cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Alpha-lipoic acid supplementation protects enzymes from damage by nitrosative and oxidative stress

Abstract Background S-nitrosylation of mitochondrial enzymes involved in energy transfer under nitrosative stress may result in ATP deficiency. We investigated whether α-lipoic acid, a powerful antioxidant, could alleviate nitrosative stress by regulating S-nitrosylation, which could result in retaining the mitochondrial enzyme activity. Methods In this study, we have identified the S-nitrosylated forms of subunit 1 of dihydrolipoyllysine succinyltransferase (complex III), and subunit 2 of the α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex by implementing a fluorescence-based differential quantitative proteomics method. Results We found that the activities of these two mitochondrial enzymes were partially but reversibly inhibited by S-nitrosylation in cultured endothelial cells, and that their activities were partially restored by supplementation of α-lipoic acid. We show that protein S-nitrosylation affects the activity of mitochondrial enzymes that are central to energy supply, and that α-lipoic acid protects mitochondrial enzymes by altering S-nitrosylation levels. Conclusions Inhibiting protein S-nitrosylation with α-lipoic acid seems to be a protective mechanism against nitrosative stress. General significance Identification and characterization of these new protein targets should contribute to expanding the therapeutic power of α-lipoic acid and to a better understanding of the underlying antioxidant mechanisms.
Rapid, experience-dependent expression of synaptic NMDA receptors in visual cortex in vivo

Sensory experience is crucial in the refinement of synaptic connections in the brain during development. It has been suggested that some forms of experience-dependent synaptic plasticity in vivo are associated with changes in the complement of postsynaptic glutamate receptors, although direct evidence has been lacking. Here we show that visual experience triggers the rapid synaptic insertion of new NMDA receptors in visual cortex. The new receptors have a higher proportion of NR2A subunits and, as a consequence, different functional properties. This effect of experience requires NMDA receptor activation and protein synthesis. Thus, rapid regulation of postsynaptic glutamate receptors is one mechanism for developmental plasticity in the brain. Changes in NMDA receptor expression provide a mechanism by which brief sensory experience can regulate the properties of NMDA receptor-dependent plasticity in visual cortex.
Capitalization of Shareholder Taxes in Stock Prices: Evidence from the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1993

We investigate the capitalization of shareholder-level taxes into stock values and provide evidence that capitalization of dividend taxes is influenced both by dividend policy and institutional ownership. We regress weekly abnormal stock returns surrounding the passage of the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1993 on firm dividend yield, institutional ownership, and control variables. We document a negative stock price reaction conditioned on dividend yield during the two weeks in August, 1993, that Congress passed and President Clinton signed legislation that increased individual income tax rates. In addition, we find that the level of institutional holdings, which proxies for whether the marginal investor in a particular stock is an individual taxpayer, moderates this negative stock price reaction. These findings demonstrate that dividend tax capitalization depends upon both the expected dividend policy of the firm and the tax status of the marginal investor.
Experimental and Theoretical Aspects of Proton Radioactivity: Proton Decay of Spherical and Deformed Nuclei

Proton radioactivity is a decay mode found only in nuclei beyond the proton drip line. It competes with alpha decay, positron decay, and electron capture. Proton decay is a quantum tunneling phenomenon, and the decay rate is governed by the properties of the potential barrier set up by the Coulomb, centrifugal, and nuclear potentials. This presents the opportunity to extract spectroscopic information on a nuclide beyond the proton drip line. Recent experimental developments will be presented, including gamma spectroscopy of proton emitters, and fine structure in proton decay. Calculations of proton decay rates for spherical and deformed proton emitters will be discussed.
Working memory and intelligibility of hearing-aid processed speech

Previous work suggested that individuals with low working memory capacity may be at a disadvantage in adverse listening environments, including situations with background noise or substantial modification of the acoustic signal. This study explored the relationship between patient factors (including working memory capacity) and intelligibility and quality of modified speech for older individuals with sensorineural hearing loss. The modification was created using a combination of hearing aid processing [wide-dynamic range compression (WDRC) and frequency compression (FC)] applied to sentences in multitalker babble. The extent of signal modification was quantified via an envelope fidelity index. We also explored the contribution of components of working memory by including measures of processing speed and executive function. We hypothesized that listeners with low working memory capacity would perform more poorly than those with high working memory capacity across all situations, and would also be differentially affected by high amounts of signal modification. Results showed a significant effect of working memory capacity for speech intelligibility, and an interaction between working memory, amount of hearing loss and signal modification. Signal modification was the major predictor of quality ratings. These data add to the literature on hearing-aid processing and working memory by suggesting that the working memory-intelligibility effects may be related to aggregate signal fidelity, rather than to the specific signal manipulation. They also suggest that for individuals with low working memory capacity, sensorineural loss may be most appropriately addressed with WDRC and/or FC parameters that maintain the fidelity of the signal envelope.
Rule-based process servers for software development environments

