cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Purification and characterization of a lymph node sulfotransferase responsible for 6-O-sulfation of the galactose residues in 2'-fucosyllactose and other sialyl LewisX-related sugars.

Abstract A microsomal galactose-6-O-sulfotransferase (Gal-6-O-Stase) from porcine lymph nodes, able to transfer the sulfate group from adenosine 3′-phosphate 5′-phosphosulphate (PAPS) onto 2′-fucosyllactose (2′-FL) and other sialyl LewisX(sLex)-related sugars, has been purified and characterized. The enzyme was purified to about 35,000-fold by a combination of conventional and affinity chromatographic steps. The purified enzyme preparation exhibited two protein bands at around 80-90 and 170 kDa on 7.5% SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions. Both of these protein bands always comigrated in the gel when peak fractions containing Gal-6-O-Stase activity from the 3′,5′-ADP-agarose column were subjected to 6% SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions. These protein bands also showed similar binding patterns to WGA (wheat germ agglutinin), Con A (concanvalin A), and EBA (elderberry agglutinin). Similarly, when the enzyme preparation after the hydroxylapatite step was photolabeled with 8-azido-[32P]-PAPS, both 80-90 and 170 kDa protein bands were labeled in a specific manner. These results suggest a possible association of these two protein bands with the enzyme activity. The carbohydrate substrate specificity of this enzyme suggests that it is well suited to catalyze the sulphonation at the C-6 position of the galactose residues of oligosaccharides that are structurally similar to sLex. Furthermore, a survey of several porcine organs revealed that this enzyme was selectively expressed in lymphoid tissues such as lymph nodes (peripheral and mesenteric) and spleen. These findings suggest that this enzyme may be involved in the assembly of 3′-sialyl-6′-sulfo Lewisx, the major capping group of HEV-ligands for L-selectin.
Mechanotransduction in Single Cardiac Myocyte Studied Using Laser Tweezers and FRET

Deletion or mutation of a variety of proteins localized at cell-matrix and cell-cell junctions, such as vinculin and its splice-variant metavinculin, can lead to dilated cardiomyopathy in mice and humans, leading some to hypothesize that these molecules are involved in mechanotransmission or mechanotransduction in the heart.To investigate cardiac mechanotransduction mechanisms in single cells, we have combined laser tweezers with a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) biosensor to apply localized forces and probe localized signaling events in isolated mouse ventricular myocytes.Isolated murine ventricular cardiac myocytes were transfected with a focal adhesion kinase (FAK) FRET reporter to monitor integrin-mediated activation events. An integrin ligand-coated microsphere was adhered to the cell surface. Then laser tweezers were used to apply localized piconewton forces parallel or normal to the image plane either cyclically or statically. To ensure a constant force application on the microsphere, 10υM of blebbistatin was added to the imaging media. In conjunction with force application, a pulsed Ti:sapphire infrared laser was used for two-photon excitation of the FRET reporter.Phase contrast and fluorescent images were captured simultaneously, allowing quantification of applied forces and FRET ratio changes. Results indicate that piconewton level forces can be applied to the microsphere and FRET ratio changes validate that integrin-mediated events are being activated by the locally applied forces. This data suggests that the use of laser tweezers combined with FRET provides a means to study integrin-mediated events in cardiac mechanotransduction. Future studies include varying the type of integrin ligand-coated microsphere and FRET biosensors, as well as studying genetically manipulated murine lines in isolated adult cardiac myocytes.
Effect of endogenous angiotensin on the efferent glomerular arteriole of rat kidney

Effect of endogenous angiotensin on the efferent glomerular arteriole of rat kidney. The local, direct effect of endogenous angiotensin II (AII) in the isolated, perfused rat kidney was studied in an "open-circuit," single-pass preparation perfused at a constant pressure with an artificial solution containing 6.5% bovine albumin in Krebs-Ringer solution. After the addition of purified renin substrate (tetradecapeptide, 3 to 5 × 10 -8 M), renal plasma flow fell from 25.3 ± 1.6 to 14.4 ± 1.0ml · min -1 (N = 6, P -1 (P 1 Al 8 -AII (3 × 10 -6 M). Measurements of distribution of perfusate flow between outer and inner cortex were made with radioactive microspheres. Outer cortical flow was 75.3 ± 3.5% of the total cortical flow during the control periods and 73.7 ± 2.3% during the maximal renin substrate effect. We conclude that endogenous All is active locally, independent of systemic recirculation. Its major site of action in this preparation is on the efferent glomerular arteriole. Effet de l'angiotensine endogene sur G arteriole efferente du glomerule chez le rat. L'effet local, direct de l'angiotensine II endogene sur le rein de rat isole et perfuse a ete etudie sur une preparation en circuit ouvert, perfusee a pression constante avec une solution artificielle contenant 6,5% d'albumine bovine dans une solution de Krebs-Ringer. Apres l'addition de substrat de renine purifie (tetradecapeptide, 3 a 5 × 10 -8 M), le debit plasmatique renal a diminue de 25,3 ± 1,6 a 14,4 ± 1,0 ml·min -1 (N = 6, P -1 (P 1 Al 8 -AII (3 × 10 -6 M). Des mesures de la distribution du perfusat entre le cortex externe et interne ont ete faites au moyen de microspheres radioactives. Le debit cortical externe etait de 75,3 ± 3,5% du debit cortical total au cours des periodes controles et de 73,7 ± 2,3% au cours de l'effet maximal du substrat de renine. Il est conclu que l'angiotensine II endogene est active localement independamment de la recirculation systemique. Son site d'action majeur dans cette preparation est G arteriole efferente du glomerule.
Retooling Fitness for Noisy Problems in a Supervised Michigan-style Learning Classifier System

