cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evolution of trends in the live kidney transplant donor-recipient relationship.

Abstract Objective This study examined the changing demographics and age profile between living donors and their recipients. A 46-year review of living donor renal transplants in a single transplant center was performed. Patients The study included 923 consecutive living donor renal transplants from January 1966 until December 2011. Results These 923 living donor kidneys transplants represent 41% of all transplants performed during this 46-year review. The majority involved sibling donation (39.5%) followed by parent to child (32.5%). Dividing the 46-year timeframe into quartiles, the mean age of donors has remained stable at 39.3 ± 10.9 years. In contrast, the mean age of recipients has trended upwards, from 28 ± 10.7 years in the first quartile (1966–1978) to 37 ± 17.5 years in the latest quartile (2001–2011). This represents an increase every year of approximately 4 months (P Conclusion This review of center-specific data shows that the difference in the age of the donor to their recipient has been narrowing over time. We have determined that this is primarily due to changes in donor-recipient demographics with an increasing number of younger donors to older recipients. Although the medical risks to donors living with a single kidney have yet to be shown different than that of the general population, the increasing volume of donors who are younger and those with no relation to the recipient should prompt closer follow-up within the transplantation medical community.
The Implications of Low Testosterone on Mortality in Men

Testosterone levels in men slowly decline with aging and also decline more abruptly due to medical illness or medications. Prescriptions for testosterone have increased dramatically over the past decade, since a testosterone gel formulation was approved and since numerous studies reported an association between low serum testosterone and increased mortality. However, recent observational studies of testosterone treatment have reported conflicting results with some studies reporting decreased risks for mortality while others reported increased mortality risks with testosterone treatment. This paper will summarize recent studies of low serum testosterone and mortality and testosterone treatment and mortality and what the potential implications of these studies are for the clinician.
Medial parabrachial nucleus neurons modulate d-fenfluramine-induced anorexia through 5HT2C receptors

We previously reported that lesions of the medial parabrachial nucleus (PBN) enhanced d-fenfluramine (DFEN)-induced anorexia; a finding that suggests these lesions may potentiate the release of serotonin (5HT) or increase the postsynaptic action of 5HT. In the present study, we used SB 206553 (a 5HT2B/2C receptor antagonist) or m-CPP (a 5HT2C/1B receptor agonist) in a standard behavioral procedure (deprivation-induced feeding) to further explore the role of the medial PBN in drug-induced anorexia. In Experiment 1, DFEN (0 or 1.0 mg/kg) was given alone or in combination with SB 206553 (2.0 or 5.0 mg/kg). In Experiment 2, we investigated the food-suppressive effects of m-CPP (0.5, 1.0 or 2.0 mg/kg). The results of Experiment 1 show that SB 206553, while having no influence on the performance of control subjects, attenuated (2.0 mg/kg) or abolished (5 mg/kg) the potentiating effect of the lesions on DFEN-induced anorexia. In Experiment 2, m-CPP induced a suppression of food intake in nonlesioned animals that was significantly potentiated in rats with medial PBN lesions. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that medial PBN neurons mediate anorexia through 5HT2C receptors.
On the Michailov Criterion for Exponential Polynomials

Michailov criterion for exponential polynomials, determining existence of zeros in right half-plane
Transmitted Power in a Structure Using the Effective Mass Parameters

To reduce the vibration levels in a complex structure, the designer often needs to know how the vibrations in one part of a structure are transmitted to other parts at each interface of the connected components. A lumped-mass method and component mode synthesis is used to evaluate the power flow for vibrations in low-frequency range. The model mass and stiffness matrices are portioned into substructures separated by the interfaces whose power flow should be evaluated. The vibration modes of the substructure are divided into constrained and fixed interface modes corresponding to the interface and interior degree of freedoms, respectively. The effective interface mass criterion is used to rank the most dynamic important modes at each interface. The most important modes are preserved in a reduced model for computing the power flow. A numerical example of a linear system is used to illustrate the application of the new technique.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Recuperative parametric pumping in adsorptive membranes

Recuperative parametric pumping in adsorptive membranes, a cyclical adsorptive separation process, can lead to two distinct mechanisms of separation: rejection and preferential transport. During rejection, the adsorptive membrane rejects an adsorbing solute while permitting the transport of nonadsorbing solutes. During preferential transport the reverse occurs; the adsorptive membrane selectively transports an adsorbing solute while preventing the transport of nonadsorbing solutes. Switching fiom rejection to preferential transport can be accomplished by merely decreasing the ratio of the stroke volume (cyclical volume of solution pumped into and out of the membrane) to the membrane void volume. Preferential transport, earlier called an "inverse separation, "results from the adsorbing solute crossing ouerfrom an adsorbing to a desorbing region in the interior of the membrane and is governed by the shape of the equilibrium isotherms and by process variables. In experiments with lysoiyme and a membrane chromatography cartridge, selectivities obtained by preferential transport were on the order of 5 and agreed with theoretical predictions. Theoretical predictions suggest that to further improve separation by preferential transport, experiments need to be conducted on low dispersion membranes (Pe > lo4) and that both rejection and preferential transport can lead to continuous concentrated streams of the adsorbing solutes.
An array immunosensor for simultaneous detection of clinical analytes.

