cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Human Glucocorticoid Receptor β Isoform: EXPRESSION, BIOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES, AND PUTATIVE FUNCTION (∗)

Alternative splicing of the human glucocorticoid receptor (hGR) primary transcript produces two receptor isoforms, hGRα and hGRβ, which differ at their carboxyl termini. The hGRα isoform conveys endocrine information to target tissues by altering patterns of gene expression in a hormone-dependent fashion. In contrast to hGRα, very little is known about the hGRβ splice variant. Using hGRα- and hGRβ-specific riboprobes on human multiple tissue Northern blots, we show that the hGRβ message has a widespread tissue distribution. We also prove by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction that the alternative splicing event underlying the formation of the hGRβ message occurs in these tissues. Because the hGRβ protein differs from hGRα at the extreme COOH terminus, we investigated several of the biochemical properties of hGRβ expressed in transfected cells. hGRβ does not bind the glucocorticoid agonist dexamethasone nor the glucocorticoid antagonist RU38486 in vivo. Moreover, in contrast to hGRα, hGRβ is located primarily in the nucleus of transfected cells independent of hormone administration. Finally, in the absence of hGRα, hGRβ is transcriptionally inactive on a glucocorticoid-responsive enhancer. However, when both isoforms are expressed in the same cell, hGRβ inhibits the hormone-induced, hGRα-mediated stimulation of gene expression. Thus, hGRβ potentially functions as a dominant negative inhibitor of hGRα activity.
X-ray to infrared continua of optically selected quasars

X-ray-to-IR continuum data for nine optically selected (PG) quasars show a form which can be simply described in terms of two components - a power law of slope about 1 joining smoothly the 1-10-micron IR with the 0.1-10-keV X-ray points and (superimposed on this) a 'big bump' of optical-UV emission. The 'big bump' can be interpreted as thermal emission from an accretion disk. In a unique case where this 'big bump' extends to soft X-rays, the accretion disk parameters can be constrained interestingly.
Flow distortion at a dense forest edge

The flow near tall forest edges is complex, yet poorly described. A field experiment using two meteorological masts equipped with sonic anemometers and a horizontally staring lidar was performed upwind and downwind of the interface between an open flat farmland and a tall (hc = 24 m) beech forest. Data obtained during near-neutral conditions are presented for the wind direction towards the forest. Results from a high leaf area index period are compared with those from a low leaf area index period. For both periods, the wind speed increased above the forest and decreased within the forest, relative to the measurements upwind of the edge. The lidar data taken at several positions between the masts at 1.25hc show that the minimum wind speed occurred just upwind of the edge. At the 1.25hc level, at the forest mast, the momentum flux () increased strongly over the forest and positive values were recorded during the high leaf area index period. A spectral analysis revealed that approximately half of this change was caused by low-frequency, positively correlated eddies along the streamline. The remaining increase can qualitatively be explained with the concept of eddy-blocking by the canopy top, which could also explain the observed increase in lateral variance and the decrease in the vertical variance. Despite the short distance to the edge of approximately 1.5hc, the beginning of a new internal boundary layer was visible at 1.04hc as a decrease in the vertical momentum flux. At this level, as well as within the forest, the results depended on the wind speed. The presented findings enhance the understanding of the forest edge flow and are useful for model verification and development.
Activate Rac to rescue new vessels.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a major driver of physiologic and pathologic vascularization, but VEGF therapies generally fail to sustainably revascularize ischemic tissues. In this issue of Blood, Hoang and coworkers demonstrate that Rac1 may be the missing ingredient for achieving this goal.1
Are They Hedgers or Speculators? Evidence from South Korea's Political Elections

This study uses a simultaneous equation model based on a three-stage least squares estimation to offer new empirical evidence that investors are hedgers or speculators during South Korea's elections. Major investor groups include individuals, securities companies, and foreigners in the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI 200) market. The results show that cash market volatility and futures market activity have lead behaviors with one another. However, the contemporaneous variables of cash market volatility and options market activity have only unidirectional causality. Most investors will trade futures and options contracts for speculating within the entire sample period. During political election periods, investors prefer to trade options contracts for hedging rather than futures contracts.
Landscape-level optimization using tabu search and stand density-related forest management prescriptions

