cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Studies on the in vitro inactivation of the Neurospora crassa assimilatory nitrite reductase in the presence of reduced pyridine nucleotides plus flavin.

Abstract In vitro inactivation of Neurospora crassa nitrite reductase (NAD(P)H: nitrite oxidoreductase, EC 1.6.6.4) can be obtained by preincubation of the enzyme with reduced pyridine nucleotide plus FAD. The presence of nitrite or hydroxylamine, electron acceptors for the N. crassa nitrite reductase, or cyanide, sulfite or arsenite, competitive inhibitors with respect to nitrite of this enzyme, protects the enzyme against this inactivation. Anaerobic experiments reveal that oxygen is required in order to obtain complete inactivation of nitrite reductase by preincubation with reduced pyridine nucleotide plus FAD. Also, inactivation is prevented if catalase is included in the preincubation mixture. The presence of hydrogen peroxide in the preincubation mixture increases the sensitivity of nitrite reductase to the in vitro FAD-dependent NAD(P)H inactivation. Neither electron acceptors, competitive inhibitors nor catalase, agents which protect the enzyme against the FAD-dependent NAD(P)H inactivation, can reverse this process once it has occurred.
Thymoma: A Continuing Survey at the Massachusetts General Hospital

An analysis is presented of the treatment of 103 patients with thymoma, 56 with myasthenia gravis and 47 without. In a 1966 report on the first 63 patients, it was stated that the presence of myasthenia and the finding of local tumor invasion at operation were ominous prognostic indicators. The augmented series suggests that myasthenia no longer carries this stigma, possibly because of improved methods in its management in patients who have undergone operation.
Differentiation of DNA reactive and non-reactive genotoxic mechanisms using gene expression profile analysis.

Abstract Genotoxic stress triggers a variety of biological responses including the transcriptional activation of genes regulating DNA repair, cell survival and cell death. Here, we investigated whether gene expression profiles can differentiate between DNA reactive and DNA non-reactive mechanisms of genotoxicity. We analyzed gene expression profiles and micronucleus levels in L5178Y cells treated with cisplatin and sodium chloride. The assessment of cisplatin genotoxicity (up to six-fold increase in the number of micronuclei) and gene expression profile (increased expression of genotoxic stress-associated genes) was in agreement with cisplatin mode of action as a DNA adduct-forming agent. The gene expression profile analysis of cisplatin-treated cells identified a number of genes with robust up regulation of mRNA expression including genes associated with DNA damage (i.e. members of GADD45 family), early response (i.e. cFOS), and heat shock protein (i.e. HSP40 homologue). The gene expression changes correlated well with DNA damage as measured by DNA–protein crosslinks and platinum–DNA binding. To differentiate the genotoxic stress-associated expression profile of cisplatin from a general toxic stress, we have compared the gene expression profile of cisplatin-treated cells to cells treated with sodium chloride, which causes osmotic shock and cell lysis. Although the sodium chloride treatment caused a two-fold induction of micronuclei, the gene expression profile at equitoxic concentrations was remarkably distinct from the profile observed with cisplatin. The profile of sodium chloride featured a complete lack of expression changes in genes associated with DNA damage and repair. In summary, the gene expression profiles clearly distinguished between DNA reactive and non-reactive genotoxic mechanisms of cisplatin and sodium chloride. Our results suggest the potential utility of gene expression profile analysis for elucidating mechanism of action of genotoxic agents.
Simple approximations to transverse wiggler spectra integrated over finite apertures in the wiggle plane

Simple approximations to conventional transverse wiggler spectra integrated over finite apertures in the wiggle plane are derived. Account is taken of the departure of the wiggler's on-axis field profile from an idealized sinusoidal shape. By introducing a generalization of the conventional K parameter, it is shown that the approximations can be formulated from a Fourier decomposition of the wiggler's dominant field profile in the direction of particle motion without explicit reference to the particle beam trajectory. Use of the generalized K parameter for estimating the first harmonic output energies of undulators and the critical energies of wigglers is examined.
MM-Wave fixture deembedding in 26.5–40 GHz band

Fixture deembedding has been implemented in the mm-wave frequency range using in-house fixtures. The TSD method has been carefully applied in the deembedding procedure.
Structure and general distribution of free neuromasts in the black goby, Gobius niger

Nomarski, binocular and scanning electron microscopy were used to map the distribution and structure of free neuromast papillae in the black goby (Gobius niger (L.)). Neuromast papillae are arranged over the head in rows and columns as in most goby species. The papillae are fingerlike structures projecting from the surface of the head with neuromast organs on the tip of each projection. A viscous, rather than gelatinous, cupula envelops the upper portion of the papillae, thus covering the neuromast. All neuromasts contain a number of hair cells of opposing polaritie that make up a sensory plate. In every instance the neuromast sits on a diamond-shaped tissue stud or supportive plate. The individual polarities of hair cells give each row or column of free neuromasts an overall polarity that is perpendicular to its axial orientation on the fishes head, viz., dorso-ventral in the horizontal rows and antero-posterior in the vertical columns. Where lines of organs become oblique, the overall polarity remains perpendicular to the direction the row or column has turned. An exception to the above observations is found in one row of free neuromasts, the mandibular row. Here the size and shape of the papillae and cupulae differ from others seen. Most notably, however, the overall polarity of the row is along its length in an antero-posterior direction. This and other observations have led to the suggestion that the mandibular row is functionally different from the standard row and columns of neuromasts found on the head of G. niger. Furthermore, it is possible that this row may represent an adapted paedomorphic row of head canal neuromasts.
Systematic Observation as a Measurement Strategy

