cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Social Design and Neocolonialism

ABSTRACTThis article examines the current field of social design: its claims, practices, and methodologies. Findings discovered through qualitative research illuminate the current application of social design practices and offer critique around their use in the social sphere. This article argues that designers must be sensitive to a variety of complex social and cultural cues and structures or they risk contributing to, or practicing, design neocolonialism. The article offers two key theoretical suggestions to further the emerging field's progress. First, social design must shift its focus from one that is human-centered to one that is situation-centered. Second, it is imperative that social design develops a shared framework for understanding, executing, and evaluating its initiatives and interventions. Additionally, this article introduces a matrix to serve as an early iteration of a shared framework.
Obesity and health

Abstract As a result of high food consumption and a low level of physical activity, obesity has become widespread during the past century in the Western countries. It is estimated that 30% of Americans are overweight. Associated with obesity is increased morbidity and mortality. It increases the risk of cardiovascular and pulmonary difficulties and impairments in carbohydrate metabolism. It also aggravates existing conditions and symptoms such as hypertension, diabetes, and arthritis. Excess weight adds risk to surgery and pregnancy. Since its deleterious effects are felt in almost all clinical disciplines, obesity is a major concern of preventive medicine. The etiology of obesity is multifactorial; genetic and psychological factors interact with excessive food consumption and physical inactivity. The increase in adiposity of gross obesity can be achieved either through an increase in adipose cell size or number. Adipose cell hypertrophy occurs with adult-onset obesity. Juvenileonset obesity results in a significant increase in cell number. In animals, early nutritional influences appear to have permanent effects on body weight. With weight loss, adipose cell size can be reduced, but cellular hyperplasia cannot be reversed. This finding, in addition to other factors, make a long-lasting cure for obesity, especially that of childhood-onset obesity, highly unlikely. Thus, the answer to obesity and its associated difficulties lies in its initial prevention.
Firm Lobbying versus Sectoral Organization: The Analysis of Business-State Relations in Post-Communist Russia

In the past two decades, Russia has experienced a tremendous growth in the number of industry associations, but different sectors of the economy have had differential success in developing formal organizations to pursue common interests collectively. Using data from two major surveys to focus on institutional channels of representation, this article analyzes the number of and membership levels in indus- try associations representing different sectors of the Russian economy. The effects of single-firm lobbying, organizational fragmentation, and consolidated representa- tion are considered. The possible impacts of Russia's formal sectoral associations on the overall patterns of business-state relations and economic policymaking are also addressed.
Assessment of autoimmunity in patients with chronic urticaria

Abstract Background: The etiology of chronic urticaria is unknown, and an exogenous allergen cannot be identified as the cause in the vast majority of subjects. Thus the concept has evolved that it might be autoimmune. Objective: We have prospectively assessed sera obtained from 50 consecutive patients with chronic urticaria for the presence of autoantibodies that could be pathogenic. Methods: We tested sera for their ability to release histamine from human basophils and to activate rat basophil leukemia cells that were transfected with the α subunit of the IgE receptor. We also tested selected sera for anti-IgE antibodies and for IgG anti-FcϵRIα by Western blot. Results: Sera from 38 of 50 patients with chronic urticaria released β-hexosaminidase from transfected rat basophil leukemia cells, whereas only one of 20 control sera did so ( p p Conclusion: A large fraction of patients with chronic urticaria have antibody directed to FcϵRIα that is functional (60%). A smaller number have IgG anti-IgE (10%). A third group may also have circulating factors capable of activating basophils or mast cells of which the identity is unknown. Thus chronic urticaria may be autoimmune in origin. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 1997;99:461-5.)
A comparative study of the surface morphology of stimulated and unstimulated macrophages prepared without chemical fixation for scanning EM

Abstract Oil-induced and uninduced mouse macrophages were obtained from peritoneal washings, cultured in vitro, and prepared for observation by a technique not involving chemical fixation. Results confirm the importance of preparative technique and emphasize the marked dependence of surface topography upon the degree of macrophage stimulation prior to collection.
Mitigation and response planning in a bio‐terrorist attack

With the emergence of biological weapons of mass destruction as potential tools of terrorism, Presidential Decision Directive 39 initiated US plans to enhance mitigation and response activity. Anecdotal information suggests many of the likely behavioral and organizational response challenges are not being addressed. The current paper applies the disaster research literature to identify the likely behavioral and organizational response challenges a community or nation would encounter in a bio‐terrorist attack on a metropolitan area. Mitigation and response planning, it is argued, would be enhanced if these likely challenges were actually taken into account.
An Equivalent Relative Utility Metric for Evaluating Screening Mammography

Comparative studies of performance in screening mammography are often ambiguous. A new method will frequently show a higher sensitivity or detection rate than an existing standard with a concomitan...
Quantum well saturation in ultra short absorptive waveguide section formed by quantum well intermixing

We demonstrate the fabrication of ultra-short absorptive sections in strongly confined waveguide employing quantum well intermixing technique, which could lead to the realization of nanoscale waveguides with selective saturable area for nonlinear optical device applications.
Structure of Tobacco Mosaic Virus: Radial Density Distribution in the Tobacco Mosaic Virus Particle

