cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reading up books: Bioengineering: A beginner's bibliography: A good bioengineer must have a solid background in engineering principles and then in biological applications. Here are some books to get you started

Bioengineering is different things to different people. To a nurse with a broken power cord on a blood pressure monitor, bioengineering is what gets it fixed. To a medical researcher, bioengineering is the design of instrumentation to measure something. To your grandfather with a heart pacemaker, bioengineering is what keeps him going. Using a textbook definition, bioengineering is the application of physical and mathematical principles to biological and medical problems. That covers a lot of ground. Bioengineering can be the use of metallurgy to develop replacement hip joints, or the use of plastics to replace blood vessels, or the signal processing of ultrasonic echo.
Nuclear data sheets for A = 156

Abstract The 1964 version of Nuclear Data Sheets for A = 156 has been revised on the basis of experimental data received by August 15, 1974. Pertinent data received between August 15, 1974, and August 15, 1975, have been added in proof. The A = 156 chain consists of ten nuclei (Sm through Lu). Three of these nuclei (Er through Yb) have been assigned since 1965. Level or decay schemes have been constructed for seven nuclei (Sm through Ho). Most data presented in the 1964 revision have not been retained; the references to some of these data may be found under Other Measurements. The compilers have attempted to compare data with various models as an indication of where these models may be employed. Discrepancies in the data and other problems associated with the construction of the level schemes are pointed out in the Comments.
Insurance decisions for low-probability losses

It is widely accepted that individuals tend to underinsure against low-probability, high-loss events relative to high-probability, low-loss events. This conventional wisdom is based largely on field studies, as there is very little experimental evidence. We reexamine this issue with an experiment that accounts for possible confounds in prior insurance experiments. Our results are counter to the prior experimental evidence, as we observe subjects buying more insurance for lower-probability events than for higher-probability events, given a constant expected loss and load factor. Insofar as underinsurance for catastrophic risk is observed in the field, our results suggest that this can be attributed to factors other than only the relative probability of the loss events.
The illusion of transparency and the alleviation of speech anxiety

Abstract Individuals often believe their internal states are more apparent to others than is actually the case, a phenomenon known as the illusion of transparency. In the domain of public speaking, for example, individuals who are nervous about delivering a public speech believe their nervousness is more apparent to their audience than it actually is, a finding we document in Study 1. We contend that the illusion of transparency can play a role in the self-exacerbating nature of speech anxiety, and show in Study 2 that an awareness of the illusion can improve the quality of a speaker’s performance, from both the speaker’s own perspective and in the eyes of observers. Discussion focuses on the application of these findings to the treatment of speech anxiety and other forms of social anxiety.
Activation and Drug Design of a Muscarinic G-Protein Coupled Receptor

The M2 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor is a key G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) that regulates the human heart rate and contractile forces of cardiomyocytes, and is thus targeted for treating many heart diseases. Here, we have performed long-timescale accelerated molecular dynamics (aMD) simulations and captured activation of the M2 muscarinic receptor at an atomistic level(1). The receptor activation is characterized by large-scale structural rearrangements of the transmembrane helices and conformational changes in the inter-helical salt bridge and hydrogen bond interactions(1, 2). Furthermore, using the aMD simulation-derived structural ensembles that account for the receptor flexibility, we have mapped the receptor surface for druggable allosteric sites(3) and then targeted the extracellular vestibule for designing allosteric modulators. Retrospective docking of known ligands is first carried out to validate the simulation receptor ensembles, followed by prospective docking to predict new allosteric modulators from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) compound library. The computationally selected compounds will be tested using experimental binding and functional assays, which may allow us to discover selective allosteric drugs of the M2 muscarinic receptor.References1. Miao Y, Nichols SE, Gasper PM, Metzger VT, McCammon JA (2013) Activation and dynamic network of the M2 muscarinic receptor. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 110(27):10982-10987.2. Miao Y, Nichols SE, McCammon JA (2014) Free Energy Landscape of G-Protein Coupled Receptors, Explored by Accelerated Molecular Dynamics. Phys Chem Chem Phys 16(14):6398 - 6406.3. Miao Y, Nichols SE, McCammon JA (2013) Mapping of Allosteric Druggable Sites in Activation-Associated Conformers of the M2 Muscarinic Receptor. Chem Biol Drug Des 83(2):237-246.
The Andean genus Niphogeton (Umbelliferae) revisited

Only ten years ago we offered a revision (Mathias & Constance 1951a) of this small but distinctive genus of Andean Umbelliferae, combining Niphogeton Schlecht., Oreosciaxium Wedd., Urbanosciadium Wolff, and several species hitherto retained under Apium, L. into a single genus comprising some 13 species and four varieties. This interpretation of the group has stood up admirably in the light of much subsequently collected material. What we did not anticipate, however, is the extent to which added exploration would augment both the number of taxa referable to Niphogeton, and its geographical range. It is now incumbent upon us to describe three new taxa from Colombia, Ecuador-Peru, and Bolivia, respectively, and, in recording the unexpected occurrence of the genus in North America, to coin a new nomenclatural combination. We wish to express our appreciation to Harriet G. Barclay, Jose Cuatrecasas, Claudine Friedberg, and Julian A. Steyermark for material of the taxa discussed. The curators of the following herbaria have generously made available critical
Chronic in vitro shear stress stimulates endothelial cell retention on prosthetic vascular grafts and reduces subsequent in vivo neointimal thickness