An accuracy-based rule fitness is a hallmark of most modern Michigan-style learning classifier systems (LCS), a powerful, flexible, and largely interpretable class of machine learners. However, rule-fitness based solely on accuracy is not ideal for identifying 'optimal' rules in supervised learning. This is particularly true for noisy problem domains where perfect rule accuracy essentially guarantees over-fitting. Rule fitness based on accuracy alone is unreliable for reflecting the global 'value' of a given rule since rule accuracy is based on a subset of the training instances. While moderate over-fitting may not dramatically hinder LCS classification or prediction performance, the interpretability of the solution is likely to suffer. Additionally, over-fitting can impede algorithm learning efficiency and leads to a larger number of rules being required to capture relationships. The present study seeks to develop an intuitive multi-objective fitness function that will encourage the discovery, preservation, and identification of 'optimal' rules through accuracy, correct coverage of training data, and the prior probability of the specified attribute states and class expressed by a given rule. We demonstrate the advantages of our proposed fitness by implementing it into the ExSTraCS algorithm and performing evaluations over a large spectrum of complex, noisy, simulated datasets.
The role of testosterone in human romantic relationships

Testosterone may play important signaling roles in human romantic relationship dynamics. Testosterone appears to promote pursuit of mates and may therefore increase the odds of relationship entry. Because competitive pursuit of mates may interfere with stable pair bonds and effective parenting, however, entry into nurturant relationships may have a negative feedback effect on testosterone production and mating effort. In this article, we summarize evidence for testosterone acting as a signal that promotes mate pursuit at various timescales, and synthesize a range of recent findings into a heuristic model (‘The Testosterone-Relationship Cycle’) depicting the role of this hormone in the initiation, maintenance, and functioning of human mating relationships.
Dissecting substrate recognition by thrombin using the inactive mutant S195A.

Abstract The catalytically inactive mutant S195A was used to study the interaction of thrombin with substrates under equilibrium conditions. By monitoring changes in intrinsic fluorescence, we measured dissociation constants for a variety of synthetic substrates, PAR peptides and the inhibitor PPACK. The S195A mutant retains the Na + -binding properties of the wild type, and substrate binding to the mutant is enhanced by the presence of Na + . Temperature dependence studies allowed calculation of the thermodynamic parameters of substrate binding at the active site and showed a negligible Δ C p . Titration of synthetic substrates carrying substitutions at the P1–P3 positions revealed energetics consistent with the specificity hierarchy identified in hydrolysis by the wild type. Titration with PAR peptides, which interact with both the active site and exosite I of thrombin, also showed consistency with the results obtained with the wild type at steady state. These findings demonstrate that inactive mutants of enzymes make it possible to dissect the equilibrium components linked to substrate binding and complement information on the kinetic properties of the wild type.
A stock market-driven reformulation of multinational capital budgeting

Abstract A method for ranking cross-border capital investment projects is proposed which makes direct use of stock-market valuation standards. The contribution of each proposed project is ranked according to how much the project would add to stock-market valuation of the parent company. The host country stock-market multiple is used when the proposed investment project will be in a subsidiary located in that host country. Three projects are ranked using the conventional method, the adjusted present value method, and the stock-market-driven method. The rankings come out 1,2,3; 2,1,3; and 3,1,2. The intent of this paper is to cast doubt on the ranking methods that are currently in use, by showing a method that gives a different, and apparently superior, ranking.
The Differential Effects of Solo Status on Members of High- and Low-Status Groups

Individuals experience solo status when they are the only members of their social category (e.g., gender or race) present in a group. Field research indicates that women and racial minorities are more debilitated by solo status than White men. However, lab oratory research indicates that men and women are equally debilitated as solos. We noted that laboratory studies introduced solo status during learning, whereas field research examined solo status at performance. Therefore, we predicted that high and low social status group members would be differentially influenced by solo status experienced during testing. In two laboratory experiments, men and women and African Americans and Whites experienced solo status during an oral examination. In Experiment 1, White women performed more poorly than White men taking the exam before an opposite-sex (but same-race) audience. In Experiment 2, African American women performed more poorly than White women taking the exam before an other-race (but same-gender) audience.
Stability of two-layer stratified flow in inclined channels Applications to air entrainment in coating systems

To understand the physics of air entrainment in thin-film liquid coating and other applications, the stability characteristics of general stratified two-layer Poiseuille-Couette flow are examined in inclined channels. Only one mode of instability, the interfacial mode, is obtained in the long-wave asymptotic limit. The generalized eigenvalue problem, formed by spectral decomposition and solution of the general two-layer Orr-Sommerfeld equation, is solved to obtain all of the critical modes. Analysis of the air/liquid interface corresponding to experiments reveals that because of the large density variation between the two layers, the interfacial mode is the only mode of instability in air entrainment. Results from the stability analysis of the flow near the contact line where air entrainment occurs are consistent with previous experimental observations.
Ingestion of marine oil reduces excretion of 11-dehydrothromboxane B2, an index of intravascular production of thromboxane A2.

