cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inactivation of bean ornithine carbamoyltransferase by phaseotoxin: Effect of phosphate

Abstract The results of kinetic studies of the inactivation of bean ornithine carbamoyltransferase by phaseotoxin, the extracellular toxin of Pseudomonas phaseolicola , are consistant with the notion that the toxin is an active site directed irreversible inhibitor of the enzyme. Phosphate, an end product of the enzymatic reaction, protects the enzyme from inactivation by the toxin. It is proposed that phaseotoxin is one of a few naturally occurring affinity labels.
The canonical exchange energy modulation parameters in molecular MTXα calculations. Some first row homonuclear diatomic molecules

Abstract The canonical MTXα scheme which uses the parameters α I = 2 3 for all atoms , and α II = 1 for all molecules is developed and applied to the calculation of the potential energy curves and ionization potentials for the ground electronic states of B 2 , C 2 , N 2 , O 2 and F 2 .
Shear bond strengths of ten dentin adhesive systems

Abstract This in vitro study tested the shear bond strengths of nine third-generation dentin bonding systems. All of these systems had higher bond strengths than the control, a second-generation agent. Amalgambond and All-Bond had the strongest bonds to dentin, 23.3 ± 5.7 and 19.3 ± 5.6 MPa, respectively. Clearfil Photo Bond and Prisma Universal Bond 3 had intermediate bond strengths (approximately 13 MPa). Gluma, PowerBond, Scotchbond 2, Tenure, and XR-Bond all had mean shear bond strengths of less than 8 MPa.
Master numerical tasks with ease [review of Advanced Excel for Scientific Data Analysis, 2nd ed. (de Levie, R.; 2008)] [Book reviews]

This is a review of Advanced Excel for Scientific Data Analysis, 2nd ed. (by Robert de Levie)
Effects of neonatal treatment with Tyr-MIF-1, morphiceptin, and morphine on development, tail flick, and blood-brain barrier transport

Morphine and endogenous peptides can alter developmental processes, inducing changes that can endure into adulthood. Morphiceptin binds to mu opiate receptors and to non-opiate sites labeled by Tyr-MIF-1 (Tyr-Pro-Leu-Gly-NH2), an endogenous brain peptide known to modulate opiate effects. Morphine, morphiceptin, Tyr-MIF-1, morphine + Tyr-MIF-1, and morphiceptin+Tyr-MIF-1 (50 micrograms, s.c.) were given to rats during their first week of life. Animals given morphine alone or in combination with Tyr-MIF-1 had significantly lower body weights for the first 3 weeks of life and delayed eye opening on day 16. Rats given morphine had hypersensitive tail flick responses on day 9 while those given morphine + Tyr-MIF-1 were hypersensitive on days 3, 8, and 9. Locomotor, passive avoidance, and rotorod behaviors were not altered by the neonatal treatments. Transport of [125I]Tyr-MIF-1 out of the brain was tested on day 23 and found to be increased by neonatal morphine, an effect that was significantly potentiated by neonatal Tyr-MIF-1. The results indicate that neonatal administration of peptides and opiates can affect later peptide transport across the blood-brain barrier as well as selected developmental characteristics.
The permanent electric dipole moments of calcium monohydride, CaH.

Numerous branch features in the (0,0) A 2Π-X 2Σ+ band system of calcium monohydride CaH have been studied by optical Stark spectroscopy. The Stark shifts, Stark splittings, and appearance of electric-field-induced transitions in the high resolution laser-induced fluorescence spectra are analyzed to produce values for the magnitude of the permanent electric dipole moments |μ| of 2.94(16) D and 2.372(12) D for the X 2Σ+(v=0) and A 2Π(v=0) states, respectively. A comparison with values predicted from a semiempirical electrostatic model and previous ab initio calculations for |μ| (X 2Σ+) is presented. The change in |μ| upon excitation from the X 2Σ+ state to the A 2Π state is rationalized using a simple molecular orbital description.
Implication of elastic coherency in secondary hardening of high Co-Ni martensitic steels

Composition and stoichiometry of coherent M2C carbide precipitates, (M=Cr, Mo, Fe), in two high Co-Ni martensitic steels have been calculated using thermodynamic conditions for mechanical, chemical and interfacial equilibrium between the ferrite (tempered martensite) and the M2C phase. Compared to the corresponding incoherent equilibrium compositions, our calculations at the standard secondary hardening temperature of 783 K predict a substantial carbon deficiency and a measurable solubility of iron in the M2C phase, both of which have been verified experimentally. These deviations from the incoherent equilibrium compositions are found to be in line with the influence of these constituents in lowering the strain energy by reducing the principal strains of the M2C stress-free transformation strain.
Chemically induced mutation of L5178Y mouse leukemia cells from asparagine-dependence to asparagine-independence

Abstract L 517 8Y mouse lymphoblastic leukemia cells are auxotrophic for l -asparagine (ASN) and have been widely used as a model system for studies on l -asparagine independence, were treated with known chemical mutagens to investigate the molecular basis of this mutation. Mutagens which primarily induce base pair substitutions—ethyl methanesullfonate (EMS) and N -methyl- N ′-nitro- N -nitrosoguanidine (MNNG)—as well as those which induce frame-shift mutations (the acridine half-mustards ICR- 372 and ICR-191) each increased the frequency of ASN + cells in treated cultures to at least ten times the usual background frequency of 1 to 2 ASN + cells per 10 6 cells. The effectiveness of both classes of mutagens indicates that the change to asparagine prototrophy might occur by a mechanism other than, or in addition to, reversion of a specific base pair, point mutation. The mutability of this easily assayed nutritional genetic marker in a cell line that can be grown either in vitro or in vivo may provide a useful system for assay of other agents of unknown mutagenic potential.
Auditory similarity and the independence of short- and long-term memory.

