cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Incretin hormones regulate glucose-dependent insulin secretion in RIN 1046-38 cells: mechanisms of action.

Glucagon-like peptide-1-(7-36) amide (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) are known incretin hormones, released from enteroendocrine cells in response to food, that enhance insulin secretion, but only in the presence of elevated blood glucose. We used a rat insulinoma cell line, RIN 1046-38, to study the mechanisms underlying the interaction of incretins and glucose. We measured insulin secretion using RIA and the reverse hemolytic plaque assay. GLP-1 stimulates insulin secretion, with a half-maximal concentration of 34 pM. GLP-1 is approximately 2 orders of magnitude more potent than GIP. GLP-1 and GIP have additive effects at submaximal concentrations, but probably not at maximal concentrations, suggesting a common signal transduction pathway. The glucose requirement for GLP-1 action can be replaced by cell membrane depolarization (20 mM KCl in the extracellular medium), suggesting that a rise of intracellular Ca2+ may be an early step required for GLP-1 action. GLP-1 stimulates insulin secretion by significantly increasing the maximum rate of insulin secretion from 10.3 +/- 2.25 to 25.2 +/- 2.94 ng insulin/mg protein.h. GLP-1 acts by recruiting 1.5-fold more cells to secrete insulin as well as enhancing insulin secretion by individual cells. Combinations of stimuli, such as glucose, cell membrane depolarization, and GLP-1, can recruit 90% of RIN 1046-38 cells to secrete insulin.
The glass transition temperature of polymeric sulphur

Abstract Pure polymeric sulphur free of dissolved S 8 monomer is a semi-crystalline polymer with a T g of 75°C. Quick-quenched (from 200°C) elastic sulphur, if maintained under conditions which prevent crystallization, is a solution of polymeric sulphur and S 8 rings, both polymer and monomer being in an amorphous state. The T g of this plasticized polymer is −30°C.
Role of intraoperative fluids on hospital length of stay in laparoscopic bariatric surgery: a retrospective study in 224 consecutive patients

Studies are unclear regarding optimal intraoperative fluid management during laparoscopic bariatric surgery. The purpose of this 1-year study was to investigate the role of intraoperative fluid administration on hospital length of stay (hLOS) and postoperative complications in laparoscopic bariatric surgery. Patient data analyzed included previously reported demographics, comorbidities, and intraoperative fluid administration on the duration of hLOS and incidence of postoperative complications. Logistic regression analysis of demographic and comorbidity variables revealed that BMI (P = 0.0099) and history of anemia (P = 0.0084) were significantly associated with hLOS (C index statistic, 0.7). Lower rates of intraoperative fluid administration were significantly associated with longer hLOS (P = 0.0005). Recursive partitioning observed that patients who received 1 postoperative day) at 54.1 % when compared to 22.9 % with standard rates (5–7 ml/kg/h) and were lowest at 14.5 % in patients receiving liberal rates (>7 ml/kg/h) (P < 0.0001). Finally, lower rates of intraoperative fluid administration were significantly associated with delayed wound healing (P = 0.03). The amount of intravenous fluids administered during laparoscopic bariatric surgery plays a significant role on hLOS and on the incidence of delayed wound healing.
Testicular sperm extraction: microdissection improves sperm yield with minimal tissue excision

Testicular sperm extraction (TESE) is often an effective method for sperm retrieval from men with non-obstructive azoospermia. However, TESE has been a blind procedure that does not identify the focal sperm-producing areas of the testicle until after tissue has been excised from the patient. Experience with a new technique of microdissection of testicular tubules is presented here that identifies sperm-containing regions before their removal. Identification of spermatogenically active regions of the testicle is possible by direct examination of the individual seminiferous tubules. The underlying concept for this technique is simple: seminiferous tubules containing many developing germ cells, rather than Sertoli cells alone, are likely to be larger and more opaque than tubules without sperm production. In a sequential series of TESE cases for men with non-obstructive azoospermia, the ability to find spermatozoa increased from 45% (10/22) to 63% (17/ 27) after introduction of the microdissection technique. Microdissected samples yielded an average of 160 000 spermatozoa per sample in only 9.4 mg of tissue, whereas only 64 000 spermatozoa were found in standard biopsy samples that averaged 720 mg in weight (P < 0.05 for all comparisons). For men where microdissection was attempted, successful identification of enlarged tubules was possible in 56% (15/27) of cases. However, spermatozoa were retrieved with microdissection TESE for six men in whom sperm retrieval was unsuccessful with standard TESE approaches (35% of all men with spermatozoa retrieved). These findings suggest that microdissection TESE can improve sperm retrieval for men with non-obstructive azoospermia over that achieved with previously described biopsy techniques.
Plantation forestry in Brazil:projections to 2050

