cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identification and characterization of homologues of vertebrate β‐thymosin in the marine mollusk Aplysia californica

The β-thymosins have been known as actin-sequestering proteins, but now are recognized as molecules with multiple and diverse intracellular and extracellular functions. Two closely related proteins, β-thymosinHis and β-thymosinGln, have been de novo sequenced by top-down mass spectrometry in the common neurobiology model, Aplysia californica. As determined by nanoelectrospray quadrupole-enhanced Fourier-Transform mass spectrometry with collisionally activated and electron-capture dissociations, both of these Aplysia β-thymosins are acetylated and differ by a single residue in the central actin-binding domain. Profiling of individual cells and tissue by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry reveals that these proteins are widely expressed in the Aplysia central nervous system, including in individual identified neurons, neuronal clusters, nerves and connective tissues. Newly identified β-thymosinHis and β-thymosinGln are also detected by mass spectrometry in hemolymph, and in releasates collected from whole ganglia. When applied exogenously, β-thymosin proteins, purified from nerve cell extract, support the anchoring of neurons, and increase neurite sprouting and total neurite outgrowth in culture. These positive effects on neurite regeneration in cell culture suggest that the β-thymosin proteins have an extracellular function in the central nervous system of Aplysia californica. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
TRAM: a new concept in transport monitoring.

A new monitoring system has been designed to eliminate the need to interrupt monitoring to transport critically ill patients. The key innovation of the system is a self-contained multiparameter signal acquisition and processing module that contains a battery-backed microprocessor and retains monitor setup information when moved from one monitor to another. The module functions in Marquette series 7010 surgical monitors and bedside monitors and in the new Marquette Transport Remote Acquisition Monitor (TRAM). Lines connecting the patient to the module remain connected. The TRAM module provides continuous, integrated multiparameter monitoring during transport. Monitored parameters include up to four simultaneous ECG leads, two invasive blood pressures, pulse rate, cardiac output and two temperatures (in place of cardiac output).
Effects of age on pilocarpine-induced c-fos expression in rat hippocampus and cortex.

Abstract The effect of age on pilocarpine-induced expression of the immediate-early gene c- fos was examined in the hippocampus and cortex of Long-Evans rats. Rats were treated with either pilocarpine (25 mg/kg) or saline, and sacrificed 90 min. following injection. The level of c- fos mRNA and Fos-like protein expression was determined using in situ hybridization histochemistry, and immunocytochemistry, respectively. In saline-treated animals, comparable levels of c- fos mRNA and Fos-like protein were observed in the hippocampus and cortical regions of young (6 month) and aged (24–26 months) rats. The expression of Fos-like protein following pilocarpine treatment was increased, however, in frontal, retrosplenial, and cingulate cortex of aged compared to young rats. In frontal and retrosplenial cortex, the changes in Fos-like protein were accompanied by changes in c- fos mRNA expression. In contrast, no age difference was detected in the hippocampus or parietal cortex of pilocarpine-treated rats. These regionally-specific age differences in response to pilocarpine administration suggest that mechanisms localized to those areas play an important role in determining the response to cholinergic stimulation mediated through post-synaptic muscarinic receptors.
TU‐C‐BRE‐01: KEYNOTE PRESENTATION – Emerging Frontiers in IMRT QA

As IMRT treatment processes advance and mature, so must the quality assurance processes being used to validate their delivery. In some respects, treatment delivery advancements (e.g. VMAT) have out-paced QA advancements. The purpose of this session is to describe new processes that are being implemented to bring IMRT QA up-to-date with the treatment delivery advances. It would explore emerging IMRT QA paradigms, including requirements-based IMRT QA which necessitates definition of delivery errors (e.g. patient dose error, leaf positioning error) and development of processes to ensure reliable error detection. Engineeringbased QA approaches, including use of IMRT treatment delivery process trees, fault tree analysis and failure modes effects analysis would be described. Approaches to detect errors such as (1) during treatment delivery validation using exit fluence detectors (e.g. EPIDs); (2) analysis of treatment delivery via use of machine parameter log files; (3) dose recalculation using (3a) treatment planning system; (3b) record-and-verify; or (3c) entrance and exit fluence measurement parameters would be explained. The relative advantages and disadvantages of each method would be discussed. Schemes for error classification and root cause analysis would be described – steps which are essential for future error prevention. For each QA method, testing procedures and results would be presented indicating the types of errors that can be detected, those that cannot be detected, and the reliability of the error detection method (for example determined via ROC analysis). For speakers, we are seeking to engage non-commercially biased experts. Those listed below are a sub-sample of possible qualified individuals.
How well can hillslope evolution models “explain” topography? Simulating soil transport and production with high-resolution topographic data

