cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Properties of carbon fibre-polymer interfaces

Two types of sized carbon fibre were used in this study, Besfight HTA-7-12000 and Besfight ST-III-7-6000, both from Toho Rayon Co. Some of the fibres were thoroughly washed in chloroform at room temperature to remove the epoxy sizing. The unsized carbon fibres, Hysol XA-S, were from Hysol Inc. The curing agents for di-glycidylether of bisphenol-A (Epon 828, Shell Chemical Co.) were methylene dianiline (MDA, Aldrich Chemical Co.) and 1, 3-phenylene diamine (Merck). Polysulphone (Vdel, Amoco) and polycarbonate (Lexan, G. E.) were chosen as the matrix systems for the interface studies of carbon fibre-thermoplastic composites. The high temperature cured Bismaleimide resin system consisted of 4,4'-bismaleimido-diphenyl-methane (IM-AD 94-306, BTL Company), diallyl bisphenol A (Matrimid 5292B, Ciba-Geigy Company) and polyetherimide (Item 1000, G. E.) The microbond method [7] was used to measure the interracial shear strengths. The procedure involved the deposition of a small amount of resin on to the surface of a fibre as shown in Fig. 1. After the curing process, the fibre specimens were pulled out of the microdroplet at a rate of 2 mm min -1, using a Shimazu tensile tester. The experimental arrangement is shown in Fig. 2. The interracial shear strength was calculated from 7; = f p/~ D L
The EEG profile of patients with uncontrolled vs. controlled seizures.

The goal of this study was to provide an EEG profile of patients (150) with uncontrolled (U) seizures, in contrast with those (150) with controlled (C) attacks. In the U group 804 EEGs were done and in the C group 674 were performed, all with both waking and sleep recordings; the range of EEG records on a given patient was 2–23. The number of spikes and the amount of abnormal slowing was quantified in each record. Two different peaks of age were evident, appearing at 10–19 yrs and 40–49 yrs. The number of patients with a spike discharge on the first EEG was 64% in the C and 92% in the U group with an increasing incidence to 83% (C) and 100% (U) in later records. If spikes were absent in the first EEG in the C group, the majority showed only rare discharges later. The spike profile of the U patient initially was that 1/2 showed a typical number of spikes and nearly 1/2 many or very many spikes.Over time a decrease was seen in those with many-very many discharges, resulting in an increase with a typical num...
TBP-associated factors are not generally required for transcriptional activation in yeast

The transcription factor TFIID, a central component of the eukaryotic RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcription apparatus, comprises the TATA-binding protein (TBP) and approximately ten TBP-associated factors (TAFs). Although the essential role of TBP in all eukaryotic transcription has been extensively analysed in vivo and in vitro, the function of the TAFs is less clear. In vitro, TAFs are dispensable for basal transcription but are required for the response to activators. In addition, specific TAFs may act as molecular bridges between particular activators and the general transcription machinery. In vivo, TAFS are required for yeast and mammalian cell growth, but little is known about their specific transcriptional functions. Using conditional alleles created by a new double-shutoff method, we show here that TAF depletion in yeast cells can reduce transcription from some promoters lacking conventional TATA elements. However, TAF depletion has surprisingly little effect on transcriptional enhancement by several activators, indicating that TAFs are not generally required for transcriptional activation in yeast.
High-speed full-field optical coherence microscopy

We have developed a full field optical coherence microscopy (OCM) system operating at several frames per second. Depth ranging capability is compared between OCM and scanning confocal microscopy by imaging a test chart imbedded in 10 percent intralipid and imaging an onion. For sufficiently dense scattering, OCM was able to resolve test chart features and onion structures which were not detectable using confocal imaging alone.
The future of terrorism research: a review essay

This essay sets forth a research agenda to begin filling some key gaps in terrorism studies. Since the September 2001 Al Qaeda attacks against the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon that claimed over 3000 lives, interest in terrorism research has increased. After these attacks, the United States and other governments prioritized the scientific study of the causes of and responses to terrorism. Importantly though, our review of the terrorism literature demonstrates that despite this progress, intriguing questions remain underexplored or altogether unexplored. This essay identifies four gaps in terrorism studies: (1) employing non-terrorist comparison groups, (2) broadening the dependent variable (focus of study), (3) exploring exceptions/anomalies to “established” findings, and (4) engaging measurement issues. We discuss these issues and outline a research agenda that could begin to fill these gaps.
Applying Contemporary Developmental and Movement Science Theories and Evidence to Early Intervention Practice.

