cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adiponectin Promotes Maternal β-Cell Expansion Through Placental Lactogen Expression.

Hypoadiponectinemia is a risk factor of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Our previous study reported that adiponectin gene knockout mice (Adipoq -/- ) develop GDM due to insulin insufficiency. The main objective of this study was to elucidate the underlying mechanism through which adiponectin controls islet expansion during pregnancy. A significant reduction in β-cell proliferation rates, β-cell areas, and blood insulin concentrations was detected in Adipoq -/- mice at midpregnancy. Surprisingly, conditionally knocking down adiponectin receptor 1 (AdipoR1) or AdipoR2 genes in β-cells during pregnancy did not reduce β-cell proliferation rates or blood insulin concentrations. In vitro adiponectin treatment also failed to show any effect on β-cell proliferation of isolated pancreatic islets. It was reported that placental lactogen (PL) plays a crucial role in pregnancy-induced maternal β-cell proliferation. A significant decrease in phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 5, a downstream molecule of PL signaling, was observed in islets from Adipoq -/- dams. The mRNA levels of mouse PL genes were robustly decreased in the placentas of Adipoq -/- dams. In contrast, adiponectin treatment increased PL expression in human placenta explants and JEG3 trophoblast cells. Most importantly, bovine PL injection restored β-cell proliferation and blood insulin concentrations in Adipoq -/- dams. Together, these results demonstrate that adiponectin plays a vital role in pregnancy-induced β-cell proliferation by promoting PL expression in trophoblast cells.
Ectodomain shedding by ADAM17 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17) in canine neutrophils

ADAM17 is a transmembrane protease expressed by most cells in humans and mice that cleaves cell surface substrates primarily in a cis manner, a process referred to as ectodomain shedding. ADAM17 has numerous substrates and plays a broad role in various physiological processes, including as a key regulator of inflammation. At this time, little is known about ADAM17 expression and function in dogs. A well-established ADAM17 substrate is the leukocyte adhesion protein CD62L (L-selectin). We show that a selective inhibitor of ADAM17, but not an inhibitor of its most closely related family member ADAM10, blocks CD62L shedding upon canine neutrophil activation. We also tested several anti-human ADAM17 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for staining canine neutrophils. Although most did not recognize canine neutrophils, the mAbs MEDI3622 and D1(A12) did. They also blocked the downregulation of CD62L upon neutrophil activation. MEDI3622 is a human IgG antibody and we found that a canine chimeric version of this mAb also blocked CD62L shedding by canine leukocytes. Taken together, our findings provide the first direct evidence of ADAM17 expression and sheddase activity in dogs, establishing a potential therapeutic target for various inflammatory disorders.
Complementary and Integrative Health Approaches for Women’s Mental Health

Complementary and integrative health approaches are increasingly recognized as important for prevention of or intervention in health concerns in general, and many women in the United States seek accessible approaches for specifically enhancing mental wellness. In this chapter, we review briefly the key terminology regarding, classifications of, and important resources for complementary and integrative health approaches. We present findings from three recent research studies about the use of mind-body approaches (guided imagery, tai chi, and yoga) specifically for women’s mental health. A discussion of clinical and research implications of these studies is intended to inform healthcare professionals’ knowledge about these increasingly accessible, safe, and effective complementary approaches for self-care and management of stress and depression in women.
More Likely to Have Risky Sex but less Sexually Satisfied: a Profile of High Social Interaction Anxiety, Urgency, and Emotion Dysregulation

Social anxiety disorder is prevalent and negatively impacts adolescents and young adults. People with social interaction anxiety, a presentation category of social anxiety disorder pertaining to social relationships, tend to be more withdrawn, avoidant, and sexually dissatisfied. Some individuals with social interaction anxiety are more likely to engage in health-risk sexual behavior (HRSB), likely associated with individual differences. The present study used finite mixture modeling to discern profiles comprised of social interaction anxiety and individual differences previously associated with HRSB, replicating and extending previous findings (Rahm-Knigge et al. 2018). We also examined differences in sexual satisfaction among profiles. We replicated identifying two profiles high in social interaction anxiety that substantively differed in response to positive and negative emotions, emotion-regulation strategies, risk seeking, and non-acceptance of emotions. The profile high in social interaction anxiety and these individual differences was likelier to engage in HRSB than the other high social anxiety profile. Both high social interaction anxiety profiles were similarly low in sexual satisfaction. Despite differences in individual differences and engagement in HRSB, profiles high in social interaction anxiety reported similarly lower sexual satisfaction than the profiles low in social interaction anxiety.
Networked testimony as necroresistance

By catalyzing the affective sentiments of networked publics through the depiction of death, necroresistance cultivates empowerment through the sight of death to enable the security of the living. T...
Special Session: The Importance of Internal Marketing of Organizational Continuity Planning for Nonprofit Organizations: An Abstract