Abstract The potential usefulness of direct systematic observation as a measurement strategy is addressed in the present paper. Although systematic observation offers numerous advantages over alternative methods, several persistent and unique limitations are also associated with the method. Those addressed include observer interference, problems associated with category systems, related problems of reliability and validity, and observer bias. Systematic observation has also been restricted by self-imposed limitations on the types of behavior observed and recorded, the types of research designs employed, and the types of observational technology applied. A review of both types of limitations suggests that removal of self-imposed limitations would do much to overcome other limitations and thus strengthen the status of systematic observation as a measurement strategy in sociology.
The polymorphic subtelomeric regions of Plasmodium falciparum chromosomes contain arrays of repetitive sequence elements.

Abstract The human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum exhibits a high degree of chromosomal polymorphism, which may contribute to its ability to evade host defenses. The analysis of parasite chromosomes has revealed that these polymorphisms are confined to the subtelomeric regions, which are transcriptionally silent and contain repetitive sequence elements. Several subtelomeric repetitive elements have been isolated and mapped by using P. falciparum yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) clones. Structural analysis of parasite telomeric and subtelomeric YAC clones demonstrated that these repetitive elements are conserved between P. falciparum chromosome ends. We suggest that these subtelomeric elements promote chromosome pairing in P. falciparum and facilitate meiotic recombination and gene conversion between telomere-proximal genes.
The expanding role of laser photocoagulation for intraocular tumors. The 1993 H. Christian Zweng Memorial Lecture.

Background:Methods of management for intraocular tumors include observation, radiotherapy, surgery, and laser therapy. Indications for and techniques of laser photocoagulation in the management of intraocular tumors have never been clearly defined in one report, however.Methods:A review of selected
Chitosan and chitosan composites reinforced with carbon nanostructures

Abstract Chitosan is a naturally-occurring polymer that can be derived from chitin through a deacetylation process from shells of crustaceans. Chitosan is abundant, easily collected as waste and repurposed for industrial and biomedical applications. This work demonstrates that the mechanical properties of chitosan can be improved by thermomechanical processing (milling and sintering) and through reinforcement with carbon nanostructures (CNS) to form mechanically tunable composites. Thermal analysis was used to optimize the sintering conditions for chitosan and chitosan–CNS preventing unwelcome degradation. The crystallinity index (CI%), ratio among crystalline (β) and amorphous (α) phases, decreases from 57 to 18 depending on milling and sintering conditions. Although, the crystalline structure is affected during processing, Raman results demonstrated that the chitosan bonding is preserved and the added CNS percolate the chitosan. Pressing chitosan at room temperature does not guarantee consolidation, while chitosan sintered at 180 °C can reach a hardness of up to 15 ± 0.7 μHV. Addition of CNS and sintering at 220 °C demonstrate further benefits on hardness (26.1 ± 0.1 μHV) this hardness improvement is attributed to a grain boundary reduction and improved cohesion among chitosan and CNS. The nanohardness testing shows a unique elastic phenomenon resulting from the presence of graphene or graphitic carbon in the CNS.
Metallodielectric gratings with subwavelength slots: Optical properties

We report an experimental and theoretical study of the properties of metallodielectric gratings with subwavelength slots in the thin metal limit. These structures were fabricated using a bench top nanopatterning method that produces metallic periodic structures with subwavelength features without the need for lithographic masks by directing the deposition of metal onto prepatterned surfaces. In the size and thickness regime explored in this study two excitations are possible: surface plasmons (SP's) and Rayleigh anomalies. The transmissive and reflective properties of these structures are reported, and very good agreement between theory and experiment is achieved. The dispersion of both the Rayleigh anomalies and SPs is measured. In addition, the near-field properties of each of these excitations are calculated. Plasmon-plasmon interactions, which produce gaps in the dispersion relation for the surface waves, are observed.
Direct Phase Correction of Differential FT-IR Spectra