Structure of Tobacco Mosaic Virus: Radial Density Distribution in the Tobacco Mosaic Virus Particle
Lung liquid and protein exchange: The four inhomogeneities

William of Ockham, 14th-century scholastic philosopher at Oxford and Munich, emphasized the principle of economy, “pleurality is not to be supposed without necessity” (Ockham's razor).Necessity is the key word. In the modeling of steady-state lung liquid and protein exchange, the desire for simplicity has sometimes outweighed good judgment. In fact, we and others have shown that simple models do not work. It is necessary to include several forms of inhomogeneity. The air-filled lung showsregional (top to bottom) variations of mass, microvascular pressure, and perimicrovascular protein concentration. Normally, the small longitudinal (arterioles to venules) gradient of microvascular and perimicrovascular pressures is not a major concern, but in nonuniform disease processes, such as microembolism, longitudinal inhomogeneity, andparallel inhomogeneity are dominant.Multiple pores should also be considered a form of inhomogeneity. The effect on liquid and protein exchange, when plasma protein concentration or microvascular pressure change, can be readily explained using pore heterogeneity. The model I am currently using consists of a large number of discrete compartments (18), rather than a continuous distribution. We have recently identified a fifth inhomogeneity, which is that lung lymph flow might not always represent steady-state transvascular filtration because interstitial liquid may leak through the pleura or along the bronchovascular liquid cuffs into the mediastinum.
Analysis of Water and Hydrogen Bond Dynamics at the Surface of an Antifreeze Protein

We examine dynamics of water molecules and hydrogen bonds at the water-protein interface of the wild-type antifreeze protein from spruce budworm Choristoneura fumiferana and a mutant that is not antifreeze active by all-atom molecular dynamics simulations. Water dynamics in the hydration layer around the protein is analyzed by calculation of velocity autocorrelation functions and their power spectra, and hydrogen bond time correlation functions are calculated for hydrogen bonds between water molecules and the protein. Both water and hydrogen bond dynamics from subpicosecond to hundred picosecond time scales are sensitive to location on the protein surface and appear correlated with protein function. In particular, hydrogen bond lifetimes are longest for water molecules hydrogen bonded to the ice-binding plane of the wild type, whereas hydrogen bond lifetimes between water and protein atoms on all three planes are similar for the mutant.
Radiocarbon uptake: Its relation to net particulate carbon production 1

Organic carbon budgets for mixed cultures of lake phytoplankton indicate that [14C]CO2 uptake overestimates net particulate carbon production. The overestimate is slight (10–20%) for rapidly increasing assemblages, but ranges to severalfold for nutrient-poor, slow-growing cultures. A rationale is presented for estimating the yield of particulate carbon for natural assemblages from data on biomass and 14C uptake.
Laser induced excited state properties of rubreneperoxide in solution

Abstract A number of photophysical properties of rubreneperoxide have been measured for the first time including the two-photon absorption, fluorescence, delayed fluorescence, and triplet-triplet absorption spectra. Singlet and triplet decay parameters of this molecule have also been measured. Three different photoperoxides of rubrene are formed. The results are discussed and compared to those of molecules.
Protein related to DAN and cerberus is a bone morphogenetic protein antagonist that participates in ovarian paracrine regulation.

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are important for body patterning and morphogenesis, whereas several BMP antagonists regulate the functions of BMPs during embryonic development and tissue differentiation. Protein related to DAN and cerberus (PRDC) is a secreted protein with a cystine knot structure identified by gene trapping in embryonic stem cells. Although PRDC shows sequence homology with proteins of the BMP antagonist family, its biological activity and physiological functions are unclear. We generated recombinant PRDC and its paralog, gremlin, and tested their ability to suppress actions initiated by diverse BMP proteins. Similar to the known BMP antagonist, gremlin, PRDC blocked ligand signaling induced by BMP2 and BMP4 but had minimal effects on reporter gene activation induced by GDF-9, activin, or transforming growth factor-β. Co-precipitation assays further demonstrated the direct protein-protein interactions between PRDC and BMP2 or BMP4. Reverse transcriptase-PCR analyses indicated that PRDC transcripts are widely expressed showing higher levels in ovary, brain, and spleen. In mouse ovary, PRDC transcripts were increased following gonadotropin treatment. In situ hybridization analyses further indicated that ovarian PRDC transcripts are localized in granulosa cells of selective follicles. In addition, co-treatment with PRDC antagonized the inhibitory effects of BMP4 on the follicle-stimulating hormone stimulation of progesterone production by cultured rat granulosa cells. Thus, PRDC is a potent BMP antagonist with a wide tissue expression pattern, and ovarian PRDC expressed in granulosa cells could be involved in follicular development by antagonizing the actions of theca cell-derived BMPs.
Expression of basement membrane zone genes coding for type IV procollagen and laminin by human skin fibroblasts in vitro: Elevated α1(IV) collagen mRNA levels in lipoid proteinosis