The morphology of hillslopes is a direct refl ection of tectonic forcing and climatic and biologic processes that drive soil production, mobilization, and transport. Soil transport on hillslopes affects river incision by providing tools for channel abrasion and controls the distribution of sediment that infl uences aquatic habitat. Although numerous hillslope transport relationships have been proposed over the past 60+ years, a comprehensive analysis of model predictions for a real landscape has not been performed. Here, we use high-resolution topographic data obtained via airborne laser swath mapping (ALSM) to simulate the long-term evolution of Oregon Coast Range hillslopes and test three published transport models and a new model that accounts for nonlinear depth- and slopedependent transport. Analysis of one-dimensional, steady-state solutions for these four models suggests that plots of gradient-curvature may be diagnostic for distinguishing model predictions. To evaluate two-dimensional model predictions for our fi eld site, we assumed local steady-state erosion for a 72,000 m 2 sequence of hillslopes and valleys. After calibrating each of the four models, we imposed constant base-level lowering for cells within the valley network, simulated 500,000 yr of soil production and transport, and determined which transport model best preserved morphologic patterns that describe the current landscape form. Models for which fl ux varies proportionally with hillslope gradient generated broadly convex hilltops inconsistent with the sharp-crested, steep-sided slopes of our study site, whereas the two nonlinear slope-dependent models produced convex-planar slopes consistent with current hillslope form. Our proposed nonlinear slope- and depth-dependent model accounts for how soil thickness controls the magnitude of biogenic disturbances that drive transport; this model best preserved the current landscape form, particularly the narrow, sharply convex hilltops characteristic of the Oregon Coast Range. According to our formulation, which provides an explicit linkage for relating the distribution of biota to hillslope processes, the degree of hilltop convexity varies nonlinearly with the ratio of erosion rate to maximum soil production rate, highlighting the profound infl uence of soil depth on hillslope evolution.
36Cl fluxes in dispersed rat submandibular acini: effects of Ca2+ omission and of the ionophore A23187.

Transmembrane fluxes of36Cl were investigated in dispersed acini of the rat submandibular gland in Ca2+-containing and Ca2+-free media and also in the presence of the divalent cation ionophore A23187. In Ca2+-replete medium, a time-dependent uptake of tracer resulted in a steady state36Cl content of 8.5±0.3 nmol/mg protein in 3–5 min. This uptake was reduced 32% by 1 mM furosemide and 27% by 1 μM acetylcholine. In the presence of Ca2+, the ionophore (10−5 M) reduced tracer uptake 36% and prevented further effects of either acetylcholine or furosemide. Both acetylcholine and A23187 caused a rapid net efflux of36Cl from tracer-preloaded acini in Ca2+-containing medium (37% and 20%, respectively). When Ca2+ was omitted from the incubation medium, basal36Cl uptake in the absence of added test substance was the same as in Ca2+-containing medium but was not affected by acetylcholine, while it was still reduced 29% by furosemide. Addition of acetylcholine to preloaded acini in Ca2+-free medium caused only a transient and unsustained36Cl efflux but subsequent addition of Ca2+ produced a 36% reduction in tracer content. The ionophore caused a net36Cl efflux in Ca2+-containing medium (24% decrease in36Cl content) but had no effect in Ca2+-free medium. Subsequent addition of Ca2+ resulted in a 27% net efflux of tracer. The calmodulin inhibitor triflouperazine caused a 14% increase in36Cl uptake but did not cause36Cl efflux from preloaded cells or modify acetylcholine-induced efflux of tracer from these cells. These results suggest that intracellular Ca2+ regulates the efflux but not the uptake of Cl into salivary cells. Since this efflux is thought to occur by way of luminal membrane channels in salivary acini, the role of Ca2+ is likely to be to control the opening of these channels. Ca2+ does not seem to regulate Cl entry into salivary acini directly, but, after binding to calmodulin, may modulate some aspects of Cl entry into salivary cells.
Differential expression of HLA-DQA1 alleles associated with promoter polymorphism.

The promoter regions of DQA1 alleles are polymorphic, with some of the nucleotide sequence polymorphisms being located within X and Y motifs essential for the regulation of HLA class II gene transcription. In the present study, we demonstrate that polymorphisms in the promoter regions of three DQA1 alleles influence constitutive and inducible transcription of reporter gene constructs in epithelial, B-, and T-cell lines. Promoter strength in transient transfection assays generally followed a pattern of DQA1 * 03011>DQA1 * 0101>DQA1 * 05011, and was not affected by the endogenous HLA haplotype of the recipient cells. TNFα significantly activated the DQA1 * 05011 promoter, but had little effect on the DQA1 * 03011 promoter. Mutagenesis of the X and Y motifs of DQA1 * 03011 and DQA1 * 05011 demonstrated that nucleotide sequence polymorphisms in the Y element had the greatest effect on the promoter strength and differential TNFα inducibility. The finding that alleles of the DQA1 gene differ in promoter strength and responsiveness to TNFα suggests a mechanism for the association of certain alleles of this gene with susceptibility to autoimmune disease.
PROTEUS: a high-performance parallel-architecture simulator