Changes in early childhood science, theory, and best practices for improving outcomes of children with motor delay or dysfunction and their families have evolved rapidly since EI began. Changes in daily early intervention (EI) practice have been more elusive. Closing the gap between knowledge and practice requires EI providers to piece together information from a variety of knowledge streams including early childhood special education, pediatric rehabilitation, and cognitive psychology. The purpose of this article is to create a body of shared, evidence-based knowledge among providers responsible for addressing the needs of children with movement disorders and their families to effect changes in practice. This article discusses the evolution of EI practice models for children with motor concerns; examines related theories, interventions, and outcomes; and presents an alternative model based on contemporary evidence and grounded in dynamic systems theory. Researchers describe existing barriers to implementation of family-centered, support-based practices. Recommendations highlight the need for EI providers to collaborate with families to develop meaningful goals and to recognize and create opportunities for children to engage in high volumes of task-specific activity in a meaningful context. Continued research is required to verify effectiveness of this integrated model for improving child and family outcomes.
An alpha-synuclein AAV gene silencing vector ameliorates a behavioral deficit in a rat model of Parkinson’s disease, but displays toxicity in dopamine neurons

Effects of silencing ectopically expressed hSNCA in rat substantia nigra (SN) were examined as a novel therapeutic approach to Parkinson's disease (PD). AAV-hSNCA with or without an AAV harboring a short-hairpin (sh)RNA targeting hSNCA or luciferase was injected into one SN. At 9weeks, hSNCA-expressing rats had reduced SN dopamine (DA) neurons and exhibited a forelimb deficit. AAV-shRNA-SNCA silenced hSNCA and protected against the forelimb deficit. However, AAV-shRNA-SNCA also led to DA neuron loss suggesting undesirable effects of chronic shRNA expression. Effects on nigrostriatal-projecting neurons were examined using a retrograde tract tracer. Loss of striatal-projecting DA neurons was evident in the vector injection site, whereas DA neurons outside this site were lost in hSNCA-expressing rats, but not in hSNCA-silenced rats. These observations suggest that high levels of shRNA-SNCA were toxic to DA neurons, while neighboring neurons exposed to lower levels were protected by hSNCA gene silencing. Also, data collected on DA levels suggest that neurons other than or in addition to nigrostriatal DA neurons contributed to protection of forelimb use. Our observations suggest that while hSNCA gene silencing in DA neurons holds promise as a novel PD therapy, further development of silencing technology is required.
Financing energy efficiency in developing countries—lessons learned and remaining challenges

Although energy efficiency implementation is increasingly being recognized by policymakers worldwide as one of the most effective means to mitigating rising energy prices, tackling potential environmental risks, and enhancing energy security, mainstreaming its financing in developing country markets continues to be a challenge. Experience shows that converting cost-effective energy savings potential, particularly the demand-side improvement opportunities across sectors, into investments face many barriers and unforeseen transaction costs. This paper draws upon selected experiences with financing energy efficiency in developing countries to explore the key factors of various programmatic approaches and financing instruments that have been applied successfully for delivering energy efficiency solutions. Through case studies, a diverse range of institutional issues are examined related to the identification, packaging, designing, and monitoring approaches that have been used to catalyze traditional and innovative financing of energy efficiency projects. With adequate liquidity in major developing country markets and availability of modern energy savings technologies, it is often the institutional issues that become a key challenge to address in order to finance and implement robust programs. As further operational experience is gained, increased knowledge sharing can lead to scaling-up of such energy efficiency investments. The paper concludes with some ideas for accelerating implementation.
Behavioral integrity as a critical ingredient for transformational leadership

Behavioral integrity is the perceived fit between espoused and enacted values. We propose that the maintenance of behavioral integrity is a highly problematic and consequential element of the successful management of change. Support for this view is drawn from the literatures on management fads, transformational leadership, trust and source credibility. Practical implications are developed.
Noninvasive screening tests for colorectal cancer.

Background: Identifying an accurate, reliable, affordable, and acceptable noninvasive screening test for colorectal cancer (CRC) would greatly facilitate populati
Anterior septal coronary artery infarction in the canine: a model of ventricular tachycardia with a subendocardial origin. Ablation and activation sequence mapping.

BACKGROUNDIn humans, chronic ventricular tachycardia (VT) is usually associated with myocardial infarcts that involve the interventricular septum. In an effort to more closely mimic the anatomic substrate that gives rise to chronic VT in humans, we developed a canine model of VT in which the anterior septal coronary artery was ligated. The site of earliest activation, the subsequent activation sequence, and the mechanism of VT associated with the resultant ventricular septal infarct was then evaluated to determine if this model accurately reflected the characteristics of human VT.METHODS AND RESULTSSeventeen dogs underwent occlusion-reperfusion ventricular septal infarcts. Four to 7 days later, electrophysiological studies were performed. VT was initiated by programmed electrical stimulation and terminated by pacing at a cycle length of 50% to 75% of the VT cycle length. Electrophysiological studies were performed using a 256-channel mapping system. A total of 15 VT morphologies were mapped in 9 animals. ...
Changes in myoglobin and lactate dehydrogenase in muscle tissues of a diving bird, the Pigeon Guillemot, during maturation.