Abstract Objective: The absence of endothelial cells at the luminal surface of a prosthetic vascular graft potentiates thrombosis and neointimal hyperplasia, which are common causes of graft failure in humans. This study tested the hypothesis that pretreatment with chronic in vitro shear stress enhances subsequent endothelial cell retention on vascular grafts implanted in vivo. Methods: Cultured endothelial cells derived from Fischer 344 rat aorta were seeded onto the luminal surface of 1.5-mm internal diameter polyurethane vascular grafts. The seeded grafts were treated for 3 days with 1 dyne/cm 2 shear stress and then for an additional 3 days with 1 or 25 dyne/cm 2 shear stress in vitro. The grafts then were implanted as aortic interposition grafts into syngeneic rats in vivo. Grafts that were similarly seeded with endothelial cells but not treated with shear stress and grafts that were not seeded with endothelial cells served as controls. The surgical hemostasis time was monitored. Endothelial cell identity, density, and graft patency rate were evaluated 24 hours after implantation. Endothelial cell identity in vivo was confirmed with cells transduced in vitro with β-galactosidase complementary DNA in a replication-deficient adenoviral vector. Histologic, scanning electron microscopic, and immunohistochemical analyses were performed 1 week and 3 months after implantation to establish cell identity and to measure neointimal thickness. Results: The pretreatment with 25 dyne/cm 2 —but not with 0 or 1 dyne/cm 2 —shear stress resulted in the retention of fully confluent endothelial cell monolayers on the grafts 24 hours after implantation in vivo. Retention of seeded endothelial cells was confirmed by the observation that β-galactosidase transduced cells were retained as a monolayer 24 hours after implantation in vivo. In the grafts with adherent endothelial cells that were pretreated with shear stress, immediate graft thrombosis was inhibited and surgical hemostasis time was significantly prolonged. Confluent intimal endothelial cell monolayers also were present 1 week and 3 months after implantation. However, 1 week after implantation, macrophage infiltration was observed beneath the luminal cell monolayer. Three months after the implantation in vivo, subendothelial neointimal cells that contained α–smooth muscle actin were present. The thickness of this neointima averaged 41 ± 12 μm and 60 ± 23 μm in endothelial cell–seeded grafts that were pretreated with 25 dyne/cm 2 shear stress and 1 dyne/cm 2 shear stress, respectively, and 158 ± 46 μm in grafts that were not seeded with endothelial cells. Conclusion: The effect of chronic shear stress on the enhancement of endothelial cell retention in vitro can be exploited to fully endothelialize synthetic vascular grafts, which reduces immediate in vivo graft thrombosis and subsequent neointimal thickness. (J Vasc Surg 1999;29:157-67.)
Molecular cloning of cytochrome P450 aromatase complementary deoxyribonucleic acid from periimplantation porcine and equine blastocysts identifies multiple novel 5'-untranslated exons expressed in embryos, endometrium, and placenta

To facilitate studies on the molecular mechanisms involved in the unique temporal expression of the P450 aromatase gene in porcine periimplantation embryos, a complementary DNA ’ :DNA) library was prepared from day 12 porcine embryo messenger KNAs (mRNAs) and screened with a cDNA fragment encoding the amino-terminus of human aromatase. Two size variants of nearly full-length cDNA clones (designated clones 33F and 34B; 2470 and 2588 bp, respectively) were isolated and sequenced. Clones 33F and 34B encoded identical aromatase proteins of 503 amino acids, but differed in size due to alternative polyadenylation signal usage for the corresponding mRNAs. Using the 5’-rapid amplification of cDNA ends procedure, two classes of cDNA clones that contained distinct putative exon 1 sequences (ElA and ElB, respectively), but were otherwise identical in exon 2 and 3 sequences, were isolated. The ElA DNA sequence was identical to the 5’-end specified by clones 33F and 34B, except for an additional 23 nucleotides. The ElA and ElB exons showed no significant homology with each other or with the aromatase cDNA sequences from other species, including the human. Expression of ElAcontaining aromatase mRNA was higher than that of ElB in day 12 blastocysts, although both mRNAs were expressed at low levels in porcine endometrium and placenta of early pregnancy and in ovary at periestrus. To determine whether the ElA or ElB sequence was common to aromatase mRNAs in other steroidogenic preimplantation embryos, aromatase cDNA clones spanning exons l-3 were isolated from equine embryos by a combination of RT-PCR and 5’-rapid amplification of cDNA ends. Equine embryonic exon 1 cDNA sequence had no homology with corresponding regions in aromatase transcripts of pigs or other species; in contrast, exon 2 and 3 cDNA sequences predicted an amino acid sequence with significant homology to aromatase. Results from the present study demonstrate alternative splicing of a novel first exon(s) in P450 aromatase gene transcripts in porcine preimplantation embryos and in endometrium and placenta of pregnancy. The lack of homology among equine, porcine, human, and bovine aromatase 5’-untranslated exons may indicate divergence in the corresponding regulatory motifs of these regions among mammalian species. These observations suggest the potential significance of activation of the ElA promoter and/or splicing of novel aromatase 5’-exons in the transient production of estrogens by periimplantation blastocysts.
Ribonuclease P structure and function in Archaea.