Abstract Spatial and temporal scheduling of forest management activities is becoming increasingly important due to recent developments in environmental regulations, goals and policies. A forest planning model was developed to select activities for stands in a forested area (178,000 ha), from a set of stand-centric optimal prescriptions, to best meet a higher-level landscape objective. The forest-level management problem addressed is complex, if not impossible to solve optimally, with current computing technologies, as integer decision variables are assumed. The higher-level landscape objective is to achieve the highest even-flow of timber harvest volume. Three types of tabu search processes were examined in the model: (1) a process with 1-opt moves only; (2) a process with 1-opt moves and a region-limited 2-opt move process; and (3) a process with 1-opt moves and 10 iterations through a smaller region-limited 2-opt move process. Aspiration criteria and short-term memory were employed within tabu search in an attempt to avoid becoming trapped in local optima. While the 1-opt move process alone created solutions (forest plans) that were adequate, and contained higher average harvest volumes than the other methods, the addition of the 2-opt move processes improved the solutions generated by intensifying the search around local optima. The solutions produced using the 2-opt move processes had less variation in periodic harvest volumes across the planning horizon. While the basic 1-opt tabu search process provides adequate feasible solutions to large, complex forest planning problems, we reinforce the notion suggested, but not proven with previous research, that 2-opt neighborhoods can help improve quality of large scale forest plans generated by tabu search. The contribution of this research is the description of a process which be developed for large forest planning problems (the problem examined is at least 1 order of magnitude greater than previous research, in terms of forested stands modeled), a process that could enable one to produce more efficient forest planning solutions than one could otherwise with standard 1-opt tabu search. In addition, we describe here the use of a set of optimal stand-level prescriptions to choose from when utilizing the 2-opt process, rather than a set of clearcut periods to consider. With this in mind, this research represents a fundamentally new application of operations research techniques to realistic forest planning problems.
Algorithms for improving calculated streamlines in 3-D phase contrast angiography

Streamline display is a unique alternative to cross-sectional slice or projection display, because streamlines more clearly show the patterns of blood flow within the vessel. Flow patterns associated with atherosclerosis, such as streamline separation and recirculation, can be quickly identified with this display. Streamlines can be calculated using velocity data obtained from 3-D phase contrast angiographic pulse sequences. However, these streamlines often pass through the wall of vessel or show intraluminal sources and sinks of blood. The author has developed iterative least squares algorithms to improve the realism of streamlines. The velocity data is modified so that the resulting streamlines do not pass through the vessel wall and there are no intraluminal sources or sinks. He has applied the algorithms to velocity data obtained from a flow phantom and the carotid arteries of normal volunteers. Streamlines derived from the processed velocity fields are more realistic and provide more precise flow quantitation.
Design of Photomultipliers for the Sub-Millimicrosecond Region

In considering the design of a photomultiplier with good time resolution characteristics, it is convenient to divide the problem into two parts, one dealing with the photocathode-to-first dynode region, the other with the secondary emission multiplier structure. The two principal causes of poor time resolution in both of these parts are: 1) the different path lengths of electrons originating from separated points on a second, and 2) the effect of initial velocities of the emitted electrons on transit times. The electron optical approach to the alleviation of the transit time spread due to path differences is discussed for both the cathode region and the structure. The focusing spiral method of analyzing the performance of a structure is of considerable value. The effects of initial velocities can be reduced by ensuring that the electron velocities within the photomultiplier are very high. It is not practical to obtain these high velocities simply by applying a high over-all voltage to the tube because of the loss of secondary emission gain and because of internal and external insulation difficulties. However, the necessary high velocities can be obtained by the use of high voltage field electrodes between successive dynodes, so arranged that electrons are rapidly accelerated to a high velocity and then decelerated before they reach the next dynode. A photomultiplier is described whose design is based upon these two principles. A high voltage central electrode system between successive dynodes serves to give electrons the high velocity required to minimize transit time spread.
A spectrin-like protein present on membranes of Amoeba proteus as studied with monoclonal antibodies.

Abstract Monoclonal antibodies against a spectrin-like membrane-associated protein of xD amoebae ( Amoeba proteus ) were used to determine the distribution of the protein and some of its characteristics. A total of 34 monoclonal antibodies recognizing different epitopes of the protein were obtained, of which seven stained cell membranes by indirect immunofluorescence. The spectrin-like protein had two subtypes of 225 and 220 kDa and several monoclonal antibodies cross-reacted with human erythrocyte spectrin when checked by indirect immunofluorescence staining and immunoblotting. Some of the antibodies also cross-reacted with antigens in HeLa cells and chick embryo fibroblasts. Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against Drosophila and human erythrocyte spectrins cross-reacted with the spectrin-like protein from amoebae. On the basis of these results, it was concluded that the protein is a spectrin. The protein was found on most cellular membranes of amoebae, including the plasma, nuclear, and phagosomal membranes, as well as symbiosome membranes.
Medical evaluation for respirator use

The purpose of a respirator is to prevent the inhalation of harmful airborne substances or to provide a source of respirable air when breathing in oxygen-deficient atmospheres. For a physician to recommend the use of respirator, general background information on respiratory-protective devices is required. The first part of this clinical practice review describes the general aspects of industrial hygiene, respirators and a respirator-certification program. The second part addresses matters related to medical certification for respirator use. Medical certification for respirators is an important part of the activities of the occupational physician. To determine whether a worker is able to tolerate the added strain of a respiratory protective device is a complex process in which factors such as fitness for work, health of the individual, characteristics of the work itself, and the properties, type, and requirements of the respiratory protective device, have to be considered. Medical certification is of utmost importance for respirator use, and it should be viewed as an element in a comprehensive respiratory protection program. A comprehensive program is the key element in affording the workers' effective respiratory protection once the initial steps of the hierarchy of methods of hazard control have proved insufficient or infeasible. As a result, the need for the industrial hygiene/safety officer, the worker, the employer and the medical professional to work as a team is much more than in any other field of occupational medicine--a necessary requirement for making the right decision.
Catalase transfection decreases hydrogen peroxide toxicity in a pancreatic beta cell line.