A fluorescence-based immunosensor has been developed for simultaneous analysis of multiple samples. A patterned array of recognition elements immobilized on the surface of a planar waveguide is used to “capture” analyte present in samples; bound analyte is then quantified by means of fluorescent detector molecules. Upon excitation of the fluorescent label by a small diode laser, a CCD camera detects the pattern of fluorescent antigen:antibody complexes on the sensor surface. Image analysis software correlates the position of fluorescent signals with the identity of the analyte. This immunosensor was used to detect physiologically relevant concentrations of staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), F1 antigen from Yersinia pestis, and D-dimer, a marker of sepsis and thrombotic disorders, in spiked clinical samples.
Beyond the Surface: A Guide to Substantive World Fairs in the Social Studies

In an age of increasing global and multicultural forces, the social studies is usually the subject charged with promoting a deeper level of understanding in regards to cultural diversity. To achieve this mission, many social studies teachers have turned to the use of world fairs. However, these activities often end up promoting surface level understandings, and may even end up reinforcing existing stereotypes amongst students. In this article, the authors, based upon key research in this area, provide a meaningful framework for teachers, when using world fairs. This framework better situates students for a deeper, more substantive understanding of culture.
ELIE HALEVY ON ENGLAND AND THE ENGLISH

Elie Halevy became famous as a historian of England in the years before World War I, due to his lectures on England at the Ecole libre des sciences politiques, his three-volume analysis of utilitarianism published between 1901 and 1904, a 1906 article on the birth of Methodism, and the 1912 book L’Angleterre en 1815. In these last two works he argued—in what became known as the Halevy thesis—that English Protestantism, and especially the evangelical forms of English Protestantism associated with Methodism, were a key element of Britain's sociopolitical stability. This deep-seated religiosity, he argued, was supportive of British liberalism and British philanthropy; it was responsible for an England that, in his own words, “governs itself, in place of being governed from above.”
All-optical self-induced polarization switching by two-wave mixing in nematic liquid crystals

We have performed quantitative theoretical and experimental studies of all-optical self-induced polarization switching in thin films and waveguides of nematic liquid crystals, and demonstrated the feasibility of such processes over the entire visible-near infrared [0.4 - 1.55 microns] spectrum. We have also studied the detailed dynamics of the nonlinear optical interaction with the nematic crystalline axis, and observed interesting frequency selective beam amplification and stimulated scattering effects.
Lipid peroxidation in alcoholic myopathy and cardiomyopathy

Abstract The hypothesis is presented that lipid peroxidation is responsible for the damage in skeletal and cardiac muscle of chronic alcoholic subjects. The enhanced lipid peroxidation is caused by the accumulation of oxygen radicals. Both excessive production and decreased disposal of oxygen radicals can arise from the acetaldehyde formed in the oxidation of ethanol. Although acetaldehyde from hepatic sources may contribute, muscle itself can generate significant amounts of acetaldehyde through the action of muscle catalase. The effects of alcohol on other tissues, and its known longterm effects on membranes lend support to this hypothesis. The ultrastructural features of the alcoholic myopathies provide further support. The resemblance between vitamin E-deficiency myopathy and the alcoholic myopathies is strong additional evidence in favor of this hypothesis.
CO and C2 absorption toward W40 IRS 1a

The H II region W40 harbors a small group of young, hot stars behind roughly 9 mag of visual extinction. We have detected gaseous carbon monoxide (CO) and diatomic carbon (C2) in absorption toward the star W40 IRS 1a. The J = 2-0 R0, R1, and R2 lines of 12CO at 2.3 μm were measured using the CSHELL on the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility (with upper limits placed on R3, R4, and R5) yielding an NCO of (1.1 ± 0.2) × 1018 cm-2. Excitation analysis indicates Tkin > 7 K. The Phillips system of C2 transitions near 8775 A was measured using the Kitt Peak 4 m telescope and echelle spectrometer. Radiative pumping models indicate a total C2 column density of (7.0 ± 0.4) × 1014 cm-2, two excitation temperatures (39 and 126 K), and a total gas density of n ~ 250 cm-3. The CO ice band at 4.7 μm was not detected, placing an upper limit on the CO depletion of δ < 1%. We postulate that the sight line has multiple translucent components and is associated with the W40 molecular cloud. Our data for W40 IRS 1a, coupled with other sight lines, shows that the ratio of CO/C2 increases from diffuse through translucent environs. Finally, we show that the hydrogen-to-dust ratio seems to remain constant from diffuse to dense environments, whereas the CO-to-dust ratio apparently does not.
Complications of three deep sedation methods for magnetic resonance imaging.

