cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regret Expression and Social Learning Increases Delay to Sexual Gratification

Objective Modification and prevention of risky sexual behavior is important to individuals’ health and public health policy. This study employed a novel sexual discounting task to elucidate the effects of social learning and regret expression on delay to sexual gratification in a behavioral task. Methods Amazon Mechanical Turk Workers were assigned to hear one of three scenarios about a friend who engages in similar sexual behavior. The scenarios included a positive health consequence, a negative health consequence or a negative health consequence with the expression of regret. After reading one scenario, participants were asked to select from 60 images, those with whom they would have casual sex. Of the selected images, participants chose one image each for the person they most and least want to have sex with and person most and least likely to have a sexually transmitted infection. They then answered questions about engaging in unprotected sex now or waiting some delay for condom-protected sex in each partner condition. Results Results indicate that the negative health outcome scenario with regret expression resulted in delayed sexual gratification in the most attractive and least STI partner conditions, whereas in the least attractive and most STI partner conditions the negative health outcome with and without regret resulted in delayed sexual gratification. Conclusions Results suggest that the sexual discounting task is a relevant laboratory measure and the framing of information to include regret expression may be relevant for prevention of risky sexual behavior.
Overstory and understory relationships in longleaf pine plantations 14 years after thinning and woody control

To develop silvicultural strategies for restoring longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) savannas, mortality and growth of overstory pines and midstory hardwoods and abundance and species richness of herbs were studied for 14 years after pine thinning and nonpine woody control. Pine cover in thinned stands was about half of that in nonthinned stands through year 5, but it lagged by only 8% and 3% in years 9 and 14, respectively, because of vigorous crown responses. Despite a cumulative mortality of 64% of hardwood stems from prescribed fires in years 0, 4, and 9, hardwood basal area in thinned stands (2.1 m2·ha–1) was three times that in nonthinned stands (0.7 m2·ha–1) in year 14. Thinning was associated with 13%–22% more cover and six to eight more species of herbs in years 3–8 but only 6% more cover and two more species in year 14 because of accelerated growth of pine cover and hardwood basal area. However, similar increases in cover and richness of herb species in the woody control treatment were retain...
Shoot organogenesis from petiole explants in the aquatic plant Nymphoides indica

A protocol for rapid shoot organogenesis from petiole explants of the ornamental aquatic plantNymphoides indica L. Thwaites O. Kuntze was developed for use in future mutation breeding and cultivar selection studies. Optimum culture conditions for shoot organogenesis were determined. Effects of factorial combinations of 2-iP, BA or kinetin (0–25 μM) in factorial combination with IAA or NAA (0–25 μM) were examined. On the basis of regeneration frequency (80%) and adventitious shoot number (11.5 shoots per explant), most efficient shoot organogenesis occurred on petiole explants cultured on a basal medium consisting of full-strength MS inorganic salts, 0.56 mM myo-inositol, 1.2 μM thiamine-HCl, 116.8 mM sucrose supplemented with 10 μM BA and 20 μM IAA and solidified with 0.8% TC agar. Formation of adventitious shoots by direct and indirect shoot organogenesis from the same explant was verified by histological sectioning. With the exception of variegated leaf production on a single adventitious shoot produced in the presence of 25 μM kinetin and 15 μM NAA, no visible phenotypic abnormalities were observedin vitro in any of the shoots generated. Solid achlorophyllous adventitious shoots were recovered following culture of this variegated leaf tissue. Plantlets were easily acclimatized toex vitro conditions.
Adaptive granularity: transparent integration of fine- and coarse-grain communication

The granularity of shared data is one of the key factors affecting the performance of distributed shared memory machines (DSM). Given that programs exhibit quite different sharing patterns, providing only one or two fixed granularities cannot result in an efficient use of resources. On the other hand, supporting arbitrarily granularity sizes significantly increases not only hardware complexity but software overhead as well. Furthermore, the efficient use of arbitrarily granularities put the burden on users to provide information about program behavior to compilers and/or runtime systems. These kind of requirements tend to restrict the programmability of the shared memory model. In this paper we present a new communication scheme, called adaptive granularity (AG). Adaptive granularity makes it possible to transparently integrate bulk transfer into the shared memory model by supporting variable-size granularity and memory replication. It consists of two protocols: one for small data and another for large data. For small size data, the standard hardware DSM protocol is used and the granularity is fixed to the size of a cache line. For large array data, the protocol for bulk data is used instead and the granularity varies depending on the sharing behavior of applications at runtime. Simulation results show that AG improves performance up to 43% over the hardware implementation of DSM (e.g., DASH, Alewife). Compared with an equivalent architecture that supports fine-grain memory replication at the fixed granularity of a cache line (e.g., Typhoon), AG reduces execution time up to 35%.
Synthesis and biological activity of prodrug inhibitors of the thioredoxin-thioredoxin reductase system.

A series of palmarumycin prodrugs and water-soluble analogs has been synthesized and assayed for inhibition of the thioredoxin–thioredoxin reductase system. Increased aqueous solubility led to an improved in vivo activity profile.
The minimal solution of a Markov renewal equation

Given a killed Markov process, one can use a procedure of Ikedaet al. to revive the process at the killing times. The revived process is again a Markov process and its transition function is the minimal solution of a Markov renewal equation. In this paper we will calculate such solutions for a class of revived processes.
Iron porphyrins with different imidazole ligands. A theoretical comparative study.