An important approach to understanding RNA-based catalytic function by ribonuclease P is the investigation of its evolutionary diversity in structure and function. Because RNase P enzymes from all organisms are thought to share common ancestry, the fundamental features of structure and biochemistry should be conserved in all of its modern forms. In contrast to the bacterial enzyme, the RNase P enzymes fromEucarya, organelles, andArchaea are poorly understood. This review describes our nascent understanding of the structure and function of RNase P inArchaea, and how this enzyme compares to its homologs in the other evolutionary Domains.
Space-time-transformation technique in connection with the Schwinger action principle

Abstract We show that, by using a convenient space-time transformation, we can considerably simplify the evaluation of the exact transformation function (or propagator) for a time-dependent mass, subject to a time-varying, forced harmonic oscillator potential, obtained through the Schwinger action principle. Overall, we demonstrate that such a transformation function can be obtained from that for a free particle (with unit mass) in the new space-time coordinate system.
Protein disulfide isomerase suppresses the transcriptional activity of NF-κB

Abstract We report here that the transcriptional activity of NF-κB is negatively regulated by protein disulfide isomerase (PDI). Over-expression of PDI in RAW 264.7 cells strongly suppressed the LPS-induced production of inflammatory cytokines as well as NF-κB-dependent luciferase activity. This negative regulation of NF-κB was reversed by bacitracin, a PDI inhibitor. Interestingly, NF-κB/DNA complex formation and phosphorylation of NF-κB subunits was intact in PDI-expressing cells following stimulation with LPS. In addition, PDI and another redox regulator, thioredoxin (TRX), had opposite effects on NF-κB-dependent gene expression: activation of the NF-κB pathway by TRX was suppressed by expression of PDI in a dose-dependent manner. Finally, PDI expression was induced by the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, and IL-10-mediated inhibition of LPS-induced IL-6 expression was reduced by bacitracin. These findings clearly demonstrate that PDI is a negative regulator of NF-κB, and may act downstream of IL-10 in this signaling pathway.
A robust model predictive control algorithm augmented with a reactive safety mode

A reactive safety mode is built into a robust model predictive control algorithm for uncertain nonlinear systems with bounded disturbances. The algorithm enforces state and control constraints and blends two modes: (I) standard, guarantees re-solvability and asymptotic convergence in a robust receding-horizon manner; (II) safety, if activated, guarantees containment within an invariant set about a reference. The reactive safety mode provides robustness to unexpected, but real-time anticipated, state-constraint changes during standard mode operation. The safety-mode control policy is designed offline and can be activated at any arbitrary time. The standard-mode control has feedforward and feedback components: feedforward is from online solution of a finite-horizon optimal control problem; feedback is designed offline to provide robustness to system uncertainty and disturbances and to establish an invariant “state tube” that guarantees standard-mode re-solvability at any time. The algorithm design is shown for a class of systems with incrementally-conic uncertain/nonlinear terms and bounded disturbances.
Heat Resistant Bacterial Lipases and Ultra-High Temperature Sterilization of Dairy Products,

Abstract Properties of a heat resistant lipase produced by Pseudomonas spp. MC50, a psychrotroph isolated from raw milk, were studied to determine if such enzymes could interfere with successful production of ultra-high temperature sterilized dairy products. In milk MC50 lipase was extremely heat resistant at 100 to 150°C and would be expected to suffer little inactivation during recommended ultra-high temperature processes of 121 to 149°C for .5 to 8s. The optimum temperature for MC50 lipase activity in butter oil emulsion was 40°C, and activity at 20 to 25°C was 27 to 41% of maximum. The optimum pH was pH 8.5 with only 8.3% of maximum activity at pH 6.5 but 43% of maximum activity at pH 7. Lipase activity was greatest in 5% butter oil emulsions, but activity was never less than 65% of maximum over the range of 1 to 10% butter oil. The pH may be the most critical factor in influencing lipase activity in ultra-high temperature sterilized dairy products. Of five batches of normal whole milk and four batches of normal 10% half-and-half subjected to one of three ultra-high temperature sterilization treatments, all exhibited evidence of lipase activity during subsequent storage at room temperature and 40°C. Changes in acid degree values during storage suggested that hydrolytic rancidity could develop in these products in 1 to 7 mo, depending on the ultra-high temperature process and storage temperature. Heat resistant lipases may be common to raw milk and will survive readily most ultra-high temperature sterilization treatments. Although pH may be inhibitory, other factors are suitable to allow lipase activity in dairy products leading to development of rancidity.
Tissue Distribution, Elimination, and Metabolism of O-Ethyl O-4-Nitrophenyl Phenylphosphonothioate in Hens Following Daily Dermal Doses:

