cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synthesis, antibiotic structure–activity relationships, and cellulose dissolution studies of new room-temperature ionic liquids derived from lignin

Ionic liquids (ILs) are promising pretreatment solvents for lignocellulosic biomass, but are largely prepared from petroleum precursors. Benzaldehydes from depolymerized lignin, such as vanillin, syringaldehyde, and 4-methoxy benzaldehyde, represent renewable feedstocks for the synthesis of ionic liquids. We herein report syntheses of novel lignin-derived ionic liquids, with extended N-alkyl chains, and examine their melting points, cellulose dissolution capacities, and toxicity profiles against Daphnia magna and E. coli strain 1A1. The latter organism has been engineered to produce isoprenol, a drop-in biofuel and precursor for commodity chemicals. The new N,N-diethyl and N,N-dipropyl methyl benzylammonium ILs were liquids at room temperature, showing 75–100 °C decreased melting points as compared to their N,N,N-trimethyl benzylammonium analog. Extension of N-alkyl chains also increased antibacterial activity threefold, while ionic liquids prepared from vanillin showed 2- to 4-fold lower toxicity as compared to those prepared from syringaldehyde and 4-methoxybenzaldehyde. The trend of antibacterial activity for anions of lignin-derived ILs was found to be methanesulfonate < acetate < hydroxide. Microcrystalline cellulose dissolution, from 2 to 4 wt% after 20 min at 100 °C, was observed in all new ILs using light microscopy and IR spectroscopy. Ionic liquids prepared from H-, S- and G-lignin oxidation products provided differential cytotoxic activity against E. coli and D. magna, suggesting these compounds could be tailored for application specificity within a biorefinery.
Identification of congenital CMV cases in administrative databases and implications for monitoring prevalence, healthcare utilization, and costs.

To critically review researchers’ use of diagnosis codes to identify congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection or disease in healthcare administrative databases. Understanding the limitations of ...
Gut microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acids protect against the progression of endometriosis.

Worldwide, ∼196 million are afflicted with endometriosis, a painful disease in which endometrial tissue implants and proliferates on abdominal peritoneal surfaces. Theories on the origin of endometriosis remained inconclusive. Whereas up to 90% of women experience retrograde menstruation, only 10% develop endometriosis, suggesting that factors that alter peritoneal environment might contribute to endometriosis. Herein, we report that whereas some gut bacteria promote endometriosis, others protect against endometriosis by fermenting fiber to produce short-chain fatty acids. Specifically, we found that altered gut microbiota drives endometriotic lesion growth and feces from mice with endometriosis contained less of short-chain fatty acid and n-butyrate than feces from mice without endometriosis. Treatment with n-butyrate reduced growth of both mouse endometriotic lesions and human endometriotic lesions in a pre-clinical mouse model. Mechanistic studies revealed that n-butyrate inhibited human endometriotic cell survival and lesion growth through G-protein–coupled receptors, histone deacetylases, and a GTPase activating protein, RAP1GAP. Our findings will enable future studies aimed at developing diagnostic tests, gut bacteria metabolites and treatment strategies, dietary supplements, n-butyrate analogs, or probiotics for endometriosis.
Displaced: Why We Need New International Law to Protect Refugees, Displaced People, and Human Rights

How can international law protect both international security and the human rights of displaced people? Existing international law protects only displaced refugees: those who flee persecution on the basis of religion, race, nationality, or political opinion. This article argues that a new Displaced Persons Convention must be created to protect the human rights of the world’s other 35 million victims of civil conflict and climate change who do not meet this narrow definition. International Refugee Law must be preserved as it is because it enshrines critical protections for minority rights that must not be diluted. However, an additional instrument of international law is necessary to resolve an issue that is at once one of the greatest human rights issues of our time and a threat to international peace and security. To support this argument, this article presents a comprehensive history of refugees in international law, combining primary sources and original interview data to trace how states have agreed for centuries that refugee law should protect minority rights, even as shifting state interests have changed refugee protection over time. This article refutes other scholarly proposals and UN practices that expand the category of “refugee.” It also contributes to growing scholarly interest in the history of human rights law by arguing that refugee law predates the modern human rights regime, challenges its foundations, and extends its claims to universality.
Abstract 17006: Genistein Rescues Pulmonary Hypertension Induced Right Ventricular Failure by Inhibiting the Proliferation of Pulmonary Artery Smooth Muscle Cells and Reversing Cardiac Hypertrophy