A theoretical comparative study of a series of five- and six-coordinate iron porphyrins, FeP(L) and FeP(L)(O2), has been carried out using DFT methods, where P = porphine and L = imidazole (Im), 1-methylimidazole (1-MeIm), 2-methylimidazole (2-MeIm), 1,2-dimethylimidazole (1,2-Me2Im), 4-ethylimidazole (4-EtIm), or histidine (His). Two ligated “picket-fence” iron porphyrins, FeTpivPP(2-MeIm) and FeTpivPP(2-MeIm)(O2), were also included in the study for comparison. A number of density functionals were employed in the computations to obtain reliable results. The performance of functionals and basis set effects were investigated in detail on FeP, FeP(Im), and FeP(Im)(O2), for which certain experimental information is available and there are some previous calculations in the literature for comparison. Many subtle distinctions in the effects of the different imidazole ligands on the structures and energetics of the deoxy- and oxy iron porphyrins are revealed. While FeP(2-MeIm) is identified to be high spin (S =...
11 ADOLESCENT MOTHERS AND THEIR YOUNG CHILDREN

It is unclear why the school-aged children of adolescent mothers do less well behaviorally than the children of adult mothers. It has been hypothesized that adolescents may begin to experience mothering problems when their children are approximately one year of age and are becoming independent. We studied the relationship between adolescent maternal age and mother-child interactions of 30 adolescent mothers (x=17.2 yrs.; S.D.=3.4) and their 9-12 month old children in the laboratory. Two ten minute sequences (floor and chair sequences) were videotaped. A trained observer rated the videotapes of the 30 dyads after establishing inter-rater agreement of >0.7 with a second trained observer on a 19 item rating scale. Floor and chair scores were significantly correlated and thus were averaged for each of the 19 items. There were significant negative correlations between maternal age and the following maternal items: ambivalent rejection (-0.6359, p<0.001); insensitivity (-0.4656, p<0.006); inconsistent accessibility (-0.5152, p<0.003); and mild interference (-0.5734, p<0.001). Other significant correlations were: maternal age and minimal social contact of baby with the mother (-0.3167, p<0.05) and neutrality in mother-child interaction (-0.3487, p<0.032). We conclude there is a significant relationship between young maternal age and inconsistent and ambivalent mother-child interactions at 9-12 months in the laboratory.
An on-line assistance system for the simulation model development environment

Abstract The Assistance Manager, one of the tools of the Simulation Model Development Environment (SMDE), is required to provide effective and efficient transfer of assistance information to an SMDE user. This paper describes a prototype of the SMDE Assistance Manager. Objectives are set forth and a design is established and implemented on a SUN 3 160C workstation. The prototype is evaluated with respect to the design objectives and is shown to provide a highly flexible interface between the user and the database of assistance information. Results indicate that the prototype Assistance Manager incorporates the characteristics considered desirable in on-line assistance systems and serves as a basis for future enhancement and development.
Effect of tryptophan administration on serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid content in the brainstem of Lilly 110140-pretreated rats.

Abstract Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups. One group was pretreated with Lilly 110140 (10 mg/kg) 27 hours and again 3 hours before sacrifice while a second group received Lilly 110140 only 3 hours before sacrifice. The third or control group received only equivalent volumes of saline. Animals from each group were administered 25 mg/kg L tryptophan intraperitoneally (i.p.) 0, 30, 60 or 90 minutes before sacrifice. Equivalent elevations in serum and also brainstem tryptophan content were observed in all three groups with the peak observed at 30 minutes. Brainstem serotonin content was significantly elevated in both groups of Lilly 110140-pretreated rats but not in the control group. Brainstem 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid was significantly elevated after tryptophan administration in the control and the 3 hour and 27 hour, Lilly 110140-pretreated groups but not in the 3 hour Lilly 110140 pretreated group. The results indicate that neither 3 or 3 hours and 27 hours of Lilly 110140 pretreatment appreciably affects the increase in brainstem serotonin synthesis induced by the i.p. administration of 25 mg/kg of L tryptophan.
Metropolitan-scale Transport and Dispersion from the New York World Trade Center Following September 11, 2001. Part II: An Application of the CALPUFF Plume Model

Following the collapse of the New York World Trade Center (WTC) towers on September 11, 2001, Local, State, and Federal agencies initiated numerous air monitoring activities to better understand the ongoing impacts of emissions from the disaster. The collapse of the World Trade Center towers and associated fires that lasted for several weeks resulted at times in a noticeable plume of material that was dispersed around the Metropolitan New York City (NYC) area. In general, the plume was only noticeable for a short period of time following September 11, and only apparent close to the World Trade Center site. A study of the estimated pathway which the plume of WTC material would likely follow was completed to support the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s 2002 initial exposure assessments. In this study, the WTC emissions were simulated using the CALMET-CALPUFF model in order to examine the general spatial and temporal dispersion patterns over NYC. This paper presents the results of the CALPUFF plume model in terms of plume dilution and location, since the exact source strength remains unknown. Independent observations of PM2.5 are used to support the general dispersion features calculated by the model. Results indicate that the simulated plume matched well with an abnormal increase (600–1000% of normal) in PM2.5 two nights after the WTC collapse as the plume rotated north to southeast, towards parts of NYC. Very little if any evidence of the plume signature was noted during a similar flow scenario a week after September 11. This leads to the conclusion that other than areas within a few kilometers from the WTC site, the PM2.5 plume was not observable over NYC’s background concentration after the first few days.
Acute exposure to a high-fat diet alters meal patterns and body composition

