cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Expression of microtubule-associated protein-2a and other novel microtubule-associated protein-2 transcripts in human fetal spinal cord.

Abstract: In human fetal spinal cord (HFSC), six additional microtubule-associated protein-2 (MAP-2) transcripts are generated by alternative splicing of two recently described exons, exon 8 and exon 13. The following three translated proteins are detected by western blot analysis: MAP-2b expressing exon 8 (MAP-2b+8; MAP-2a), MAP-2b expressing exon 13 (MAP-2b+13), and MAP-2c expressing exon 8 and exon 13 (MAP-2c+8+13). The finding that MAP-2b+8 is expressed in HFSC demonstrates for the first time the presence of MAP-2a in human fetal CNS. Immunocytochemical studies show that exon 8-specific antibody and exon 13-specific antibody stain independent and overlapping populations of neurons in the lumbar region of the HFSC. Antibody 13-immunopositive neurons have predominantly cytosolic staining, whereas in the antibody 8-immunoreactive neurons staining was observed in the cytosol, dendrites, and some synapses. The prenatal expression of MAP-2a, which has been used as a marker of synaptogenesis, not only demonstrates the presence of a mature MAP-2 isoform in HFSC, but suggests that MAP-2a is important during human fetal as well as postnatal synaptogenesis.
Exploring moderating effects of John Henryism Active Coping on the relationship between education and cardiovascular measures in Korean Americans

Abstract Objective John Henryism Active Coping (JHAC) is defined as a strong behavioral predisposition to cope with stressors in an effortful and determined manner. The well-known inverse relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and blood pressure (BP) has been hypothesized to be stronger for individuals who have high JHAC than those with low JHAC, suggesting that JHAC may place people with low SES at higher cardiovascular risk. Previous studies testing this hypothesis have presented mixed findings; therefore, this study was conducted to test the JHAC hypothesis by examining the main and interaction effects of SES and JHAC on cardiovascular risk (measured by BP and arterial stiffness [AS]). Methods The sample was 102 Korean Americans (aged 21–60 years). Measures included age, sex, body mass index, smoking, SES (measured by income and education), JHAC (measured by the 12-item JHAC Scale), BP, and AS. Results In terms of the SES measures, only education was significantly related to systolic BP (p = 0.003), diastolic BP (p = 0.001), and AS (p Conclusion Contrary to the JHAC hypothesis, JHAC may be associated with low cardiovascular risk in people with low education in certain groups. Studies are recommended to examine potential beneficial effects of JHAC on cardiovascular health in a larger sample and to identify their mechanisms.
MOCVD growth of thick AlN and AlGaN superlattice structures on Si substrates

Abstract A number of applications require deposition of thick, high-quality AlN films with low stress on Si substrates. Conventional high-temperature MOCVD growth produced an AlN film that exhibited cracking for a film thickness greater than 300 nm due to the large tensile stress generated during the growth process. Alternative methods, including the introduction of low-temperature AlN interlayers, were developed to control the strain developed during MOCVD growth of thick AlN on Si. Additionally, an alternating sequence of AlN and AlGaN—with up to 70% AlN—in a superlattice structure was found to decrease cracking in the films. Structures with thin crack-free GaN cap layers were demonstrated.
Formate bound to cytochrome oxidase can be removed by cyanide and by reduction

Abstract Using 14 C-radiolabeled formate we have found that the rapid form of oxidized cytochrome oxidase can bind up to 1 mol of formate. Treatment of this formate-ligated enzyme with excess cyanide releases 97% of the radiolabel while reduction of formate-labeled enzyme with NADH + ruthenium releases 80–85% of the radioactivity. These data are most simply interpreted by assuming that formate binds to the heme iron of cytochrome a 3 .
Selective labeling of alpha-bungarotoxin with fluorescein isothiocyanate and its use for the study of toxin-acetylcholine receptor interactions.

The main product of the reaction of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and bungarotoxin (Bgt) under near stoichiometric conditions is a monofluorescein derivative preferentially labeled at Lys 26, a highly conserved residue known to be involved in the binding (McDaniel, C.S., Manshouri, T., and Atassi, M.Z. (1987) J. Prot. Chem. 6, 455-461; Garcia-Borron, J.C., Bieber, A.L., and Martinez-Carrion, M. (1987) Biochemistry 26, 4295-4303) of postsynaptic neurotoxins specific for the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AcChR). The fluorescently labeled toxin retains a high affinity for the AcChR, and an unaltered specificity. Binding of FITC-Bgt to AcChR results in a significant decrease in the fluorescence intensity of the probe. This AcChR-mediated quenching of FITC-Bgt fluorescence allows for a continuous monitoring of the binding process. The quenching of free and bound FITC-Bgt by charged and neutral quenchers shows few fluorophore accessibility changes as induced by the toxin-bound state. The results are consistent with a model in which the positively charged concave surface of the toxin interacts with a negatively charged complementary surface in the receptor molecule.
Food-deprivation polydipsia in gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)