Abstract 1. 1. The concentration of myoglobin (Mb) and the isozymic distribution and activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in heart and pectoralis muscle were investigated at three stages of maturation of the Pigeon Guillemot, Cepphus columba. 2. 2. Mb is not detectable in chick pectoralis; it is present in fledgling pectoralis muscle and increases four-fold in adult pectoralis. Mb concentration in heart muscle is similar in chick and fledgling and doubles in the adult. 3. 3. LDH activities in pectoralis muscle of fledgling and adult increase to about three times that of the chick. LDH activities in heart of chick, fledgling and adult are similar to one another. 4. 4. All five isozymes of LDH are present in both heart and pectoralis muscle at all stages; the heart muscle shows predominatly LDH-1 isozyme, and the pectoralis, LDH-5. The relative amounts of the five isozymes in the heart extract were constant during maturation but pectoralis LDH isozymes changed during maturation towards a more even distribution of the five isozymes in the adult. 5. 5. Changes in Mb and LDH in the Pigeon Guillemot correlate with the animal's maturation from a sedentary nest sitter to an active diver and flyer. The adult pectoralis muscle probably has both aerobic function for wing-propelled short dives and flying and anaerobic capacity for longer dives.
Imaging at soft x-ray wavelengths with microchannel plates

Microchannel Plate (MCP) based detectors for the soft X-ray range (0.1 to 10 key) provide high efficiency (> 10%), large format (10 cm x 10 cm), high time resolution (intrinsically 1.07) cascaded pairs they can be used for single photon detection and provide an extremely powerful means for imaging faint point and extended sources of soft X-ray radiation and for reading out high resolution faint spectra fom dispersive elements. They have found application in X-ray astronomy satellites (Einstein Observatory and EXOSAT) and will be used in future X-ray astronomy missions (ROSAT and AXAF). Many areas have benefited from the development of MCP detectors for X-ray astronomy including soft X-ray microscopy, plasma diagnostics, and extended absorption fine structure (EXAFS) research. Perhaps the brief description here of MCP detectors for X-ray astronomy applications will further the transfer of this technology into new areas of medicine, biology, plasma physics, and synchrotron radiation.© (1989) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Comparative safety profiles of hirulog and heparin in patients undergoing coronary angioplasty

Abstract Several new anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents have been developed for use in coronary angioplasty, but almost all have been associated with an increased incidence of bleeding complications. Hirulog, a direct thrombin inhibitor, has several theoretical advantages over heparin. It is unclear, however, whether the use of hirulog as a substitute for heparin in angioplasty would result in a higher incidence of bleeding or other side effects. The safety profile of hirulog was compared with that of heparin in a randomized, double-blind trial in 4312 patients who were scheduled to undergo angioplasty for unstable or postinfarction angina. The goal of anticoagulation was to achieve an activated clotting time of approximately 350 seconds with hirulog (bolus dose of 1.0 mg/kg body weight followed by a 4-hour infusion of 2.5 mg/kg per hour and a 14- to 20-hour infusion of 0.2 mg/kg per hour) or heparin (bolus dose of 175 units/kg followed by an 18- to 24-hour infusion of 15 units/kg per hour). Adverse events were recorded prospectively by study personnel and confirmed independently by clinical monitors blinded to treatment assignment. Compared with heparin in an intention-to-treat analysis, hirulog therapy was associated with either equivalent or lower rates of side effects. Most of the side effects of hirulog and heparin were related to hemorrhagic complications such as intravascular puncture site hemorrhage (29.1% vs 61.6%; p p = 0.001), bleeding requiring red cell transfusion (3.7% vs 8.6%; p p = 0.001). No other adverse events, including death, myocardial infarction, or side effects involving other organ systems occurred more frequently with hirulog treatment than with heparin. In conclusion, hirulog is a new anticoagulant with a better safety profile than heparin. Further analysis is required to determine whether hirulog is a cost-effective and efficacious substitute for heparin for patients undergoing coronary angioplasty for unstable or postinfarction angina.
Civil Examinations and Meritocracy in Late Imperial China

Few late imperial Chinese institutions were as important as the civil service examinations, and few scholars have contributed as much to their study as Benjamin Elman. Drawing on decades of researc...
Flagellar Motor Remodeling and Filament Growth

As symposium chair, I will tell you a few things about bacterial motility that E. coli knows, and then describe two recent vignettes, involving adaptation at the output of the sensory-transduction pathway, and growth of flagellar filaments. 1) Receptor methylation and demethylation are required for adaptation on the second time scale, which enables cells to make temporal comparisons and swim up spatial gradients of attractants. In the absence of the methyltransferase and the methylesterse, one still observes partial adaptation, on the minute time scale. The motor shifts its operating point to accommodate new steady-state levels of the response regulator CheY-P. When the concentration of CheY-P decreases, the motor spins CCW and the number of copies of the protein to which CheY-P binds, FliM, increases, partially restoring motor sensitivity. 2) Flagellar filaments grow at their distal ends. The dogma in the field asserts that they do so at a rate that decreases exponentially with length. By labeling filaments twice, first with a green fluorescent dye and later with a red fluorescent dye, we find that filaments grow at a constant rate. On average, the lengths of red segments do not depend upon the lengths of green segments from which they grew.
Sex segregation in friendships and normative contexts across the life span