INTRODUCTION Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) induced Right Ventricular Failure (RVF) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. PH is characterized by thickening of pulmonary vasculature and gradually increasing pulmonary arterial pressure, resulting in RV hypertrophy and failure. We have previously shown that genistein (Gen), a soy isoflavone, is able to rescue PH induced RVF. Here we explore whether inhibition of pulmonary smooth muscle cell proliferation as well as reversal of hypertrophy are the mechanisms involved in the rescue. METHODS To induce PH, male rats received a single injection of Monocrotaline (60mg/kg, s.c.) or saline as control (CTRL n=7). At day 21, when rats had developed severe PH, Gen therapy was begun (1 mg/kg/day, s.c.) to one group (n=8) until day 30. Some were left untreated to develop severe RVF (n=7). In vitro, proliferation of human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (HPASMCs) was measured with or without Gen by MTT assay. Hypertrophy of cardiomyocytes was measured by incubating neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs) with pro-hypertrophic phenylephrine (PE, 10uM) with and without Gen. P RESULTS Gen was able to reverse depressed RV Ejection Fraction (RVEF=65.67±1.08% vs 28.76±0.79% in RVF, p CONCLUSION Genistein therapy rescues depressed RV Ejection Fraction and reverses pulmonary arteriolar medial thickness as well as RV hypertrophy in PH-induced RVF rats. Genistein inhibits the proliferation of HPASMCs and reverses the hypertrophy of NRVMs in vitro. These provide a possible physiological mechanism for the rescue of PH induced RVF by Genistein therapy.
Stackelberg vs. Nash in security games: interchangeability, equivalence, and uniqueness

There has been significant recent interest in game theoretic approaches to security, with much of the recent research focused on utilizing the leader-follower Stackelberg game model; for example, these games are at the heart of major applications such as the ARMOR program deployed for security at the LAX airport since 2007 and the IRIS program in use by the US Federal Air Marshals (FAMS). The foundational assumption for using Stackel-berg games is that security forces (leaders), acting first, commit to a randomized strategy; while their adversaries (followers) choose their best response after surveillance of this randomized strategy. Yet, in many situations, the followers may act without observation of the leader's strategy, essentially converting the game into a simultaneous-move game model. Previous work fails to address how a leader should compute her strategy given this fundamental uncertainty about the type of game faced.Focusing on the complex games that are directly inspired by real-world security applications, the paper provides four contributions in the context of a general class of security games. First, exploiting the structure of these security games, the paper shows that the Nash equilibria in security games are interchangeable, thus alleviating the equilibrium selection problem. Second, resolving the leader's dilemma, it shows that under a natural restriction on security games, any Stackelberg strategy is also a Nash equilibrium strategy; and furthermore, the solution is unique in a class of real-world security games of which ARMOR is a key exemplar. Third, when faced with a follower that can attack multiple targets, many of these properties no longer hold. Fourth, our experimental results emphasize positive properties of games that do not fit our restrictions. Our contributions have major implications for the real-world applications.
VACCINES PREPARED FROM CHIMERAS OF FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE VIRUS (FMDV) INDUCE NEUTRALIZING ANTIBODIES AND PROTECTIVE IMMUNITY TO MULTIPLE SEROTYPES OF FMDV

The G-H loop of VP1 (residues 132 to 159) of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is a prominent feature on the virion surface and has an important role in vaccine efficacy, generation of antigenic variants, and cell binding. Using an infectious cDNA of FMDV, we have constructed serotype A viruses in which the G-H loop has been substituted with the homologous sequences from serotype O or C. These chimeric viruses replicated to high titer and displayed plaque morphologies similar to those of wild-type viruses, demonstrating that the functions provided by the loop can be readily exchanged between serotypes. Monoclonal antibody analyses showed that epitopes contained within the loop were transferred to the chimeras and that epitopes encoded by the type A backbone were maintained. Chemically inactivated vaccines prepared from chimeric viruses induced antibodies in guinea pigs that neutralized both type A and either type O or type C viruses. Swine inoculated with the A/C chimera vaccine also produced cross-reactive antibodies, were protected from challenge with the type A virus, and partially protected against challenge with type C. These studies emphasize the importance of epitopes outside of the G-H loop in protective immunity in swine, which is a natural host of FMDV.
A 40,000‐year woodrat‐midden record of vegetational and biogeographical dynamics in north‐eastern Utah, USA

Aim A conspicuous climatic and biogeographical transition occurs at 40–45� N in western North America. This pivot point marks a north–south opposition of wet and dry conditions at interannual and decadal time-scales, as well as the northern and southern limits of many dominant western plant species. Palaeoecologists have yet to focus on past climatic and biotic shifts along this transition, in part because it requires comparisons across dissimilar records [i.e. pollen from lacustrine sediments to the north and plant macrofossils from woodrat (Neotoma) middens to the south]. To overcome these limitations, we are extending the woodrat-midden record northward into the lowlands of the central
Tolerance to herbivory, and not resistance, may explain differential success of invasive, naturalized, and native North American temperate vines

Numerous hypotheses suggest that natural enemies can influence the dynamics of biological invasions. Here, we use a group of 12 related native, invasive, and naturalized vines to test the relative importance of resistance and tolerance to herbivory in promoting biological invasions. In a field experiment in Long Island, New York, we excluded mammal and insect herbivores and examined plant growth and foliar damage over two growing seasons. This novel approach allowed us to compare the relative damage from mammal and insect herbivores and whether damage rates were related to invasion. In a greenhouse experiment, we simulated herbivory through clipping and measured growth response. After two seasons of excluding herbivores, there was no difference in relative growth rates among invasive, naturalized, and native woody vines, and all vines were susceptible to damage from mammal and insect herbivores. Thus, differential attack by herbivores and plant resistance to herbivory did not explain invasion success of these species. In the field, where damage rates were high, none of the vines were able to fully compensate for damage from mammals. However, in the greenhouse, we found that invasive vines were more tolerant of simulated herbivory than native and naturalized relatives. Our results indicate that invasive vines are not escaping herbivory in the novel range, rather they are persisting despite high rates of herbivore damage in the field. While most studies of invasive plants and natural enemies have focused on resistance, this work suggests that tolerance may also play a large role in facilitating invasions.
Geometric Quantization from a Coherent State Viewpoint