The absorption, distribution, elimination, and metabolism of the insecticide O-ethyl O-4-nitrophenyl phenylphosphonothionate (EPN) were studied in the hen. A daily dermal dose of 0.5 mg/kg (0.56 μC...
Little Women and Vital Champions: Gendered Language Shift in a Northern Italian Town

The connection of language to class is clearly implicated in the language shift in progress in the northern Italian town of Bergamo. Gender also plays an active part in this shift in terms of linguistic practice and language ideology, as a gendering of languages is occurring such that the local vernacular, Bergamasco, is linked to men, and the national standard, Italian, to women. This article demonstrates that this gendering is one mechanism of language shift, as it impacts the linguistic division of labor across genders in Bergamo. With men in charge of revitalization and women responsible for language socialization, fewer children are growing up speaking Bergamasco.
Urinary bisphenol A and age at menarche among adolescent girls: Evidence from NHANES 2003–2010

Background Bisphenol A (BPA) is an environmental estrogen used in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins used to make food and beverage packaging. Increasing evidence suggests that BPA mimics estrogens in the body and may be associated with putative markers of breast cancer risk.
Natural history of β-cell adaptation and failure in type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is a complex disease characterized by β-cell failure in the setting of insulin resistance. The current evidence suggests that genetic predisposition, and environmental factors can impair the capacity of the β-cells to respond to insulin resistance and ultimately lead to their failure. However, genetic studies have demonstrated that known variants account for less than 10% of the overall estimated T2D risk, suggesting that additional unidentified factors contribute to susceptibility of this disease. In this review, we will discuss the different stages that contribute to the development of β-cell failure in T2D. We divide the natural history of this process in three major stages: susceptibility, β-cell adaptation and β-cell failure, and provide an overview of the molecular mechanisms involved. Further research into mechanisms will reveal key modulators of β-cell failure and thus identify possible novel therapeutic targets and potential interventions to protect against β-cell failure.
Innovation in multinational subsidiaries: The role of knowledge assimilation and subsidiary capabilities

Subsidiaries of multinational firms play an important role in the globalization of innovation, yet we have an incomplete idea of the influences on their innovative activity. Drawing on prior research in international business and strategy, we identify two sets of factors that influence the absorption and utilization of knowledge in multinational corporation subsidiaries: (a) the range of external and internal knowledge sources available; and (b) the subsidiary capabilities associated with knowledge absorption and utilization. We find that knowledge absorbed from the host country is useful to subsidiary innovation. We also find support for the role of subsidiary capabilities: both sourcing capability and combinative capability have a significant influence on the scale and quality of innovation.
The Industry Experience Gap: Hospitality Faculty Perceptions of the Importance of Faculty Industry Experience

It is estimated almost half of the current hospitality educators in the United States will be retiring within the next 10 years. In their place, the junior faculty who remain, as well as new hires, will have substantially less industry experience than their predecessors. This research sought to determine the perceptions of both hospitality students and faculty regarding the importance of faculty industry experience. The findings of this study are valuable to administrators who wish to maintain rigor within their academic programs and thus may serve as a benchmark for future hiring purposes.
No apparent effects of soil inoculum on green frog ( Lithobates clamitans Latreille) tadpole performance

Invasions by nonnative plant species are transforming plant communities across the globe. An important challenge for ecologists is to understand how animals will respond to these changes. One way that plant invasions could affect aquatic animals is by changing the rate at which soil communities decompose litter, which could alter the flow of energy and nutrients from plant litter to aquatic communities. In this study, we measured larval amphibian responses to soil conditioned by either introduced or native genotypes of Phragmites australis L. (common reed) in northeastern North America. We collected soil from adjacent stands of introduced and native P. australis at three sites in central New York and inoculated outdoor aquatic mesocosms with soil extracts. Mesocosms contained six Lithobates clamitans Latreille (green frog) tadpoles and either low- or high-quality native P. australis americanus litter. We found that litter decomposition differed based on soil inoculum, and we observed a significant interaction between litter quality and soil inoculum; higher-quality litter tended to decompose faster when exposed to inocula from introduced P. australis, while lower-quality litter tended to decompose faster when exposed to inocula from native P. australis americanus. Tadpoles raised with high-quality litter developed faster and achieved greater body size, but soil inocula had no apparent effect on tadpoles. Our results suggest that plant invasions may alter microbial communities, causing subtle changes in litter decomposition rates, but these changes do not appear strong enough to influence larvae of a widespread amphibian.
Occurrence of cyanazine compounds in groundwater: Degradates more prevalent than the parent compound

