cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simultaneous bidirectional magnesium ion flux measurements in single barnacle muscle cells by mass spectrometry

Stable isotopes of Mg were used to measure bidirectional magnesium ion fluxes in single barnacle giant muscle fibers immersed in Ca- and Na-free, isosmotic media. Measurements were made using a mass spectrometric technique, thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS), in conjunction with atomic absorption spectroscopy. Kinetic relations based on a first-order model were developed that permit the determination of unidirectional rate coefficients for Mg influx, ki, and efflux, ke, in the same experiment from knowledge of initial conditions and the initial and final ratios of 26Mg/24Mg and 25Mg/24Mg in ambient solutions (i.e., by isotope dilution). Such determinations were made for three values of the external Mg ion concentration: 5, 25, and 60 mM. At the concentration [Mg+2]o = 5 mM, ki and ke were about equal at a value of 0.01 min-1. At the higher values of [Mg+2]o, the values of ke increased along a curve suggesting saturation, whereas the values of ki remained essentially constant. As could be expected on the basis of a constant ki, the initial influx rate varied in direct linear proportion to [Mg+2]o, and was 11.8 pmol/cm2s when [Mg+2]o was 5 mM. However, the initial efflux rate appeared to increase nonlinearly with [Mg+2]o, varying from 13.4 pmol/cm2s ([ Mg+2]o = 5 mM) to approximately 80 pmol/cm2s ([ Mg+2]o = 60 mM). The results are consistent with a model that assumes Mg influx to be mainly an electrodiffusive inward leak with PMg = 0.07 cm/s and Mg efflux to be almost entirely by active transport processes. Where comparisons can be made, the rate coefficients determined from stable isotope measurements agree with those previously obtained using radioactive Mg. The rate coefficients can be used to correctly predict time-dependent changes in total fiber Mg content. The results support the conclusion that nonradioactive tracers can be used to measure ion fluxes and ion flux ratios in excitable cells; it is expected that this method will greatly assist in the study of Mg regulation in general.
Making models match measurements: model optimization for morphogen patterning networks.

Abstract Mathematical modeling of developmental signaling networks has played an increasingly important role in the identification of regulatory mechanisms by providing a sandbox for hypothesis testing and experiment design. Whether these models consist of an equation with a few parameters or dozens of equations with hundreds of parameters, a prerequisite to model-based discovery is to bring simulated behavior into agreement with observed data via parameter estimation. These parameters provide insight into the system ( e.g. , enzymatic rate constants describe enzyme properties). Depending on the nature of the model fit desired – from qualitative (relative spatial positions of phosphorylation) to quantitative (exact agreement of spatial position and concentration of gene products) – different measures of data-model mismatch are used to estimate different parameter values, which contain different levels of usable information and/or uncertainty. To facilitate the adoption of modeling as a tool for discovery alongside other tools such as genetics, immunostaining, and biochemistry, careful consideration needs to be given to how well a model fits the available data, what the optimized parameter values mean in a biological context, and how the uncertainty in model parameters and predictions plays into experiment design. The core discussion herein pertains to the quantification of model-to-data agreement, which constitutes the first measure of a model's performance and future utility to the problem at hand. Integration of this experimental data and the appropriate choice of objective measures of data-model agreement will continue to drive modeling forward as a tool that contributes to experimental discovery. The Drosophila melanogaster gap gene system, in which model parameters are optimized against in situ immunofluorescence intensities, demonstrates the importance of error quantification, which is applicable to a wide array of developmental modeling studies.
Beyond Absenteeism: Father Incarceration and Child Development

High rates of incarceration among American men, coupled with high rates of fatherhood among men in prison, have motivated recent research on the effects of parental imprisonment on children's development. We use data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study to examine the relationship between paternal incarceration and developmental outcomes for approximately 3,000 urban children. We estimate cross-sectional and longitudinal regression models that control not only for fathers' basic demographic characteristics and a rich set of potential confounders, but also for several measures of pre-incarceration child development and family fixed effects. We find significant increases in aggressive behaviors and some evidence of increased attention problems among children whose fathers are incarcerated. The estimated effects of paternal incarceration are stronger than those of other forms of father absence, suggesting that children with incarcerated fathers may require specialized support from caretakers, teachers, and social service providers. The estimated effects are stronger for children who lived with their fathers prior to incarceration but are also significant for children of nonresident fathers, suggesting that incarceration places children at risk through family hardships including and beyond parent-child separation.
Ultrastructural differentiation and synaptogenesis in aggregating rotation cultures of rat cerebral cells

