cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chapter 24. Ligand Gated and Voltage-Gated Ion Channels

Publisher Summary According to the nature of the primary regulating signal, most ion channels are classified as either ligand-gated or voltage-gated channels; however, these distinctions are not unique. The cell maintains an asymmetric ion distribution with Na + and Ca 2+ being maintained at low and K + and CI - at high intracellular levels relative to the exterior. This asymmetry maintains the membrane potential and the subsequent generation of ionic currents, and it permits the ions themselves, notably Ca 2+ , to serve as cellular messengers. Molecular biology provides powerful techniques, with which to characterize channels, including molecular cloning and expression and site-directed mutagenesis, with which to produce “designer channels.” A resultant major challenge is the generation of structural models that encompass the basic functional properties of the channels. Channels may be single polypeptides or may be composed of homo- or heteromeric associations of subunits. Channels must contain those structural elements that permit them to regulate the ionic currents. These include “gates” that open or close in response to the stimulus and the sensors that respond to this stimulus and that are linked to the permeation and gating processes. The sensor responds to chemical, electrical, or other input and may be an integral component of the channel or may be an extrinsic protein linked to the channel by a messenger.
The Role of Silicon Content on Environmental Degradations of T91 Steels

T91 grade steels showed a gradual enhancement in tensile ductility at ambient temperature due to an increase in Si content from 0.5 to 2.0 weight percent (wt.%). However, the ultimate tensile strength was reduced only above 1.5 wt.% Si. The corrosion potential became more active in an acidic solution with increasing temperature. The cracking susceptibility in a similar environment under a slow-strain-rate (SSR) condition was enhanced at higher temperatures showing reduced ductility, time to failure, and true failure stress. Cathodic potentials applied to the test specimens in SSR testing caused an enhanced cracking tendency at 30 and 60 °C, suggesting hydrogen embrittlement as a possible mechanism of failure. Cracking of precracked and wedge-loaded double-cantilever-beam specimens was enhanced at higher initial stress intensity factors. In general, steels with 2.0 wt.% Si showed inferior corrosion resistance. A combination of cleavage and intergranular brittle failure was seen in the tested specimens depending on the type of testing.
Mechanism of release of the avian retrovirus tRNATrp primer molecule from viral DNA by ribonuclease H during reverse transcription

Abstract Employing enzymatic reactions containing reverse transcriptase and appropriately defined substrates, we have demonstrated that the tRNA Trp primer molecule required for the initiation of DNA synthesis is cleaved from viral DNA by an enzymatic activity associated with the reverse transcriptase molecule. Since the α subunit of reverse transcriptase facilitates release of the tRNA Trp primer from viral DNA and this activity is inhibited by a known inhibitor of reverse-transcriptase-associated RNAase H, it appears that the RNAase H activity, rather than the DNA endonuclease activity, is involved in this reaction. The cleavage site for RNAase H—mediated removal of the tRNA Trp primer from viral DNA is located at or near the tRNA Trp —viral DNA junction, and transcription of most, if not all, of the tRNA Trp -binding site into (+) polarity DNA occurs before RNAase-H—mediated cleavage takes place. These studies indicate that an additional function can be ascribed to the reverse-transcriptase-associated RNAase H activity, which in this instance acts like an endonuclease, not requiring the unblocked termini of an RNADNA hybrid molecule for its activity.
Influence of Preoperative Musculotendinous Junction Position on Rotator Cuff Healing Using Single-Row Technique

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation of rotator cuff musculotendinous junction (MTJ) retraction with healing after rotator cuff repair and with preoperative sagittal tear size. Methods We reviewed preoperative and postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of 51 patients undergoing arthroscopic single-row rotator cuff repair between March 1, 2005, and February 20, 2010. Preoperative MRI studies were evaluated for anteroposterior tear size, tendon retraction, tendon length, muscle quality, and MTJ position with respect to the glenoid. The position of the MTJ was referenced off the glenoid face as either lateral or medial. Postoperative MRI studies obtained at a minimum of 1 year postoperatively (mean, 25 ± 13.9 months) were evaluated for healing, tendon length, and MTJ position. Results We found that 39 of 51 tears (76%) healed, with 26 of 30 small/medium tears (87%) and 13 of 21 large/massive tears (62%) healing. Greater tendon retraction, worse preoperative muscle quality, and a more medialized MTJ were all associated with worse tendon healing ( P P P Conclusions Preoperative MTJ medialization, tendon retraction, and muscle quality are all predictive of tendon healing postoperatively when using a single-row rotator cuff repair technique. The position of the MTJ with respect to the glenoid face can be predictive of healing, with over 90% healing if lateral and 50% if medial to the face. Lengthening of the tendon accounts for a significant percentage of the musculotendinous unit lengthening that occurs in healed tears as opposed to muscle elongation. Level of Evidence Level IV, therapeutic case series.
The first protein crystal structure determined from high-resolution X-ray powder diffraction data: a variant of T3R3 human insulin–zinc complex produced by grinding

