cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regulation of axonal neurofilament phosphorylation

Publisher Summary Neurofilaments (NFs)—neuron-specific intermediate filaments—are the major cytoskeletal components of large myelinated axons; over 95% of axonal volume is occupied by NFs. In mature neurons, NFs are composed of three polypeptide subunits identified by their molecular weights as low, NF-L (68,000); medium, NF-M (95,000); and high NF-H (115,000). All three subunits share, with other intermediate filament proteins, a highly conserved α-helical central coiled coil rod domain flanked by an N-terminus head domain and a C-terminus hypervariable tail domain. The central rod domain, because of its highly a-helical coiled-coil structure, is responsible for forming long 10-nm diameter cylindrical polymers. After the biosynthesis of NF proteins in the perikaryon cell body and filament assembly in the axon hillock region, NFs are transported by slow axonal transport in the axon, where the NF-M and NF-H tail domains are extensively phosphorylated. The extent of phosphorylation, particularly of NF-H and the resulting side arm extension, correlates directly with axon caliber and conduction velocity.
Development of multimedia modules for education

Development of multimedia modules and courses for engineering education present a significant opportunity to modernize curricula and improve the effectiveness of teaching and learning. In this article we review the various hardware and software components required to develop multimedia lessons and discuss the role of each component in the structure of a multimedia module. Examples of multimedia lessons developed for CD-ROM distribution by the Center for Multimedia Education and Technology CAEME at the University of Utah are described. These include multimedia lessons in electromagnetics, the Calculus Castle, and the Physics Museum. It is shown that although extensive resources and expertise are often needed to develop these modules, development software and associated technologies are readily available and educators are encouraged to take advantage of these opportunities to reform, restructure, and improve engineering education.
"TRUE" CREATININE CHROMOGEN DETERMINATION IN SERUM AND URINE BY SEMI-AUTOMATED ANALYSIS.

The Jaffe reaction, used to determine creatinine in urine and plasma or serum, gives a positive error in the latter because of the interference of noncreatinine. In man (particularly children) endogenous creatinine normally occurs at a relatively low concentration in serum (0.3-1.0 mg./100 ml.). The analytic error contributed by noncreatinine chromogens, therefore, may be considerable. Of various manual methods to eliminate this none has been used with automated creatinine analyses, which generally measure total creatinine-like chromogen. In the present investigation a strong cation-exchange resin is used manually for rapidly adsorbing and desorbing "true" creatinine from plasma which is then analyzed by an automated method. A phosphate buffer (pH 12.4) is substituted for 5% (w/v) NaOH, dialysis eliminated, and the instrument manifold design is modified. Concentrations of "true" creatinine from 0.2-2.0 mg./100 ml. can be determined at a rate of 20 samples per hr. in serum or 40/hr. in urine, with a recovery of 98-101%.
Modification by ozone of lung tumor development in mice

Mice, either strain A/J or Swiss Webster, were exposed for 18 weeks either to filtered air or to 0.4 or 0.8 ppm ozone for 8 hours daily. Subgroups in each test group received a single ip injection of 1,000 mg urethan/kg or 0.9% sodium chloride vehicle 1 day prior to initiation of the exposure regimen. Tumor incidence in Swiss Webster mice was 0-3% in groups not receiving urethan and was 61-74% in groups receiving urethan. In A/J mice, the corresponding values were 9-38% and 100%, respectively. Exposure to ozone caused a decrease in the number of tumors per lung in urethan-treated mice of both strains, in a dose-dependent manner. There seemed to be a specific decrease in tumors derived from alveolar type II cells in the A/J mice given urethan plus ozone. Most interesting, perhaps, was a significant increase in the number of tumors per lung in A/J mice exposed to 0.8 ppm ozone without urethan, confirming a previous report by others. The corresponding ozone effect on lung tumor development was not observed in Swiss Webster mice.
Conduct of Business Regulation

This chapter provides a survey and comparative analysis of conduct of business (COB) regulation. COB regulation governs financial intermediaries’ conduct toward their clients, that is, toward the actors – whether individuals or institutions – with whom financial intermediaries transact in providing financial products and services. Modal regulatory strategies include anti-fraud rules, and duties of care, loyalty, fair-dealing and best-execution – and variants of these duties.The chapter describes the justifications for COB regulation, the modal regulatory strategies used and the complex frameworks within which COB regulation operates. It then generally assesses US COB regulation, focusing on the regulation of broker-dealers and investment advisers. It outlines important market and regulatory developments over the past several decades and draws comparisons with corresponding EU and Australian COB regulation. The chapter concludes by discussing reforms proposed or adopted in the wake of the global financial crisis of 2007-09.
Carbyne Forms of Carbon: Do They Exist?