Abstract After 2–5 days of food deprivation, gerbils develop polydipsia which ends when they are returned to normal ad libitum food intake. This polydipsia is not due to Na+ deficiency since maintaining normal daily Na+ intake while restricting food did not prevent polydipsia. No renal dysfunction was noted. Polydipsic gerbils excreted extremely dilute urine as they showed almost complete conservation of Na+ and K+. When water deprived, gerbils were able to curb urine outputs as well as non-polydipsic control animals. When salt injected, polydipsic gerbils excreted hypertonic urine as well as controls.
Effect of high-fidelity simulation on Pediatric Advanced Life Support training in pediatric house staff: a randomized trial

Objectives:To assess the effect of high-fidelity simulation (SIM) on cognitive performance after a training session involving several mock resuscitations designed to teach and reinforce Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) algorithms.Methods:Pediatric residents were randomized to high-fidelity sim
Interactions of Oxalic Acid and Ice on Cu Surface

The interactions between oxalic acid (C2H2O4) and H2O on a polycrystalline Cu surface have been investigated by reflection−absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS) and temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) methods. The desorption of H2O and C2H2O4 was studied; we found that the ice desorption temperature increases with the ice-film thickness. Desorption of the C2H2O4 layer involves a structural modification and sublimation. The H2O/C2H2O4 and C2H2O4/H2O interfaces and the codeposited C2H2O4+H2O were prepared on the Cu surface by varying deposition sequences of gaseous C2H2O4 and H2O at 155 K. We found that the interaction between ice and C2H2O4 does not lead to the H2O-induced deprotonation of C2H2O4 in a temperature range 155−283 K. However, H-bonding interactions between H2O and C2H2O4 can lead to the formation of a metastable oxalic acid−ice complex in the C2H2O4/H2O and C2H2O4+H2O systems during the TPD process. Desorption of H2O from the C2H2O4/H2O/Cu system is suggested to involve the diffusion of...
Protein kinase Cε mediates salutary effects on electrical coupling induced by ischemic preconditioning

Background Ischemic preconditioning delays the onset of electrical uncoupling and prevents loss of the primary ventricular gap junction protein connexin 43 (Cx43) from gap junctions during subsequent ischemia. Objective To test the hypothesis that these effects are mediated by protein kinase C epsilon (PKCe), we studied isolated Langendorff-perfused hearts from mice with homozygous germline deletion of PKCe (PKCe-KO). Methods Cx43 phosphorylation and distribution were measured by quantitative immunoblotting and confocal microscopy. Changes in electrical coupling were monitored using the 4-electrode technique to measure whole-tissue resistivity. Results The amount of Cx43 located in gap junctions, measured by confocal microscopy under basal conditions, was significantly greater in PKCe-KO hearts compared with wild-type, but total Cx43 content measured by immunoblotting was not different. These unanticipated results indicate that PKCe regulates subcellular distribution of Cx43 under normal conditions. Preconditioning prevented loss of Cx43 from gap junctions during ischemia in wild-type but not PKCe-KO hearts. Specific activation of PKCe, but not PKCδ, also prevented ischemia-induced loss of Cx43 from gap junctions. Preconditioning delayed the onset of uncoupling in wild-type but hastened uncoupling in PKCe-KO hearts. Cx43 phosphorylation at the PKC site Ser368 increased 5-fold after ischemia in wild-type hearts, and surprisingly, by nearly 10-fold in PKCe-KO hearts. Preconditioning prevented phosphorylation of Cx43 in gap junction plaques at Ser368 in wild-type but not PKCe-KO hearts. Conclusion Taken together, these results indicate that PKCe plays a critical role in preconditioning to preserve Cx43 signal in gap junctions and delay electrical uncoupling during ischemia.
Effects of antitranspirants on seed germination, growth, and survival of tree seedlings

Adol had negligible effects on germination of Pinus resinosa Ait. and Robinia pseudoacacia L. seeds whereas TAG, Foli-gard, and Geon Vinyl Latex reduced the rate and final percent germination in proportion to dosage. When applied to the soil surface, some concentrations of Foli-gard increased dry weight accumulation and Geon Vinyl Latex improved leaf water balance of surviving seedlings of Robinia pseudoacacia. Adol had no effect when applied to the soil surface. re]19730508
Tracer introduction by flash photolysis

Abstract A flash photolysis method for introducing colored tracer into flowing water without disturbing its flow patterns is developed. The method employs a lightly colored dilute solution which undergoes a chemical reaction similar to the blueprint reaction upon exposure to high intensity light. A dark blue permanent tracer, easily observed or detected by colorimetry, is produced. As a demonstration and test, axial dispersion is measured in laminar flow in a round tube. Other flow visualization studies where it is important to avoid disturbing the flow should benefit from such methods.
Are stock returns still mean-reverting?☆

