cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Infaunal burrows are enrichment zones for Vibrio parahaemolyticus

ABSTRACT Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a species that includes strains known to be pathogenic in humans, and other Vibrionaceae are common, naturally occurring bacteria in coastal environments. Understanding the ecology and transport of these organisms within estuarine systems is fundamental to predicting outbreaks of pathogenic strains. Infaunal burrows serve as conduits for increased transport of tidal waters and V. parahaemolyticus cells by providing large open channels from the sediment to salt marsh tidal creeks. An extensive seasonal study was conducted at the North Inlet Estuary in Georgetown, SC, to quantify Vibrionaceae and specifically V. parahaemolyticus bacteria in tidal water, fiddler crab (Uca pugilator, Uca pugnax) burrow water, and interstitial pore water. Numbers of V. parahaemolyticus bacteria were significantly higher within burrow waters (4,875 CFU ml −1 ) than in creek water (193 CFU ml −1 ) and interstitial pore water (128 CFU ml −1 ), demonstrating that infaunal burrows are sites of V. parahaemolyticus enrichment. A strong seasonal trend of increased abundances of Vibrionaceae and V. parahaemolyticus organisms during the warmer months of May through September was observed. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) analysis of isolates presumed to be V. parahaemolyticus from creek water, pore water, and burrow water identified substantial strain-level genetic variability among V. parahaemolyticus bacteria. Analysis of carbon substrate utilization capabilities of organisms presumed to be V. parahaemolyticus also indicated physiological diversity within this clade, which helps to explain the broad distribution of these strains within the estuary. These burrows are “hot spots” of Vibrionaceae and V. parahaemolyticus cell numbers and strain diversity and represent an important microhabitat.
Modular Robot Arm Design for Physical Human-Robot Interaction

This paper describes the design and implementation of the controls and power plant for a robotic arm for physical human-robot interaction on a cyber-physical wheelchair system. There are almost 50 million people in the US who have some degree of disability, and more than 6.5 million of them experience problems with self-care. The aim of this research is to develop a system to control a modular cable-driven arm which will allow locked-in individuals, who are unable to interact with the physical world through movement and speech, to perform activities of daily living (ADL). We present the design of a compact power plant for the 5DOF arm. The robot control is implemented using the Robot Operating System (ROS) framework.
Optimum hypersonic airfoil with power law shock waves

In the present paper the flow field over a class of two-dimensional lifting surfaces is examined from the viewpoint of inviscid, hypersonic small-disturbance theory (HSDT). It is well known that a flow field in which the shock shape S(x) is similar to the body shape F(x) is only possible for F(x) = x{sup k} and the freestream Mach number M{sub {infinity}} = {infinity}. This self-similar flow has been studied for several decades as it represents one of the few existing exact solutions of the equations of HSDT. Detailed discussions are found for example in papers by Cole, Mirels, Chernyi and Gersten and Nicolai but they are limited to convex body shapes, that is, k {le} 1. The only study of concave body shapes was attempted by Sullivan where only special cases were considered. The method used here shows that similarity also exists for concave shapes and a complete solution of the flow field for any k > 2/3 is given. The effect of varying k on C{sub L}{sup 3/2}/C{sub D} is then determined and an optimum shape is found. Furthermore, a wider class of lifting surfaces is constructed using the streamlines of the basic flow field and analysed with respectmore » to the effect on C{sub L}{sup 3/2}/C{sub D}. 9 refs., 3 figs.« less
The effect of histamine on small pulmonary veins in intact anesthetized dog.

SummaryIntravenous infusion of histamine phosphate in intact lightly anesthetized dogs produced a consistent increase in pressure in small pulmonary veins, slight reduction in stroke volume and decrease or lack of change in left atrial pressure. The rise in pulmonary venous pressure was due to an active increase in tone of these veins without change in their caliber, since the pulmonary blood volume did not change significantly.
Using focus groups as a tool to develop a hospitality work‐life research study

Purpose – This paper seeks to describe how the results of the qualitative research method of focus groups may be used as conceptual data at the onset of a research study to inform researchers regarding relevant issues for future more in‐depth quantitative study.Design/methodology/approach – Seven focus group sessions with a total of 50 participants were conducted, each focus group with six to eight participants. All focus groups included the homogeneous participants of new entrants to the hospitality industry. Focus group questions were inductive and naturalistic and centered on career expectations and work‐life issues. Sessions averaged 1 hour and 15 minutes and were conducted by trained graduate students.Findings – The paper suggests that long, unpredictable hours create both work‐related and non‐work stress. Further, there is general agreement regarding the stressors and benefits associated with working in the hospitality industry.Research limitations/implications – Limitations include the use of senio...
Age-related changes in the color appearance of broadband surfaces