Abstract Items in long and short-term (LTM and STM respectively) memory stores were simultaneously memorized by Ss to determine whether the contents would interact. The stores varied in terms of acoustic confusability. It was found that for certain conditions high acoustic similarity in LTM and STM actually facilitated STM performance and this contradiction to the classical literature was termed the auditory similarity reversal effect (ASRE). The ASRE was explained in terms of a recoding of LTM when acoustic similarity was high which would lead to reduced functional similarity to the high acoustic similarity material in STM and yield better STM performance.
Embryonic Endothelial Cells Transdifferentiate Into Mesenchymal Cells Expressing Smooth Muscle Actins In Vivo and In Vitro

All blood vessels are lined by endothelium and, except for the capillaries, surrounded by one or more layers of smooth muscle cells. The origin of the embryonic vascular smooth muscle cell has until now been described from neural crest and locally differentiating mesenchyme. In this study, we have substantial evidence that quail embryonic endothelial cells are competent in the dorsal aorta of the embryo to transdifferentiate into subendothelial mesenchymal cells expressing smooth muscle actins in vivo. At the onset of smooth muscle cell differentiation, QH1-positive endothelial cells were experimentally labeled with a wheat germ agglutinin-colloidal gold marker (WGA-Au). No labeled subendothelial cells were observed at this time. However, 19 hours after the endothelial cells had endocytosed, the WGA-Au-labeled subendothelial mesenchymal cells were observed in the aortic wall. Similarly, during the same time period, subendothelial cells that coexpressed the QH1 endothelial marker and a mesenchymal marker, alpha-smooth muscle actin, were present. In such cells, QH1 expression was reduced to a cell membrane localization. A similar antigen switch was also observed during endocardial-mesenchymal transformation in vitro. Our results are the first direct in vivo evidence that embryonic endothelial cells may transdifferentiate into candidate vascular smooth muscle cells. These data arouse new interpretations of the origin and differentiation of the cells of the vascular wall in normal and diseased vessels.
The use of chlorotetracycline to localize calcium in neural crest cells

Cultured amphibian neural crest cells in the early phases of migration (1–2 days) extend broad, clear cytoplasmic processes known as lobopodia. These regions exhibit rapid changes in the contraction-relaxation cycle and in substratum adhesion. Because of the putative role of Ca2+ in both cytoskeletal function and cell attachment, its distribution in these cells was studied. Chlorotetracycline (CTC), the Ca2+-chelating fluorescent probe, was used to investigate whether there is a temporal and spatial localization of Ca2+ in cell regions concerned with movement and attachment. Differentiated neural crest cells (7 days), which contain an abundance of actin stress fibers, were also studied to determine whether these cytoskeletal elements were associated with Ca2+. The results with CTC indicate that in early migratory cells regions of membrane extension and protrusion contain higher levels of Ca2+ and that the actin stress fiber system of differentiating neural crest cells (7 days) is associated with Ca2 +. It was determined that using the CTC in the fixative produced the same labeling profile as when live cells were labeled with the CTC. Use of CTC in the fixative is a decided advantage over treatment of cells with CTC while alive since it avoids the photooxidative damage which normally accompanies fluorescent observations of CTC on living cells.
MACC (methotrexate, adriamycin, cyclophosphamide and CCNU) in advanced lung cancer

Eighty-three patients (53 men, 30 women) with advanced lung cancer were treated with a four-drug combination (MACC) consisting of methotrexate, adriamycin, cyclophosphamide and CCNU given once every 3 weeks. The overall objective response rate (complete response and partial response >50%) was 52% with a median duration of therapy of 29 weeks. Response rate was highest for small cell carcinoma (87%) followed by adenocarcinoma (58%) and squamow cell carcinoma (36%). There was a significant prolongation of median survival for responders vs. nonresponders: 48 weeks vs. 17 weeks for the whole group (p < 0.005), 48 weeks vs. 19 weeks for small cell carcinoma, 48 weeks vs. 15 weeks for adenocarcinoma, 40 weeks vs. 20 weeks for squamous cell carcinoma, and 56 weeks vs. 17 weeks for large cell carcinoma. Prolongation of survival was also apparent when analyzed by extent of the disease (limited vs. extensive) and by performance status. Major toxic effects included bone marrow depression (leukopenia in 36 and thrombocytopenia in 12 patients), mucositis (13 patients), fever and/or sepsis (11 patients), renal toxicity (4 patients) and skin rash (4 patients). There was only one case of cardiotoxicity, and one treatment-related death from septic shock during leukopenia. This regimen has shown activity in all cell types of lung cancer and is easy to administer on an out-patient basis. Cancer 43:1590- 1597, 1979. NCOURAGING RESULTS have recently been E achieved in the chemotherapy of small cell bronchogenic carcin~ma.~ The other cell types of lung cancer remain, however, much more refractory to the action of presently available drugs. Following favorable preliminary result^,^,^ the present report summarizes a three-year experience with a fourdrug combination-methotrexate, adriamycin, cyclophosphamide and CCNU (MACC) -in patients with advanced lung cancer.
Myocardial function is normal after rapid cooling of the in vivo neonatal heart

