cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
RNA polymerase from tobacco necrosis virus-infected and uninfected tobacco: II. Properties of the bound and soluble polymerases and the nature of their products

Abstract RNA polymerase activities in extracts of healthy and tobacco necrosis virus (TNV)-infected tobacco plants were investigated. Considerable ”bound“ enzyme activity, associated with endogenous viral RNA template, was found in the 30,000 g pellet obtained from TNV-infected plants. This activity was usually not increased by addition of RNA. In the corresponding fraction from healthy plants a much lower activity was detected which was increased when RNA was added. The conditions favoring the enzyme activity and its general properties were investigated. The RNA synthesized by this enzyme on the endogenous template, be it in the particulate state or solubilized and ammonium sulfate-fractionated, was about 90% double-stranded and of high molecular weight. It corresponds to a viral plus strand. After melting, this RNA comigrated with TNV-RNA. Thus it appears that the membrane-bound enzyme in TNV-infected plants represents a TNV replicase which is able to synthesize or finish full-length TNV-RNA on an endogenous template, the minus strand of TNV-RNA; this enzyme-template complex can be solubilized and fractionated without losing this ability. Nucleotide polymerizing activity was also detected in the 100,000 g supernatant of healthy tobacco plants and this activity was significantly increased upon TNV infection. This activity which resembled in some respects that reported by Duda et al . (1973) was greatly stimulated by added RNA. The products synthesized by this “soluble” enzyme extracted from healthy and infected plants were of similarly low molecular weight; they consisted of both single- and doubles-tranded RNAs and behaved partly as expected for fragments of minus-strand viral RNA.
The Lesch-Nyhan syndrome: clinical, molecular and genetic aspects

Abstract The requirement for efficient purine nucleotide salvage in humans may best be illustrated by the X-linked Lesch-Nyhan syndrome. This disease, which results from a deficiency of hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase, is associated with severe neurological abnormalities and impaired renal function. Here we review the development of technique to detect and characterize mutations at the HPRT locus.
Identifying patients at risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism.

identifying key individuals in the patient’s world—whether they are hostile, alienated, disagree with medical recommendations, or feel marginalized—is a crucial step in the ethics consultation process. We believe that the ethics consultation actually provided a vehicle to engage those who had previously felt marginalized, which in part may have accounted for their satisfaction with the process, even if not always with the outcome.
Stereotactic body radiation therapy and central liver toxicity: A case report

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) has become an increasingly common component in the treatment of primary andmetastatic liver tumors. Liver SBRT allows for focused high-dose radiation to the target while minimizing dose to the remaining liver. In the majority of cases, this treatment is effective and well tolerated; however, some studies have reported up to 30% grade 3 or higher toxicity.1 One of the potential risks of liver SBRT is radiation-induced liver disease (RILD), which is characterized by nonicteric ascites, hepatomegaly, and elevated alkaline phosphatase and typically develops 4 weeks to 3 months after treatment. The risk of RILD can be reduced by minimizing the mean liver dose or by sparing a critical volume of liver from receiving more than the dose tolerance. However, for centrally located liver lesions, RILD does not account for damage specific to the central hepatobiliary tree and portal vein, and the traditional dose constraints do not account for the specific tolerance of these structures. Toxicity of the central hepatobiliary tree may be attributable to stenosis/stricture, which could lead to elevated alkaline phosphatase, jaundice, and cholangitis. To further characterize the potential toxicity of SBRT, we describe a case of a patient who underwent liver
Performance of Foreign and Global Mutual Funds: The Role of Security Selection, Region‐Shifting, and Style‐Shifting Abilities

We examine the performance of U.S.-based foreign and global funds after controlling for their regional and style exposure. We show that, on average, the total performance (TP) and security selection abilities of both foreign and global funds are significantly negative and exhibit short-term predictability. Additionally, R2 reflects funds’ security selection abilities, consistent with previous findings for domestic mutual funds. Investors can earn higher abnormal returns and TP in the short run by purchasing past winners with low R2 than by purchasing past losers with high R2. However, there is no evidence of predictability in the funds' region-shifting and style-shifting abilities.
Exploring the Impact of Knowledge of Multiple Strategies on Students’ Learning About Proportions

Proportional reasoning is widely considered to be a major goal of mathematics education in the middle grades. The literature identifies three strategies that are commonly used by students in solving simple proportion problems: cross multiplication, equivalent fractions, and unit rate. In past research, scholars have expressed concern that students rely too heavily on cross multiplication when solving these types of problems and have advocated delaying instruction on cross multiplication in favor of both the unit rate and equivalent fractions strategies. As part of a study evaluating a 6-week curriculum unit on ratio, proportion, and percent problem solving, we assessed students’ strategy repertoire for solving proportion problems and the extent to which students’ prior knowledge of one or more strategies impacted their learning from the curricular intervention. Results indicated that students relied almost exclusively on the equivalent fractions strategy for solving simple proportion problems, and that students who had prior knowledge of more than one strategy learned more from the intervention than those who knew one or no strategies.
Law enforcement in the National park system: Perceptions and practices