Nonprofit organizations, like their for-profit counterparts, are susceptible to a variety of disasters and severe outage situations. Examples include (1) the large-scale 2017 WannaCry ransomware cyberattack affecting more than 100 countries, which froze 300,000 computers in 48 of England’s National Health Services trusts until a bitcoin payoff was processed, (2) the 2018 fire which gutted the National Museum of Brazil and over 90% of its 20 million artifacts, and (3) damage from 2018’s Hurricane Florence (estimated, at $170 billion, to be the costliest storm ever to hit the U.S.), which closed many local nonprofit organizations whose mission is to provide support to those in need (CoreLogic 2018) These situations, which are disasters for affected nonprofit organizations and their stakeholders, have something in common. Due, perhaps, to resource constraints, organizations in the nonprofit sector are less likely to have developed, maintained and exercised robust in-house disaster preparedness and recovery plans. A common perspective (shared by many for-profit organizations) on the potential for serious disaster/outage situations is “it’s never going to happen”, “it won’t happen here” and/or “it won’t happen to us”.
Peer teaching as bioinformatics training strategy: incentives, challenges, and benefits.

Abstract As biomedical research becomes more data-intensive, bioinformatics is becoming essential to understanding biological processes, systems, and diseases. In this paper we describe the use of a series of peer teaching workshops as a strategy to respond to the bioinformatics training needs at a research-intensive institution. In addition to the data collected from the workshops, we also used personal experiences of researchers who participated as peer teachers to understand the incentives, challenges, and benefits of peer teaching. Developing communication skills such as confidence in teaching, explaining complex concepts, and better understanding of the topic emerged as primary benefits that the teachers obtained from this experience. Lack of time for teaching and the struggles of classroom management were identified as two major challenges. We suggest that peer teaching can be beneficial not only to train researchers in bioinformatics, but also as a professional development opportunity for graduate students and postdoctoral trainees.
A Scientific Approach and Perception for Clinical Practice in India

The rate and extent of absorption of a drug from its dosage form is referred to as bioavailability. While bioequivalence between two drug products is attained if their extent and rate of absorption do not relatively differ when administered at the same dose. A bioequivalence study comprises of two or more bioavailability studies which are performed by i) Measurement of active drug substance or its metabolites in the biological fluid; ii) Comparative pharmacodynamic studies in humans; iii) Comparative clinical trials; iv) Comparative in-vitro dissolution studies. The rationale of the study is the monitoring of the pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic parameters (AUC, Cmax) after administration of the tested drug. This study is not an experimental study but a form of data analysis and reporting of comparative bioavailability studies. The study data obtained is required to be equipped with applications of new drug products as notified in Schedule Y. Cumulatively, it aids in the development of pharmaceutical preparations in the pharmaceutical industry. This review article aims to illustrate the systematic overview of BA/BE study with an emphasis on its experimental aspects like study design, volunteer selection, dosing regimen, sample collection procedures along with a detailed insight on Informed Consent Document, Case Report Form, Trial Master file and the Protocol which collectively form the backbone of the clinical study.
Internationalizing business education : meeting the challenge

"Internationalizing Business Education" is a carefully edited selection of twenty-three essays written by leading educators of international business. this exhaustive treatment of the various dimensions of business school internationalization is divided into seven parts: Rationale and Conceptual Foundation; Historical Perspectives; Faculty Development; Curriculum; Institutional Strategies; Center/Institute Models, and Linkages. This work evolved from the Roundtable on Internationalizing the Business Schools and Faculty held in June 1991 at Michigan State University. The conference brought together business faculty and administrators from North America, Europe, and Australia who shared their perspectives and experiences, and brainstormed about approaches to internationalizing business education. These experts present their views in this volume. In the 1990s, businesses continue to face the challenge of staying competitive in an increasingly global market. Business schools need to internationalize their programs to remain competitive. Until now, information about alternative strategies was not widely available. This book provides business educators, public policymakers, scholars of educational practices, and business executives with the tools they need to compete globally.
Multiscale ab initio simulation of Ni-based alloys: Real-space distribution of atoms in γ + γ′ phase

Abstract Real-space partitioning of elements to γ and γ′ phases in Ni-based alloys were simulated at atomic scale using ab initio-based multiscale DFT + CEMC approach. The method uses density functional theory (DFT) calculations to parameterize cluster expansion (CE) of the configuration energy, followed by Monte Carlo (MC) simulations at finite temperatures (T). The set of clusters for the CE, which controls the accuracy of the expansion, was determined by the method of model selection by minimizing cross-validation score SCV using genetic algorithm (GA). The MC algorithm was accelerated through parallelization using spatial decomposition allowing simulation of system containing millions of atoms. Real space distribution of atoms was obtained for Ni–Al, Ni–Al–Ti and Ni–Al–Ti–Co alloys as a function of T and for select alloy compositions in γ + γ′ phase. For ternary Ni–Al–Ti alloys, simulation correctly captures preferential partitioning of Ti to γ′ whereas interplay of interactions determines the partitioning of Ti and Co in quaternary alloys. Simulation results were validated by comparing phase boundaries and the volume fraction of γ′ (obtained from real space) with thermodynamic calculations using experimental database. The approach opens up the route to calculate configuration-dependent alloy-specific parameters for higher length scale models for multi-component alloys.
Chapter 20 Effects of Cyclic Nucleotides and Calcium Ions on Bufo Rods