Background : Propofol and pentobarbital are commonly used to sedate children undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Aim/Objective: To compare the safety of three types of sedation: intravenous propofol (PROP), mixed pentobarbital/propofol (PENT), and mixed pentobarbital group requiring supplemental sedation (PENT SUPP) regimens in pediatric patients following deep sedation (DS) for noncardiac MRI. Materials and Methods: We conducted a case-control study matching 619 cases with complications with 619 controls using data from our institution's sedation database for children deeply sedated for noncardiac MRI. Cases were defined as patients with any complication and we characterized complications from cases, and used a conditional logistic regression model to assess the association between three DS methods and occurrence of complications after adjusting for confounding variables. Results: We found that complications occurred in association with 794 (10.1%) of the 7,839 DSs performed for MRI between 1998 and 2008. Of the 794 cases, 619 cases met inclusion criteria for the study. Among the 619 cases that met inclusion criteria, 24 (0.3% of 7,839 DSs total) were associated with major complications. Type of sedation was significantly associated with the occurrence of complications, and the PENT group was associated with decreased odds of complications when compared to the PROP regimen (OR 0.68; 95% CI 0.46, 0.98; P=0.040) and compared to the PENT SUPP group (OR 0.60; 95% CI 0.31, 0.89; P Conclusions: DS with a pentobarbital technique was associated with decreased odds for complications when compared to a propofol-based technique or a pentobarbital technique requiring supplemental sedation.
Market Structure, Excess Returns in the Foreign Exchange Market and Deviations from Uncovered Interest Parity

This paper contributes to the uncovered interest parity literature by analyzing the role of financial market concentration in determining deviations from the uncovered interest parity condition. The theoretical section of the paper demonstrates that countries with concentrated financial markets will increase their welfare by discouraging financial flows through their manipulation of domestic interest rates. The empirical results support this finding and indicate that the correlation between financial flows and excess returns changes when the concentration ratio is above 0.68. This article suggests that the recent increases in banking sector concentrations around the world are likely to limit international financial flows and this will have welfare implications in countries with concentrated and competitive financial markets.
Tweets are forever: a large-scale quantitative analysis of deleted tweets

This paper describes an empirical study of 1.6M deleted tweets collected over a continuous one-week period from a set of 292K Twitter users. We examine several aggregate properties of deleted tweets, including their connections to other tweets (e.g., whether they are replies or retweets), the clients used to produce them, temporal aspects of deletion, and the presence of geotagging information. Some significant differences were discovered between the two collections, namely in the clients used to post them, their conversational aspects, the sentiment vocabulary present in them, and the days of the week they were posted. However, in other dimensions for which analysis was possible, no substantial differences were found. Finally, we discuss some ramifications of this work for understanding Twitter usage and management of one's privacy.
Prevalence of Serious Psychological Distress and Mental Health Treatment in a National Sample of Pregnant and Postpartum Women

This study examines the prevalence and correlates of past month serious psychological distress (SPD) and past year mental health treatment (MHT) across pregnancy and the postpartum. Data are from the 2008 to 2012 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health. Prevalence estimates of SPD as well as MHT among women with SPD were generated for each trimester and across the postpartum period. Correlates of SPD and MHT were examined among pregnant and postpartum women. The prevalence of past month SPD was 6.4 % in first trimester women and 3.9 % in third trimester women. In postpartum women, SPD prevalence ranged from 4.6 % (0–2 months) to 6.9 % (3–5 months). Correlates of SPD among pregnant and postpartum women included being younger; non-Hispanic black; unmarried; making under $20,000 annually; having past month cigarette use; or having a past year alcohol or illicit drug use disorder. Only 38.5 % of pregnant and 49.5 % of postpartum women with past month SPD reported past year MHT. Those who received MHT were more likely to be white; widowed, divorced, or separated; have insurance; and have a history of depression or anxiety than their counterparts with no MHT. Pregnant women with SPD were less likely to report past year MHT than postpartum women, even after adjusting for potential confounders. Over half of pregnant and postpartum women with past month SPD are not receiving MHT. Increased contact with health care professionals during this time may be an opportunity for screening, identification, and referral to MHT.
Interferon-γ therapy reduces blood leukocyte levels in patients with atopic dermatitis: Correlation with clinical improvement

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with abnormalities of both cellular and humoral immunity. Subcutaneous recombinant human interferon-γ (IFN-γ) provides therapeutic benefit to AD patients. In contrast to expectations, IFN-γ does not cause a decrease in the elevated levels of circulating IgE levels in AD patients. We sought to determine cellular targets of IFN-γ treatment that might explain its clinical benefit. Therefore, we evaluated blood leukocyte subsets by multiparameter flow cytometry in AD patients receiving IFN-γ (n = 10) or placebo (n = 11) therapy compared to untreated normal volunteers (n = 14). Treated patients demonstrated reductions in WBC, eosinophil, and lymphocyte counts. Compared to normals, there was a reduced CD4/CD8 ratio in AD patients among activated, large mononuclear cells that was partially corrected with IFN-γ treatment. Clinical improvement correlated with reductions in WBC (r = 0.9, P = 0.0003), eosinophil (r = 0.7, P = 0.035) and lymphocyte (r = 0.8, P = 0.013) counts, and with normalization of the CD4/CD8 ratio among large lymphocytes (r = 0.9, P = 0.04). The data indicate two potential modes of action for INF-γ in AD. One mechanism represents normalization of selected immunologic abnormalities in AD; a second mechanism may be the modest reduction of circulating inflammatory cells. Adequacy of IFN-γ therapy of AD may depend on bringing about these changes.
Rheometry of a dacitic melt: Experimental results and tests of empirical models for viscosity estimation