Almost 15 years have passed since carbynes entered the literature as new forms of elemental carbon. They recently attracted attention as possible interstellar dust constituents and as carriers of presolar noble gases in meteorites. Their existence and that of the related mineral chaoite are questioned, and a reevaluation of previous data is suggested.
Integrated micro-opto-mechanical systems

We are developing integrated micro-opto-mechanical systems (MOMS) based upon wafer integration of optical and micro-electromechanical components. In this paper, we describe our developments in micro-opto-mechanical systems in the area of microscanners and moveable optical elements. The microscanners are based upon the fabrication of micro-optical elements on the rotors of large diameter, i.e. 500 to 2,000 micrometers , polysilicon micromotors and have resulted in two approaches to scanning. In the first approach, nickel plating and high-aspect- ratio photolithography were used to produce 175 micrometers diameter, 20 micrometers tall nickel polygon reflectors on the rotors of polysilicon micromotors. These polygon microscanners are suitable for planar scanning as well and other planar applications such as optical fiber and waveguide switches. In a second approach, 2 - 4 micrometers spatial period diffraction gratings were fabricated on the solid rotors of polysilicon micromotors. Such devices are suitable for applications requiring out-of-plane scanning, e.g., bar code readers, and take advantage of planar processing. Chemical-mechanical polishing was used to reduce the polysilicon rotor's average surface roughness (R a ) from 420 angstrom to below 17 angstrom, improving the optical performance of the diffraction gratings. Diffraction grating microscanners using salient pole micromotors have been operated at voltages as low as 45 V, with maximum operational speeds of 1100 rpm. Although microscanners based upon rotating reflectors and diffraction gratings are significant, future MOMS also require linear motion of optical elements and optical waveguides to carry light between optical elements. To this end, we have produced optical reflectors on linear translational comb actuators.
Pyrolysis Pathways of Sulfonated Polyethylene, an Alternative Carbon Fiber Precursor

Polyethylene is an emerging precursor material for the production of carbon fibers. Its sulfonated derivative yields ordered carbon when pyrolyzed under inert atmosphere. Here, we investigate its pyrolysis pathways by selecting n-heptane-4-sulfonic acid (H4S) as a model compound. Density functional theory and transition state theory were used to determine the rate constants of pyrolysis for H4S from 300 to 1000 K. Multiple reaction channels from two different mechanisms were explored: (1) internal five-centered elimination (Ei5) and (2) radical chain reaction. The pyrolysis of H4S was simulated with kinetic Monte Carlo (kMC) to obtain thermogravimetric (TGA) plots that compared favorably to experiment. We observed that at temperatures <550 K, the radical mechanism was dominant and yielded the trans-alkene, whereas cis-alkene was formed at higher temperatures from the internal elimination. The maximum rates of % mass loss became independent of initial ȮH radical concentration at 440–480 K. Experimentally, ...
Cool-1 functions as an essential regulatory node for EGFreceptor- and Src-mediated cell growth

Cool-1 (cloned-out of library 1) has a key role in regulating epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) degradation. Here, we show that Cool-1 performs this function by functioning as both an upstream activator and downstream target for Cdc42. EGF-dependent phosphorylation of Cool-1 enables it to act as a nucleotide exchange factor for Cdc42 and to form a complex with the E3 ligase Cbl, thus regulating Cbl-catalysed EGFR degradation. The EGF-dependent phosphorylation is normally transient; however, Cool-1 phosphorylation is sustained in cells expressing v-Src and is essential for cellular transformation, as well as for v-Src-induced tumour formation in mice. These findings demonstrate that the regulated phosphorylation of Cool-1 is necessary to maintain the balance between normal signalling by EGFR and Src versus aberrant growth and transformation.
Recruitment of insulin receptor substrate-1 and activation of NF-kappaB essential for midkine growth signaling through anaplastic lymphoma kinase.

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) is a transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase in the insulin receptor superfamily. We recently demonstrated that the growth factors pleiotrophin (PTN) and midkine (MK) are ligands for ALK and that upon ALK activation, insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and other substrates are phosphorylated. Here, the role of IRS-1 in ligand-mediated ALK signaling is investigated in interleukin-3 (IL-3)-dependent 32D murine myeloid cells. These cells do not express ALK and IRS family members, and do not respond to exogenously added PTN or MK. We show that expression of ALK plus IRS-1 renders these cells independent of IL-3 owing to the activation of ALK by endogenous MK. Mutational analysis reveals that this transformed phenotype of 32D cells requires kinase-active ALK as well as the interaction of ALK with IRS-1. Furthermore, 32D/IRS-1/ALK cells display an enhanced activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase and PI3-kinase pathways, and a selective transcriptional activation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB. Small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of the endogenous MK or p65/NF-κB revealed that both these are rate limiting for the transformed phenotype induced by ALK plus IRS-1. We conclude that the recruitment of IRS-1 to activated ALK and the activation of NF-κB are essential for the autocrine growth and survival signaling of MK.
The induction of alkaline phosphatase by extraskeletal implants of bone matrix.