Abstract We evaluated the effect of anchovy oil supplementation on the endogenous production of thromboxane A 2 by measuring the excretion of its stable metabolite, 11-dehydrothromboxane B 2 (11-DTXB 2 ), in 24-h urine. In a longitudinal study, 35 male volunteers consumed a controlled basal diet for two experimental periods lasting a total of 20 weeks. During period 1 (10 weeks) the diet was supplemented with placebo (PO) capsules (15 × 1 g/d) consisting of a blend of fats approaching the fatty acid profile of the basal diet. During period 2 the subjects received 15 × 1 g/d capsules of fish oil concentrate (FOC). PO and FOC capsules contained 1 mg alpha-tocopherol per gram of fat as antioxidant. A 38% reduction of 11-DTXB 2 excretion was observed after 10 weeks of FOC supplementation (period 2, n-6 n-3 PUFA ratio = 2.3), compared to an identical period of PO supplementation (period 1, n-6 n-3 = 12.5 ), p = 0.0001. The 11-DTXB 2 excretion reduction (Δ) fits the quadratic equation Δ = 136.0038 − 0.3178(tx1) − 0.0002(tx1) 2 , (R 2 = 0.8944), where tx1 is the excretion rate at the end of period 1. This finding supports the hypothesis that the antithrombotic effect of marine oil is mediated, at least in part, by diet-induced shifts in the eicosanoid system.
Fetal environmental toxins.

The pediatrician often is asked by concerned parents whether their child9s medical problems could be due to some type of exposure during pregnancy. Unfortunately, there seems to be an endless number of new and disturbing possibilities, such as video display terminals and electromagnetic fields, which are suggested regularly in newspaper articles, magazines, and the television news to be harmful. Experience has shown that many of these possibilities are false alarms, but much work is required before reassuring evidence becomes available. This review will summarize the current knowledge of "fetal environmental toxins" or human teratogens—terms that encompass an exposure during pregnancy that has a harmful effect on the developing fetus. Many different types of fetal environmental toxins have been identified (Table), including: • drugs taken by the pregnant woman, • infections during pregnancy, • maternal diseases, • hypoxia, • heat, and • heavy metals. The pediatrician evaluating the child who is reported to have had a harmful exposure in utero should be aware of the variety of potential effects of these exposures, including: • spontaneous abortion; • growth retardation, before and/or after birth; • microcephaly; • distinctive patterns of major and minor malformations; • isolated major malformations; • metabolic dysfunction, such as the diabetes mellitus that occurs in 30% of adults who had congenital rubella syndrome1; • cognitive dysfunction; • mental retardation;
Improved diffraction efficiency of silver halide (sensitized) gelatin

A modification of the silver halide (sensitized) gelatin process is described. We demonstrate a phase process utilizing commercially available photographic emulsions and processing which has the sensitometric properties of silver halide emulsion and the holographic performance characteristics found in dichromated gelatin-based processes.
Wetting transitions in a cylindrical pore.

The wetting behavior of two-phase systems confined inside cylindrical pores is studied theoretically. The confined geometry gives rise to wetting configurations, or microstructures, which have no analog in the well-studied planar case. Many features observed in experiments on binary liquid mixtures in porous media, previously interpreted in terms of random fields, are shown to be consistent with wetting in a confined geometry with no randomness.
Intrarenal aneurysm associated with “Ask-Upmark kidney”: Imaging pitfalls and limitations

Abstract The imaging of a case of intrarenal aneurysm with associated “Ask-Upmark kidney” is presented. Pitfalls and limitations encountered with imaging in this case are discussed. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) proved to be the best imaging modality for visualization and characterization of the mass lesions present.
The cell recognition molecule, cognin, mediates choline acetyltransferase activity in embryonic chick retina.