AbstractA fully geometric procedure of quantization that utilizes a naturaland necessary metric on phase space is reviewed and brieﬂy related tothe goals of the program of geometric quantization. Introduction and Background Purpose and achievementsThe goal of the present work is to present a conceptually simple, geometricprescription for quantization. Such a goal has been, and continues to be, thesubject of a number of research eﬀorts. In the present paper we shall lookat the problems faced by this program from the point of view of coherentstates. It will be our conclusion that the symplectic geometry of classicalmechanics, augmented by a natural, and even necessary, metric on the clas-sical phase space, are the only essential ingredients to provide a quantizationscheme that is fully geometric in character and one that can be expressedin a coordinate-free form. In a surprising sense we shall see that coherentstates—far from being optional—are in fact an automatic consequence of thisprocess of quantization. It is fair to say at the outset that we will have very1
Throughput analysis of asynchronous CSMA protocols on star-like LAN topologies

An analysis of asynchronous (unslotted) carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) protocols applied to starlike topologies of local area networks is presented. Networks with a starlike topology include wireless LANs, STARLAN, the unidirectional bus and fiber-optic star topologies. The widely used assumption in starlike networks that the stations are at a constant distance from the repeater is eliminated. In the analysis, the authors explicitly model the spatial distribution of offered traffic through the use of a load intensity function. Results for the case of a uniform load intensity function show the throughput to be significantly larger than in the case of a topology with equidistant stations. It is also shown that at higher loads, for some cases of the load intensity function, the asynchronous protocol has a higher throughput than slotted (synchronous) CSMA. >
Persistent Anomalies of the Extratropical Northern Hemisphere Wintertime Circulation: Geographical Distribution and Regional Persistence Characteristics

Abstract We have studied the geographical and regional persistence characteristics of wintertime Northern Hemisphere 500 mb height anomalies, focusing particular attention on the behavior of strong anomalies that persist beyond the durations associated with synoptic-scale variability (“persistent anomalies”). We have also examined the persistence characteristics of certain dominant regional patterns of low-frequency variability. There are three major regions for the occurrence of persistent anomalies: the North Pacific to the south of the Aleutians, the North Atlantic to the southeast of Greenland, and from the northern Soviet Union northeastward to over the Arctic Ocean. These regions have relatively high numbers of both persistent positive anomaly and persistent negative anomaly cases. For moderate magnitudes and durations, the numbers of positive and negative cases in each region are about the same; however, for larger magnitudes and longer durations, the number of positive cases exceeds the correspond...
Carcinogenicity of inhaled benzene in CBA mice.

Abstract Carcinogenicity of Inhaled Benzene in CBA Mice. Farris, G. M., Everitt, J. I., Irons, R. D., and Popp, J. A. (1993). Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 20, 503-507. This study investigated benzene-induced neoplasia in CBA/Ca mice, with special emphasis on hematopoietic tissues. Ten-week-old male CBA/Ca mice were exposed to 300 ppm benzene via inhalation for 6 hr/day, 5 days/week, for 16 weeks and held 18 months after the last exposure. There were 125 benzene-exposed and 125 sham-exposed mice. Malignant lymphoma was a statistically significant cause of early mortality in the benzene-exposed mice. Fourteen benzene-exposed mice developed lymphoma (lymphoblastic, lymphocytic, or mixed) as compared to only 2 sham-exposed mice. Benzene-exposed mice also developed preputial gland squamous cell carcinomas (60% in benzene-exposed vs 0% in sham-exposed) and had an increased incidence of lung adenomas (36% vs 14%). Moderate to marked granulocytic hyperplasia was present in benzene-exposed animals, with a 36% incidence in the bone marrow and 6% in the spleen, as compared to the sham-exposed with 8 and 0%, respectively. Interpretation of the granulocytic response as a direct effect of benzene was complicated by the presence of inflammation in the mice. Although inhaled benzene was clearly carcinogenic in CBA mice, it did not induce granulocytic leukemia.
Diplomacy by Decree: The Legalization of EU Foreign Policy

One of the unique features of European integration involves the creation of a constitutional order for the European Union (EU). This order clearly governs many aspects of EU Member State economic and social policies, yet its impact on European foreign policy is less well understood. Although most Member States resist the legalization of their foreign policy co-operation, this policy domain has in fact become more legal, and in ways that have been neglected by most theorists of European integration and international law. To address these gaps in our understanding, this article explains (1) why legalization is an important aspect of European foreign policy; (2) how legalization has taken place; and (3) the impact of legalization on the evolution of EU foreign policy.
Approximating Probability Levels for Testing Null Hypotheses with Noncentral F Distributions