BetaTC6-F7 cells like normal Beta cells were found to be highly sensitive to hydrogen peroxide and to possess very low levels of catalase. Therefore we tested whether overexpression of catalase could enhance resistance to hydrogen peroxide. Enzyme activity was increased forty fold by transient transfection of a catalase transgene. To assess protection from hydrogen peroxide a cotransfection method using a human growth hormone reporter gene was developed. Human growth hormone secretion was shown to be a suitable marker for insulin secretion since both hormones demonstrated virtually identical glucose dose response curves. Catalase transfection was found to provide significant protection against hvdrogen peroxide indicating that low catalase may contribute to the sensitivity of cells to hydrogen peroxide.
Structural Insights into the Functions of TBK1 in Innate Antimicrobial Immunity.

Tank-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) is a serine/threonine protein-kinase mediating innate antimicrobial immunity. TBK1 is involved in the signaling of TLRs, RLRs, and STING-mediated sensing of cytosolic DNA. Stimulation of these receptors results in the activation of TBK1, which phosphorylates interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-3. Phosphorylated IRF-3 translocates into the nucleus to initiate the transcription of the interferon (IFN)-β gene. Here, we show that TBK1 is activated by autophosphorylation at residue Ser172. Structures of TBK1 bound to two inhibitors showed that TBK1 has the IκB kinase fold with three distinct domains: the kinase domain, the ubiquitin-like domain, and the scaffold and dimerization domain. However, the overall structures of the TBK1 monomer and its dimer are different from IKKβ in the arrangements of the three domains and in dimer formation. Phosphorylation of IRF-3 by TBK1 in vitro results in its oligomerization, and phosphorylation of residue Ser386 plays a key role in IRF-3 activation.
High-spin Ni(II), a surprisingly good structural model for [NiFe] hydrogenase.

The first density functional calculations on high-spin (HS) Ni(II) models for the active site of the [NiFe] hydrogenases predict a ligand arrangement about Ni that is in better agreement with the crystal structures than previous predictions for low-spin (LS) Ni(II) models. With the crystal structures' geometry, the HS form is ∼20 kcal/mol lower in energy than the LS one.
Using a probability plot to summarize a unimodal posterior density

Abstract A probability plot is used to summarize a unimodal posterior density computed at a small number of points. From viewing a sequence of these plots, one can judge the accuracy of a normal approximation and, in the case where the normal approximation is inadequate, find a reparameterization which “normalizes” the posterior density. The graphical procedure is illustrated for three problems where there exist one or more nuisance parameters.
Mosaic Organization of Neural Stem Cells in the Adult Brain

The in vivo potential of neural stem cells in the postnatal mouse brain is not known, but because they produce many different types of neurons, they must be either very versatile or very diverse. By specifically targeting stem cells and following their progeny in vivo, we showed that postnatal stem cells in different regions produce different types of neurons, even when heterotopically grafted or grown in culture. This suggests that rather than being plastic and homogeneous, neural stem cells are a restricted and diverse population of progenitors.
Personal perspective: The language of HRD: 2012 AHRD Conference reflection

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to share a personal perspective on the 2012 Academy of Human Resource Development (AHRD) International Research Conference in the Americas held in Denver, Colorado. It explores the author's reflection on her experiences attending AHRD conference sessions related to companies based in India. Design/methodology/approach – The author's reflection was based on participant observations from a constructionist perspective. Findings – This paper argued that attending AHRD conference sessions related to South Asia enhanced the author's worldview. Originality/value – This paper offers the personal perspective of an American doctoral student based on her observations as an attendee of AHRD conference sessions focused on business issues in South Asia.
A simple and inexpensive high pressure liquid chromatographie system as an adjunct to gas chromatography in identification of amino acid phenylthiohydantoins

Abstract A simple and inexpensive system has been developed in our laboratory for the identification and quantitation of amino acid phenylthiohydantoins by high pressure liquid chromatography. Isocratic methodology has been employed, so that expensive complex gradient makers can be avoided. The method is rapid, and retention times of 10 min or less are obtained in all but one case. This paper presents the rationale and details of the method, and demonstrates a comparison between gas-liquid chromatograms and high pressure liquid chromatograms of selected residues from actual automated sequence analyses of both sperm whale myoglobin and egg white lysozyme. The method is intended to complement rather than replace gas-liquid chromatography, as it cannot completely resolve all 20 phenylthiohydantoins, but rather identifies easily those residues which are difficult or impossible by gas chromatography.
Corticosteroid-Induced Proteins in Braina