Step-scan transient Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) difference spectra are often measured in an ac-coupled configuration. The resulting differential intensity spectra contain both positive and negative bands. This condition poses problems for direct phase correction by the standard Mertz and Forman methods. Restricting the calculated phase angle to the range [-pi/2, pi/2] was previously shown to fix some of these problems, but we show that the use of a reduced-resolution phase spectrum can produce other artifacts. The effect of reduced resolution is analyzed for a simulated noise-free spectrum and for a measured transient spectrum of a real photochemical system, bacteriorhodopsin. Examination of these results reveals that the Mertz and Mertz Signed methods can produce spectral bands of reduced magnitude and unusual band shape, with considerable amounts of intensity remaining along the imaginary axis after phase correction. However, these errors can be eliminated by self-convolution of the measured interferogram, which doubles all phase angles, prior to smoothing. This procedure removes the potential discontinuities in the phase angle due to sign changes in the differential spectrum. With bacteriorhodopsin, this doubled-angle method for direct phase correction is able to produce a transient spectrum which closely matches that produced by using a separately measured dc interferogram to calculate the phase angle.
Speech perception in low-pass filtered noise for normal and hearing-impaired listeners

Two experiments were conducted concerning speech perception in noise. In Experiment 1, a comparison was made between adaptive and fixed-level procedures to estimate the S/N ratio at which 50% correct performance occurred for nonsense syllables for normal-hearing listeners. The two methods yield similar S/N ratio estimates, but the consonant confusions found with the fixed-level method could not be predicted accurately from the adaptive procedure. In Experiment 2, the adaptive procedure was used to estimate the S/N ratio for a 50% performance level in low-pass filtered noise with a range of cutoff frequencies. Data were obtained from 5 normal-hearing listeners at two speech levels (50 and 75 dB SPL) and 4 hearing-impaired listeners at one speech level (75 dB SPL). The hearing-impaired listeners required a better S/N ratio than the normal listeners at either presentation level for all except the widest bandwidth, where their S/N ratios began to converge with the normal values. In addition, the S/N ratios fo...
A Digital Frequency-to-Temperature Converter For Use in Radio Telemetry Systems in Which Temperature is Transmitted Proportional to a Subcarrier Frequency

A digital frequency-to-temperature converter was designed to demodulate the signal from a surgically implanted temperature telemetry transmitter. In addition to providing a digital readout of time and temperature, it provides a signal for analog recording. It win update the time and temperature readout only when two successive frequency measurements of the signal are the same, thus eliminating nearly all erroneous temperature data caused by noise. These time and temperature data are provided in binary coded decimal (BCD) form so that they can be recorded as reliable data in digital form for eventual computer processing. Although the unit is somewhat complex, a primary feature of its design is that a person with no electronics training can easily calibrate and use it by switching three sets of binary numbers, associated with the particular temperature transmitter in use, into the machine.
Discrete-time nonlinear observer design with general criteria

A class of discrete-time nonlinear system and measurement equations involving incrementally conic nonlinearities with finite energy disturbances is considered. A linear matrix inequality based design approach is presented that guarantees the satisfaction of a variety of performance criteria ranging from simple estimation error boundedness to dissipativity. Simple simulation examples are included to illustrate and provide support to the proposed design methodology.
Observation of a non-radical intermediate in the oxidation pathway of free radicals in gamma-irradiated medical grade polyethylene

Abstract Free-radical-depth profile of a large cube (side, 25.4 mm) of UHMWPE was determined following gamma irradiation (25 kGy, 60Co) in air and subsequent aging for 120 days in ringer solution, bovine serum or ethyl alcohol at 37 °C, or in air at room temperature (RT). The initial electron spin resonance (ESR) data showed the presence of predominantly allyl radicals in the core specimens (>6 mm from the surface), alkoxy (PO ) or peroxy ( PO 2 ) in the surface (1–3 mm from the surface), but none or very weak radicals in the sub-surface region (3–5 mm from the surface). Ten months later, the same samples, including those in the sub-surface region, produced identical surface radicals. The results of this study led to the conclusion that the transient non-radical species observed, for the first time by ESR technique, could be the well-known hydroperoxy (POOH) group.
Delivery of entomopathogenic nematodes directly through commercial growing media via the inclusion of infected host cadavers: A novel approach

Abstract To assess the potential for marketing pre-amended plant growing media, we compared survival of the entomopathogenic nematodes, Steinernema carpocapsae, delivered via Galleria mellonella and Tenebrio molitor cadavers in the Scotts commercial growing medium, Miracle-Gro®. Six pouches, each filled with 10 g of the growing medium containing 6 nematode-infected cadavers of either insect species were placed in each 1 kg Miracle-Gro® bag. The nematode survival was assessed in the cadavers, pouches and the bags. Although, overall survival of S. carpocapsae declined within 90 days in both cadaver types, survival was significantly higher in G. mellonella than T. molitor cadavers at 15, 45, 60 and 90 days most likely due to the higher reproduction in G. mellonella cadavers. Similarly, survival (assessed as the number of baited G. mellonella killed) remained consistently higher both in the pouches and bags in the G. mellonella cadaver treatment compared to the T. molitor treatment. In another experiment in which bags were not opened until 180 days, all G. mellonella cadavers disintegrated within 180 days of storage; however, the number of baited G. mellonella larvae killed in the pouch was similar in both the cadaver treatments indicating equal number of surviving nematodes. Further, we evaluated the effect of initial moisture content of the growing medium on the survival and virulence of nematodes when delivered through cadavers and aqueous suspension. The results showed that survival and virulence of S. carpocapsae was higher in G. mellonella cadaver treatment than in the aqueous suspension treatment at all sampling times, and reducing the initial moisture content of the medium from 50% to 20–30% enhanced nematode survival in the medium. This is the first report demonstrating the possibility of directly delivering entomopathogenic nematodes through commercial growing medium via infected insect cadavers, a method in which nematode survival could be further enhanced by reducing the initial moisture content of the growing medium.
TRPV1 channels make major contributions to behavioral hypersensitivity and spontaneous activity in nociceptors after spinal cord injury