A recently developed analytical method using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry was used to investigate the occurrence of cyanazine and its degradates cyanazine acid (CAC), cyanazine amide (CAM), deethylcyanazine (DEC), and deethylcyanazine acid (DCAC) in groundwater. This research represents some of the earliest data on the occurrence of cyanazine degradates in groundwater. Although cyanazine was infrequently detected in the 64 wells across Iowa sampled in 1999, cyanazine degradates were commonly found during this study. The most frequently detected cyanazine compound was DCAC (32.8%) followed by CAC (29.7%), CAM (17.2%), DEC (3.1%), and cyanazine (3.1%). The frequency of detection for cyanazine or one or more of its degradates (CYTOT) was more than 12-fold over that of cyanazine alone (39.1% for CYTOT versus 3.1% for cyanazine). Of the total measured concentration of cyanazine, only 0.2% was derived from its parent compound-with DCAC (74.1%) and CAC (18.4%) comprising 92.5% of this total. Thus, although DCAC and CAC had similar frequencies of detection, DCAC was generally present in higher concentrations. No concentrations of cyanazine compounds for this study exceeded water-quality criteria for the protection of human health. Only cyanazine, however, has such a criteria established. Nevertheless, because these cyanazine degradates are still chlorinated, they may have similar toxicity as their parent compound-similarto what has been found with the chlorinated degradates of atrazine. Thus, the results of this study documented that data on the degradates for cyanazine are critical for understanding its fate and transport in the hydrologic system. Furthermore, the prevalence of the chlorinated degradates of cyanazine found in groundwater suggests that to accurately determine the overall effect on human health and the environment from cyanazine its degradates should also be considered. In addition, because CYTOT was found in 57.6% of the samples collected from alluvial aquifers, about 2-5 times more frequently than the other major aquifertypes (glacial drift, bedrock/karst, bedrock/nonkarst) under investigation, this finding has long-term implications for the occurrence of CYTOT in streams. It is anticipated that low-level concentrations of CYTOT will continue to be detected in streams for years after the use of cyanazine has terminated (scheduled for the year 2000 in the United States), primarily through its movement from groundwater into streams during base-flow conditions.
QUANTUM CHEMICAL ROVIBRATIONAL DATA FOR THE INTERSTELLAR DETECTION OF c-C3H–

The anion chemistry of the interstellar medium (ISM) has almost exclusively been limited to linear hydrocarbons and cyanocarbons. Of the hydrocarbons, only the even n C n H– chains have been detected in the ISM, and lines hypothesized to originate with b-C3H– have been conclusively linked to the corresponding cation, as originally claimed. However, no reason has yet been provided as to why other anions cannot form, and the cyclic form of C3H– is actually the lowest-energy isomer on the anion's potential energy surface. As such, this work provides the necessary rovibrational reference data for the potential detection of this anion in the ISM or related laboratory experiments. Improvements over previously calculated rovibrational spectroscopic constants are contained herein along with graphical depictions of the pure rotational spectra at 100 K, 40 K, 20 K, and 2.7 K.
Fetal alcohol syndrome: A review of the disorder

The adverse effects of maternal alcohol consumption have been noted throughout history. When not resulting in the death of the fetus, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is characterized by growth deficiencies, facial abnormalities, and central nervous system dysfunctions. Both direct and indirect teratogenic effects of alcohol are discussed. Also, the type and severity of alcohol's impact on the fetus are viewed in relation to critical periods during the gestational process. Finally, the severity of maternal alcoholism is related to the severity of damage suffered by the fetus. FAS is seen as the consequence of persistent toxic levels of alcohol throughout the gestational period. Several preventative measures are briefly discussed.
Phased array antenna calibration and pattern prediction using mutual coupling measurements

A technique which utilized the inherent mutual coupling in an array to both calibrate and predict the radiation patterns of a phased-array antenna is investigated. The only restriction of the technique is that the ability to transmit and receive with pairs of the array elements is required. The theory associated with array mutual coupling and its relationship to both array calibration and array patterns is discussed. The design of a test bed phased-array antenna is covered. The mutual coupling technique (MCT) is used experimentally to calibrate the test array as well as to predict the array radiation patterns. It is shown that the results obtained by MCT are in good agreement with conventional far-field measurements. >
THE ANTIPROLIFERATIVE AGENT DIDEMNIN B UNCOMPETITIVELY INHIBITS PALMITOYL PROTEIN THIOESTERASE

Dynamic protein palmitoylation has been proposed to regulate GTP-binding proteins by controlling their membrane association and thus their access to key signaling proteins. While the palmitoyl protein thioesterase(s) responsible for depalmitoylation of plasma membrane-associated signaling proteins has (have) not been identified, the lysosomal palmitoyl protein thioesterase 1 (PPT1) has proven useful in in vitro studies of membrane localization requirements of GTP-binding proteins. We have previously reported the binding of the antiproliferative cyclic depsipeptide didemnin B to PPT1. To investigate the nature of this binding and its possible effects on PPT1 enzymatic activity, human PPT1 was expressed in an insect cell baculoviral system, and inhibition assays were performed using both [3H]palmitoyl Ha-Ras and myristoyl-CoA as PPT1 substrates. Didemnin B was shown to inhibit recombinant human PPT1 with a Ki of 92 nM. Kinetic analysis of this inhibition revealed that didemnin B inhibits PPT1 uncompetitively. Providing biochemical support for an uncompetitive mode of inhibition, in vitro binding studies of PPT1 and didemnin indicate that the natural product binds preferentially to the enzyme-substrate complex PPT1-palmitoyl-CoA. As the first described inhibitor of PPT1, didemnin B may prove to be a useful tool in the investigation of protein palmitoylation regulation.
Elimination of Sewing Ring-Metal Seat Interface in Mitral Valve Prostheses

