cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The humoral immune response in the american cockroach, Periplanetaamericana: Reactivity to a defined antigen from honeybee venom, phospholipase A2

Our previous experiments demonstrated that honeybee venom could induce a specific, adaptive humoral immune response in the American cockroach. Since honeybee venom is a complex substance made up of several proteins, a more defined antigen is needed for future characterization studies. One of the components of bee venom, phospholipase A2 (PA2) was found to be highly lethal and immunogenic in the roach. Roaches injected with PA2 generated a specific primary response that developed over a period of time, peaking within 10 days, and then gradually subsiding by the fifth week. Specificity of this response was demonstrated by the fact that immunized animals were protected against the original immunizing PA2, but not to PA2 from a heterologous source. In addition, a secondary response could be induced with PA2, demonstrating the existence of immunologic memory. Thus, we established that PA2 could induce as good, if not better, humoral responsiveness as whole bee venom, and therefore could be utilized as a more defined antigen in studies designed to characterize the inducible humoral factor in the roach.
A noninvasive strategy for the management of patients suspected of pulmonary embolism

As a consequence of recent studies that have (1) established the role for ventilation-perfusion lung scanning in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism, (2) clarified the contribution of clinical assessment to the diagnostic utility of lung scans, and (3) established a role for the noninvasive assessment of the lower extremities for deep venous thrombosis in patients suspected of having pulmonary embolism, we can now manage clinically stable patients suspected of pulmonary embolism without need for invasive diagnostic procedures. The various studies establishing this approach are reviewed, and an algorithm is presented that allows for the noninvasive workup of clinically stable patients suspected of having pulmonary embolism.
Aging decreases beta-endorphin enhancement of T-cell mitogenesis in mice.

Abstract Numerous studies have demonstrated the role of the central nervous system in immunomodulation. β-Endorphin, a neuropeptide that is released along with adrenocorticotropin by the pituitary in response to stress, has been shown to have various effects on immune function, although these effects are dependent on dose, animal model, and immune cell tested. Since the increased risk for infection and tumor that is observed in the elderly is thought to be in part secondary to waning cell-mediated immunity, we investigated the effect of age on β-endorphin immunomodulation of T-cell proliferation in a murine model. Spleen cells obtained from young and old BALB/c mice were cultured in vitro with various mitogens with and without β-endorphin. β-Endorphin at 10−8 M on day 3 of culture significantly enhanced concanavalin A (2.0 μg/106 cells per ml) mitogenesis but not phytohemagglutinin or lipopolysaccharide mitogenesis. Moreover, this enhancement was shown only in spleen cells from young mice and was not blocked by the opiate receptor antagonist naloxone, which suggests that enhancement of mitogenesis by β-endorphin was mediated by a non-opiate receptor. Finally, our results support an altered response to neuroimmunomodulation with age.
Identification of subpopulations of human macrophages through the generation of human macrophage hybridomas.

Abstract We have generated a series of human macrophage hybridomas by fusing an HGPRT-deficient promonocytic cell line, U937, with macrophages obtained by allowing monocytes to mature into macrophages in teflon bags. The fusions were documented as true hybrids by the acquisition of donor class I molecules, as well as donor derived macrophage surface antigens. The hybridomas represent clonal expansion of individual macrophages, retaining the surface antigen expression and functional capacity of the normal donor cells including cytokine production and stimulation in a mixed lymphocyte reaction. These cell lines differentially express V max antigens found on normal macrophages, potentially identifying subpopulations of macrophages. These lines may be useful not only to study normal macrophage function but may be relevant to a variety of disease states where expansion of subpopulations of macrophages idenified by V max antigens may be important in disease pathogenesis.
A review of zeolite-like porous materials

Abstract This review focuses on the most recent reports of zeolite-like microporous and mesoporous materials and in particular their synthesis. We focus on porous transition metal oxides of various types, also including porous pillared interlayer materials that have either positive or negative charges. This review is not all-inclusive: it only covers the most recent papers published from about January 1995 to the present. A discussion of new transition metal oxides, porous pillared materials, sulfide layered materials and porous phosphates is included. Zeolites, isomorphous substitution of zeolites, aluminophosphates, and silicoaluminophosphates will not be covered since excellent reviews can be found elsewhere [1] , [2] . The section on porous transition metal oxides focuses on both microporous and mesoporous transition metal oxides and, in particular, synthetic strategies used to produce new materials. The next section concerns pillared materials, including layers that are anionic as well as cationic. Sulfide systems discussed in a further section are primarily layered phases. The final section concerns porous phosphate materials.
BCNU-modification of the in vitro radiation response in 9L brain tumor cells of rats.