PROTEUS is a high-performance simulator for MIMD multiprocessors. It is fast, accurate, and flexible: it is one to two orders of magnitude faster than comparable simulators, it can reproduce results from real multiprocessors, and it is easily configured to simulate a wide range of architectures. PROTEUS provides a modular structure that simplifies customization and independent replacement of parts of architecture. There are typically multiple implementations of each module that provide different combinations of accuracy and performance; users pay for accuracy only when and where they need it. Finally, PROTEUS provides repeatability, nonintrusive monitoring and debugging, and integrated graphical output, which result in a development environment superior to those available on real multiprocessors
A Procedure for Staining Whole Mounts of Gonads of House Flies

The adult house fly, Musca domestica L., has proved an excellent experimental animal for studies of chemosterilants and their effects on reproductive tissue. However, the majority of this research is cytological in nature, so a need existed for additional techniques that could be used in the study of these organs. Whiting (1950) reported a method of preparing whole mounts of Arbacia eggs, Chaetopterus eggs and larvae, small nematodes, small insect ovaries, eggs, and embryos. By modifying this procedure, I was able to obtain consistently good whole-mount preparations from the gonads of adult male and female house flies.
Sufficiency of Stationary Occupant Surrogates for Evaluating Torso Side Airbag Out-of-Position Injury

Because over 50% of belted occupants sustain injury to the thorax in nearside motor vehicle crashes [1], torso side airbags are relevant to reducing injury risk in lateral impact. Although airbags are designed to mitigate injury, out-of-position (OOP) scenarios can result if occupant location deviates from that anticipated in airbag design specifications. This is particularly important to side airbags (SABs), which must inflate considerably faster than frontal airbags to offset minimal crush space without causing harm in OOP conditions.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Manganese and Calcium Requirements for Reconstitution of Oxygen-Evolution Activity in Manganese-Depleted Photosystem II Membranes

The Mn complex of photosystem II and O2-evolution activity are reconstituted in Mn-depleted photosystem II membranes in a light-dependent process called photoactivation. Recovery of O2-evolution activity requires both Mn2+ and Ca2+ in the photoactivation medium. The Mn2+ and Ca2+ dependences of both the effective rate constant and yield of photoactivation have been determined. A comparison of these data with the predictions of mathematical models for photoactivation leads to the conclusion that photoactivation occurs in two stages. The first stage, photoligation of Mn, requires light and depends primarily on Mn2+. The second stage, binding of Ca2+, is required for expression of O2-evolution activity. This two-stage model affords an excellent fit to the data and provides dissociation constants and binding stoichiometries for Ca2+ and Mn2+. We conclude that one Mn2+ ion is bound and photooxidized in the rate-determining step(s) of photoactivation. On the basis of these results and data already in the literature, the molecular details of the elementary steps in photoactivation are discussed and a mechanism of photoactivation is proposed.
Nanosize Silicon and Gallium Arsenide Particles Left After Stopping Dissolution in Molten Glass

Powders of pure silicon and gallium arsenide were reacted with molten silicate glass of a composition used in our prior work on CdS and CdTe quantum dots in glass [1–4]. After the Si or GaAs agglomerated particles had reacted with the melt for an hour, the material was solidified to obtain a gray-black glass. Ground powders of this glass were again mixed with additional base glass powders to dilute the concentration of the semiconductor, remelted, and cast into glass. Samples of silicon-in-glass showing green photoluminescence peaked at 530 nm were obtained. The GaAs-in-glass samples show absorption features in the optical spectra which suggest the possibility of quantum confinement.
Nonlocal modeling in high-velocity impact failure of 6061-T6 aluminum

Abstract In this paper, we present numerical simulations with local and nonlocal models under dynamic loading conditions. We show that for finite element (FE) computations of high-velocity, impact problems with softening material models will result in spurious post-bifurcation mesh dependency solutions. To alleviate numerical instabilities associated within the post-bifurcation regime, a characteristic length scale was added to the constitutive relations and calibrated through a series of different notch specimen tests. This work aims to assess the practical elevance of the modified model to yield mesh independent results in the numerical simulations of high-velocity impact problems. To this end, we consider the problem of a rigid projectile moving at a range of velocities between 89 and 107 m/s, colliding against a 6061-T6 Aluminum disk. A material model embedded with a characteristic length scale in the manner proposed by Pijaudier-Cabot and Bazant (1987), but in the context of concrete damage, was utilized to describe the damage response of the disk. The numerical result shows that the addition of a characteristic length scale to the constitutive model does eliminate the pathological mesh dependency and shows excellent agreements between numerical and experimental results. Furthermore, the application of a nonlocal model for higher strain rate behavior shows the ability of the model to address intense localized deformations, irreversible flow, softening, and final failure. Finally, we show that the length scale introduced in the model can be calibrated using a series of tensile notch specimen tests.
Mechanism of Chloramphenicol Resistance in Staphylococci: Characterization and Hybridization of Variants of Chloramphenicol Acetyltransferase