Abstract Basement membrane zone gene expression by fibroblast cultures established from adult human skin was examined by molecular hybridizations with human sequence-specific cDNAs corresponding to pro-α1(IV) chain of type IV collagen and B2 chain of laminin. Northern transfer analysis of poly(A) + RNA isolated from fibroblast cultures clearly revealed the presence of specific mRNA transcripts, indicating the expression of the genes coding for pro-α1(IV) and laminin B2 polypeptides. Quantitative estimates of the relative levels of these mRNAs coding for basement membrane zone components indicated that they are of relatively low abundance in control fibroblasts, as compared with mRNAs coding for fibronectin or pro-α1(I) chain of type I procollagen. In fibroblast cultures established from the lesional skin of a 32-year-old patient with lipoid proteinosis, the levels of mRNA coding for pro-α1(IV) polypeptides were increased approximately 4.5-fold, as compared with age- and passage-matched control cultures. This increase was selective in that the levels of fibronectin, pro-α1(I), and β-actin mRNAs were unaltered in the same cultures. The increase in pro-α1(IV) mRNA level was also uncoordinate with the expression of the laminin B2 chain gene, which was unaltered in lipoid proteinosis. The selective increase in pro-α1(IV) mRNA may have relevance to the accumulation of this basement membrane component in the skin in lipoid proteinosis.
Keep Breathing: Coping with Technology

Purpose – To provide strategies to cope with the physical stresses caused by workstation ergonomics and “technostress.”Design/methodology/approach – A list of exercises and techniques to lessen the impact of “technstress.”Findings – This article provides helpful preventative techniques such as sitting, breathing, walking, meditation and nutrition.Originality/value – This paper is useful for information anyone who works at a computer during the day and who works with the public to problem solve.
Extracellular calcium effects on cell viability and thiol homeostasis

Studies of chemically induced cell injury and death, which have used as model systems freshly isolated rat hepatocytes and hepatocytes in culture, are discussed. An important model uses the omission of Ca2+ from the medium during rat hepatocyte incubations. Ca2+ omission induces an intense oxidative stress within hepatocytes incubated in a 95% O2 + 5% CO2 atmosphere. The relationship of calcium homeostasis to the parameters of oxidative stress is important to understanding the progression from reversible to irreversible injury. In the Ca2+ omission model, the vitamin E (Vit. E) content of hepatocytes is important for the prevention of cell injury. Recent studies with rat hepatocytes show that ruthenium red (RR) and La3+, which block Ca2+ translocation through the mitochondrial uniport, can prevent malondialdehyde (MDA) formation, reduced glutathione (GSH), and protein-SH loss, Vit. E loss, and LDH leakage induced by Ca2+ omission from the incubation medium. Ca2+ omission promoted a marked loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (delta phi) that was prevented by RR, EGTA, Vit. E, and desferrioxamine. The absence of extracellular Ca2+ may cause mitochondrial Ca2+ cycling that contributes to the observed oxidative stress, resultant loss of cell viability, and protein thiol homeostasis. Chemical agents including a glutathione-depleting agent, ethacrynic acid, and a redox cycling agent, adriamycin, increase the loss of cell viability caused by a Ca2(+)-free medium, but they have some additional effects on cellular processes. The demise of cell viability by the agent is also preventable by Vit. E supplementation. Ca2+ has a role in cell injury that appears to uniquely involve mitochondrial homeostasis.
Approach to the patient with nontoxic multinodular goiter

Thyroid nodules are very common, and although the majority are benign, approximately 5% may harbor malignancy. The evaluation of the patient with solitary thyroid nodule is generally straightforward and will typically include measurement of serum TSH to assess thyroid function and fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the nodule, with or without ultrasound (US) guidance. The approach to the patient with nontoxic multinodular goiter represents a more difficult problem for the clinician. All patients should have serum TSH measured to assess functional thyroid status and US examination to evaluate the number, size, and sonographic features of the nodules and assist in the selection of nodules that may need fine-needle aspiration biopsy. Patients with nodules yielding malignant cytology should be referred for surgery. Given the lack of reliable markers to predict biological behavior of nodules with suspicious (indeterminate) cytology, patients with such nodules are generally advised to have surgery, unless autonomous function of these nodules can be confirmed by scintigraphy. Most of these patients, however, will ultimately prove to have benign follicular tumors. Many patients with benign but large goiters may experience clinical symptoms of pressure, such as dysphagia, choking sensation, or airway obstruction. Such patients will often require surgery for alleviation of symptoms. In the absence of malignancy, asymptomatic patients may be observed. Radioactive iodine, commonly used in many parts of Europe, is safe and effective and may be a reasonable option for many patients. Periodic follow-up with neck palpation and US exam is recommended for all patients.
Decoding the role of chromatin architecture in development: coming closer to the end of the tunnel