Abstract This study uses a powerful nonparametric block bootstrap method and fresh data to examine the unresolved issue of mean reversion in stock returns. The results show that both large and small company stocks experienced significant mean reversion in returns for periods of 1 through 5 years during 1926–1966. In 1967–2007, there was significant mean reversion in 5-year returns of large company stocks, and 1-, 4-, and 5-year returns of small company stocks. The findings indicate that, although mean reversion in stock returns has weakened in recent decades, it persists, particularly for small company stocks.
An Update on Treatment Advances for the First-line Therapy of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

The treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) has evolved significantly over the past 10 years. For nearly 40 years, the fluoropyrimidine 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was the only agent to be used for advanced metastatic disease. However, since the mid-1990s, the chemotherapy treatment options for patients with mCRC have been greatly facilitated with the introduction of several new cytotoxic and biologic agents. In particular, combination regimens that incorporate infusional schedules of 5-FU in combination with oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) and/or irinotecan (FOLFIRI) have significantly improved clinical efficacy as related to overall response rates, time to tumor progression, and median overall survival. Capecitabine, an oral fluoropyrimidine, has now been shown in several phase III studies to be as effective as infusional 5-FU when combined with oxaliplatin. During this same time frame, intense efforts have focused on integrating novel biologic agents with cytotoxic chemotherapy regimens. These biologic agents target critical signaling pathways such as the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Bevacizumab is a monoclonal antibody targeting VEGF-A, and when combined with fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy, which includes oxaliplatin or irinotecan, significantly improves clinical efficacy in the management of patients with mCRC. Cetuximab and panitumumab are monoclonal antibodies targeting EGFR, and each of these agents is approved to treat mCRC patients who have progressed on previous chemotherapy treatments. Recent studies have shown that cetuximab, when combined with cytotoxic chemotherapy, significantly enhances the management of patients with mCRC in the first-, second-, and disease-refractory settings. With these advances in treatment options, much attention is now focused on identifying the critical molecular biomarkers that can predict response and/or toxicity to facilitate the evolution of empiric chemotherapy to individually tailored treatments for patients with mCRC.
Measurement and prediction of enteric methane emission

The greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the agricultural sector account for about 25.5% of total global anthropogenic emission. While CO(2) receives the most attention as a factor relative to global warming, CH(4), N(2)O and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) also cause significant radiative forcing. With the relative global warming potential of 25 compared with CO(2), CH(4) is one of the most important GHGs. This article reviews the prediction models, estimation methodology and strategies for reducing enteric CH(4) emissions. Emission of CH(4) in ruminants differs among developed and developing countries, depending on factors like animal species, breed, pH of rumen fluid, ratio of acetate:propionate, methanogen population, composition of diet and amount of concentrate fed. Among the ruminant animals, cattle contribute the most towards the greenhouse effect through methane emission followed by sheep, goats and buffalos, respectively. The estimated CH(4) emission rate per cattle, buffaloe, sheep and goat in developed countries are 150.7, 137, 21.9 and 13.7 (g/animal/day) respectively. However, the estimated rates in developing countries are significantly lower at 95.9 and 13.7 (g/animal/day) per cattle and sheep, respectively. There exists a strong interest in developing new and improving the existing CH(4) prediction models to identify mitigation strategies for reducing the overall CH(4) emissions. A synthesis of the available literature suggests that the mechanistic models are superior to empirical models in accurately predicting the CH(4) emission from dairy farms. The latest development in prediction model is the integrated farm system model which is a process-based whole-farm simulation technique. Several techniques are used to quantify enteric CH(4) emissions starting from whole animal chambers to sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) tracer techniques. The latest technology developed to estimate CH(4) more accurately is the micrometeorological mass difference technique. Because the conditions under which animals are managed vary greatly by country, CH(4) emissions reduction strategies must be tailored to country-specific circumstances. Strategies that are cost effective, improve productivity, and have limited potential negative effects on livestock production hold a greater chance of being adopted by producers. It is also important to evaluate CH(4) mitigation strategies in terms of the total GHG budget and to consider the economics of various strategies. Although reductions in GHG emissions from livestock industries are seen as high priorities, strategies for reducing emissions should not reduce the economic viability of enterprises.
Organizational Reform and Professional Dissent in the Careers of Richard Cabot and Ernest Amory Codman, 1900-1920

La pratique medicale du XX e siecle reste sous le controle d'efforts professionnels et collaboratifs de certains medecins. L'A. decrit la resistance a cette reforme en analysant la carriere de deux medecins, Richard Cabot et Ernest Amory Codman
“Herstory” in accounting: The first eighty years

Abstract Practices restricting women's access to the accounting profession have persisted since the early 1900s, yet the accounting literature has generally failed to articulate the nature of these discriminatory practices, and the underlying class and gender conflicts this opposition reveals. Quoting from debates in the early 1900s — “deploring” the admission of women to the profession — I describe the evolution of strategies that restricted certification opportunities, denied participation, and perpetuated alienating social relations. However, description is not the primary aim of this history of female accountants, rather, a theoretical rationale for understanding these stratagems is sought. By contextualizing accounting practice and research within feminist theories of conflict, this research exposes accounting's participation in reconstituting the terrain of struggle for an array of social practices towards women: culturally, educationally, economically and politically.
Atomic level stresses