Abstract Cultured rat 9L brain tumor cells were treated for 1 hr with low concentrations of 1,3 bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) [1 μg/ml, 95% survival; 3 μg/ml, 40% survival] before, during or after X-irradiation. Posttreatment survival was assessed by the ability of treated single cells to form colonies with more than 50 cells after 14 days of incubation. All survival values obtained with the combination treatment schedules were normalized for the BCNU cell kill and then compared to the survival value obtained after X-irradiation alone. Survival curves constructed from these data were analyzed by both the multitarget model 2 and the quadratic model. 1,4,9 These low concentrations of BCNU tended to reduce the shoulder of the X-ray survival curve but had little effect on the final slope. This was reflected by significant time-dependent variations in the parameter α (the probability of killing a cell from single events) and no significant time-dependent variations in β (the probability of killing a cell from double events). In general, BCNU was more effective when it was given at relatively long time intervals before X-irradiation than when it was given after, during or just before X-irradiation. BCNU was most effective when it was given 15 hr before X-irradiation. A potentiation factor (the ratio of the per cent survival after treatment with X-rays to the per cent survival after the combination treatment normalized for the BCNU kill) was calculated at 200, 300 and 400 rad for all schedules investigated. An enhancement ratio (the ratio of X-ray doses required to produce the same level of survival) also was calculated. Under the most effective conditions the potentiation factor varied from 1.2 to 1.5 and the enhancement ratio was greater than 3.0. Since the equivalent of these low BCNU concentrations could be administered to animals and probably humans before every radiation treatment without significant systemic toxicity, an increase of 4–5 logs in the tumor cell kill might be obtained with the best combination schedule. If this combination schedule proved effective in animal solid tumors, it might be adapted successfully for the treatment of some solid tumors, particularly the malignant gliomas.
Scattering of focused beams by tenuous particles

This paper deals with the problem of the scattering of focused laser beams by tenuous particles using an iterative technique. The results are shown to be accurate provided that (a) the polarizability of the particle medium is small and (b) the phase shift of the central ray is less than 2. It was found that when the size of the incident beam waist is close to that of the scatterer, the scattered field deviates significantly from that for the incident plane wave case. Specific examples are given.
Preliminary global cloud comparisons from the AVHRR, MODIS, and GLAS: cloud amount and cloud overlap

Near-global total cloud frequencies and multilayered cloud frequencies derived from AVHRR (Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer), MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer), and GLAS (Geoscience Laser Altimeter System) were analyzed and compared. The GLAS retrievals can be used to quantify the amount of cloud that may go undetected from satellite imagers such AVHRR and MODIS and to help validate satellite cloud overlap detection algorithms. Model sensitivity studies indicate that clouds with a total column optical depth of 0.5 or less may often go undetected by AVHRR and MODIS. The GLAS data show that such cloudy observations comprised 18.3% (14.5%) of all cloudy GLAS footprints during the most convectively active (least convectively active) portion of the day. Where the most (least) convectively active time period is defined as local solar noon plus (minus) 12 hours. It was also shown that the zonal mean total cloud frequency from GLAS and AVHRR and GLAS and MODIS are well correlated but often differ in magnitude because of thin clouds or small-scale cloud systems that are missed by the AVHRR and MODIS cloud detection algorithms. With the exception of the polar regions, the AVHRR and GLAS and the MODIS (via the Visible/Infrared Imager/Radiometer Suite algorithm) and GLAS multilayered cloud frequencies are in good agreement.
A statewide study of the public attitudes toward child abuse

A statewide survey of adults revealed that they are well informed about some aspects of child abuse. They had a generally good intuitive understanding of the characteristics of abused children and child abusers, but a majority seemed to have a "deviance" perspective on child abuse. They considered abusers as abnormal and intractable. While three-quarters of the respondents were aware that they are obligated to report cases of child abuse to the authorities, one-fifth knew someone who had abused a child, but only a third of these actually reported the case. Language: en
Managerial Authority in the Employment Relationship

Presents information on a study which reviewed the legal and economic aspects of the employment relationship as they relate to the authority issue. Factors that determined the nature of relationshi...
Concomitant Intramuscular Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Preserves Spermatogenesis in Men Undergoing Testosterone Replacement Therapy

Purpose: Testosterone replacement therapy results in decreased serum gonadotropins and intratesticular testosterone, and impairs spermatogenesis, leading to azoospermia in 40% of patients. However,...
Intracellular oxygen measurements of mouse liver cells using quantitative fluorescence video microscopy.

Our currently developed fluorescence video microscope can measure fluorescence intensities with an error of +/- 1.5% of full scale in 65536 different positions of a microscope field. With a video frame freeze acquisition time of 33 ms, time-dependent changes of this order of time or slower can be followed. Using cells which have absorbed pyrene-1-butyrate to an intracellular concentration of 0.05 to 1 mM, the changes in fluorescence intensity with oxygen concentration are easily measured. The spatial resolution for data collection is 0.5 micron when a 54X objective is used. The individual Stern-Volmer quenching constants of each individual pixel were measured for agar slices and mouse liver cells treated with pyrenebutyric acid. The distribution of quenching constants for agar follows a normal curve about a mean value of 16 . 10(-4) torr-1. The data for mouse liver cells gave a non-normal distribution of quenching constants with a mean value of 18 . 10(-4) torr-1. The greater spread of the data from cells is interpreted as evidence for a real biological variation in the solubility coefficient of oxygen in different locations within the cell. In all the cells examined, this distribution has been observed to be non-random and appears to be associated with specific cell structures.
Isolation of xanthophores from the goldfish (Carassius auratus L.)