Form and function in biology are intimately related aspects that are often difficult to untangle. While the structural aspects of chromatin organization were apparent from early cytological observations long before the molecular details of chromatin functions were deciphered, the extent to which genome architecture may impact its output remains unclear. A major roadblock to resolve this issue is the divergent scales, both temporal and spatial, of the experimental approaches for examining these facets of chromatin biology. Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing and informatics to model and monitor genome-wide chromatin contact sites provide the much-needed platform to close this gap. This mini-review will focus on discussing recent efforts applying new technologies to elucidate the roles of genome architecture in coordinating global gene expression output. Our discussion will emphasize the potential roles of differential genome 3-D structure as a driver for cell fate specification of multicellular organisms. An integrated approach that combines multiple new methodologies may finally have the necessary temporal and spatial resolution to provide clarity on the roles of chromatin architecture during development.
Peak dispersion and mobile phase velocity in liquid chromatography: the pertinent relationship for porous silica

The equations of Van Deemter, Giddings, Huber, Knox and Horvath for the height equivalent to a theoretical plate (H) are tested against over 25 data sets of experimental values of H and the mobile phase linear velocity (u) obtained for columns packed with silica gel. Each data set contains at least 10 complementary pairs of H and u values and furthermore, each H and u value was taken as the mean of at least three replicate measurements, thus, involving a total of over 750 individual and precise measurements of H and u. The maximum standard error for any set of replicate measurements was 2%. The data were obtained for silica gels having four different particle diameters, for six solvent mixtures and nine different solutes. It is shown that over the velocity range of 0.02–1 cm/sec, the Van Deemter equation accurately predicts the experimentally determined relationship between H and u. Consequently, under normal operating conditions in liquid chromatography, employing silica gel as the stationary phase Van Deemter equation can be employed with confidence in column design.
A high-throughput strategy for screening of bacterial artificial chromosome libraries and anchoring of clones on a genetic map constructed with single nucleotide polymorphisms.

Current techniques of screening bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) libraries for molecular markers during the construction of physical maps are slow, laborious and often assign multiple BAC contigs to a single locus on a genetic map. These limitations are the principal impediment in the construction of physical maps of large eukaryotic genomes. It is hypothesized that this impediment can be overcome by screening multidimensional pools of BAC clones using the highly parallel Illumina GoldenGate™ assay. To test the efficacy of the Golden Gate assay in BAC library screening, multidimensional pools involving 302976 Aegilops tauschii BAC clones were genotyped for the presence/absence of specific gene sequences with multiplexed Illumina GoldenGate oligonucleotide assays previously used to place single nucleotide polymorphisms on an Ae. tauschii genetic map. Of 1384 allele-informative oligonucleotide assays, 87.6% successfully clustered BAC pools into those positive for a BAC clone harboring a specific gene locus and those negative for it. The location of the positive BAC clones within contigs assembled from 199190 fingerprinted Ae. tauschii BAC clones was used to evaluate the precision of anchoring of BAC clones and contigs on the Ae. tauschii genetic map. For 41 (95%) assays, positive BAC clones were neighbors in single contigs. Those contigs could be unequivocally assigned to loci on the genetic map. For two (5%) assays, positive clones were in two different contigs and the relationships of these contigs to loci on the Ae. tauschii genetic map were equivocal. Screening of BAC libraries with a simple five-dimensional BAC pooling strategy was evaluated and shown to allow direct detection of positive BAC clones without the need for manual deconvolution of BAC clone pools. The highly parallel Illumina oligonucleotide assay is shown here to be an efficient tool for screening BAC libraries and a strategy for high-throughput anchoring of BAC contigs on genetic maps during the construction of physical maps of eukaryotic genomes. In most cases, screening of BAC libraries with Illumina oligonucleotide assays results in the unequivocal relationship of BAC clones with loci on the genetic map.
A Genetic Assessment of Current Management Strategies for Spotted Seatrout in Texas

Abstract The spotted seatrout Cynoscion nebulosus is one of the most intensively managed finfishes in the Gulf of Mexico, due primarily to its importance as a sport fish species throughout its range. As a result, genetic divergence and patterns of gene flow have previously been assessed among designated populations of spotted seatrout by using various types of genetic markers in an attempt to provide meaningful data for delineation of management units. However, genetic data can be influenced both by contemporary gene flow and historical demography, and these processes can often result in similar genetic signatures. In this study, a nested clade analysis (NCA) was used to disentangle the effects of historical and contemporary processes on the distribution of mitochondrial DNA sequence haplotypes of spotted seatrout in the western Gulf of Mexico. The NCA was coupled with traditional F-statistics and a Mantel matrix procedure to compare the results of multiple analytical frameworks. Overall, genetic divergen...
Monte Carlo calculations for metal-semiconductor hot-electron injection via tunnel-junction emission

We present a detailed description of a scheme to calculate the injection current for metal-semiconductor systems using tunnel-junction electron emission. We employ a Monte Carlo framework for integrating over initial free-electron states in a metallic emitter and use interfacial scattering at the metal-semiconductor interface as an independent parameter. These results have implications for modeling metal-base transistors and ballistic electron emission microscopy and spectroscopy.
Downloadable computer models for renal replacement therapy