Fifty clinical isolates of chloramphenicol-resistant staphylococci from diverse sources were screened for the presence of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) and were found to contain the inducible chloramphenicol-inactivating enzyme in each case. Polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis revealed four distinct types of CAT of which three were purified to a state of homogeneity. Each purified CAT preparation was shown to exist as a tetrameric protein with a native molecular weight of 80,000 and an identical subunit size of 20,000. All four staphylococcal types of CAT exhibited identical catalytic and immunological properties, but they possessed variable sensitivity to heat denaturation and to inhibition by mercuric ion. Each of the three purified variants of staphylococcal CAT was capable of undergoing reversible denaturation in 6 m guanidine hydrochloride. In vitro hybridization was successful between pairs of each of the three purified staphylococcal enzymes. Only one heteromeric (hybrid) species was observed in addition to the parental types rather than the three predicted from the known quaternary structure of staphylococcal CAT.
Topology of the resonating valence-bond state: Solitons and high-T c superconductivity

We study the topological order in the resonating valence-bond state. The elementary excitations have reversed charge-statistics relations: There are neutral spin-1/2 fermions and charge \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}e spinless bosons, analogous to the solitons in polyacetylene. The charged excitations are very light, and form a degenerate Bose gas even at high temperatures. We discuss this model in the context of the recently discovered oxide superconductors.
Capacity of the Multiple Access Channel in energy harvesting wireless networks

In this paper, we obtain the capacity region for the AWGN Multiple Access Channel (MAC) with transmitters equipped with energy harvesters. We next obtain the sum-of-rates capacity for the flat fading Multiple Access Channel with energy harvesting transmitters. We then develop low delay, adaptive transmission strategies that surprisingly achieve near optimal performance under finite battery resource constrained settings. We study the effect of asymmetries in the energy harvesting and characterize the achievable performance.
The demise of primary care: a diatribe from the trenches.

Norenberg states that “primary care is dying.” In this article, he discusses the reasons why medical school graduates are avoiding primary care. One reason, he believes, is “the progressive devalua...
Differential influence of safe versus threatening facial expressions on decision-making during an inhibitory control task in adolescence and adulthood

Social cognition matures dramatically during adolescence and into early adulthood, supported by continued improvements in inhibitory control. During this time, developmental changes in interpreting and responding to social signals such as facial expressions also occur. In the present study, subjects performed a Go No-Go task that required them to respond or inhibit responding based on threat or safety cues present in facial expressions. Subjects (N = 112) were divided into three age groups: adolescent (12–15 years), emerging adult (18–25 years) and adult (26–44 years). Analyses revealed a significant improvement in accuracy on No-Go trials, but not Go trials, during both safe and threat face conditions, with changes evident through early adulthood. In order to better identify the decision-making processes responsible for these changes in inhibitory control, a drift diffusion model (DDM) was fit to the accuracy and reaction time data, generating measures of caution, response bias, nondecision time (encoding + motor response), and drift rate (face processing efficiency). Caution and nondecision time both increased significantly with age while bias towards the Go response decreased. Drift rate analyses revealed significant agerelated improvements in the ability to map threat faces to a No-Go response while drift rates on all other trial types were equivalent across age groups. These results suggest that both stimulus-independent and stimulus-dependent processes contribute to improvements in inhibitory control in adolescence with processing of negative social cues being specifically impaired by selfregulatory demands. Findings from this novel investigation of emotional responsiveness integrated with inhibitory control may provide useful insights about healthy development that can be applied to better understand adolescent risk-taking behavior and the elevated incidence of related forms of psychopathology during this period of life.
Identification of a superoxide in superconducting La 2 CuO 4 + δ by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic and annealing studies of ceramic ${\mathrm{La}}_{2}$${\mathrm{CuO}}_{4+\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}$ prepared by high-temperature and high-pressure oxygen enrichment have identified a superoxide as the predominant oxygen species (\ensuremath{\delta}\ensuremath{\approxeq}0.13) correlated with a superconducting transition at ${T}_{c}$\ensuremath{\approxeq}30 K.
The “New VA”: Delivering Health Care Value Through Integrated Service Networks

In an effort to meet powerful societal and industry-wide forces of change, the Veterans Health Administration has initiated a fundamental reengineering of itself, and is currently undergoing an innovative transformation that is among the most profound of any organization in American history.
Specificity of 192 IgG-saporin for NGF receptor-positive cholinergic basal forebrain neurons in the rat

A monoclonal antibody to the rat nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor, 192 IgG, accumulates bilaterally and specifically in cholinergic basal forebrain (CBF) cells following intraventricular injection. An immunotoxin composed of 192 IgG linked to saporin (192 IgG-saporin) has been shown to destroy cholinergic neurons in the basal forebrain. We sought to determine if intraventricular 192 IgG-saporin affected choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) enzyme activity in the CBF terminal projection fields. ChAT assays from 192 IgG-saporin-treated animals showed significant time-dependent decreases in ChAT activity in the neocortex, olfactory bulb and hippocampus, compared to PBS- or OKT1-saporin-injected controls. ChAT and tyrosine hydroxylase activity in the striatum was always unchanged by 192 IgG-saporin. ChAT immunohistochemistry was confirmative of major cell loss in the CBF, while other cholinergic nuclei appeared unremarkable. The data provide further evidence of the selectivity of 192 IgG-saporin in abolishing cholinergic, NGF receptor-positive CNS neurons.
A combined recycling affinity column-filtration technique.