This paper reports on experimental measurements of the viscosity of a dacitic melt, by means of the technique of of concentric cylinder rheometry. The measurements were done in a temperature range of 1000 to 1150[degrees]C, and at different shear rates. The results were compared with empirical models which are commonly used to estimate the viscosity of single-phase melts of silicates. This data is of great use to the study of magma transport.
Neuropsychiatric correlates of white matter hyperintensities in Alzheimer's disease

Objective To investigate the association of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and MRI measures of brain atrophy and white matter hyperintensities (WMH).
Asymmetric impacts of the asset-light and fee-oriented strategy: The business cycle matters!

Abstract The hotel industry in the United States has witnessed the rapid spread of the strategy of pursuing fee-based business (management/franchise) while going asset light. The two main consequences of this strategy are protection by shaving off fixed assets, and growth without a huge capital investment by expanding fee-based business. We examined how the impacts of this strategy vary with the business cycle. During a contraction period, the stable income stream of fee-based revenue and low operating leverage protect the firms from unexpected negative shocks. However, the efficient management of core intangible assets and the fee income structure resembling option payoffs act as driving forces to growth during an expansion period, increasing the firm's sensitivity to economic recovery. Consistent with the hypotheses, the management/franchising firms’ beta was lower during contraction periods but higher during expansion periods than non-management/franchising firms’ beta, and the beta movement between the two periods was significant in both groups. However, the proposed effects of the strategy appeared to apply only to the firms substantially engaged in fee-based business. Firms employing the strategy at a low or moderate level had stable beta over the cycle.
Foraminiferal Paleoecology of Upper Miocene Montesano Formation, Western Washington: ABSTRACT

The Montesano Formation, which ranges in age from late Miocene to questionable early Pliocene, is exposed in an area of approximately 250 square miles of Grays Harbor County in western Washington. It averages 2,500 feet in thickness and consists predominantly of fine- to medium-grained sandstone, with mudstone, pebbly sandstone, and conglomerate locally significant. The formation possibly represents the last marine incursion in a depositional basin that existed generally as a strongly negative feature through most of the Tertiary. Paleoenvironmentally significant faunas from the Montesano Formation include: (1) rock-boring pelecypods, (2) Chione-Spisula molluscan assemblages, (3) a Miliammina fusca fauna, (4) a Buliminella elegantissima fauna, (5) a Nonionella fauna, (6) a Bolivina fauna, (7) a Uvigerina peregrina hispidocostata fauna, and (8) a Bolivina seminuda fauna. The succession of these assemblages, the associated quantitative microfaunal trends, and the sedimentary evidence indicate that the formation was deposited in a sea that first transgressed from west to east over Grays Harbor basin and then regressed. In the western part of the basin, water depths increased progressively from zero to more than 3,000 feet. On the east, deposition took place initially in the littoral zone, later the outer shelf, an finally under probable tidal sand-flat conditions. A local laminated mudstone unit contains an impoverished fauna suggestive of a partly closed basin about 2,000 feet deep with a sill at about 800 feet. Graded bedding, convolute structures, channels filled with shallow-water deposits, and a high percentage of displaced fauna indicate that much of the sediment was emplaced by turbidity currents and slumping. Planktonic Foraminifera indicate that late Miocene sea-surface temperatures in the Grays Harbor area were of the order of 10-15°C. A small terrestrial flora reflects a mild temperate climate. End_of_Article - Last_Page 613------------
The impact of gender on the assessment of body checking behavior

Body checking includes any behavior aimed at global or specific evaluations of appearance characteristics. Men and women are believed to express these behaviors differently, possibly reflecting different socialization. However, there has been no empirical test of the impact of gender on body checking. A total of 1024 male and female college students completed two measures of body checking, the Body Checking Questionnaire and the Male Body Checking Questionnaire. Using multiple group confirmatory factor analysis, differential item functioning (DIF) was explored in a composite of these measures. Two global latent factors were identified (female and male body checking severity), and there were expected gender differences in these factors even after controlling for DIF. Ten items were found to be unbiased by gender and provide a suitable brief measure of body checking for mixed gender research. Practical applications for body checking assessment and theoretical implications are discussed.
Nitrosative stress elicited by nNOSµ delocalization inhibits muscle force in dystrophin‐null mice