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the effects of cyclic nucleotides and calcium ions on the Bufo rods. In vertebrate rods, both calcium ions and cyclic nucleotides have been proposed to be the diffusible messengers that mediate excitation between the rhodopsin that absorbs a photon and the conductance channels of the outer segment plasma membrane. By analogy, it has been proposed that Ca 2+ and intracellular cyclic nucleotides also interact in rod outer segments (ROSs) so that a change in either produces similar changes in the electrical activity of the rods. To examine the possibility that changes in the concentration of both Ca 2+ and cyclic nucleotides produce the same changes in the electrical activity of rods, intracellularly responses from ROSs in the isolated superfused retina of Bufo marinus need to be recorded. The chapter examines the sensitivity of the rods to light, the kinetics of the receptor potential, and the membrane voltage in the dark during procedures that ought to change the intracellular concentration of either Ca 2+ or cyclic nucleotides.
Mg Desolvation and Intercalation Mechanism at the Mo6S8 Chevrel Phase Surface

In this work, we examine the Mg-ion desolvation and intercalation process at the Chevrel phase Mo6S8 cathode surface from first principles. It is reported that in electrolytes based on chlorides in tetrahydrofuran (THF), Mg2+ is strongly coordinated by the counterion Cl– and can form singly charged MgCl+ and Mg2Cl3+ species in solution. During cell discharge, intercalation of Mg into the Chevrel phase requires breaking the strong, ionic Mg–Cl bond. Our simulation results indicate that the stripping of Cl– is facilitated by the existence of another cationic species, Mo on the Chevrel phase surface. Once Mg is intercalated, it leaves the counterion, Cl–, on the surface, bound to Mo. It is found that the chlorinated surface presents higher activation barriers to further intercalate Mg. Instead, the chlorinated surface continues to interact with incoming MgCl+ species and form various MgCly surface adsorbates. With certain energy costs, the neutral MgCl2 unit may be released from these surface adsorbates to r...
Token Level Identification of Linguistic Code Switching

Typically native speakers of Arabic mix dialectal Arabic and Modern Standard Arabic in the same utterance. This phenomenon is known as linguistic code switching (LCS). It is a very challenging task to identify these LCS points in written text where we don’t have an accompanying speech signal. In this paper, we address automatic identification of LCS points in Arabic social media text by identifying token level dialectal words. We present an unsupervised approach that employs a set of dictionaries, sound-change rules, and language models to tackle this problem. We tune and test the performance of our approach against human-annotated Egyptian and Levantine discussion fora datasets. Two types of annotations on the token level are obtained for each dataset: context sensitive and context insensitive annotation. We achieve a token level Fβ=1 score of 74% and 72.4% on the context-sensitive development and test datasets, respectively. On the context insensitive annotated data, we achieve a token level Fβ=1 score of 84.4% and 84.9% on the development and test datasets, respectively.
Analysis and Design of Controllers for Robust Stability of Interconnected Discrete Systems

This paper presents sufficient conditions for the stability of interconnected discrete systems and interconnected uncertain discrete systems. These results use a recently developed bound on elemental (structured) time-varying perturbations of an asymptotically stable linear time-invariant discrete system, based on Lyapunov theory and singular value decomposition techniques. These stability bounds are then used in the design of controllers for interconnected uncertain discrete systems. Two types of controller designs are considered. The first is a local-controller (sub-system level) based on linear regulator theory. The second is a two-level controller (local and global). These new results are also illustrated with simple examples.
A Generative Ontological Unity of Heart-Mind and Nature in the Four Books

Traditional scholarship seems not to pay sufficient attention to the fact that Daxue 《大學》 has established a system of ethical and political philosophy on the basis of the idea of xin 心 (heart-mind) whereas the Zhongyong 《中庸》 has argued for the participation of the human person in the creativities of heaven and earth based on the onto-generative nature (xing 性) of the human person. How to explain this fact and interrelate and integrate these two systems become both a historical challenge and a theoretical issue in the understanding of the Confucian philosophy of humanity as we find in the Lunyu 《論語》.
Verbal Establishing Stimuli: Testing the Motivative Effect of Stimuli in a Derived Relation with Consequences

The present study examined whether the presentation of stimuli in equivalence relations with consequences increases the operant behavior that produces these consequences. in Experiment 1, both normal words and experimentally trained equivalence stimuli did so with young children. in Experiment 2, results were similar with college students. Here, a computer-based task was used, pitting discriminative control established within the experiment against the possible moti-vative effect of stimuli in equivalence relations with consequences of known impact. Results suggest that such stimuli function as verbal establishing stimuli.
Thermodynamic foundation of the zero emission concept