Abstract Brazil is fortunate in having large areas of land that are not currently forested but that are suitable for silvicultural plantations. Changes in the area and regional distribution of the country’s silvicultural plantations imply a wide variety of environmental and social impacts. Projections of future development of plantation silviculture are needed for analyzing these impacts, as well as to serve as a reference scenario for evaluating the potential effects of climatic change on Brazil’s plantations, and for the related task of evaluating the implications of proposals to combat global warming by increasing the area of silvicultural plantations in Brazil beyond the extent to which they would otherwise expand. Such a reference scenario provides the control, or “business as usual” standard, against which one can compare the situation as affected by climatic change and/or by additional silvicultural or other activities carried out to help mitigate climatic change. Assuming constancy of climate, technology, per-capita consumption of wood products, and Brazil’s share of international trade, the area of plantations in 2050 would be 3.2 times larger than the area in 1991.
A Simple Two-Sample Rank Test for Multivariate Survival Outcomes with Left Truncation and Right Censoring

Summary A distribution-free two-sample rank test is proposed for testing for differences between survival distributions in the analysis of biomedical studies in which two groups of subjects are followed over time for a particular outcome, which may recur. This method is motivated by an observational HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) study in which a group of HIV-seropositive women and a comparable group of HIV-seronegative women were examined every 6 months for the presence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), the cervical cancer precursor. Women entered the study serially and were subject to random loss to follow-up. Only women free of CIN at study entry were followed resulting in lefttruncated survival times. If a woman is found to be CIN infected at a later examination, she is treated and then followed until CIN recurs. The two groups of women were compared at both occurrences of CIN on the basis of rank statistics. For the first occurrence of CIN, survival times since the beginning of the study (based on calendar time) are compared. For a recurrence of CIN, survival times since the first development of CIN are compared. The proposed test statistic for an overall difference between the two groups follows a chi-square distribution with two degrees of freedom. Simulation results demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed test proposed test statistic, which reduces to the Gehan statistic if each person is followed only to the first failure and there is no serial enrollment.
Stable isotopic profiling of intermediary metabolic flux in developing and adult stage Caenorhabditis elegans.

Stable isotopic profiling has long permitted sensitive investigations of the metabolic consequences of genetic mutations and/or pharmacologic therapies in cellular and mammalian models. Here, we describe detailed methods to perform stable isotopic profiling of intermediary metabolism and metabolic flux in the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans. Methods are described for profiling whole worm free amino acids, labeled carbon dioxide, labeled organic acids, and labeled amino acids in animals exposed to stable isotopes either from early development on nematode growth media agar plates or beginning as young adults while exposed to various pharmacologic treatments in liquid culture. Free amino acids are quantified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in whole worm aliquots extracted in 4% perchloric acid. Universally labeled 13C-glucose or 1,6-13C2-glucose is utilized as the stable isotopic precursor whose labeled carbon is traced by mass spectrometry in carbon dioxide (both atmospheric and dissolved) as well as in metabolites indicative of flux through glycolysis, pyruvate metabolism, and the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Representative results are included to demonstrate effects of isotope exposure time, various bacterial clearing protocols, and alternative worm disruption methods in wild-type nematodes, as well as the relative extent of isotopic incorporation in mitochondrial complex III mutant worms (isp-1(qm150)) relative to wild-type worms. Application of stable isotopic profiling in living nematodes provides a novel capacity to investigate at the whole animal level real-time metabolic alterations that are caused by individual genetic disorders and/or pharmacologic therapies.
Grain boundary migration and fabric development in experimentally deformed octachloropropane

Abstract In this study in-situ observations of a deforming aggregate of the hexagonal material octachloropropane have been analysed. Calculations of micro-strains and measurement of c -axis orientations have enabled the processes influencing fabric development to be distinguished, and the importance of dynamic recrystallization to be assessed. It was found that, in this material, inter-grain strain contrasts could be large, and the effect of grain boundary migration was to modify the fabric in a measurable way. A simple model for the driving force for grain boundary migration based on dislocation density contrasts, as controlled by intra-grain strains and grain orientations, is proposed and tested, with an 80% success rate for the mobile grain boundaries studied.
Fragments of human γG immunoglobulins produced by a porcine pancreatic esterase

Abstract The effect of a porcine pancreatic esteroproteolytic enzyme on human IgG has been described. A sequential breakdown of the molecule occurs. The first cleavage results in the formation of an F′c fragment together with an F(ab) 2 fragment. A subsequent proteolysis of the F(ab) 2 fragment liberates two Fab fragments. Each fragment has been characterized by its antigenic properties, molecular weight, and sulfhydryl content. The F′c fragment (F′c e ) is of low molecular weight (13,000) and is devoid of any biological activity for which it has been tested, including PCA activity, allotype determinants, macrophage binding, and site for control of catabolic breakdown. It shows multiple bands on disc electrophoresis and all of the bands appear to be antigenically identical. The formation of the F′c e fragment apparently occurs without the prior production of an Fc fragment. The data presented suggest that the F′c e fragment includes the COOH-terminal disulfide loop of the heavy chain.
Contribution of the amino terminal tyrosine to the interaction of γ-endorphin with opiate receptors