Implants of bone matrix, capable of inducing new bone formation, were prepared by decalcifying cortical bone in 0.6 N HCl at 2°C for 48 hours. The inductive property could be inactivated by decalcification in 0.6N HCl containing 66.5% ethanol. When implanted into muscle, both the active and inactive implants were invaded by mesenchymal cells. There was no significant difference in the DNA content of active and inactive implants, but only the active implants induced the synthesis of alkaline phosphatase by a new cell population. Alkaline phosphatase activity was present at 5 days, reached a peak at 20 days after implantation, then declined to 15% of the maximum value by the 40th day after implantation. The deposition of calcium in the implants, coinciding with the differentiation of new bone, began about 12 days after implantation, and gradually increased throughout the 40-day experimental period. Neither recalcification of old matrix nor differentiation of bone occurred in the acid-alcohol-inactivated implants. Induction of alkaline phosphatase synthesis occurred in the pre-osseous phase of morphogenesis 5 days before the appearance of calcium deposits and was not directly correlated with the mechanism of calcification.
Terminal riboadenylate transferase in human lymphocytes.

TERMINAL riboadenylate transferase (TrT) catalyses the transfer of adenylate residues from ATP to the 3′-hydroxyl group of certain polyribonucleotides in the presence of Mn2+. Enzymes of this kind may be involved in the processing of heterogeneous nuclear RNA to mRNA in eukaryotic cells, since many types of mRNA have terminal poly (A) sequences. Evidence for this is rather fragmentary and is complicated by reports of several forms of poly (A)-polymerising activities in both nucleus and cytoplasm1–10. Clearer evidence might be obtained from systems that could be experimentally manipulated to show variation in the levels of activity of poly(A) polymerases and rates of mRNA synthesis. We have found that human lymphocytes exhibit increased TrT activity as part of their response to stimulation by phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) in vitro. This is the first mammalian, non-viral system in which increases in TrT activity have been observed with changes in the physiological state of the cell. The PHA-stimulated lymphocyte may be suitable for combined polymerase–mRNA turnover studies designed to clarify enzymatic steps in mRNA processing and terminal poly (A) addition, since Rosenfeld et al.11 have reported increases in poly (A)-rich mRNA during lymphocyte transformation by PHA.
Irritative voiding symptoms and microscopic hematuria caused by intraperitoneal calcified fat necrosis.

Abstract A previously healthy 60-year-old man presented with urinary urgency and microhematuria. The workup revealed no urothelial lesions, but did suggest a calcified intraperitoneal mass causing extrinsic compression of the bladder. Laparoscopic exploration revealed a glistening, spherical mass attached by a stalk to the sigmoid colon. Removal and histologic examination of the mass revealed calcified fat necrosis, most likely due to the spontaneous torsion and calcification of an appendix epiploicae. The patient’s symptoms and microhematuria resolved after removal. This case represents an unusual occurrence of irritative voiding symptoms probably due to the extrinsic compression of the bladder by a mass of membranous fat necrosis.
A Framework for Facilitating Stress Management Educational Groups for Police Officers

ABSTRACT Social workers provide a variety of stress management interventions to police officers and their families. Educational groups can be useful for providing information regarding stress management interventions. The purpose of this article is to describe a framework for facilitating stress management educational groups for police officers. The framework was developed and implemented to inform officers about sources and types of work and life stress, as well as the cognitive-behavioral coping strategies that have been found to be useful in creating and maintaining a sense of well-being among police officers.
Alfven wave propagation in the Io plasma torus

Voyager 1 plasma measurements are combined with a model of Jupiter's magnetic field to calculate the time required for an Alfven wave to travel between Io and Jupiter's ionosphere, and the period of subsequent bounces between the northern and southern hemispheres of Io. The result is a wave pattern which extends around Jupiter as the multiply reflected Alfven waves are carried away from Io by the corotating magnetospheric plasma, exhibiting a general longitudinal structure which is independent of Io's position due to magnetic field geometry and Io torus plasma distribution. If the Alfven waves simulate decametric radio emission, the wave pattern predicts specific decametric emission properties for comparison with radio observation.
Roles of the fission yeast formin for3p in cell polarity, actin cable formation and symmetric cell division

Abstract Background: Both symmetric and asymmetric cell divisions are required for the generation of appropriate cell lineages during development. Wild-type Schizosaccharomyces pombe cells divide in a symmetric fashion to produce two similar rod-shaped daughter cells. Formins are proteins with conserved roles in cell polarity, cytokinesis, and the regulation of actin and microtubule cytoskeletons. Results: Here, we identify and characterize a new S. pombe formin, for3p. for3Δ mutant cells divide in an asymmetric manner; a mother cell divides medially to produce one daughter cell that develops into a monopolar cell and one daughter that develops into a bipolar cell. Both daughter cells recapitulate similar asymmetric lineages themselves. Inheritance of the bipolar pattern correlates with inheritance of the recent birth scar, not with asymmetry in the spindle pole bodies. for3Δ mutants lack interphase actin cables and have delocalized actin patch and myo52p (type V myosin) distributions. for3Δ cells have normal microtubule dynamics and cortical interactions but have defects in microtubule organization and increased numbers of microtubule bundles. for3p-GFP is localized at both cell tips in an actin-dependent manner and at the cell division site. Conclusions: for3p is a cell polarity factor required for interphase actin cable formation and microtubule organization. The for3Δ phenotype suggests that cells are able to grow in a polarized manner even in the absence of functional actin cables and polarized distribution of actin patches. for3p and possibly actin cables are part of a regulatory network that ensures that cell divisions are symmetric.
MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF THE MURINE ARGININOSUCCINATE SYNTHETASE LOCUS