By definition, zero emission coal plants generate power without any purposeful emissions to the atmosphere. This is only possible if all the CO2 produced is captured and if one avoids the admixture of nitrogen from the air with fuel gases. Because zero emission coal plants have no smoke stack, they emit no pollutants to the air. Zero emission plants circulate a gas stream to which fresh fuel is added and from which spent fuel and impurities are removed as solids or liquids. Coal is gasified via hydrogenation (hydrogasification), steam reforming or C02 gasification (Boudouard reaction). In one class of zero emission coal plants, the gas (not necessarily hydrogen) is oxidized in a fuel cell and the resultant water and CO2 are partially removed before returning the remaining gas to the gasifier. The high conversion efficiency of zero emission power plants, which exceeds 70% even in realistic designs, stems from combining fuel cells with careful heat management. The paper generalizes the concepts and outlines the thermodynamic basis of zero emission power plants.
A comparison of department chair tasks in Australia and the United States

Virtually every managerial book written lists and expounds upon the tasks, duties, roles and responsibilities of administrators. This paper reports a portion of the findings of the third phase of a study of Australian and U.S. academic department chairs in colleges and universities. In it, we seek to clarify how chairs in the two countries define the tasks that exemplify their role as chair. The driving question behind this inquiry is: Do academic department chairs, independent of country, define their tasks in the same way? And, if so, how might universities in both countries benefit from this knowledge?
Gas Hydrates in Convergent Margins: Formation, Occurrence, Geochemistry, and Global Significance

Methane is the dominant gas (>99%) occupying marine gas hydrate cages, except for a high CO 2 (23%) occurrence in the Middle America Trench and a high H 2 S occurrence (∼10%) at the Cascadia Margin. Methane C isotope ratios indicate that most is biogenically derived; the amount of admixed thermogenic methane is as yet undetermined. Convergent margins provide a highly favorable environment for methane hydrate formation. The physical-chemical constraints on methane hydrate stability, together with the distinct tectonic, sedimentologic, and hydrologic characteristics of convergent margins, are responsible (1) for higher rates and amounts of formation of both disseminated and massive methane hydrate. Estimates of pore volume occupancies range from a few percent to >25%; (2) for increased methane hydrate concentrations at and near the rather strong amplitude BSRs, that are often discontinuous and patchy, and along fluid conduits, resulting in a spatially irregular distribution throughout the stability field; and (3) for a more widespread occurrence of near seafloor methane hydrate, intimately associated with massive authigenic carbonates, indicating intense upward migration of methane-rich fluids. The BSR may occur above or below the base of the equilibrium stability field. Occurrence above the predicted BSR depth suggests limited supply of methane, and occurrence below it indicates ample supply of methane that causes transient time-intervals of overpressure. Based on global areal distribution, tectonics, sedimentology, hydrology, and organic matter content and type, thus potential of methane yield, it is estimated that, exclusive of shelf and permafrost occurrences, about two-thirds (60-65%) of the vast marine gas hydrate reservoir is situated in convergent margins. This tectonic environment is, therefore, of particular importance for considerations of the role of methane hydrate in the oceanic C cycle, and of the potential responses of methane hydrate to environmental stressers. The methane hydrates near the seafloor and at the BSR are most vulnerable to dissociation upon environmental stresses. Catastrophic events of methane release from hydrate, for example by major submarine landslides, may profoundly influence seawater chemistry, i.e. cause oceanic anoxia and somewhat reduce the ocean's capacity of CO 2 incorporation. The non-oxidized methane will be released to the atmosphere and enhance global warming.
Characterization of the integration time for the stabilization of long- term potentiation in area CA1 of the hippocampus

In area CA1 of the hippocampus, synaptic activation of NMDA receptors during postsynaptic depolarization can generate either a decremental synaptic potentiation termed short-term potentiation (STP) or stable, long-term potentiation (LTP). Examining the relationship between these two forms of synaptic enhancement should provide information about the intracellular processes responsible for the stabilization of LTP. Using the hippocampal slice preparation, initial experiments confirmed that STP can be generated either by a weak tetanus or by pairing a single EPSP with postsynaptic depolarization. Following the generation of submaximal LTP, application of a weak, STP-inducing tetanus resulted in STP (not LTP), suggesting that the processes responsible for stabilizing LTP must be activated during induction and cannot be accessed at later times. To determine the interval over which processes activated during STP can be integrated and result in stable LTP (the “integration time” for the stabilization of LTP), a fixed number of afferent stimuli were given at varying intervals (5–60 sec) during postsynaptic depolarization. Using either extracellular or whole-cell recording, LTP was rarely (11% of experiments) elicited at 1 min intervals and frequently (76% of experiments) elicited at 10 sec intervals. These results indicate that following a single EPSP during postsynaptic depolarization, the processes responsible for the stabilization of LTP decay significantly within approximately 1 min, although this value may depend on the level of activation of the requisite intracellular processes.
The Relationship between Dipeptidase Activity Variation and Larval Viability in Drosophila melanogaster