Chromatic and achromatic components of 15 broadband surfaces were scaled by 15 younger (mean age = 21.3 yrs) and 15 older (mean age = 71.9 yrs) subjects. Colored surfaces were obtained from the OSA Uniform Color Scales and presented as 2°-diameter test stimuli that were freely viewed. Stimuli were presented in a grey (L = 0) ganzfeld-like hemisphere with an illuminant having a correlated color temperature of 6200 K. Five stimuli were presented at three lightness levels (L = −4, 0 and +4). Each lightness level included samples chosen so that one pair plotted approximately along a tritan axis in MacLeod-Boynton receptor-excitation space and another pair plotted on an axis of constant S-cone stimulation. The appearance of each test stimulus was scaled using the hue terms red, green, yellow and blue, and in terms of the proportion of overall chromatic content. The results indicate that hue names were used similarly for the two groups of subjects, however, older subjects perceived all stimuli as having less chromatic content than demonstrated by younger observers. Differences between the two age groups in perceived chromatic content of the test stimuli progressively increased as the lightness and luminance levels of the test stimuli decreased. Results obtained from control experiments suggest that this difference between the two age groups is not due to the influence of senile miosis or lenticular senescence leading to variations in the illuminances and spectral compositions of the test lights reaching the retina. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Extending STL with efficient data structures

The Standard Template Library (STL) is a C++ library that provides a set of well structured generic C++ components that work together. Based on its well-structured design, STL can be extended by adding new generic algorithms or new generic containers. In this paper, the work on extending STL by adding several efficient container classes for threaded binary search trees is discussed. It is shown that the addition of threads significantly increases the efficiency of some important access operations on the binary tree containers. In general, significant gain in efficiency can be expected in situations where the data structures are relatively stable, that is, the data structures are looked up often but modified little.
Reliability of visual field results over repeated testing.

Abstract Fifty-one normal subjects, 337 with ocular hypertension, and 55 patients with glaucoma underwent C-30-2 testing on the Humphrey Field Analyzer on at least three occasions over a 6-year period. The time between tests was approximately 1 year. Using the manufacturer's standard for a reliable field (false-positive and false-negative rates,
Insight into innovative approaches to battle Acinetobacter baumannii infection therapy struggles

The genus Acinetobacter comprises a wide collection of species with most of them residing in the environment and causing no harm to humans. However, almost 50 years ago a member of this family was ...
The noradrenaline receptor coupled adenylate cyclase system in brain. Lack of modification by changes in the availability of serotonin.

The present studies were undertaken to ascertain whether or not an alteration in the availability of serotonin (5 HT) can modify central noradrenergic function at the level of the noradrenaline (NA) receptor coupled adenylate cyclase system in brain. The chronic but not acute administration of the 5HT uptake inhibitors amitriptyline and chlorimipramine reduced the sensitivity of the cyclic AMP generating system to NA in the limbic forebrain. This subsensitivity was linked to a decrease in the Bmax value of β-adrenergic binding sites without appreciable changes in the K d values, as assessed by specific 3H-dihydroalprenolol binding. The specific 5HT uptake inhibitor fluoxetine did not change either the responsiveness of the cyclic AMP generating system to NA or the density of β-adrenergic receptor sites. Raphe lesions which selectively reduced the level of 5HT also did not cause any changes in the neurohormonal responsiveness or the density of β-adrenergic receptor sites. In contrast, medial forebrain bundle lesions which reduced the levels of both 5HT and catecholamines (NA and dopamine) in the forebrain, increased the responsiveness of the cyclic AMP generating system to NA. It can thus be concluded that a selective change in the availability of 5HT per se does not modify noradrenergic receptor function at the level of the NA receptor coupled adenylate cyclase system. The subsensitivity of the noradrenergic receptor system developed following amitriptyline and chlorimipramine may in all likelihood be due to the in vivo conversion to the secondary amines, nortriptyline and desmethylchlorimipramine respectively. These secondary amine metabolites are potent inhibitors of the NA reuptake and consequently could be responsible for the demonstrated in vivo down-regulation of central adrenergic receptor function (homospecific down-regulation).
Hypocalcaemia, alcohol drinking and viroimmune responses in ART recipients

Abstract Metabolic perturbations associated with HIV and antiretroviral therapies are widespread. Unfortunately, research has predominantly focused in cardiometabolic problems, neglecting other important areas. In fact, the immune-calcium–skeletal interface has been understudied despite its potential relevance in people living with HIV (PLWH). Using a case-control methodology, 200 PLWH receiving medical care were enrolled and stratified according to hazardous vs. non-hazardous alcohol intake (HAU vs. non-HAU) and calcium (Ca) levels by analyzing baseline data. The group was chosen to represent relatively "pure" HAU with minimal drug use and no psychiatric diagnoses. With these narrow parameters in place, we found evidence that HAU significantly increases TNF-α levels compared to Non-HAU (2.8 ± 0.6 vs. 1.9 ± 0.3 pg/ml, p = 0.05) and decreases blood Ca levels (9 ± 0.6 vs. 9.4 ± 0.5, p = 0.03). Our analyses also suggest that chronic inflammation, as indicated by increased TNF-α levels, is associated with hypocalcemia (hypoCa p = 0.02), B cells (147 ± 58 vs. 248 ± 151, p = 0.03) and NK cells (146.8 ± 90 vs. 229 ± 148, p = 0.008) and elevated CD8 (902.5 ± 438 vs. 699 ± 510, p = 0.09) compared to those with normal calcium. Furthermore, calcium effects on viral load were also evident with hypoCA exhibiting the highest loads (140,187 ± 111 vs. 35,622 ± 7770 HIV copies, p = 0.01). Multivariate analyses confirmed the significance of hypoCa in predicting viroimmune parameters. This paper provides the first evidence that hypoCa accounts for some of the variation in viroimmune measures in HAART recipients and suggests that hypoCa may be mediating alcohol's deleterious effects.
Combination of BCAAs and glutamine enhances dermal collagen protein synthesis in protein-malnourished rats