Cerebral cortices from fetal rats were dissociated into single cells by either trypsinization or mechanical sieving. Then the cells were allowed to form aggregates in rotation cultures. At 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35 days, aggregates were processed for electron microscopic study of morphological differentiation with special emphasis on synaptogenesis. Whether the tissue was initially dissociated by trypsin treatment or by mechanical sieving, the aggregating cultures did not exhibit any apparent differences in ultrastructural differentiation and synaptogenesis. At day 7, most neurons were immature and the extracellular space was large. Cell processes had not yet branched extensively but did contain numerous microtubules. A few immature synapses were observed. Astrocytes and oligodendrocytes displayed many of their typical cytological features. At day 14, dendritic spines had developed, some of which formed axodendritic spinous synapses. Multilayered myelin sheaths were tightly wrapped around axons. At day 21, synapses appeared mature and their number per unit area was maximal. The extracellular space had greatly decreased. At this age, asymmetrical synapses had increased approximately sixfold, whereas symmetrical synapses increased only fourfold when compared with the 7-day-old aggregates. Multifocal degeneration became apparent at 28 days and was accompanied by a significant decline in the number of synapses.
Comparison of the reovirus serotype 1, 2, and 3 S3 genome segments encoding the nonstructural protein σNS

Abstract The sequences of the S3 genome segments of reovirus serotype 1 and 2 prototype strains are presented and these sequences are compared with the sequence of the serotype 3 S3 genome segment. The S3 genome segment encodes the nonstructural protein σNS which possesses affinity for ssRNA and appears to function in reovirus morphogenesis. The three S3 genome segments are closely related: all are 1198 nucleotides long and possess a single long open reading frame 366 codons long. They exhibit a serotype 1:3 relatedness pattern: there are only 13% mismatches between the S3 genome segments of serotypes 1 and 3, but 27 and 26% mismatches, respectively, between those of serotype 1 and 2 and serotype 3 and 2. The amino acid mismatches for the three σNS proteins are much lower (2.7, 13.9, and 13.7%, respectively), because the majority of nucleotide mismatches are in third base codon positions. The three σNS proteins possess a conserved secondary structure that is rich in α-helix content; in fact, the predicted α-helix content of these nonstructural proteins (about 50%) is much higher than that of the three other σ size class proteins (about 20%), all of which are structural proteins. We also sequenced the S3 genome segment of a ts mutant of serotype 3 generated by treatment with nitrous acid and found a single nucleotide change that specifies an amino acid change that introduces a five-residue-long β-sheet prone configuration into a long (80 amino acids) highly conserved α-helix in the C-terminal half of σNS. This change could account for this mutant's is character. Finally, the three σNS proteins have diverged in only about 10% of positions, whereas the three σ1 proteins have diverged in about 70%. The rapid evolutionary divergence of the latter may be a result of several factors, including (i) the fact that σ1, but not σNS, is under immunologic selective pressure; (ii) the fact that the functions of σ1 (antigenicity and cell attachment) probably reside in two rather small domains that are not restricted spatially with respect to each other; and (iii) the fact that the functions of σNS, namely RNA binding and protein binding (during morphogenesis), require a highly specific overall protein configuration that may permit little variation.
From Equations to Code: Automated Scientific Computing

Using domain-specific languages, scientific codes can let users work directly with equations and benefit from optimizations not available with general compilers.
High-grade fuels from biomass farming: potentials and constraints.

The key parameters controlling the productivity and the cost of net high-grade fuel from a system for biomass agriculture and conversion are analyzed. Performance depends sensitively on a "symbiotic" interaction between agronomy and technology. The conditions for obtaining net productivity and costs are explored for U.S. grain alcohol as a reference point. Currently practiced technology consumes more high-grade fuel than it generates. Some potentials and constraints for future systems, including use of other plant species and conversion systems, are explored.
ELASTOMERIC AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF POLY-M-CARBORANYLENESILOXANES.

Abstract : Stress relaxation properties of SiB-2 and poly(dimethyl siloxane) were compared in air and pure nitrogen. The effect of a protective filler system was also investigated. Within the framework of the present experiments, SiB-2 exhibits greater stability than poly(dimethyl siloxane) at elevated temperatures, retaining useful properties after 24 hours in air at 260C in the absence of protective filler. As expected, use of a nitrogen atmosphere, protective filler, or both raise the maximum useful temperature significantly. The crystalline structure of SiB-2 was investigated by x-ray techniques and force-temperature experiments. The thermodynamic melting point was found to be 66C, and qualitative information was obtained on the crystallite size distribution. The physical properties of SiB-1 were investigated by modulus-temperature methods. This polymer was highly crystalline. The second-order transition occurred at 25C, and melting at 240C. Above this temperature, SiB-1 exhibited a characteristic rubbery plateau, which terminated at 355C when oxidative crosslinking became significant. SiB-1 appears to be significantly more stable than SiB-2 at elevated temperatures. It seems likely that a copolymer may exhibit properties superior to either, and it is recommended that several compositions be prepared and investigated. (Author)
Modeling heat mat operation for piglet creep heating