ABSTRACT The enzyme dipeptidase-A (DIP-A) in Drosophila melanogaster is coded by a second chromosome locus that is polymorphic for three allozymes in natural populations. DIP-A appears to be the only enzyme in D. melanogaster capable of hydrolyzing the dipeptide glycyl-l-isoleucine, since flies homozygous for null alleles at this locus have no detectable glycyl- l-isoleucine-ase activity. DIP-A activity occurs in many tissues and throughout development, but is particularly high in the larval midgut, suggesting an important role in protein digestion. These observations suggested an experimental design for investigating the adaptive significance of genetic variation in DIP-A activity. Fitness components of DIP-A variants could be estimated and compared under two environmental conditions (defined diets under axenic conditions). In the restrictive environment, the essential amino acid l-isoleucine is provided only in the form of glycyl-l-isoleucine, whereas in the permissive environment, l-isoleucine is provided in free form. We predicted that DIP-A activity would be essential in the restrictive, but not in the permissive environment. The results reported here clearly contradict this prediction. Two stocks homozygous for DIP-A null alleles from different geographic locations are each viable on the restrictive diet. Furthermore, relative viability experiments in which null allele larvae compete with larvae having DIP-A activity provide no evidence for even a partial reduction in egg to adult survival on the restrictive diet. Apparently, the null allele larvae have some alternative mechanism for obtaining l-isoleucine from the dipeptide, even though no glycyl-l-isoleucine-ase activity can be detected in vitro. These results, along with the viability of null alleles for many other enzymes, support the idea that eukaryotes have an intricate network of alternative biochemical pathways through which the same necessary function may be achieved. Such "buffering capacity" makes it very difficult to analyze the effects of enzyme variants on fitness components.
Services and Economic Development in the Asia-Pacific – Edited by Peter W. Daniels and James W. Harrington

The article reviews the book "Services and Economic Development in the Asia-Pacific," edited by Peter W. Daniels and James W. Harrington.
Arterial steal syndrome: a modest proposal for an old paradigm.

Background: Access ligation has been considered to be the treatment for patients presenting with arterial steal syndrome by many nephrologists. We report results of a prospective study using comprehensive arteriography coupled with percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty (PTA) or surgical intervention to evaluate and manage steal syndrome. Methods: Twelve consecutive patients referred for symptoms of steal syndrome were examined. Comprehensive arteriography of the extremity to diagnose arterial stenoses and delineate anatomy was performed by advancing a diagnostic catheter into the subclavian artery. Findings of arteriography and degrees of stenosis before and after PTA also were documented. Resolution of symptoms after PTA and surgical interventions, as well as complications, were recorded. Results: Angiography showed arterial stenotic lesions in 10 of 12 patients (83%). The degree of stenosis was 66% ± 14% (SD). Eight patients (80%) with stenotic lesions underwent PTA successfully. The degree of stenosis after PTA was 13% ± 10%. The remaining 2 patients were not considered candidates for PTA and were referred to surgery with arteriography images. One patient underwent ligation and the other patient required an axillary loop fistula using the same outflow vein. The 2 patients without stenoses showed excessive steal through the anastomosis and underwent lengthening procedures by insertion of a vein segment. All 12 patients are symptom free with a mean follow-up of 8.3 ± 4 months, and 11 of 12 patients (92%) are dialyzing using the same access. There were no procedure-related complications. Conclusion: We suggest that complete imaging of the arterial circulation of the extremity be considered in patients presenting with symptoms of steal syndrome to properly assess the arterial anatomy and develop a treatment strategy.
Stimulation of “Prohormone Thiol Protease” (PTP) and [Met]Enkephalin by Forskolin.: BLOCKADE OF ELEVATED [Met]ENKEPHALIN BY A CYSTEINE PROTEASE INHIBITOR OF PTP ∗

Abstract Proenkephalin and other prohormones require proteolytic processing at paired basic and monobasic residues for the biosynthesis of active neuropeptides. The novel “prohormone thiol protease” (PTP) has been proposed as a candidate proenkephalin processing enzyme for the production of [Met]enkephalin in chromaffin granules (Krieger, T. J., and Hook, V. Y. H.(1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 88376-8383). In this study, PTP was examined during elevation of cellular [Met]enkephalin by forskolin, a direct activator of adenylate cyclase that produces cAMP. Treatment of chromaffin cells with forskolin for 72 h increased enkephalin precursor cleaving activity (measured by following the conversion of the model substrate [S-Met]preproenkephalin to trichloroacetic acid-soluble radioactivity) in isolated chromaffin granules by 170-180% over controls (100%). The increased activity was associated with the membrane fraction, rather than the soluble fraction, of chromaffin granules. The elevated activity was inhibited by E-64c, which is a potent inhibitor of PTP and cysteine proteases; however, the activity was not inhibited by serine or aspartic protease inhibitors. The elevated activity was identified as PTP based on immunoprecipitation by anti-PTP immunoglobulins. Stimulation of PTP synthesis was involved in the forskolin-induced increase in PTP activity, as demonstrated by a 10-fold increase in [S]PTP pulse labeling in forskolin-treated chromaffin cells. Forskolin elevation of PTP protein levels within chromaffin granules was also detected in Western blots. Importantly, the forskolin-mediated rise in cellular [Met]enkephalin levels was completely blocked when cells were preincubated with the cysteine protease inhibitor Ep453, which is known to be converted by intracellular esterases to the more effective inhibitor E-64c (Buttle, D. J., Saklatvala, J., Tamai, M., and Barrett, A. J.(1992) Biochem. J. 281, 175-177). Both E-64c and Ep453 inhibit PTP, with E-64c being more potent (Azaryan, A. V., and Hook, V. Y. H. (1994b) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 314, 171-177). These results demonstrate a role for PTP in proenkephalin processing in chromaffin cells and indicate that [Met]enkephalin formation and PTP are both regulated by cAMP.
Solubility behavior of apatites in seawater1