Cumulative exposure of hippocampal neurons to stress-like levels of corticosterone produces a negative spectrum of cellular alterations from ultrastructural changes to disruption of dendritic morphology and eventual degeneration. An experimental system which adapts itself to characterization of corticosteroid-induced proteins which mediate such effects is the hippocampal slice incubated in the presence of a radiolabeled amino acid following treatment of rats with corticosterone. The most consistently observed response to elevated corticosterone levels produced by exogenous injection is synthesis of a hippocampal cytosolic protein which has characteristics of glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase. Because synthesis of this protein is enhanced with a short latency as serum corticosterone levels are increased and terminated quickly upon re-establishment of basal conditions, it serves as a valid biological marker of the response of the hippocampus to short-term stress. In contrast, alterations in synthesis of other proteins following corticosterone treatment only become apparent under defined conditions or after chronic treatment. For example, steroid-inhibited synthesis of a hippocampal protein with an approximate molecular weight of 25,000 is only observed when slices are incubated at an elevated temperature. Such negative changes may represent loss of adaptive responses that protect the neuron from damage by cellular insults.
Practical steganalysis of digital images: state of the art

Steganography is the art of hiding the very presence of communication by embedding secret messages into innocuous looking cover documents, such as digital images. Detection of steganography, estimation of message length, and its extraction belong to the field of steganalysis. Steganalysis has recently received a great deal of attention both from law enforcement and the media. In our paper, we classify and review current stego-detection algorithms that can be used to trace popular steganographic products. We recognize several qualitatively different approaches to practical steganalysis - visual detection, detection based on first order statistics (histogram analysis), dual statistics methods that use spatial correlations in images and higher-order statistics (RS steganalysis), universal blind detection schemes, and special cases, such as JPEG compatibility steganalysis. We also present some new results regarding our previously proposed detection of LSB embedding using sensitive dual statistics. The recent steganalytic methods indicate that the most common paradigm in image steganography - the bit-replacement or bit substitution - is inherently insecure with safe capacities far smaller than previously thought.
Disparate peptide‐dependent thymic selection outcomes in β2M‐deficient mice versus TAP‐1‐deficient mice: implications for repertoire formation

Fetal thymic organ cultures of N15-transgenic RAG-2-/- H-2b mice on normal, beta-2 microglobulin (beta2M)-/- or transporter associated with antigen processing (rAP-1)-/- MHCl-deficient backgrounds were used to examine differentiation of thymocytes bearing a TCR specific for a viral peptide bound to H-2Kb. Strong agonists mediate negative selection in all mice whereas weak agonists are positively selecting in beta2MW-/- mice but negatively selecting on TAP-1-/- or normal backgrounds. Very weak agonists and very weak antagonists are generally without effect in beta2M-/- mice yet foster differentiation in TAP-1-/- animals. The 20-40-fold reduction in beta2M4-/- thymic H-2Kb surface expression suggests that the avidity of the TCR for peptide-MHCI accounts for these differences, consistent with effects of TCR density and individual thymic-peptide abundance in peptide-MHC complexes. TCR-self-MHC interaction dominates Kb-based selection, subtly modulated by peptides as revealed by X-ray crystallography.
ERK integrates PKA and PKC signaling in superficial dorsal horn neurons. II. Modulation of neuronal excitability.

Protein kinases belonging to the protein kinase A (PKA), protein kinase C (PKC), and extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) families have been identified as key players in modulating nociception...
Your path to success: advice to people considering a career in health sciences.

EDITORIAL NOTE This talk was presented by Dr. Haynes at the Association of American Medical Colleges meeting in Washington, DC, in November 2005, as part of a recruitment session for minority students. It relates her personal experience and philosophy on how to achieve success in starting a career in the health sciences. It was one of the most powerful and enthusiastically received messages that I have heard. Dr. Haynes kindly agreed to write it up for JVME. —Donal Walsh, Editor
Terahertz quantum cascade lasers with metal-metal waveguides

Quantum cascade lasers that operate in the underdeveloped terahertz spectral range (1-10 THz) promise to contribute to applications in sensing, spectroscopy, and imaging. We describe our development of terahertz quantum cascade lasers based on the resonant-phonon depopulation concept and that use low-loss metal-metal waveguides for optical confinement. Two- and three-dimensional finite-element simulations of terahertz metal-metal waveguides are used to demonstrate their high modal confinement even for very narrow ridges. Also, simulations predict high facet reflectivities due to the modal impedance mismatch with free space at the sub-wavelength waveguide aperture of these metal-metal waveguides. Finally, we report the demonstration of a 2.8 THz laser that operates up to 97 K in continuous-wave mode fabricated using a Cu-Cu thermocompression bonding technique.
Geometry of hydrogen bonds formed by lipid bilayer nitroxide probes: a high-frequency pulsed ENDOR/EPR study.