Laubscher (1960) offered two approximations for normalizing noncentral F distributions and concluded that a formula based on the square root of the chi-square distribution (SRA) gave values closer to the particular exact probabilities chosen than did a formula derived from a cube root of chi-square distribution (CRA). However, the range of values selected for degrees of freedom and A, the noncentrality parameter, are not representative of those in behavioral investigations. The present study compared the two approximations at six percentile points on the noncentral F distributions for numerator degrees of freedom in the range 1(1)6, 8, 12, 24, denominator degrees of freedom 6(2)30, 40, 60, 120, 240 and for Cohen's small, medium, and large effect sizes (f = .1, .25, .4) against exact values calculated by means of Tang's (1938) recurrence formula. It was found the CRA was clearly superior to the SRA and generally provided an excellent approximation for non-central F, particularly at levels of significance t...
Single ventricle with diminutive outlet chamber

Summary 1. A case of single ventricle with diminutive outlet chamber associated with multiple, additional anomalies is presented. 2. Confusion which exists in the literaturein incorporating these and other distinct anomalies under the heading of cor triloculare is cited.
Fabrication Of Ion-Exchanged Glass Waveguides Through Electrolytic Release Of Silver Ions

We describe the fabrication of low loss (= 0.2 dB) Ag+--Na+ exchanged glass optical waveguides using the novel electrolytic release tecnnique. Development of a concentration cell that can be used to measure the Ag+ ionic concentration in situ provides opportuniites for on-line concentration control. Since the siLver ion generation and control as well as the temperature can be adjusted electronically, the process may be computer controlled.
Does marijuana use contribute to intimate partner aggression? A brief review and directions for future research

Marijuana users are more likely to perpetrate intimate partner aggression (IPA) than non-users, yet the mechanism responsible for this association is unknown. Recent studies considering the association between episodes of marijuana use and episodes of IPA have failed to find evidence consistent with an acute effect of marijuana. Research gaps are highlighted and a heuristic model of marijuana's potential effects on IPA is presented. Research priorities include consideration of mediating mechanisms, moderating variables at the individual and couple level, and examination of acute effects of marijuana using daily report and EMA designs.
Histologic studies of the intraocular toxicity of imatinib mesylate in rabbits

To evaluate histologic signs of toxicity of the protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor, imatinib mesylate, in rabbit eyes. Twenty Dutch-belted rabbits underwent intravitreal injections of 0.1 ml solutions of imatinib mesylate. Ten rabbits were killed and enucleated 1 week after injection of imatinib mesylate (1.65 mg (four eyes), 165 μg (four eyes), and 16.5 μg (two eyes)). Ten rabbits injected with imatinib mesylate (165 μg (five eyes) and 825 μg (five eyes)) were enucleated 1 month later. Eyes were fixed in 10% formalin and stained with haematoxylin and eosin for microscopic examination. All four eyes injected with 1.65 mg of imatinib mesylate and enucleated at 1 week demonstrated ocular toxicity. All four eyes injected with 165 μg and enucleated at 1 week showed no ocular toxicity. One of the two eyes injected with 16.5 μg and enucleated at 1 week revealed focal areas of subretinal fluid and retinal undulations, suggestive of retinal oedema. None of the 10 eyes injected with imatinib mesylate at either the 165 or 825 μg dose and enucleated at 1 month showed ocular toxicity. Imatinib mesylate at 1.65 mg caused extensive retinal toxicity in rabbit eyes. In contrast, lower doses did not appear to cause toxicity, but may be associated with retinal oedema.
Breast Cancer Surgery Trend Changes Since the Introduction of BRCA1/2 Mutation Screening: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis of 158 Mutation Carriers Treated at a Single Institution

Bilateral mastectomy in women diagnosed with unilateral breast cancer is on the rise in the USA. One contributing factor is increased awareness of contralateral breast cancer risk. Positive testing for deleterious mutation in BRCA1/2 is a concrete measure of this contributing factor. We hypothesize that breast cancer surgery trend change is temporally associated with the introduction of BRCA1/2 genetic testing around 1996. Our study cohort included 158 BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation carriers diagnosed with unilateral breast cancer between 1963 and 2009. Mutation carriers with ovarian cancer or bilateral breast cancer were excluded. Breast surgery and breast reconstruction surgery trends were analyzed according to year of breast cancer diagnosis or when bilateral mastectomy was performed, respectively. Surgery trends changed significantly over time. We observed a significant drop in the rate of unilateral mastectomy (P < 0.001) after the period 1996–2000, and the rate of bilateral mastectomy appears to be on the rise, up to 30.3% between 2006 and 2009. Breast reconstruction trends also changed significantly over time, with a significant rise in the rate of free flap reconstruction to 58.8% between 2006 and 2009. Our results demonstrated a significant decrease in unilateral mastectomy with a rise in bilateral mastectomy after the period 1996–2000, a period which encompassed the year when genetic testing of the two BRCA1/2 genes became commercially available, hence supporting our hypothesis.
Node count and groin recurrence in early vulvar cancer: A Gynecologic Oncology Group study