A method is described for the isolation of milligram quantities of viable, hormone-responsive xanthophores from goldfish scales. The preparations are typically 70 to 90% pure and are useful for biochemical analyses or for establishing primary cultures.
Power Characteristics of a Continuous Crystallization Latent Heat Recovery System

A system for low quality heat storage through the latent heat of salt hydrates has been devised which gives only a slowly varying power output. This utilizes continuous generation and sedimentation of crystals. Heat transfer is accomplished by buoyant kerosene drops rising through a salt solution with concentration and size of suspended crystals controlled primarily by kerosene flow rate. The system has been investigated for sodium sulfate, sodium thiosulfate, and sodium acetate at working temperatures of 33, 48, 58 C, respectively. The sodium acetate system showed most promise and was studied quantitatively in a pilot unit.Copyright © 1979 by ASME
Coupling deterministic and stochastic modeling to unwanted fire

It is difficult for system safety analysts to incorporate fire into their general safety analyses, even though widespread a t tent ion has been given to the evaluation of "fire hazards" in the past few years. For example, in the Rasmussen report , an extensive analysis of nuclear reactor safety [1 ] , there was no thorough consideration of the problem of fire. The subsequent Brown's Ferry Fire Accident [2] pointed up this deficiency, and there has since been an exhaustive study of the subject by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the industry in general. There are a number of cultural and technical reasons for this gap in system safety analysis, and it appears to this author that one of the central reasons is the lack of a simple model, unders tood sufficiently by generalists to help them structure their fire safety problems in a manner enabling fire pro tec t ion specialists to supply the detailed answers. One of the objectives of this paper is to provide a model and a method for coupling both deterministic and stochastic approaches for solving the fire protect ion problem.
Homoleptic Lanthanide Alkyl and Amide Precatalysts Efficiently Mediate Intramolecular Hydrophosphination/Cyclization. Observations on Scope and Mechanism

Homoleptic lanthanide alkyls of the form Ln[CH(SiMe3)2]3 (Ln = La, Nd, Sm, Y, Lu) and amides of the form Ln[N(SiMe3)2]3 (Ln = La, Nd, Sm, Y) serve as efficient precatalysts for intramolecular homogeneous hydrophosphination. Both phosphinoalkynes and phosphinoalkenes undergo cyclization to the corresponding heterocyclic structures.
Experimental demonstration of the output characteristics of the A6 magnetron on Pulserad 110a, a very short rise-time accelerator at UNM

Recently the University of New Mexico's (UNM's) Pulserad 110a electron beam accelerator was redesigned to produce a voltage pulse with a rise time of 4 ns, duration of 30 ns, and amplitude of 350 kV into a 20 Ω load.
Segmentation in animals.

Segmentation is the serial repetition of similar organs, tissues, cell types or body cavities along the anterior-posterior (A-P) axis of bilaterally symmetric animals (bilaterians). You, like other vertebrates, are segmented — consider the skeleton, musculature and nervous system of your trunk. Segmentation has provided a fascinating puzzle for developmental biologists and mathematical modelers interested in complex patterns of differentiation. And to those interested in the evolution of different animal body plans, segmentation has provided another important character to discuss.
Recall, Similarity Judgment, and Identification of Trees: A Comparison of Experts and Novices

Abstract We compare experts and novices in their recall, similarity judgment, and identification of trees. These tasks assess different aspects of informants' knowledge of trees. Experts agree substantially on all three tasks. However, they judge similarity of pictures of trees relying more on morphological and taxonomic features while judging similarity of names of trees relying more on utilitarian features. Novices recall few trees and accurately identify almost none of them, but substantially agree with each other in their similarity judgments of trees. Thus, we find that the natural world can be understood by experts and novices alike, but that training sharpens observations and informs about properties of species not obvious by direct observation. Moreover, the kinds of features used by experts in similarity judgments are influenced by how species are represented. These results confirm and extend findings in prior research of James S. Boster and Jeffrey C. Johnson and Douglas L. Medin and colleagues. They also demonstrate how the domain knowledge of experts arises out of the many different ways in which they engage the trees and out of the diversity of activities and purposes in their community of practice. [categorization, ethnobiology, expert–novice differences, function and morphology, stimulus effects]
De novo biosynthesis of terminal alkyne-labeled natural products

The terminal alkyne is a functionality widely used in organic synthesis, pharmaceutical science, material science and bioorthogonal chemistry. This functionality is also found in acetylenic natural products, but the underlying biosynthetic pathways for its formation are not well understood. Here we report the characterization of what is to our knowledge the first carrier protein-dependent terminal alkyne biosynthetic machinery in microbes. We further demonstrate that this enzymatic machinery can be exploited for the in situ generation and incorporation of terminal alkynes into two natural product scaffolds in Escherichia coli. These results highlight the prospect for tagging major classes of natural products, including polyketides and polyketide/nonribosomal peptide hybrids, using biosynthetic pathway engineering.
Peptidase Profiling of Lactobacilli Associated with Cheddar Cheese and Its Application to Identification and Selection of Strains for Cheese-Ripening Studies