In an effort to decrease the incidence of thromboembolic phenomena associated with prosthetic replacement of the mitral valve and to eliminate problems associated with swelling of moving parts employed in cardiac valve prostheses, a new mitral Teflon disc valve made of titanium was designed. The cage legs are covered with Teflon to reduce wear, and the entire sewing ring and base are covered with Dacron velour to encourage rapid tissue encapsulation. After accelerated fatigue testing and animal investigations, preliminary results in a clinical series of 73 patients appear most encouraging. Further time must pass, however, before statistically valid conclusions can be reached.
Does wound healing contribute to the eradication of basal cell carcinoma following curettage and electrodessication

Background. Histologic studies indicate that C&D fails to mechanically remove all the tumor in a percentage of cases that far exceeds the 5-year recurrence rate. This raises the question that if C&D does not mechanically remove the tumor in a significant number of patients, why don’t we observe tumor recurrence in most of these patients? Our previous study indicates that inflammation occurring over 1 month following C&D does not clear residual tumor. It may be some other process, requiring more time, that clears the residual tumor. Perhaps the proliferative or maturation phase of wound healing or, alternatively, a slow-acting process such as a low-grade immune response set in motion earlier, clears the residual tumor. Objective. To test the hypothesis that wound healing and maturation following C&D clear residual tumor that has not mechanically removed by the procedure. Methods. The frequency of residual BCC detected histologically immediately following C&D was compared with the frequency 3 months after the C&D, an amount of time in which the maturation phase of wound healing is well under way. Results. Twenty-two of 29 primary BCC less than 1 cm in size were tumor-free immediately following the procedure (clearance rate 75.9%). Twelve primary BCC <1 cm were treated by C&D, allowed to heal for 3 months, and then excised and checked histologically. Ten of the twelve BCC were free of tumor, for a clearance rate of 83.3%, which is not a statistically significant difference (p = 0.7187). Conclusion. By 3 months, the proliferative phase of wound healing is complete, and our study indicates that this phase has no effect on clearing the tumor. The maturation phase is well under way three months following C&D, and no statistically significant effect was observed.
Proton Solvation and Transport in Aqueous and Biomolecular Systems: Insights from Computer Simulations

The excess proton in aqueous media plays a pivotal role in many fundamental chemical (e.g., acid-base chemistry) and biological (e.g., bioenergetics and enzyme catalysis) processes. Understanding the hydrated proton is, therefore, crucial for chemistry, biology, and materials sciences. Although well studied for over 200 years, excess proton solvation and transport remains to this day mysterious, surprising, and perhaps even misunderstood. In this feature article, various efforts to address this problem through computer modeling and simulation will be described. Applications of computer simulations to a number of important and interesting systems will be presented, highlighting the roles of charge delocalization and Grotthuss shuttling, a phenomenon unique in many ways to the excess proton in water.
Carbonate Cements in Sandstones--Mineralogy and Chemical Composition: ABSTRACT

The chemical compositions of carbonate cements in sandstones were analyzed with an energy dispersive analyzer (KEVEX) and a scanning electron microscope in order to provide a baseline data base for one of the most common authigenic phases in sandstones. A total of 205 spectra was analyzed with respect to mineral standards using ZAF corrections. These spectra were acquired from 35 Cambrian to Cretaceous carbonate-cemented sandstones from our sedimentary rock collections. Only 19% of the analyses were pure calcite (i.e., no Mg, Mn, or Fe were detected). Impure calcites accounted for 54% of the analyses, and dolomites and ankerites accounted for 27%. When the calcites were treated as a single group, the distribution of the components was as follows: calcite 91.6-100%; magnesite, 0-8.4%; rhodochrosite, 0-2.3%; and siderite, 0-4%. The dolomites and ankerites showed a larger range: calcite, 47.8-60.6%; magnesite, 20-52.2%; rhodochrosite, 0-12%; and siderite, 0-28.6%. The values of the calcite component in the dolomites that were significantly higher than 50% probably resulted from the beam (spot mode) encountering dolomite plus some calcite. In most cases, the calcite component was nearly 50%. Many of these compositions displayed a large variation within a sample, even at the micron-level scale. A series of closely spaced analyses--all within an area 200 × 100 µm--from a sample rich in dolomite and/or ankerite ranged between 20 and 43% magnesite and 6 and 29% siderite. The calcites normally only ranged a few percent for each component in analyses that were spaced at a similar scale. End_of_Article - Last_Page 308------------
Existence, uniqueness and smoothnessfor a class of function valued stochastic partial differential equations

A class of function valued stochastic partial differential equations (SPDL's) is studied, including SPDE's driven by space-time white noise. Existence, uniqueness and smoothness of the mild solution on function spaces with weights are proved, For smoothness a multiparameter approach is used. The relation of this approach to the evolution equation approach is discussed in detail
Using multi-angle multispectral photo-polarimetry of the NASA Glory mission to constrain optical properties of aerosols and clouds: results from four field experiments