Abstract Objective To determine if low node count from superficial groin dissection correlated with first recurrence in the groin for patients with early vulvar cancer. Methods The Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) conducted a trial for patients with early stage squamous vulvar cancer, lesions Results Of the 113 patients eligible for the study, 104 patients (with 117 dissected groins) did not have a first recurrence in the groin. The median number of negative nodes was 9 (range: 1–26). Nine patients (with 9 dissected groins) suffered a first recurrence in the groin. The median number of negative nodes removed per groin was 7 (range: 4–22). There were no significant differences between patients with first recurrence in the groin and those without ( p value=0.7475). There was a broad overlap of the confidence intervals. Conclusions We were unable to show that groin failure after superficial lymphadenectomy was a result of low lymph node count. The small number of recurrences made firm conclusions impossible. Variations in anatomy and other factors may make node counting an unreliable measure of surgical quality.
High-resolution calcium-43 NMR in solids

The resolution afforded by alkaline earth ion NMR in solution is often insufficient to obtain individual lines for chemically distinct sites, particularly in macromolecular environments (Z-4). The problem inherent in a small chemical shift range of about 70 ppm is aggravated further by broadening associated with the often complex spin relaxation driven by the nuclear electric quadrupole interactions with fluctuating electric field gradients (5). The dynamical part of the broadening may be defeated if the nucleus to be observed is immobilized. The solid-state experiment has been successful on a number of nonintegral spin quadrupole nuclei where the central (+f c-) -1) transition is exploited and the residual second-order quadrupole broadenings are minimized by rapid sample rotation at the magic angle (6-9). However, the possible gain in resolution is made at the cost of decreased sensitivity because only the central transition in a ; or $ manifold is observed (IO). In principle, the loss may be regained using magnetization-transfer methods such as those exploited by Pines, Gibby, and Waugh (II). Double-resonance approaches have been discussed for calcium fluoride (12,13), and a direct detection of calcium-43 reported using adiabatic demagnetization methods at low temperature (14). We report here observation of the high-resolution calcium-43 NMR spectrum using CP-MASS methods which demonstrates the feasibility of the more routine experiment in a noncubic environment and defines several of the critical experimental parameters. Figure 1 shows the CP-MASS calcium-43 NMR spectrum of calcium acetate obtained at 4.7 T using a spectrometer constructed in this laboratory. The relevant experimental parameters are summarized in the caption. The proton-calcium doubleresonance probe employed a Doty Scientific stator and rotor coupled to the proton tuning elements using a half wavelength coaxial line tapped at the proton null point for injection and detection of the calcium-43 resonance frequency. The spectrometer used Amplifier Research (AR-200L) and Henry Radio power amplifiers, Nicolet-GE 1280 data system, and a quadrature receiver built in the laboratory. The phase-shifting circuitry was designed after a very similar version by Robert MacKay, Monsanto Chemical Company. The match for the magnetization transfer was found by changing the power level on the calcium side while keeping the proton field fixed at 46 kHz; the optimum cross-polarization rate was found when the strength of the calcium rf field was approximately the same as that which gave w1 for calcium of 45 kHz in a saturated aqueous solution of calcium chloride. For calcium acetate, optimum contact times were long, in the tens of milliseconds range as shown in Fig. 2.
Ideal literature: faith‐based books for children

This paper compares children’s books that were written for Muslim, Jewish and Christian children. The speech and behavior of the characters, the settings, themes, prayers, and references to G‐d and scripture, make present to the reader ideologies on which the books are based. The books share characteristics of the importance of community, family life and generosity of spirit. The degree to which these are based on scripture and prayer, or the expected outcome of a faithful life, differs among the faith communities. Cet article compare les livres des enfants qui ont ete ecrits pour les enfants islamiques, juifs, et chretiens et qui ont ete annonces aux parents qui enseignent leurs enfants en prive, a la maison, dans ces trois traditions de foi. Le discours et le comportement des caracteres, les descriptions d’o[ugrave] les histoires ont eu lieu, les themes, les prieres, et les references a Dieu et au scripture font a present au lecteur quelques ideologies dans lesquelles les livres sont bases. Les livres p...
Sesame protein: A review and prospectus

Sesame is one of the earliest condiments and crops grown for edible oil. Sesame is consumed directly as sweetmeat, a “peanut butter-like” product, a candy ingredient, bread condiments, and snack foods. The world production of sesame is about 2,000,000 metric tons. China and India are the largest producers but internally consume their production. Sudan is the largest exporter of seed. Sesame contains 50% oil, which is highly resistant to oxidation, and 25% protein, which has a unique balance of amino acids. Dehulling of sesame for human consumption is important since the hull contains 2–3% oxalic acid, which chelates calcium and has a bitter flavor. Dehulled, defatted meal contains 60% protein, is bland, and contains limited qualities of flatulence-causing sugars and high quantities of phytic acid. Aqueous processing yields isolated protein containing 72% protein and recovers 56% of the seed protein. Sesame protein is very stable to heat and contains large quantities of methionine. Sesame meal has a PER of about 1.35. Sesame is low in lysine and requires supplementation or can be blended with soy protein to give PERs nearly equivalent to casein. Sesame protein is composed of nearly 80% α-globulin and 20% β-globulin. Limited attempts have been made to characterize these 2 fractions. Sesame protein has low solubility that limits food applications in its native form. Sesame protein performs better than other oilseeds in baking applications. Production of sesame is limited to countries where labor is plentiful and inexpensive until indehiscent varieties and/or improved mechanical harvesting techniques are developed. However, intense breeding and engineering research programs are in progress.
Therapeutic approaches to repair defects in ΔF508 CFTR folding and cellular targeting