The putative behavioral hexadecapeptide, des-Tyr1-gamma-endorphin, has been compared with gamma-endorphin in an in vitro radioreceptor assay utilizing [3H] beta-endorphin as the labeled ligand and rat brain membranes as a source of opiate receptors. Under the conditions used, beta-endorphin and gamma-endorphin exhibit Kd's of 0.4 nM and 58 nM, respectively. The Kd of des-Tyr1-gamma-endorphin was estimated to be 42 micro M indicating that the amino terminal tyrosine in gamma-endorphin contributes about -4 kcal/mol at 30 degrees C to free energy of binding associated with the peptide-opiate receptor interaction. Circular dichroic spectra were obtained, and the only structural element discernible was a possible beta-turn. Thus, at physiological levels it seems unlikely that the des-Tyr1 fragment of gamma-endorphin will exhibit any significant interaction with the opiate receptor.
Perceptions of fair trade labelling and certification: three case studies

– The fair trade system was established as an alternative to the free trade system. In the case of fair trade apparel, certification standards are nascent and there is no consistent logo or labelling to aid consumers in their quest to purchase fairly‐made garments. The purpose of this paper is to examine the practices and marketing strategies of three fair trade apparel businesses based in a metropolitan city in the USA, where there are no clear standards to follow. The interviews taken for these case studies were conducted before the launching of a certification program for fair trade apparel by TransFair USA., – This research comprised three case study fair trade apparel companies – two wholesale and one retail. The case studies are based on in‐depth interviews, the examination of documents provided by business owners, and publicly available information on each of the companies., – These three case studies revealed differences in fair trade practices. The wholesalers communicated that they perceived a hierarchy of importance in fair trade practices, placing an emphasis on labour standards and workers’ rights and considering environmental standards to be secondary. The lack of a standardized logo for labels on fair trade apparel has meant that the businesses have had to find creative ways to communicate their fair trade practices to consumers. None of the participants felt that this lack of standardization negatively impacted their businesses., – There is need for a standardized label to make fair trade apparel easily identifiable for consumers and for the further development of standards for fair trade apparel and the marketing of fair trade apparel., – Standards for fair trade apparel are currently being developed and the paper provides valuable information about the process by which fair trade standards are formed and marketed in practice.
The Relationship Between Health and Schooling

Many studies suggest that years of formal schooling completed is the most important correlate of good health. There is much less consensus as to whether this correlation reflects causality from more schooling to better health. The relationship may be traced in part to reverse causality and may also reflect “omitted third variables” that cause health and schooling to vary in the same direction. The past three and a half decades have witnessed the development of a large literature focusing on the issue just raised. I deal with that literature and what can be learned from it in this paper.
Dwarf Seyfert 1 Nuclei and the Low-Mass End of the MBH-σ Relation

To examine the relationship between black hole mass and host galaxy velocity dispersion for low black hole masses, we have measured the velocity dispersions of 15 Seyfert 1 galaxies from the recent catalog of Greene & Ho. These Seyfert galaxies were selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey to have estimated black hole masses below 106 M☉. The data are consistent with a straightforward downward extrapolation of the local MBH-σ relation, indicating that this correlation extends over a range of more than 4 orders of magnitude in black hole mass. The rms scatter of the sample about the extrapolated MBH-σ relation is 0.57 dex, consistent with the expected scatter of single-epoch mass estimates for Seyfert 1 galaxies.
In situ reactive cleaning of X-ray optics by glow discharge

Abstract We have developed a method of in situ reactive glow discharge cleaning of X-ray optical surfaces which is capable of complete removal of carbon contamination [E.D. Johnson et al., Rev. Sci. Instr. 58 (1987) 1042]. Our work is the first to successfully clean an entire optical system in situ and characterize its performance at short wavelengths (as low as 10 A). The apparatus required is quite simple and can easily be fitted to most existing UHV (ultrahigh vacuum) mirror boxes or monochromators. The advantages of this technique over previously available methods include dramatic improvements in instrument performance and reductions in down time since the whole process typically takes a few days. This paper will briefly describe our results and detail the experimental considerations for application of the technique on different monochromator geometries. Possible improvements and extensions of the technique are also discussed.
What Drives Economic Growth? The Case of Cross-Border M&A and Greenfield FDI Activities

SUMMARY The effect of aggregate foreign direct investment (FDI) on economic growth remains uncertain in the literature. We revisit this FDI–Growth relation by analyzing the components of FDI – greenfield investment and cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&As). Our analysis contributes to the existing literature by focusing on potentially heterogeneous growth effects of different FDI entry modes. Using a sample of 84 countries from 1987 to 2001, we separately examine the growth effects of greenfield investment and M&As. We find that greenfield investment and M&As have different impacts on economic growth. Greenfield investment promotes economic growth while M&As can be beneficial only when the host country has an adequate level of human capital. Our results provide support for receiving M&As when policymakers allocate more resources for human capital accumulation.
The Entrepreneur as Innovator

Throughout intellectual history as we know it, the entrepreneur has worn many faces and played many roles. One of those roles is innovator. This essay establishes a chronological trace of the entrepreneur as innovator in an effort to place contemporary writings within a proper historical perspective.
Minimum duration of reactivation at 3 months of age.