Abstract A substantial, dramatic increase in the level of criminal activity has been reported in the National Park System during the 1970s. While the National Park Service has, as a result, intensified its law enforcement program, critics have suggested that the agency has overreacted to the problem. This study seeks to identify factors associated with the presence of crime and deviant behavior in National Park Service administered areas and also examines the relationship among the crime rate, manager perceptions of crime, and law enforcement practices. Results suggest managers apparently react more to the overall level of crime, especially acts of vandalism, than the crime rate, although the strength of association was found to be small. Larger parks, with more opportunities for crime, also recorded higher average crime rates.
Views of euthanasia from an east Texas university

Abstract Euthanasia has become a subject of public debate and concern. Here we examine the views of euthanasia among students at an east Texas university. Roughly three-fourths are in favor of euthanasia -similar to the general public. Because the university is located in a conservative geographical area, this result suggests growing approval of the various forms of euthanasia and doctor assisted death. While no significant differences were found between the three student major groups -Liberal Arts, Science and Business, some demographic differences were found within the groups. Mainly, African American female Science majors are the most opposed to euthanasia whereas Caucasian male Science majors are the most in favor and the most likely to use a scientific definition of death. The views of the latter group contrast notably with practicing doctors who lag behind the public in their approval of euthanasia. Student views might reflect a cohort difference, a lack of professional experience, or a growing trend among medical practitioners. Liberal Arts majors are the most conservative of the three groups, indicating nonscientific reasons for opposition. Resistance to euthanasia is apparently associated with demographics and nonscientific reasoning.
Lateral and feedforward inhibition suppress asynchronous activity in a large, biophysically-detailed computational model of the striatal network.

Striatal medium spiny neurons (MSNs) receive lateral inhibitory projections from other MSNs and feedforward inhibitory projections from fast-spiking, parvalbumin-containing striatal interneurons (FSIs). The functional roles of these connections are unknown, and difficult to study in an experimental preparation. We therefore investigated the functionality of both lateral (MSN-MSN) and feedforward (FSI-MSN) inhibition using a large-scale computational model of the striatal network. The model consists of 2744 MSNs comprised of 189 compartments each and 121 FSIs comprised of 148 compartments each, with dendrites explicitly represented and almost all known ionic currents included and strictly constrained by biological data as appropriate. Our analysis of the model indicates that both lateral inhibition and feedforward inhibition function at the population level to limit non-ensemble MSN spiking while preserving ensemble MSN spiking. Specifically, lateral inhibition enables large ensembles of MSNs firing synchronously to strongly suppress non-ensemble MSNs over a short time-scale (10-30 msec). Feedforward inhibition enables FSIs to strongly inhibit weakly activated, non-ensemble MSNs while moderately inhibiting activated ensemble MSNs. Importantly, FSIs appear to more effectively inhibit MSNs when FSIs fire asynchronously. Both types of inhibition would increase the signal-to-noise ratio of responding MSN ensembles and contribute to the formation and dissolution of MSN ensembles in the striatal network.
Effects of OCR errors on ranking and feedback using the vector space model

We report on the performance of the vector space model in the presence of OCR errors. We show that average precision and recall is not affected for our full text document collection when the OCR version is compared to its corresponding corrected set. We do see divergence though between the relevant document rankings of the OCR and corrected collections with different weighting combinations. In particular, we observed that cosine normalization plays a considerable role in the disparity seen between the collections. Furthermore, we show that even though feedback improves retrieval for both collections, it can not be used to compensate for OCR errors caused by badly degraded documents.
Respiratory pumping seizure: a newly discovered spontaneous stereotyped behavior pattern in the opisthobranch mollusc Aplysia californica

1. Intact, freely-behaving Aplysia californica were monitored continuously for 24 h via time-lapse video and in vivo extracellular electrophysiological recording during 24 h exposure to both ambient normoxia (6.1—6.9 ppM dissolved O2) and hypoxia (1.2–2.7 ppM dissolved O2) followed by 1–2 h of aquarium reoxygenation. 2. In ambient normoxia, the stereotyped behavior known as respiratory pumping (RP) was found to spontaneously occur in several forms other than the solitary behavioral response previously described. 3. The most extreme variant of the new forms of RP was that of the RP seizure which was a series of RP responses (20–60) that occurred over a 30–90 min period and in a pattern characterized by a progressively greater inter-response interval. RP seizures occurred at frequencies ranging from 0–3 times per 24 h. 4. The time-course of RP seizure inter-response intervals was stereotyped across animals while seizure duration and the number of RP responses within a seizure were more similar for a given animal than across animals. 5. The other forms of RP included double and triple RP responses and abbreviated RP seizures. One instance of a double RP seizure was recorded. 6. Prolonged exposure to ambient hypoxia depressed all forms of RP. 7. Aquarium reoxygenation returned RP activity levels to near that prior to hypoxia exposure; seizure rate was above that occurring in ambient normoxia. 8. Potential physiological ramifications of RP seizures are discussed along with a possible mechanism to account for the repertoire of naturally-occurring RP behaviors.
Measurements of curvature in an ionic model of cardiac tissu