Sex segregation (the separation of boys and girls into same-sex groups in their friendships and casual encounters; (Thorne, B., & Luria, Z. (1986). Sexuality and gender in children's daily worlds. Social Problems, 33, 176-190)), has typically been viewed as a child- hood phenomenon. In the present paper, we review research that suggests the phenomenon of sex segregation persists across the life span. We draw from a social-constructionist model to synthesize literature documenting sex segregation in friendships and aspects of individuals' socio-cultural contexts in childhood, adolescence, and early and later adulthood. We consider developmental conti- nuities in mechanisms that may be associated with sex segrega- tion, including behavioral compatibility, communication styles, third-party resistance to other-sex relationships, and institutional barriers to other-sex relationships. We discuss how these factors may, through a reciprocal process, contribute to and result from sex segregation. Finally, we offer recommendations for future research.
The Talking Cloud: A Cloud Platform for Enabling Communication Mashups

The recent proliferation of API hosting frameworks has dramatically eased the development of interesting web mashups and provided monetization opportunities for enterprises offering high value APIs. Most of these mashups are based on request/response REST model that is widely used in the web world. However, REST is not the primary vehicle for communication oriented services such as Internet telephony, chat, presence or live video communications. Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is commonly used for communication services and has well defined Java APIs for use by applications and application developers. In this paper, we present "Talking Cloud" - a API hosting platform on the cloud, for enabling the composition of asynchronous, communication-oriented services to create high value mashups such as object detection in real-time video. Our platform is based on a unique combination of HTTP and SIP, and provides a number of useful features such as service customization, media signaling and routing, social network interactions, elasticity and scaling, besides standard API management functionalities such as usage metering. Our platform provides a flexible framework that allows applications to place hooks within the service invocation workflow, and invoke application logic that is executed remotely, enabling flexible and context sensitive handling of calls/media. We describe our platform architecture and show how communication mashups can interact with it using a combination of REST and SIP interfaces that are exposed by the platform. We describe a prototype implementation and present two usecases - nearest available helpdesk agent and real time object detection within live video streams.
A future like ours revisited

It is claimed by the future like ours anti-abortion argument that since killing adult humans is wrong because it deprives them of a future of value and the fetus has a future of value, killing fetuses is wrong in the same way that killing adult human beings is wrong. In The morality of abortion and the deprivation of futures (this journal, April 2000) I argued that the persuasive power of this argument rests upon an equivocation on the term "future of value". If the expression means "a potential future of value" then the moral claim is implausible because people do not in general have rights to what they need to fulfill their potential; if the expression means "self-represented future of value" then the argument fails because the fetus does not represent its future. Under no interpretation is the argument sound. In Deprivations, futures and the wrongness of killing (this journal, December 2001) Donald Marquis, author of the future like ours argument, responds at length to this objection. In the present essay the focus of the debate shifts to the proper interpretation of the right not to be killed. Donald Marquis argues that this liberty right entails the welfare right to the means necessary to sustain life; I argue that the right not to be killed does not entail unlimited welfare rights. On Marquis's view, the right not to be killed confers upon the fetus the right to whatever it takes to sustain life; on the view I defend, the right not to be killed does not confer upon the fetus or anyone else the right to another person's body. On Marquis's view, abortion is almost never permissible; on my view abortion is almost always permissible.
SPHAERONELLOPSIS DIKROTHRIX, A NEW CHONIOSTOMATID COPEPOD FROM THE OSTRACOD METAVARGULA AMPLA

Beschreibung einer neuen Art von Choniostomatiden Copepoden aus dem Marsupium der Ostracode Metavargula ampla.
A pilot study of thalidomide for patients with symptomatic mesenteric panniculitis.

Summary Background : Mesenteric panniculitis is a rare condition with no standard therapy. Aim : To assess the safety and efficacy of thalidomide for the treatment of patients with symptomatic mesenteric panniculitis using a newly established clinical disease activity index (Mesenteric Panniculitis Subjective Assessment Score). Methods : In an open-label pilot study, five patients with symptomatic mesenteric panniculitis received oral thalidomide, 200 mg nightly, for 12 weeks. The primary end-point was a reduction in the Mesenteric Panniculitis Subjective Assessment Score by ≥ 20% at 12 weeks or complete remission (absence of symptoms). Results : Four (80%) of the five patients responded. The median Mesenteric Panniculitis Subjective Assessment Score at baseline was 39 and at week 12 was 25 (average decrease of 44%). One patient achieved complete remission by week 4, which was sustained. At 12 weeks, three (75%) patients experienced a global response, five (100%) patients had a ≥ 20% (range, 29–98%) decrease in erythrocyte sedimentation rate and three (75%) patients had a ≥ 20% (range, 61–93%) decrease in C-reactive protein. Abdomino-pelvic computed tomography scans were unchanged in all five patients. There were no serious adverse events. Conclusions : Thalidomide is safe, well tolerated and efficacious in the treatment of some patients with symptomatic mesenteric panniculitis. Further study is indicated.
Musculoskeletal Safety Outcomes of Patients Receiving Daptomycin with HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors

Daptomycin, a cyclic lipopeptide antibiotic, and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl–coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins) are commonly administered in the inpatient setting and are associated with creatine phosphokinase (CPK) elevations, myalgias, and muscle weakness. Safety data for coadministration of daptomycin with statins are limited. To determine the safety of coadministration of daptomycin with statin therapy, a multicenter, retrospective, observational study was performed at 13 institutions in the Southeastern United States. Forty-nine adult patients receiving statins concurrently with daptomycin were compared with 171 patients receiving daptomycin without statin therapy. Detailed information, including treatment indication and duration, infecting pathogen, baseline and subsequent CPK levels, and presence of myalgias or muscle complaints, was collected. Myalgias were noted in 3/49 (6.1%) patients receiving combination therapy compared with 5/171 (2.9%) of patients receiving daptomycin alone (P = 0.38). CPK elevations of >1,000 U/liter occurred in 5/49 (10.2%) patients receiving combination therapy compared to 9/171 (5.3%) patients receiving daptomycin alone (P = 0.32). Two of five patients experiencing CPK elevations of >1,000 U/liter in the combination group had symptoms of myopathy. Three patients (6.1%) discontinued therapy due to CPK elevations with concurrent myalgias in the combination group versus 6 patients (3.5%) in the daptomycin-alone group (P = 0.42). CPK levels and myalgias reversed upon discontinuation of daptomycin therapy. Overall musculoskeletal toxicity was numerically higher in the combination group but this result was not statistically significant. Further prospective study is warranted in a larger population.
Polypeptides of the lens fibre cell intracellular matrix

The cytoskeletal proteins of the vertebrate lens fibre cell comprise polypeptides ranging in mol.wt from 43,000 to 250,000 daltons. The main intermediate filament polypeptide of the pickerel, Northern frog, chick, bovine, and human lens has a mol.wt of 54,000 daltons. Peptide analysis revealed that the chick 54,000 dalton protein was more similar to the bovine protein than to the pickerel protein.
Distrust in the healthcare system and organ donation intentions among African Americans.

The purpose of this study is to further understanding of the association between distrust in the healthcare system and written and verbal expressions of donation intentions among African Americans. We hypothesize that distrust in the healthcare system will be significantly, positively associated with both verbal and written donation intentions. Five hundred and eighty five participants completed a 98-item survey that included scales on distrust in the healthcare system and donation intentions. Bivariate analyses (t-tests, ANOVA, chi-square tests and odds ratios) were used to explore the extent to which donation intentions and distrust in the healthcare system varied by demographic characteristics and the association between the distrust in the healthcare system scale and verbal and written donation intentions. Separate logistic regressions were performed with each of the dependent variables to see if significant associations remained while controlling for confounders. Findings based on the multiple regression indicate that when controlling the participant’s education level, distrust in the healthcare system was not significantly related to written donation intentions (OR = 1.04; P = .12). When controlling for education level, health insurance status, Community Health Advocates group and marital status, distrust in the healthcare system was significantly associated with verbal donation intentions (OR = 1.08; P < 0.05). Our results suggest that distrust in the healthcare system varies in the way that it is associated with donation intentions. Future organ donation studies should be conducted to determine the pathways through which distrust in the healthcare system impacts different types of organ donation intentions.
Responses to diving in the dipper, Cinclus mexicanus☆

Abstract 1. 1. Dippers have many of the physiological adjustments for diving seen in other aquatic birds. 2. 2. They demonstrate an immediate, initial bradycardia upon submersion followed by a gradual further decline in heart-rate. They show an immediate tachycardia upon surfacing. 3. 3. The hemoglobin concentration and oxygen capacity of the blood are greater than most terrestrial birds and are commensurate with the values for other avian divers.
CO on Mars: Comment on a Paper by Rosenqvist et al.

Abstract The paper under discussion suggests either that the CO mixing ratio diminishes strongly with increasing height over several large volcanoes, but not in the free atmosphere, or that an absorbing mineral is present on the surface with coverage correlated with height. This note proposes as a third possibility a tiny instrumental error, possibly the presence of very faint wings to the instrumental profile which could be due to scattered light. Raising the continuum level by about 0.3% in the low-resolution spectra will give a more reasonable result of a height-independent mixing ratio.
Operation and Safety of Right-Turn Lane Designs

The objectives of this research by the Texas Department of Transportation were to determine the variables that affect the speeds of free-flow turning vehicles in an exclusive right-turn lane and explore the safety experience of different right-turn lane designs. The evaluations found that the variables affecting the turning speed at an exclusive right-turn lane include type of channelization present (either lane line or raised island), lane length, and corner radius. Variables that affect the turning speed at an exclusive right-turn lane with island design include (a) radius, lane length, and island size at the beginning of the turn and (b) corner radius, lane length, and turning-roadway width near the middle of the turn. Researchers for a Georgia study concluded that treatments that had the highest number of crashes were right-turn lanes with raised islands. This type of intersection had the second highest number of crashes of the treatments evaluated in Texas. In both studies, the "shared through with r...
Carnitine Palmitoyltransferase in the Heart is Controlled by a Different Mechanism than the Hepatic Enzyme