Briefly exposing subjects to an isolated component of an event after they have forgotten can reactivate their memory of it, leading to renewed retention on an ensuing test. In two experiments with forty-eight 3-month-old infants, we asked what minimum duration of a reactivation treatment could recover their forgotten memory of an operant mobile task and whether the minimum duration was affected by how long the memory was forgotten. In Experiment 1, the minimum duration for reactivating the memory 1 week after forgetting was 120 s-substantially longer than the minimum duration required for reactivation at 6 months after the same relative delay. In Experiment 2, the minimum effective duration for reactivation increased linearly with the time since forgetting, from 7.5 s after 1 day to 180 s after 3 weeks. This study reveals that the duration of an effective memory prime is directly related to age and to memory accessibility.
Multicultural Counseling Perspectives: Culture Specificity and Implications in Family Therapy:

Strengths and limitations of culture-specific multicultural counseling perspectives are reviewed and critiqued in terms offamily therapy.
Pattern of Kirtland's warbler occurrence in relation to the landscape structure of its summer habitat in northern Lower Michigan

Studies of the endangered Kirtland's warbler in relation to landscape ecosystems were conducted from 1986–1988 on a large wildfire-burn surrounding Mack Lake in southeastern Oscoda County, Michigan. A landscape ecosystem approach was used to distinguish low- and high-elevation segments of the landscape, as well as 11 local ecosystem types. The ecosystems were distinguished by physiography, microclimate, soil, and vegetation. The early occurrence of the warblers was strongly related to landscape structure, i.e., to the broad low- and high-elevation areas and the local ecosystem types within them. Territories of male warblers were observed in 5 of the 11 ecosystems. The five ecosystem types where warblers were observed were characterized by (1) a physiography of level or rolling terrain; (2) soil series of Grayling, Graycalm, Montcalm, or Rubicon; (3) uplands with relatively warm temperature during the breeding season; (4) vegetation dominated by low sweet blueberry, bearberry, wintergreen, northern pin oak, blue stem grasses, and hair cap moss; and (5) canopy of relatively tall, dense, and patchy jack pine and oak. Landscape structure appears to be an important factor affecting the occurrence of the warbler in its summer habitat in northern Lower Michigan.
Slipped capital femoral epiphysis associated with endocrine disorders

We reviewed 85 patients with endocrine disorders and slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE). The disorders were hypothyroidism (40%), growth hormone deficiency (25%), and others (35%). The average age at diagnosis of the disorder was 13.2 +/- 6.2 years and 15.3 +/- 5.3 years at diagnosis of the first SCFE. In 53 hips, the bone and chronologic age were both known: 11.6 +/- 3.0 years bone age, 16.5 +/- 6.5 years chronologic age, p 16 years. The hypothyroid patients usually had the endocrine diagnosis made at presentation of the first SCFE; the growth hormone-deficient children usually had the endocrine diagnosis made before that of the SCFE (p < 0.01). None of those in whom the diagnosis of the endocrine disorder occurred after the diagnosis of the SCFE was hypothyroid or growth hormone deficient. All hypothyroid patients developed the first SCFE before or during hormonal supplementation; 92% with growth hormone deficiency developed the SCFE during or after supplementation (p < 0.01). Because the prevalence of bilaterality was 61% (p < 0.01), prophylactic treatment of the opposite hip should be considered.
Changes in phenolic production in the hay-scented fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula) in relation to resource availability

Field studies of hay-scented fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula) were conducted to examine the relationships between environmental factors and levels of phenolics in leaves. Several predictions related to the carbon-nutrient balance hypothesis were examined. Light availability showed a significant positive correlation to total phenolics (R2 = 0.57; P<0.05). Although soil nitrogen was not significantly correlated with total phenolics, nitrogen in leaves was the most important factor in determining levels of phenolics. No single environmental factor significantly influenced levels of leaf nitrogen, indicating that a plant's integration of the combined availability of multiple resources determines the carbon-nitrogen balance in plant tissues, and consequently levels of chemical defense.
71-year-old man with chronic kidney failure and sudden change of mental status.

71-year-old man was admitted to the hospital for al- tered mental status. His wife reported that the patient had become progressively confused and had been having visual hallucinations, seeing people and animals that were not really there. These symptoms started about 2 weeks before admission as intermittent episodes. She could not identify any triggering events or temporal pattern for these episodes. In the past 2 days, the patient's symptoms had become more persistent. She added that he had become in- creasingly forgetful in the past year but had had no prob- lem performing simple tasks or taking care of himself. This type of confusion had never occurred previously. The patient had a 12-year history of type 2 diabetes, had undergone coronary artery bypass 3 years previously, had symptomatic peripheral vascular insufficiency, and had stage V chronic kidney disease primarily due to diabetic nephropathy. For the past 10 months, he had been undergo- ing hemodialysis 3 times weekly for 3.5 hours each time via a left arm arteriovenous fistula. He had last undergone dialysis 3 days previously and was due for his scheduled dialysis on the day of admission. Two months before admission, the patient developed critical lower limb ischemia and a nonhealing left foot ul- cer. Multiple vascular interventions failed to restore suffi- cient limb blood flow; a month later, the patient underwent a transmetatarsal amputation. Postoperatively, he devel- oped surgical wound infection, necessitating repeated de- bridement and intravenous vancomycin administration. The patient's medications included stable doses of as- pirin, atenolol, atorvastatin, calcium acetate, insulin, gaba-
Proteasome Inhibitor Therapy for Antibody-Mediated Lung Transplant Rejection

