ATPase consensus sequence which is required for the cell aggregating properties of CBATP and CEA and whether there is a relationship between ATPase, aggregating, and bile acid efflux activities. For this we used a baculovirus vector to express in Sf9 cells wild type as well as mutant and chimeric CBATP and CEA molecules. The results indicate that Arg-98 in the ATPase consensus sequence of CBATP and the corresponding residue of CEA are essential for the aggregating properties of these molecules. Moreover Arg-98 is essential for CBATP to interact with itself, CEA to interact with itself, and CBATP to interact with CEA. However, the role of Arg-98 in aggregation is distinct from its role in ecto-ATPase activity and the aggregating properties cannot be attributed to a change in ATP metabolism in the pericellular milieu.
Treatment of singularities in the physical theory of diffraction

The diffraction coefficients describing scattering from an edged body in the physical theory of diffraction are reformulated so as to provide improved behavior in the neighborhood of singularities. Numerical results show that as singularities are approached, the reformulated coefficients are better behaved than the original by several orders of magnitude.
Barriers to Implementing Evidence-Based Clinical Guidelines: A Survey of Early Adopters

Objective The purpose of this study was to identify barriers that early-adopting dentists perceive as common and challenging when implementing recommendations from evidence-based (EB) clinical guidelines. Method This is a cross-sectional study. Dentists who attended the 2008 Evidence-based Dentistry Champion Conference were eligible for inclusion. Forty-three dentists (34%) responded to a 22-item questionnaire administered online. Two investigators independently coded and categorized responses to open-ended items. Descriptive statistics were computed to assess the frequency of barriers and perceived challenges. Results The most common barriers to implementation were difficulty in changing current practice model, resistance and criticism from colleagues, and lack of trust in evidence or research. Barriers perceived as serious problems had to do with lack of up-to-date evidence, lack of clear answers to clinical questions, and contradictory information in the scientific literature . Conclusions Knowledge of barriers will help improve translation of biomedical research for dentists. Information in guidelines needs to be current, clear, and simplified for use at chairside; dentists' fears need to be addressed.
Hypothalamic Control of Lactogenic Function in the Cat

WHILE it is generally accepted that the hypothalamus controls the systemic release of anterior pituitary prolactin, it still remains to be established where in the hypothalamus the regulatory centres are located and how they mediate their influence.
Surgical treatment of microprolactinomas: pros

Medical therapy with dopaminergic agonists (DAs) has been used for several decades for the treatment of both micro- and macroprolactinomas, without much differentiation between the two conditions. While most cases respond well to DAs in terms of prolactin normalization and control of tumor growth, DAs are often needed for many years, or even for lifetime. Concerns have been raised recently about the possible side effects of long-term use of these medications on the anatomy and function of the heart valves. While macroprolactinomas are rarely surgically curable, pituitary surgery in expert hands is a safe and effective method to permanently cure microprolactinomas, with long-term cure rates around 70 %. In this article, I will review the data on safety of DAs an on the effectiveness and safety of surgery, and I will make an argument that surgery should be offered as a possible therapy to microprolactinoma patients, provided that an experienced pituitary neurosurgeon is available.
Responsive Public Officials and Engaged Citizens: Myth or Reality? A Case Study of Water Rights Policy in Colorado

In the past decade nearly 20 Colorado communities have constructed kayak courses to provide recreational amenities and attract tourists. These projects were followed in some cases by applications for a new form of recreational water rights, which differs dramatically from traditional forms of water rights in Colorado. This paper investigates the role that citizens played in the legal and legislative battles that resulted in this policy change. Findings indicate that citizens demanded the construction of kayak courses across Colorado, to which local officials responded. Citizens generally were indifferent to water rights applications once kayak facilities were constructed, however. Government officials sought the water rights to protect their economic investment and their newfound tourist revenue.
Estimating Power Spectrum of Sunyaev-Zeldovich Effect from the Cross-Correlation between the Wilkinson Microwave Anistropy Probe and the Two Micron All Sky Survey

We estimate the power spectrum of the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) effect-induced temperature fluctuations on subdegree scales by using the cross-correlation between the three-year WMAP maps and the 2MASS galaxy distribution. We produced the SZ effect maps by hydrodynamic simulation samples of the ΛCDM model and show that the SZ effect temperature fluctuations are highly non-Gaussian. The PDF of the temperature fluctuations has a long tail. More than 70% of the power of the SZ effect temperature fluctuations is attributed to the top ~1% wavelet modes (long-tail events). On the other hand, the CMB temperature fluctuations basically are Gaussian. Although the mean power of CMB temperature fluctuations on subdegree scales is much higher than that of the SZ effect map, the SZ effect temperature fluctuations associated with top 2MASS clusters is comparable to the power of CMB temperature fluctuations on the same scales. Thus, from noisy WMAP maps, one can have a proper estimation of the SZ effect power at the positions of the top 2MASS clusters. The power spectrum given by these top wavelet modes is useful for constraining the density fluctuation amplitude parameter σ8. We find that the power spectrum of these top wavelet modes of the SZ effect on subdegree scales basically is consistent with the simulation maps produced with σ8 = 0.84. The simulation samples of σ8 = 0.74 show, however, significant deviation from the detected SZ power spectrum. This value can be ruled out with a 99% confidence level if all other cosmological parameters are the same as that given by the three-year WMAP results.