Weight gain and adiposity are often attributed to the overconsumption of unbalanced, high-fat diets however, the pattern of consumption can also contribute to associated body weight and compositional changes. The present study explored the rapid alterations in meal patterns of normal-weight rats given continuous access to high-fat diet and examined body weight and composition changes compared to chow fed controls. Ten Long-Evans rats were implanted with subcutaneous microchips for meal pattern analysis. Animals were body weight matched and separated into two groups: high-fat or chow fed. Each group was maintained on their assigned diet for nine days and monitored for 22 h each day for meal pattern behavior. Body weight was evaluated every other day, and body composition measures were taken prior and following diet exposure. High-fat fed animals gained more weight and adipose tissue than chow fed controls and displayed a reduced meal frequency and increased meal size. Furthermore, meal size was significantly correlated with the gain of adipose tissue. Together, these results suggest that consumption of a high-fat diet can rapidly alter meal patterns, which in turn contribute to the development of adiposity.
Adsorption mechanism of single amino acid and surfactant molecules to Au {111} surfaces in aqueous solution: design rules for metal-binding molecules

The adsorption mechanism of twenty amino acids and four surfactants was examined on a {111} surface of gold in dilute aqueous solution using molecular dynamics simulation with a broadly applicable intermolecular potential CHARMM–METAL. All molecules are attracted to the surface between −3 and −26 kcal mol−1. The adsorption strength correlates with the degree of coordination of polarizable atoms (O, N, C) to multiple epitaxial sites. Therefore, the molecular size and geometry rather than the specific chemistry determine the adsorption energy. Large molecules with planar sp2 hybridized groups (Arg, Trp, Gln, Tyr, Asn, and PPh3) adsorb most strongly, followed by molecules with polar sp3 hybridized groups, and short molecules with sp3 hybridized alkyl groups exhibit least attraction. Conformationally flexible, extended molecules such as hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) also showed significant attraction to the metal surface related to accommodation in epitaxial grooves and coordination with numerous epitaxial sites. Computational results are consistent with combinatorial binding experiments, observations in the growth and stabilization of metal nanoparticles, and ab initio data. The mechanism of adsorption conforms to soft epitaxy observed for peptides on metal surfaces (H. Heinz et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2009, 131, 9704) and enables the de novo design of molecules for binding to a given metal surface. In addition to soft epitaxy, contributions to adsorption are possible by covalent bonding and induced charges.
Living Arrangements and School Dropout Among Minor Mothers Following Welfare Reform

Objectives. The 1996 welfare reform laws required that parents under the age of 18 live with their parents or an adult relative and enroll in school to be eligible for welfare benefits. This study examines whether minor mothers were less likely to drop out of school and more likely to live with parents following welfare reform. Methods. Data from the National Education Longitudinal Survey 1988 and the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 were used in difference-in-difference analyses. Results. Following welfare reform, minor mothers' co-residence with parents increased and their drop-out rates decreased. Conclusions. Welfare reform requirements are associated with changes in living arrangements and drop-out rates of minor mothers.
Effect of sorghum grain processing on site and extent of digestion of starch in lactating dairy cows.

Abstract Four lactating Holstein cows, fitted with T-type cannulas in the proximal duodenum were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design to study the effects of sorghum grain processing on site of digestion of nutrients. Diets were steamrolled corn, dry-rolled sorghum, steamflaked sorghum, and an equal mixture of steam-flaked and dry-rolled sorghum as 43% of DM in a TMR (35:65. ratio of forage to concentrate). Intake and duodenal starch for all diets averaged 6.8 and 2.1 kg/d. Apparent total tract and ruminal digestibilities of starch for the respective diets averaged 8 1, 60, 70, and 60 and 97, 85, 91, and 89%. Starch digestibilities in the intestine were higher for steam-flaked than for dry-rolled or mixed sorghum (83 vs. 63 and 61%). Consistent with less postruminal passage of starch, cows fed steam-flaked sorghum had higher fecal pH than did cows on other treatments. No effects of diet occurred on NDF or ADF digestibilities. Compared with dry rolling of sorghum, steam flaking increased the digestibility of starch in the rumen from 60 to 81% and in the small intestine from 63 to 83%, increasing digestible starch intake 9% (6.4 vs. 5.9 kg/d). Values for steamrolled corn were intermediate. Microbial protein in the rumen was not significantly altered by diet
Indexing and access for digital libraries and the Internet: human, database, and domain factors

Discussion in the research community and among the general public regarding content indexing (especially subject indexing) and access to digital resources, especially on the Internet, has underutilized research on a variety of factors that are important in the design of such access mechanisms. Some of these factors and issues are reviewed and implications drawn for information system design in the era of electronic access. Specifically the following are discussed: Human factors: Subject searching vs. indexing, multiple terms of access, folk classification, basic-level terms, and folk access; Database factors: Bradford's Law, vocabulary scalability, the Resnikoff-Dolby 30:1 Rule; Domain factors: Role of domain in indexing.
Association of calmodulin with peptide analogues of the inhibitory region of the heat-stable protein inhibitor of adenosine cyclic 3',5'-phosphate dependent protein kinase.