Abstract To quantify the effect of curvature on propagation in ventricular cardiac muscle we selected two cases of propagation where wavefronts of pronounced curvature were present: propagation through a narrow hole in an impermeable screen, and propagation after point-stimulation in a homogeneous medium. Those two situations were simulated in a computer model of a two-dimensional isotropic medium incorporating the Luo-Rudy equations to describe the ventricular muscle membrane. A planar wave initiated in the proximal side of the screen was diffracted at the hole creating a curved wavefront. Its propagation velocity beyond the hole first decreased and then increased as it propagated away from the hole. The minimum velocity of propagation was a function of the hole size. When the size of the hole was smaller than 175 μm, propagation through the hole was impossible. After point stimulation in a homogeneous medium a wavefront with a circular shape was initiated. The velocity of the propagating wave increased as the radius of the wavefront increased. To initiate a propagating wave, a circle with a diameter of 450 μm had to be activated. Considering the reciprocal of half the size of the hole as an estimation of the maximum curvature imposed by the hole, and the reciprocal of the radius of the wavefront as the curvature in the case of point-stimulation, in the two cases studied the propagation velocity decreased linearly with increasing curvature. Wavefronts whose curvature was higher than a critical value did not propagate. Therefore, in cardiac ventricular muscle, the curvature of the wavefront can be a cause of slow conduction and block.
Critical Factors Affecting the Undercooling of Pb-free, Flip-Chip Solder Bumps and In-situ Observation of Solidification Process

The undercooling of flip-chip Pb-free solder bumps was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to understand the effects of solder composition, solder volume, minor alloying elements, presence of an under bump metallurgy (UBM), and cooling rate. The undercooling is defined as the temperature difference between the melting temperature of a solder during heating and the solidification temperature during cooling. Although the undercooling of a bulk sample can be easily measured by DSC, it is difficult to measure the undercooling of flip-chip solder bumps because an individual solder bump is too tiny to be handled and the amount of heat associated with melting or solidification is also too small to be detected. In this study, a large amount of the undercooling (as large as 90degC) was observed with Sn-rich, flip-chip-size solder bumps sitting in a glass mold, while the corresponding undercooling was significantly reduced in the presence of a wettable UBM surface on a Si chip. In addition, the solidification of an array of individual solder bumps in a glass mold was monitored in-situ by video imaging technique during both heating up and cooling down cycles. Random solidification of an array of bumps was demonstrated during cooling, which also spans a wide temperature range of 40-80degC. Comparing the amount of undercooling observed in flip-chip vs. BGA-size bumps or bulk solders, it is evident that the solder volume factor is more dominant than the metallurgical factor such as Sn vs. Pb. It is also demonstrated that a small addition of minor alloying elements such as Co, Zn, Ni and Fe was effective in reducing the amount of undercooling of Pb-free solders.
Overview of Success of EVAR: Progress to Date

Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) of abdominal aortic aneurysms has been challenged by a number of groups, and the shortcomings of this procedure have been documented in the scientific literature. However, patients and physicians continue to pursue this procedure as a viable means of treating abdominal aortic aneurysms. Both device evolution and advancement of technical skills have led to dramatic improvements in the outcomes of EVAR within the last decade. These improvements and accomplishments have also been chronicled in the literature. This review looks at the successes of EVAR, based on both US Food and Drug Administration trials and independent studies comparing conventional open repair and endovascular repair.
Boundary element method calculations of the mobility of nonspherical particles-3. Parallel implementation for long chains

Abstract A boundary element formulation for implementation on computers with massively parallel architecture, which allows calculation of particle drag and torque for particle agglomerates, is described. Shape factors for long, linear chains of spheres translating through a quiescent fluid are calculated. These calculations show that the correlation presented in an earlier paper ( Geller et al., 1993 ), which was based on boundary element results for much shorter chains, continues to hold for chains of up to 700 constituent spheres; and, as expected, the slender body results, also presented by Geller and coworkers (1993), more closely agree with the numerical results for these longer chains.
Degradation of CYANEX 301 in Contact with Nitric Acid Media