A model was developed and validated to predict the operational characteristics of heat mat for swine farrowing creep heating. Heat exchange between piglets and heat mat was simulated by a one-dimensional, steady-state heat transfer model. Validation data were collected from three birth-to-wean (14 days) trials under controlled environment of 21°C room temperature and minimal draft (air velocity < 0.15 m/s). The measured maximum contact temperature between piglets and heat mat during the 14-day lactation period ranged from 44.5 to 46.2°C, and was independent of piglet age. The predicted maximum contact temperature was 44.1 and 45.9°C for 1- and 14-day-old piglets, respectively. For typical wintertime production conditions (20°C and minimal draft), the model predicted that a power input of 188 W/m2 to the mat would be required to maintain thermal neutrality of 1.5 kg piglets. The model further predicted that the power-input requirement would be reduced to 100 W/m2 for the typical early weaning body weight of 4.0 kg. Environmental conditions (air temperature and velocity) and piglet behavior strongly affect the operational characteristics of the heat mat.
Nanoscale Energy Transport in Information Technology Research With an Application to High-Density Data Storage Devices and Systems

By all measures, the data storage industry is one of the most important components of the Information Technology (IT) revolution. In recent years, many of the emerging technologies rely heavily on energy transport at extremely short time and length scales as a mean to overcome the superparamagnetic limit - a serious impediment to future advancement of storage technology. Additionally, thermally induced failure and reliability issues at the nanoscale are becoming increasingly important due to rapid device miniaturization in data storage applications. Further advances in high-technology data storage systems will be difficult, if not impossible, without rigorous treatment of nanoscale energy transport. This manuscript reviews the thermal design issues and challenges in thermally assisted magnetic disk recording, thermally assisted scanned probe recording, phase change optical data recording, magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) and giant magnetoresistive (GMR) heads. Relevant thermally induced failures in GMR heads, write coil, interconnects and MRAM will be discussed as well.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Hartree-Fock energy curves for X2Π and 2Σ+ states of HF+

Abstract Hartree-Fock energy curves have been calculated for the X 2 Π and 2 Σ + states of HF + and applied to an analysis of the photoelectron spectra of HF. The 2 Σ + energy curve is found to have a barrier about 0.07 eV high due primarily to a repulsive ion-quadrupole interaction, and a depth of 0.37 eV. This curve will support two bound states and one shape resonance with a half-width of 0.015 eV. The energy curves are probably accurate to 0.1 eV but the analysis shows that results accurate to within 0.03 eV are required to resolve the experimental questions on the dissociation energy for the ground state of HF. The most recent experimental photoelectron results of Berkowitz (following article) encouraged a model calculation of the vibrational states of the 2 Σ + state. Assuming a dissociation energy of 0.45 eV and retaining the barrier three bound and one shape resonance vibrational levels are calculated for HF + in agreement with the results reported by Berkowitz.
Cholesterol Conjugated Uniform and Gapmer Phosphorothioate Oligonucleotides Targeted Against PKC-α and C-raf Gene Expression

Abstract In vitra and in vivo antitumor activity of phosphorothioate antisense oligonucleotides targeted against two protein kinases within the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling cascade has been well documented by ISIS 3521/CGP 6412XA (targeted against PKC-α protein) and ISIS 5132KGP69846A (targeted against C-rwfl kinase). For both of these compounds, cationic lipid formulations are necessary to observe any pharmacological activity in cell culture. In contrast, in vivo functional delivery of phosphorothioate oligonucleotides to cells in tissues does not appear to be a prohlem. These oligonucleotides have demonstrated reduction in either PKC-α or C-raf gene expression in tissues or human tumor xenografts following systemic administration.
Research on Modeling Flow of Volumetric Error for Five-Axis NC Machine Tools

Based on the achievements of early works, a volumetric error modeling flow which is based on multi-body system theory is put forward. The flow includes 4 key steps mainly: describing structure, setting up coordinate system, creating characteristic matrix and generating volumetric error model are respectively. The operating method of every step is discussed in detail and the solving formula is given. At last, taking the VMC650 machining center of milling and boring which is developed by a machine tool factory as example, the validity of modeling flow is verified. This study can be used as a reference for opening automatic modeling system.
An Economic and Environmental Tradeoff Analysis of Sustainable Agriculture Cropping Systems

ABSTRACT This study used the results of a 60-year simulation based on data from the Sustainable Agricultural Demonstration site at the USDA, ARS Beltsville Agriculture Research Center in Beltsville, Maryland, to analyze tradeoffs between profitability and environmental stewardship. Six grain cropping systems included two no-tillage rotations with recommended fertilizer and herbicide inputs, two no-tillage rotations with winter annual cover crops and reduced herbicide and nitrogen inputs, and two reduced-tillage organic rotations. Economic analysis showed that highest gross margins were attained by a cover crop-based system with zero nitrogen inputs (CCZ). Risk analysis showed that the organic systems had lower profit variability across years and, therefore, would be most attractive to risk averse farmers. Both the cover crop-based systems and organic systems had low erosion risks and no risk of herbicide contamination so there were no profit versus erosion or herbicide tradeoffs amongst these systems. All...
Algebraic conditions for a function on an abelian group

We characterize functions on an Abelian group which satisfy certain algebraic conditions. We then apply this result to obtain generalizations of the Jordan-von Neumann theorem on quadratic forms. These last results are then used to prove a theorem on observable systems in axiomatic quantum mechanics.
Respiration of the bivalved molluscs Mytilus edulis L. and Brachidontes demissus plicatulus Lamarck as a function of size and temperature.

