cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bipartite function of a small RNA hairpin in transcription antitermination in bacteriophage lambda.

Abstract Transcription of downstream genes in the early operons of phage lambda requires a promoter-proximal element known as nut. This site acts in cis in the form of RNA to assemble a transcription antitermination complex which is composed of lambda N protein and at least four host factors. The nut-site RNA contains a small stem-loop structure called boxB. Here, we show that boxB RNA binds to N protein with high affinity and specificity. While N binding is confined to the 5' subdomain of the stem-loop, specific N recognition relies on both an intact stem-loop structure and two critical nucleotides in the pentamer loop. Substitutions of these nucleotides affect both N binding and antitermination. Remarkably, substitutions of other loop nucleotides also diminish antitermination in vivo, yet they have no detectable effect on N binding in vitro. These 3' loop mutants fail to support antitermination in a minimal system with RNA polymerase (RNAP), N, and the host factor NusA. Furthermore, the ability of NusA to stimulate the formation of the RNAP-boxB-N complex is diminished with these mutants. Hence, we suggest that boxB RNA performs two critical functions in antitermination. First, boxB binds to N and secures it near RNAP to enhance their interaction, presumably by increasing the local concentration of N. Second, boxB cooperates with NusA, most likely to bring N and RNAP in close contact and transform RNAP to the termination-resistant state.
An Explanation for the Curvature of the Atlantic Jet past the Strait of Gibraltar

Abstract A consistent explanation for the anticyclonic curvature of the Atlantic jet as it passes through the Strait of Gibraltar and flows into the Mediterranean Sea (eastern side of the strait) is provided. The anticyclonic curvature of the Atlantic jet, which is the key feature to understand the upper-layer circulation in the western Alboran Sea, is simply related to the positive net evaporation over the Mediterranean. The result of this positive net evaporation, that mainly occurs in areas of the Mediterranean far from the Strait of Gibraltar, is a net inflow transport through the strait. It is proposed that the positive net evaporation is able to produce such a net inflow in the strait because of an anomalous large-scale pressure gradient. This anomalous pressure gradient is found to be approximately collinear to the strait orientation. The time-averaged inflow of Atlantic water at the eastern side of the Strait of Gibraltar must therefore be supergeostrophic, and hence it must have anticyclonic curv...
A sulfonated calix[4]resorcinarene with l-pipecolinic acid groups as a water-soluble chiral NMR solvating agent

Abstract A water-soluble calix[4]resorcinarene containing l -pipecolinic acid groups is investigated as a chiral NMR solvating agent for aromatic-containing substrates. The substrates form complexes by insertion of the aromatic ring into the cavity of calix[4]resorcinarene. Compounds with phenyl, naphthyl, indole, indoline and pyridyl rings were investigated. The substrates also have ammonium or carboxylate functional groups. The effectiveness of the calix[4]resorcinarene with l -pipecolinic acid groups is compared to similar reagents with proline, hydroxyproline, and α-methylproline moieties that have previously been reported. The derivative with l -pipecolinic acid usually produces better enantiomeric discrimination compared to previous calix[4]resorcinarene reagents.
The true dimensions of interplanetary coronal mass ejections

The majority of observations of Interplanetary Coronal Mass Ejections (ICMEs) are made with a single spacecraft and their properties inferred from a fit to a cylindrically symmetric model. This process produces a single dimension for a magnetic cloud, its radial thickness. If the radius of curvature of an ICME were equal to its half thickness, the shock front driven by the ICME would be at a distance of only about 0.15 times the ICME thickness according to the gas dynamic model, while the observed median thickness is closer to 0.4. The agreement with theory can be improved if the obstacle has two radii of curvature, one corresponding to the rope cross-section and one corresponding to the curvature of the rope axis. This picture is in accord with the popular paradigm of an ICME as a twisted flux rope rooted in the sun. Nevertheless this correction is insufficient to bring full agreement, suggesting ICMEs have yet a third scale size, a cross-flow diameter that may be of the order of four times their radial thickness. This inference is in accord with both indirect evidence in the form of the distribution of impact parameters derived from the cylindrical cross-section model and with direct evidence from the fit of multi-point observations with oval cross-section ropes.
Recovery of Pituitary-Gonadal Function in Male and Female Rats after Prolonged Administration of a Potent Antagonist of Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone (SB-75)