Abstract Cell signaling and cell-cell interactions play an important role in neuronal differentiation in the embryonic CNS. Previous work (Hausman, R.E., Vivek Sagar, G.D. and Shah, B.H., Dev. Brain Res., 59 (1991) 31–37) had shown that cholinergic differentiation in the embryonic chick retina depends on insulin and neuron-neuron interactions. Here, we pursued the molecular nature of that dependence on cell interactions. The embryonic chick retina is known to contain several cell adhesion or recognition molecules. We asked if retina cognin, a 50 kDa cell surface-associated protein, played a role in controlling cholinergic differentiation in the developing chick retina. As previously, cholinergic differentiation was measured by two markers: choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity and high-affinity choline uptake. We used polyclonal antibody to cognin to determine if blocking cognin-mediated cell interactions would affect the normal embryonic increases in these cholinergic markers. We demonstrated a 40% inhibition of the normal developmental appearance of ChAT activity in retina neuronal cultures from early development, but no effect in cultures from more differentiated retina. The inhibition was selective for retina, since it was not seen in neural tissues like cerebrum and cerebellum that also express ChAT. In contrast to the effect of insulin, choline uptake was not affected by treatment with cognin antibody. Antibodies to two other cell recognition molecules present in the retina (Ng-CAM and N-cadherin) did not block the normal developmental appearance of ChAT. These results suggest that cognin-mediated interactions play a unique role in the control of one aspect of cholinergic differentiation in the developing chick retina.
Oxygen Involvement in the Partial Oxidation of Methane on Supported and Unsupported V2O5

O exchange of O2 with V2O5/SiO2, V2O5/Al2O3, V2O5, SiO2, and Al2O3 was studied using steady-state isotopic transient kinetic analysis. It was found that bulk V2O5, V2O5/SiO2, V2O5/Al2O3, and Al2O3 exhibited some oxygen exchange capability, whereas SiO2 exhibited negligible oxygen exchange capability under the conditions used. Oxygen exchange reactions were also studied over supported vanadia catalysts under steady-state oxidation reaction conditions. O exchange of O2 with V2O5/SiO2 increased significantly in the presence of methane. This is attributed to a redox reaction making the surface more active for O exchange in the presence of the methane. The involvement of catalyst oxygen in the formation of the products HCHO, CO, and CO2 was demonstrated. However, an estimation of the contribution of the lattice oxygen in the formation of the products is complicated by the presence of secondary O exchange. The total amount of 16O exchanged with the feed O2 and the products indicates that the oxygen associated with silica or the vanadia-silica interface is also involved in the exchange process. In general, O exchange behavior of various product species with V2O5/Al2O3 was found to be similar to that with V2O5/SiO2. However, unlike V2O5/SiO2, the O exchange of O2 with V2O5/Al2O3 did not increase significantly in the presence of methane. This was attributed to the differences in the interactions of vanadia with silica and alumina. It is speculated that the O associated with highly dispersed tetrahedral surface vanadia is involved in a primary oxidation reaction, whereas O associated with the bulk-like vanadia and with the support is involved either in secondary oxidation reactions of HCHO or CO or in secondary O exchange of various O containing product species. Caution must be taken in making any conclusions about the source of reactive oxygen during partial oxidation on oxide catalysts based on isotopic oxygen studies due to the ease of secondary oxygen exchange.
The Apparent Influence of Salinity On the Distribution of Barnacle Species in Chesapeake Bay (Cirripedia)

Im Juni 1967 wurden Seepocken (Balanomorpha) an mehreren Stellen der Kuste der Chesapeake Bay gesammelt. Die relative Haufigkeit verschiedener Arten wurde mit dem Salzgehalt an der Fundstelle verglichen. Dieser Vergleich, sowie physiologische Daten in der Literatur zeigen an, dass der Salzgehalt einen wichtigen okologischen Faktor der Kontrolle der Verbreitung dieser Arten in der Bucht darstellt.
Cellular oncogene activation by human cytomegalovirus Lack of correlation with virus infectivity and immediate early gene expression

The contribution of expression of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) immediate early (IE) genes to the rapid and transient increase in cellular (c)-oncogene (fos, jun, myc) transcription following HCMV infection was investigated. A partial temporal overlap was observed between the increases in c-oncogene RNA levels and the increase in either transcripts from HCMV IE genes or the number of cells in which HCMV IE proteins were detected. The increases in c-oncogene RNA levels, however, slightly preceded the increase in the detection of HCMV IE transcripts or proteins. To distinguish between the temporal coincidence and a direct relationship between expression of HCMV IE genes and the increased transcription of c-oncogenes, the number of cells synthesizing HCMV IE proteins was reduced by infecting with virus stock enriched in defective particles. Alternatively, the synthesis of HCMV IE proteins was essentially eliminated by ultra-violet (UV) irradiation of virus stock or by inhibitors of protein synthesis. Virus stocks enriched in defective particles demonstrated a substantially reduced capacity to direct the synthesis of HCMV IE proteins, but were more efficient in activating c-oncogene expression than infectious virus stocks. Elimination of expression of HCMV IE genes by UV-irradiation of virus stock or by inhibiting de novo viral and/or cellular protein synthesis with cycloheximide (100 µg/ml) or anisomycin (100 µg/ml) did not eliminate the HCMV-induced increase in RNA levels of c-oncogenes. These data indicate that activation of these early response cellular genes is independent from de novo expression of HCMV IE proteins, and possibly involves biologically active virion proteins that are related to the induction of a cascade of cellular events associated with the binding of HCMV to its cellular receptor.
Sensor Fusion via Brain Emotional Learning for Ground Vehicle