Skin collagen decreases in protein-malnourished states. Amino acids regulate protein metabolism, glutamine stimulates collagen synthesis through the conversion process to proline and provides 75 % of the intracellular free proline in fibroblasts. However, the impact of these amino acids on collagen synthesis under malnutrition has not been examined. We investigated the effect of amino acids on dermal tropocollagen synthesis in protein-malnourished rats. The fractional synthesis rate (FSR, %/h) of dermal tropocollagen was evaluated by the incorporation of L-[ring-(2)H(5)]-phenylalanine after 4 h infusion of each amino acid and the stable isotope. None of the infused 12 single amino acids (glutamine, proline, alanine, arginine, glutamate, glycine, aspartate, serine, histidine, lysine, phenylalanine and threonine) significantly increased the FSR (P = 0.343, one-way ANOVA). In contrast, amino acid mixtures of essential amino acids + glutamine + arginine (EAARQ) and branched-chain amino acids + glutamine (BCAAQ) significantly increased the FSR compared to saline, but the branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and amino acid mixture of collagen protein (AAC) did not alter the FSR (saline, 0.96 ± 0.24 %/h; EAARQ, 1.76 ± 0.89 %/h; BCAAQ 1.71 ± 0.36 %/h; BCAAs, 1.08 ± 0.20 %/h and AAC 1.39 ± 0.35 %/h, P < 0.05, Tukey's test). Proline conversion from glutamine represented only 3.9 % of the free proline in skin, as evaluated by the primed-constant infusion of L-d7-proline and L-α-15N-glutamine in rats. These results suggested that the combination of BCAAQ is a key factor for the enhancement of skin collagen synthesis in protein-malnourished rats. The contribution of extracellular free glutamine on de novo proline synthesis and collagen synthesis is very low in vivo compared to the contribution in vitro.
Lentiviral transduction of microglial cells

Microglial cells are the resident immune cells of the central nervous system. Their function resembles that of tissue macrophages and, as such, they share many properties with both peripheral macrophages and monocytes. One striking similarity is the difficulty with which these cells can be genetically manipulated via transfection or transduction. We have sought to overcome this challenge and generate stably transduced microglial cell lines. Based on encouraging results from macrophages, we hypothesized that lentiviral vectors might provide a valuable tool in the transduction of microglial cells. Using a lentiviral-based vector system expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) under the control of the murine stem cell virus promoter (MSCV), we found that multiplicities of infection (MOIs) of 1, 10, and 100 transduce >70%, >88%, and >95% of the cells, respectively. From the pool of transduced cells, we established lines of N9 and BV-2 microglial cells with distinct fluorescence intensities. Using real time-polymerase chain reaction (PCR), we correlated the integrated eGFP copy numbers to eGFP fluorescence measured by flow cytometry. When mixed, up to three lines with different eGFP intensities could be separated by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. Neither infection nor transgene expression influenced microglial activation as assessed by nitric oxide (NO) production, cytokine release, and surface antigen expression. Our findings that microglial cells are easily transduced by lentiviral based vectors will facilitate research depending on genetic manipulation and help generate transgenic cell lines. In addition, the availability of microglial cell lines with defined fluorescence properties could replace elaborate staining procedures for microglial identification in co-culture experiments.
Concentration of dilute flavor compounds by pervaporation: permeate pressure effect and boundary layer resistance modeling

Abstract Pervaporation experiments with flat sheet PDMS–PVDF composite membranes were carried out at ambient temperature (20–22 °C) to concentrate three flavor compounds (ethyl butyrate, benzaldehyde, and trans -2-hexenal) from dilute aqueous solutions. Due to the different thermodynamic properties (saturated vapor pressure and activity coefficient) of these flavor compounds, the effects of downstream permeate pressure on the organic flux and the enrichment factor varied. The results were correlated with simple mass transfer equations. The organic and water fluxes at different feed flow rates were measured. The feed flow rate had negligible effect on the water flux because of the dilute solute concentration in the feed solution. However, for the organic flux, the significant effect of the feed flow rate proved the existence of a mass transfer boundary layer on the membrane feed side. A concentration polarization model derived from a steady state flux equation was used to calculate the liquid boundary layer thickness on the feed side and the organic mass transfer coefficient in the membrane. Using the resistance-in-series model, the mass transfer resistance of the liquid boundary layer was separated from the mass transfer resistance of the membrane. It was clearly shown in this work that the mass transfer resistance of the boundary layer was controlled by hydrodynamic conditions, while the varying degrees of flavor concentration results were mainly due to the different thermodynamic properties.
Timeless in lung morphogenesis