The reversibility of the antifertility effects induced by long-term administration of the LH-RH antagonistic analog [Ac-D-Nal(2)1, D-Phe(4Cl)2, D-Pal(3)3, D-Cit6, D-Ala10]-LH-RH (SB-75) was investigated in male and female rats. Male rats were implanted with osmotic minipumps releasing 50 micrograms of SB-75/day for 60 days. The control rats were implanted with minipumps containing only vehicle. The treatment with the antagonist caused a significant decrease in the weights of the testes, seminal vesicles and ventral prostates (p less than 0.01) and reduced serum LH and testosterone levels (p less than 0.01). The histology of the testes from the treated rats showed that spermatogenesis was totally depressed. No mature elongated or round spermatids were found in the seminiferous tubules, spermatocytes being the most advanced germ cell form in 100% of the testicular tubules. These changes indicate that a total spermatogenetic arrest occurred in the treated animals. Ninety days after cessation of treatment with the LH-RH antagonist, there was a complete recovery of the weights of the testes, seminal vesicles and ventral prostates and LH and testosterone returned to control levels. Histological studies revealed a complete recovery of spermatogenesis, with 99.2% of seminiferous tubules containing mature elongated spermatids. Immediately after the discontinuation of treatment with SB-75, a significant down-regulation of the pituitary LH-RH receptors was found, but 90 days later, this phenomenon was completely reversed. Female rats were injected every 3 weeks for 6 weeks with SB-75 microcapsules, at a dose calculated to release 27 micrograms/day of the antagonist. The treatment with SB-75 disrupted the normal estrous cycle. Body weights were not affected, but ovarian and uterine weights were significantly decreased (p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.05, respectively) in the animals treated with the antagonist. Treated rats had significantly lower LH (p less than 0.05) and estradiol (p less than 0.01) levels than controls. The histology of the ovaries from the SB-75-treated group showed that the ratio of small to large maturing follicles increased significantly (p less than 0.01) and corpora lutea were absent. Two months after the cessation of treatment, a complete recovery in the organ weights and in hormonal levels was observed and no histological differences were found between the ovaries in treated and untreated rats. These collective results indicate that the suppression of gonadal function induced by the treatment with LH-RH antagonist SB-75 is completely reversible both in male and female animals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Muscle Action Potentials: A Technique for Recording in situ

Heart tissue in situ has been immobilized with a negative pressure device, and transmembrane potentials of one cell have been observed for more than 30 minutes.
Early Socioeconomic Adversity and Young Adult Physical Illness: The Role of Body Mass Index and Depressive Symptoms

Abstract Purpose The present study investigated the psychophysiological inter- and intra-individual processes that mediate the linkage between childhood and/or adolescent socioeconomic adversities and adult health outcomes. Specifically, the proposed model examined the roles of youth depressive symptoms and body mass index (BMI) trajectories as mediators that explain the link between early adversity and young adults' general health and physical illnesses after controlling for gender, race or ethnicity, and earlier general health reports. Methods Using a nationally representative sample of 12,424 from National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), this study used growth curve modeling to consider both the severity (initial level) and the change over time (deterioration or elevation) as psychophysiological mediators, thereby acknowledging multiple facets of depressive symptoms and BMI trajectories as psychophysiological mediators of early adversity to adult health. Results Results provide evidence for (1) the influence of early childhood and early adolescent cumulative socioeconomic adversity on both the initial levels and changes over time of depressive symptoms and BMI and (2) the independent influences depressive symptoms and BMI trajectories on the general health and the physical illnesses of young adults. Conclusions These findings contribute valuable knowledge to existing research by elucidating how early adversity exerts an enduring long-term influence on physical health problems in young adulthood; furthermore, this information suggests that effective intervention and prevention programs should incorporate multiple facets (severity and change over time) of multiple mechanisms (psychological and physiological).
CANADIAN MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT IN AN AGE OF NEOLIBERALISM

This manuscript addresses three major themes confronting Canadian provinces and localities as Canada's provincial and local governments adjust to newly implemented federal policies aimed at eliminating the nation's fiscal ailments. Provincial mandates for greater local government productivity, the philosophy that less government equals “better” government, and the proper role of local governments in democratic governance and participation are explored. Findings suggest that measures taken in response to changes in federal policy militate against the tradition of democratic participation at the local level. Among these are the provincial laws calling for the consolidation of local governments. The result, it is argued, is the elimination of governmental units with which many citizens identified. Furthermore, the increased size in council districts changed the very nature of representation as it was once known and accepted.
Influence of diabetes mellitus heredity on susceptibility to coxsackievirus B4.

Using the criteria of virus susceptibility as defined by the 50 percent lethal dose response and the percent cumulative mortality response it was shown that the diabetic mutationdb, located on chromosome 4, exerted a particular influence on the host response to CB4 challenge. Neither the yellow obese mutation Ay on chromosome 2 nor the misty coat color mutation located one centimorgan from thedb mutation had the same effect on CB4 response. The obese diabetic mutationob located on chromosome 6 appeared to enhance susceptibility to CB4. However, the high susceptibility of the inbred C57 BL/6J line on which theob mutation is found was apparently a significant contributing factor to theob mutant high virus susceptibility. The response to CB4 was also a useful criteria to discern differences in the genetic background of closely related inbred lines. Based on the CB4 LD50 values the C57 BL/6J inbred line was the most susceptible while the C57 BL/Ks inbred line was the most resistant. However, using the percent cumulative mortality response as an index of host resistance, the C57 BL/KsJ was the most susceptible and the C57 BL/Ks the least. These findings further support the thesis that genetic predisposition to diabetes mellitus, as characterized by the mutationdb on chromosome 4 is associated with a particular susceptibility and host response to coxsackievirus B4. It also illustrates that under specific conditions, comparison of the response to virus challenge can be used as an indicator of genetic differences between closely related inbred lines.
A multiperiod model for a training program