Abstract Rapid cooling (RC) on cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) has been reported to be injurious to the neonatal myocardium when compared with slow cooling (SC). However, previous studies have been performed on isolated heart preparations using asanguineous perfusates and may not represent clinically valid conclusions. In this study, the effect of RC versus SC on post-CPB cardiac function in an in vivo neonatal heart model using a blood perfusate was investigated. Thirteen neonatal piglets underwent median sternotomy. Left ventricular ultrasonic dimension transducers were placed in the minor and major axis diameters, and an intraventricular micromanometer was placed. Baseline left ventricular pressure-dimension data were obtained during transient vena caval occlusion. Animals were then placed on CPB (blood prime; mean hematocrit, 25%) with the prime temperature at either 18 °C (RC) or 37 °C (SC) and perfusion cooled either quickly (RC) or gradually (SC) such that within 2 minutes of cooling the average myocardial temperature was 23.5 °C in the RC group versus 33.8 °C in the SC group ( p = 0.0001). Animals were cooled to 20 °C, rewarmed to 37 °C, and then weaned from CPB. Left ventricular pressure-dimension data were obtained 30 minutes after CPB and compared with baseline. The slope (M w ) and x-intercept (V o ) of the linear stroke work-end-diaslolic volume relationship were used as load-insensitive indices of left ventricular function at baseline and after CPB. There was no statistically significant difference in baseline versus postbypass M w or V o in the RC or SC groups. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in percent recovery of M w when RC was compared with SC. This study demonstrates that RC is not intrinsically injurious to the in vivo neonatal myocardium using CPB protocols comparable with those used clinically.
Dynamic batching policies for an on-demand video server

In a video-on-demand environment, continuous delivery of video streams to the clients is guaranteed by sufficient reserved network and server resources. This leads to a hard limit on the number of streams that a video server can deliver. Multiple client requests for the same video can be served with a single disk I/O stream by sending (multicasting) the same data blocks to multiple clients (with the multicast facility, if present in the system). This is achieved by batching (grouping) requests for the same video that arrive within a short time. We explore the role of customerwaiting time and reneging behavior in selecting the video to be multicast. We show that a first come, first served (FCFS) policy that schedules the video with the longest outstanding request can perform better than the maximum queue length (MQL) policy that chooses the video with the maximum number of outstanding requests. Additionally, multicasting is better exploited by scheduling playback of the n most popular videos at predetermined, regular intervals (hence, termed FCFS-n). If user reneging can be reduced by guaranteeing that a maximum waiting time will not be exceeded, then performance of FCFS-n is further improved by selecting the regular playback intervals as this maximum waiting time. For an empirical workload, we demonstrate a substantial reduction (of the order of 60%) in the required server capacity by batching.
Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery Upper Lobe Trisegmentectomy for Early-Stage Left Apical Lung Cancer

Resection of the left upper lobe with preservation of the lingula is the anatomic equivalent of a right upper lobectomy with preservation of the right middle lobe. Therefore, our standard operation for a small apical tumor in the left upper lobe has been an apical trisegmentectomy. The purpose of this article is to review our experience with the procedure by video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) and to describe the operative technique for a VATS apical trisegmentectomy. Eleven patients underwent the procedure with no deaths, low morbidity, and good initial disease-free survival. A VATS apical trisegmentectomy seems to be a feasible and reasonable treatment for small stage I lung cancers at the apex of the left upper lobe.
Scaling behavior in a map of a circle onto itself: Empirical results

Abstract Motion on a torus is studied via a return map of a circle onto itself. The map T(θ)=θ+Ω–( K 2π ) sin 2πθ exhibit unusual scaling behavior for K=1. Some evidence is presented which suggests this scaling behavior is universal.
Short-term particulate matter mass and aerosol-size distribution measurements: transient pollution episodes and bimodal aerosol-mass distributions

Abstract Aerosol-size distribution of fine aerosols were measured in Pocatello, Idaho along with hourly average PM 10 mass concentrations. Aerosol size distribution measurements are made with a laser optical particle counter while short-term mass concentrations are measured with a Tapered Element Oscillating Microbalance. The short-term mass concentration measurements show wide variations in mass concentration over 24 h periods. The accumulation mode of the aerosol-size distribution is bimodal in a few cases, primarily when elevated mass concentrations exist.
Musculature of the facultative parasite Urastoma cyprinae (Platyhelminthes)

