cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Structural and biological studies on synthetic peptide analogues of a low-affinity calcium-binding site of skeletal troponin C

Abstract We have synthesized four oligopeptides that are structural analogues of a low-affinity Ca2+-specific binding site (site II) of rabbit skeletal troponin C. One analogue (peptide 3) was a dodecapeptide with a sequence corresponding to the 12-residue Ca2+-binding loop (residues 63–74 in troponin C), two (peptides 4 and 5) were 23-residue in length, corresponding to residues 52–74 of the protein, and the fourth (peptide 6) was a 25-residue peptide corresponding to residues 50–74. All four peptides had one amino acid substitution within the 12-residue binding loop in which phenylalanine at position 10 was replaced by tyrosine to provide a marker for spectroscopic studies. In addition, peptides 3 and 4 each had a second substitution within the binding loop where glycine at position 6 was replaced by alanine. The second substitution was motivated by the conservation of glycine at the position in the Ca2+-binding loops of all four Ca2+-binding sites in troponin C. The peptides were characterized by their intrinsic fluorescence, ability to enhance the emission of bound Tb3+, affinity for Ca2+ and Tb3+, and circular dichroism. The affinity for Ca2+ was in the range 10-102 M−1, and the affinity for Tb3+ was in the range 104–105 M−1. The binding constants of the longer peptides were several-fold larger than that of the dodecapeptide. With peptides 4 and 5, substitution of glycine by alanine at position 6 within the 12-residue loop decreased the affinity for Ca2+ by a fator of four, but had little effect on the affinity for Tb3+. However, the mean residue ellipticity of peptide 4 was substantially higher than that of peptide 5. Since peptide 4 differs from peptide 5 only in the substitution of glycine at position 6 in the loop segment, the conservation of glycine at that position may serve a role in providing a suitable secondary structure of the binding sites for interaction with troponin I. Peptides 4 and 6, when present in a large excess, mimic troponin C in regulating fully reconstituted actomyosin ATPase by showing partial calcium sensitivity and activation of the ATPase. Since these peptides are the smallest peptides containing the Ca2+-binding loop of site II, their biological activity suggests that a Ca2+-dependent binding site of troponin C for troponin I could be as short as the segment comprising residues 52–62.
Gastric glomus tumor: a hypervascular submucosal tumor on power Doppler endosonography.

Gastric glomus tumors are rare submucosal lesions that typically occur in the fourth endosonographic layer. We describe a 69-year-old patient who presented with intermittent epigastric pain and in whom a submucosal tumor was encountered during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Endosonography revealed a heterogeneous, hypoechoic fourth-layer tumor. Power Doppler imaging revealed prominent intratumoral vascular signals demonstrating its hypervascular nature. A diagnosis of glomus tumor was made via histopathologic evaluation of the resected tumor. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2007
Cardiovascular limitations in chronic pulmonary disease.

SIETSEMA, K. Cardiovascular limitations in chronic pulmonary disease. Med. Sci, Sports Exerc., Vol. 33, No. 7, Suppl., pp. S656-S661, 2001. Chronic lung disease has significant impact on cardiovascular function, Much of this effect is because of increased right ventricular afterload caused by increased pulmonary vascular resistance resulting from structural changes in the pulmonary circulation, and because of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction. In the case of chronic obstructive diseases, there may be additional increases in afterload resulting from dynamic hyperinflation. These processes can lead to structural changes in the heart (cor pulmonale), including right ventricular dilatation and hypertrophy, to maintain right ventricular output. In most ambulatory patients with chronic obstructive disease, it appears that cardiac output may be maintained at levels that are similar to normal both at rest and during exercise, with no consistent improvement in maximal exercise function afforded by interventions that increase blood flow. In contrast, diseases characterized by fibrosis or infiltration of the lung parenchyma may be associated with a disproportionate increase in pulmonary vascular resistance and more pronounced cardiovascular impairment, particularly with exercise.
Kinetics of interfacial catalysis by phospholipase A2 in intravesicle scooting mode, and heterofusion of anionic and zwitterionic vesicles.

In this and the following three papers we examine the kinetics of action of pig pancreatic phospholipase A2 on vesicles of anionic phospholipids without any additives. The results provide the first unequivocal demonstration of interfacial catalysis in intravesicle scooting mode. In this paper we describe the conditions in which the action of pig pancreatic phospholipase A2 on DMPMe (ester) vesicles in the absence of any additive commences without a latency. Under these conditions the free monomer substrate concentration is insignificant; the bilayer enclosed vesicle organization remains intact even when all the substrate in the outer monolayer has been hydrolyzed; the rate of intervesicle exchange and the rate of transbilayer movement (flip-flop) of molecules is negligibly slow; and the rate of fusion of vesicles is insignificant. Thus an enzyme molecule bound to one vesicle hydrolyzes all the DMPMe molecules in the outer monolayer of the vesicle by a first-order process with a rate constant of 0.6 per min at 30°C; or viewed another way, one enzyme molecule in a DMPMe vesicle can hydrolyze all the available substrate molecules at the rate of 3000 per min. At low anion concentrations excess substrate vesicles are not hydrolyzed unless the rate of intervesicle exchange of the bound enzyme is stimulated by anions in the aqueous phase. Higher calcium concentrations promote not only homofusion of DMPMe vesicles but also heterofusion of DMPMe and DMPC vesicles. It is proposed that calcium-induced isothermal lateral phase separation in DMPMe vesicles induces defects in the bilayer organization, and such defects are the sites for phospholipase A2 binding and for heterofusion with DMPC (ester) vesicles which do not have such sites.
Optimization on Lie manifolds and pattern recognition