Abstract A new preparative purification technique for biological macromolecules is developed by combining the affinity column chromatography and the membrane filtration technique. A unique feature of the affinity column—filtration apparatus is that the filtrate from the filtration unit is recycled back to the inlet of the affinity column, thus decreasing considerably the total amount of ligands required for the affinity column. A second important feature is that the pump which connects the affinity column and the filtration unit is monitored by an infrared sensor device on the filtration cell; consequently, the flow of the, column eluent into the filtration unit is controlled automatically by the solution height in the filtration cell. Highly homogeneous regulatory subunits of type I cAMP-dependent protein kinase from rabbit skeletal muscle are demonstrated to be obtainable by the new purification technique. Thus, this apparatus could have important applications in the purification of a wide range of biological macromolecules. A test for estimating affinity bound proteins is also discussed.
Acid rain at Kennedy Space Center, Florida - Recent observations

During the period July, 1977 to September, 1979, rainfall was collected in the vicinity of the Kennedy Space Center and subjected to appropriate chemical analysis for purposes of characterization of general composition and acidity. Results obtained form the basis for future comparisons, should significant alteration of the chemical composition of rain occur during the space shuttle era. Acidity extremes calculated on a monthly basis from event samples collected from five sites within a 200 sq km area varied from pH 5.1 in November, 1977, and April, 1978 to pH 4.3 in July, 1978 and July, 1979. Weighted average pH for the entire period was 4.55. Acidity was due to the presence of sulfuric and nitric acids. The mole ratio of excess SO4(-2):NO3(-) was typically greater than one. Monthly weighted average Cl(-) concentrations ranged from 20-240 micromoles/liter. The Cl(-):Na(+) ratio was slightly lower than that present in sea water.
Molybdate-dependent transcription of hyc and nar operons of Escherichia coli requires MoeA protein and ModE-molybdate

In Escherichia coli, ModE-molybdate, a repressor of modABCD operon (molybdate transport), was previously shown to be an additional transcriptional activator of hyc operon (formate hydrogenlyase) and narGHJI operon (respiratory nitrate reductase). However, in a modE mutant, both operons were expressed at about 50% of the wild-type level in a molybdate-dependent manner. This ModE-independent, molybdate-dependent, expression of hyc, narG and narK operons required MoeA protein. An E. coli modE, moeA double mutant failed to produce formate hydrogenlyase or respiratory nitrate reductase activity irrespective of the growth medium. Tungstate substituted for molybdate in the activation of transcription of hyc and nar operons by ModE could not replace molybdate for MoeA-dependent expression. It is proposed that the MoeA-catalyzed product, an activated form of molybdate, interacts with a transcriptional activator/regulator other than ModE and regulates hyc and nar operons.
Identification of a novel cytochrome P450, CYP4X1, with unique localization specific to the brain.

Abstract A novel cytochrome P450 (P450 or CYP) isoform belonging to the CYP4 family was cloned with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction from rat brain. The nucleotide sequence contained an open reading frame coding for 507 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence showed 41–51% identity with that of members of the rat CYP4 subfamilies 4A, 4B, and 4F. The enzyme was designated CYP4X1. Northern blot analysis showed that CYP4X1 is highly and specifically expressed in the brain. In situ hybridization experiments suggest that CYP4X1 is mainly expressed in neurons in different regions, e.g., the brain stem, hippocampus, cortex, and cerebellum as well as in vascular endothelial cells. The function of this novel P450 enzyme is unknown, but the expression pattern of CYP4X1 suggests that it is possible that CYP4X1 plays a role in neurovascular function. The catalytic properties and physiological function of CYP4X1 are currently under investigation.
Multiple pulse excitation of a designed Rydberg wave packet and noninterferometric quantum measurement

Summary form only given. Design and excitation of novel quantum states and the measurement of those states is driven by both fundamental and technological goals. For example, the study of Schrodinger cat states touches upon the basic measurement hypotheses of quantum mechanics while the establishment of particular coherent superposition states is the starting point for the process of coherent control or for quantum information applications. The goals of the design research range from the manipulation of reaction pathways to the creation of novel states for the exploration of aspects of measurement theory. In addition to its fundamental interest the accurate measurement of both amplitude and phase of a wave function plays a key roles in the area of coherent control. The seminal work by Risken and Vogel (1989) reopened the modern discussion of the reconstruction problem that was first broached by Pauli. Since their work, reconstruction techniques have been developed for a variety of systems including the optical field in atomic systems. The measurement scheme used in the paper employs a noninterferometric technique. The subject of the measurement is a designed Rydberg wave packet in an atomic system. However, the noninterferometric character of the technique suggests that this technique may have wide applicability.
Reactivation of isolated mitotic apparatus: metaphase versus anaphase spindles.