The birth and subsequent development of the concept of the atomic level stresses are reviewed, and its future is discussed. Initially it was conceived as a means of describing the local structure in metallic glasses. It gradually became evident that its capacity is beyond the initial expectation. It appears that this concept is a powerful tool in understanding diverse phenomena in strongly disordered systems, such as the atomic dynamics in liquids, glass transition, mechanical failure and structural relaxation. This concept also has a potential to bridge distinct fields of glass research beyond metallic glasses, including colloids, molecular liquids, granular matter and other materials.
Erosion Rates and Bulk Properties of Sediments From the Kalamazoo River

Erosion rates and the properties of bulk density, average particle size, organic carbon content, and gas fraction were determined as a function of depth for 35 relatively undisturbed sediment cores from the Kalamazoo River. In most cores, strong stratification in one or more of these properties was observed as a function of depth, generally with a sandy, high density, easily erodable layer overlaying a finer, low density, more-difficult-to-erode layer. For these cases, erosion rates often differed by several orders of magnitude between these layers. In general, organic carbon and gas fraction were high. Averaged properties of these cores as well as detailed descriptions of eight representative cores are presented. Variations of erosion rates and bulk properties in both the horizontal and vertical directions were large and equivalent in magnitude in both directions. These large variations indicate that large variations in sediment and contaminant sediment-water flux and transport also exist throughout the river. This variability in space and time must be considered in accurate and predictive modeling of sediment and contaminant transport and in the remediation of contaminated sediments.
Genetic polymorphisms in cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase influence microsomal P450-catalyzed drug metabolism.

ObjectivesCytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (POR) is the only flavoprotein that donates electrons to all microsomal P450 enzymes, which catalyze the biosynthesis of steroids, fatty acids, and bile acids, as well as metabolism of more than 80% of prescription drugs. Although mutations in POR have been i
High-Rate Sputtering For Optical Purposes

Magnetron Reactive sputtering presents interesting possibilities for the deposition of optical coatings. Many oxydes and nitrides have been obtained in this way from metallic targets, in while the synthesis of other compounds (fluorides, sulfides) is still problematic. Starting with relatively rough optical applications, as: colored window-glass coatings and indiumtin oxide layers for IR-reflectors, the high-rate magnetron sputtering becomes available for precision optical (interferential) coatings, owing to the progress made in the mastering of the reactive sputtering machinism.
What we talk about when we talk about capacitance measured with the voltage-clamp step method

Capacitance is a fundamental neuronal property. One common way to measure capacitance is to deliver a small voltage-clamp step that is long enough for the clamp current to come to steady state, and then to divide the integrated transient charge by the voltage-clamp step size. In an isopotential neuron, this method is known to measure the total cell capacitance. However, in a cell that is not isopotential, this measures only a fraction of the total capacitance. This has generally been thought of as measuring the capacitance of the "well-clamped" part of the membrane, but the exact meaning of this has been unclear. Here, we show that the capacitance measured in this way is a weighted sum of the total capacitance, where the weight for a given small patch of membrane is determined by the voltage deflection at that patch, as a fraction of the voltage-clamp step size. This quantifies precisely what it means to measure the capacitance of the "well-clamped" part of the neuron. Furthermore, it reveals that the voltage-clamp step method measures a well-defined quantity, one that may be more useful than the total cell capacitance for normalizing conductances measured in voltage-clamp in nonisopotential cells.
Illusions of Visual Motion Elicited by Electrical Stimulation of Human MT Complex

Human cortical area MT+ (hMT+) is known to respond to visual motion stimuli, but its causal role in the conscious experience of motion remains largely unexplored. Studies in non-human primates demonstrate that altering activity in area MT can influence motion perception judgments, but animal studies are inherently limited in assessing subjective conscious experience. In the current study, we use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), intracranial electrocorticography (ECoG), and electrical brain stimulation (EBS) in three patients implanted with intracranial electrodes to address the role of area hMT+ in conscious visual motion perception. We show that in conscious human subjects, reproducible illusory motion can be elicited by electrical stimulation of hMT+. These visual motion percepts only occurred when the site of stimulation overlapped directly with the region of the brain that had increased fMRI and electrophysiological activity during moving compared to static visual stimuli in the same individual subjects. Electrical stimulation in neighboring regions failed to produce illusory motion. Our study provides evidence for the sufficient causal link between the hMT+ network and the human conscious experience of visual motion. It also suggests a clear spatial relationship between fMRI signal and ECoG activity in the human brain.
Quality Change in Price Indexes

Price indexes provide the fundamental building blocks for measuring the general price level along with real incomes and real output. But the most important single price index for the United States, the CPI, has been criticized as significantly underestimating the pace of quality change. This paper sketches the issues involved in the measurement of quality change in price indexes. It reviews the theory of quality change, discusses how the Bureau of Labor Statistics deals with quality change, and provides examples of measurement issues in practice. It concludes with a proposal to resolve the massive uncertainties in this area.
Beyond “Culture”: Space, Identity, and the Politics of Difference