Several pattern recognition problems can be reduced in a natural way to the problem of optimizing a nonlinear function over a Lie manifold. However, optimization on Lie manifolds involves, in general, a large number of nonlinear equality constraints and is hence one of the hardest optimization problems. We show that exploiting the special structure of Lie manifolds allows one to devise a method for optimizing on Lie manifolds in a computationally efficient manner. The new method relies on the differential geometry of Lie manifolds and the underlying connections between Lie groups and their associated Lie algebras. We describe an application of the new Lie group method to the problem of diagnosing malignancy in the cytological extracts of breast tumors. The diagnosis method that we present has a mean sensitivity of 98.086% and a predictive index of 0.0602, making it the most accurate and reliable diagnostic method reported thus far.
Surface Chemical Composition Analysis in Polystyrene/Poly(vinyl methyl ether) Blend Films by UV Reflection Spectroscopy.

Surface chemical composition in miscible polymer blend films was measured by UV reflection spectroscopy, using polystyrene (PS) as chromophores in blends with poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PVME). Kramers−Kronig transformation from UV reflection spectra was performed to obtain the optical constant (k) spectra, from which the surface composition of PS in blend films was estimated. The results show surface excess of PVME in a range of bulk blend compositions when Mw of PS and PVME was 240 000 and 99 000, respectively. This surface composition probes the surface depth of several hundreds of angstroms, which is deeper than the probed depth of ESCA but shallower than that of IR-ATR. In miscible PS/PVME blends, the experimentally obtained surface composition facing air compares well with the prediction from the simplified mean-field theory of Jones and Kramer but shows less PVME enrichment than the results by ESCA. For the in-situ technique, UV reflection via bifurcated fiber-optic accessory was found to provide sim...
Measurements of Ambipolar Diffusion in Helium

Microwave techniques are applied to the study of the diffusion of electrons and positive ions in helium. For the electron and ion densities realized experimentally, the diffusion takes place ambipolarly; that is, the flow of charged particles of both signs is equalized by the space charge field which they set up. At 1 mm Hg pressure and 0.039-ev average energy, the measured value of the ambipolar diffusion coefficient, ${D}_{a}$, is 540 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$/sec. The measured variation of ${D}_{a}$ with gas density, energy of the particles, and diffusion container size and shape agrees closely with theory.
Endothelial Morphology in Long-term Keratoconus Corneal Transplants

Abstract Endothelial morphology was studied in 55 long-term keratoconus grafts. Photographs were taken with a Zeiss non-contact endothelial lens and analyzed with a Zeiss MOP-3 digital analyzer. Donor ages were known in 39 cases. Statistical analysis was carried out correlating endothelial cell count with several parameters, including recipient age and cell form as expressed by the coefficient of variation. Cell counts varied from 502 to 1708 cells/mm{su2}. No correlation between cell counts and donor age was found. Recipient age had an unexpected significance as a predictor of endothelial cell survival in that cell counts decreased as recipient age increased despite donor age. As the grafts aged, more cell pleomorphism was found as expressed by the coefficient of variation.
Factors affecting yield and composition of zein extracted from commercial corn gluten meal

ABSTRACT Twelve corn gluten meal samples obtained from six wet-milling plants were processed into zein. Zein was extracted using 88% aqueous isopropyl alcohol at pH 12.5, followed by chilling. Protein recovery ranged from 21.3 to 32.0%, and protein purity ranged from 82.1 to 87.6%. Protein recovery increased as the protein purity increased (r = 0.76) (P < 0.01). One of the major factors influencing extraction yield was protein composition; especially α-zein content, which ranged from 53.4 to 64% of the total protein in the corn gluten meal samples. The intensity of red color of the corn gluten meal was negatively correlated with protein recovery and zein purity (r = -0.66 and -0.72, respectively) (P < 0.02).
Bacterial agglutinins of the earthworm, lumbricus terrestris

Abstract 1. 1. Coelomic fluid of the earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris , contains agglutinins that bind with and agglutinate both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. 2. 2. Agglutinins were tested with five different bacterial strains, three of them isolated from Lumbricus coelomic fluid. 3. 3. When worms were injected with bacteria, four of the five stains induced higher levels of coelomic fluid agglutinins within 24 hr. 4. 4. Each of the bacterial strains reacted with different agglutinins or combinations of agglutinins, based on analyses of absorption, carbohydrate inhibition and heat inactivation data. 5. 5. KDO, 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonate, was the only sugar to consistently inhibit agglutination of all five bacterial strains by both naturally occurring and induced agglutinins.
Variation in toe-web response of turkey poults to phytohemagglutinin-P and their resistance to Escherichia coli challenge