Most SDEs are either integrated toolsets or process-based environments. Process-based environments have obvious advantages in support for the development process, while integrated toolsets have advantages in usability and convenience. By integrating the two approaches, the benefits of both are obtained. Direct integration, however, is not always possible, because the process engine's integration mechanism may conflict with that of the toolset.The solution is to center the environment around a rule-based process server, separating out the process-based component to avoid such conflicts. A framework is provided for interfacing the server to the target toolset.
Anisotropic thermal expansion of Fe 1.06 Te and FeTe 0.5 Se 0.5 single crystals

Heat capacity and anisotropic thermal expansion was measured for ${\text{Fe}}_{1.06}\text{Te}$ and ${\text{FeTe}}_{0.5}{\text{Se}}_{0.5}$ single crystals. Previously reported phase transitions are clearly seen in both measurements. In both cases the thermal expansion is anisotropic. The uniaxial pressure derivatives of the superconducting transition temperature in ${\text{FeTe}}_{0.5}{\text{Se}}_{0.5}$ inferred from the Ehrenfest relation have opposite signs for in-plane and $c$-axis pressures. The Gr\"uneisen parameters for both materials are similar and only weakly temperature dependent above $\ensuremath{\sim}80\text{ }\text{K}$.
Mechanical Proof of the Second Law of Thermodynamics Based on Volume Entropy

In a previous work (M. Campisi. Stud. Hist. Phil. M. P. 36 (2005) 275-290) we have addressed the mechanical foundations of equilibrium thermodynamics on the basis of the Generalized Helmholtz Theorem. It was found that the volume entropy provides a good mechanical analogue of thermodynamic entropy because it satisfies the heat theorem and it is an adiabatic invariant. This property explains the ``equal'' sign in Clausius principle ($S_f \geq S_i$) in a purely mechanical way and suggests that the volume entropy might explain the ``larger than'' sign (i.e. the Law of Entropy Increase) if non adiabatic transformations were considered. Based on the principles of microscopic (quantum or classical) mechanics here we prove that, provided the initial equilibrium satisfy the natural condition of decreasing ordering of probabilities, the expectation value of the volume entropy cannot decrease for arbitrary transformations performed by some external sources of work on a insulated system. This can be regarded as a rigorous quantum mechanical proof of the Second Law. We discuss how this result relates to the Minimal Work Principle and improves over previous attempts. The natural evolution of entropy is towards larger values because the natural state of matter is at positive temperature. Actually the Law of Entropy Decrease holds in artificially prepared negative temperature systems.
Introductory Speech for James R. Lupski

It is my honor to introduce the 2002 Curt Stern Awardee, Dr. James R. Lupski, for his ground-breaking work in the initial identification and subsequent characterization of genomic disorders. Jim first coined the term “genomic disorders” to refer to those genetic diseases in which the basis is a chromosome structural alteration due to homologous recombination between flanking low-copy repeat (LCR) sequences (Lupski 1998). These LCRs, also called “duplicons” to distinguish them from dispersed, common repetitive elements and short tandem repeat elements in the genome (Eichler 1998), are region specific and derived by local genomic duplications that have been evolutionarily fixed. In most instances, the phenotypic consequences of genomic disorders arise due to deletion or duplication of one or more dosage-sensitive genes within the chromosome region undergoing rearrangement, and Jim’s work has illustrated this for several genomic disorders associated with chromosome 17p subregions. Clearly, the significance of this group of disorders is illuminated by the recognition that duplicons comprise ∼5%–10% of human genome sequence distributed in a nonrandom pattern within all human chromosomes (Bailey et al. 2002) and that there are dozens of different genetic diseases that are genomic disorders (table 1; Lupski 1998; Ji et al. 2000; Emanuel and Shaikh 2001; Stankiewicz and Lupski 2002). Indeed, at least 1 of every 1,000 births is a new mutation due to this recombination mechanism (Ji et al. 2000; Shaffer and Lupski 2000). With completion of the human genome sequence and with future directed analysis of genes surrounded by duplicons and their potential involvement in developmental disorders and psychiatric conditions, these numbers are likely to increase further. Nevertheless, the current wealth of knowledge began with just one disease and the identification of one small duplicon (or LCR) barely 1 decade ago, and it is for his major role in the key discovery of the chromosome 17p12 duplication in Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndrome type 1A (CMT1A) (Lupski et al. 1991; Pentao et al. 1992), as well as for his subsequent outstanding work in the field of genomic disorders, that Jim is being recognized with this award. Table 1 Genomic Disorders James R. Lupski, M.D., Ph.D., is the Cullen Professor of Molecular and Human Genetics and Professor of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, where he has built a distinguished career since 1986. In his award presentation, Dr. Lupski will elaborate upon the paths that led him and his colleagues to their discoveries in genomic disorders (Lupski 2003). True to the goals of the award, the 2002 Curt Stern Award is presented to Dr. James R. Lupski for his insight and body of work illuminating the importance of genomic disorders and the mechanisms underlying homologous recombination events due to genomic architecture that explain many human diseases.
Family food insufficiency, but not low family income, is positively associated with dysthymia and suicide symptoms in adolescents