Purpose Antibody mediated rejection (AMR) is a significant challenge after lung transplantation and no consensus exists on the optimal therapeutic approach. Bortezomib may serve as a treatment option by eradicating the antibody-producing plasma cells. We report clinical experience with bortezomib for AMR after lung transplantation. Methods and Materials Five lung transplant recipients with clinical AMR and donor-specific antibodies (DSA) (defined as MFI > 2000) were treated with bortezomib (1.3 mg/m 2 ). Serial measurements of DSA were conducted by single antigen bead on Luminex, OneLambda. The immunodominant DSA (iDSA) was assigned to the DSA with the highest MFI value at the time of diagnosis. Results In this cohort, AMR developed a median of 10.5 months after transplant; bortezomib treatment resulted in elimination of iDSA in 2 patients (1, 2), and a 50% reduction without clearance in another (3). The remaining two patients (4, 5) had persistent DSA without decline in MFI. Despite iDSA reduction in patients 1, 2, and 3, this did not translate to a meaningful clinical benefit (absence of resolution of acute AMR in patient 1). During therapy, one patient experienced grade IV thrombocytopenia; otherwise, side effects were mild and transient. Prior to AMR, all patients had normal graft function; however, all 3 patients surviving to hospital discharge developed chronic, severe graft dysfunction. Two of the 5 patients are still alive 132 (2) and 230 (5) days after treatment for AMR. Conclusions Although these preliminary results do not support a strong clinical or immunological response to bortezomib, we cannot exclude a prescribing bias for use in more severe cases of AMR. Bortezomib treatment for AMR warrants further investigation to fully elucidate its potential benefit. iDSAMFI at DiagnosisMFI at last follow-upResolution of acute AMRPatient 1DQ64516
4.4.2 Measurement-Driven Systems Engineering Using Six Sigma Techniques to Improve Software Defect Detection

System developers and managers continually strive to identify, undertake, and realize improvements in system development methods. Measurement-driven systems engineering guides the identification of improvement opportunities and enables the quantitative evaluation of progress and benefits. Six Sigma techniques provide a structured approach for using measurement-driven methods to decrease the variances and shift the means of user-defined metrics such as defect densities, development cycletimes, and resource expenditures. This research investigates the effectiveness of software defection detection using peer reviews across 12 system development phases on 14 large-scale systems. This study analyzes 3418 defects from 731 peer reviews and benchmarks the defect injection and detection performance across the 12 system development phases. Six Sigma techniques including the define-measure-analyze-improve-control (DMAIC) method, root cause analysis, and control charts helped achieve inphase detection of 95 percent of defects and realize over 50 percent improvements in defect densities and closure cycletimes for certain peer review types.
Structural Relationship between Icosahedral and Frank-Kasper Phases of Al-Li-Cu,

Abstract We report on an X-ray diffraction study of the structure of the icosahedral and Frank-Kasper phases of Al5.5Li3.3Cu. It is shown that the two phases have very similar local structure up to about 20 A, while the long-range structure is quite distinct. A detailed analysis of the Frank-Kasper phase suggests that the reported atomic positions and site occupations of this compound are not accurate, and the local structure of this compound is actually closer to that of the quasicrystalline unit cells proposed for the icosahedral phase. The results are consistent with the decorated quasicrystalline lattice model.
Intense electron beams with centrifugal electrostatic focusing

This paper presents analysis of the electron beam propagation in transverse radial electrostatic field. It is shown that combination of the inward and outward forces acting on the beam electrons can create favorable conditions for stable transport of equilibrium high current electron beam without need for the confining magnetic field. Physical mechanisms of the beam formation, transport, and stability are discussed and the criteria for the equilibrium beam transport to occur are given.
Why Covariance? A Rationale for Using Analysis of Covariance Procedures in Randomized Studies

Analysis of covariance is a useful statistical procedure for data analysis even when carefully executed random assignment procedures are employed. Statistically adjusting for the effects of the covariates on the outcome can help account for pretreatment group differences—even with careful sampling. In addition, analysis of covariance can increase statistical power, thus reducing the Type II error rate. This paper uses diagrams to show how analysis of covariance manipulates data under a variety of conditions. Also discussed are the relationship between analysis of covariance and statistical power and issues related to covariate selection. Finally, a simulated data analysis is used to demonstrate the process of selecting covariates and to show the results with and without statistically adjusting for the effects of the covariate.
Plant and fungal calmodulin: Ca2+-dependent regulation of plant NAD kinase.