One thousand 5-wk-old male turkeys from each of two commercial strains (A and B) were grouped into low, medium, and high responders based on the cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity (CBH) response obtained 24 h after toe-web inoculation with 100 micrograms of phytohemagglutinin-P (PHA-P). The CBH response for Strain A was higher than strain B (P = 0.00001) and ranged from 0 to 1.95 mm, with a mean of 0.66, whereas the CBH response for Strain B ranged from 0 to 1.67 mm with a mean of 0.38. At 6 wk of age, 36 birds from each of the six response groups were inoculated into the left thoracic air sac with 1.5 x 10(7) cfu of an early log phase broth culture of Escherichia coli. Samples of 5 or 10 birds were necropsied from each of the six groups at 7, 14, 28, and 42 d postinfection (PI). Birds were scored for air-sacculitis/pericarditis (AS) and turkey osteomyelitis complex (TOC). Overall mortality of birds inoculated with E. coli was 31%. There were no mortalities in unchallenged controls. Strain A had significantly higher Week 1 mortality, marginally higher overall mortality (P = 0.1), and higher AS scores than Strain B. There were no TOC lesions detected until 7 d PI, after which all mortalities had TOC lesions in multiple sites. The differences in CBH response within each strain were not clearly correlated to E. coli susceptibility. However, these data suggest that air sac inoculation of E. coli can provide a useful model for the study of TOC. The greater incidence of disease in Strain A indicates that an enhanced inflammatory response may increase susceptibility to E. coli septicemia.
Northeast storms ranked by wind stress and wave-generated bottom stress observed in Massachusetts Bay, 1990-2006

Abstract Along the coast of the northeastern United States, strong winds blowing from the northeast are often associated with storms called northeasters, coastal storms that strongly influence weather. In addition to effects caused by wind stress, the sea floor is affected by bottom stress associated with these storms. Bottom stress caused by orbital velocities associated with surface waves integrated over the duration of a storm is a metric of storm strength at the sea floor. Near-bottom wave-orbital velocities calculated by using measurements of significant wave height and dominant wave period and the parametric spectral method described in Wiberg and Sherwood [Wiberg, P.L., Sherwood, C.R. Calculating wave-generated bottom orbital velocities from surface wave parameters. Computers in Geosciences, in press] compared well with observations in Massachusetts Bay. Integrated bottom-wave stress (called IWAVES), calculated at 30 m water depth, and a companion storm-strength metric, integrated surface wind stress at 10 m (called IWINDS), are used to provide an overview of the strength, frequency, and timing of large storms in Massachusetts Bay over a 17-year period from January 1990 through December 2006. These new metrics reflect both storm duration and intensity. Northeast storms were the major cause of large waves in Massachusetts Bay because of the long fetch to the east: of the strongest 10% of storms ( n =38) ranked by IWAVES, 22 had vector-averaged wind stress from the northeast quadrant. The Blizzard of December 1992, the Perfect Storm of October 1991, and a December 2003 storm were the strongest three storms ranked by IWAVES and IWINDS, and all were northeasters. IWAVES integrated over the winter season (defined as October–May) ranged by about a factor of 11; the winters with the highest integrated IWAVES were 1992–1993 and 2004–2005 and the winter with the lowest integrated IWAVES was 2001–2002. May 2005 was the only month in the 17-year record that two of the nine strongest northeast storms ranked by IWINDS occurred in the same month or year; these were also the only storms of the nine strongest northeast storms to occur in the spring.
Decay of Order in Classical Many-Body Systems. III. Ising Model at Low Temperature

We employ the transfer-matrix formalism expounded in Paper I to study the decay of pair correlation functions at high temperatures in the $d$-dimensional Ising model in an arbitrary magnetic field $H$. A general correlation function decays according to $〈\ensuremath{\delta}L(\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{0})\ensuremath{\delta}Q(\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{R}})〉\ensuremath{\approx}{R}^{\frac{(d\ensuremath{-}1)}{2}} {e}^{\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\kappa}R}({A}_{0}+{A}_{1}{R}^{\ensuremath{-}1}+\ensuremath{\cdots})+{R}^{\ensuremath{-}x}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\kappa}}^{\ensuremath{'}}R}({B}_{0}+{B}_{1}{R}^{\ensuremath{-}1}+\ensuremath{\cdots})+\ensuremath{\cdots}$ as $R\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty}$. For sufficiently small $H$ and high temperature $T$, the exponent $x$ is equal to the dimension of the lattice and ${\ensuremath{\kappa}}^{\ensuremath{'}}=2\ensuremath{\kappa}$. The coefficients ${A}_{n}$ and ${B}_{n}$ factor as ${A}_{n}(Q){A}_{n}(L)$ and ${B}_{n}(Q){B}_{n}(L)$, respectively. If $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{Q}}$ is an operator involving an odd number of closely spaced spins, ${A}_{n}(Q)$ tends to a finite limit and ${B}_{n}(Q)$ tends to zero as $H$ tends to zero. In contrast, if $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{Q}}$ involves an even number of closely spaced spins, ${A}_{n}(Q)$ tends to zero and ${B}_{n}(Q)$ to a finite limit as $H$ tends to zero. Thus, for finite $H$ an arbitrary pair correlation function verifies the Ornstein-Zernike (OZ) prediction; whereas in the zero field, (i) if both $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{Q}}$ and $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{L}}$ are products of odd numbers of spin operators, ${G}_{\mathrm{LQ}}(\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{R}})$ will verify the OZ prediction in zero field; (ii) if both $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{L}}$ and $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{Q}}$ involve even numbers of spins, ${G}_{\mathrm{LQ}}(\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{R}})$ fails to verify the OZ prediction in zero field; and (iii) if $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{L}}$ involves an odd number of spins while $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{Q}}$ involves an even number of spins, ${G}_{\mathrm{LQ}}(\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{R}})$ is identically zero in zero field for all $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{R}}$. The failure of the zero-field Ising model to completely verify the OZ prediction at high temperatures is due to the symmetry of this model about the $H=0$ line.
Effects of D-Limonene and α-D-Pinene on in Vitro Carbohydrate Dissimilation and Methane Formation by Rumen Bacteria