X-ray diffraction analysis of protein structure is often limited by the availability of suitable crystals. However, the absence of single crystals need not present an insurmountable obstacle in protein crystallography any more than it does in materials science, where powder diffraction techniques have developed to the point where complex oxide, zeolite and small organic molecular structures can often be solved from powder data alone. Here, that fact is demonstrated with the structure solution and refinement of a new variant of the T3R3 Zn–human insulin complex produced by mechanical grinding of a polycrystalline sample. High-resolution synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data were used to solve this crystal structure by molecular replacement adapted for Rietveld refinement. A complete Rietveld refinement of the 1630-atom protein was achieved by combining 7981 stereochemical restraints with a 4800-step (dmin = 3.24 A) powder diffraction pattern and yielded the residuals Rwp = 3.73%, Rp = 2.84%, R_{F}^{2} = 8.25%. It was determined that the grinding-induced phase change is accompanied by 9.5 and 17.2° rotations of the two T3R3 complexes that comprise the crystal structure. The material reverts over 2–3 d to recover the original T3R3 crystal structure. A Rietveld refinement of this 815-atom protein by combining 3886 stereochemical restraints with a 6000-step (dmin = 3.06 A) powder diffraction pattern yielded the residuals Rwp = 3.46%, Rp = 2.64%, R_{F}^{2} = 7.10%. The demonstrated ability to solve and refine a protein crystal structure from powder diffraction data suggests that this approach can be employed, for example, to examine structural changes in a series of protein derivatives in which the structure of one member is known from a single-crystal study.
Novel semisynthetic analogues of betulinic acid with diverse cytoprotective, antiproliferative, and proapoptotic activities.

Betulinic acid (BA), a pentacyclic triterpene isolated from birch bark and other plants, selectively inhibits the growth of human cancer cell lines. However, the poor potency of BA hinders its clinical development, despite a lack of toxicity in animal studies even at high concentrations. Here, we describe six BA derivatives that are markedly more potent than BA for inhibiting inducible nitric oxide synthase, activating phase 2 cytoprotective enzymes, and inducing apoptosis in cancer cells and in Bax/Bak−/− fibroblasts, which lack two key proteins involved in the intrinsic, mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathway. Notably, adding a cyano-enone functionality in the A ring of BA enhanced its cytoprotective properties, but replacing the cyano group with a methoxycarbonyl strikingly increased potency in the apoptosis assays. Higher plasma and tissue levels were obtained with the new BA analogues, especially CBA-Im [1-(2-cyano-3-oxolupa-1,20(29)-dien-28-oyl)imidazole], compared with BA itself and at concentrations that were active in vitro . These results suggest that BA is a useful platform for drug development, and the enhanced potency and varied biological activities of CBA-Im make it a promising candidate for further chemoprevention or chemotherapeutic studies. [Mol Cancer Ther 2007;6(7):2113–9]
HER-2/neu and p53 overexpression as biomarkers of breast carcinoma in women age 30 years and younger

BACKGROUND Although p53 and HER-2/neu overexpression are found in 30% of breast carcinomas in women of all ages and are associated with high rates of lymph node metastases, their role in women age < 30 years has not been studied extensively. METHODS The institutional breast cancer data base was searched to identify young women (23–30 years) with breast carcinoma. An immunohistochemical analysis was performed to determine estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor expression and p53 and HER-2/neu overexpression. Positive staining for p53 was defined as nuclear staining in > 10% of tumor cells. HER-2/neu membranous staining was graded as 0, 1 (incomplete, faint staining in > 10% of cells), 2 (weak-to-moderate, complete staining in > 10% of cells), or 3 (complete, strong staining in > 10% of cells). Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed on all samples with ≥ 2 and ≥ 3 results, and only FISH-positive samples were classified as positive. The overexpression was correlated with clinicopathologic features. RESULTS Among 44 patients, 1 patient had medullary carcinoma, and 1 had mixed ductal/lobular carcinoma. All remaining patients were diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma. The clinical stage was T1 in 5 patients, T2 in 24 patients, T3 in 10 patients, T4 in 4 patients, and unavailable in 1 patient. Positive p53 status was determined in 22 of 44 patients (50%), and positive HER-2/neu status was determined in 18 of 41 patients (44%). Tumors with lymph node metastasis had a significantly greater incidence of HER-2/neu overexpression (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS Frequent overexpression of HER-2/neu and p53 was found in the patient population. HER-2/neu overexpression was associated significantly with lymph node involvement and, thus, may be a marker for aggressive clinical behavior in patients with breast carcinoma age ≤ 30 years. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society
Rotenone persistence model for montane streams

Abstract The efficient and effective use of rotenone is hindered by its unknown persistence in streams. Environmental conditions degrade rotenone, but current label instructions suggest fortifying the chemical along a stream based on linear distance or travel time rather than environmental conditions. Our objective was to develop models that use measurements of environmental conditions to predict rotenone persistence in streams. Detailed measurements of ultraviolet radiation, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids (TDS), conductivity, pH, oxidation–reduction potential (ORP), substrate composition, amount of organic matter, channel slope, and travel time were made along stream segments located between rotenone treatment stations and cages containing bioassay fish in six streams. The amount of fine organic matter, biofilm, sand, gravel, cobble, rubble, small boulders, slope, pH, TDS, ORP, light reaching the stream, energy dissipated, discharge, and cumulative travel time were each signi...
Continent ileostomy in the pediatric patient