The Clock gene, timeless, regulates circadian rhythm in Drosophila, but its vertebrate homolog is critical to embryonic development. Timeless was shown to be involved in murine urethral bud branching morphogenesis. We generated a polyclonal antibody to mouse TIMELESS (mTIM) and studied its distribution and its potential role during lung development, which also requires branching morphogenesis. In the early mouse embryo, TIM was localized to all organs, especially the neural epithelium. In embryonic day (E) 9.5 embryos, TIM was present in both epithelial and mesenchymal cells at the onset of lung morphogenesis. In E15 embryos, TIM decreased in the mesenchyme but remained pronounced in the epithelium of both large and small airways. Later, TIM was localized to a specific subset of epithelial cells with alveolar type 2 phenotype. This finding was verified by immunostaining of isolated alveolar type 2 cells. In the proximal airways, TIM was colocalized with CCSP to nonciliated columnar epithelial cells. Antisense oligonucleotides to mTim specifically inhibited branching morphogenesis of embryonic lungs in explant culture without affecting SpC expression an alveolar type 2 cell marker. In cultured lung cells, expression of TIM is independent of cell cycle and proliferation. These studies indicate that the function of Timeless is highly conserved in organs whose formation requires branching morphogenesis.
Intimate partner violence and women's physical, mental, and social functioning.

Objective To describe the relationship between women's health and the timing, type, and duration of intimate partner violence (IPV) exposure. Methods A telephone interview was completed by 3429 women aged 18 to 64 randomly selected from a large health plan, to assess IPV exposure and heath status (response rate 56.4%). Questions from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and the Women's Experience with Battering scale were used to construct IPV exposures: (1) recent (past 5 years) and remote (before past 5 years only) IPV exposure of any type (physical, sexual, or non-physical); (2) recent (past 5 years) IPV exposure to physical and/or sexual or non-physical only; and (3) IPV duration (0 to 2 years, 3 to 10 years, and >10 years). Health outcomes were measured using the Short Form-36 survey (SF-36), the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale, and the National Institute of Mental Health Presence of Symptoms survey. Results In adjusted models, compared to women with no IPV in their adult lifetime, more-pronounced adverse health effects were observed for women with recent (vs remote) IPV; for physical and/or sexual (vs non-physical) IPV; and for longer IPV exposure. Compared to women who never experienced IPV, women with any recent IPV (physical, sexual, or non-physical) had higher rates of severe (prevalence ratio [PR]=2.6; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.9–3.6) and minor depressive symptoms (PR=2.3; 95% CI=1.9–2.8); higher number of physical symptoms (mean, 1.0; 95% CI=0.7–1.2); and lower SF-36 mental and social functioning scores (range, 4.3–5.5 points lower across subscales). Women with recent physical and/or sexual IPV were 2.8 times as likely to report fair/poor health, and had SF-36 scores that ranged from 5.3 to 7.8 points lower, increased risk of depressive symptoms (PR=2.6) and severe depressive symptoms (PR=4.0), and more than one additional symptom. Longer duration of IPV was associated with incrementally worse health. Conclusions Women's health was adversely affected by the proximity, type, and duration of IPV exposure.
Ramp mode operation of a pyroelectric vidicon

A new mode of operating a pyroelectric vidicon is demonstrated. It uses a linearly rising voltage ramp applied to the target connection to generate the positive bias across the target necessary for efficient tube operation. The theoretical relationship between lag (time response of the tube to a step impulse signal) and readout efficiency is examined. Lag measurements of a tube operating in ramp mode are used to find the readout efficiency under different operating conditions, and the importance of the beam energy spread of the electron gun in determining the operating efficiency is emphasized.
Determination of 1-β-d-ribofuranosyl-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxamide (virazole) in blood and urine by chemical ionization-mass fragmentography

Abstract A combined gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric technique is described for the quantification of virazole in serum and urine. Proteins are removed by molecular filtration, lipids by extraction with dichloromethane and interfering endogenous constituents by acidic and basic ion-exchange resins. Virazole is quantified by monitoring the protonated molecular ions of the fully silylated derivatives of virazole (m/e 533) and the arabinose analog (internal standard) obtained by methane chemical ionization. The detection limit is 150 pg (0.6·10−12 mole) of virazole injected. In serum 10 ng/ml (4·10−8 mole) can be detected, 25 ng/ml quantified. In urine 0.5 μg/ml can be quantified without preconcentration. Virazole was detected in serum for at least 96 h at the 70-ng/ml level.
A termination proof for epsilon substitution using partial derivations

Epsilon substitution method introduced by Hilbert is a successive approximation process providing numerical realizations from proofs of existential formulas. Most convergence (termination) proofs for it use assignments of decreasing ordinals to stages of the process and work only for predicative systems. We describe a new ordinal assignment for the case of first-order arithmetic admitting extension to impredicative systems. It is based on an interpretation of individual epsilon substitutions forming the substitution process as incomplete finite proofs, each encoding a complete but infinite proof.
Polarization diffusion and dielectric friction in polar liquids. II

Abstract We introduce a new mechanism for collective polarization dynamics in a polar liquid. This continuum model couples hydrodynamic motions of the liquid to dielectric relaxation by both rotational and translational diffusion of polar molecules. As an application of our theory we calculate the dielectric friction on an ion in a solvent that relaxes only by the translational diffusion mechanism. The result is quite different from dielectric friction dominated by rotational (Debye) relaxation.
Talking back to VBgov.com