In an effort to understand how the feeding motions of Urastoma cyprinae are generated, the arrangement of its musculature was studied using fluorescence microscopy of phalloidin-linked fluorescent stains and conventional light histology and transmission electron microscopy. BODIPY 558/568 phalloidin and Alexa 488 phalloidin resolved a meshwork of ribbon-shaped body-wall muscles as well as inner-body musculature associated with the pharynx and male copulatory organ. The general pattern of body-wall muscles in U. cyprinae is similar to that of other rhabdocoel turbellarians in consisting only of circular, longitudinal, and diagonal fibers; the arrangement of these muscles readily correlates with the bending motions the animal undergoes as it feeds at the surface of gills in bivalves it parasitizes. The orogenital atrium of U. cyprinae lies at the posterior apex of the body, opening at a terminal pore. As evidenced by the arrangement of its epithelium and musculature, it appears to be an invagination of the body wall and comes closest of any such duct studied in turbellarians to satisfying the hypothetical model of a “pseudopharynx,” ostensibly adapted as an organ for swallowing and so supplementing the ingestive role of the animal's true pharynx. J. Morphol. 241:207–216, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
AN E6 INVARIANT ACTION LEADING TO AN SU(5) GRAND UNIFICATION ON A DOMAIN WALL

The paper presents a summary of some recent work on a SU(5) grand unification scheme for effective 3 + 1 dimensional fields dynamically localized on a domain-wall brane. This is achieved through the confluence of the clash-of-symmetries mechanism for symmetry breaking through domain-wall formation and the Dvali-Shifman gauge boson localization idea. It is shown that it requires an E6 invariant action, yielding a domain-wall solution that has E6 broken to differently embedded SO(10) ⊗ U(1) subgroups in the two bulk regions on the opposites of the wall.
Cost analysis in the management of esophageal coins: endoscopy versus bougienage.

Abstract Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the safety, efficiency, and overall cost effectiveness of esophageal bougienage versus endoscopy in the retrieval of ingested coins. Methods: Retrospective review of patients treated for esophageal coin ingestion at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin over a 1-year period using bougienage or endoscopic retrieval was conducted. (inclusion criterion) Results: Twenty-seven patients were evaluated over the 1-year study period. Two patients spontaneously passed the coins before arrival and needed no further treatment. Twelve patients met criteria for bougienage, and this treatment was successful in 10 of the 12 patients. Mean length of hospital stay was 2.15 hours, and the mean cost was $546. Thirteen patients were treated successfully with endoscopy. The mean length of hospital stay was 22.7 hours, and the mean cost was $5,230. There were no complications in any of the 25 patients. Conclusions: Bouglenage is equally safe, more efficient, and much less expensive than endoscopy for treatment of esophageal coins in properly selected patients. Nearly half of the patients were excluded from bougienage because of delayed presentation alone. Education of parents and physicians regarding symptoms of coin ingestion would allow primary treatment with bougienage in the majority of cases.
TH-C-203-04: Implementation of a ``Time Out'' Procedure in Radiation Oncology: A Multi-Institution Study over Nine Years Results in a Three-Fold Reduction in Misadministrations

Purpose: In recent years the medical industry as a whole has put an increased emphasis on “Time Out or TO” procedures as a way to improve the quality of care. For radiation oncology TO procedures are rarely used since the error (medical events misadministrations) rate is estimated to be <0.06% for reportable events. It is suggested that the error rates may be further reduced by implementing a TO for all radiation therapy procedures. The purpose of this study is to quantify the effectiveness of TO procedures in radiation therapy.Method and Materials: The misadministration records from five different cancer centers in New York and Michigan States were reviewed from 2000 to 2009. Within this time period a TO procedure was implemented at each cancer center. Error rates were tabulated for the years before and after the time out procedure was implemented. Errors were broken down into 2 categories: minor and major as defined by the following: a) Minor discrepancy (error<10% in total dose;issues resolved before major error occurred) b) Major Errors of which there are two types : d) Reportable Misadministration (error ≥ 10% but < 20%) d) Reportable Misadministration (error ≥ 50% in 1 day; error ≥ 20% in total wrong site person or energy) Results: After the implementation of TO procedures a reduction in error rates by a factor of three was realized. For the clinics in this study the TO procedure was supported by administration as an extension of hospital policy for medical procedures. Conclusion: TO procedures were found to be effective in reducing the number of errors in radiation therapy. Based on these findings it is recommended that the TO be implemented in all radiation oncology centers: the improvements to patient safety easily justified the cost of an additional 15 seconds per field.
Television News in the Classroom What Are Adolescents Learning

Having adolescents study current events in school is valued highly by teachers. However, schools often do not stress the instruction of current events. In this study, students were compared across high schools that were designated as exemnplary schools in the use of the Channel One television news program and three comparison schools. The results indicated that students who had greater prior knowledge of current events were more likely to report being mastery oriented toward the news; consequently, those students reported engaging in more outside of school news-seeking behaviors and therefore knew more about current events than did other students. In addition, watching television news in supportive environments, grade point average, gender, and socioeconomic status were related to current events knowledge. Implications for the instruction of current events in schools are discussed.
The application of energetic ion beams to thin metallic films