The nature of the degradation product obtained upon contacting CYANEX 301 (bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)dithiophosphinic acid) with nitric acid has been elucidated and found to be a disulfide derivative. The first step to the degradation of CYANEX 301 in toluene has been studied using 31P{1H} NMR after being contacted with nitric acid media. The spectrum of the degradation product exhibits a complex multiplet around δP = 80 ppm. A succession of purifications of CYANEX 301 has resulted in single crystals of the acidic form and the corresponding ammonium salt. Unlike the original CYANEX 301, which consists of a complex diastereomeric mixture displaying all possible combinations of chiral orientations at the 2-methyl positions, the purified crystals were shown by single-crystal X-ray diffraction to be racemates, containing 50:50 mixtures of the [R;R] and [S;S] diastereomers. The comparison between the 31P {1H} NMR spectra of the degradation products resulting from the diastereomerically pure CYANEX 301 and the ...
Ion scattering study of the Zn and oxygen-terminated basal plane surfaces of ZnO

Abstract The zinc-terminated, ZnO(0001)–Zn, and the oxygen-terminated, ZnO( 000 1 )–O polar surfaces have been studied by low-energy alkali ion scattering. Single scattering analysis shows that both surfaces exhibit a surface structure that is bulk-terminated. No evidence is found for registry shifts at the surface or substantial quantities of point defects such as Zn or O vacancies as may be expected to relieve charge imbalance at the surface. Comparison with the results of computer simulation confirms the bulk-terminated structure, but fails to quantify the interlayer spacing. A less satisfactory agreement between experiment and computer simulation is obtained for the Zn-terminated surface than for the O-terminated surface. It is found that, due to interference of multiple scattering from second and third layers, layer spacings cannot be trivially extracted from single scattering analysis. However, specific scattering conditions are identified for the oxygen-terminated surface, where spacing in the first O–Zn double layer can be obtained. This spacing is found to be nearly identical to the bulk value.
223Ra - Parity doublets and the case for reflection asymmetry

Abstract The level structure of 223Ra is reinterpreted in terms of two sets of approximately degenerate opposite parity bands with K = 3 2 ± and K = 1 2 ± . Hybrid values of the magnetic moments of the 3 2 ± states and the absolute values of the decoupling parameters are observed and are able to test the changes in Nilsson wave functions resulting from octupole deformation.
Comparison of the distributions of renal and splenic neurons in sympathetic ganglia.

Abstract Postganglionic neurons in different sympathetic ganglia are innervated selectively by preganglionic neurons originating from different segments of the spinal cord. These selective connections between pre- and postganglionic neurons may determine the specificity with which postganglionic nerves participate in differential reflex reactions. Because specificity of renal and splenic nerve responses to stimulation of visceral afferent nerves may depend on the distribution of postganglionic neurons in sympathetic ganglia, retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase was employed in this study to identify the ganglionic distribution of cell bodies of postganglionic neurons supplying the kidney and spleen in cats. Superior mesenteric, left and right celiac ganglia usually are fused together into a complex ganglion (solar plexus) in the cat. Most labeled cell bodies of renal nerves were clustered in groups within the solar plexus, but some cell bodies of renal neurons were observed in upper lumbar (L1–L3) and lower thoracic (T12–T13) paravertebral sympathetic ganglia. In contrast, 90% of labeled splenic neurons were scattered randomly throughout the left and right celiac poles of the solar plexus. In conclusion, the disparate distribution of renal and splenic neurons in sympathetic ganglia provides an anatomical basis for differential reflex responses in the two populations of nerves.
Formation and germination of fungal arthroconidia

(1985). Formation and Germination of Fungal Arthroconidia. CRC Critical Reviews in Microbiology: Vol. 12, No. 4, pp. 271-292.
The federal role in international business education

Rapid global change, driven especially by the telecommunications, computing, and biotechnology industries, are rapidly transforming the international economic, social, and cultural landscape. Affected are both urban and rural businesses that face intense competition at home and abroad. If the United States is to continue to main-tain a competitive advantage in the global marketplace, educational institutions must prepare the next generation of leaders for a pluralistic world in which multi-culturalism dominates and international business education is multidimensional. This article addresses the role that the U.S. federal government has played in prepar-ing international business graduates. It examines the contributions of two federal grant programs: the Business and International Education program and the Centers for International Business program, both authorized under the Higher Education Act of 1965 as amended. � 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
First Principles and Finite Element Predictions of Radiative Properties of Nanostructure Arrays: Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Arrays

Recent advances in nanofabrication technology have facilitated the development of arrays of nanostructures in the classical or quantum confinement regime, e.g., single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) arrays with long-range order across macroscopic dimensions. So far, an accurate generalized method of modeling radiative properties of these systems has yet to be realized. In this work, a multiscale computational approach combining first-principles methods based on density functional theory (DFT) and classical electrodynamics simulations based on the finite element method (FEM) is described and applied to the calculations of optical properties of macroscopic SWCNT arrays. The first-principles approach includes the use of the GW approximation and Bethe–Salpeter methods to account for excited electron states, and the accuracy of these approximations is assessed through evaluation of the absorption spectra of individual SWCNTs. The fundamental mechanisms for the unique characteristics of extremely low reflectance and high absorptance in the near-IR are delineated. Furthermore, opportunities to tune the optical properties of the macroscopic array are explored.
But Is It a Basin? Science, Controversy, and Conspiracy in the Fight for Mirador, Guatemala