The cDNA and gene encoding murine argininosuccinate synthetase were cloned and characterized. The cDNA sequence predicts a peptide of 412 amino acids (aa) including the initiator methionine. There is 98% identity with the aa sequence of the human enzyme. The 3'-untranslated region of the cDNA includes two regions of sequence which are conserved between mouse, rat, human and cow. The murine gene contains 16 exons with the start codon occurring in exon 3. Although alternative splicing occurs in primates to include or exclude exon 2, exon 2 sequences were included in the murine mRNA in all tissues and developmental stages examined. The inclusion of exon 2 in murine mRNA, compared to the usual exclusion in human mRNA, may be explained by differences in the donor splice sequences for exon 2.
Microscopic observations on endogenous fluorochromes within a nerve fibre excited by a 325 nm He-Cd laser

SUMMARY A microscopic procedure to observe endogenous fluorochromes in superfused tissues is described. In this procedure, a 325 nm beam from a He-Cd laser is directed through the objective lens of a microscope onto the surface of a brain slice. Fluorescent structures within the tissue can be observed, photographed and measured. A nerve fibre running from the corporis callosi to the dorsal cerebral cortex was studied with this approach. The 325 nm laser beam excited material with an emission peak at 420 nm within a fibre on the cut surface of a rat brain slice superfused with Krebs-Ringer. A similar fibre was observed in vivo in the exposed mouse brain. Packets of the fluorescent material appear to move within the fibre in vitro. The fluorescence of the fibre was rapidly diminished by cyanide, colchicine, rotenone and the withdrawal of Ca2+. Elevation of [K+] in the superfusate caused a ‘haloing’ of the fibre's granularity without decreasing the total fluorescence. This phenomenon is possibly related to the depolarization by [K+] of neurones. Although the structure of the fluorochrome was not established, it is suggested that it may be a neurotransmitter-related substance undergoing axonal movement.
Gains and Losses from Preferential Trade Agreements: Some Evidence from NAFTA

In this article we integrate two topics in international trade policy that have received (separately) a lot of attention: the effects of regional trade blocs, and export pessimism regarding poorer countries. The specific issue that allows us to bring together these questions is whether regional integration adversely affects non-members. We use quarterly data on bilateral trade flows for the period 1990 through 1997 to examine U.S. imports from its NAFTA partners as well as from non-NAFTA trade partners, and more specifically, those countries expected to be hurt by NAFTA. Two measures are used: “import penetration” or imports from a particular source as a share of US GDP, and the income elasticity of expenditure on imports from a particular source. Both “import penetration” and the income elasticity of expenditure affect the export earnings of U.S. trade partners, a matter of particular concern for developing countries. The broadest pattern observed in the income-expenditure elasticities is clear evidence ...
The Isolation and Characterization of d-Glucose 6-Phosphate Cycloaldolase (NAD-Dependent) from Acer pseudoplatanus L. Cell Cultures: Its Occurrence in Plants

A soluble enzyme system from suspension cultures of Acer pseudoplatanus L. converts d-glucose 6-phosphate to myoinositol. A Mg(2+)-dependent phosphatase, present in the crude extract, hydrolyzes the product of the cyclization, myoinositol monophosphate, to free myoinositol. Further purification of the enzyme system by precipitation with (NH(4))(2)SO(4) followed by diethylaminoethyl cellulose chromatography eliminates the phosphatase and makes it necessary to add alkaline phosphatase to the reaction mixture in order to assay for free myoinositol. Gel filtration on Sephadex G-200 increases the specific activity of the cycloaldolase to 8.8 x 10(-4) units per milligram protein (1 unit = 1 micromole of myoinositol formed per minute). The cycloaldolase has an absolute requirement for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and a maximum activity at pH 8 with 0.1 mm nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. The reaction rate is linear for 2.5 hours when d-glucose 6-phosphate is below 4 mm and has a K(m) of 1.77 mm. The diethylaminoethyl cellulose-purified enzyme is stable for 6 to 8 weeks in the frozen state.
Parallel changes in protein synthesis and messenger RNA content in growing and resting epithelial cells of Xenopus laevis.