Continent ileostomies have been performed in 10 juvenile patients. The operative technique and postoperative management are described. Nine patients wear only small dressings to cover the stoma. One patient is partially incontinent and frequently wears an appliance. Criteria for patient selection and contraindications are discussed.
Suspension dry spinning and rheological behavior of ceramic-powder-loaded polymer solutions

Green ceramic fibers of Al[sub 2]O[sub 3], Si[sub 3]N[sub 4], Ce-ZrO[sub 2], and SiC were prepared by suspension dry spinning of powder-loaded polymer solutions. The fiber-forming polymer was ethyl methacrylate dissolved in methyl ethyl ketone. The experimental conditions for fiber formation were defined for the alumina system. Thread lengths measured as a function of extrusion rate showed a transition from capillary-limited fracture to continuous fibers in agreement with Ziabicki's theory of thread formation. The conditions for spinnability were correlated to rheological parameters. Spinnable Al[sub 2]O[sub 3] dopes were elastic fluids with a high viscosity (60 Pa[center dot]s at 0.46 s[sup [minus]1]) under the conditions of this study.
Khrushchev's anti‐religious policy and the campaign of 1954

(1973). Khrushchev's anti‐religious policy and the campaign of 1954. Soviet Studies: Vol. 24, No. 3, pp. 374-386.
Does measurement of exercise/rest calf muscle perfusion reserve with first-pass contrast-enhanced MRI in peripheral arterial disease perform better than exercise-only perfusion ?

Methods Sixteen healthy subjects and 3 symptomatic PAD patients (ABI 0.4-0.9) underwent contrast-enhanced perfusion MRI of the calf before and after plantar-flexion exercise using an MR-compatible pedal at 50 rpm for up to 20 minutes or until limiting symptoms. Contrast-enhanced first-pass images were obtained on a 3T Siemens Trio scanner by infusion of 0.1mM/kg of gadolinium-DTPA followed by a 20 mL saline flush at 4 mL/ second. A spoiled gradient echo dual contrast sequence with slices positioned 32 mm apart allowed for simultaneous acquisition of arterial input and muscle perfusion images. Time-intensity curves (TIC) were generated using ARGUS software (Siemens) for arterial input and the muscle group with the highest signal intensity (tissue function, TF). PI was measured as ratio of the slopes of the TF TIC/arterial input TIC. PR was defined as exercise TF/resting TF. PIR was calculated as exercise PI/rest PI. Ten of the controls and all 3 patients underwent repeat studies on a separate day. For 7 controls and all patients, measurements were normalized to proton density.
Chyloperitoneum After Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (LRYGB)

A true chylous effusion is defined as the presence of ascitic fluid with high fat (triglyceride) content, usually higher than 110 mg/dl. We report a case of chyloperitoneum following laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) in a 40-year-old patient who was admitted for surgery on May 31, 2007. On August 2008 an abdominal CT with contrast was ordered for chronic abdominal pain showing diffuse ascites as well as mesenteric adenitis. On September 2008, the patient was admitted to the hospital. An elective diagnostic laparoscopy was scheduled. A large amount of chylous fluid was found. Microscopic analysis came back negative. The patient made an uneventful recovery after surgery. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of chylous ascites following LRYGB. Chyloperitoneum should be considered as a possible cause of ascites in patients with chronic small bowel obstruction following a LRYGB.
Large solar proton event explains 774–775 CE carbon‐14 increase

Tree ring records indicate that in 774–775 CE, atmospheric carbon-14 levels increased substantially. Researchers suggest that a solar proton event may have been the cause. In solar proton events, large numbers of high-energy protons are emitted from the Sun, along with other particles. If these particles reach Earth's atmosphere, they ionize the atmosphere and induce nuclear reactions that produce higher levels of carbon-14; the particles also cause chemical reactions that result in depletion of ozone in the ozone layer, allowing harmful ultraviolet radiation to reach the ground.
5-Fluorouracil drug alters the microRNA expression profiles in MCF-7 breast cancer cells

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a classic chemotherapeutic drug that has been widely used for breast cancer treatment. Although aberrant expression of protein-coding genes was observed after 5-FU treatment, the regulatory mechanism remains poorly understood. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a newly identified class of small regulatory RNAs which play an important role in gene regulation at the post-transcriptional levels. Recent evidence suggests an important role of miRNAs in initiation, progression, and metastasis of human cancers. In this study, using a combined advanced microarray and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) technology, we show that 5-FU significantly alters the global expression profile of miRNAs in vitro. After 48 h of treatment with a low dose (0.01 µM), 42 miRNAs were differentially expressed in MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. Of these, 23 miRNAs were up-regulated with up to 4.59-fold changes, while 19 were down-regulated with up to 1.89-fold changes. A majority of these miRNAs are associated with cancer development, progression, and metastasis. Target prediction and GO analysis suggest that these differentially expressed miRNAs potentially target many oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes and genes related to programmed cell death, activation of immune response, and cellular catabolic processes.
Longitudinal follow-up in 145 patients with medically refractory temporal lobe epilepsy treated surgically between 1984 and 1995.