The ancient Maya city of Mirador, located in the northeastern corner of Guatemala's Maya Biosphere Reserve, is at the heart of a raging scientific and political controversy. On the surface, the conflict centers around the geological definition of a ‘basin’ surrounding the magnificent site. One side uses the existence of a basin—backed up by satellite images and analyses—to push for redrawing the boundaries of the reserve, arguing that the feature naturally delineates key archaeological and ecological sites and that current reserve management is failing the forests. The other side insists that there is no geological basin—a contention also backed by satellite images and analyses—and that redrawing the lines would undermine more than 20 years of conservation efforts. On both sides of the fight, rumors abound about secret agendas, manipulated data, backroom political deals, and other shady business. These conspiracy stories reveal how paranoid thought is simultaneously a powerful epistemology and a practical...
A procedure for repairing fractured post-core restorations.

Summary Two methods have been described for dealing with fractured or underextended posts in endodontically treated teeth. They seem to be adequate in preserving teeth that might otherwise have been lost.
Belief Polarization Is Not Always Irrational

Belief polarization occurs when 2 people with opposing prior beliefs both strengthen their beliefs after observing the same data. Many authors have cited belief polarization as evidence of irrational behavior. We show, however, that some instances of polarization are consistent with a normative account of belief revision. Our analysis uses Bayesian networks to characterize different kinds of relationships between hypotheses and data, and distinguishes between cases in which normative reasoners with opposing beliefs should both strengthen their beliefs, cases in which both should weaken their beliefs, and cases in which one should strengthen and the other should weaken his or her belief. We apply our analysis to several previous studies of belief polarization and present a new experiment that suggests that people tend to update their beliefs in the directions predicted by our normative account.
Breast density in relation to risk of ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast in women undergoing screening mammography

Objective To examine the association between breast density and risk of breast ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).
Transient Convection Due To Imposed Heat Flux: Application to Liquid Acquisition Devices

A model problem is considered that addresses the effect of heat load from an ambient laboratory environment on the temperature rise of liquid nitrogen inside an enclosure. This model has applications to liquid acquisition devices inside the cryogenic storage tanks used to transport vapor-free propellant to the main engine. We show that heat loads from Q = 0.001 to 10 W, with corresponding Rayleigh numbers from Ra = 109 to 1013, yield a range of unsteady convective states and temperature rise in the liquid. The results show that Q = 1 to 10 W (Ra = 1012 to 1013) yield temperature distributions along the enclosure height that are similar in trend to experimental measurements. Unsteady convection, which shows selfsimilarity in its planforms, is predicted for the range of heat-load conditions. The onset of convection occurs from a free-convection-dominated base flow that becomes unstable against convective instability generated at the bottom of the enclosure while the top of the enclosure is convectively stable. A number of modes are generated with small-scale thermals at the bottom of the enclosure in which the flow selforganizes into two symmetric modes prior to the onset of the propagation of the instability. These symmetric vertical modes transition to asymmetric modes that propagate as a traveling-wave-type motion of convective modes and are representative of the asymptotic convective state of the flow field. Intense vorticity production is created in the core of the flow field due to the fact that there is shear instability between the vertical and horizontal modes. For the higher Rayleigh numbers, 1012 to 1013, there is a transition from a stationary to a nonstationary response time signal of the flow and temperature fields with a mean value that increases with time over various time bands and regions of the enclosure.
Stochastic processes associated with quantum systems

Abstract Stochastic processes have been useful in constructing and studying states in Quantum Field Theory (e.g., the Erice Lectures [3], Simon [2], Glimm and Jaffle [6] and in Quantum Statistical Mechanics (e.g., Ginibre [5], Hoegh-Khron [7], Frohlich [4], Driessler, Landau and Perez [2]). By analytically continuing into imaginary time, we may in certain cases replace the non-commulative algebra of observables of the quantum system by a commulative algebra consisting of functions of a stochastic process. In this article we are going to discuss an appropriate mathematical framework for this connection between quantum systems and stochastic processes.
Mother-Teacher Agreement on Preschoolers’ Symptoms of ODD and CD: Does Context matter?