Chronic neuropathic pain is often a severe and inadequately treated consequence of spinal cord injury (SCI). Recent findings suggest that SCI pain is promoted by spontaneous activity (SA) generated chronically in cell bodies of primary nociceptors in dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Many nociceptors express transient receptor potential V1 (TRPV1) channels, and in a preceding study most dissociated DRG neurons exhibiting SA were excited by the TRPV1 activator, capsaicin. The present study investigated roles of TRPV1 channels in behavioral hypersensitivity and nociceptor SA after SCI. Contusive SCI at thoracic segment T10 increased expression of TRPV1 protein in lumbar DRG 1 month after injury and enhanced capsaicin-evoked ion currents and Ca2+ responses in dissociated small DRG neurons. A major role for TRPV1 channels in pain-related behavior was indicated by the ability of a specific TRPV1 antagonist, AMG9810, to reverse SCI-induced hypersensitivity of hind limb withdrawal responses to mechanical and thermal stimuli at a dose that did not block detection of noxious heat. Similar reversal of behavioral hypersensitivity was induced by intrathecal oligodeoxynucleotides antisense to TRPV1, which knocked down TRPV1 protein and reduced capsaicin-evoked currents. TRPV1 knockdown also decreased the incidence of SA in dissociated nociceptors after SCI. Prolonged application of very low concentrations of capsaicin produced nondesensitizing firing similar to SA, and this effect was enhanced by prior SCI. These results show that TRPV1 makes important contributions to pain-related hypersensitivity long after SCI, and suggest a role for TRPV1-dependent enhancement of nociceptor SA that offers a promising target for treating chronic pain after SCI.
The effect of preferred music listening on stress levels of air traffic controllers

Abstract The effect of preferred music listening on stress levels of 33 air traffic controllers (31 males, mean age = 34) was examined. A stratified random sample was employed to evenly represent Extraversion–Introversion and Low–High-Trait Anxiety in the experimental conditions. The control condition was sitting in silence, while the experimental condition was preferred music listening. Dependent variables included heart rate, mean arterial pressure, state anxiety, and perceived air traffic activity. Results indicated that in both the control and experimental conditions state anxiety levels significantly decreased over time ( p
A surface misfit inversion method for brain deformation modeling

Biomechanical models of brain deformation are useful tools for estimating the shift that occurs during neurosurgical interventions. Incorporation of intra-operative data into the biomechanical model improves the accuracy of the registration between the patient and the image volume. The representer method to solve the adjoint equations (AEM) for data assimilation has been developed. In order to improve the computational efficiency and to process more intraoperative data, we modified the adjoint equation method by changing the way in which intraoperative data is applied. The current formulation is developed around a point-based data-model misfit. Surface based data-model misfit could be a more robust and computationally efficient technique. Our approach is to express the surface misfit as the volume between the measured surface and model predicted surface. An iterative method is used to solve the adjoint equations. The surface misfit criterion is tested in a cortical distension clinical case and compared to the results generated with the prior point-based methodology solved either iteratively or with the representer algorithm. The results show that solving the adjoint equations with an iterative method improves computational efficiency dramatically over the representer approach and that reformulating the minimization criterion in terms of a surface description is even more efficient. Applying intra-operative data in the form of a surface misfit is computationally very efficient and appears promising with respect to its accuracy in estimating brain deformation.
TEM study of TiO2 nanocrystals with different particle size and shape

TiO2 anatase nanocrystals deposited on carbon films from colloidal solutions have been characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The TiO2 nanocrystals exhibit different sizes, shapes, and facets, depending on the pH value and the type of organic additives in the colloidal solutions. Typically, high pH value results in small cubic-like nanocrystals with {112} and {103} faces, while low pH value leads to truncated tetragonal nanocrystals with {101}, {001} and {010} faces. Excess dilution of the particle density appears to cause partial dissolution of the cubic-like TiO2 nanocrystals to form spherical nanocrystals.
Effect of chromium on the environmental sensitivity of FeAl at room temperature