Abstract 1. 1. The respiration of Mytilus edulis L. and Brachidontes demissus plicatulus Lamarck has been determined as a function of size and temperature. 2. 2. The rate of oxygen uptake of individuals of the two species was found to be a power function of their tissue weight with values of the exponent ranging from 0.546 to 0.798. 3. 3. The rate of oxygen uptake of B. d. plicatulus increased with temperature up to 35.2°C, the highest temperature tested, while that of M. edulis reached a maximum at about 20°C. 4. 4. At their respective late spring and early summer environmental temperatures, equal-sized individuals of the two species have approximately equal rates of oxygen uptake. 5. 5. The relatioship between the ecology and metabolism of the two species is discussed.
Differential Effects of Anoxia and Glutamate on Cultured Neocortical Neurons

That glutamate increases in the extracellular space of the brain during hypoxia or ischemia and that this amino acid, in high enough concentrations, kills neurons has led investigators to use glutamate and study the mechanisms underlying neuronal excitotoxicity as a model for acute cell death that occurs with low oxygen. However, there is some evidence that increased glutamate, on the one hand, and anoxia, on the other, may not be similar events. In this study we undertook experiments to determine whether glutamate, at various concentrations (20-500 microM), and anoxia induce similar changes in intracellular Ca2+ and in cell morphology as assessed by cell volume and eccentricity (degree of some ellipsoid shape). We found that glutamate was much more rapid in inducing a rise in Cai2+ and that the rise itself occurred at a faster rate than during anoxia. Anoxia produced more marked changes in cell volume and eccentricity. These results, which show major differences between glutamate and anoxia, indicate that while glutamate may play an important role in anoxic brain injury, glutamate excitotoxicity should not be used to mimic the effects of anoxia on nerve and brain function.
Electrochemical characterization and redox reaction scheme of the diphenyl ether herbicide nitrofen

Abstract Redox behavior of nitrofen (2,6-dichlorophenyl-p-nitrophenyl ether) at a glassy carbon working electrode in aprotic and protolytic solvents was examined using cyclic voltammetry. The electrode reaction of 2 mM nitrofen in dimethylformamide (0.1 M tetra-n-butylammonium hexafluorophosphate as supporting electrolyte) was quasireversible. Measured half-wave potential was −1.11 V vs saturated calomel reference electrode (SCE) and peak potential separation was 0.110 V. The reduction product was chemically stable on the time scale of the experiment; cathodic peak current equalled anodic peak current. Linear sweep voltammetry employing a rotating, glassy carbon disk electrode indicated that electron stoichiometry for reduction of nitrofen in dimethylformamide and acetonitrile was one. Reduction of nitrofen under aprotic conditions was most likely a one-electron reduction to the nitro radical anion. Reduction of 1 mM nitrofen in 50% ( v v ) ethanol/water buffered at pH 5.0, 7.0, and 10.2 with 0.25 M sodium acetate, 0.1 M potassium phosphate, and 0.1 M sodium carbonate was chemically irreversible and characteristic of an EC … -type reaction mechanism; heterogeneous electron transfer followed by homogeneous chemical reactions. Cathodic peak potentials at pH 5.0 and 7.0 were −0.760 and −0.820 V vs SCE. At pH 10.2 two cathodic peaks were observed at −0.840 and −1.17 V vs SCE. In protolytic solvent at pH 5.0 cathodic peak current varied linearly as a function of the square root of the scan rate. Thus, the electrode reaction was limited by diffusion. Electron stoichiometry for reduction of nitrofen in protolytic solvent was four. The fate of new redox species generated in protolytic solvent at pH 7.0 was examined upon subsequent multiple scans at 200 mV/s. Initial reduction at −0.820 V vs SCE was most likely centered at the nitro group, yielding the four-electron hydroxylamine product. Oxidation at 0.020 V vs SCE was thought to correspond to the two-electron oxidation of hydroxylamine to the nitroso derivative.
Thermal strain in lead thin films V: Strain relaxation above room temperature

Abstract Strain relaxation in lead films on heating to 350 K was studied by both an X-ray diffraction technique and transmission electron microscopy. The films were deposited onto oxidized silicon wafers at room or liquid nitrogen temperature and ranged from 0.2 to 10 ωm in thickness. Concurrently with heating, whisker and grain growth were observed. The compressive strain at 350 K induced by the thermal mismatch between the films and the substrates did not reach the maximum value which was calculated on the basis of a biaxial strain model using reported thermal expansion coefficients of lead and silicon. Two strain relaxation processes were observed. The primary relaxation occurred during heating and is believed to be due to a combination of grain growth, hillock and whisker growth, and dislocation glide. During subsequent isothermal annealing a slower, secondary relaxation was observed. The relaxation rates associated with this slower relaxation were measured by the X-ray diffraction technique and were analyzed using the Nabarro-Herring diffusion creep model. The diffusion coefficients D thus obtained were found to be very close to the values of D obtained by extrapolating lattice diffusion coefficients determined for bulk lead at higher temperatures. Upon cooling from 350 to 300 K, tensile strains were observed in the films. Again, primary and secondary relaxation processes were observed and dislocations also appeared. The primary relaxation mechanism in this case is believed to be dislocation glide. For the secondary relaxation process, D values as small as 10−18 cm2 s−1 were determined at 300 K again using the diffusion creep model. The effects of film thicknesses, grain sizes and SiO coatings on the relaxation processes were also studied.
Fixed past and uncertain future: A single-time covariant quantum particle mechanics