This assumed isomorphism of space, place, and culture results in some significant problems. First, there is the issue of those who inhabit the border, what Gloria Anzaldua calls the “narrow strip along steep edges” of national boundaries. The fiction ofconclusion that a focus on people who live in the borders between dominant societies or nations (and here borders is also a metaphor for people who identify, culturally, with more than one group) makes clear the fact that differences between cultures come about not because of their isolation from each other, but because of their connections with each other. Such a conclusion also suggests that along with difference comes the hierarchies of power. Culture is not only a concept that expresses difference between peoples, but also a concept that masks the uneven power relations between peoples, and these uneven power relations can only exist through connection, rather than isolation.
Generalization gradients around a formerly positive S

After mastering a successive discrimination between a blank key (S+) and a vertical line (S−), two groups of pigeons were tested for line-tilt generalization in extinction. The vertical line had always been associated with nonreinforcement of keypecking in one group, but for the other group it had served earlier as a stimulus associated with reinforcement. All Ss in both groups yielded gradients with a minimum at the S− value, but the latter group made appreciably more responses during testing. Further generalization tests, conducted with reinforcement at all line-tilt values, suggested other differences between the groups.
The debate on the resurrection of the dead : An incident from the ministry of the historical Jesus?

Despite initial appearances, Jesus' debate with the Sadducees over the resurrection of the dead does have good reason for being considered authentic. The pericope is clearly not a pure creation by ...
Direct Measurement of Loads at the Temporomandibular Joint in Macaca arctoides

This paper describes a novel technique of directly measuring loads at the condyle in Macaca arctoides and provides recordings on one animal while measuring loads at the TMJ. This study is the first to actually measure loads directly at the articulating surfaces of the condyle. The data collected in this study confirm Hylander's data that the TMJ is a stress-bearing joint. With this pilot study, observations which can be made are: 1) The loads at the condyle are minimal during posterior chewing of both soft and hard foods (1-3 lb), and 2) during mastication of food the load (3-4 lb) at the condyle is larger than for posterior chewing. It was demonstrated during the calibration of the transducer that as the condyle translates forward over the articulating eminence during opening, a load is produced on it which is as large as the load present during incisal biting. Since recordings were only successfully taken on one animal, the above observations must be confirmed with further experiments.
Mechanistic Insight into Pertussis Toxin and Lectin Signaling Using T Cells Engineered To Express a CD8α/CD3ζ Chimeric Receptor

Mammalian cell-surface receptors typically display N- or O-linked glycans added post-translationally. Plant lectins such as phytohemagluttinin (PHA) can activate the T cell receptor (TCR) and other cell-surface receptors by binding to glycans and initiating receptor cross-linking. Pathogenic microorganisms such as Bordetella pertussis also express proteins with lectin-like activities. Similar to plant lectins, pertussis toxin (PTx) can activate the TCR and bind to a variety of glycans. However, whether the lectin-like activity of PTx is responsible for its ability to activate TCR signaling has not been formally proven. Here we examined the ability of PTx and a panel of lectins to activate the TCR or a CD8α/CD3ζ chimeric receptor (termed CD8ζ). We demonstrate that CD8ζ rescues PTx-induced signaling events lacking in TCR null cells. This result indicates that CD8ζ can substitute for TCR and supports the hypothesis that PTxB (functioning as a lectin) stimulates signaling via receptor cross-linking rather than by binding to a specific epitope on the TCR. Moreover, PTx is able to activate signaling by binding either N-linked or O-linked glycan-modified receptors as the TCR displays N-linked glycans while CD8ζ displays O-linked glycans. Finally, studies with a diverse panel of lectins indicate that the signaling activity of the lectins does not always correlate with the biochemical reports of ligand preferences. Comparison of lectin signaling through TCR or CD8ζ allows us to better define the structural and functional properties of lectin-glycan interactions using a biologically based signaling readout.
Absolutely continuous invariant measures for most piecewise smooth expanding maps

We introduce transversality conditions for a piecewise smooth map in any dimension with a sufficiently regular discontinuity set. We prove that maps satisfying these conditions have certain nice properties and, among all maps with a common set of discontinuities, form an open and dense subset. This, in conjunction with other works of the author, implies the existence of stochastically stable invariant densities for an open and dense set of piecewise smooth expanding maps.
Strong convergence of contraction semigroups and of iterative methods for accretive operators in Banach spaces

LetA be anm-accretive operator in a Banach spaceE. Suppose thatA −10 is not empty and that bothE andE * are uniformly convex. We study a general condition onA that guarantees the strong convergence of the semigroup generated by—A and of related implicit and explicit iterative schemes to a zero ofA. Rates of convergence are also obtained. In Hilbert space this condition has been recently introduced by A. Pazy. We also establish strong convergence under the assumption that the interior ofA −10 is not empty. In Hilbert space this result is due to H. Brezis.
Slow Penetration of Ballistic Fabrics