Seniors are limited in the ways that they can communicate because of mobility, vision and memory problems. Mobility issues can make it challenging for seniors to attend a city council meeting or use a mouse to select items on a local government website. Vision problems make it difficult to read the font size on the pages of many websites. Using email means learning how to use a computer to send electronic mail which is a concept that can be confusing for some seniors who are not familiar with and are sometimes afraid of computers. The age, physical limitations, or technical sophistication level of citizens should not limit the exchange of ideas on various issues between local government and its constituents. Technology exists today that will allow citizens to phone-in a comment to a government website. VoiceXML is a programming language that can be used for an interactive voice system, which allows users, who have access to a phone, television and newspapers, to participate in local government by leaving voice comments for local policy makers. A menu driven VoiceXML interface prototype was designed for a Virginia local government site, VBgov.com that allows users to leave comments on current agenda items viewed on public television and listed online. This is a first step toward reaching an alternative method of communication between local government and the people it represents.
Infra-Red Bands in the Aurora

IN his letter in these columns1 regarding the infrared aurora spectrum observed by Vegard, Jevons failed to say anything about an intensity phenomenon in the first positive bands of nitrogen to which I first directed attention in a note in the Physical Review.2 I called this phenomenon the variation of intensity within a progression, the progression in this case being a ‘v’ progression. It is strikingly demonstrated in Lord Rayleigh's3 experiments on the afterglow in mixtures of nitrogen and the rare gases. In this paper Lord Rayleigh suggested that the auroral radiation of wave-length 6323 A. was probably the first positive nitrogen band (10, 7). In directing attention to Lord Rayleigh's experiments, I pointed out that his results could be interpreted as either real or apparent violations of the Franck-Condon rule for band intensities. Recently, a similar result in iodine, namely, the observations of Ramsauer on the quenching of a fluorescence series in an iodine-oxygen mixture, was explained by Loomis and Fuller,4 who suggested that the effect was due to irregular reabsorption of the fluorescent light. The irregularity of the reabsorption was explained by enhanced predissociation in the upper electronic state. A similar explanation could apply just as well to nitrogen, since enhanced predissociation is produced in the upper electronic state of the first positive bands in the presence of rare gases. In both iodine and nitrogen the phenomenon of variation of intensity in a ‘v’ progression would have to be interpreted as an apparent violation of the Franck-Condon rule.
Characterization of DNA polymerase associated with nuclear membrane fractions from uninfected and adenovirus 2-infected KB cells.

Abstract We have isolated a nuclear membrane fraction from KB cells infected with human adenovirus 2 that synthesizes exclusively small viral DNA chains (approx. 9 S) in vitro (Yamashita, T., Arens, M. and Green, M. (1975) J. Biol. Chem. 250, 3273–3279). The DNA polymerase activity present in the adenovirus 2 DNA-nuclear membrane complex was purified through chromatography on phosphocellulose and DEAE-cellulose, glycerol gradient centrifugation and DNA-cellulose chromatography. A single peak of enzymatic activity sedimented in glycerol gradients at about 6.7 S which corresponds to a molecular weight of 125 000. The enzyme preparation in the step of glycerol gradient centrifugation utilized activated calf thymus, KB cell and adenovirus 2 DNA as template-primer in the presence of Mg2+; K m values for these DNAs were 5.5, 4.0, and 0.8 μg/ml, respectively. The partially purified enzyme preparation was characterized by several criteria which were compared to the properties of the three major mammalian DNA polymerases, α, β, and γ. On the basis of template-primer preference, effect of salt, inhibition by N- ethylmaleimide and K m for dTTP, the DNA polymerase activity from the membrane complex can be distinguished from the α and β DNA polymerases. The elution profile from DNA cellulose revealed a minor peak (I) and a major peak (II) of DNA polymerase activity utilizing poly(A) · (dT)10 as template-primer in the presence of Mn2+. Peak II from DNA cellulose, which contained about 90% of the total DNA polymerase activity eluted from the column, was 2–3 times as active with poly(A) · (dT)10 as template-primer in the presence of Mn2+ than with activated calf thymus DNA in the presence of Mg2+. On the other hand, peak I had a low ratio of poly(A) · (dT)10 to activated calf thymus DNA activity. DNA polymerase was also purified from the nuclear membrane fraction of uninfected KB cells by the same procedures as those used in enzyme purification from the adenovirus 2 DNA-nuclear membrane complex. A minor peak and a major peak of DNA polymerase activity utilizing poly(A) · (dT)10 as template primer in the presence of Mn2+ were again observed that eluted from DNA cellulose at the same KCl concentrations as peak I and II from adenovirus 2-infected cells. The enzymes of the nuclear membrane fraction of uninfected KB cells could not be differentiated from the enzymes of the adenovirus 2 DNA-nuclear membrane complex through any of the purification steps nor by their template specificities. These results indicate that the predominant enzyme in the adenovirus 2 DNA-nuclear membrane complex and in the KB cell nuclear membrane complex belongs to the class of DNA polymerase γ.
Analysis and control of DC voltage ripple for modular multilevel converters under single line to ground fault