A 20-residue peptide analogue (IASGRTGRRNAIHDILVSSA) of the 8000-dalton heat-stable cAMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor undergoes efficient calcium-dependent binding by calmodulin, with Kd approximately 70 nM when calcium is present. It is a potent inhibitor of smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase and of the calmodulin-dependent phosphatase activity of calcineurin. At concentrations above 3 microM, the peptide stimulates the basal activity of calcineurin. The native protein kinase inhibitor has no effect on the catalytic activity of myosin light chain kinase and is moderately inhibitory to both the calmodulin-dependent and -independent phosphatase activity of calcineurin. Competition experiments using excess concentrations of calcineurin and calmodulin suggest that the primary interaction of the native heat-stable inhibitor is with the catalytic subunit of protein kinase. Dansylcalmodulin exhibits only a weak interaction with the inhibitor. Observations on deletion peptides of the 20-residue analogue help to delineate the overlapping peptide binding specificities of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase [Scott, J. D., Glaccum, M. B., Fischer, E. H., & Krebs, E. G. (1986) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 83, 1613-1616] and calmodulin. In both cases, the most effectively bound peptides contain the RTGRR sequence.
Collaborative learning: Shared inquiry as a process of reform

Collaborative learning can unleash a unique intellectual and social synergy for teachers and students, but it requires a reframing of assumptions about the learning process and classroom roles.
The Expanding Scope of Thermodynamics in Physical Metallurgy

Some recent developments in the applications of thermodynamics to problems is physical metallurgy have required adaptation that are in the inventive spirit of classical thermodynamics. Diffuse interfaces and the problems that crystal lattice pose are taken as examples
Creating high level sound in a duct using an axial array of sources

Abstract In this paper, both a frequency domain method for creating high level harmonic excitation and a time domain inverse method for creating large pulses in a duct are developed. To create controllable, high level sound an axial array of six JBL-2485 compression drivers was used. The pressure downstream is considered as input voltages to the sources filtered by the natural dynamics of the sources and the duct. It is shown that this dynamic behavior can be compensated for by filtering the inputs such that both time delays and phase changes are taken into account. The methods developed maximize the sound output while (1) keeping within the voltage constraints of the sources and (2) maintaining a suitable level of reproduction accuracy. For harmonic excitation, pressure levels of over 155 dB were created experimentally over a wide frequency range (1000–4000 Hz). For pulse excitation there is a tradeoff between accuracy of reproduction and sound level achieved. However, the accurate reproduction of a pulse with a maximum pressure level over 6500 Pa was achieved experimentally. It was also shown that the compliance of the throat connecting the driver to the duct makes it difficult to inject sound into any of the cut-on modes in the duct just below the cut-on frequency of each new acoustic mode (pre cut-on loading effect).
Wilms' tumor growth is suppressed by antiangiogenic pigment epithelium-derived factor in a xenograft model.

Abstract Background/Purpose: Pigment epithelium–derived factor (PEDF), a potent endogenous inhibitor of angiogenesis, is highly expressed in the kidney. The authors postulated that systemic administration of PEDF would decrease Wilms' tumor growth in a xenograft model, and increased renal vascularity would result in a mouse null for PEDF. Methods: Tumors were induced in athymic mice using human anaplastic Wilms' tumor cells. Purified PEDF protein or vehicle was administered for 7 days beginning 2 to 3 weeks after inoculation. Tumors were stained with anti-PEDF and anti–Factor VIII antibodies. Mitoses and microvascular density (MVD) were counted per high-power field (hpf). PEDF-null mice were generated on a SV129/C57Bl6 background. Wild-type and null kidneys were assessed for MVD. Results: Mean tumor weight in the 2-week group was 60% less than controls ( P P P Conclusions: PEDF is expressed strongly in normal murine kidney, and loss of its angioinhibitory activity may contribute to pathologic angiogenesis in Wilms' tumor. Systemic PEDF suppresses WT growth by targeting both the tumor cells and its associated vasculature. J Pediatr Surg 38:336-342. Copyright 2003, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
Evidence for essential thiol groups and disulfide bonds in agonist and antagonist binding to the dopamine receptor

Abstract Dithiothreitol (DTT), a disulfide reducing agent, diminished the specific binding of [ 3 H] dopamine to partially purified calf striatal membranes (P 2 ) but did not have an effect on [ 3 H] spiroperidol binding. The thiol reagents, p-chloromercuribenzoate (PCMB), N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) and iodoacetamide (IA), were also tested for inhibitory effects on agonist and antagonist binding to the dopamine receptor. PCMB inhibited both [ 3 H] dopamine and [ 3 H] spiroperidol binding by changing the affinity (K d ) and the number of binding sites (B max ) for both of these ligands. This effect of PCMB was reversed by the addition of DTT. NEM inhibited binding to the dopamine agonist site but not to the antagonist site, while IA was ineffective on either site. These results indicate that a DTT-reducible disulfide bond may be an essential component for agonist binding to the dopamine receptor. Furthermore, the experiments with PCMB, NEM and IA suggest that the exposure of thiol groups in the dopamine receptor may play an important role in agonist and antagonist binding.
Effect of short-range order on the band-edge behavior of the electronic spectrum of disordered alloys