Although little is known about the role(s) of second messengers, including free Ca2+, in plant cells there has been increasing evidence for a role for Ca2+ in metabolic regulation in plants. The recent demonstration that the Ca2+-binding protein, calmodulin exists in extracts of higher plants and basidiomycete fungi provides a basis for understanding Ca2+-dependent metabolic regulation in plant cells. In this review we summarize the similarities and differences of plant, fungal and mammalian calmodulin. We also discuss the known in, vitro functions of calmodulin in higher plants. A Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent NAD kinase has been purified to homogeneity from extracts of pea seedlings and shown to be absolutely dependent upon calmodulin and μM levels of free Ca2+ for activity. The available evidence suggest that this Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent NAD kinase is the major form of plant NAD kinase and that this regulatory enzyme is localized in the chloroplast. A model is presented which predicts that the rate of photosynthesis is regulated by a receptor-mediated change in the level of chloroplastic free Ca2+ upon illumination. Free Ca2+, acting as a second messenger, forms a Ca2+-calmodulin complex thus converting calmodulin to its active conformation. This Ca2+-calmodulin complex then activates chloroplastic NAD kinase resulting in an increased NADPNAD ratio.
Rapid aqueous sample extraction of volatile organic compounds: effect of sample matrix and analyte properties.

Abstract Studies have been done using a rapid aqueous sample extraction (RASE) system to characterize the effects of chemical properties on the time required for removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to the gas phase. These analyses include determinations of the effects that different analytes, and modifications to the matrix, have on extraction time. Experiments were performed to determine the distinct contributions of analyte removal from water and gas-phase transport to the duration of the extracted pulse of analytes. These measured durations were correlated with known values of Henry's law constants (KH), boiling points, relative volatilities from modified matrixes, and aqueous diffusion coefficients for cyclohexane, toluene, o-xylene, isopropylbenzene (IPB), and o-dichlorobenzene. Transport time, which was the most significant contributor to the overall duration, correlated well with analyte boiling point. Analyte removal from water correlated better with a modified relative volatility measurement than either KH or DL. IPB extraction was studied in a number of modified matrixes. A 0.1% methanol in water matrix resulted in a 35% decrease in the extraction time of IPB relative to pure water. Extraction time decreased by 22% with the addition of 0.1% NaCl to the aqueous matrix. The addition of 0.01% sodium dodecyl sulfate to the matrix resulted in a 13% increase in the extraction time of IPB relative to water. The RASE system was directly interfaced to a cryofocussing high-speed gas chromatography system to analyze VOCs in wastewater at the low μg l−1 level.
Identification of 13-hydroxy-14,15-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid as an acid stable endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor in rabbit arteries

Abstract Arachidonic acid (AA) is metabolized by endothelial 15-lipoxygenase (15-LO) to several vasodilatory eicosanoids such as 11,12,15-trihydroxyeicosatrienoic acid (11,12,15-THETA) and its proposed unstable precursor 15-hydroxy-11,12-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (15-H-11,12-EETA). In the present study, the acid-stable 13-hydroxy-trans-14,15-epoxy-eicosatrienoic acid (13-H-14,15-EETA) was identified and its vascular activities characterized. Rabbit aorta, mesenteric arteries, and the combination of 15-LO and cytochrome P450 2J2 converted AA to two distinct HEETA metabolites. The HEETA metabolites were resistant to acidic hydrolysis but were hydrolyzed by recombinant sEH to a more polar metabolite identified by mass spectrometry as 13,14,15-THETA. Mass spectrometric analyses and HPLC comigration identified the HEETAs as threo- and erythro-diastereomers of 13-H-trans-14,15-EETA. Erythro- and threo-diastereomers of 13-H-trans-14,15-EETA relaxed endothelium-denuded rabbit small mesenteric arteries with maximum relaxations of 22.6 ± 6.0% and 8.6 ± 4.3%, respectively. Apamin (10−7 m) inhibited the relaxations to the erythro-isomer (maximum relaxation = 1.2 ± 5.6%) and increasing [K+]o from 4.6 to 30 mm blocked relaxations to both isomers. In cell-attached patches of mesenteric arterial smooth muscle cells (SMCs), erythro-13-H-trans-14,15-EETA (1–3 × 10−6 m) increased mean open time of small conductance K+ channels (13–14 pS) from 0.0007 ± 0.0007 to 0.0053 ± 0.0042. This activation was inhibited by apamin. The erythro, but not the threo, isomer blocked angiotensin II-stimulated aortic SMC migration. These studies demonstrate that 13-H-14,15-EETAs induces vascular relaxation via K+ channel activation to cause SMC hyperpolarization. Thus, 13-H-14,15-EETA represents a new endothelial factor.
Intrinsic catalytic activity of procarboxypeptidase A. A kinetic study using fluorine analogues

Abstract Bovine procarboxypeptidase A displays substantial catalytic activity toward halogenated acyl-amino acids, the most active of which is trifluoroacetyl- l -phenylalanine (TFAc- l -Phe). Though this activity is not as great as for the native enzyme, it is quite substantial and far beyond the range of adventitious activation. Both dl -benzylsuccinate and β-phenylpropionate inhibit zymogen hydrolysis of TFAc- l -Phe, the former with a K I of 4.1 μM and the latter, 900 μM (a value much higher than the corresponding enzyme). Apo procarboxypeptidase A will also hydrolyse TFAc- l -Phe, presumably the polarization of the carbonyl carbon being accomplished by the fluorine atoms in the absence of a specific metal ion. That this is not entirely the metal ion function is indicated by the fact that rate enhancements follow the order manganese procarboxypeptidase A ≈ zinc procarboxypeptidase > apo-procarboxypeptidase. The results indicate considerable similarities for the zymogen-enzyme pair in terms of catalytic groups, pH dependence, specificity and the nature of their transition state binding sites. Some changes in the substrate or inhibitor binding sites are noted.
Nuclear Power and Technological Authoritarianism