Food insufficiency has been shown to be associated with poor health, academic and psychosocial outcomes in American children, but the relationship between food insufficiency and depressive disorders in U.S. adolescents has not been studied. Further, there are no national estimates of the prevalence of depressive disorders for U.S. adolescents, nor investigation of associations with sociodemographic characteristics using national data. Therefore, we analyzed data for 15- and 16-y-old adolescents from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). Depressive disorders and suicidal symptoms were assessed using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule. Adolescents were classified as "food insufficient" if a family respondent reported that the family sometimes or often did not have enough to eat. The prevalence of depression outcomes is reported by sociodemographic characteristics. Odds ratios for associations with food insufficiency are reported, adjusted for sociodemographic factors. Overall, lifetime prevalence of major depressive disorder was 6.3% and of dysthymia, 5.4%. Almost 5% of 15- to 16-y-old adolescents reported that they had ever attempted suicide and 38.8% reported at least one suicidal symptom. Female adolescents were significantly more likely than males to have had dysthymia, any depressive disorder and all symptoms of suicide. Low income adolescents were less likely to report suicide ideation than high income adolescents, but there were no other differences by family income. Food-insufficient adolescents were significantly more likely to have had dysthymia, thoughts of death, a desire to die and have attempted suicide. There is a strong association between food insufficiency and depressive disorder and suicidal symptoms in U.S. adolescents.
Seamless multiresolution isosurfaces using wavelets

Data sets that are being produced by today's simulations, such as the ones generated by DOE's ASCI program, are too large for real-time exploration and visualization. Therefore, new methods of visualizing these data sets need to be investigated. The authors present a method that combines isosurface representations of different resolutions into a seamless solution, virtually free of cracks and overlaps. The solution combines existing isosurface generation algorithms and wavelet theory to produce a real-time solution to multiple-resolution isosurfaces.
Improving the Blood Compatibility of Ion-Selective Electrodes by Employing Poly(MPC-co-BMA), a Copolymer Containing Phosphorylcholine, as a Membrane Coating

The hydrogel poly(2-methacryloyloxyethylphosphorylcholine-co-butyl methacrylate), or poly(MPC-co-BMA), was used as a coating for polyurethane- and poly(vinyl chloride)-based membranes to develop ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) with enhanced blood compatibility. Adverse interactions of poly(MPC-co-BMA) with blood were diminished due to the phosphorylcholine functionalities of the hydrogel, which mimic the phospholipid polar groups present on the surface of many cell membranes. As demonstrated by immunostaining, hydrogel-coated PVC membranes soaked in platelet-rich plasma showed less adhesion and activation of platelets than uncoated PVC membranes, indicating an improvement in biocompatibility owing to the hydrogel. Furthermore, little differences in the potentiometric response characteristics, e.g., slope, detection limit, and selectivity, of ISEs employing uncoated and coated membranes were observed.
Uranium-series dating of the Pleistocene reef tracts of Barbados, West Indies

Detailed studies of reef-tract stratigraphy in the southwestern part of Barbados have revealed nine, seven, and ten reef tracts in the Christ Church, Clermont Nose, and Saint George9s Valley sections, respectively. The reefs have been projected onto standard traverses, and present elevations are reported for each reef crest. To date the reef crests by Th 230 /U and He 4 /U methods, the U 234 /U 238 and Th 230 /U 234 activity ratios and U and He 4 concentrations were determined in about 35 unrecrystallized coral samples. Discordant U 234 /U 238 , Th 230 /U, and He 4 /U ages for many samples indicate that both U 234 and Th 230 have been diagenetically added to the samples. He 4 /U ages are corrected by subtracting the He 4 added due to the presence of “open system” U-series nuclides; the correction ranges from 0% to 10%. The reef-tract ages and present elevations as projected on the standard traverse show that prior to 125,000 B.P., the uplift rate of the Christ Church section was much greater than the rate after 125,000 B.P. Paleo-sea levels inferred from Saint George9s Valley reef tract ages and elevations cluster about the present datum, which suggests that throughout the Brunhes epoch, minimum interglacial continental ice volume was comparable to the present value. Within the uncertainty of the age and paleo—sea-level estimates, the Brunhes sea-level history inferred from Barbados reef-tract chronostratigraphy is consistent with that inferred by Shackleton and Opdyke from the oxygen isotope record of core V28-238.
Long-term effects of early childhood programs on social outcomes and delinquency