Abstract This paper is concerned with formulating and optimizing a multiperiod planning model for a manpower training program. Firstly, a time-dependent feed-forward model which traces eligible individuals through an educational (training) program and ultimately to a state of employment or unemployment is developed. The objective function is composed of an educational cost component and a manpower shortage or surplus cost component. Thus, the student (or trainee) optimal acceptance policy is derived. It is also proven that a one-state variable dynamic programming algorithm is much more efficient than a two-state variable algorithm in arriving at the optimal solution.
Functional magnetic resonance imaging of motor cortex;hemispheric asymmetry and handedness

A hemispheric asymmetry in the functional activation of the human motor cortex during contralateral (C) and ipsilateral (I) finger movements, especially in right-handed subjects, was documented with nuclear magnetic resonance imaging at high field strength (4 tesla). Whereas the right motor cortex was activated mostly during contralateral finger movements in both right-handed (C/I mean area of activation = 36.8) and left-handed (C/I = 29.9) subjects, the left motor cortex was activated substantially during ipsilateral movements in left-handed subjects (C/I = 5.4) and even more so in right-handed subjects (C/I = 1.3).
Dynorphin, stress, and depression

Stress is most often associated with aversive states. It rapidly induces the release of hormones and neuropeptides including dynorphin, which activates kappa opioid receptors (KORs) in the central and peripheral nervous systems. In animal models, many aversive effects of stress are mimicked or exacerbated by stimulation of KORs in limbic brain regions. Although KOR signaling during acute stress may increase physical ability (by producing analgesia) and motivation to escape a threat (by producing aversion), prolonged KOR signaling in response to chronic or uncontrollable stress can lead to persistent expression of behavioral signs that are characteristic of human depressive disorders (i.e., "prodepressive-like" signs). Accumulating evidence suggests that KORs contribute to the progressive amplification (sensitization) of stress-induced behaviors that occurs with repeated exposure to stress. Many of the aversive effects of stress are blocked by KOR antagonists, suggesting that these agents may have potential as therapeutics for stress-related conditions such as depression and anxiety disorders. This review summarizes current data on how KOR systems contribute to the acute (rapid), delayed, and cumulative molecular and behavioral effects of stress. We focus on behavioral paradigms that provide insight on interactions between stress and KOR function within each of these temporal categories. Using a simplified model, we consider the time course and mechanism of KOR-mediated effects in stress and suggest future directions that may be useful in determining whether KOR antagonists exert their therapeutic effects by preventing the development of stress-induced behaviors, the expression of stress-induced behaviors, or both.
Librarian in search of a publisher and librarian/author

Librarian/Author." A Practical Guide on How to Get Published. Ed. Betty-Carol Sellen. New York: Neal-Schuman, 1985. 247p. $24.95. LC 85-4953. ISBN 0-918212-83-9. Many books advise the general public on getting their writing published. Librarian in Search o f a Publisher and Librar ian /Author are unusual in that they address the same advice to the librarian, These pragmatic books are notable in their organization, lucidity, and sensibility. Both books offer practical, useful information for librarians who are interested in publishing or public speaking. They should also be useful to nonlibrarians who are ready, or almost ready, to publish. The Alley/Cargill book is a guide to writing reviews, bibliographies, articles, and books; editing newsletters and periodicals; and writing for public presentation. It is divided into three sections. The first, "So You Want to Be a Librarian Who Publishes," comprises an introduction and "Getting Your Act Together," which suggests varied reasons for writing, including career advancement, promotion and tenure requirements, and professional and personal recognition. The authors understand that some people need more motivation than others and assume all need to begin with basic "how-to" information. They recommend beginning with reviews of books or periodicals and progressing to articles and monographs via bibliographies, editing, interviewing,
Localized electronic excitation in a hydrogen bond

Energy transfer via electronically excited states of a hydrogen-bonded network has been proposed as a model for energy transfer in biological systems. To examine this possibility on a simple hydrogen-bonded system, modest configuration interaction (CI) calculations are carried out on the bifluoride ion. The first few low lying excited states are examined, and all appear to be dissociative and/or autoionizing.
The Four Coordinate Geometric Parameter: A New Quantification of Geometry for Four Coordinate Aluminum and Gallium