It is now recognized that the room temperature ductility of polycrystalline B2-structured FeAl is influenced by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. It has also been shown that the ductility of iron-rich FeAl depends on extrinsic factors such as test environment and heat treatment. It has been suggested that the embrittlement of FeAl is due to atomic hydrogen arising from a reaction between water vapor and aluminum atoms at crack tips. The hydrogen atoms drive into the metal and thereby cause crack propagation. Since the hydrogen diffusion is time-dependent, there will presumably be a strain-rate dependence of the ductility. Such behavior was confirmed by tests on Fe-45Al in air at strain rates varying from 1 [times] 10[sup [minus] 6] s[sup [minus] 2] to 1 s[sup [minus] 1]. The elongation was shown to be independent of strain rate (at [approximately] 3%) up to 1 [times] 10[sup [minus] 2]s[sup [minus] 1], but increased at faster strain rates and finally appeared to level off at [approximately] 9% at 1 s[sup [minus] 1]. A brittle to ductile transition took place between strain rates of 10[sup [minus] 2] and 10[sup [minus] 1] s[sup [minus] 1], but there was no change in fracture mode. This paper reportsmore » on a study performed to examine the effect of replacing some Al (5 at. %) in Fe-45Al with Cr on the strain rate dependence of the tensile ductility and fracture behavior of this intermetallic. The tensile tests were performed on material which had been given a low-temperature (400[degrees]C vacancy-removing anneal.« less
Domain-Specific Positive Selection Contributes to the Evolution of Arabidopsis Leucine-Rich Repeat Receptor-Like Kinase (LRR RLK) Genes

Leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinases (LRR RLKs) comprise the largest group within the plant receptor-like kinase (RLK) superfamily, and the Arabidopsis genome alone contains over 200 LRR RLK genes. Although there is clear evidence for diverse roles played by individual LRR RLK genes in Arabidopsis growth and development, the evolutionary mechanism for this functional diversification is currently unclear. In this study, we focused on the LRRII RLK subfamily to investigate the molecular mechanisms that might have led to the functional differentiation of Arabidopsis LRR RLK genes. Phylogenetic analysis of 14 genes in this subfamily revealed three well-supported groups (I, II, and III). RT-PCR analysis did not find many qualitative differences in expression among these 14 genes in various Arabidopsis tissues, suggesting that evolution of regulatory sequences did not play a major role in their functional divergence. We analyzed substitution patterns in the predicted ligand-binding regions of these genes to examine if positive selection has acted to produce novel ligand-binding specificities, using the nonsynonymous/synonymous rate ratio (dN/dS) as an indicator of selective pressure. Estimates of dN/dS ratios from multiple methods indicate that nonsynonymous substitutions accumulated during divergence of the three lineages. Positive selection is likely to have occurred along the lineages ancestral to groups II and III. We suggest that positive selection on the ligand-binding sites of LRRII RLKs promoted diversification of ligand-binding specificities and thus contributed to the functional differentiation of Arabidopsis LRRII RLK genes during evolution.
Gauge theory for an elementary dissipative process

Abstract A gauge theory for the elementary dissipative process of linear diffusion in a finite rigid body is constructed. The compensating fields for the local gauge group action are shown to satisfy uncoupled, linear, inhomogeneous wave equations, in an appropriate choice of gauge, where the wave speed can be chosen to be any real number. The totality of field equations for the system exhibits significant nonlinear effects, and there are couplings between the diffusion variable and the compensating fields for the action of the local gauge group that cannot be eliminated by an appropriate choice of gauge.
Reversal of regional myocardial depressant effects of propranolol with nitroglycerin

Abstract Use of propranolol in acute myocardial infarction is limited by its cardiodepressant effects. The effects of nitroglycerin (0.4 mg intravenously) on regional myocardial dysfunction produced by total or partial (50 percent) coronary occlusion and intravenous administration of propranolol (1.0 mg/kg) were evaluated using pairs of ultrasonic crystals implanted subendocardially in the nonischemic and ischemic zones in 14 open chest dogs. During partial coronary occlusion, systolic shortening (%ΔL) in the ischemic zone decreased from 20.9 ± 5.3 to 7.2 ± 6.4 (p
Assessment of nutrition risk knowledge and its relationship to the dietary practices of adolescents

Abstract Knowledge of four dietary factors associated with cardiovascular (CVD) disease (cholesterol, saturated fat, total fat, and sodium) was assessed and compared with cardiovascular dietary quality in 600 randomly selected public high school students in South Carolina. Based on dietary analyses, students' diets were evaluated and placed in either a “low risk” (LRD) diet category or a “high risk” (HRD) diet category. It was hypothesized that students who were assigned to the LRD diet category would score significantly higher on the knowledge test than would the students in the HRD diet category and that the knowledge test scores would have significant relationships to cholesterol intake, sodium intake, and total fat intake; however, no significant relationships between knowledge scores and CVD diet quality were found. Physiologic knowledge of sodium was significantly associated with sodium intake (p
An Inborn Error of Potassium Metabolism in the Tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum

A mutant of the tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) was obtained through treatment of the seed with ethyl methane sulfonate. Its chief distinguishing characteristic is the requirement for an extraordinarily high K concentration in the medium (20 mm) if it is to develop without pronounced K deficiency symptoms, while the wild type grows without any such symptoms at 0.1 to 0.2 mm K. The lesion of the K-inefficient mutant does not lie in its inability to absorb and translocate K.
Managing in a Unionized Setting

This is the second article on managing the discipline and grievance processes. Part one appeared in the November 1988 issue of the Journal.
Effect of fish oil and vitamin E on ethanol-induced changes in membrane ATPases