The deltaF508 mutation in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) gene is the most common mutation in CF. The mutant CFTR protein is defective with respect to multiple functions including cAMP-regulated chloride conductance, nucleotide transport, and regulatory actions on other ion channels. Since the deltaF508 protein is also temperature-sensitive and unstable during translation and folding in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), most of the nascent chains are targeted for premature proteolysis from the ER. This paper focuses on the events that occur in the ER during folding and reviews potential targets for therapeutic intervention.
Hexanal Synthesis in Isolated Soy Proteins

Sodium erythrobate (2.3 mM) and dithiothreitol (6.5 mM) caused headspace hexanal from aqueous slurries of commercial isolated soy proteins (ISP) to increase by as much as 13-fold compared with headspace hexanal in the controls. When linoleic acid was also added, headspace hexanal levels from commercial and laboratory-prepared ISP were further increased by as much as 18- and 136-fold, respectively, compared with the levels in the controls. When 13C-labeled linoleic acid was added to aqueous mixtures of laboratory-prepared ISP along with reducing agents, 96% of the resulting hexanal contained the 13C isotope. Commercial ISP samples had about 40% of the isotopically labeled carbon incorporated into hexanal. These large increases in hexanal were almost completely prevented by heating the aqueous ISP to 100 °C or above prior to adding the reducing agent and linoleic acid. Adding cysteine or sodium sulfite reduced headspace hexanal levels from aqueous ISP slurries by more than 88%. Thiol blockers, iodoacetic acid and N-ethylmaleimide, did not affect hexanal levels.
Membrane transport in vascular smooth muscle and its relation to normal and altered excitation during hypertension.

Evidence is presented for the operation of a Cl−Cl exchange diffusional transport system in rat aortic smooth muscle. The efflux of36Cl associated with this mechanism is doubled in rats made hypertensive with aldosterone-salt treatment. The residual efflux of Cl is similarly elevated in the hypertensives. This finding supports the hypothesis that increased membrane permeability to Cl is associated with aldosterone hypertension. The agonist-induced increases in aortic effluxes of42K exhibit a 10-fold reduction in the ED50 to norepinephrine in aldosterone hypertensive rats. The possible contributors to this supersensitivity were studied by means of a pharmacologic analysis of the action of competitive (phentolamine) and non-competitive (dibenamine) antagonism of norepinephrine induced increases in42K efflux. The dissociation constant for phentolamine, KB=1×10−8 M, was relatively unaltered in the hypertensive group, as was the dissociation constant for norepinephrine, KA=3.4−5.8×10−7 M. A substantial increase in receptor number and/or transduction efficiency (3–12 fold) was derived from the analysis. It is tentatively concluded that supersensitivity to norepinephrine during aldosterone hypertension may be more closely related to changes in receptor number and/or efficiency than in receptor affinity.
Partial cDNAs encoding G-protein α subunits in the rat vestibular periphery

Abstract To begin understanding what G-proteins are involved in signal transduction in the vestibular periphery, the expression of G α subunits in rat primary afferent neurons (Scarpa's ganglia) and end-organs was studied. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with degenerate primers corresponding to two conserved regions of the G α protein coding sequence produced partial cDNAs encoding two distinct forms of G α s subunit (G α s2 and anove) G α s2 subunit,GenBank accession number AF1841510); and two forms of G α i2 subunits. A novel truncated form of G α i2 (designated G α i2(vest) ,Gen Bank accession number AF189020) was detected in the vestibular periphery. G α i2(vest) was also expressed in rat cerebellum and heart. The possible role of the identified G α protein cDNAs in the function of the vestibular periphery is discussed.
Thermoluminescence and Temperature Effects on Delayed Light Emission (Corrected for Changes in Quantum Yield of Fluorescence) in DCMU-treated Algae