The search for ways to prevent juvenile crime in the United States has become a matter of national urgency, as the incidence of serious offenses continues to rise. Most prevention initiatives focus on late childhood or adolescence. Such initiatives may be missing an important additional opportunity to intervene earlier in children's lives. This review of literature from criminology, psychology, and education shows that there exist key early childhood factors which are associated with later antisocial or delinquent behavior and that early childhood programs which seek to ameliorate the effects of those factors can prevent later antisocial or delinquent behavior. In particular, the review focuses on programs which have demonstrated long-term effects on antisocial behavior or delinquency. These programs have in common a combination of intensive family support and early education services, and effects on a broad range of child and family risk factors for delinquency. Moreover, there is promising evidence of their cost-effectiveness. As one element in a comprehensive plan to address poverty and other environmental causes of crime, programs combining family support with early education show promise in lessening the current devastating impact of delinquency on America's children and families.
Physics of the pseudogap in eight-site cluster dynamical mean-field theory: Photoemission, Raman scattering, and in-plane and c-axis conductivity

Cluster dynamical mean-field and maximum entropy analytical continuation methods are used to obtain theoretical estimates for the many-body density of states, electron self-energy, in-plane and $c$-axis optical conductivity and the ${B}_{1g}$ and ${B}_{2g}$ Raman-scattering spectra of the two-dimensional square lattice Hubbard model at intermediate interaction strengths and carrier concentrations near half filling. The calculations are based on an eight-site cluster approximation which gives access to both the zone-diagonal and zone-face portions of the Fermi surface. At low dopings, the zone-face regions exhibit a ``pseudogap,'' a suppression of the many-body density of states for energies near the Fermi surface. The pseudogap magnitude is largest near half filling and decreases smoothly with doping but as temperature is increased, the gap fills in rather than closes. The calculated response functions bear a strong qualitative resemblance to data taken in the pseudogap regime of high-${T}_{c}$ cuprates, strongly suggesting that the intermediate coupling Hubbard model accounts for much of the exotic behavior observed in high-${T}_{c}$ materials.
Life-Threatening Infection after Extraction of Third Molars

After minimal treatment for a localized infection after extraction of third molars, a potential sinus thrombosis developed. The subsequent treatment is described.
Multiparameter spectral theory of a separating operator system

Abstract We define the spatial numerical range V [ P ] of the multiparameter system P (λ), and establish a connection between V [ P ] and the joint spatial numerical range of a separating operator system.
Effect of a nonconstant C/m-alpha/ on the stability of rolling aircraft

An analytical study is carried out of the behavior of modern high-speed aircraft of inertially slender configurations in maneuvers involving large rates of roll. Inertia cross-coupling, as well as a linear variation of longitudinal static stability (C/m-alpha/) with angle of attack, are considered. The steady-state solutions of the nonlinear equations of motion, based on principal inertia axes, are studied to obtain useful information on the response behavior of the state variables during roll maneuvers. It is shown that, in addition to the critical values of aileron deflection that have been previously found to limit a steady-state roll with constant longitudinal static stability, there can be two new critical values introduced by a linear decrease of the absolute value of longitudinal static stability with angle of attack. For aileron deflections near these critical values, the response of the aircraft exhibits violent oscillations and dangerous peak loads, due to the cross-coupled motion accompanying a roll maneuver. These critical values define a new range of aileron deflections in which no steady-state roll is possible.
Estimation of lung lobar sliding using image registration

MOTIVATION: The lobes of the lungs slide relative to each other during breathing. Quantifying lobar sliding can aid in better understanding lung function, better modeling of lung dynamics, and a better understanding of the limits of image registration performance near fissures. We have developed a method to estimate lobar sliding in the lung from image registration of CT scans. METHODS: Six human lungs were analyzed using CT scans spanning functional residual capacity (FRC) to total lung capacity (TLC). The lung lobes were segmented and registered on a lobe-by-lobe basis. The displacement fields from the independent lobe registrations were then combined into a single image. This technique allows for displacement discontinuity at lobar boundaries. The displacement field was then analyzed as a continuum by forming finite elements from the voxel grid of the FRC image. Elements at a discontinuity will appear to have undergone significantly elevated 'shear stretch' compared to those within the parenchyma. Shear stretch is shown to be a good measure of sliding magnitude in this context. RESULTS: The sliding map clearly delineated the fissures of the lung. The fissure between the right upper and right lower lobes showed the greatest sliding in all subjects while the fissure between the right upper and right middle lobe showed the least sliding.
Estrogenic activity is increased for an antiestrogen by a natural mutation of the estrogen receptor

Abstract The estrogen receptor (ER) functions as a ligand-activated transcription factor which mediates the actions of estrogens and antiestrogens in target tissues. Other investigators have shown that artificial point mutations in the transcriptional activation domain AF-2 of the ligand binding domain (LBD) of the ER can increase the estrogenic properties of antiestrogens, determined by transcriptional activation of estrogen-responsive reporter constructs cotransfected into cells. Although these data provide valuable information about ER function there is no evidence that these mutations occur naturally. We have taken a different approach and examined the naturally occurring codon 351 asp → tyr mutation in the LBD of ER to stimulate the expression of an endogenous target gene. This approach avoids dependence on artificial reporter constructs and their idealized estrogen response elements (EREs). In this report we describe the regulation of transforming growth factor alpha (TGFα) mRNA by estradiol and the antiestrogens keoxifene and ICI 182,780 in our stable transfectants of ER-negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, which express either the wild-type (S30 cells) or codon 351 asp → tyr mutant ER (BC-2 cells). The mutant receptor was identified in a tamoxifen-stimulated human breast tumor. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, that a naturally occurring mutation in the ER changes the pharmacology of the antiestrogen keoxifene by increasing estrogenic activity, and that keoxifene exhibits a gene-specific estrogen-like effect with mutant ER but not with wild-type ER. The pure antiestrogen ICI 182,780 maintained complete antagonistic activities in both ER transfectants, demonstrating that its action is unaffected by the mutation.
The influence of dopamine of epileptiform burst activity in hippocampal pyramidal neurons