The mechanism of force reduction is not completely understood in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a dystrophin-deficient lethal disease. Nitric oxide regulates muscle force. Interestingly, neuronal nitric oxide synthase μ (nNOSμ), a major source of muscle nitric oxide, is lost from the sarcolemma in DMD muscle. We hypothesize that nNOSμ delocalization contributes to force reduction in DMD. To test this hypothesis, we generated dystrophin/nNOSμ double knockout mice. Genetic elimination of nNOSμ significantly enhanced force in dystrophin-null mice. Pharmacological inhibition of nNOS yielded similar results. To further test our hypothesis, we studied δ-sarcoglycan-null mice, a model of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy. These mice had minimal sarcolemmal nNOSμ delocalization and muscle force was less compromised. Annihilation of nNOSμ did not improve their force either. To determine whether nNOSμ delocalization itself inhibited force, we corrected muscle disease in dystrophin-null mice with micro-dystrophins that either restored or did not restore sarcolemmal nNOSμ. Similar muscle force was obtained irrespective of nNOSμ localization. Additional studies suggest that nNOSμ delocalization selectively inhibits muscle force in dystrophin-null mice via nitrosative stress. In summary, we have demonstrated for the first time that nitrosative stress elicited by nNOSμ delocalization is an important mechanism underlying force loss in DMD.
Microsomal NADPH-cytochrome c reductase from the housefly, Musca domestica: Properties of the purified enzyme☆

Abstract The characteristics of purified NADPH-cytochrome c reductase (E.C.1.2.6.3) from housefly microsomes have been studied. Like the mammalian reductase, the housefly reductase is specific for NADPH, utilizes 2,6-dichlorophenol-indophenol and ferricyanide as electron acceptor substrates, has a ping-pong reaction mechanism, and is competitively inhibited by NADP. Unlike the mammalian enzyme, the housefly reductase is much less sensitive to changes in ionic strength, has a lower affinity for substrates, and is more sensitive to sulphydryl inhibitors such as p -chloromercuribenzoate and N -ethyl maleimide.
Rescheduling strategies for minimizing total weighted tardiness in complex job shops

Production scheduling is a complex task in most real manufacturing settings and semiconductor manufacturing is no exception. Fabricating integrated circuits on silicon wafers is arguably one of the most complex and expensive manufacturing processes in existence. As technology demands increase, the business of semiconductor manufacturing becomes more difficult. Pressing due dates and massive late penalties, coupled with increased demand, require semiconductor manufacturers to control their wafer fabrication facilities (wafer fabs) efficiently. Although scheduling techniques often provide the needed control in these complex job shops, wafer fabs are dynamic entities that often require rescheduling due to unplanned machine failures, the introduction of high priority jobs and other events. Three different strategies are examined for rescheduling complex job shops, while investigating the efficacy of each strategy to maximize on-time delivery performance (minimize total weighted tardiness).
Conceptual Design of a 2× Trough for Use Within Salt and Oil-Based Parabolic Trough Power Plants

Recent studies in the United States suggest that parabolic trough levelized energy costs (LECs) can be reduced 10-15% through integration of a large salt energy storage system coupled with the direct heating of molten salt in the solar field. While noteworthy this relatively small predicted improvement may not justify the increased technical risks. Examples of potential issues include increased design complexity, higher maintenance costs, and salt freezing in the solar field. To make a compelling argument for development of this new system, we believe that additional technical advances beyond that previously reported will be required to achieve significant LEC reduction, greater than 25%. The new technical advances described include the development of a high-concentration trough that has double aperture and optical concentration of current technology. This trough is predicted to be more cost-effective than current technology because its cost ($/m 2 ) and thermal losses (W/m 2 ) are significantly lower. Recent trough optical performance improvements, such as more accurate facets and better alignment techniques, suggest a 2 × trough is possible. Combining this new trough with a new low-melting point salt now under development suggests that a LEC cost reduction of ∼25% is possible for a 50 MW, 2×salt plant relative to a conventional (1 ×) 50 MW oil plant. However, the 2 × trough will also benefit plants that use synthetic oil in the field. A LEC comparison of 2X plants at sizes ≥200 MW shows only a 6% advantage of salt over oil. DOI:10111 5/1 4002080].
Sampling methods for water kinetics.

Abstract In a Holstein steer, jugular blood, saliva, 24-hour urine collection, urine by palpation, and respired-water were compared to determine their reliability and convenience for tritium assay in water kinetic studies. No significant differences (P > .05) in rate of tritium dilution occurred among the various procedures. However, the collection and assay of respired-water was the most convenient method. Further comparison of jugular blood and respired-water collected from 12 lambs revealed no significant difference (P > .05) in tritium dilution.
Effects of titanium salicide process on MOSFET characteristics

The effects of the titanium-salicide (self-aligned silicide) process with different postmetallization anneals on the performance of very thin gate oxide MOSFETs are discussed. Compared to the conventional polycrystalline-silicon (poly-Si) gate process, a titanium-salicide process without enough annealing in hydrogen-containing ambients degrades MOSFET characteristics. However, after hydrogen anneal (but not a nitrogen anneal), the electrical characteristics of the salicided MOSFETs become comparable to those of poly-Si gate MOSFETs. The device degradation has been correlated with interface-state generation through an interface-state density study. >
High-spin ferric ions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae vacuoles are reduced to the ferrous state during adenine-precursor detoxification.

The majority of Fe in Fe-replete yeast cells is located in vacuoles. These acidic organelles store Fe for use under Fe-deficient conditions and they sequester it from other parts of the cell to avo...
Arene-mercury complexes stabilized aluminum and gallium chloride: synthesis and structural characterization.