Summary 9×10 −4 M d-limonene, but not 9×10 −4 M α-d-pinene, was toxic to stabilized rumen cultures which produce methane from acetic acid. Methane production from formic acid by rumen cultures was not affected by these terpenes. Cellulose digestion, but not starch and cellobiose dissimilation by rumen bacteria, was markedly inhibited by higher concentrations of d-limonene or α-d-pinene.
Purification of prosthetically intact sulfite oxidase from chicken liver using a modified procedure.

Abstract A modified procedure was used to purify sulfite oxidase (sulfite:O 2 oxidoreductase; EC 1.8.3.1) from chicken liver in high yield. The modifications included dialysis of the enzyme against a buffered solution containing sodium molybdate (prior to ion-exchange chromatography), which apparently reconstituted any demolybdo enzyme present in the extract, and phenyl-Sepharose column chromatography. Analysis showed that the purified enzyme contained Mo and heme in a 1.03:1.00 ratio, indicating that the enzyme was prosthetically intact; exogenous heme and other colored proteins were absent from the final pool. Treatment of the sulfite-reduced enzyme with 50 m m cyanide at pH 8.5 resulted in a gradual loss of catalytic activity with a half-life of 19.7 min. Analysis of the cyanide-inactivated enzyme gave a Mo:heme ratio of 1.02:1.00, providing the first direct evidence that the enzyme does not lose molybdenum when inactivated with cyanide. This modified purification procedure provides enzyme in high yield which is well-suited for experiments requiring prosthetically intact enzyme and which is not contaminated with extraneous heme or with other redox active proteins.
Dual-polarization lidar using a liquid crystal variable retarder

We describe the design and characterization of a compact dual-polarization lidar that uses a liquid crystal variable retarder (LCVR) to discriminate between backscattered polarization states on alternate laser pulses (at 30 Hz). Measurements of the polarization discrimination of the system, including the liquid crystal and a Schmidt-Cassegrain receiver telescope, show that depolarization ratios can be determined with an additive error of less than 0.4%. The source is a Nd:YAG laser with a wavelength of 532 nm, pulse energy of 118 mJ, and pulse-repetition frequency of 30 Hz. The normal operating range is 15 km, with a 1.5-m range resolution. The full-angle receiver field of view is variable up to 8.8 mrad. Sample data from atmospheric clouds demonstrate the use of lidar depolarization measurements for distinguishing between ice and liquid water in thin clouds with low multiple scattering (with cloud phase verified using radiosonde profiles of atmospheric temperature and humidity). Also shown is a lidar observation of a depolarizing layer over Bozeman, Montana, identified as subvisual cirrus, aerosols transported from in or near China, or a combination thereof.
A palatability bioassay for determining ingestive stimuli in the marine shrimp Penaeus wannamei

Abstract A feeding bioassay which uses agar discs was developed for evaluating chemosensory stimuli influencing ingestive behavior in Penaeus vannamei . Agar disc hardness and preventing the shrimp from placing their mouthparts directly onto the stimulus discs were important aspects of the bioassay design. The palatability assay required only small amounts of stimuli, was suitable for rapid screening of a wide variety of compounds, and was independent of factors such as texture or size of feed pellets. The most effective stimulus tested was shrimp-head offal extract, indicating the best use of this material may be as a flavorant rather than as a source of nutrients. Greatest biological activity was in the
Wnts and Wnt inhibitors do not influence axon outgrowth from chicken statoacoustic ganglion neurons