Summary: Purpose: There are few studies of prolonged longitudinal follow-up after temporal resections. Methods: We analyzed 145 consecutive patients with temporal lobe epilepsy treated surgically. Patients had a comprehensive presurgical evaluation, including video-EEG, psychometric testing, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), singlephoton emission computed tomography (SPECT), intracarotid amobarbital procedure (IAP), and recently, volumetric head MRIs and F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) scans. Most had en bloc temporal resections, and a few had lesionectomies and resection of the epileptogenic zone. There was no surgical mortality. Longitudinal follow-up data of the seizure outcome were analyzed by actuarial analysis. Patients were followed up at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and then on a yearly basis. The mean follow-up was 5.6 years. Results: Sixty-six percent were seizure free at 1 year, 63% at 2 years, 60% at 5 years, and 55% at 10 years follow-up. Moreover, 85%, became seizure free for 22 at the time of last follow-up or had rare seizures. Patients who were seizure free for 1 and 2 years after surgery, had an 83% and 92% probability, respectively, of remaining seizure free at the time of last follow-up. Ninety-one percent of patients with small tumors and cavernous angiomas became seizure free compared with 69% of patients with hippocampal sclerosis. Conclusions: Actuarial analysis showed that the long-term surgical outcome of temporal lobe epilepsy remains favorable. Follow-up at 1 and 2 years is highly predictive of the long-term outcome. Patients with discrete lesions had the best outcome. Most of the patients with late recurrences had hippocampal sclerosis or temporal lobe gliosis. Some patients with postoperative seizures eventually became seizure free, reflecting the running-down phenomenon. Key Words: Temporal lobe epilepsy-Long-term follow-up. Patients with medically refractory temporal lobe epilepsy comprise the largest group of patients undergoing epilepsy surgery (1,2). This significant increase in the number of patients undergoing epilepsy surgery reflects the fact that as many as 20-30% of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy are refractory to medical treatment (3). Most of these patients have abnormal mesial temporal structures on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and focal functional deficits on fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) and Wada testing, and many benefit from surgical resection of the dysfunctional epileptogenic zone (43. With a few exceptions, most of
Making measurement errors and interpreting path coefficients: a practical perspective

The purpose of this analysis is to provide a practical approach to the assessment of reliability. In particular, we examine the impact of random measurement error upon the magnitude and interpretation of standardized regression coefficients (or path coefficients) and the specification of regression models. With the proper research the relationship between measured and true values can be inferred by using path coefficients. Such inferences allow assessments of the specification of statistical models. Several examples illustrate how researchers can be misled without knowledge of the impact of measurement error.
Pharmacokinetics and tissue concentrations of cefazolin in pediatric patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery.

Limited information is available on the pharmacokinetics and tissue penetration of cefazolin in pediatric patients. Nine children (age 0.8-10 years) undergoing gastrointestinal operations were studied. A single dose of cefazolin, 15-26 mg/kg was given i.v. over 2-3 min at the time of induction of anaesthesia. Multiple (5-8) blood samples were collected during the operative procedure and in the recovery room. Tissue samples from the rectus abdominis muscle were obtained at the time of incision, during surgery, and at closure. The concentration of cefazolin was measured by a high performance liquid chromatographic method. Peak serum concentrations of cefazolin ranged from 85.8-269.4 mcg/ml. Serum and tissue concentrations at incision were 50.5-169.9 mcg/ml and 1.8-29.7 mcg/g; at closure the serum and tissue concentrations ranged from 17.3-60.9 mcg/ml and 1.19-29.70 mcg/g, respectively. Total clearance, apparent distribution volume, and elimination half-life of cefazolin were 1.43 +/- 0.54 ml/min/kg, 0.08 +/- 0.03 l/kg, and 1.68 +/- 0.55 h respectively. Tissue concentrations of cefazolin were maintained above its minimum inhibitory concentrations against common susceptible pathogens. Hence, the current dosing regimen of cefazolin is adequate to protect against infection in pediatric patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery.
Herpes simplex virus type 1 latency-associated transcript inhibits apoptosis and promotes neurite sprouting in neuroblastoma cells following serum starvation by maintaining protein kinase B (AKT) levels

The herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) latency-associated transcript (LAT) is expressed abundantly in latently infected sensory neurons. LAT-deletion-mutant virus strains have reduced-reactivation phenotypes in small animal models of infection, demonstrating that LAT plays an important role in the latency–reactivation cycle of HSV-1. Previous studies demonstrated that the anti-apoptosis functions of LAT are important for regulating the latency–reactivation cycle because three different anti-apoptosis genes can substitute for LAT. Although LAT inhibits caspase 3 activation, the signalling pathway by which LAT inhibits caspase 3 activation was not identified. In this study, we analysed mouse neuroblastoma cells (C1300) that express LAT stably (DC-LAT6 cells) following serum starvation. As expected, DC-LAT6 cells were resistant to apoptosis following serum withdrawal. Levels of total and phosphorylated AKT (protein kinase B), a serine/threonine protein kinase that promotes cell survival, were higher in DC-LAT6 cells after serum withdrawal than in C1300 cells or a cell line stably transfected with a LAT promoter mutant (DC-ΔLAT311). A specific AKT inhibitor reduced the anti-apoptosis functions of LAT and phosphorylated AKT levels. After serum withdrawal, more DC-LAT6 cells sprouted neurites and exhibited a differentiated morphology. NeuN (neuronal nuclei), a neuron-specific nuclear protein, was expressed abundantly in DC-LAT6 cells, but not C1300 cells, after serum withdrawal, further supporting the concept that LAT enhanced neuronal-like morphology. Collectively, these studies suggested that LAT, directly or indirectly, maintained total and phosphorylated AKT levels, which correlated with increased cell survival and mature neuronal-like morphology.
Post-Miocene Shift in Stereotypic Naticid Predation on Confamilial Prey from the Mid-Atlantic Shelf: Coevolution with Dangerous Prey

Abstract Of More than 4000 specimens of the naticid gastropods Euspira heros (Say) and Neverita duplicata (Say) from southern New Jersey, the lower Pleistocene of North Carolina, upper Miocene of Maryland, and the lower Miocene of Delaware, subsamples with complete and incomplete boreholes (n = 613) were compared for borehole-site stereotypy, prey size-selectivity, prey profitability, and prey effectiveness. In confamilial encounters, adaptation of naticid predators is evidenced by a shift in borehole-site stereotypy on the body whorl toward the umbilicus during the last 18 my, particularly for N. duplicata. Inferentially, an umbilical drilling position enabled the base of the predator's foot to occlude the prey aperture and prevent egress of the dangerous prey's foot, thereby reducing the prey's escape potential. The tradeoff was that the umbilical site required the predator to drill through a thicker shell location. Prey effectiveness, the ratio of incomplete boreholes to total attempts, was initially l...
Septal cholinergic deafferentation of the dentate gyrus results in a loss of a subset of neuropeptide Y somata and an increase in synaptic area on remaining neuropeptide Y dendrites.

Removal of cholinergic septal inputs using the immunotoxin 192 IgG-saporin reduces the number of interneurons containing neuropeptide Y (NPY)-immunoreactivity in the rat dentate gyrus by approximately 30% [Milner et al., J. Comp. Neurol. 386 (1997) 48-59]. The goal of the present study was to determine if NPY-containing neurons that survive deafferentation have any distinguishing morphological and/or microenvironmental features. For this, 2 or 24 weeks after intracerebroventricular injections of 192 IgG-saporin, NPY-immunolabeled neurons in the hilus of the dentate gyrus were examined by electron microscopy. Neither the size nor morphological traits of NPY-labeled perikaryal or dendritic profiles from lesioned compared to control rats at either time-point differed significantly. However, at both time-points, NPY-containing somatal profiles from immunolesioned rats compared to controls had a reduced percentage of their plasmalemmal surface apposed to unmyelinated axon profiles and an increased percentage of their surface occupied by astrocytic profiles. At the 24 week time-point, these differences were statistically significant. The primary contributing factor for these changes was the absence of a subgroup of NPY-labeled somatal profiles in lesioned rats compared to controls which was: (a) distinguished by frequent appositions of unmyelinated axons (from 15 to 35%) to the plasmalemmal surface; and (b) located primarily in the central hilar region. Unlike NPY-containing somata, changes associated with NPY-labeled dendritic profiles were exclusively related to associated presynaptic profiles at the 24 week time-point. In lesioned rats compared to controls at this time-point, NPY-containing dendritic profiles had a concurrent increase in the percentage of the plasmalemmal surface occupied by active zones and the size of terminals contacting them. The present results combined with those of our earlier study suggest that septal cholinergic deafferentation results in: (a) the loss of a distinct subpopulation of hippocampal NPY-containing neurons; and (b) an increase in total active zone area suggesting a strengthening of synaptic connections to the surviving population of NPY-containing neurons in the long term.
Modèle topologique pour des applications de Hénon complexes

Resume Nous contruisons un modele simple ( g , Y ) dans lequel Y est le complement dans R 4 d'un cone au-dessus d'un solenoide vivant dans la sphere unite S 3 , tandis que l'application g s'exprime en coordonnees « spheriques » par g ( r , θ ) = ( r 2 , σ ( θ ) ) , ou σ est une application solenoidale de degre deux. Nous montrons alors que pour tout polynome complexe P c : z ↦ z 2 + c ayant un point fixe attractif il existe un e > 0 pour lequel toutes les applications de Henon complexes H a , c : ( x y ) ↦ ( P c ( x ) − a y x ) verifiant 0 | a | e sont topologiquement conjuguees au modele ( g , Y ) . Pour citer cet article : S. Bonnot, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 340 (2005).
The impact of combined water and energy consumption eco-feedback on conservation