The solubilities of apatites of varying compositions were measured as a function of pH in seawater at 10° and 25°C. Wide ranges of solubilities were observed; at pH = 7.4 they ranged from 0.4 to 11 µM PO4-P liter−1, depending on the nature of the samples. Results are interpreted in terms of complex coatings formed on the surface of the apatites.
Properties of Josephson point-contact far-infrared detectors

The far-infrared (FIR) properties of niobium cat-whisker point contacts were studied using radiation from an optically pumped FIR laser. The reproducible behaviour of junctions with excellent high-frequency performance allowed a measurement of the FIR frequency dependence of the strength of the a.c. Josephson effect. The shape of the laser-induced steps was used to measure the effective noise temperatures, which increase with bias voltage in agreement with a heating model of metallic constrictions. The high-quality junctions were tested as frequency-selective, incoherent FIR detectors, with the d.c. bias in the vicinity of the incipient laser step. The response was found to be linear in the laser power, and the best measured responsivity at 604 GHz was $2 × 105 V/W, while the best noise equivalent power was $10p−13 W/Hz12, with a 450 Hz chopping frequency. The NEP is limited by the voltage noise in the junction, which was found to have an approximately 1f2 frequency dependence. The detector performance is degraded considerably at higher FIR frequencies. Also studied was the low-laser-power behaviour of the I–V curves near the critical current, which may be of importance for mixing applications with external local oscillators.
Three Component Velocity and Acceleration Measurement Using FLEET

The femtosecond laser electronic excitation and tagging (FLEET) method has been used to measure three components of velocity and acceleration for the first time. A jet of pure N2 issuing into atmospheric pressure air was probed by the FLEET system. The femtosecond laser was focused down to a point to create a small measurement volume in the flow. The long-lived lifetime of this fluorescence was used to measure the location of the tagged particles at different times. Simultaneous images of the flow were taken from two orthogonal views using a mirror assembly and a single intensified CCD camera, allowing two components of velocity to be measured in each view. These different velocity components were combined to determine three orthogonal velocity components. The differences between subsequent velocity components could be used to measure the acceleration. Velocity accuracy and precision were roughly estimated to be +/-4 m/s and +/-10 m/s respectively. These errors were small compared to the approx. 100 m/s velocity of the subsonic jet studied.
A new method of trapping ions produced by matrix‐assisted laser desorption lonization in a quadrupole ion trap

A novel method for trapping ions produced by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) using controlled gating of the trapping field is suggested. Because it does not use collisions with helium atoms for reducing ion kinetic energy, trapping can be accomplished at low pressures of the buffet gas. The method has been implemented on an ion-trap detector, modified for MALDI experiments inside an ion trap with axial introduction of the sample probe. High mass resolution (1 part in 12 000) is reported.
Geophysical and Hydrologic Studies of Lake Seepage Variability

Variations in lake seepage were studied along a 130 m shoreline of Mirror Lake NH. Seepage was downward from the lake to groundwater; rates measured from 28 seepage meters varied from 0 to -282 cm/d. Causes of this variation were investigated using electrical resistivity surveys and lakebed sediment characterization. Two-dimensional (2D) resistivity surveys showed a transition in lakebed sediments from outwash to till that correlated with high- and low-seepage zones, respectively. However, the 2D survey was not able to predict smaller scale variations within these facies. In the outwash, fast seepage was associated with permeability variations in a thin (2 cm) layer of sediments at the top of the lakebed. In the till, where seepage was slower than that in the outwash, a three-dimensional resistivity survey mapped a point of high seepage associated with heterogeneity (lower resistivity and likely higher permeability). Points of focused flow across the sediment-water interface are difficult to detect and can transmit a large percentage of total exchange. Using a series of electrical resistivity geophysical methods in combination with hydrologic data to locate heterogeneities that affect seepage rates can help guide seepage meter placement. Improving our understanding of the causes and types of heterogeneity in lake seepage will provide better data for lake budgets and prediction of mass transfer of solutes or contaminants between lakes and groundwater.
Acoustic wave speed and attenuation in suspensions