The peripheral growth cones of statoacoustic ganglion (SAG) neurons are presumed to sense molecular cues to navigate to their sensory targets during development. Based on previously reported expression data for Frizzled receptors, Wnt ligands, and Wnt inhibitors, we hypothesized that some members of the Wnt morphogen family may function as repulsive cues for SAG neurites. The responses of SAG neurons to mammalian Wnts -1, -4, -5a, -6, and -7b, and the Wnt inhibitors sFRP -1, -2, and -3, were tested in vitro by growing SAG explants from embryonic day 4 (E4) chicken embryos for two days in 3D collagen gels. Average neurite length and density were quantified to determine effects on neurite outgrowth. SAG neurites were strongly repelled by human Sema3E, demonstrating SAG neurons are responsive under these assay conditions. In contrast, SAG neurons showed no changes in neurite outgrowth when cultured in the presence of Wnts and Wnt inhibitors. As an alternative approach, Wnt4 and Wnt5a were also tested in vivo by injecting retroviruses encoding these genes into the chicken otocyst on E3. On E6, no differences were evident in the peripheral projections of SAG axons terminating in infected sensory organs as compared to uninfected organs on the contralateral side of the same embryo. For all Wnt sources, bioactivity was confirmed on E6 chick spinal cord explants by observing enhanced axon outgrowth, as reported previously in the mouse. These results suggest that the tested Wnts do not play a role in guiding peripheral axons in the chicken inner ear.
Event-frequency judgments as a function of the linguistic frequency and single or paired presentation of target words: II Task requiring judgment of linguistic frequency

A total of 80 college students in four classes rated a series of English words as high or low in linguistic frequency. Words high or low in linguistic frequency were presented 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 times, singly or in mixed pairs. The students were then given a previously unannounced event-frequency test. The results implicated two major determinants of event-frequency judgments: (1) an item-strength factor and (2) multiple memory traces. Words high in linguistic frequency were given consistently higher event-frequency estimates, especially when they had been presented singly. Words low in linguistic frequency were more accurately judged for event frequency when they had been paired rather than singly presented; this result suggests the role of multiple memory traces because of the greater number of such traces with unique contextual cues available for retrieval at test in the paired condition. The results are compared with those earlier obtained with the same experimental materials and general procedure but a different cover task. Interpretation in terms of a dual-factor hypothesis for event-frequency judgment is discussed.
ROLE OF GLUCAGON IN HUMAN DIABETIC KETOACIDOSIS: STUDIES USING SOMATOSTATIN

The present studies demonstrate that endogenous glucagon is hyperglycaemic, lipolytic and ketogenic in man, and that insulin deficiency is necessary, but is in itself not sufficient, to cause fulminant diabetic ketoacidosis. Furthermore, continuous elevation of endogenous glucagon secretion appears to be necessary for the maintenance and continued development of the characteristic metabolic consequences of insulin lack.
Cutaneous malignant melanoma

C UTANEOUS MALIGNANT melanoma (CMM) is a cancer that arises in the melanin-producing cells called melanocytes. It is one of the most easily detected cancers, as the patient usually presents with a skin lesion that is readily visible. Melanomas that are detected early are almost always curable by surgical excision.’ With this in mind, the importance of early detection and proper patient management is apparent. This article will review the detection and diagnosis of melanoma, as well as the treatment modalities available to patients with CMM.
Identification of a dithiol-dependent nucleoside triphosphate hydrolase in Sarcocystis neurona

A putative nucleoside triphosphate hydrolase (NTPase) gene was identified in a database of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from the apicomplexan parasite Sarcocystis neurona. Analysis of culture-derived S. neurona merozoites demonstrated a dithiol-dependent NTPase activity, consistent with the presence of a homologue to the TgNTPases of Toxoplasma gondii. A complete cDNA was obtained for the S. neurona gene and the predicted amino acid sequence shared 38% identity with the two TgNTPase isoforms from T. gondii. Based on the obvious homology, the S. neurona protein was designated SnNTP1. The SnNTP1 cDNA encodes a polypeptide of 714 amino acids with a predicted 22-residue signal peptide and an estimated mature molecular mass of 70 kDa. Southern blot analysis of the SnNTP1 locus revealed that the gene exists as a single copy in the S. neurona genome, unlike the multiple gene copies that have been observed in T. gondii and Neospora caninum. Analyses of the SnNTP1 protein demonstrated that it is soluble and secreted into the culture medium by extracellular merozoites. Surprisingly, indirect immunofluorescence analysis of intracellular S. neurona revealed apical localisation of SnNTP1 and temporal expression characteristics that are comparable with the microneme protein SnMIC10. The absence of SnNTP1 during much of endopolygeny implies that this protein does not serve a function during intracellular growth and development of S. neurona schizonts. Instead, SnNTP1 may play a role in events that occur during or proximal to merozoite egress from and/or invasion into cells.
Psychotherapy in the Third Reich: a research note.

This study seeks to examine and illuminate some aspects of the history of psychotherapy in Germany during the twentieth century. The specific focus encompasses the profession's development between the two world wars and within that time frame centers on the National Socialist era. Psychotherapy existed for a long time on the margins of the academic medical establishment, accused by the holders of the powerful nosological tradition in German psychiatry of romantic and unscientific “dilettantism,” on the one hand, and of a materialistic “dismemberment of the soul,” on the other. The internal chaos of the Nazi state and the precedence taken by mobilization over reform allowed the growth of psychotherapy from the status of a method to that of a profession.
Bulk and Interfacial Properties of Polymers from Interfacial SAFT Density Functional Theory