Mathematical models can predict solute clearances and solute concentrations during renal replacement therapy. At present, however, most nephrologists cannot use these models because they require mathematical software. In this report, we describe models of solute transport by convection and diffusion adapted to run on the commonly available software program Excel® for Macintosh® computers and PCs running Windows®. Two programs have been created that can be downloaded from http://www.stanford.edu/~twmeyer/ or http://dev.satellitehealth.com/research/journal.asp. The first, called ‘Dr Addis Clearance Calculator', calculates clearance values from inputs including the blood flow Q b , the hematocrit, the ultrafiltration rate Q f , the dialysate flow rate Q d , the reflection coefficient σ and the mass transfer area coefficient K o A for the solute of interest, and the free fraction f if the solute is protein bound. Solute concentration profiles along the length of the artificial kidney are displayed graphically. The second program, called ‘Dr Coplon Dialysis Simulator', calculates plasma solute concentrations from the clearance values obtained by the first program and from additional input values including the number of treatments per week, the duration of the treatments, and the solute's production rate and volumes of distribution. The program calculates the time-averaged solute concentration and provides a graphic display of the solute concentration profile through a week-long interval.
Cytokinetics of a human neuroblastoma cell line following treatment with dianhydrogalactitol.

AbstractStudies were carried out on the effect of dianhydrogalactitol on a human neuroblastoma cell line in culture. The drug was cytotoxic at concentrations of 5 μg/ml and 10 μ/ml for 1 hour, but not at 1 μ/ml. Flow cytometry of DNA showed that cell kill was preceded by a transient accumulation of cells in early S at 10 hours, and in late S at 36 hours. Smaller increases in the percent of cells in S phase were seen after treatment with 1 μg/ml, without cell kill. It may be concluded that dianhydrogalactitol causes an S-phase block, followed by death of cells in late S at concentrations above 5 μg/ml.*Assistant Attending Physician, Solid Tumor Service, Department of Medicine; Research Associate, Laboratory of Biophysics, Recipient, American Cancer Society Junior Faculty Clinical Award.
Genotype of N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) polymorphism in children with immunoglobulin E-mediated food allergy.

We investigated whether patients with immunoglobulin E–mediated food allergy differed from healthy individuals with regard to genotype of the polymorphic enzyme N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2). The genetic polymorphism of acetylation can alter the toxic and therapeutic response to certain xenobiotics and may be also a factor that influences the susceptibility toward certain partly chemically induced diseases. We compared 136 children with immunoglobulin E–mediated food allergy with 123 healthy children. The NAT2 alleles (*4, *5, *6, and *7) were determined by polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism methods with DNA extracted from peripheral blood. A statistically significant increase in the proportion of homozygous slow acetylators (76.5%) was found among patients with food allergy compared with healthy subjects (53.7%; P < .001). There were no homozygous fast acetylators within this group of individuals with severe forms of food allergy. The risk of development of immunoglobulin E–mediated food allergy was almost 3-fold greater in slow acetylators than that in the healthy subjects (odds ratio, 2.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.6 to 4.9). We therefore concluded that the slow acetylation genotype may be an important factor of individual susceptibility to immunoglobulin E–mediated food allergy. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2001) 69, 372–378; doi: 10.1067/mcp.2001.115541
Calculation of Gurney parameters for aqueous tetraalkylammonium halides based on Friedman's cosphere-overlap model

Recalculations of the Gurney free-energy parameters Aij based on the cosphereoverlap model of Friedman and co-workers have been made using more recent experimental data. Our procedure for calculation seems to be more systematic than those previously reported. The excess energy, entropy, and volume parameters (Eij, TSij, and Vij) were also recalculated for some aqueous tetraalkylammonium halides. In addition, the excess-heat-capacity parameters Cij are also reported here for the first time. These data are discussed briefly in terms of the structural implications.
Oscillating Turbulent Flow With or Without a Current About a Circular Cylinder

CFD analyses of two benchmark, two-dimensional, sinusoidally-oscillating, turbulent flows, (one with zero mean and one with non-zero mean) at relatively large Reynolds- and Keulegan-Carpenter numbers and relative current velocities, have been performed with CFD-ACE, a Favre-Averaged Navier-Stokes (FANS) code. The primary purpose of the investigation was a critical assessment of the computational accuracy of time-dependent turbulent flows with large-scale unsteadiness. A number of turbulence models, including the Standard {kappa}-{epsilon}, Re-Normalization-Group (RNG) based {kappa}-{epsilon}, and Low-Reynolds number model have been employed. Among others, a second-order in time, second-order in space, second-level predictor-corrector finite difference scheme has been used. The analysis produced the time-dependent in-line and transverse forces, the force coefficients, instantaneous velocity, vorticity, and pressure distributions, and streamlines. Representative results are compared with each other and with those obtained experimentally.
Comment on "Redundancy of phase-space distribution functions in complex field recovery problems".