Tropospheric aerosols play a crucial role in climate and can cause a climate forcing directly by absorbing and reflecting sunlight, thereby cooling or heating the atmosphere, and indirectly by modifying cloud properties. The indirect aerosol effect may include increased cloud brightness, as aerosols lead to a larger number of smaller cloud droplets (the so-called Twomey effect), and increased cloud cover, as smaller droplets inhibit rainfall and increase cloud lifetime. Both forcings are poorly understood and may represent the largest source of uncertainty about future climate change. In this paper we present results from various field experiments demonstrating the contribution that the multi-angle multi-spectral photopolarimetric remote sensing measurements of the NASA Glory mission will make to the determination of the direct and indirect radiative effects of aerosols.
ON WATER BEARS

Abstract Tardigrades, or “water bears” are microscopic invertebrates that require water in their environment and are found in freshwater, marine and terrestrial habitats. The morphology and phylogeny of this “little known phylum” is described as are ways the naturalist might collect water bears. Examples of species distributions in different locations in the southeastern USA are given.
Toleration of Moral Diversity and the Conscientious Refusal by Physicians to Withdraw Life-Sustaining Treatment

The removal of life-sustaining treatment often brings physicians into conflict with patients. Because of their moral beliefs physicians often respond slowly to the request of patients or their families. People in bioethics have been quick to recommend that in cases of conflict the physician should simply sign off the case and "step aside". This is not easily done psychologically or morally. Such a resolution also masks a number of more subtle, quite trouble some problems that conflict with the commitment to toleration and moral diversity that it is intended to support. These conflicts are detailed and evaluated.
Cardiac Fine Structure in Selected Arthropods and Molluscs

The ultrastructure of the single-chambered hearts of selected arthropods is compared with that of the multi-chambered hearts of three molluscs. I used the following four systems to make the comparison: (1) contractile apparatus, (2) sarcoplasmic reticulum and surface invaginations, (3) cell to cell junctions, and (4) nerves. The contractile apparatus is composed of thin and thick filaments. While the thin filaments have the same diameter, the diameter of the thick filaments differs from one heart to another. Evidence is presented to indicate that this is due to varying amounts of paramyosin in the thick filaments. The arthropod cardiac cells have an extensive system of sarcoplasmic reticulum, the terminal vesicles of which are coupled to the plasmalemma and to the invaginations of the plasmalemma, the T-system. The molluscan cardiac cells lack a typical T-system, which is presumably due to their small cell size (about 10 μm). They possess, however, an elaborate system of sarcoplasmic reticulum which extends from just under the plasmalemma to the middle of the cell. In addition to elaborate sarcoplasmic reticulum, the heart of the whelk ( Busycon canaliculatum ) possess many small invaginations of the plasmalemma, called sarcolemmic tubules. These invaginations of the cell surface are not found in the hearts of the few bivalves examined. All arthropod and molluscan hearts have intercalated discs which can be seen in the light microscope. Two types of junctions can be distinguished in the electron microscope. The mechanical junction is at the level of the terminal sarcomere where the thin filaments are embedded in the cell wall and dense granular material appears to cause the two adjacent cells to adhere to each other. The electrical junction is found along the lateral borders of cells of both the molluscan and arthropod hearts. Finally, while nerves appear to be absent in the myogenic moth heart, they are abundant in the myogenic cockroach heart and in the neurogenic lobster heart. Furthermore, two types of nerves appear very prominently in the myogenic molluscan hearts.
Response to Campbell: Is This a Case of Constriction?

The patient presented by Dr Patricia Campbell1 from the Advanced Heart Disease Section of Brigham and Women's Hospital exemplifies challenges that surround the possible diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis. Constrictive pericarditis is a pericardial compressive syndrome due to fibrosis, scarring, and occasionally calcification of the pericardium. The primary pathophysiological consequence is impairment of ventricular filling. The hemodynamic abnormalities are characterized by elevation of both right and left ventricular filling pressures and equalization of right and left ventricular diastolic pressures. It should be appreciated, however, that there are a number of pathological conditions that can be associated with equalization of ventricular diastolic pressures (Table). View this table: Table. Examples of Conditions That Can Cause Equalization of Ventricular Diastolic Pressures The best-recognized differential diagnosis for equalization of ventricular diastolic pressures is presented by the pair of constrictive pericarditis and restrictive cardiomyopathy. Cardiac catheterization and measurements of intracardiac pressures frequently are performed to distinguish between these 2 conditions. Constrictive pericarditis can be caused by infection, such as tuberculosis, noninfectious inflammatory disorders, and collagen vascular diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus. It can also occur as a complication of radiation therapy or traumatic hemorrhagic pericardial effusion. In the patient under discussion, there was no history suggesting tuberculosis, collagen vascular disease, or previous symptomatic pericarditis and no prior radiation or chest trauma. Constrictive pericarditis, however, is being increasingly encountered after open heart surgery. In ≈2% of patients after coronary artery bypass surgery, constrictive pericarditis develops. The patient under discussion had previous triple-vessel coronary artery bypass surgery, and thus, constrictive pericarditis needs to be considered in his differential diagnosis, which was particularly relevant in this patient referred to a cardiac surgeon for consideration of a pericardial stripping procedure. Presentation of constrictive pericarditis within 6 months of cardiac surgery would be unusual, however, and some exertional dyspnea had preceded surgery. …
Engendering space: Ballroom culture and the spatial practice of possibility in Detroit