Bulk and interfacial properties of n-alkanes and polymers are modeled in the framework of the interfacial statistical associating fluid theory (iSAFT) density functional theory (DFT). The theory reduces to an equivalent of the SAFT equation of state in the bulk, thus making possible the modeling of both bulk and interfacial properties with a single set of parameters. The performance of iSAFT is illustrated through comparisons of the theory predictions with molecular simulation as well as experimental data for vapor−liquid surface tension. The formulation of iSAFT DFT preserves the computational efficiency of an atomic DFT, thus enabling the theory to deal with molecules comprising hundreds or even thousands of segments, such as the polystyrene and polyethylene included in the present work.
On graphs with at most four line-disjoint paths connecting any two vertices

It is shown that any graph with n points and l5(n) or more lines, where l5(n)=5n−32 , must contain a pair of points joined by five line-disjoint paths. Various graphs are exhibited which have n points and l5(n) − 1 lines and which contain no pairs of points joined by 5 line-disjoint paths, showing l5(n) to be the smallest integer with the stated property.
The relationship between family history, exposure to exogenous hormones, and estrogen receptor protein in breast cancer.

813 patients were prospectively studied to examine the influence of family history and the prior use of exogenous hormones as covariables in the subsequent expression of estrogen receptor protein (ERP) in the primary tumor of patients with breast cancer. Cases were divided by menstrual status: there were 385 pre- and perimenopausal and 428 postmenopausal patients. The influence of prior exposure to estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) in postmenopausal patients or oral contraceptives (OCs) in pre- and perimenopausal patients on tumor ERP was analyzed by controlling for family history: none 1st degree (mother or sister) 2nd degree (grandmother or aunt) or both 1st and 2nd degree relatives. The results showed no influence of the prior use of ERT in postmenopausal women on subsequent tumor ERP. Among pre- and perimenopausal women those with a family history of breast cancer in only a 1st degree relative showed a borderline significant association between prior OC usage and subsequent tumor ERP. The use of OCs was consistently associated with ERP negative tumors (9/9) whereas of 29 patients who had prior OC exposure 17 had ERP negative tumors (P=0.04 Fishers Exact Test). Analysis of the prior exposure to OCs verified with the primary physician care or pharmacist showed that these patients first used OCs at the mean age of 32.2 years had used OCs for a mean duration of 41.9 months and stopped OC use a mean of 79.5 months before being diagnosed as having breast cancer. These results suggest that in a subset of patients with breast cancer and a 1st degree relative who only had breast cancer prior exposure to OCs may influence the subsequent ERP status of the tumor. This is not due to exogenous estrogen saturation of receptors as there was a long latent period between exposure and diagnosis. Alternative hypotheses as to the mechanism of selection of subsequent tumor ERP may be either inhibition of ERP positive preneoplastic or tumor cell clones early in the evolution of the tumor or early selection of a tumor capable of endogenous estrogen synthesis with receptor saturation. (authors modified)
Spatial noise in microdisplays for near-to-eye applications

Spatial noise in imaging systems has been characterized and its impact on image quality metrics has been addressed primarily with respect to the introduction of this noise at the sensor component. However, sensor fixed pattern noise is not the only source of fixed pattern noise in an imaging system. Display fixed pattern noise cannot be easily mitigated in processing and, therefore, must be addressed. In this paper, a thorough examination of the amount and the effect of display fixed pattern noise is presented. The specific manifestation of display fixed pattern noise is dependent upon the display technology. Utilizing a calibrated camera, US Army RDECOM CERDEC NVESD has developed a microdisplay (μdisplay) spatial noise data collection capability. Noise and signal power spectra were used to characterize the display signal to noise ratio (SNR) as a function of spatial frequency analogous to the minimum resolvable temperature difference (MRTD) of a thermal sensor. The goal of this study is to establish a measurement technique to characterize μdisplay limiting performance to assist in proper imaging system specification.
Structure of low-stretch methane nonpremixed flames

Abstract The present study experimentally and numerically investigates the structure associated with extremely low-stretch ( ∼ 2 s −1 ) gaseous nonpremixed flames. The study of low-stretch flames aims to improve our fundamental understanding of the flame radiation effects on flame response and extinction limits. Low-stretch flames are also relevant to fire safety in reduced-gravity environments and to large buoyant fires, where localized areas of low stretch are attainable. In this work, ultra-low-stretch flames are established in normal gravity by bottom burning of a methane/nitrogen mixture discharged from a porous spherically symmetric burner of large radius of curvature. The large thickness of the resulting nonpremixed flame allows detailed mapping of the flame structure. Several advanced nonintrusive optical diagnostics are used to study the flame structure. Gas phase temperatures are measured by Raman scattering, while the burner surface temperatures are obtained by IR imaging. In addition, OH-PLIF and chemiluminescence imaging techniques are used to help characterize the extent of the flame reaction zone. These experimental results allow direct comparison with a quasi-one-dimensional numerical model including detailed chemistry, thermodynamic/transport properties, and radiation treatment. In addition, the radiative interactions between the flame and porous burner (modeled as a gray surface) are accounted for in the present model. The numerical modeling is demonstrated to be able to simulate the low-stretch flame structure. Using the current model, the extinction limits under different conditions are also examined. The computational results are consistent with experimental observations.
GOODNESS OF FIT IN COMPLEXES BETWEEN SUBSTRATES AND RIBONUCLEASE MIMICS : EFFECTS ON BINDING, CATALYTIC RATE CONSTANTS, AND REGIOCHEMISTRY

The hydrolysis of 4-tert-butylcatechol cyclic phosphate and of 4-methylcatechol cyclic phosphate catalyzed by α-cyclodextrin-6A,6B-bisimidazolide, and by the corresponding derivatives of β-cyclodex...
Identification of cytochrome P450 3A1/2 as the major P450 isoform responsible for the metabolism of fentanyl by rat liver microsomes.