A quasistatic penetration test is designed and implemented to provide insight into the evolution and phenomenology of fabric deformation and failure during penetration. The results are needed to guide development of a physics-based computational model of fabric response to projectile impact. The test involves slowly pushing a rigidly held fragment simulator into and through a single ply fabric specimen. The stroke and load on the penetrator are recorded during the test, and a videocamera and microphone enable the fabric failure phenomena to be time-correlated with the load-stroke history. The three distinct modes of fabric failure observed in these tests—local yarn rupture, remote yarn failure, and yarn pullout—are the same modes observed in impact tests, although the extent to which each mode occurs is different in static and dynamic tests. The conditions under which the different failure modes occur and the effects on the load-stroke curve and the energy absorbed are determined.
Increased maximum count rates in single-photon avalanche diodes with ultrafast active quenching

We demonstrate ultrafast active-quenching techniques in a silicon single-photon avalanche diode, and observe an order of magnitude reduction in afterpulsing, a factor of 1.8 reduction in diode recovery time, and increased maximum count rates.
The Anger Recall interview and cardiovascular reactivity in women: An examination of context and experience

Recent research has focused on the role of hostility as a risk factor for coronary heart disease. Hostility has been linked independently to cardiovascular mortality and, as a component of Type A behavior, to atherogenesis and myocardial infarction; however, the mechanisms by which hostility manifests its effects on the cardiovascular system have not been determined. In addition, hostility has been evaluated as a trait measure, with little emphasis on how anger-provoking episodes may be perceived by individuals. The present study seeks to evaluate the affective experience of hostility, through an anger recall interview, and relate qualities of that experience to one potential mechanism of cardiovascular risk, cardiovascular reactivity. Fifty-eight women, classified by structured interview as Type A or B, participated in an anger recall interview while their heart rate and blood pressure were monitored. Type A women manifested greater systolic reactivity when their anger was in response to frustration of autonomy needs, while Type B women exhibited greater heart rate reactivity in response to frustration of affiliation needs. All women who suppressed anger expression experienced higher pressor responses than women who expressed anger assertively. Future investigations may find the content of an interview as useful as the procedure itself in studies of cardiovascular reactivity.
mRNA-Seq analysis of the Pseudoperonospora cubensis transcriptome during cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) infection.

Pseudoperonospora cubensis, an oomycete, is the causal agent of cucurbit downy mildew, and is responsible for significant losses on cucurbit crops worldwide. While other oomycete plant pathogens have been extensively studied at the molecular level, Ps. cubensis and the molecular basis of its interaction with cucurbit hosts has not been well examined. Here, we present the first large-scale global gene expression analysis of Ps. cubensis infection of a susceptible Cucumis sativus cultivar, ‘Vlaspik’, and identification of genes with putative roles in infection, growth, and pathogenicity. Using high throughput whole transcriptome sequencing, we captured differential expression of 2383 Ps. cubensis genes in sporangia and at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 days post-inoculation (dpi). Additionally, comparison of Ps. cubensis expression profiles with expression profiles from an infection time course of the oomycete pathogen Phytophthora infestans on Solanum tuberosum revealed similarities in expression patterns of 1,576–6,806 orthologous genes suggesting a substantial degree of overlap in molecular events in virulence between the biotrophic Ps. cubensis and the hemi-biotrophic P. infestans. Co-expression analyses identified distinct modules of Ps. cubensis genes that were representative of early, intermediate, and late infection stages. Collectively, these expression data have advanced our understanding of key molecular and genetic events in the virulence of Ps. cubensis and thus, provides a foundation for identifying mechanism(s) by which to engineer or effect resistance in the host.
Effects of muscle structures on two-dimensional reflectance in beef muscles

Our recent studies found that the optical reflectance in skeletal muscle had a unique geometric pattern. This pattern can be characterized using a set of five parameters extracted from each image including two shape parameters, two spatial intensity decay gradients along and across the muscle fibers and the total scattering intensity. We previously found that some of these optical parameters may have the capability to predict beef tenderness. In this data analysis study, we investigated the effects of sarcomere length, college content, and proteolysis on the two-dimensional reflectance in beef muscles. The results may help better understand the capabilities of using optical methods to assess meat tenderness.
Optical parametric oscillator far below threshold: Experiment versus theory

The theory of the optical parametric oscillator is examined and compared to the experiment in the regime of far below threshold. It is found that the output state has no difference from spontaneous parametric down-conversion except that the bandwidth of down-conversion is reduced to that of the resonator and the conversion rate is enhanced by cavity resonance. The reduction of the bandwidth of the down-converted fields makes it possible for a direct measurement of the time interval distribution between two down-converted photons. The observed distributions are well explained by the theory. Such a narrow-band two-photon source will find wide applications in quantum information processing.
Porosity and permeability evolution accompanying hot fluid injection into diatomite