Solvent effects on magnetic parameters of nitroxide spin labels in combination with side-directed spin labeling EPR methods provide very useful means for elucidating polarity profiles in lipid bilayers and mapping local electrostatic effects in complex biomolecular systems. One major contributor to these solvent effects is the hydrogen bonds that could be formed between the nitroxide moiety and water and/or the available hydroxyl groups. Here, formation of hydrogen bonds between a lipid bilayer spin probe -5-doxyl stearic acid, 5DSA – and hydrogen bond donors has been studied using high-frequency (HF) pulsed ENDOR and EPR. A hydrogen-bonded deuteron was directly detected in HF ENDOR (130 GHz) spectra of 5DSA dissolved in several deuterated alcohols while the characteristic signal was absent in non-polar toluene-d8. The length of the hydrogen bond, 1.74±0.06 A, and its geometry were found to be essentially the same for all four alcohols studied, indicating that nearly identical hydrogen bonds have been formed regardless of the solvent dielectric constant. This strengthens a hypothesis that HF EPR spectra are exclusively sensitive to formation of hydrogen bonds and could be used for probing the hydrogen bond network in complex biomolecular assemblies and lipid bilayers with site-directed spin-labeling methods.
Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Physical Properties of Sr0.93(SixNb1−x)Nb10O19 (x=0.87)

We present here the synthesis, crystal structure, and physical properties of a reduced niobium oxide Sr0.93(SixNb1−x)Nb10O19 (x=0.87). Its structure was determined on single crystal by X-ray diffraction in the space group R3 (ah=7.843(1), ch=42.26(2) A, Vh=2251.3(9) A3, and Z=6). The compound is isostructural to Na(SixNb1−x)Nb10O19 (x≈0.75) and exhibits discrete [Nb6O12] clusters, Nb2O10 dimers, NbO6 octahedra, SrO12 cubo-octahedra, and SiO4 tetrahedra. The compound is insulating with a room-temperature resistivity ∼50 Ω cm. The magnetic susceptibility data yields μeff=3.16 μB/Nb, which is consistent with a 15-electron [Nb6O12] cluster, with Nb(IV) in the dimers and Nb(V) in the isolated NbO6 octahedra.
Comments on "Electron band structure of solid methane: Ab initio calculations"

A recent ab initio band-structure calculation by Piela et al. for solid methane is reviewed critically. The analysis used by Piela et al. to determine which contributions to the Fock matrix are large is shown to be in error. This error has the effect that Piela et al. neglect terms in the two-center matrix element which are large and easy to evaluate and retain terms in the one-center matrix element which are small and difficult to evaluate.
External-memory exact and approximate all-pairs shortest-paths in undirected graphs

We present several new external-memory algorithms for finding all-pairs shortest paths in a V-node. E-edge undirected graph. For all-pairs shortest paths and diameter in unweighted undirected graphs we present cache-oblivious algorithms with O(V·E/B log M/B E/B) I/Os, where B is the block-size and M is the size of internal memory. For weighted undirected graphs we present a cache-aware APSP algorithm that performs O(V·(√VE/B+E/B log E/B)) I/Os. We also present efficient cache-aware algorithms that find paths between all pairs of vertices in an unweighted graph with lengths within a small additive constant of the shortest path length.All of our results improve earlier results known for these problems. For approximate APSP we provide the first nontrivial results. Our diameter result uses O(V + E) extra space, and all of our other algorithms use O(V2) space.
Tissue specificity and sexual dimorphism of the fatty acyl composition of glycerolipids from the tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens F

1. 1. Tissue and sex-dependent differences in fatty acid composition of glycerolipids were examined in pupal fat body, flight muscle, testes and eggs. 2. 2. Pupal tri- and diacylglycerols were similar in fatty acid composition. Sexual dimorphism was apparent in that neutral lipids were slightly less saturated in females than males and glycerophospholipids were less saturated in males than females. 3. 3. Flight muscle glycerophospholipid, the most abundant glycerolipid, was much more unsaturated than that of the fat body. Some sexual dimorphism in fatty acid composition was noted. 4. 4. Palmitoleate was unusually elevated in testicular neutral glycerolipids. The distribution of unsaturated C18 fatty acids in glycerophospholipids was also unusual. 5. 5. Egg diacylglycerol also contained elevated palmitoleate. Egg neutral lipids were slightly more saturated than those of the pupal fat body.
Immunoreactive myelin basic protein in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with peripheral neuropathies