Mitotic spindles isolated from sea urchin eggs can be reactivated to undergo mitotic processes in vitro. Spindles incubated in reactivation media containing sea urchin tubulin and nucleotides undergo pole-pole elongation similar to that observed in living cells during anaphase-B. The in vitro behavior of spindles isolated during metaphase and anaphase are compared. Both metaphase and anaphase spindles undergo pole-pole elongation with similar rates, but only in the presence of added tubulin. In contrast, metaphase but not anaphase spindles increase chromosome-pole distance in the presence of exogenous tubulin, suggesting that in vitro, tubulin can be incorporated at the kinetochores of metaphase but not anaphase chromosomes. The rate of spindle elongation, ultimate length achieved, and the increase in chromosome-pole distance for isolated metaphase spindles is related to the concentration of available tubulin. Pole-pole elongation and chromosome-pole elongation does not require added adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Guanosine triphosphate (GTP) will support all activities observed. Thus, the force generation mechanism for anaphase-B in isolated sea urchin spindles is independent of added ATP, but dependent on the availability of tubulin. These results support the hypothesis that the mechanism of force generation for anaphase-B is linked to the incorporation of tubulin into the mitotic apparatus. (If, in addition, a microtubule-dependent motor-protein(s) is acting to generate force, it does not appear to be dependant on ATP as the exclusive energy source).
Docosahexaenoic acid improves behavior and attenuates blood–brain barrier injury induced by focal cerebral ischemia in rats

Background Ischemic brain injury disrupts the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and then triggers a cascade of events, leading to edema formation, secondary brain injury and poor neurological outcomes. Recently, we have shown that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) improves functional and histological outcomes following experimental stroke. However, little is known about the effect of DHA on BBB dysfunction after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. The present study was designed to determine whether DHA protects against BBB disruption after focal cerebral ischemia in rats.
Molten Ga as a Solvent for Exploratory Synthesis. Preparation, Structure, and Properties of Two Ternary Silicides MNiSi3 (M = Sm, Y)

Two ternary silicides, MNiSi3 (M = Sm, Y), have been synthesized from Sm, Ni, and Si in molten Ga at 850 °C in sealed silica tubes. Both compounds form black shiny crystals and are stable even in aqua regia. The structures, determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, are orthorhombic, Cmmm (No. 65) with Z = 4, and have lattice parameters a = 3.965(2) A, b = 21.144(2) A, c = 4.007(1) A for M = Sm and a = 3.930(2) A, b = 21.021(2) A, c = 3.960(1) A for M = Y, respectively. Refinement based on Fo2 yielded R1 = 0.0319 and wR2 = 0.0712 [I > 2 σ(I)] for M = Sm and R1 = 0.0267 and wR2 = 0.0688 [I > 2σ(I)] for M = Y. The compounds adopt the SmNiGe3 structure type with zigzag Si chains and Si dimers and exhibit metallic p-type electrical conductivity. Variable temperature magnetic susceptibility data suggest that Sm is 3+ and Ni has no magnetic moment. SmNiSi3 has an antiferromagnetic transition at 12 K and follows the modified Curie−Weiss law above 12 K. Band structure calculations using density functional th...
The Leading Term of a Control Variation

The leading term of a control variation is given, in general, by a formula that involves complicated iterated integrals and does not explicitly exhibit the fact that the result is a tangent vector. Agrachev, Gamkrelidze and Sarychev have proposed a formalism, based on their “chronological calculus,” that makes it possible to show that the leading term is always equal to a Lie bracket plus other expressions that vanish at the given reference point. In this note we propose an alternative approach, based on classical facts of Lie theory, such as the Campbell-Hausdorff Formula and a graded version B of the classical projection map from associative polynomials to Lie polynomials. We refer to B as the bracketization map. We derive a general formula that says that for any exponential Lie series on a graded linear space, each homogeneous component is equal to its own bracketization plus a noncommutative polynomial in the bracketizations of the preceding components. This implies that the first term of the series that does not vanish at a point is equal, at that point, to its own bracketization.
Plasma-membrane H(+)-ATPase gene expression is regulated by NaCl in cells of the halophyte Atriplex nummularia L.

An Atriplex nummularia L. cDNA probe encoding the partial sequence of an isoform of the plasma-membrane H+ -ATPase was isolated, and used to characterize the NaCl regulation of mRNA accumulation in cultured cells of this halophyte. The peptide (447 amino acids) translated from the open reading frame has the highest sequence homology to the Nicotiana plumbaginifolia plasma-membrane H+-ATPase isoform pma4 (greater than 80% identity) and detected a transcript of approximately 3.7 kb on Northern blots of both total and poly(A)+ RNA. The mRNA levels were comparable in unadapted cells, adapted cells (cells adapted to and growing in 342 mM NaCl) and deadapted cells (cells previously adapted to 342 mM NaCl that are now growing without salt). Increased mRNA abundance was detected in deadapted cells within 24 h after exposure to NaCl but not in unadapted cells with similar salt treatments. The NaCl up-regulation of message abundance in deadapted cells was subject to developmental control. Analogous to those reported for glycophytes, the plasma-membrane H+-ATPase are encoded by a multigene family in the halophyte.
Measurement of metal migration on thick-film piezoresistors and their terminations