Reaction of HgCl2 with 2 equiv of MCl3 in an aromatic solvent yields Hg(arene)2(MCl4)2 where, arene = C6H5Me, M = Al (1), Ga (2); arene = C6H5Et, M = Al (3) and Ga (4); o-C6H4Me2, M = Al (5), Ga (6); C6H3-1,2,3-Me3, M = Al (7) and Ga (8). The solid-state structures of compounds 1−5 and 7 have been determined by X-ray crystallography. In the solid state, compounds 1−4 and 7 exist as neutral complexes in which two arenes are bound to the mercury, and the MCl3 groups are bound through bridging chlorides to the mercury; compound 5 exists as a cation−anion pair [Hg(o-C6H4Me2)2(AlCl4)][AlCl4]. However, in solution compounds 1−8 all exist as neutral complexes. The structures of Hg(arene)2(AlCl4)2 and [Hg(arene)2(AlCl4)]+ have been determined by DFT calculations {B3LYP level} to facilitate the assignment of the 13C CPMAS NMR spectra and are in good agreement with the X-ray diffraction structures of compounds 1 and 5. Reaction of HgCl2 with MCl3 in benzene, m-xylene, and p-xylene results in the formation of liquid...
Three Loops of the Common γ Chain Ectodomain Required for the Binding of Interleukin-2 and Interleukin-7

The common gamma chain (gammac), a subunit of the interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, and IL-15 receptors, contributes to both cytokine binding and subsequent signal transduction. Using a model-based site-directed mutagenesis strategy, we have identified residues of the mouse gammac extracellular domain that are required for normal gammac-dependent enhancement of IL-2 and IL-7 binding. One of these sites, Tyr-103, is homologous to key ligand-interacting residues in the growth hormone and erythropoietin receptors, whereas Cys-161, Cys-210, and Gly-211 may function indirectly by maintaining the functional conformation of gammac via formation of an intramolecular disulfide bond. These two cysteines are also required for the integrity of a putative epitope recognized by TUGm2, an antagonistic monoclonal antibody that blocks gammac-dependent cytokine binding and bioactivity. These results are consistent with the involvement of three predicted loops in gammac that contribute to the binding of both IL-2 and IL-7. Mutations in these loops have also been noted in the gammac gene of patients with X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency.
Autosomal aneuploidy in mice: Generation and developmental consequences

Abstract Spontaneous aneuploidy in the mouse is uncommon, but specific mating schemes have been developed that produce aneuploid conceptuses at high frequencies. The most commonly reported aneuploid condition in the mouse is autosomal trisomy, in which there is an extra copy (in whole or in part) of a chromosome. In this review, we present several of the schemes used in producing trisomie, partially (tertiary) trisomie, and monosomic conceptuses and summarize the developmental consequences that are associated with each of the autosomal trisomies of the mouse.
Cytochrome oxidase activity during amphibian development

Changes in cytochrome oxidase (COX) activity during development have been determined in homogenates of embryos of five species of amphibia: Rana esculenta, Rana pipiens, Amblystoma punctatum, Bufo americanus, and Xenopus laevis. When inhibitory substances produced by skin are removed or compensated for by bovine serum albumin, COX increases several fold throughout the period of prefeeding development in all species studied. The increase is interpreted as synthesis of COX accompanying production of new mitochondria. The rate of increase is considerably greater after the tail bud stage has been reached and appears to be associated with a period of general protein synthesis reported by others. DPNH-cytochrome-c reductase activity and respiration of intact embryos have been determined in Rana pipiens for comparison with COX. The developmental changes in general parallel those of COX but at quantitatively different levels.
Hierarchical cooperative distributed model predictive control

Cooperative distributed model predictive control has recently been shown to provide stabilizing feedback for plants composed of any finite number of dynamically coupled subsystems [7]. No assumption is made about the strength of the coupling between the subsystems. This control scheme provides optimal feedback in the limit of infinite optimization iterates, can be terminated before convergence of the iterates, and guarantees stability and feasibility. These properties require communication between all subsystems in the plant at every iterate, however. In this paper, we weaken this requirement and propose an extension in which the subsystems are grouped in a hierarchy. The subsystems communicate with their neighbors at every iterate, but communicate with subsystems outside their neighborhood on a slower and asynchronous time schedule. We show that this extension is plantwide stabilizing. We introduce a method to modify the information sent between neighborhoods in order to reduce the volume of communication and to hide input trajectories between neighborhoods. To achieve these properties, the leader of each subsystem performs a minor additional calculation at each plantwide information exchange. We conclude with an example demonstrating control performance in a chemical plant.
Constraints on cosmological models from the IRAS QDOT survey results

The results of the recent IRAS survey are used to explore constraints on the nature of the Galaxy density field. Realistic simulations of the survey made from N-body simulations of the n = -1 power-law power spectrum and the Omega = 1 CDM models show that the power-law model is basically consistent with all QDOT variance results, while the CDM model has a smaller variance than the observation at the 20/h Mpc Gaussian smoothing scale. It is concluded that the QDOT results are best explained if the power spectrum of the Galaxy density field has a slope of about -1 near a wavelength of about 100/h Mpc, while the CDM model has a slope of about 0 at that scale. The possibility of marginal non-Gaussian behavior at the 20/h Mpc scale reported by Saunders et al. (1990) is examined for gravitational instability models with Gaussian initial conditions. It is argued that the observed (delta exp 3) versus (delta exp 2) in redshift space is not what these models would predict.
Fungal proteases and the mammalian kinin system. II. Kinin hydrolysis by brinolase.