The presence of myelin basic protein (MBP)-like material in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) usually reflects breakdown of central nervous system myelin. Immunoreactive MBP levels were measured in 70 CSF specimens from 66 patients with a variety of peripheral neuropathies. Immunoreactive MBP was present in CSF in 70% (16 of 23) of patients with biopsy-proved chronic demyelinating polyneuropathies, whereas in neuropathies producing primarily axonal damage it was present in only 22% (5 of 23). In Guillain-Barre syndrome, 45% (9 of 20) of patients had immunoreactive MBP in the CSF. We conclude that MBP-like material is present in the CSF of most patients with longstanding demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathies and probably reflects detection of peripheral nervous system P1 protein.
Effects of tobacco smoke on the secretion of interleukin-1beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and transforming growth factor-beta from peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Alterations of the host response caused by short-term exposure to high levels of smoke during the act of smoking (acute smoke exposure) as well as long-term exposure to lower levels of tobacco substances in the bloodstream of smokers (chronic smoke exposure) may play a role in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases in smokers. In this study, we examined the secretion of three cytokines [interleukin (IL)-1beta, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta] from mononuclear blood cells from current smokers and non-smokers exposed to in vitro tobacco smoke (which may be comparable to in vivo acute smoke exposure) and mononuclear blood cells from current smokers not exposed to further in vitro smoke (which may be comparable to chronic smoke exposure). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from eight healthy current smokers and eight healthy non-smokers, plated in culture wells, exposed in vitro for 1-5 min to cigarette smoke in a smoke box system or not exposed (baseline controls), and then incubated without further smoke exposure for another 24 h. Supernatants from each well were then collected and assayed for the concentrations of the three cytokines by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). At baseline, mean IL-1beta levels were higher in smokers than in non-smokers (mean: 10.6 vs. 5.9 pg/ml, anova: P 0.05). Mean TNF-alpha levels increased from 0 to 2 min of smoke exposure and decreased from 2 to 5 min in smokers and non-smokers, with higher levels in non-smokers than smokers at all time-points (P > 0.05). Mean TGF-beta levels were higher in smokers than in non-smokers at all time-points (mean: 180.5 vs. 132.0 pg/ml, P < 0.05 at 5 min only) with no significant alteration of the pattern of secretion with cigarette smoke exposure. These observed alterations in the secretion of cytokines from mononuclear blood cells in smokers, relative to non-smokers, and with in vitro smoke exposure may play a role in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases in smokers.
Institutional clusters and economic performance

Abstract We ran principal component regressions of growth and income on existing measures of institutions to assess which are the most important for economic performance. We find that broadly defined institutions of checks and balances as well as a democratic and anti-authoritarian culture are the most robust institutional determinants of long-run growth in income.
Disruption of the blood-brain barrier and neuronal cell death in cingulate cortex, dentate gyrus, thalamus, and hypothalamus in a rat model of Gulf-War syndrome.

We investigated the effects of a combined exposure to restraint stress and low doses of chemicals pyridostigmine bromide (PB), N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET), and permethrin in adult male rats, a model of Gulf-War syndrome. Animals were exposed daily to one of the following for 28 days: (i) a combination of stress and chemicals (PB, 1.3 mg/kg/day; DEET, 40 mg/kg/day; and permethrin, 0.13 mg/kg/day); (ii) stress and vehicle; (iii) chemicals alone; and (iv) vehicle alone. All animals were evaluated for: (i) the disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) using intravenous horseradish peroxidase (HRP) injections and endothelial barrier antigen (EBA) immunostaining; (ii) neuronal cell death using HE and (iii) acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and m2-muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (m2-AChR). Animals subjected to stress and chemicals exhibited both disruption of the BBB and neuronal cell death in the cingulate cortex, the dentate gyrus, the thalamus, and the hypothalamus. Other regions of the brain, although they demonstrated some neuronal cell death, did not exhibit disruption of the BBB. The neuropathological changes in the above four brain regions were highly conspicuous and revealed by a large number of HRP-positive neurons (21-40% of total neurons), a decreased EBA immunostaining (42-51% reduction), a decreased number of surviving neurons (27-40% reduction), the presence of dying neurons (4-10% of total neurons), and an increased GFAP immunostaining (45-51% increase). These changes were also associated with decreased forebrain AChE activity and m2-AchR (19-25% reduction). In contrast, in animals exposed to stress and vehicle or chemicals alone, the above indices were mostly comparable to that of animals exposed to vehicle alone. Thus, a combined exposure to stress and low doses of PB, DEET, and permethrin leads to significant brain injury. The various neurological symptoms reported by Gulf-War veterans could be linked to this kind of brain injury incurred during the war.
Hamiltonians defined as quadratic forms

We present a complete mathematical theory of two-body quantum mechanics for a class of potentials which is larger than the usualL2-classes and which includes potentials with singularities as bad asr−2+ɛ. The basic idea is to defineHo+V as a sum of quadratic forms rather than as an operator sum.
Modeling Weather Impact on Ground Delay Programs

Scheduled arriving aircraft demand may exceed airport arrival capacity when there is abnormal weather at an airport. In such situations, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) institutes ground-delay programs (GDP) to delay flights before they depart from their originating airports. Efficient GDP planning depends on the accuracy of prediction of airport capacity and demand in the presence of uncertainties in weather forecast. This paper presents a study of the impact of dynamic airport surface weather on GDPs. Using the National Traffic Management Log, effect of weather conditions on the characteristics of GDP events at selected busy airports is investigated. Two machine learning methods are used to generate models that map the airport operational conditions and weather information to issued GDP parameters and results of validation tests are described.
The ultrastructure and strandedness of chromosomes from two species of Vicia.