The aims of this study were to examine mother-teacher agreement on oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder (CD) symptoms and diagnoses in preschool children; to determine if context is a source of disagreement; and to explore if sex, referral status, and age moderated agreement rates. Participants included 158 male and 139 female 3- to 5-year old preschool children, their mothers, and teachers. A structured interview, the Kiddie-Disruptive Behavior Disorder Schedule was used for maternal report and teachers completed the Early Childhood Inventory. Results indicated that mothers reported more symptoms and diagnoses of ODD and CD than teachers, and mother-teacher agreement on both ODD and CD symptoms and diagnoses was low. Level of mother-teacher agreement increased when reporting on behavior in the same context; however, the rates remain modest. Referral status increased the likelihood of mother and teacher agreement on several ODD and CD symptoms, as well as ODD and CD diagnosis. These data suggest that context plays a role in mother-teacher agreement in the assessment of young children’s ODD and CD symptoms.
Liquidlike state of dense hydrogen

Some difficulties associated with estimates of the ground-state energy difference between liquid and solid metallic hydrogen based on many-body perturbation theory are pointed out. Arguments based on liquid-state perturbation theory which indicate that the energy difference may be much smaller than was found in a previous calculation are presented.
Activity of mouse liver glutathione S-transferases toward trans,trans-muconaldehyde and trans-4-hydroxy-2-nonenal.

Abstract This study investigated the catalytic activities of hepatic glutathione S-transferase (GST) isoenzymes isolated from CD-1 mice toward two activated alkenals of toxicological relevance: trans,trans-muconaldehyde (MA), a putative myelotoxic metabolite of benzene, and trans-4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE), a highly reactive lipid peroxidation product. The activity toward 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) was also determined. Four isoenzymes with pI values of 9.8, 8.7, 6.4, and 5.7 were each isolated from male and female mice. The isoenzymes with pI values of 8.7 and 6.4 are π and μ class GSTs, respectively, whereas the pI 9.8 and 5.7 GSTs are both α class isoenzymes. CDNB activity was greatest in the π (pI 8.7) isoenzyme of both sexes. In addition, the CDNB activity of the π (pI 8.7) isoenzyme from males was markedly greater than the corresponding GST from female mouse liver. In contrast to CDNB, both MA and HNE were better substrates for the acidic α (pI 5.7) and μ (pI 6.4) GSTs, whereas minimal activity toward either alkenal was detected in the π (pI 8.7) and α (pI 9.8) isoenzymes. Maximum activity toward MA and HNE was exhibited by the α (pI 5.7) isoenzyme of both sexes. The level of HNE activity observed with the α (pI 5.7) isoenzyme was five- to sixfold greater than that reported previously for any mouse GST isoenzyme. Moreover, the specific activities of the female α (pI 5.7) isoenzyme toward both HNE and MA were markedly greater than those of the corresponding isoenzyme from males. A similar gender-specific difference was noted in the activity of the μ (pI 6.4) isoenzyme toward HNE, but not toward MA. These results show that both MA and HNE are substrates for the α (pI 5.7) and μ (pI 6.4) GSTs of murine liver, with maximum activity toward both activated alkenals exhibited by the α (pI 5.7) isozyme. In addition, evidence is presented that demonstrates a female-dominant sex difference in the activity of the α (pI 5.7) isoenzyme toward MA and HNE, which contrasts sharply with the male-dominant activity of π class GSTs toward CDNB. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that α and μ class GSTs are critical detoxication enzymes in female mouse liver, whereas π-class GST isozymes predominate in the liver of male mice.
The triad of scientific publication: Reading, writing, and reviewing

Abstract A workshop on scientific publication was presented at the 2013 ISFG conference by the author, who has written four widely used textbooks and 150 peer-reviewed articles and invited book chapters. This article is a summary of key points made during the workshop. Slides from the workshop are available on the NIST STRBase website at http://www.cstl.nist.gov/strbase/NISTpub.htm .
An evaluation of Mealey's hypotheses based on psychopathy checklist: Identified groups

Although Mealey's account provides several interesting hypotheses, her integration across disparate samples renders the value of her explanation for psychopathy ambiguous. Recent evidence on Psychopathy Checklist-identified samples (Hare, 1991) suggests primary emotional and cognitive deficits inconsistent with her model. Whereas high-anxious psychopaths display interpersonal deficits consistent with Mealey's hypotheses, low-anxious psychopaths' deficits appear more sensitive to situational parameters than predicted.
Cascaded four-wave mixing for broadband tunable laser sideband generation

We demonstrate the versatile broadband wavelength tunability of frequency upconverted multicolor cascaded four-wave-mixing (CFWM) signals spanning the continuous wavelength range from UV to near IR in a thin type-I BBO crystal using 35 fs, 800 nm fundamental and chirped IR supercontinuum white light pulses. Two sets of spatially dispersed CFWM laser sidebands are concomitantly generated from two incident pulses as well as their second-harmonic-generation and sum-frequency-generation pulses in a crossing geometry. The tunable cascaded signals with ultrabroad bandwidth can be readily achieved via spatially rotating the BBO crystal to different phase-matching conditions and temporally varying the time delay between the two incident near-IR pulses.
The vOTU domain of highly-pathogenic porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus displays a differential substrate preference