Diminished sensitivity of hepatic carnitine palmitoyltransferase to inhibition by malonyl-CoA in the fasting and diabetic states is a well-recognized aspect of the regulatory mechanism forhepatic fatty acid oxidation. Inhibition of myocardial carnitine palmitoyltransferase by malonyl-CoA may play an important role in regulation of fatty acid oxidation in the heart, but there has been a discrepancy in data relating to changes in malonyl-CoA sensitivity of the myocardial carnitine palmitoyltransferase during fasting. Analysis of malonyl-CoA inhibition of myocardial carnitine palmitoyltransferase in fasting and fed states under a variety of conditions has indicated that under no condition could any difference be found in malonyl-CoA sensitivity that was attributable to fasting. Proteolysis of the outer carnitine palmitoyltransferase led to artifactual changes in sensitivity due to the appearance of partial inhibition. We have concluded that the sensitivity of myocardial carnitine palmitoyltransferase to malonyl-CoA does not change during fasting. Changes in fatty acid oxidation in the heart are probably due to changes in malonyl-CoA concentrations or to other inhibitors. (Mol Cell Biochem 116: 39–45, 1992)
Simultaneous Measurement Of Force And Fluorescence In Single Guinea-pig Cardiac Myofibrils

Kinetic studies of force activation and relaxation in the single myofibril preparation have enhanced our understanding of mechanisms that underlie regulation of muscle force. Likewise, stop-flow and steady-state measurement using fluorescently labeled TnC upon Ca2+ activation in reconstituted protein systems have provided data regarding the kinetics of thin filament regulation. However, to develop a detailed understanding and fully characterize muscle regulation, an integration of mechanical, biochemical, and structural information is necessary. We present the development of a new apparatus which allows simultaneous measurement of florescent probe signals from labeled contractile proteins (such as TnC), and force kinetics under active isometric force development to allow direct correlation between these parameters in a single myofibril. Single guinea-pig cardiac myofibrils were prepared in relaxing solution (PCa8.0) by mechanical homogenization; endogenous TnC was exchanged for recombinant mutant labeled human TnC (2.5 mg/ml; overnight 4°C; Alexa-350 label conjugated to cys-84). Myofibrils were attached to glass micro-tools with one serving as a cantilever of known stiffness to assess force (painted black for improved contrast) and the other attached to a high speed motor. Myofibrils were activated with a Ca2+ pulse delivered via a double barreled perfusion pipette attached to a stepper motor (∼5 ms). Excitation UV-light (270-350 nm), chopped at 52 kHz using a photo-elastic modulator, was projected (400nm DC mirror) onto the attached myofibril. Force probe deflection was measured in bright-field using red light (670nm) while fluorescence emission was measured (420nm LP filter) using a photomultiplier. Data was sampled by a high-speed (2MHZ) A/D converter and demodulated using custom designed software. Preliminary results indicate that using this apparatus and techniques, ultra-low intensity TnC fluorescence signals can be obtained at high temporal resolution in parallel with bright-field optical measurement of force development.
Electron microscopy of gold-containing Ag3Sn splat-cooled ribbons

Abstract Splat-cooled ribbons of gold-containing Ag-Sn alloys were prepared and studied primarily by electron optical methods. The microstructure revealed well-defined grains separated by sharp boundaries. Electron microprobe analysis confirmed that the ribbons are homogeneous, with gold distributed uniformly all over the surface. Selected area electron diffraction further proved that these ribbons belong to single phase γ, an Ag 3 Sn compound.
60-GHz signal generation and transmission in ROADM-based wide-area access systems

We experimentally demonstrated a 60-GHz radio-over-fiber system with high flexibility and agility by using 3 cascaded ROADMs. 2.5/5-Gb/s data and 1.485-Gb/s HDTV signals are successfully ransmitted over 100-km SSMF with power penalty less than 1.5 dB.
Detection of chlorinated hydrocarbons via Laser-atomization/Laser-induced fluorescence

Chlorinated hydrocarbons (CHC), photodissociated at 193 nm, are detected with high sensitivity by observing the atomic chlorine fragment via laser-induced fluorescence (LIF). Photofragment emission spectra from CH3Cl, CH2Cl2, CHCl3, CCl4, C2HCl3, and C2Cl4 demonstrate that photofragment fluorescence and chemiluminescence are negligible in the region 700–800 nm where the 3p44p4S0 → 3p44s4P fluorescence from atomic chlorine is detected. There is also negligible interference for photodissociation in Ar, N2, and air bath gases. Total CHC can be readily detected in air flows at mixing fractions less than 20 ppb and averaging times less than 1 minute. Techniques for considerable improvement in this detection limit are discussed.
Developmental acquisition of type × collagen in the embryonic chick tibiotarsus☆