Abstract Demand for water is increasing with buildings accounting for the large majority of increased water consumption. As such, the development of methods to effectively promote water conservation in buildings has become an important focal area for research. Specifically, providing feedback of resource consumption to residential building occupants has been demonstrated to be effective in promoting conservation. Although water and energy are inextricably connected, there is a lack of research that investigates the bridge between water and energy in the representation of feedback to promote water conservation. In this paper, we investigate the impact of two different representations of water consumption eco-feedback on water conservation (i.e., gallons and associated estimated embodied energy). We collected consumption data in 18 residential dormitories, involving nearly 4700 occupants over a period of approximately six weeks. We found that representing water consumption simultaneously in terms of gallons and associated embodied energy led to a statistically significant reduction in water consumption, while representing water consumption only in terms of gallons did not. This has significant implications for the growing body of research at the nexus between water and energy consumption and can inform future eco-feedback system designs.
RoadTrack: scaling location updates for mobile clients on road networks with query awareness

Mobile commerce and location based services (LBS) are some of the fastest growing IT industries in the last five years. Location update of mobile clients is a fundamental capability in mobile commerce and all types of LBS. Higher update frequency leads to higher accuracy, but incurs unacceptably high cost of location management at the location servers. We propose RoadTrack -- a road-network based, query-aware location update framework with two unique features. First, we introduce the concept of precincts to control the granularity of location update resolution for mobile clients that are not of interest to any active location query services. Second, we define query encounter points for mobile objects that are targets of active location query services, and utilize these encounter points to define the adequate location update schedule for each mobile. The RoadTrack framework offers three unique advantages. First, encounter points as a fundamental query awareness mechanism enable us to control and differentiate location update strategies for mobile clients in the vicinity of active location queries, while meeting the needs of location query evaluation. Second, we employ system-defined precincts to manage the desired spatial resolution of location updates for different mobile clients and to control the scope of query awareness to be capitalized by a location update strategy. Third, our road-network based check-free interval optimization further enhances the effectiveness of the Road-Track query-aware location update scheduling algorithm. This optimization provides significant cost reduction for location update management at both mobile clients and location servers. We evaluate the RoadTrack location update approach using a real world road-network based mobility simulator. Our experimental results demonstrate that the RoadTrack query aware location update approach outperforms existing representative location update strategies in terms of both client energy efficiency and server processing load.
Kalman Filtering of 3-D Gyroscopic Measurements

This paper presents a new Kalman filtering method to estimate 3-D angular motion based on noisy gyroscopic measurements. The estimation problem is nonlinear since the dynamics of 3-D angular motion are described by Euler's equations. Instead of using complex extended Kalman filtering techniques to solve this problem, a novel approach is developed where the nonlinear Euler's model is decomposed into two pseudo-linear models, making it possible to run two interlaced discrete-linear Kalman filters. This technique, IKF, takes advantage of the linear form's simplicity, computational efficiency and higher convergence speed, overcoming many drawbacks of conventional extended Kalman filtering techniques. The IKF effectiveness is evaluated through a computer simulation, which demonstrates that the new method yields excellent 3-D angular velocity estimates, very small mean-square-estimation errors, and about ten-to-one signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) improvement over angular velocity measurements obtained from 3 orthogonal gyroscopes, even under very low SNR conditions.
COWBIRD REMOVALS UNEXPECTEDLY INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY OF A BROOD PARASITE AND THE SONGBIRD HOST

Generalist brood parasites reduce productivity and population growth of avian hosts and have been implicated in population declines of several songbirds of conservation concern. To estimate the demographic effects of brood parasitism on Bell's Vireos (Vireo bellii), we removed Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) in a replicated switchback experimental design. Cowbird removals decreased parasitism frequency from 77% and 85% at unmanipulated plots to 58% and 47% at removal plots in 2004 and 2005, respectively. Vireo productivity per pair was higher at cowbird removal plots when years were pooled (mean = 2.6 +/- 0.2 [SE] young per pair) compared to unmanipulated plots (1.2 +/- 0.1). Nest desertion frequency was lower at cowbird removal plots (35% of parasitized nests) compared to unmanipulated plots (69%) because removal of host eggs was the proximate cue for nest desertion, and vireos experienced lower rates of egg loss at cowbird removal plots. Nest success was higher among unparasitized than parasitized nests, and parasitized nests at cowbird removal plots had a higher probability of success than parasitized nests at unmanipulated plots. Unexpectedly, cowbird productivity from vireo pairs was higher at cowbird removal plots (mean = 0.3 +/- 0.06 young per pair) than at unmanipulated plots (0.1 +/- 0.03) because fewer parasitized nests were deserted and the probability of nest success was higher. Our study provides the first evidence that increases in cowbird productivity may be an unintended consequence of cowbird control programs, especially during the initial years of trapping when parasitism may only be moderately reduced. Thus, understanding the demographic impacts of cowbird removals requires an informed understanding of the behavioral ecology of host-parasite interactions.
Phrenic nerve inputs to upper cervical (C1–C3) spinothalamic tract neurons in monkeys