Dopamine (DA) application to guinea pig hippocampal CA1 neurons in vitro causes hyperpolarization of the resting potential, increase in conductance, and increase in amplitude and duration of the afterhyperpolarization (AHP). Since these changes could influence repetitive firing, we performed experiments to determine whether DA-induced effects would suppress epileptogenesis in the hippocampus. Epileptiform bursts were induced by adding penicillin (3.4 mM) to the perfusion medium. Focal application of DA (40-160 microns) onto CA1 cells (n = 15) produced a hyperpolarization averaging 4.5 mV beginning in 5-20 s and lasting up to 3 min. DA also caused an increase in the amplitude and duration of slow AHPs. The frequency of spontaneous epileptiform events however was not affected. CA3 neurons (n = 6) responded to DA application with an initial 1-3 mV depolarization beginning within 5-30 s and lasting 1-2 min. In 3 cases a small hyperpolarization lasting several minutes subsequently developed. AHP duration increased 70% and amplitude increased 35% (n = 4). Along with these membrane changes the frequency of epileptiform bursting in CA3 cells slowed for 1-3 min. We added DA (10-80 microM) to the perfusion medium to see whether a significant decrease in epileptiform burst frequency might occur in the follower CA1 region if greater numbers of pacemaker CA2 and CA3 cells were exposed to DA. Spontaneous CA1 bursting was reversibly slowed, the interburst interval became variable and increased from a mean of 4 to a mean of 5-7 s (n = 6). These results suggest that DA may play a role in decreasing the incidence or frequency of epileptogenic discharges in vivo.
Point mutations in KEL exon 8 determine a high-incidence (RAZ) and a low-incidence (KEL25, VLAN) antigen of the Kell blood group system.

Background and Objectives The molecular basis of two Kell blood group antigens, RAZ (provisionally KEL27) and VLAN (KEL25), were determined. Materials and Methods The DNA sequences of the open reading frames and the flanking intron regions of the 19 KEL exons from RAZ and VLAN probands were compared with that of common KEL. Genotyping assays were designed to confirm and detect RAZ and VLAN phenotypes. Results A homozygous G865A mutation, encoding lysine instead of glutamic acid at amino acid position 249 of Kell protein, defines the RAZ phenotype, while a heterozygous G863A mutation in KEL, encoding an arginine to glutamine substitution at amino acid 248, characterizes the VLAN phenotype. Conclusion Point mutations G865A and G863A, in adjacent codons of KEL exon 8, which cause amino acid substitutions, characterize the RAZ and VLAN Kell blood group phenotypes.
Electrochemistry of heparin binding to tau protein on Au surfaces

ABSTRACT The tau protein is a neurodegenerative disease biomarker. The in vitro aggregation of tau is triggered by electrostatic charge imbalance induced by an anionic inducing agent, such as heparin. The binding of the tau-heparin complex is based on electrostatic interactions, but the exact binding mode of heparin to the tau protein has not been fully identified. In this work, the effects of the tau protein orientation on gold (Au) electrode to heparin were explored by the cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. To modulate the accessibility of N-terminal of the tau to heparin, the tau films on Au surfaces were fabricated in two ways: immobilization of tau via the N-terminal of tau protein (N-tau-Au) or by the Cys291/Cys322 residues, located in the R-repeat domains of the tau protein (Cys-tau-Au). The sulfur-Au bonding was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The charge transfer resistance was measured for N-tau-Au and Cys-tau-Au as a function of heparin concentration. The heparin concentration range was varied from 0.2 pM to 216 μM with the optimal binding concentration at 21 nM (the highest charge transfer resistance value). The heparin binding to tau films was investigated in the presence of [Fe(CN) 6 ] 3−/4− or benzoquinone redox probes. The tau-heparin binding was greater for the Cys-tau-Au surface over N-tau-Au, indicating specific tau domains may be required for optimal heparin binding.
How RNA folds.