The temporal and spatial distribution of short chain skeletal (Type ×) collagen was immunohistochemically examined in the chick tibiotarsus from 6 days of embryonic development to 1 day posthatching. The monoclonal antibody employed (AC9) was recently produced and characterized as being specific for an epitope located within the helical domain of the type × collagen molecule (T. M. Schmid and T. F. Linsenmayer, J. Cell Biol., in press). The earliest detectable appearance of type × collagen was at 7.5 days, at which time it was restricted to a middiaphyseal location (i.e., in the primary center of ossification). This was in marked contrast to type II collagen, which appears earlier and is distributed throughout the cartilaginous anlagen. With increasing embryonic age, the reactivity with the type × antibody progressively extended toward the epiphyses, lagging somewhat behind the progression of chondrocyte hypertrophy. The anti-type × collagen antibody also reacted with the bony matrix itself, but the immunofluorescent signal produced by this source was considerably less than that produced by cartilage. At 19 days of development, a new small site of type × deposition was initiated in an epiphyseal location, which subsequently enlarged in circumference. These results are consistent with our previous biochemical studies suggesting that, in cartilage, type × collagen is specifically a product of that population of chondrocytes which have undergone hypertrophy.
Seasonal Flight Activity and Distribution of Metallic Woodboring Beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) Collected in North Carolina and Tennessee

Distribution records and seasonal flight activity information for metallic woodboring beetle (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) species have not been com piled for North Carolina and Tennessee. Institutional, research, and private collections in North Carolina and Tennessee were reviewed to provide seasonal activity data of 5 subfamilies of buprestid beetle species. Label information was checked for 15,217 specimens of 135 species collected between 1901 and 2013 (North Carolina) and between 1934 and 2013 (Tennessee). These collections provided data on adult seasonal activity and county records for 121 species (4,467 specimens) and 105 species (10,750 specimens) from North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. Two species, Agrilus carpini Knull and A. pensus Horn, are reported as New State Records for North Carolina. The data reveal key geographic areas in both states where few to no collections have been made, highlighting opportunities to validate species distributions and locations where future collecting ef forts can be matched with the occurrence of larval and adult host plant resources. Seasonal activity records will inform future biosurveillance efforts for invasive and endemic pests and facilitate predictions of buprestid species that are likely to be active within the hunting flight season of Cerceris fumipennis (Say) (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) wasps. Activity periods of the buprestids also can focus the management of selected economic pest species to times of the year when treatment efforts, particularly through use of contact insecticides, are likely to be most effective.
Predicting protein--protein interaction by searching evolutionary tree automorphism space

Motivation: Uncovering the protein--protein interaction network is a fundamental step in the quest to understand the molecular machinery of a cell. This motivates the search for efficient computational methods for predicting such interactions. Among the available predictors are those that are based on the co-evolution hypothesis "evolutionary trees of protein families (that are known to interact) are expected to have similar topologies". Many of these methods are limited by the fact that they can handle only a small number of protein sequences. Also, details on evolutionary tree topology are missing as they use similarity matrices in lieu of the trees. Results: We introduce MORPH, a new algorithm for predicting protein interaction partners between members of two protein families that are known to interact. Our approach can also be seen as a new method for searching the best superposition of the corresponding evolutionary trees based on tree automorphism group. We discuss relevant facts related to the predictability of protein--protein interaction based on their co-evolution. When compared with related computational approaches, our method reduces the search space by ∼3 × 105-fold and at the same time increases the accuracy of predicting correct binding partners. Contact: przytyck@mail.nih.gov
Dynamic texture recognition

Dynamic textures are sequences of images that exhibit some form of temporal stationarity, such as waves, steam, and foliage. We pose the problem of recognizing and classifying dynamic textures in the space of dynamical systems where each dynamic texture is uniquely represented. Since the space is non-linear, a distance between models must be defined We examine three different distances in the space of autoregressive models and assess their power.
Phase I study of continuous and intermittent schedules of lapatinib in combination with vinorelbine in solid tumors

ABSTRACT Background Chemotherapy in combination with small-molecule epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors has yielded inconsistent results. Based on preclinical models, we conducted a phase I trial of two schedules of lapatinib and vinorelbine. Patient and methods Patients had advanced solid tumors and up to two prior chemotherapeutic regimens. Patients were enrolled on two dose-escalating schedules of lapatinib, continuous (arm A) or intermittent (arm B), with vinorelbine on days 1, 8, and 15 of a 28-day cycle. Tumors from a subset of patients were evaluated for gene mutations and expression of targets of interest. Results Fifty-one patients were treated. The most common grade 3/4 toxic effects included leukopenia, neutropenia, and fatigue. Dose-limiting toxic effects were grade 3 infection, febrile neutropenia, and diarrhea (arm A) and bone pain and fatigue (arm B). The maximum tolerated dose was vinorelbine 20 mg/m2 weekly and lapatinib 1500 mg daily (arm A) and vinorelbine 25 mg/m2 weekly and lapatinib 1500 mg intermittently (arm B). One patient on each arm had a complete response; both had human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive breast cancer. In a subset of patients, lack of tumor PTEN expression correlated with a shorter time to progression. Conclusion In an unselected population, two schedules of lapatinib and vinorelbine were feasible and well tolerated.
Human Papillomavirus Virus-Like Particles Do Not Activate Langerhans Cells: A Possible Immune Escape Mechanism Used by Human Papillomaviruses