Abstract The objectives of this study were to isolate a heterogenous population of Lactobacillus spp. from commercially manufactured Cheddar cheeses and characterize them via their intracellular peptidase activities. Strains of Lactobacillus casei were recovered most frequently, followed by strains of Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus brevis (tentative identity). Species were tentatively identified based upon their ability to ferment seven carbohydrates, selected for their ability to differentiate among species associated with milk. Cell-free extracts of strains representative of the lactobacilli populations of each cheese displayed higher specific activity toward hydrophobic as compared to hydrophilic dipeptides and p-nitroaniline derivatives. Generally, the order of most to least hydrolyzed was as follows: phenylalanine-isoleucine>valine-leucine = leucine-glycine>arginine-glycine>leucine- p -nitroaniline>arginine- p -nitroaniline>glutamic acid-tyrosine ≈ proline- p -nitroaniline. Specific activities ranged from 0 to 5 pmol hydrolyzed/μg protein per mm for proline- p -nitroaniline up to 60 to 600 pmol hydrolyzed/μg protein per min for phenylalanine-isoleucine. Significant differences ( P ≤05) in peptidase activities were often observed among but not within species. On the basis of all peptidase data collected for each isolate, cluster analysis placed the lactobacilli into groups that correlated well with their fermentative abilities and species classifications. Peptidase profiling may be a reliable, alternative means of identifying lactic bacteria and gaining information of value in cheese ripening studies.
Crystal structure of Bacillus subtilis isocitrate dehydrogenase at 1.55 A. Insights into the nature of substrate specificity exhibited by Escherichia coli isocitrate dehydrogenase kinase/phosphatase.

Abstract Isocitrate dehydrogenase from Bacillus subtilis (BsIDH) is a member of a family of metal-dependent decarboxylating dehydrogenases. Its crystal structure was solved to 1.55 A and detailed comparisons with the homologue from Escherichia coli (EcIDH), the founding member of this family, were made. Although the two IDHs are structurally similar, there are three notable differences between them. First, a mostly nonpolar β-strand and two connecting loops in the small domain of EcIDH are replaced by two polar α-helices in BsIDH. Because of a 13-residue insert in this region of BsIDH, these helices protrude over the active site cleft of the opposing monomer. Second, a coil leading into this cleft, the so-called “phosphorylation” loop, is bent inward in the B. subtilis enzyme, narrowing the entrance to the active site from about 12 to 4 A. Third, although BsIDH is a homodimer, the two unique crystallographic subunits of BsIDH are not structurally identical. The two monomers appear to differ by a domain shift of the large domain relative to the small domain/clasp region, reminiscent of what has been observed in the open/closed conformations of EcIDH. In Escherichia coli, IDH is regulated by reversible phosphorylation by the bifunctional enzyme IDH kinase/phosphatase (IDH-K/P). The site of phosphorylation is Ser113, which lies deep within the active site crevice. Structural differences between EcIDH and BsIDH may explain disparities in their abilities to act as substrates for IDH-K/P.
Theoretical Analysis and Experimental Verification of a Monopropellant Driven Free Piston Hydraulic Pump

The authors present a novel power supply for mobile robotic systems. A monopropellant (e.g. hydrogen peroxide) decomposes into high temperature gases, which drive a free piston hydraulic pump (FPHP). The elimination of fuel/oxidizer mixing allows the design of simple, lightweight systems capable of operation in oxygen free environments. A thermodynamic analysis has been performed, and an experimental FPHP has been built and tested. The prototype successfully pumped hydraulic fluid, although the flow rate was limited by the off-the-shelf components used.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
The development of ultra-high-frequency VLSI device test systems

The development of test systems for high-performance semiconductor logic and memory devices is discussed. The capabilities of shared-resource and tester-per-pin system architectures are reviewed. Test-system hardware design to provide high-speed pin electronics and generation of LSSD, weighed random, and algorithmic patterns is described. The reasons for the selection of the tester-per-pin system architecture are given in terms of the way in which overall system accuracy and test-system user flexibility are maximized for differing test methodologies.
Educational Programs and Human Response to Natural Hazards

That an individual is aware of the risk of a natural hazard and the range of damage mitigation measures is no guarantee that he or she will act on this information. Based on a review of the literature, the available evidence is weak on the relatonship between awareness or knowledge and the consequent adoption of damage mitigation measures. Although substantial sums of money are expended each year on public information programs on natural hazards, little effort has focused on the cost-effectiveness of such programs.
Displacement in depth: Representational momentum and boundary extension