The chemistry of aluminum and gallium compounds has long been a major area of research. Much of this interest stems from the compound's use as Lewis acid catalysts. Efforts to create better aluminum and gallium catalysts have often focused on the addition of new ligands to increase the Lewis acidity of the metals. However, a four coordinate Lewis acid catalyst generally must add a fifth substituent during its catalytic cycle, so the degree to which its geometry encourages this addition will also affect its activity. To help determine the degree to which a four coordinate compound is geometrically optimized to take on a fifth substituent, we have created the four coordinate geometric parameter (FGCP). The FGCP of a compound can be calculated by a simple formula utilizing the ligand-metal-ligand angles of the structure. A high FGCP value indicates a compound with an open space for a fifth substituent, while a lower FGCP value indicates a compound with a more tetrahedral geometry. A negative FGCP suggests a ...
International Replication Note Examining Selective Determinants of Job Performance for Entry and Lower-level Workers in Mexico

A partir de donnees collectees dans une usine mexicaine de traitement de bons et coupons, cette etude explore les determinants de la performance au travail de salaries des niveaux les plus modestes. Les resultats d'analyses de regression multivariee montrent que le niveau scolaire predit negativement la performance au Mexique, alors que c'est l'inverse aux Etats-Unis. La confiance en soi presente une correlation significative avec la performance. On discute de l'interet de ces decouvertes pour la selection professionnelle et pour les proprietaires de maquiladoras, ainsi que des domaines que de futures recherches se devront d'aborder.
Individualism and our fears of death

Abstract Using the varieties of fear that people have of death, as delineated by Robert Neale, the paper argues that these fears can be lessened by the sort of care provided for the sick and dying. The stronger emphasis, however, is on the ways in which America's myth of individualism, with its attendant narcissism, aggravates our fears of death. A stronger sense of membership in communities that accept us, support us, and continue after us is presented as the antidote to this individualism.
Global behavior of the evolution of a Rossby wave packet in barotropic flows on the earth's δ-surface

Abstract A concept of the δ-approxiniation for the earth's surface has been introduced. Using the Rossby wave packet approximation and the WKB method, the evolution of a single geostrophic synoptic disturbance system has been further studied on the δ-surface of the earth. The global behavior of the structural changes of the wave packet due to the zonal, the meridional and the asymmetric basic currents and the variety of the topography on the δ-surface of the earth have been discussed and compared with those an the earth's,β-plane by using the WKB phase plane, i.e., the wave packet's local wavenumber phase plane. The results show that the governing system on the earth's δ-surface may be dynamically different from that on the earth's β-plane. Moreover, the wave packet structural vacillation has been found on both the β-plane and the δ-surface. Wave packet structural vacillation is characterized by the time-periodic changes of the wave packet's structure. Both the tilt and the spatial scales of the packet wi...
Tobacco smoke exposure induces nicotine dependence in rats

Rationale Tobacco smoke contains nicotine and many other compounds that act in concert on the brain reward system. Therefore, animal models are needed that allow the investigation of chronic exposure to the full spectrum of tobacco smoke constituents.
Are neutron stars crushed? Gravitomagnetic tidal fields as a mechanism for binary-induced collapse

Numerical simulations of binary neutron stars by Wilson, Mathews, and Marronetti indicated that neutron stars that are stable in isolation can be made to collapse to black holes when placed in a binary. This claim was surprising as it ran counter to the Newtonian expectation that a neutron star in a binary should be more stable, not less. After correcting an error found by Flanagan, Wilson and Mathews found that the compression of the neutron stars was significantly reduced but not eliminated. This has motivated us to ask the following general question: Under what circumstances can general-relativistic tidal interactions cause an otherwise stable neutron star to be compressed? We have found that if a nonrotating neutron star possesses a current-quadrupole moment, interactions with a gravitomagnetic tidal field can lead to a compressive force on the star. If this current quadrupole is induced by the gravitomagnetic tidal field, it is related to the tidal field by an equation-of-state-dependent constant called the gravitomagnetic Love number. This is analogous to the Newtonian Love number that relates the strength of a Newtonian tidal field to the induced mass quadrupole moment of a star. The compressive force is almost never larger than the Newtonian tidalmore » interaction that stabilizes the neutron star against collapse. In the case in which a current quadrupole is already present in the star (perhaps as an artifact of a numerical simulation), the compressive force can exceed the stabilizing one, leading to a net increase in the central density of the star. This increase is small (< or approx. 1%) but could, in principle, cause gravitational collapse in a star that is close to its maximum mass. This paper also reviews the history of the Wilson-Mathews-Marronetti controversy and, in an appendix, extends the discussion of tidally induced changes in the central density to rotating stars.« less
Monoclonal antibody 1a3 recognizes a monomorphic epitope unique to DQ molecules.