In a recent publication [ Appl. Opt.42, 1932 ( 2003)], redundancies of phase-space representations were studied. In particular, signal recovery from a single section of the ambiguity function was explored. It is shown that this signal-recovery method can be associated with interferometry.
Global observations and modeling of the ionosphere, thermosphere and mesosphere

The Imaging Spectrometric Observatory (ISO) flown on the Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science (ATLAS) 1 mission between 24 Mar 1992 and 2 Apr 1992, acquired a database designed to study several outstanding problems in the ionosphere, thermosphere and mesosphere. In this paper we discuss the goals and preliminary results from three of these studies. To support these studies, the ISO acquired a database of: (1) emissions for the retrieval of neutral and ion densities to test global models of the ionosphere and thermosphere; (2) emissions for the retrieval of mesospheric composition of major and minor constituents needed to test models of the oxygen-hydrogen photochemistry, (3) emissions of the bands of the metastable states of O2, and O(S-1) produced by three-body recombination of O in the mesosphere.
Lactogen-induced protein phosphorylation in Nb2 cells.

Abstract Lactogenic hormones are potent mitogenic agents in the Nb2 rat lymphoma cell line. Because selective phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of specific proteins by many polypeptide hormones appears to be important in regulating cell growth, the effect of lactogenic hormones on protein phosphorylation was studied in Nb2 cells. Human growth hormone (hGH) promoted the phosphorylation of many proteins (2- to 3-fold) and an M r 29,000 species (pp29) (⩾ 10-fold). In growth-arrested cells phosphorylation of pp29 peaked 4 h after addition of hGH whereas that of other phosphoproteins increased steadily. Ovine prolactin, another potent mitogenic hormone, caused a concentration-dependent increase in pp29 phosphorylation with an EC 50 = 10–20 p m . Other agents which are not mitogenic in this cell line, i.e., 12- O -tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (200 n m ), 8-Br-cAMP (1 m m ), and 8-Br-cGMP (1 m m ), did not affect pp29 phosphorylation. Dexamethasone (100 n m ), which inhibits lactogen-stimulated growth, reduced hGH-stimulated pp29 phosphorylation to control levels. Fractionation of detergent-treated extracts of hGH-treated cells showed that pp29 is associated with the ribosomal fraction. Taken together, these results show that pp29 phosphorylation is selective and is related to cell growth.
Isolation of Globin Messenger Rna by Preparative Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis

Abstract Preparative scale polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis has been employed for isolating milligram quantities of globin messenger RNA from total RNA of rabbit reticulocyte ribosomes. Adherence to defined conditions for gel formulation, polymerization and electrophoresis have allowed recovery of globin messenger RNA within 24 hours electrophoresis time. The biologic activity of mRNA so isolated has been determined by assay in mRNA-dependent protein synthesis systems, and the products identified by standard procedures as rabbit globin. Application of preparative scale polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis for isolating other mRNAs as well as for resolving various similar molecular weight messenger RNAs (i. e., alpha-and beta-globin messages) is concluded to be feasible and is being investigated.
U-Pin Polyamide Motif for Recognition of the DNA Minor Groove

DNA-binding hairpin pyrrole-imidazole polyamides with gamma-aminobutyric acid as a turn-forming residue tolerate A.T or T.A base pairs under the turn. U-pins-polyamides with a different turn-have been synthesized and their DNA binding properties were studied. The two turn-forming residues are connected via the ring nitrogens using variable length aliphatic linkers ((CH(2))(n), n=3-6). Through optimization of the linker length and the substituents at the 2-position of the pyrrole residue on the U-turn, polyamides with G.C/C.G tolerant turns could be found, which bind to DNA in a predictable manner.
The local amplification of surface waves: A new observable to constrain elastic velocities, density, and anelastic attenuation

The deployment of USArray across the continental U.S. has prompted developments within surface wave tomography to exploit this unprecedented data set. Here, we present a method to measure a new surface wave observable: broadband surface wave amplification that provides new and unique constraints on elastic velocities and density within the crust and upper mantle. The method, similar to its phase velocity counterpart referred to as Helmholtz tomography, initiates by constructing phase travel time and amplitude maps across the array for each period and earthquake. Spatial differential operators are then applied to evaluate the amplitude variation, as well as the effect of focusing/defocusing. Based on the 2-D damped wave equation, the amplitude variation corrected for focusing/defocusing is linked directly to both local amplification and intrinsic attenuation, which are separated by examining waves propagating in opposite directions. We apply the method to teleseismic Rayleigh waves observed across USArray between periods of 24 and 100 s and show that the observed amplification maps are strongly correlated with known geological features. Small-scale attenuation measurements are contaminated by wavefield complexities, but larger-scale anelastic attenuation is estimated reliably. The observed amplification maps compare well with predictions based on recent 3-D shear velocity models of the western U.S. that were produced from ambient noise and earthquake data. Notably, predictions based on models with different prescribed density structures demonstrate the potential for using estimates of local amplification to constrain not only 3-D velocity structure but also density.
Selective separations of peptides with sequence deletions, single amino acid polymorphisms, and/or epimeric centers using macrocyclic glycopeptide liquid chromatography stationary phases