The regulation of cell growth can be achieved at many levels but ultimately the regulatory factors must alter protein synthesis since growing cells always exhibit an increased rate of protein synthesis compared to resting cells. Some studies using growing and nongrowing mammalian cells have shown that the rate of protein synthesis compared to resting cells. Some studies using growing and nongrowing mammalian cells have shown that the rate of protein synthesis is directly dependent on mRNA content. Other studies have shown that growing and resting cells have similar amounts of mRNA and that protein synthesis is regulated by the proportion of mRNA in polysomes. We have analyzed mRNA content in growing and resting epithelial cells of Xenopus laevis. Quantitation of poly(A)+ mRNA by uniform labeling with 3H-uridine and by 3H-poly(U)hybridization demonstrated a direct relationship between mRNA content and the relative rate of protein synthesis in growing and resting cells. Likewise, after serum stimulation of resting cells the increase in mRNA content closely paralleled the increase in protein synthesis. Our results suggest that control of protein synthesis in growing and nongrowing cells is exerted before the translational level.
Measurement and Meaning of Recreation Satisfaction: A Case Study in Camping

The purpose of this research was to empirically verify the assumption that psychological processes related to recreation satisfaction include these individual difference variables. The relationship between alternative conceptualizations and measurement of user satisfaction were also objects of study. Three independent samples of campers indicated their perceptions, preferences, expectations, importance, and satisfaction levels on a number of factors related to camping satisfaction and dissatisfaction. Alternative conceptualizations of user satisfaction employing individual difference variables were operationally defined and compared to each other. Results indicated that satisfaction measures obtained by using individual difference measures are only moderately related to each other. There may be no single best way to measure recreational satisfaction, as each measure incorporates different psychological processes. Although the research population in the present study consisted of campers, the various conce...
Does budget deficit lower equity prices in USA

Abstract This paper investigates the relationship between budget deficits and stock prices, incorporating the effects of inflation and the demographic structure. The results show that while the proportion of population in their prime earning age has a positive effect, both budget deficits and inflation have a negative impact on stock prices.
A terahertz dual wire waveguide

We numerically model the propagation of terahertz radiation along a double wire waveguide using finite element analysis. This is a promising alternative configuration for terahertz waveguiding.
The inflammatory response to cardiopulmonary bypass

Inflammation is a protective response of vascular tissue. Under normal circumstances, it functions as part of a surveillance system designed to quarantine and destroy harmful agents. The system is complex, with redundant cascades and amplification built into it. Because of this, inflammation is often exaggerated out of proportion to the inciting stimulus, and results in pathologic injury to the host. Certain types of clinical injury, such as severe trauma, burns, pancreatitis, and major surgery, can provoke such a profound response that it results in respiratory failure, coagulopathy, and multiorgan system dysfunction. These phenomena are often summarized under the term “systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS).”
Prosaposin prevents programmed cell death of rat cerebellar granule neurons in culture

Abstract Prosaposin, the precursor of sphingolipid activator proteins (saposin A–D), has been reported to be a neurotrophic factor in vitro and in vivo. Prosaposin mRNA is transiently expressed at a high level in developing cerebellum during the period of granule cell proliferation and maturation, suggesting its significance during development of cerebellum. Here we investigated the neuroprotective effect of prosaposin on cerebellar granule neurons, exposing primary cerebellar granule cells to low K + which induced programmed cell death. Prosaposin rescued mature cerebellar granule neurons in a bimodal manner. A similar neuroprotective effect was obtained using TX14(A), a 14-mer neurotrophic peptide derivative of prosaposin. An additive neuroprotective effect was observed between BDNF and TX14(A), but not between IGF-1 and TX14(A). Prosaposin rescued 60% of nifedipine sensitive cerebellar granule neurons as well as IGF-1, while BDNF did not. Furthermore, the neuroprotective action of prosaposin was inhibited by LY294002, a specific inhibitor of PI 3-kinase. These findings indicated that prosaposin had a trophic effect upon newborn cerebellar granule cells and that the neuroprotective action was similar to that of IGF-1 rather than BDNF. Prosaposin may play a role in cerebellar development during programmed cell death of cerebellar neurons.
Medical records vs. interview responses: A comparative analysis of selected variables for linked birth defect cases

Background Data pertaining to birth defects are subject to certain limitations depending on the collection method. This study compares the agreement of data from medical records and maternal interviews. Methods The medical records and maternal interviews were linked for 1017 deliveries. Prevalence, concordance and kappa coefficients were calculated for maternal gestational and non-gestational diabetes, insulin use, seizures/epilepsy, Hispanic ethnicity, and infant/fetus sex. Results The prevalence of non-gestational diabetes was 4.3% in the medical records and 3.4% in the maternal interviews, with 98.1% agreement. The prevalence of gestational diabetes was 7.9% in medical records and 9.2% in maternal interviews, with 94.3% agreement. Similar prevalences and high levels of agreement were observed between the two systems for infant/fetus sex and mother's Hispanic ethnicity. Although high concordance was observed for seizures/epilepsy, kappa value was moderate. Conclusions The availability of two distinct sources of data provides an exceptional opportunity to compare and validate both data sources. We found that the data for certain variables from maternal interviews strongly agreed with information from medical records. However, the extent of that agreement depended on the type of variable measured. Our results suggest that for some variables such as demographic variables, researchers can use either of the two data sources. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 70:592–596, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Angular dependence of circular magnetic x-ray dichroism in rare-earth compounds.