An experimental study of silica dissolution was performed to probe the evolution of permeability and porosity in siliceous diatomite during hot fluid injection such as water or steam flooding. Two competing mechanisms were identified. Silica solubility in water at elevated temperature causes rock dissolution thereby increasing permeability; however, the rock is mechanically weak leading to compression of the solid matrix during injection. Permeability and porosity can decrease at the onset of fluid flow. A laboratory flow apparatus was designed and built to examine these processes in diatomite core samples. At the core level, we measured the pressure drop as a function of time for fixed injection rates to determine permeability variation and utilized an X-ray Computerized Tomography (CT) scanner to measure in-situ porosity. At the pore level, a scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to observe changes in pore morphology. We found that porosity decreased initially due to compaction caused by the impos...
Dissociation and reassociation of RTF and r-determinants of the R-factor NR1 in Proteus mirabilis.

A model is proposed for the regulation of the number of copies of drug resistance genes per host cell by their dissociation and reassociation with transfer factors.
Inference under planned maintenance, warranties, and other retrospective data

This is an expository paper. Here we set up a foundational framework for inference under planned maintenance, warranties, and other retrospective data. Scenarios of the type mentioned above are plagued with censoring, truncation, tampering, and other such mechanisms of dishonest or careless reporting. The only satisfactory way to treat the latter issues is by modelling such phenomenon.
Fluctuations of protein structure as expressed in the distribution of hydrogen exchange rate constants

Hydrogen exchange kinetics of proteins provide information about the dynamics of their structure. The interpretation of experiments has been limited by difficulty in identifying individual rate constants. In order to invert the kinetic data, and to gain information about the individual reacting sites, we introduce a Laplace inversion technique and obtain the distribution function of rate constants by which the intricate reaction proceeds. A series of carefully overlapped experiments were performed on lysozyme at 25°C, an exchange profile obtained, and a distribution function extracted. This function was composed of a product of two terms, indicating two parallel pathways. The first, a power-law term, was attributed to exchange from the native state. This part of the distribution function thus describes the scope of the conformational fluctuations in proteins at constant temperature and pressure. The second, an exponential, was seen to be associated with the pathway involving thermal unfolding and subsequent free exchange with the solvent. The influence of trichlorethanol and glycerol on the total distribution function was measured. Trichloroethanol selectively increased the contribution from the thermal unfolding pathway, whereas glycerol, besides decreasing this type of contribution, increased the width of the distribution function attributed to structural fluctuations.
Acute administration of ethanol reduces apoptosis following ischemic stroke in rats.

Abstract In recent studies, acute ethanol administration appears to play a neuroprotective role during ischemic stroke. We sought to confirm these findings by identifying if ethanol-derived neuroprotection is associated with a reduction in apoptosis. Ethanol at 0.5 and 1.5 g/kg doses was given by intraperitoneal injections to Sprague-Dawley rats after 2 h of middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion, followed by reperfusion. We quantified apoptotic cell death in each of the treatment groups with ELISA, and measured pro- and anti-apoptotic protein expression with Western blot analysis. Cell death was significantly increased in rats after ischemia and was subsequently significantly reduced by the administration of 1.5 g/kg of ethanol. We found that the 1.5 g/kg dose promoted the expression of pro-survival factors and decreased the expression of apoptotic proteins at 3 h after reperfusion. This effect was maintained at 24 h for Caspase-3 and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), although not for Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and Bcl-2-associated X (Bax). Administration of 0.5 g/kg of ethanol was not as effective in regulating protein expression as the 1.5 g/kg dose. Our study suggests that administration of ethanol at a dose of 1.5 g/kg after stroke – which provides rat blood alcohol levels equivalent to the legal driving limit – produces a differential protein profile, with increased expression of anti-apoptotic proteins and decrease in pro-apoptotic factors. This results in a significant reduction of neuronal apoptosis and is neuroprotective in ischemia-reperfusion injury.
Surgical management of anastomotic leak following colorectal surgery

Management of anastomotic leak following colorectal reconstructive procedures is perhaps the most challenging issue facing both the patient and surgeon. These complications are frequently encountered in deconditioned and septic patients where clinical judgment and experience play a paramount role in the care of these patients. Several algorithms have been presented for evaluation and management of anastomotic leak based on location, chronicity, symptoms, locations, and diversion status. Timely management of anastomotic leak is paramount to minimizing short- and long-term morbidity and mortality in patients. With a varied armamentarium, and frequent need for multiple interventions, restoration of intestinal continuity and acceptable functional outcomes are achievable in a majority of instances.
Obligatory Activator-Polymerase Addition Order at Promoters

The kinetics of open complex formation were measured by migration retardation assay and DNase I footprinting at the activator-dependent promoters ara P1, lac P1 and gal P1. In each case, the rate of open complex formation was significantly faster if the activator, AraC for ara and CAP for lac and gal, had been added before RNA polymerase. The results indicate that complexes of transcriptional activators, RNA polymerase and promoter can exist in two states, one which can form open complexes rapidly and one which cannot.
Isoproterenol and Somatostatin Decrease Plasma Leptin in Humans: A Novel Mechanism Regulating Leptin Secretion