Abstract The electronic spectrum of a one-dimentional disordered alloy was calculated both analytically and numerically for energies close to a band edge. The density of states is shown to be strongly dependent on the presence of short-range order in the form of correlations between the occupancies of neighboring sites.
The relationship of embryotoxicity to disposition of 2-methoxyethanol in mice.

Paw development of CD-1 mice is uniquely sensitive to 2-methoxyethanol (ME) given by gavage (po) on gestation day (gd) 11 (copulation plug day = gd 0). The relation between induction of paw dysmorphogenesis and disposition of po ME in the maternal and conceptus compartments was investigated. The expression of digit malformations depends on metabolism of ME to methoxyacetic acid (MAA). ME and MAA were equipotent in causing teratogenicity. Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) catalyzes the initial rate-limiting oxidation that leads to embryotoxicity. The ADH inhibitor 4-methylpyrazole or ethanol reduced the incidence of malformations 60-100%, depending on the dosing regimen. Elimination of 14C from 1,2-14C-ME occurred predominantly via urine where 80% of a teratogenic dose was excreted and 6% appeared in CO2. Oxidation of ME to MAA was nearly complete after 1 hr when approximately 90% of 14C in maternal plasma and conceptus coeluted with authentic 14C-MAA upon HPLC. 14C-MAA levels in embryos were 1.2 X those in plasma 1 and 6 hr after dosing, although by 6 hr concentrations had declined to approximately 50% of 1-hr values. Concomitant ethanol did not affect 14C kinetics as measured in maternal blood after oral 14C-ME, but retarded ME conversion to MAA by about 2 hr.more » Furthermore, embryo 14C-MAA levels then reached only 50% of the peak in embryos from dams dosed with ME alone, an effect that coincided with less 14C incorporation into macromolecules synthesized by the embryo within 6 hr. These data imply that the attenuation of digit malformations by concomitant ethanol may be explained by changes in MAA disposition. However, delayed ethanol reduced teratogenicity by 25%, although MAA was present in the embryo up to 5 hr.« less
Importance of muscle light microscopic mitochondrial subsarcolemmal aggregates in the diagnosis of respiratory chain deficiency

The purpose of this study was to evaluate relationships between subsarcolemmal mitochondrial aggregates and electron transport chain deficiencies in skeletal muscle with the objective of establishing an association between mitochondrial accumulation and electron transport chain complex deficiency. We conducted a large-scale, retrospective study to evaluate factors associated with subsarcolemmal mitochondrial aggregates (percent) in pediatric patients who received muscle biopsies for suspected respiratory chain disorders. Patients were included if they had histochemical stains for assessment of mitochondrial pathology and had biochemical testing for muscle electron transport chain complex activities. Significant positive bivariate correlations (n = 337) were found between subsarcolemmal mitochondrial aggregate percentage and electron transport chain complexes II, IV, I + III, and II + III activities. Evaluation showed that a cutoff value of > 2% subsarcolemmal mitochondrial aggregates had poor overall diagnostic accuracy (mean, 32%), compared with a 2.0% subsarcolemmal mitochondrial aggregates cutoff for respiratory chain disorder, patients with a low subsarcolemmal mitochondrial aggregates percentage (≤4%) are significantly more likely to have electron transport chain complex deficiency than patients with increased subsarcolemmal mitochondrial aggregates percentage (≥10%). This morphological approach for assessment of mitochondrial proliferation may assist clinicians to select further testing to rule out an electron transport chain complex deficiency in children by other methods, including direct biochemical testing of electron transport chain complex activities, measurement of muscle coenzyme Q10 content, or evaluation for a mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome.
Fundamental power limits of piezoelectric energy harvesters based on material strength

The mathematical models used to predict power produced from piezoelectric energy harvesters have seen continued refinement in the last decade. Despite this, we have been unable to give general power limits for the technology. This is due in large part to the fact that power output is heavily dependent on acceleration magnitude and frequency, as well as the internal damping of the harvester itself. The existing power models all assume some magnitude of excitation acceleration, that scales the harvested power, usually by the square of its magnitude. We know that this excitation can only be taken to the point at which the harvester is damaged, and no longer produces power. The power produced at this excitation acceleration magnitude thus represents the power-harvesting limit of the technology. In this paper, we seek to relate acceleration, displacement, stress, and harvested power in a way that provides a general limit for the technology. We will show that, based on the ultimate strength of the material, there is an upper limit on the excitation acceleration. Then using this expression for allowable excitation acceleration, we are able to develop an expression for the upper limit of harvestable power. The resulting expression for power capabilities is independent of acceleration magnitude and harvester mechanical damping. It does, however, depend on the acceleration frequency and beam design. Using this expression, we then explore the power harvesting limits of the technology across a range of input frequencies and beam sizes.
Comparison of hematopoietic progenitor cell collections using the COBE Spectra version 7 and Amicus version 3.1 for patients with AL amyloidosis.