Abstract Acoustic wave propagation in a monodisperse suspension of varying solids concentration was modeled exactly for wavelengths much larger than the particle size, including unsteady viscous effects, for the situation where particle interactions are predominantly inviscid. Inviscid particle interactions are addressed in terms of the added mass coefficient, which is sensitive to the solids concentration, the direction of insonification and the anisotropy of the particle arrangement. The sound speed and attenuation were calculated and compared to experimental results for a wide range of ka, where k is the wavenumber ( =2Π/λ ) and a is the particle radius. The attenuation, which is a strong function of ka, is seen to have non-monotonic behavior with respect to the solids fraction at low frequencies and it becomes monotonic at high frequencies. In general, the effect of ka on sound speed is seen to be small in comparison. The comparison with experiments shows that at values of ka near 1, effects associated with multiple scattering begin to affect acoustic propagation sufficiently to cause marked deviation between the present theory and measurements.
The Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire in Males at High and Low Risk for Alcoholism

Cloninger has proposed a tridimensional model as the basis for the classification of personality variants and has developed the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ) as an empirical test of this model. In this study, the TPQ was administered to two groups of young men. One group was comprised of nonalcoholic sons of male alcoholics; the other group consisted of nonalcoholic men with no family history of alcoholism. Since the sons of male alcoholics are considered to be at greater risk to develop alcoholism than the sons of nonalcoholics, it was hypothesized that the two groups would demonstrate differences with regard to one or more personality variants as measured by the TPQ. No statistically significant differences in the three TPQ-subscale scores of the two groups were found.
Hormone replacement therapy and dry eye syndrome.

ContextPostmenopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) use is common in the United States. Some research suggests that estrogen may have detrimental effects on the tear film and could influence the development of dry eye syndrome, but few data are available on this relationship.ObjectiveTo determine the relationship of HRT and dry eye syndrome.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThe Women's Health Study, a large cohort study in which 25 665 postmenopausal women provided information about use of HRT at baseline (1992), 12, and 36 months and dry eye syndrome at 48 months.Main Outcome Measures(1) Clinically diagnosed dry eye syndrome, as reported by participants; (2) severe symptoms (both ocular dryness and irritation either constantly or often); and (3) either clinically diagnosed dry eye syndrome or severe symptoms, compared between women who used HRT vs those who did not.ResultsFor the combined end point of either clinically diagnosed dry eye syndrome or severe symptoms, the multivariable-adjusted odds ratios were 1.69 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.49-1.91) for estrogen use alone and 1.29 (95% CI, 1.13-1.48) for estrogen plus progesterone/progestin use compared with no HRT use. Each 3-year increase in the duration of HRT use was associated with a significant 15% (95% CI, 11%-19%) elevation in risk of clinically diagnosed dry eye syndrome or severe symptoms. Results were similar for the combined end point of clinically diagnosed dry eye syndrome and severe symptoms.ConclusionsThese data suggest that women who use HRT, particularly estrogen alone, are at increased risk of dry eye syndrome. Physicians caring for women who are taking or considering HRT should be apprised of this potential complication.
A New Addition to the Endemic Genus Fittingia (Myrsinaceae) of New Guinea: F. Headsiana from the Southern Limestone, with a Synoptical Key to the Species

Abstract. Fittingia headsiana is described from previously unknown environments in Papua New Guinea's southern ranges. The new species is uniquely distinguished by its purple fruits disposed in large panicles, and is one of only two congeners capable of achieving arborescent statures. With the addition made here, Fittingia is now represented by nine species restricted to the New Guinea mainland, of which only five were known at the time of the last generic revision. A synoptical key to the modern species is included as an amendment to the existing treatment.
Chromatographic isolation of crustacean hemocyanins

Abstract 1. 1. DEAE-cellulose chromatography has been used to isolate hemocyanins and certain other proteins from hemolymph of three widely divergent decapod crustaceans; the blue cŕab, Callinectes sapidus , the spider crab Libinia emarginata and the Bermuda land crab, Gecarcinus lateralis . 2. 2. Fast hemocyanin was present in hemolymph sera from all blue crabs. Fast and slow hemocyanins in sera from female blue crabs were separated by column chromatography. 3. 3. One type of hemocyanin has been found in sera from land crabs and those from spider crabs; these hemocyanins chromatograph in a position intermediate to positions of fast and slow hemocyanins from the blue crab. 4. 4. When isolated, concentrated and rechromatographed, hemocyanins were eluted from the columns in positions identical to those in the original separations from other serum proteins. 5. 5. Hemocyanins and rechromatographed hemocyanins of all three species had 2 μg copper/mg protein. 6. 6. Apohemocyanins chromatographed like their respective native hemocyanins.
Establishment of pregnancy in sheep and pigs