The metabolism of fentanyl was investigated using rat liver microsomes to determine whether fentanyl is metabolized by rat liver microsomal cytochrome P450 and, if so, which isoform is responsible for the metabolism. Microsomes isolated from rats pretreated with phenobarbital were more active in metabolizing fentanyl than were microsomes from saline controls. The major metabolic pathway of fentanyl was an oxidative N-dealkylation to norfentanyl, which was detected by a gas chromatograph-mass selective detector (GC-MSD) method. The apparent V m values for microsomes isolated from saline- and phenobarbital-treated rats were 2 and 9 nmol norfentanyl min -1 .mg -1 microsomal protein, and the apparent K m values were 32 and 47 μM, respectively. Fentanyl metabolism was inhibited by antibodies specific for CYP3A1/2, as well as by chemical inhibitors specific for CYP3A. These results indicate that CYP3A1/2 plays a major role in the oxidation of fentanyl to norfentanyl by rat liver microsomes.
Prediction of numbers of singlets, doublets, and triplets in poorly resolved separations by statistical-overlap theory

A recently improved theory for the distribution of resolution in complex separations described by statistical-overlap theory is used to predict the average numbers of singlet, doublet, and triplet peaks in such separations, even when the peak capacity is much less than the number of components requiring separation. The theory is fundamental and modifies previously published equations for these numbers by causing the average minimum resolution that defines saturation to depend on saturation itself. Interestingly, theory shows that the resolutions describing the separation and overlap of single-component peaks in singlets, doublets, and triplets actually differ. The theory predicts correctly the numbers of singlets, doublets, and triplets in computer simulations of separations, even at high saturation. Example calculations are provided to show the ease with which the theory can be used.
Multi-Fidelity Uncertainty Quantification: Application to a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Under an Extreme Gust

Designing better vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) requires considering the uncertainwind conditions they operate in and quantifying the e ect of such uncertainties. We studythe e ect of an uncertain extreme gust on the maximum forces on the blades of the VAWT.The gust is parametrized by three random variables that control its location, length andamplitude. We propose a multi- delity approach to uncertainty quanti cation that usespolynomial chaos to create an approximation to the high- delity statistics via a correctionfunction based on the di erence between high and low- delity simulations. The multi- delity method provides accurate statistics on the maximum forces for a small numberof simulations and the multi- delity statistics are consistent with the high- delity (CFD)statistics. We developed a practical method to simulate a gust, that changes its magnitudein the ow direction, in a CFD solver by combining the eld velocity method (FVM) andthe geometric conservation law (GCL). The ability to study the e ect of the gust with thehigh- delity (CFD) solver is crucial as the low- delity (blade element/vortex lattice) solverunderestimates the e ect of the gust on the maximum forces.
Effects of heavy metal contamination and remediation on soil microbial communities in the vicinity of a zinc smelter as indicated by analysis of microbial community phospholipid fatty acid profiles

Heavy metal contamination in an area immediately surrounding a zinc smelter has resulted in destruction of over 485 hectares of forest. The elevated levels of heavy metals in these soils have had significant impacts on the population size and overall activity of the soil microbial communities. Remediation of these soils has resulted in increases in indicators of biological activity and viable population size, which suggest recovery of the microbial populations. Questions remain as to how the metal contamination and subsequent remediation at this site have impacted the population structure of the soil microbial communities. In the current study, microbial communities from this site were analyzed by the phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) procedure. Principal component analysis of the PLFA profiles indicated that there were differences in the profiles for soils with different levels of metal contamination, and that soils with higher levels of metal contamination showed decreases in indicator PLFAs for mycorrhizal fungi, Gram-positive bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes. PLFA profiles for remediated sites indicated that remediated soils showed increases in indicator PLFAs for fungi, actinomycetes, and Gram-positive bacteria, compared to unremediated metal contaminated soils. These data suggest a change in the population structure of the soil microbial communities resulting from metal contamination and a recovery of several microbial populations resulting from remediation.
Migrant Intra-urban Residential Mobility in Urban China

Migrant housing and mobility patterns are affected by both the unique institutional factors related to migration and a common set of socio-economic characteristics shared by urban residents. China's unprecedented waves of internal migration are accompanied by long-standing rural–urban and local–nonlocal divides that have been institutionalized through the household registration system. This paper empirically assesses intra-urban migrant mobility in two of China's largest cities, Beijing and Shanghai. It examines the range and determinants of migrant mobility behaviour and rates, tenure and spatial patterns of migrant intra-urban mobility, and key sources of information and assistance in migrant residential moves. The main findings are based on data drawn from city-wide migrant housing surveys, supplemented by in-depth interviews. Demographic factors such as age and education prove to be significant predictors of both actual moves and prospective mobility. Migrants who rent public housing as their initial ...
Aortic intramural hematoma: Review of high-risk imaging features