To address concerns about infused fluid volume during HPC collections in patients with AL amyloidosis, our institution has used a 26:1 anticoagulant (AC) ratio on the COBE Spectra and on the Fenwal Amicus. In this study, in a cohort of AL amyloid patients, we compared the Amicus version 3.1 to the Spectra version 7 MNC collections with regard to infused fluid volume, CD34+ cell yield, lymphocyte yield, cross-cellular content, and adverse reactions. Both instruments used a 26:1 AC ratio but the Amicus delivered significantly less AC per procedure (Amicus 678 mL vs. Spectra 753 mL). With comparable baseline CD34+ cell counts (Amicus 33 cells/μL vs. Spectra 27 cells/μL); Amicus collected significantly more CD34+ cells (3.1 vs. 1.5 × 106/kg) and equivalent lymphocytes (18.7 vs. 14.5 × 109). Amicus collected significantly fewer WBC (51.8 vs. 72.7 × 109), granulocytes (15.1 vs. 27.5 × 109), and PLT (2.3 vs. 3.9 × 1011) per procedure with equivalent RBC content (26 vs. 30 mL). CD34+ cell (5.0 vs. 4.4 × 106/kg) and lymphocyte doses (32.7 vs. 33.9 × 109) were equivalent in infused products collected on the Amicus and Spectra but the frequency of high volume products was lower for Amicus. Frequency and severity of adverse reactions during collection and infusion were similar for both. In this group of AL amyloid patients, Amicus was superior to Spectra with regard to fluid infused, CD34+ cell yield, and cross-cellular contamination with equivalent lymphocyte yield and reaction incidence. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Identification of an Element Required for Acetylcholine Receptor-inducing Activity (ARIA)-induced Expression of the Acetylcholine Receptor ε Subunit Gene *

Abstract Acetylcholine Receptor (AChR)-inducing activity (ARIA) is believed to be the trophic factor utilized by motoneurons to stimulate AChR synthesis in the subsynaptic area. Among the four AChR subunit genes, the e subunit gene is strictly expressed in nuclei localized to the synaptic region of the muscle. To understand mechanisms of the regulation of synapse-specific transcription, we studied the promoter activity of the 5′-flanking region of the AChR e subunit gene in response to ARIA. Transgenes containing the wild type or mutant 5′-flanking regions upstream of a luciferase gene were transfected in C2C12 muscle cells. The promoter activity of these transgenes was determined by assaying activity of expressed luciferase. Analyzing a combination of 5′ deletion and site-directed mutants, we identified a 10-nucleotide element (position −55/−46), which was crucial for ARIA-induced expression from the e subunit promoter. This element was named ARE for ARIA-responsiveelement. Mutation of ARE greatly diminished ARIA-induced transgene expression and deletion of ARE abolished completely the ARIA response. Electrophoretic mobility shift analyses revealed a DNA binding activity in muscle nuclear extract that interacted with ARE. Such interaction was enhanced by ARIA stimulation of muscle cells and appeared to be dependent on nuclear protein phosphorylation.
Intracellular calcium movements of frog skeletal muscle during recovery from tetanus.

A B s T R A C T Radioautographs of 45Cadabeled frog skeletal muscles have been prepared using freeze-dry and vapor fixation techniques to avoid displacement of the isotope during the preparation of the radioautographs. *SCa has been localized in resting muscles exposed to 45Ca Ringer's for 5 n'fin or 5 hr and in isotopically labeled muscles recovering from tetanic stimulation at room temperature or at 4°C. In muscles soaked at rest for 5 rain 45Ca was present almost exclusively in the terminal cisternae. In all other muscles there were three sites at which the isotope was concentrated: (a) the terminal cisternae, (b) the intermediate cisternae and the longitudinal tubules, and (c) the A band portion of the myofibrils. The terminal cisternae were labeled more rapidly than the myofibrils, but both exchanges were accelerated by electrical stimulation, The amount of *SCa in the longitudinal tubules and the intermediate cisternae decreased with time after a tetanus as the amount in the terminal cisternae increased. It is proposed that electrical stimulation releases calcium from the terminal cisternae and that relaxation occurs from the binding of the released calcium by the longitudinal tubules' and the intermediate cisternae. Complete recovery from mechanical activity involves the transport of this bound calcium into the reticulum and its subsequent binding by the terminal cisternae. Resting exchange of calcium occurs primarily between the terminal cisternae and the transverse tubules. A large body of information indicates that a release of intracellular calcium is critical for the coupling of excitation with contraction of skeletal muscle. The contractile proteins require the addition of about 0.1-0.2/~mole of calcium per g of muscle for the conversion of the muscle from the resting state to the maximally contracted state (11 ). A shift of this amount of calcium from the region of the terminal cisternae of the sarcoplasmic reticulum to the immediate vicinity of the thick filaments has been demonstrated by radioautographic techniques which used chemical stimulation of the muscle and chemical fixa
False positive reactivity of recombinant, diagnostic, glycoproteins produced in High Five™ insect cells: Effect of glycosylation