Memory for targets moving in depth and for stationary targets was examined in five experiments. Memory for targets moving in depth was displaced behind the target with slower target velocities (longer ISIs and retention intervals) and beyond the target with faster target velocities (shorter ISIs and retention intervals), and the overall magnitude of forward displacement for motion in depth was less than the overall magnitude of forward displacement for motion in the picture plane. Memory for stationary targets was initially displaced away from the observer, but memory for smaller stationary targets was subsequently displaced toward the observer and memory for larger stationary targets was subsequently displaced away from the observer; memory for the top or bottom edge of a stationary target was displaced inside the target perimeter. The data are consistent with Freyd and Johnson's (1987) two-component model of the time course of representational momentum and with Intraub et al.'s (1992) two-component model of boundary extension.
Chiral-racemic phase diagrams of blue-phase liquid crystals

We have measured the phase diagrams of mixtures of chiral and racemic CE4, CE5, and CE2 in order to study the effect of varying chirality on the existence of blue phases in chiral liquid crystals. We observe three blue phases---BPI, BPII, and BPIII---which progressively appear at the isotropic phase boundary as the chirality is increased. The temperature widths of both BPI and BPIII become wider with increasing chirality, while BPII becomes narrower and vanishes at high chirality. We argue that this may be a universal feature of blue-phase temperature-chirality phase diagrams and discuss our results in light of previous theory and experiment.
The effect of nonlinear elasticity on the capture efficiency of dislocation loops

Abstract Nonlinear elasticity is shown to produce a difference in the capture efficiencies of interstitial- and vacancy-type loops. Such a difference is a necessary, though not sufficient, prerequisite for the simultaneous formation of both types of loops during irradiation.
Substrate scope in the olefin cyclopropanation reaction catalyzed by m-oxo-bis[(salen)iron(III)] complexes

The cyclopropanation of various alkenes with different diazoester compounds was investigated using two different µ-oxo-bis((salen)iron(III)) complexes, (Fe(3,3',5,5'- t Bu 4 salen)) 2 O and (Fe(salen)) 2 O. Ethyl diazoacetate (EDA), tert-butyl diazoacetate ( t BDA), and ethyl diazoacetoacetate (EDAA) were used with mono- and disubstituted terminal olefins (styrene and 1,1-diphenyl ethylene, respectively), internal olefin (trans-β-methyl styrene), and an electron-rich alkene (n-butyl vinyl ether). Moderate-to-good cyclopropanation yields were obtained for most substrates.
Understanding the combined impacts of aggregation and spatial non-stationarity: The case of migration-environment associations in rural South Africa.

Socio-demographic data are typically collected at various levels of aggregation, leading to the modifiable areal unit problem. Spatial non-stationarity of statistical associations between variables further influences the demographic analyses. This study investigates the implications of these two phenomena within the context of migration-environment associations. Global and local statistical models are fit across increasing levels of aggregation using household level survey data from rural South Africa. We raise the issue of operational scale sensitivity, which describes how the explanatory power of certain variables depends on the aggregation level. We find that as units of analysis (households) are aggregated, some variables become non-significant in the global models, while others are less sensitive to aggregation. Local model results show that aggregation reduces spatial variation in migration-related local associations but also affects variables differently. Spatial non-stationarity appears to be the driving force behind this phenomenon as the results from the global model mask this relationship. Operational scale sensitivity appears related to the underlying spatial autocorrelation of the non-aggregated variables but also to the way a variable is constructed. Understanding operational scale sensitivity can help to refine the process of selecting variables related to the scale of analysis and better understand the effects of spatial non-stationarity on statistical relationships.
Vulnerability assessment of AODV and SAODV routing protocols against network routing attacks and performance comparisons

Secure routing is an important issue in MANETs. Routing protocols can have vulnerabilities that may be exploited by malicious nodes to disrupt the normal routing behavior. In fact, vulnerabilities may even exist in secure versions of the routing protocols, which makes secure routing a real challenge to achieve. In this paper, we present vulnerability analysis of AODV and Secure AODV (SAODV) routing protocols against routing attacks. SAODV is a secure version of the basic AODV protocol that uses asymmetric key cryptography. We simulate a number of routing attacks to show that SAODV can counter most attacks that are successful against AODV. However, SAODV has vulnerabilities of its own that allow replay attacks to succeed. We, therefore, propose a new security scheme, Robust SAODV (R-SAODV), which incorporates temporal time stamping of SAODV extensions. Temporal time stamping addresses the issue of replay attacks by ensuring the freshness of the exchanged control messages. Our simulation results in ns-2 indicate that our proposed security scheme, R-SAODV, is able to achieve similar performance as SAODV. This implies that we have achieved added security with less additional cost to the system.
Regulation of nucleotide excision repair activity by transcriptional and post-transcriptional control of the XPA protein