The angular dependence of the circular magnetic x-ray dichroism (CMXD) at the ${\mathit{L}}_{2}$ and ${\mathit{L}}_{3}$ edges of grain-oriented R${\mathrm{Fe}}_{2}$ compounds has been studied to ascertain the multipolar nature of the features above and below the absorption edge. Within experimental error, all features in the CMXD spectra are consistent with dipole transitions between 2p core levels and the unoccupied spin-polarized states. We discuss some possible reasons for the apparent absence of the predicted quadrupolar angular dependence of the features below ${\mathit{E}}_{\mathit{f}}$.
The importance of explicit chain representation in protein folding models: An examination of ising‐like models

A class of models that represents a protein chain as a sequence of "folded" and "unfolded" residues has recently been used to correlate rates and mechanisms of protein folding with the protein native structure. In order to better understand the conditions under which these "Ising-like" models apply, we compare results from this model to those obtained from an off-lattice model which uses the same potential function. We find that Ising-like models by construction impose folding via a highly sequential nucleation-condensation mechanism, which in turn leads to more rugged energy landscapes, fewer "pathways" to the native state, and in the specific case examined here, the cold shock protein A from Escherichia coli, a qualitative difference in the most likely order of events in folding.
Unique high affinity uptake systems for glycine, glutamic and aspartic acids in central nervous tissue of the rat.

NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL experiments suggest that several aminoacids, especially glycine and glutamic, aspartic and gamma-aminobutyric (GABA) acids, are neurotransmitters in the central nervous system1–3. But careful subcellular4,5 and regional studies6–8 have not provided supporting neurochemical evidence, because ammo-acids, with the possible exception of GABA, also have general metabolic functions in nervous tissue.
Complementary relevance feedback-based content-based image retrieval

We propose a complementary relevance feedback-based content-based image retrieval (CBIR) system. This system exploits the synergism between short-term and long-term learning techniques to improve the retrieval performance. Specifically, we construct an adaptive semantic repository in long-term learning to store retrieval patterns of historical query sessions. We then extract high-level semantic features from the semantic repository and seamlessly integrate low-level visual features and high-level semantic features in short-term learning to effectively represent the query in a single retrieval session. The high-level semantic features are dynamically updated based on users' query concept and therefore represent the image's semantic concept more accurately. Our extensive experimental results demonstrate that the proposed system outperforms its seven state-of-the-art peer systems in terms of retrieval precision and storage space on a large scale imagery database.
A Deliberate Practice-Based Training Protocol for Student Nurses Care of the Critically Ill Patient: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Deliberate Practice-Based Training Protocol

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to establish the efficacy of a deliberate practice intervention designed to enhance levels of clinical performance in senior baccalaureate nursing students. Method A randomized control design was used. Forty participants were randomly assigned to control and intervention groups. Results The deliberate practice-based intervention resulted in statistically significant improvements to key aspects of participants' efforts in each of the four scenarios. Conclusions The deliberate practice protocol prompted participants to reconsider and act on salient stimuli present in the simulated task environment, resulting in substantive performance improvement.
Signal transmission through a metabolic cycle follows the compression hypothesis or a weak Weber's law

Biological signal transduction often involves a metabolic cycle in which the flux at one point is driven by the input signal and the concentration of one of the metabolites of the cycle serves as the output signal. A kinetic analysis of such a metabolic cycle is made under an assumption that the law of mass action applies. The resultant kinetic model can produce a response that overshoots, quickens, and eventually saturates as the input intensity is increased. The possible model behavior ranges parametrically from non-adaptive (compression hypothesis) to weakly adaptive (limited Weber's law).
Asphalt Binders Blended with a High Percentage of Biobinders: Aging Mechanism Using FTIR and Rheology

AbstractThe objective of this study is to characterize the rheological properties and aging mechanism of asphalt binders blended with high percentages of biobinders using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The petroleum asphalt was partially replaced by the biobinders at fractions of 30 and 70% by weight. Rotational viscometer (RV) and dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) tests were conducted for the rheological properties, and the rolling thin film oven (RTFO) test was conducted for the aging simulation. Loss of volatiles was obtained from the RTFO test, whereas the oxidation characterization was investigated through the FTIR test. The rheology results showed that the bioblended asphalt binder exhibit different rheological properties as compared with the control asphalt binder before and after the RTFO-aging. The mass loss test showed that the loss of volatiles of biobinders were much higher than the control asphalt binder. FTIR spectra analysis showed that additional C═C, C─O, C═O and OH bonds wer...
Influence of storage temperature and moisture on the performance of microsphere/hydrogel composites.