A covariant quantum mechanics for systems of finite-mass particles at finite energy follows from interpreting as Wick-Yukawa fluctuations in particle number the quantum fluctuations which are needed by Phipps to understand measurement theory and by Gyftopoulos to understand the second law of thermodynamics. The dynamical one-variable equations require as input the (N − 1)-particle transition matrices and an N-N vertex or coupling constants at three-particle vertices.
A fully localized 1H homonuclear editing sequence to observe lactate in human skeletal muscle after exercise

Abstract A fully localized 1H homonuclear editing sequence to observe lactate in human skeletal muscle after exercise to exhaustion is described. The C-3 resonance of lactate was observed in 2.67 min of acquisition with a S N of 20. Additionally, a theoretical description of the cycling sequence used to reduce spectral artifacts due to off resonance effects of selective inversion pulses in homonuclear editing experiments is presented.
Multi-source verification of the desiccation of Lake Chad, Africa

Abstract Since at least 5000 B.P., the sub-Sahara Sahelian zone of Africa has been undergoing progressive desiccation. Both natural and man-stimuli resulted in an acceleration of this process beginning in the 1960s. Paleo-shorelines of Lake Megachad show a maximum Pleistocene water body of about 330,000 km 2 . Since 1982, Lake Chad has apparently stabilized in area at about 3–4000 km 2 of open water, significantly less than the 1965 area of about 25,000 km 2 . Pockets of interdunal impoundments and swamps may increase this present total area to about 4000 km 2 . The Sahel is poorly ground instrumented for the collection of environmental data. Due to this lack of instrumentation, Lake Chad is suggested as a paradigm of environmental response for the entire region. The lake is considered a prime area for sequential measurements using space photography and satellite imagery. This initial study documents the areal fluctuations of Lake Chad during 1965–1984 using manned spaceflight photography and radiometric measurements from the NOAA polar-orbitting satellites.
“Educating for democracy” in Israel: Combating or perpetuating racism?

Jewish attacks on Palestinians are usually presented by the Israeli government as the acts of marginal figures rather than evidence of a pervasive climate of racism central to Israeli society. To explore this claim, the author argues we must examine the discourse on cultural difference that pervades Israeli society, rather than the “official” discourse on racism (framed as it is in a Holocaust trope). This discourse illuminates the Israeli version of the “new racism” in which cultural difference serves to generate structural inequalities in society. The article traces the development of cultural‐ism in the educational system and states that recent programs to “educate for democracy” demonstrate the ways in which, as in Europe and the U.S., notions of democracy and the state are being manipulated to preserve a racialized status quo in the face of challenges by subordinate groups.
The method of lines and electromagnetic scattering for line sources

The direct and inverse problems of electromagnetic scattering by cylindrical structures with arbitrary cross sections for E-polarized line sources are considered. It is shown that the method of lines gives a computationally efficient and accurate procedure for calculating the scattering amplitude. The developed procedure also enables one to determine shape of cylindrical structures form scattering amplitudes. To illustrate the procedure and its computational performance, two numerical examples are presented. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 41: 286–290, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.20118
The avian egg: air-cell gas tension, metabolism and incubation time.

Abstract The O 2 and CO 2 tensions in the air cell of incubating eggs just pripr to the pipping stage were analyzed in nine species of birds. These appear to be very similar and average 104 and 37 torr, respectively, for O 2 and CO 2 . The oxygen conductance of the egg shell for each species was calculated from the water vapor conductance previously established, which allows one to calculate the oxygen consumption of the egg as the product of O 2 conductance and ΔP O 2 , across the egg shell. The oxygen uptake of the eggs at this stage of development is proportional to the egg weight raised to the power O.78. A previously derived relationship shows that the incubation time is proportional to the egg weight raised to the power O.22. Combining these two weight functions, one obtains a general relationship between metabolic rate and incubation time; namely in different species of birds that have the same egg weight the natural incubation period is inversely related to the metabolic rate or the egg shell gas conductance.
Modulation of prostaglandin synthesis in rat peritoneal macrophages with ω-3 fatty acids,