— 1 The simultaneous measurements of delayed light emission (DLE) and chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence yield in DCMU§ treated Chlorella were made in the time range of 1 to 10 sec at various temperatures from 0 to 50°C. Similar measurements were made for DCMU treated thermophilic strain of Synechococcus in the temperature range of 0 to 75°C. 2 Using the basic assumption that DLE is produced by the back reaction of primary photoproducts of system II, and that two such reactions are required for it, a linear relationship between J-1/2 (where J is energy per unit time available for DLE) and time after illumination was derived. This second-order relationship was confirmed experimentally at several temperatures (2°, 5°, 10° and 15°C). From these analyses, reaction rate decay constants, at specific temperatures, were calculated. 3 An Arrhenius plot was made for these calculated rate constants. Its slope (8–10 kcal/mole) agreed well with previous reports; however, it had a region of zero slope which occurred at the physiological temperature of the organisms used. 4 Thermoluminescence or temperature jump delayed light emission (TDLE) was measured using various temperature conditions and it was found that not only the magnitude of the temperature jump (ΔT), but the initial and final temperatures of the sample were important. For example, a temperature jump of 8°C from 2 to 10°C gave much higher TDLE than from 12 to 20°C. 5 Many properties e.g., magnitude, temperature dependence and time independence of TDLE could be explained by the DLE decay data (corrected for changes in fluorescence yield) and the kinetic analysis. 6 It is suggested that, in addition to the back reaction of Z+ (the primary oxidized photoproduct of system II) with Q- (the primary reduced photoproduct of system II), a reducing entity, beyond the sites of DCMU and antimycin a action, is somehow involved in the production of slow DLE.
THE EFFECT OF TESTOSTERONE PROPIONATE ON THE PROTEIN AND CARBOHYDRATE METABOLISM IN THE DEPANCREATIZED-CASTRATED DOG

The administration of testosterone propionate at 25 to 100 mg./day for up to 56 days to partially regulated depancreatized-castrated dogs produced a constant increase in body weight accompanied by a retention of nitrogen and a decrease in glucose excretion. The nitrogen effect gradually “wore off” after 3 weeks of androgen injections but the effect on body weight and glucose excretion continued for the duration of treatment. Furthermore, on cessation of injections the nitrogen excretion increased but the glucose excretion gradually returned to the basal level. The blood glucose and NPN changed in parallel with the urinary constituents. The blood amino-N was not affected by androgen administration except for a short period of about 1 week at the end of maximum nitrogen retention and the beginning of the “wearing off” effect on the urinary nitrogen and the blood NPN.
Achieving stability and conformational specificity in designed proteins via binary patterning.

We have developed a method to determine the optimal binary pattern (arrangement of hydrophobic and polar amino acids) of a target protein fold prior to amino acid sequence selection in protein design studies. A solvent accessible surface is generated for a target fold using its backbone coordinates and "generic" side-chains, which are constructs whose size and shape are similar to an average amino acid. Each position is classified as hydrophobic or polar according to the solvent exposure of its generic side-chain. The method was tested by analyzing a set of proteins in the Protein Data Bank and by experimentally constructing and analyzing a set of engrailed homeodomain variants whose binary patterns were systematically varied. Selection of the optimal binary pattern results in a designed protein that is monomeric, well-folded, and hyperthermophilic. Homeodomain variants with fewer hydrophobic residues are destabilized, while additional hydrophobic residues induce aggregation. Binary patterning, in conjunction with a force field that models folded state energies, appears sufficient to satisfy two basic goals of protein design: stability and conformational specificity.
Morphogens : Precise outputs from a variable gradient

The morphogen gradient as a source of embryonic patterning is one of the best accepted concepts in developmental biology. Morphogens can be transcription factors or extracellular signals, but in both cases, they are thought to provide concentration thresholds that position different cell fates within the developing embryo. Several recent papers examine the patterning activities of Drosophila Bicoid, the first known molecular morphogen and reach different conclusions about the patterning power of a single morphogen gradient.
Surface and grain-boundary amorphization: Thermodynamic melting of coesite below the glass transition temperature

Coesite, a high-pressure ${\mathrm{SiO}}_{2}$ polymorph, becomes amorphous during isothermal annealing below the glass transition temperature, ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{g}}$, at one-bar pressure. Transmission electron microscopy was used to examine this fusion process (vitrification) below ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{g}}$. The transformation is dominated by a heterogeneous nucleation-and-growth controlled process above the thermodynamic melting temperature, ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{m}}$ (875 K), but below ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{g}}$ (1480 K). Amorphous domains nucleate at free surfaces and grain boundaries, and the amorphous-crystalline interface propagates into the interior of the crystal. This ``interface-mediated'' amorphization (vitrification) is the same as ``interface-mediated'' melting, based on the thermodynamic, microstructural, and mechanistic aspects of the transformation. This amorphization process parallels electron-irradiation and pressure-induced amorphization in coesite. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
Inhibition by anti-CD2 monoclonal antibodies of anti-CD3-induced T cell-dependent B cell activation.

Abstract Anti-CD3 mAb can activate T cells to help in B cell activation as detected by late events, such as maturation of B cells into Ig-secreting cells (IgSC), or by early events, such as B cell surface expression of the activation marker CD23. Two different anti-CD2 mAb each inhibited anti-CD3-induced T cell-dependent B cell activation in a dose-dependent fashion. Neither irradiation of the T cells prior to culture nor depletion of CD8 + cells abrogated the inhibitory effects of anti-CD2 mAb. Despite the ability of these anti-CD2 mAb to inhibit anti-CD3-induced IL2 production, addition of exogenous IL2 to anti-CD2 mAb-containing cultures could not fully reverse the inhibitory effects on IgSC generation. Furthermore, addition of various combinations of IL1, IL2, IL4, and IL6 or crude PBMC or monocyte culture supernatants also could not reverse anti-CD2-driven inhibition. In T cell-depleted cultures, anti-CD2 mAb had no effect on the ability of IL4 to induce B cell CD23 expression, confirming that anti-CD2 mAb had no direct effect on B cells. However, in cultures containing T + non-T cells, anti-CD2 mAb did partially inhibit IL4-induced B cell CD23 expression. Taken together, these observations demonstrate that certain CD2 ligands can modulate T cell-dependent B cell activation by a mechanism which, at least in part, involves a direct effect by the CD2 ligand on the T cell itself.
Ro 15-1788 suppresses the development of kindling through the benzodiazepine receptor