Separating closely related peptides (those differing by one or two amino acids or the chirality of a single amino acid) can be challenging using reversed-phase liquid chromatography (LC), ion-exchange LC, or using ion-pairing agents. Also, the mobile phases that give the best separations in these modes may not be electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) compatible. Forty-two peptides from 11 peptide families were separated on three macrocyclic glycopeptide stationary phases in reverse-phase mode using ESI-MS-compatible mobile phases. The peptide classes studied were angiotensin, bradykinin, alpha-bag cell factor, beta,gamma-bag cell factor, beta-casomorphin, dynorphin, enkephalin, leucokinin, lutinizing hormone releasing hormone, neurotinsin, substance P, and vasopressin. High selectivity was observed for single amino acid substitutions (achiral and chiral) regardless of the position of the substitution in the sequence. Mobile phase optimization, its effect on peptide elution behavior, and chromatographic efficiency is also discussed. Using LC-ESI-MS, a 2 ng limit of detection was obtained, two orders of magnitude lower than the UV detection limit.
Pay, rank, and growing old with more of each

Factors which comprise the bases for salary increases and adjustments at major research universities have long been topics of conversation and supposition. Based on responses from over 12,000 faculty members, this paper reviews, by faculty rank, items which are likely to contribute to salary and suggests that faculty members can follow certain strategies which are more likely than others to bring a financial reward. Research procedures employed include linear models and multiple regression.
Pigments of rat liver microsomes.

Abstract The total hemin content of washed rat liver microsomes is 2.15 times the cytochrome b5 content, only a small part being due to bound hemoglobin. The content of flavine is 4 5 that of cytochrome b5. The flavine probably does not contribute to the DPNH reduced difference spectrum. The difference spectra of the reduced minus oxidized pigments have been determined. Reduction with DPNH yields only the difference spectrum of cytochrome b5; reduction with dithionite changes this spectrum further, probably due to the reduction of small amounts of methemoglobin. Carbon monoxide forms an intense absorption band at 450 mμ upon reduction of the microsomes by DPNH or dithionite, but no corresponding absorption band in the visible region has been found. The CO 450-mμ absorption appears only to a small extent in preparations containing 2% cholate. The molecular extinction coefficient of cytochrome b5 has been determined by titrations with DPNH and ferricyanide to be 160 cm.−1 mM−1 for the Soret peak and 20 cm.−1 mM−1 for the α-peak (peak-to-trough values in the difference spectrum).
Structural and functional characterization of the interaction between cyclophilin B and a heparin-derived oligosaccharide.

The chemotaxis and integrin-mediated adhesion of T lymphocytes triggered by secreted cyclophilin B (CypB) depend on interactions with both cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG) and the extracellular domain of the CD147 membrane receptor. Here, we use NMR spectroscopy to characterize the interaction of CypB with heparin-derived oligosaccharides. Chemical shift perturbation experiments allowed the precise definition of the heparan sulfate (HS) binding site of CypB. The N-terminal extremity of CypB, which contains a consensus sequence for heparin-binding proteins was modeled on the basis of our experimental NMR data. Because the HS binding site extends toward the CypB catalytic pocket, we measured its peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (PPIase) activity in the absence or presence of a HS oligosaccharide toward a CD147-derived peptide. We report the first direct evidence that CypB is enzymatically active on CD147, as it is able to accelerate the cis/trans isomerization of the Asp179-Pro180 bond in a CD147-derived peptide. However, HS binding has no significant influence on this PPIase activity. We thus conclude that the glycanic moiety of HSPG serves as anchor for CypB at the cell surface, and that the signal could be transduced by CypB via its PPIase activity toward CD147.
Episodic contributions to sequential control: learning from a typist's touch.

Sequential control over routine action is widely assumed to be controlled by stable, highly practiced representations. Our findings demonstrate that the processes controlling routine actions in the domain of skilled typing can be flexibly manipulated by memory processes coding recent experience with typing particular words and letters. In two experiments, we extended Masson’s (1986) procedure for measuring item-specific learning in the context of acquiring an unfamiliar skill to the highly skilled domain of typing. Skilled typists’ performance improved during practice with typing words composed from a specific set of letters. In a transfer phase, performance was fastest for trained words, followed by new words composed of trained letters, and slowest for new words composed of untrained letters. The finding that recent episodic experience with typing particular words and letters influences skilled typing performance holds widespread implications for theories of typing, sequence learning, and motor control.
Growth of gold films on air- and vacuum-cleaved molybdenite