In view of the findings that ω3 fatty acids inhibit the synthesis of prostaglandins (PG) from arachidonic acid (20∶4ω6) and that among immunologically active cells, the macrophage, is a major producer of PG, we undertook a study of the effect of dietary α-linolenic acid (18∶3ω3) on PG synthesis in the macrophage. Rats were fed purified diets containing either 10% corn oil (CO) or linseed oil (LO), providing either a low (1/32) or high (3.5/1) ratio of 18∶3ω3 to 18∶2ω6, respectively, for 6 weeks. Fatty acid analysis of macrophage phospholipids showed that there was an appreciable increase in the percentage of ω3 fatty acids and a decrease in the ω6 fatty acids in macrophages from rats fed the LO diet. The changes in fatty acid composition were associated with a significant decrease in the synthesis of prostaglandin E (PGE) by macrophages from rats fed the LO diet. Macrophages from rats fed the 2 dietary, oils did not differ in their ability to degrade PG, thus the difference in PG production appeared to be a consequence of decreased synthesis only. The dietarily induced changes in PGE synthesis were readily overcome in vitro by culturing macrophages with complexes of fat-free bovine serum albumin and either 20∶4ω6 or 20∶5ω3.
Efficient Model-based Tonemapping of High Dynamic Range Gigapixel Images

We present a technique to address the tonemapping of high dynamic range (HDR) gigapixel images. The proposed method relies on extracting low-dimensional models from low-resolution proxy images, and can be efficiently implemented in a parallel manner.
Target Detection Threshold in Noisy Color Imagery

Current target acquisition models are for monochrome imagery systems (single detector). The increasing interest in multispectral infrared systems and color daylight imagers highlights the need for models that describe the target acquisition process for color systems (2 or more detectors). This study investigates the detection of simple color targets in a noise color background.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Isolation of a rapidly-sedimenting canavanyl-protein-DNA-membrane complex from Escherichia coli.

After growth of canavanine-sensitive strains of Escherichia coli with the amino acid analog, l-canavanine, a large portion of the cell DNA becomes bound to membrane-associated canavanyl-protein bodies. These rapidly-sedimenting complexes containing DNA and canavanyl-protein are detected by conversion of canavanine-killed bacteria to spheroplasts followed by gentle lysis and brief sedimentation through sucrose gradients. Electron microscopy of the isolated complex reveals that the canavanine-induced bodies are attached at multiple sites to high molecular weight DNA and pieces of bacterial membrane. Pronase or sodium lauryl sulfate release the DNA and canavanyl-protein from the complex. Neither cells grown without canavanine nor mutants resistant to the analog yield comparable complexes. Our results indicate that canavanine death is dependent upon the formation of canavanyl-protein-DNA-membrane aggregates and involves irreversible jamming of the E. coli genome at specific membrane sites.
Aflatoxin-DNA adduct formation in chronically dosed rats fed a choline-deficient diet

Nutritional modulation of male Fischer rats by a choline-deficient/methionine-low diet dramatically increases hepatocarcinogenesis and reduces time to first tumors induced by aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). The effect of this diet on hepatic aflatoxin-DNA adduct burden in male Fischer rats dosed with a carcinogenic regimen of AFB1 was examined in this study. After 3 weeks of ingestion of a choline-deficient/methionine-low diet or control semi-purified diet, rats were administered a carcinogenic regimen of 25 micrograms [3H]AFB1 for 5 days a week over 2 weeks. Six choline-deficient and four control diet rats were killed 2 h after each dose, and liver DNA isolated. In addition, hepatic DNA was isolated from animals 1, 2, 3, and 11 days after the last [3H]AFB1 administration. At all time points HPLC analysis of aflatoxin-DNA adducts was performed to confirm radiometric determinations of DNA binding levels. No significant quantitative differences in AFB1-DNA adduct formation between the dietary groups were observed following the first exposure to [3H]AFB1; however, total aflatoxin-DNA adduct levels in the choline-deficient animals were significantly increased during the multiple dose schedule. When total aflatoxin-DNA adduct levels were integrated over the 10 day dose period, a 41% increase in adduct burden was determined for the choline-deficient animals. While this increase in DNA damage is consistent with the hypothesis that DNA damage is related to tumor outcome, the biochemical basis for this effect still needs to be elucidated.
An in vitro effect of triiodothyronine on lipolysis, cyclic AMP-C14 accumulation and oxygen consumption in isolated fat cells.

Abstract Preincubation of isolated fat cells with T3 (5 × 10−6 M) augmented the subsequent epinephrine stimulation of lipolysis, cyclic AMP-C14 accumulation, and oxygen consumption. Basal values of lipolysis as well as basal and NaF stimulated cyclic-AMP C14 accumulation were unaltered by the procedure. The effect of T3 preincubation on epinephrine stimulated lipolysis and oxygen consumption was not blocked by inhibitors of protein synthesis (puromycin and cycloheximide). Preincubation of fat cells with a noncalorigenic analog of T3 had no effect on any parameter measured. These results are discussed in relationship to the hypothesis that T3 increases the sensitivity of adenyl cyclase to the stimulating action of epinephrine. The relationship of the T3 increased lipolysis to the T3 increased oxygen consumption is also discussed.
Effective constructions in well-partially- ordered free monoids

For strings ? and w define ??w if and only if ? is a scattered substring of w. We give a general solution for a problem of Haines to effectively determine regular expressions for L?= {w:?? ? L? ? w} and L?={?:?w ? L ? ? w} when L denotes an arbitrary context-free language. We show by an inductive argument that one can effectively determine L? and L? for each language L in the algebraic extension of some family K if and only if one can do so for each language in K.
Aldehyde oxidation in rat liver mitochondria.