Abstract Brinolase, a thrombolytic fungal protease capable of forming vasoactive kinins, has been shown to hydrolyze kinins after their formation. Using synthetic bradykinin as a substrate, the kinetics and mechanism of hydrolysis have been elucidated, evidently explaining the apparently low kinin formation in vivo , Bradykinin hydrolysis proceeded rapidly in vitro with a pH optimum of 7.0–7.5, and a half-life of 5.1 min, using 250 ng/ml bradykinin and 50 μg/ml brinolase. The K m was 3.2×10 −6 M and the V max was 4.6 × 10 −8 mol/liter/min, using 5 μg/ml brinolase. Two-dimensional paper fractionation of the brinolase-bradykinin digest revealed the presence of free arginine amongst the five peptide fragment spots.
Tuning to the plasmonic eigenfrequency and determining its decay rate in a spherical noble metal nanoshell

Abstract Using the continuity conditions of the tangential component of the magnetic flux density and of the electric field at the core-metal and metal-medium boundaries and the Drude model for a noble metal, we give the equations relating the plasmonic eigenfrequency and decay rate, the nanoshell’s geometric parameters and the indices of refraction of the core and the embedding medium. We find the range of frequencies to which the hole-to-sphere ratio can be tuned.
Cenozoic and Upper Cretaceous Sedimentary Facies of New Jersey Continental Slope and Rise: ABSTRACT

End_Page 296------------------------------Recent Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) coring along U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) multichannel seismic lines 25 and 35 provides direct sampling of the depositional sequences that constitute the lower continental slope and upper continental rise of New Jersey. The sedimentary record from four core sites, integrated with a closely spaced grid of multi-channel seismic profiles, reveals 12 depositional sequences in the upper Campanian to Quaternary section that are bounded by erosional unconformities. Equivalent unconformity-bound depositional sequences are present on the contiguous continental shelf and upper slope; most sequences have counterparts in the Vail depositional model. Of particular interest is a complicated, stacked series of buried erosional channels dramatically displayed n seismic lines paralleling the depositional strike of the upper continental rise. The channels, which cut the upper surface of nearly every depositional sequence, probably formed during periods of low sea level. Channels on the lower Eocene surface display the greatest physiographic relief. Integration of seismic and bore-hole data suggests alternative correlations for several stratigraphically significant regional reflectors, such as A*, Ac, and Au. End_of_Article - Last_Page 297------------
Release of avian neurotensin in response to intraluminal contents in the duodenum of chickens

Abstract Peripheral and hepatic-portal plasma levels of neurotensin (NT) in fed and fasted chickens were determined using RIA. Portal levels of NT1–13 (fed = 61.3 ± 3.9 fmol/mL; fasted = 44.5 ± 3.9 fmol/mL) were significantly higher than peripheral levels (fed = 8.2 ± 3.3 fmol/mL; fasted = 7.8 ± 3.0 fmol/mL) collected from the wing vein, indicating that some NT is metabolized in the liver. Portal plasma levels of NT collected from fed birds were also significantly higher than portal plasma levels of NT collected from fasted birds. Neurotensin, as identified by HPLC, exhibited a 2-fold increase in plasma extracts following perfusion of the proximal ileum with a 10-mg sample of oleic acid, as compared with control samples of plasma collected before oleic acid perfusion. In whole-animal studies, the injection of a micellar solution of oleic acid into isolated segments of the duodenum resulted in elevated plasma immunoreactive NT in blood collected from the pancreaticoduodenal vein. Injection of a 1,000 mOsm sodium chloride solution had a slightly lesser and delayed effect compared with oleic acid, but a greater effect than 0.1 N hydrochloric acid in isotonic saline solution. Injection of an amino acid solution (10% Travasol), 300 mOsm glucose solution, or pure corn oil had no effect. These results demonstrate that intraduodenal oleic acid is a potent stimulus for the release of NT from the duodenum into the hepatic-portal circulation of chickens.
Application of load-dependent Ritz vectors to Bayesian probabilistic damage detection

This paper demonstrates the possibility of incorporating load-dependent Ritz vectors as an alternative to modal parameters into a Bayesian probabilistic framework for detecting damages in a structure. Recent research has shown that it is possible to extract load-dependent Ritz vectors from vibration tests. This paper shows that load-dependent Ritz vectors have the following potential advantages for damage detection over modal vectors: (1) in general, load-dependent Ritz vectors are more sensitive to damage than the corresponding modal vectors; and (2) substructures of interest can be made more observable using the load-dependent Ritz vectors generated from particular load patterns. An eight-bay truss example and a five-story frame example, explicitly considering both modeling error and measurement noise, are presented to illustrate the applicability of the proposed approach.
How Consumers Respond to Product Certification: A Welfare Analysis of the ENERGY STAR Program