This paper deals with DC voltage ripple suppression of the modular multilevel converter (MMC) under single-line-to-ground (SLG) fault condition. First, the instantaneous power of a phase unit is derived theoretically according to the equivalent circuit model of the MMC under unbalanced condition, providing a mathematical explanation of the double-line frequency ripple contained in the dc voltage. Moreover, different characteristics of phase current during three possible SLG faults are analyzed and compared. Based on the derivation and analysis, a quasi-PR controller is proposed to suppress the dc voltage ripple. The proposed controller, combining with the negative and/or zero sequence current controllers, could enhance the overall fault-tolerant capability of the MMC under different types of SLG faults. In addition, no extra cost will be introduced given that only DC voltage is required to be detected. Simulation results from a three-phase MMC based rectifier system generated with the Matlab/Simulink software are provided to support the theoretical considerations.
Function of E. coli RNA Polymerase σ Factor- σ70 in Promoter-Proximal Pausing

The sigma factor sigma 70 of E. coli RNA polymerase acts not only in initiation, but also at an early stage of elongation to induce a transcription pause, and simultaneously to allow the phage lambda gene Q transcription antiterminator to act. We identify the signal in DNA that induces early pausing to be a version of the sigma 70 -10 promoter consensus, and we show that sigma 70 is both necessary for pausing and present in the paused transcription complex. Regions 2 and 3 of sigma 70 suffice to induce pausing. Since pausing is induced by the nontemplate DNA strand of the open transcription bubble, we conclude that RNA polymerase containing sigma 70 carries out base-specific recognition of the nontemplate strand as single stranded DNA. We suggest that sigma 70 remains bound to core RNA polymerase when the -10 promoter contacts are broken, and then moves to the pause-inducing sequence.
The postoperative concentration of bile salts in human bile

Abstract The postoperative changes in the concentration of bile salts in the bile have been studied in a series of surgical patients following drainage of the common bile duct through a T-tube. When the patient has had no evidence of hepatic disease or the latter is minimal, there is a temporary reduction in the concentration of bile salts in the bile, followed after two to three days by a progressive return to normal levels. This drop is interpreted as due to such factors as the type and duration of anesthesia, the local and constitutional effects of operative trauma, the degree of preoperative biliary obstruction with hydrohepatosis, and the like. The rapidity of the postoperative return toward a normal concentration of the bile salts in the bile and the maximal concentration attained during the period of observation in general are inversely proportional to the degree of hepatic damage. Evidence is presented that such factors as systemic infection, cholangitis, depletion of bile salts from prolonged drainage, and an inadequate supply of carbohydrate will reduce the concentration of bile salts in the bile, presumably as a result of functional as contrasted to structural changes. The multiplicity of factors which apparently affect the functional ability of the liver and so the concentration of bile salts in the bile correspondingly increase the difficulty in determining the factors responsible for the changes in any individual case. Evidence was obtained suggesting that in some instances the common bile duct may concentrate the bile passing through it in the same manner as is done in a normal gall-bladder. The continued failure of the liver to secrete bile salts in the bile is evidence of severe functional disturbance and so of serious prognostic import.
The structure of isotonic regression class for LAD problems with quasi-order constraints

Abstract In this paper, weighted least absolute deviation problems (LAD) with order restrictions on a quasi-ordered finite set are considered. A well known example of these problems is to find maximum likelihood estimates for the location parameters of bilateral exponential distributions under order restrictions. It is shown that the class of all isotonic regressions for a LAD problem is a complete lattice. All these isotonic regressions are bounded between two functions, termed the least and the greatest isotonic regressions. Furthermore, there exists a partition of the index set such that all these isotonic regressions are constants on each set of the partition. A technique to find the partition is developed. It is also proved in this paper that the class of all these isotonic regressions is a compact convex set and the extreme points of this set are identified. A numerical example is given to illustrate the results in this paper.
HIV Protease Inhibitors Stimulate Hepatic Triglyceride Synthesis

Hyperlipidemia may complicate the use of HIV protease inhibitors (PIs) in AIDS therapy. To determine the cause of hyperlipidemia, the effect of PIs on lipid metabolism was examined with HepG2 liver cells and AKR/J mice. In HepG2 cells, the PIs ABT-378, nelfinavir, ritonavir, and saquinavir stimulated triglyceride synthesis; ritonavir increased cholesterol synthesis; and amprenavir and indinavir had no effect. Moreover, nelfinavir increased mRNA expression of diacylglycerol acyltransferase and fatty acid synthase. The retinoid X receptor agonist LG100268, but not the antagonist LG100754, further increased PI-stimulated triglyceride synthesis and mRNA expression of fatty acid synthase in vitro. In fed mice, nelfinavir or ritonavir did not affect serum glucose and cholesterol, whereas triglyceride and fatty acids increased 57% to 108%. In fasted mice, ritonavir increased serum glucose by 29%, cholesterol by 40%, and triglyceride by 99%, whereas nelfinavir had no effect, suggesting these PIs have different effects on metabolism. Consistent with the in vitro results, nelfinavir and ritonavir increased triglyceride 2- to 3-fold in fasted mice injected with Triton WR-1339, an inhibitor of triglyceride clearance. We propose that PI-associated hyperlipidemia is due to increased hepatic triglyceride synthesis and suggest that retinoids or meal restriction influences the effects of select PIs on lipid metabolism.
Modification of a Plasma-Therm Inductively Coupled Plasma Supply to Enable Radio-frequency Power Modulation