Abstract Rat liver mitochondria contain systems capable of oxidizing a variety of monoand bifunctional aldehydes. The oxidation of glutaraldehyde is linked to the mitochondrial lectron transport chain and coupled to oxidative phosphorylation. ADP and uncoupling agents stimulated the oxidation. Aldehyde oxidation in mitochondria is also accomplished by NAD-dependent dehydrogenase. This enzyme is firmly bound to mitochondria, being removed only by sonication or detergent treatment. The addition of NAD to mitochondria only slightly stimulated the rate of oxidation. Evidence is presented suggesting that this enzyme is on the outer membrane of the mitochondria. No explanation for the different localizations of the dehydrogenase is apparent. Further, there may be no direct relation between the two activities since the addition of the nonmitochondrial NAD-dependent enzyme does not appreciably enhance respiration-dependent aldehyde oxidation. Hence it is yet uncertain as to whether there are one or two NAD linked aldehyde dehydrogenases.
Roe v. Wade

The principal thrust of appellant’s attack on the Texas statutes is that they improperly invade a right, said to be possessed by the pregnant woman, to choose to terminate her pregnancy. Appellant would discover this right in the concept of personal “liberty” embodied in the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause; or in personal, marital, familial, and sexual privacy said to be protected by the Bill of Rights or its penumbras...or among those rights reserved to the people by the Ninth Amendment....
Mesh refinement based on Euler encoding

A sequence of mesh manipulations that preserves the Euler invariant is called an Euler encoding. We propose new, efficient Euler encodings for primal and dual mesh refinement. The implementations are analyzed and compared to array-based, connectivity-free refinement and to reconstruction of the refined mesh.
A calcineurin-dependent switch controls the trafficking function of α-arrestin Aly1/Art6

Proper regulation of plasma membrane protein endocytosis by external stimuli is required for cell growth and survival. In yeast, excess levels of certain nutrients induce endocytosis of the cognate permeases to prevent toxic accumulation of metabolites. The α-arrestins, a family of trafficking adaptors, stimulate ubiquitin-dependent and clathrin-mediated endocytosis by interacting with both a client permease and the ubiquitin ligase Rsp5. However, the molecular mechanisms that control α-arrestin function are not well understood. Here, we show that α-arrestin Aly1/Art6 is a phosphoprotein that specifically interacts with and is dephosphorylated by the Ca2+- and calmodulin-dependent phosphoprotein phosphatase calcineurin/PP2B. Dephosphorylation of Aly1 by calcineurin at a subset of phospho-sites is required for Aly1-mediated trafficking of the aspartic acid and glutamic acid transporter Dip5 to the vacuole, but it does not alter Rsp5 binding, ubiquitinylation, or stability of Aly1. In addition, dephosphorylation of Aly1 by calcineurin does not regulate the ability of Aly1 to promote the intracellular sorting of the general amino acid permease Gap1. These results suggest that phosphorylation of Aly1 inhibits its vacuolar trafficking function and, conversely, that dephosphorylation of Aly1 by calcineurin serves as a regulatory switch to promote Aly1-mediated trafficking to the vacuole. Background: In response to nutrient signals, α-arrestins selectively regulate trafficking of membrane transporters. Results: Aly1 is a substrate of the phosphatase calcineurin, and dephosphorylation triggers Aly1-dependent internalization of the permease Dip5. Conclusion: Endocytic function of α-arrestins is stimulated by removal of inhibitory phosphorylation. Significance: These insights define a molecular mechanism controlling the function of an α-arrestin in endocytosis, which is critical for cellular adaptation.
Fluctuator Model of Memory Dip in Hopping Insulators

We show that the non-equilibrium dynamic in two-dimensional hopping insulators close to metal-dielectric transition is sensitive to electric fields confinement inside the sample, which leads to a nearly thermally activated conductance behavior and a strong non-equilibrium conductance response to the gate voltage, including a memory dip in a field dependence of conductance.
Nonlinear analysis on the effects of magnitude saturation for a combustion model with fuel modulation actuators

The effects of magnitude saturation of fuel modulation actuators are analyzed via linear and nonlinear analysis on a reduced order model describing combustion instabilities. The control law is linear pressure feedback with a control delay. Three types of control design are considered: linear analysis, local bifurcation analysis, and global analysis. The main technique is the method of averaging.
Atomic force microscopy with inherent disturbance suppression for nanostructure imaging

Scanning probe imaging is often limited by disturbances, or mechanical noise, from the environment that couple into the microscope. We demonstrate, on a modified commercial atomic force microscope, that adding an interferometer as a secondary sensor to measure the separation between the base of the cantilever and the sample during conventional feedback scanning can result in real-time images with inherently suppressed out-of-plane disturbances. The modified microscope has the ability to resolve nanometre-scale features in situations where out-of-plane disturbances are comparable to, or even several orders of magnitude greater than, the scale of the topography. We present images of DNA in air from this microscope in tapping mode without vibration isolation, and show improved clarity using the interferometer as the imaging signal. The inherent disturbance suppression approach is applicable to all scanning probe imaging techniques.
An Observational Study of Pharmacological Treatment in Primary Care of Children With ADHD in the United Kingdom