Abstract β-Carboline (norharman) has been shown to produce kindled seizures when given systemically for long periods of time. The expression of the kindled seizure activity can be blocked by ligands of the benzodiazepine receptor suggesting the receptor as a site of vulnerability in the kindling mechanism. The present data show that Ro 15-1788, a receptor antagonist, suppresses the development of kindled seizures as demonstrated by the delayed appearance of each behavioral stage and the decreased severity of symptoms within each stage. Animals treated with Ro 15-1788 still expressed lower behavioral stage when Ro 15-1788 was eliminated from the trials indicating that this compound suppresses the very process of kindling itself and not just the expression of the kindled seizures. Ro 15-1788 given with norharman causes an increase in Bmax of [3H]flunitrazepam binding to the benzodiazepine receptor in cortex. It is not known if this increase is instrumental in lowering the kindling rate.
Turbulence quantification and sediment resuspension in an oscillating grid chamber

An oscillating grid chamber has been developed to study sediment suspension, desorption of compounds from the resuspended sediment, and air–water mass transfer. The chamber is designed to allow researchers to study desorption of contaminants from cohesive sediments and the flux of those contaminants to the vapor phase. The chamber uses a single vertically oscillating grid driven by a DC motor and closed-loop controller. Sediment to be studied is placed in the bottom of the chamber and entrained into the water column by the turbulence generated by the oscillating grid. A two-component laser Doppler velocimeter (LDV) was used to measure the turbulent velocity field inside the chamber. Detailed mapping of the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) produced by this grid arrangement was compared with established grid-stirred systems. At distances closer to the grid than two grid bar spacings, large lateral gradients exist in the TKE. The suspension of cohesive sediments was also studied using this chamber. Steady-state suspended sediment concentrations were achieved within 30 min for a variety of turbulence levels. By adjusting the grid operating parameters, the TKE can be set to simulate the turbulence found either at the bed or free surface in open-channel flow systems. With some care, the oscillating grid chamber can be used as a simple laboratory analogue to study various environmental processes within the flow or at either the sediment–water or air–water interface.
The Virginia Tech Response

We believe that Dr. Albert King’s letter regarding the STAR system paper22 is not scientifically based, factually incorrect, and illustrates that he does not understand the STAR system’s methodology. All of our research from Virginia Tech on this subject has been peer reviewed and published in open journals. In contrast, Dr. King bases his comments on a single reference to an internal graduate student thesis that has not been peer reviewed, has not been published in a journal, and which is not publicly available. This is not how the scientific process works. While studying our comments, we ask the reader to keep in mind that all of this debate comes down to a very simple question: do you want to buy a helmet that reduces head acceleration? The STAR system is a complex experimental methodology that combines exposure and injury risk based on current scientific knowledge. Simply stated, it provides independent data to consumers to illustrate which helmets lower head acceleration.
Fast-magnetosonic-wave heating of the conceptual NUWMAK tokamak reactor

Studies of radiofrequency (RF) coupling and heating to ignition of a conceptual tokamak fusion reactor by means of the fast magnetosonic wave at the first ion cyclotron harmonic (ω = 2ωci) arepresented. First, the current status of fast magnetosonic wave propagation and heating is briefly reviewed. Next, a spatially averaged, time-dependent start-up model is used to describe the role of RF heating for ignition of a tokamak reactor. The model shows that 240 MJ corresponding to an RF power level of 80 MW for a three-second period is quite sufficient to ignite a 700 MW(e) fusion power plant the size of NUWMAK. To couple the RF power to the torus, both external cavities coupled by apertures and poloidal coil systems are considered. Wave coupling from an external vacuum-filled cavity to fast magnetosonic waves via apertures provides matching through an impedance transformation from a co-axial feed to the plasma wave modes.
Expression of cardiac neural crest and heart genes isolated by modified differential display

The invasion of the cardiac neural crest (CNC) into the outflow tract (OFT) and subsequent outflow tract septation are critical events during vertebrate heart development. We have performed four modified differential display screens in the chick embryo to identify genes that may be involved in CNC, OFT, secondary heart field, and heart development. The screens included differential display of RNA isolated from three different axial segments containing premigratory cranial neural crest cells; of RNA from distal outflow tract, proximal outflow tract, and atrioventricular tissue of embryonic chick hearts; and of RNA isolated from left and right cranial tissues, including the early heart fields. These screens have resulted in the identification of the five cDNA clones presented here, which are expressed in the cardiac neural crest, outflow tract and developing heart in patterns that are unique in heart development.