A simple modification is described to enable amplitude modulation of the output of a commercial 5.0 kW inductively coupled plasma (ICP) power supply. Power modulation of an ICP might be useful in a number of practical and research situations. For example, amplitude modulation could be employed in a manner similar to optical chopping to improve signal detection efficiency in practical elemental analysis. Similarly, amplitude modulation permits the time-dependent energy flow in the plasma to be monitored.
Relation of Childhood Risk Factors to Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (Eccentric or Concentric) in Relatively Young Adulthood (from the Bogalusa Heart Study)

Left ventricular (LV) structural alterations were associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in a middle-aged and older population. The aim of this study was to determine childhood and adulthood cardiovascular risk predictors of LV geometric remodeling in a biracial (black-white) population of young adults. As part of the Bogalusa Heart Study, echocardiographic examinations of the heart were performed in 824 adults (age range 24 to 44 years, average 36; 41% men, 69% white) who had risk-factor variables in their childhood. Eccentric LV hypertrophy and concentric remodeling were the most commonly encountered LV geometric changes in this young adult population (4.7% vs 1.8% for concentric LV hypertrophy). In adulthood, subjects with eccentric and/or concentric LV hypertrophy compared with normal geometry were more likely to be obese and/or diabetic and had significantly increased body mass index, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, glucose, insulin, hemoglobin A1c, total/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, triglycerides, and urinary albumin-creatinine ratios. In multinomial logistic regression analyses, both adulthood and childhood body mass index were significant determinants of eccentric LV hypertrophy (odds ratios [ORs] 1.15 and 1.19). The presence of diabetes mellitus in adulthood (OR 8.25) and diastolic blood pressure in childhood (OR 1.14) were significant predictors of concentric LV hypertrophy. In adults, blacks had higher ORs for concentric LV hypertrophy and related to diabetes and systolic blood pressure. In conclusion, in this community-based study of young adults, eccentric LV hypertrophy was more frequent and obesity since childhood was the only consistent and significant determinant of this type of adverse cardiac remodeling.
Further solutions of the Falkner-Skan equation.

Solutions to Falkner-Skan equation, making similarity solutions for pressure gradient parameter physically acceptable
Experimental Enthalpy of Formation of Isonitrile from Collision-Induced Dissociation Threshold Energy Measurements

The enthalpy of formation of HNC is determined using collision-induced dissociation threshold measurements with protonated nitriles. The average value obtained using five different nitrile precursors is 49.7 ± 2.9 kcal/mol, which agrees with the previously reported experimental value after accounting for revisions in the proton affinity scale. While the main dissociation pathway for all ions is found to be simple cleavage, the protonated propionitrile and acrylonitrile ions also dissociate by formation of HCNH+ formed by intramolecular proton transfer.
The impact of psychiatric disorders on work loss days

Background. To examine relationships between recent DSM-III-R psychiatric disorders and work impairment in major occupational groups in the US labour force.Method. Data are from the US National Comorbidity Survey (NCS), a survey of respondents ages 15–54 in the US. Employed people are the focus of the report.Results. There is substantial variation across occupations in the 30-day prevalences of NCS/DSM-III-R psychiatric disorders, with an average prevalence of 18·2% (range: 11·0–29·6%) for any disorder. The average prevalences of psychiatric work loss days (6 days per month per 100 workers) and work cutback days (31 days per month per 100 workers), in comparison, do not differ significantly across occupations. Work impairment is more strongly concentrated among the 3·7% of the workforce with co-morbid psychiatric disorders (49 work loss days and 346 work cutback days per month per 100 workers) than the 14·5% with pure disorders (11 work loss days and 66 work cutback days per month per 100 workers) or the 81·8% with no disorder (2 work loss days and 11 work cutback days per month per 100 workers). The effects of psychiatric disorders on work loss are similar across all occupations, while effects on work cutback are greater among professional workers than those in other occupations.Conclusion. The results reported here suggest that work impairment is one of the adverse consequences of psychiatric disorders. The current policy debate concerning insurance coverage for mental disorders needs to take these consequences into consideration.
Comparison of Adult and Newborn Pulmonary Cytokine Mrna Expression After Hyperoxia

Neonatal animals of several species are more tolerant of hyperoxic exposure than are adults. However, the mechanisms of increased neonatal tolerance are unknown, as are the cell types that contribute to oxygen resistance. This study examined hyperoxic lung injury in neonatal and adult C57BL/6 mice. Adults and neonatal mice were exposed to >95% oxygen for 78 h and 10 days, respectively. Lung mRNAs were assayed by RNase protection assay. After 72 h of exposure, the messages encoding tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 1β and 6 (IL-1β, IL-6) were increased 2-fold in adult lungs. However, at this time point these mice are near or at lethality. No alterations in neonatal lung mRNAs were detected until 7 days of oxygen exposure. At that time neonatal mice demonstrated increases in lung mRNAs encoding TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 of 3-, 5-, and 8-fold, respectively. Acute alveolitis and slight edema were detected, but lethality wasn't observed until 10 days of exposure. In situ hybridization in neonata...
A hydridotantalum(V)-carborane analogue of Schwartz's reagent: synthesis and reactivity