In this work, the analysis of a filter consisting of the Brain Emotional Learning (BEL) algorithm is presented. The inner workings of the BEL filter are based on emotional learning model in mammalians brain. The BEL filter is implemented in simulation for the purpose of sensor fusion in a ground vehicle. In simulation, the signals from a Global Positioning System (GPS) and an Inertial Navigation System (INS) are integrated, in order to accurately track the trajectory of a ground vehicle around a track. The BEL filter is provided with some sensory signal and reward signal, subsequently the filter seeks to diminish noise from both sensing units, thus eliminating tracking error. A performance comparison between the BEL filter, and the more commonly utilized Kalman filter is presented. The BEL filter demonstrated robustness to uncertainties from the sensing units, it adapts quickly with dynamical change in the plant, and has small computational cost. The BEL filter demonstrated to be effective in sensor fusion.
Self-Management and Urban Service Delivery in Yugoslavia

There has been a dilemma developing in public service delivery in the urbanl sectors of advanced industrial societies. This dilemma concernis efficiency of delivery and effectiveness of delivery. The efficiency conisiderations of service delivery often require an economy of scale in order to maximize efficiency. The increasing scale of organization often means larger organizations are more distant from the public being served. This is the essential conflict of efficiency with effectiveness because effectiveness is measured by citizen satisfaction. Increased efficiency has the paradoxical impact of reducing citizen satisfactioll. This occurs because the opportunities to be involved in the directioni of public services are reduced. In Yugoslavia this dilemma has been recognized and a tlumber of innovationls have been developed in order to both increase the efficiency and enhanice the effectiveness of public services in the urban sector. The basis for these innovations has been increased participation. This ...
BIOLOGICAL VECTORS AND RESERVOIRS OF STRONTIUM-90.

THE dispersion of radioactive contamination in the environment by mobile organisms has been reported by several authors. Davis1 noted significant amounts of radioactivity in caddis flies and midges (Orthocladiinae) attracted to lights from the nearby Columbia River. As the result of aquaria investigations on the uptake of radio -nuclides by aquatic insects, Peredelskii and Bogatyrev2 concluded that a bioecological purification of contaminated reservoirs would occur as the consequence of emergent insects flying to the surrounding watershed. Auerbach3 questioned their conclusions because the quantities of radioactivity transported by insects were less than that accumulated from fall-out. However, it was noted that lack of data on emergent insects biomass made it difficult to test the general applicability of the hypothesis. The purpose of this communication is to assess the role of emergent Chironomidae as vectors of strontium-90 and freshwater clams as reservoirs of strontium-90 in the Clinch and Tennessee Rivers.
Parameters Affecting Partitioning of 6 PCB Congeners in Natural Sediments

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) released by bottom sediments were determined by experiments in which the sediments were artificially resuspended using sediment contaminated with PCBs in a particle entrainment simulator (PES). Sediment cores, spikedwith PCBs, were collected from the Housatonic River in Connecticut and run in the PES at simulated shear stresses from 0 to 0.6 N m-2. Experimental results from these simulations have shown that mean concentration of PCBs in thesolid phase for sites with high volatile organic carbon (VOC) were significantly greater than samples with low VOC; the reversewas true for the water phase. In addition, on a mass load basis,the amount of PCBs found in sediment increased when shear stresses were increased from 0 to 0.6 N m-2, beyond which shear stress did not affect mass loads in the watercolumn. Partition coefficients (Kp) were determined from PESsediment and water data for the following congeners: PCB 28, PCB 52, PCB 101, PCB 138, PCB 153, PCB 180. Kp was determined to be inversely proportional to total suspended solids (TSS), butdirectly proportional to chlorine content of the congener. Because of the strong influence of TSS and VOC concentrations onKp values, agitation of samples using a PES better simulatedreal environmental conditions when compared to jar studies where no agitation was employed. Therefore, a device like the PES is more appropriate in obtaining Kp that would be found underreal stream flow conditions when compared to the traditionalway of measuring Kp using the jar study technique.
Sequence, Distance, and Accessibility Are Determinants of 5′-End-directed Cleavages by Retroviral RNases H

The RNase H activity of reverse transcriptase is essential for retroviral replication. RNA 5′-end-directed cleavages represent a form of RNase H activity that is carried out on RNA/DNA hybrids that contain a recessed RNA 5′-end. Previously, the distance from the RNA 5′-end has been considered the primary determinant for the location of these cleavages. Employing model hybrid substrates and the HIV-1 and Moloney murine leukemia virus reverse transcriptases, we demonstrate that cleavage sites correlate with specific sequences and that the distance from the RNA 5′-end determines the extent of cleavage. An alignment of sequences flanking multiple RNA 5′-end-directed cleavage sites reveals that both enzymes strongly prefer A or U at the +1 position and C or G at the –2 position, and additionally for HIV-1, A is disfavored at the –4 position. For both enzymes, 5′-end-directed cleavages occurred when sites were positioned between the 13th and 20th nucleotides from the RNA 5′-end, a distance termed the cleavage window. In examining the importance of accessibility to the RNA 5′-end, it was found that the extent of 5′-end-directed cleavages observed in substrates containing a free recessed RNA 5′-end was most comparable to substrates with a gap of two or three bases between the upstream and downstream RNAs. Together these finding demonstrate that the selection of 5′-end-directed cleavage sites by retroviral RNases H results from a combination of nucleotide sequence, permissible distance, and accessibility to the RNA 5′-end.
Invulnerability: A Concept Analysis