We describe the RNA folding problem and contrast it with the much more difficult protein folding problem. RNA has four similar monomer units, whereas proteins have 20 very different residues. The folding of RNA is hierarchical in that secondary structure is much more stable than tertiary folding. In RNA the two levels of folding (secondary and tertiary) can be experimentally separated by the presence or absence of Mg2+. Secondary structure can be predicted successfully from experimental thermodynamic data on secondary structure elements: helices, loops, and bulges. Tertiary interactions can then be added without much distortion of the secondary structure. These observations suggest a folding algorithm to predict the structure of an RNA from its sequence. However, to solve the RNA folding problem one needs thermodynamic data on tertiary structure interactions, and identification and characterization of metal-ion binding sites. These data, together with force versus extension measurements on single RNA molecules, should provide the information necessary to test and refine the proposed algorithm.
Femtosecond laser patterning of biological materials

This paper aims at presenting a review of work at the Laser Thermal Laboratory on the microscopic laser modification of biological materials using ultrafast laser pulses. We have devised a new method for fabricating high aspect ratio patterns of varying height by using two-photon polymerization process in order to study contact guidance and directed growth of biological cells. Studies using NIH-3T3 and MDCK cells indicate that cell morphology on fiber scaffolds is influenced by the pattern of actin microfilament bundles. Cells experienced different strength of contact guidance depending on the ridge height. Cell morphology and motility was investigated on micronscale anisotropic cross patterns and parallel line patterns having different aspect ratios. A significant effect on cell alignment and directionality of migration was observed. Cell morphology and motility were influenced by the aspect ratio of the cross pattern, the grid size, and the ridge height. Cell contractility was examined microscopically in order to measure contractile forces generated by individual cells on self-standing fiber scaffolds.
Recursive model-based target recognition for acoustic land mine detection

A model has been developed to allow the scanned data obtained using a laser Doppler vibrometer-based acoustic-to- seismic landmine detection system to be analyzed without operator interaction. The ground vibration data from the LDV are pre-processed to form images in a 2-D data format. A parametric model was established to describe the amplified magnitude velocity phenomena induced by buried landmines. This model incorporates amplitude, size, position and background amplitude parameters into an automatic analysis process. An iterative regression approach is described which can be used as a major part of the automatic landmine recognition. The estimated parameters, such as the amplitude relative to the background, the size, and the shape of a target are used to make the decision regarding the presence of a mine. Once a positive decision is made, the estimated position parameters are used to localize the target location.
Oxidative stress, antioxidants, and alcoholic liver fibrogenesis

In the intragastric ethanol infusion model using a high fat diet (25% calories as corn oil) and adult Wistar rats, focal centrilobular liver necrosis is evident after five weeks of feeding, and liver fibrogenesis is induced between the 9th and 16th weeks. At the 16th week, fibroproliferative activation of Ito cells, a perisinusoidal cell type believed to be a key player in liver fibrogenesis, can be demonstrated by increased DNA synthesis, enhanced gene expression of collagen, and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFβ1) by these cells. This stage of alcoholic liver fibrogenesis, but not the earlier stage of liver necrosis, is closely associated with enhanced hepatic lipid peroxidation (LP) as demonstrated by significant correlation between the degree of liver fibrosis and hepatic levels of LP aldehydic products such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and 4-hydroxynonenal (4HNE). The direct role of these aldehydes in alcoholic liver fibrogenesis is supported by in vitro demonstration of stimulation of Ito cell collagen gene expression by MDA and 4HNE as well as in vivo confirmation of the importance of the aldehydes in iron-catalyzed potentiation of alcoholic liver fibrogenesis. Induced cytochrome P4502E1 is considered as a primary site of enhanced oxidative stress, and compromised glutathione homeostasis is suggested to underlie, in part, the net increase in hepatic LP. These findings are in support of our working hypothesis that enhanced LP is a critical pathogenetic event for alcoholic liver fibrogenesis.
Socioeconomic disparities in the decline in invasive breast cancer incidence.

Breast cancer incidence in the United States has declined dramatically since the year 2002. To improve our understanding of the underlying factors driving breast cancer trends, we explored potential socioeconomic disparities in the recent decline in incidence. We examined the decline in breast cancer incidence according to county-level socioeconomic indicators using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program. Since socioeconomic status is associated with mammography screening, we also examined the relation between incidence of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS; a strong marker of mammography utilization) and the decline in invasive breast cancer. The reduction in invasive breast cancer incidence between 1998-2001 and 2003-2006 in the SEER 9 registries was greatest among women living in counties with higher median household income (-16% change for > or = $85,000 vs. -4% for or = 40% vs. -8% for <15%; P(trend) < 0.01). Counties with higher DCIS incidence during 1985-2001 had a larger decrease in invasive breast cancer incidence (absolute decrease 1.7 percentage points greater per 5 per 100,000 increase in DCIS incidence; P = 0.01). This association was present for both ER-positive and ER-negative invasive cancers (P < 0.05). In summary, the decline in breast cancer incidence has been largest in areas with high socioeconomic status and high screening utilization rates. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that a saturation of screening mammography utilization contributed to the overall decline in breast cancer incidence.
Ministry with the aging: A cross-cultural perspective