Baculovirus-mediated expression of recombinant proteins for use in diagnostic assays is commonplace. We expressed a diagnostic antigen for cysticercosis, GP50, caused by the larval stage of Taenia solium, in both High Five™ and Sf9 insect cells. Upon evaluation of the specificity of recombinant GP50 (rGP50) in a western blot assay, we observed that 12.5% (21/168) of the serum samples from persons with a variety of parasitic infections other than cysticercosis reacted positive when rGP50 was produced in High Five cells. The same samples reacted negative when rGP50 was produced in Sf9 cells. The false positive reactivities of these other parasitic infection sera were abolished when rGP50, expressed in High Five cells, was deglycosylated. In addition, the same sera that reacted with rGP50 from High Five cells also reacted with recombinant human transferrin (rhTf) when expressed in High Five cells, but not Sf9 cells. High Five cells, but not Sf9 cells, modify many glycoproteins with a core α(1,3)-fucose. This same modification is found in the glycoproteins of several parasitic worms and is known to be immunogenic. Since the distribution of these worms is widespread and millions of people are infected, the use of recombinant proteins with N-linked glycosylation produced in High Five cells for diagnostic antigens is likely to result in a number of false positive reactions and a decrease in assay specificity.
A Simplified Medium for the Growth of Maize (Zea mays) Endosperm Tissue in Suspension Culture

In vitro cultures of maize (Zea mays L.) endosperm derived from the dent inbred A636 have been maintained in liquid culture using Straus' medium for over six years. We have studied the growth of this tissue in four basic media and various modifications of the organic constituents of these media. Auxins and kinetin did not improve growth rate or degree of cell dispersion and thiamine (0.4 mg/l) was the only vitamin required by this tissue. Growth equal to that in the standard Straus medium and improved cell separation was obtained in a medium containing only inorganic salts, sucrose, and thiamine. Although asparagine was not required when high quantities of NH4NO3 and KNO3 were included, more rapid growth was obtained when 2 g/l of asparagine was added. The simplified medium reported in this paper should facilitate the use of maize endosperm tissue in various studies of metabolism, hormone biosynthesis, etc.
Capillary electrophoresis/electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry using a sheathless interface

The sensitivity that can be obtained with the quadrupole ion trap for on-line CE analysis using a sheathless electrospray interface and gold-tipped columns is examined. Capillaries of different i.d. are compared in continuous infusion experiments and the effects of sheath solvents on the signal for some peptides and proteins are illustrated. The sheathless CE/ITMS system using 20 μm i.d. columns is shown to provide mid-attomole detection levels for leucine enkephalin in total ion electropherograms under full scan conditions. Good quality MS/MS spectra are also obtained for low femtomole injections of this peptide.
Management of hepatic cysts (including hydatid disease)

Summary The management of liver cysts should be individualized by cyst type, symptoms, and associated complications. Percutaneous aspiration/ablation therapy and laparoscopic approaches are used most commonly and have proven efficacious for simple cysts. Management of specific diseases such as APKLD is more complicated and dictates treatment in centers with hepatobiliary and transplantation expertise.
The Cathepsin L First Intron Stimulates Gene Expression in Rat Sertoli Cells

Large amounts of cathepsin L (CTSL), a cysteine protease required for quantitatively normal spermatogenesis, are synthesized by mouse and rat Sertoli cells during stages VI to VII of the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium. We previously demonstrated that all of the regulatory elements required in vivo for both Sertoli cell- and stage-specific expression of the Ctsl gene are present within a ~3-kb genomic fragment that contains 2065 nucleotides upstream of the transcription start site and 977 nucleotides of downstream sequence. Most of the downstream region encodes the first intron. In this study, transient transfection assays using primary Sertoli cell cultures and the TM4 Sertoli cell line established that the Ctsl first intron increased reporter gene activity by ~5-fold. While the intron-mediated enhancement in reporter gene activity was not restricted to the Ctsl promoter, positioning the first intron upstream of the Ctsl promoter in either orientation abolished its stimulatory activity, suggesting that it does not contain a typical enhancer. Mutating the 5'-splice site of the Ctsl first intron or replacing the first intron by the Ctsl fourth intron abolished the stimulatory effect. Finally, the intron-dependent increase in reporter gene activity could be explained in part by an increase in the amounts of total RNA and transcript polyadenylation. Results from this study suggest that the stimulatory effect mediated by the Ctsl first intron may explain in part why Sertoli cells in seminiferous tubules at stages VI to VII produce high levels of CTSL.
Simultaneous, coincident 2-D ACAR and DBAR using segmented HPGe detectors incorporating sub-pixel interpolation