High-risk human papillomaviruses are linked to several malignancies including cervical cancer. Because human papillomavirus-infected women do not always mount protective antiviral immunity, we explored the interaction of human papillomavirus with Langerhans cells, which would be the first APCs the virus comes into contact with during infection. We determined that dendritic cells, normally targeted by vaccination procedures and Langerhans cells, normally targeted by the natural virus equally internalize human papillomavirus virus-like particles. However, in contrast to dendritic cells, Langerhans cells are not activated by human papillomavirus virus-like particles, illustrated by the lack of: up-regulating activation markers, secreting IL-12, stimulating T cells in an MLR, inducing human papillomavirus-specific immunity, and migrating from epidermal tissue. Langerhans cells, like dendritic cells, can display all of these characteristics when stimulated by proinflammatory agents. These data may define an intriguing immune escape mechanism used by human papillomavirus and form the basis for designing optimal vaccination strategies.
Reproducibility of signal transmissions in the ocean

Repeated transmissions of acoustical signals were made over a distance of 20 nm. One transmission was compared with succeeding transmissions with the matched signal technique. The experiments showed 10 average arrivals added coherently. The signal is matched for particular source and receiver positions. Displacement of the source or receiver from these positions reduces the coherent addition of arrivals. The sensitivity to small displacements also depends upon the signal bandwidth. These experiments were done at 400 c/s with a bandwidth of 100 c/s. A displacement of the source of about 0.1 nm decreased the peak of the coherently added arrivals to about 60 %.
Optical constants of liquid and solid methane.

The optical constants n(sub r) + in(sub i) of liquid methane and phase 1 solid methane were determined over the entire spectral range by the use of various data sources published in the literature. Kramers-Kronig analyses were performed on the absorption spectra of liquid methane at the boiling point (111 K) and the melting point (90 K) and on the absorption spectra of phase 1 solid methane at the melting point and at 30 K. Measurements of the static dielectric constant at these temperatures and refractive indices determined over limited spectral ranges were used as constraints in the analyses. Applications of methane optical properties to studies of outer solar system bodies are described.
Implementation of a standardized protocol for prevention and management of oral mucositis in patients undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation

Purpose. Oral mucositis is a serious problem that affects a significant number of hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) patients. There are many gaps in management, and evidence-based guidelines do not provide consistent recommendations. The purpose of this pilot study was to develop a mucositis oral care protocol for the prevention and management of mucositis in the HCT patient and to evaluate the clinical impact of its implementation.Methods. After receipt of Institutional Review Board approval, all patients admitted to the Hematology—Oncology service for high-dose chemotherapy followed by an autologous or allogeneic HCT were eligible for the study. As part of a change in practice, a new mucositis protocol consisting of a specific oral care regimen was instituted for prevention and treatment of mucositis. Assessment of mucositis began upon admission to the hospital and the patient was evaluated using a mucositis grading scale on a daily basis by the physician and nursing staff. The new mucositis protocol ...
Quantitative gel electrophoresis of polystyrene particles with 20–60 nm radii on 30% crosslinked polyacrylamide gel

The hypothesis was tested that polyacrylamide gel which is presumably of constant fiber structure within a practical range of gel concentrations would yield a linear Ferguson plot in the gel electrophoresis of particles in the size range of 10–100 nm. Polystyrene particles ranging from 22 to 60 nm in radius were subjected to gel electrophoresis on 30% N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide-crosslinked polyacrylamide (2.0 to 3.2% gel concentration) containing 50 mM 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)-dimethyl ammonio]-1-propane sulfonate (CHAPS). Visualization of the zones required transparent gels which were formed by polymerization both at 50 °C and in the presence of 6 M urea. Ferguson plots [log(mobility) vs. gel concentration] were progressively curved with increasing particle size from 22.4 to 59.4 nm radius. As in agarose gel electrophoresis, this curvature comprises one or several sigmoidal curve elements, presumably indicative of particle compression [1, 2]. However, by contrast with agarose gel electrophoresis, the curves can be aligned along a linear, rather than a convex axis, and may therefore be designated as “overall-linear” in essential agreement with the hypothesis underlying this study. However, contrary to expectation, the polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of particles in the size range of interest did not provide a practical method since the gel concentration range comprising Ferguson plots of the polystyrene particles in polyacrylamide is excessively narrow and the concentration range needed for extrapolation of the Ferguson plot to obtain free mobility values is excessively wide.
Dynamic hardware plugins (DHP): exploiting reconfigurable hardware for high-performance programmable routers

This paper presents the dynamic hardware plugins (DHP) architecture for implementing multiple networking applications in hardware at programmable routers. By enabling multiple applications to be dynamically loaded into a single hardware device, the DHP architecture provides a scalable mechanism for implementing high-performance programmable routers. The DHP architecture is presented within the context of a programmable router architecture which processes flows in both software and hardware. Possible implementations are described as well as the prototype testbed at Washington University in Saint Louis.