To determine the effects of employing vacuum-cleaved molybdenite substrates on thin film growth, gold films evaporated on both air- and vacuum-cleaved crystals at room temperature were studied by using transmission electron microscopy and diffraction. On air-cleaved substrates a high density (>3 × 1012 particles/cm2) of apparently rounded particles that rapidly coalesce to give a nearly continuous film at 50 A film thickness is found. On vacuum-cleaved substrates the metal islands are geometrical with a density of ≈6 × 1010 particles/cm2 and coalesce in a manner similar to that already observed by in situ film growth experiments. The films are epitaxial on both air- and vacuum-cleaved substrates. Zur Bestimmung des Einflusses von vakuum-gespaltenen Molybdanitsubstraten auf das Schichtwachstum werden Goldschichten, die bei Zimmertemperatur auf luft- und vakuum-gespaltene Kristalle aufgedampft wurden, mittels Transmissions-Elektronen-mikroskopie und -beugung untersucht. An luft-gespaltenen Substraten wird eine hohe Dichte (>3 × 1012) Teilchen/cm2 offenbar abgerundeter Teilchen, die schnell zu einer fast kontinuierlichen Schicht von 50 A Dicke zusammenfliesen, gefunden. An vakuum-gespaltenen Substraten sind die metallischen Inseln geometrisch mit einer Dichte ≈6 × 1010 Teilchen/cm2 und fliesen ahnlich wie bereits im in situ Schichtwachstumsexperiment beobachtet zusammen. Die Schichten sind in beiden Fallen epitaktisch.
Aggressive surgery is unwarranted for biliary tract rhabdomyosarcoma.

Abstract Background/Purpose: Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) of the biliary tract is rare, and, in addition to multiagent chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy (RT), some investigators recommend aggressive surgery. To assess the role of surgery, records of all 25 eligible patients with biliary RMS enrolled in IRSG studies I through IV from 1972 to 1998 were reviewed. Methods: Treatment included surgery with or without vincristine, dactinomycin, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, cisplatin, etoposide, ifosfamide, and with or without RT. Data evaluated included clinical presentation, treatment, complications, and outcome. Results: Diagnostic imaging identified the primary tumor but failed to identify regional metastases. Despite aggressive surgery, gross total resection at diagnosis was possible in only 6 cases, 2 of which had negative surgical margins. Although only 6 (29%) patients without distant metastases underwent gross total resection, estimated 5-year survival rate was 78% (95% CI 58%, 97%). Infectious complications were common and frequently associated with external biliary drains. Five (20%) died within the first 2 months, 3 of sepsis. Conclusions: Surgery is critical for establishing an accurate diagnosis and determining the extent of regional disease. Gross total resection is rarely possible despite aggressive surgery, and outcome is good despite residual disease after surgery. External biliary drains increase the risk of postoperative infectious complications. J Pediatr Surg 35:309-316. Copyright © 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company.
Creep-fatigue-environment interactions in INCONEL 617

Creep-fatigue testing of alloy 617 was performed in air, vacuum, and purified Ar environments at 1000 °C. Tests were performed in axial strain control at total strain ranges of 0.3% and 1.0% (fully reversed) with hold times at maximum tensile strain ranging from 0 to 1800 s. Introduction of a tensile hold period led to reduced creep-fatigue life at both strain ranges in all environments; the effect was greater at 0.3% than 1.0%. The hold time effect clearly saturated for tests at 1.0% strain range; the behavior at 0.3% was not clear. Decarburization occurred in specimens tested in vacuum and purified Ar, but not in air. Although fatigue lives were longer in the inert environments than in air for most test conditions, quantitative assessment of the differences was not possible because cracking frequently did not occur before test termination due to load drop for tests in inert environment. Cavitation damage was observed for tests with tensile hold periods in all environments.
Transition phenomena and solid‐state structure in glassy polymers

The primary and secondary transitions observed in solid polymers have generally been interpreted in terms of the concept of “molecular motions.” A different interpretation is presented here in which these transitions are explained in terms of the thermal breakdown of different types of intermolecular secondary bonding in the solid state. It is assumed that the association-dissociation equilibria involved are governed by normal thermodynamic considerations. The time-temperature (or frequency-temperature) dependence of such transitions can be associated with the “transport rate” (bond formation and breakdown rate) of the dynamic equilibrium involved. The glass transition behavior of polyacrylonitrile and poly(methyl methacrylate) are discussed in terms of the breakdown of dipole-dipole bonding between chains, and it would appear that, the breakdown of hydrogen-bonding and van der Waals bonding are involved in the transitions of nylon and polyethylene, respectively. From this point of view, a glass transition is regarded as having considerable similarity to a melting point, and this consequently provides a theoretical justification for the empirically observed correlation between the principal glass transition and the melting point for a wide variety of polymers.
The future of global population modeling

Abstract Whereas many futures studies begin with the prospect of global over-population, many demographers are equally as concerned about declining population. In order to clarify, and even reconcile, these differences, this paper discusses issues of geographic scale, linkages between populations, and measurement, as well as possibilities for improved forecasts of demographic change. Issues of geographic scale are central to proper analysis, both because there is tremendous variation in fertility, migration, and mortality across the populations, and because of the limitations of techniques of analysis and forecasting. There are many factors that determine demographic change including new waves of international migration, new technologies of reproduction, health and lifestyle, political agendas of demographers and institutions, and even changing definitions of what is human. Continual monitoring of the components of population change is vital in order to achieve an up-to-date demographic outlook. New techniques, in particular, geographic information systems (GIS) and other tools of visualization can aid our understanding of past change, help us to take advantage of new and more reliable data, and realize the implications of current forecasts.