Abstract Monoclonal antibody 1a3 reacts with a unique monomorphic epitope present only on DQ molecules as determined by immunoprecipitation, two-dimensional gel analysis and partial N-terminal amino acid sequencing. This monomorphic epitope is found on DQ molecules of all homozygous B lymphoblastoid cell lines tested, including those that type as either DQw1, DQw2, DQw3, or DQ “blank.” Analysis of the predicted secondary structure of class II molecules indicates that the regions most likely to constitute an antigenic determinant are variable in DQ molecules, possibly accounting for the rarity of antibodies to monomorphic DQ epitopes.
Critical care medicine and the perioperative physician

Summary This report has presented a broad historical picture of the development of modern critical care. The central role of anesthesiology in that process is apparent. In the United States, that role has clearly declined in the last few decades. The reasons for this decline have been suggested by information regarding attitudes of physicians currently training in anesthesiology. That data also suggest ways in which CCM can be made more appealing to those who represent the future of the specialty. Fortunately, CCM fellowship programs have increasing capacity to train anesthesiologists and the potential to increase our representation in active CCM practice is real. Whether such potential is realized will depend, not on academic medical centers, but on innovative private groups willing to add CCM to their scope of practice. Some suggestions regarding goals of such a practice have been proposed and can be summarized as (1) provide high-quality patient care, (2) accept the necessary level of commitment, and (3) learn to “share the load” with grace and sensitivity to the needs of all parties involved. This is not a contest of wills. It is a cooperative effort to make the best use of limited resources, both human and material. Data exist that clearly demonstrate the improvements possible with dedicated multidisci-plinary critical care services. The value from those improvements will be apparent to your patients, your colleagues, and the health care system of which you are a part.
Statewide prevalences of concern about enough food, 1996-1999.

Objective. Food insecurity is defined as not having access at all times to enough food for an active and healthy life-style. A Healthy People 2010 objective is to increase food security and reduce the risk of hunger for all households. The objective of this study was to characterize the prevalence of concern about enough food and its association with other sociodemographic and health characteristics at the state level. Methods. Adult respondents participating in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey provided information on concern about enough food from nine states from 1996 through 1999. Results. Overall, the prevalence of concern about enough food ranged from 3.1% to 11.8% for individual states. Across states, low household income was the strongest predictor of concern about enough food. The odds of being concerned about enough food were generally higher among respondents who were female, younger, and without health care coverage. The odds were generally lower among those reporting excellent or very good general health and among non-Hispanic whites. Conclusion. Food security scales could be used at the state level to track progress for the Healthy People 2010 objective of reducing food insecurity and hunger across American households.
Primary Source Research and the Undergraduate: A Transforming Landscape

Archivists have created millions of digital primary source images that have contributed to the transformation in history teaching. This generation of students arrive on the college campus familiar with primary source documents but as yet unprepared to search finding aids or understand archival collections. This review of archival, educational, and historical literature presents core information about new teaching methods, the scholarship of teaching and learning, digitization efforts, and the efforts by archivists to more fully understand new users. This information offers a starting point for an ongoing partnership between archivists and faculty in teaching effectively with primary sources.
Tracheal colonization factor: a Bordetella pertussis secreted virulence determinant

Summary We report here the identification of a virulence-associated factor, Tcf, (tracheal colonization factor), produced by strains of Bordetella pertussis but not Bordetella parapertussis or Bordetella bronchiseptica. This protein is encoded by the tcfA gene. When a strain of B. pertussis 18323 lacking this protein is used to infect mice with an aerosol challenge, the number of bacteria isolated from the tracheas is decreased 10-foid when compared with the parent 18323. The derived amino acid sequence of tcfA predicts a 68 kDa RGD-containing, proline-rich protein, which after cleavage of a typical prokaryotic signal sequence would be 64 kDa. Amino acid sequence analysis demonstrates that the C-terminal 30 kDa of this protein shows 50% identity to the 30 kDa C-terminus of another Bordetella protein, the pertactin precursor. The N-terminal 34 kDa region contains the three amino-acid motif RGD and is 16.5% proline. Coupled in vitro transcription and translation analysis indicates that the tcfA gene product migrates as two bands of approximately 90 kDa. A fusion protein of the N-terminal, 34 kDa portion of Tcf to maltose-binding protein migrates, on SDS–PAGE, 30 kDa higher than expected from the combined molecular weights. Polyclonal antisera raised against the unique N-terminal portion of Tcf recognizes 90 kDa and 60 kDa bands in immunoblots of whole-cell lysates of strains of B. pertussis; it does not recognize any protein in whole-cell lysates of B. bronchiseptica or B. parapertussis. Supernatants of cultures of B. pertussis 18323 contain the 60 kDa form of the protein. Southern blot analysis of chromosomal DNA from strains of B. bronchiseptica and B. parapertussis, using a probe derived from tcfA, shows strong hybridization only to B. pertussis DNA. Thus, Tcf appears to be a unique virulence factor of B. pertussis.
Laccase-less mutants of the white-rot fungus Pycnoporus cinnabarinus cannot delignify kraft pulp