Aortic intramural hematoma is among the spectrum of pathologies that comprises acute aortic syndrome and carries a risk of progression to aortic dissection, aneurysm, rupture, and other complications. Evaluation by CT can identify imaging features associated with higher risk of complications. Ulcer-like projections, enlarged aortic diameter, increased hematoma thickness, and Stanford type A classification are associated with progression to complications. The significance of intramural blood pools within the hematoma and associated pleural/pericardial effusions is less certain. Detailed evaluation of intramural hematoma with CT can provide critical prognostic information with implications for patient management.
Was Venus Wet? Deuterium Reconsidered

The ratio of deuterium to hydrogen on Venus has been accepted as proof of a wetter, more Earth-like past on that planet. However, the present-day water abundance and the nonthermal hydrogen escape flux on Venus imply that hydrogen is in a steady state and that a hydrogen source, most likely cometary infall, is present. An alternative interpretation of the D/H ratio is offered, in which the measured value is consistent with a steady-state evolution over the age of the solar system. No past water excess is required to explain the isotopic data.
Selective Intracranial Magnification Angiography of the Rabbit: Basic Techniques and Anatomy

Development of new therapies for stroke requires animal models with well-defined intracranial vasculature. The rabbit as a small animal model has many desirable traits; however, a modern atlas of rabbit angiographic anatomy is not readily available. Improved digital subtraction magnification angiography and superselective small-catheter techniques now allow excellent anatomical definition. Angiographic techniques include selection of the internal carotid artery and subselection with microcatheters that can progress to branches of the circle of Willis and provide high-resolution cerebral angiography. The authors present an overview of current techniques and illustrations of the angiography of cerebral vessels.
Changes in Delinquency Prevalence: Prediction Problems and Decision Logic in Longitudinal Studies of Delinquency.

The relationship between changes in delinquency prevalence over time and prediction error are developed and discussed. Published data from a 21-year British longitudinal study are used to exemplify the formal relationships that are derived. Statistically, as prevalence increases, there will be a relative increase in false negative errors and a decrease in false positive errors; the relationship is independent of prediction accuracy. Substantively, this means that as deliquency prevalence increases, imperfect prediction models will move toward "missing" more actual delinquents (increasing false negatives) and "mistaking" fewer actual nondelinquents (decreasing false positives). Some characterizations of differentially weighting the costs of false negative and false positive errors are presented in terms of intervention and nonintervention policies and decisions.
The mechanism of hemolysis by silica and its bearing on silicosis.

Abstract A number of workers have linked the pathogenicity of silica with its capacity to damage biological membranes. We have investigated this membrane damaging process using red blood cells as a model membrane system. The following factors in the silica-membrane interaction were studied: concentration of reactants; rate of reaction; temperature dependence of the reaction; the effects of osmolarity, ionic strength, and pH on the reaction; factors terminating the reaction; the effect of the polymeric state of the silica; the effect of sialic acid removal from the membrane; the size-stability characteristics of the membrane defects; and the identity of the membrane component involved in the reaction. Our results suggest that silica hydrogen bonds to protein components of the membrane and subsequently abstracts these proteins from the membrane. These results appear to support the mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of silicosis advanced by A. C. Allison in 1971 with the exception that our experimental findings favor a silica-protein interaction rather than the silica-lipid interaction proposed by Allison.
Increased oxidative stress brought on by pro-inflammatory cytokines in neurodegenerative processes and the protective role of nitrone-based free radical traps

Abstract Nitrone-based free radical traps (NFTs) have been shown to be protective in several neurodegenerative models. Our research has strongly implicated that: A) several neurodegenerative conditions exhibit increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines which consequently result in increased levels of oxidative stress and B) that NFTs act in part by suppressing oxidative stress through suppression of the action of the cytokine cascade. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) dementia complex (ADC) is one of several conditions where the data collected helped to develop these concepts. Novel observations include demonstration that IL-1β acts on cultured brain glia cells to invoke protein nitration and oxidative stress and that low levels of PBN (α-phenyl tertbutyl nitrone) inhibit this effect. We interpret these data as indicating that PBN prevents IL-1β mediated peroxynitrite formation. Additionally, we have found that the AIDS viral envelope protein gp120 upregulates mRNA for the cytokines TNFα and TNFβ in rat neonatal brain, and that PBN prevents this. Western blots of protein extracts showed upregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in gp120 treated neonatal rat brains, and that PBN prevented induction of this enzyme as well. These observations underscore the general concept that PBN inhibits the induction of genes which produce neurotoxic products, one of which is peroxynitrite formed by the reaction of nitric oxide with superoxide, and may act also by inhibiting the induction of cytokines which mediate pro-inflammatory conditions in the brain.
Polarization selective interband transitions in type-II InAs/GaSb superlattices

Polarization dependent photocurrent has been measured and analyzed in type-II InAs/GaSb strained layer superlattices (SLS). Theoretical studies have also been carried out to understand the origin of polarization selective transitions in SLS system.