The XPA (Xeroderma pigmentosum A) protein is one of the six core factors of the human nucleotide excision repair system. In this study we show that XPA is a rate-limiting factor in all human cell lines tested, including a normal human fibroblast cell line. The level of XPA is controlled at the transcriptional level by the molecular circadian clock and at the post-translational level by a HECT domain family E3 ubiquitin ligase called HERC2. Stabilization of XPA by downregulation of HERC2 moderately enhances excision repair activity. Conversely, downregulation of XPA by siRNA reduces excision repair activity in proportion to the level of XPA. Ubiquitination and proteolysis of XPA are inhibited by DNA damage that promotes tight association of the protein with chromatin and its dissociation from the HERC2 E3 ligase. Finally, in agreement with a recent report, we find that XPA is post-translationally modified by acetylation. However, contrary to the previous claim, we find that in mouse liver only a small fraction of XPA is acetylated and that downregulation of SIRT1 deacetylase in two human cell lines does not affect the overall repair rate. Collectively, the data reveal that XPA is a limiting factor in excision repair and that its level is coordinately regulated by the circadian clock, the ubiquitin–proteasome system and DNA damage.
Participatory Action Research and Environmental Learning: Implications for Resilient Forests and Communities.

How can a participatory approach to research promote environmental learning and enhance social–ecological systems resilience? Participatory action research (PAR) is an approach to research that its’ supporters claim can foster new knowledge, learning, and action to support positive social and environmental change through reorienting the standard process of knowledge production. PAR is posited as being particularly suitable for use with historically disadvantaged groups. As such it may be a useful tool for environmental learning which would enable a social–ecological system to better respond to change as theorized by resilience thinkers. In this paper, we examine a PAR project to determine how PAR fostered environmental learning and, in turn, how the learning influenced resilience. The project partnered an ecologist, federal and state forest managers, and harvesters of salal (Gaultheria shallon), a non‐timber forest product gathered and sold for use in the floral industry in the forests of the Olympic Peni...
Blood pressure and heart rate response to isometric exercise: the effect of spinal cord injury in humans.

The systolic (SP) and diastolic (DP) blood pressure and heart rate (HR) responses during a fatiguing isometric contraction of either the handgrip or quadriceps muscles was measured in 139 paraplegic patients divided into five groups (having injuries at T4, T12 and L1-L3 and suffering complete paraplegia and having injuries at T4 but showing incomplete hemiplegia or paraplegia) and 25 controls. While all handgrip exercise was maintained by voluntary effort, only the controls were able to make a voluntary contraction of their quadriceps muscles; the paraplegics had isometric contractions of their quadriceps muscles elicited by functional electrical stimulation (FES). The endurance of the handgrip exercise was not significantly different among the controls and any one of the five experimental groups (control group endurance=151 s, average paraplegic group endurance =141 s) while it was higher in the leg muscles (P<0.05 controls 133 s, paraplegics 111 s). All subjects showed a linear increase in SP and DP throughout the duration of the handgrip exercise, pressure increasing from rest to fatigue by 55–56 mmHg. The controls, subjects with a complete and incomplete spinal cord injuries at T4 showed similar SP and DP increases during leg exercise, both the SP and DP response was eliminated in the T12 and L1-L3 injury groups. The HR increased during fatiguing isometric handgrip contractions from an average resting value of 82 to a maximum of 121 beats·min–1 in both the controls and paraplegic subjects. However, while the HR increased to a slightly higher level of 127 beats·min–1 at the end of the contraction of the leg muscles in the controls, the increase in HR during FES exercise was modest, increasing by an average of only 6 beats·min–1 in the paraplegic group.
Prevention of infection due to Pneumocystis carinii.

Pneumocystis carinii remains an important pathogen for the broad spectrum of immunocompromised individuals, despite significant advances in antimicrobial therapy. The recognition of P. carinii pneumonia in oncology patients and malnourished children led to epidemiologic and therapeutic studies of the disease in the 1970s by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which was the source of the only therapeutic agent available at the time, pentamidine methanesulfonate (99, 139). The combination of pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine (105) had some therapeutic efficacy in small groups of patients in the 1960s (142). The combination of trimethoprim (TMP) and sulfamethoxazole (SMZ) (58) (subsequently in fixed combination as TMP-SMX or co-trimoxazole) was subsequently shown to be effective for the prophylaxis and the treatment of mild to moderate infections in animal models and patients and successfully reduced the occurrence of and the morbidity from this infection (56–58, 76). Early clinical trials have been reviewed by Hughes (54). These agents remained the standards for therapy after the recognition of the role of Pneumocystis infection in the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected population. The inability of many patients to tolerate prophylaxis or treatment with either TMP-SMX or pentamidine initiated a search for new agents for the prevention and treatment of Pneumocystis infection in immunocompromised hosts. This effort has resulted in the development of a variety of newer therapeutic options. Antimicrobial resistance in P. carinii appears to be uncommon clinically; however, standardized techniques for the growth of human-derived organisms in vitro or in animal hosts are not generally available for use for susceptibility testing (discussed below). The routine use of prophylaxis for P. carinii has been successful in improving the survival of persistently immunocompromised individuals, resulting in an increase in the relative frequency in these hosts of other infections including infections caused by mycobacteria, fungi, and viruses (49, 50, 57, 70, 76, 141). Approaches to the prevention and treatment of Pneumocystis infection are changing with the increased use of anti-Pneumocystis prophylaxis in both AIDS and non-AIDS immunocompromised hosts and by improvements in antiviral therapies for HIV. The long-term impact of the newer antiviral therapies on the incidence of opportunistic infection in AIDS remains to be established. The specific therapy selected for an individual may be adjusted to reflect the nature of the individual’s predisposing immune deficit(s), the ability of patients to tolerate specific agents, the geographic location of the patient, and the medical institution (31, 54, 109, 133, 138).
Fiber-based degenerate correlated-photon source in the telecom band