When the lid blew off the Chernobyl No. 4 nuclear reactor on April 26, 1986, it released the largest quantity of radioactive material ever in one technological accident. The estimated 28 megacuries of escaping gases dwarfed the less than one megacurie released in the 1957 Windscale (U.K.) accident and the 17 curies from t.he l 979 Three Mi le Island (U.S.) accident. One hundred thirty-thousand people within a 30 kilometer radius were evacuated, and 300-400 million people in l.') nations were put at risk of radiation exposure. Present forecasts of additional cancer deaths attributable to the Chernobyl accident range from 5,000 to 75.000 (Byrne and Rich, 1987: 4).
Ethanol Effects on Striatal Neuron Activity

Cellular effects of ethanol were investigated in the rat neostriatum with local perfusion and extracellular, single unfl recording techniques. Neuronal activity was modulated specifically as a function of ethanol concentration over a wide test range. At extremely low doses (10-9 and 10-8 M), the neuronal responses to drug perfusion were exclusively excitatory. However, at the highest doses examined (10-5 and 10-4 M), the results were reversed. In the midrange, a number of apparently ineffective tests were obtained, along with bimodal (excitation followed by depression) responses. The unequivocal responsiveness to ethanol at very low concentrations raises the possibility of a physiological role for the endogenous substance.
Influence of Wall Compliance on Epithelial Cell Structure and Injury During Airway Reopening

The present work describes the implementation of an in-vitro model for the evaluation of the injury mechanisms of lung epithelial cells during simulated airway reopening events. Collagen-coated polyacrylamide substrates with different rigidities served as cell culture substrates, and a parallel plate perfusion chamber was used for simulating the reopening of fluid-filled airways. Human alveolar epithelial cell (A549) monolayers were grown to confluence on the different substrates and the cellular response was evaluated in terms of cytoskeletal distribution, proliferation rate, and cell stiffness. One and five reopening events were simulated, and cell response was characterized via live/dead fluorescence imaging. Cells cultured on stiffer substrates showed higher proliferation rate, as well as a more spread and tightly packed morphology. Airway reopening simulations showed that cells cultured on softer substrates are less susceptible to cell injury.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Characterization of conjugated polymer/anodic aluminum oxide nanocomposites fabricated via template wetting

Abstract Solution-based template wetting is demonstrated as an effective means of producing semiconductor–insulator nanocomposites. The properties of such nanocomposites formed by incorporating two commonly investigated semiconducting polymers, poly(2-methoxy-5-(2′-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene (MEH-PPV) and poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT), along with their blend, into nanoporous aluminum oxide (AAO) are investigated electronically and spectroscopically. Significant improvement in hole mobility of amorphous MEH-PPV in a nanocomposite with AAO while such improvement is absent when the crystalline P3HT is utilized to fabricate the AAO nanocomposites. Spectral evidence indicates that increased molecular order is responsible for this observation. Carrier mobility intermediate to the homopolymer nanocomposites was observed in composites fabricated from an MEH-PPV:P3HT blend and an AAO membrane. Spectral evidence indicates that these two polymers phase segregate in the composite.
The two-dimensional restriction analysis of Drosophila DNAs: males and females.

Two-dimensional restriction analysis has been applied to terminally labeled restriction segments from adult male and female flies that were the progeny of ten successive single-pair, brother-sister matings. Many of the 2500–4000 different bands that can be seen on autoradiographs are of widely different density, a fact that suggests the superposition of multiple restriction segments of similar sequence. The number of bands observed is significantly fewer than expected. Nearly all of the bands seen in male-DNA displays appear equivalent to those seen in female-DNA displays, but a few sex differences (male-dense and female-dense bands) can be identified — much fewer than expected. When the HpaII-MspI test was applied to fractionated BamHI fragments, between 900 and 1800 discrete C-C-G-G sites were found to be cleaved in a completely equivalent fashion by each isoschizomer.
The Great Unsealing: A Perspective on Portland Cement Concrete Joint Sealing

The general mission of most transportation agencies is to ensure a customer focus in the development and operation of a safe and efficient transportation system. The customers desire comfort, convenience, safety, and cost-effectiveness in a transportation system. Agency research must have the objectives of addressing customer-related issues and measuring benefits of importance to them. Accordingly, any joint and sealant research must answer the questions, Why do we seal? and Is it cost-effective? Joint and sealant studies of portland cement concrete (PCC) pavements must address whether joint sealing enhances total pavement performance and is cost-effective, and, if so, what sealant system should be used. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) has been studying the effect of PCC joint/crack sealing on total pavement performance for 50 years. By 1967 there was substantial documentation that filling and refilling of contraction joints had no beneficial effect on pavement performance. By 1984, it...
Fabrication and characterization of micro PEM fuel cells using pyrolyzed carbon current collector plates