Abstract The interaction of energetic ion beams with thin metallic films produces several effects which are useful in the study or modification of these films. The effects of both low- and high-energy ion beams on metal films are discussed, along with applications for the characterization and physical property modification of metallic films.
Modeling the sorption of toxic metals on chelant-impregnated adsorbent

The application of a microporous adsorbent, such as activated carbon impregnated with 8-hydroxyquinoline (oxine), a chelating agent, to remove toxic metals from the aqueous phase is studied. A pore and surface diffusion model for predicting the dynamics of fixed-bed adsorbers using oxine-impregnated carbon is also discussed. The model incorporates adsorption equilibrium and kinetic parameters determined from independent isotherm tests and rate experiments, as well as adsorber column flow characteristics. Three modeling scenarios were employed with reference to intraparticle transport: (a) combined pore diffusion and surface diffusion; (b) pore diffusion alone, suppressing the effect of surface diffusion; and (c) surface diffusion alone, suppressing the effect of pore diffusion. Surface diffusion alone provided reasonably good predictions of the adsorber dynamics, as reflected by results from adsorber experiments. It is postulated that the sorption mechanism could be a combination of film transport of metal ions, followed by surface diffusion into adsorbent particles, and subsequent chelation of metal ions with the oxine molecules sorbed on carbon. The sorbed metals could be completely recovered under acidic conditions during the carbon regeneration process.
QUANTITATIVE MEASUREMENTS OF INTERACTIONS BETWEEN CROWN-GALL TUMORS AND THE PINTO BEAN HOST

A B S T R A C T Interactions between crown-gall tumors on the primary pinto bean leaf and the pinto bean seedling (Phaseolus vulgaris L. 'Pinto') were estimated by quantitative measurements of tumor initiation and growth as affected by certain modifications of the host. Effects of the tumors on the host were estimated by measurements of host growth and correlation responses. The presence of crown-gall tumors was found to reduce the growth of the leaf in area but to nearly double the weight of the leaf 9 days after inoculation with Agrobacterium tumefaciens (Smith and Town.) Conn, strain B6. The presence of tumors on only one of the two primary leaves resulted in a decrease in the weight of the leaf without tumors, showing the tumors to be effective mobilization centers. Tumors also delayed the abscission of petiole explants and delayed the growth of the epicotyl bud, both reminiscent of auxin effects. The excision of the cotyledons, the epicotyl bud, or one of the pair of primary leaves at the time of inoculation increased the number of tumors initiated per leaf. Removing the epicotyl bud or one of the primary leaves, or placing a cytokinin on one of the leaves, altered leaf growth but failed to alter tumor growth, indicating that tumor growth is not affected by the changes responsible for the compensatory growth effects induced by these treatments. Tumor growth was shown to be generally correlated with leaf growth from day 2 through 8 after inoculation, suggesting that the factors normally limiting leaf growth in a determinate type leaf are also active in limiting tumor growth. The changes in the plant cell responsible for the enhanced rate of growth seen in crown-gall tumor cells, therefore, appear to occur in regulatory systems other than those normally limiting leaf growth. The regulatory systems that are affected may be identical with those activated in compensatory host growth effects.
PylSn and the Homologous N-terminal Domain of Pyrrolysyl-tRNA Synthetase Bind the tRNA That Is Essential for the Genetic Encoding of Pyrrolysine

Pyrrolysine is represented by an amber codon in genes encoding proteins such as the methylamine methyltransferases present in some Archaea and Bacteria. Pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase (PylRS) attaches pyrrolysine to the amber-suppressing tRNAPyl. Archaeal PylRS, encoded by pylS, has a catalytic C-terminal domain but an N-terminal region of unknown function and structure. In Bacteria, homologs of the N- and C-terminal regions of archaeal PylRS are respectively encoded by pylSn and pylSc. We show here that wild type PylS from Methanosarcina barkeri and PylSn from Desulfitobacterium hafniense bind tRNAPyl in EMSA with apparent Kd values of 0.12 and 0.13 μm, respectively. Truncation of the N-terminal region of PylS eliminated detectable tRNAPyl binding as measured by EMSA, but not catalytic activity. A chimeric protein with PylSn fused to the N terminus of truncated PylS regained EMSA-detectable tRNAPyl binding. PylSn did not bind other D. hafniense tRNAs, nor did the competition by the Escherichia coli tRNA pool interfere with tRNAPyl binding. Further indicating the specificity of PylSn interaction with tRNAPyl, substitutions of conserved residues in tRNAPyl in the variable loop, D stem, and T stem and loop had significant impact in binding, whereas those having base changes in the acceptor stem or anticodon stem and loop still retained the ability to complex with PylSn. PylSn and the N terminus of PylS comprise the protein superfamily TIGR03129. The members of this family are not similar to any known RNA-binding protein, but our results suggest their common function involves specific binding of tRNAPyl.
Physical activity for all: new research highlights health benefits