Objective:The study described initial pharmacological treatment of children in the United Kingdom diagnosed as having ADHD and assessed predictors of medication persistence.Methods:U.K. children ages 3–16 diagnosed as having ADHD between 1994 and 2006 were identified from primary care practice data. Child characteristics, prescription patterns, and initial medication prescribed were described over the study period. The associations of child and clinical factors with medication persistence (defined as initial treatment length greater than six months) were estimated by using binomial regression.Results:Of 2,878 children with an ADHD diagnosis, 46% (N=1,314) received at least one prescription for ADHD medication within two years of diagnosis. The mean initial treatment length was 10.7±.5 months. Only 35% (N=464) of pharmacologically treated children had a treatment length greater than six months after initial medication prescription when the analysis used a 30-day grace period; 57% were persistent in treatme...
Socioeconomic Status and Psychological Function in Children with Chromosome 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome: Implications for Genetic Counseling

The purpose of this study is to examine the association between parental socio-economic status (SES) and childhood neurocognition and behavior in children with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS). Although undoubtedly, the deletion of genes in the 22q11.2 interval is primarily responsible for the psychological manifestations, little is known about the role of the environment in either mitigating or contributing to these problems. We examined the association of parental socio-economic status (SES) with cognition and behavior in children with 22q11DS (n = 65) and matched healthy control subjects (n = 52), since SES is a component of family resources. We found that in children with 22q11DS, higher SES correlated with better overall functioning (p < .01) and social skills (p < .01), and less frequent oppositional defiant behavior (p < .001). These findings were in contrast to the control subjects in whom SES correlated with cognition and achievement, but not behavior. Our results indicate that environmental factors influence the behavioral phenotype in children with 22q11DS, providing a framework for developing appropriate interventions. As such, genetic counseling for families with 22q11DS may include consideration of family resources and inclusion of other health professionals, such as social workers, to explore with the family available social supports and resources.
Learning disease severity for capsule endoscopy images

Wireless capsule endoscopy (CE) is increasing being used to assess several gastrointestinal(GI) diseases and disorders. Current clinical methods are based on subjective evaluation of images. In this paper, we develop a method for ranking lesions appearing in CE images. This ranking is based on pairwise comparisons among representative images supplied by an expert. With such sparse pairwise rank information for a small number of images, we investigate methods for creating and evaluating global ranking functions. In experiments with CE images, we train statistical classifiers using color and edge feature descriptors extracted frommanually annotated regions of interest. Experiments on a data set using Crohn's disease lesions for lesion severity are presented with the developed ranking functions achieve high accuracy rates.
Effect of corn particle size and pellet texture on broiler performance in the growing phase

SUMMARY A review of past literature revealed inconsistencies in recommended grain particle size for optimal broiler performance. Changing diet formulation and subsequent processing variables may alter pellet texture and potentially affect broiler performance. In the current study, ground corn, varying in size (781, 950, 1,042, 1,109, and 2,242 m), was added to a soybean-based premix to create 5 different mash diets. Water and a commercial pellet binder were added separately to corn-soybean-based diets before steam pelleting to create 2 pelleted diets differing in texture (soft and hard, respectively). The objective was to evaluate corn particle size, pellet texture, and feed form variation of compound diets on 3- to 6-wk broiler performance, nutrient retention, carcass characteristics, TMEn, feed passage time, and particle size preference. Soft and hard pellets had similar pellet durability (90.4 and 86.2%, respectively) and fines (44.5 and 40.3%, respectively). Increasing particle size of mash diets improved nutrient retention. However, broiler performance andenergymetabolismweredecreasedwhencornparticlesizeexceeded1,042m.Thisobservation was due, in part, to increased size and maintenance requirement of the gastrointestinal tract. Broilers fed hard pellets (1,856 g of pellet breaking force) had improved nutrient retention, TMEn, and subsequent performance compared with broilers fed soft pellets (1,662 g of pellet breaking force). Pellet texture may affect broilers in a manner similar to particle size.
2010 Society for Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting: a report of selected studies

A number of important studies were presented at the Society for Neuro-Oncology annual meeting in Montreal, Canada, on 18-21 November 2010. Cediranib as monotherapy or in combination with lomustine did not show increased efficacy when compared with lomustine alone in patients with recurrent glioblastoma (GBM). Addition of temozolomide (TMZ) or irinotecan (CPT) to bevacizumab (BEV) in patients with recurrent GBM was well tolerated, with similar efficacy to BEV alone. The addition of BEV to radiation and TMZ in newly diagnosed GBM improved progression-free survival but did not improve overall survival. TMZ alone may be a reasonable approach in elderly GBM patients with poor performance status. Two Phase II trials with sunitinib and vatalanib showed a hint of activity in patients with recurrent or progressive meningiomas.