Abstract The current study involved investigation of the effect of storage temperature and moisture on the performance of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microsphere/poly(vinyl-alcohol) (PVA) hydrogel composites. Physical aging occurred in composites stored at 25 °C due to structural relaxation. The glass transition temperature (Tg) and enthalpy of relaxation of the composites increased leading to a slower cumulative % release. The Tg of composites incubated at 40 °C, 75% RH decreased significantly due to the plasticization effect of absorbed water, whereas no change was observed in the Tg of microspheres alone; indicating that the hydrogel component enhanced water absorption. PLGA degradation occurred leading to significantly faster dexamethasone release following incubation at 40 °C, 75% RH for 1 month. No significant change was observed in the in vitro release profiles of composites after 6 months storage at 25 °C, 60% RH, however, release was accelerated following 12 months storage. Accordingly, exposure of the composites to ambient temperature/moisture during storage, shipping or handling may cause physical aging, plasticization, and degradation and hence, their performance may be affected. The extent to which the performance of the composite is affected by storage temperature and moisture is a net effect of physical aging and moisture induced plasticization/hydrolytic degradation.
Resistance lowering effect of human respiratory tract mucin.

Summary1. Human respiratory tract mucin possesses a resistance lowering factor similar in activity to that of hog gastric mucin. This effect was shown by intrabronchial inoculation of rats with pneumococci suspended in saline or the two types of mucin. It was also shown by intraperitoneal inoculation of mice with streptococci suspended in saline, in two types of mucin and in fractions thereof. 2. Evidence against resistance lowering properties of mucin depending on the presence of blood group A antigen was obtained by fractionating human respiratory tract mucin and testing the fractions for blood group A antigen and the resistance lowering properties of the fractions.
The analysis of diversity in archaeological faunal assemblages : Complexity and subsistence strategies in the southeast during the Middle Woodland period

Abstract Middle Woodland archaeological sites along the Gulf Coast of Florida exhibit greater cultural complexity earlier than contemporaneous sites along the Atlantic Coast of Georgia. This greater complexity is hypothesized to ultimately be the result of more advanced fishing technologies having been employed in the Apalachee Bay area of Florida than in the other study areas. Prey species diversity is one aspect of site faunal assemblages that is affected by such intensification of subsistence practices. Faunal data from Middle Woodland period sites in the Apalachee Bay area of Florida, the Pensacola Bay area of Florida, and the King's Bay area of Georgia were analyzed in this study. Data from a late prehistoric site in eastern North Carolina were included in the analysis for comparative purposes. It was predicted that faunal assemblages from Swift Creek sites in the Apalachee Bay area will reflect greater regularity in the number of species taken as well as a relatively even number of individuals per species. The method for measuring diversity proposed in this article estimated the population richness from which the samples of interest were drawn by fitting a limited growth model to the sample data and using the limit of the model as an estimate of the population richness. The goodness of fit of the model, interpreted as a measure of the regularity in subsistence practices, was evaluated with a χ 2 test. Evenness was estimated graphically. Application of the methods to the faunal samples revealed that richness was equal for nearly all groups. The Georgia Atlantic coast group data indicated great irregularity in the number of species exploited and low evenness. Evenness was highest in the Apalachee Bay group and in the Late Woodland group. These results suggested that the shared sedentariness, higher population densities, and practice of food storage made possible by the advanced fishing technologies of both groups explains the higher evennesses of the vertebrate taxa in the samples.
One-Electron Energies of Atoms, Molecules, and Solids

In the method of the self-consistent field, the one-electron energies of the occupied orbitals agree closely with ionization energies of the corresponding atom or molecular system. To compare such calculations with experiment, we need a table of ionization energies of the atoms. Such a table is set up in the present paper. For the outer electrons, we use optical data, finding the energy of each configuration as the weighted mean of all the states in that configuration. For the inner electrons, we use x-ray data, and for this purpose present a revised table of x-ray term values. The two sets of values should not agree, for the zero of energy in optical spectra is that for an electron removed an infinite distance from the isolated atom, while in x-ray terms all energies are referred to the Fermi energy in the crystal. For the alkali metals, measurements of both types can be intercompared, and it is shown that for Li the Fermi level lies about 0.8 rydberg, below the zero of energy for the atom, for Na and K about 0.5, and for Rb about 0.4 rydberg. Using this information, appropriate corrections are applied for the other atoms, and a table of ionization energies of the atoms is constructed. The values in this table are compared with experimental information from soft x-ray spectra, and theoretical calculations of energy levels in atoms, molecules, and solids.
1‐Ethoxy‐4‐nitro­benzene

The title compound, C8H9NO3, was synthesized from 4-nitro­phenol and ethyl iodide via the Williamson ether synthesis. The crystal structure has been determined at 100 K.
Chronic administration of single-agent paclitaxel in gynecologic malignancies.