We demonstrate a fiber-based correlated-photon source, wherein the two daughter photons are degenerate in frequency. A coincidence-to-accidental-coincidence ratio >100 is obtained when the fiber is cooled to liquid nitrogen temperature.
Earthquakes, Records, and Nonlinear Responses

Abstract The estimation of MDOF nonlinear structural response given an earth‐quake of magnitude M at distance R is studied with respect to issues such as the benefits and harms of (1) first scaling the records, (2) selecting records from the “wrong” magnitude, (3) alternative choices for how to scale the records, and (4) scaling records to a significantly higher or lower intensity, etc. We find that properly chosen scaling can reduce the necessity of the number of nonlinear analyses by a factor of about four, and that proper scaling does not introduce any bias. Several global and local nonlinear damage measures are considered. A five‐DOF model of a steel structure is used; other cases are under study. The paper finishes with a demonstration of the use of such results in the estimation of the annual probability of exceeding a specified interstory ductility (drift) or other damage measures.
The cultural politics of local economic development: meaning-making, place-making, and the urban policy process

Abstract A major concern of work in urban and political geography in recent decades has been to analyze how and in whose interests local space economies are produced and reproduced. A common focus is on the role local elites play in gathering support for their development agendas. Drawing from these literatures, this paper focuses on how various visions of the future of localities are contested in the local policy process. It argues that this struggle can be usefully understood as a cultural politics in which meanings are defined and struggled over, where social values are naturalized, and by which `common sense' is constructed and contested. The use of the term `cultural politics of local economic development' is, then, intended to indicate that meaning-making and place-making occur simultaneously in struggles over the future of space economies. It is also an attempt to overcome the problematic distinction between `culture' and `economy' that continues to haunt a great deal of work on urban politics. Through a case study of urban politics in Lexington, Kentucky in which discursive strategies are highlighted, it is argued that this approach is useful in that it provides insight into non-elite perspectives on local economic development and that it underscores the role played by everyday life in constituting political action. The paper concludes by suggesting that any problematization of the conceptual distinction between `culture' and `economy' must be carried out in and through detailed analyses of how groups involved in social struggle frequently construct rhetorical strategies in reference to it.
Digital Control of Three-Phase Series-Parallel Uninterruptible Power Supply Systems

In this paper, a new digital deadbeat controller is designed, implemented, and applied to a three-phase series-parallel line-interactive uninterruptible power supply (UPS). This kind of UPS system provides input power factor correction, output voltage conditioning, and high efficiency. The objective of the controller is to achieve deadbeat dynamic response for the parallel and series converters. The proposed controller adjusts the current of the parallel converter and voltage of the series converter with two and four sampling periods, respectively. A reduced-parts topology is also introduced that has less number of power electronics components as well as switching functions. The power flow of the system in the presence of current and voltage harmonics is discussed. Simulation and experimental results are presented, which show the viability of the proposed controller for this topology.
PACS clinical experience at Georgetown University

Georgetown University Hospital has been operating an image management and communications system (IMACS or PACS) for three-and-a-half years. This work was initially funded under the Army Medical Research and Development Command Digital Imaging Network Systems (DINS) project. The system was taken from a research system supporting only radiology tasks to one extended to clinical use, and has been used in clinical work for two-and-a-half years. This paper will summarize our PACS clinical experience and will describe the operational features implemented and those still necessary.
A C. elegans model of human α1-antitrypsin deficiency links components of the RNAi pathway to misfolded protein turnover

The accumulation of serpin oligomers and polymers within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) causes cellular injury in patients with the classical form α1-antitrypsin deficiency (ATD). To better understand the cellular and molecular genetic aspects of this disorder, we generated transgenic C. elegans strains expressing either the wild-type (ATM) or Z mutant form (ATZ) of the human serpin fused to GFP. Animals secreted ATM, but retained polymerized ATZ within dilated ER cisternae. These latter animals also showed slow growth, smaller brood sizes and decreased longevity; phenotypes observed in ATD patients or transgenic mouse lines expressing ATZ. Similar to mammalian models, ATZ was disposed of by autophagy and ER-associated degradation pathways. Mutant strains defective in insulin signaling (daf-2) also showed a marked decrease in ATZ accumulation. Enhanced ATZ turnover was associated with the activity of two proteins central to systemic/exogenous (exo)-RNAi pathway: the dsRNA importer, SID-1 and the argonaute, RDE-1. Animals with enhanced exo-RNAi activity (rrf-3 mutant) phenocopied the insulin signaling mutants and also showed increased ATZ turnover. Taken together, these studies allude to the existence of a novel proteostasis pathway that mechanistically links misfolded protein turnover to components of the systemic RNAi machinery.
Seeing Is Believing: Using the Rhetoric of Virtual Reality to Persuade