Older persons have the same basic needs as other persons. Different cultures have different ways of responding to these needs. Studies of the experience of aging in various ethnic groups in the greater Boston area have identified patterns of mutual care which are often lacking in our individualistic society. Interactions of family, church, and community which have been observed have important implications for the development of more effective programs of ministry with the aging.
On the construction of quasi-Frobenius rings☆

Abstract A quasi-Frobenius ring (QF ring) is a left Artinian ring R with identity for which the left R-module RR is injective. Since Nakayama [8] introduced the notion of a QF ring, quasi-Frobenius rings have been extensively studied. It is well known that for any QF ring R, both Rn, the ring of n × n matrices over R, and RG, group ring over R for any finite group G are both QF rings. Also any proper homomorphic image of a commutative principal ideal domain is a QF ring [3, p. 402, Exer. 2]. There are many other examples of QF rings scattered throughout the literature together with numerous characterizations of QF rings, but nowhere does there appear a systematic method for constructing QF rings in general.
Association of Depressive Symptoms and Anxiety With Bone Mass and Density in Ever-Smoking and Never-Smoking Adolescent Girls

Osteoporosis is a major public health problem that is experienced by more than 10 million adults.1 Osteoporosis increases risk for fractures and concomitant morbidity and mortality primarily in the elderly. Many risk factors for osteoporosis have been identified,1 though evidence for some is inconsistent.2 In part, the risk for osteoporosis is dependent on peak bone mass attained during adolescence and young adulthood.3 Maximizing accrual of bone minerals during growth may offset loss that occurs in later decades. More than 40% of bone mass is accrued during adolescence,4 primarily during the 2 years surrounding menarche. As much bone accumulates in these 2 years as is lost in the last 4 decades of life.5,6 Thus, it follows that adolescence is a critical period for facilitating optimum bone mass and density. A strong association exists between adult depression and osteoporosis, or lower bone mineral density (BMD).7-15 There was a negative association between depression and BMD in young adult men (aged, 20-39 years), but it was nonsignificant in women.16 To our knowledge, there are no studies that examine depression, anxiety, and bone mass and density in healthy adolescents, though 1 study in girls with anorexia nervosa reports a negative effect of depression on bone.17 Lack of studies in healthy adolescents is of particular concern, as depression increases in girls during adolescence18 and anxiety is more common in females than males.19 Anxiety also often precedes depression.20,21 Furthermore, smoking and depression are associated in adolescence,22 and smoking is a risk factor for osteoporosis in adulthood.23-25 Thus, examining depression, anxiety, and smoking and their association with bone health in adolescents is warranted. Our study examines the association of depressive symptoms and anxiety with bone mass and density in adolescent girls. Our secondary objective was to determine if this association varied in those who have ever smoked vs those who have never smoked. Smoking was thought to be a modifier of the association between depressive symptoms (or anxiety) and bone. Although smoking was not considered a mechanism for influencing bone in these cross-sectional analyses, age of initiation was included as a proxy for exposure.
Comparing Hedging Methods for Wind Power: Using Pumped Storage Hydro Units vs. Options Purchasing

The main setback for wind energy is the uncertainty and uncontrollability of the energy source. Researchers are trying to create ways to handle this uncertainty by means of energy storage through pumped storage hydro facilities, compressed air facilities, etc. This paper will analyze the option of using a pumped storage hydro plant to negate this uncertainty from a financial viewpoint. In addition, this paper analyzes whether or not such an option is truly best by comparing it to the case where the wind farm can purchase call/put options to protect against the uncertainty of the wind. To determine the proper price of these options, the Black-Scholes options pricing model is used to ensure there is no ability to arbitrage, i.e. there is no free lunch. This second option will also consider the pumped storage plant's financial gain when working independent as well in order to make a fair comparison. The objective of this paper is to analyze the effectiveness of these hedging methods and the financial implications.
A threshold model of antigen-antibody dynamics

A model for the B-cell response to antigen challenge is proposed which makes use of an integral constraint to model the thresholds. This type of constraint leads to functional, rather than ordinary, differential equations. The model differs from previous models of this type in that it allows for the disassociation of the receptor-antigen complexes and allows for a weighting function in the integral constraint.
Fraternity and sorority membership and gender dominance attitudes

This is a study of attitudes about interpersonal dominance, comparing responses from members of Greek organizations with those of independent college students. Using an interpersonal dominance factor scale developed from nine attitude items, the findings show a substantial difference in dominance attitudes among Greek and non-Greek students. For both males and females, affiliation with Greek organizations is associated with traditional male dominant-female submissive attitudes. Independent women are least likely to subscribe to traditional gender stereotypes.
Metrical Subdivision Results in Subjective Slowing of the Beat