Abstract The dichlorotantalum metallacarborane CpCl 2 Ta(Et 2 C 2 B 4 H 4 ) ( 1 ) on treatment with LiAlH 4 in THF gave a hydridotantalum dimer [CpTa(H)(Et 2 C 2 B 4 H 4 )] 2 ( μ -Cl) 2 ( 2 ), which was found to undergo alkyne insertion with p -tolyl acetylene to generate exclusively trans -CpCl( p -MeC 6 H 4 -CHCH)Ta(Et 2 C 2 B 4 H 4 ) ( 3 ); the reaction of the latter complex with anhydrous HCl afforded p -tolylstyrene and 1 . In contrast, reaction of 2 with diphenyl acetylene or methyl phenyl acetylene gave hydridotantalum–alkyne complexes, which are apparently the first examples of alkyne π -coordination to a formal d 0 metal. Treatment of 2 with styrene produced the alkyl–tantalum species CpTaCl(CH 2 CH 2 Ph)(Et 2 C 2 B 4 H 4 ) ( 5 ), but no reactivity was observed between 2 and the sterically hindered olefins cis -stilbene, trans -stilbene, and cyclohexene. Addition of anhydrous HCl to 5 generates 1 and styrene via an apparent β -elimination mechanism.
Clover yellow vein virus identified in Ammi majus in Florida.

Ammi majus L., a member of the Apiaceae and also known as large bullwort, false Queen Anne's lace, or bishop's-weed, is frequently used in the floral trade to add a lacey look to floral bouquets. A. majus is native to the Mediterranean Region but it is cultivated in major growing areas including Holland, Israel, the United Kingdom, and the United States. During March 2005, virus-like symptoms including mosaic, generalized chlorosis, vein clearing, interveinal chlorosis, and leaf rugosity were observed in nearly all field-grown A. majus plants at two locations in Martin County, Florida. Inclusion body morphology suggested the presence of one or more potyviruses in the symptomatic plants. Potyvirus infection was confirmed in 11 symptomatic plants using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit (Agdia, Elkhart, IN). Nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of a 1,625-bp region of one of the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction products amplified with degenerate potyvirus primers (1) from total RNA of symptomatic plants (GenBank Accession No. DQ333346) were 96 to 97% and 93 to 99% identical, respectively, to Clover yellow vein virus (ClYVV) sequences in GenBank. All symptomatic plants tested were potyvirus positive using ELISA, but only a subset was infected with ClYVV suggesting that the field symptoms were the result of infection with additional potyviruses, all of which are likely aphid transmitted. Although several potyviruses have been reported from A. majus (2), to our knowledge, this represents the first report of ClYVV infection. References: (1) A. Gibbs and A. Mackenzie. J. Virol. Methods 63:9, 1997. (2) P. Van Dijk and L. Bos. Neth. J. Plant Pathol. 95(Suppl.) 2:1, 1989.
A Note on the Development Advantages of the Southern States: Perceptual Mapping as a Guide to Development Marketing and Policy

In this study, perceptual mapping was used to identify the collective and individual positions of 10 competing southern states. The perceived position of the ideal state also was captured by the study’s findings. Industrial real estate executives who were surveyed indicated that some states have positioned themselves strategically in terms of quality of life, whereas others are recognized because of their resources or business environment. Some states appear better able to take advantage of their position, whereas others face development obstacles.
Tetrahedron and triangular dielectric resonator antenna with wideband performance

Dielectric resonator antennas are found to be an efficient radiator. In the search for dielectric resonators with wideband performance, different DRA shapes have been investigated. It is found that some geometries have a wider bandwidth or better polarization characteristics than others. We consider the truncated tetrahedron geometry. Three different configurations are considered. The first is with the wide base of the truncated tetrahedron attached to the ground plane and the second is with the narrow base attached to the ground plane. The third case is the triangular cylinder as a special case of the truncated tetrahedron. Different excitation mechanisms can be used to excite the DRA. We use coaxial probe excitation.
Isoflavone Soy Protein Supplementation and Atherosclerosis Progression in Healthy Postmenopausal Women A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background and Purpose—Although epidemiological and experimental studies suggest that dietary intake of soy may be cardioprotective, use of isoflavone soy protein (ISP) supplementation as a primary preventive therapy remains unexplored. We determined whether ISP reduces subclinical atherosclerosis assessed as carotid artery intima-media thickness progression. Methods—In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 350 postmenopausal women 45 to 92 years of age without diabetes and cardiovascular disease were randomized to 2 evenly divided daily doses of 25 g soy protein containing 91 mg aglycon isoflavone equivalents or placebo for 2.7 years. Results—Overall, mean (95% CI) carotid artery intima-media thickness progression rate was 4.77 (3.39–6.16) μm/year in the ISP group and 5.68 (4.30–7.06) μm/year in the placebo group. Although carotid artery intima-media thickness progression was reduced on average by 16% in the ISP group relative to the placebo group, this treatment effect was not statistically signific...