Virtual reality, media at its most vivid, is entering our lives and changing how we think and act through specific rhetorical techniques. This “virtual rhetoric” can be observed through experiments using head-mounted displays and position tracking systems to create persuasive and immersive virtual worlds. Through empirical, experiential, and theoretical lenses, this article describes the rhetorical mechanisms often present in virtual reality and urges the importance of understanding the subtle emotional and often manipulative aspects of virtual rhetoric.
A Brief Survey of Dietary Beliefs and Behaviors of Pregnant Adolescents

Abstract Study Objective To provide a brief assessment of dietary beliefs and behaviors in an understudied high-risk population of pregnant adolescents. Design, Setting, and Participants Diverse pregnant adolescents (n = 66) recruited from the Rochester Adolescent Maternity Program at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, New York completed a nutrition knowledge and beliefs survey once during pregnancy. Interventions and Main Outcome Measures Responses were recorded by a health project coordinator who had good rapport with the teens. Study staff evaluated responses for emergent themes and thematically coded survey data. All responses were assessed relative to demographic variables using χ2 and analysis of variance tests. Results Most (83%; 55/66) pregnant teens self-identified as African American with 21% (14/66) identifying as Hispanic. Most (92%; 61/66) adolescents had medical insurance and 28% (19/66) reported participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. The importance of proper nutrition was acknowledged but 14% (9/66) reported that diet did not matter or they were unsure of the importance of nutrition for the fetus. Money, access to food, and personal relationships were reported as constraining factors for a healthy diet. Response themes did not differ according to demographic characteristics. Conclusion Overall, pregnant teens recognize the importance of dietary intake during pregnancy but this knowledge does not always translate into behaviors. Understanding the health knowledge and behaviors of pregnant adolescents might provide a foundation for future lifestyle and clinical interventions.
HEMOLYTIC ASSAY OF THE NINTH COMPLEMENT COMPONENT: ELEVATION AND DEPLETION IN RHEUMATIC DISEASES

An effective molecule titration for the ninth component of complement in the biologic fluids of man was developed using EAC1-8 cells produced by treating EAC14 cells with a chromatographic fraction of human serum containing C2, C3, C5, C6, C7, and C8. Kinetic studies of the interaction of EAC1-8 with C9 indicated that this component was depleted from the fluid phase, and that the lytic reaction proceeded most rapidly at ionic strength 0.145, and at a temperature of 37°C. The mean value for C9 in normal serum was 52,000 ±12,000 units/ml. The mean serum C9 for patients with DJD, rheumatoid arthritis, or SLE without active renal disease was approximately twice the mean for normal individuals. Patients with SLE and active renal disease had a mean C9 value which fell within the normal range, but was significantly lower than in patients with SLE who did not have active renal disease. Two instances of absolutely subnormal C9 levels were observed in patients during attacks of florid SLE, including nephritis. Since the usual change in serum C9 in rheumatic diseases is a marked elevation, the occurrence of a subnormal value reflects circumstances in which depletion due to activation of the sequence exceeds the increases associated with the inflammatory response.
The pathwork tissue of origin test.

To the Editor We read with interest the article by Dumur et al1 with respect to the use of the Pathwork Diagnostics Tissue of Origin (TOO) Test in the determination of the origin of tumors with unknown primary sites. While this study demonstrates the ability of the test to perform in some clinical settings, we believe that some of the statements and conclusions reached are overreaching and misguided. The authors state that the Pathwork TOO test showed 97% accuracy in determining the site of origin of a tumor, in contrast with immunohistochemical staining, which has a reported accuracy of 75% to 88%,2–4 suggesting that the TOO Test is a better discriminator of the site of origin of tumors. However, in our opinion, this is not a fair comparison. The case types studied are entirely different in these studies. Immunohistochemical panels reached more than 95% accuracy in the correct identification of sites of origin of lung, colon, breast, and prostate carcinoma for which relatively specific and sensitive markers are available. In fact, it would be reasonable to assume that these numbers have only been bettered by the introduction of newer markers, eg, napsin A (lung) and PAX8 (female genital tract). The failure of immunohistochemical staining is limited to relatively specific situations, eg, inability to conclusively identify the site of origin of related tumors such as gastric, pancreatic, and biliary carcinoma for which specific immunohistochemical markers are not available. These “difficult to nail” tumor types were not included in this study, and, as such, the percentages cited are not comparative. In fact, application of an appropriate immunohistochemical panel would have been discriminatory in all 6 cases in which the TOO Test’s performance was cited as being superior. Indeed, the authors concede as much by using immunohistochemical results as …