Abstract A novel fabrication technique for micro proton exchange membrane fuel cells (μPEMFCs) based on carbon-MEMS (C-MEMS) was optimized to yield higher performance cells. Polymer manufacturing is relatively easy compared to directly patterning graphite as is typically done to make fuel cell bipolar plates. In a C-MEMS approach, fuel cell bipolar plates are fabricated by first patterning polymer Cirlex ® sheets. By subsequently pyrolyzing the machined polymer sheets at high temperature in an inert atmosphere, carbon bipolar plates with intricate groove structures to distribute the reactants are obtained. Using an improved assembly technique such as polishing the carbonized plates to minimize the contact resistance between gas diffusion layers (GDL) and bipolar plates, better pyrolysis temperature control and a better end plate design, a μPEMFC with a 0.64 cm 2 active surface was fabricated using the newly developed bipolar plates. At 1 atm and 25 °C a maximum power density of ∼76 mW cm −2 was obtained, and at 2 atm and 25 °C ∼85 mW cm −2 was achieved. These data are comparable with data reported in the literature for μPEMFCs and are a dramatic improvement over earlier results reported for the same C-MEMS based fuel cell. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry were carried out to characterize steady-state and transient characteristics of the novel C-MEMS fuel cell.
Optimizing XML-to-SQL query translation for analytical databases using intelligent path derivation

We introduce the idea of an XML-to-SQL translation scheme applicable to relatively stable databases in this paper. This approach utilizes a subordinate data structure which we call a Path Prefix Tree (PPT). The PPT is updated for each instance of the XML document, and then used to build efficient SQL queries that are nearly optimal in terms of efficiency. The mapping of XML path expressions into SQL queries is shown to operate in O(n) time. Moreover, our proposed XML-to-SQL translation scheme efficiently maps the recursive path queries to SQL queries in the presence of recursive schemas using the PPT.
A New Vitamin A

AN earlier publication1 presented evidence which indicated that fish liver oils contain a substance (or substances) which has vitamin A activity but differs in properties from the vitamin A (here designated A1) previously obtained in crystalline form2. Subsequent research has revealed that the newly recognized compound occurs in fish liver oils in substantial amounts, being responsible for approximately one third of their total vitamin A potency.
Manufacturing requirements for a single-wafer develop process

The validity of a photolithographic develop process in a manufacturing environment is measured by critical-dimension control, photo defects, chemical usage, cycle time, functional test yield, and rework. Due to the rapid pace of change in the semiconductor industry and the trend toward ever tighter ground rules, the demands that these parameters place on the develop process are never constant. A process that worked in the past may suddenly become inadequate for a new product design with specific performance, throughput and cost requirements. This paper details the techniques used for engineering support of the photocluster single-wafer develop processes in the IBM Microelectronics Division's semiconductor production facility near Burlington, Vermont. Unique analysis procedures have been established for baselining spray- and puddle-develop processes and for identifying the sources of sudden process deviations or defect occurrences. Effective engineering support can maintain the required process performance while also ensuring that all other production considerations are met.
Generalized pruritus and systemic disease

A retrospective study of 44 cases of generalized pruritus (GP) was undertaken to determine the incidence of systemic disease in this population. This data was compared to that of a group of 44 age- and sex-matched psoriatic controls. We found 13 (30%) of the GP cases to have a systemic disease that in the literature is believed to be associated with GP, versus 10 (23%) in the psoriasis group. Excluding hypothyroidism and diabetes mellitus, two disorders with questionable relationship to GP, the number of pruritus patients with an associated systemic disease was reduced to 8 (18%) compared to only 1 (2%) psoriatic patient, a difference which is statistically significant (p
Pituitary response to TRH in bulimia

The response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), growth hormone (GH), and prolactin (PRL) was examined in nine normal weight female bulimics without endogenous depression and eight female controls. Four bulimics had delayed peak TSH response, but none demonstrated a blunted TSH response, unlike that which has been reported in endogenous depression. Bulimics had elevated mean +/- SD serum GH levels (controls 1.6 +/- 1.4 ng/ml, bulimics 5.6 +/- 3.9) and an inappropriate GH release following TRH. Their mean +/- SD serum PRL (3.1 +/- 1.7 ng/ml) was lower than that of controls (4.7 +/- 1.3); however, the PRL response to TRH was significantly greater in bulimics than in controls. These data show that neuroendocrine abnormalities exist in normal weight bulimic women without endogenous depression and provide further evidence for a neuroendocrine component to this illness.
Cardiac safety of electrical stun guns: Letting science and reason advance the debate

The authors reflect on the cardiac safety of electrical stun guns. They commented that the role of biologic models in evaluating the cardiac effects of Taser plays greater importance with the limitations of the epidemiologic data, clinical investigations and theoretical arguments. They added that the debate over the use of Taser is confounded by lack of sufficient scientific evidence to make firm conclusions on the potential of adverse cardiac effects.