In cultured adipocytes, leptin is increased by insulin and decreased by cAMP. In animal models, insulin and agents that increase intracellular cAMP have been shown to similarly affect plasma leptin in vivo. This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that in humans increased cAMP induced by isoproterenol would decrease leptin. Five groups of normal weight subjects were studied: 1) subjects infused with isoproterenol at a rate of 24 ng/kg/min (ISO24); 2) subjects infused with isoproterenol at a rate of 8 ng/kg/min (ISO8); 3) subjects infused with somatostatin/insulin/GH followed by coinfusion with 8 ng/kg/min isoproterenol (ISO8 + SRIH); 4) subjects infused with somatostatin/insulin/GH alone (SRIH); and 5) control subjects infused with saline (NS). ISO24 infusion resulted in a 27% decrease in plasma leptin over 120 min. ISO24 also increased plasma insulin over the infusion. ISO8 resulted in a 16% decrease in leptin. Saline did not change leptin. SRIH alone decreased leptin 19% over the first 120 min, ...
presence and characterization of two protein kinase activities in human seminal fluid.

Abstract The presence of two protein kinase (ATP:protein phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.37) activities has been demonstrated in human seminal fluid, utilizing partially dephosphorylated phosvitin and lysine-rich histones as model acceptor substrates. Both kinase activities were maximal in the presenee of MgCl2 and a sulfhydryl-protecting agent such as dithiothreitol; however, the histone kinase was stimulated to a greater extent by the latter. The histone kinase displayed a broad shoulder of activity at pH values of 7.1 to 7.6 with optimal activity at pH 8.0, and was inhibited by increased ionic strength (53% at 160 mM NaCl) and by the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor from rabbit muscle. The kinase activity towards phosvitin exhibited a broad pH profile with maximal activity at pH 7.2, was slightly stimulated by NaCl (20% at 160 mM), and was unaffected by the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor. Kinetic studies revealed more than one apparent Km for the protein substrates and ATP. These differences in enzymic properties of kinase activities towards phosvitin and lysine-rich histones strongly indicate the presence of multiple enzymes. It appears that the histone kinase activity is attributable to the free catalyfic subunit of a cyclic AMP-dependent enzyme. The protein kinase activities of seminal fluids from vasectomized men were 12–20% of those round for seminal fluids of normal men. This suggests that sperm may be a major source of protein kinase activities in seminal fluid.
Learning to Be Professional Technical Classroom Discourse, Practice, and Professional Identity Construction

Instruction in the technical and scientific disciplines often provides students with the technical skills necessary to succeed in industry. However, these disciplines also focus on socializing students into professional identities. This study examines one exemplar discipline, mechanical engineering, to see how classroom discourse and practice construct professional identities for students (as future engineers) and their customers. Results suggest that although students' conceptions of the customer provided glimpses of professional identity, design processes in these classrooms were ultimately driven and shaped by academic communicative practices, audiences, and goals. Given this, instructional interventions are provided to integrate professionalization processes within classrooms where situated learning is apparent.
Membrane attachment activates dnaA protein, the initiation protein of chromosome replication in Escherichia coli

ADP and ATP are tightly bound to dnaA protein and are crucial to its function in DNA replication; the exchange of these nucleotides is effected specifically by the acidic phospholipids (cardiolipin and phosphatidylglycerol) present in Escherichia coli membranes [Sekimizu, K. & Kornberg, A. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 7131-7135]. We now find that phospholipids derived from membranes lacking an unsaturated fatty acid (e.g., oleic acid) are unable to promote the exchange. This observation correlates strikingly with the long-known effect of 3-decynoyl-N-acetylcysteamine, a "suicide analog" that prevents initiation of a cycle of replication in E. coli by inhibiting the synthesis of oleic acid, an inhibition that can be overcome by providing the cells with oleic acid. Profound influences on the specific binding of dnaA protein to phospholipids by temperature, the content of unsaturated fatty acids, and the inclusion of cholesterol can be explained by the need for the phospholipids to be in fluid-phase vesicles. These findings suggest that membrane attachment of dnaA protein is vital for its function in the initiation of chromosome replication in E. coli.
Ethnographic Assessments Using Ethnographic Fieldwork Methods to Help Undergraduate Students Experience, Understand, and Describe Living Abroad

In this article, I examine one strategy through which international educators attempted to measure the success of undergraduate study abroad experiences. Using guided reflection prompts grounded in ethnographic fieldwork practices, we hoped to develop a method by which we could measure our students' success connecting their daily experiences abroad with concepts learned in the classroom, describing their physical surroundings and the people with whom they share them, and challenging stereotypes they knowingly or unknowingly retained when they began their program abroad. Drawn from over five years of essays collected from students at the conclusion of their study abroad experience, we focused our analysis on the students' self-awareness and their ability to be conscious of their own values and judgments as they tried to adapt to local practices and values while attaining new knowledge, thereby enhancing their intercultural living skills.