Abstract Chromosomes from Vicia faba and V. sativa have been studied with both the light and electron microscopes in order to compare the apparent strandedness of chromosomes of the two species. Previous experiments have shown a five-fold difference in relative DNA content per nucleus between the two species, even though the chromosome number is the same. Trypsin digestion has revealed subchromatid structure in V. faba in both the light and electron microscopes. V. sativa , in contrast, has not been found to show a subchromatid split after trypsin digestion by either method. Chromosomes from both species are apparently highly multistranded when viewed in the electron microscope, showing a multiple number of parallel fibers. Direct comparison of the degree of strandedness of chromosomes from the two species shows an increase in strandedness of V. faba chromosomes. The centromere region in both species shows a multiple number of parallel strands. These plant chromosomes, isolated for electron microscopy by the surface-spreading technique, show individual fibers approximately 150 A in diameter, in contrast to the 200–300 A fibers found in animal chromosomes isolated by this technique. The possible effect of prefication, used in this study for the isolation of plant chromosomes, on fiber diameter is discussed.
Kinetics of Difructose Dianhydrides Formation under Fructose Crystallization Conditions

Fructose undergoes dehydration reactions to form difructose dianhydrides during crystallization. Difructose dianhydrides can be incorporated into fructose crystals and inhibit the crystal growth. In this study, the kinetics of difructose dianhydrides formation under industrial crystallization conditions were investigated. Four difructose dianhydrides were detected by HPLC analysis. An empirical second-order irreversible kinetic model was proposed for the reaction. The extent of reaction increased with increasing temperature and decreasing pH value of the solution. The amount of two of the difructose dianhydrides stopped increasing when the fructose concentration was about 70% or less. On the other hand, the formation of all dimers were retarded when the initial fructose concentration was higher than 80%.
Mean-flow measurements in a supersonic three-dimensional turbulent boundary layer

Measurements are presented of the mean flow in a supersonic turbulent boundary layer subjected to a constant weak transverse pressure gradient. The temperature and longitudinal velocity and the axial shear stress were only slightly affected by the three-dimensionality but a clearly defined crossflow component appeared, in the manner suggested by theory and confirmed in earlier experiments. The flow deflection angle and transverse-velocity component achieved a self-preserving form so long as the transverse-pressure gradient remained constant, and both achieved a maximum at the sublayer edge; the deflection angle seemed to decrease again between the latter and the surface. An empirical relation was found between the pressure-gradient strength and the maximum in the crossflow, and the dependence of the latter on distance from the surface was used to test analytical crossflow predictions. The data are in general agreement with Van Den Berg's law of the wall. The data also support the so-called parabolic law following a relaxation distance, especially if inviscid gradients are accounted for, and if the normal coordinate is contracted by the compressibility transformation.
Error-Prone and Error-Restrictive Mutations Affecting Ribosomal Protein S12

Ribosomal protein S12 plays a pivotal role in decoding functions on the ribosome. X-ray crystallographic analyses of ribosomal complexes have revealed that S12 is involved in the inspection of codon-anticodon pairings in the ribosomal A site, as well as in the succeeding domain rearrangements of the 30S subunit that are essential for accommodation of aminoacyl-tRNA. A role for S12 in tRNA selection is also well supported by classical genetic analyses; mutations affecting S12 are readily isolated in bacteria and organelles, since specific alterations in S12 confer resistance to the error-inducing antibiotic streptomycin, and the ribosomes from many such streptomycin-resistant S12 mutants display decreased levels of miscoding. However, substitutions that confer resistance to streptomycin likely represent a very distinct class of all possible S12 mutants. Until recently, the technical difficulties in generating random, unselectable mutations in essential genes in complex operons have generally precluded the analysis of other classes of S12 alterations. Using a recombineering approach, we have targeted the Escherichia coli rpsL gene, encoding S12, for random mutagenesis and screened the resulting mutants for effects on decoding fidelity. We have recovered over 40 different substitutions located throughout the S12 protein that alter the accuracy of translation without substantially affecting the sensitivity to streptomycin. Moreover, this collection includes mutants that promote miscoding, as well as those that restrict decoding errors. These results affirm the importance of S12 in decoding processes and indicate that alterations in this essential protein can have diverse effects on the accuracy of decoding.
Thermal residual stress distribution in WC-Ni composites

The thermal residual stress distributions in a series of WC-Ni composites with WC volume fractions of 0.11, 0.21, 0.41, and 0.60 were measured using neutron diffraction and modeled using finite element (FE) analysis. The FE procedure employed enables the local variation of the residual microstress in a composite microstructure to be studied. The mean (compressive) stresses in WC decrease and the mean (tensile) stresses in Ni increase with increasing WC content. The stress distributions are sufficiently extensive to create regions of tension in the WC and compression in the Ni. The maximum tensile stresses in WC increase in magnitude with WC content. They are located in corners and, for higher WC content, normal to WC/Ni interfaces. High compression occurs in narrow portions of the WC skeleton. Regions of compression in Ni occur at WC/Ni interfaces for low WC content and, for composites of higher WC content, in narrow bands between chains of WC particles. It was also determined that models of actual composite microstructures, rather than geometric arrays, are required in order to properly obtain local residual stress distributions using the finite element analysis procedure.
In-Stream Dissolved Oxygen Impacts and Sediment Oxygen Demand Resulting from Combined Sewer Overflow Discharges