Abstract Objective. There are currently limited published data available on the safety and feasibility of the prolonged administration of paclitaxel. The goal of this study was to review the cumulative toxicity associated with the continuous long-term administration of this agent to women with gynecologic cancers. Methods. Eleven patients with gynecologic malignancies of varying histologic subtypes who received >15 consecutive courses of paclitaxel were identified in a retrospective review of individuals treated between 1994 and 1999 in the Gynecologic Oncology Program of the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center. The analysis excluded paclitaxel delivered as a component of an initial chemotherapy regimen for the cancer. Paclitaxel was administered at doses ranging from 80 to 175 mg/m 2 every 3–4 weeks as a 3-h infusion. Results. In general, the patients included in this report were heavily pretreated and were continued on therapy either as a result of documentation of an objective response or with evidence of stabilization of disease (e.g., physical examination, radiographic evaluation, CA-125 antigen level) and the maintenance of a satisfactory quality of life. In the 11 patients, the median duration of therapy was 20 cycles (range: 16–36 cycles). Alopecia was observed in all patients. A single patient experienced grade 3 anemia and grade 4 neutropenia. Of note, there was 1 case of grade 2 and no cases of grade 3 peripheral neuropathy in this population. Conclusion. Prolonged delivery of paclitaxel for >15 consecutive cycles can be safely administered to carefully selected patients with persistent or recurrent advanced gynecologic cancers.
Effects of spherical and deformed state mixing on the E2 rates between the odd-parity states of 40Ca

Abstract Several E2 decay schemes for the low-lying T = 0 odd-parity states of 40 Ca are discussed. It is shown that a pure RPA description of these decays is not satisfactory. Gerace and Green have mixed these pure RPA states with 3p-3h deformed states to describe the T = 0 odd-parity states. In the calculation of the E2 rates with their wave functions, the intrinsic quadrupole moment of the band is taken to be a parameter so that several cases may be considered. It is thus shown that only once choice for the intrinsic quadrupole moment leads to a consistent explanation of the B (E2) values. Furthermore, the choice for the intrinsic quadrupole moment is the only one which is consistent with those of the even parity states in 40 Ca.
The Power of Nurse-Client Encounters Interpreting Spiritual Themes

Both clients and caregivers are confronted with their own spiritual needs in the search for meaning within the health care experience. Yet, time for reflection on the powerful nature and mutuality of care giving is often crowded out by the busyness and intensity of health care. Using a guided reflection technique, 40 nurse participants in five focus groups examined a written nurse-client encounter. Qualitative analysis of the merged data yielded five common themes and descriptive patterns: common elements in the encounter, descriptors portraying the encounter, meanings conveyed by the illness, spiritual needs uncovered, and a framework to apply to practice. Caregivers must be able to see illness as a meaning-intensive experience to be able to help clients understand their own spirituality. The reciprocity of the spiritual connection in health care encounters is proposed as a significant factor in renewal, satisfaction, and healing outcomes for both nurse and client.
Effect of age, feeding, and omeprazole administration on gastric tonometry in healthy neonatal foals.

Background: Gastric tonometry is commonly used in humans as an assessment of intestinal mucosal perfusion. Values in healthy foals are currently unknown. Hypothesis: Age, enteral feeding, and omeprazole administration would significantly alter gastric tonometry measurements in neonatal foals. Animals: Nine clinically normal foals were used to assess the effect of age and feeding, and 8 similar foals were used to assess the effect of omeprazole. Methods: At 1, 7, and 14 days of age, gastric intramucosal PCO2 (PgCO2) and arterial blood gas samples were obtained at baseline, immediately after feeding milk, and 1 and 2 hours after fasting for calculation of the intramucosal-arterial PCO2 difference (ΔCO2). To evaluate the effect of omeprazole, foals were evaluated twice as above, 2 hours after fasting, comparing administration of omeprazole to no drug. Results: There was a significant effect of age and feeding on PgCO2 and ΔCO2, whereas arterial PCO2 was not significantly affected by these factors. Postfeeding ΔCO2 values were significantly lower than fasted values. Baseline and postfeeding ΔCO2 increased with age. There was no significant effect of age on data collected after 1 or 2 hours of fasting. The 90% reference interval for ΔCO2 data collected after fasting was 0–54 mmHg. Foals had a significantly higher mean gastric pH and significantly higher ΔCO2 and PgCO2 following omeprazole relative to no treatment. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Because of the high and variable ΔCO2, which is exacerbated by omeprazole administration, the reference interval in foals is extremely wide.
Modeling mesoscale uncertainty for concrete in tension

Due to heterogeneities at all scales, concrete exhibits significant variability in mechanical behavior from sample to sample. An understanding of the fundamental mechanical performance of concrete must therefore be embedded in a stochastic framework. The current work attempts to address the connection between a two-dimensional concrete mesostructure and the random local material properties associated within that mesostructure. This work builds on previous work that has focused on the random configuration of concrete mesostructures. This was accomplished by developing an understanding of the effects of variations in the mortar strength and the mortar-aggregate interfacial strength in given deterministic mesostructural configurations. The results are assessed through direct tension tests that are validated by comparing experimental results of two different, pre-arranged mesostructures, with the intent of isolating the effect of local variations in strength. Agreement is shown both in mechanical property values as well as the qualitative nature of crack initiation and propagation.