The ENERGY STAR certification is a voluntary labeling program managed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that favors the adoption of energy ecient products. In the US appliance market, the label is a coarse summary of otherwise readily accessible information. This paper develops a structural model of demand to capture the degree of sophistication with which consumers account for energy information. Using micro-data of the US refrigerator market, I find that consumers respond to certification in dierent ways. Some consumers have a large willingness to pay for the ENERGY STAR label, well beyond energy savings associated with certified products, others appear to pay attention to electricity costs, but not to ENERGY STAR, and still others appear to be insensitive to both electricity costs and ENERGY STAR. The findings suggest that the certification acts as a substitute for more accurate, but complex energy information. The welfare analysis shows that the opportunity cost for an imperfectly informed consumer in the refrigerator market ranges from $12 to $17, or $33 to $40 excluding the producer surplus. Whether the large willingness to pay for the label itself is interpreted as preferences or as a bias has important welfare implications.
TRAITS THAT INFLUENCE LONGEVITY IN MICE

ABSTRACT Analysis of genetic interactions in the segregating backcross [(C57BL/6 x DBA/2)F 1 x DBA/2] mice revealed influences of genetic and environmental factors on life span. Using determinants of coat color (brown locus of chromosome 4 and dilute locus of chromosome 9 ), serologically determined H-2 antigens (chromosome 17 ) and sex as genetic markers, we studied the effects of these genes on longevity. The results suggested that genes in the brown locus ( b ) segment of chromosome 4 , genes in a segment of the sex chromosomes and, to a more limited extent, genes in the segment of chromosome 17 which contains the H-2 haplotype all influenced longevity. The coat color ( b locus) segment of chromosome 4 was associated with life span predominantly in females, whereas the chromosome 17 ( H-2 haplotype) segment was associated with longer life primarily in males. The dilute locus d segment on chromosome 9 did not affect life span. Longevity appears to be influenced by interactions between genes in the chromosomal segment carrying H-2 , those in the b segment, gender and the month of birth. Greater heterozygosity at the loci studied was associated with longer life span. Histopathological findings on mice that died at or after 28 months of age were comparable for all genetic combinations except that there was an increased frequency of lymphoma in females and an increased frequency of amyloidosis in males. Our analysis emphasizes the need for comprehensive studies of aging and longevity that would simultaneously determine the effects of several genetic regions and their interactions with the environment with respect to possible causes of death.
Upgrade of the CEBAF acceleration system

Long-term plans for CEBAF at Jefferson Lab call for providing 12 GeV in the middle of the next decade and 24 GeV after 2010. Such energies can be achieved within the existing footprint by fully populating the accelerator tunnel with cryomodules capable of twice the operating voltage of the existing ones within the same length. In particular, this requires the development of superconducting cavities capable of operating at gradients above 12 MV/m and Q/spl sim/10/sup 10/. An R&D program for the development of the cryomodules is under way and will be presented, as well as various options for the upgrade path.
Neuronal fusion pore assembly requires membrane cholesterol

Cholesterol has been proposed to play a critical role in regulating neurotransmitter release and synaptic plasticity. The neuronal porosome/fusion pore, the secretory machinery at the nerve terminal, is a 12−17 nm cup-shaped lipoprotein structure composed of cholesterol and a number of proteins, among them calcium channels, and the t-SNARE proteins syntaxin-1 and SNAP-25. During neurotransmission, synaptic vesicles dock and fuse at the porosome via interaction of their v-SNARE protein with t-SNAREs at the porosome base. Membrane-associated neuronal t-SNAREs interact in a circular array with liposome-associated neuronal v-SNARE, to form the t-/v-SNARE ring complex. The SNARE complex along with calcium is required for the establishment of continuity between opposing bilayers. Here we show that although cholesterol is an integral component of the neuronal porosome and is required for maintaining its physical integrity and function, it has no influence on the conformation of the SNARE ring complex.
From a Managerial Imperative to a Learning Imperative Experiences of Urban, Public School Principals

Purpose: This article examines the experiences of urban, public school principals noted for their instructional leadership and highlights a leadership approach grounded in a learning imperative. Fr...
Modified booth truncated multipliers

Truncated multiplication provides an efficient method for reducing the power dissipation and area of rounded parallel multipliers in digital signal processing systems. With this technique, the products of parallel multipliers are rounded to a shorter word size and the least-significant columns of the multiplication matrix are not used. This technique provides significant savings in terms of power dissipation for unsigned multiplication. Although previous implementations involved unsigned and signed array and tree multipliers, this technique can be equally applied to multiplication using Booth-encoding. This paper presents the design and implementation of parallel and truncated multipliers that use Booth-encoding and compressors for signed multiplication. Initial estimates indicate that truncated parallel multipliers dissipate less power than standard parallel multipliers for operand sizes of 16 bits.