The concept of invulnerability is explored from the perspective of nursing, medicine, psychology, sociology,public health, and education. Walker and Avant’s framework for concept analysis will be used. Definitions of theconcept are presented along with related terms. Antecedents, attributes, and consequences of the concept arediscussed in detail. Model, borderline, related, and contrary cases are presented to provide a rich representationof the concept. Empirical referents and implications for nursing are presented.
Doing their bidding: An empirical examination of factors that affect a buyer's utility in Internet auctions

What factors make individual bidders pay more or less for the same item in online auctions? We use data on over 55,000 bids over a three-year period collected by a customized Internet software agent. These data are used to perform a within-bidders quasi-experiment, testing bidders who bid on the exact same item at different times during a 30-day period in online auctions. With theories from information systems and consumer behavior as our theoretical lens, we then examine factors that make individuals pay more for the exact same item in online auctions. We find that the same individual will tend to pay more for items sold on a weekend, for items with a picture, and for items sold by experienced sellers. We also find that the same individual is willing to pay more for the same item if others express an interest in that item, exhibiting a type of herd effect. Our results are generalizable to other auctions, and shed light on electronic commerce sales in general, where firms try to sell products for the highest possible price.
Explaining Inequity in the Use of Institutional Delivery Services in Selected Countries

Wealth-related disparities in the use of reproductive health services remain a substantial problem in many low- and middle-income countries. Very few studies have attempted to explain such inequalities through decomposition of the contributions made by various individual- and household-level factors. This study aims to: (1) assess the degree of wealth-related inequality and inequity in the use of institutional delivery services in selected low- and middle-income countries, and (2) to explain wealth-related inequity through decomposition by the contributions made by various components, including health insurance coverage. Data come from Demographic and Health Surveys in three countries: Ghana, Rwanda, and the Philippines. Concentration indices are used to calculate inequality and horizontal inequity in service utilization. Multivariate methods are used to decompose inequity. Findings indicate a moderate to high degree of inequity in institutional delivery service use in all study countries. The study provides some evidence of the contribution of health insurance to increased wealth-related inequity in the use of institutional delivery services, although having health insurance was also associated with increased utilization of services. Results suggest that increased health insurance coverage does not automatically translate to lower wealth-related inequity in service utilization. Inequities in service utilization exist if there are still inequities in the health insurance status. The study advocates for expanding health insurance coverage, particularly among the poor to reduce inequity in insurance coverage and increase service utilization.
Glycosaminoglycan synthesis in the chick gastrula

Explanted definitive primitive streak to four somite chick embryos were labeled with [H3]glucosamine or S35O4 and the glycosaminoglycans were isolated and characterized. On the basis of susceptibility to Streptomyces hyaluronidase, which specifically degrades hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid is the major glycosaminoglycan produced by these embryos (at least 84%). On the basis of electrophoretic mobility, about 10% of the [H3]glucosamine-labeled glycoaminoglycan is sulfated. At least 55% of the sulfate-labeled glycosaminoglycan is sensitive to testicular hyaluronidase, and 36–39% is resistant to testicular hyaluronidase, but sensitive to nitrous acid treatment. About 94% of the labeled glycosaminoglycans can be accounted for in ratios of 22:1:5:1 as hyaluronic acid:chondroitin sulfate:heparan sulfate. No stage-related changes were observed. It is suggested that hyaluronic acid synthesis at this time might be related to the appearance of extensive cell-free spaces.
Light and serotonin interact in affecting the circadian system of Aplysia

The eye of the marine mollusk Aplysia californica contains a photo-entrainable circadian pacemaker that drives an overt rhythm of spontaneous compound action potentials. The current study evaluated the influence of serotonin on light-induced phase shifts of this ocular rhythm. The application of serotonin in combination with light was found to have profound and interactive effects on the magnitude of the resulting phase shifts. Further, the phase shifts that resulted from the interaction between light and serotonin appeared to be phase dependent, i.e., the application of serotonin inhibited the phase shifting effects of light during one part of the circadian cycle but enhanced them during another. Finally, the results show that the interaction between light and serotonin is dependent upon the sequence in which these two treatments are paired. These data, coupled with previous findings, suggest that serotonin may act to modulate light's phase shifting effects on the ocular pacemaker in Aplysia.
Evidence for separate and concurrent avoidance learning in the two hemispheres of the normal chick brain.