Afferent input from the phrenic nerve enters mid-cervical spinal segments, and previous results in monkeys show that mid-cervical spinothalamic (STT) neurons are activated by groups II and III phrenic afferent input arising from the diaphragm. In rats, dorsal horn neurons in C1-C2 segments receive phrenic input stimulated above the heart, but are not activated by phrenic input arising from diaphragm or abdomen. It is not known if this differential organization occurs in primate STT neurons. We hypothesized that high cervical STT neurons in monkeys also would be preferentially activated by phrenic inputs from thoracic structures, such as the pericardium. We examined extracellular discharge rate of C1-C3 STT neurons for responses to electrical stimulation of phrenic nerve fibers. Responses to stimulation of ipsilateral phrenic fibers above the heart were compared to effects of input stimulated below the heart and also to effects of contralateral phrenic input. We concluded that upper cervical STT neurons are most strongly excited by ipsilateral input from small diameter phrenic fibers arising from thoracic structures, but that group III and IV input from diaphragmatic fibers as well as input from contralateral phrenic fibers have a lesser effect on C1-C3 STT neurons and thus might be involved in nociceptive processing.
A Microscale Deposition Test for the Evaluation of Aircraft Turbine Engine Lubricants

The development of a liquid-phase micro panel coker and a vapor-phase micro panel coker is described. The devices are intended primarily for use in screening synthetic lubricants on the basis of deposit formation in instances where only research-size sample quantities are available. Each model requires less than 75 ml of sample per test and is capable of operation to 1000 F panel temperature. Both micro coker models were utilized in an experimental investigation of the effects of lubricants, panel temperature, and dry and moist air on lubricant deposition. In addition, the liquid-phase micro coker data are examined in comparison with full-scale panel coker and bearing deposition test results. Presented as an American Society of Lubrication Engineers paper at the ASME/ASLE Lubrication Conference held in Atlantic City, New Jersey, October 8–10, 1968.
High spontaneous release of histamine in vitro from leukocytes of persons hypersensitive to food.

Abstract In vitro studies of antigenic release of histamine from peripheral leukocytes (basophils) have been done in more than 600 allergic children. Ordinarily only about 5% to 10% of the histamine content of leukocytes will leak out or be released "spontaneously" during incubation of suspensions in vitro, without the addition of antigen. A small percentage of children were found to have leukocytes that released 25% to 100% of the histamine content spontaneously during incubation. The significance of this was not apparent until recently, when studies were concentrated on children suspected of hypersensitivity reactions to foods, among whom a much greater prevalence of spontaneous histamine release from leukocytes was encountered. Of children proved by a double-blind food challenge to react with manifestations of immediate hypersensitivity, 100% had leukocytes that consistently released over 25% (usually between 50% and 100%) of the histamine content spontaneously without the addition of antigen. Such high spontaneous histamine release appears to be characteristic of persons with clinical evidence of hypersensitivity to food.
Leadership and the evolution of academic librarianship

Abstract Academic librarianship is being transformed by librarians who are exercising their leadership options. The stories of some of these librarians illustrate how individual professionals, in the process of taking on new roles and responsibilities, are reshaping higher education and academic librarianship, one carrer at a time.
Positive School Climate Is Associated With Lower Body Mass Index Percentile Among Urban Preadolescents

BACKGROUND Schools are an important environmental context in children’s lives and are part of the complex web of factors that contribute to childhood obesity. Increasingly, attention has been placed on the importance of school climate (connectedness, academic standards, engagement, and student autonomy) as 1 domain of school environment beyond health policies and education that may have implications for student health outcomes. The purpose of this study is to examine the association of school climate with body mass index (BMI) among urban preadolescents.
Protein Activation of Streptolysin ‘O’

MANY studies have been made of streptococcal haemolysins. Todd1 demonstrated essential differences between the ‘O’ and ‘S’ forms of streptolysin. Herbert and Todd2 made a more exhaustive study of streptolysin ‘O’ and characterized it as a protein capable of haemolysing red cells, only, however, after activation with —SH-containing reducing agents.
Treatment of alligator farm wastewater using land application

Treatment of an aquacultural wastewater from alligator farms in Louisiana using land application was investigated. Wastewater from alligator farms resembled municipal domestic wastewater in high biological oxygen demand (BOD5) and P concentrations but contained twice the N content due to the high excretion of ammonia by alligators. Land application using overland flow consistently removed BOD5 and N over a 20 day application period. First-order removal rates for the pollutants were: total soluble P = 0·009/min, BOD5 = 0·017/min, ammonia = 0·023/min and organic N = 0·027/min. Optimal detention times for a range of discharge limits were calculated assuming first-order removal of the pollutants. P isotherms were used to estimate the lifetime of the treatment system's ability to sorb P. Design calculations using current EPA design criteria indicate that an area of 0·16 ha (approx. 0·4 acres) is needed to treat wastewater from a typical alligator farm. Land application was found to be a viable technique for treating this high-strength wastewater.
Validity of the Children's Category Test-Level 1 in a clinical sample with heterogeneous forms of brain dysfunction