Arterivirus genus member Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) causes an economically devastating disease, recently exacerbated by the emergence of highly pathogenic strains (HP-PRRSV). Within the nonstructural protein 2 of PRRSV is a deubiquitinating enzyme domain belonging to the viral ovarian tumor (vOTU) protease superfamily. vOTUs, which can greatly vary in their preference for their host ubiquitin (Ub) and Ub-like substrates such as interferon stimulated gene 15 (ISG15), have been implicated as a potential virulence factor. Since various strains of PRRSV have large variations in virulence, the specificity of vOTUs from two PRRSV strains of varying virulence were determined. While both vOTUs showed de-ubiquitinating activity and markedly low deISGylating activity, HP-PRRSV demonstrated a strong preference for lysine 63-linked poly-Ubiquitin, tied to innate immune response regulation. This represents the first report of biochemical activity unique to HP-PRRSV that has implications for a potential increase in immunosuppression and virulence.
Synthesis of l-Carbethoxy-4-cyano-4-phenylpiperidine

1-Carbethoxy-4-cyano-4-phenylpiperidine was synthesized as an intermediate for the preparation of meperidine. The intermediate product, in good yield, was obtained by selective carbanion formation of bis(β-chloroethyl)amine using dimethyl sulfoxide.
Finite element analysis of smart structures and designs for automotive active suspension

Smart structures are being increasingly applied in active vibration control. Typically, motion ranges produced in such systems are in the micro-range. This work proposes a mechanism to accomplish macro-motion ranges using smart materials. A new concept for automotive active suspension has been developed using smart structures featuring piezoceramics. A candidate design is analytically investigated for performance. The work presented in this paper includes the concept, its illustration, development of a design geometry based on this concept, and its finite element analysis and results. It is shown that by a proper synthesis of smart structure, macro-motion outputs needed for this application are possible.
A Role for Myosin II in Mammalian Mitochondrial Fission

Mitochondria are dynamic organelles, undergoing both fission and fusion regularly in interphase cells. Mitochondrial fission is thought to be part of a quality-control mechanism whereby damaged mitochondrial components are segregated from healthy components in an individual mitochondrion, followed by mitochondrial fission and degradation of the damaged daughter mitochondrion. Fission also plays a role in apoptosis. Defects in mitochondrial dynamics can lead to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Mitochondrial fission requires the dynamin GTPase Drp1, which assembles in a ring around the mitochondrion and appears to constrict both outer and inner mitochondrial membranes. However, mechanisms controlling Drp1 assembly on mammalian mitochondria are unclear. Recent results show that actin polymerization, driven by the endoplasmic reticulum-bound formin protein INF2, stimulates Drp1 assembly at fission sites. Here, we show that myosin II also plays a role in fission. Chemical inhibition by blebbistatin or small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated suppression of myosin IIA or myosin IIB causes an increase in mitochondrial length in both control cells and cells expressing constitutively active INF2. Active myosin II accumulates in puncta on mitochondria in an actin- and INF2-dependent manner. In addition, myosin II inhibition decreases Drp1 association with mitochondria. Based on these results, we propose a mechanistic model in which INF2-mediated actin polymerization leads to myosin II recruitment and constriction at the fission site, enhancing subsequent Drp1 accumulation and fission.
Evaluation of a home-based exercise program in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease: the Maximizing Independence in Dementia (MIND) study.

Objective To determine the feasibility and efficacy of a home-based exercise intervention program to improve the functional performance of patients with Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Methods Twenty-seven home-dwelling patients with AD were randomized to either an exercise intervention program delivered by their caregivers or a home safety assessment control. Measures of functional performance (primary), cognition, neuropsychiatric symptoms, quality of life and caregiver burden (secondary) were obtained at baseline and at 6 and 12 weeks following randomization. For each outcome measure, intent-to-treat analyses using linear random effects models were performed. Feasibility and adverse events were also assessed. Results Adherence to the exercise program was good. On the primary outcomes (functional performance) patients in the exercise group demonstrated a trend for improved performance on measures of hand function and lower extremity strength. On secondary outcome measures, trends toward worse depression and lower quality of life ratings were noted. Conclusions The physical exercise intervention developed for the study, delivered by caregivers to home-dwelling patients with AD, was feasible and was associated with a trend for improved functional performance in this group of frail patients. Given the limited efficacy to date of pharmacotherapies for AD, further study of exercise intervention, in a variety of care setting, is warranted. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Computer aided symbolic solution of multi-point boundary value problems occurring in physics and engineering