The white-rot fungus Pycnoporus cinnabarinus produces only one isoform of laccase and traces of a peroxidase which is neither manganese peroxidase (MnP) nor lignin peroxidase (LiP). To test the impact of laccase on pulp bleaching we performed studies with P. cinnabarinus wild type (WT) and its laccase-less mutants on softwood kraft pulp (SWKP) in both static and shake flask cultures. In the static pulp cultures (at 20% pulp consistency in water), after 25 days incubation, P. cinnabarinus wild type increased the pulp brightness from 35 to 59% ISO, and decreased the kappa number from 15 to 5.7. However P. cinnabarinus laccase-less mutants 51 and 85 increased the brightness to only 40.6 and 40.7, and decreased the kappa number to 12 and 13.4, respectively. In the shake flask cultures with pulp suspended in water (at 2% consistency), the wild type increased pulp brightness from 38 to 52.4% ISO, and decreased the kappa number from 12 to 5.9. The laccase-less mutants 51, and 85 increased the brightness only to 43.8 and 40, and decrease the kappa number to 9.2 and 10.6, respectively. These results showed that both in the static and shaking cultures, the laccase-less mutants were very inefficient or unable to bleach pulp which is a clear indication of the importance of laccase for lignin degradation and pulp bleaching by P. cinnabarinus.
Effect of reserpine on Trichinella spiralis infection in rats

Abstract Pretreatment with reserpine increased the susceptibility of rats to infection with Trichinella spiralis . This effect was not due to the hypothermia caused by reserpine nor to a direct effect of reserpine on the infecting organisms. Reserpine did not cause detectable changes in circulating eosinophil levels but did alter the serum protein patterns of the rats.
Genetic evidence in Caenorhabditis elegans implicates a syntaxin-1A-binding protein as critical for presynaptic volatile anesthetic action

Abstract Among the many cellular actions of volatile anesthetics (VAs), inhibition of neurotransmitter release is one of the least understood. The presynaptic release machinery has been proposed as a presynaptic VA target. We have found that the effects of clinical concentrations of VAs on locomotion in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans are markedly reduced by mutation of the presynaptic SNARE protein syntaxin-1A. The syntaxin mutation results in a truncated syntaxin product along with reduced amounts of wild-type syntaxin. We hypothesize that the truncated mutant syntaxin functions to antagonize VA action on some unknown VA target, presumably by physically interacting with it. We have produced additional syntaxin truncation mutants, and their testing revealed that only the first two helical domains of the protein are necessary and sufficient for conferring VA resistance. This region of the protein is known to interact with only a few proteins, including N/P/Q/R-type calcium channels and UNC-13. Testing of a null mutant of the only known N/P/Q/R-type calcium channel showed that it was not VA resistant. These data implicate UNC-13 as the most likely mediator of VA sensitivity and could explain several puzzling observations about VA effects on vertebrate neurotransmitter release.
The last stand of the reciprocating steam engine

During the year 1920 the people of the United States will pay out for automobiles, not commercial trucks or farm tractors, but pleasure vehicles, a sum of money considerably greater than the estimated requirements of our steam railways for that year. The railways however, may find it very difficult and perhaps impossible to secure the large sums needed without government aid, notwithstanding the fact that the continued operation and expansion of our roads are of vital necessity to the welfare and prosperity of the country and all its industries. The will of the American public has always been constructive and undoubtedly, in due time, its voice will be heard and properly interpreted by its representatives in Washington with the resulting enactment of such laws as will permit our railways again to offer an attractive field for the investment of private capital.
A study on the role of software architecture in the evolution and quality of software

Conventional wisdom suggests that a software system's architecture has a significant impact on its evolution. Prior research has studied the evolution of software using the information of how its files have changed together in their revision history. No prior study, however, has investigated the impact of architecture on the evolution of software from its change history. This is mainly because most open-source software systems do not document their architectures. We have overcome this challenge using several architecture recovery techniques. We used the recovered models to examine if co-changes spanning multiple architecture modules are more likely to introduce bugs than co-changes that are within modules. The results show that the co-changes that cross architectural module boundaries are more correlated with defects than co-changes within modules, implying that, to improve accuracy, bug predictors should also take the software architecture of the system into consideration.
Isomer identification by kinetic energy release measurements using the voltage pulsed collision cell technique in mass‐analysed ion kinetic energy spectrometry

The voltage pulsing of the collision cell on a mass-analysed ion kinetic energy spectrometer allows simultaneous kinetic energy release measurements for unimolecular (T(V)), collision-induced (TCID(V)) and composite unimolecular and collision-induced (Tcomp(V)) decomposition processes in the time frame of a capillary gas chromatographic peak. The information gained by voltage pulsing sometimes allows more reliable isomer identification than by kinetic energy release measurements made in the non-pulsing mode alone. Presented are T(V), TCID(V) and Tcomp(V), and the ratio of their intensities for a number of isomeric halogenated compounds.
Reaction of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes with Organic Peroxides