Keeping people active is a major focus of sports medicine professionals. Regular exercise helps reduce the incidence of diabetes, hypertension, cancer, depression and osteoporosis. However, recent articles in the lay press have questioned the benefits of exercise, specifically whether or not exercise helps you lose weight (http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1914857,00.html). Sports, fitness and exercise professionals, including the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM), have taken strong exception to that peculiar interpretation of the evidence. In a world where the direct results of obesity and physical inactivity result in an estimated $147 billion dollars (US) in health care cost in the United States alone,1 the last thing people need is another excuse not to exercise. In this issue, Dr Neil King and colleagues from Professor John Blundell’s lab in Leeds report that exercise provides important health benefits independently of weight loss 2 …
The mental health of single homeless people in Northampton hostels

Much research evidence about homelessness and health relates to large population centres with correspondingly large homeless populations. Such results may not necessarily apply to small towns such as Northampton. A local need was identified for information relating to health and access to health care for homeless people. Seventy five single, homeless people temporarily residing at open access hostels in Northampton were interviewed. The interviews covered: recent accommodation histories recent physical health mental health access to health care current social contacts, life style and aspirations The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ30) was administered to allow assessment of the levels of mental morbidity in the population studied. The results presented here relate to mental health issues. Current mental health problems were reported by 53% of the sample (40 people); of these only 40% (16 people) were receiving treatment. Three people had been admitted to a psychiatric hospital within the past year. Using standard scoring, the GHQ30 identified as cases 72% (44) of the 61 homeless people who completed the GHQ. It was concluded that levels of mental morbidity were higher in the homeless group than would be expected in the general population. This finding, mirrors those of studies in larger population centres. The main form of access to mental health services appeared to be via hospital admission. Any GP treatment offered was likely to be medication. There was no mention of Community Psychiatric Nurse involvement in treatment or care. The results may indicate a significant level of unmet need for mental health intervention amongst the local homeless population.
Speed of thermal expansion of a long, thin insulating bar and the physical momentum of acoustic phonons

Thermal expansion is an everyday phenomenon. One would naturally be curious to see how fast the expansion proceeds. While the theory of thermal expansion in statistical thermal equilibrium is well known, the time-dependent process during thermal expansion is a more complex statistical dynamical problem. Contrary to intuitive expectations, it will be seen that the dynamical expansion process is generally different from the process of merely establishing temperature equilibration (thermal-kinetic equilibrium) because two vastly disparate timescales are at work. It will be shown that the finite speed of thermal expansion hinges upon a recently derived result that an acoustic phonon of wavevector does carry a finite physical momentum; it arises from anharmonicity, provided translational symmetry is broken. While the eventual mathematical formulation seems pedestrian, it is arrived at after several layers of physical thinking. Our final result shows that the time required for thermal expansion of a thin bar of length L by ΔL due to a given temperature increase ΔT is given by , where cs is the speed of sound. Its physical origin as well as its classical and quantum limits are fully discussed.
Synthesis of lipid-linked oligosaccharides in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: Man2GlcNAc2 and Man1GlcNAc2 are transferred from dolichol to protein in vivo.

Abstract Transfer of truncated oligosaccharides to protein in vivo and the structure of Man 2 GlcNAc 2 synthesized by intact yeast ( Saccharomyces cerevisiae ) were investigated in the alg 2 mutant. At the nonpermissive temperature the alg 2 mutant accumulates lipid-linked oligosaccharides that migrate on Bio-Gel P4 in the range expected for Man 2 GlcNAc 2 and Man 1 GlcNAc 2 (T. C. Huffaker and P. W. Robbins (1983) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 80 , 7466–7470) . We characterized the oligosaccharides, derived from protein and lipid, by comigration with standards on HPLC and by Smith degradation followed by HPLC. Man 2 GlcNAc 2 and Man 1 GlcNAc 2 are found on protein in alg 2, since their release from a protein-containing precipitate of alg 2 cells is N -glycanase (peptide- N 4 [ N -acetyl-β-glucosaminyl] asparagine amidase) dependent. Transfer also occurred in alg 2/pAC3 cells, which carry ALG2 on a multicopy plasmid that confers partial correction of the oligosaccharide phenotype. The alg2 /pAC3 cells are viable at 36 °C. Two isomers of Man 2 GlcNAc 2 , Man1 → 3ManGlcNAc 2 and Man1 → 6ManGlcNAc 2 , were present on lipid and protein. The transfer of Man 2 GlcNAc 2 and Man 1 GlcNAc 2 to protein by intact cells supports topological models that postulate access by early intermediates to the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum.
Synthesis and Photophysical Properties of Donor- and Acceptor-Substituted 1,7-Bis(arylalkynyl)perylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide)s