Previous studies have shown that young chicks avoid drinking a novel liquid (green sucrose solution) which has been paired once with delayed LiCl-induced illness. This conditioned aversion was found to be mediated by the visual (color) cue and not by taste, and tests with monocularly trained chicks demonstrated good interocular transfer of learning. The present experiment examined the possibility that novel sucrose taste might play some role in acquisition and/or interocular transfer of the aversion. Chicks with one eye occluded were made sick with LiCl after drinking green sucrose solution, which combined novel color with either novel or familiar sucrose taste. The animals were tested the following day, with the trained or the untrained eye open, for learned aversions to green or uncolored sucrose. Chicks tested with the trained eye displayed a marked aversion to the colored sucrose, but not to uncolored sucrose, regardless of the taste variable. In contrast, animals tested with the untrained eye showed a significant aversion to either colored or uncolored sucrose, but in each case only if the taste was novel during training. These findings indicate that, in monocularly trained chicks, each half-brain can independently acquire an illness-induced food aversion, with learning in the seeing and nonseeing hemispheres mediated by novel color and taste cues, respectively.
Controls of tectonics and sediment source locations on along-strike variations in transgressive deposits on the northern California margin

Abstract We identify two surfaces in the shallow subsurface on the Eel River margin offshore northern California, a lowstand erosion surface, likely formed during the last glacial maximum, and an overlying surface likely formed during the most recent transgression of the shoreline. The lowstand erosion surface, which extends from the inner shelf to near the shelfbreak and from the Eel River to Trinidad Head (∼80 km), truncates underlying strata on the shelf. Above the surface, inferred transgressive coastal and estuarine sedimentary units separate it from the transgressive surface on the shelf. Early in the transgression, Eel River sediment was likely both transported down the Eel Canyon and dispersed on the slope, allowing transgressive coastal sediment from the smaller Mad River to accumulate in a recognizable deposit on the shelf. The location of coastal Mad River sediment accumulation was controlled by the location of the paleo-Mad River. Throughout the remainder of the transgression, dispersed sediment from the Eel River accumulated an average of 20 m of onlapping shelf deposits. The distribution and thickness of these transgressive marine units was strongly modified by northwest–southeast trending folds. Thick sediment packages accumulated over structural lows in the lowstand surface. The thinnest sediment accumulations (0–10 m) were deposited over structural highs along faults and uplifting anticlines. The Eel margin, an active margin with steep, high sediment-load streams, has developed a thick transgressive systems tract. On this margin sediment accumulates as rapidly as the processes of uplift and downwarp locally create and destroy accommodation space. Sequence stratigraphic models of tectonically active margins should account for variations in accommodation space along margins as well as across them.
Chromosome pairing and induced exchange in Drosophila.

Abstract Fragments of Y chromosomes were induced by irradiating attached-X Drosophila melanogaster females carrying a doubly marked Y chromosome, and detected by loss of one of the Y markers. Slightly more than half of the 55 fragments recovered showed linkage of fourth chromosome markers, implying a high frequency of association of Y and fourth chromosomes in oocytes. Where such fragments were shown to have Y centromeres, a high incidence of non-disjunction from the attached X was found, suggesting that exchange between heterologues leads to their separation at Anaphase I, and frequent non-disjunction from their regular pairing partners. Lucchesi 's 9 assumption that fragments are not pairing-dependent for their formation is thus invalidated. It is suggested that non-reciprocal exchanges induced between the two Y arms may account for other fragments, these likewise being pairing-dependent. There is as yet no evidence that any exchange process occurs with appreciable frequency in oocytes in stage 7 or earlier that is not dependent on regular, frequent associations of the chromosomes involved.
Development of bacterial cytochrome P‐450cam (Cytochrome m) production

Cytochrome P-450(cam) monooxygenase is an important bacterial redox enzyme system with potential commercial value for detoxifying trace hydrocarbon contaminants, catalyzing regiospecific hydroxylations, and amperometric biosensing. The present study was undertaken to increase productivity of this enzyme, which is induced in its host, pseudomonas putida PpG 786, by D(+)-camphor. Culture processes were studied in batch, fed-batch, and continuous modes to evaluate metabolic behavior and develop constitutive equations for specific rate of growth (micro), camphor utilization (q(p)). Fed-batch culture was characterized by an extended linear growth phase which is often encountered in hydrocarbon fermentations. Inhibition by the camphor solvent, dimethylformamide, was assessed. Production of the terminal protein of the p-450(cam) enzyme system, cytochrome m, was shown to depend on growth medium iron content in fed-batch culture and was increased by 130% over previously protocols by eliminating iron deficiency. A continuous process that enables greater production rates was developed by using oxygen enrichment while simultaneously reducing gas throughput. Camphor and oxygen requirements were determined for fedbatch and continuous growth.
Excess circulating angiopoietin-2 levels in sepsis: harbinger of death in the intensive care unit?