FOUR EXPERIMENTS INVESTIGATED whether metrical subdivision affects perceived beat tempo. In Experiment 1, musically trained participants tapped in synchrony with the beat of an isochronous pacing sequence and continued tapping the beat after the sequence stopped. Continuation tapping was slower when the pacing beat was subdivided than when it was not. Experiment 2 found the same effect when the subdivisions during synchronization were self-generated. The effect was neutralized, however, when subdivisions were tapped during continuation. In Experiment 3, an effect of subdivision was found in a purely perceptual tempo judgment task. Experiment 4 tested musicians and nonmusicians in matched perception and reproduction tasks. Musicians showed the expected effect of subdivision in both tasks, whereas nonmusicians showed a larger effect in reproduction but a smaller effect in perception. Overall, the findings suggest that subdivided inter-beat intervals are subjectively longer than empty intervals, in agreement with the "filled duration illusion" in psychophysics.
Extensions of Kripke's embedding theorem

Abstract Kripke's theorem on the embeddability of every Boolean algebra in a countably generated one is proved anew, supplemented by exact cardinality estimates and generalized to equational and other classes of partially ordered structures. Similar extensions of the Gaifman-Hales Theorem follow. The proofs use algebras of infinitary ( L ∞ω ) formulas, and occasionally l evy's theorem on Σ 1 formulas and the method of forcing.
Robustness of a Class of Feedback-Controlled Uncertain Nonlinear Systems in the Presence of Singular Perturbations

A class of uncertain, singularly perturbed, nonlinear, control systems described by ordinary differential equations is considered. The uncertainties are characterized deterministically; the singular perturbation is characterized by a real non-negative system parameter ?. For ? = 0, the system order is lower than that for ? ≫ 0. Based only on information available on the uncertain reduced-order system (? = 0), controllers are presented which assure that the behavior of the feedback controlled reduced-order system is close to that of global uniform asymptotic stability about zero. Subject to the same controllers, the full-order system (? ≫ 0) has the same qualitative behavior, provided ? ≪ ?*, where ?* ≫ 0 can be computed from the available information. The results are illustrated by application to a simple electromechanical system.
Natural Hydrocarbon Background in Benthic Sediments of Prince William Sound, Alaska: Oil vs Coal

The source of the background hydrocarbons in benthic sediments of Prince William Sound (PWS), AK, where the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill (EVOS) occurred, has been ascribed to oil seeps in coastal areas of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). We present evidence that coal is a more plausible source, including (i) high concentrations of total PAH (TPAH), between 1670 and 3070 ng/g, in continental shelf sediments adjacent to the coastal region containing extensive coal deposits; (ii) PAH composition patterns of sediments along with predictive models that are consistent with coal but not oil; (iii) low ratios (<0.2) of triaromatic steranes to methylchrysenes found in sediments and coals, contrasting with the high ratios (11 and 13) found in seep oil; and (iv) bioaccumulation of PAH in salmon collected within 100 m of the Katalla oil seeps but not in filter-feeding mussels collected near oilfield drainages 9 km from the seeps, indicating negligible transport of bioavailable PAH from Katalla seeps to the GOA. In contrast w...
Structure and Functions of Human Cerebrospinal Fluid Lipoproteins from Individuals of Different APOE Genotypes

Recent data have implicated apolipoprotein E (apoE) in neuritic outgrowth, synaptic stability, and Alzheimer's disease; these data led us to examine the normal role of apoE-containing lipoproteins in the central nervous system (CNS). We isolated lipoproteins from human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in order to examine their composition and potential functions. CSF particles were composed of approximately one-third protein, one-third phospholipid, and one-third cholesterol. ApoE3 formed homodimers and heterodimers with apoA-II, while apoE4, as expected, was monomeric. We addressed the function of CSF lipoproteins with assays of cholesterol efflux and cholesterol influx. CSF lipoproteins decreased intracellular levels of cholesterol in cholesterol-loaded fibroblasts, suggesting these particles can act to remove excess lipids from cells. CSF lipoproteins competed for 125I-labeled LDL degradation by fibroblasts, suggesting they can also interact with the LDL receptor. Furthermore, CSF lipoproteins labeled with the fluorescent dye Dil were internalized by neuroglioma cells and primary neurons and astrocytes in culture. Together, these data support a model of CSF lipoproteins acting to remove lipids from degenerating cells and delivering lipids to cells for new membrane synthesis or storage.
Small Molecule Ambient Mass Spectrometry Imaging by Infrared Laser Ablation Metastable-Induced Chemical Ionization

Presented here is a novel ambient ion source termed infrared laser ablation metastable-induced chemical ionization (IR-LAMICI). IR-LAMICI integrates IR laser ablation and direct analysis in real time (DART)-type metastable-induced chemical ionization for open air mass spectrometry (MS) ionization. The ion generation in the IR-LAMICI source is a two step process. First, IR laser pulses impinge the sample surface ablating surface material. Second, a portion of ablated material reacts with the metastable reactive plume facilitating gas-phase chemical ionization of analyte molecules generating protonated or deprotonated species in positive and negative ion modes, respectively. The successful coupling of IR-laser ablation with metastable-induced chemical ionization resulted in an ambient plasma-based spatially resolved small molecule imaging platform for mass spectrometry (MS). The analytical capabilities of IR-LAMICI are explored by imaging pharmaceutical tablets, screening counterfeit drugs, and probing alga...