AbstractCombined sewer overflows (CSOs) are a major source of contamination to urban waterways. Discharges from CSOs represent a major source of chemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand, nutrients, toxics, and bacteria to receiving waters. The impacts of these discharges to ecosystem health include deposition of sewer sediment on the stream bed, anoxic events, and algal blooms. A case study is presented, which analyzed in-stream dissolved oxygen and sediment oxygen demand (SOD) in an urban stream in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to observe short-term and long-term water-column oxygen depletion caused by CSO discharges. Multiple SOD measurements were collected at six locations in a 5.61-km reach. Continuous in-stream dissolved oxygen measurements indicate that water-column dissolved oxygen concentration in the reach is depleted as it flows through the study section. This depletion appears to be the result of elevated SOD downstream of the CSO outfalls.
Racial and ethnic differences in HPV knowledge, attitudes, and vaccination rates among low-income African-American, Haitian, Latina, and Caucasian young adult women.

Abstract Objective To examine facilitators and barriers to HPV vaccine uptake in African-American, Haitian, Latina, and White women aged 18-22 and to determine vaccination completion rates among participants over 5 years. Design Using semi-structured interviews and medical record review, we assessed HPV knowledge and attitudes towards HPV vaccination among young women. We then determined their subsequent HPV vaccination initiation and completion rates. We used constructs from the Health Belief Model and methods based in grounded theory and content analysis to identify attitudes towards HPV vaccination cues to initiate vaccination, perception of HPV, and how communication about issues of sexuality may impact vaccine uptake. Participants We enrolled 132 African-American, Haitian, Latina, and White women aged 18-22 years who visited an urban academic medical center and 2 affiliated community health centers between the years 2007 and 2012. Main Outcome Measures Intent to vaccinate and actual vaccination rates. Results Of 132 participants, 116 (90%) stated that they were somewhat or very likely to accept HPV vaccination if offered by their physician, but only 51% initiated the vaccination over the next 5 years. Seventy-eight percent of those who initiated vaccination completed the 3 doses of the HPV vaccine series. Forty-five percent (45%, n = 50) of the adolescents who started the series completed 3 doses over a 5-year period: 42% of African-American (n = 16), 33% of Haitian (n = 13), 63% of Latina (n = 10), and 65% of White young women (n = 11) completed the 3-dose series. Despite low knowledge, they reported high levels of trust in physicians and were willing to vaccinate if recommended by their physicians. Conclusion Desire for HPV vaccination is high among older adolescents, physician recommendation, and use of every clinic visit opportunity may improve vaccine uptake in young women. More White young women completed the HPV vaccine series compared with other race and ethnic young women.
Failure of dieldrin to affect color vision in juvenile mallard ducks.

Nine mallard ducks were raised artificially from eggs and fed the same long-term doses of dieldrin as their parents (0, 4, or 10 ppm); in addition, three ducks from 10 ppm parents were raised on 50 ppm. The parents had been on dieldrin-treated feed for two years. The juvenile ducks were tested at approximately two months of age. Each duck was trained to respond (key peck) differentially to light wavelengths of 552 mµ (S+) and 610 mµ (S−) and, subsequently, was presented 13 different wavelengths, in random order. Differential responding was analyzed for stimulus generalization. No significant differences (p<.05) were found between the control and treated groups' mean stimulus generalization gradients. Only the group receiving 50 ppm in their feed had a mean whole-brain dieldrin residue significantly larger (p<.05) than that of the control group. These results indicate that the ingestion of dieldrin, under the test conditions used, does not have a measurable effect on light wavelength discrimination in mallard ducks.
Encoding of both subunits of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase by organelle genome of Cyanaphora paradoxa

The intracellular photosynthetic entities (cyanelles) of the protozoan Cyanophora paradoxa (Fig. 1) have long been regarded as endosymbiotic cyanobacteria due to morphological and physiological similarities such as unstacked thylakoids1, a rudimentary yet lysozyme-sensitive cell wall2,3, and phycobilisomes as light-collecting apparatus4. However, recent investigations of cyanelle DNA cast doubt on this classification. The cyanelle genome has been found to resemble chloroplast DNA in size and structure5–7. In light of the endosymbiont hypothesis of eukaryotic cell evolution8 these paradoxical features of the cyanelles suggest that C. paradoxa is an evolutionary intermediate between cyanobacteria, the presumed plastidal ancestors, and modern photosynthetic organelles. The ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBPCase) of C. paradoxa is composed of eight large (LSU) and eight small (SSU) subunits9. In higher plants and green algae the LSU of the enzyme is encoded by plastid DNA and the SSU is nucleus-encoded10. In cyanobacteria the LSU gene has been located on the chromosome11. No data are available on the SSU gene. Here we have investigated the cyanelles' evolutionary position by determining the location of the genes for the two subunits of RuBPcase in C. paradoxa. By heterologous hybridization the genes for both subunits of RuBPCase have been located on the cyanelle genome. Furthermore, LSU and SSU probes exhibit homology to the same BglII and HindIII fragment, suggesting a close proximity of the two genes.