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) induce the decomposition of four diacyl peroxides by single electron transfer (SET). Phthaloyl peroxide functionalizes SWNTs to the greatest extent of the four. It was also found that t-butoxy radicals add to SWNTs but that SWNTs fail to inhibit cumene autoxidation. Thus, SWNTs are reactive to alkoxy radicals but not to alkylperoxy radicals.
Reliability-based estimation of the survival of Listeria monocytogenes in chorizos

Reliability analysis is especially important when critical decisions are to be made involving potentially severe adverse consequences such as foodborne illness. Owing to uncertainty associated with the parameters controlling survival of Listeria monocytogenes in chorizo (a Mexican-style sausage), the time needed to reduce the count by a certain number (n) of logs (tnD) is probabilistic. In this paper the first-order second-moment (FOSM) method based on Taylor series expansion is used to derive the expected value and standard deviation of tnD as function of the operating conditions (random variables) affecting survival, namely initial water activity (aw0) of the sausage batter, storage temperature (T) and airflow velocity (F), along with their uncertainties characterised by their means and coefficients of variation. For any given n the derived tnD probability distribution enables one to determine an estimate of tnD for any desired level of reliability or confidence level, such as 50% (median value), 95%, 99%, etc. Among the conclusions drawn were: (i) the variability associated with T and F has a minor effect on estimating uncertainty in tnD, whereas the reliability of tnD estimation is greatly influenced by the uncertainty in aw0; and (ii) the uncertainty in aw0 has the greatest impact when aw0 of the sausage formulation exceeds 0.90. The approach used and discussed in this paper can be applied to any survival/inactivation study to incorporate the effect of uncertainty in the various extrinsic and intrinsic parameters on the survival kinetics of the pathogen in a food system under evaluation. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry
Autism recurrence in half siblings: strong support for genetic mechanisms of transmission in ASD.

Autism recurrence in half siblings: strong support for genetic mechanisms of transmission in ASD
Denis Johnson's Jesus' Son: To Kingdom Come

Abstract At the end of Denis Johnson's first novel, Angels, the lawyer whose client is about to be executed for murder experiences a revelation about his future career and, ultimately, his identity. He recognizes that he is still young enough to be the elected official “to something or other” that he had assumed he would eventually become, but he realizes that his client's death has changed him. Instead of achieving respectable political office, he knows that he will “probably continue the rest of his life as a criminal lawyer because, in all honesty, a part of him wanted to help murderers go free” (209). Although there is reason to believe that his client's character has been transformed into a redeemable soul during his brief jail term, the moment is nonetheless disturbing because we are unsure whether Fredericks identifies with his client's potential redemption or with the act from which his client must be redeemed. The moment is an emblematic one in Johnson's fiction, revealing an almost obsessive int...
The utilization of fission fragment energy for the fixation of nitrogen

The principles involved in designing a process for the production of fixed nitrogen by the direct use of fission fragment recoil energy are reviewed. The problems concerned with the radiation chemistry, development of fuel element, reactor design, and chemical process design are pointed out. Possible solutions to these problems incorporated in a complete plant design are presented. An economic evaluation, comparing the chemonuclear process with other conventional processes, is made. The conclusion is reached that at the present state of knowledge there does not seem to be any clear-cut advantage over conventional processes, even based on a nuclear economy. However moderate research efforts should continue for further evaluation of this process.
Transposable elements in Antirrhinum majus: generators of genetic diversity

Abstract Several unstable mutations in Antirrhinum majus are caused by the insertion of transposable elements into genes. Excision and rearrangements of these elements can give rise to quantitative genetic variation and altered spatial patterns of gene expression. Element transposition is controlled by genetic and environmental factors and may make an important contribution to natural variation.
278 Jak/Stat3 SIGNALING PROMOTES SOMATIC CELL REPROGRAMMING BY EPIGENETIC REGULATION

Although leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) maintains the ground state pluripotency of mouse embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) by activating the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Jak/Stat3) pathway, the mechanism remains unclear. Stat3 has only been shown to promote complete reprogramming of epiblast and neural stem cells, and the partially reprogrammed cells (pre-iPSC). We investigated if and how Jak/Stat3 activation promotes reprogramming of terminally differentiated mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF). We demonstrated that activated Stat3 not only promotes but is essential for the pluripotency establishment in MEF cell reprogramming. We further demonstrated that, during reprogramming, inhibiting Jak/Stat3 activity blocks demethylation of Oct4 and Nanog regulatory DNA sequences in induced cells, which are marked by suppressed endogenous pluripotent gene expression. These are correlated with significant upregulation of DNA methyltransferase (Dnmt) 1 and histone deacetylases (HDAC) expression, as well as the increased expression of lysine-specific histone demethylase 2 and methyl-CpG binding protein 2. Inhibiting Jak/Stat3 also blocks the expression of Dnmt3L, which is correlated with the failure of retroviral transgene silencing. Furthermore, Dnmt or HDAC inhibitor but not overexpression of Nanog rescues the reprogramming arrested by Jak/Stat3 inhibition or LIF deprivation. Finally, we demonstrated that LIF/Stat3 signal also represents the prerequisite for complete reprogramming of pre-iPSC. We conclude that Jak/Stat3 activity plays a fundamental role in promoting the establishment of pluripotency at the epigenetic level, by facilitating DNA demethylation/de novo methylation and open-chromatin formation during late stage reprogramming.
Evidence for the direct ejection of clusters from alkali-halides during laser vaporization