This article examines the ways in which Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) members of the Ballroom community create black queer space to contend with their spatial exclusion from and marginalization within public and private space in urban Detroit, Michigan. Existing in most urban centers throughout North America, Ballroom culture is a community and network of Black and Latina/o LGBT people. In this ethnography, I delineate the multiple functions of two mutually constitutive domains of Ballroom culture, kinship (the houses) and ritualized performance (the ball events). I use queer theories of geography and draw from Sonjah Stanley Niaah's notion of performance geography to examine the generative socio-spatial practices that Ballroom members deploy to forge alternative possibilities for Black LGBT life in Detroit. In many ways, members of the Ballroom community work to challenge and undo the alienating and oppressive realities of built environments in urban centers by undertaking the nece...
Effective impedance of a wire grid parallel to the earth's surface

The reflection of electromagnetic waves from a parallel wire grid, located near the plane interface of two homogeneous media, is considered. The incident wave is polarized such that the magnetic vector is perpendicular to the grid wires. It is shown that, for this particular case, the grid may be represented by a pure shunt element in the equivalent transmission line circuit. The application of the results to the design radial wire ground systems for vertical monopole systems is mentioned.
Reaction matrix theory for finite nuclei

Abstract A reaction matrix for calculations on finite nuclei is defined. It is shown that the single-particle energies in the propagator of the reaction matrix should be calculated self-consistently from the reaction matrix. With this definition, which in fact has been used in several previous publications, important terms in the Goldstone expansion are effectively summed, when one calculates the total energy to first order in the reaction matrix. This result is important if one e.g. calculates with harmonic oscillator wave functions. The remaining terms in the energy expansion are three-body terms and the single-particle excitation terms. The latter will cancel or be small only if a self-consistent single-particle potential is used. Some other higher-order terms are also discussed. The definition of the self-consistent or shell-model potential is briefly discussed.
Sugar and Fat Bingeing Have Notable Differences in Addictive-like Behavior

Ingestion of different nutrients, such as fats and sugars, normally produces different effects on physiology, the brain, and behavior. However, they do share certain neural pathways for reinforcement of behavior, including the mesolimbic dopamine (DA) system. When these nutrients are consumed in the form of binges, this can release excessive DA, which causes compensatory changes that are comparable to the effects of drugs of abuse. In this article, we review data obtained with animal models of fat and sugar bingeing. The concept of "food addiction" is described and reviewed from both clinical and laboratory animal perspectives. Behavioral manifestations of addictive-like behavior and concomitant alterations in DA and opioid systems are compared for sugar and fat bingeing. Finally, in relation to eating disorders and obesity, we discuss how fat may be the macronutrient that results in excess body weight, and sweet taste in the absence of fat may be largely responsible for producing addictive-like behaviors that include a withdrawal syndrome.
On Hill's equation with a singular complex-valued potential

1. Introduction The differential equation y00  qy  Ey is called Hill's equation if q is a realvalued, periodic, locally integrable function of a real variable. It is very well known that the spectrum of the operator associated with this equation consists of a countably in®nite number of compact intervals of the real line. These intervals are called (spectral) bands and are generally separated by open intervals called gaps. In some instances, however, all but a ®nite number of gaps are empty resulting in a spectrum consisting of a ®nite number of compact bands and one closed interval extending to negative in®nity. In this case one calls q a ®nite-band or ®nite-gap potential. The relationship of ®nite-band potentials with the hierarchy of Korteweg±de Vries equations has been the reason for a heightened interest in them during the past twenty years. For recent accounts see, for instance, the monographs by Dickey [8] and Belokolos et al. [3]. The ®rst non-trivial example of a ®nite-band potential was given by Ince in 1940 [18]: consider the LameÂ potentials q x  yg g 1` x c jq;q0 where g 2N and ` jq;q0 denotes Weierstrass's elliptic function with fundamental half-periods q and q0. If q is real, q0 is pure imaginary, and c  q0, then q is realvalued, periodic and continuous. Ince's result, when translated to the present language, shows that q then is a ®nite-band potential with g non-empty gaps between the bands. This, however, raises immediately the question of what happens when c 6 q0 or when the half-periods are more general. In these cases one encounters potentials which are complex-valued (but continuous) as well as potentials which have singularities of the form yg g 1=x (and are realor complex-valued). Before giving an overview of the content of the paper I want to give a brief account of the history of the subject. Let q be a real, locally integrable, periodic function with period p, L the differential expression d=dx  q, and H the self-adjoint operator in L R associated with L. Then consider the following four statements. (A) There are precisely 2g 1 real numbers E2g < : : : < E0 such that the spectrum of H is given by