A series of 1,7-bis(arylethynyl)-N,N′-bis[2,6-diisopropylphenyl]perylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide)s has been obtained from Sonogashira coupling of the 1,7-dibromoperylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide) with p-substituted phenylacetylenes in which the p-substituents include π-donors (dialkylamino, diarylamino, p-(diarylamino)phenyl, alkoxy) and π-acceptors (diarylboryl, p-(diarylboryl)phenyl). The bis(arylethynyl)-substituted chromophores all show two reversible molecular reductions and are all slightly more readily reduced than unsubstituted perylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide)s with the electrochemical potentials being rather insensitive to the π-donor or acceptor nature of the aryl group. The amine derivatives also show reversible molecular oxidations. The UV-vis spectra of the chromophores with alkoxy and boryl substituents show red-shifted absorptions relative to unsubstituted perylene diimides with discernible vibronic structure. In contrast, the lowest energy absorptions of the amino derivatives are broad and structureless, suggesting donor-to-acceptor charge-transfer character. Transient absorption spectra for the amine derivatives were interpreted in terms of ultrafast charge separation, followed by charge recombination on a time scale of ca. 80-2000 ps. Two compounds were also synthesized in which an additional stronger, but more weakly coupled, donor group is linked by a nonconjugated bridge to the p-amine donor, to investigate the effect on the charge recombination lifetimes; however, the lifetimes of the charge-separated states, ca. 150 and 1000 ps, were within the range observed for the simple amine systems. Finally, the two-photon absorption properties of three bis(arylethynyl)substituted derivatives were investigated, along with those of 1,7-di(pyrrolidin-1-yl)-N,N′-bis[2,6-diisopropylphenyl]perylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide). As with other perylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide)s and related species, strong two-photon absorption (>1000 GM) was observed for three of these species close to the one-photon absorption edge; however, an additional feature (100-500 GM) was also observed at longer wavelength. An example with (p-aminophenyl)ethylnyl substituents showed a qualitatively different twophoton spectrum with a cross-section >500 GM being observed over a broad wavelength range.
The kinetics of interactions of bilirubin with lipid bilayers and with serum albumin

Abstract Rate constants for the hydration of bilirubin bound to unilamellar bilayers of dioleoylphosphatidylcholine and albumin were measured by stopped-flow methods. Rate constants for association of bilirubin with these vesicles and albumin were calculated from measured rate constants for dissociation and the equilibrium binding constants of bilirubin and lipids or albumin. Rate constants for hydration (dissociation) for bilirubin bound to dioleoylphosphatidylcholine and albumin were 71 s −1 and 1.8 s −1 respectively. Rate constants for association were 4.0 10 7 s −1 and 1.1 10 9 M −1 s −1 , respectively. Both rates for interactions of bilirubin with bilayers were essentially independent of temperature in the range 0–40°C, indicating that barriers to entry and exit of bilirubin from bilayers were entropic. Rates of transbilayer movement of bilirubin in dioleoylphosphatidylcholine were too fast to resolve by measuring rates of hydration of bilirubin. Rate constants for hydration of bilirubin bound to bilayers with less avidity for bilirubin as compared with dioleoylphosphatidylcholine also were too fast to measure with stopped-flow methods. In addition to providing details of the energetic basis for interactions between bilirubin and membranes, the data allow for calculating the maximal rates at which bilirubin could transfer spontaneously from sites on albumin in blood to the interior of cells. The data show, in this regard, that this rate is 10–50 fold faster than measured rates of uptake of bilirubin by intact liver.
Supercooling, Nucleation, Rotator Phases, and Surface Crystallization of n-Alkane Melts

We demonstrate the relation between supercooling of n-alkane melts and the appearance or nonappearance of rotator phases. Supercooling occurs for the shorter, even chain lengths. The lack of supercooling in most n-alkane melts is discussed in terms of surface crystallization. We argue that melt crystallization of the nonrotator triclinic crystal phase is likely mediated by surface-crystallization-induced nucleation of a metastable rotator phase.
Onboard Image-Processing Algorithm for a Spacecraft Optical Navigation Sensor System

Current trends in spaceight suggest that spacecraft autonomy is becoming increasingly important. Of particular importance is ability for a spacecraft to navigate independent of any Earth-based tracking or updates. To this end, a new image processing algorithm capable of extracting two dierent types of optical navigation measurements from a raw image is presented. The performance of this algorithm under dierent operating conditions is demonstrated with real images of the Earth, Moon, Venus, Mercury, and Phobos. Analytic methods are also presented for computing the corresponding measurement covariance matrices and measurement sensitivity matrices.
Addressing different active neutron interrogation signatures from fissionable material

In a continuing effort to examine portable methods for implementing active neutron interrogation for detecting shielded fissionable material research is underway to investigate the utility of analyzing multiple time-correlated signatures. Time correlation refers here to the existence of unique characteristics of the fission interrogation signature related to the start and end of an irradiation, as well as signatures present in between individual pulses of an irradiating source. Traditional measurement approaches in this area have typically worked to detect die-away neutrons after the end of each pulse, neutrons in between pulses related to the decay of neutron emitting fission products, or neutrons or gamma rays related to the decay of neutron emitting fission products after the end of an irradiation exposure. In this paper we discus the potential weaknesses of assessing only one signature versus multiple signatures and make the assertion that multiple complimentary and orthogonal measurements should be used to bolster the performance of active interrogation systems, helping to minimize susceptibility to the weaknesses of individual signatures on their own. Recognizing that the problem of detection is a problem of low count rates, we are exploring methods to integrate commonly used signatures with rarely used signatures to improve detection capabilities for these measurements. In this paper we will discuss initial activity in this area with this approach together with observations of some of the strengths and weaknesses of using these different signatures.
Modeling deformable shell-like objects grasped by a robot hand