Metal migration from the thick-film termination can affect not only the electrical characteristics but also the gauge factor or piezoresistive coefficient of thick-film sensors. Four sets of sensors with different ratios were designed to test the influence of the terminal metal migration effects on the gauge factors and resistivity of thick-film resistors. In all the cases, the shortest resistors have a lower gauge factor and a large deviation of resistances. The longer resistors will have better electrical parameters. SEM (scanning electron microscope) studies showed this interaction at the interface between the terminal and the resistor. The same distance of terminal diffusion is larger for a short resistor than for a longer one. >
Ion Pumps in Polarized Cells: Sorting and Regulation of the Na+,K+- and H+,K+-ATPases

The physiologic function of an ion transport protein is determined, in part, by its subcellular localization and by the cellular mechanisms that modulate its activity. The Na(+),K(+)-ATPase and the H(+),K(+)-ATPases are closely related members of the P-type family of ion transporting ATPases. Despite their homology, these pumps are sorted to different domains in polarized epithelial cells, and their enzymatic activities are subject to distinct regulatory pathways. The molecular signals responsible for these properties have begun to be elucidated. It appears that a complex array of inter- and intramolecular interactions govern trafficking, distribution, and catalytic capacities of these proteins.
A time domain approach for the fluctuation analysis of heart rate related to instantaneous lung volume

A time domain technique for estimating transfer characteristics from fluctuations of instantaneous lung volume (ILV) to heart rate (HR) is presented. An effective procedure for estimating the impulse response of HR to ILV is proposed. Pre- and post-processing procedures, including prefiltering of the HR signal, preenhancement of the high frequency content of the ILV signal, and post-filtering of the estimated impulse response, together with a random breathing technique, are shown to effectively reduce spurious transfer gain so as to get a stable estimate of the impulse response. Analysis of the data collected from fourteen healthy male subjects in various conditions revealed that there are three components in the impulse response: fast positive, delayed slow negative, and oscillatory. The effects of the autonomic blocking agents propranolol and atropine on these transfer characteristics are also described. >
Development of a proteomic platform for EBV and KSHV serological screening

In the context of HIV infection, there is an increased susceptibility to EBV- and KSHV-associated malignancies. Evaluating a possible role for specific humoral responses to individual viral proteins in the control of viral load and prevention of EBV or KSHV related disease development in this population has been hampered by the limited availability of suitable screening reagents. We have developed a protein array platform that can be utilized for EBV and KSHV serological screening. The array consists of EBV and KSHV proteins printed onto glass slides. All eighty-four EBV open reading frames and eighty-six KSHV open reading frames were cloned into bacterial vectors and the inserts validated by DNA sequencing in both directions. Authenticated inserts were transferred to a yeast vector that expresses proteins as N-terminal GST-fusions. Seventy-nine EBV proteins and eighty-one KSHV proteins were successfully purified from yeast. First-generation EBV/KSHV protein arrays have been printed with these proteins plus a variety of control proteins that include GST, and human IgG, IgM, and IgA. Glycosylation of viral proteins may affect immunogenicity. To evaluate this aspect, EBV and KSHV virion glycoproteins are being expressed in insect cells modified with the human glycosylation machinery. Once purified, these proteins will be added to the EBV/KSHV protein arrays. The ability to compare serological responses to the complete repertoire of individual EBV and KSHV encoded proteins should provide new insight into B cell mediated immune regulation of these viruses.
The cost effectiveness of acellular dermal matrix in expander–implant immediate breast reconstruction

Summary Background Expander–implant breast reconstruction is often supplemented with acellular dermal matrix (ADM). The use of acellular dermal matrix has allowed for faster, less painful expansions and improved aesthetics, but with increased cost. Our goal was to provide the first cost utility analysis of using acellular dermal matrix in two-stage, expander–implant immediate breast reconstruction following mastectomy. Methods A comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify complication rates for two-stage, expander–implant immediate breast reconstruction with and without acellular dermal matrix. The probabilities of the most common complications were combined with Medicare Current Procedural Terminology reimbursement codes and expert utility estimates to fit into a decision model. The decision model evaluated the cost effectiveness of acellular dermal matrix relative to reconstructions without it. Retail costs for ADM were derived from the LifeCell 2012 company catalogue for Alloderm. Results The overall complication rates were 30% and 34.5% with and without ADM. The decision model revealed a baseline cost increase of $361.96 when acellular dermal matrix is used. The increase in Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) is 1.37 in the population with acellular dermal matrix. This yields a cost effective incremental cost-utility ratio (ICUR) of $264.20/QALY. Univariate sensitivity analysis confirmed that using acellular dermal matrix is cost effective even when using retail costs for unilateral and bilateral reconstructions. Conclusions Our study shows that, despite an increased cost, acellular dermal matrix is a cost effective technology for patients undergoing two-stage, expander–implant immediate breast reconstruction due to its increased utility in successful procedures.
Perfluorpentaphenylborol als Zugang zu Lewis-sauren Elektronenmangelverbindungen†