The early recognition and management of sepsis remain the greatest challenges in the field of critical care medicine. Endothelial injury is one of the hallmarks of sepsis, leading to capillary leak, microcirculatory dysfunction, organ failure, and eventual death in many critically ill patients. The angiogenic growth factors, angiopoietin (angpt)-1 and angpt-2, act upon the Tie-2 receptor in opposing roles. Angpt-2 has been found in abundance in septic patients when compared with healthy controls. In the study by Kumpers and colleagues in the previous issue of Critical Care, angpt-2 levels correlated with markers of tissue hypoxia, disease severity, and mortality in septic adults. However, the temporal kinetics of the angiopoietins were not assessed. It remains to be seen whether angpt-2 levels will function solely as an early marker of sepsis or whether the manipulation of the angpt/Tie-2 system will become a rational therapeutic target for the management of sepsis.
Dicyandiamide (DCD) as a nitrification inhibitor for rice culture in the United States

Abstract Efficient nitrogen (N) fertilizer management for paddy rice production is difficult because of potentially high N losses from denitrification, NH3 volatilization, and leaching. The use of a nitrification inhibitor, by slowing the rate of nitrification of NH4 +‐N sources prior to flooding, offers the potential to reduce denitrification losses that occur after flooding. Dicyandiamide (DCD) is one such nitrification inhibitor. The objective of this series of studies was to evaluate DCD for its effectiveness as a nitrification inhibitor in paddy rice production across an array of soils, management systems, and climate conditions. Studies were conducted on fine‐ and medium‐textured soils in Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. Dicyandiamide was coated onto or formulated with urea (7 or 10% of total N as DCD‐N) and applied either broadcast pre‐plant incorporated or broadcast as a topdress application prior to flooding at the 4‐ to 5‐leaf development stage of the rice plant. These tr...
Designing the HRTeam framework: lessons learned from a rough-and-ready human/multi-robot team

In this workshop paper, we share the design and on-going implementation of our HRTeam framework, which is constructed to support multiple robots working with a human operator in a dynamic environment. The team is comprised of one human plus a heterogeneous set of inexpensive, limited-function robots. Although each individual robot has restricted mobility and sensing capabilities, together the team members constitute a multi-function, multi-robot facility. We describe low-level system architecture details and explain how we have integrated a popular robotic control and simulation environment into our framework to support application of multi-agent techniques in a hardware-based environment. We highlight lessons learned regarding the integration of multiple varying robot platforms into our system, from both hardware and software perspectives. Our aim is to generate discussion amongst multi-robot researchers concerning issues that are of particular interest and present particular difficulties to the multi-robot systems community.
Resonant slow fault slip in subduction zones forced by climatic load stress

Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements at subduction plate boundaries often record fault movements similar to earthquakes but much slower, occurring over timescales of ∼1 week to ∼1 year. These ‘slow slip events’ have been observed in Japan1,2, Cascadia3,4,5,6,7, Mexico8,9, Alaska10 and New Zealand11. The phenomenon is poorly understood, but several observations hint at the processes underlying slow slip. Although slip itself is silent, seismic instruments often record coincident low-amplitude tremor in a narrow (1–5 cycles per second) frequency range12. Also, modelling of GPS data3,7,9 and estimates of tremor location13 indicate that slip focuses near the transition from unstable (‘stick-slip’) to stable friction at the deep limit of the earthquake-producing seismogenic zone. Perhaps most intriguingly, slow slip is periodic at several locations, with recurrence varying from 6 to 18 months depending on which subduction zone (or even segment) is examined4,5,6,9. Here I show that such periodic slow fault slip may be a resonant response to climate-driven stress perturbations. Fault slip resonance helps to explain why slip events are periodic, why periods differ from place to place, and why slip focuses near the base of the seismogenic zone. Resonant slip should initiate within the rupture zone of future great earthquakes, suggesting that slow slip may illuminate fault properties that control earthquake slip.
The presence of sperm‐specific surface isoantigens on the egg following fertilization

Sperm surface isoantigens can be detected on the surface of fertilized eggs by using cytotoxic (complement dependent) sperm-specific isoantisera. These isoantigens cannot be detected on unfertilized eggs. This may indicate their transfer from sperm to egg during fertilization.
Modulation of the SDF-1α-CXCR4 axis for regulation of subgranular layer neural stem cells

SDF-1α has been implicated in the post-traumatic neuroinflammatory cascade. We quantified the effect of SDF-1α on neural stem cell proliferation and differentiation. We found that the SDF-1α-CXCR4 axis can be manipulated so that the proliferative capacity of this chemokine can be separated and controlled. We have successfully modulated the proliferative activity of SDF-1α by preventing its binding to CXCR4. However this is an all-or-nothing approach. To achieve more precise modulation in future experiments, we will employ agonists and antagonists that modulate the downstream targets of this chemokine.
Characterization of coal liquefaction products by gas chromatography—fourier transform infrared spectroscopy—mass spectrometry

Abstract An integrated gas chromatography—Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy—mass spectrometry system was utilized in the analysis of a neutral and acidic fraction obtained from the aqueous portion of the low-severity coal liquefaction products. Reconstructed selected-ion chromatograms along with reconstructed absorbance chromatograms over elected ranges were useful in discriminating between the types of organic compounds in the complex mixtures. A series of γ-lactones and a series of ketones were characterized, the ring size and unsaturation being determined by the absorbance frequency of the carbonyl stretching band.