This paper models (large) deformations of shelllike objects under the grasping of a robot hand. Classical nonlinear theory of thin shells [21, pp. 186–194] is generalized to shells with arbitrary parametric middle surfaces, using a method introduced in our earlier work [13]. An experimental study demonstrates higher modeling accuracy using the nonlinear elasticity theory than its linear counterpart. Given that many deformable objects undergo sizable shape changes when they are grasped, our result supports the application of nonlinear elasticity theory in the future design of grasp strategies for this type of objects.
A Dual-Band Dipole Antenna With Integrated-Balun

The design and realization of a dual-band balun-integrated dipole antenna is presented. A new type of dual-band balun is introduced as the feeding network, providing antiphase input signals for the dual-band dipole antenna. The dual-band balun is realized by the aid of a stepped-impedance transformer and tapped open-ended stubs. Combined with this balun, a uni-planar dual-band dipole antenna is designed. An experimental prototype working at 2.45/5.25 GHz are fabricated and measured. The measured performances of the antenna show good return loss and radiation patterns at the two working frequencies, proving the dual-band operation of the proposed dipole antenna.
Computing the Physical Parameters of Rigid-Body Motion from Video

This paper presents an optimization framework for estimating the motion and underlying physical parameters of a rigid body in free flight from video. The algorithm takes a video clip of a tumbling rigid body of known shape and generates a physical simulation of the object observed in the video clip. This solution is found by optimizing the simulation parameters to best match the motion observed in the video sequence. These simulation parameters include initial positions and velocities, environment parameters like gravity direction and parameters of the camera. A global objective function computes the sum squared difference between the silhouette of the object in simulation and the silhouette obtained from video at each frame. Applications include creating interesting rigid body animations, tracking complex rigid body motions in video and estimating camera parameters from video.
In Vitro Protein Synthesis by Plastids of Phaseolus vulgaris IV. Amino Acid Incorporation by Etioplasts and Effect of Illumination of Leaves on Incorporation by Plastids

Protein synthesis in vitro by etioplasts and chloroplasts from Phaseolus vulgaris was examined to study the factors regulating the development of etioplasts into chloroplasts. The properties of incorporation of 14C-leucine into protein by etioplasts from plants grown 6.5 days in darkness are similar to those of chloroplasts from plants of the same age that were illuminated for 12 hours. However, the rate of incorporation per plastid by chloroplasts is 4 times higher than the rate of amino acid incorporation by etioplasts. When 6-day-old plants are placed in light, this 4-fold increase occurs within 6 hours and is maintained up to 36 hours. The difference in rate of amino acid incorporation into protein between etioplasts and chloroplasts represents a real difference in the ability of etioplasts and chloroplasts to synthesize protein. A difference in pool size of leucine between etioplasts and chloroplasts does not account for the difference in amino acid incorporation between etioplasts and chloroplasts. Also the difference in photosynthetic capabilities of etioplasts and chloroplasts does not account for the difference in the ability to incorporate amino acid into protein. Furthermore, there are no factors in homogenates of etiolated leaves which inactivate amino acid incorporation into protein by chloroplasts. The difference in rates of amino acid incorporation between etioplasts and chloroplasts is correlated with the state of development of the plastids. The plastids have increased ability to incorporate amino acid into protein when the plastids are undergoing growth and differentiation.
Phylogenetic systematics of the colorful, cyanide-producing millipedes of Appalachia (Polydesmida, Xystodesmidae, Apheloriini) using a total evidence Bayesian approach

Here, we provide an exemplar-approach phylogeny of the xystodesmid millipede tribe Apheloriini with a focus on genus-group relationships-particularly of the genus Brachoria. Exemplars for the phylogenetic analysis were chosen to represent the maximum breadth of morphological diversity within all nominal genera in the tribe Apheloriini, and to broadly sample the genus Brachoria. In addition, three closely related tribes were used (Rhysodesmini, Nannariini, and Pachydesmini). Morphological and DNA sequence data were scored for Bayesian inference of phylogeny. Phylogenetic analysis resulted in polyphyletic genera Brachoria and Sigmoria, a monophyletic Apheloriini, and a "southern clade" that contains most of the tribal species diversity. We used this phylogeny to track morphological character histories and reconstruct ancestral states using stochastic character mapping. Based on the findings from the character mapping study, the diagnostic feature of the genus Brachoria, the cingulum, evolved independently in two lineages. We compared our phylogeny against prior classifications using Bayes factor hypothesis-testing and found that our phylogenetic hypothesis is inconsistent with the previous hypotheses underlying the most recent classification. With our preferred total-evidence phylogeny as a framework for taxonomic modifications, we describe a new genus, Appalachioria; supply phylogenetic diagnoses of monophyletic taxa; and provide a phylogeny-based classification for the tribe Apheloriini.