Abstract We evaluated whether fish oil or vitamin E administration affected ethanol-induced changes in membrane ATPases. Male Wistar rats (225–250 g) were fed, through a gastric tube a liquid diet containing fish oil (25% of calories) and ethanol for one month. Another group of animals was given supplemental vitamin E (300 u/kg). In the pair-fed control animals, ethanol-derived calories were replaced with dextrose. The blood ethanol levels were maintained between 150 and 350 mg/dL. At sacrifice, the red cells were immediately washed with ice-cold saline, membranes were prepared and ATPases measured. These was no difference in the Na + K + ATPase, Ca 2+ ATPase and Mg 2+ ATPase activities between the fish oil-dextrose and corn oil-dextrose groups. A decrease in Ca 2+ ATPase and an increase in Na + K + ATPase was seen with ethanol feeding; these change are similar to those seen in corn oil-ethanol fed rats. In contrast, Vitamin E administration prevented the ethanol-induced changes in ATPases. This observation provides support for the role of lipid peroxidation in alcohol-induced changes in cell membrane ATPase activities.
Water potential components in growing citrus fruits.

Growing navel orange fruits (Citrus sinensis) 5.4 to 5.7 centimeters in diameter were used as a model system to determine the effects of transpiration and carbohydrate translocation on water and osmotic potentials in fruit tissues. Evidence supported the hypothesis that osmotic potential in the vesicles would be affected little by changes in transpiration or carbohydrate translocation because the vesicles are anatomically isolated from the transpiration stream and are at the end of the carbohydrate translocation pathway. In the mesocarp tissue, which contains a vascular network, osmotic potential decreased during the daytime when environmental conditions favored transpiration and increased at night. Exocarp water potential followed a similar pattern. Girdling of the stem above the fruits 5 days before sampling caused an increase of osmotic potential in the mesocarp but had no effect on exocarp water potential. Neither diurnal changes in transpiration nor girdling of the stem affected the osmotic potential of the vesicles.Osmotic potentials in all tissues of the fruit were in the range of -10 to -15 bars. Measurements of osmotic potential at 16 locations along a longitudinal plant through the fruit axis showed that osmotic potential increased from the stem to the stylar end, but it decreased from the pericarp tissues to the vesicles. As exocarp water potential decreased during a 20-day period after watering, osmotic potential decreased in the vesicles and exocarp. Turgor pressure, calculated as the difference between water and osmotic potentials, decreased with water potential in the vesicles but not in the exocarp. The lack of decrease of turgor pressure in the exocarp may result from a measurement error caused by pectins or from osmotic adjustment related to carbohydrate accumulation at low water potentials.
Deciding Tuition Structure with Linear Programming.

Revising tuition charges upward has become a regular annual exercise for many colleges and universities due to cost inflation. These occasions provide opportunities for modifying the structure of charges. One component of structure is the balance between per credit hour and per student types of charges. Another component is the differentiation of charges by program, or other student grouping. A linear programming approach is used here to suggest optimal increases under some broad policy constraints and certain necessary constraints dealing with consistency of the rates.
User Agency, Technical Communication, and the 19th-Century Woman Bicyclist

This article considers how users employ extraorganizational technical communication to reshape technologies, both materially and symbolically, even after these technologies enter into common use. Specifically, I analyze how women bicyclists of the 1890s authored instructional materials to complicate gendered and classed assumptions about users implicit in manufacturer-produced texts. I argue that technical communicators, in their teaching and research, should consider the role that extraorganizational technical communication plays in generating vital and lasting cultural changes.
An electron paramagnetic resonance study of molecular bond rupture in granular-filled elastomers subjected to inelastic deformation

Abstract Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) has been used since 1965 to study microfracture in polymers. This paper reports extensions of the EPR technique to study fracture in filled rubber systems below their glass temperatures, Tg. The interaction of temperature, strain rate, prestrain, and primary bond rupture was included in the investigation, and electron micrographs were used to correlate the various types of filler-matrix systems and their microscopic fracture characteristics with molecular bond rupture. Certain comparisons between the filled systems and earlier work on gum rubbers are also reported.
Glutathione Transferase and Cytochrome P450 (General Oxidase) Activity Levels in Candidatus Liberibacter Asiaticus-Infected and Uninfected Asian Citrus Psyllid (Hemiptera: Psyllidae)

Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (Las) has been reported to increase the susceptibility of the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), to selected insecticides. Reduced general esterase activity in Las-infected, compared with uninfected, D. citri has been proposed as a possible explanation for this difference in insecticide susceptibility. The current study was conducted to quantify glutathione transferase (GST) and cytochrome P450 (general oxidase) activities in Las-infected D. citri to further explain the possible mechanisms for altered susceptibility to insecticides due to Las infection. GST and cytochrome P450 activities (indirectly through general oxidase levels) were quantified in Las-infected and uninfected D. citri nymphs and adults. Mean (±SEM) GST activity was significantly lower in Las-infected (468.23 ± 26.87 /µmol/min/mg protein) than uninfected (757.63 ± 59.46 µmol/min/mg protein) D. citri adults. Likewise, mean cytochrome P450 activity was significantly lower in Las-infected (0.23 ± 0.02 equivalent units [EU] cytochrome P450/mg protein) than uninfected (0.49 ± 0.05 EU cytochrome P450/mg protein) D. citri adults. Immature stages (second and fifth instars) were characterized by significantly lower GST activity than adults for uninfected D. citri. However, cytochrome P450 activity was significantly higher in second instar nymphs than adults and fifth-instar nymphs for uninfected D. citri. Lower activities of GST and general oxidase in Las-infected D. citri indicate that infection with Las alters D. citri physiology in a manner that could increase insecticide susceptibility. The reduced activities of these detoxifying enzymes due to Las infection may be explained by examining expression levels of associated genes in Las-infected and uninfected D. citri.
Beamforming in intelligent randomly distributed sensor networks using electrically-small dual-sector antennas for planetary exploration

Dependence on a small set of surface rovers for surface and atmospheric exploration exposes missions to higher than acceptable probabilities of failure. To mitigate this situation, we have developed enabling technology for small, low power, low cost sensors that can be scattered from multiple orbiters or secondary craft and form networks. Since antenna size is expected to determine wireless sensor feasibility, an electrically small dual-sector antenna is developed which gives 100 MHz of 2:1 VSWR bandwidth from 2.61 GHz 2.71 GHz while occupying only 4 cm/sup 3/. Sixteen of these antennas are placed randomly on a flat ground plane to determine the ability of the antenna network to transmit and receive data cooperatively from multiple angles. Performance is gauged by taking bit error rate measurements for various numbers of elements and angles. The beamforming algorithm presented is capable of establishing reliable communications regardless of relative positions and orientations of individual sensors.
Disposition Decisions by Juvenile Court Probation Officers and Judges: A Multivariate Analysis

This study involves an examination of the relative impact of legal and extra-legal variables on dispositional outcomes bhi pre-court and court level officials in the juvenile court system. A number of studies have documented variations in case processing by police, probation officers and judges in the Juvenile Court. They reveal that differential criteria influence the disposition decisions of cases seen bY these officials. Results from this studi' demonstrate that legalfactors play a more important role in the official processing of juvenile offenders than extra-legal variables. Screening decisions by probation officers depend primarily on legal aspects of the case and secondarily on physical attributes of the defendant; legal variables and social variables are more salient in judicial level decision-making.
Endoscopic drainage of subperiosteal orbital abscesses

Surgical management is indicated in most cases of subperiosteal orbital abscesses (SPOA). The surgical objectives include drainage of the SPOA, drainage of offending sinuses, obtaining intraoperative cultures and, if necessary, decompression of one or more orbital walls. The transnasal endoscopic route offers significant advantages over traditional external approaches. This article describes the author's technique for draining medially and superiorly located subperiosteal orbital abscesses.
Effect of 2450-Mhz Radiation on the Rabbit Eye

The cataractogenic effects of near-zone 2450-MHz radiation in rabbits are presented. The power deposition pattern inside the eyes and head of rabbits has been determined using a thermocouple technique. It was found that a peak absorption of 0.92 W/kg occurred between the lens of the eye and the retina for each milliwatt/square centimeter incident. Time and power-density studies indicated a cataractogenic threshold of a 150-mW/cm2 incident, or 138-W/kg peak absorption behind the lens for 100 min. The threshold time decreased with increasing power density. Agreement between in vivo intraocular temperature measurements and finite-element computer predictions reinforces the suggestion of a thermal mechanism for microwave-induced lens opacities.
Where and when to look: how to extend the myopic planning horizon

In this paper we describe an approach towards integrating mid-range sensing data into a dynamic path planning algorithm. The key problem, sensing for planning is addressed in the context of outdoor navigation. An algorithmic approach is described towards solving these problems and both simulation results and initial experimental results for outdoor navigation using wide baseline stereo data are presented.
Calcineurin Regulates Cyclin D1 Accumulation in Growth-stimulated Fibroblasts

Calcium (Ca(2+)) and calmodulin (CaM) are required for progression of mammalian cells from quiescence into S phase. In multiple cell types, cyclosporin A causes a G(1) cell cycle arrest, implicating the serine/threonine phosphatase calcineurin as one Ca(2+)/CaM-dependent enzyme required for G(1) transit. Here, we show, in diploid human fibroblasts, that cyclosporin A arrested cells in G(1) before cyclin D/cdk4 complex activation and retinoblastoma hyperphosphorylation. This arrest occurred in early G(1) with low levels of cyclin D1 protein. Because cyclin D1 mRNA was induced normally in the cyclosporin A-treated cells, we analyzed the half-life of cyclin D1 in the presence of cyclosporin A and found no difference from control cells. However, cyclosporin A treatment dramatically reduced cyclin D1 protein synthesis. Although these pharmacological experiments suggested that calcineurin regulates cyclin D1 synthesis, we evaluated the effects of overexpression of activated calcineurin on cyclin D1 synthesis. In contrast to the reduction of cyclin D1 with cyclosporin A, ectopic expression of calcium/calmodulin-independent calcineurin promoted synthesis of cyclin D1 during G(1) progression. Therefore, calcineurin is a Ca(2+)/CaM-dependent target that regulates cyclin D1 accumulation in G(1).
Narrow linewidth operation of a flashlamp-pumped dye laser.