We have studied the formation of clusters of alkali halides during laser vaporization. Measurements of the abundances of cluster ions produced by several different source configurations indicate that clusters are ejected directly from the source sample and do not necessarily grow from an atomic or molecular vapor. Using samples consisting of mixed alkali halide powders, we have found that unalloyed clusters are easily produced in a source that prevents growth from occurring after the clusters leave the sample surface. Melting the sample or encouraging growth after vaporization lead to the production of alloyed cluster species. We also obtain information about the relative binding energies for substituted halogen ions bound to alkali halide clusters.
A Simple Approach to Emulation for Computer Models With Qualitative and Quantitative Factors

We propose a flexible yet computationally efficient approach for building Gaussian process models for computer experiments with both qualitative and quantitative factors. This approach uses the hypersphere parameterization to model the correlations of the qualitative factors, thus avoiding the need of directly solving optimization problems with positive definite constraints. The effectiveness of the proposed method is successfully illustrated by several examples.
Ozone and Anthrax - Knowns and Unknowns

Abstract Mailings of envelopes containing anthrax spores (Bacillus anthracis) have caused serious disruptions of business operations in various parts of the United States, and several people tragically have lost their lives from resulting exposure to anthrax. These incidents have caused U.S. government agencies to investigate this material and to evaluate methods of neutralizing it. Ozone is one candidate countermeasure. In this paper, what is known about ozone and its ability to destroy B. anthracis spores (and accepted surrogates) is discussed. High relative humidity is required to “soften up” the spore coating prior to addition of any disinfectant. Ozone clearly is a sufficiently powerful oxidant to destroy B. anthracis in relatively short exposure times. Of major concern, however, is ozone's equally clear ability to produce collateral damage in areas where it is used. Research on ozone is needed to fill data gaps, in order to convince government authorities in charge of anti-terrorism activities that ...
YplA Is Exported by the Ysc, Ysa, and Flagellar Type III Secretion Systems of Yersinia enterocolitica

Yersinia enterocolitica maintains three different pathways for type III protein secretion. Each pathway requires the activity of a specific multicomponent apparatus or type III secretion system (TTSS). Two of the TTSSs are categorized as contact-dependent systems which have been shown in a number of different symbiotic and pathogenic bacteria to influence interactions with host organisms by targeting effector proteins into the cytosol of eukaryotic cells. The third TTSS is required for the assembly of flagella and the secretion of the phospholipase YplA, which has been implicated in Y. enterocolitica virulence. In this study, YplA was expressed from a constitutive promoter in strains that contained only a single TTSS. It was determined that each of the three TTSSs is individually sufficient for YplA secretion. Environmental factors such as temperature, calcium availability, and sodium chloride concentration affected the contribution of each system to extracellular protein secretion and, under some conditions, more than one TTSS appeared to operate simultaneously. This suggests that some proteins might normally be exported by more than one TTSS in Y. enterocolitca.
Low-Molecular-Weight and Oligomeric Components in Secondary Organic Aerosol from the Ozonolysis of Cycloalkenes and α-Pinene

The composition of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) from the ozonolysis of C_5−C_8 cycloalkenes and α-pinene, as well as the effects of hydrocarbon precursor structure and particle-phase acidity on SOA formation, have been investigated by a series of controlled laboratory chamber experiments. A liquid chromatography−mass spectrometer and an ion trap mass spectrometer are used concurrently to identify and to quantify SOA components with molecular weights up to 1600 Da. Diacids, carbonyl-containing acids, diacid alkyl esters, and hydroxy diacids are the four major classes of low-molecular-weight (MW 250 Da) are found to be present in all SOA. Using surrogate standards, it is estimated that the mass fraction of oligomers in the total SOA is at least 10% for the cycloalkene systems (with six or more carbons) and well over 50% for the α-pinene system. Higher seed particle acidity is found to lead to more rapid oligomer formation and, ultimately, to higher SOA yields. Because oligomers are observed to form even in the absence of seed particles, organic acids produced from hydrocarbon oxidation itself may readily promote acid catalysis and oligomer formation. The distinct effects of carbon numbers, substituent groups, and isomeric structures of the precursor hydrocarbons on the composition and yield of SOA formed are also discussed.