A three-dimensional Positron Annihilation Spectrometry System (3D PASS) for determination of 3D electron-positron (e--e+) momentum densities by measuring coincident annihilation photons was designed, constructed and characterized. 3D PASS collects a single data set including correlated photon energies and coincident photon positions which are typically collected separately by two-dimensional angular correlation of annihilation radiation (2D ACAR) and two-detector coincident Doppler broadening of annihilation radiation (CDBAR) spectrometry. 3D PASS is composed of two position-sensitive, high-purity germanium (HPGe) double-sided strip detectors (DSSD(s)) linked together by a 32-channel, 50 MHz digital electronics suite. The DSSDs data were analyzed to determine location of photon detection events using an interpolation method to achieve a spatial resolution less than the 5-mm width of the DSSDs' charge collection strips. The interpolation method relies on measuring a figure-of-merit proportional to the area of the transient charges observed on both strips directly adjacent to the charge collection strip detecting the full charge deposited by the annihilation photon. This sub-pixel resolution, corresponding to the error associated with event location within a sub-pixel was measured for both DSSDs using the approach outlined in Williams et al [1] and was on the order of ± 0.20 mm (± one-standard deviation). As a result of the sub-pixel resolution, the distance between the DSSDs and material sample was reduced by a factor of five compared to what is typically required in 2D ACAR systems was necessary to achieve 0.5-mrad angular resolution. This reduction in the system's footprint decreases attenuation of the annihilation photons in the air between the material sample and the DSSDs and increases the solid angle between the sample and the DSSDs, ultimately resulting in higher system detection efficiency. 3D PASS was characterized in the same manner comparable to state-of-the-art 2D ACAR and CDBAR spectrometers. 3D PASS spectra were collected and analyzed for single-crystal copper (Cu) and silicon carbide (6H SiC) and compared with the results in the literature.
Use of modeling to investigate potential feeding strategies of parasitic lampreys

A quantitative energetics model of feeding and growth by parasitic lampreys was used to assess overall rates of net energy intake under alternate feeding strategies and varying host availability. Our early attempts to predict optimal feeding behavior focused on the duration of attachment to the host, but model simulations have revealed that optima over this variable may be so flat that, as in one case, a deviation of nearly 30% from the optimal attachment time results in only a 3% decrease in the rate of net energy intake. This may contribute to the great variability that appears characteristic of feeding by parasitic lampreys. Further simulations have suggested that, because host blood is to some extent a renewable resource, lampreys should extend host survival when alternate hosts are scarce by removing blood at reduced rates. In other words, maximization of instantaneous rate of net energy intake is not equivalent to maximization of long term gain. Thus, in predicting optimal lamprey feeding behavior, it is necessary to consider simultaneously both attachment time and rate of host blood removal. Behavioral or evolutionary adjustment of these variables can have important consequences with respect to lamprey growth rates, the functional response of lampreys to changing host densities, mortality rates of host populations, and the expression of other lamprey behavioral traits.
Conjugated dopamine in superfusates of slices of rat striatum.

Abstract: An acid-hydrolyzable conjugate of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethylamine (dopamine, DA) was detected in superfusates from slices from rat striatum. The concentrations of endogenous free and conjugated DA, and of the acid metabolites (3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid [DOPAC] and homovanillic acid [HVA]) in superfusates were measured using HPLC with electrochemical detection. Conjugated DA in superfusates represented 10–20% of the free DA under basal conditions and during release evoked by p-tyramine (5 × 10−6M to 5 × 10−4M); much smaller amounts of conjugated DA overflowed into superfusate when DA was released by equimolar concentrations of β-phenylethyl-amine. Surprisingly, inhibition of monoamine oxidase by the inhibitors N-methyl-N-propargyl-3-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)propylamine hydrochlo-ride (clorgyline) or N-methyl-N-2-propynylbenylamine (pargyline) had little effect on the amounts of conjugated DA present in superfusate. Under basal conditions, the amounts of conjugated DA in superfusate were always less than the amounts of DOPAC but quite similar to the amounts of HVA. However, during release of DA evoked by p-tyramine the concentrations of conjugated DA in superfusate showed much more pronounced increases than those of the acidic metabolites.
Chronic amphetamine treatment enhances corticotropin-releasing factor-induced serotonin release in the amygdala.

Abstract Amphetamine use is associated with dysphoric states, including heightened anxiety, that emerge within 24 h of withdrawal from the drug. Corticotropin-releasing factor increases serotonin release in the central nucleus of the amygdala, and this neurochemical circuitry may play a role in mediating fear and anxiety states. We have previously shown that chronic amphetamine treatment increases corticotropin-releasing factor receptor type-2 levels in the serotonergic dorsal raphe nucleus of the rat. Therefore, we hypothesized that chronic amphetamine treatment would enhance the amygdalar serotonergic response to corticotropin-releasing factor infused into the dorsal raphe nucleus. Male rats were injected once-daily with d-amphetamine (2.5 mg/kg i.p., or saline) for two weeks. Serotonin release within the central nucleus of the amygdala in response to intra-raphe infusion of corticotropin-releasing factor (100 ng) was measured 24 h after the last treatment in urethane-anesthetized (1.8 mg/kg, i.p.) rats using in vivo microdialysis. Rats pretreated with amphetamine showed significantly enhanced serotonin release in the central nucleus of the amygdala in response to corticotropin-releasing factor infusion when compared to saline pretreated rats. Furthermore, this enhanced response was blocked by the corticotropin-releasing factor type-2 receptor antagonist antisauvagine-30 (2 μg) infused into the dorsal raphe nucleus. These results suggest increased sensitivity to corticotropin-releasing factor as mediated by type-2 receptors following chronic amphetamine treatment, which may underlie dysphoric states observed during amphetamine withdrawal.