The authors describe a flashlamp-pumped dye laser system that produces more photons per laser pulse than in nitrogen or Nd:YAG laser-pumped dye lasers. The system uses both a grazing incidence grating and a Littrow mounted grating in conjunction with an elliptical cavity. An observed linewidth of less than 600 MHz is reported for single laser pulses. (AIP)
Using experiential learning to enhance nursing student knowledge and attitudes about diabetes self-care

Diabetes is a significant health care issue that requires healthcare providers to be both knowledgeable about the disease and have positive attitudes toward diabetes self-care issues. Nursing students receive a tremendous amount of information about diabetes in their undergraduate education but it is often presented without an opportunity for application. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the effectiveness of an experiential learning innovation with junior level baccalaureate nursing students enrolled in a medical-surgical nursing class. In addition to the traditional classroom presentations, students were randomly assigned to “live with diabetes” (LWD) (n = 106) or a control group (n = 109). The intervention group students took on one of five diabetic personnas representing the most common treatment regimens for Type I and Type II diabetes. The intervention group reflectively journaled daily about their experiences, observations and thoughts about living with diabetes. The Brief Diabetes Knowledge Test (BDKT) and the Diabetes Attitude Scale (DAS-3) were administered in a pre and posttest fashion at the beginning and end of the diabetes unit of the course. Significant improvement occurred for all students in both knowledge and attitude ( p ≤ .005). Although the additional effort of providing the LWD experience may enhance the improvements, simply calling attention to the chronicity and demands of diabetes self-care through various experiential learning opportunities may promote student learning and understanding.
Physical activity-related and weather-related practices of child care centers from 2 states.

Background: Young children’s physical activity (PA) is influenced by their child care environment. This study assessed PA practices in centers from Massachusetts (MA) and Rhode Island (RI), compared them to best practice recommendations, and assessed differences between states and center profit status. We also assessed weather-related practices. Methods: Sixty percent of MA and 54% of RI directors returned a survey, for a total of 254. Recommendations were 1) daily outdoor play, 2) providing outdoor play area, 3) limiting fixed play structures, 4) variety of portable play equipment, and 5) providing indoor play area. We fit multivariable linear regression models to examine adjusted associations between state, profit status, PA, and weather-related practices. Results: MA did not differ from RI in meeting PA recommendations (β = 0.03; 0.15, 0.21; P = .72), but MA centers scored higher on weather-related practices (β = 0.47; 0.16, 0.79; P = .004). For-profit centers had lower PA scores compared with nonprofi...
GBD-Explorer: Extending open source java GIS for exploring ecoregion-based biodiversity data

Abstract Biodiversity and ecosystem data are both geo-referenced and “species-referenced”. Ecoregion classification systems are relevant to basic ecological research and have been increasingly used for making policy and management decisions. There are practical needs to integrate taxonomic data with ecoregion data in a GIS to visualize and explore species distribution conveniently. In this study, we represent the species distributed in an ecoregion as a taxonomic tree and extend the classic GIS data model to incorporate operations on taxonomic trees. A prototype called GBD-Explorer was developed on top of the open source JUMP GIS. We use the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) terrestrial ecoregion and WildFinder species databases as an example to demonstrate the rich capabilities implemented in the prototype.
International merger policy coordination

Abstract I treat international merger policy coordination as a repeated veto game. I derive optimal equilibria and consider comparative statics with respect to a number of exogenous parameters.
Paleoseismology: Why can't earthquakes keep on schedule?

Our neighbors and the media ask us when the next large earthquake is due. In our response, we follow Shakespeare: “what's past is prologue.” But projecting the past into the future is tricky because earthquakes, unlike tides and Halley's comet, don't follow a regular schedule, as shown by 1) the
A Geometric Approach to Robustness in Complex Networks

We explore the geometry of networks in terms of an n-dimensional Euclidean embedding represented by the Moore-Penrose pseudo-inverse of the graph Laplacian (L+). The reciprocal of squared distance from each node i to the origin in this n-dimensional space yields a structural centrality index (C*(i)) for the node, while the harmonic sum of individual node structural centrality indices, Pi 1/C * (i), i.e. the trace of L+, yields the well-known Kirchoff index (K), an overall structural descriptor for the network. In addition to its geometric interpretation, we provide alternative interpretation of the proposed structural centrality index (C*(i)) of each node in terms of forced detour costs and recurrences in random walks and electrical networks. Through empirical evaluation over example and real world networks, we demonstrate how structural centrality is better able to distinguish nodes in terms of their structural roles in the network and, along with Kirchoff index, is appropriately sensitive to perturbations/rewirings in the network.