Abstract The author has elsewhere published papers demonstrating applicability of computer algebraic and symbol manipulation in obtaining solutions to ordinary and partial differential equations by Piccard's method, steepest descent and various forms of the Newton-Kantorovich theorems and applying them to non-trivial problems in engineering, physics and, especially, celestial mechanics. In this paper, the Taylor series will be developed permitting expansion about any point and for any boundary conditions for any order derivative at arbitrary points, i.e., the general multi-point boundary valve problem (MPBVP) will be solved. The symbolic algorithm developed is written in PL/1-Formac and produces the Taylor series solution for any nonlinear differential equation in which the highest order derivative may be algebraically isolated. This program permits the continuation of this solution on intervals of the independent variable, in the manner of polynomial splines. This program permits symbolic solutions, e.g. in terms of a symbolic initial condition. However, such a solution requires enormous main storage. PL/1-Formac was used due to its general availability and its compatibility with relatively small main storage, even as small as 200 K bytes. Two parameters are available for attaining a given numerical accuracy; the order of the Taylor expansion and the number of continuation intervals into which the solution range is divided. Experiments show that high accuracy can be obtained by judiciously selecting these two parameters in order to counterbalance truncation error against numerical round-off error. Extensive additional documentation of this procedure has been performed on scores of problems occurring in the applied mathematics literature.
A High Performance/Low Cost Accelerator Control System

Implementation of a high performance computer control system tailored to the requirements of the SuperHILAC accelerator is described. This system uses a distributed (star-type) structure with fiber optic data links; multiple CPU's operate in parallel at each node. A large number (20) of the latest 16-bit microcomputer boards are used to get a significant processor bandwidth (exceeding that of many mini-computers) at a reasonable price. Because of the large CPU bandwidth, software costs and complexity are significantly reduced and programming can be less "real-time" critical. In addition all programming can be in a high level language. Dynamically assigned and labeled knobs together with touch-screens allow a flexible and efficient operator interface. An X-Y vector graphics system allows display and labeling of real-time signals as well as general plotting functions. Both the accelerator parameters and the graphics system can be driven fram "BASIC" interactive programs in addition to the pre-canned user routines. This allows new applications to be developed quickly and efficiently by physicists, operators, etc. The system, by its very nature and design, is easily upgraded (via next generation of boards) and repaired (by swapping of boards) without a large hardware support group. This control system is now being tested on an existing beamline and is performing well. The techniques used in this system can be readily applied to industrial control systems.
Development of an enrichment measurement technique and its application to enrichment verification of gaseous UF6

Abstract A technique has been developed to verify the enrichment of gaseous UF6 inside cylinders. This technique combines an X-ray fluorescent measurement of the total amount of gaseous uranium with a measure of the 185.7 keV gamma ray from 235U using two collimators to obtain an enrichment that is independent of the pressure of the gaseous uranium and independent of the deposit that forms on a surface in contact with UF6. This technique has the required sensitivity to determine whether the process gas is of uranium enrichment ≤ 20% or >20%.
Observation of Zitterbewegung in a spin-orbit-coupled Bose-Einstein condensate

Spin-orbit-coupled ultracold atoms provide an intriguing new avenue for the study of rich spin dynamics in superfluids. In this Rapid Communication, we observe Zitterbewegung, the simultaneous velocity (thus position) and spin oscillations, of neutral atoms between two spin-orbit-coupled bands in a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) through sudden quantum quenches of the Hamiltonian. The observed Zitterbewegung oscillations are perfect on a short time scale but gradually damp out on a long time scale, followed by sudden and strong heating of the BEC. As an application, we also demonstrate how Zitterbewegung oscillations can be exploited to populate the upper spin-orbit band and observe a subsequent dipole motion. Our experimental results are corroborated by a theoretical and numerical analysis and showcase the great flexibility that ultracold atoms provide for investigating rich spin dynamics in superfluids.
EXPERIMENTAL OBSERVATIONS ON IRRADIATED, NORMAL, AND PARTIALLY PARATHYROIDECTOMIZED RABBITS II. THE EFFECTS OF INJECTIONS OF CALCIUM CHLORIDE OR OF DISODIUM HYDROGEN PHOSPHATE.

No significant differences were found in the reactions of irradiated, normal, or partially parathyroidectomized rabbits to injections of calcium chloride or disodium hydrogen phosphate. Intravenous injections of calcium chloride caused only a transient rise in blood calcium, which returned to its former level within a few hours. The upper level of blood calcium concentration is independent of parathyroid control. Subcutaneous injections of disodium hydrogen phosphate caused, in all three groups of rabbits, a similar depression of the blood calcium level. After large doses of the phosphate solution, all of the rabbits showed signs of acute tetany in which many of them died. Death or survival was not determined, apparently, by the absolute depression of blood calcium. The rabbits that died were those, in all three groups, in which a phosphorus retention carried the initial rise in serum phosphorus to even higher levels in the hours preceding death, and so changed the normal calcium-phosphorus ratio to a small fraction of its former value.