Zirconocen ist der Schlussel: Zur Herstellung einer neuen Klasse hoch Lewis-saurer Borole wurde eine Synthesemethode auf Grundlage einer Zirconocen-vermittelten Alkinkupplung entwickelt (siehe Schema). Solche Substanzen sind vielversprechend fur eine Anwendung in der Katalyse und im Bereich der organischen Elektronenmangelverbindungen.
ITTALKS: a case study in the semantic web and DAML

Effective use of the vast quantity of information now available on the web will require the use of "Semantic Web" markup languages such as the DARPA Agent Markup Language (DAML). Such languages will enable the automated gathering and processing of much information that is currently available but insufficiently utilized. Effectively, such languages will facilitate the integration of multi-agent systems with the existing information infrastructure. As part of our exploration of Semantic Web technology, and DAML in particular, we have constructed ITTALKS, a web-based system for automatic and intelligent notification of information technology talks. In this paper, we describe the ITTALKS system, and discuss the numerous ways in which the use of Semantic Web concepts and DAML extend its ability to provide an intelligent online service to both the human community and the agents assisting them.
Preconditioning, postconditioning and their application to clinical cardiology

Ischemic preconditioning is a well-established phenomenon first described in experimental preparations in which brief episodes of ischemia/reperfusion applied prior to a longer coronary artery occlusion reduce myocardial infarct size. There are ample correlates of ischemic preconditioning in the clinical realm. Preconditioning mimetic agents that stimulate the biochemical pathways of ischemic preconditioning and protect the heart without inducing ischemia have been examined in numerous experimental studies. However, despite the effectiveness of ischemic preconditioning and preconditioning mimetics for protecting ischemic myocardium, there are no preconditioning-based therapies that are routinely used in clinical medicine at the current time. Part of the problem is the need to administer therapy prior to the known ischemic event. Other issues are that percutaneous coronary intervention technology has advanced so far (with the development of stents and drug-eluting stents) that ischemic preconditioning or preconditioning mimetics have not been needed in most interventional cases. Recent clinical trials such as AMISTAD I and II (Acute Myocardial Infarction STudy of ADenosine) suggest that some preconditioning mimetics may reduce myocardial infarct size when given along with reperfusion or, as in the IONA trial, have benefit on clinical events when administered chronically in patients with known coronary artery disease. It is possible that some of the benefit described for adenosine in the AMISTAD 1 and 2 trials represents a manifestation of the recently described postconditioning phenomenon. It is probable that postconditioning – in which reperfusion is interrupted with brief coronary occlusions and reperfusion sequences – is more likely than preconditioning to be feasible as a clinical application to patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction.
Relationship of prenatal depression and comorbidities to infant outcomes.

Objective The purpose of this study was to provide information on the effect of prenatal depression and anxiety as assessed in the context of obstetrical care on key infant outcomes (gestational age at birth, birth weight, and APGAR scores), while simultaneously considering interactions with maternal medical conditions among primarily Medicaid enrollees. Methods Obstetrical medical records of 419 women presenting consecutively for prenatal care at a health system serving primarily Medicaid patients were examined. Information on maternal characteristics (age, race, education) and maternal medical health (BMI, high blood pressure, diabetes, and kidney problems), as well as mental health information, was extracted. Depression was assessed as part of routine care using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and any documentation of depression or anxiety by the obstetrics clinician was also used in the analyses. Results Approximately one-third of the sample showed some evidence of prenatal depression, either based on PHQ-9 score (≥10) or clinician documentation of depression, and close to 10% showed evidence of anxiety. Multivariate analyses showed significant interactions between depression and anxiety on gestational age and birth weight, between depression and high blood pressure on gestational age, and also between anxiety and kidney problems on gestational age. Conclusion Among this sample, the effect of maternal depression and anxiety on birth outcomes was more evident when considered along with maternal chronic medical conditions. This information may be used to assist prenatal care clinicians to develop risk assessment based on knowledge of multiple risk factors that may exert and additive influence on poor birth outcomes.
Sequence Analysis of Nuclear rDNA of Anastrepha suspensa

Ribosomal DNA sequence data has been important in elucidating molecular evolution, discerning phylogenetic relationships, and in developing species diagnostics. Species in the genus Anastrepha Schiner, particularly members of the Fraterculus Species Group, are considered the most important native pests of fruit in the New World. This study presents the Þrst complete rDNA sequence data spanning the 5.8S to the internal transcribed spacer ITS2 of a species in this genus, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew). The GC content of the rDNA genes in A. suspensa was 50.8 to 40% for the 5.8S and 2S genes, respectively, but spacers were 84% AT rich. Spacer and gene lengths were of similar size to those found in other tephritids. Except for A. fraterculus s.l. (Wiedemann), spacers of other tephritid taxa were AT rich and contained numerous simple repeats. Sequence alignment with A. fraterculus s.l. indicated minor differences in the 5.8S rRNA gene, but the ITS2a was identical and the 2S gene differed by a single transition. The ITS2 of A. fraterculus s. l. was unusual in having a 41.7% GC content with three regions of C repeats. The ITS2 ofA.suspensa had higher percent identity values with Þve species in other genera than it did with A. fraterculus s.l., suggesting an unusually high divergence rate in the latter.