Validity of the Children's Category Test-Level 1 (CCT-1) was evaluated in 123 children with various forms of brain dysfunction. Confirmatory factor analyses indicated that the CCT-1 is composed of two factors. The first factor was composed of subtests II and III, and was named "Conceptual Discrimination", while the second was composed of subtests IV and V, and was named "Conceptual Memory". Both factors were more highly correlated with mathematical achievement than with reading or writing achievement. Comparisons between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) groups indicated that the Conceptual Discrimination factor was more sensitive to TBI than the Conceptual Memory factor. Also, the total error composite T-score was not particularly sensitive to ADHD. Findings indicate that the composite T-score should be interpreted with caution because it does not appear sensitive to milder forms of brain dysfunction and because the CCT-1 is a multidimensional procedure.
Randomness conservation inequalities; information and independence in mathematical theories

The article further develops Kolmogorov's algorithmic complexity theory. The definition of randomness is modified to satisfy strong invariance properties (conservation inequalities). This allows definitions of concepts such as mutual information in individual infinite sequences. Applications to several areas, like probability theory, theory of algorithms, intuitionistic logic are considered. These theories are simplified substantially with the postulate that the objects they consider are independent of (have small mutual information with) any sequence specified by a mathematical property.
Older People in Disaster: A Comparison of Black and White Victims:

This research examines differential vulnerability to environmental stressors among white and black elderly and non-elderly disaster victims. The research identifies the determinants of psychosocial recovery for those four demographic groups. A total of 431 families who were victims of a tornado were interviewed for the study. A path model of the determinants of psychosocial recovery is presented, and observations are made regarding intervention strategies for older disaster victims.
Breaking the Pattern of Interruption in Family Therapy

Family therapists almost invariably will encounter family members who aggressively interrupt other members in an attempt to communicate their version of a particular story or express their emotions...
Abnormal metabolites produced by Daucus carota roots stored under conditions of stress

Abstract The formation of dihydroisocoumarins (I and II), the chromones (III and IV) and scopoletin (V) is induced in carrot roots by storage in the presence of low concentrations of ethylene and by inoculation with various fungi. There has been concern over possible toxic effects of dihydroisocoumarins and some preliminary toxicological data on (I), (II) and (IV) are included.
Gelatinization properties of starches from three successive generations of six exotic corn lines grown in two locations

ABSTRACT The objectives of this research were to evaluate the intra- and interpopulation variability in gelatinization properties of starches from exotic corn lines and their derivatives when grown 1) during two successive years in the same location; and 2) in both temperate and tropical environments. Six novel exotic corn lines (two 100% exotic and four 25% exotic derived from a breeding cross developed by crossing an exotic hybrid with Corn Belt lines) were selected for this research because their starches have significantly different (and potentially useful) thermal properties from those found in starch from normal Corn Belt corn. The Sn (n = 3 for 25% exotic lines and n = 1 for 100% exotic lines) generations of the six exotic lines were self-pollinated and grown in the winter nursery in Puerto Rico. Two successive generations (Sn+1 and Sn+2) of lines selected for low onset of gelatinization temperature were self-pollinated and grown in the same environment near Ames, IA. To evaluate the effect of envi...
Effect of reaction medium on the ionizing radiation‐initiated cationic copolymerization of styrene derivatives

The influence of reaction medium polarity on the ionizing radiation-initiated copolymer-ization of styrene derivatives involving unpaired carbocations is examined. In the copo-lymerization of nonpolar monomers such as p-CH3styrene/styrene, a small effect consistent with that predicted by Laidler-Eyring theory is found. In the copolymerization of nonpolar/polar monomer pairs such as p-CH3styrene/p-Clstyrene and styrene/p-Clstyrene, any such effect is masked by specific solvation phenomena. A competition between such phenomena appears to exist, in which the different cations are dominated by different interactions. The p-Clstyryl cation appears to undergo strong intramolecular complexation with the penultimate aromatic ring in nonpolar conditions; thus, this cation displays increased se-lectivity toward monomers best able to disrupt the complex. The p-CH3styryl and styryl cations do not appear to be subject to such strong complexation; thus, in nonpolar solvent, their selectivity tends towards monomers with the highest cation-solvating ability. The differing copolymerization behavior of the p-Clstyryl cation is consistent with the findings of previous investigations of the effect of reaction medium on chain transfer with these monomers. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
If You're not Sure who You are, Try Being Someone Else for a While: Senegal and the Making of a Practicing Anthropologist

To an increasing extent, success in a globalized world—for individuals, organizations, and nations—depends on the ability to manage cultural differences. This is good news for anthropologists, who claim to know a lot about cultural differences. We know less than we should, however, about how to put what we know to use.