Sheep conceptuses secrete a protein, ovine trophoblast protein-1 (oTP-1), between days 10 and 21 of gestation, that is responsible for establishment of pregnancy. oTP-1 inhibits uterine production of episodic release of prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha (PGF) necessary for luteolysis and produced in response to oestradiol and oxytocin. oTP-1 does not compete with oxytocin for binding to its receptors or interfere with oxytocin stimulation of the inositol phospholipid second messenger system after oxytocin receptors are formed. However, oTP-1 may affect synthesis of oxytocin, oestrogen and/or progesterone receptors to alter the ability of the uterus to produce episodic pulses of PGF in response to episodic pulses of oxytocin. Porcine conceptuses secrete oestrogens between days 10 and 15 of pregnancy that are essential for establishment of pregnancy. Oestrogens, directly or indirectly, alter secretion of PGF from an endocrine direction (toward the uterine vasculature) to an exocrine direction (toward the uterine lumen). PGF sequestered in the uterine lumen is unavailable to exert a luteolytic effect on the corpus luteum (CL). Pig conceptus secretory proteins stimulate uterine production of PGF and PGE, but do not appear to be responsible for inhibition of luteolysis. Conceptus secretory proteins of sheep and pigs include proteins that have antiviral activity and are considered interferons. In sheep, oTP-1 has antiluteolytic, immunosuppressive, antiviral and possibly antiproliferative properties. The specific pig conceptus secretory protein(s) possessing antiviral activity has not been established. Unlike oTP-1, however, pig interferon-like protein(s) does not appear to possess antiluteolytic activity.
Structural characterization of unsaturated phosphatidylcholines using traveling wave ion mobility spectrometry.

A number of phosphatidylcholine (PC) cations spanning a mass range of 400 to 1000 Da are investigated using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry coupled with traveling wave ion mobility spectrometry (TWIMS). A high correlation between mass and mobility is demonstrated with saturated phosphatidylcholine cations in N2. A significant deviation from this mass-mobility correlation line is observed for the unsaturated PC cation. We found that the double bond in the acyl chain causes a 5 % reduction in drift time. The drift time is reduced at a rate of ∼ 1% for each additional double bond. Theoretical collision cross-sections of PC cations exhibit good agreement with experimentally evaluated values. Collision cross-sections are determined using the recently derived relationship between mobility and drift time in TWIMS stacked ring ion guide (SRIG) and compared to estimate collision cross-sections using empiric calibration method. Computational analysis was performed using the modified trajectory (TJ) method with nonspherical N2 molecules as the drift gas. The difference between estimated collision cross-sections and theoretical collision cross-sections of PC cations is related to the sensitivity of the PC cation collision cross-sections to the details of the ion-neutral interactions. The origin of the observed correlation and deviation between mass and mobility of PC cations is discussed in terms of the structural rigidity of these molecules using molecular dynamics simulations.
Liquid crystal-based spectral imaging goniometric polarimeter for sample characterization

The ability to measure polarization effects is important in many biological and industrial applications. Additionally, measuring spectral and scatter effects can offer greater sensitivity for applications where characterization and differentiation are important. Here we present a liquid crystal-based spectral imaging goniometric polarimeter to probe these effects. The system consists of two modules, a Stokes generator and a polarimeter, each constructed from a pair of liquid crystal variable retarders (LCVR). LCVRs are computer-controlled birefringent devices that impart retardance effects with no mechanical movement. Additionally, the Stokes generator utilizes a computer-controlled liquid crystal tunable filter (LCTF) to transmit a specific wavelength bandwidth, also with no mechanical movement. The polarimeter, enclosed in a cage system, manually rotates around the sample plane to provide angular scatter measurements. A CCD camera images the sample and provides spatially resolved estimates of the complete Mueller matrix as a function of wavelength and scatter angle. Here we describe the system and its calibration, and show quantitative measurement results for a number of samples.
Metabolic Imbalance in Carbohydrate, Pyrimidine and Ornithine Utilization

Abstract The behavior of opposing key enzymes and pathways involved in the metabolic imbalance in carbohydrate, pyrimidine and ornithine utilization was examined in nutritional and hormonal alterations and in normal and neoplastic proliferative conditions. 1. 1. In carbohydrate metabolism a marked imbalance emerged in the ratios of opposing key enzymes of gluconeogenesis and glycolysis, glucose-6-phosphatase/glucokinase, fructose-1,6-diphosphatase/phosphofructokinase, pyruvate carboxylase/pyruvate kinase in starvation, in diabetes and in insulin treatment. There were marked and progressive alterations in differentiation and in liver neoplasia but not in the regenerating liver. 2. 2. In pyrimidine and DNA metabolism, on the other hand, the antagonistic controls were revealed in major shifts in the balance of opposing pathways when gene expression was modulated by alterations in the replicative process in regenerating liver, in differentiation and in neoplasia. In starvation and in diabetes both synthetic and catabolic utilization of thymidine decreased and insulin restored pyrimidine metabolism to normal levels. 3. 3. In ornithine metabolism starvation caused a decrease, whereas diabetes resulted in an increase, in the activity of ornithine carbamyl transferase. Insulin administration in diabetic rats returned the enzyme activity to normal range. In differentiation ornithine carbamyl transferase activity increased, whereas in hepatomas it gradually decreased in parallel with an increase in tumor growth rate. 4. 4. The metabolic imbalance elucidated in the hepatomas confers a selective biological advantage on the cancer cells. 5. 5. The metabolic imbalance in nutritional, hormonal and normal and neoplastic proliferative conditions emerged as a result of ordered alterations in gene expression which operate, in part at least, through setting the amounts, activities and ratios of opposing key enzymes and metabolic pathways.